APC, federal lawmakers in fresh face-off

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62431

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

RAMADAN: Drop your arms, embrace peace, Buhari, 8 PDP tell Boko Haram

Egba chief, Oyebade assassinated in Ogun 7

APC, federal lawmakers in fresh face-off

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, & Henry Umoru

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•Party wants to appoint principal officers of Senate, House of Reps •Saraki, Dogara's supporters regroup to resist party's bid •It's our right to elect NASS principal officers— Lawmakers

B U J A — A SEQUEL to the still unsettled crisis in the All Progressives Congress, APC, arising from last week’s National Assembly leadership contest, another crisis may be in the offing as lawmakers take up battle with national officers of the party over the appointment of principal officers of the legislature.

Ahead of next week’s

Continues on Page 4

COLUMNIST:

Reflections on corruption•P.17

The priest as politician, fighter and saint •P.19

Mr & Mrs WIKE MOVES AGAINST AMAECHI'S AIDES—Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday, moved against loyalists of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi and seized a car belonging to the state's former Commissioner of Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari. A forkilift moves an SUV away from the former commissioner's residence. SEE STORY ON PAGE 51.

South-West forests now preferred crime t inside ou Pullscenes?

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CORRUPTION: EFCC arrests Ikedi Ohakim, ex-Imo governor 15

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—3

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4—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

POCKET CARTOON

expected that the remaining principal officers would come from the North-west, North-east, South-west, and South-South.

What the party wants

VISIT—Senate President , Bukola Saraki (right) with US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle during a visit to the Senate President at National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

APC, federal lawmakers in fresh face-off Continues from Page 1 resumption of the Senate and the House, informed sources disclosed pressures from the party to be given the privilege to appoint principal officers of the two chambers and some key committee positions.

The development, it was learnt, had again reignited supporters of Senator Bukola Saraki

and Speaker Yakubu Dogara who last week outfoxed the party ’s leaders to emerge Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

Senators peeved by the pressure were, yesterday evening, enclosed in a meeting in one of Abuja’s five-star hotels on how to resist the pressure.

House members

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

There is a thin line between the impossible and the possible - that is determination -David Emenike

I

F you really want to achieve a goal, you would have to classify your long and short term goals in the process of actualizing your objectives. You will determine if this goal actually is a real possibility.

For example, if you really want to be a professional basketball player, yet you’re 30 years-old and 5’0'’ tall, maybe you need to bring yourself back to reality.

Or if you feel destined to be an actor yet you aren’t willing to move to a location or large city where the film industry thrives, then you may need to rethink things.

Be honest about your limitations. You absolutely don’t need to know exactly how to make “it” happen step-by-step yet, but just be truthful about whether it’s actually feasible. If it is, move forward with your vision. Be around people who will help you achieve this goal.

Be honest with yourself regarding the influence of others on your mindset, confidence and actions.

Please note, if you need to stay away from people who may cause you to slip back from achieving your goals, by all means, do so.

C M Y K

equally agitated by the pressure were also threatening to flout the party’s directive.

High-level sources in the Senate and the House disclosed, yesterday, that informal contacts have been made with the new leaderships as part of the process of restoring amity between the party and the leadership following the 'rebellion' that enthroned Saraki and Dogara last week.

The sources, who were seething over the development, said that it was another attempt by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to diminish the power of the Senate President and the Speaker.

Against the procedure of parties zoning the principal offices in the two chambers and allowing the party caucuses to produce the officers, the APC leadership, it was learnt, was now putting pressure on influential members of the House close to the Senate President and Speaker Dogara to allow the party to appoint the officials.

Compounding the fury of the legislators is the alleged plan by the

party leadership to also appoint loyal officers into key committee positions.

The four principal offices to be filled by the APC in the Senate and the House of Representatives are Senate/House Leader, Deputy Senate/House Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip.

What obtained in the past The procedure in the past was for the party to zone the offices to the geopolitical zones and for the party members from the zones to elect from among themselves the persons to fill the positions given them.

Given that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are from the Northeast and the Southwest, it is expected that the Northwest, Southeast, North-Central and South-South would produce the remaining key principal officers in the House.

In the Senate, given that the Senate President and his deputy are from the North-Central and the South-east, it is

“The party wants to appoint principal officers for us and this is going to be part two of the crisis and it is unheard of for the party to tell members who will be their principal officers,” a returning member of the House who was pivotal to the rebellion that saw Dogara emerge as speaker told Vanguard yesterday evening.

“We will resist it especially because the caucuses have a role to play in the election of their officers,” the member said on the condition of anonymity.

Another high level source in the House saw the party ’s interest in the appointment of members into key committees as an attempt to undermine the speaker and his deputy who have the leverage in appointing committee officials.

Traditionally, the Senate President and Speaker have used the privilege of appointing c o m m i t t e e chairmanships as a leverage in mustering support with appointments into juicy committees going to the speaker ’s power base.

One associate of the speaker said yesterday that the move was apparently being made to ridicule the speaker and degrade his privilege in the 8th House and open the legislative chamber to further crisis.

Meanwhile, it was learnt, yesterday, that the issue was already causing a division in the NWC of APC as

some members were opposed to the party's efforts alleging that having burnt its fingers in the election of presiding officers, the party should restrain itself this time.

A ranking senator who traced the problem to the determination of a clique around a prominent national leader of the party said yesterday: “Some of us were just called by some members of the NWC, intimating us of details of a letter forwarded to the body that it should just fill the remaining four leadership positions in the Senate.

Senators fight back Ranking Senators are, however, fighting back and there are strong indications in the APC Senate caucus that some Senators have already met with some NWC members familiar with the parliamentary tradition and rules and have impressed it on them to “ignore the letter.”

The ranking senator from North West continued, “It’s not done. The tradition is that zonal caucuses which did not produce the Senate President and deputy would meet, nominate among themselves and then, if there is more than one nomination, there would be an election and whoever has the highest votes for the particular office would be the candidate.

“Thereafter, after the positions have been filled, the caucus would now write the party on the preferred candidates. There are so many factors to be considered in choosing Senators that would be in leadership. It is not the duty of the party in this case.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—5

EU asks Nigeria to diversify economy

...to check climate change

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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SEMINAR—From left: Alhaji Ahmed Joda,Chairman of the occasion; Lt. General Alani Akinrinade rtd., Governor Nasiru el-Rufai of Kaduna State; General Aliyu Gussau and Guest Speaker, Dr Jakkie Cilliers, at the seminar on Africa's Big Five: Power and Influence in Africa at Gussau Institute, Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

USAID—Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (middle) flanked by the Counsellor for Economic Affairs, Embassy of the U.S, Mr. Alan Tousignant (2nd left); Project Manager, Energy Climate and Climate Change Power Africa Nigeria, Imeh Okon (2r), while the Director Economic Growth and Environment, USAID, Matthew Burton (left) and Director, Business Development, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Brian o'Hanion (right) after a meeting at the Defence House, Maitama, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

APC NWC fails to agree on sanctions for Saraki, Dogara

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—THE National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, failed to reach a consensus on applying sanctions on the new leadership of the National Assembly for purportedly disparaging the party ’s positions during the leadership contests.

At the end of a meeting of the NWC, yesterday, the party ’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, told newsmen that the party

would continue discussion on the issue today.

The party had, following penultimate Tuesday ’s leadership election which saw the official candidates of the party trounced, promised to apply sanctions on those who supported the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Rep. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The emergence of the two was against the official position of the party supporting Senator Ahmad Lawan and Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila as

Senate President and Speaker respectively.

However, at the end of the second meeting of the NWC since the election, the committee failed to take a decision on them.

Rising from the meeting that lasted about an hour, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who kept a straight face refused to speak to journalists when asked the outcome of the meeting.

Instead, he directed newsmen to the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-

Oyegun for comments.

When asked also, Odigie-Oyegun simply said the meeting was inclusive and would continue today.

BUJA—THE European Union, EU, has urged Nigerian government to set up concrete targets to tackle the rising menace of climate change in the country.

In a joint press conference organized by the British High Commissioner and his counterparts from the European Union, Danish, French and German ambassadors to Nigeria, in Abuja, the EU urged Nigeria to key into the upcoming global conference on climate change (Cop 21) scheduled for Paris, France in December to articulate workable measures that would help her tackle the menace of climate change impacts in the country.

The coalition said as a developing country with an oil-dependent economy, it would be difficult for Nigeria to address the climate change issue without the diversification of the economy through modern agriculture and industrialization.

According to them, there are clear evidence of the need for action in Nigeria when considering the rising threat of desert encroachment, flooding, coastal erosion, and changing weather pattern affecting agriculture, noting that there is hardly any part of Nigeria which has not been affected by climate change.

For them, Nigeria as one of Africa’s leaders has an opportunity and responsibility to encourage African partners in developing a progressive regional position on tackling climate change.

“In Nigeria, electricity remains a scarce commodity and many

households and enterprises rely on dieselrun generators, a solution that is as expensive as it is harmful for the environment. But this creates also opportunity for Nigeria whose interest is to engage in sustainable ways of development.

“Unchecked oil flaring in the Niger Delta produces massive amount of carbon dioxide and wastes huge quantity of gas, which could be tapped and used to feed power stations. Those stations would be cleaner burning, and would produce electricity which could reduce dependence on generators: a win both for greenhouse gas reduction and for economic growth, boosting employment and family income.”

While promising to give possible assistance where necessary to Nigeria in the development of plan, its implementation and monitoring, the EU said climate change is real in Nigeria and having had serious impact on the Nigerian environment, what is left is for the new leadership to adopt reliable steps that would aid in reducing the greenhouse gas in Nigeria.

According to them, adopting modernized agriculture and industrialization with modern technological equipment would help in no small way to address Nigerian climate change problem.

The annual event was organized in commemoration of the EU Climate Diplomacy Day, which gives the member states the opportunity to reflect together on the magnitude of the global threat posed by climate change.

Senate under my watch —SARAKI

By Joseph Erunke A B U J A — S E N AT E President, Bukola Saraki, has said the Senate under his leadership will work to prevent loopholes in the implementation of government programmes and projects.

He also said the legislature would put in place a comprehensive

system aimed at making the revenues of the country to meet the needs of the people.

Saraki, who spoke yesterday, in Abuja, when the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, paid him a courtesy call, promised that the National Assembly would work on legislation that would sustain an

investment friendly atmosphere with a view to bringing the country out of the current economic doldrums.

He said: “With the much abundant resources embedded in the nation, we are confident of the fact that we will meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians from all facets of life.”

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Panel beater shot dead, another wounded over kidnap attempt in Enugu N

By Chinenye Ozor

SUKKA—A panel beater at Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State has been shot dead while his colleague was badly wounded in an attempt to kidnap a returnee from Europe in his country home at Amube, Enugu-Ezike.

Vanguard gathered that the two kidnappers had been terrorising inhabitants of the area, raping and robbing unsuspecting victims of their valuables till the attempt to kidnap the returnee at his building site.

The suspects, identified as Tessy Iyong, 34, sustained bullet wounds and several machete cuts, and Sesso Nyoaku, a panel beater and father of four. Both hail from Benue State.

Nyaoku was shot dead while fleeing as the police accosted them, with support from local vigilante group in the area.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the kidnappers were dropped by a motorcycle at the building site of the returnee whose identity could not be ascertained at the time of this report, met a young man with a metallic Toyota Camry, and enquired if he was the owner of the building under construction.

It was further learned that when the young man said he came to see the owner of the project, the suspects disbelieved him because of his physical frame, pointed a gun at him and demanded his car keys which he surrendered without hesitation and they drove away.

Workers at the site were said to have immediately put calls across to Igbo- Eze North police division that a car had been snatched at Amube, prompting pursuit of the suspects.

It was gathered that the kidnappers abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush, exchanging gun fire with the

police.

The vigilante group in the community reportedly cordoned off the bush path, making it possible for the police to apprehend the suspects with gunshot wounds, even as an English made pistol was recovered from them.

One of the suspects, Tessy Iyong, told Vanguard that their mission was not to kidnap the returnee from Europe but to rob him of cash as they understood

that he carried cash to the site as he paid his workers on daily basis.

Iyong explained that his dead accomplice, Sesso, was the one who brought the job since he understood the terrain as a panel beater who had lived at Obollo-Afor for sometime. ‘’We snatched the Toyota Camry to escape from the area, our intention was not to steal the car but to escape in it because the motorcycle that

BRIEFING: From left, Director, Registration and Regulatory Affairs, Dr. Monica Eimunjeze, Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii and Head, Investigation and Enforcement, Kingsley Ejiofor all of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, at a briefing on the seizures of fake wines and other regulated products and parade of some arrested fake wine dealers in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

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KURE—DETECTIVES in Ondo State police command have arrested three persons, including two deaf and dumb men, for stabbing to death a peacemaker who was trying to settle a squabble between them.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects include Abuchi Unegbu, Jelili Ojo and Busayo Osho, both deaf and dumb.

According to an eyewitness, the deceased, simply identified as Uwam, was separating a fight between the three men when one of the deaf persons stabbed him in the stomach with a broken bottle.

It was gathered that the deceased was stabbed by one of

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By Precious Akubueze & Opeyemi Lepe

AGOS—THE police in Lagos yesterday arraigned three persons before an Apapa Magistrate's Court for attempted murder, stealing and malicious damage.

The suspects include Bukar Sallah 28; Mohammed Jubril, 28; and Ali Baba, 18, all of no fixed address.

Police prosecutor, Supol Olu Ojaokomo, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on June 14, 2015, at Sifax Group, Ijora, Lagos.

He also said the defendants unlawfully attempted to kill one Ibrahim Lasisi by using a knife to cut his throat.

The prosecutor also said the defendants did unlawfully damage to an Iveco Truck with number plate BDG 76 XC, caterpillar roller, back screen of heavy duty fork lift, shading window, glasses of the security post and unlawfully stole N120, 000, shoes, phone, drivers licence and identity card, all property of Sifax Group, Ijora, Lagos.

....As man stabs brother to death in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—EHUME autonomous community in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State has been thrown into grief, following the alleged murder of Mr. Evaristus Chukwudi Ukeh by his half brother (names withheld).

A villager, who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard that Evaristus, who was fondly called “the Cross”, by his friends and associates, had a misunderstanding with his alleged assailant earlier in the day.

It was also gathered that the alleged misunderstanding

Deaf & dumb man stabs peacemaker to deaf men who wanted to in an attempt to stab the death in Ondo the stab another person who offender, Unegbu, inadvertently

By Dayo Johnson

dropped us had left and we cannot trek to do that kind of work, it is risky. ‘’We know and that was why we took the car from the owner, although we thought he was the actual owner of the building when we struck,” he said.

TheAreaCommander,Nsukkapolice command,ACPMusaHaladu,praised the efforts of men and officers of IgboEze South police division for quick response to the distress call that saved the situation at Amube.

3 docked over alleged murder attempt, others

accused him of stepping on him without apologizing.

Vanguard gathered that Unegbu allegedly accused one of the deaf men of cheating him because of his disability by stepping on his toes without the courtesy of apologizing.

An argument, it was learned, ensued, which later degenerated into a fight among the three persons.

It was learned that efforts by people around the place to resolve the squabble proved abortive.

While the elders were still trying to placate the them and stop them from allowing the disagreement degenerate, one of the deaf persons, Osho, reportedly went for a bottle and

stabbed the deceased who was trying to shield him.

Vanguard gathered that hell was let loose as the atmosphere became tensed and people took to their heels for the fear of the unknown.

between the deceased and his older half brother initially ended without any serious incident.

“We were all surprised when somebody close to the assailant later worked successfully on his sensibilities and he again went to war,” an eyewitness recounted.

The witness said the assailant traced the deceased to his house and starting stabbing him with a broken bottle as soon as he (deceased) openned the door.

“Information we received showed that there was nobody in the house when the assailant stormed the home of Evaristus. ‘’So, he was just at the mercy of the attacker who stabbed him to death,” said the witness.

Another witness recalled that as soon as the assailant noticed that the deceased was dead, he fled to Enugu where he thought the long arms of the law would not catch up with him.

“An indigene of the community residing in Enugu, however, saw the fleeing assailant and promptly contacted those at home. ‘’The police was called in and he was nabbed before he changed location,” she told Vanguard.

Although the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, could not be reached on his mobile phone at press time, an officer at Obowo Police Division confirmed the incident but refused to give details.

Police arrest girl, 22, for one chance robbery

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—THE police at Fegge, Anambra State, has arrested a 22-year-old girl, Chizoba Anierobi, for allegedly conspiring to rob another lady.

The suspect was accused of robbing one Lynda Mbaka of a P.S2 Gionee handset valued at N18,500 and N3,000 on June 10, along Asaba-Onitsha Expressway.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Fegge, Mr. Rabiu Garba, who disclosed this yesterday in his office, said: “Miss Anierobio and the driver of the bus now at large were on Tuesday, June 10, 2015, at about 6.10pm operating in a bus along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway pretending to be operating commercial bus service to unsuspecting victims and in the

process, robbing them before she was arrested by the police at Fegge, and the driver escaped. ‘’Police are on the trail of the other members of the gang who pretend like Anierobi to operate commercial bus service to unsuspecting passengers who would enter and be robbed as done by the popular hoodlums, known as one chance.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—7

Bandits escape by throwing money into crowd in Warri

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI— THREE suspected bandits pursued by the police, Tuesday, sprayed bundles of naira on a crowd at Ajamuogha, Warri, Delta State, to cause commotion and make their escape easy.

Their gimmick succeeded as people scrambled for the naira

notes while they escaped, leaving the anti-kidnapping patrol team angry.

Police spokesperson in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said: “On Tuesday, at 11:45a.m., operatives of anti-kidnapping patrol team on routine patrol along Ajamugha Road, Warri, accosted a red Vento car with

number plates DELTA UGH 519 MZ, with three occupants. ”On sighting the patrol team, the suspects zoomed off and the patrol team gave them a chase to Ajamugha Sharp Corner, where the three occupants alighted from the Vento car and ran into the crowd of people throwing money at the people.

They eventually escaped.

”The abandoned Vento car was recovered. On searching the vehicle, two cut-to-size double-barrelled guns, 31 live cartridges, 10 expended cartridges, four different pairs of car number plates, one Nokia 201 handset and one Lexus car key were recovered.

“Efforts are on to track down the fleeing criminals.”

BREAKFAST:

Pastor Yohana Buru of Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry (left), distributing food to the lessprivileged for the breaking of fast, for the ongoing Ramadan in Kaduna, NAN yesteday.

PHOTO.

Egba chief assassinated in Ogun zKillers left note, calling him useless, promiscuous—POLICE zGunmen 've been monitoring him, neighbours suspect—SON

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—UNKNOWN gunmen, suspected to be assassins, Wednesday night, sneaked into the residence of an Egba Chief, Oluwo of Ikanna, Chief Moses Oyebade, at Ago-Oba area of Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, and shot him dead.

Vanguard gathered that the late Egba chief, who marked his 75th birthday in Lagos two weeks ago, was reportedly shot several times through the window of his bedroom at 12a.m., while he was asleep.

It was further gathered that Chief Oyebade was the only occupant in his house at the time of the incident.

It was learned that other chiefs at Ikanna reported the case at Ibara Police Station, which prompted the police to race to the house, forced the door open and took the remains of Chief Oyebade to the mortuary.

Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, told Vanguard that the assailants left a note before they exited the scene.

Adejobi said: “We have a case of murder at hand: Apena of Ikanna, Chief Moses Oyebade.

Some men went to his residence, broke his window and shot him at 12a.m.

Note

“We have examined the place and recovered a note, which contained a message written in English and Yoruba languages. ‘’The content read: ‘Useless man.

Oni dokudo (promiscuous).’

“From preliminary investigation, it could be a case of assassination. We will invite some people for interrogation.

“State Police Commissioner, Valentine Ntomchukwu, has directed that the case be transferred to Department of Criminal Investigation.

“The perpetrators would not go scot free. The commissioner of police sympathises with the family, even the Kabiyesi, Alake of Egbaland, has spoken to us from London.”

Meanwhile, the first son of the deceased, Oluyemi Oyebade, said he got the news through a phone call from a brother of his in the early hours of Wednesday.

The son, resident in Benin, said he had earlier been informed of unknown persons, who used to trail his late father.

Son’s story

He said gunmen had, on two

occasions, visited the house but could not gain access into the building, which must have made them shoot his father through the window this time.

He said: “My father was sleeping in his bedroom. The bed is close to the window. As the glass was broken, he woke up to see what happened.

“He took his torch to see who was there. That was how he was shot. The first gunshot hit his hand, which was seriously damaged. Maybe when he was still struggling, they shot him again. I guess they shot him three times.”

yourselves neighbours and none of you could even come out to assist?

“It is just unfortunate. If I have my way, I think everybody in the neighbourhood should be arrested and investigated.

“Can these people who are very close say they did not know something happened here? I am beginning to suspect that there are accomplices within the neighbourhood.”

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—POLICE in Lagos have arrested Haruna Shakiru, a 20-yearold member of a three-man robbery gang, which had been terrorising residents of Igando, a Lagos suburb, and its environs.

The bandits normally attack commuters in the early hours of the day, snatching bags, money and other valuables.

Although the other two gang members are at large, Haruna was intercepted by men of the vigilante group, while the gang was operating at Ifelodun Bus Stop in the area.

He was handed over to the police at Igando, who subsequently transferred him to Lagos State Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Haruna, who hails from Ogun State, said: “I live at 2, Abolaji Street Egan, Igando. I also work as a furniture maker there.

“It was my friend, Kehinde, who introduced me into robbery. I started operating with him this year. He told me it was a very profitable way of life.

“We operated more at the bus stops between 4:30a.m. and 5:30a.m. We always hijack motorcycles for each operation. Kehinde also bought the two guns we use for operation.”

Haruna Shakiru.

60-yr-old woman accused over alleged N1.7m fraud

By Dayo Johnson

... blames neighbours

Oluyemi, however, expressed displeasure that none of his father’s neighbours could come out after his murderers had left, to assist his father who he believed might have lived if he had got help early.

He said: “The funniest part of it was that when that incident occurred, nobody came to his rescue. If you look at that room, the blood on the floor was more than what you see in an abattoir.

“It means he struggled till death, while the neighbours could not assist him; they pretended they did not know what happened.

“How can you be living in an environment where you call

20-yr-old arrested for robbery

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KURE—AN Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered that 60 years old Mrs. Kate Njoku be remanded in prison custody for alleged fraud.

Mrs Njoku was docked on a five-count charge of forgery before the court sitting at OkeEda in Akure, Ondo State.

The prosecutor, Superintendent of Police Adejuwon Akinpelumi, said the offence was contrary to Sections 464(C) and punishable under Section 467(2)(g) of the Criminal Code, cap 37, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

Akinpelumi, while testifying before the court, said the

offence was committed on May 19 and June 9 at Union Bank Plc, Akure.

According to him, the accused falsely represented herself as Iroha M. A. before the cashiers of Union Bank Plc with a forged withdrawal slip of the same bank with intent to defraud the bank.

The prosecutor added that Njoku was arrested when she fraudulently converted N1,678,000 to her own use, being the money entrusted in the care of Union Bank Plc. Presiding magistrate, Sunday Adedapo, ordered that the accused be remanded in Olokuta prison custody and adjourned the case till June 22.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

RAMADAN: Drop your arms, embrace peace, Buhari, PDP tell Boko Haram

By Henry Umoru & Ben Agande

A

BUJA— AS Muslims in Nigeria joined their counterparts in the world to commence spiritual rejuvenation through the Ramadan fast, President Muhammadu Buhari and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday appealed to Boko Haram terrorists to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

The President, in a message to mark this year’s Ramadan period, signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, urged “the perpetrators of violence and destruction in the name of Islam all over the world to desist from tarnishing the name of the religion.”

According to the President, “as we make collective efforts to bring to a permanent end the menace of the Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin countries, let me use this auspicious occasion to appeal to our misguided brothers to drop their arms, embrace peace and seek a better understanding of Islam during this holy period and beyond.”

He implored Muslims to seek maximum benefits from the Ramadan period “by being helpful to all manner of people, learning and following the true message of the religion as taught by the Holy Prophet.”

He also called on Nigerians to pray for the return of peace, love and prosperity throughout the country.

Retrace your steps, PDP urges insurgents

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, called on those behind the insurgency ravaging parts of the country to use the Ramadan as a turning point to retrace their steps, quit the life of violence and live in peace with other citizens.

The PDP also urged Nigerians to use the holy month to reposition their hearts and rededicate to the virtues of love, peace and tolerance as epitomized in the life and teachings of Holy Prophet Mohammed.

According to PDP, political office holders at all levels across the country should use the period to reflect on the enormous responsibility vested on them and ensure that they rededicate themselves to the service of the people for which God will hold them accountable.

The party noted that though Nigeria has been blessed with abundant human and natural resources, it can only realise its full potential if the citizens jettison all forms of bitterness, division and violence and work together in love

as one people.

Metuh said: “The holy month offers Nigerians a wonderful opportunity to draw from God, regenerate their souls while making room in their hearts for forgiveness, unity and peaceful co-existence upon which the nation is built.”

The party urged Nigerians to allow their souls to feed from the blessings of Ramadan and continue to pray and work towards the unity and prosperity of the country for the good of all.

FCTA congratulates

Muslims

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has also urged Muslims to pray for the country and her leadership and congratulated the Muslim faithful nationwide, particularly those resident in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on the commencement of fasting in this holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement yesterday, the FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu, who enjoined them to pray for the country and her leadership, said Ramadan fast forms one of the five pillars of Islam and admonished residents to use the holy month of

Ramadan for spiritual rededication, reflection and spread the spirit of love, selflessness, sacrifice, patience and modesty amongst residents, neighbors and Nigerians in general.

The Permanent Secretary who used the opportunity to call for peaceful co-existence amongst residents of the Federal Capital Territory, stressed that all residents have a stake in the project Abuja and the nation, reiterating that only through peace and stability would the FCT and indeed the entire country achieve sustainable development in all spheres.

INSPECTION: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (2nd left); Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello (2nd right), General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Babatunde Edu (right) and Managing Director, Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority, Mr. Folarin Coker during the inspection tour of traffic points in the state at Oworonsoki, Lagos, yesterday.

Buhari must rescue solid mineral sector from cabal — Ekozin

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari must rescue the solid minerals sector from the cabal that has held it hostage for nearly two decades, if the new administration is to unleash that industry’s huge potentials.

The President of the Progressive Miners’ Empowerments Association, Mr. Sunny Ekozin, made the call at a press conference, in Abuja, yesterday.

According to him, “one of the major challenges of the sector has been that a cabal has taken that industry hostage and has disallowed it to develop enough to make the appropriate contributions to the economy of the nation.

“This cabal has been responsible for deceiving successive governments in the past and has pocketed various funds provided by the Federal Government and development

partners, including the World Bank. Rather than developing the sector, those involved have only enriched themselves at the detriment of the miners and the solid minerals sector.”

Ekozin declined to name members of the cabal but said that many of them were those who occupied various government offices with the mandate to develop the sector in the interests of the Nigerian economy.

Some of those holding down the sector, he revealed, had allocated to themselves as many as 100 to 200 mining licences which they then hawk through cronies, while denying genuine miners access to the fields.

He said contrary to the claims by some stakeholders in the industry, funding was not the problem of the sector, as according to him, several hundreds of billions of Naira had been released by both the Federal Government and development

partners but that only about N1.7 billion had been realised by the Federal Government in terms of royalties over more than 20 years.

The Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, puts the figure at about N2.2 billion.

Ekozin described the situation in the sector as akin a situation that required emergency actions on the part of President Buhari, if he was to realise the change he promised Nigerians in his campaign.

The Progressive Miners’ Empowerment Association boss said the sector provided lowhanging fruits from where the new administration could realise N1 trillion annually if President Buhari paid it the deserved personal attention as the Nigerian constitution has vested the administration of solid minerals on the President of the federation.

PDP'll regain power at the centre in 2019 —Mimiko

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE — GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and newly elected Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, yesterday said the party had commenced the process of regaining power at the centre in 2019.

Mimiko said this during a mini reception organised in his honour at the Akure airport on his return from Abuja where he was elected Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum.

He said the forum was determined to give the PDP a new face as the opposition party and stressed that the party’s engagement would be robust and would also offer alternative policy platform and programmes for the country.

The PDP Governors’ Forum chairman maintained that the governors have resolved collectively to work assiduously and excel in governance with a view to re-branding the party and selling it to Nigerians.

He appreciated his fellow governors for the confidence reposed in him, saying that the recognition is humbly and very challenging at the crucial time when the party has transited from being a ruling party after 16 years to mindset of opposition party.

Speaking on the PDP in Ondo State, the governor said the party had reached an appreciable level of repositioning, adding that the party is overwhelmingly in charge in the state.

He said: “We must sustain enthusiasm in our party and as governors, who have pivotal roles to play in re-branding our party, we must show in governance term the difference between us and the APC and these are the challenges ahead of us."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—9

Buhari set to move into Aso Villa as firm completes renovation To announce some appointments next week As Fashola, Fayemi, others fine-tune 800-page report for take-off

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA — AFTER spending nearly three weeks in the saddle, President Muhammadu Buhari is set to move into the Presidential Villa and commence serious business of governance next week, a competent Presidency source confirmed to Vanguard.

Since being declared winner of the 2015 Presidential election, Buhari has been operating from the Defence House in Maitama and has been conducting official business of government from there, having taken over the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2015 from former President Goodluck Jonathan.

But authoritative Presidency sources told Vanguard that Buhari was set to move into the Presidential Villa before the end of the week and might also name the first set of top government officials to kick-start the administration, which has witnessed a lull in the last three weeks.

Vanguard learnt that the President was ready to move from Defence House to the Villa possibly early next week following completion of renovation of the President’s residence by the company which handled the project.

“It is true that the construction company has completed the President’s wing and he is set to move in any moment from now.

As at today, it is only the Vice President’s residence that is yet to be fully completed.

“We expect that the two men will move into the villa by next week since the work in the Vice President’s apartment is not a serious one,” an official in the Presidency explained to Vanguard.

The source explained that Buhari was set to begin naming some key officials of his government as soon as he moves into the Villa to prepare the grounds for the take off of serious work for Nigerians who have been expecting action from the administration.

Fashola, Fayemi, others fine-tune 800-page report As a prelude to setting up his administration, Buhari has reportedly handed over the 800-page Transition Committee Report to a trusted team of his associates, headed by former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; former Ekiti governor, Kayode Fayemi and others to reduce into a sizable and workable document.

Fashola is being tipped to emerge as Chief of Staff to the President because of his pedigree as a former Chief of Staff, governor and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

An impeccable source said that it was Buhari who instructed that after all others had completed working on transition report, they should hand over the voluminous document to Fashola to reduce into an implementable format for him to read and take

necessary actions.

The source said: “Hopefully, from next week, some appointments would be announced. Buhari is a fast reader and he will be able to take immediate actions based on the transition report."

A member of the Buhari Transition Committee, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, confirmed to Vanguard that the final report presented to the president last week was a comprehensive document meant to guide him in taking

decisions as to the shape and nature of his administration to bring about the needed change in the country.

The member said that what they presented to the President was more of a blueprint and how best to go about it in order to bring the country out of the woods.

The member said: “The final report is very rich and we believe it will help Mr. President in putting a solid structure of his government and give him policy direction as well.”

VISIT:

From left: Mr. Adrian Mucalov, Director, Actis, United Kingdom; Mr. Oti Ikomi, Executive Vice-Chairman, Proton Energy and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during a courtesy visit on the Vice President by Proton Energy, in Abuja, yesterday.

Economy in great danger —Dogara

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA — SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, yesterday painted a gloomy picture of the nation’s economy, saying the economy was in great danger.

The speaker, who decried the bad state of the economy when a delegation of Bauchi State People led by the Deputy Governor, Nuhu Gidado, visited him to congratulate him on his emergence, said what it required was for him and other leaders to dig into their inner resources of energy to confront the problem.

He said: “We are coming into power at a time when there is problem with our

economy. So, we have to do everything in our power to confront the problem.”

He also said that the North-East geopolitical zone has remained the most devastated zone in the country and needed the coming together of its leaders in pursuit of peace for its development.

Dogara told the delegation comprising government officials, traditional rulers, the academia and federal lawmakers that he was planning to meet all his colleagues in the Green Chamber to plan for international donor conference for the development of the region, adding: “By God’s grace, we shall see the development of the region.”

Although he said that he was sorry the way and manner his election took

place, he said that he was thankful to God and Nigerians who stood by him for the position to come to Bauchi State.

He commended his kinsmen for the solidarity and told them: “If I have integrity today, if I have honour today, if I have character today, I did not pick it on the street, I learned it in Bauchi.By your collective leadership, you have produced a leader from Bauchi State.”

Speaking earlier, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Nuhu Gidado, who said they were mandated by the state government to pay the courtesy visit, described Dogara as a dogged and worthy son of the state who has made them proud.

He expressed optimism that the speaker would deliver the dividend of democracy not only to Nigerians but also to the people of Bauchi State.

BOKO HARAM: No Chadian air strikes in Nigerian territory —Defence Hqtrs

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HE Defence Headquarters, yesterday, faulted the claim by Chadian military sources that they have conducted air strikes against six terrorist camps in Nigeria The Nigerian military, in a statement signed

by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information (DDI) said: “The fact is that the Nigerian Air Force surveillance mission identified targets tagged as Camp 6 around Bosso town, which is not within Nigeria’s territory and alerted the partners accordingly.

"The places reported to have been struck by the Chadians are, therefore, most likely to be in Niger Republic and not Nigeria as widely reported in the international media.

“Although the terms of the multilateral and bilateral understanding with partners in the war against terror allow some degree of hot pursuit against the terrorists, the territory of Nigeria has not been violated as insinuated in the reports circulated in some foreign media.

“The Nigerian military will continue to cooperate with partners in the mission to exterminate or contain terrorists strictly in conformity with existing terms of the Concept of Operation at strategic, operational or tactical levels.

"It is, however, important that issues are accurately reported while avoiding misleading or u n n e c e s s a r y sensationalism from any quarter.”

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Fayose, Ekiti APC bicker over alleged N720m pay arrears

By Dapo Akinrefon

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HE Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday disagreed over the alleged award of N720 million as payment arrears of the governor’s unfinished first term.

While the party described the governor’s alleged conduct as selfish and callous “for a governor who calls himself a friend of the masses”, Governor Fayose faulted APC’s allegation, saying the party has promoted falsehood to the level of a trade.

The Ekiti APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement maintained that the governor had not paid workers and pensioners since September 2014.

The party said Fayose’s claim that he was friend of workers and poor masses was untenable.

Olatubosun described as shameful and heartless the governor’s refusal to pay statutory pensions benefit to Ekiti elders, which is not more than N5,000 each for many of them, who have meritoriously served the state.

He also berated the Fayose administration for terminating the social security scheme initiated by the former governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, noting that “many of the pensioners who have no children to take care of them have started dying.”

The party’s spokesperson said “though he admitted he is owing only May salary as if he has any excuse to owe Ekiti workers for one day, as we write, over 10,000 Ekiti workers are yet to receive April salary. This is because not all workers he claimed to have paid have actually received their salaries.”

He, however, argued that “what he (Fayose) has been doing is to pay 10 out of 300 workers in a ministry and then goes to town with his propagandists that he has fully paid.”

He said “only last week, he electronically paid N13m into the accounts of each of the 16 local governments and collected the cash back from the council chairmen for purported joint projects like he did in his fraudulent poultry project in 2004.

“We are asking Fayose once again what he is doing with all the monies he saved from the empowerment programmes he cancelled. We also want to know where election contract deductions of N650 million monthly are going. Who are the beneficiaries? Are they more important than Ekiti workers?”

Continuing, he wondered “who

are actually his friends among the masses in all these after displacing market women from their stalls and taking Ekiti youths from Fayemi’s empowerment programmes?”

On the detection of 1,000 ghost workers following the latest staff auditing, Olatubosun said it “was a fraud”.

He also argued that the staff audit was a “ploy to sack workers whose termination of appointment letters were being compiled for mass sack “and we wonder when ghosts started receiving letters.”

Ekiti APC has turned falsehood to a trade – Fayose In his reaction, the governor accused the APCof turning falsehood to a trade.

Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi said “from all indications, the APC in Ekiti State

has promoted falsehood to the level of a trade, and we pity the party and its lying leaders.”

Adelusi explained that “Governor Fayose left office on October 16, 2006, eight months to the end of his tenure and Ekiti State had three governors within that period. Does it then make any sense that the same Fayose would come back eight years after to approve payment already made to three governors after him for himself?”

Speaking further, he said “let’s even assume that the eight months salary is to be paid, is the monthly salary of a governor more than N1m? How then does N1m per month equal N720m in eight months?”

Accusing the party of promoting falsehood, he said “Severance Allowance is 300 percent of annual basic salary and the basic salary of a governor is not more than N2m. So can N2m in three places be equal to N720m?.”

G B E N G A DANIEL IN COURT: From left; Former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Professor Taiwo Osinpitan and Mr Akin Osinbajo discussing after adjournment of trial of corruption charges leveled against the former governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in Isabo High Court 3, Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo by Wumi Akinola.

UNPAID SALARIES: Osun PDP warns of looming crises

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—FROM Osun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday came a warning that the state may be plunged into serious security crises, if salaries are not paid within seven days.

This is just as the party warned the governor’s aides against insulting people that are making efforts to bail the state out of the “quagmire”, Governor Aregbesola had already admitted the state is in.

The PDP, in a statement issued in Osogbo by the party’s Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said from all indications, the June 30 deadline for the payment of salaries by Aregbesola, rath-

Resign now, LAUTECH doctors tell gov er than solving the problem, is heightening tension among residents.

According to him, the situation was not helped by the demands of Ramadan period and urged Ogbeni Aregbesola to ensure workers are paid by 21st of June to stem rising tension among the residents.

The PDP said: “We have rightly been informed that crime rate is on the rise, no thanks to the economic crises Ogbeni has plunged the state into. Many more people are taking to crime because of cash crunch.

“And despite the concerted efforts by the police that have resulted in arrests, these crim-

inals can not be kept for more than 24hours because courts are under lock.”

Making reference to the reply of Osun State Government to the tweet by Senator Ben MurrayBruce, who announced donation of his wardrobe allowance to unpaid Osun workers, the PDP said Aregbesola risks people's revolt because of insulting replies to those that are willing to bail the pauperised Osun people out of claw of hunger.

Aregbesola should resign – LAUTECH doctors Meantime, resident doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH, Teaching Hospital, Osogbo yesterday

joined their voices with those asking Governor Aregbesola to resign if he fails to pay their salaries on or before the end of this month.

The doctors who staged a protest outside their hospital, stated that Aregbesola’s administration has overstretched their patience over the non-payment of their salaries for several months.

The president of the association Olalekan Ajayi said; “We are here for just a very simple but very complicated issue. We have not been paid for the past eight months. And since then, we have been lobbying and appealing to the government to help but till date we have not been paid.

Lagos CJ frees 16 Ikoyi prison inmates

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HE Chief Judge (CJ) of Lagos State, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, yesterday freed 16 inmates of the Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos.

Although, the number of inmates that were expected to regain freedom was 26 but 10 had left Ikoyi Prisons following the striking out of the charge brought against them.

Among those released are Taye Somolu, Osita Nwadiobi, Dauda Adio, Umaru Abdullahi, Bayo Abiodun, Bashiru Isa, Kenneth Ezenwa, Michael Effiong, Mohammed Ali, Tijani Joseph, Ogbonna Anayo, Richard John and Ponny Chirdap.

DSS to pay N1m fine over cleric’s illegal detention

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—A Federal High Court sitting in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital has ordered the Department of State Security to pay one million Naira over illegal detention of an Islamic cleric, Abdul-Ganiyy Ibrahim-Jimoh.

The court also ordered immediate release of the cleric who had been in custody of DSS for almost a year, declaring his arrest as unconstitutional, illegal and abuse of his human rights.

Delivering the judgement yesterday in a case brought to the court by the Prisoners Right Advocacy Initiative (PRAI), Justice Folake Ogunbanjo held that the continuous detention of the applicant since 5th July, 2014 without trial is against the provisions of the constitution.

The cleric, alongside his pregnant wife, Muinat Ibrahim - Jimoh were arrested in his IjokoOta residence by security operatives but were later found in the custody of of the DSS at the Ogun State headquarters.

The wife who was released last September when her Expected Delivery Date, EDD was approaching was the one who gave information on the whereabouts of her husband.

Both the Director-General of DSS and the Attorney General of the Federation, were joined as 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively in the case with suit number FHC/AB/C8/84/2014.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 11

LAGOS TRAFFIC: Ambode assesses flashpoints, relocates bus terminals

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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A G O S—GOVER NOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday, visited some of the major traffic flaspoints in the metropolis, stating that his administration will provide solutions to traffic snarls in the state just as he approved the construction of a pedestrian bridge at Ojodu Berger Bus Stop.

