Bureaux de Change owners fighting Naira —CBN GOV

...towards a better life for the people

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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VOL. 25: NO. 62674

N150

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

VISIT

‘MISSING BUDGET'

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right) welcomes the Managing Director, Reckitt Benckiser (RB) West Africa, Rahul Murgai and the Chairman of the company, Chief Olu Falomo to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Buhari writes senate, regrets confusion 8

Bureaux de Change owners fighting Naira

—CBN GOV

•Says operators in speculative trade of currency

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke •Adds nation's economy'll rebound in two years A

BUJA — Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday, told the Senate that the bank will not go back on restrictions placed on Bureaux de Change (BDCs) as he described them as waging a relentless war on the Naira. He said that the activities of operators of BDCs were mainly responsible for the dwindling value of the Continues on Page 5

Lassa Fever: FG confirms 212 cases in 17 states 49 Mr & Mrs

P.17

TABIA PRINCEWILL

Ndigbo flay destruction of Oshodi market See Inside C M Y K

Corruption and the Nigerian woman: Is everyone and everything for sale?

P.36

DEAR BUNMI

I want to hurt both of them

P.19

ROTIMI FASAN

Buhari and Saraki: What happened to 2016 budget document?

COLUMNISTS:

CORRUPTION CHARGES: PDP Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in handcuffs at Federal High Court, Abuja on corruption charges, yesterday. Inset: Metuh being assisted out of the pick-up van that brought him to court. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan. See story on Page 9.

Ooni, Alaafin ‘ll end marginalisation of S-West — YORUBA MONARCHS

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POCKET CARTOON

AMBODE'S STEWARDSHIP—From right: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; the State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Henry Ajomale; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and Lagos Central Senatorial Leader, APC, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, during the Second Quarterly Town Hall meeting to render account of stewardship of Governor Ambode’s administration, at the City Hall, Lagos, yesterday.

Bureaux de Change operators fighting Naira — CBN GOV Continues from Page 1 Naira as they embark on rent seeking speculation of the local currency. He also told the senators that some 2,837 BDC operators were leading the speculations against the Naira in the parallel market, adding that since stoppage of allocations to BDCs, they have been sourcing their dollars from oil companies and other foreign exchange earners.

The session with the senators was a closeddoor affair, but those who had knowledge of what was discussed at the meeting told Vanguard that Emefiele said that, “we will not review the

restriction on the BDCs, because we have seen that they are the ones waging a huge war against the Naira.”

According to him, the Senators and Nigerians should not worry about the falling value of the Naira currently, adding that the currency would soon stabilize.

He added:“By our records, 45 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings go into importation of food, fuel and fertiliser. With the coming on board of Dangote factories, we are sure that 45 percent will stay with us. That is why we are backing him to complete the projects in record time.”

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO T is a certainty that every trouble has a life span; your challenges will expire, just persevere and you will sure shine again. It's up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”

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HE most important element to finding happiness is finding peace with yourself. If your opinion of yourself is healthy, you are much better equipped to face whatever challenges the world throws at you. If you have low self-esteem, the first thing you need to realize is that you can’t keep looking to other people to validate your existence. You must get to a place where you like yourself. If you rely on a partner, or a parent, or a boss for your self-image, you’re putting a lot of power into the hands of another person.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE He who makes trouble for others, makes trouble for himself.

When asked whether relying on the ability of one man would not lead to disaster, the CBN Governor disclosed that Dangote Group was already a company quoted internationally and that its activities were more than one man business.

He reminded the Senators that Dangote Group was already building a refinery in Lagos, a tomato paste factory and a fertiliser firm, stating that once the companies come on board next year, the nation would be able to save 45 per cent of its foreign exchange on imports.

It will be recalled that the CBN had accused BDCs of buying foreign exchange from the apex bank at N197 and selling at N270.

Operators of some of the BDCs were also said to be in an unholy alliance with politicians to defraud the nation of its foreign exchange. At the height of the racket, Bureaux de Change operators were said to be simply collecting the passports of several individuals and using them as evidence of customers who purchased forex from them in making returns to CBN. But with the introduction of the Bank Verification Number, BVN, a good number could no longer do so.

The actions of these operators,’CBN sources said were defeating the purpose of government, which is unwilling to devalue the Naira. The strong value of the local currency intended by government in the interest of the economy and its citizens was not benefitting Nigerians.

Operators of Bureaux de Change simply used their

privileged positions and access to powers-that-be to rip off Nigerians.

If in the past there were sincere and genuine operators of BDC, the arbitrage opportunity between the official rate and the parallel market rate attracted many persons into the BDC business. According to CBN figures before the apex bank started selling foreign exchange to BDCs, there were only 74 operators in 2005. In the 10 years since CBN started foreign exchange sales to BDCs, the number has grown to 2,837 with 150 applications for licenses every month. CBN records showed that it used to allocate $8.6 billion to BDCs per annum.

Emefiele also assured Senators that the Nigerian economy would bounce back in the next two years. He said though the 2,700 Bureau de Change operators appear to be waging war against the Naira, the bank’s decision to remove them from official funding list of forex will save the national currency.

Senate backs CBN Governor’s policies

Briefing the media after the closed-door meeting with the CBN Governor, Senate Committee chairman on Information, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said that Emefiele gave a comprehensive account of the performance of the economy in the last one year.

His words: “ Emefiele’s presentation began with the current global economic conditions,

which have been characterised by external shocks, including the sharp decline in commodity prices, the geographical tensions along important global trading routes and tightening of monetary policy in the United States.

“He drew linkages of these occurrences with the Nigerian economy, especially with respect to the over 70 percent decline in oil prices from about $116 per barrel in June 2014 to about $30 per barrel currently. The governor’s presentation also gave us an insight into the bank’s analysis and understanding of the situation, and therefore, the rationale underlying the countervailing policy actions it has taken over the last couple of months”.

Senator Abdullahi also said the senators raised questions bordering on the health of the banking system, stoppage of sale of foreign exchange to Bureaux de Change and rise in inflation. They were also said to have discussed the fall in

foreign exchange reserves, exclusion of some items from access to foreign exchange, and policy coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities.

“Following an exhaustive response by the Governor and his team, the Senate acknowledged that these are indeed difficult times all over the world and not just in Nigeria. The Senate also acknowledged the pains that many people may be facing at this time, especially in light of shortages of foreign exchange for legitimate business.

“But having carefully considered the policies of the CBN, the Senate would like to commend and support these policies because they are mostly geared towards increasing local production, creating jobs, safeguarding our commonwealth and expanding economic opportunities and growth in Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.

Buhari vows to deal with oil thieves, vandals

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—AMID resumed bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta region, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, vowed to deal with oil thieves, abductors and vandals of oil and gas pipeline.

This was even as he stated that all telecommunication companies operating in Nigeria must ensure that all mobile phone users were registered to help the security agencies pre-empt terrorist attacks.

Warning that the rules and guidelines of the N i g e r i a n Communications Commission, NCC, must not be flouted, President Buhari stated that it was

the duty of all persons living in the country to ensure national security.

According to him, the interest of the operators should not only be monetary but the peace and security of the country.

The president spoke in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, while meeting with the Nigerian community.

He recalled that already, the Nigerian armed forces had dealt “deadly blows” on Boko haram insurgents to relaunch the country on safety path, stressing that oil thieves were less a problematic target.

“The oil thieves and abductors are a less problematic target. We will re-organise and deal with them,” he said.

6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016—7

Ughelli Govt College students suspended over homosexuality

By Perez Brisibe

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G H E L L I — GOVERNMENT College Ughelli, GCU, has suspended, indefinitely, three of its students for alleged involvement in homosexual activities.

This was disclosed yesterday during the reunion and Annual General Meeting of the Old Boys Association, GCOBA. According to the school's principal, Mr. Vincent Useh, the school authorities' action was done in a bid to move the institution forward and to serve as deterrent to others.

President General of the association, Professor Omatete Oristsegbemi, advised parents to be diligent in the upbringing of their wards, adding that the association would not condone any act of indiscipline from any student.

The association commissioned the refurbished Orerokpe Hostel with N20 million and built a power generating house for the dining hall.

Rights activists in court over funds transfer

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS State Coordinator and State Treasurer of National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps, NAVC, Akinyemi Badejogbin, and one Olanrewaju Bakare were yesterday brought before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja over a 36-count charge of stealing and fraudulent transfer of money belonging to the group.

In the charge instituted by Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, the suspects transferred N55 million from NAVC account and converted the money to personal use.

Testifying before the trial judge, Justice L. B. LawalAkapo, human rights crusader, Odimegwu Obi, General Secretary of NAVC, said N60 million was received during the inauguration of the Lagos chapter and that the money was kept in an account with the defendants as signatories.

Calabar urban authority staff pour excrement on food vendor

By Emma Una

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ALABAR—STAFF of Calabar Urban Development Authority, CUDA, in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday, poured excrement on a food vendor for allegedly failing to vacate a spot that was allocated to her.

The incident, which took place at Big Qua Shopping Plaza, opposite Calabar Sports Stadium, caused pandemonium as the Urban Authority staff also destroyed items worth over N200,000 belonging to the woman and other road side vendors.

Narrating her ordeal to

Vanguard, the food seller, Mrs. Grace Francis, lamented that despite getting temporary approval from government to do business in the area, she had continued to be assaulted by the sanitary officers for no reason.

She said the government workers allegedly acted on the instruction of their Executive Secretary, Mr. Joe-Mary Ita, to evacuate those selling in the area and poured faeces on her goods without giving her an opportunity to present her business permit.

‘They didn’t touch their boss’ wife’

Mrs. Aship, who showed a

copy of the approval with reference No. CUDA/FHS/19/ 25/14, also alleged that she was the prime target as goods belonging to the wife of CUDA Executive Secretary, who sold goods beside her, were not touched.

She said: “CUDA workers have been coming here asking for money every time. Look at what they have done to me by pouring faeces on the food I sell to the public.

“Because of their beating, I have sustained injuries on my legs but their director’s wife is selling near me and they have never touched her or carried her goods.”

She lied— CUDA boss

When contacted, the Executive Director of CUDA, Mr. Ita, said the victim had been warned on five occasions not to do business in the area again, but that she flouted the directives.

He said: “The governor has warned members of the public not to sell at that place again.

Even the Commissioner for Environment had also warned the victim not to sell at that place.

“It was on the fifth occasion that my workers were directed to impound her wares. My workers did not pour faeces on her as she claimed.”

Security man docked over $1.5m theft, unlawful detention

By Onozure Dania

L POLICE TROUBLE: Officers of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, apprehend a bullion van on the BRT corridor on Lagos-Ikorodu Road by Mile 12 in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Police arrest 11 over Bayo Ajia, Ajikobi's assassinations

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—KWARA State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Okaula, has said that two political thugs were killed, Monday, by suspected cultists in Ilorin, noting that 11 suspects had been arrested in connection with both killings.

According to him, Bukola Ajikobi was killed a few hours before Bayo Ajia.

Okaula, who disclosed this at police headquarters during a briefing, noted that his men had been strategically positioned at various flash points in Ilorin to avert any reprisal attack.

Vanguard gathered that the late Bayo Ajia, who was always with his lieutenants, was unusually alone yesterday when he was killed by the assailants.

The late Ajia, according to Vanguard investigations, was at his car wash centre at Taiwo area of Ilorin, ruminating with his members over the killing of Bukola Ajikobi, before leaving for Kwara Stadium, a short distance away.

Vanguard also gathered that

Ajia was at the stadium when a familiar voice called him on phone to meet him in his car wash centre for a business.

It was learned that as soon as the deceased was sighted by his assailants, they boarded taxis, headed straight for him,

shooting him three times on the forehead.

Vanguard further gathered that when the gunshots seemed not to be having the desired effect, the assailants brought out axes and machetes, with which they killed him.

Erosion renders 20 families homeless in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—RESIDENTS of Abule Oloni, Lantoro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, have cried out for quick government intervention as erosion has rendered no fewer than 20 families homeless.

Chairman of the community, Chief Lasisi Shamudeen, while speaking with newsmen, begged government to come to their aid.

Shamudeen explained that the erosion problem had destroyed roads and property and was threatening their lives.

Secretary of the community’s

Development Association, Mr. Ayinde Lekan, lamented that government was nonchalant to their plight.

He said after trying to meet with the governor over the matter, they attended the town hall meeting organized by the state government towards the 2016 budget and submitted a letter, which prompted the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lekan Adegbite, to come to the community.

The commissioner was said to have assured them that something would be done about it, though nothing had been done since.

AGOS—A 22-year-old security man, Isaac Onoja, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing $1.5 million (N295.5m) from his employer.

The defendant is facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, failure to prevent a felony and unlawful detention preferred against him by the police.

The defendant, who is from Benue State and whose address was not given, was docked before Magistrate S. K. Matepo.

The prosecutor, Corporal Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the defendant and others still at large, committed the alleged offences on December 13, 2015, at Ojora Road in Ikoyi at about 8:30p.m.

Osuji said the defendant, who was employed as a security man to one Prince Hillary Unachukwu, made a false claim that he was tied up by some armed men.

The prosecutor also alleged that the defendant unlawfully detained his employer inside the house by locking him up.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Magistrate Matepo granted the defendant N500,000 bail, with two responsible sureties in like sum, adding that one of the sureties must be a blood relation to the defendant, with verified addresses and adjourned the case till February 10 for mention.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Budget 2016: Buhari writes Senate

Budget 2016:

Regrets confusion over ‘missing budget’ Senate accepts corrected version, begins 3-day debate today

How we'll fight poverty, illiteracy with 6 social protection programmes —Osinbajo

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, regretted the confusion the ‘missing 2016 budget’ had caused in the polity and urged the lawmakers to work with the corrected version that the Presidency submitted, last week.

In a letter to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, which the Senate President read to senators, yesterday, President Buhari wrote: “It will be recalled that on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 , l presented my 2016 budget proposals to the joint sitting of the National Assembly. I submitted a draft bill accompanied by a schedule of details. At the time of submission, we indicated that because the details had just been produced we would have to check to ensure that there were no errors in the detailed breakdown contained in the schedule.

“The National Assembly would, therefore, have the details as submitted on the 22nd and a copy containing the corrections submitted, last week. It appears this has led to some confusion. In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. This is the version the National Assembly should work with as my 2016 budget estimates. The draft bill remains the same and there are no changes in any of the figures.

Please accept, Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest regards.”

Senate accepts corrected version

Following the receipt of the president’s letter, the Senate adopted a motion reversing its earlier decision that it would only work on the document presented by Buhari on December 22 and resolved that it would now consider the corrected version.

Senator Saraki then asked all the senators to pick their copies from the Clerk of Appropriation Committee for onward preparation for debate on the budget.

According to him, the debate on the budget would hold today, tomorrow and next Tuesday.

Prior to the reading of the letter by Senate President Saraki, the senators had soon after the upper chamber resumed plenary at 10.55 am, yesterday, entered into an executive session to discuss the president’s letter and they came out at 11.10 am.

At the closed door session, a source told Vanguard that the Senators agreed to reverse their earlier decision not to consider the corrected version of the 2016 budget and they would

commence debate on the Appropriation Bill today.

It would be recalled that the 2016 Budget had generated serious controversies in the last few weeks following the case of missing budget. In spite of Senate President Saraki’s tacit admission last week that the 2016 budget was missing from the National Assembly, when he openly said a search committee raised by the Senate to look for the

missing document would present its report to the Senate, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi said that the document was not missing.

As the matter of the missing budget generated heated arguments and comments in the polity, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, displayed the document at the lower chamber, insisting that the

document was intact and not missing. However, the House has accepted the corrected version.

The letter however, vindicated the Senate which had insisted that the original document it earlier received had been replaced with a ‘fake’ one by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters ( Senate), Senator Ita Enang.

INSPECTION: Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali (3rd left); Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (right); Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (2nd right);Commander of Operation Pulo Shield, JTF, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunola (4th right); Commander, Nigerian Army 3 Battalion, Effurun, Lt.-Col. Igwe Patrick Omoke (4th right) and others during the inspection of the vandalized pipeline site in Egwa 1, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State.

FG vows to jail corrupt judges Says no sacred cow in fight against corruption

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By Abdulwahab Abdulah

AGOS — THE Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, yesterday, disclosed that “corrupt judges will go to jail as the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will actively promote and ensure that corrupt judges are prosecuted and their illegally acquired assets are returned to the state.”

Malami also vowed that there will be no sacred cow in the fight against corruption in this dispensation.

The AGF, who spoke as a guest at the formal presentation of the report published by SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) entitled “Go home and sin no more: Corrupt judges escaping from Justice in Nigeria,” observed that considering the pivotal role judges play in the administration of justice, it is important to ensure that they live above board.