The Governor, who spoke at Dopemu in Agbado OkeOdo Local Council Development Area, after the inspection, said he decided to carry out the personal assessment to get a first hand experience of what the situation is.

“We’ve been to 3rd Mainland, Oworonshoki, Ketu, Abule-Egba, Alimosho and Mile 12.

‘’That’s not the end of the story. We’re still going to Apapa and Mile 2. The truth is that we must start to have solutions to our traffic challenges in the state and that’s what we are doing.

“I have here with me, heads of agencies that are concerned with the traffic situation. I like them to speak to you directly and let you know that we are together as a team, you are going to start seeing solutions to the traffic challenges soon.

“It’s not enough for us to stay in our offices believing that we can find solutions to the traffic challenges of the state. So, we decided to go round to see how we can improve on the worsening traffic. ‘’What we have done in the last three hours is to

show that we are greatly concerned about the traffic gridlock that we have been experiencing in the last few months”, the Governor said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna.

Speaking further on the pedestrian bridge at Berger, the governor said “We have seen that Berger needs a foot bridge and immediately the engineers are going to go to work and we will make sure that we put something there. ‘’In addition to the footbridge, the state government would also ensure that it makes the road free at all times, because whatever happens there, will have a backlash on the 3rd Mainland bridge which can even extend to the Oworonshoki end,’’ the governor said.

14 foreigners lose bid to stop bunkering charge

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, dismissed the preliminary objection by the 14 foreign nationals, who are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful dealing and storage of petroleum products without lawful authority.

The accused persons had challenged the juris-

diction of the court to hear the charge.

Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba in his ruling, said that the accused were charged under the Miscellenous Offences Act which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had powers to institute proceedings.

The court added that the charge was instituted on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, noting that EFCC

NPA promises quick-fix on deplorable access roads

By Ifeyinwa Obi

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ORRIED by de plorable state of access roads into the Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa and Tincan Island Port, the General Manager, Western Ports of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Chief Michael Ajayi, has promised to liaise with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to immediately provide palliatives on the roads.

The Western Ports boss who led a delegation of management staff, among whom were the acting Ports Manager, Apapa Ports, Abdulrahman Lamina and Ports Manager, Tincan Island Ports, Babatunde Longe, during a two-day familiarization tour to the nine private terminal operators in both seaports, expressed concern over the frustration faced by port users daily.

Ajayi, said that the idea of

pouring rubble on the access roads was no longer tenable, as they get washed by rains and grounded to zero by the impact of trucks and tankers.

“This usually takes us to level zero, as if nothing is done to ease the frustrations of the terminal operators who are our customers,” he said.

had powers to represent Nigeria in any economic or criminal matter, more so that the accused had taken their plea without any objection.

“The instant case is not an abuse of court proceedings, the accused has a case to answer and the court has jurisdiction to entertain the case, I hereby dismiss the objection and adjourn the case till June 19, for trial,” Buba said.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Babajide Koku, SAN, had argued that the accused were not carrying out any illegal activity on Nigeria’s territorial waters.

The accused are: Three Russians — Arthur Pakhladzhian, Vasaliy Shkundich and Kretov Andrey; Sergio Abgarian (Japanese); and Vitalis Biluos, Laguta Olesksiy and Chepikov Oleksan, all Ukrainians; Britons — Hilarion Teofilo Regipor JR, Cadavis Gerardo, Baduria Benjamin, Naranjo Allian Antero JR, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Carantiquit Micheal Bryan.

De-flooding: Lagos opens dedicated phone-line

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS State Government has released a dedi cated telephone number - 08099183777 for residents to reach relevant authorities whenever there is flood related issues in their streets, neighbourhood and highways as part of efforts to reduce incidences of flooding in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Ayodeji Adenekan disclosed this yesterday, emphasizing that the state government would not relent on its efforts towards achieving a flood free Lagos.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Air Force bombards kidnappers' hideouts in CRiver, A-Ibom

By Emma Una

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ALABAR—NIGERIAN Air Force plane, M9 24 gunship, has in the last three days been bombarding the creeks of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states used as hideouts by sea criminals and kidnappers.

Air Commodore Charles Ohwo, Commander, 207 Mobility Group, told Vanguard, yesterday, that the air campaign targeting the creeks was in response to the increasing wave of criminal activities in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States where the criminals were cashing in on the difficulty in accessing the areas by turning the creeks to their hide-out and operational base.

He said several kidnap incidents had taken place in Cross River State in the recent past, including the attack on Marine Police Station at the Inyang Edem Beach on Sunday night.

He said: “The increasing wave of crime along the Cross River and Akwa Ibom waterways prompted the Chief of Naval Staff, Air Marshall Adesola Amosu, through the Commander of 207 Mobility, Air Vice Marshal F. B. Nyoyoko, to instruct the 207 Mobility Group

to deploy M9 24 gunship to bombard the creeks to rid the area of these hoodlums.”

Commodore Ohwo said that the exercise has so far recorded successes as some criminal hideouts had been hit, adding that the bombardment will be a continuous exercise to completely rid the creeks of sea

criminals.

“The Air Force is willing and ready to deploy its speed and mobility advantage to carry out continuous raids on these criminal hideouts and operational bases around the Cross River and Akwa Ibom waterways extending to Bayelsa State,” he said.

He added that the exercise has been in cooperation with the police, army and navy, pointing out that another aircraft, M1 17 will soon be deployed to boost the capacity of the mobility group in bombarding the criminal hideouts.

AGM: From left: Mr Victor Banjo, Director General/CEO, Institute of Directors, Nigeria; Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi, President/Chairman of Council and Mr Yemi Akeju, first Vice President, Institute of Directors, Nigeria, at the 31st Annual General Meeting of Institute of Directors, Nigeria, in lagos yesteday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Okotie-Eboh wasn't expelled from APC —Eyengho

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—THE Chief Adolo OkotieEboh-led faction of the troubled All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, yesterday, said that Okotie-Eboh was not expelled from the party, accusing the Prophet Jones Erue-led faction of representing the carcasses of various moribund and failed political structures in the state.

Spokesman of the Okotie-Eboh faction, Alex Eyengho, while reacting to a statement credited to Mr. Jesutega Onokpasa, an APC chieftain in the Erue camp, insisted that Okotie-Eboh faction represents the “soul of the party in the state.”

Eyengho said: “Our attention was drawn to a media statement credited to one Jesutega Onokpasa, who claimed to be an APC chieftain in Delta State. He said Chief Okotie-Eboh has been expelled from the party for dragging the party to court. He also claimed that the hitherto executive of the party led by Prophet Erue, which was on April 30, 2015 dissolved and described as illegal by Justice Obi

of Delta State High Court, Asaba, had since appealed the judgment.

“We thank God that Onokpasa was smart enough not to deny the valid judgment delivered by Justice Obi. It may be beneficial to inform him that until Justice Obi reverses his

judgment, a stay of execution of the judgment granted and or a higher (appeal) court nullifies the judgment in its entirety, the position of the law is that there is no state executive body of APC in Delta State as at today.

“Let me reiterate that

there is a subsisting court judgment which has sacked the executive from office and indeed ordered for a fresh congress to elect new and substantive executive for APC in Delta State. Until that is done, anybody that parade his or herself as

Chairman, Secretary or any other position in a non-existent APC Delta State executive body is doing so in gross violation and disobedience to a valid and subsisting court judgment, and thus liable to be committed to prison for contempt of court."

Omatseye admitted as Academy Fellow

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NFLUENTIAL columnist and chairman of the editorial board of The Nation newspaper, Sam Omatseye, has been admitted as Honorary Fellow of the prestigious Nigerian Academy of letters, NAL. In a letter by the NAL secretary, Professor Olutayo Adesina, the Academy stated that the multiple award columnist received the honour”in recognition of the contributions you made in your field of specialisation."

Omatseye said he felt honoured for the recognition, adding: “I will try my best to always live up to the highest ideals that inspired this laurel.”

The decision was reached by the executive council of NAL at a meeting on May 27.

“The decision carries with it the responsibilities of full participation in the activities of the Academy,” Professor Adesina said .

The investiture will take place on August 13, in the Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos.

Omatseye writes a weekly column, and has won several awards, including the Nigerian Media Merit Award for columnist of the year three times as well as the Diamond Award for Media Excellence also three times. He has also won laurels in journalism in the United States and Canada.

Edo begins 2nd phase of gully erosion project in 10 communities

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—EDO State Government has commenced the second phase of its gully erosion remediation

project at 10 erosion sites in the three senatorial districts of the state.

State Commissioner for Environment and Utilities, Prince Clem

Agba, made the disclosure at an interactive session between officials of the World Bank, the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management

Project, NEWMAP and representatives of the communities affected by the erosion in Benin C i t y, yesterday.

Mr. Sam Omatseye

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—13

Fresh oil spill in Bayelsa community set ablaze

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—A fresh oil spill site along Agip’s Ossiama-Ogboinbiri Pipeline in Okpotuwari community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has been set ablaze by unknown persons.

Though the cause of the spill could not be ascertained, community sources told Vanguard that the inferno was noticed Tuesday night by community folk.

According to community sources, the spill site is some distance away from another one that was clamped on April 23, 2015.

The acting Paramount ruler of Okpotuwari community, Moses Tiger, who spoke to the Environmental Rights Action, ERA, Field Coordinator in the state, Alagoa Morris, said: “We

have already informed Agip about this fresh spill but they are yet to visit the site.

“Although I have not personally gone to see the spill myself, I was informed by some youths I sent to check that crude oil was gushing out seriously and is spreading and impacting the whole surrounding. From what I was told, the spill point is very close to the spill site

clamped in April this year.

Incidentally, I heard the fresh spill site is on fire now and I can see a think column of smoke rising from the site.

“I am still appealing that Agip should come and stop the current spill/fire and clean up every trace of crude oil from our land, including the last one.

The environment is of great importance to us.”

Also speaking, Mr. Tontiemotei Yeiyei, Project Officer of Ondewari Health Education and Environmental Project, OHEEP, a Community Based Organisation, said “The smoke from spill sites is very unhealthy as we depend on rain water and the river for drinking and even bathing and other domestic/economic activities."

A-Ibom lawmakers flay advertising on school walls

By Chioma Onuegbu

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YO—MEMBERS of the sixth Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly have condemned the way corporate organisations operating in the state deface the walls of public schools in the state with advertisements of their products.

The house, during its plenary yesterday, passed a resolution restraining further defacing of public schools in the state, though the members representing Mbo and Eket state constituencies disagreed with the position of their colleagues.

The other 24 members of the Assembly, however, were in favour of the motion to stop corporate organisations from defacing school walls with their adverts.

The resolution, which was passed with the Speaker, Aniekan Uko, presiding, read: “All corporate bodies and business concerns operating in the state should invest in the future of our children by building school blocks, libraries and laboratories instead of hiding under the guise of painting as part of their corporate social responsibility.”

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LITERACY DAY: From left: Mrs Jane Uzoukwu, teacher, Vivian Fowler Memorial Girls College Ikeja; 1st prize winner of the debate, Miss Tomi Famadewa, student; Miss Praise Oluwarinu, student, and Mr Solomon Ashiuegbu, teacher at Cayley College Ikeja, during the Literacy day 2015 at Cayley College, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

We didn't inherit N7bn in Rivers —Wike

By Jimitota Onoyume

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OVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday, dismissed claims by the previous government in the state that it left N7 billion in the state’s account.

Wike, yesterday, shortly after signing a memorandum of understanding with Julius Berger and CCECC for the rehabilitation of 33 kilometres of roads in Port Harcourt, said the state’s account was in debit

as at May 29 when he assumed office.

According to him, the brief from the state’s Accountant General showed that only one revenue account with Sterling Bank had credit.

“I want to say in good authority that we did not meet N7 billion as being speculated. The state’s account as at May 29 was in debit. That was the briefing I received from the state Accountant-General,” he said.

He explained that the construction firms were to ensure that they delivered their jobs within 120 days, adding that it was part of realizing his operation zero pot-holes in the state.

He said Julius Berger was to handle 11 kilometres of the road with street and traffic lights while CCECC will handle 20 kilometers.

He added that N10 billion was secured from Zenith Bank to fund the road project.

435 fired Rivers Poly staff beg Wike for not do this to us,” they reinstatement Some of the disengaged should pleaded.

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT—THE 435 staff of Rivers State Polytechnic disengaged by the state government on Monday, have appealed to well meaning Rivers people to prevail on the state government to reverse the decision.

Jekey Lekue, Basil Ujobolo and Grace Ikue, who spoke to newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday, on behalf of the workers enjoined Governor Nyesom Wike to stick to his promise in his inaugural speech on May 29 to give hope to people of the state.

workers said they were at home for close to five years after graduation before they got the job, adding that some others even resigned from their previous employments to take up the poly appointment.

They said that they supervised the last examination in the school this month before their termination came up on Monday.

“We are calling on well meaning Rivers people to do justice to this issue. We beg Rivers people to step in. Governor Wike gave the state hope on May 29. We have already been captured in the data base of the state. Our governor

Meantime, Governor Wike, yesterday, disbanded the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Agency, TIMARiV, an action that has further plunged no fewer than 50 indigenes of the state into the labour market.

In a related development, Governor Wike has dissolved the governing councils of all state owned tertiary institutions. They include those of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Ignatius Ajuru University, Rivers State College of Arts and Science, School of Nursing and Midwifery as well as Rivers State Polytechnic.

Witnesses reluctant to testify at Edo polls tribunal

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ENIN—INDICATIONS have emerged that witnesses relied upon by immediate past Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Mr Samson Osagie, are reluctant to testify in his election petition before the tribunal sitting in Benin City.

Osagie is at the tribunal challenging the declaration of Matthew Urhoghide of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as duly elected senator for Edo South senatorial sistrict of the state.

Osagie, who contested on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, eventually lost to Senator Urhoghide in a keen contest that was generally believed to be free and fair.

The election also witnessed several cancellations of the process at several polling units across the state as a result of protests by Osagie, which the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, acted on by ordering fresh elections in the wards Osagie had complained about.

After re-runs in the wards where INEC cancelled elections, Urhoghide was declared

by INEC as the duly elected senator, having scored the highest number of valid votes in the seven local government areas making up Edo South.

As a result, Osagie approached the tribunal, challenging Urhoghide’s election, but sources at the tribunal explained that APC agents were reluctant to come forward to testify in favour of Osagie at the tribunal as they do not want to “speak at variance with results that they signed in the field.”

An APC supervisor, who does not want his name mentioned, claimed that he was approached to come forward to deny his signature but he refused for fear that he may be arrested. Some political leaders, however, blamed the troubled APC National Assembly primaries, which caused factions in the party as the major reason for the defeat of majority of APC candidates at the April polls.

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

COMMEMORATION: From left, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, his deputy, Alhaja Idiat Adebule, Chief of Staff, Mr. Olukunle Ojo, and Mr. Saheed Adebule, during the first Tarawiy prayer, organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture to commemorate the commencement of Ramadan, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos.

RAMADAN TALK Begin your ibadah on a good note As-salam Alaikum waramotullai, wa barakatuh E PRAISE Allah for being part of those who will observe this Ramadan. Many had wished to observe this month, but they have not got the grace to be alive today while many others have also not got the wherewithal to observe it. Alhamdullilah.

A good way to start your ibadaah is by adhering to your earlier plan to make the best out of the month in terms of worship. But if you have not clearly mapped out plans, then the very good way to start is to earmark four to five hours of you day to Quran recitation, attending tafsir and doing zhikr. Again, about the same four to five hours of your night for tahjud and sahoor. You can then manage the remaining 14 to 16 hours for your daily activities, regular salat, Tarawih and sleep.

One of the important part of the daily ibadaah this month is the Tarawih, it is part of Ramadan, endeavour not to miss it.

Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs of two and can be prayed in at least 10 rak’ah. While some schools say the prayers should be 20, some say eight while some put it at 36. Without concerning ourselves with the details of these schools, suffice to say that Tarawih is a supererogatory prayer that is offered after Salat Isha’ a during Ramadan.

Like in all other supererogatory prayers, Tarawih is meant to make up for our less perfect obligatory prayers in the month of Ramadan. Scholars say the essence is to make every part of our prayers become perfect, just like we were taught how to fast without blemish.

Our prayers are so important that they shall be our first account to be rendered before Allah. In an authentic hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmithi, Abu-Dawud, AnNisai and others, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said: “The first of his actions for which a servant of Allah will be held accountable on the day of resurrection will be his prayers. If they are in order, then he will have prospered and succeeded; and if they were faulty, then he would have failed.

Bukhari and Muslim reported that the Prophet Muhammad said: “Whoever offers optional prayers like Tarawih prayers throughout the nights of Ramadan, believing in Allah and seeking His rewards, his previous sins will be forgiven.”

Tarawih can be performed individually at home or at the mosque.

If for some reason you cannot go to the mosque, you can pray Tarawih at home.

But it is better to observe Tarawih in the mosque behind Imam in congregation. All ibadah in the month of Ramadan are huge in their rewards and great before Allah.

Tarawih is one of them.

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CBN to stop forex sale to rice importers

By Babajide Komolafe & Jonah Nwokpoku

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HE CENTRAL Bank of Nigerian (CBN) as part of measures to conserve the nation’s foreign exchange reserves will soon stop rice importers from accessing dollars through the interbank foreign exchange market.

Indications to this effect emerged from a study by the staff of the bank on the production of rice in the country which showed glut in rice production due to lack of demand or off-takers for the product.

A source with the knowledge of the study, who spoke to Vanguard under anonymity, said: “Preliminary indications from reports of the staff’s importing meters until ones locally visit to Kebbi State are

By Franklin Alli & Favour very disturbing, to say the produced are exhausted.

Efughi Vanguard learned that the new tariffs least. In the last harvest ANUFACTURERS IN the which would have become effective season, farmers attained country, yesterday, voiced their from next month for commercial, very high yields of about anger over excessive billings by the industrial and residential consumers seven metric tonnes per distribution companies, DISCOs. are in the Multi-Year Tariff Order, hectare, whereas the average yield is about 4.5 Accordingly, Dr. Sam Amadi, the MYTO, 2.1 and spans 2015 to 2018.

Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity It was further learned that if metric tonnes per hectare.

“In the absence of offRegulatory Commission, NERC, told implemented it would have lead to rise the manufacturers in Lagos that the in energy charges. For, instance, Ikeja takers for this bumper Commission had suspended take-off of DISCO, energy charge for residential harvest, the state the new electricity tariffs until the consumers will rise from N13.61 kwh government indicated that they had invested DISCOs have adequately consulted to N14.96 per kwh on July 1, 2015. with industrial, commercial and The energy charge would further go about N800 million to residential consumers. up to N14.50 per kwh in 2016, N13.88 purchase over 180, 000 He disclosed that NERC had also per kwh in 2017 and N12.85 per kwh metric tonnes of rice for barred the DISCOs from further in 2018.

Similarly, for Eko storage from local DISCO, the fixed farmers, in order to DEPUTY SPEAKER: monthly charge for resi- encourage them to dential R2 category is continue farming.

“It is also noteworthy N750 in 2015, N900 in that in one of the major 2016, N1, 080 in 2017 and Speaker, N1, 296 in 2018. The rice-producing belts of the SABA—A Delta Deputy State Peoples stressing that this feat is energy charge will rise from state (including Jega and Democratic Party, PDP, a clear departure from N12.87 per kwh to N18.75 Yola-Augie), only 20 per chieftain, Mr. Michael the past where youthful per kwh, an increase of 45 cent of the 500,000 Tidi has commended members were relegated per cent, on July 1, 2015. hectares of land available Delta State House of to the background.

The energy charge will be for rice cultivation is being He thereafter urged the N18.01 per kwh in 2016, utilized at the moment.

Assembly members for “It is instructive that Kebbi electing Rt. Hon. Friday new assembly to partner N19.39 per kwh in 2017 Osanebi as Deputy with the government of and N16.42 per kwh in State is only one of nearly 20 states in the country that Speaker of the State Senator Okowa by 2018. promoting bills that Assembly.

Addressing, the can grow rice in commercial Osanebi (PDP – consider utilizing more manufacturers, who came quantity. While we await Ndokwa East) was young people in the from different parts of the the findings of the CBN unanimously elected as process of governance; country during staff visits to other states, Deputy Speaker of the lamenting how neglect of Manufacturers Association the results from Kebbi State youth in the commanding of 6th State Assembly.

Nigeria, MAN, alone make it difficult to Speaking to Vanguard, height of the State had interactive session with the understand why the shortly after the deepened poverty; Tidi NERC, the Chairman of the country is still depleting inauguration, Tidi stated said a quick rehabilitation Commission said it would her foreign exchange that Delta Youths are process should be put in not approved the reserves for importation of highly elated at the place to correct the implementation of the new rice when there is now emergence of Osanebi as challenge at hand. tariffs until the DISCOs ample and incontrovertible have followed due process evidence that we can of consultation with produce it locally.

“In view of the fact that consumers. the rice being produced in While acknowledging that the DISCOs are the country right now is of operating under difficult the highest global quality, conditions, Amadi said and there is still plenty of there is no justification for land for more cultivation, is the new tariffs, stressing: it not yet time for the CBN “Why should you increase to stop rice importers from tariffs if you can’t respond accessing the interbank to consumers’ complaints market and conserve the country ’s very limited and letters.” foreign exchange?”

Electricity: Manufacturers angry over excessive billings by DISCOs

.NERC suspends new tariffs, bars DISCOs from importing meters

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PDP chieftain lauds Delta lawmakers

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 —15

Abia APGA chairman suspended for anti-party activities —APGA

By Vincent Ujumadu

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VISIT: Governor Rochas Okorocha, and wife; Mr. Liu Khan, the Consul-General of China to Nigeria, and some members of business community in Imo State, during the of the Counsel-General to Government House, Owerri, yesterday.

CORRUPTION: EFCC arrests Ikedi

Ohakim, ex-Imo gov …as Lamido honours invitation over state funds

By Soni Daniel

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BUJA—FORMER Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, has been arrested by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged corruption while in office.

He was arrested around 8a.m. in his residence in Asokoro District of Abuja, yesterday, after failing to honour an invitation from the commission, Wednesday.

An official of the commission confirmed the arrest to Vanguard in a telephone interview, saying Ohakim was still being quizzed at the time of filing this story.

It was not clear if he would be allowed to go on bail.

Ohakim was arrested by agents of the commission to shed more light on alleged transfer of the

state’s funds to acquire choice property in many locations, a charge he flatly denied when confronted with the evidence.

The EFCC is said to be preparing charges against the former governor, having been convinced by the evidence provided by former key officials in his government, who were previously arrested and interrogated by the agency.

The arrest of Ohakim coincided with the summon extended to former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, to appear before the operatives of the commission to explain issues relating to alleged siphoning of state funds by him during his tenure.

Although EFCC did not ascribe any specific amount to Lamido, it accused the former governor of making some payments for jobs done to companies said to have

relationship with him and his family.

Lamido, who was abroad at the time the invitation was sent to him, quickly returned to Nigeria, Monday, and presented himself to the commission, yesterday, saying he had not committed any offence to warrant running away from interrogators.

The former governor is said to have stood his grounds that he did not commit any financial impropriety during his tenure and would always make himself available whenever the operatives needed answers from him on the way he ran Jigawa State for eight years.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the invitation of Lamido and his appearance, yesterday, as well as arrest of Ohakim.

WKA—THE All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, said, yesterday, that Abia State chairman of the party, Chief Nnanna Ukaegbu, was suspended because he was consistently involved in anti-party activities.

The party was reacting to Chief Ukaegbu’s claims that former national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, was the one destroying the party through nepotism.

Ukaegbu also alleged that the new national chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Oye, was only a day old in the party before he was elected national chairman and that the new national secretary, Mr. Labaran Maku, did not deserve the position.

But National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, said in a statement in Awka, yesterday: “Let me say with all sense of responsibility that the new national executive of APGA remains focused and committed to building on the leverages firmly established for the party through the giant strides of the Chief Victor Umeh-led executive and, therefore, would not want to be distracted.

“However, let me place it on record that Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu, who regrettably was chairman of APGA in Abia State for eight years during the dark days of APGA in Abia State has since been expelled from the party for wanton anti-party activities, hence cannot be taken seriously on issues concerning APGA. “It is unfortunate that during Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu's reign as APGA state chairman in Abia State, the party did not win one single seat, not even a councillor in any election conducted in the state. ‘’Strangely the likes of Ukaegbu found it comfortable to congratulate PDP each time the party lost elections in Abia State.

“It is also on record that barely two days to the last governorship election, Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu, obviously acting out a script of his sponsors, placed a full page advert in a national daily of March 9, 2015, urging Abia people to vote for PDP. How can such a character today turn around to comment on APGA as if he still is one of us?

Woman in court over N5m theft ... as 2 men face N.5m charge

By Jane Echewodo

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AGOS—THE police in Lagos, yesterday, charged a 48-year-old woman, Vera Ezenwanne, before an Ikeja Magistrate's Court for stealing N5 million.

This came as two men, Andrew Eze, 45, and Popoola, 58, were also charged before the same court for alleged conspiracy to steal N500,000.

Ezenwanne was alleged to have stolen the said sum from one Ukachi Osas under false pretences of selling two plots of land to her.

The defendant was also accused of issuing dud C M Y K

Diamond Bank cheques to the victim severally, which were returned unpaid due to insufficient fund in the account.

The defendant, who was dragged to court by the police, allegedly committed the offence on October 21, 2010, at Isolo, Lagos State.

She was arraigned on a twocount charge before Chief Magistrate Y.O. Aje Afunwa.

The prosecutor, Supol Samson Ekikere, informed the court that the offence was punishable under section 312 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

But she pleaded not guilty to the charges and this led the

magistrate to grant her bail in the sum of N1,000,000 with two sureties that are gainfully employed, with verifiable addresses.

The matter has been adjourned till October 7, 2015, for mention.

Meanwhile, the police also arraigned two men, Andrew Eze, 45, and Popoola, 58, before the same court for alleged conspiracy to steal N500,000.

The defendants, who were arraigned on a two-court charge of conspiracy and stealing, were said to have committed the offence on May 13, 2015, at Bayo Ajayi Street, Lagos.

Part of the charge read: “That you Andrew Eze, Popoola

Mathew and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magistrate District did steal cap materials of baby Oku bitter alcoholic drink valued at about N500,000, property of one Chubby Zion Industry Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 278(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.’’

However, the duo pleaded not guilty, prompting the court, presided over by Magistrate Afunwa, to grant them bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties who must be gainfully employed and have a verifiable addresses.

The matter was adjourned till October 23, 2015.

David-West bags NAE fellowship award A FRONTLINE civil engineer, Mr. Mayne David-West, has been honoured with the fellowship award of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.

At the 2015 annual lecture of the academy, David-West, a Principal of Pearl Consultants, was recognized for his contributions to the civil engineering practice in Nigeria, spanning 37 years.

David West, who graduated in Civil Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1977, is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers and member of Council for the Regulation of Engineering, COREN, and Nigerian Institute of Highway Engineers and other six engineering bodies locally and abroad.

He has over 200 projects to his credit, including the 27km Port Harcourt Ring Road Design with first class cable-stayed bridge, the East-West coastal road design (Calabar-Lagos), straddling 706 kilometres and such other cable-stayed remarkable works in Rivers State like the Water Diamond of Grand Bonny, Escravos Marvel and Wondrous Forcados.

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Residents worry over resurgence of armed robbery in Onitsha

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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N E W I — RESIDENTS of Onitsha and its environs have expressed concern over the resurgence of armed robbery in the commercial city.

The armed robbers, it was learned, have now adopted the strategy of laying siege on unsuspecting bank customers.

A source told Vanguard that a woman who withdrew money from a new generation bank at New Market road was trailed by to Oguta road by armed robbers operating in a motorcycle who eventually robbed her of the money.

In a another incident, a journalist with New Telegraph Newspapers in Onitsha was, Monday evening attacked by robbers, but managed to escape.

Vanguard gathered that the journalist, while on his way home from work, had a flat tyre on 33 Housing Estate Road and was busy changing it when the robbers swooped on him, thinking he had money.

The frustration of not getting money from him was said to have infuriated the hoodlums who beat him up.

Pa Sunday Okosun for burial

40 royal fathers drag Okorocha to court

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

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WERRI—Tension is brewing across the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State, following the resolve of 40 traditional rulers to resist the attempt by Governor Rochas Okorocha to intimidate and suspend them for joining the former chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, to welcome former President Goodluck Jonathan to Imo State in March this year, when he (Jonathan) was still in office.

Eze Ilomuanya had, however, been restored to his position as Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers by the Supreme Court.

4 injured as police disperse protesting NMTI students in Onitsha

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Owerri High Court, accusing Governor Okorocha of surreptitiously witch-hunting and intimidating Imo taditional rulers through the setting up of an illegitimate Council of Traditional Rulers headed by his stooge.

They contended that the council headed by Ohiri was an unlawful and illegal body and thus, had no powers to function in any capacity, pointing out that even the purported Fact Finding Panel was itself an illegal and unlawful entity.

They vowed to resist the governor’s intimidation tactics, insisting that enough was enough.

In an affidavit deposed by HRH Eze Donald Nnabue on behalf of 39 other monarchs in Suit No: HOW/313/2015, the

CEREMONY: From left, Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Gavin Pike; Ace Disc Jockey, Desmond Sodamola (DJ Spinall), Head Marketing, Spirit and RTD, Ms. Liz Ashdown, and Chief Executive Officer, State of Mind Entertainment, Mr. Tobi Sanni, during the contract signing ceremony of DJ Spinall as Smirnoff Brand Ambassador, in Lagos.

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

Late Pa Okosun A SUNDAY Okosun, who died, May 24, 2015, aged 75, will be buried on Friday, June 26, 2015 at his No. 1, Agbedion Street, Ugbevon quarters, Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, after a funeral service at St. John Anglican Church, Idumebo, Ekpoma.

According to the family, service of songs and lying in state at same venue, will hold on June 25, while social dance and thanksgiving service will hold on June 27 and 28 respectively.

Governor Okorocha had through Eze Samuel Ohiri, in contravention of several court judgments, set up a panel to investigate over 50 monarchs, accusing them of indulging in partisan politics, when they participated in the reception of the sitting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, during his official visit to Imo State.

Vanguard recalls that the state government had earlier suspended four monarchs, including the traditional ruler of Owerri, Eze Emmanuel Njemanze and went ahead to invite 50 others to face what it called “Fact Finding Panel”.

However, in a bid to assert their right and avert what they called ambush by Governor Okorocha’s administration, 40 monarchs have headed for an

NITSHA—FOUR students of Nigeria Metallurgical Training Institute, NMTI, Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday, sustained various degrees of injuries as the students went on rampage in protest against poor hostel accommodation, rejection of the school’s diploma certificate by other Federal Government institutions, among other agitations.

Their injuries, according to eyewitness, followed a stampede arising from the gunshots allegedly fired by some policemen to disperse the rampaging students who had already barricaded the ever busy Onitsha/ Owerri dual carriageway in front of the NMTI main campus.

The students made bonfires in the middle of the road, obstructing vehicular movements on the federal highway.

Before the arrival of a police

team from nearby Divisions like Okpoko, Awada and Obosi, the students had succeeded in causing total blockade of the road, chanting solidarity songs as they made the bonfire.

According to the source, trouble started in the school on Wednesday morning when some graduates of the school who had gone to Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, Warri, Delta State, to further their studies were refused admission.

They were also allegedly chased out by some security agents attached to the school over the excuse that NMTI diploma certificate was not duly recognized by PTI, also a Federal Government-owned institution.

The source said the aggrieved students allegedly communicated their situation to some of their colleagues still studying at NMTI, telling them that they were wasting their time as the Diploma Certificate from NMTI, which is under the Federal Ministry of Mines and Power, was not recognized outside the school on graduation.

The situation was said to have angered the students who now organized themselves and delegated the Students’ Union Executive and some of the best minds to approach the Director of the school, Mr. I. I. Okonkwo, to know his reaction.

On reaching the Director’s office on Wednesday, the students delegation were allegedly turned back by the school boss and the students immediately went on rampage.

It was gathered that feeling extremely humiliated by the director ’s uncompromising behaviour, the students accused him of not showing enough sympathy towards their plights and as early as 8a.m. yesterday, they mobilized themselves and vandalized some of the school property, including electronic gadgets and computer sets.

On realizing the magnitude of the protest, the director allegedly ran into his office with some members of senior staff of the school in a bid to escape the students’ wrath.

monarchs stated that over 400 traditional rulers in Imo State welcomed both former President Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari (now President) when they both visited the state in March, 2015.

They wondered why the state government now singled out about 50 of them for vendetta using, “an illegal body headed

by Eze Ohiri which was constituted unlawfully in contravention of the extant provisions of Law No. 6 of 2006 (Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters Law)” According to the monarchs, for the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers to “effectually and validly perform any lawful act, it should be constituted in strict compliance with the provision of Section 2 (2) of Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters Law No. 6 of 2006 (as amended).

"The averred that 27 members, all of who wereappointed by the governor make up the Council instead of 54 members which the Law mandatorily stipulated, positing that in view of the breach of the law establishing the Council, “the Imo State Council of NdiEze set up by Governor Okorocha is an illegal body having not been properly constituted as required by law and thus cannot function in the stead of the valid Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze.” They insisted that the panel was a Kangaroo body which lacked the legal powers to invite any monarch to appear before it.

Consequently, the aggrieved monarchs sought a declaration from the court that the “purported Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze as presently constituted by only 27 members appointed by Okorocha, being an illegal body, is null and void and should be dissolved by the Court, likewise the Fact Finding Panel set up by the illegitimate Council and an order of perpetual injunction restraining Okorocha and other defendants from investigating them, stopping their allowances and tampering with their functions as traditional rulers or withdrawing their Certifica tes ofRecognition/Staff of Office.”

Joined in the suit as defendants are Governor Rochas Okorocha, the Attorney General of Imo State, Imo State Council of Ndi Eze, Eze Samuel Ohiri, Eze Chidume Okoro, Eze EdwinOrisakwe, Eze (Barr) Chijioke Okwara, Eze G. Ejiogu, Eze Ben Igwilo and the Fact Finding Panel chaired

by Eze Chidume Okoro.

Meanwhile, a mild drama of sorts played out at the Secretariat of Imo State Council of Ndieze on All Seasons Hotel road, Wednesday, June 17, 2015, as the Court bailiff stormed the Secretariat to effect service of court summons on Eze Sam Ohiri and members of the contentious Fact Finding Panel.

The matter comes up on Tuesday June 23, 2015.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 —17

Reflections on corruption

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is famed for his “zero tolerance for corruption” stance; and it was one of the reasons that I and millions of other Nigerians fell in love with him and queued up in droves at nationwide polling stations to vote him into office.

We were sick and tired of previous administrations’ relaxed attitude towards theft or blatant misuse of public funds, which were dragging Nigeria down.

We were drawn to Buhari’s soldierly strictness, reputation for abhorring all forms of dishonesty and legendary preference for an ascetic lifestyle.

We say that we expect him to be super-firm, to strike fear into the hearts of potential miscreants and to sack/jail/ admonish any political associate, friend, blood relative or in-law who is brave enough to break his rules.

We say that we want him to crack down hard on officials who try to do dodgy deals in the corridors of power or carry on in a wantonly extravagant manner.

And I’m almost 100% certain that Buhari will go out of his way to live up to his abstemious, no-nonsense disciplinarian image…and that he will soon start to justify the faith that a large chunk of the electorate has invested in him.

BUT I’ve noticed something disturbing about most of the Nigerians I know, staunch Buhari supporters included: Even though they oppose corruption on a macro level, they are actually immensely tolerant of corruption on a micro level.

Most Nigerians engage in corrupt practices In other words, though most Nigerians bitterly complain about corruption and claim to believe that the nation as a whole needs to be cleansed of corruption, they often hypocritically engage in corrupt practices themselves; and even when they themselves are not corrupt, they are not ready to do C M Y K

*President Muhammadu Buhari anything about the corruption they encounter in their personal lives and workplaces.

Duped by a trusted pal I was recently duped by the daughter of a former Governor. I had known this girl and some of her family members for a long time. And I regarded her as a junior sister and helped her when I could; and our children were great pals. Her son sometimes slept in my house; and I treated him like a darling nephew.

I not only trusted her totally and liked her a lot but respected her professionally (she is also a media practitioner). So when a government agency offered me a TV production project, I invited her to partner with me.

Sadly, she totally betrayed me.

She had often joined me in bemoaning the fact that fraud is rife in Nigeria. And though she had some sympathy for ex-President Jonathan because he is from our area, she admitted that Jonathan had not tackled corruption and said that she shared my high hopes that Buhari would make Nigeria a more ethical place.

But when I arranged for the government agency to pay her a substantial sum to perform various tasks, she suddenly changed her tune and behaved as badly as the dubious characters we had been jointly criticising for many years!

She flatly refused to properly account for the money she had received, then ignored our client’s instructions and

cut me out of the production process, then embarrassed me by doing a very shoddy job, then stopped talking to me when I protested and also cheated me by not honouring our profit-sharing agreement.

In a nutshell, I was comprehensively used, abused, exploited, tricked and humiliated. And the client was subjected to multiple breaches of contract.

But when I told senior agency personnel that I felt that we should take action against this girl - to send out a message to the general public and government contractors that nobody (including the offspring of VIPs!) can get away with such blatant misconduct - they told me that while they were as angry with her as I was, they would rather quietly put the matter to rest and move on.

I can understand their defeatist attitude. Reporting people to the EFCC or taking

Though most Nigerians bitterly complain about corruption and claim to believe that the nation as a whole needs to be cleansed of corruption, they often hypocritically engage in corrupt practices themselves

*Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC chairman. them to court is an expensive, stressful, time-consuming hassle. And if the person in question also happens to be well-connected, you can be sure that you will face ENORMOUS pressure from myriad bigwigs to let the person go.

Too lazy, too forgiving to fight corruption Furthermore, if the culprit is female, the emotional blackmail will become even more intense. I was advised to forget about formally indicting my treacherous exchum and to simply report her to her Dad - a famously decent typical Niger Deltan gentleman who didn’t steal when he was Governor - so he can tell her off on my behalf and maybe even refund the cash that she owes me, if he has it.

But I am determined to politely sidestep the blameless father and confront the errant daughter because I think that leniency is SO wrong within this context.

Why? Firstly, as Diezani AllisonMaduekwe showed us when she was Petroleum Minister, women can be as ruthless and fearless as men. So why indulge in misguided chivalry/paternalism and pretend that every woman on earth is a fragile little butterfly who doesn’t really know what she is doing when she embraces criminality and requires special protection if she is caught?!

Secondly, my hurt feelings aside, Nigeria will not progress sufficiently until

most of us quit our habit of being too lazy, too forgiving and too sentimental to fight corruption whenever we come across it in our day-to-day lives.

Long story short?

We need to stop covering up misdemeanours because we cannot be bothered to punish perpetrators. We need to stop turning a blind eye because we don’t have the energy to cope with entreaties and bullying from perpetrators’ advocates.

We need to stop delegating responsibility for the eradication of corruption to our leaders because even if Buhari and his teamsters are sincerely committed to eradicating corruption, they will not get very far without our assistance.

And I pray that Buhari will create an atmosphere in which folks who share his visceral dislike of dishonesty will feel empowered to confidently lodge formal complaints against fraudsters who pollute our society and business scene.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only).

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18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 A CLOSER look at the last laws the previous National Assembly passed in its final sitting reveals a trap – one of the most applauded laws, the stiff sentences against rape and sexual abuse, supports child marriages. It is a legal assault on our future. The National Assembly began its steep declivity to an indeterminate marriage age in 2013. After public protests against making the age of marriage vacuous, it stealthy made a law contrary to the Constitution.

Section 29 (4) (a) of the 1999 Constitution, states, “full age” means the age of eighteen years and above; (b) any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” How do we deal with a National Assembly that makes illegal laws? The Constitution is superior to our laws. According to Section 1 (3), “If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.”

The bill that is awaiting presidential

Rape? No; Infant Marriage? Y es Yes assent provides life imprisonment for rape convicts or for sexual intercourse with children under 11 years. Other provisions are 10 years imprisonment or a fine of N2m for incest, and child pornography, and 14 years for sexual abuse. The bill appropriates Section 29 (4) of the Constitution but excludes item (a) that defines “full age” as 18 years. Once married, the bill says, a child attains “full age”.

One of the consequences of early marriage is fistula, a condition that leaves the woman incontinent; she smells from inability to manage her bowel. Her husband abandons her in search of his next victim. Nigeria has more than

800,000 fistula cases, the highest in the world, all from child marriages.

The proposed law circumscribes the rights of women, from birth. Our Constitution in Section 42 forbids discrimination on basis of origin, belief, or sex. At what age would a girl child retrieve her abrogated rights? Can she, by “full age”, be eligible to vote, even if she is not 18, or sign legal documents? How would a society of fistula-ravaged women, divorced, abandoned, in their teens, raise its new members?

Did we learn from Wasila Umar, the 13year-old of Gaya Local Government Area of Kano, who, last year, poisoned her 35year-old husband and his friends, 17 days into her forced marriage? A court has just freed her. The Child’s Rights Act of 2003, Section 21, also states that any marriage contracted by anyone under 18 years is invalid.

President Muhammadu Buhari should not sign the bill. We cannot trade our future for the pleasure of paedophiles, no matter how lowly or highly placed they are.

OPINION In defence of Oyegun

By Haruna Mustapha

T

HE circumstances that surround the emergence of National Assembly presiding officers is testing the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to the limits.

That Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara, emerged Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively against the wish of the majority of those in the commanding height of the party has continued to roil hardliners in the APC, who perhaps may not be assuaged until scapegoats are made of someone or persons.

More intolerable to those who have refused to be consoled in the party is the emergence of PDP’s Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, a situation that has diminished APC’s grip on the National Assembly leadership caucus.

Fact is that Saraki and Dogara are illustrious enough for the current positions they hold, but a mock election by the party that led to the emergence of Senator Ahmed Lawan and Honourable Femi Gbajiabiamila as the party’s consensus candidates for the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, respectively as well as for their deputies which Saraki and Dogara spurned is advanced as rebellion and anti-party activities against the duo.

While a resolve of legislators to ensconce the parliament from exterior manipulations by opting to elect leaders after their own heart is not a novelty in the system, perceptive watchers can hardly agree that C M Y K

Lawan and Gbajabiamila can truly be designated as the APC’s consensus candidates, given that members of the Saraki group, with its numerical pre-eminence kept their distance from the mock election, ditto for the Dogara group. The paradox is that hawks in the APC think that internal democracy is good for the party, but fatal to peace and progress for the National Assembly.

The inherent flaw in the mock election, largely begot the unforeseen offensive that trumped the APC on the floor of the National Assembly on June 9. The ambition of those who succeeded in grabbing the presiding slots in the National Assembly spiralled out of control, even a scheduled intervention of Muhammadu Buhari, the ultimate leader of the party, President and Commander-inChief counted for less. It was no joy for the party and its admirers that it was a trifle ridiculed by the conspiracy of the overly ambitious in its fold, but good news is that the Nigerian democracy continues to mature and get further enriched by the good, the bad and the ugly that happen and are bound to happen in the political space. By their action, though injurious to peace and harmony in the party, the legislators may have in the same breath, made yet another

The change Nigeria celebrates today was driven by Oyegun

strong statement towards operating without let or inhibitions.

It is helpful that the APC apparatchik quickly stood down from belching fire.

Reward and punishment is necessary in any unit or system that is designed to progress along productive and cohesive curve, but when certain push goes a little over-the-top, it could blowback and set any unit on implosive trajectory. Kudos to APC leadership for the savvy, it has so far applied in navigating the treacherous path to assertiveness, peace and cohesion after the jolt.

Hawks in the party push that head or heads must roll in the APC over June 9. This piece is as much equally about whose head or heads should or should not roll in the party over June 9. Paramount is that the APC should tread with measured steps in scapegoating anyone or applying the rod because as the cliché goes, the nose should not be cut off just to spite the face; and rather than the selective blame game against just the person and leadership of John Odigie-Oyegun, the entire party as an entity and all its members, who were down for a no zoning principle for the presiding positions in the National Assembly should all accept that they are all as guilty as Cain for the tacky episode that was APC-led National Assembly leadership election.

Nigerians waited to hear loud dissenting voices to the scattershot approach the party and most actors in it took in evolving leaders for the high stake leadership positions in the National Assembly without hearing much.

The bitter lessons of leaving adrift, serious issues that ought to be properly streamlined

should be the collective pain and regret of the party.

Oyegun should not be made accountable for a matter that was screwed up in the party by just everybody. Collective decision denotes collective responsibility. Making a scapegoat of one individual for a collective slip up is bare-faced victimisation and witchhunt. A party chairman is a soft target for all manners of attacks from outside and within, but when the vitriol is orchestrated to just make a scapegoat of the man on the hot seat, those who watch wouldn’t just know whether to cry or laugh at the shenanigans in the Nigerian political space.

The change Nigeria celebrates today was driven by Oyegun. He marshalled the army of the opposition to victory in one of the most tempestuous general elections in the country’s annals. He wasn’t chosen as the leader of an opposition coalition by happenstance-the cap for a level-headed, team-player fitted him. His party needed victory, yet he fought with finesse, knowing where the lines are drawn between flippancy and what is politically correct. Oyegun’s refinement, perfectly complemented Buhari’s charm to gave the party image uplift in the hearts of Nigerians. Whether as a governor or permanent secretary in the federal civil service, or party national chairman, Oyegun delivers the goods and in a fashion that has remained unimpeachable.

The least reward, hard work and illustrious track record should attract is a pat on the back not calumny. * Mr. Mustapha, a civil society activisit, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

The priest as politician, fighter and saint

O

NE of the most controversial personalities ever to don the cassock, is on his way to sainthood. After a quarter of century of protests and resistance, including by the church in his country, Oscar Romero has been beatified by the Catholic Church. This is coming eighteen years after then Pope John Paul II personally took up the battle to honour him.

Romero was actually, a nonpolitical and conservative priest when on February 23, 1973, at 56, he was appointed the Archbishop of San Salvador, capital of El Salvador. The Government and the Church hierarchy were quite happy about his appointment, while the more socially conscious priests were sad.

But the bloody repression by the Government, assassination of opposition figures, torture and the grinding poverty were to catapult the apolitical Archbishop into the centre stage of opposition politics.

He was horrified by the amount of state violence against the populace and the wide use of torture, detention and murder.

Within a few years, he had become

a major spokesman of the populace.

On February 2, 1980, Romero at a press conference, complained that more than fifty Catholic priests had been attacked with six of them murdered. He cited a long list of Reverend Fathers and Nuns who had been tortured or expelled. Aware he was putting his life on the line, Romero had said “If I am killed, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people” That month, he wrote United States President, Jimmy Carter protesting the massive American arms shipment to the Salvadoran Army , weapons he said were being used to repress and murder the people. But the US, angered by the radical Sandinistan Revolution in neighbouring Nicaragua, paid no heed.

On February 23, 1980, the Archbishop told Salvadoran soldiers not to obey orders which make them violate fundamental human rights. Turning to the government, he said “ In the name of God, in the name of the suffering people whose cries rise up to Heaven more urgently with each day that passes, I beseech you, I beg

you, I order you to stop repression” The next day, while offering mass in the Chapel of the Hospital of Divine Providence, assassins shot him dead. An Archbishop who preached non-violence, who was only interested in the defense of human rights and whose idea of social revolution was spiritual, was gunned down in the church.

Rather than being scared, Salvadorans six days later, turned out in their hundreds of thousands for Romero’s burial.

The angry Salvadoran Government and the right wing militias threw bombs and fired into the funeral procession.

Officially, 31 persons were killed.

Romero’s assassination marked

But the greatest honour for this remarkable priest was to come, not from the Church, but the United Nations General Assembly which in 2010, proclaimed the March 24 date of his assassination as the “International Day for the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims”

Unfair treatment of workers is corruption

By Clement Udegbe

N

IGERIAN workers like all other citizens live under same conditions, of providing their own power through electricity generators, water through bore holes, depend on the consulting medical offices we call hospitals,etc,but the difference is that their take home pay is usually too meager to provide for their basic needs. Promotions and salaries increments rarely come, so they struggle through life, praying and hoping that things will improve one day, and that day, may never come till they retire.

When they retire, the system owes them months of their stipend we call entitlement, some die without receiving their pensions even till today.

These same civil servants, watch our political leaders live lavishly, fritter the states’ resources, and borrow to augment their expensive lifestyles, which they acquired in one political office or the other, through payment vouchers prepared by the same civil servants. They are forced to either cooperate with the thieving leaders or device more dexterous means of subverting the citizens through corrupt practices, in order to survive.

In Igbo land, we say that it is only a foolish slave who watches his master bury his dead colleague with the hoe, and expects that a shovel would be bought for his own burial. Civil servants have over the years wizened up, and have become very corrupt, working very closely with their leaders. You may blame them if you like, but our system breeds corruption, and until we change it our fight against corruption will not go very far. When former President Goodluck Ebele C M Y K

Jonathan, GEJ,said that corruption is not only stealing, I understood him as saying that our system breeds corruption, and we just need to brace up to change it, but opposition politicians and commentators, at that time, twisted it to suit their purposes. Change has now come,we must therefore continue to deal with the realities and issues on ground.

Only last week, two workers were reported to have collapsed in Osun state, where salaries have been owed for several months. Our workers are dying all over the states where salaries are owed, whether reported or not. You only need to imagine how these workers survive without salaries for months, through borrowing and begging from neighbours, relatives, friends, and societies, to meet with school fees, and other needs, and if sickness strikes, they just die. With the dwindling fortunes of our national economy, and the attendant gloom predicted for the next few years, more of these workers will die! Many of them will be driven to resort to crime, and immoralities, to survive, necessitating the need for our leaders at all levels to

Our system breeds corruption, and until we change it our fight against corruption will not go very far

the transformation of the Salvadorian protests into a twelveyear civil war which cost over 80,000 lives. Although there has been no prosecution of the criminals who murdered him, it is know that his assassination was ordered by the notorious mass murderer, Major Roberto D’ Aubuisson, leader of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) who led a death squad in that country.

One of the assassins, Alvaro Saravia was found liable by a US District Court of conspiring and participating in the murder.

But the Government, its international allies and some forces in the country including the Church felt that Romero was a politician who got caught in a cross fire, hence the stiff opposition to any posthumous honour for him.

When in 1983, Pope John Paul II during a visit, prayed at his tomb, there were protests by the state and the Church.

Brushing aside protests, the Pope in 1997 made Romero the Servant of God. Three years later, while marking his Jubilee year, he, despite protests decided to put Romero on the Honours List.

But the greatest honour for this remarkable priest was to come, not from the Church, but the United Nations General Assembly which in 2010, proclaimed the March 24 date of his assassination as the “International Day for the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims” With that, the march of Romero towards sainthood, seemed unstoppable; even the initial blockade of the route by the Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine, was removed. In the last three months, the drive towards sainthood became faster with the visit to his tomb in March by President Barrack Obama, the first

adjust their live-styles, save costs, and stop treating workers like fools, by paying them promptly no matter what. Any Governor who owes one month salary to workers should be driven out of office at all costs, because he remains a liar, a cheat, a traitor, and the real enemy of the people. Some Governors keep and maintain dogs and pets at costs that could pay the salaries of one department of the state civil service.

The case of non-payment of pensions, for years is the most disheartening and wicked of it all. Many of the retirees are too old to seek alternative means of livelihood. The trauma they are subjected to before getting their entitlements is avoidable, while some fall sick or die eventually while waiting for their entitlements. It is for this reason that some corrupt civil servants engage in primitive acquisition of wealth while in active service so that by the time they retire, they won’t have to go through the pain of waiting in vain for their pensions to be paid.

Our system breeds corruption, which is not just stealing.

Recently, in Abeookuta, Ogun State, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, accused the Federal Government of using their 10 months unpaid contributory pension to support the electioneering campaign project of President GEJ. The retirees made the allegation, while protesting their unpaid monthly pension, adding that over 20 of their colleagues died in the struggle to have their pension, paid.

The leader of the pensioners, Samuel Kojusola, listed some of the anomalies in the implementation of the implementation of Reform Act 2014, to include computation and compilation of retirement benefits, meagre amount paid as monthly pension, review of pension,non-payment of retirement benefits, and that workers all over the country who retired under the

US President to do so. This was significant because the US was the main backer of the repressive regimes in El Salvador including the death squad that assassinated Romero twenty five years ago.

Pope Francis sought to remove whatever obstacle was left by declaring that the reasons for the assassination was not just political but also included hatred for a faith that “would not be silent in the face of the injustices that relentlessly and cruelly slaughtered the poor and their defenders” On March 19, the Salvadorian Church that had over the years opposed Romero, sent a delegation asking the Pope to personally come to the country and beatify him. On May 23, Oscar Romero was beatified.

When Romero was murdered in 1980, the Catholic priesthood became split into three; one part left the country, a larger part decided to simply teach the Bible and shut its eyes to the reality in the country, while the third group joined the rebels.

One of the young priests who picked up the gun and joined the rebels in the mountains was Father David Rodriguez. He said when Romero was assassinated, “We priests were like sheep without shepherd” In 1992 when the peace accords were signed, he came down from the mountains.

The Church told him that he can never mount the pulpit again.

But if he were to become an unofficial helper, he would need to leave the country for three years, make no statements about the happenings in the country, and write a letter of apology for fighting repression. He turned round and went into politics, picking a seat in parliament.

With Romero’s beatification, the Church in El Salvador appears to be born again.

contributory pension scheme since August 2014 are yet to have their lump sum or monthly payment settled by the Commission.

“What do they want the retiree to be eating after serving Federal Government of Nigeria for 35 years meritoriously? We suspect that our money in the kitty of Pencom has been used for 2015 electioneering campaign,” he said.

They lamented that almost a year after the Pension Reform Act 2014 was signed into law, contributory pensioners were yet to enjoy increment on their pension since 2007 till date. Since pension review is a constitutional right of any retiree in Nigeria as enshrined under Section 15(4) of the new Act,he said, ‘Retirees have been complaining seriously on meagre amount paid as monthly pension either as monthly withdrawal or annuity.

Contributory pensions received only 2025% of their last pay as monthly pension, while a pensioner in the old pension scheme receives 80% of his last pay as monthly pension’ “Pension Reform Act 2004 section (4) stipulated that retirees will have not less than 50% of their last pay as monthly pension as at the date of their retirement.

None of the retirees enjoy this amount since the inception of the act till date.

Unfortunately the portion has been expunged from the new pension reform act 2014. What have we done to deserve this ugly treatment? This is a leeway for PFA’s to milk us perpetually.”

The ruling APC should take the message from pensioners very seriously, and avoid treating them like fools. The Bible urges us to honour our mothers and fathers so that we may have a long and good life.

The secret to a long good political life lies also in honour to our pensioners and workers.

*Mr Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Killer Kaikai: Why we kick against outright ban of product — Vendors, consumers

By Jimitota Onoyume, Port Harcourt

T

HE news has been everywhere of deaths arising from consumption of a local gin popularly known as Kaikai in Rivers State. The development has prompted the Federal Government to place, what many see as a temporary, ban on consumption of the local gin which is easily identified in the South West part of the country as Ogogoro. But it would appear that government’s response in this regard has not gone down well with some people in the state who stridently argue that Kaikai is safe for drinking in spite of recent deaths associated with its consumption.

In fact, while stressing that they cannot do without it, they further argued that instead of trying to make a mountain out of a molehill, government should concern itself on more serious matters and leave Kaikai alone. And to underline their position in this regard, they have been visiting their popular haunts in search of Kaikai or Ogogoro to buy. This was the situation on Monday as a middle-aged man allegedly strolled to a spot in Ahoada East to order for the drink with scant regard that his action would amount to suicide.

Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee constituted by the Rivers State House of Assembly, Michael Chinda, to investigate issues around the poisonous Kaikai in the

state said the man first announced to those around that it was not the local gin that was killing people before consuming what he had ordered for.

Not too long after the consumption, news went round that the man had died.

In a space of two weeks about 71 persons have died from consumption of the poisonous gin.

Chinda, in his report to the House, said death from the gin was caused by methanol.

According to him, findings showed that some of the producers instead of using ethanol to produce the gin went for methanol, a chemical very harmful to humans.

The consumer who died in Ahoada East was not alone in his doubt.

Though government has placed a ban on sale and consumption of the product but enforcement has been a problem. So you still

*Dealers in Kaikai or Ogogoro measuring out the drink for sale

I am a fisherman; I live by the river and do my business around it; I need hot drinks to warm myself daily; and the one I can afford is Kaikai

see people cluster in spots, consuming the product.

Ibifaa, a native of Buguma, who did not want his photograph and full names in print for fear of being arrested, said there was no way the ban placed on the drink could stand.

“Traditional marriages in my area is never complete without Kaikai. Again I am a fisherman; I live by the river and do my business around it. I need hot drinks to warm myself daily.

And the one I can afford is Kaikai. “ The member representing

ROVING CAMERA

•‘One-way’ cart pushers on traffic-choked Berger-end of Oshodi/Apapa Expressway.

Pix: Lamidi Bamidele C M Y K

Degema constituency in the House of Assembly, Farah Dagogo, also advised the assembly against supporting outright ban on sale of the local gin because of the poisonous substance.

According to him the local gin has become a part of many, particularly those in the riverine areas. Dagogo said they also use it for libation and other traditional ceremonies.

The House of Assembly finally moved that people should be well sensitized on dangers in consuming the product.

Speaker of the House, Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani, who read out the resolution of members, said the Ministry of Health should upgrade its public laboratory to be able to test chemicals that come into the state for production of consumables.

The House also directed security agencies to liaise with other government agencies to arrest those using methanol to produce the drink. Ibani said the ban on the drink by the Federal Government was in place in the state.

A vendor in the Town area of Port Harcourt said since she heard of the ban she only display her drinks for sale from 7pm to avoid harassment from security agencies. “You still see people coming here to buy, “she said.

According to her, the gin is used to mix medicinal herbs

that her customers consume daily to prevent different sicknesses. Pointing at different bottles of the herbs soaked in Kaikai on her table, she said some were for malaria, fighting problems of weak erection, and so on. “ Some of my customers said they don’t take drugs, so they rely on the herbs which they take everyday to prevent sickness. We call it root drinks,“ she explained.

Another dealer, Madam Iruene in Marine Base area said she was shocked to hear of deaths from consumption of the local gin. Madam Iruene who still sells the drink said she had been in the business for over a decade, stressing that government should locate the source of the killer Kaikai to stop it instead of imposing an outright ban.

“Today it is Kaikai. Tomorrow we may hear of poisonous Garri; so will the government also ban the consumption of Garri because it killed a few.

Government should trace the source of the problem of the killer drink and deal with it rather than impose a ban,”she said.

Her opinion appears to be popular in Port Harcourt as many believe that enforcement of the ban on sale and consumption of Kaikai may be difficult because the drink is part of the life and culture of some people.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

— 21

$2.5trn’ll address Nigeria’s infrastructure gap — IA&CE

By Emmanuel Elebeke & Grace Udofia

T

HE Institute of Appraisers and Cost Engineers (IA&CE), says Nigeria would require about $2.9 trillion investment in the next 30 years to close current infrastructure gap in the country.

The engineering economists disclosed this at the 2015 National Technical Conference of the IA&CE which took place at the Merit House, Abuja.

The body also called on Federal Government to follow internationally acceptable standard procedures in the concept, design, development and execution of engineering projects in the country.

Guest Speaker and founding chairman of the IA&CE, Engr. Otis Anyaeji, in a paper entitled, “Engineering Valuation, Cost Engineering and Engineering Economy Perspectives in the Implementation of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan”, lamented Nigeria’s low level of core infrastructure development, which he put at 35 to 40 per cent of the nation’s GDP. While lending his voice in the call on Nigeria’s need of over $2.9 trillion in the next 30 years to close the current infrastructure gap, the engineering economist pointed out that what was required was an expenditure of an annual average of nine percent up from the current three percent to be able to do this.

He also pointed out that for the quantum leap needed in the transport sector alone to be achieved, Nigeria needs over $500 billion on roads, $25

$129.6

2. 95

$3,297.00

69. 00

$11.28

CURRENCY BUYING

-0.07

$64.22

0.35

60.27

0.35

CENTRAL

DOLLAR 195.9 196.4 196.9 POUNDS 311.6769 312.4723 313.2679 EURO 223.4435 224.0138 224.5841 FRANC 213.5615 214.1066 214.6517 YEN 1.5966 1.6007 1.6047 CFA 0.3177 0.3277 0.3377 WAUA 275.203 275.9054 276.6078 RENMINBI 31.5541 31.6351 31.7161 RIYAL 52.2316 52.365 52.4983 KRONA 29.9436 30.02 30.0964 SDR 277.6295 278.3381 279.0467

CBN Exchange Rate as at 17/ 06 /15

C M Y K

billion in aviation, maritime $30 billion, while over $900 billion would be needed to stabilize electricity generation in the next 30 years.

He further explained that for Nigeria to jump from the bottom of international rating and move to an appreciable level in the ICT sector, $75 billion

should be invested in the sector in the next five years.

On the water sector, Engr. Anyaeji stated that about $180 billion was needed to stem up the sector while in the mining sector, $100 billion would be required, while agriculture would need $350 billion over the next 30

years.

On housing, he said that the country faced a deficit of about 17 million housing units, stressing that what was required is a minimum of a million housing units annually over the plan period to be able to meet the housing needs.

CONFERENCE: From left: Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone; one of

the judges of 2015 Etisalat prize for Literature, Zukiswa Wanner; Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher and one of the judges of 2015 Etisalat Prize for Literature, Molara Wood, at the 2015 Etisalat Prize for Literature. Photo by Akeem Salau.

Poor po wer supply is hindering po ty reduction pow povver erty

By Ediri Ejoh & Mildred Ibrahim

T

he country’s power supply is affecting government’s poverty reduction programmes.

This assertion was made at the 8th annual lecture, of Wilson Badejo Foundation, tagged: Nigeria: Entrenched Poverty and the Growing Under-Privileged Class: What Blue Print for Positive Affirmative Change.

In its lecture, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Jerry Gana, argued that for a country to eradicate poverty from its economy, the leadership has to put in place an available and consistent delivery of power supply for business to thrive.

He said, “I would like to emphasise the importance of good leadership in every level and point the logic of basic infrastructure, the primacy of agricultural, food production and rural development, the calculus of power supply and energy. “No nation can

transform and develop or conquer poverty without power and energy as a burner. It is extremely important but that can only be possible when you have a good leadership at all levels of society.

Also, speaking on the theme, the guest

Nigeria needs over $500 billion on roads, $25 billion in aviation, maritime $30 billion, while over $900 billion would be needed to stabilize electricity generation in the next 30 years

speaker, Prof. Edward Oyewo of the faculty of law UNILAG, argued that the country need be proactive to policy implementation that would enable growth for the economy.

He said, “When we talk about programme initiative by the government, the idea behind them are sound but the capacity to implement such is always faulty, embodied with corruption and a heavy misappropriation of the resources. the first thing I consider as blue print to reclaiming the country’s glory is the evolution of a realistic and pragmatic vision for dealing with the problems of Nigerians.

However, reform of the anti-corruption agencies, using the bottom top approach, oil and gas, power and electricity as well as need for diversification of the country’s economy to boost infrastructure development.

He, however, charged the government on good governance through effective and efficient use of public resources.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Nigeria, UK to strengthen capital market growth, economic ties Stories by Peter Egwuatu AS part of efforts to develop the Nigerian capital market and leverage existing strong commercial and economic ties between Nigeria and Britain for mutual benefit, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhede, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Co-Chairman of the UK-Nigeria capital market’s project, has led a Nigerian delegation to meet with his UK Co-Chair, Sir Roger Gifford, former Lord Mayor of London, members of the UK foreign and Common Wealth Office, officials of the

Citi UK and other key players in the UK financial services sector to continue discussions on the implementation of the Emerging Capital Markets Taskforce’s work programme.

The meeting took place at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. The UK-Nigeria capital markets project is a programme of cooperation and engagement between the UK and Nigeria, aimed at increasing capital flows between UK and Nigeria and deepening the Nigerian capital market. The

Taskforce’s main objective is to improve market access to financial instruments and resources in the Nigerian capital market as well as to strengthen investor protection through effective regulation and oversight.The work of the taskforce in Nigeria will include knowledge sharing, capacity building, dual listings on NSE and London Stock Exchange (LSE), product innovation and the design of bilateral investor protection treaties.In November 2014, the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and the NSE signed a capital markets agreement in support of African companies

seeking dual listings in London and Lagos. This agreement is for an initial period of two years.

This collaboration will have the dual benefit of increasing diversity of the market participants on the NSE and facilitating enhanced liquidity.

The ECMT benefits to Nigeria will include: greater access to international financial markets, greater inward investment, and greater potential for currency internationalization and in the long run, a more stable and efficient financial system.

From right, Director of Finance Wolfgang Kollermam addressing pressmen on finances of Julius Berger while Managing Director Engr. Detlev Lubsch and Public Relations Officer Adeyemi Adebanjo look on at the company’s AGM in Abuja recently. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

NSE charges operators to meet deadline on recapitalisation

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE has charged capital market operators who are yet to meet the new capital base requirement to use the extension period given by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC to shore up their capital.

Speaking on the deadline for the minimum capital requirement during the NSE 2015 Annual General Meeting, AGM yesterday, the President Council of the NSE, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said “I think the SEC was very magnanimous in extending the deadline from December 2014 due to the oil price crash and other events of 2014 to give our members a bit more C M Y K

time to get themselves ready for minimum capital.

“The 9 months extension ends in September, and it is my believe that by then, members of the exchange, broker dealers etc., would have done what is necessary to meet the capital requirements. Our View as the NSE, is that stronger more capitalised members, is a better and stronger market, so we are endorsing it wholly.

On the market outlook for 2015, he said : “Prior to 2015, the focus was about making sure that the pillars and foundation of a strong and modern exchange were in place, i.e. Strong Governance, strong

framework, cutting edge technology, excellent management team. All these have been largely addressed.

“We are very keen to make sure that the enabling environment is one that is attractive to investors in all respect. You may have noticed that the exchange is much stronger where advocacy is concerned” he stated.

Meanwhile, the NSE recorded gross earnings of N8.1 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2014.

Speaking during the company’s 54th yearly general meeting in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Oscar Onyema explained that the figure was against the N5.4 billion posted in the

comparative period of 2013.

The company’s operating surplus before tax stood at N3.95 billion compared with N3.26 billion achieved in the corresponding period of 2013. Operating surplus after tax rose to N3.89 billion in contrast with N3.26 billion posted in 2013.Total assets stood at N20.67 billion against the N15.69 billion declared in the comparative period of 2013.

He attributed the rise to transaction fees, which he said contributed largely to the revenue growth having accounted for 52 per cent of its total revenue.

GSK targets strong medium term revenue growth – Rencap

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ENAISSANCE Capital, Rencap has stated that with the sale of Lucozade and GSK to Suntory largely in the base, GlaxoSmithKline, GSK Plc is guiding for a strong medium-term revenue growth.

Analyst at Rencap said “ A onefor-four share bonus issue has resulted in a restatement of the share price, and a reduction in our Headline Earning Per Share, HEPS forecasts and Target Price (TP), though our underlying numbers have not changed. Our TP is N52.80 (previously N66) and we maintain our BUY rating.”

Commenting on the firms’ significant growth potential from extending its reach, the Recap said “GSK believes there is significant growth potential for the company in Nigeria from extending its reach with its existing product offering and from expanding its product offering. The company is currently in the process of redesigning its route-to-market. It currently reaches 40,000 outlets versus Nestlé’s reach of 500,000 outlets. Its target is to reach 150,000 outlets over the next three years.”

On the strong Pharma growth anticipated, the Recap analyst said “ The company is positive on the growth potential in the Pharma space in Nigeria, partly driven by growth in the number of insured lives (both private and public), which is growing strongly off a low base. In addition, we think reducing counterfeits in pharmaceuticals in Nigeria – and in Panado specifically, which is the most counterfeited drug in Nigeria – is a substantial opportunity for the company.”

Rencap quoted the management of GSK as seeing some improvement in trading conditions post the election and is guiding for mid-single-digit revenue growth in 2015. “Following the 4.5 per cent revenue decline in first quarter (Q1) 2015, this implies c. 8% growth for the remainder of the year. The company targets a 25 per cent revenue Compound Annual Growth Rate, CAGR in its own brands over the next four-tofive years and a 10-15 per cent CAGR in the Suntory brands. GSK plans to focus its investments in marketing and infrastructure around its own brands” the management noted.

According to Recap “ On a oneyear forward Price Earning, P/E of 25.8x and two-year forward of 19.4x, GSK is the cheapest of the Nigerian consumer companies under our coverage. We believe GSK has the most pricing power in its categories and we have the highest HEPS growth forecasts from FY15 for GSK. Our TP moves to NGN52.80 (from NGN66), solely due to the one-for-four bonus issue. We maintain our BUY rating on the stock.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 23

Jigawa: Dangote set to boost agriculture with $200m investment

By Aliyu Dangida

country.

He noted that if states government give much priority to subsistence farming, depending on oil revenue will be a thing of the past as dependence on monthly allocation from the federal government will not help the economy .

While disclosing that he intends to invest in the economy of the North especially Jigawa state through agriculture as a way of giving back to the people, he said his company is investing whooping sum of over 200m USD in the area of Rice

and Sugar production.

Dangote said statistic has shown that by the year 2020 Nigeria’s population will raise to 200million and if government fails to concentrate fully on agriculture, “how can a nation feed such number of population, we must change our thinking on depending on oil revenue”.

He added that without investment in agriculture it will be to meet government’s day to day activities, “so our investment will create job opportunities for over 40,000 peo-

ple across the state, just as the project will equally provide S the Dangote group food, energy and animal plans to invest over feeds. $200m in the area of Responding, the state govRice and Sugar production in ernor, Muhammad Badaru Jigawa state, the the President Abubakar commended of the group of companies, Dangote Group of Companies Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has for choosing Jigawa state for called on governments at all the investment in rice and level to focus on agriculture. sugar production, saying his Speaking during an interadministration welcome such active session with journalists project as the state is blessed in the Dutse, Aliko Dangote with fertile land suitable for said agriculture is a sustainall type of farming. able means of economic develMuhammad Badaru added opment and growth for the that mechanized farming is the only solution to sustainable growth of any community, saying investors are already on ground to partner with the state in the area of agriculture.

He pledged to do what it takes to kick off the project at appropriate time and assured the President of Dangote Group of Companies that his government will do everything possible to enlighten the benefiting community.

It will be recall that Dangote Group of Companies was in Jigawa state last year to solicit for land to invest in agriculture especially in rice and sugar production, already work has begun in Hadejia emirate where they chose The management of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development last weekend organised Kaugama and Auyo as a sent forth party for its immediate past Minister, Dr. Adesina Akinwumi, at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja. areas to conduct the Here Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and wife, with DG National Seed Council Dr. Philip Ojo and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture Honourable Munir during the event. project.

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Why we’re building N300m veterinary specialist hospital — Avong

By Gabriel Ewepu

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HE Registrar,Veterinary Council of Nigeria, VCN, Dr. Marcus Avong, has disclosed that the proposed N300 million veterinary specialist hospital will boost human capital development in agricultural sector.

Avong disclosed this in Abuja while explaining the huge expectations from the livestock sub-sector, which people rely on for food, job creation, and revenue generation.

Avong said: “From our own end, where we think we can develop the veterinary profession is the establishment of this referral veterinary specialist hospital. It is a capital intensive

project, which we think will gulp over N300 million.

He noted that with over 5, 000 veterinarians registered in the country, that the proposed referral veterinary hospital will have the state of the art laboratory, diagnostic image finder manned by professionals.

“And it will be used as a training ground for both undergraduates and those in colleges of veterinary surgery. That is how we think we are going to add value.

He added that “the Veterinary Specialist Hospital is an initiative of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, VCN, targeted at human capacity development. I mean to impact more knowledge in our veterinarians.”

According to him it will also serve as a referral hospital in the sub-region to boost human capacity in the agricultural sector of sister countries.

However, Avong called on relevant government organisations to cooperate with the VCN in actualising the project.

“We want relevant government organisations to cooperate with us on what we are doing to serve Nigerians better and also to ensure the agricultural sector has really qualified veterinary personnel that will do their jobs according to best international practices.

“The referral veterinary hospital is not going to be involved so much in routine veterinary services, but its main function

is to receive referral cases that those in the field cannot handle because of lack of facilities; they bring them here to have results, and go ahead and effect the treatment.

“It is not going to be a slaughter house, and nobody should entertain fear because the centre will not be a source of disease outbreak that will affect the human population living in the area.

“The importance of the veterinary specialist hospital cannot be overemphasized because it is to add value to the agricultural sector and it stands to be a strategic research centre to be equipped with the state of the art facilities seen in other parts of the world,” he stated.

Agricultural Economist & Food Policy Exper t joins AGRA Board

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HAIR of the Alliance for a Green Revolu tion in Africa (AGRA),Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, has announced that Dr. Joachim von Braun, an economist and food policy expert known worldwide for his commitment to agriculture as a path out of poverty, has joined the organization’s board.

“We are extremely pleased Dr. von Braun has agreed to actively support our work with partners across the continent to create new opportunities for millions of African farmers,” Masiyiwa said. “We are eager to draw from his extensive experience and distinguished career in agricultural economics in our efforts to give African farmers and Africanowned agriculture businesses a bigger role in Africa’s rapidly growing economies.”

Dr. von Braun is Director of the Center for Development Research (known by its German acronym ZEF) and Professor at the University of Bonn. He served from 2002 to 2009 as Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), where he greatly expanded the organization’s work in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

He is widely consulted as an expert in food economics and policy and chairs of the German Government’s BioEconomy Council.

“I’m very excited to be joining an organization dedicated to harnessing the potential of African farms to become thriving businesses,” Dr. von Braun said. “I share AGRA’s commitment to expanding the opportunities and choices available to African farmers, from the seeds they plant, to the nutrients they apply to their soil, to the financing they need and engaging in markets that can bring income to their families and communities.”

Dr. von Braun has published research probing a number of topics directly relevant to AGRA’s mission, including agriculture policy, food security, and agriculture science and technology. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and is the former President of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE).

Von Braun has worked extensively in sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, Egypt, Russia, and China.

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Customs warns Dangote, Guinness, others over non-payment of N400m import duty zOver 300 Customs agencies risk revocation of licenses

By Godwin Oritse

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HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that Dangote, Toyota and Guinness are among several other blue chip companies fingered in over N400million in the non-Payment of Customs import duty since 2015 Vanguard investigation revealed that the companies took advantage of the fast track system introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service, where importers can take delivery of their cargoes while the value of these delivered cargoes are assessed at the warehouses.

This measure is usually offered to manufacturing so as not to obstruct the firms’productions activities.

In a note of warning pasted on the notice board of the Port and Terminal Multi-purpose Service Limited, (PTML) Command of the Customs, the indicted companies through their agencies were warned to pay up their debt or have their licenses revoked.

The notice entitled “The following should effect the payment of t heir unpaid assessment and provide evidence of payment or face cancellation” and dated May 15th 2015.

The Notice was signed by Assistant Comptroller of Customs Mr C. O. Niagwan in charge of post clearance audit of the PTML Command.

The record showed that while Toyota owed N82.5million, Dangote owed N18.2million while N80million was also recorded against Guinness.

Other import debtors includes Dantata and Sawoe with an import duty debt of N1.3million, Ancel Shipping services Limited with a debt of N493, 323.00, Wilson El-Tall Limited had a total of N1.17million import duty debt recorded against it.

Meanwhile, over 300 licensed Customs agents working for their companies are also risking the revocation of their licenses for their inability to ensure the payment of these debts.

Speaking in defence of Guinness, its Company Secretary, Mr. Sesan Shobowale, said that Guinness was not owing Customs import duty, adding that if the company was owing, there is a communication line between Customs and Guinness. For Toyota, Mr. Tola Olukilede told Vanguard that it does not owe, saying that all its import duty payment have been paid up to date.

He said “Toyota does not owe,

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I am in charge of all operations, we have a bonded warehouse and we have Customs officers in our bonded warehouse.

“The goods we have not paid for are the ones that came in this month and these goods cannot be sold until duty is paid.

“We do not usually owe Customs, we do not postpone payment of import because of the fluctuation of the exchange rate of the United States Dollar”.

Effort to reach Mr. Sunday

We do not postpone payment of import because of the fluctuation of the exchange rate of the United States Dollar

General Manager, Western Ports, NPA, Chief Michael Kayode Ajayi (middle) with Managing Director of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base, Miss Amy Jadesimi when the General Manager toured the base as part of his visit to facilities underthe Western ports of NPA.

Esan Dangote’s media spokeman for cooments on the import duty recorded against Dangote Cement,was futile as his phone was switched off as ta press time Some of the agencies that risk revocation of their licenses in-

cludes Libra circle Limited, Dansnom Resources Limited, Pajerry Nigeria Limited, Ayofat global services limited and Ana investment limited.

Others are wealthy Honey investment limited that worked for Babatunde Dada and had im-

port duty debt of N29, 588.00 recorded against its name, Sulam Ventures Limited and Alpha Baro are some of the Customs agents that may have their licenses revoked if payment of their debt were not effected.

NPA, FERMA meet over port access road

By Godwin Oritse & Chizoba Nwaizu

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HE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Western Port has bemoaned the traffic situation on the ports access roads saying it had affected port operations.

Speaking at the Lagos Ports Complex ,(LPC),before embarking on a tour round the port, the General Manager of NPA Western Ports, Chief Michael Ajayi said the traffic situation had impacted on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

Ajayi also said that NPA would be meeting with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) on Friday on how to repair the access roads leading to the ports.

Terminal Operators at the LPC also said that the perennial gridlock is adversely affecting their operations.

At the Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited, the Managing Director, Capt. Muhammed Bashir appealed for urgent repairs of the port access roads.

Bashir also frowned at the use of the terminal gate as thoroughfare by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service.

He said, “Since there was traffic on the roads, we see Customs using this place as a thoroughfare. Also, instead of maintaining a reasonable

speed limit, we see them doing a neck breaking speeding which is not reasonable.”

“The first primary thing is the access road to the port and we know the essence of business is to generate money for business and also for the economy of the country. We know what we are experiencing on this road for the past years if you have a say please expedite action and rescue our business.

“The roads had been built for a long time when the cargo

traffic was not as huge as this so, there is need for the government to expand. There is need for expansion because the gridlock is causing a lot of Havoc,” said Assistant General Manager, ENL Consortium Modupe Markus.

Managing Director of Greenview Development Limited (GDNL), Alhaji Abba Isan Bukar, said, “No port can exist without trucks. We need to create a truck transit park either inside or outside port for the trucks to park and leave the

roads.

Fully loaded trucks are seen parking on the roads, NPA should do something. Tin Can is overtaken by trucks and we can all see that the roads are bad that trucks are falling on a daily basis.”

Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr. Andrew Dawes told the visiting NPA General Manager that his company has fully developed its terminal to global standards.

Intels expends N161m on community roads, schools classroom block renovation at

By Chizoba Nwaizu

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HE Intels group, a major oil port at Delta state has revealed to other communities that they are not only adding value to their community but to Nigeria at large.

Disclosing this during the assessment of the company corporate social responsibility,CSR, the General Manager, Intels, Mr Mike Epelle said that the company had expended over N161.8 million on providing scholarship for community students from 13years now.

He stated that the company has constructed a 10km road in Onne ; undertook the Onne solar light , the ogui network of internal roads; a network of internal roads at Rumuokwurusi a network of roads at ogbunali; a neighbourhood water project at Amadi- Ama; the Onne ultra modern market; an ultra modern marketat O lobulo; an ICT Centre at Rumuokwurusi; another ICT Centre at Ikot Ansa; six classroom block at old Netim; six classroom block at old Netim; school renovation at Rumukwurusi and another 10

Rumukwurusi.

A member from Delta state, Fidelis Clark also disclosed the fact that aside from a graduate trainee scheme which ensures an annual employment of 50 graduates exclusively from the host communities, that the company has ensured that 10,104(69.5 percent) out of the its entire 14,574 work force actually came from the Niger Delta area. He said despite the volatility of the entire area the company has never experience labour disruption because they always gain support from people whenever they want to pursue any project.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 —25

Govt urged to strengthen tourism institutions

By Jimoh Babatunde

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HE National President of Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP ), Mr. Nkereuwem Onung has urged the new government to focus on strengthening the various tourism institutions in the country so as to derive maximum economic benefits in the sector.

He said as a way of taking off there is the need to seek for those with knowledge of the industry so as to close the knowledge gap being experienced now.

Speaking with Vanguard in Durban, South Africa recently, Nkereuwem said “We need to develop the institutions , we need to get knowledgeable people into positions.”

While noting that Nigeria has a lot of work to do to grow its tourism, Nkereuwem said Nigeria needs to be a little more serious as a country . “We need to make tourism to yield or improve our GDP. “We have actually not developed our potentials , when you come to South Africa and see what is happening then you know we have not started, maybe because of oil, we now know that oil is drying up, so it is time for us as a nation to be a bit serious in tourism.