“Considering the pivotal role

that they play in the administration of justice, it is important to ensure that Nigerian judges, like the proverbial Ceazer ’s wife, are beyond reproach or even suspicion.

Gone are the days when corrupt judges escaped from justice in Nigeria,” he said.

The Nigerian chief law officer, who was represented by Abiodun Ahikomo at the occasion, noted that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will ensure that corrupt judges are prosecuted after they may have been sent out of the Bench by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and their illegally acquired assets returned to the state.

He said: “I can assure you today that in line with the cardinal agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation shall ensure that every appearance of corruption in the judiciary is dealt with among other measures through criminal prosecution and forfeiture to the State of illegally acquired assets.”

Also,Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, said both the Bar and Bench have the duty and collective responsibilities towards the dispensation of justice and corrupt free society.

Represented by Magistrate Busola Okunuga, a deputy chief registrar, the CJ noted that there are several mechanisms put in place by the judiciary to checkmate corruption and corrupt practices in the judiciary.

On his part, SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni said: “Corrupt judges are more dangerous to the society than corrupt politicians because a corrupt judiciary denies both victims of corruption and those accused of corruption access to an independent, impartial and fair adjudication process.

Mumuni disclosed that SERAP looks forward to working with the Attorney General of the Federation to ensure the full implementation of the recommendations contained in their report.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA — Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,yesterday, in Abuja revealed that 2016 budget contained six well articulated social welfare programmes and packages that would tackle poverty, illiteracy and health challenges of Nigerians.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Reckitt Benckiser West Africa, a household care products company led by its West Africa Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Murgai and the Chairman in Nigeria, Chief Olu Falomo, the Vice President noted that in a country where more than 110 million Nigerians were extremely poor, “we are bound to have such health challenges as having about 110,000 deaths yearly from diarrhoea.”

Giving a breakdown of the programme, Osinbajo said it cuts across critical areas like education, health, employment among others.

He said: “All together there are six social protection programmes of the Buhari administration for which funds have been allocated in the 2016 budget. These are Teach Nigeria, where 500,000 graduates would be hired as teachers; Youth Employment and Empowerment, where between 300,000 and 500,000 youths would go through skills acquisition and vocational training;Conditional Cash Transfer, where one million extremely poor Nigerians will receive N5,000 monthly this year.

Others are Homegrown School Feeding, where one meal a day would be served to public primary school children across the country; Free Education for tertiary education for 100,000 students of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and the MicroCredit Scheme that will give N60,000 one time soft loans to market women, and artisans.”

Speaking also, the West Africa Managing Director of the company, Mr. Murgai, said Reckitt Benckiser's utmost goal was the health and happiness of the Nigerian people.

According to him, the company was worried about Diarrhoea deaths, revealing that it has earmarked about N1.2 billion to fight the situation in Nigeria.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016—9

Nigeria signs agreements with UAE on recovery of stolen funds To extradite sentenced persons

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

INTERACTION: From right, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu; Head of Media, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren and Director, Internal Affairs, Wakili Mohammed during an interactive session with pressmen, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Metuh secures N400m bail Arrives court in handcuffs

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA — THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, granted bail to the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, to the tune of N400 million.

Metuh, who was on Friday remanded in Kuje Prison by Justice Okon Abang, was brought to court yesterday in handcuffs.

He is answering to a seven-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. His firm, Destra Investment Limited, was also charged before the court over alleged N400 million fraud involving the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Specifically, EFCC, alleged that Metuh had in November 2014, collected N400 million from the erstwhile National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

The fund which was withdrawn from an account the Office of the NSA operated with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, was allegedly transferred to Metuh through account no. 0040437573 which Destra Investments Limited operated with Diamond Bank Plc. EFCC insisted that whereas the fund was earmarked for campaign activities of the PDP, it said that Metuh diverted most of it to his personal use.

It alleged that Metuh converted part of the money to $1 million which he used for his personal business.

Besides, Metuh was alleged to have transferred N21.7 million to another chieftain of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih.

Plea for bail

Meanwhile, Metuh, who earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge, yesterday, prayed the court to release him on bail pending the determination of the case against him.

The application which he filed through his team of lawyers, comprising four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, was predicated

on provisions of sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as sections 156, 162 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

His lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, who argued the application, yesterday, urged the court to grant his client bail on self recognition.

Insisting that allegations levelled against Metuh are ordinarily bailable, Uche told the court that his client voluntarily submitted himself to the EFCC. Uche maintained that his client had every opportunity to escape from the country prior to the time he was invited by the anti-graft agency, but refused to do so.

Besides, he drew the attention of the court to the fact that the former NSA, Dasuki, and other persons also facing similar charges by the EFCC have all secured bail from different courts.

EFCC opposes bail application

Meantime, the EFCC, yesterday, opposed Metuh’s bail request, saying he has the capacity to interfere with ongoing investigations against him.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, who is the Assistant Director, Legal & Prosecution Department of the EFCC, told the court that Metuh attacked operatives of the agency and tore pages of his statement.

He urged the court to consider the criminal nature of the charge which he said attracts a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment upon conviction, and deny the accused person bail.

After listening to all the parties, yesterday, Justice Abang, in a bench ruling, said he was favourably disposed to granting bail to the accused person.

The judge who agreed with Metuh’s lawyer that the

offences are bailable, said the EFCC could not establish its allegation that the accused person destroyed his statement.

"To hold the view that the accused person, if released on bail, will act in the same manner is speculative. The court does not act on speculation. The alleged conduct of the defendant while in custody of the EFCC cannot be a factor to be considered in refusing his application for bail," the Judge held.

He said the paramount thing was for the court to impose conditions that would compel the attendance of the accused for trial, saying he is in the eyes of the law presumed innocent until proved guilty.

Consequently, Justice Abang ordered Metuh to produce two sureties who must deposit the sum of N200 million each.

He maintained that the sureties must not only be residents of Abuja, but also owners of landed property within the Maitama district of the FCT. They are to submit the Certificates of Occupancy of the property to the Chief Registrar of the court for verification, as well as submit their three years tax clearance.

According to the court, the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and also submit two recent passport photographs.

More so, Justice Abang ordered Metuh to surrender his international passport to the Chief Registrar of the high court.

He directed that the prosecution should within 24 hours upon receiving notification that the accused has perfected the conditions, personally conduct a verification with a view to ensuring that all the terms were duly perfected.

However, the court, yesterday, declined Metuh’s prayer for it to restrain the EFCC from rearresting him upon fulfilment of the conditions.

While adjourning full-blown hearing on the matter till January 25, the judge asked the EFCC to summon its witnesses to be prepared for trial.

BUJA — DETERMINED to recover Nigeria’s stolen funds stashed in foreign banks, the Federal Government, yesterday, signed different bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates, UAE. The agreements were essentially on trade, finance and judicial matters.

While the agreement on trade was to promote investments and business dealings amongst the two countries, the judicial bilateral agreement will enable the country to extradite, or transfer persons serving jail terms.

The signing of the agreements which took place at Abu Dhabi was witnessed

by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, from UAE stated that Nigeria’s Ministers of Finance, Trade/Investment, and Justice signed the respective agreements on behalf of Nigerian government.

“Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, and the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Attayar, signed the Avoidance

of Double Taxation Agreement, while the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, signed the agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection with the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs.

“The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates, Sultan Bin Saeed Albadi, signed the Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, which includes the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth,” the statement said.

Speaking at a reception after the signing of the agreements, President Buhari reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption and restoring Nigeria’s dignity in the comity of nations.

He also urged all Islamic countries to support the fight against terrorism in Nigeria and denounce the atrocities of Boko Haram as un-Islamic and against the teachings of the Holy Prophet.

In his remarks, Crown Prince Zayed Al Nahyan said the relationship between Nigeria and the UAE will be strengthened by President Buhari’s visit and the signing of the agreements.

NAIRA WATCH

Naira stabilises at N295/$ As BDCs await modalities on autonomous dollar

By Babajide Komolafe

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AGOS — THE Naira remained stable at N295 per dollar in the parallel market, yesterday, as Bureau de Change, BDC, operators await the release of modalities on how to source dollars from autonomous sources.

The Naira had appreciated on Monday to N295 per dollar from N300 per dollar on Friday in the parallel market following expectations that the CBN will sell autonomous dollars sourced from oil firms to BDCs. Vanguard survey of parallel market exchange rate in major cities shows that while there were slight increases in demand for foreign exchange, the Naira remained firm at N295 per dollar.

The stability, according to Chief Executive Officer, H. J. Trust BDC, Mr. Harrison Owoh, was because BDC operators still expected that the CBN will open the window of autonomous dollars to the subsector.

However, a meeting between the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the Executive Council of Association of Bureaux de Change Operators of Nigeria, ABCON, scheduled for, yesterday, was yet to commence at press time.

The meeting, according to ABCON President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, was to discuss the modalities for BDCs to source autonomous dollars from oil firms through the assistance of the CBN. Meanwhile, the CBN Governor met with the Senate, yesterday, to discuss the sharp decline of the Naira in the parallel market in recent times.

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 , 2016

SYNAGOGUE: Court hears contractors’ motion Jan 27

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Jane Echewodo

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AGOS—JUSTICE Lawal Lateef-Akapo, yesterday, fixed January 27 to hear the motion by the two contractors indicted in the collapse of the six storey guest house at Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) last year September.

The contractors, Oladele Ogundele and Akinbola Fatiregun are challenging the legality of the court processes effected on them by the Lagos State government for them to be arraigned on criminal charges.

The trial Judge, Justice Lawal-Akapo had at the last hearing in December 2015, ordered that the Lagos State government serve the defendants through substituted means after several attempts to serve them proved abortive.

At the resumed hearing, counsels to the engineers, E. L. Akpofure (SAN) and Mrs Akinlawon (SAN) informed the court of their application on wrongful service, arguing that the prosecution erred in law by pasting the court’s processes at the entrance of the house of the defendants a day before the court’s hearing as against three days stipulated by the law.

FG may scrap NIMASA — AMAECHI

By Innocent Anaba, Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—STRONG indications emerged yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government may have concluded arrangements to scrap the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA over massive fraud and indolence.

This is just as a witness, Chukwuemeka Onuoha, a fashion designer, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos how his company, Extreme Vertevex Limited was used to siphon about N546.8 million from NIMASA, for a contract that was not awarded to him.

The Federal Government has also disclosed that it would cancel the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Warri South West

Local Government, Delta State established by former President Goodluck Jonathan and seek refund of the money already released for the project, just as it gave reasons why N52 billion maritime bailout won’t be disbursed.

Speaking yesterday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, headed by Senator Ahmed Sani, Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi said that the Federal Government would write to the National Assembly to repeal the Act setting up NIMASA if its management fails to justify the judicious utilisation of the huge resources at its disposal.

Amaechi, who lamented that NIMASA had nothing to show for the N63bn revenue it generated last year, said that he discovered that there was no equipment at the

agency’s search and rescue unit meant to monitor movement of vessels and provide treatment for injured personnel.

Amaechi said, “Currently, the way NIMASA is, if you look at it very well, it was worse in the last administration. It was as if it was established just for the purpose of collecting money and nothing more. What we need to do is to ensure that NIMASA discharges its core responsibilities.

“If NIMASA fails to outsource its core responsibility then it has no business existing. If it is just to collect money from individuals, anybody can do that. We can hire a tax collector to collect money from maritime operators on behalf of Federal Ministry of transport.''

“So it is either NIMASA sit up and carry out its own responsibility or we come to the BRIEFING: From left; Mr. Saheed Woods, Alli Regional High Value Sales Manager, Lagos Region, Airtel Nigeria; Chief Olayinka Ogunmekan, Chairman, Mayflower Sixtieth Anniversary Committee addressing the Media and Mrs Tokunbo Akinwumi-Sanni, Vice President, Mayflower Old Student Association, during the Press Conference of Mayflower School Ikenne on 60th year Anniversary on 25th - 30 January 2016 in Ikenne Ogun State.

Photo by Diran Oshe.

National Assembly to repeal the Act setting it up and allow the Department of marine security in the ministry of transportation, discharge the responsibility currently being discharged by NIMASA.

Ambode, Ndukwe, others for RCCG Economic Summit

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N a bid to address nagging economic issues confronting Nigeria, the Networks Business Club of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, City of David on 22nd January, will be hosting Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State and other top Business moguls to her 3rd annual edition of the Nigerian Economic Outlook this week.

Speakers at the summit include: Herbert Wigwe, GMD Access Bank Group; Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, Former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Mr. Bismarck Rewane, MD Financial Derivatives and Renowned Economist. Mr. Tosin Adewuyi, MD JP Morgan , Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, Former Country Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC).

Addressing newsmen recently, the chairman of the committee, Dr. Ernest Ebi said this year’s edition is aimed at harnessing business opportunities amid the continual fall in oil price globally.

Lagos, NUPENG differ over N224m claim

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS—THE Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, said it would not succumb to the attempt by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to blackmail it into paying a questionable N224 million debt.

While reacting to a purported protest carried out by members of the association, the State Government said though it was not against peaceful protest by aggrieved citizens but it would not be stampeded into taking any action without strictly following due process and rule of law.

NUPENG had alleged that the N224 million was for payment for the supply of diesel and kerosene to the State Government for execution of direct labour projects in Ojodu between October

2014 and May 2015.

South-West Chairman of NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo had threatened that members of the association would embark on the protest with over 1, 000 tankers, and that Lagosians would

be subjected to experience scarcity of fuel if the request was not acceded to by government.

But in statement by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the

government recalled that the said transaction took place between an independent marketer and the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) before this present government assumed office.

60TH ANNIVERSARY: Mayflower School honours Airtel, Union Bank MDs

By Dayo Adesulu

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AY F L O W E R School, Ikenne Ogun State will hold its 60th anniversary from January 25 to 30th.

During the one-week anniversary celebration,, former students of the school, who will be honoured include the Managing Director of Airtel,, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, Executive Director of Union Bank, Mr Kunle Sonola and former Institute of Chartersd Accountants of Nigeria,

ICAN President, Mrs Moji Osiyemi.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, chairman, Mayflower School 60th Anniversary Committee, Chief Olayinka Ogunmekan said: “The awardees were singled out for their various contributions to humanity and achievements in their fields of endeavours.”

On the activities lined out for the celebration, he said, “On 25th, there will be rendition of songs from Merry Mayflower, a visit to the burial site of Dr. Tai and

Mrs Sheila Solarin and interaction between Ex Mays and Students at Schmid Hall.

“On Tuesday 26th, the anniversary lecture will be delivered by invited guest speaker- Dr R.O Oduola.

There will also be career talk on the 27th by Professor Gbenro Osinowo, Professor Yemisi Obilade and Mrs Moji Osiyemi. On the 28th there will be inter-house sports and novelty race, while the 29th will witness Eyo performance, Balufon dance and other cultural shows by the students.''

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 — 11

Ooni, Alaafin ‘ll end marginalisation of S-West — YORUBA MONARCHS I

By Ola Ajayi

B A DAN — YO R U B A monarchs have described Sunday’s visit by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III as the beginning of a glorious dawn that would end marginalization of the South West zone in the polity.

The traditional rulers, under the aegis of Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee, said this after a meeting held at the Ibadan residence of the convener of the committee, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, Okoro Ajiga 1.

The kings have been apostles of peace and unity among Yoruba Obas and had long ago been engrossed on how the duo of Ooni and Alaafin would come together and make the zone forge ahead.

Oba Ogunwusi was at Oyo on Sunday to felicitate with Alaafin who was celebrating his 45th year coronation anniversary, thereby cancelling a 79 year old cold war between the two monarchs.

Reacting to the memorable reunion, Secretary of the Committee, Oba Saliu Azeez, Sabiganna of Iganna, who spoke on behalf of the rulers, said the visit would go

By Dayo Johnson

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BRIEFING: Oluyani of Iyani Akoko, Ondo State, Oba Joel Daodu and Secretary, Yoruba Obas Conflicts Resolution Committee and Sabigana of Iganna, Oyo State, Oba Saliu Oyemonla as the group briefs the media on the reconciliatory visit of Ooni of Ife to Alafin of Oyo which has been the reason for the setting up of the group. Photo by Dare Fasube a very long way to positively affect the Yoruba as a nation.

Sabiganna, who was flanked by Oba Joel Daodu, Ololuyani of IyaniAkoko in Ondo State described the move as a glorious one.

He promised that the peace and

Conflict Resolution Committee would consolidate on the Ooni’s initiative to ensure that Obas in Yorubaland remain united.

Coming together of the two rulers, according to him, would engender peace, unity and

progress of the Yoruba nation.

While he said the cordial relationship would certainly correct so many wrong things, he said that “if the head is okay, it will definitely be well with the entire body”.