He said “when you come to a country like south Africa and

see what is happening, you can imagine the contributions of tourism to the country’s GDP, then we have not started, so there is lot of work to be done back home in Nigeria.”

The tour operators boss said the first thing is about knowledge , then the next thing is how do we tap that knowledge and turn it to our benefit.

“I think the first thing to do is strengthen the institutions and then get people with knowledge into offices so as to

close the knowledge gap.”

Nkereuwem said the government needs to strengthen Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation ( NTDC), “it needs to be refocused. The tourism ministry needs to know what they are doing. Who is marketing our country? For the past two years or so, we have not had any marketing Effects.”

While calling for a complete re-orientation , he said Nigeria needs to sell leisure tourism and doing that we need to sell

it to Nigerians.

“Yes, the domestic tourism is okay, but you also need to bring people to Nigeria. Our focus needs to change, what we show to the world also needs to change. So I think there is a lot that needs to be done. We needs to strengthen the institutions.”

He added “There is also the issue of the partnership with the private sector. The partnership has to be with strong institutions before we can be able to stand. “Tourism is collaboration between the tour operators, the hoteliers, and entertainment . It is about consciousness and our people saying this is what we want.”

A member of Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye (2nd left) with Baabokun of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro (3rd left) and others, during the 2015 Obokun Festival in Ibokun, Osun State.

Tourism great tool for job creation — Oyintiloye

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HE House of Assembly member representing Obokun Constituency of Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has said investments in Culture and Tourism by governments would boost job creation and the economy.

Speaking weekend at this year ’s Obokun Festival in Ibokun, Osun state, Oyintiloye said tourism development would not only serve as alternative source of income, but would also reinforce the fight against social vices as well as help address societal ills by instilling high moral standards, and cultural values.

Bringing to mind the economic challenge faced in the country, Oyintiloye lamented that economic challenges being experienced in the country was largely due to heavy dependence on the revenue from petroleum products and the the fall in global oil prices.

He advocated that it was high time Nigeria began to look beyond oil and diversify its economy.

Outlining areas of job creaOyintiloye cited example of tion in the sector to include tour Olumirin Water fall, saying guide, horticulture, food servthrough effective management ices, entertainment industry, by agency of the state governcraft and Arts productions, and ment was able to attract over waste recycling to mention a 50,000 visitors in 2014. few, he maintained that it was The lawmaker who noted the prerogative of Nigerians to that Obokun cultap into advantage of tural value and these opportunities. tourism potentials While lauding the If some were enormous, state of Osun for decalled all veloping tourism countries stakeholders inmaster plan which he depended cluding sons and said had a robust and daughter of Ibokun global outlook, he solely on at home and in maintained that the tourism to Diaspora to contribblueprint had the ute their quota tomindset of economy survive, wards its developof scale as it focused nothing ment. on development of Pointing out that stops Nilocal content. strict supervision He expressed geria from was necessary to exstrong hope that the plore the gains in Master plan which developing the sector, he said, was meticulously and the sector “it is not enough to diligently developed allocate money for by the State Tourism to the the sector, but we Board when fully im- maximum must guard our inplemented would set vestment, to see it the pace for others to flourish and help follow. develop our

economy, because that is what some countries primarily depend on to survive”.

“If some countries depended solely on tourism to survive, nothing stops Nigeria from developing the sector to the maximum”, he added.

He also used the occasion to call for preservation and restoration of cultural and moral values, in order to restore Yoruba culture which was gradually fading away, adding that the positive impacts of culture preservation would not only include national integration but moral re-awakening.

Also speaking, the Oba of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro charged the government to encourage the Obokun festival and other such cultural event in the state, saying they are source of revenue generation for government.

Describing Ibokun as the source of Ijesa people, the monarch called on sons and daughters of the town to also find ways of attracting development to the town.

ATBOWATAN inaugurates committee on Emir of Borgu investiture

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HE Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATAN) has inaugurated a 10 man committee of experienced professionals and technocrats in ocean economy, tourism to drive the investiture activities and programmes of the Emir of Borgu as life patron of the body.

Recently, the Emir of Borgu, Mai Borgu, Senator (Dr.) Haliru Dantoro, Kitoro III, had accepted the appointment as life patron of the association in letter personally signed and dated 26th of April, 2015.

President ATBOWATAN, Mr. Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun while inaugurating the committee stated, that the investiture of the highly cerebral Emir of Borgu, a former Senator and FCT Minister as life Patron is not only a call to honour the revered Royal father whose domain transcends the Kanji / Jebba water bodies but also to showcase the tourism potentials of River Niger discovered by Mungo Park.

Tourism, culture practitioners to visit Brooklyn museum

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powerful delegation of tourism and culture experts are slated to visit in August, the Brooklyn Museum of African History and Culture in Port Harcourt, and also to the office of Rivers State Governor Nysom Wike.

The historic visit is at the instance of the President Brooklyn Group of Companies, tourism elder and investor, Alabo Mike Amachree.

The delegation would be led by the Anambra revered royal father and promoter of new – yam cultural festival, Igwe Martin Eze, the Idu of Igbokwu.

Other members are Dr. Paul Dike, former Director General National Gallery of Art (NGA), Mallam Kabir Mallan, President, Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Mr. Nkerewem Onung, President National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and Otunba Wale Akinboboye of La Campagne Resort and Dr. Mubo Eniola, former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Kogi State.

26—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

•Buhari: Under pressure to name aides

APPOINTMENTS OF KEY AIDES: How Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, Jonathan fared The dithering procrastination by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in making key appointments is an issue among some Nigerians. Should it?

By Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke N the estimation of many, the inability of President Muhammadu Buhari to make key appointments three weeks after its inauguration is a cause for concern.

The administration which

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was inaugurated on May 29, 2015, had been expected to hit the ground running given the about two-month waiting time it had to prepare itself.

However, to the consternation of many stakeholders, including strong partisans of the new ruling party, All Progressives

Congress, APC, the administration has continued to drag its feet on the appointment of key officers of state.

The only three appointments that have been made by Buhari are those of the two media spokesmen, Mr. Femi Adesina as Special Adviser on

Media and Publicity and Mallam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

The third appointment was that of Mallam Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure as the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP).

Kazaure was a handover from the Goodluck Jonathan administration and had served the former president as a Special Assistant

(Presidential Matters).

When the president wrote the 7th Senate on Tuesday, June 2 – two days before the end of its session- to ask for the approval of 15 Special Advisers, it sparked belief in some quarters that Buhari was all geared for action.

That request was approved the following day, June 3.

However, more than two weeks after the approval was given, the president as at press time yesterday was yet to name the men and women to fill the positions approved for him.

It is a development that has gotten senior associates of the president all worried. Many

Continues on page 27

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—27

BUHARI'S APPOINTMENTS: How Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, Jonathan fared Continues from page 26 of them who expect to work with him in the administration are all tensed up, and many of them looking askance as the president has carried on without the key appointments.

Defending himself, the president had blamed the delay in passing on handover notes from the former administration to his Transition Committee.

The head of the Buhari Transition Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, while passing on the 800 page report of the committee to the president last weekend, came to the defence of the president saying that the transition that has just occurred was unique in the sense that it was the first time that a different political party was taking power from another political party.

“For about five weeks, we went through memorandum, listening to presentations from all over this country. We submitted about 800 pages of the report to Mr President. It’s now his property, and I believe in due course, he’ll begin to act on it,” Joda said.

“We received the handover note on the 25th of May and that report was about 18,000 pages and it took time to even sort them out and to make sense from them, read them, analyse them and come up with recommendations,” he added.

“I think he (Buhari) deserves a little bit more time.

This is not an ordinary transfer of government from one president to the other. In this country, we’ve never witnessed this kind of transition from one political party to another; the political party in opposition won the election,” Joda stated.

“Previous transitions from one president to the other did not require long process like this. I think this is part of the evolution of democracy. The country has to be a little bit more patient, and it cannot be with immediate effect,” he said.

President Olusegun Obasanjo, who took over power from the military regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, settled in pretty quickly.

On the day he was sworn in on May 29, 1999, Obasanjo appointed Chief Ufot Ekaete as the Secretary to the Federal Government, SGF, and Major General Abdullahi Muhammed, (retd) as Chief

Mr. Segun Adeniyi as Special Adviser, Media and Publicity; Ambassador Babagana Kingibe as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and Alhaji Salihu Alhassan as the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Authority, FCTA .

The new president also announced that he would retain Maj-Gen Abdullahi Mohammed (retd) as Chief of Staff and Maj-Gen Sarki Muktar (retd) as National Security Adviser. Both men were carryovers from the preceding Obasanjo administration.

•Obasanjo: 1999 to 2007

•Yar'Adua: 2007 to 2010

of Staff.

The media team, service chiefs were also appointed within the first two days of the Obasanjo administration.

Instructively, the two key staff of the O b a s a n j o administration, Ekaette who ran the g o v e r n m e n t bureaucracy and Gen. Mohammed who ran the presidential villa and the government, were identified and •Jonathan: 2010 to 2015 positioned well before the inauguration by also appointed about the same Obasanjo. time as the National Security Both men served Obasanjo Adviser while Mr. Kayode Are for the eight years he was in power.

Gen. Aliyu Mohammed was

was appointed the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS. Are served Obasanjo for the two terms while Mohammed, left office to vie for the presidential ticket of the P e o p l e s Democratic Party, PDP in 2006.

President Umaru Yar‘Adua, following his inauguration on May 29, 2007 within 24 hours made key appointments including the appointment of

Jonathan: Cabinet not formed in a hurry Upon becoming the acting President on February 9, 2010, then President Goodluck Jonathan in an assertive move redeployed then Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoaka to the Special Duties Ministry.

He did not tinker with the security apparatus and domestic line up framed by the ailing President Yar ‘Adua until he was fully sworn in as President on May 5, 2010.

Jonathan, who was inaugurated as president on May 29, 2011, the following day named Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as SGF. However, other key appointments took the president another five weeks.

His special adviser on Media, Dr. Rueben Abati, Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadhome and other principal staff were named on July 6, 2011.

RELOCATION OF AKWA IBOM TRIBUNAL: Why PDP is in panic — UDOH

Defending himself, the president had blamed the delay in passing on handover notes from the former administration to his transition committee

OTUEKONG Jackson Udoh is a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress APC, an industrialist and respected elder in Akwa Ibom state. He was a member of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Council. In this interview with journalists in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital, he spoke on some of the current political issues particularly relating to issues at the Akwa Ibom State Election Tribunal.

Excerpts:

By Chioma Onuegbu

W

HAT would you say about the issues surrounding the ongoing Election Petition Tribunal especially the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja?

Well, I understood the tribunal has been sitting although I have not been around and that some of the requests the judges asked from the tribunal have been refused by either INEC or some

members of the PDP group. And recently I understood that the tribunal has moved to Abuja. I think that is good for the interest of fair play, and for the interest of this nation.

I was surprised to hear from some quarters that some PDP leaders are now saying that Buhari has started with impunity because he has moved the tribunal to Abuja. It is an issue I

would not want to discuss because I don’t know how the tribunal was appointed and how they were sent to the state but the little I know is that tribunal was not appointed by President Buhari nor APC government. It was there on ground even before Buhari was sworn- in, and it was appointed by the previous government.

And we believe in APC, that what money cannot do, justice can do it, and that is exactly where we are standing at. If they use money and more money to do what they did in order to frustrate and destabilize the electoral process of this state and claim that it is only money that

Continues on page 28

28—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Sharing of the loo loott will e evver be a pr oblem ffor or APC — Iwanyanwu problem

By Jude Opara

CHIEF Chyna Iwuanyanwu is a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was a member of the Imo State House of Assembly in the Second Republic. He speaks to Correspondent Jude Opara on issues including the developments in the National Assembly which he says show that the APC is not yet a homogenous political party.

Excerpts:

W

HY do you think your party failed in the last general election?

Well, let me start by saying that no human situation is perfect, and politics is worst because it is a game of interests.

PDP was obviously the most national of all the political parties in Nigeria founded by

a team of some of the most patriotic minded politicians the country can boast of who came together to fight the military government so that democracy can come to Nigeria.

It wasn’t a tribal party, it was truly a Nigerian party and that was why it was called the Peoples Democratic Party and the enthronement of democracy was the principle thing against the army.

Now we lost it when we resorted to impunity which the army is noted for, imposition which is anti democratic, insensitivity to the wishes and desires of the people and so we became a Democratic Party without the people while it was supposed to be Peoples Democratic Party. I had warned several times that the greatest problem facing the PDP was not the APC neither was it ACN, it was the people and I knew that the moment we lost

the people we will lose the election so as far as I am concerned what we did wrong was the derailment of values, the vision of the original founding fathers of the PDP over the time.

Actually the conquest of the PDP was not by CPC or ACN it was by members of PDP, the aggrieved members of PDP who left and the journey for me started when we abandoned the zoning principle.

Remember in 2011 when President Yar’Adua died some of us insisted that we must uphold the zoning principle which is the cardinal principle of PDP and that a Northerner should be allowed to finish the tenure of Yar’Adua but that didn’t happen.

Jonathan came and we were told it was going to be one term to complete the tenure of Yar’Adua of course we accepted but in 2015 he came up again

•Iwuanyanwu: PDP caused its own downfall

and that is why you see that there was overwhelming conspiracy by the North, they

Why PDP is in panic — UDOH is supposed to. I don’t also believe that anybody should take the law into his hands.

If a letter had been issued by the Inspector General of Police to such action, I believe normal action will be taken. And I don’t see the IGP to be somebody that could be cowed around, because for a very short moment we have seen that the man is coming up with a clear understanding of the job, and I strongly believe he will do what he is expected to do.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner Akwa Ibom State, Austin Okojie had some weeks ago alleged that some INEC officials and APC members threatened his life. As a stakeholder of APCwhat do you say about that?

I can tell you that the APC stakeholders or members in this state cannot unilaterally go to threaten his life. They are all very law abiding citizens. When you are led by a leader who is after the rule of Law, there is no way the followers will go and behave otherwise. So such allegation is false, and that is what I can say about that.

•Udoh: Tribunal should be far from PDP money influence

Continues from page 27 can do it, we believe that justice can do it better. We believe in APC that justice can always give us what is our right.

Now that the tribunal has been moved to Abuja what is your expectation from the process?

My expectation is that there is going to be fair and free conduct of the tribunal on the job they were sent to do. Of course the activities during the elections show that there wouldn’t have been any peaceful atmosphere for them to conduct whatever they came in here for, so moving to a neutral ground is just the best thing that has ever happened to the people of this state and this nation because we want peace, and we want justice.

The Inspector General of Police Arase issued a letter to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Criminal Investigation Department to investigate Akwa Ibom and Rivers states RECs on the alleged fraudulent conduct of the election. What is your take on this?

I think the Inspector General of Police is doing his work the way he

Akwa Ibom people are anxiously waiting for the outcome of the tribunal. How prepared is the APC should another election come up?

We are always prepared. We were prepared before and we are getting prepared. We are ready even if the election is coming up tomorrow as I am sure that the Tribunal will not accept any of the past elections. So we are prepared for the election and we are quite ready for it. If the elections were to be free and fair, if the thuggery and all kinds of violence were not used to maim APC supporters and their agents, nothing would have made them to claim the won the elections and they knew But the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Chief Godswill Akpabio boasts that even if election is conducted five times that the PDP in the state will still win five times. What do you say about that?

That is in his dreamland. If free and fair election is to be conducted in Akwa Ibom State, I don’t mean election with violence like what they did, they imported all kinds of thugs and all kinds of secret police; secret army and what have you. And they knew what they did.

But if the election is going to be conducted again, he (Akpabio) is not going to be allowed to use all those things because the law has taken care of the situation now. Let the election be conducted and let me see how he will win. He was just talking because he believed that the whole country was in his pocket; that is what he believed.

Let him now talk and let the election come up, and let us see how he is going to win even in his own ward in a free and fair election.

felt that there was a conspiracy to exclude the North out of the presidency and they came together so both Northerners in the APC, those in the PDP and those even in the government and corridor of power of Jonathan conspired and betrayed him, those are the reasons we lost the election.

Now since it is not just about APC or PDP but Nigeria, what is your advice to the ruling party?

They should pay me for advice but because I love Nigeria, I think they should avoid the banana peels, they must avoid impunity, they must avoid imposition, they must avoid internal crisis, they have offered Nigerians during their campaigns certain promises Nigerians have a retentive memory and we are going to judge them, their performance or otherwise by the actualization of those promises they have made because our prayer is that it should not be the kind a promise a man makes to a woman on the bed.

Many people still argue that the APC is not yet a political party, what is your view on this?

I have always said that APC is Angry Peoples Congress since last two years. Now I told you how the PDP came together from the East, the North, the West and the South to form a national democratic party but that is not the same with the APC. The ACN is predominantly a South West party, CPC predominantly a Northern party with their own agenda then of course the Angry members of PDP and of course ANPP and one or two

Continues on page 29

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—29

candidates as the choice candidate of the party; Lawan-Akume and Femi Gbajabiamila tickets. So there is no way if I were involved in the process, if a member of my party is involved in that process that he would want to participate because there was no equal level playing field.

And there is nowhere that you will create a straw-poll for leadership of the Senate before they go to the floor of the senate because you have no right to do that. The leaders as stipulated by the constitution and all external rules said that the elected leaders of this Senate and House of Representatives will elect a leader amongst themselves on the floor of the Senate. So the party went above the normal thing.

•Ameh: APC has sowed discord

•Oyegun: APC chairman

APC has deceived us with their Change slogan — Ameh, chairman, PPA

By Chris Ochayi

CHIEF Peter Ameh is the National Chairman of Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA. In this interview, he bares his mind on the recent development in the nation’s political scene. Ameh while x-raying the controversies which characterised the recently conducted National Assembly leadership election concluded that a bipartisan legislature is good for the country.

H

OW would you react to the controversies generated by the election of presiding officers in the National Assembly?

There have been a lot of intrigues behind closed doors among the various blocs that came to form the All Progressive Congress, APC, that gave it the power it now has and the ability to have the national spread that gave it the advantage to take over power at the centre.

These power blocs have been pitching opinion against opinion and interest against interest, and that is what has really made this thing very difficult. But nevertheless, we know that there is a good intention from the elected president. But APC as a party is making very serious mistakes maybe from the leadership.

I thought that based on their popular slogan of Change, that they would be an all-inclusive party, a party that has respect for internal democratic process, a party that has respect for the interest, wishes and aspirations of it members. But so far, APC has fallen short of that and has failed to achieve that in a lot of areas.

Like the National Assembly

C M Y K

elections, I want to sincerely fault the leadership of the APC. While we commend the President, Muhammadu Buhari for accepting that he would work with any person that is chosen as leader at the National Assembly level. We want to fault the negative influence of the APC as a political party in the leadership process of the National Assembly.

Because one, if you say a member who wants to contest for the post of the Senate President has an interest and that member is a member of your party, and that member has contributed financially up to date, the member has contributed personal manpower by moving from one state to another campaigning for the victory of the APC. You said that member should not run that you have a preferred candidate, what have you done? Have you not infringed on the right of that person to participate and have you not refused to create a fair playing field for participation for all your members? Have you not refused to create an all-inclusive process of election?

These were all the things that the previous political parties like the PDP were doing that were wrong that caused the party to crash and yet APC claimed change. APC would have allowed its members to elect the leader or leaders of their choice without any imposition.

As the national chairman of a political party do you think Senator Saraki and Speaker Dogara violated party discipline by contesting against the party’s nominated candidates in the leadership contests?

I want to tell you one thing, our party the PPA, had people like Senator Uche Chukwumerijie of

blessed memory elected to the Senate in 2007 under its platform, Chief Ikedi Ohakim became the governor of Imo State under the platform of our party, Chief Theodore Orji, the immediate past governor of Abia state became governor under the platform of our party. I think when the position of the party becomes too stiff; you push your members away, and the damage that would be done would be too much to recover from.

If you say party discipline, you must create a system of fair hearing, you must create an equal level playing field for all those persons that you want them to follow party principles and party policies; you must create that equal playing field.

You cannot be a judge in a matter where your interest is already known, there is no way you can judge that matter fairly because from day one the party was known to favour some

I thought that based on their popular slogan of Change, that they would be an allinclusive party, a party that has respect for internal democratic process, a party that has respect for the interest

PPA adopted former President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate in the last presidential election. Why did he lose?

Internal wrangling, betrayal here and there caused his loss because Jonathan as a person did well for this country, he has served this country well. Indeed, we formed a committee; issues were reviewed.

Before we adopted Jonathan, we took time. We were the last set of people to adopt Jonathan, we took our time, we reviewed a lot of issues and sincerely, lawyers were involved in this process. We discovered that Jonathan was the best candidate for that election from my own point of view.

We became happier when despite losing an election Jonathan became a celebrated individual; he became more celebrated than even winning because of his approach to the election after he lost. He called

President Buhari before the final result was collated, they have not even announced some states.

So at the time we took our decision, with all the relevant information at our disposal, it was the best decision we took at that point in time. So for Nigeria that has come and gone, we are now engaged in nation building. In politics you align, and you re-align and you continue to create an alliance for a better Nigeria and that is what we are doing. We are here to build a better future for our people, so it is not a personal thing.

The governorship election in your state, Kogi is expected to hold by October this year, will your party field a candidate for the governorship election.

If I don’t feature my interest to show how much I am on the ground in the state. You know the last election, Senator Abetemi Usman, as serving senator contesting on the platform of my party lost by just a slight margin because of the Buhari syndrome.

I mean the slightest of all margins.

So whether APC had a better candidate for the Senate seat or not, people were just thumb printing APC because in respect of their interest for Buhari. So that is how the very distinguished and very young vibrant Senator lost the election.

We are working closely with the state executive and some other leaders in the state to provide a very vibrant person, to make sure that we show that we are a force to be reckoned with in the Kogi election.

Sharing of the loot will ever be a problem for APC — Iwanyanwu Continues from page 28 persons from APGA. Politics is a game of interest, it is an amalgamation of interest groups, they are not friends and they are strange bedfellows therefore there is already conflict sown into the construction of the party and that conflict has already started manifesting because it is like when thieves go to steal, they are united by one agenda, their only agenda was to bring down Jonathan so that they can control government and the resources of Nigeria, that is all.

Yes they succeeded but in sharing, the problem has come; the President is CPC, the Vice President is ACN then it came to Senate President and Speaker the ACN wanted to take it again but the New PDP members said ‘no you have taken one, this one has taken two and we should take something’ and they conspired

with the PDP members.

The PDP at home conspired with the PDP in exile and took over the leadership of the National Assembly and the ANPP is now asking about their own so you see that the APC is not a homogenous political entity.

So, are you happy with the emergence of Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President under an APC leadership?

It is the beauty of democracy we are beginning to see because what happened at the National Assembly shows that no one man can hijack the Nigerian nation which was the agenda of the ACN leader.

Secondly it has asserted the independence of the legislature the law says that the members should choose their leaders, it didn’t say that the party should choose the leaders.

30 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 19,

2015

I have big shoes to fill as Femi Falana’s son – Falz –F

By Juliet Ebirim Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz the Bahd Guy is a rapper and the only son of renowned lawyer, Femi Falana. In this interview, he talks about his career in music, family background, law practice among others.

How is your music career doing?

It’s doing very well. I recently released some singles alongside their videos. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I’ll be releasing my second album officially.

Which of your singles has been your biggest hit so far?

I would say ‘Marry Me’ featuring Yemi Alade.

How has the experience been?

It’s been great.

Popularity has definitely grown. People have grown to love the brand more. A lot of people now know about ‘Falz the Bahd guy’.

Winning Nigerian Idol came to me as a surprise

— K-Peace

C M Y K

‘After graduation ...new start ups?’

Most artistes come up and before you know it, they just fizzle out. How do you intend to hold your own despite the competitive nature of the industry?

I think that relating and constantly interacting with one’s fan base is very important and that’s something I always do. One particular feature that draws people to my brand and

which will help me remain on top of my game is the humour and wit. Every now and then, even on social social media platform, I release short, funny clips just to draw people’s attention. They are like “Who is this crazy guy?”

That will hopefully continue to work for me.

Is the brand name ‘Falz the Bahd guy’ working in your favour?

It is, because it’s

I like to differentiate myself from everyone else out there. I don’t think there’s anybody out there who does the kind of music I do

intriguing. When you hear ‘Falz the Bahd guy’, you wonder who could bear such a name. I actually have a positive connotation to the name. Falz is a short form of my surname and the ‘Bahd’ stands for ‘Brilliant and highly distinct’. I like to differentiate myself from everyone else out there. I don’t think there’s anybody out there who does the kind of music I do.

What was your childhood like?

Childhood was interesting.

I have two sisters. Primary and secondary education was in Nigeria, after which I proceeded to England to study Law. I developed the passion for music in secondary school, that was when I started to nurture my talent. I had the time then to lay the foundation for what I have eventually become.

Being a lawyer and the son of a legal luminary, how did you end up becoming a musician?

It has to do with passion.

You find out that you always want to do what you are passionate about. I decided to follow my heart.

Considering your background as the only son of Femi Falana, how were you able to ‘slug’ it out with your parents?

Initially, it was a surprise because neither of my parents had any sort of background in music. But they have grown to accept and appreciate that it’s my passion and they have continued to support me.

For the fact that I studied Law and qualified to be a Barrister with flying colours, my parents were impressed.

They support me in whatever I choose to do. My parents are fans of my music as well.

Why do you always wear ‘eyeglasses without glass’, spectacles without lens?

It goes with the brand ‘Falz the Bahd guy’.

Everything about the character is intriguing. I found out that wearing glasses with no glass is intriguing. When people see me, they are like “What is wrong with you?”

Do you still find time for your legal practice?

Continues from page 50

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—31

Synopsis

I have big shoes to fill as Femi Falana’s son Continues from page 50 I still practise but because I’m very busy on the entertainment end, I’m not active when it comes to legal practice. But as much as I can, every now and then I still do.

TOP 5 MOVIES OF THE WEEK

Which artiste do you look forward to working with?

I want to work with different people. Though I don’t want to categorically announce them, my next single is likely to feature Reminisce.

What do you think Nigerians appreciate in music?

Based on what I’ve seen and what we all know, Nigerians have a short attention span, generally speaking. In terms of paying attention to lyrical contents which should be the case, we don’t often have that.

What we often have is people saying “Play that song, I want to hear the beats”. Nigerians generally want to hear nice beats that they can dance to. But we are trying to change the face of things. I pay a lot of attention to lyrics and I think more artistes should do that.

•Last Night •Fast &furious 7 •Last knights •Oops Noah is gone •Iyore

SCHEDULE FROM FRIDAY 19TH-25TH JUNE, 2015 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Everly: 12:50pm,4:00pm Jurassic World: 1:35pm,4:00pm,6:20pm,8:40pm Oops Noah is Gone: 12:20pm, Last Night: 2:40pm,

name for myself so that people can now say “This is Falz’ father”.

Being a good-looking artiste, how do you deal with female admirers?

I show them a lot of love

Most artistes say they do those songs because it’s what people want and so that they can make their money from Are you in a relationship? musical events and At the moment, I’m shows ….? not. I’m single. I’m not It’s a valid focused on that at the concern for any I want to be at moment. I’m focused artiste because they the pinnacle of on being established make their living and on achieving my through their the Nigerian goals. music. As an entertainment artiste, you have to What do you look industry. I would find a balance, give out for in a woman? the people what have built my Intellect. I have to be they want and at able to connect with record label to a the same time do you psychologically good music. level where I and mentally. If our minds don’t connect, if would be As an artiste, you can’t romance me have you been able grooming other mentally, then …. to strike that talents and balance?

Don’t you consider I’m already helping them to looks? finding a way to establish I’m not really strike that balance. concerned about looks I’m making upthemselves but eventually when beat, danceable we connect mentally, tunes that people we can now look at the love to hear and at other things. the same time adding good comic Five years from now, lyrics to it. where does ‘Falz the Bahd guy’ hope to be?

Can you share your experience and Sincerely, I want to be at the challenges? pinnacle of the Nigerian It definitely hasn’t been rosy. But I’m entertainment industry. I would grateful that things are falling in place. have built my record label to a One major challenge I’ve had is level where I would be grooming having to break out of the name that other talents and helping them to precedes me. People see me and say establish themselves. Right now, “This guy is Femi Falana’s son”.

I’m the only artiste signed onto There’s already a reputation and a lot the label – Bahdguys Records. is expected of me. I have big shoes to It’s an independent record label. fill. But I think I’m gradually making a C M Y K

S

et in New York City, Last Night is the story of a married couple that while apart for one night, is confronted by temptation that may decide the fate of their marriage.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Everly: 1:05pm,2:40pm,4:45pm Jurassic World: 11:50am,2:10pm,4:320pm,6:50pm,9:1 Last Knight: 3:30pm Pitch Perfect: 12:10pm,4:25pm,4:40pm,6:55pm,9:05pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Everly: 2:50pm,7:00pm Jurassic World: 2:30pm,6:40pm,9:00pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Everly: 12:50pm,7:05pm,8:55pm Jurassic World: 11:15am,1:35pm,3:55pm,6:15pm,8:35pm Super Star: 12:50pm Last Knight: 3:30pm,4:30pm Pitch Perfect: 2 : 11:45am,4:10pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI Everly: 11:50am,5:15pm,7:00pm Super Star: 3:55pm,8:35pm Oops Noah is Gone: 10:00am,11:40pm,1:20pm,3:00pm

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Super Star: 11:45am,2:25pm,5:10pm,8:00pm Last Knight: Iyore: Paul Blart Mall Cop: Son of Gun:

12:45pm,3:45pm,5:30pm 11:50am,1:45pm,3:50pm,5:50pm,7:50pm 2:11:30am,1:25pm,3:20pm,5:15pm,7:10pm,8:05pm 11:45am,6:10pm,8:20pm

32 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Winning Nigerian Idol came tto o me as a sur prise — K-Peace surprise

By Juliet Ebirim

W

K-Peace

INNER of the 5th edition of Nigerian Idol sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria which wrapped up last Saturday, Kunle Ogunrombi popularly known as KPeace has described his victory as a surprise, saying ‘I am overwhelmed getting to this stage.’

K-Peace emerged winner after beating eleven other finalists to clinch the star prize. The event which was characterised by glitz and glam, titillating dances and performances saw K-Peace smiling home with a brand new SUV car, cash prize of N7.5 million and a recording deal with Universal Music Company at the grand finale held at Dream Studios, Omole Phase 1, Lagos.

The journey began with performances from thousands of contestants at auditions that held in Benin, Abuja, PortHarcourt, Ibadan and Lagos and K-Peace won the hearts of the judges and viewing audience, beating the first runner-up, Dolu in a grand finale. Dolu also went home with N1.5million, a Galaxy Tab, a phone and an iPad. The highlight of the finale was the performance of Nigerian international singer, Asa who thrilled everyone with hit songs from her new album, ‘Bed of Stone’.

Speaking at the event, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone said the company recognised Nigerian Idol as a good platform to discover, nurture and celebrate young talented Nigerians. “Etisalat is living up to its reputation as a lifestyle brand that is passionate about the youth and Nigerian Idol is one of our platforms to celebrate Nigerian youths. This season, all the contestants have been amazing in their individual right and K-Peace particularly has been outstanding from the audition stage and we are glad that the voting public has crowned a winner deserving of the crown.”

PMAN set to launch biometrics card scheme

H

eritage Bank has announced its partnership support with the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) for the launch of a Biometrics Card Scheme for members of the music body.

The PMAN Biometrics Card Scheme, a flagship multi-purpose identity card project which was initiated to re-validate the association’s eminent status in the nation’s entertainment industry, is conceived as a starting point of an all-inclusive scheme to ensure significant levels of protection for Nigerian musicians’ commercial rights.

PMAN President, Pretty Okafor, explained that the Scheme is a product of a comprehensive assessment of the nation’s entertainment business landscape which shows that Nigerian musicians and their colleagues in the entertainment sector have been earning far below the commercial value of their works due to a variety of factors such as poor infrastructure and weak institutional and policy environment. According to him, the Scheme would make it possible for PMAN to develop a sound database of genuine practitioners in the nation’s music business sector, thereby strengthening the anti-piracy campaign.

Pretty Okafor

Seyi Shay grabs 2 nominations at MAMAs 2015

By Anozie Egole

T

op Nigerian singer, Seyi Shay has bagged two nominations at the forthcoming MAMAs 2015 which is billed to take place in South Africa next month. The “Jangolover” crooner has been nominated in two major categories as the “Best Female” and the “Video of the Year ” for her single with Wizkid “Crazy”. Seyi Shay receives global and continental recognition as she makes headway in African music’s biggest night for the first time with nominations in two major categories. She also gets to rub shoulders with the biggest names in African music like Wizkid, Davido, Diamond Platnumz, Mi Casa, Sauti Soul and Uhuru as all will be in attendance hoping to pick up a win in their different categories.

Seyi Shay has been pitched against Davido, Riki Rick, Bebe Cool and Prime Circle for the video of the year award and she’ll be tussling head on with Yemi Alade, Bucie, Vanessa Mdee and Busiswa for the Best Female award. After the nominations were made public, the excited Seyi Shay took to social media network to express her appreciation to her numerous fans. Hear her, “I thank the almighty God for this platform to express my talents. I also thank you my fans and friends for your support and your belief. I could not do this without you and I can’t win without you. Let’s make Africa proud! I need your votes! I won’t let you down”

Wale Akinlabi brings Planet TV to Nigeria

By Juliet Ebirim

N

Wale Akinlabi and Mabel Mabaso

IGERIAN-born Wale Akinlabi who is the brain behind Africa Magic’s biggest television show, Good Morning Africa, has collaborated with his South African partner, Mabel Mabaso to launch their wave-making Planet TV in Nigeria.

The rebranded South Africa based television is a youth lifestyle, music and entertainment channel committed to being trendsetters with constant innovation, and interactivity engaging digitally African stories, with

emphasis on uniting African youths on one platform. Planet TV eliminates borders in television offering more general entertainment/lifestyle content from South, West Africa and the world at large.

The station which has been running in South Africa for four years with a satellite studio based in Nigeria can now call Nigeria its home with its studios in the hub of Lagos.

Its live uplink facility will allow four hours of live programming out of the new Nigerian studios. This would avail stars and fans going live on television under one roof.

Formerly known as PRTV until March 2015 when it was rebranded, it is currently showing on GOTV Channel 73.

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VOL. 1: NO. 15

FRIDAY, JUNE 19 , 2015

South-West forests now preferred crime scenes?

By Dapo Akinrefon

B

EFORE now, the perception that kidnapping is more prevalent in the South East and South South geo-political zones, was perhaps not in doubt.

But there seems to be a paradigm shift as the trend is tilting towards the South West than any other region in

Nigeria.

Kidnapping in the region, prior to now, was alien.

But this worrisome trend has been attributed to factors which include, among others, unemployment and poverty.

Aside this, the kidnappers usually use the large forests in the region to perpetuate their nefarious acts.

These forests, found in states like Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti,

Osun and Ondo, are mostly used as the den for these kidnappers.

Besides the use of these forests, those who engage in the act of kidnapping have

been reported to come from outside the south west zone.

Continues on Page 2

IN THIS EDITION

How police nabbed master fraudsters in Ibadan forest •Pages 3

Why Ambode dissolved boards of parastatals, agencies •Page 4 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

South-West forests now preferred crime scenes?

Continues from Page 1 With the act perceived to be gaining momentum in the region, the security agencies seem to be hapless in curbing the menace.

Also, the act is taking its toll on economic activities in the zone as it is instilling fear in peoples’ minds.

Perhaps this informed the step taken by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State to seek the assistance of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase to come to his rescue and end the reign of kidnappers in the state.

According to Fayose, the increasing wave of crime in the state has gone beyond the capacity of the state government.

Fayose, who paid a visit to the IG at the Force Headquarters, lamented that the State Police Command was also powerless to stem the crime situation in the state.

The governor said the citizens were now afraid to come out to pursue their economic activities for fear that they might be the next victims of kidnappers whom, he said, had abducted two people within three weeks.

Analysts posit that if stringent steps are not taken to checkmate the act, it might have adverse effect on the social, economic and political activities in the region.

A chronicle of the kidnapping activities shows the effect of the worrisome trend.

Family members and loved ones have had to bear the brunt of the act.

Some have had to part with huge sums of money to secure the release of their loved ones.

In Ekiti State, 10 persons, including an 11-year-old boy kidnapped in Ekiti, were released by their captors.

The freed captives include Folasade Alade, Femi Omisore, Kikielomo Adegun and a nurse, Margret Aladeneka.

The victims, who were kidnapped at different locations within the state, included two lecturers at the Ekiti State University. A family member of one of the victims, Nike Aina, said the victims were released after their families had paid ransom which was undisclosed.

She said they were dropped along a bush path in Esure area of the state.

Regent, three others kidnapped in Ondo On June 3 2015, the sleepy university town of AkungbaAkoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo state was thrown into C M Y K

* A shrine in Isara, Ogun state where a 21year old girl was butchered during the week

confusion, as the Regent of the town, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon and two of her palace aides were kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

The situation caused pandemonium and grounded all commercial activities in the community, following protest by residents over the abduction of the regent.

The people made bonfires in some parts of the town and closed down all shops, markets and motor parks in the ancient town.

Omosowon, who is the third Regent of the town, was reportedly waylaid and abducted at the Oba axis of the Owo-Ikare road in a car belonging to Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko by some hoodlums on her way to the town from official engagement Interestingly, a combined team of security operatives stormed the hideout of the kidnappers and rescued her and four others, two weeks after she was abducted.

Two of their abductors were arrested while their leader nicknamed “Federal” was shot dead when he

attempted to wrestle a gun from the security operative after his arrest at their hideout.

Besides the use of these forests, those who engage in the act of kidnapping have been reported to come from outside the south west zone

OAU lecturer kidnapped, driver killed in Ekiti A lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Dr. Femi Omisore was equally kidnapped by unidentified persons in Ekiti State.

The lecturer, who works at the Department of Environmental Design Management of OAU was kidnapped at Ado-Ekiti, while on his way to OyeEkiti.

The kidnappers were also said to have killed Dr Omisore’s driver and burnt his vehicle to ashes.

Kidnapped priest regains freedom in Ekiti Also, in Ekiti State, a Catholic priest, who was kidnapped by gunmen in Ekiti state early June 2015, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade was released by his abductors.

Confirming the report, the Bishop of the Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, said no ransom was paid for the release of the clergyman.

The cleric, however, said

that the kidnappers demanded N200 million for his ransom which was declined by the church.

New den of kidnappers, fraudsters discovered in Ibadan In Isase in Ojoku community in Ona Ara Local Council, Ibadan, Oyo State, a den of suspected kidnappers and fraudsters was discovered.

Fake dollar notes and three exotic cars were Wednesday, recovered by the police from the shrine. The shrine comprised two buildings, decorated with a lot of figurines of different idols, assorted charms, cowries, snail shells, mats and underground apartments.

Efforts by security agencies Though, security agencies have been in the forefront of combating this menace, observers opine that concerted efforts must be deployed to nip this crisis in the bud.

If not curtailed, the SouthWest might yet be the new hub of kidnapping.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 3

OYO STATE

The suspected fraudsters in Ibadan

How police nabbed master fraudsters in Ibadan forest

By Ola Ajayi & Bukola Ifegbayi

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BADAN – When you see 48-year-old Serifat Badamosi dance at a shrine with scores of bats hovering above her which her gang uses to dupe unsuspecting people, even if you were a “doubting Thomas,” you would be forced to think she was a genuine traditionalist.

Everybody at the scene of the parade by the police were held spell-bound when she demonstrated how she made her victims believe she was a witch that can diagnose their ailments and heal them without stress.

Due to their stock in trade, several people have fallen into the traps of her gang, losing millions of Naira. For the past six years, they have subjected their victims to unimaginable trauma and sorrow. The stupendous wealth of the members of the gang showed that they have been long in the illicit trade.

The leader of the gang, Alhaji Akeem Azeez Olayode, a 37-year-old allegedly owns about 10 exotic vehicles including a Toyota Venza marked FST 378 CE valued at N4.8million, 4matic Mercedez Benz with registration number JJJ 684 DH valued at N6 million and Honda Cross-tour saloon car with number plate JJJ 685 C M Y K

DH valued at N3.5million.

According to the police, the five-member gang has evil shrines in different parts of the state. The shrines are located at Baale-Ayo, Asejire and Balogun village, off Eleyele/Ido road. They are well established that they have a traditional hospital named Oba bi Olorun ko si Traditional Orthopaedic Hospital, Idi-Oya, Odo Ona Elewe, Orita Challenge. It is from this so-called hospital that the victims would be referred to the shrine for ‘spiritual healing’.

The police team led by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammad Musa Katsina said at the scene of the crime that the gang was highly fetish.

They have variously disguised as traditional healers and claimed they have solutions to all ailments.

Speaking on the activities of the gang, the CP explained that the breakthrough was made by the Command’s anti-Kidnapping Squad who discovered the shrines at Baale-Ayo, Asejire and Balogun village off Eleyele/ Ido road as well as two poultry farms.

He estimated that value of the farms at N100 million noting that the cumulative value of their illegal services was well over N800 million.

Katsina said, “this place is a

•Suspected fraudster, Serifat Badamosi dancing in the shrine

The police vowed to get other suspects who are on the run especially one of the run-away leaders of the gang wherever he is.

place where many victims have visited and all of them came here but left this environment in bruises.

The gentleman (Azeez Olayode) who spoke with you is the leader of this hypnotising syndicate that whenever you are brought here, they do everything to diminish any sense in you and as result they subdue you to the point of parting with anything that is valuable. He met an octogenarian who is in Ibadan and dispossessed him of the sum of N30 million.

Their second victim, who reportedly came from the United States of America was duped of N20 million. I have the wherewithal to engage them wherever they are.”

After demonstrating how she disguised as a witch to make their victims believe they are real traditionalists,

Sherifat Badamosi, sang some inaudible songs and danced round some statues they painted in black, red and white colours.

The self-acclaimed herbalist, Ayankunle Ayanlowo, 43, said he usually prepared some concoctions for their victims and the leader of the gang paid him the sum of N500,000 for his services.

“I help them in blending leaves for concoction. I know how to make concoction, I get connected through Azeez Olayode to the clients and they pay me N500,000 per operation. I don’t have a car but I have a house. When someone who has a problem comes to the hospital, he will be referred to Babalawo who will diagnose him in a traditional way. He claims he can heal diabetes, stroke or other ailments. The man with whom we work together has juju. He will cure the diabetes or any other ailments they bring. When the problem is cured, we ask the person to pay a certain amount.”

According to Azeez Olayode, who confessed being a ‘419’ he formed the gang after his Fuji music went under.

He said, “I was a Fuji musician and my stage name is Santana. I was duped and those who duped me told me to become a fraudster in a bid to retrieve my money and that was how I started. I started sixyears ago. I don’t know those people we have duped personally. I am usually linked up. When there is no job, they call on me. They call me when they have customers so that we can work together. The Babalawo is not genuine, he is a fake Babalawo. I can say we have duped like 10 people. The first person paid N30 million to cure diabetes, he paid in bits. The first time he paid, he brought N5m, then N7m and N8 million. There was one that had injury in the leg which was not healing up and he paid N15 million”.

As for their photographer, Mr. Samsudeen Abiola who is 42, he said, “ I met Mr Olayode at Options, a club very close to officers mess. I am a photographer. I take photographs at options and that was how I got his contact. When his child was doing Islamic graduation, I did three albums for him. So, I see him as a customer.

When the Police came to my house that night, they asked if I was the photographer they called on phone and I was told to follow them. I move around, I don’t have a shop, I am even supposed to be in Ilorin presently” he said.

The police vowed to get other suspects who are on the run especially one of the runaway leaders of the gang wherever he is.

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

LAGOS STATE

Why Ambode dissolved boards of parastatals, agencies

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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IKE a thunderbolt out of the blues, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode,effected a massive shake-up in the history of Lagos State Government as he announced the dissolution of all boards of parastatals and agencies of government with immediate effect as part of the ongoing reform to boost efficiency.

The dissolution which came barely 19 days after the inauguration of the new administration was announced after a stormy meeting last Monday with leaders of the state’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.In separate statements by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Habib Aruna, the dissolution is with the exception of the Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission, the State Independent Electoral Commission and the State House of Assembly Service Commission.

However, heads and Chief Executives of the government owned agencies and parastatals are not affected by the dissolution of the BoardSome of the notable parastatals and agencies, out of the 85 affected are; Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA.Lagos State Waste Management AuthorityLAWMA, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA,Others include: Urban Furniture and Regulatory Unit, UFRU, Lagos Water Cooperation, Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Lagos State Electricity Board, LAGBUS Assets Management, and Lagos State Lotteries Board.

Agencies affected are; Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos State Building Investment Company Limited, Lagos State Ferry Services, Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, Lagos State Printing C M Y K

•The Lagos State Secretariat Clinic in Alausa Cooperation, Lagos State Television, Lagos State Traffic Radio, Eko FM, Radio Lagos, among others.

Ambode, while expressing his appreciation for the modest contribution of members of the dissolved Boards, wished them well in their future endeavours.

Mr. Tunji Bello however, added that constitution of new boards would be effected in due course.

It will be recalled that Ambode at the swearing in ceremony on May 29th, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, had announced in his inaugural address the creation of a new Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment and two offices, Office of Civic Engagement and Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment.

According to Ambode, “I want to assure the business community and corporate Lagos that the ease of doing business in Lagos will be improved upon earnestly.

Lagos is open for greater business.

“To this end, a new Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment (LAGOS GLOBAL) shall be created under the Governor’s Office.

“We want you to fly into Lagos, start your business, find your way; live, work and enjoy in Lagos.

“As part of our reforms, a new Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment shall be established. This would specifically address the promise I made during the campaign on employment trust fund, labour exchange

and entrepreneurship. This goal, we shall pursue vigorously.

“Also, the Office of Civic Engagement shall be created under the Deputy Governor’s Office to strengthen and enhance our promise on government of inclusion.

Everyone must have a voice in my administration.”

Reason for the dissolution Sequel to the dissolution of the boards, Ambode had from the 1st of June commenced a series of ministerial briefings by the MDAs in the Governor’s Office in batches with the aim of ascertaining their situation.

The on-going exercise tagged; “Total clean-up,” it was also gathered has been

It is within the power of the new governor to bring new people into government.

There are a lot of qualified Lagosians albeit Nigerians willing and able to serve and not just the Fasholas

partly responsible for the delay in the appointment of new commissioners and special advisers in the state.

According to sources, the governor was shocked at the revelations from the on-going total clean up exercise of the MDAs. It was gathered that the governor is so worried about the management and structures of the civil service he met on ground, as there are so much usurpation of authority and multiplicity of parastatals and agencies with huge financial commitments, which he considered “unhealthy for the state’s financial capacity.”

Coupled with the inherited huge debts profile of the state, Ambode was said to have expressed his determination to restore the tenets of civil service structure that the Lagos State was noted for, hence, the need for the clean-up.

Though, some of the board members are favoured to make a return, informed said that many would be jettisoned to infuse fresh blood and ideas into the system.

According to the governor, most of the parastatals will be subsumed into related existing ministries why some will be entirely scrapped because of huge financial commitment considered as wastage.

Mixed feelings However, different opinions have been expressed following the dissolution, while a quarter believed that nothing was wrong in the

step taken, others believed Ambode was just fishing for vendetta and evicting people that were not part of his governorship ambition from the initial stage but were dragged into it, apparently, due to having no other options.

Some also argued that it was too early to go into sacking of people that have kept Lagos working in just one swoop for whatever reasons.

One of the residents, comrade Sola Adebiyi, a human rights activist, said, “It is within the power of the new governor to bring new people into government.

There are a lot of qualified Lagosians albeit Nigerians willing and able to serve and not just the Fasholas.

“Board appointments are political posts and once there is a change in governance, the appointees know they would be changed too.”

Another resident, Mr. Francis Akinola said , “Ambode is just fishing for vendetta and evicting people that were not part of his governorship ambition from the initial stage but were dragged into it. Ambode is just doing the bidding of his godfather.

“It will be foolhardy to think Ambode is interested in exposing whatever Fashola and Tinubu did during their tenure as governors of the state. I even challenge him to go that way, more rather, he is creating rooms for his own cronies, supporters and loyalists to come and have their share and probably, return more interests into the purse of his godfather.”

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 5

LAGOS STATE

By Olasunkanmi Akoni APPARENTLY determined to form a credible opposition to the ruling All Progressive Congress APC in Lagos State, the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] has since its defeat in the April elections has been giving the APC a run for its money.

Though, the soul and body of the PDP in the state are still enmeshed in some sort of leadership crisis, it however, has not shied away from playing the opposition party.

The party , only last Sunday, through its Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, asked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to declare his assets publicly.

As if that was not enough, the party also urged Ambode to make public the contents of the handover notes given to him by his predecessor, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

The governor has kept mum over the matter because Vanguard gathered that he had already done the declaration in accordance with relevant laws.

According to PDP, “The governor is also tasked to make public in the media, the details of the handover notes and assets of the past governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.”

“The deliberate neglect will however compel us and other well-meaning Lagosians to explore the relevance of the Freedom of Information Act on the matter.”

The PDP said that it was imperative for the •Spokesman of Lagos APC, Mr Joe present governor of Lagos State to make public his Igbokwe present assets in view of the alleged huge foreign and local debts of nearly a trillion Naira said to have been left behind by the past governor who the party said had also been allegedly linked to many personal bank accounts and property within and outside the country.

The party said, “Mr. Ambode is under compelling moral duty to tell Lagosians what he presently has as assets. This is a spice to the requirement of asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Bureau. He must also not conceal the assets declaration of his predecessor.”

“If he fails to meet up, we will join hands with other school itself about well-meaning Lagosians to constitutional provisions confer the title of “Pretender regarding asset declaration Governor” on him before it comes out just to throughout his tenure. This make some unserious noise new dimension to demand to source for relevance it for asset declaration is When what does not have.” provoked by the fact of While also describing the calls itself sudden stupendous wealth statement as uninformed, the two last governors of the Lagos PDP are hollow and laughable, the state have been linked party said that Lagos PDP not engaged in within and outside the was lost and needed help to country, even in the face of unending fight survive the demeaning fate under performance and with they face in Lagos and the huge debts now left behind country presently. by especially the past themselves as a “PDP Lagos continues to governor.” way of make us believe it exists in The party said it was Lagos where it has been expressing giving Governor Ambode till dealt serious electoral blows June 29 to declare his assets their electoral year in year out. Lagos PDP publicly” is an unserious group that frustration, periodically amuses itself they are busy with such hollow he APC in a swift making vituperations as asking reaction through the Governor Ambode to declare disoriented State’s Publicity Secretary, his assets or be regarded as demands that Joe Igbokwe, dismissed the pretender governor call by PDP, describing it as whatever that means. This are both a group of ill informed can only be the fruits of hollow in jokers who were being dealt uncoordinated thoughts of a big blow by their present serial losers that have no articulation predicament. inkling on how to handle its and empty in Mr. Igbokwe asked the latest round of electoral reasons.

PDP, “to take a period to defeat.

• Spokesman of Lagos PDP, Mr Taofeek Ganiyu

PDP, APC bicker over Ambode’s assets declaration

APC fireback

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“When what calls itself Lagos PDP are not engaged in unending fight with themselves as a way of expressing their electoral frustration, they are busy making disoriented demands that are both hollow in articulation and empty in reasons. It is not surprising that Lagos PDP is coming out the way they did after the thorough APC victory in both Lagos and the center as well as majority of states in Nigeria.

“Lagos PDP in making the demand of Governor Ambode to declare his assets must have woken up from a long slumber that robs them both of the constitutional provision on assets declaration and the fact that as incoming Governor, the governor declared his assets with the Code of Conduct Bureau, in keeping with the constitutional requirements for his office.

“It is certain that Lagos PDP in keeping with its well known penchant for

mediocrity and as a purveyor of kindergarten gossip, is unaware of what the Law says on asset declaration which states that on assumption of office and exit from office, the Governor or any other political office holder is bound by law to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau at both points.

“It is the duty of CCB to verify your claims at the point of exit of office against what you declared at the point of entry. This, the governor did and has plunged deep into the demanding task of governing Lagos while the PDP roves aimlessly in want of what to say to keep afloat.

“We would wish that Lagos PDP quit threading in an unproductive circle of self foolery by their resort to outlandish and wild demands that further diminish it among Lagosians.

“We want to educate the speculators in PDP that governance is not a tea party and that running a political party is not the same as periodically making inchoate and tendentious demands that lack reasons and conviction. Governor Ambode is full of energy, full of ideas, robust distracting him through such baseless and laughable display of crass ignorance and naivety, as Lagos PDP, is an exercise in futility for majority of Lagosians knows that Lagos PDP is gone for good.”

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6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

OSUN STATE

By Lateef Dada

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SOGBO – Without mincing words, Osun state is becoming hot for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as all sectors are now using the predicament of the state on its inability to pay seven months salary of workers as an opportunity to call for his resignation even when there is another state that owe more than the state government.

Although, the living condition of Osun state workers recently called for concern as they could no longer bear the hunger, a situation that made many to go begging.

The development has however given the opposition an opportunity to mock the administration of Aregbesola as calls for his resignation are now coming from all quarters.

During a protest embarked upon by the Pensioners in the state recently, the State Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr Adesoji Adedire, stated that no fewer than two hundred and thirty-six pensioners have died in Osun State in the last seven months as a result of inability of the state Government to pay their pensions and gratuities.

The pensioners who stormed the state House of Assembly in their numbers,were armed with placards of various inscriptions such as: “pensioners are suffering” pay our pension” , we can’t suffer anymore, “stop deceiving us” among others.

Stating the reason for the protest, the union said that the protest became necessary since the government at the centre had said that no state is owed monthly allocation in the country.

According to the union, “empty promises by Government and its insensitivity to the plight of pensioners have led to the untimely death of many of us.”

While noting that life has not been easy for them, the pensioners maintained that most of them have been living on drugs for years which they said caused the untimely death of some of their members.

However, the annual June 12 remembrance which isusually celebrated to honour Late MKO Abiola, this year turned a rally of coalition against the administration of Osun state Governor, Aregbesola, over his inability to pay the workers.

It was carnival-like at the popular Orita-Olaiya on June 12, when activists and pensioners united, chanting various anti-government songs with placards of various inscription such as: “Aregbe san owo awon osisie feyinti (Aregbe pay the pensioners) “Kabiru Aregbesola bring back our laundering money”, Aregbe is a thief”, Your secret has been revealed”, Aregbesola Thief”, we are dying of hunger, among others.

Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) in collaboration with the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), led other bodies to the streets of Osogbo, Osun state capital, calling for the resignation of Aregbesola.

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman, CHRSJ, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, said “I want to declare emphatically that Governor Rauf Aregbesola has failed the C M Y K

•The activists and workers during the protest.

Unpaid Salaries: Activists, pensioners, others unite against Aregbesola people of Osun State by mismanaging the allocation accrued to the state from the federation account which made him to murder sleep for not being able to pay the work force including Teachers, Civil Servants and retiree of the state for period of seven to eight months as well as other allowances.

The Lagos-based activist said, “I am using this medium to advise Mr Aregbesola to honourably resign from office before he will be sent out of Osun State back to Lagos where he and some of his allies came from.

It is my unshakeable stand that the opposition in the state should wake up from their slumber as they owe a duty to lead the people of the state a right by putting the present administration on its toes

He added that “I wish to inform the general public that Aregbesola’s second term in office has become disaster to the good people of Osun State.

“It is my unshakeable stand that the opposition in the state should wake up from their slumber as they owe a duty to lead the people of the state a right by putting the present administration on its toes in order to bring checks and balances to the governance of the state since the members of the state House of Assembly have become the rubber stamp of Governor Aregbesola.

NASFAT donates foodstuff to members in Osun

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO – The Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fathi Society of Nigeria NASFAT, Osogbo branch has donated several bags of rice worth millions of Naira to its members in Osun State.

Presenting the item, the Osogbo branch Chairman of the Islamic organization, Alhaji Abdul Rasheed Adeyemo said the gesture was aimed at assisting Muslims in the spirit of Ramadan.

While reiterating the commitment of the society to promote the welfare of its members and non-members in the state, Alhaji Adeyemo noted that NASFAT, Osogbo had mapped out charity

programmes particularly, during the Ramadan period with a view to enhancing the standard of living of the people.

Alhaji Adeyemo who also decried the high rate of poverty in the country, called on all tiers of government to address the problem of poverty.

In his remark, the Osogbo branch missioner of NASFAT, Alhaji Isaaq Lawal noted that the society decided to donate the items in line with the sunnah of Prophet Muhammed and the Islamic injunctions.

The cleric also urged philanthropists, individuals and religious organizations to assist the less privilege in the spirit of Ramadan.

“People of the state should know one fact that there is no failed state but failed leader and Governor Rauf Aregbesola is a failed Governor Osun state ever produced because we don’t have it so bad like this in the state since its creation in August 27, 1991.

Also, in a release signed by the Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),Tunde Popoola, the party lambasted the Governor for defending himself saying “it is rather callous on the part Aregbesola to come out to defend his government by stating that he had performed well when he is denying those legal retirees and Osun state workers of their legitimate rights.”

Popoola who is also the Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Party (CNPP), however called on the federal government to probe the activities of the Osun state Government.

Using the opportunity of the situation, the governorship candidate of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who has not been heard since his failure at the supreme court, over the weekend, organised a press conference where he called for the resignation of Aregbesola.

He also advised Aregbesola to sell the helicopter being used for security and stop some ongoing roads project in other to enable him pay the workers.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 7

ONDO STATE

Ondo town becomes modern city by December

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE – THE age-long desire of the sons and daughters of Ondo town, Ondo state in transforming it into a modern city will be actualized come December this year.

By then, Ondo town will be proclaimed as Ondo city.

To this end, the paramount ruler of the Ondo kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo has launched a Committee on Ondo city Vision 2015 as part of the activities of the 500th Anniversary celebration of Osemawe Dynasty to perfect the age long desire of the sons and daughters of the town.

Speaking with South West Voice, the Chairman of the Ondo City Vision 2015, Hon Christopher Akinwolemiwa said that a preliminary master plan for the kingdom has been prepared by a renowned Town and Regional Planning consultancy firm headed by Prof. Akin Mabogunje.

According to him the firm “

worked assiduously for six weeks to produce the preliminary Master Plan of Ondo kingdom that has been presented to the committee.

Akinwolemiwa noted that some facilities have been put in place towards transforming Ondo into city and they include, a cultural heritage museum, educational infrastructure through establishment of university and other allied educational facilities.

Others facilities already in place to qualify the town to be proclaimed a city also include, road network, provision of utility such as pipe borne water and stable power supply, housing and commerce, health and recreational centres. “ A proclamation committee has been set up under High Chief Lisa Simeon Oguntimehin and preparations are in top gear for the proclamation of Ondo as a city come December 2015.

“Various committees are working round the clock to

• Osemawe and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo (Right) and his High Chiefs

All these efforts from many fronts according to the Chairman would help propel Ondo Kingdom to enviable heights.

make the event memorable and hitch free” According to him the Green up unit sub committee has completed the tree planting activities on Akure and Ife roads, all major roads entering the town.

Also for effective functional infrastructure development, the liaising of the committee with the state government has yielded dividends in form of the dualisation of roads, building of mega schools, health facilities and presence of three specialist universities- University of Medical Sciences, Adeyemi

Indigenes, non-indigenes clash over choice of monarch in Ogun community

By Daud Olatunji

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ROUBLE looms in Ilewo Orile community in Abeokuta North Local government area of Ogun State over the choice of new monarch in the area.

It was gathered that the town’s King makers and the entire indigenes of the town were rooting for an indigene to be their king against the wish of non indigenes who were allegedly rooting for an Awori man to be the new King.

The residents have been divided into two groups over who should be the next ruler of the town.

The development has thrown the community into crisis following an alleged move by some natives of the community to enthrone a monarch against the customs and wishes of the people.

Consequently, tension, apprehension and beating of war drums have become the order of the day in the community as the indigenes and non-indigines were reportedly engaging each other in spiritual warfare.

South West Voice gathered that, the trouble started when C M Y K

•Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun. the former King of the town, Oba Nathaniel Orisabiyi joined his ancestors last year February, prompting the Kingmakers to declare the stool vacant.

At a peace parley summoned by the youths in the town and attended by hundreds of the indigenes, the head of the Youths, Muibi Olatunji frowned at a situation where few individuals were reportedly attempting to foist their candidate on the majority of the people.

His words, “this is a town

that is purely an Egba settlement in Abeokuta North local government of the State we have no lineage with the Aworis, so we could not fathom how an Awori man would now be imposed on us to be our new King”.

Also speaking at the peace parley, the Lisa of Ilewo Chief Asamu Oke sued for peace and urged the people to present their grievances before the authority in a peaceful manner.

He said “only six people that thought that they are powerful are against us, we

will not wish that our situation turns to Ado Odo town, but I will advise that we go about our agitation with peace.

“I am one of the Kingmakers, we all know that this Awori man does not belong to any of the four rulling houses in Ilewo-Orile, so there is no way he could reign over us”.

He opined further that Ilewo Orile must have an indigene as its king.

Speaking in this same vein, the Bobagbimo of Ilewo, Chief Aremu Oluremi called on the Alake and Paramount of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and the State government to urgently wade into the crisis before it snowball into loss of lives and property.

“We can’t afford to witness what happened in Ikere Ekiti and Ado-Odo to happen here, the sooner the government wade into the matter the better, the government and all that have one thing or the other to do on the cheiftaincy matter must know that a populist King is the wish of the people and not a nonindigene,” he said.

University of Education and Wesley University of Science and Technology and the granting of Community and Commercial Radio licenses.

All these efforts from many fronts according to the Chairman would help propel Ondo Kingdom to enviable heights.

Akinwolemiwa said that the monarch of the kingdom, Oba Kiladejo will visit sons and daughters of the kingdom in United Kingdom and United State of America in July and August respectively to further inform Ondo sons and daughters in the diaspora about the arrangements.

He therefore called on indigenes of the town both at home and diaspora to contribute towards the actualization and proclamation of Ondo town into a city before the end of this year.

Akinwolemiwa said the contribution and assistance of the Ondo indigenes in diaspora would go a long way in realization of this dream.

He commended the state government and monarch for their supportive role and encouragement towards making Ondo a complete city urging all sons and daughters of the kingdom to come on board and assist in the actualization of the massive vision Akinwolemiwa acknowledged the support given by the traditional ruler as well as the Osemawe in Council and the state government for been supportive to the actualization of the vision 2015. “ Every step of the way they have encouraged us and given due support as necessary. We are indeed very grateful to the governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko for this great help. “ We invite all sons and daughters of Ondo Kingdom to come on board and assist in the actualization of the massive vision. Ondo must be a city by year 2015 and you have a role to play”.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

OSUN STATE

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO – Obokun festival is one of the traditional festivals being celebrated among the Yoruba people, but peculiar to the people of Ibokun, the headquaters of Obokun Local Government Council Area of Osun State.

It is widely believed among the people of the ancient town that the celebration was in remembrance of its founding father, “Obokun” who was considered a brave warrior and an hero having fought a war and liberated the town from external forces . The festive period was also considered a period of appeasement to the goddess.

The 2015 edition of the traditional festival, celebrated Saturday, June 13, was not different, but was considered one of the best so far, considering the influx of tourists to the town.

According to Obaloro of Ibokun, High Chief Fadeyibi Olaseinde who was considered the Custodian of deities in the town, “Ajibogun” was the real name of “Obokun” and he was one of the direct descendants of Oduduwa, saying, “when his father was blind, oracle was consulted and it was said that he could only be cured with water from ‘Okun River.

Based on this Ajibogun went out to get the water, but before his return, his elder brothers had shared the inheritance of their father and went away.

“His father was impressed and he said “se wipe o le Bu Okun” (meaning, so, you can fetch the sea). That was where the name “Obokun” comes in.

But when Oduduwa found out that there was nothing left to give Obokun, he saw his sword and gave it to him as an instrument to conquer any war that might face him .

“He subsequently went to Alaafin who was their senior brother, and he was with Alaafin for sometimes, but when Alaafin found out that he could no longer control him, he asked Obokun to go and establish himself and settle down in his own kingdom.

“That was why he left Oyo, passed through Ipetu-Ile and settled down in Ibokun which was originally known as “Ilemure”. After Obokun conquered many war for Ilemure he finally change the previous named to Ibokun.

“When Obokun could not bear a son, oracle was consulted and he was asked to go to Ifon Orolu where his senior sister was, to bring “Obatala godess” and worship it, which he did. But when he was leaving Ifon, the eldest son of his sister, who is called “Obaloro” and his younger brother “Lorioro” were asked to follow him. It was after then C M Y K

•Scene at the Obokun festival

Obokun Festival and the government perspectives that Obokun gave birth to “Owa”.

“Obokun being a warrior in other to save his son from revenge, he asked “Obaloro” to take “Owa” out of town and enthrone him in another village. Owa was then taken to Ilekete, a village between Odo-Osun and Ilowa and that was where the first Owa was enthroned. After then, he went to Ilowa, from there to Ipole from where he finally settled down at Ilesa”, Obaloro recounted.

The high chief said the celebration in honour of Obokun had been in existence since after his death as he was believed to have fought for the survival of the ancient town.

Speaking at the festival, the lawmaker representing Obokun Constituency in the Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye described the festival as unique and called on government to focus attention on it to serve as a source of income for the government.

He said investments in Culture and Tourism by the federal and state governments would boost job creation and the economy, saying, if proper attention is paid to the sector, it would not only serve as alternate source of income, but would also reinforce the fight against social vices and help

address societal ills by instilling high moral standards, and cultural values.

Outlining areas of job creation in the sector to include tour guide, horticulture, food services, entertainment industry, craft and Arts productions, and waste recycling to mention a few, he maintained that it was the prerogative of Nigerians to tap into advantage of these opportunities in the tourism sector.

While lauding the state of Osun for developing tourism

He subsequently went to Alaafin who was their senior brother, and he was with Alaafin for sometimes, but when Alaafin found out that he could no longer control him, he asked Obokun to go and establish himself and settle down in his own kingdom.

master plan which he said had a robust and global outlook, he maintained that the blueprint had the mindset of economy of scale as it focused on development of local content.

He expressed strong hope that the Master plan which was meticulously and diligently developed by the State Tourism Board when fully implemented would set the pace for others to follow.

Oyintiloye cited example of Olumirin Water fall, saying through effective management by agency of the state government, over 50,000 were attracted as visitors in 2014.

The lawmaker who noted that Obokun cultural value and tourism potentials were enormous, called all stakeholders including sons and daughter of Ibokun at home and in Diaspora to contribute their quota towards

its development.

Pointing out that strict supervision was necessary to explore the gains in the sector, he said, “it is not enough to just allocate money for the sector, but we must guard our investment, to see it flourish and help develop our economy, because that is what some countries primarily depend on to survive”.

He also used the occasion to call for preservation and restoration of cultural and moral values, in order to restore Yoruba culture which h said was gradually fading away, adding that the positive impacts of culture preservation would not only include national integration but moral re-awakening.

Also speaking, the Oba Ibokun of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro charged the government to encourage the Obokun festival and other such cultural events in the state, saying they are source of revenue generation for government.

Describing Ibokun as the source of Ijesa people, the monarch called on sons and daughters of the town to also find ways of attracting development to the town.

THE TEAM Editor: Adeleke Adeseri

Correspondents: Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Gbenga Ariyibi Dapo Akinrefon Daud Olatunji Olasunkanmi Akoni Monsuru Olowoepejo

Ibadan Osogbo Akure Ado Ekiti Abeokuta Lagos

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—33

# Trending

Obesere turns caterer, event manager

By Iyabo Aina

Jack Daniel epitomizes legendary singer, Frank Sinatra

F

oremost Fuji musician, Alhaji Abass Akande a.k.a Obesere who is known for his vulgar music has expanded his business as he recently opened another hospitality outfit which he calls Obesere Catering and Events Management.

Akande Alashakasha as he is fondly called by his fans is also the Chairman of Integrated Services Limited, an indigenous Oil and Gas Servicing company. The new business is being managed by a London-based Nigerian caterer, Princess Yetunde Sogade Ajulo who has been in the hospitality business for more than a decade. She is the boss of Adunni Foods located at Canning Town, East London.

According to Obesere, “I am not a novice in the business, it is what I have been doing for a very long time but lately, I decided to make it official. It’s a long time dream which I thank God that I am actualizing now. I want to touch every part of the entertainment industry so that my fans and Nigerians can enjoy and benefit from me. I don’t think this can affect my musical career because I have hotels too.

Speaking on the secret behind the new business, Obesere said, “I love cooking when I was young and I think that is what gave birth to Obesere Catering and Events Management”.

Speaking further, the Fuji star said, “Those who know me will tell you that I’m a cheerful giver.”

Pawpaw, Nkiru Sylvanus, others for Mbaitoli beauty contest

Smootboiz out with new single Smoothboiz

BY IYABO AINA

U

p and coming music group, the Smoothboiz of Glo X Factor is set to wow fans again, as the group recently dropped a new single titled “We go rock am”.

The group, made up of Peter Godwin, Victor Simeon, David Oboh and Festus Oboh reiterated their resolve never to give up despite being evicted from the maiden edition of Glo XFactor.They are set to take the Nigerian music industry

by storm.

Recall that SmoothBoiz were the first to be eliminated out of the top 9 finalists when the reality TV show entered the eviction stage in 2013. The first show did not produce any elimination as the judges could not agree on who should leave between Vicky and SmoothBoiz who had the least votes.

However, the group finally bowed out in a blaze of glory after it was evicted during the second stage of the show.

A

ctress Nkiru Sylvanus will be leading other entertainers including Osita Iheme aka Pawpaw,Walter Anga and Lizzy Lu for the maiden edition of Asa Mbaitoli beauty pageant holding on Saturday, June 27,at Summer Suites Hotel, Owerri.

Asa Mbaitoli beauty pageant is the brainchild of Big style Entertainment, owned by Mr. Onwuegbuchulam Oscar Ifeanyi, who early last month called for its official induction by key royal fathers in Imo State. At the event, the traditional rulers reiterated the need for all Africans to revere, uphold and pride themselves in the rich and diversified African traditions as handed down to them by God. The contest which is open to all damsels from the Igbo extraction is poised to reopen a discourse on the place of pageants in the Igbo nation Speaking at the occasion, Engr Njoku Daniel encouraged Igbo youths to embrace the Igbo language while appreciating its culture, and traditions. In a similar vein, one Mr. Anuruo commended Big style Entertainment for organizing such a wonderful program that will ensure the longevity of the Igbo traditions. He also called on the government to ensure that the Igbo language is made the lingua franca in all schools, while Igbo tradition be taught as a subject. One of the sponsors, Mr. Christopher Ezeonye of Gentle Touch Beauty Hair Salon, Owerri pledged that the contestant who happen to emerge winner will be r e w a r d e d h a n d s o m e l y, adding that the rewards include professional hair contract, modeling cotract, a trip to Dubai among other juicy offers.

Nkiru Sylvanus

L

eading world brand of Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s recently re-bonded with the legendary American musician, Frank Sinatra as the former paid tribute to the latter through its latest product, Sinatra Select.

The premium high-end member of the Jack Daniel’s family epitomizes the classy elegance of Frank Sinatra. Handcrafted by the master distillers in Lynchburg Tennessee, each drop has been aged with grooved oak barrels; exposing the whiskey to unprecedented levels of toasted oak for Sinatra smoothness. The launch event, which held on the 24th of May, at Avenue Suites, Victoria Island, was a two-tone cocktail and 5-course dinner party suitable for the high net worth guests invited. The cocktail reception was held at the banquet hall where a jazz band serenaded guests to timeless classics and Sinatra hits. Guests were invited to the tasting of the Jack Daniel’s family of brands and their signature cocktails at the bar. They were then served Jack Daniels Sinatra Select infused canapés and deserts.

Just before the event transitioned to the dinner party, guests were given a walk down memory lane into the history of Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select, as bottles were unveiled. Frank Sinatra was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. He had a popularity that was later matched only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Michael Jackson. American music critic Robert Christgau called him “the greatest singer of the 20th century.”

34— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Louis Vuitton named Most Valuable Global Luxury Brand for 10th year zIn top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands Ranking As value of luxury brands declines by $7bn as retaining exclusivity continues to be a struggle Louis Vuitton, maker of luxury bags, clothes and jewellery has held the top spot in the luxury ranking for 10 years. Its brand is valued at more than $27.4bn, though luxury brands continue to struggle.

The total brand value of the category declined by -6% (by $7.1 billion) to $104.6bn. Only two of the BrandZ Top 10 Luxury Brands showed growth: Chanel (up 15% to nearly $9bn) and top brand Louis Vuitton.

Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands Ranking is carried out annually by WPP’s marketing and brand consultancy Millward Brown, a leading global research agency specializing in advertising effectiveness, strategic communication, media and brand equity

research. Other luxury fashion brands in the top ten includes Prada, Hermes, Burberry, Gucci, Roles, Cartier and Michael Kors.

According to a Milward Brown spokeswoman, both Chanel and Louis Vuitton are masters at doing things differently. Chanel’s iconic, self-aware and less serious marketing, supported by edgy models provide a different view of femininity. Louis Vuitton has successfully revitalized its brand by going back to its original LV monogram in a new way, while other brands were leaving the classic canvas for more luxurious leather and fabrics to justify their premium position.

“They have also

harmonized their prices across regions – raising prices in Europe and lowering them in China. Although this will impact their financial performance in the short-term, they are protecting the brand by encouraging more in-store

Only two of the BrandZ Top 10 Luxury Brands showed growth: Chanel (up 15% to nearly $9bn) and top brand Louis Vuitton

consumption and slowing the grey market of goods purchased in Europe to sell in China at a profit.”

This resurgence of exclusivity created an opportunity for more ubiquitous and popularly priced luxury brands like Michael Kors, which operates in over 85 countries with its own locations and in department stores. Michael Kors entered the BrandZ Luxury Top 10 for the first time this year. Tiffany, worth $3.2bn, was the second new entrant.

In the global BrandZ Top100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking, Apple overtook Google to once again become the world’s most valuable brand, increasing its brand value to $247bn, a rise of 67% year on year. Though the AppleWatch has proved extremely popular, it is successful sales of the iPhone

6 that has been the main driver of Apple’s brand value growth. Google (no.2) also grew, achieving a 9% value increase to reach $173.7bn.

Microsoft, now worth $115.5bn, is the new no.3, rising one position with value growth of 28%.

Technology is the fastestgrowing category – up 24% in the last year, the tech brands in the Top 100 are worth more than $1 trillion, nearly a third of the value of all brands in the ranking.

BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking is now in its tenth year. It is the only study to combine measures of brand equity based on interviews with over three million consumers globally about thousands of global ‘consumer facing’ and business-to-business brands with a rigorous analysis of the financial and business performance of each company (using data from Bloomberg and Kantar Retail) to separate the value that brand plays in driving business and shareholder value. Consumer perception of a brand is a key input in determining brand value because brands are a combination of business performance, product delivery, clarity of positioning, and leadership.

The ranking takes into account regional variations since, even for truly global brands, measures of brand contribution might differ substantially across countries.

Inspiring women to discover their purpose: …Becoming Conference

By Kehinde Ajose

I

n a bid to create a new generation of young women leaders, trailblazers and change agents who will be an inspiration to others, The Beautified Network, a faith-based initiative founded to inspire young women to discover and fulfill their God given purposes as well as empower them to live their best lives, is set to organize her flagship conference tagged Becoming. The conference is focused on inspiring young women between the ages of 18 and 30 to live up to their full potentials as they discover and become all they were created to be, regardless of their circumstance or background.

According to Funto Ibuoye, the Convener of the annual C M Y K

Conference,: “Our purpose for organizing this conference is to bring together women who have achieved a great level of success and significance in their respective endeavors. The speakers will share the stories of their journey to success as they inspire the younger women. The Woman is an irreplaceable element in social transformation, there is no better time to empower her than now.

The speakers for this year’s edition of Becoming conference includes: Tosyn Bucknor - OAP and CEO - The TosynBucknor Company.

Omoyemi Akerele - CEO Style housefiles and Founder, Lagos Fashion and Design Week.

Bola Balogun - CEO Glam Brand Agency.

Titilola Tewe - Founder, The Father’s Girls.

The conference will also

* CROSS SECTION OF THE BEAUTIFUL NETWORK MEMBERS

feature a panel discussion titled Can Women Really Have It All?

Stylish women will also be treated to a mini fashion show.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 35

Six women's medical bills paid, rescued from hospital

By Esther Onyegbula

I

t was all joy at the Ilogbo central hospital when the Anglican Dioceses of Lagos West headed by Rev. James Olusola Odedeji came to the rescue of six mothers who have been held in the hospital due to their inability to pay their medical bills.“The women whose names were given as Tochukwu Faith, James Joy, Ikechukwu Ukwuda, Ndubuisi Ogechi, Ikpeme Magaret and Olaposi Faith were victims of traditional birth attendants.

But upon complications during delivery, were rushed to the hospital where they went through caesarean operation, but has since been held in the hospital for about two months.

“According to the Bishop of the dioceses of Lagos West Anglican Communion, the case was brought to his notice and as part of the responsibility of the church to keep putting smiles on the faces of all, they decided to come to the aid of the women.

He said, "on June 5, my attention was called by the Primate of the church of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Dr. Nicolas Okoh, on a National

Rev. James Olusola Odedeji and cross section of the mothers at the hospital daily, there is a story about some of our women in this vicinity having difficulties in releasing themselves having delivered babies for weeks.

I personally felt challenged because one of my mission in the dioceses of Lagos West is what I call pragmatic evangelism. The meaning of pragmatic evangelism is the idea of touching lives, community involvement, social responsibility, idea of putting smiles on peoples faces.

And in doing this, we need to be very practical as possible. We came here for investigation, and l decided to come pay their bills.“" we

cannot blame the hospital for keeping the women and insisting they pay before they are discharged. The cost of

The reverend also called on all to be their brothers keeper and lend a“helping hand to people around them

maintenance is high, they have done their best by saving lives. You have done your best to have retained them in your vicinity. You have been so magnanimous to have attended to them in the first place. Nothing is free even in free“town. We have therefore come as a church to savage the situation. These“women have delivered through operation but their husbands have“absconded because they do not have the means to pay.

We are therefore“here to pay up the balance of N507, 000 in cheque, so that they can go“home with their children.“The reverend also called on all to be their brothers keeper and lend a“helping hand to people around them. He also advised Nigerians to give“birth to the much they can cater for as the economic situation in the“country calls for such.“The assistant Medical Director, Dr. Eluwah C h u k w u d u m a , who“represented the Chief Medical Director, was grateful to the dioceses“for intervening.

He has this to say, "Ilogbo central hospital is a“community hospital, and like every other hospital, we

are concerned“with saving lives and in the process of doing this, we came in contact“with these women who are victims of traditional birth attendants. They“were operated upon with paying a kobo. We thank God that today; they“are all carrying a bundle of joy. We are very grateful to the church.“Some of the women also tell their stories.

Tochukwu faith says, " I“really thank God for using Reverend to clean my tears, l am even more“happy to be alive because during delivery, l had serious complications“ and even after the finance was not there to pay for the hospital“bills.“Mrs Olaposi faith also spoke, l thank the church for coming to my aid.“I least expected this from anyone. But thank God who is ever faithful.

“It was my mother in-law who took me to the traditional birth“attendant, but was rushed here due to complications. I have been here“for two months now but God has finally cleaned my tears I am very“happy. May God bless them all.“Magaret lkpeme who has also been in the hospital for seven weeks“expressed gratitude to God.

AWLO holds National Convention •Mrs. Fati Atiku Abubarka/ Dr. Z. Shinkafi Bagudu (wife of the governor elect Kebbi)

•Chief Opral Benson Decorating Wife of the Vice President Elect Mrs. Osibanjo

•Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Former Deputy Governor , Lagos State

•8- OUR 4 2015 AWLO WOMAN OF WORTH AWARDS RECIPIENTS- Ms. Timipre Wolo, Lady Valerie Ebe, Victoria Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Mrs. Pearl Kalu represented by Mrs. Chidinma Chukwujama. Flanked in the middle by the wife of the vice president elect, Mrs. Osibanjo.

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

‘After graduation...new start ups?’

By LAJU IREN

T

he unemployment rate in Nigeria is skyrocketing.

Coincidentally, so is the need to create indigenous technology. Experts say that the opportunities for young graduates to launch new start ups instead of waiting for white collar jobs will not only do them, but the country ’s economy a whole lot of good.

This entrepreneurial spirit would even fly higher if it rides on the wings of mobile app technology.

Preaching this good news recently to female students at Babcock University in Ogun state was leading global mobile voice and text chat app, WeChat, who collaborated with MrsCEOnaija.com, and several other organisations to promote a workshop to provide career counselling tips for graduating female students of the Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

Speaking at the workshop which had the theme, ‘After Graduation, What Next? It is Limitless opportunities,’ the Regional Manager, West Africa, WeChat, Mr. Idemudia Dima-Okojie harped on the need for businesses in the country, especially, young startups to embrace and incorporate the mobile app technology in their business plans if they are to grow and become successful.