Erosion renders 20 families homeless in Ogun Osun, lottery firm signs MoU to boost revenue generation

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APC threatens to boycott LG polls in Ondo

SOGBO—Osun State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Global Gaming Company Limited to transform lottery business in the state in order to use it to create employment and generate more income to the treasury of the state.

The Chairman of the Osun State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Dayo Oyebanji, signed on behalf of the state in Osogbo on Friday while the chairman of the company, Yahaya Maikori, signed the agreement on behalf of the company.

Oyebanji said with the agreement signed, gaming business in the state would be transformed from manual operations to automated one as from April 1st.

According to him, this will prevent fraud caused by leakages in manual operation adding that the state would also generate more fund which it needed at this time to steady the dwindling revenue from Abuja.

He said, “This initiative is the first if its kind. We are talking about developing gaming business and this company is one of the best in the world.''

“Gaming business is mainly manual in Osun and other states but this initiative will plug leakages and prevent fraud."

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U T A — RESIDENTS of Abule Oloni Community, Lantoro Abeokuta have called on the Ogun State government to intervene as erosion disaster rendered no fewer than 20 family homeless in Ogun State.

Vanguard gathered that many residents have abandoned their various houses to safe their precious lives and properties over

the flood disaster.

Chairman of the community, Chief Lasisi Shamudeen, who addressed newsmen urged the government to come to their aids.

Shamudeen explained that the erosion problem had destroyed roads, property and at the same time, threatening their lives.

Also speaking, the Secretary of Abule Oloni Community Development Association Mr. Ayinde Lekan, the government

was nonchalant to the plight of the community.

He said: “Erosion has destroyed many houses and shops, which had rendered some members of the community jobless. ''It has affected our businesses, because, apart from the fact that some people have left the community because of this erosion, people don’t want to come to leave in the community.”

Osun Community, varsity tango over land

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—MEMBERS of the host community to Fountain University in Osogbo have protested attacks on them by people suspected to be thugs who were allegedly hired by the university management over land tussle.

The land in dispute was said to have been allocated to the institution by the state government but authorities of the university had raised alarm over encroachment on the campus by some indigenes of Osogbo.

But some families making claim to some parcels of the land besieged the state House of Assembly in protest on Monday as they asked the legislative arm to save them from incessant attacks by the hoodlums.

The protesting community led by the families of Olufon, Alawaye,

and Alaajo displayed various placards bearing some inscriptions while chanting solidarity songs to drive home their demands.

According to the spokesperson of the protesters, Mr. Semiu Alajo, the case on the land tussle is presently in court wondering why the management would hire

some thugs to beat and harrass them on the land.

Alajo said it was an abuse of court process for management of Fountain University to embark on the construction of the school fence alleging that the management hired the thugs to attack residents of the area.

HE All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo State, yesterday, threatened to boycott the April 23 local government elections organised by State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).

The party’s position was made known by its state chairman, Mr Isaac Kekemeke at a leaders consultative meeting held in Akure.

Kekemeke, who hinged the party’s decision on the lack of faith in the leadership of the state electoral body, described it as “a sham meant to trap our party.”

Last week, the electoral body gave the political parties three months notice for the conduct of local government elections in the 18 council areas of the state.

Lagos Assembly to initiate bill on health trust fund ByEbun Sessou

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HE Lagos State House of Assembly has disclosed plans to initiate the Health Trust Fund Bill, which if passed into law, will assist in the funding of the state health sector.

This disclosure was made yesterday by the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Segun Olulade, when he led other members of the committee on an inspection tour to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. Olulade, who was confronted with several complaints by some of the patients and their relatives, especially as it relates to medical fees, assured the people that his committee is already working on the Health Trust Fund Bill, which according to him, may come to place before the end of the year.

515,531 children for measles immunisation in Ekiti

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

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DO EKITI—THE Ekiti State Government has disclosed that about 515,531 children between 9 and 59 months old would be immunised in the state under the Integrated Measles Campaign scheduled to hold between January 28 and February 1 this year.

The Director, Primary Health

Care, Ministry of Health, Ekiti state, Dr. Joshua Ileke, made the disclosure yesterday in Ado Ekiti, at a media orientation workshop.

He said the 5-day immunization would take place in over 300 government’s-owned health facilities as well as selected sites such as churches, mosques, markets and schools and would be administered by 6,202

health workers and community members.

While appealing for journalists’ cooperation in sensitising the public, Ileke, lamented that Nigeria is among the countries having high number of measles cases in the world and second in Africa.

Ileke recalled that measles outbreak was lower in 2014 due to aggressive campaign against the disease in 2013.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Transition: Dickson directs appointees to prepare hand-over notes

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—LESS than one week after his reelection, Bayelsa State governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, has ordered all political appointees in his administration to prepare their hand-over notes in preparation for the transition to a second tenure.

Meantime, the governor has also approved the setting up of three committees, State Establishment, Pensions and Local Government Committees, to ascertain the actual number of staff in the civil service, local government and pensioners, with a view to pruning down the wage bill of the state government.

The directive, issued after a meeting with political appointees in a circular to state Commissioners and Special Aides, directed that the hand over notes should be made ready on or before January 15, 2016.

Investigation showed that while many of the state commissioners have complied with the governor's directive, others including Senior Special Advisers, Special Advisers and other new appointees, are worried over their status as aides of the governor.

In effect, a source close to the government said, “There is no

political appointee in the state and this will save the state government about N400 milion which is the monthly wage bill of political appointees.”

A commissioner who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the development saying, “The report on the directive is true. We were asked to prepare our handover notes in preparation for

the transition.”

Meanwhile, the governor has approved the setting up of three committees, State Establishment; Pensions; and Local Government Committees to ascertain the actual number of staff in the civil service, local government and pensioners, with a view to pruning down the wage bill of the state government.

In a government special announcement, the state government set up an establishment committee with Chief Francis Doukpola as Chairman with 13 other members to review the actual staff number in 2007 and related wage bills and to reconcile the movement of increase or decrease of staff number and wage bills from then till now.

BRIEFING: From left: Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director, M-Net West Africa; Timi Dakolo, Voice Coach and Emeka Oparah, Director, Corporate Communications, Airtel, during a press conference to unveil The Voice Nigeria Judges held at The George Hotel, in Ikoyi,Lagos, yesterday.

Okowa signs N267bn 2016 budget into law

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By Festus Ahon

S A B A — D E LTA State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, signed the state's 2016 appropriation bill of N267 billion, as amended by the state House of Assembly, into law with an assurance to generate revenue to fund the budget.

Giving the breakdown of the budget that was first sent to the state Assembly on December 15, 2015 and passed into law January 12, 2016, with a recurrent expenditure of N153 billion and capital expenditure of N114 billion, Okowa said that the state government had targeted to increase its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, by about 90 percent from what it was the previous year.

The governor commended the state legislature for the speedy passage of the budget and promised to utilise the dry season in the infrastructural development plan by ensuring quick implementation of the budget.

He said: “This budget that has been assented to in good time, gives us enough room to utilise the dry season for our infrastructure development plans and I must appreciate the Speaker and members of Delta State House of Assembly for taking their time during the festive season to truly

work on the budget, ensuring that we had a very speedy passage of the budget.

“I am aware that they took the various ministries in their various sessions and except for some places where we had some

minor issues and they had to make minor adjustment, the budget has actually returned to us almost the same. But I appreciate them more for actually being able to detect that we failed to make provision for

the ongoing reconstruction of the airport in Asaba and they had to make provisions for that. And that is why there is a little difference between the figure that was presented to them and what we have today."

Shun pressure from politicians to act wrongly, Wike urges Army

By Jimitota Onoyume

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would continue to support the Army to discharge its responsibilities.

Continuing, he said the government will work with the Army to sustain peace in

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has advised the Nigerian Army to shun overtures from politicians to act against their constitutional responsibilities.

The governor RHOBO Pastors who gave the Association holds advice, yesterday, at Government its repositioning getHouse, Port together, on January 23, Harcourt, when 2016, at the Christ Church he played host to Peculiar the General International, 33B, O f f i c e r Ibafon Street, Olodi, Commanding 82 Apapa, Lagos.

A statement by Bishop Division, Enugu, Major General John Odiete said the Ibrahim Attahiru, get-together would chart assured that his a new course for Urhobo administration pastors to enable them

the state He said: “In carrying out your activities, you should be careful so that politics does not come into it.“

Urhobo pastors hold get-together

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to promote and propagate the liberating gospel to the nation.

Odiete, who called on all Urhobo pastors to attend the meeting, said it was a forum for prayer, fellowship, support, encouragement and planning to articulate the spiritual, ethnic and socio-political issues affecting the Urhobo nation.

NBC probe: N15bn not missing —Stakeholders

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ONTRARY to reports that N15 billion fraud was committed at the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, the President of Set-Top Box Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Geoffrey Ohuabunwa, has said that the money was intact.

According to him, the money, which came to N34 billion went straight into the NBC account domiciled with the Zenith Bank, saying that the NBC DG, Mr Emeka Mbah “deserved an honour for innovation and raising the N34 billion, and not a ‘cell term’” He made these known while speaking on a Channels Television breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.

Ohuabunwa stated that he was taken aback when he first saw the news item, which purported that there was a N15 billion fraud at the NBC, for which the Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Emeka Mbah, was picked up and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He explained: “Last year, Mr. Sola Taylor, who is the President of the International Telephone Union for West Africa, came to Nigeria for a conference. He brought up an idea that Nigeria could license somebody that could buy one of the frequencies. I think that was what the NBC did."

Meanwhile, the EFCC has released the Director- General of the NBC, Mr. Mbah, on administrative bail.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016—13

Pipelines bombing: Ijaw leaders, groups fault JTF on responsibility for attacks As Okowa relocates to Warri

By Emma Amaize, Egufe Yafugborhi, Akpokona Omafuaire & Perez Brisibe

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ARRI—OPINION leaders and Ijaw ethnic nationality groups in Delta State, yesterday, faulted the statement by the Commander of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Major-General Alani Okunola, that community leaders would be held responsible for attacks on oil facilities by militants.

Rather, the community leaders said the JTF commander should hold his men paid to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta, liable.

Okowa relocats to Warri

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, temporarily relocated from Asaba, the state capital to Warri, during the week, over the bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in the creeks of the state by militants.

While in Warri, the governor, held security meetings with security chiefs from the Army, Navy and Police among others at the Government House Annex.

A government source told Vanguard: “All the security chiefs are in Warri because of this matter.

It is very important because if the crude oil and gas pipelines are blown up, the whole country will be in a total mess economically.”

Meanwhile, prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Beck Hitler, has appealed to the JTF not to attack Ijaw communities and innocent indigenes while searching for suspected militants who blew up pipelines in Warri South-West Local Government Area.

Hitler, in Warri, also condemned the acts and appealed to the militants to stop destroying oil facilities in the state, adding that whatever reason they may have for the act should be discouraged as blowing up or destroying oil pipelines could only worsen the hardship being faced by the people in riverine communities.

He noted that what the militants and leaders from the Niger Delta should be concerned about now was how to attract foreign investors to build factories in the region to create employment for the exmilitants, youths and graduates.

Military bars Delta SSG, DG from joining entourage

Meanwhile, the military, yesterday, barred the Secretary to Delta State Government, SSG, Mr Festus Agas and Director-General, Security Matters in the state, Mr. David Tonwe, both representing Governor Okowa, from joining the entourage of the Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Monsur Mohammed Dan-Ali (retd), to inspect crude oil and gas pipelines bombed, last week, by militants.

Also affected was an All Progressives Party, APC, chieftain and popular Itsekiri business mogul, Chief Ayiri Emami, who

FLAG-OFF: Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State officially flagging off the reconstruction of Igwurita-Chokocho-Etche federal highway, yesterday, at Etche.

told Vanguard that nobody prevented him, as he had no intention of going with the team in the first instance.

Chief Emami had on Sunday joined the Commander of the JTF, Maj-Gen. Okunlola, to the bombed site at Egwa II, Warri South-West LGA. He told Vanguard on phone: “I did not prepare to go with them. I did not even dress to go with them. I only came to see the top military officers that came and from what I saw, I can tell you that they are ready to work and fish out the perpetrators.”

Agas and Tonwe, a former chairman of Warri South-West were part of the official Delta State Government delegation to accompany the minister on the inspection, but the Chief of Defense Staff, Major-Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, ruled them out.

The two top government officials had joined the military chiefs to receive the minister when he landed at Osubi Airport in Warri, but were jolted when the military turned them back at the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, from where the minister took off to the creeks.

Contacted, Mr. Tonwe said on phone that nobody barred him and the SSG from joining the team of the Minister of Defence in the inspection.

He said that their assignment was to receive the Minister at Osubi Aiport and stop thereafter at the NNS Delta.

Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Maj-Gen. Olonishakin, who explained the military decision,

said: “This is purely a military assignment. Apart from the press, no other person should join the boat.”

Meanwhile, Defence Minister, Dan-Ali, has said that government would deploy more equipment to boost the operations of security operatives in the zone and facilitate quick arrest of the criminals.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Warri-Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group, WIPMG, Chief Patrick Bigha, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, National Association of Izon-Ebe Law Students, NAILS and Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, have warned those fanning the embers of ethnic discord over the pipelines vandalization to desist.

Also, National Chairman, Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Prince Mike Emuh, has called for a halt to the current bombing of oil installations in Delta State.

He said: “HOSTCOM as a critical stakeholder in the oil and gas sector of the Nigeria economy sees the current happenings as uncalled for and unnecessary when there are no known issues between the government, the oil multinationals and the youths of the Niger Delta.”

HOSTCOM said destruction of pipelines was “An attempt by a few disgruntled elements in our midst to instigate an unimaginable crisis in the

Niger Delta region.

“The Muhammadu Buhari administration must be given the needed support to captain the ship of the nation to a safe harbour, so that the numerous promises of the Federal Government can be actualized,” he added.

National president of National Council of Niger Delta Activists, Alhaji Yusuf Eregbene, urged the perpetrators to sheathe their swords, but warned that President Buhari may trigger off a new wake of hostilities if the military continues the onslaught on defenceless communities in their search for militants.

He said that there was no

need for the court to issue a bench warrant for Tompolo's arrest since he was already in court with the EFCC, which instigated the order. The group advised the president to use diplomacy and not allow some APC leaders to mislead him.

Spokesperson of IYC, Eric Omare, in a statement, yesterday, said: “We fault the threat by the JTF to hold community leaders responsible for attacks on oil facilities and wish to alert the world of the impending attack on innocent Ijaw communities and people by the military under the guise of looking for suspected bombers of oil facilities.

“The Commander of the JTF, Major General Okunola, during his visit to sites of bombed pipelines on January 17, 2016, threatened that the military would hold community leaders responsible for the attacks and called on them to produce the attackers.

“To confirm his threat, officers of the JTF went to Abiteye community in Gbaramatu clan on January 18, brought members of the community together and asked them to produce the vandals.

“We consider the JTF’s position as unjustifiable and a deliberate strategy to invade and burn down Ijaw communities and arrest innocent Ijaw leaders.”

IPDI, NAILS and FHRACC in separate statements condemned JTF’s threat and lampooned Ugborodo leader, Chief Ayiri Emami, for allegedly making “derogatory war comments as regards the happenings in Gbaramatu Kingdom.”

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 , 2016

NLNG: Shell, Total, ENI

fleece Nigeria of $3.3bn —ActionAid •Not true, we've generated $33bn—NLNG

By Michael Eboh

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B U J A —

I N T E R N AT I O N A L advocacy group, ActionAid, yesterday, accused Shell, Total and ENI of fleecing Nigeria of $3.3 billion in seven years, through their investments in the Liquefied Natural Gas, operated by the Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG. NLNG is a joint venture, JV project owned by four shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which has a 49 per cent stake, Shell Gas BV, SGBV, 25.6 per cent; Total LNG Nigeria Limited, 15 per cent; and Eni International (N.A,) N.V. S. A, 10.4 per cent.

Accordingly, based on their equity holding, the JV partners owe as follows: NNPC – $1.62billion

49%

-

Shell – 25.6% - $845 million Total – 15% - $495 million Eni – 10% - $330 million However, in a swift response to the allegations, the NLNG debunked the claims, saying that the tax incentives and Federal Government’s investment in the NLNG had yielded $33 billion in the form of dividends, taxes and feed gas purchases for Nigeria over the past 16 years. It added that an additional $5 billion had accrued through corporate spend on local goods and services during the same period.

Unusual tax breaks

Specifically, ActionAid, in a public presentation of its report titled: ‘Leaking Revenue: How a big tax break to European gas companies has cost Nigeria billions,’ in Abuja, disclosed that the country was fleeced of the amount due to the extraordinary tax breaks granted the companies after the initial five-year tax break elapsed.