He described the mobile phone business as one of the most

Nigerians in diaspora now have online community on return

By GABRIEL OLAWALE

I

•WeChat rapidly growing industries in the world, with the smartphone practically taking over the lives of half the world’s population.

According to him, today at least 50 per cent of the global smartphone users are hooked on touchscreens and mobile apps, especially the latter, due to its inherent benefits for business. For instance, he said, the WeChat app has been enhanced with several features to help businesses reach out and interact with both their customers and prospects. One of these features, he disclosed, is the Official Account, whereby companies and organisations open an account within the WeChat app.”With these Official Accounts on our app, these organisations can now interact with their

customers and prospects like never before, and more and more businesses are utilizing this feature. Today we have the likes of Etisalat, Airtel, MTN, Jobberman, Dstv, Super Sport, Careers24, Beat FM, and many more on our Official Accounts platform.

Speaking also at the workshop, Mrs. Tolulope Adedejian, Founder of MrsCEOnaija.com, online female-centric blog, said the organisation was established to help raise financially empowered females for more balanced homes and community, by inspiring, coaching, enabling and facilitating women to have enhanced sources of income, either through career progression or business startups.

New Dell Inspiron laptops target family needs

n its bid to provide Nigerian businesses a unique business opportunity, Diasporaconnex a web based community has officially launched its platform aimed at providing business men and women in the country avenue to connect with a new and wider target audience of over 6 million Nigerians living in the Diaspora.

Flagging off the programme in Lagos, the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Chigozie Orogbu said that diasporaconnex is a web-based community aimed at guiding Nigerians in the Diaspora seeking to return home, invest in Nigeria or crave to know Nigeria better with a feeling of self-realisation by providing opportunities in capacity building of the nation.

“This is made possible by a platform which provides and creates an avenue for Nigerians to interact globally with each other through the use of online forums, social medial, business listings and news. There is an enhanced awareness of Nigeria’s business and economic infrastructure for those that want to effectively reach and engage with them.”

“Nigerians in Diaspora, in particular, are looking for information and resources to assist in moving back home, or simply how to invest in Nigerian sectors. So this platform is serving as a meeting point to interact and gain from experience o those that had successfully move back home.” “Since its inception in 2014 diasporaconnex has grown to be a global online community platform vibrant with user’s activities, it currently generates over 60,000 page views per day from over 20 countries worldwide where Nigerians reside.

“In the coming months, diasporaconnex will be actively promoting its business listings and services capability in Nigeria through various marketing efforts which include strategic partnerships with local businesses and organisations. The goal is to gain wider brand recognition in Nigeria as well as re-enforce a reputation of being a reliable, safe and affordable online platform for businesses to list their products and services to connect with Nigerians living at home and in the Diaspora,” he revealed.

By Laju Iren

C

omputer Giant, Dell has said that its comprehensive new line-up of Inspiron devices, which include includes the Inspiron 5000 Series laptops and a new micro desktop, offer a wide range of technology solutions to meet families’ everyday computing needs.

Ray Wah, Vice President, Consumer Product Group Dell, said that with the launch of new products, Dell’s Inspiron brand continues its legacy of developing great devices that are easy-to-use, employing the latest technology to help families get more out of life.

His words: ”Everyday computing is more fun when you can power video chats and games with the latest processors and graphics, or

enjoy an immersive multi-media entertainment experience courtesy of brilliant front-of-screen displays with fantastic audio. From laptops to convertible 2-in-1s to desktops, we are delivering devices for every need at an exceptional value, empowering our customers to easily create and share content and connect with the people who matter the most to them.”

The Inspiron 5000 Series offers well-designed, versatile laptops, now available with an even broader array of processor options from Intel and AMD for zippy, responsive performance

whether surfing the web, writing a term paper, editing videos or initiating web chats.

The 15" and 17" notebooks come with a rich set of standard features, which include sharp high resolution displays, firm keyboards that are easy to type on for hours, exceptional battery life, and great wireless performance.

Also, a touch display is available in either FHD 1080p resolution on the 15" and 17" models, or in HD on the 15. The 15" and 17" notebooks also come with True Colour, which allows users to customise the display’s colour temperature, vibrancy and tone for exceptional visual

clarity and colour fidelity. In addition to premium performance and stunning visuals, stylish shoppers will enjoy the laptops’ sleek design details and vibrant chassis with a matte silver finish.

Interestingly, the new Inspiron Micro Desktop packs a full suite of features into an ultra-compact package small enough to hold in one hand at just 5.16" x 5.16". Families

seeking a space-saving computing solution will love the micro desktop’s simple and streamlined design, engineered to blend in with other household devices without cluttering your space.

Users can boot up quickly and access data with a responsive, reliable solid state drive, and enjoy lightning-fast access to websites, games and apps with the latest dual-core Intel Pentium processor.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 19 , 2015 — 37

AU and quest for development

BY VICTORIA OJEME

S

TATISTICS recently released by the International Monetary Fund, IMF showed that Africa will have the world fasted growing economy within the next five years. But for this beautiful projection to come to fruitful, the African Leaders have a vital role to play in strengthening some vitalindicesthatwouldpropel economic growth of the continent.

It is on this note that the week long summit of the African Union meeting slated for June 15, 2015 in South Africa is timely.

The 25th Summit should consider empowerment and participationofwomenaskey to the development agenda of Africa, if the IMF prediction on the continent should come to pass.

Preliminary meetings heralding the 25th Summit of the African Union AU, are underway in South Africa.

The Assembly of the Heads

of State and Government of the AU, has as its theme: “Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063". This theme is apt considering the importance of women in all spheres of life; whether in domestic affairs or in global economy.

Since the transformation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union, AU in September 2002, the continental body has been working to ensure the acceleration of the process of integration in Africa to enable the continent play its rightful role in the global economy while tackling the social, economic and political problems posed by globalisation.

These are in addition to the objectives of the founding fathers of the OAU which include interalia, to promote unity and solidarity among African States; to coordinate and intensify cooperation for

development of the continent; to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and to promote international cooperation within the framework of the United Nations.

Indeed, while it is widely acknowledged that the continental organisation has done well to achieve some of these lofty objectives, it is not debatable that a lot still needs to be done on many fronts.

It is worthy to note some of these achievements. For instance, under the OAU, the organisation was able to liberate many African countries from apartheid and colonialism.

Africa’sPriorityProgramme for Economic Recovery (APPER), an emergency programme designed to address the development crisis of the 1980s, in the wake of protracted drought and famine that had engulfed the continent and the crippling effect of Africa’s external indebtedness, was

•President Zuma of South Africa exemplary.

In addition, the OAU Declaration on Political and Socio-Economic situations in Africa underscored the founding fathers’ resolve that Africa should determine its destiny and address the challenges of peace, democracy and security.

The transformation of the continental body into the African Union in 2002, ushered in other initiatives, all geared towards socio-political and economic development of Africa. The vision of the African Union is that of: “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and

representing a dynamic force in global arena.”

NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development is a flagship programme of the AU intended to bring over all development of the continent and strengthen democracy in member countries through its African Peer Review Mechanism.

38— VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 19 , 2015

Suspect in Charleston shooting arrested

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South Carolina shooting: Obama denounce senseless attack on black church U .S. President Barack Obama yesterday expressed anger over the “senseless” shooting in a black church in South Carolina and said Americans had to confront the fact that frequent incidents of gun violence do not occur in other advanced countries.

Obama, in a statement to reporters at the White House, said he and his wife, Michelle, knew Reverend Clementa Pinckney, the pastor of the historic AfricanAmerican church in Charleston, who was killed along with eight others on Wednesday night.

“To say our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families and their community doesn’t say enough to covey the heartache and the sadness and the anger that we feel,” Obama said, adding it was particularly heartbreaking that the incident occurred in a place of worship.

Obama has had to play the role of consoler-inchief after shootings repeatedly throughout his presidency.

Following the 2012 school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, the president launched an aggressive gun control push, but his efforts largely failed in Congress.

The U.S. Constitution protects Americans’ rights to own a gun, but disagreements over the breadth of those rights often fall along political lines.

Obama, appearing somber as well as frustrated, said he has had to make statements like the one he made on Thursday too many times. Despite not having all the facts, it was clear that innocent people had been killed because someone had no trouble getting a gun, he said.

“Now is the time for mourning and for healing, but let’s be clear: at some point we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other

YLANN Roof, the suspect in the shooting that killed 9 people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, has been taken into custody. President Obama addressed the nation and urged for a national reckoning on gun violence.

•Dylann Roof

•Obama advanced countries,” Obama said.

“It doesn’t happen in other places with this kind of frequency. And it is in our power to do something about it. I say

that recognizing the politics in this town foreclose a lot of those avenues right now. But it would be wrong for us not to acknowledge it,” he said. Obama is unlikely to

launch another push for gun control legislation with only one and a half years left in office and the next presidential campaign already in full swing.

•Some members of the affected families.

Presidential candidates condemn church shootings U .S. presidential candidates and politicians likely to entern the race used social media and other means yesterday to express their reaction to news a white gunman had killed nine people in a historic black church in South Carolina on Wednesday.

Here are comments from some of the candidates: “There are bad people in this world who are motivated by hate ... Every decent person has been victimized by the hateful, callous disregard for human life shown by the individual who perpetrated these horrible acts. Our sense of security and wellbeing has been robbed and shaken.”

- Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina in a statement “Our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals and families affected by the tragic events in Charleston.”

- Republican Jeb Bush, on Twitter. The former Florida governor canceled an appearance scheduled for Thursday morning in Charleston “Heartbreaking news

•Bush

•Hilary from Charleston - my thoughts and prayers are with you all. -H” - Democrat Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state who spoke in Charleston on Wednesday, on Twitter “The Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, became a scene of unspeakable carnage because an evil person violated the sanctuary where earth and heaven meet and turned it into a place where earth and hell meet. No civilized person can react except with revulsion at such a

senseless, cowardly, and despicable act ... The prayers that were interrupted by a mass murderer will be continued by a grieving nation.”

- Former Republican Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on Facebook “Our prayers for the families & friends of loved ones killed in Charleston, S.C. - SKW” - Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who is expected to announce whether he will run next month, on Twitter “This is a time for healing, not politics. I look

forward to returning to South Carolina and continuing our discussion on how we can best move our country forward. Until that time our prayers and deepest condolences are with the people of Charleston and the families of those who have been torn apart by this senseless act of violence and hate.”

- Republican Donald Trump, who canceled a Friday campaign event in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on Twitter - Former Republican Texas Governor Rick Perry on Twitter

“The Charleston church killings are a tragic reminder of the ugly stain of racism that still taints our nation. This senseless violence fills me with outrage, disgust and a deep, deep sadness.”

- Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders in a statement on his website “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of last night’s shooting in Charleston, who were tragically taken from us as they gathered together in prayer inside their place of worship.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—39

Be patient-focused, Provost tasks doctors, others

By Sola Ogundipe

N

IGERIAN health care providers have been admonished to be always patientfocused in their professional deliberations so that they can live up to the expectations of the public at large.

Making the call in Lagos, Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, CMUL, Prof.

Folashade Ogunsola, said in agitating for better working conditions and environment, the health team should not forget the patient.

Ogunshola who spoke during a special ceremony held for 25 doctors who passed their final exams, and emerged as Fellows after several years of specialist training at the institution, urged medical professionals in the country to close ranks in the interest of the patient.

“We must become patientoriented. We will fight for their rights and the equipment but as we are fighting we mustn't kill them in the process.

“I welcome the health bill and I think it is a beginning; the government needs to articulate what it wants. We do not have to reinvent anything bust must take on global best practices and want what is good for patient care,.

“I'm glad we have a signed health bill, but as a country we have not decided which way

• L-R: CMD, LUTH, Prof Chris Bode: Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof Folashade Ogunshola and Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee/Head, Endocrine unit, LUTH, Dr. Olufemi Fasanmade, during the get together held for 25 new Fellows of the tertiary health institution, last week in Lagos forward for health. There has been too much politicisation which has been more about groups wanting power than about patient care.

Noting that the health team is about medicine, she said the doctor will be the head of the team, not the boss, because there is a difference between the head and the boss.

We will fight for their rights and the equipment but as we are fighting we mustn't kill them in the process

Nigerian youths tasked on voluntary blood donation

By Gabriel Olawale

I

N a bid to increase blood and blood products in hospitals, members of Adventist Youth Ministries marked its Annual Blood Donation Camp with voluntary blood donation exercise in Lagos.

The exercise which was organised by the Seventh Day Adventist Church Lagos Mainland Conference, Lagos Nigeria is the third in series and supported by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LUTH; National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi Lagos; Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH and Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee.

The exercise witnessed large turnout of volunteers with the sole aim of helping to ease the plight of patients in desperate need of blood in the hospitals.

Speaking shortly after the exercise, Youth Director, Lagos Mainland Conference of Seventh Day Adventist Church in Nigeria, Joseph Okorie said blood

transfusion remains an essential component of healthcare.

“Patients who require transfusion as part of their clinical management have the right to expect that sufficient blood is available to meet their needs.

However, many patients still die or suffer unnecessarily because they do not have access to safe blood transfusion.

“The timely availability of safe blood and blood products is essential in all health facilities in which transfusion is performed, but there is widespread shortfall between blood requirements and blood supplies. It is a common feature to see relatives of patients in emergencies, running to and fro in search of blood. Shortage of this life-saving fluid has become a recurrent problem in the delivery of medical care," he added.

Lagos Mainland Conference President, Pastor E. O. Adeniyi disclosed that apart from the blood donation exercise, the group is also carrying out free screening and testing to detect some silent

killer ailments at earlier stage to aid prevention, “We are screening for diabetes, blood pressure, HIV/ AIDS which is optional, prostate cancer test, breast cancer test, eyes screening among others.”

He noted that the programme was aimed at inculcating in the youth the act of kindness as they are the leaders of tomorrow, “Global Youth Day is an initiative to inculcate in our youths the act of kindness to their neighbours, friends and workmates by rendering selfless service to humanity,” he added.

A representative of Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, Dr. Alori Samuel said donating blood is beneficial to the patient and donors. “When you give blood, it also serves as a way of doing check up, because blood donation requires tests including blood pressure, hepatitis, HIV and other ailments. “Also, people who donate blood reduce excess iron in the body which predisposes one to cardiovascular diseases, CVDs.

“That puts a lot of responsibility on the doctor to be a leader. In any group of people, once you are the leader, a lot of responsibility rides on it, but once you give responsibility, you must give the wherewithal for that to happen,”she admonished.

Ogunshola who remarked that over time, the health team has not lived up to the expectation of the public, stated that in the midst of

fighting for what each group needs, the medical team must become patient- oriented.

“We will fight for their rights and the equipment but as we are fighting we mustn't kill them in the process.

“What I want to pass on to the new Fellows is that our oath is to save lives, even when things are bad for us, as we fight authority we mustn't forget the reasons we are fighting. We are fighting for patient lives and so our actions must not add to their suffering.”

Also urging the new Fellows to remember their oath, Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, described the medical profession as a work in progress, he observed that government remains the largest employer of medical workforce.

“However, we are transitioning into a society where the private sector will increasingly dominate the market, so the market forces will eventually make things work better with greater efficiency, productivity.

“Increased efficiency must be brought to bear on the public sector so we will give the people what they want. We should justify the huge financial outlay. I'm optimistic for this sector, in the sense that with people like these passing out, Nigeria cannot say we do not have good and adequate manpower in the health sector,” he opined.

• Free blood donation exercise during the 3rd edition of Adventist Youth Ministries, Lagos Mainland Conference to mark 2015 Global Youth Day.

40 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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HE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has felicitated with the entire Muslim ummah wishing them happy blessed month.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the council’s Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, OFR, made available to Vanguard shortly after the announcement of the sighting of the moon by his eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, mni CFR, Wednesday night.

The statement reads: “The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of its President General, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, mni CFR, felicitates with the entire Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of the 1436 Ramadan.

Without doubt, the month of Ramadan is unique for many reasons. It is a month traditionally associated with prayers, peace, restraint, piety, reflection, charity, kindness, devotion and love. It is the month in which the gates of Paradise are open and the gates of Hell are closed.

“Incidentally, the holy month this year coincides with a period Muslims and indeed all Nigerians,have every reason to thank Allah for His abundant blessings. The peaceful elections and the dramatic transition of power from one government to the other are a testimony to the fact that Allah answers prayers.

All right-thinking Nigerians appreciate that what Nigeria witnessed this year, despite the frightening predictions and scary projections before the 2015 elections, was simply the grace of divine intervention.

“The month of Ramadan as a period of forgiveness offers Nigerians an opportunity to forgive the unprecedented abuse unleashed on their collective humanity in the recent past and to forge ahead as one nation united by one destiny. It is an ample opportunity to foster the ideals of brotherhood and togetherness after some years of crude and institutionalised divide-and-rule tactics which resulted in unprecedented divisiveness, losses, of lives, property and reputation.

The council maintained that Ramadan offers a great moment for rejuvenation and renewal, of faith, of friendship, of relationships, of cooperation and of na-

Ramadan 2, 1436 A.H.

NSCIA felicitates with Muslims •‘This month, gates of Paradise open, gates of Hell closed’ •Urges leaders to be compassionate, disciplined, exemplary tional unity regardless of religious, ethnic and political affiliations, urging Muslims to take advantage of the moment in advancing the cause of God and our common humanity.

“It was Shaykh Uthman dan Fodiyo who said he could live with kufr but not with injustice.

Though the Ummah might have

suffered injustice of unimaginable proportions, the period of Ramadan is meant to re-commit ourselves to the Almighty Allah by showcasing the beauty of Islam to all through justice, forgiveness, kindness and love.

“Surely, Allah enjoins justice, doing good (to others) and giving to the kindred and He for-

bids indecency, evil and rebellion. He admonishes you that you may be mindful.” (Q16:90).

Meanwhile, for those who Allah Has entrusted with leadership, we urge them to remember the favours of Allah on them when He answered the prayers of the oppressed, the maligned and the persecuted by granting them success. They should complement the prayers by being good and

justify the expectations of Nigerians by being fair and just to all.

They should be compassionate, disciplined and exemplary. They need to demonstrate competence and sense of mission. The campaign period of sloganeering has expired and only exemplary performance can retain and sustain the massive goodwill and support of the abused masses.

The NSCIA also urged Nigerians to be inspired by the spirit of self-discipline that Ramadan engenders by shunning materialism and corruption. “They should live modest lives of honour and integrity, drawing appropriate lessons from some of our leaders.

“We enjoin Muslims to make a good use of Ramadan through increased productivity. This productivity will be achieved through watching less Television, avoiding over-eating, keeping offline except as demanded by duty and virtuous acts and reading much of the Qur’an, observing nawaafil and remembering Allah all the time. While praying that Allah accept all our ‘Ibaadah, the Council wishes Muslims Ramadan Mubaarak.”

Emirates rolls out Ramadan, Umurah promo

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From left: Alhaji Thani Abdur Rahman, Republic of Benin, Naib Amir and Missionary in-charge, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Maulvi Abdul Khalique Nayyar; Amir, Dr. Mashood Adenrele Fashola and Principal, Jamiatul Mubashireen Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Maulvi Nadeem Waseem Ahmad, at the 1st Graduation ceremony 2015 students of School in Ilaro Ogun State, recently.

mirates, a global connec tor of people, places and experiences will be stepping up its Ramadan offerings to passengers and its flight offerings for Umrah.

The airline will operate 42 additional flights, serviced by the Boeing 777, between Dubai and Jeddah from 18 June to 23 July. From 24 July to 15 August, Emirates will operate an additional 11 flights to Jeddah.

Emirates’ additional flight offerings will help accommodate the two million visitors expected to travel to Mecca during the Holy Month this year.

These services will run in par-

UIMGA dolls out scholarships to tertiary students

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HE University of Ibadan Muslim Graduates’ Association (UIMGA) has awarded scholarships to some undergraduates in various universities across the country. The schorlaship scheme tagged

UIMAGSS – University of Ibadan Muslim Graduates’ Association Scholarship Scheme.was the 10th edition in its series annually. The occasion which was held at the University of Ibadan Central

Cross section of graduands during the 14th Walimatul Qur’an of Ikotun Arabic and Islamic Centre, Ikotun, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Mosque saw about N490,000.00 being distributed amongst deserving students.

The President of the Association; Dr. Saka Adewumi stated that so far over N5million had been expended on the scheme and many people most of whom are now proud graduates have been supported by the scheme. One of the beneficiaries, Shitu Shakirat, emerged the overall best student at the 2014 convocation ceremony at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He added that the lady who studied Medicine and Surgery won 14 out of the available 18 prizes at the occasion.

He expressed sincere appreciation to the Ogun State Governor, Sentaor Ibikunle Amosun, Dr. Wale Babalakin, Prof.

Rashid Aderinoye (former President of the Association) and a host of other donors to the scheme. He appealed passionately for more assistance from other spirited individuals and gave the details of the bank accounts as follows: Bank: ECO Bank, Account Name: UI Muslim Graduates Association, Account No: 1673000385.

allel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services to Jeddah, operated by a mix of A380s and Boeing 777 aircraft. The additional services can be accessed by travellers holding a valid Umrah visa, except for GCC nationals.

Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Centre said: “Travelling for Umrah during the Holy Month of Ramadan is a unique experience for Muslims around the world. With a sizeable increase in the demand for air travel during Ramadan, Emirates is helping to make the journey more seamless for the scores of pilgrims looking to travel during this time.”

In keeping with traditions and values of the Holy Month, Emirates will be offering a special Iftar meal service. For flights departing close to Iftar, Emirates will provide small snack boxes at the boarding gates of Emirates Terminal 3, while large Iftar meal boxes will be served to passengers inflight. The large Iftar meal box, designed by Emirates’ chefs, will be served in Economy class, with a similar selection served to fasting Business Class and First Class passengers.

Non-fasting passengers travelling on regular or Umrah flights will receive a cold meal instead of the regular hot meal for all flights taking off after sunrise and before sunset, to respect the many Muslim passengers completing Umrah on these flights.

Emirates also utilises a unique tool to calculate the correct timings for Imsak (the time to commence fasting) and Iftar while in-flight. The tool allows Emirates to calculate the exact Ramadan timings using the aircraft’s longitude, latitude and altitude; ensuring the greatest level of accuracy possible while onboard. When the sun sets, passengers will be informed of the Iftar time by the captain.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 41

NACOMYO lauds Buhari on relocation of Military command

T Ramadan 2, 1436 A.H.

How to achieve blessings of Ramadan

By Haruna Razaq

O

NE of the many annual ibadah through which a Muslim can erase his sins, increase his good deeds, gain position in paradise and free him/ herself from hell fire is Ramadan.

But, these blessings of Ramadan can only be achieved by serious Muslim that does the following: (1) prepare him/herself and the environment properly for worship for the blessed month of Ramadan. (2) Rejoice and congratulates one another at the beginning of the month. The Prophet (SAW) used to tell his Companions the good news of the onset of Ramadan, and urge them to make the most of it. Abu Hurairah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month. Allah has made it obligatory on you to fast this month.

During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the devils are chained up. In it, there is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed”. (Reported by al-Nisaa’i, 4/129; Sahiih al-Targhiib, 1/490).

(3) Hasten to repent and turn back to Allah. (4) Have the right frame of mind and fearing Allah when performing the deeds of Ramadan and above all, (5) Fast according to the instruction of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), since, one of the conditions for acceptance of deeds in Islam is that it must conform with the instructions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Some of these instructions are obligatory and others are recommended and they are as follows: (i) having intention of fasting before Fajr (break of down).

The Prophet (SAW) said: Whosoever did not intend his fast during the night (before fajr), no fasting for him. Intention is the resolution in the heart to do something speaking it aloud is bid’ah

(a reprehensible innovation), and anyone who knows that tomorrow is one of the days of Ramadaan and wants to fast has made the intention. (Majmoo’ Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam, 25/ 215) The intention may be made at any point during the night, even if it is just a moment before Fajr. (ii) Desire to take sahuur (the early morning meal) and delaying it until just before the adhaan of Fajr. (iii) Avoid things that spoil fasting such as eating, drinking, sexual intercourse etc. from fajr till sunset. Allah said:…then complete your fast till the nightfall… (Q2:187) (iv) Keeping away from sin, because the Prophet (SAW) said: “When any of you is fasting, let him not commit sin…” (Bukhaari,)..(v) Keeping away from things that can destroy one’s good deeds and bring bad deeds and this in-

clude: allowing oneself to be distracted by movies, idle gatherings, hanging about in the streets with evil people and time-wasters, etc. (vi) Not allowing one to be provoked, because the Prophet (SAW) said: “If someone fights him or insults him, he should say, ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’”

(Bukhaari) (vii) Being generous by sharing knowledge, giving money, using one’s position of authority or physical strength to help others, and having a good attitude. (viii) Hastening the iftaar? (breaking of the fast) because the Prophet (SAW) said: “The people will be fine so long as they do not delay iftaar.”

(Bukhaari). Breaking one’s fast in the manner described in the hadiith(ix) Not eating too much Sahuur and Iftar,? because the Prophet (SAW) said: The bestsahuur for the believer is dates.”

HE National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation, NACOMYO, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives on relocation of Nigerian Military Command from Abuja to Maiduguri describing it as a step in the right direction and urged the Military to sustain its current efforts in the fight against insurgency. It also commended the neighboring communities whose military partnership has contributed to the progress made in onslaught against Boko Haram.

The Council made the statement after a 3-Day Capacity Building / Leadership Training Programme held at Islamic Propagation Centre (IPC), Warri, Delta State from 5th to 7th of June, 2015.

The workshop with theme, “Productivity In The Life of A Muslim”, had scholars and professionals who presented papers on aspects relating to theme. The participants were equipped with knowledge aimed at making them to be productive, efficient and self-reliance in their various endeavours and professions. The group in a communique issued at the end of the programme stated: “Muslims in all spheres of life should be productive, hardworking, honest, and efficient in order to contribute to the economic development of the country, noting that it is by being productive that our country can attain greatness and prosperity.

“Muslims are enjoined to use the Ramadan period to pray for continued peace, stability and progress of our dear country, while also appealing to Nigerians to exercise patience with the new government."

Ahmadiyya graduates 7 Missionaries in Theology

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HE Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria has graduated its first batch of missionaries on the Jamia Mubashireen programme - an equivalent of a degree programme in Islamic Theology at the Jamia Ahmadiyya College,Ilaro, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria.

The graduation ceremony, performed by Amir Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Dr Mashuud Fasola , was witnessed by delegates from Republic of Benin, the leadership of the Jamaat in Nigeria, Parents and well wishers.

Dr Fasola enjoined the graduands to be good ambassador of the Ahmadiyya Community and Islam in general by impacting on their commu-

From left: Alhaji Mustapha Balogun, National Vice President II, NACOMYO; Alhaji Kamalddin Akintunde, National President, NACOMYO and Sulaimon Salisu, Amir, Islamic Propagation Centre, IPC, during a three-day capacity building/ leadership training programme organised by NACOMYO, nity the virtues of love, trust Southern Zone, in Warri, Delta State. in Allah, honesty and good deeds.

The Missionary in charge, Maulvi Abdul Khalique NayOVEMENT for Islamic Culture and Awareness, MICA, yar equally admonished the recently mobilised its teeming members for blood donation to new Missionaries to be good mark the World Blood Donor day. exemplary character and demThe occasion which was held at the Crescent Nursery School, Victoria onstrate the better underIsland, Lagos saw Muslims donating to the blood bank in the state. standing of theological values The head, Attract and Retain Team of the organisation, Abdul-Hamid learnt in the last four years at Ademola, stated that the organisation embarked on the drive in order the Jamia Mubashireen.

The principal of the college to save lives of people in need of blood in the state hospitals, stressing Maulvi Nadeem Waseem, ap- that: “we have a group called Life-savers group and we decided that preciated the support of the we should donate blood regularly to save the lives of people.

"While I was donating, I was informed that there is shortage of ‘Rhesus jamaat and the cooperation of the staff to ensure that the stu- negative’ donors and we have some of them as members, so we will dents covered all aspect of the be glad to donate and donate. We will mobilise donors to donate, so curriculum. He said the stu- that we can save the lives of people in need of blood," Ademola said. dent passed through several Also, the Amirah of the group, Ganiya Sulaiman-Olokodana said: seminar sessions leading to "It is the duty of every Muslim to care about the condition of others the submission of a thesis at and also do everything possible to save life. Personally, I am a ‘Rhesus the end of the programme. negative’ blood type and I know we are in short supply, so it gladdens me to be part of the exercise."

Cross section granduands of Jamiatul Mubashireen Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, at ceremony.

MICA donates blood

M

Abdul-Hamid Ademola, a blood donor at the MICA blood drive excerise, in Lagos.

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Edo Election Tribunal upholds Akpatason’s election

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Edo State Election Petition Tribunal, headed by Justice A. Ozoemena, has upheld the election of the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Akoko Edo House of Representatives seat, Mr Peter Akpatason, in the March 28, National Assembly elections, after it struck out the petition against Akpatason by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Oladele Bankole-Balogun, for lack of merit.

The tribunal, in its ruling after arguments by counsel to parties, faulted the joint petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Bankole-Balogun, noting that the failure by the PDP to sign the petition before the tribunal was a clear negation of the Electoral Act. Justice Ozoemena, held: “As it seems, there is no petition before the tribunal since there was no attempt by the PDP or its agents to sign on behalf of the party. The petition lacks merit and is,

Delta APC embarks on reconciliation drive

By Perez Brisibe

U

GHELLI—DELTA State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has embarked on a reconciliation drive aimed at appeasing aggrieved members of the party.

Speaking to newsmen, yesterday, in Ughelli, a chieftain of the party and former Kwara State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Solomon Edojah, hinted that party leaders from the three senatorial districts in the state, had resolved to work together for the unity of the party.

Edojah explained that the party had also opened its doors to defecting members of PDP, Labour Party and other political parties, who are interested in joining the APC. He said: “At the expanded caucus meeting of the APC which was convened by a member of the Board of Trustees, Senator Spanner Okpozo, alongside leaders and elders of the party in the state, we agreed to work together as one united family and be prepared to reclaim the stolen mandate of the party in the state.”

therefore, struck out in its entirety.”

The tribunal also considered the allegation against some persons in the petition. Bankole had alleged in his petition that the persons he named in the petition were involved in alleged manipulation of the results of the

election and perpetrated violence.

Striking those paragraphs from the petition, the tribunal pointed that “The offences levelled against these persons are criminal in nature and in such a situation, the affected persons are supposed to be joined in the petition because the law says such

persons should be joined as necessary parties.

“In this case, they were not joined in the petition and it will be wrong to give judgment when the persons are not given the opportunity to defend themselves.

The paragraphs are, therefore, struck out,” the tribunal held.

PRESENTATION: Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Mr Gabriel Achong (2nd left), presenting souvenir to the Controller of Prisons, Dr Regina Akpan, in Uyo, yesterday.

Delta NLC hails Okowa's meeting with labour leaders

By Victor Ahuma-Young

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ELTA State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led by Mr. Williams Akporeha, has commended the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for convening a stakeholders’ forum to be abreast with issues affecting the workers with a view to finding sustainable solutions that will be mutually benefitial to government and workers.

Akporeha, in a statement at the end of a stakeholders forum in Asaba for labour leaders in the state convened by Governor

Okowa, said that the meeting was in the right direction which, if continued, would work positively for the governor and workers.

He urged the governor not to relate with labour leaders through a special assistant or adviser, but through a forum like the just concluded one, to truly be acquainted with issues affecting workers because past experience of using aides did not work well.

Akporeha noted that the forum afforded the governor and other stakeholders the opportunity to deliberate on key issues such as prompt payment of workers’

salaries and other labour related matters that would build confidence between government and workers in the state.

He reiterated the readiness of congress to cooperate and partner the state government for progress, industrial harmony and development of the state, saying that congress looks forward to a continuation of this type of direct interface between government and labour for a clearer understanding of issues as they affect the different affiliate industrial unions of the NLC in the state.

Okowa won’t fail Deltans —PDP chieftain

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By Akpokona Omafuaire

ARRI—A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr Tam Odogwu, has expressed confidence in the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led government in the state, assuring Deltans that they would not be disappointed by the governor.

Odogwu, in a statement in

Warri, said that the new government has plans to take Delta beyond the level where it is today, as the new leadership in the state will meet the aspirations of the people.

According to him, “I want to congratulate our focused and determined governor, Senator Okowa and his deputy, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, on their emergence, as their leadership will take Delta to an enviable height.

“The people of the state deserve what they got by electing credible leaders and democrats such as Governor Okowa and Otuaro.

“I want to assure Deltans that their vote was divinely directed as these two great sons of the state will not disappoint them. Deltans should be rest assured that their dreams and aspirations will be actualised in no distant time as they voted for the right persons.”

Be focused, Igbuya tells Delta lawmakers

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA-A four-day intensive orientation programme for members of the sixth Assembly of Delta State House of Assembly has opened in PortHarcourt, River State, with a charge on the legislators to be focused at all times.

Speaker of the House, Mr Monday Igbuya, while declaring the programme open, said the sixth Assembly was poised to make a difference in the lives of Deltans.

Igbuya said that the legislature was key in moving the state forward, adding that every necessary step must be taken to prepare members for the tasks ahead.

He urged the lawmakers to take the orientation programme seriously and make useful contributions to ensure the success of the exercise.

Clerk of the House, Mrs Lyna Ochulor, said the programme was to give the legislators the necessary tools and tips for improve performance as members of the Delta State legislature.

Okowa urged to consider Egbema people for appointments

T

HE people of Egbema Kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, under the aegis of Egbema Radical Group, have urged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the state to consider them for appointments.

The people, in a statement by Ami Dada, also commended Deltans for the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state in the just concluded general elections, praying God to strengthen and give Governor Okowa the wisdom to move the state to the next level.

They: “We want to make it clear that it is our turn to produce the commissioner to represent Ijaw ethnic group on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC because the Egbema Kingdom has capable and experienced sons to represent the people effectively in the commission."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015— 43

Ndigbo'll resist attempt to remove Ekweremadu —Group

Acute water scarcity hits Enugu metropolis

.As Enugu West Peoples Forum knocks South East APC

By Ugochukwu Alaribe & Francis Igata

A

SOCIO-POLITICAL group in Aba, Abia State, Ndigbo In Aba, has vowed to resist any attempt to force the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, out of office.

This came as another Enugu West Peoples Forum, yesterday, came hard on the National Vice Chairman,South-East, of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Emma Eneukwu, for misrepresenting the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s comment on his re-emergence as the Senate number two man.

Addressing a townhall meeting in Aba, Wednesday, the group, a coalition of professionals, town unions, activists, market and transport unions and civil society organizations, decried the marginalization of Ndigbo in the sharing of political offices, adding that if not for Ekweremadu’s position, Ndigbo would have revolted.

In a communiqué jointly signed by the chairman of the event, Ukpai Ukairo, Prof. Charles Chinekezi and Chinedu Duru, the group said: “We are not saying that the position of Deputy Senate president is all we deserve in the present administration, but we won’t allow it to be taken away

from us. We will resist any attempt to push out Ike Ekweremadu because "the position he occupies is of much relevance to Ndigbo."

Meanwhile, Enugu West Peoples Forum, yesterday, came hard on the National Vice Chairman,South-East, of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Emma Eneukwu, for misrepresenting the comments of Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on his re-emergence as deputy senate president.

The group wondered why Eneukwu would engage in clear mischief rather than deal with the

many crises rocking Enugu State chapter of the APC under his watch.

In a statement by the National Coordinator of the group, Paul Anikwe, the Forum observed: “The state of confusion in Enugu State chapter of APC in particular clearly shows in their discordant responses. ‘’This is because while its selfappointed zonal spokesman, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, attacked Senator Ekweremadu for accusing APC of marginalizing the South-East and South-South in the composition of the first seven positions in the Federal

By Francis Igata Government, Mr. Eneukwu claimed on the other hand, that Ekweremadu said his emergence had settled the South-East in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“This is not the first time two political parties will share positions in the Nigerian parliament. So, it is not novel in the Nigerian political landscape for a minority party member to occupy such an exalted seat in the Senate, especially in a situation where Ndigbo would have been left to lurch endlessly in the political wilderness in this dispensation.”

Abia govt begins demolition of illegal structures in Aba

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—IN compliance with his promise of rebuilding Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has issued notice to commence demolition of illegal structures in to make way for the city's the regeneration.

Consequently, the state government named the structures to be demolished to include all structures, property, stalls and

shops encroaching on roads and service lanes.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu, said the owners of such structures had been given seven days to remove them, failing which bulldozers would descend on them.

“The government of Abia State is by this notice informing all property owners in Aba metropolis and the general public that, in line with the government’s commitment towards the rebuilding of the city of Aba,

which necessitated the establishment of Aba Urban Renewal Office, the agencies of government will commence a demolition of all structures, property, stalls and shops which encroach into the road, seven days from this announcement.

“The property to be demolished include but not limited to buildings on service lanes, illegal shops, illegal fences and such other structures that constitute a blockade to the free flow of traffic and drainage.

Appointment of VC tears ESUT apart

By Austin Ogwuda

E

NUGU—THE recent appoint- ment of Prof. Luke Anike as the new Vice Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, has raised some dust, following complaint that it was characterized by foul play.

Already, a body known as Enugu Regional Association, ERA, comprising all senior staff

from old Enugu region that served and are currently serving in University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, has called on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to set up a high-powered commission of inquiry to look into the matter.

Addressing newsmen after ERA’s emergency meeting at Nsukka, President of the association, Prof Aloysius Okolie, said: “ERA has no interest on who becomes ESUT Vice-

Chancellor but that as stakeholders in advancing qualitative education and good governance in the state, we condemn injustice no matter whose ox is gored.

“After an interview considered to be transparent and followed rigorously the rule of law and due process, the name of Prof BenChris Onah was submitted to the visitor and ratified. ‘’It was announced in media for

four to five days as having been duly appointed as vice-chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

“Surprisingly, as he was invited to come and collect the letter of appointment, he got there and discovered that there had been a major twist and the twist was that the appointment paper had been given to another contender, Prof Luke Anike.

ENUGU—RESIDENTS of Enugu metropolis have expressed dismay over the acute water supply scarcity plaguing the state.

Vanguard learned that water supply for domestic and industrial purposes to the metropolis had been epileptic in the past two months.

The prevailing situation had brought untold hardship on residents as most people who could not afford to patronise water vendors, trek long distances to streams to scoop water.

Deputy Director, Enugu Water Corporation, Mr. Mathias Nriji, lamented that the cause of the scarcity had been consistent power outage at the schemes supplying water to residents.

Nriji said: “The problem of power supply started since three months ago. The production points have been down because of power outage. ‘’As you know, we solely rely on electricity supply from Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, for operation.

“We cannot afford to run on generator because the cost of water will be astronomical. The three water schemes supplying water to the metropolis - the Agali water scheme, OjiRiver and Iva-Valley- are producing at 30 per cent capacity because we only have about six-seven hours power supply at the schemes daily.

“If we had 24 hours power supply,we will be operating optimally and the needed 131,000 cubic metres daily consumption will be achieved. “

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On state govts' inability to pay their workers’ salaries

T

he problem about the nonpayment of workers’ salaries, to me, is due to two major factors - the governors and the CBN).

The governors need to understand that they are managing their states and economy. -Mr. Daniel Osazuwa, Businesman

W

hy retain the number of your workforce when you know that your revenue cannot take care of their salaries? Downsize according to your cash flow and revenue. It is only when this is done that workers will be paid their salaries. -Mr. Martin Onuigbo, Worker

W

ere the states not given their share of the federal allocation?

What went wrong and how are we sure that if the bail-out fund is released, it won't go into private pockets? -Miss Ebereke Kelechi, Student

T

he governors brought their states to this sorry state we are in now.

When they were insisting that every money in federation account be shared without remaining a kobo in a central pool, we cried, but these governors did not listen. -Miss Ogbue Immaculate, Student

W

hat is needed is a total over-haul of the powers of the governors as there is absence of good husbandry of resources in most of the states. As citizens, our duty is to assist Mr. President secure genuine change for Nigeria. Mr. Babatunde Owolabi, Civil Servant

I

t is high time we changed the system with little coming into the state from federation account. In fact, the state should be contributing to the federal purse, based on its internally generated revenue.

Then we will know those have brains among our governors. -Mr. Ben Onyekachi, NYSC Member

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

India High Commission celebrates maiden Int'l Day of Yoga

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BUJA—THE Indi an High Commission will celebrate the first International Day of Yoga, IDY, on Sunday, June 21, 2015 in line with the United Nations, UN, declaration.

The UN resolution on yoga followed a resolution moved by India and co-sponsored by 177 other member nations of the organisation.

The UN resolution, recognizing that Yoga provided a holistic approach to health and well-being, observed that wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practising yoga would be beneficial for the health of the people.

Meanwhile, the high commission has invited participants for the programme at both Abuja and Lagos to explore the benefits of yoga and make the event successful. ‘’If any groups of individuals or institutions intend to host programs of Yoga practice at their own venue, photographs of the same can be sent to us by e-mail for our record and further dissemination to our global viewers. ‘’The High Commission would also appreciate any endorsement of the IDY by any individual or institution that supports the cause,’’ the commission added.

Bauchi govt seizes 22 vehicles from Yuguda's wives

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—AS part of ef forts to recover all its properties, the Bauchi State government has seized a total 22 vehicles in the possession of the wives of former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda.

The Chairman of the Transi-

J

OS—FORMER Plateau State governor and Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Jonah Jang has described the statement credited to the National Secretary, Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a Wa’ikamatus Sunna, JIBWIS, Mr. Aliyu Sangei, that he was the cause of crises on Plateau as “a betrayal of crass ignorance.”

Sangei was quoted as saying that “Jang ignited Plateau crises,” but in a statement in Jos yesterday, the former governor’s Personal Assistant, Chris Gyang, described the allegation as not only biased but showed crass ignorance of the facts on ground.

The statement read, “anyone

tion of the property in question to cooperate with the committee for the effective discharge of its assignment.”

Governor Mohammed Abubakar had vowed that he would employ all measures to trace funds and property allegedly looted during the tenure of the immediate past administration under Yuguda in the state.

Niger Republic confiscated our farmlands, Jigawa community alleges

By Aliyu Dangida

D

FORUM: From left; Providence Mayowa Rotimi, Marketing Representative; Oluseyi Akinyoyenu, Head, Line of Business & Cloud; Tanmo Imobekhai, Human Capital Management Solution Expert, all of SAP West Africa; Faariss Khalil, Sponsorship Manager, Informa and Juliet Omorodion, Marketing Manager, SAP West Africa during the 2015 HR Leaders in Africa Forum which held today in Lagos.

RAMADAN: Ahmed urges Muslim faithful to pray for Nigeria's economic growth Ahmad, also prayed Allah to proBy Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—THE governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday urged Muslim faithful to use the

Jang blasts JIBWIS scribe over comments on Plateau crises

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

tion Committee, Senator Mohammed Mohammed who spoke yesterday at the Government House in Bauchi said that the recovery of the vehicles was in tandem with the mandate of the committee to recover all items confirmed to have been allocated against due and return them to the government.

He said:” we have so far, recov-

ered a total of 22 cars from the wives of the former Governor, Isa Yuguda. We recovered 11 cars from his first wife, seven from the second wife and four from the third wife.

We are yet to recover the remaining cars from his fourth wife who is currently out of the country.

“We will ensure that whoever is in possession of government properties will be forced to return them.

We urge public servants and the general public, especially those involved in the disposal and alloca-

who has full grasp of the history of Plateau State and the true underpinning of the crises surely knows that they predate the Jang administration by far and existed in different forms even before the advent of the state.

“To say that the former governor was responsible for the killing and destruction of property or divided the state along religion lines is mere political mischief in the fashion of those individuals who have always made Jang bashing and vilification a worthwhile venture.

“This statement is to disabuse the minds of the discerning public and show the world that people like Sangei simply manipulate religion to cover up their evil motives and spread hatred.

period of the Ramadan to pray for speedy economic recovery and growth of the country.

This was contained in a statement signed on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahaab Oba. Ahmed said the country seemed to be experiencing an unusual economic and security challenges that required concerted efforts and prayers from everyone to get it back on track and implored Muslims to use the season to pray fervently for national unity, religious harmony and recovery of the economy.

“At a time like this when our state, and indeed our country is passing through dire economic challenges due to the slump in national earnings, Allah’s intervention in guiding our leaders in rejuvenating the economy and rebirth is crucial,” he said.

Ahmed further advised Muslim Ummah to see the fasting period beyond the usual abstinence from food, but as another opportunity for enhanced generosity and spirituality.

Also the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad in his message enjoined adherents of the religion to use the period to pray for peace and harmony in the country.

vide every Muslims the wherewithal to go through the period.

Describing Ramadan as a month of blessing to the entire world, he advised Muslims to shy away from all sinful acts that could jeopardise their bountiful rewards during the month as promised by Allah.

UTSE—THE people of Jobi, a border town in Jigawa State, have accused the Niger Republic authority of allegedly confiscating over 86 farm lands legitimately owned by Nigerians in the neighbouring country.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen during a tour of the area over weekend, the Chief Imam of Jobi, Malam Abdullahi Danlaminu said, they had been living in peace with their neighbours in Niger Republic with both people owning farm lands in each other's country since their great grand parents'time, adding that the problem started in the last three years when the Niger Republic traditional rulers stopped Nigerians from cropping in their land.

Danlaminu explained that at the early stages of the problem, the people of area did not take the matter seriously because they (Nigeriens) had farmlands in Nigeria, hence we tried to resolve it amicably.

Adolo Okotie-Eboh, agent of PDP, says APC chieftain

A

SABA—OGBUESHI Sam Abumujor, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, has accused Prince Adolo Okotie-Eboh, of being a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP agent “desperately intent on doing everything in his power to sabotage the determination of APC candidates to reclaim their mandates from PDP riggers.”

Addressing newsmen in Asaba yesterday, Abumujor claimed that Adolo Okotie-Eboh and his group, apart from having expelled themselves from APC by taking the party to court without first exhausting all internal party processes of remediation, “have shown that they are daily bread politicians acting out the script of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and PDP” whom he de-

scribed as “temporary tenants of Government House, Asaba.”

According to Abumujor, “What is, however, most shameful is for someone aspiring to be chairman of Delta APC to be proclaiming to the whole world that his supposed party did not field any candidates for the last elections. To claim that because the court invalidated the congress, the APC could not have fielded any candidates for the elections is a completely laughable proposition in the contemplation of law and by doing so Adolo has declared war on the APC, the very party, whose Delta State chapter he insists he must be chairman of.

We therefore call on the national leadership of our great party to expel him and his cohorts.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—45

C M Y K

CSR: From left— Mrs. Temitayo Ade-Peters, Team Leader, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, First City Monument Bank, FCMB; Chief Ede Dafinone, Chairman, National Executive Council of Nigerian Conservation Foundation, NCF, and Mr. Adeniyi Karunwi, Director General of the Foundation, at the 2015 World Environment Day competition for school children, organised by the Foundation and sponsored by FCMB, in Lagos, yesterday.

BABCOCK: From left— Professor Kayode Makinde, President/ Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State; Professor Iheanyichukwu Okoro, and Professor Ayodele Desalu, Head of Department, Anatomy, during the 5th inaugural lecture of the university delivered by Professor Okoro.

SMIRNOFF: From left— Mr. Gavin Pike, Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc; DJ Spinall (Desmond Sodamola), ace disc jockey; Ms. Liz Ashdown, Head Marketing, Spirit and RTD, and Mr. Tobi Sanni, Chief Executive Officer, State of Mind Entertainment, at the signing of DJ Spinall as Smirnoff Brand Ambassador in Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

NIMASA DG: From left— Mr. Felix Bob-Nabena, Director, Admin and Personnel Services, NIMASA; Mrs. Beauty Akpobolokemi; her husband, Dr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, DG, NIMASA; Mr. Suleiman Abdulsalam, Registrar of Shipping, NIMASA (behind); Mr. Sani Mohammed, Head, Servicom, NIMASA, and Mrs. Juliana Gunwa, Director, Maritime Labour Services, NIMASA, at the conferment of Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D, on the DG by the University of Port Harcourt.

BSNN ALUMNI: From left— Ayodele Aderinwale, Chairman, Business School Netherlands, Nigeria, BSNN; Taco Westerhuis, First Secretary, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Netherlands Trade & Investment Office, Lagos; Johnson Salako, pioneer student and CEO, Mobitel Limited; and Lere Baale, Chief Executive, BSNN, during the school's first alumni lecture in Lagos.

BACKBONE: From left— Professor Barineme Fakae, Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University of Science and Technology; Mr. Chidi Okpala, Marketing Manager, and Ms Nneka Nwobi, Group Head, Business Development, both of Galaxy Backbone Limited, during the presentation of Galaxy Backbone at the university in Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO: Nwankpa Chijioke.

CIO FORUM: From left— Tunde Adebola, Senior Manager, Technology; Juliet Anammah, Managing Director, Real Sector, both of Accenture; Chidum Ayeni, Head IT, Nigeria Breweries Plc; Abayomi Olarinmoye, MD Oil & Gas/Utilities, Accenture and Femi Ogundimu, Chief Information Officer, CIO, Lafarge, at Accenture's 2015 CIO Forum in Lagos.

KALSI BUILDING: From left— Mr. Yemi Idowu, CEO, Aircon Nigeria Ltd; Mr. Marc Venoverbeke, Regional Director, Etex; Prince Adekunle Adeniji-Adele, Chairman, Nigerite Nigeria Ltd; Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran, UAC Property Development Company; Mr. Frank Le Beis, MD, Nigerite, and Mr. Tokunbo Omisore, President, African Union of Achitects, at Nigerite launch of Kalsi, a component of dry construction, into Nigerian building market in Lagos. PHOTO: Shola Oyelese.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 —47

48— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; Success is within your reach but you must do away with mental arrogance and take good and practical advice from the professionals. Work harder.

LIBRA; Your being enterprising will go a long way to further enhance your prospects and if financial advancement is your priority you will fare better. Be more loving.

SCORPIO; Prepare to take the lead and exhibit your special talent. Advice from younger people may look good but not practical enough thus if you must take advice today take it from matured personality who may appear authoritative.

SAGITTARIUS; Element of luck will work in your favour, however that is not to say you can not back your reasonable plans with practical action. Keep your secrets.

CAPRICORN; You will have your ways; much will depend on how ambitious you are, the bigger your aspiration the better. Take your tried and trusted friends seriously.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Limiting Your Expectation - 2

Y

ES, blessed are those who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed. If you are one of those who believe every promise given you, I pity you indeed. This is because you are a

candidate for heart attack. Humans are humans. Some give promises without meaning what they say. Now, supposing your expectation is

TERROR MUDA

based on the promises of such individuals, what will you do?

There is nothing wrong with having some expectations.

in “Never say goodbye”

But to expect too much is akin to committing suicide.

Have a realistic expectation of yourself and other people, so that you will not be too disappointed if your expectations are not met.

Think about it.

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; Here is an ambitious day for many of you and with moderation things will go according to your plans. Financial success is actually close to you than you think.

PISCES; Make sure your plans for both immediate and far future are legal friendly. This is day of success you will need to savour with your partners/spouse.

ARIES; Even if you think your health is ok you better make sure you confirm your fitness from your doctor before giving in to strenuous activities. Success at work indicated for those of you who are truly healthy. Be practical please.

TAURUS; It will not be a bad idea trying to consolidate on progress made recently. And the more co-operative you are today the better it will be for you..

GEMINI; You will be in good position to take good advantage within your working arena.. Don’t wait till tomorrow before you make important future plans.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

CANCER; Tomorrow may bring more challenges than anticipated that is why you will need to prosecute your plans now. Lovers are fairly favoured.

LEO; Those of you who are moderate and practical with their financial plans are in for a good day. Live up to expectation within your family circle.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Why all these?

Dear Joshua, I am not having any terminal disease but some times am afraid of life. Bluntly ‘am I meant for early death? What are my weak points health-wise? Please tell me about my career line.

Isaiah, Lokoja Dear Isaiah, You are not meant for sudden death but that should not be a license for reckless life style. Although Cancer is said to be one of weak Star signs, with potent and positive aspects the Sun and Mercury got from planets in Virgo and more powerful Scorpio yours is a strong constitution meant for good health. .

Certainly you must have gone through rough times when you were younger, once you are out of it your health path is clearer. And nothing is pointing to early death.

Naturally Cancer born people must be more careful about their tummy (stomach related ailments) and you are not an exception. Other thing you will need to watch carefully include the circulatory system (because of Aquarius influence). Your sense of taste is distinctive and capable of making you a little bit stout as a result of little enlargement of liver because of your sugar intake, which you can control perfectly. As a tropical man fever can come and go, but nothing fatalistic here please.. If you notice toothache symptom do not ignore it.

But yours is a sound and good health, astrologically.

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both Accountancy profession and the academic world. Truly you did not make wrong choice of career.

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either along your line or for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your inner-self. Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally political.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 49

Assembly summons Bauchi AG over non-payment of workers's salary arrears B

By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State Accountant General, Alhaji Adamu Umar Gokaru is to appear before the House of Assembly to give explanations over the non- payment of three months salaries of civil servants in the state.

The state Assembly at its plenary yesterday, ordered the clerk of the House to invite Gokaru to offer explanations on the poor state of finance and failure by the previous government to pay civil servants their entitlements before leaving office.

The member representing Azare/Madangala Constituency in the House, Alhaji Tijjani Aliyu who spoke on matters of urgent public importance, said that the people of the state deserved to know the reason behind government’s refusal to pay workers their salaries.

He said: “Prior to the coming to this assembly, the previous government had collected its statutory allocations from the Federal Government but failed to pay workers their salaries.

“So the Account General

should explain to the House why civil servants are yet to collect their three months salary arrears.”

Aliyu further said that

Gokaru should also explain to the people of the state how the former government spent the money it received.

Meanwhile, the House has

approved the names of 10 Special Advisers for the state governor as requested by the Executive.

FORUM: From left, Assistant Brand Manager, Vconnect, Franklyn Uwajuonye, CEO, Kitchen Kits Ltd, Tomilola Otunfikayo, GM, Vconnect, Deepankar Rustagi, and Director, G.O.P Fashion Enterprise, Mr Segun Oyetunji, at the Vconnect Empowerment Business Forum for SMEs, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Nigerian refineries to resume production next month —OFFICIAL

A

BUJA—NIGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said, yesterday, that the four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna will resume production next month, raising hope of an end to perennial petrol shortages in the country.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, of the NNPC, Mr Ohi Alegbe said that “the refineries at Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna will resume next month after a successful turn-aroundmaintenance (overhaul) of their facilities. The turn-aroundmaintenance has been on for some time. We did not just want to make any noise about it. The refineries will start production as soon as they have delivery of crude oil for refining,” The NNPC has four refineries — two in Port Harcourt, one in Kaduna and another in Warri, with a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day.

A network of pipelines and depots located throughout the country link these refineries.

Nigeria produces a massive two million barrels of crude oil a day, but has to export it due to a lack of working refineries. It then imports fuel back into the country at international market prices — a situation blamed on corruption and mismanagement.

C M Y K

To cushion the blow on the general population, the government sells fuel on the streets at subsidised prices, and makes up for the higher amounts spent by importers by reimbursing them the difference — a system seen as rife with false claims and overpayments.

Last month, a crippling fuel shortage almost grounded

Nigeria to a halt, as fuel importers and marketers shut their depots to protest some $1 billion (900 million euros) in unpaid reimbursements.

Black market and legitimate petrol vendors did a brisk trade, selling at around N300 a litre — well above the officially-set price of N87.

In January 2012, the government tried to end the

subsidies, causing petrol prices to more than double. It was ultimately forced to reinstate the payments after tens of thousands of people took to the streets in violent protests that left more than a dozen dead.

Alegbe said the resumption of refinery activity “ will significantly improve the supply of petroleum products in the country.”

Niger Gov flags off Operation Zero Potholes

By Wole Mosadomi

M

INNA—NIGER State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello has flagged off “Operation Zero Potholes” in Minna the state capital. The programme is expected to cover other major cities as part of the efforts of the new administration to improve urban infrastructure in the state.

The project was flagged off along Mandela Road on the outskirts of Minna.

Speaking on the occasion, Bello described most of the major roads in the urban centres as very appalling, hence they required the immediate attention of the government. He said that the same gesture would be extended to the rural areas.

“Operation Zero Potholes within 100 days is the beginning of an effort to keep our roads free of potholes. We are starting with the urban centres and very soon we shall cover the rural areas too. This is to ensure protection of lives and property,” the governor stated.

Bello further said that the project was essentially aimed at using cold asphalt technology, which is being manufactured within the state to fix the roads.

NITDA opens software testing centre in Lagos

A

B U J A — T H E National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has said that work is at an advanced stage to complete the first Nigerian software testing centre in Lagos.

Director General of the agency, Dr. Peter Jack, disclosed this, yesterday, at a briefing in Abuja.

He said the essence of the centre is to ensure that all software developed in Nigeria are taking to the centre for standard test and to ascertain their compatibility with the systems of the centre.

The centre, which will be the first of its kind in Africa will be ready for commissioning soon.

He said: “We are already

developing a software testing centre in Lagos and very soon, the centre will become operational.

“The whole essence of the

centre is that any software developed in Nigeria will be tested at the centre to ascertain its compatibility with those softwares and our systems. If it

NASS INAUGURATION:

representation

A

BUJA—THREE Senators-elect and 10 House of Representatives’ members-elect from Delta State were among those inaugurated and sworn into office last Tuesday in Abuja.

The event held at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, witnessed the oath of office taking of Senators Peter Nwaboshi, Delta North, James Manager, Delta South

runs perfectly, we are going to pass it and then recommend it as approved software for use by NITDA."

Nwokolo assures on effective

and Ighoyota Amori, Delta Central.

Also inaugurated were House of Representatives members for the federal constituencies in the state; Victor Nwokolo, Ika federal constituency, Onyemaechi Mrakpor, Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency and Hon. Ossai N. Ossai of the Ndokwa Ukwuani federal constituency.

Speaking at a reception in

their honour in Abuja, Victor Nwokolo representing Ika federal constituency commended the large turnout of Deltans especially his supporters and assured of more effective representation of the people.

Nwokolo also reminded his people and indeed Deltans of the need to continue to support him and the administration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to enable the governor take the state to the next level.

50—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

NECA commends Pension Reform Act

By Oboh Agbonkhese

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IGERIA Employers Consultative Association, NECA, has praised the Pension Reform Act, PRA, 2014 and the reforms introduced into contributory pension scheme in the country, saying the scheme had guaranteed post-service benefits for workers at retirement.

NECA, which spoke at a stakeholders’ interactive forum with the National Pension Commission, PENCOM, on the implementation of the Pension Reform Act 2014, in Lagos, noted that the reforms had in the last one year brought relief to employers and their employees on pension matters.

Speaking through the former Executive Director, Human Resource, Seven-Up Bottling Company, Mr. Femi Mokikan, the umbrella body for employers in the country, said the scheme could be likened to the only system that was working in Nigeria today.

PRA 2014, which repeals the Pension Act of 2004 beginning from July 1, 2014, has extended the contributory pension service from federal public service to states, local governments, private sector with more than three employees and the self-employed.

They all contribute a minimum of 18 percent of a worker ’s monthly emolument (10 percent from employer, eight from the employee), among other features.

Heavenly Dew

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RIUMPHANT Baptist Church will hold her monthly programme, Heavenly Dew, tomorrow at the church premises in Sasa Road, Akowonjo, Lagos, on A Thousandfold Increase by 7a.m.

Dr. Sunday Oladejo, the church Pastor, said it is a monthly avenue for people to pray for their goals.

NAFDAC alerts on revalidated expired yoghurt, fake wines

By Chioma Obinna

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AG O S — N AT I O N A L Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday alerted the public on the circulation of revalidated expired yoghurt, unregistered wines and spirits in the market.

Meanwhile, the agency is set to represent AntiCounterfeit Bill to the newlyinaugurated eighth assembly, proposing stiffer punishment for counterfeiters of regulated products.

Director-General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, who disclosed these at a briefing on the activities of the agency in the past week in Lagos, said already the agency had launched investigation into the alteration of the expiry date of the yoghurt known as Dunone Ultra Mel Yoghurt.

According to NAFDAC, a

firm tampered with the expiry date of March 2015 of the yoghurt by carefully altering the last number in the date to read March 2016.

Announcing that the suspects had been arrested by the agency, Orhii said NAFDAC was working to get the source of the product and bring the perpetrators to book.

He said: “The public is, hereby, informed that the validity of yoghurt is six months.

Buyers and consumers should be watchful of processed foods and always collect receipts upon purchase of any item.”

Counterfeit wines, spirits

Meanwhile, the agency has intercepted a truckload of various suspected counterfeit and unregistered wines and spirits belonging to a businessman (names withheld) along the LagosBadagry Expressway.

Orhii said the most worrisome thing was that the importer used official government number plate, O G F Z A (Regd.No.RV885FZE) assigned to Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, to deceive security operatives, adding that the interception was made possible by vigilant officers of the agency.

On examination, he said, the truck was found to contain counterfeit and unregistered wines and spirits (J&P Wine, Red Label, Villiera Fired Earth Wine and Jelzin Assorted Flavours).

Others are JP Chernet Wine, Cask and Cream, E and J Brey, among others.

Prepares counterfeit bill for National Assembly

He, however, disclosed that the agency had concluded plans to represent the agency’s Anti-Counterfeit

SEMINAR: From left— Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Senator Kabiru Gaya and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, at a seminar organised by the Gusau Institute in Kaduna, yesterday.

APC’s internal squabbles may derail Buhari’s change agenda—LP scribe

By Dapo Akinrefon

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ATIONAL Secretary of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, has warned that the ongoing leadership tussle within the ranks of All Progressives Congress, APC, may derail and distract the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration from delivering on its many promises to Nigerians.

While he described the infighting between certain power blocs within APC as borne of selfish interests, Ajulo said the ominous signs being given by the leadership of APC appears to be a confirmation of the

popularly held opinion that APC was a party of “strange bedfellows” which was not built to last and would not stand the test of time.

Ajulo said: “The in-house squabbling within APC is too early and too soon; it gives validity to the position of many stakeholders in the polity that it is nothing but an amalgamation of selfish interests that do not have the national interests at heart.

“By virtue of President Buhari’s electoral victory, Labour Party have the opposition status automatically conferred us party, particularly when PDP

is bereft of what to do.

“But national interests remain a more pressing priority and for Nigeria’s sake, statesmanship has to displace opposition politics.

“It is, therefore, necessary for us to address these ominous signs we perceive within the ranks of APC, in the interest of the entire nation.”

The LP scribe expressed dismay at the ill-timing of the squabbles of APC, wondering if they truly desired the success of their erstwhile candidate who is now the “captain of the Nigerian ship.”

Bill to the eighth Assembly with a view to getting stiffer punishments for counterfeiters of registered products.

Orhii said the new bill is proposing lifetime jail for convicted counterfeiters, confiscation of their assets and the use of some of the confiscated assets to compensate victims.

Jonathan’s associate dumps PDP for APC in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—A former Chief of Staff, Bayelsa Government House and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, has defected from PDP to All Progressives Congress, APC. Ikiogha, a grassroots politician and close associate of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, was one of the pillars behind the emergence of Seriake Dickson as governor of the state in 2012.

He was appointed Chief of Staff, Bayelsa Government House by Governor Dickson on his assumption office in February 2012, but was redeployed to Abuja liaison office, following alleged strained relationship between them.

Speaking with newsmen, yesterday in Yenagoa, Ikiogha said the decision to join APC was taken after wide consultation with his supporters in the wake of the crisis of confidence rocking PDP in the state and the hijack of the party by few persons with selfish ambitions.

He said: “Even as I am no longer in PDP, former President Jonathan is still my friend and big brother.

“My constituents, the masses for whom I have lived and to whom I dedicate all my political victories, have agreed that I should leave PDP. “At one of the meetings that led to the final decision to quit, some of my supporters reminded me that the PDP I helped to form and nurture was no more the same.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—51

Wike moves against Amaechi's loyalists

By Gbenga Oke & Jimitota

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Onoyume

HE Rivers State Government and the former state Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, traded words, yesterday, over the recovery of what the state government described as government vehicles, from the former commissioner who, however, insisted that the vehicles rightfully belonged to her, but were taken away from her residence in an attempt to rubbish her reputation.

Semenitari said: “Over 10 heavily armed policemen in two trucks, one Ford Transit and a Hilux, on Thursday, invaded my 12 A, Ernest Ikoli Street, Old G.R.A Port Harcourt, Rivers State, residence, without a search warrant, as they forced their way into my premises.”

Reacting to the carting away of her Lexus SUV and other property by suspected agents of the state government, she said: “My security guard on duty requested to know their mission and who sent them.

They refused to disclose either, but went round taking photographs and recording my premises on video. The security guard got in touch with my assistant who spoke with the men, explaining to them that I was out of town and again requested to know their mission. Again, they declined, insisting on seeing me first. She then got in touch with me on phone as we were uncertain of the identity of the policemen in question.

“Upon further investigation and after about three hours of them laying siege to my premise, I was told that they were from Rivers State Government House and had been sent to recover vehicles in my possession. They attempted to break into a Range Rover SUV belonging to my Husband which was bought long before I was appointed Commissioner in Rivers State Government, damaging the front door. The vehicle in question, contrary to the lies being paraded is not an armoured vehicle and has never at any point belonged to the Rivers State Government nor its agents including myself as Commissioner of Information.

“By the time I finally made contact with them and expressed my displeasure, they insisted that they would take away a Lexus SUV duly allocated to me as Commissioner for Information and which by law I am entitled to leave with upon leaving office.

“The monetization policy of the government allows public officers to leave government with their official vehicles as this is in lieu of vehicle allowance, transport and other allowances, which they cannot draw because of the monetization policy of 2002. Mr. Nyesom Wike served as Chief of Staff, and upon departure left with all the vehicles he used as Chief of Staff. This has been the practice since this democratic dispensation.

“Having served as Commissioner for two tenures, I am entitled to my status cars and have proof of allocation. While I understand that Mr. Wike feels a dire need to destroy the reputation of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and all those who worked with him, it is unacceptable that he will engage in brigandage, thuggery and underhand tactics to do so. A simple letter from any government official requesting me to make a submission or tender documentation would have been the appropriate way to go and I would have willingly tendered all the relevant documents to them.

C M Y K

One of the former Commissioner's vehicles being carted away.

“Breaking into my home, invading my privacy, damaging my property and removing property from my premises is inappropriate and illegal.

“I have chosen, however, to put out these details in the public space as it is apparent that for some persons only a destruction of my hard earned reputation would do and this I would not accept. My records in the Ministry of Information are crystal clear and I hope that Mr. Wike is able to say same about his tenure in every office he has held.

“Forcing their way into my home unlawfully isn’t the appropriate way for any government that claims legitimacy to behave,” she added.

Meanwhile, the state government in a statement, yesterday, said it recovered two vehicles allegedly belonging to the state government from the private residence of the former Commissioner for Information to former Governor Amaechi in Port Harcourt, A statement by the state government, said: “In furtherance of efforts by the Rivers State Government to recover government property from officials of the immediate past administration in

the state, security agents and Government House officials, yesterday, took possession of government vehicles from the home of the former spokesperson for the Amaechi administration, Semenitari.

“The security operatives carried out the operation at the home of Mrs Semenitari located on Ernest Ikoli Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

“The operatives recovered a Lexus Armoured Vehicle from the residence and a Range Rover vehicle is said to have been in the possession of the former Information Commissioner.

“It will be recalled that top officials of the Amaechi administration carted away several government property and vehicles prior to May 29.

“Governor Wike has since assured the people of Rivers State that all government property illegally carted away before his inauguration will be recovered and those found to be involved in the illegal act will be brought to justice,” the statement said.

Reacting, however, the state All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said the action of the Rivers State

By the time I finally made contact with them and expressed my displeasure, they insisted that they would take away a Lexus SUV duly allocated to me as Commissioner of Information and which by law I am entitled to leave with upon leaving office

Government should be highly condemned

by Nigerians.

“What has happened yesterday is condemnable and I hope this government is not going to run an irresponsible government. Rivers people are ordinarily law abiding and it will be unfortunate and regrettable if what had been foisted on Rivers people is a government that has no respect for rule and order.

“The PDP-led government must realise that we are not in a Hobbesian state.”

On his part, former senator representing Rivers South East senatorial district, Senator Magnus Abe, said there was need for the Wike-led government to exercise caution as they need to respect the fundamental human rights of people especially people that have served Rivers people in the past.

“Every position is temporary and disrespecting those people that had served the state in different capacities should be condemned in strong terms. Breaking into people’s houses is not the right thing to do and this incident is very unfortunate.

“When I was Secretary to the Rivers State Government, SSG and we needed to recover vehicles, we made an announcement on television and radio asking people to return government property in their possessions.”

Also reacting, former Commissioner for Agriculture in Rivers State, Emma Chinda, said: “This is the worst brigandage and falls short of any good government. Under the monetisation policy, as a minister or commissioner in a state, when you are leaving office, government can allocate vehicles to you and that is why we don’t get paid for transportation.

“As a responsible government, they are supposed to write officially and ask for explanation rather than force their way into her apartment and destroying her property,” he added.

52—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015—53

C M Y K

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Kpopko a settlement, Delta family insists

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ARRI—THE descendants of Kolo Fregene family, of Kpokpo in Ugborodo community, has reacted to reports by a section of the family, claiming that the settlement is an autonomous community with a community head, Olare-Aja. In a statement by the acting Olori-Ebi, Prince Kolo Fregene, and Mr. Godwin Nene, family Secretary, among others, they said Kpokpo was not a community but a settlement in Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

It said: “While we condemn the report, we once again deny the assertion that an OlareAja exists in Kpokpo. It is a settlement founded on the permission of Ugborodo community by our fore fathers in early 20th Century.

“Since then, Kpokpo has been a settlement occupied by only Prince Kolo Fregene's d e s c e n d a n t s , dependants and tenants.”

The family said since Kpokpo was not an autonomous community, it cannot have an OlareAja, community head.

The rejoinder said the actions of the dissident faction of the family was an insult to Ugborodo community and was maligning efforts of Delta State government to broker peace on the EPZ imbroglio.

RCCG sisters' confab

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HE Redeemed Christian Church of God, LP15, will hold all sisters’ conference on The Female Shepherd, Her Grace and Purpose, at Lion of Judah parish, IdiOro, Mushin, Lagos, tomorrow at 8a.m.

Pastors Adeola Mensah, Funto Agusto and Tinuola Odugbemi, will minister at the event, which will also feature food practicals, drama and songs.

VISIT: Mr. Olushola Okugboye, Lithographic Supervisor, Vanguard Newspapers (left), explaining some points to pupils of Headstart Private School, Isolo, Lagos, during their excursion to Vanguard, yesterday. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez

Tribunal 'll determine elections held without card readers, says Jega Praises RECs

By Tom Moses

U

YO— THE Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, said yesterday that it was the responsibility of the election tribunals to determine the validity of election results produced without the use of card readers.

Speaking at a retreat for senior officials of the commission to review the 2015 general elections, the INEC boss however, praised the conduct of the elections, saying it was a success.

The retreat, which involved Resident Electoral Commissioners, REC, with the theme 2015 General Elections: Lessons and Way Forward, was held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Responding to a question on the conduct of the election and the use of card readers, Jega explained that while it was true that the commission

allowed and accepted results where card readers were not used in the presidential and National Assembly elections, the reverse was the case in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

He said in the governorship and House of Assembly elections, the commission specifically stipulated that it was required for card readers to be used and where they were not used the election tribunal would speak on the validity of the results produced.

Breaching INEC directive Jega said the states that suspended the use of Card Readers for manual accreditation for governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, breached INEC directives that on no account should manual accreditation be administered at both elections.

The commission chairman assured that the tribunal

would look into the areas where card readers were put aside for manual accreditation, noting that there was a difference between using card readers and using incident forms.

Jega said: “What we meant by saying that card readers must be used is that we did not expect, in any polling unit, any person to say that the card readers were not functioning and as a result, opted for manual accreditation. No. “We asked those who had experienced card readers’ failure to come back the following day, assuring them that we would replace the card readers for the election to take place.

“As far as I know, virtually in all the places where the card readers actually failed, we came back the following day and conducted the elections and so, if there is

Girl, 18, kills mum in Rivers

By Davies Iheamnachor

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ORT HARCOUR—AN 18year-old girl has hacked her mother to death at Rumuchakara village, Choba, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

A source close to the family said a disagreement had ensued between the young lady (names withheld) and her

late mother, Wednesday evening, after the mother asked her to prepare dinner for the family.

The source said the girl protested that she would not cook and this was said to have infuriated the mother, who then slapped her.

Vanguard gathered that the girl, in retaliation, picked up a plank and smashed her mother’s head with it. Efforts to save the woman's life

reportedly failed.

A source revealed that the whereabouts of the girl is unknown since the news of her mother ’s death broke yesterday.

Leaders of the community are said to have passed a decree barring the young girl from ever returning to the community.

At press time last night, police were yet to comment on the development.

evidence of any place where they just put aside the card readers and used manual accreditation, that election can be examined.

“I am sure the tribunal will look at the evidence clearly as to what happened.”

He attributed the success of the exercise to the selfless sacrifice, hard work and tirelessness by the Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs. One of such sacrifices by the commissioners, Jega noted, was the untimely death of Kano State REC, Alhaji Munkaila Abdullahi.

Retreat's objective The chief electoral umpire remarked that the retreat offered them the opportunity to review what they had done from 2011 to 2015 and to focus attention on areas in which the commission needed improvement.

He said further that the retreat was an important vehicle for feedback, which they needed to give to the next commission and to those who would remain in INEC with a view to contributing to refurbish electoral processes and deepening Nigeria’s democracy.

Jega said: “I congratulate all electoral commissioners for a job well done and for contributing to the success of the general elections.

“We have worked very hard and tirelessly; we have had to make enormous sacrifices to get the outcome that we had.

“One of those sacrifices was the untimely death of one of us, the Electoral Commissioner of Kano State, Alhaji Munkaila Abdullahi. These are sacrifices we had to make for our country.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 55

Why military can't subdue Boko Haram,

by Akinrinade K

By Agaju Madugba

ADUNA—FORMER Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant-General Alani Akinrinade, has said that Nigerians may have to contend with the Boko Haram menace for some more time because, according to him, the nation’s Armed Forces are not capable of combating the insurgency.

He said that fighting the Boko Haram was fighting a guerilla warfare which had never been addressed by any military doctrine, hence his fears about the ability of the military to prosecute the war successfully.

Akirinade spoke at a seminar on ‘’Africa’s Big Five: Power and Influence in Africa,’’ in Kaduna yesterday, against the backdrop of the relocation of Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters to Borno state, to fight the Boko Haram insurgents few days ago.

“So, I am aware that military solution is not going to be the end of Boko Haram,” Akinrinade said.

The former COAS, was the chairman at the programme, organised by the Gusau Institute, owned by former Minister of Defence, Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim Gusau.

His words, “I am not aware of any military doctrine that has addressed effectively guerilla warfare, which is easier .

“But this kind of insurrection we are now having in our hands have never been addressed by any military doctrine successfully.

“Let me say a word or two again about Boko Haram. I have heard a lot of discussions about Boko Haram from many people .

“I must say that I am lost about the causes of Boko Haram and I am sure most of our country men are also lost. I want to charge this

Institute to take this matter very seriously.

“So, the ball is in the court of politicians, economists and those who have human sympathy that could bring solution to this crisis.

“We have all agreed to treat constitutional issues and maintain federal character but it has been bastardised with corruption that has taken over the Constitution .

“We fought the civil war to keep this country and we must honour

AGOS—THE National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, NCRMIDP, has said that Nigeria is currently catering for two million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. The National Commissioner for the commission, Hajia Hadiza Kangiwa, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos yesterday.

Kangiwa said that government was also catering for 2,000 refugees, who were foreign nationals, noting that the people were kept in Churches, public schools and other makeshift buildings.

“Government provides food items, toiletries, cloths and

parameters of her development and growth indices.

The lead Guest Lecturer who is Coordinator of the Institute for Security Studies, South Africa, Dr. Jakkie Cilliers, said that, “to a large extent, the increase in Africa’s role globally will be driven by the future weight of Nigeria because South Africa that would have posed serious challenge to Nigeria is caught in a middle-income trap."

FORUM: From left: Chief Designer, Light Design Studio, Mr. Osione Itegboje; Head, SME Liability Products Development & Management, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Opeyemi Ojesina, Founder and MD, Lost In Lagos, Mrs. Tannaz Bahnam, and Creative Director, MOE+ART Architecture, Mr. Papa Omotayo, at the Lost In Lagos business forum to promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, sponsored by FCMB in Lagos.

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AGOS—A nongovernmental Organisation, NGO, Consumer Rights A w a r e n e s s Advancement and Advocacy Initiative, CRAAAI, in collaboration with Charms Plc, has concluded arrangement to hold awareness seminar in Lagos on Monday, June 22, 2015, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Center, LCCI, Alausa, Ikeja.

In a statement by the CRAAAI Chairman, Mr. Moses Igbrude, the theme is Identity Management in Nigeria Economy; The Bedrock of a Cashless Society, It would x-ray the challenges of the financial sector, telecommunication and the nation’s economy.

Expected as participants at the seminar are Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Consumer Protection Council, CPC, and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Stakeholders decry spate of early child marriage in North-East

B

By Suzan Edeh

A U C H I — STAKEHOLDERS in Bauchi State have decried the high rate of early child marriage in the North-east part of the country, attributing the development to the activities of insurgents in the region.

This was part of the resolution reached at a programme to mark

Nigeria catering for 2 million IDPs —NCRMIDP

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our founding fathers because they bestowed a befitting country to us.

“We did what we did because the situation at that time dictated it so.”

Also speaking at the programme, security and economy experts predicted that Nigeria will be the leading nation for the transformation of Africa in the next 25 years.

They explained that the prediction is based on the

NGO holds seminar in Lagos

insecticide to cater for their welfare under temporary arrangement,” she said.

She said that caring for that huge number of IDPs, posed serious challenge for the government.

According to her, the Federal Government is not favourably disposed to setting up camps for the displaced persons.

She, however, noted that having camp was imperative to taking good care of those displaced on account of insecurity and disaster in parts of the country.

“The challenge is the spontaneous nature in displacement because without warning, you find groups of people displaced," she said.

the Day of the African Child with theme “ Accelerating our Collective Efforts to End Child Marriage in Africa.” The event was organized by the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, D Field Office in Bauchi in collaboration with the Bauchi State Television, BATV. Presenting a paper entitled “ Child marriage in Africa, causes and consequences,” a Resource person, Muhammad Inuwa Bello, lamented that many teenage girls,particularly in the north were given out early in marriage by their parents/ guardians because of the insecurity experienced in the region.

He said since most of the

insurgents captured young girls and use them as sex slaves, many parents preferred to give their daughters out in marriage at an early age to interested suitors rather than sending them to school where they could fall victims of insurgents.

Inuwa said: “What happened to the over 200 girls who were captured by insurgents at Chibok in Borno State is still fresh in our memories that the parents of those girls have not yet recovered from the trauma.

“So many parents in the north who saw what happened to the girls are discouraged in sending their daughters to

school. They prefer to marry off their daughters, instead of sending them to school where they fall victims to insurgents.”

He, however, asked parents to train their daughters to at least Senior Secondary School level before giving them out in marriage, saying that it will assist them to gain employment opportunities that would in turn develop the nation.

In his Goodwill message, UNICEF Field Communication Officer, Samuel Kaalu commended stakeholders for partnering with UNICEF to fight the menace of early child marriage, saying the effort would go a long way in boosting girl child education in the North-East part of the country.

NASS: Tribunal dismisses Adeyemi's suit

against Melaye

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By Boluwaji Obahopo

OKOJA—THE National and State Legislative Houses Election Tribunal sitting in Lokoja, yesterday, dismissed the petition filed by Sen. Smart Adeyemi, PDP, against the election of Senator Dino Melaye of APC. Chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Akon Ikpeme

while ruling on a motion filed

by Counsel to Melaye, Rikey Tarfa, SAN, dismissed the petition on the grounds that the petitioner’s response to the respondent motion at pre-trial was filed out of time which consequently made the petition incompetent and abandoned.

Ikpeme said the petitioner ran foul of the Electoral Act by filing their reply to the 1st

respondent’s response when it filed for Pre-trial on May 18, instead of May 17.

“We are bound by our records that this tribunal accepts that the petitioners were served on May 13, 2015 at 3:57 pm as confirmed by the court’s records and hold that the reply was filed on the 6th day and therefore, out of time."

“We hold that the petitioners’ reply is incompetent as it was filed out of time and is hereby, struck out,” she said.

56— VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 19 , 2015

Republicans shrug off Pope’s message

Pope calls for immediate action to save poor, planet P

OPE Francis demanded swift action yesterday to save the planet from environmental ruin, urging world leaders to hear “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” and plunging the Catholic Church into political controversy over climate change.