According to the report, the massive tax break was enabled by a unique law passed in 1990, adding that it was a triple whammy —

a tax break in three parts — stretching from 1999 to 2012.

The report said: “First came a regular five year tax holiday granted to most investors in Nigeria.

Second, an extension for a further five years exceptionally allowed for this particular deal. Thirdly, tax allowances that would have been used during the tax holidays were rolled over and exempted the companies from tax for a further two years.”

ActionAid further stated that the tax holiday extension meant the loss of about $2 billion in revenue, and the rolled over allowances where the same tax was effectively foregone twice, a further $1.3 billion.

It added that tax foregone in the first five years was not counted, as this was the normal tax break.

The report also noted that while tax holidays are normal, 10-year tax holidays, the type granted to Shell, Total and Eni, are not tailor-made laws like the type in this instance.

ActionAid also disclosed that the consortium is the only company in Nigeria with its own law defining its tax framework, adding however, that there is little publicly accessible information about how a special tax framework was created for the consortium.

JV partners keep mum

All the Joint Venture, JV, partners in the project preferred to defer to NLNG’s response to the allegations; as none of them would comment on the issue when contacted

by Vanguard.

While NNPC insisted that it is not the operator of the venture, Shell advised Vanguard to: “kindly direct all questions on this to NLNG,” and Total insisted that “the company is not owing,” and no word from Eni. Although the Corporation noted that it is merely a partner in the venture, but the report queried the role of NNPC in the issue and expressed suspicion over NNPC’s remittances to the Federation Account, from its dividends, loan and interest repayments in the

consortium.

To this end, ActionAid called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly, to ensure that proposed amendment to the Companies Income Tax Act, CITA 2004, effectively extending pioneer status tax holidays from five to 10 years is not implemented.

Allegations are false, misleading — NLNG

However, in a response to the allegations, Nigerian LNG, in a statement by its General Manager, External Relations Division, Mr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, maintained that the claim by ActionAid is false and misleading.

He added that the concept of tax holidays are not unusual practice in the global business community, as Angola offered as much as 12 years tax holidays to encourage investments in their LNG industry.

Furthermore, other countries like Oman, Malaysia, Qatar and Trinidad had offered up to 10 year tax holidays to attract LNG investments, he argued.

Eresia-Eke further noted that more generous tax incentive schemes currently exist in free trade zones in Nigeria, where participants are granted absolute exemption from all forms of taxes and levies chargeable by any level of government, in perpetuity.

Companies defraud Nigeria of huge sums — Hembe

Also speaking, Mr. Herman Hembe, a member of the House of Representatives, said the country has lost huge amount due to tax avoidance practices and tax breaks granted to companies.

He said: “Of more concern, however, is the tendency for the country to willingly give out its due resources through different types of tax incentives. Strangely too, in some instances, even in ventures where it has invested heavily as in this particular case of NLNG. “While tax incentive is not wholesale a bad inappropriate approach for attracting investors, to provide jobs and to address concerns about development of industry;itishowever,adangerous optionwhenitisjustaboutreducing tax bills of companies.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016—15

BIAFRA: Court grants bail to 26 IPOB members ...as Ohanaeze flays Aba killings •Enugu Police parades 8 suspects

By Anayo Okoli, Nwabueze Okonkwo & Ugochukwu Alaribe

leaders and groups as well as other Nigerians and release the detained IPOB leader.

“We appeal to President Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu to Ohanaeze, and we assure him that we will prevail on the protesters to stop these festering demonstrations capable of consuming Nigeria if allowed to escalate.

“It is better to resolve a quarrel than to stop a war.

The Federal Government should please save Nigeria this needless bloodbath before it is too late,” OYC pleaded.

U

M U A H I A — A Magistrate's court in Umuahia, yesterday, granted bail to the 26 members of the pro-Biafra groups, who were arrested, Monday, during their protests over the continued detention of their leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

This came as the Enugu Police Command paraded eight suspects who participated in the said protests in Enugu.

The 26 men granted bail were listed in the charge sheet as members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, even though the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was also deeply involved in the protest.

The activists were arraigned on a three count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, belonging to an unlawful society, and possession of one cutlass, 12 MASSOB T-shirts, identity cards of MASSOB “ which is an unlawful society”.

The charge said: “the accused and others now at large, who were arrested by the police on the 18th day of January 2016 at Aba, Abia state, conspired among themselves to commit the offences which are punishable under Sections 516A(1), 64(a) and 65 (4) of the Criminal code Cap 80 Vol. III Laws of Abia State 2005.”

The police prosecutor, Mr. O. O Uche, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, urged the court to remand the pro-Biafra activists in prison custody “to make them learn their lessons”.

But the defence counsels, Barristers Nwabueze Nwankwo and E.O Nkere opposed the prosecutor and reminded the court that the offences for which the accused were arraigned were bailable and therefore pleaded with the trial magistrate to grant them bail.

Ruling on the bail application, the Magistrate, Mrs. Linda Ugboaja granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 and one surety each and the surety must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must submit two recent passport photographs to the court.

The matter was adjourned to February 24, 2016 for hearing.

In Enugu, a statement made available to newsmen by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO,Mr. Ebere

VISIT: From left, Mr. Abboukarim Soumaila, Secretary General, African Telecommunications Union; Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Mr. Otis Anyaeji, President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSE; Mr. Austin Nwaulune, Director, Spectrum Administration, NCC, and Mr. Usman Malah, Chief of Staff to the EVC of NCC, during a visit of ATU Secretary General to the NCC Headquarters in Abuja

Amaraizu revealed that the eight arrested suspects conducted themselves in a manner likely to breach public peace.

“The arrested suspects include: Nwangwu Friday,26; Chekwube Eneta,28; Chigozie Mba,29 ; Isaiah Ogazi,28; Onyekachukwu Uzoma,43; Onyemalu Princewill,26; Israel Ani,18, and Ugwuobu Kelechi,24. “ Investigations showed that many of them were from other states but were hired to be in Enugu for the unlawful assembly and processions.

However,the command promptly charged the suspects to Magistrate Court 111, Enugu-East in Suit Number CME 121C/2016.

“When the case was called up and the counts of the charge were read to the accused persons,they pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison custody while the case was adjourned to February 10.”

Ohanaeze flays killings Meantime, the Ohaneze Youth Council, OYC, has taken a swipe at what it described as the frequent killing of proBiafra group members by security operatives, especially soldiers, while protesting against the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, saying that Igbo land was not at war with anybody.

Ohanaeze youths accused the Nigerian army and other security agencies of virtually converting Igbo land to a theatre of war, insisting that Ndigbo are not waging any war with the Federal Government.

OYC spoke while reacting

to Monday’s clash between security operatives and IPOB members in Abia, Enugu and Delta States which left some IPOB members dead and scores wounded.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by its National President, Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro and the SecretaryGeneral, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the OYC called for the investigation of the killings with a view to “bringing to book the trigger-happy security operatives”.

The group warned security agencies to stop “killing unarmed civilians who

committed no crime but only exercised their fundamental human rights”.

According to them, rather than killing the protesters, the Federal Government should concern itself with finding lasting solutions to the cause of the renewed agitation for Biafra, saying that the use of brute force was not the best way to solve the problem of the protesters but “through dialogue and positive engagement of the agitators”.

The group therefore appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the pleas by prominent Igbo

Delay tactics in Kanu’s trial Worried about the continued detention of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, a human rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Intersociety, yesterday, reacted to last Monday’s inability of Abuja Federal High Court to sit and deliberate on the case of the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, describing the scenario as very unfortunate in the sense that it is taking more that 21 days to commence hearing in the matter, December 23, 20154 when Kanu appeared in court last.

Intersociety said although the trial judge, Monday, came to the court late, he was not disposed to hear the matter and pleaded that he would commence hearing today, Wednesday, unfailingly "It is not proper that delay tactics would be applied in this matter that involves life," Intersociety said.

Ugwuanyi debunks accusation of partying in Dublin

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE Enugu State Government has denied the publication in an online medium, which alleged that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and his entourage were in Dublin, Ireland, for a gala night party.

Reacting to the said publication, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Louis Amoke, through a statement to newsmen, said that there was no iota of truth in the story and called on the public to disregard it as it was meant to mislead and undermine the genuine intention of the governor regarding the trip.

He stated that contrary to the erroneous impression created by the publication, the governor and his team were in Dublin for an aggressive investment drive, in keeping with his campaign promises to navigate the state through the current economic crunch and exploit other avenues

of revenue generation for development.

Amoke revealed that the visit was fruitful, adding that the state government signed an Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the authorities of Dublin City University on how to promote and develop education in the state as one of the focal points of the government’s development initiatives.

He also stated that remarkable success was recorded in shopping for investors and donor agencies that would key freely into the new phase of development in Enugu State, assuring that the results of the fruitful discussions will be felt by the people of the state in no distant time.

The governor’s spokesman also quoted the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Special Projects, Dr. Josef Umunnakwe Onoh, as saying that the governor’s visit to Europe had witnessed positive development as some Enugu indigenes in the Diaspora in

association with Glasgow Caledonian University, GCU, Scotland, had shown interest to partner the state in the rehabilitation of Government Technical College, GTC, Enugu and the Enugu State Library, which had not been given adequate attention in the past.

While calling for the cooperation of the public towards the governor’s vision for the state, Amoke, however, noted that the gala night was a routine event organised by Enugu State indigenes residing in Ireland to interface with the governor on how to engage them in assisting the government to achieve its foreign investment agenda, through home investment and their wide network of contacts.

He maintained that the governor was committed to the principles of accountability, fiscal discipline and transparency aimed at saving cost for development issues and advancement of good governance in the state.

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

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M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 —17

N

O one is more disenfranchised than the Nigerian woman. The worst part of this statement isn’t even the fact itself but the reality that the average woman in our society probably doesn’t realise she has allowed or even supervised and enabled her marginalisation, subjugation and virtual exclusion on all fronts.

Goodluck Jonathan has often been celebrated for appointing women to cabinet positions. However, opinions defer greatly as to the track record of said women.

Attracting the best, enabling talented, creative individuals, particularly women, to access public office and perform, rather than the if-it-can’t-be-me-it-can’t-beyou mentality or the appointment of wives, girlfriends or simply well connected women to positions of responsibility, remains an issue. Indeed, from Patricia Etteh to Diezani Alison-Madueke or Stella Oduah, Nigerian women have had their names tainted by all sorts of allegations during their time in office.

Interestingly, studies show that globally, women are more ethical than men. Unfortunately, this might not have proven true in the Nigerian case, thus justifying the misogynistic mind-set that refuses to give women a chance given that other ill intentioned ladies have squandered said opportunity, thus barring those who do merit a break from getting advantageous prospects at all.

Advantageous prospects I recently fell upon comments made by a certain Cynthia Ugbah, winner of the 2015 “Queen of Trust International” pageant, who resigned her position stating she refused to be part of a spectacle organised only to provide opportunities for “big men” to meet willing, knowing girls who avidly seek to live a fast life previously beyond their reach.

She even went on to allege that the pageant organisers attempted to force her to sleep with a PDP chieftain and this apparently is common practice as university students and their hostels are turned into dens of iniquity where the rich and powerful shop for entertainment.

Beyond being stunned or disgusted by such rumoured behaviour which amounts to turning young women in our society to prostitutes and normalising the process that ensures this, it seems that Nigerian women today, the same women who will go on to raise children and to pass on social norms, therefore guarantying their survival, no longer believe in their own self worth, in the value of being a woman beyond the ability to trade oneself for certain favours and advantages.

Social media is rife with jokes regarding the supposedly greedy, grasping nature of the Nigerian woman. In fact, some time ago, Basketmouth, a famous comedian, made a joke, which many didn’t appreciate. To sum it up, he asked why men

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Corruption and the Nigerian woman: Is everyone and everything for sale?

President Muhammadu Buhari, waging war against corruption wouldn’t rape Nigerian women if after doting on them and providing them with expensive shoes, bags, trips abroad etc. they then refused to fulfil their part of the bargain. Despite the crass nature of this comedian’s insinuation as to the apparently wayward, covetous nature of the Nigerian woman, one must examine the joke’s premise which is “something for something love” as they say in Uganda, where the government created public service announcements to warn university students in particular about the dangers of transactional relationships.

Tackling what might seem like a trivial, personal choice could go a long way towards understanding how corruption works in our society, why it exists and what

social mechanisms support it. Indeed, corruption doesn’t start in government. It starts in our

homes, in our children’s schools and when they grow up and decide to be local government chairman (or to date him) they simply perpetuate all that they have learnt along the way.

Today’s media is filled with vacuous, often female, interchangeable “on-air-personalities” who fly first class and boast of accessories worth ten times what any media house can afford to pay them. Who is footing the bill?

What do their parents think?

Some actually encourage their daughters to go out to find wealthy men who can fund their aspirations and those who don’t, are regarded as failures. Let us remember Basketmouth’s seemingly unacceptable joke which points to a custom and practice exacerbated by an oil rich

David Mark

Missing budget

M

ORE of the same. The former Senate president’s election as senator, was nullified by a court of appeal. Having been in the Senate since 1999 and a former military governor to boot, one wonders what new vision (or illusion) he hopes to bring to his constituents, if not for the fantasist “continuity” Nigerian politicians have used to trick the masses into electing them ad eternam.

His campaign refrains allegedly include the assertion that he is

economy, awash with free money that nobody needs to work for: girls willingly peddle themselves for money because our values in Nigeria no longer transcend material things. Who came first, the chicken or the egg? Did lecherous men make demands on ambitious women who succumbed to what became a cultural phenomenon or did ambitious women figure that in a broken society where merit counts for naught, it would be easier to trade on their assets rather than their mental attributes? It is difficult to say.

However, if one is to believe social media and the accounts of some foreign ladies coming to Nigeria for “jobs” with high-profile men (often rumoured to be governors, senators etc.) it seems that trading sex for influence is the bedrock of our society’s operations. Today, in Nigeria, it is embarrassing to love and accept yourself for who you are, without a private jet to reassure you about your social relevance or what is more, your existence as only the rich count in Nigeria.

So as Sai Baba fights the good fight against government corruption, let us assist, particularly Nigerian women, by refusing the demands and weights of a dehumanising society. Being human is about making choices, and the greatest humanity affirming option in our context, is the choice to avoid sleaze and exploitation, venality and fraud, which rather than completely destroy society will surely destroy our person, in the end.

David Mark one of the largest investors in Benue state (if not the largest).

If this were America, the Internal Revenue Service, IRS would want to know not just the source of said funds but to also check if politicians’ taxes are in order.

THE President’s “hands-off” approachwiththetwohousesmight not be paying off in a country where covetous, resentful and envious men hold sway. The Senate President, Bukola Saraki said there were two versions of the budget in the Senate, and that one is different from the copy presented by the President in December.

Speculating over what happened is pointless: attempts to derail this administration are not surprising given the on-going corruption or malfeasance cases. One thing should be clear to Nigerians, change, as represented by a budget that is pro-people, is not in everyone’s interest.

Buhari and #BBOG Dimeji Bankole

As Sai Baba fights the good fight against government corruption, let us assist, particularly Nigerian women, by refusing the demands and weights of a dehumanising society

Dimeji Bankole

I

T had been a while since we had heard of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives. It is incredible that even after being sacked under such murky circumstances, some politicians attempt (and are able) to stage a comeback.

Mr Bankole wants to revive the Ogun State PDP by floating an uninspiring group, the “Dimeji Bankole Movement”. Egotistical and self-regarding more like.

R

EPORTS—which BringBackOurGirls convener,ObyEzekwesili denied—that the President left a meeting with the Chibok girls’ parents, show Nigerians continue to misunderstand (through no fault of theirs as no one has ever bothered to explain how government works) the workings of any administration.

Even if Buhari did leave, the military chiefs as well as the Women Affairs Minister were present. They would therefore be representing the President as their portfolios are of direct relevance to the matter at hand. As for not allowing cameras into the meeting, why would government al-

low the parents’ grief to be used as entertainment to satiate our voyeurism? We are generally insensitive, as a people, to other people’s sorrows. The communications watchdog in the UK, OFCOM, protects citizens from harmful material or privacy breeches. It’s once again unfortunate that only the rich seem deserving of such regard in Nigeria. *Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the cohost and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 THE revelation that the 2016 budget of the Federal Government got missing or had been faked is the latest political fascination to have enraptured the polity.

The budget which was presented to the joint session of the National Assembly before the end of year yuletide break reportedly grew wings in the Senate bureaucracy leading to an investigation by the Senate Committee on Ethics.

The President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki while revealing the outcome of the investigations blamed on the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Senate, Senator Ita Enang for the rumpus.

It is remarkable that when the furore was first raised many outside the National Assembly paid scant attention to it. The revelation by Senator Saraki of the faking of the budget document, however, gave the alleged matter credibility.

Opportunities from the Missing Budget saga Remarkably, the Senate which has been the epicentre did not disclose what was faked or how it was faked. Senate spokesman, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi in a manner reflective of the crass dereliction of responsibility that is the manner of Nigeria’s public officials, dismissed press enquiries seeking elaboration on what was faked.

Suffice to say that diligent effort by the media to confirm discrepancies between the original budget document as submitted by the

President and the one that was reportedly circulated by Senator Enang.

How the “faked” document got its way into the Senate system should be a primary concern for the lawmakers as it reflects a breach in the process of law making.

We urge the Senate not to leave any stone unturned in its effort unearth the circumstances that led to the circulation of unauthorised copies of the budget and to what purposes. Those directly involved

OPINION Curtailing the Lassa fever scourge

By Adewale Kupoluyi

I

N the last few weeks, Nigerians have lived in great fear following the fresh outbreak of Lassa Fever. It is unfortunate that in just about year and a half after the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) plague and its containment, the nation is grappling with another scourge. So far, the epidemic is said to have spread to Bauchi, Niger, Nasarawa, Kano, Taraba, Rivers, Edo, Gombe, Ondo, Oyo, Lagos and Plateau states and allegedly killed about 50 persons while over 90 others have been infected by the disease, also known to be endemic in African countries of Benin, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described the viral disease as a zoonotic, meaning that humans become easily infected when they have direct contact with infected animals, through urine and droppings of rats, by eating contaminated foods, transmission through breast milk, laboratory transmission, especially where affected hospitals that do not have adequate infection prevention and control measures, among others. The disease records 300,000 to 500,000 cases per annum year, causing about 5,000 deaths, worldwide.

WHO further disclosed that 80 percent of the estimated human infections are asymptomatic, meaning that they carry the virus without exhibiting symptoms of the disease even though they are capable of transmitting the deadly infection.

Available statistics from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health show that the nation recorded over 1,944 cases with 207 deaths in 2012 and over 200 cases and 40 deaths in the North in 2013 while the Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua in Edo State is said to record well over 50,000 deaths from the infection, yearly.

Although, the Federal Ministry of Health has assured that the current fatality rate is not serious enough to warrant the declaration of a national emergency, it is only hoped that the situation would really be well managed. Based on the studies conducted on the disease so far, perhaps, the most effective strategy in curtailing the disease is more of preventive than reactive. That is why this piece would dwell more on the various preventive measures and seeking for ways of mitigating the challenges to ensure smooth implementation, hoping that the 4-man Expert Committee on Lassa Fever, constituted by the Federal Government would find some of the suggestions useful.

To start with, the government should upscale public awareness and enlightenment. This should go beyond the traditional media of using the print and

Government should ensure that vulnerable persons to the spread of the disease, through contaminated food are closely monitored

electronic media to ensure adequate grassroots penetration. Safety campaigns should be launched in churches, mosques, schools, markets, restaurants, motor parks by using taxi unions, religious, traditional rulers and other community leaders.

These stakeholders should be actively involved in information dissemination.

Secondly, there should be urgent training of environmental health workers on the management of casualty and isolation wards in hospitals to cope with the eventual outbreak, if it happens. Those selected should cut across the entire health workforce because of their vulnerability.

To ensure that there is adequate preparation for detection at the treatment centres, local governments should be provided with specialist laboratories to correctly detect cases because there is the likelihood for infected persons to be ignorantly treated for other diseases with similar symptoms. The reason for this is that many people, in the past, have become victims of wrong diagnosis and treatment thus amounting to double jeopardy. Also, sanitation officials at local council and state levels should ensure that clean and hygienic drainage systems are maintained in offices, homes and streets and fumigated, where necessary. This should be done through inspection and compliance by ensuring the enforcement of proper and regular waste disposal.

As obtainable in many states, environmental sanitation days should be enforced at homes, offices, markets and public places. This should be made more

in the breach should be made to account for their actions.

Vanguard believes that this development underscores the need for an operative National Assembly Budget Office. It is remarkable that more than ten years after the idea of a functioning budget office was floated, the National Assembly is yet to get a Budget Office that could give the legislature a measure of independence from the presidency.

Such reliance by the legislature even for budget documents underlines the continuing subjugation of the legislative branch to the executive branch of government.

Even worse, the legislature is at the mercy of the executive in assessing the indices and parameters used by the executive branch in framing the figures of the budget.

Despite the furore over the missing or fake budget, Vanguard believes this is an opportunity for the National Assembly to get its acts together for good.

regular than the usual monthly routine, at least for now, until the disease has been well curtailed. Mobile courts should be deployed to ensure that violators are sanctioned. Health officers should monitor the activities of hunters, processors and sellers of ‘bush meat’, most especially, rodents that have remained major delicacies in many African countries.

Despite the risk involved, many people remain deviant to abstinence from the consumption of food that could spread the disease even though there are other alternative and affordable sources of protein open to them. Government should, therefore, ensure that vulnerable persons to the spread of the disease, through contaminated food are closely monitored.

Surveillance should be intensified throughout the country, especially before the dry season when the prevalence rate of the disease is very high.

Common practices that promote the exposure of food, drinks and other consumables such as the drying of cereals at open spaces and road sides, where there are very likely to have contacts with rats and rodents should be discouraged. Those still indulged in the act should be made to desist from the unhealthy habit. Same goes for many markets, where foodstuffs are left in the open overnight and sold to vulnerable members of the public for consumption. Food items should be properly cooked before eating and people should wash their hands as many times as possible.

•Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal Varsity of Agri., Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Buhari and Saraki: What happened to 2016 budget document?

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IGERIA is a country of the incredible. The high level of criminality that defines much of what makes ours an incredible polity is traceable to the leadership of the country. I say this in the light of the confusion that surrounded the whereabouts of both the electronic and printed copies of the 2016 Appropriation Bill. It was reported last week that copies of this Bill, as delivered to the National Assembly, could no longer be found in the Senate chamber. How this document developed the capacity for mobility is the riddle that our ever resourceful senators were at pain to resolve all through last week.

Nigerians must remember that just before Christmas, precisely on December 22, President Muhammadu Buhari presented the Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly. Thereafter the National Assembly went on recess for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The National Assembly is only resuming full

operations after the holidays and the Appropriation Bill for 2016 was to be considered in a second reading by the Senate. This event that was slated for Tuesday, 12 January could not go on because both soft and hard copies of the document could simply not be found where they had been lodged in the Senate chamber. The leadership of the Senate along with its Peoples Democratic Party sympathisers believe its own bureaucracy in the Senate has been infiltrated and corrupted by the Presidency.

According to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, a man whose relationship with both the presidency and the APC leadership is at best frosty, the Senate Presidential Liason Officer, Ita Enang, himself a former senator, submitted different copies of the proposed appropriation bill to the Senate. This was Saraki’s own subtle explanation of what many PDP senators saw as an act of mischief by the presidency that has been accused of withdrawing the bill, albeit unofficially, in order to further tinker with it. This after it

had been presented weeks ago by the president! What could be more criminal than this? When passed at the National Assembly, the Appropriation Bill becomes an Act of parliament, which is a law of the Nigerian State. It’s a document that is as important as this that is being flippantly reported as missing- in fact stolen, going by the less euphemistic accusation from the Senate. Some senators are therefore calling for investigation of the matter while others insist the president has committed an impeachable offence. We have to make clear that the House of Representatives seems not to have been affected by the pilfering that occurred in the Senate.

Which would leave any reasonable person observing this absurdity to ask why this act of theft should happen in just one chamber of the National Assembly and not the other. What would be the object of such theft- to simply embarrass the Senate and its principal officers? Or could the theft truly be an attempt to withdraw the original document submitted and read to the National Assembly by the president, as is being alleged by many in the senate? Let us remember that the presidential presentation was televised live to the world on 22 December, 2015.

Would anybody in their right mind

The presidency appears to have been up to some dirty trick in the ‘missing’ 2016 Appropriation Bill brouhaha

Bayelsa polls: Buhari and free and fair elections

By Dan Owegie

A

FTER months of serious electioneering, political fireworks, heated campaigns, intrigues and anxiety all snowballing into a major contest between Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission last Sunday declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, and incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson, winner of the election.

The announcement ordinarily ought to have put paid to months of political bickering and acrimony between the two major contenders in the state, but Nigerians are still ruminating over what transpired before, during and after the polls and opinions are diverse.

First, during the campaigns, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari wants to take over all the states in the federation for the APC and that the new INEC Chairman, was appointed to do just that.

Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, had raised an alarm over what he termed "plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the December 5 governorship election in the state".

Dokubo-Spiff had alleged that the APC was planning to use cloned Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to rig the governorship election.

Dokubo-Spiff, said "APC was not ready to contest the election but only interested

in finding a way to rig and take over the state.

According to him, the PDP uncovered the rigging plot following intelligence gathering as he claimed that some elements in the APC willingly gave information about the planned use of the cloned PVCs. But from the announced result, where laid these allegations? It was clear that Dokubo-Spiff and his PDP exhibited a high sense of melancholy by their wild allegations.

Secondly, the Bayelsa governorship election was characterised by unnecessary bloodletting as over 12 persons were reportedly killed during the election, while several other citizens suffered various degrees of injury, some currently on danger list. This calls to mind the question of desperation of the political class in the country. Election is not a do or die affair. Offering oneself for an elective office is a request to serve the people and not a license to kill. Dickson that was declared winner is not going to be governor of the dead, but that of the living.

A former PDP leader came up with the "Do or Die" approach and spirit which most

The APC remains committed to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria

really find no other legitimate way to seek withdrawal of such document –if that became necessary- than to steal it altogether without fear of consequences? Has Nigeria degenerated to such level or is it the case that it is our politicians that have lost all sense of propriety and are just not bothered about the gravity of the accusations they make in a bid to gain some political mileage?

This episode initially looked to me like a desperate attempt by the leadership of the Senate to get one back at the presidency and by so doing smear the apparently stainfree babanriga of President Buhari.

A section of the Senate leadership no doubt seems eager to show that even the president is not above murk. How long ago was it that the present Senate leadership and its surrogate were accused of criminal alteration of House rules in order to facilitate the appointment of certain persons into some positions? That episode that involved the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ikweremadu, is still a matter of criminal investigation.

It would therefore be a balancing act to show that the presidency is guilty of the same offence. But this might be another opportunity to say it as it is by asking hard questions of the presidency. Could the president or his minders have truly sought to withdraw the proposed 2016 Appropriation Bill in the manner reported in the Senate? The latest report that the president wrote to the National Assembly, suggesting a desire to withdraw or tinker with the earlier document submitted by him, seems to lend credence to the allegation of theft against the presidency.

Which leaves one no option but to question the method or style of the Buhari presidency. It is one thing to have good intentions however contentious it might be

politicians still carry on till date. But we must eschew violence in our electoral process going forward.

It is also heartwarming to note that a former Federal commissioner for Information who is also an Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, last week described the Bayelsa State governorship election as "not only a disgrace but a brazen and open show of shame". Clark posits that political violence in the state was due to desperation and greed and I agree totally with him. Clark, who is also the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ijaw National Congress, said it was time for the Ijaw nation to look inward and I also concur with him. Ijaws must refrain from frequent resort to violence in their struggles for social and political emancipation in the country because there is certainly no meaningful progress or development in a community frequently buffeted with violence. The North East that has been allowed to be pounded by Boko Haram, will take several decades, if not centuries for that part of the country to regain itself for development.

Any right thinking and forward looking Nigerian would condemn the kind of violence visited on Bayelsa by desperate politicians. It is really sad that machetes, battle axes, guns and other weapons became the voting tools rather than the Permanent Voter Cards in an election that was manned by over 20,000 security personnel drawn from different security agencies. This requires that our security agents need to be properly trained and re-trained for future elections. Also, citizens must know that killing to acquire power is needless after all former President Goodluck Jonathan once posited that "His election or re-election didn't require the blood of any Nigerian.

Even when he lost the Presidential election, he put a call across to the winner, Muhammadu Buhari to congratulate him

defining what that means. But the method one hopes to employ to achieve those good intentions is something else. We must steer clear of all anti-democratic methods. President Buhari may need to review his style and that of his administration as he goes on with the governance of this country.

This has become imperative in the light of a few comments he has made that would seem to suggest he might be reluctant to accept views different from his own. While Nigerians understand that things had become egregiously bad under the successive PDP administrations that the country has had in the last few years, while they may understand that President Buhari may be anxious for us to get back on track by correcting the mistakes of the past, it would be a disservice to us all for anyone including President Buhari to take steps that might reverse the milestones already achieved on the democratic front.

A reluctance to obey court orders or question or reinterpret such orders simply because they do not align with the position of the president or his administration might ultimately hurt whatever positive strides the administration might be making at the moment.

Suggesting as the president did during his media chat, that an accused person should be held in custody even when the courts had granted such an accused bail cannot further the interest of democracy. Such a suggestion would seem of a type with the attempt to adopt unorthodox, even criminal methods, to seek withdrawal of the document of the 2016 Appropriation Bill. Even though the Senate leadership has been mealy-mouthed about it, the presidency appears to have been up to some dirty trick in the ‘missing’ 2016 Appropriation Bill brouhaha. Let it own up now.

in the spirit of a good sportsmanship.

Bayelsans and indeed Nigerians have a lot to learn from his disposition to elections.

Thirdly, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress Chief Timipre Sylva, said he would challenge the result of the election in court. He said he had officially complained, prior to the election, that the present structure of INEC in the state would not conduct a credible election.

According to him, the INEC officials were assembled by the immediate-past administration to deliver the state to PDP in last general elections. In my considered opinion, Chief Timipre Sylva has every right to seek justice in court .

But it is only needful at this point to appeal to my Comrade, Sylva to accept the result of the election in the interest of Bayelsa people, and Nigerian democracy. If for no other reason, for the very fact that the declared result has disproved the PDP's allegation that the APC-led federal government had perfected plans to rig the election in his favour. Nigerians watching from the outside knew that it would be an uphill task for Sylva given the fact that Bayelsa is the home state of the immediate Past President Goodluck Jonathan and the base of the Late Governor-General of the Ijaw people, Diepriye Alamiyeseigha all of whom are of the PDP. But what happens in the next two three years when President Muhammadu Buhari rolls in the change agenda will likely alter all of these equation that would see the Ijaw nation keying into the train of massive developments that will come as Nigerians look forward to majority of Ijaws becoming keen apostles of the change agenda.

It is, therefore obvious to all Nigerians that President Buhari and indeed, the APC remains committed to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

*Mr. Owegie, an APC chieftain in Edo State, wrote from Benin City.

Vanguard, WEDNES DAY WEDNESDAY DAY, JANUARY 20, 2016—20

Baby abandoned with congenital brain disease discharged from Enugu hospital

By Francis Igata, Enugu

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EARS of joy flowed freely in Enugu last week following the discharge of an abandoned two-year old baby suffering from debilitating fluid in the brain ( hydrocephalus) from the hospital. The abandoned child christened Uchechukwu Nwachukwu was discharged from the Memfys Hospital in the coal city after undergoing a successful surgery arising from a congenital disease. The surgery was performed in the hospital on December 23, 2015.

Elated visitors to the hospital could not conceal their joy as they appreciated the gesture of Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who identified the sickly and abandoned child when he visited Mother of Christ Orphanage Home, Enugu as part of activities to mark the nation’s independence anniversary on October 1, last year.

Narrating how the child came to the hospital, Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Mr. Samuel Ngwu said the boy was identified by the governor during his Independence Day visit to the orphanage. “The little boy was abandoned there by the parents who found out that he was born with congenital disease, hydrocephalus. It is an ailment that is responsible for water being in the brain which in turn causes ballooning of the head. The name Uchechukwu Nwachukwu was given to him by reverend fathers at the orphanage home. The home is run by the Roman Catholics.

The governor was rudely shocked that parents can abandon their child no matter the circumstance. Moved by the boy’s depreciating condition, the governor quickly ordered that he be moved to Memfys Hospital which specialises in neurosurgical cases. Governor Ugwuanyi called the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Prof.

Sam Ohaegbulam and briefed him about the boy’s condition. The doctor quickly took the patient in and prepared him for surgery. The governor provided N2 million for the

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surgery and promised to cater for the boy thereafter. The surgery was performed on December 23 last year and it was successful. The patient has been discharged and referred to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane where he will receive physiotherapy and recuperate further”, he said Surgeon’s reaction Prof. Ohaegbulam who also spoke to newsmen, advised those with similar cases to visit the hospital early enough when the situation has not become unmanageable. He lauded Governor Ugwuanyi for the confidence reposed in his hospital to successfully handle the ailment rather than resort to overseas treatment which is usually the case.