In the first papal document dedicated to the environment, he called for “decisive action, here and now,” to stop environmental degradation and global warming, squarely backing scientists who say it is mostly man-made.

In the encyclical “Laudato Si (Praise Be), On the Care of Our Common Home”, Francis advocated a change of lifestyle in rich countries steeped in a “throwaway” consumer culture and an end to an “obstructionist attitudes” that sometimes put profit before the common good.

He also took on big business, appearing to back “ what consumer movements accomplish by boycotting certain products” in order to force companies to respect the environment.

The most controversial papal pronouncement in half a century won broad praise from scientists, the United Nations and climate change activists, as well as the wrath of conservatives, including several U.S.

Pope Francis kissing a baby in Vatican Republican presidential candidates and leading lawmakers who have scolded Francis for delving into science and politics.

Republican Senator Jim Inhofe, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said in a statement he is

Extremists burn church of ‘bread and fish’ FIRE ripped extensive damage to the Collins said. “It is also an A through one of the inside and outside of the attack on freedom of most famous Catholic building, said Israel police speech, democracy and churches in the Holy Land yesterday, damaging the roof and burning prayer books in what authorities believe is an attack by Jewish extremists.

The fire broke out at the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish in the middle of the night, causing

•Burnt Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish yesterday.

spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

The modern building is built on the remains of a fifth-century Byzantine church and features a Byzantine mosaic floor that was not harmed. The church marks the traditional spot of Jesus’ miracle of the loaves and fish, and is located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. It is one of the most popular stops for Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.

Father Gregory Collins, head of the Order of Saint Benedict in Israel, which maintains the site, said more than 5,000 people visit the church daily. He said the church would be closed for the next three days due to the fire damage.

“It’s deplorable, absolutely deplorable. I consider such an attack to be not just an attack on a religious site, on a sanctuary, but also on one of the most visited places in Israel,”

IMF rules out Greek payment delay

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NTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde warned Greece yesterday it would get no leeway on a huge debt payment as EU ministers warned they were looking at a “plan B” for a possible default.

Eurozone finance ministers holding a crisis meeting in Luxembourg pressed Athens to finally present a credible reform plan and end the fivemonth standoff between Greece’s anti-austerity

concerned the encyclical “will be used by global warming alarmists to advocate for policies that will equate to the largest, most regressive tax increase in our nation’s history.”

At a news conference to present the encyclical, Cardinal Peter Turkson, a key collaborator on the landmark document, rejected pre-publication criticisms by some U.S. politicians that the pope should steer clear of political issues.

“Just because the pope is not a scientist does not mean he can’t consult scientists,” he said, adding with a sly smile that journalists write about many things after consulting experts.

government and its creditors.

But with Athens owing a 1.6-billion-euro payment to the IMF at the end of June and Greece’s international bailout due to expire the same day, they were pessimistic about the chances of a deal yesterday.

“There will be no period of grace” for the loan payment, Lagarde told reporters before she joined the ministers for their Eurogroup meeting. “I

•Christine Lagarde have a term of June 30 — if it’s not paid by July 1, it’s not paid.”

the right to live here.”

Father Matthias Karl, a German monk at the church, said a souvenir shop, an office for pilgrims and a meeting room were badly damaged, and bibles and prayer books were destroyed.

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ONGRESSIONAL Republicans are shrugging off Pope Francis’ call for urgent action on climate change and dismissing his attempt to frame global warming as a moral issue.

“No, I’m sorry, it’s a political issue,” said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources. “Most people have their minds made up on this issue so any more rhetoric about the issue doesn’t really add a heck of a lot more to it.”

Sen. James Inhofe, ROkla., chairman of the Senate Environment Committee and Congress’ leading global warming skeptic, said he disagreed with “the pope’s philosophy on global warming.” He also warned that the pope’s encyclical will be used by “alarmists” to push policies that will lead to a tax increase that would hit the poor hardest.

And Rep. Ken Calvert, RCalif., who chairs the House spending subcommittee that deals with the environment, said: “We respect the pope’s point of view, but it’s not the final determination, is it?”

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, simply said the pope is not afraid to challenge thinking on various issues, and “I respect his right to speak out on this important issue.”

In his encyclical, Pope Francis called for a bold cultural revolution, framing climate change as an urgent moral issue and

blaming global warming on an unfair, fossil fuelbased industrial model that harms the poor most.

Citing Scripture, his predecessors and bishops from around the world, the pope urged people of every faith and even no faith to undergo an awakening to save God’s creation for future generations.

GOP presidential contender Jeb Bush questioned the pope’s foray into climate science, saying “I don’t think we should politicize our faith.”

Taken together, the congressional and political reaction raised questions about whether the pope, who will address Congress in September, would succeed in spurring real action to combat climate change.

Bishop said he had not yet read the document, but said: “Everyone has the right to weigh in on any topic they want to, they should be considered with deference, but there is some kind of a separation of church and state. I’m going to respect that and make sure we move forward in an orderly fashion whatever we do.”

•John Boehner

China bans Ramadan fasting in mainly Muslim region

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HINA has banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from fasting during Ramadan and ordered restaurants to stay open.

Most Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month, which began on Thursday, but China’s ruling Communist party is officially atheist and for years has restricted the practice in Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.

“Food service workplaces will operate normal hours during Ramadan,” said a notice posted last week on the website of the state Food and Drug Administration in Xinjiang’s Jinghe county.

Officials in the region’s Bole county were told: “During Ramadan do not engage in fasting, vigils or other religious activities,” according to a local government website report of a meeting this week.

Each year, the authorities’ attempt to ban

fasting among Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang receives widespread criticism from rights groups.

China imposes restrictions on Muslim Uighurs. Uighur rights groups say China’s restrictions on Islam in Xinjiang have added to ethnic tensions in the region, where clashes have killed hundreds in recent years. China says it faces a “terrorist threat” in Xinjiang, with officials blaming “ religious extremism” for the growing violence.

“China’s goal in prohibiting fasting is to forcibly move Uighurs away from their Muslim culture during Ramadan,” said Dilxat Rexit, a spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress.

“Policies that prohibit religious fasting is a provocation and will only lead to instability and conflict.”

As in previous years, school children were included in directives limiting Ramadan fasting and other religious observances.

•Two female s Chinese Moslems

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 19 , 2015 — 57

Kenya to lift Somalia cash transfer freeze

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Chadian war planes hit Boko Haram camps C

HAD said yesterday its warplanes bombed Boko Haram positions in neighbouring Nigeria to avenge twin suicide bombings in the capital this week blamed on the jihadists.

The government also Wednesday announced it was banning the burqa nationwide in a security clampdown following Monday ’s attacks in N’Djamena that left 33 people dead and more than 100 wounded.

Chad’s military vowed it would continue its “merciless” pursuit of the Islamist insurgents “so that no drop of spilt Chadian blood goes unpunished”.

“In response to the cowardly and barbaric acts perpetrated by Boko Haram terrorists... the armed forces carried out reprisal air strikes on the terrorists’ positions in Nigerian territory on Wednesday,” the military said in a statement.

Six Boko Haram bases were destroyed in the air raids, which caused “considerable human and material losses”, it said, without giving further details.

Monday’s attacks on the police headquarters and a police academy in N’Djamena were the first in the capital of the central African country, which has taken a lead role in a regional offensive against the Nigeria-based Boko Haram.

No group has claimed responsibility but Chad and its allies immediately blamed the insurgents, who have carried out a

•Members of Chadian troops in battle front series of bloody attacks in border areas of countries that share a frontier with northeastern Nigeria.

Chad also Wednesday banned the full-face Muslim veil and ordered security forces to seize burqas from markets and burn them.

“Wearing the burqa must stop immediately from today, not only in public places and schools but

churches and other holy places.

Deubet said security forces in the Muslim majority country had been instructed to “go into the markets and to seize all the burqas on sale and burn them”.

Anyone found wearing a burqa will be “arrested, tried and sentenced in summary proceedings”, he added.

S

UPPORTERS of Ugandan presidential hopeful Amama Mbabazi have been jailed for unlawful assembly and violating election rules, days after the former prime minister launched a bid to

S

•Zuma the country.

Bashir flew out of South Africa on Monday in defiance of a court order as judges weighed up an application for his arrest on a warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and genocide.

unseat longtime leader Yoweri Museveni, reports said yesterday.

Mbabazi, 66, announced on Monday he would challenge his former ally Museveni, 70, for president in elections due next year.

Supporters of the former prime minister, whom Museveni sacked in September 2014, took his announcement as a cue to start distributing Mbabazi posters and T-shirts, without permission from the electoral commission.

Four people charged over the posters were jailed after being refused bail by a court in Masaka, some 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of the capital Kampala, the Daily Monitor paper reported.

Two others were remanded in jail in Kampala while six others were arrested in the northern regions of Zombo and Arua for similar offences.

“The electoral commission has not yet flagged off campaigns and so it was unlawful,” local police chief Jonathan Musinguzi told the Monitor, referring to the arrests in Zombo and

L

IBYA’S internationally r e c o g n i s e d government was accused by a rights group of the torture and ill-treatment of prisoners it holds in the east of the country.

The “government and its allied forces are responsible

•Ugandan presidential candidate, Amama Mbabazi Arua.

National police spokesman Fred Enanga gave a different reason for the arrests, telling AFP that Mbabazi supporters had flouted a ban on unauthorised demonstrations.

“We don’t have a problem with supporters, but with people who are in conflict with the laws of this country,” Enanga said. “The Public Order Management Act is for people to do things peacefully and in a manner that is organised, not just holding demonstrations and

details were given for when the suspension would end.

Aid agencies criticised the shutting down of transfer services, warning it would hit the poorest hardest and jeopardise their operations.

With no formal banking system in the poverty-striken country, diaspora Somalis use money transfer services to send cash back home to support their families, sending some $1.3 billion (1.1 billion euros) each year, dwarfing foreign aid.

Kenyatta also called for a security “review” during Ramadan. In past years Shebab fighters have intensified attacks during the month of fasting.

“Aware that the enemies of our country may wish to exploit this season, I call upon the entire Muslim fraternity and its leadership to remain vigilant, and do everything in their power, to cooperate fully with the security agencies in order to safeguard this holy month,” Kenyatta said.

Rights group slams Libya govt for ‘torture’

Ugandan jails party supporters for early campaigning

Bashir: Zuma escapes parliamentary probe OUTH Africa’s parliament collapsed in chaos yesterday, allowing President Jacob Zuma to escape questions over why Sudan’s leader was allowed to leave the country despite a court order barring his departure.

The Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party prevented Zuma from speaking, demanding that he first agree to pay back millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money spent on his private rural residence at Nkandla — a longrunning domestic scandal.

Zuma, appearing for his quarterly question time in parliament, had been expected to be pressed on the international scandal over Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s visit to

throughout the whole of the country,” Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet told religious leaders the day before the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

Any type of clothing that leaves only the eyes visible is a form of “camouflage” and is now banned, he added, asking religious leaders to spread the message in mosques,

ENYA’S president ordered yesterday the central bank to issue regulations and then lift restrictions on key money transfer services vital for Somalia suspended over suspected links to the AlQaeda-allied Shebab.

Kenya in April froze transfer companies as part of a crackdown on alleged Shebab supporters following the university massacre of almost 150 people by the Islamists.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, in a statement released to mark Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, said he had “noted the proposal to lift the suspension of licences” for 13 registered money remittance providers (MRPs).

“I direct the Central Bank of Kenya to immediately issue comprehensive regulations that guide the operation of MRPs, upon which their suspension would be lifted,” Kenyatta added. No date or further

blocking highways.”

But he dismissed suggestions that posters of Museveni should also be taken down.

“The president is the fountain of honour and he enjoys absolute immunity for whatever actions and enjoys structural advantages,” Enanga told the Daily Monitor. “You cannot just pull down his pictures under whatever circumstances.”

Museveni has led the east African nation since 1986.

He sacked Mbabazi, a former ruling party secretary-general who had been prime minister since

for widespread arbitrary detentions and for torture and other ill treatment”, a statement from Human Rights Watch alleged.

The New York-based watchdog said it had obtained access to jails at Bayda and second city Benghazi, currently in the hands of forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognised administration.

Detainees said they had been forced to confess to crimes under torture and “described other abuses, including lack of due process, lack of medical care... and poor conditions”, HRW said.

The group found that the most common torture method reported involved detainees being beaten with plastic pipes on the soles of their feet.

Others were beaten with electrical cables, chains or sticks, it said.

Libya has crumbled since the NATO-backed toppling of autocrat Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, and is divided among warring militias seeking control of the North African state’s substantial oil reserves.

It has rival governments and parliaments, and successive UN attempts to end the fighting have so far been unsuccessful.

The internationally recognised government has been exiled in the eastern city of Tobruk since the Islamist militialed Libya Dawn alliance took the capital Tripoli last year.

58—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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ANUGWO—I,

known and addressed

formerly known as

as Miss Cheta Arize,

Miss

now wish to be known

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and addressed as Mrs.

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Franca Ogazi. All

documents

remain

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remain valid. General

take note.

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Confirmation of name This is to confirm that the name John Wagha, Ebi Wagha and Erefia Wagha belong to one and the same person.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 59

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Emenike reveals late dad got him to choose Nigeria S

UPER Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has revealed that his late father, Felix Ndukwu Emenike, convinced him to play for Nigeria and not any other country.

The Fenerbahce of Turkey star also revealed that his father was his greatest adviser ever and he will greatly miss him for that.

Pa Emenike will be buried in Imo State today.

“I will miss my father for his advice. He was the one who compelled me to play for Nigeria as he warned me not to honour invitation to play for any country no matter what,” Emenike

recalled.

“He told me I will be great, and after the AFCON 2013, he asked me if I regretted playing for Nigeria, I just smiled and said ‘no’.”

Emenike continued: “He always showed me the right way, and I have never regretted any of his advice. This is a man who has seen a brighter future for me and he always told me, my life begins after football.

“My elder brothers and the people in the community convinced him to let me choose football. He blessed my first trip to South Africa, and today I am living in his blessings. But I am sad he’s gone!”

•Emenike

Super Falcons return Evelyn tomorrow midfielder Nwabuoku has returned

T

HE Super Falcons will return to Nigeria tomorrow after crashing out of the ongoing Women’s World Cup in Canada at the group stage.

But Washington Spirit striker Francesca Ordega and Courtney Dike will not be on the plane from Vancouver to London as both have left for nearby United States, where they are based.

Kazakhstani-based

•Okon

to her team while Portsmouth forward IniAbasi Umotong will disembark from the British Airways flight when it gets to London.

Team Psychologist, Kasia Muoto, has also left for her base in the United States.

The African champions finished last in Group D, losing games against USA and Australia but managed a 3 - 3 draw with Sweden.

Millionaire Chess Festival: Olape reigns supreme

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NTERNATIONAL Master, Bunmi Olape has beaten some of the best players in the country to emerge winner of the maiden Millionaire Chess Festival that was rounded up in Lagos early in the week.

For this feat, Olape, a veteran of several international chess tournaments, has won an all expense paid trip to Las Vegas, USA. He will make the trip in October 2015.

With a total of $1,000,000 in prizes, the Millionaire Chess Festival is the highest-paying open chess tournament in history. The second edition

is scheduled for 8-12 October, 2015 in Las Vegas, USA. A major setback by inform Eugene Uwana in his final game of the event after commiting a blunder against Lapite Oluwadurotimi ensured Olape’s victory at the Lagos tournament. Olape profited from this game has he secured a win against Femi Adeshina to level on seven points with Lapite.

In the ensuing playoff, an equivalent of penalty shoot out in football, both players drew the first game but Olape won the reversed game to earn the Las Vegas Millionaire

tournament ticket.

“I am delighted to be back to form and ready to dominate the national chess scene again. It was not an easy task for me because I started badly in the opening rounds but happy to return to wining way. “ However, many chess pundits were pained that the new sensation on the scene, Uwana could not win the festival in spite of his brilliant outings in all recent tournaments.

The young prodigy just needed to win the his last game against Lapite to win the tournament but blundered to a lost and

gave his opponent the chance to go into play off against the eventual winner, Olape.

170 players participated in different categories of play in 4-day tournament held at the Chevron Event Centre, Gbagada, Lagos.

The President of Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), Mr. Lekan Adeyemi, commended the Millionaire Chess company that promotes chess and organises global chess tournaments. The organisation conducted the first Millionaire Chess Open tournament which was held in Las Vegas, USA last year.

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Siasia invites Awoniyi, Saviour, others to U-23 camp N

•Awoniyi slated for Congo Brazzaville later in the year. He however revealed that he gave them one week break so as to refresh after returning from the world cup tournament.

The former Super Eagles striker also said the focus of his team is to do well so as to win the support of Nigerian fans adding that to achieve that means that he team must begin to score goals, even as regretted that so far the boys have not been able to convert the chances they create in every match they play.

While the football house would insist on having expatriates head the technical crews of the various national teams, the back-room staff would still be headed by the indigenous coaches.

“The foreign coaches will be given convenient nomenclatures like ‘technical advisers or technical directors with the indigenous coaches working under them,”our source said.

The Flying Eagles crashed out in the second round of the 2015 Fifa U20 World Cup in New Zealand while the Super Falcons were shown the exit door in the group stage of the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The Golden Eaglets on their own part finished fourth at the 2015 African U17 Championship held in Niger Republic.

According to a top NFF source, the Glass House

has instructed top level football technocrats to shop for three technically competent coaches who would train the Flying Eagles, Super Falcons and the Golden Eaglets.

The three tacticians are expected to come with their backroom staff but they would work with those Nigerians sent to England for courses in the technical study.

The coaches who are expected to commence work in July would be expected to develop templates for the three teams as well as train potential coaches that would handle the teams in future.

It was also reported that the NFF will outsource the payment of the three foreign coaches through Public Private Partnership (PPP) with words rife that the federation chiefs are keeping the names of their partners under wraps until the details

EAL Madrid’s ‘galactico’ era may have ended but their Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo continues to prove out of this world after seeing a galaxy named CR7.

The nickname is synonymous with the former Manchester United man, comprising his initials and the squad number he used at both United and Real.

However, it now has astronomical connotations after the European Southern Observatory (ESO) named a new galaxy in the 30-yearold’s honour, describing it as the brightest to be found in the early universe.

“Astronomers using ESO’s

Very Large Telescope have discoveredbyfarthebrightest galaxy yet found in the early Universe and found strong evidencethatexamplesofthe first generation of stars lurk within it,” the group explained. “These massive, brilliant, and previously purely theoretical objects were the creators of the first heavy elements in history the elements necessary to forge the stars around us today, the planets that orbit them, and life as we know it.

“The newly found galaxy, labelled CR7, is three times brighter than the brightest distant galaxy known up to now.”

are expected to practice Yoga at the Rajpath (Kings Avenue) in New Delhi, India As India prepares focusing the world’s attention on the many benefits of the ancient discipline ahead of the first International Day of Yoga, the High Commission of India has invited both Indians and Nigerians to be hosted to

resolution moved by the Indian Government and co-sponsored by the 177 UN member nations for a wider dissemination of the importance of practicing yoga worldwide.

It is notable that most people doing yoga often emerge energized and centered, as the benefits of the ancient practice are positively rewarding.

Sweden coach: I’m not India celebrate Yoga Day good enough for fewer than a memorable yoga Falcons persons practice, following a N O35,000 take over the Falcons after

S

WEDEN coach Pia Sundhage has declared she is “not good enough” to handle African champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria as her team sweat to know if they will qualify for the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup. Top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation are considering Sundhage to

NFF Continues from BP

•Astronomers name galaxy CR7

R

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja AT I O N A L Under23 coach, Samson Siasia has invited five members of the Flying Eagles squad to the FIFA Under20 World Cup to fortify his team ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games qualifier their counterparts from Congo next month.

Top on the list is talented goal scorer, Taiwo Awniyi who scored the two goals that gave Nigeria the 2-1 win over Zamia in Lusaka, captain of the Flying Eagles, Musa Mohammed, Saviour Godwin, defender Onyinye Ndidi who plays professional football in Belgium as well as midfielder, Musa Yahaya who just joined English side, Tottenham Hotspur.

Siasia told Vanguard Sports yesterday that there is the need for him to call up some of the boys from the Flying Eagles especially those who were with the team when they defeated Zambia 2-1 in Lusaka last April in the 2015 All Africa Games qualifier

Ronaldo´s out of this world!

are sealed with all those involved.

Earlier, the NFF released a message from 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi stating that it understood the enormous technical deficiencies facing the national teams despite their “potential, youthfulness and ability.”

“We have the players to take us to glorious heights in the game, therefore with a lot more effort in the enhancement of the technical knowledge of our coaches and technical staff, a comprehensive and focused youth football development program, an assiduous look at critical areas of our football, we promise to build virile National Teams and a sustainable football culture that fans would be proud of. We only implore Nigerians to be a little patient and support the Federation,” Akinwunmi said.

they crashed without trace at the World Cup in Canada under the watch of Edwin Okon.

But after seeing her team pick three points from as many matches, scoring four goals and conceding four, former coach of the United States Sundhage noted that she may not be up to take up the chance to coach any Nigerian team right now.

“You know what, today I don’t think I am good enough to coach in Nigeria,” she stated.

Pia Sundhage led her team to a 3-3 draw with Nigeria in their first group game before holding USA to a goalless draw and forcing Australia to a 1-1 draw in the final group game.

They would now have to await the outcome of matches in Groups E and F to know their fate at the World Cup.

•Pia

Basalt Cup 2015: Okafor canvasses support for grassroots sports

T

HE Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Basalt Oil and Gas, Lagos, Stanley Afam Okafor, has underscored the importance of grassroots football development, as the maiden edition of BASALT Inter-Primary School football competition for primary schools in Aniocha South Local Government Area, kicked off at Ubulu-Uku, Delta State.

The colourful opening ceremony held weekend at Ezemu Girls Grammar School, Ubulu-Uku, signaled the commencement of hostilities by the 55 participating primary schools in Aniocha South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Speaking after the official kick-off, the sponsor of BASALT CUP

2015, Mr. Afam Okafor, noted that plans were on to make the competition an annual event that would also include secondary schools in the area.

“I am very happy today because this has been my dream to organize this type of competition. The reason is because I once passed through this stage when I was growing up.

I want to use this competition as a grassroot programme to discover talents that will be groomed to become future stars. I love the game, I played the game from my primary school to my university and I still play till date.

“I want to say here that this competition is going to be an annual event in Aniocha South Local Government Area before I will move to other local governments in the state.''

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 61

FIFA U-20 WC: Why I dropped Iheanacho — Coach Garba F

LYING Eagles coach, Manu Garba revealed that Kelechi Iheanacho was not a fit player at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and that was the reason the Manchester City player was relegated to the bench.

Garba, came under-fire from Nigerian fans for not fielding his best legs most especially, in their round of 16 match against Germany. The Flying Eagles lost 1-0 to Germany, who were later eliminated by Mali. ‘ When we played Kelechi Iheanacho in the first match he wasn’t very confident with his marking and coupled with that we had a small problem in the Midfield. ‘ He had not been with the team for long and so it affected communication with the other players,”said the coach.

He maintained that he did not change his team

because they did well against North Korea and Hungary. ‘'We re-organised the team and you’ll remember that new side defeated North Korea and Hungary.''

Olympic Day Celebration gets July date

By Solomon Nwoke

th

•Hangover... Kelechi Iheanacho takes on Brazil’s Jorge during the Flying Eagles opening game of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. Nigeria lost 2-3 to the Brazilians who will play the final on Sunday.

SATURDAY, 4 July has been set aside as the date for the celebration of this year’s Olympic Day celebration in 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja..

The Olympic Day is an ideal platform to highlight the benefits of physical activity in general, particularly for the young people which allows them to learn about Olympic values and to put them into practice in their everyday

FIFA WWC: Falcons fly back tomorrow N

IGERIA’S Super Falcons will return to the country tomorrow after being eliminated from the FIFA Women World Cup in Canada.

The Falcons played in group D considered as the toughest in the tournament and it did live up to its billings as all the teams laboured to earn their points. The Super Falcons played 33 with Sweden in their opening game, but crashed to Australia 2-0

in a match they were expected to do well and finally fell to the USA 1-0 on Wednesday morning.

The Super Falcons left Vancouver yesterday aboard a British Airways flight, and will stopover in London. They will

arrive Abuja in the early hours of tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Francisca Ordega was the first to leave for her base in the US alongside Courtney Dike. Captain Evelyn Nwabuoku also departed for Kazakhstan while Ini-

Abasi Umotong, who plays for Pompey Ladies FC in the UK, will bid team-mates farewell when the team arrives in London. Team Psychologist, Kasia Muoto, has also left for her base in the United States.

We're not under pressure, says Cameroon’s coach

C

AMEROON, ranked at No. 53 in the world, is the lowest-ranked team to go through to the knock-out stage and as they face China tomorrow, coach Enow Ngachu said they are not under any pressure, but to play and win.

The Lionesses advanced with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland to wrap up the group stage. They became just the second African team to go through, joining Nigeria in 1999.

“Just the fact that we

qualified we know we are not only defending the colours of Cameroon, but we are also defending the colours of Africa,” stated Cameroon coach Enow Ngachu.

“Compared to Nigeria, Cameroon is a small team.

I said it we are still learning. We came here to learn.

“We are not under any pressure. And since Nigeria is eliminated, we shall continue to play and defend the colours of Africa.”

“This performance will have a positive impact for

women’s football in Cameroon,” Ngachu said. “We were not just defending the colors of Cameroon, but also of Africa.

A

•Ese Brume...Nigerian long jumper seeking improvement in the golden league C M Y K

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria officials have assured their athletes of a more conducive atmosphere to compete in the second leg of the golden league billed for June 27 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

There were myriads of challenges during the first leg in Onitsha, where the competition was used to open the newly installed tracks of

the Rojenny Stadium.

The events dragged into the night and the long jumpers had to resort to their phones to light up the runway. “ Time was tight and we had to accommodate all the events.

“This was why we did the events late into the night.

But that notwithstanding some of the athletes still gave their best. But Kaduna will be better, it will offer a level playing ground for all the athletes,” said Navy

NOC inaugurates 13 Commissions, Committees

T

•Gaelle Enganamoui...

Cameroon striker

Kaduna golden league will be better, AFN assures athletes

By Ben Efe

life.

Chairman of the 2015 Olympic Day Celebration, Prince Henry Amike told the media yesterday at a briefing heralding the celebration that this year ’s event has been broken down into three stages of three kilometer, six kilometer and 10 km to accommodate everybody of all age groups.

Prince Amike said the states that have registered for the event are those that would join in the hosting of the Olympic Day celebration and which include; Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Niger, Ondo, Edo, Enugu, Anambra, Plateau and Delta. The rest are Ondo, Lagos, Jigawa, Imo, Ogun, Taraba, Rivers, Abia and FCT Abuja.

He said in Lagos where the headquarters of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) is situated, the event would be flagged off at the National Stadium Car park at 8 a.m

Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, technical director of the AFN. “We will continue to do our best to give the athletes an avenue to express themselves.”

However, one of the affected long jumper observed that the AFN could have cancelled the event rather than allow them to compete in such strenuous condition.

“I don’t know for now if I am going to Kaduna. The stress involved is just so much,” said the athlete.

HE Nigeria O l y m p i c Committee (NOC) in its resolve to ensure effective running of sports in the country y e s t e r d a y, f o r m a l l y inaugurated 13 commissions and committees.

The creation of the commissions and committees by NOC was in line with the provisions of the International Olympic Charter and NOC statutes.

Speaking yesterday at the inauguration, President of the NOC, E n g r. H a b u G u m e l said the NOC administration had adopted a broad-based approach in the appointment of ad hoc Committees and Commissions in line with their vision to expand the scope of their operations to cover vital departments of Olympism.

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

CHILE 2015 COPA AMERICA

Neymar sees red as Colombia stun Brazil •As Colombia end 24-year winless drought

T

AKING advantage of a bad night by Neymar, Colombia defeated Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America last Wednesday, keeping its quarterfinal hopes alive in the South American tournament.

Jeison Murillo scored a 36th-minute winner, and Neymar ’s poor performance was capped by a red card after the final whistle because of an altercation with Colombian players.

Colombia’s Carlos Bacca, who shoved Neymar from behind, also was shown a red card. Bacca apparently was upset after the Brazilian seemed to head-butt teammate Murillo during a

discussion.

Neymar’s yellow card earlier in the match was his second of the tournament, which was already enough to suspend him from the final group match.

Brazil could have secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a win over Colombia, but now it will decide its future against Venezuela on Sunday.

“Colombia showed that it is a very experienced team,” Brazil coach Dunga said. “Our players at times got caught in their provocations and forgot to play football. Brazil has to play football. Brazil can’t go to war, we have to focus on what we do best, which is play football.”

Márquez out of Mexico squad against Ecuador

M

EXICO gained plenty of plaudits for their performance in earning a thrilling 3-3 draw with hosts Chile last Monday, but victory is now all that matters for Miguel Herrera’s men entering their final Copa America group match. After an insipid opening goalless draw with Bolivia, Mexico produced a vivacious display to twice take the lead against one of the favorites to take the trophy before coming from behind to salvage a welldeserved point. But it still leaves El Tri realistically needing a victory against Ecuador today in order to at least be sure of going onto the quarterfinals as one of the best third-placed teams.

Messi hopes to end Argentina’s trophy drought

L

IONEL Messi is aiming to end Argentina’s 22-year wait for a trophy and plans to make the Copa America his first triumph.

The Barcelona star has won almost every major competition in the domestic game but international success still eludes him - having previously lost in two finals.

Messi reiterated that him and his team-mates would do everything in their power to bring

success to the nation.

When asked about what Argentina would do to win, he told Reuters : ‘A lot, everything we have.

That is why we are here and I think that this group deserves it because what they have been fighting for, for having a spectacular World Cup, many of whom are here, and those who have newly joined, they are the same or even more eager than those who were in the World Cup to win this cup.

•Marguez CONTROL... Monaco right-back Fabinho controls the ball

•WARNING . . . Chilean referee Enrique Osses shows a yellow card to Brazil’s forward Neymar during their 2015 Copa America football championship match, in Santiago, Chile. Photo: AFP

Belgium may seek £3m compensation over World Cup bid

B

•Lionel Messi wants to finally win some silverware with Argentina, having previously lost in two finals C M Y K

ELGIUM may seek compensation over the E4.5m (£3.2m) spent on its unsuccessful 2018 World Cup bid if Fifa’s decision to award the finals to Russia is found to be fraudulent.

“If fraud is proven, it is obvious to me that we will seek compensation,” the Belgian Football Federation chairman, François de Keersmaecker, told Het Nieuwsblad. The country made a joint bid with the Netherlands that cost E9m.

The Flemish government sports minister, Philippe Muyters, told the

newspaper that fraud still needs to be proven.

“But if it was the case, we will, with our partners, look to proceed with a claim,” he said.The executive committee of world football’s ruling body, Fifa, chose Russia ahead of the Belgian-Dutch bid, a joint

bid from Portugal and Spain, and one by England. Meanwhile two Argentinians charged in connection with the Fifa corruption allegations have requested house arrest after turning themselves in at a federal courthouse in Buenos Aires.

Venezuela to keep rocking the boat against Peru

W

ITH two of the world’s top ten sides andateamnineplacesabove them in FIFA’s ridicule-free rankings for company, Venezuelawerenobody’sidea ofapotentialGroupCwinner at this year’s Copa America.

Salomon Rondon’s 59th minute goal in his country’s opening encounter against Colombia,andthesubsequent results in the group since, have changed all that. Now the men known as The Burgundy find themselves topping the league and in a rosy position.

Brazil and Serbia battle for glory

B

RAZIL and Serbia willbattleforthehonour ofbeingcrownedthe2015FIFA U-20 World Cup champions when they meet in the tournamentfinalinAuckland’s North Harbour Stadium on Saturday,kick-offat07h00CAT. Brazil’s presence in the final

is no surprise – they are unbeaten through the tournament and boast an excellent record at this level.

The South Americans are chasingtheirsixthU-20World Cup title, which would bring them level with Argentina as the tournament’s most

successfulnation.

BrazilcoachRogerioMicale believeshisteamhasimproved as the tournament has progressed,withtheirstunning 5-0 destruction of Senegal in the semifinal demonstrating thattheyarepeakingatjustthe righttime.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 — 63

Ayew arrival a big positive, says Williams A N D R E Ay e w ’ s m o v e t o Swansea City on a four-year deal represents a step in the right direction for the club, according to defender Ashley Williams.

The Ghana forward agreed terms earlier this month after his contract at Marseille expired and Williams is excited by his arrival.

“It shows that the club is going in the right direction again,” the Swansea captain said in quotes reported by BBC Sport.

“It’s a big signing... he’s a good player. “ We o b v i o u s l y n e e d e d s o m e strikers because Bafe [Bafetimbi Gomis] is on his own, so we’ll def-

Full Premier League fixtures 2015 —2016 (Continued from yesterday) Below is the concluding part of the English Premier League fixtures.

1 March 2016 (7.45pm unless stated): Arsenal v Swansea City, Bournemouth v S o u t h a m p t o n , Aston Villa v Everton, Leicester City v W/Brom Albion, Liverpool v Man. City (8pm), Man United v Watford (8pm), Norwich City v Chelsea, Sunderland v Crytal Palace, W/Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur.

2 March 2016: Stoke City v N/castle United (7.45pm).

5 March 2016: Chelsea v Crystal Palace v Everton v Man. City v N/ United v Southampton v Swansea v Tottenham v Watford v W/Brom Albion v 12 March 2016: Arsenal v Aston Villa v Bournemouth v Leicester City v Liverpool v Man. United v Norwich City v Stoke City v Sunderland v Ham United v

Stoke City, Liverpool, W/Ham United, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Norwich City, Arsenal, Leicester ty, Man. United.

W/Brom Albion, To t t e n h a m , Swansea , Newcastl , Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Manchester, Southampton, Everton, West Watford.

19 March 2016: Chelsea v Crystal v Everton v Man. City v Newcastle v Southampton v Swan City v Tottenham v Watford v W/Brom Albion v

West Ham United, Leicester City, Arsenal, Man United, Sunderland, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Stoke City, Norwich City.

2 April 2016: Bournemouth Arsenal Aston Villa Leicester Liverpool Man. United Norwich City Stoke City Sunderland West Ham

v v v v v v v v v v

Man. City, Watford, Chelsea, Southampton, Tottenham , Everton, Newcastle, Swansea City, W/Brom Albion, Crystal Palace.

9 April 2016: Aston Villa

v

Bournemouth,

Crystal Palace v Liverpool v Man. City v Southampton v Sunderland v Swansea City v Tottenham v Watford v W/Ham United v

Norwich, Stoke City, W/Brom Albion, Newcastle, Leicester City, Chelsea, Man.United, Everton, Arsenal.

16 April 2016: Bournemouth Arsenal Chelsea Everton Leicester Man. United Newcastle Norwich City Stoke City West Brom

v v v v v v v v v v

Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Man. City, Southampton, W/Ham United, Aston Villa, Swansea City, Sunderland, Tottenham, Watford.

23 April 2016: Aston Villa Bournemouth Crystal Palace Leicester Liverpool Man. City Norwich City Sunderland Tottenham W/Ham United

v v v v v v v v v v

Southampton, Chelsea, Everton, Swansea City, Newcastle, Stoke City, Watford, Arsenal, W/Brom Albion, Man. United.

30 April 2016: Arsenal v Chelsea v Everton v Man.United v Newcastle v Southampton v Stoke City v Swansea City v Watford v W/Brom Albion v

Norwich City, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Leicester City, Crystal Palace, Man. City, Sunderland, Liverpool, Aston Villa, W/Ham United.

7 May 2016: Aston Villa Bournemouth Crystal Palace Leicester City Liverpool Man. City Norwich City Sunderland Tottenham W/Ham United

v v v v v v v v v v

Newcastle, W/Brom Albion, Stoke City, Everton, Watford, Arsenal, Man.United, Chelsea, Southampton, Swansea City.

15 May 2016: Arsenal v Chelsea v Everton v Man.United v Newcastle v Southampton v Stoke City v Swansea City v Watford v W/Brom Albion v

Aston Villa, Leicester City, Norwich City, Bournemouth, To t t e n h a m , Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Man. City, Sunderland, Liverpool.

initely welcome him to the club.”

Capped 63 times f o r h i s c o u n t r y, Ayew made 207 appearances in his eight years at Ligue 1 side Marseille.

Ay e w w i l l w e a r the number 10 shirt vacated by Wilfried Bony when he left Swansea for Manchester City in January.

•Ay e w

PSG kick off title defence at Lille

F

•Ibrahimovic

RENCH champions Paris Saint Germain raise the curtain on their title defence at Lille in a televised Friday evening game in early August, the French Ligue 1 organisers said on Thursday.

Resurgent runner ’s-up Lyon meanwhile travel to southern giants Marseille on September 20 in the first of Ligue 1’s big clashes at the Velodrome stadium on matchday 6.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his PSG teammates await Marseille for the first of their much awaited so-called ‘Classico’ games on October 4 with the return clash on February 7.

Real Madrid reignite interest in Aguero

S

ERGIO Aguero’s form in the Copa America has reignited Real Madrid’s desire to sign the player but they will only do so if they can sell Karim Benzema this summer.

The Argentine striker has a contract with Manchester City until 2019 and recently confirmed his commitment to stay at the club so Real know they would have to pay well over £50m for his services.

A centre forward is also not on the list of priorities new manager Rafa Benitez has given his president Florentino Perez.

He wants the right wing, left back and

central midfield positions strengthened and sees Cristiano Ronaldo as his likely centre forward this season.

If Ronaldo plays as a No 9, Benzema would be the reserve in that position and that leaves no room for Aguero, unless the Frenchman is sold. Even then there would be over-booking in forward positions.

Liverpool and Manchester United have both shown an interest in the past in the 27-year-old Frenchman but he remains one of the president’s favourites and that has helped keep him at the club.

•From left Maurice Newa, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria; Yaya Toure, Airtel Rising Stars Brand Ambassador; Segun Ogunsanya, MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria and Dia-Ezzaoudi, Brand and Media Director, Airtel Africa during the press launch of the 5th edition of the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) tournament and the official unveiling of Yaya Toure as the ARS Brand Ambassador for 2015.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

CR 7

NFF goesI for foreign coaches

N the wake of the Flying Eagles and the Super Falcons’ unimpressive outings on the international scene, the Nigeria Football Federation seems to be looking towards the direction of expatriate coaches to handle the national teams.

Continues on Page 63

Ronaldo´s out of this world!

•Astronomers name galaxy CR7 Page 60

Copa America: 62 e g Neymar sees red Pa Sweden coach: I’m not good enough for Falcons — Pg.60 FIFA U-20 W/Cup Final Brazil v Serbia 6 a.m. (Saturday)

WW/Cup Round of 16 CRUNCHY: Super Falcons defender, Onome Ebi stops her US opponent during the women's W/Cup match in Canada. Nigeria lost 1-0.

Germany China PR

v v

Sweden 9 pm Cameroon 3 am (Sunday)

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Confusion (5) 9 Deserved (6) 10 Naturist (6) 11 Cost (5) 12 Press (4) 15 Divide (4) 17 Retribution (7) 20 Shelter (3) 21 Soar (5) 23 Imitated (4) 25 Trial (4) 26 Inflexible (5) 28 Marry (3) 30 Performance (7) 33 Revise (4) 35 Rank (4) 36 Handle (5) 38 Cause (6) 39 Gift (6) 40 Fresher (5)

DOWN 1 Start (5) 2 Stableman (5) 3 Vitality (3) 4 Skilful (6) 5 Creep (4) 6 Hint (3) 7 Emulate (5) 8 Condition (5) 13 Eased (7) 14 Not ever (5) 16 Renovate (7) 18 Of sound (5) 19 Spout (3) 22 Respond (5) 24 Performed (3) 27 Give (6) 28 Tired (5) 29 Couch (5) 31 Sea-duck (5) 32 Veracity (5) 34 Sea-eagle (4) 36 Weight (3) 37 Sailor (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Recipe 5, Braced 9, Angle 10, Permit 11, Indoor 12, Leant 14, Step 17, Red 18, Mere 20, Eater 22, Bored 23, Taloned 24, Began 26, Tenet 29, Idol 30, Mob 32, Lure 33, Pilot 35, Lesson 36, Airbus 37, Learn 38, Tapped 39, Dearer.

DOWN: 1, Repose 2, Carpet 3, Pail 4, Enter 5, Blind 6, Rent 7, Cooker 8, Darted 13, Aerosol 15, Tamed 16, Petal 18, Model 19, Refer 21, Ran 22, Bet 24, Billet 25, Gossip 27, Number 28, Teaser 30, Mined 31, Board 33, Pole 34, Tine.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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