“The ailment was caused by the expansion and pumping of blood in the head which makes one’s head to be bigger. The treatment is simple because it is just to divert the fluid in the brain to the stomach. The fluid is produced in the brain and needs to be taken back by the body. But sometimes there is an obstruction somewhere. The result is like damming a river which makes it overflow. When this happens, we have to find a way to divert the fluid to another part of the body. And usually it is the abdomen that we divert it to. There are other ways of managing it but that is the simplest and universally acceptable. That is why we put a tube in the brain, passed it under the skin to the abdomen and the fluid is now having an

The ailment was caused by the expansion and pumping of blood in the head which makes one’s head to be bigger; the treatment is simple because it is just to divert the fluid in the brain to the stomach

•Uchechukwu on sick bed while Prof. Ohaegbulam fields questions from newsmen. outlet where the body can take it back for circulation.

“Although the disease came in an advanced stage, we were able to weather the storm. The child is making progress. It requires follow up. It is not a case you discharge and go. It requires constant palliative care. The swollen head will shrink as it should because as the child grows, the body size will make the swollen head not to be as conspicuous as it is now because the child is small”.

Elated visitors A woman who simply

identified herself as Ebere could not hold back her tears of joy. She prayed fervently for God’s blessing upon Governor Ugwuanyi and she called on other well meaning individuals to emulate his kind gesture towards the less privileged.

“It is in giving that you receive. As the governor has given for the little boy to be treated, so shall he receive abundantly. Some wealthy people are out there but they do not have the willpower to give. Life is not about the much you acquire but about the number of lives you touch,”

Ebere said.

Vanguard Metro VM recalls that Governor Ugwuanyi had also shortly after assuming office as the governor, paid an unscheduled visit to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital located at Park Lane in the Coal City where he settled the medical bills running into millions of Naira of over 10 financially handicapped patients who could not afford the medical bills.That singular gesture endeared the governor of Enugu State indigenes who began to see his administration as one with a human face.

Centro Mall sets Lagos aglow with music show

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O spice up the Yuletide season, Centro Mall in Lekki recently convened a musical show for Lagos residents. The show which was held in the mall brought together shoppers, family and friends to appreciate the significance of the season.

The event featured the Muson School of Music who serenaded the audience and shoppers with Christmas carols, jazz band, string quartet and more. It was a normal shopping day with special discounts from selected stores In a chat with Vanguard Metro at the venue, the Publicist of the convener, Miss Omawumi Ogbe said the “show was put together for residents of the Lekki community and Lagos at large, to bring attention to our

Students of Muson School of Music entertaining shoppers at the event.

purpose-built, luxury boutique shopping mall”. ‘’This will be the first of an annual Centro Christmas tradition designed to bring the community together. Similar events will occur at key seasonal milestones. It was a family Christmas fun day as well as a normal shopping day,” she said.

She further provided insight

into the benefits of shopping at Centro. ‘’The benefits of shopping at Centro Lekki Mall are that we attract both international brands and top Nigerian brands. What makes us unique is the variety of shops we are able to attract combined with a Rooftop Restaurant and Coffee Shop/ bakery.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 — 21

From left, Mr Uche Onwudiwe, Marketing Manager, Malta Guinness Nigeria Plc; Bright Okpocha (Basket Mouth), a comedian; Anyalebechi Obinna, Customer Marketing Director,Guinness Nigeria Plc,and Mrs Yinka Edmond,Corporate Communication Manager Guinness Nigeria Plc at the Malta Guinness YOU Vs Campaign Brand Ambassador signing ceremony, in Lagos.

PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

FG imposes N50 stamp duty on bank customers

By Babajide Komolafe

Banks and Other Financial institutions titled, Collection and Remittance of statutory charges on receipts of Nigeria Postal Service under the Stamp Duties Act”.

The CBN stated, “As part of efforts to boost its revenue

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HE Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria, yesterday, imposed stamp duty of N50 on bank customers for money received into their accounts.

Consequently, bank customers will henceforth pay N50 stamp duty for money received into their accounts via electronic transfer, cash and cheques.

This order was contained in a circular to all Deposit Money

$115.90

CURRENCY

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

1.00

US DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

-0.07

$29.57

1.02

$29.63

0. 21

BUYING 196 280.28 213.5028 194. 9667 1.6692 0.3069 270.4876 29.7891 52. 243 28.6002 271. 166

SELLING 196.5 280. 995 214.0475 195. 464 1.6735 0.3169 271.1776 29. 8655 52.3763 28.6732 271.8578

revenue drive through compliance with the provisions of the Stamp Duties Act, LFN 2004 as reinforced by the court judgement in Suit No FHC/L/CS/1710/2013. In this regard, the CBN pursuant to the provisions of its enabling laws, hereby issues

CBN blames declining non-oil revenue on low export loans

$2,929.00 24.00 $14.85

base, the federal government of Nigeria is exploring revenue opportunities in the non-oil sectors especially taxes and rates. It is in recognition of this fact that banks and other financial institutions are enjoined to support government’s

this circular to all DMBs other financial institutions: “With immediate effect, all DMBs and other financial institutions shall commence the charging of N50 per eligible transaction in accordance with the provisions of the Stamp Duties Act and Federal Government Financial Regulations 2009, that is, all receipts given by any bank or other financial institution in acknowledgment of services rendered in respect of electronic transfer and teller deposits from N1, 000 and above; “For all avoidance of doubt the following receipts are however exempted from imposition of stamp duties: payments of deposits or transfer by self to self whether inter or intra bank; and any form of withdrawals/transfers from saving accounts; It should be noted that these charges are only payable by receiving accounts; “Each DMB shall open an account designated as NIPOST Stamp Duties Account into which all charges collected shall be paid. The balances in such accounts shall be transferred monthly by the DMBs to CBN NIPOST Stamp Duty Collection Account No. 3000047517; “Other financial institutions shall remit their Stamp Duty collections to any DMB of their choice.”

197 281. 71 214.5921 195. 9614 1.6777 0.3269 271. 8676 29.9419 52.5095 28.7461 272.5495

CBN Exchange rate as at 19/01/2016

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has blamed the country’s low revenue from non-oil export on stumpy loans to that sector.

Governor of the apex bank, Mr Godwin Emefiele made this known at the opening ceremony of a one-day conference organised by the Apex Bank in conjunction with the Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM) on NonOil Export Simulation in Abuja yesterday.

Represented by the Director, Development Finance of the CBN, Dr Mudashiru Olaitan, Emefiele blamed the decline of non oil revenue on the low level of loans to exporters which invariably contributed to the decline in non oil export revenue receipts from $10.53billion in 2014 to $4.39billion in 2015.

“It has been observed that while credit to non oil export is declining and currently at an average of 0.6 percent of total domestic loans to the private sector in the past five years, the domestic credit to the economy has been on the rise, Emefiele stated.”

The CBN Governor further said that it had become more instructive for

stakeholders to dialogue towards evolving responsive strategies that would expand resources for exports and its funding programmes on a complimentary basis.

He said “The aim of this one-day stakeholders conference is therefore to foster greater understanding of the issues constraining our non oil exports and its sustainability with a view to proffering practical solutions on short term and long term perspectives” Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of Nexim Bank, Mr Robert Orya said the seminar was underscored by the recurring problem of the volatility in the international oil market which has

“...the current episode of the global oil price collapse is expectedtobequiteprotractedand had manifested in Nigeria in significant revenue decline at all tiers of government...”

challenged the Nigerian economy over the years.

Orya lamented that the revenue profile has remained tilted towards Oil and Gas sector contribution of over 70 percent and over 90 percent of government and export earnings respectively.

This is as a result of the recent rebasing of Nigeria’s economy that revealed that production base had become much more diversified with the Service sectors accounting for about 52 percent of the Gross Domestic Product in 2014.

Orya noted that the current episode of the global oil price collapse is expected to be quite protracted and has manifested in significant revenue decline in Nigeria at all tiers of government with attendant macroeconomic and external sector challenges.

He however said, “The good news is that the current development has provided yet another opportunity for us to redouble our efforts towards developing other key sectors and enhancing the country’s non oil export revenues.”

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Most businesses have not been able to outlive their founders, due to the failure of the founder to make deliberate and systematic plan before death

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,

Demand explanation for non-payment of dividend from your insurance company — NAICOM

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s a shareholder of an insurance company, you should demand explanations from your management to ascertain reasons they continue to incur sanctions from the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM. You should also demand explanations on your company ’s inability to pay dividends year after year.

Recall that some insurance companies have continued to incur high management expenses; fail to take advantage of the huge potentials in the market and as well, the various market development initiatives introduced by NAICOM to expand their businesses.

These companies have also failed to grow their revenue income and improve on their bottom-line to guarantee enhanced dividend payout to their shareholders.

However, NAICOM has insisted that with current developments in the country, there is need for collaborative effort to reposition the insurance industry.

Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Mohammed Kari said, “We are in the era of change and the insurance sector could not afford to be left behind. Under the present dispensation and a rapidly dynamic environment, the industry certainly cannot continue to apply the same methods and approach of conducting its business and expect a different result. “The Commission is not unmindful of the challenges confronting the industry that requires the collective and decisive efforts of all stakeholders to navigate successfully to safety. We want to believe that some shareholders are deliberately being misinformed, misled and

used as stooges by management of some insurance companies to cover up their gross financial mismanagement of these companies. The Commission sympathizes with the shareholders because they have a right to be aggrieved over the nil returns on their investments.

“It may also interest the shareholders and indeed the general public to note that insurance is a regulated business. Operators who choose to play in the sector must be prepared to do so in strict compliance with the extant insurance laws. Fines and sanctions for any default/ infraction by an operator are clearly spent out in the respective laws to the knowledge and understanding of the operators. The law may not be perfect, but as long as it remains the law, its provisions must be complied with and it is the responsibility of NAICOM, as the statutory regulatory agency of the sector to ensure every operator play by the rule.”

However, NAICOM maintains that it embarked on the sensitization of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government on the compelling need for adequate insurance of their assets.

Kari said, “We have equally canvassed the engagement of insurance professionals to handle their insurances to ensure they procure proper insurance policies. We have advocated the need for the MDAs to ensure adequate budgets for the insurance of their assets as well. We have entered into collaboration with relevant government agencies to enforce compliance of certain classes of insurance made compulsory by extant laws in the country.

INSURAN Embrace insurance as good investment vehicle for business sustainability Stories by Rosemary Onuoha

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s a business owner, you should see insurance as a good investment vehicle for business sustainability.

In essence, you should approach genuine insurance companies for sound investment advice for sustainability of businesses.

This is necessary because most businesses have not been able to outlive their founders. This is due to the failure of the founder to make deliberate and systematic plan before death.

In other words, most businesses have failed after the demise of the original founder due to lack of deliberate and systematic plan in the transfer of the ownership of the business from one family to the next.

As an entrepreneur running whether a small or big business, your desire is to see

your business flourish and outlive you.

If you want to realise this, as the original founder, you have to embrace adequate grooming of successor(s) in the business line, through

With a little premium, insurance gives confidence that guarantees personal well-being and comfort as well as investments that engender the much desired development and growth

proper vocational or professional education. You should know that succession issues are not limited to the Nigeria’s family businesses alone, but is of universal appeal.

Interestingly, family businesses, which may either, be sole trading or vocational businesses, including professional practices which are of relatively recent origin, constitute an important group of enterprises within the small to medium scale sector.

Experts are of the opinion that when most business founders become successful in the businesses, out of the fear of their own backgrounds, they often educate their children in exotic disciplines unrelated to their line of business, thereby lending credence to the ‘qualified but not suitable’ syndrome, a veritable panacea for succession failure.

According to experts, this kind of education fails to inculcate into the would-be successor, the dream, passion, discipline and sometimes the integrity of the founder, which

Apply punitive measures against employers defaulting in position remittance — Da-Souza

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anaging Director of Trustfund Pensions Limited, Mrs. Helen Da-Souza has called for legal and punitive measures against employers who default in prompt remittance of pension contributions of their employees.

Da-Souza who disclosed this at a public lecture to mark the 10th anniversary of the organisation in Lagos said the existing framework for moral suasion by the National Pension Commission, PenCom, has not taken the industry to the desired

destination.

She said, “We suggest that legal and punitive measures, in line with the Pension Reform Act of 2004 should be activated. A good number of employers have been running foul of the Pension Reform Act in terms of prompt and regular

TOP INSURANCE GAINERS AND LOSERS

UNVEILING: From left, Surulere All Progressives Congress Chairman, Shakirudeen Ajao; Managing Director, Designer Rice, Mr. Olanrewaju Subair-Abiola; Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; and Executive Secretary, Surulere Local Government, Mrs. Bamidele Hussain, during the unveiling of Gbajabiamila Support Projects in Surulere, Lagos.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 —

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CE & YOU

When most business founders become successful in the businesses, out of the fear of their own backgrounds, they often educate their children in exotic disciplines unrelated to their line of business

23

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Expert advocates practising insurance in accordance with principles

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THANKSGIVING: From left, Chairman,Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Akin Opeodu and hiswife during the Mutual Benefits Assurance 20th thanksgiving service, in Lagos.

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are his/her personal attributes, and which are non-transferable.

Hence, as an entrepreneur, you should establish a clear and meaningful strategic development process for easy succession with a view to sustaining the business because succession plan is required and should be carried out at the right time.

However, such succession plan must be crafted early enough and proper values must also be instilled

in the successor because this knowledge is essential to project the ethos of sustainability of businesses with good corporate governance structure entrenched in any business.

Group Managing Director of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, said “With a little premium, insurance gives confidence that guarantees personal well-

being and comfort as well as investments that engender the much desired development and growth.”

Ogunbiyi said, “It is a myth that this potentially huge business of spreading risks in order to promote substantial investments in the productive sector cannot thrive in the informal sector even better than it is doing in the formal sector.”

remittance of pension contributions in favour of their employers registered with Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs. “These customers are being short changed and denied their investment incomes that should have accrued to them had their pension deductions been remitted as and when due. On the other hand, some employers remit only the employees portion thereby creating loss of revenue to both their employees and the industry operators.

“As the scheme has been in operation for more than 10 years, there is need to expand the scope of the scheme to cover more people in this segment of the population. In this regard, so much has been said about the need to extend the implementation of the CPS to the informal sector of the economy. Bringing the informal sector participants under the contributory pension scheme is a very crucial move needed to expand the horizon of the scheme in Nigeria.

“The states and local governments also constitute another vast area yet to be fully covered in the implementation of the CPS. Many state governments whose Contributory Pension Scheme laws were passed over

five years ago are yet to commence full implementation of the scheme. There are yet other states that have not made any meaningful efforts towards introducing the new scheme by forwarding pensions bill to the state assemblies.”

Da-Souza said that TrustFund Pensions assets under management is over N300 billion at the end of 2015 after ten years of operation.

She said that TrustFund story was born out of sheer determination to excel in a highly competitive and regulated industry. “We have demonstrated a strong knack for integrity and have been sticklers for ethical conduct in our daily affairs. TrustFund Pensions came into existence as a result of the cessation of the Defined Benefit Scheme and the subsequent introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme.

“We had believed that we were positioned to maximize the first mover advantage in capturing the market, but due to corporate structure formation issues, we suffered some initial setbacks in kicking off as a licensed pension fund administrator. However we were able to sort out our governance issues and today we are enjoying corporate

governance stability and cohesion.

“By the time we had properly constituted our board, other licensed PFAs had operated for about one month and taken a large chunk of the market.

Nevertheless, we were not deterred as we hit the ground running and today, we are ranked as one of the top Pension Fund Administrators in the industry.

“Trust fund had more than 600,000 registered contributors, out of which over 8,000 members now earn monthly pension from the company as pensioners. Similarly, the company has generated assets under management in excess of N300 billion.

“The vision of the company is to be the leader and market maker for funds management in the financial industry. Not only have we pursued this vision vigorously, we have also worked hard towards achieving the company’s mission which is to create future value for the economically active workforce to achieve a quality standard of living upon retirement.

“This mission coupled with our core value of passion for service has kept us working assiduously and with absolute commitment to making our customer service one of the best in the industry.

anaging Director o f Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Mr. Eddie Efekoha has said that the business of insurance should be done strictly in accordance with the principles of insurance.

Efekoha who stated this during the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, annual graduation and awards ceremony in Lagos, said that every insurance practitioner should observe the general laws of the land.

According to Efekoha, every practitioner should abide by the code of ethics as stated in Section 79 of the Insurance Act 2003 even as every member shall be expected to be transparent in his/her dealings and preserve impartiality in conduct.

On the general causes of unethical conduct in the insurance industry, Efekoha said that greed and pursuit of personal gains; lack of transparency; peer pressure and societal influence; competition; as well as inadequate monitoring/ enforcement are causes of unethical conducts.

He highlighted some unethical practices in the insurance industry to include rate-cutting; unhealthy competition; rebates and illegal payments to intermediaries; refusal to pay claims; claims purchasing; poor representation of client; collusion with clients to exaggerate claim amount or claim for uninsured losses as well as leasing AIIN certificate for fee.

Efekoha stated that some effects of non-adherence to ethical standards are that it hinders growth; bad public perception; career death; lead organisations to corporate graveyard as well as corruption of the entire system.

On the way forward, Efekoha said that there can be no future for the insurance industry if unprofessional and unethical practices continue to be the bedrock for insurance companies, brokers, agents, loss adjusters and the insuring public.

He said, “It is therefore our collective responsibility today to determine the future of our industry through professional

and ethical practices. Invest in our personal education beyond what our employers provide.

Imbibe the spirit of professionalism in the discharge of our duty to our employers. Each and every one of us must constantly ask ourselves everyday- Have I acted in my line of duty as a professional today?”

Efekoha maintained that professionals must maintain the insurance industry code of ethics by obeying all the laws; diligently performing assigned duties; promoting professional standards; establishing and maintaining worthy associations; upholding a well defined communicated corporate culture; as well as continually seeking knowledge,

What differentiates us from others is how we comport ourselves when the CCTV in our company can’t see us

skill and competence.

He said that without ethics, integrity and conducting selves in a manner worthy of emulation, practitioners are mere paper peddlers on the streets with nice suits and shoes.

“What differentiates us from others is how we comport ourselves when the CCTV in our company can’t see us.

We must have it at the back of our mind that our actions and in fact lack of it influences the public’s perception of not only our company but in fact our profession and industry at large.

Success for us as professionals is to be value oriented, to impact our work life, our organisation, and our clients positively. We cannot achieve a world class insurance industry without good ethical and professional practices,” Efekoha stated.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

2,000 adults, children benefit from Hope Scholarship -Page 26 Scheme of GPOF

VOL. 1 NO 53 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Ndigbo flays destruction of Oshodi market

BY CHINENYEH OZOR & CHIMAOBI NWAIWU

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NEWI —ANGRY reactions

by Igbo groups and individuals have continued to trail the demolition of the Owonifari Market Oshodi, Lagos and destruction of goods worth billions of Naira by the Lagos State government during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Those, who spoke on the demolition said that the exercise was targeted at the Igbo most of who had travelled to celebrate the Christmas and New Year with their extended families in the East. They also condemned the planned relocation of the traders in the destroyed market to the Resettlement Market, formerly known as Isopakosowo Market without final agreement and conclusion of relocation plans with the executives of traders’ associations in the old market.

In his reaction, the President General of Osakwe Industrial Cluster, a Small Scale Business group with operators numbering about 15,000, Chief Johnson Okolo, told the South East Voice that Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State should be blamed for woes of the traders.

Okolo also, lampooned the South East governors for playing the ostrich over the plight of their people pointing out that they had failed to show leadership when it mattered most. “The shops and goods that were destroyed belong to people and the people whose goods were destroyed have their state governors, so what are their governors saying?

“They are busy protecting their personal interests instead of protecting those of their people.

The South East governors should have tackled Ambode as a group, knowing fully that Igbo people are punished and frustrated in Lagos.

"Nigerians use everything to play politics even the life of the people. They put people’s lives into politics. Is this not another form of corruption?

"Now by the time you take this matter to court, the case will not see the light of the day until the end of that government and even in the next 20 years nothing will be said about it. But if it is a political matter, within six months judgment will be delivered and then politician will occupy their positions…. If the market union and the traders take the matter to court against the Lagos State government, the matter will be frustrated and in the next 100

Oshodi market being buldozed years nothing will be heard about the market.

“That is why I said that the root causes of corruption in Nigeria are ineffective laws and implementation of such laws. If I know that if I slap you, I will face the consequences of the law, I will not slap you, but because I

know that if I slap you that I will get away with it or that when we go to court and it will take years for judgement to be given you I will continue to slap you."

Mr. Okolo further said: “If the traders go to court and get judgement in the next six months, the governor will not do

what he did, but because he knows the court belongs to him and he can afford to get delay tactics through his lawyers, he will do what he likes, coupled with the fact that the Judiciary is not independent in Nigeria, people will continue to do things with impunity."

How Imo Commissioner of Police arrested 88 kidnappers in 4 months

BY CHINONSO ALOZIE

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WERRI— THE Imo State Police Commissioner, Tiwo Lakanu has disclosed how the state police command arrested 88 suspected kidnappers in four months.

He said the harvest of kidnappers was recorded under Operation Nkpochapu (operation wipe out), launched prior to the Yuletide.

Lakanu who spoke to South East Voice while parading some suspected kidnappers at the police headquarters in Owerri, the state capital also said that the great feat was achieved September 2, 2015 till date.

He said that within the period under review, the command recorded 41 armed robbery incidents 24 cases of child trafficking were recorded, with 16 of them rescued. Lakanu further said that 18 stolen vehicles were recovered apart from arms and ammunition also recovered among others.

The Police Commissioner said that the highlight of the success story included the substantial restoration of peace at Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area through the efforts of the police.

He stressed that before the restoration of peace in the area, bandits operated as if they were the owners of the land in the town.

He said, “I am pleased to inform you that the command has succeeded in restoring peace and solving most of the C M Y K

criminal activities that had been going on in Imo State.

“Worthy of mentioning is the monumental and obvious reduction if criminal activities and brigandage that have pervaded the people of Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. Following the deployment of personnel of the Police Mobile Force, PMF, around Mgbala Agwa, we arrested some suspected kidnappers who tortured

Suspected kidnappers paraded

arrested for his involvement in two kidnap incidents and many armed robbery operations. His gang operates between Nkraha Junction between the Owerri- Port Harcourt road. In one of his robbery operations, he shot and injured an Inspector of Police; some of his gang members are already in the prisons.

“Also operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the command painstakingly smashed the notorious syndicate involved in the kidnap of a commissioner in the state who was abducted from her residence on October 11, 2015.”

Meanwhile, Lakanu said that the other suspects included Arinze John Ibeabu, 43, and a native of Nkwuakuma, Akata in Our West Local Government Area, Imo state, and Joseph Olakunle, 53 a native of Ekole in Ekiti North Local Government Area of Ekiti State. He further stressed that “the suspects made several threatening text messages demanding for ransom from the victims and were subsequently nabbed.

"They have given useful information disclosing the identities of other gang members who are still at large and efforts are being intensified to get them apprehended.”

to death a victim in their custody and subsequently buried her after they had collected a ransom to the tune of N510,000 from the immediate family members.”

Lakanu further said that through a systematic and coordinated operation, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the state police command, the Police arrested the suspected kidnappers including Gift Emeka, 26, Sunday Uchenna, 28, Emeka Chinedu, 27, Peter Obido, 28, pointing out that all the suspects were indigenes of Awara in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, “The suspects were responsible for the kidnap and murder of one Madam Ogo Omereji, 63, who was kidnapped in her farm at Awara in Ohaji/ Egbema on September 26, 2015.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to have kidnapped, tortured to death and subsequently burying the victim’s corpse in a shallow grave in the forest even after they had collected a ransom of N510,000 from the victims’ immediate family.

“The suspects led operatives to the forest where they buried their victim whose remains have been exhumed and Recovery of vehicles released to the family for proper burial The command also recovered a Toyota after autopsy. Investigation has been Camry car with registration number BJ concluded and the suspect will soon 872 YAB snatched from one Prof Vincent appear in court.”

Imo of INRI Micro Finance Bank Uturu in Abia State and a Honda Jeep with KIDNAPPING number PTN. 34 TA whose owner was On kidnapping, he said, “one Amadi kidnapped in Abia State.

Uju Promise, 26, from Umagwu Mgbishi in Ohaji Local Government Area was

26 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

JANUARY 20, 2016

2,000 adults, children benefit from Hope Scholarship Scheme of GPOF

BY CHIMAOBI NWAIWU

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NEWI —ABOUT 2,000 adults and children have so far benefited from Hope Scholarship Scheme under the Godwin and Patricia Okeke Foundation, GPOF, with majority of the beneficiaries mostly in the tertiary institutions and colleges across the country. GPOF is a Non-Governmental Organization set up and being sponsored by a popular transporter and Chairman of G.U. Okeke Group of Companies, Chief Godwin Okeke and his wife Lady Patricia to take care of the less privileged in Nigeria and South East in particular.

The NGO, especially has been hosting its beneficiaries on the first day of January for the past six years, especially adults and children from Adazi Ani community are not left out just as other children from different communities in Anambra State and the wider South East are likewise hosted every year.

GPOF is multi-disciplinary NGO with core interests in three core areas of Community Health, Community Development and Global Education. During occasion beneficiaries, especially children and beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme and even

THE TEAM Supervising Editor: Chioma Gabriel, Lagos (08052201257) Editor: Emeka Mamah - Enugu email: emekemamah@yahoo.com) Anayo Okoli, Umuahia Vincent Ujumadu, Awka Austin Ogwuda, Awka Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri Peter Okutu, Abakaliki Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi

Francis Igata, Enugu Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba Enyim Enyim, Onitsha Chinoso Alozie, Owerri Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka Eric Ugbor, Aba

non-beneficiaries are treated to sumptuous dishes as well as dancing competition, that is organized with prizes given to the dancers after the competition.

This year event attracted the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike and his Ministry of Information counterpart, Dr. Uju Nworgu.

A beneficiary of Hope Scholarship Programme, Miss Chisom Nnaji, an SS3 student of Supreme Knowledge Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkpor near Onitsha stated that five of her siblings were granted scholarships in Supreme Knowledge Comprehensive School, owned and administered by Lady Okeke, adding that she sees herself as a daughter to the couple, saying that Chief and

•Chief Godwin Okeke and wife, Patricia (5th from left), and other guests.

•Children at the party. lady Okeke treat the children as their own.

Impressed by the parental conduct and care of her benefactors, despite her poor parental background and town of origin, Ubahu community, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Miss Nnaji charged other children to make judicious use of the scholarship scheme and relieve their parents

Lady Okeke promised to continue to provide for indigent children as God continues to keep her alive

of the burden of training them, just as they alleviate the sufferings of their families and remove them from intense poverty.

Lady Okeke in her speech said the foundation was established about six years ago, adding that it was her passion to help children succeed in life that propelled their interest to establish the foundation. She noted that the foundation which has catered for the educational needs of children from various parental backgrounds and towns was not discriminatory and promised to continue to provide for indigent children as God continues to keep her alive. Chief Sir Okeke said that caring for people in need was a major secret of his sustained wealth, God’s mercies and protection of the family, noting that the scholarship scheme under the foundation has produced a lot of professionals in various disciplines.

Nnewi markets associations call for ban on construction of filling stations near homes ...as relations of Nnewi factory fire victims still count losses

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA — MARKET unions and different groups in Nnewi, Anambra State have risen against the siting of gas plants and filling stations near residential buildings in the industrial community, asking the Anambra State House of Assembly to rise to the occasion and outlaw the construction of such stations on the streets. The Nnewi Butchers Association which made the call while reflecting on the December 24, 2015 fire disaster at Chicason Gas Plant in Nnewi which claimed many lives and properties worth billions of Naira, accused government of not being sensitive to the implications of approving filling stations along streets and other residential areas in Nnewi and other parts of the state.

Speaking on the development, Chairman of the association, Chief Amobi Nnoluka while commiserating with the families of the December 24, 2015 factory fire and others who lost their properties in the recent filling station fire outbreaks described as unfortunate the rate at which government and other relevant authorities gave approval to

petroleum dealers to build their filling stations near residential houses irrespective of the dangers such approval posed to lives and properties of the citizens. Nnoluka noted that the worst of it all, was that safety measures were not adopted by the owners of such filling stations which he said gave the impression that the authorities that gave the approvals never thought about the safety of the people other than monetary considerations.

“We wonder why such highly inflammable business concerns should be sited near people’s homes and government still looked the other way to the detriment of innocent citizens.

The Anambra State House of Assembly has to, as a matter of

•Chicason gas plant explosion at Nnewi

South East Voice,

Page 26

urgency, make a law banning the approval of such constructions.

And those already in existence should be sealed for now until adequate safety measures have been adopted.

“We express our heartfelt condolence to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the December 24 gas explosion and our sympathy to the owner of the factory, Chief Chika Okafor among others,” Chief Nnoluka said.

In another development, relations of the December 24, 2015 factory fire victims and those whose properties were destroyed in the Nnewi gas explosion have cried for attention.

The relations of the victims and those who lost their properties weekend visited the member representing Nnewi North Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Amala Anazodo who invited them as a group to know their grievances.

Among those affected included Nnanyelugo Okonkwo, Innocent Udeh, Martin Ukachukwu, Ikenna Ukachukwu, Sister Where Udeh, the founder

Jan 18

of God of Old Healing Ministry and Ejike Nwosu. They said those not in attendance did not get early information about the meeting.

Most of them who spoke told sorrowful stories lamenting that they lost their loved ones, equipment and vehicles to the fire incident. One of the complainants said he lost his second son who was a university graduate. Another lost his mother. Innocent Udeh lost his brother..

They further said they would like to meet with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chicason Group, Dr. Chika Okafor whose gas plant exploded to hear from him and also to know what the government was doing about their losses.

Responding, Hon Anazodo assured them that they had not been abandoned, adding that the owner of the gas plant, Sir Okafor was still in shock. He said he would table their matter before the House of Assembly for necessary steps to be taken.

“I know who Dr. Okafor is. He feels the pains of others how much more when he is directly involved. He is a man of wisdom and very humane,” Anazodo added.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 — 27

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M Y K

36—V ANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, JANU ARY 20, 2016 36—VANGU ANGUARD, WEDNESDA JANUARY

Duped by my own brother!

I want to hurt both of them Dear Bunmi, A few months after my boyfriend proposed to me, there were rumours of him being sighted with my close friend at that time. He tried lying about it but my so- called friend admitted they were an item and she was pregnant. A few days later, my fiance called to tell me the engagement was off. I was devastated. I later discovered that he’d been seeing this ‘friend’ for months.

I feel humiliated and betrayed, and anger is the only thing that has kept me going.

All I can think of is wreaking revenge on my ex-fiance and

my so-called friend.

As things are now, I am embarrassed to see anyone and rarely go out. I’ve written a nasty letter to both of them to let them know how much pain they ’ve put me through, but all I really want is for them to feel my pain and for everyone to know they can’t be trusted. My parents and friends say I should to get on with my life, but wouldn’t revenge release me to do that?

Angela, by e-mail.

Dear Angela, How much revenge is enough? Getting revenge

could fuel your anger and frustration more. It could also make you look like a mad woman whose partner was right to dump her. The sweetest revenge would be to hang on to your dignity, dust yourself off, get out there and find a new partner who could even be better than your ex!

It is then you could gloat and truly say good riddance.

In the meantime, you need to heal before you move on and I’ll advise you talk to a relationship counsellor. Good luck.

He won't forget the past Dear Bunmi, I broke up with my boyfriend of two years nine months ago and was fortunate to be in another relationship immediately after. My ex was the one who said we should cool things a bit and he had a girlfriend too. Unfortunately, our new romance didn’t work out and he begged that we should give our relationship another chance and I agreed because I never stopped loving him.

As soon as we got together, however, he wanted to know all the details about my sexual life with the other guy, and now when I tell him anything, he wants my answer to be detailed. For instance, he doesn’t believe we never had oral sex like I often have with him. Why are all these unnecessary details important to him?

Yejide, bye-mail.

Dear Yejide, I don’t think your man really wants to know whether you had oral sex or not with your ex - in fact he doesn’t want to know the details at all. What I suspect is that he needs to know you’re not hiding anything from him. He needs to feel you’re being honest right now about every single detail so your second chance can be free of doubt.

Rather than letting him go on and on asking questions, arrange one single session where you answer everything he wants to know - with the understanding you wouldn’t entertain future questions. If

he then asks more questions, just keep telling him you love him and had that relationship

when there was no possibility of the two of you getting back together again.

Can friends be lovers?

Dear Bunmi, I have this male colleague at work and we are very friendly, we see and chat with each other everyday. We're both single and so far, the relationship has been purely platonic - except for once or twice that we have kissed when slightly tipsy.

Lately, I’ve been having sexual fantasies about him.

I’m not sure he feels the same way and I’m worried an affair might ruin our relationship.

How do I make the first move without making a fool of myself?

Doyin, by e-mail.

Dear Doyin, Friendship is believed to be the best possible soil in which love can take root, grow and nourish. By contrast, an affair, which begins like a bolt from the blues, is often in danger of burning out fairly quickly when passion dies, and the couple suddenly realize that they have very little to offer each other beyond sex.

It isa good thing you bonded well with your male friend and he probably depends as much on your support as you do on his.

Someone who knows you at work knows the real you; the way you look when you’re tired and the way you react when you are under pressure.

And you know him just as well. You are therefore lucky to have found someone who is such a soul-mate and whom you also fmd attractive, When it comes to love, women often call the shots through body language and subtle come-one, As many men are terrified of rejection, you must be the one to make a move. If you don’t you’ll always regret it wondering what might have been. And if you keep him at arm’s length he may one day turn up with a girlfriend.

I’m sure you’ll fmd this devastating judging by how you now feel about him.

So when next you go out together in the evening, stay alert for any signals that his interest in you is not real platonic - and make sure booze is not high on the menu!

Try flirting a little to see if he’s willing to follow your lead. At the end of the evening, you may invite him for a proper drink. If he doesn’t respond, as you would like, you won’t have harmed your friendship.

DearBunmi, About a year ago, my younger brother told me he’d just been diagnosed with some kidney infection and would need a lot of expensive treatment if he were to be cured. The alternative was for him to have a transplant which would be lots more expensive.

He asked for a loan of N200,000 and promised to pay me as soon as he got his car allowance which was being processed by his office.

Months after he was due to pay me, he kept on telling me one sob story after the other.

In the end I had to appeal to his wife - I needed my money desperately. His wife was gobsmacked. According to her, that was the first she would hear about any kidney problem, and as for the car loan, he already got that before he even approached me for his bogus treatment. When I confronted him, he said he needed the money to pay off an outstanding loan he got

from his office, or he would lose his job. It seems he kept on hopping from one lie to the other but I never knew he would descend as low as inventing a serious disease. I don’t know if I ’11 ever get my money back and I feel letdown.

Augustus, by e-mail

Dear Augustus, In spite of the adage you should “neither a lender nor a borrower be” many of us keep falling for the trap of people intent on a good con.

Simply put, you’d been had by your own flesh and blood.

Of course it hurts and you have a difficult decision to make - either you write off the money and never trust your brother again or try to get it back by whichever means you could. Being conned by a stranger is bad enough, but by your own flesh and blood is far worse. Whatever happens, you need to move forward with your life.

When it comes to love, women often call the shots through body language and subtle come-one, As many men are terrified of rejection, you must be one to make a move

Afraid of being dumped Dear Bunmi, I have been dating my girlfriend since this new semester started and I think she’s terrific. To me, she’s the best-looking girl on the campus. The problem is, I’m not the only one who thinks so, most of the boys fancy her.

I worship her and want her all to myself, but there are so many guys out there who are better than me. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before she dumps me for one of them.

How can I hold on to her?

Julius, by e-mail.

Dear Julius, If you tell yourself the worst will happen, it probably will.

In other words, if you

feel you’re not good enough for your girlfriend and keep acting as if other guys have more right to her than you do, she’ll start to believe you.

Either she’ll think you don’t want her, or she’ll get the message that your selfconfidence is low, and that’s not very attractive. , Have more faith in yourself.

Your girlfriend chose you, not the other boys. She’s stayed with you for months now despite temptation, so you have every reason to think you’re the one she wants.

Stop worrying about whether you’ll lose her and concentrate on being good to her. That’s the way to keep her faithful and loyal.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 — 37

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38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Ndigbo should forget 2019 presidency

Workers’ sack: Tension heightens in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE tension ignited by the summary dismissal, weekend, of over 3,000 civil servants by Imo State Government has continued to grow unabated in the state.

When Vanguard closely monitored the activities in some of the affected parastatals, agencies and departments yesterday, workers were seen in their offices.

Those of them that spoke to

—UPP chieftain

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—A social critic and chieftain of the United Progressives Party, UPP, Professor Protus Nathan Uzorma, has advised the agitators for a president of Igbo extraction in 2019, to discard the idea, as it remains a tall dream.

Professor Uzorma, who made his feeling known during a press conference in Owerri, however, advised that “Ndigbo should rather begin to organize themselves for the 2023 presidential race, instead of embarking on a wild goose chase in 2019.”

It was his considered opinion that since the sitting president is constitutionally entitled to a second tenure and would definitely go for it, it would be a mirage for Ndigbo to achieve the feat.

The UPP chieftain, who dismissed the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration in Imo State as “a disaster that has impoverished the masses over the years,” also warned that “it would only take divine intervention to rescue the state from its current state in abyss.”

Speaking on the nation’s democratic engineering since 1999, Uzorma noted that although the nation had made some giant strides within the period, a lot still needed to be done to differentiate it from military despotism.

After taking a critical look at the nation’s economy, Professor Uzorma lamented that the exchange rate of the Naira had continued to slide.

Vanguard claimed that despite the directives by labour leaders in the state, all the affected workers said that the state government followed due process before employing them.

“The state government strictly followed due process, including interviews, before employing us.

It therefore follows that if government wants to disengage us for whatever reason, it must follow due process,” a staff that simply identified himself as Chukwuka, fumed.

While wondering why government should make a sweeping order, sacking thousands of workers and for no just cause, Chukwuka equally recalled with grief that “most of the victims of the executive recklessness never had a single query in their personal files.”

In her own reaction, another worker that simply identified herself as Chiaka, said it was most improper for the Okorocha administration to sack workers through the airwaves of the state

Make votes of 3 LGAs in Abia count, rights group urges S' Court

By Innocent Anaba

C

IVIL SOCIETY Alliance for Good Governance, ASAGG, a rights group, has called on the Supreme Court to make the votes of the people of Osisioma Ngwa, Isiala Ngwa and Obingwa Local Government Areas of Abia State count in who governs the state.

It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State had cancelled the votes of the entire three councils in the appeal by Mr. Alex Otti, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, challenging the lower tribunal verdict, upholding the election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP of Abia State.

The appellate court, after cancelling the election in the three councils, declared Otti winner of the governorship poll.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos, ASAGG’s Coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Usoro, said their concern was not who would eventually win the case at the Supreme Court, but that the votes of the people of the three councils should be made to count in "who governs the state “We are concerned with who will protect the voting rights of the

good people of Obingwa, Osisioma Ngwa and Isiala Ngwa North, who have been denied the unnegotiable and inalienable right of determining who governs them in their state? This is very disturbing and worrisome.

"This situation can create chaos, voter apathy and cynicism among the electorate in further polls and a total lack of confidence on the judiciary that is supposed to be the last hope of the common man.

“Worse still, the Appeal Court cited issues of irregularities exemplified by over-voting based on the card reader as a new ground for the cancellation of election results in the said three local government areas.

"Does the law allow the cancellation of a whole local government based on overvoting? Did the over-voting occur in every polling unit in all the wards in the three said local government areas, LGAs? "There are 458 polling units in the three LGAs, namely: Osisioma Ngwa- 110 polling units; Isiala Ngwa North -125 polling units and Obingwa -223 polling units. Does it mean that over-voting occurred in all the 458 polling units in the three LGAs at the same time?

“If there is over-voting in one polling unit and in another, votes

were validly cast without any irregularity and or over-voting.

Does that deny the electorate of that unit where there was no irregularity or over-voting the rights for their votes to count? Will they be dis-enfranchised because of a problem from another unit?

Is that the justice that the court was meant for?" he asked.

‘Stop witch-hunting Tompolo'

By Tare Youdeowei

B

ENIN—A pressure group, Alliance for the Preservation of Nigerian Democracy, APND, has flayed Federal Government's unrelenting and unwarranted onslaught on Tompolo.

Chatting with newsmen yesterday in Benin, the group through its spokesman, Bolarinwa Ajayi, described what it termed “the unrelenting and unwarranted onslaught on Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo as more of a witch-hunt than any real drive against corruption.”

According to the group: “This is a clear case of political vendetta taken too far. First, they tried to rope in Tompolo on account of the National Maritime University.

When that failed, they started

his is another game in this regime. How can a whole budget get lost? I already said that Buhari is not competent, but people failed to take my advice. I just pray that they will find it or that whoever that took the budget away should return it. -Mr. Mohammed Gwio, Worker

On missing 20 16 Budge 201 Budgett

N

ational Assembly is like amusement park, they know the game they are playing. What a shame!

In fact, I am disappointed with this APC led government and members of NASS because the budget is not like a sheet of paper.

-Mr. Sunny Onovo, Self Employed

I

f you believe that such a constitutional document can go missing, then you will believe anything. In my own view, which could be right or wrong, I think that our incorruptible president has withdrawn the unrealistic budget. -Miss Chika Dike, Graduate

A

PC has just added another page in Nigerian history. A president presented a budget, which he did not understand and when confronted with the fact, he asked for the budget to be returned to him. Mr. Isaac Kokoh, Businessman

talking of Okerekonko community land. When that failed, they are now talking of N34 billion laundering. Who do they expect to believe that Tompolo laundered money?”

The group asserted that “if we are not careful, the present APC administration will truncate democracy and plunge our nation into needless internal strife due to its utter clueless stance of fighting absolutely everyone at the same time.”

It alleged that “Tompolo’s only crime is that he refused to abandon President Jonathan and refused to work for APC in Bayelsa.”

The group claimed that “the present government having realized its inability to rescue Nigeria from impending economic doom, is hounding its perceived enemies out of desperation.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

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radio and television.

“Bizarre things have been happening in the state between 2011 and now. One of the first things this administration did soon after coming on board, was the sacking of the 10,000 workers engaged by the immediate past governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim,” Chiaka recalled with grief.

Continuing, Chiaka equally recalled that apart from workers that retired when it was due, Governor Okorocha had at various times, brazenly suspended workers without pay.

“It is most shocking the way the Governor takes delight in maltreating workers in the state.

Some permanent secretaries and directors, including those in the Ministry of Justice, were earlier suspended without pay.”

She passionately appealed to religious leaders in and outside the state, to call the governor to order, adding that several people that draw their living from the affected workers will obviously suffer undue hardship.

N

o need for alarm! Print a new budget from the soft copy and send to them again, if the Presidency is not involved in the missing budget in Senate, period!

If you ask me, that is simply what should be done immediately. -Mr. Idongesit Umoh, Information Technology

B

uhari is the head of what is known as the 'Presidency.' Under his watch this crime took place. Worst if he ordered it. In any democratic society, Buhari would have either resigned or got impeached. -Mr. Rockson Wilson, Businessman

Vanguard, WEDNEESDAY, JANUARY 20 , 2016—39

ZARIA KILLINGS: Army acted within its rules

of engagement, COAS tells probe panel •As Shiites protest, vow to boycott panel

By Ben Agande & Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE Chief of Army Staff, Major General Yusuf Buratai, yesterday, appeared before a Special Investigative Panel that was constituted by the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to probe circumstances that led to the bloody clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shiite Muslim sect.

This came on a day hundreds of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiites) stormed the commission to protest the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky, by Nigerian security services.

The clash which occurred on December 12, 2015, resulted in the instant death of many members of the sect, with others seriously wounded.

and regulations or law and order to prevail in the society.

"No society will develop were lawlessness, peace and tranquillity of the average citizen is being trampled upon," he said.

The COAS said his officers would furnish the NHRC probe panel with sufficient evidence, including videos and photographs, showing how members of the Shiite sect attacked his convoy.

"It is not in the best interest of the nation for such lawless acts to be condoned or for the Army to be unnecessarily condemned in the media. If the Army is ridiculed, then we are not doing our country any service. We must support the Army. We are facing a very serious challenge right now, which is our fight against insurgency.

"With what we have seen, if the Islamic Movement in

Nigeria is allowed to move and operate freely the way it has been doing, the Boko Haram challenge will be a child’s play," Buratai added.

The COAS said he appeared before the NHRC due to his respect for human rights.

"We are here because we know the sanctity of human life which we have sworn to protect," he said.

Earlier, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, said the aim of the five-man probe panel headed by Tony Ojukwu, Director, monitoring department, was to unravel the truth behind the Zaria killings.

Noting that the commission received a total of 158 memoranda from 13 states of the federation, Angwe said the commission would be fair, firm and decisive on the assignment.

He said the NHRC will at the end of the probe, which he said

would be held in camera, make its findings public.

Group besiege NHRC complex

Meanwhile, prior to the arrival of the COAS, members of the Shitte group, besieged the NHRC complex, seeking the unconditional release of their leader, El ZakZakky, from detention.

The protesters who were led by Shehu Ahmed Bello, said they would not appear before the probe panel which they said had antiShiite members.

Shehu boasted that there were over 40 million members of the Shiite sect in Nigeria, saying "we are ready and willing to sacrifice 20 million of us to secure our freedom in Nigeria.’’

The members, including women and children, had stormed the commission carrying placards with inscriptions, “free our leaders,” “we are peaceful citizens,” and “we want Justice.”

Army's petition

However, the Nigerian Army, in a petition lodged before the NHRC on December 14, 2015, maintained that only seven members of the sect were killed during the face-off, with 10 others seriously injured.

It told the commission that the convoy of the COAS was attacked in Zaria at about 2:30pm on that fateful day, by members of the Shiite Sect under the leadership of Ibrahim El ZakZakky.

Army told the NHRC that Buratai was on his way from Dutse to pay homage to the Emir of Zazzau before proceeding to the Depot NA Passing Out Parade of 73 Regular Recruit Intakes, when heavily armed sect members numbering over 500 rushed out and barricaded the Zaria PoloGolf Road in the vicinity of their supposed shrine.

Sequel to the petition, the NHRC, yesterday, commenced investigations into the matter by inviting the COAS to personally appear before it to shed more light on what actually transpired between him and the sect.

In his speech, Buratai, who arrived at the commission around 11:30am amid tight security, insisted that the Army acted within its rules of engagement.

He said the Army, as a responsible organisation, would not tolerate a situation where some individuals or organisations will continue to violate the human rights of others.

He said the Army, having sworn to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria, would always stand against agents of anarchy that do not want rules

Wada to dissolve cabinet today

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

O K O J A — GOVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State will today formally dissolve his executive cabinet.

The governor will also commission the Lokoja Mega Park, as part of the projects to wind-down his four-year tenure.

The transition committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof.

Olugbemiro Jegede, is also expected to brief the governor before submitting its document to the governor-elect’s transition committee.

The governor's tenure will end on January 26, and would be handing-over power to the governor-elect, Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday, January 27; which will not give room for another Wednesday weekly exco meeting.

Sokoto moves to enrol 1,268,000 pupils

S

SIGNING: From left: Mr. John Kamara, Director, Global Gaming Company Limited, Mr Yahaya Maikori, Chairman and Chairman, Osun State Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Dayo Oyebanji, at the signing of a memorandum of understanding to transform lottery business in the state in Osogbo.

Capital Investment Group denies involvement in $2.1m arms probe L AGOS—CAPITALFIELD Investment Group Limited has denied involvement in the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal or any financial scandal.

A statement by Sharon Daniels, Head, Corporate Communications of the company, said: “Contrary to the news being peddled by some news agencies, we would like to state that neither SieIyenome nor Kabiru Ibrahim mentioned in recent publications, is or has ever been a staff of Capitalfield Investment Group, CIG Bureau de Change Limited or any of its other subsidiaries.

“However, we do have business transactions with SieIyenome who is an

independent broker and a licensed Bureau de Change operator, through our subsidiary, CIG Bureau De Change Ltd within the guidelines allowed by the law. We do not know or have any association whatsoever with Kabiru Ibrahim.

“Furthermore, we assert that we do not have any involvement whatsoever and howsoever with the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal or any financial scandal whatsoever and howsoever.

"Accordingly, we, hereby put on record that we dissociate ourselves from any criminal breach of trust, corruption or money laundering or fraud charges being preferred against the Peoples Democratic Party,

PDP, Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, or any other person connected with the scandal."

O K O T O — GOVERNOR Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State yesterday flagged off an enrolment programme which seeks to admit 1,268,000 new pupils into primary and junior secondary schools across the state.

The ambitious programme, flagged off at Bodinga LGA of the state, seeks to enhance access for all eligible children to universal basic education and promote retention, completion and transition of students from basic and secondary levels to tertiary institutions in the state.

Speaking at the event, Tambuwal said government would strengthen the enrolment drive to ensure that it achieves its objectives.

BIRD FLU: Plateau farmers tasked

on timely report

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—FOLLOWING the recent killing of about 20,000 birds in Plateau State as a result of a fresh outbreak of Avian Influenza, the Head of Avian Influenza Control Office, Dr. Ayuba Haruna, has appealed to poultry farmers to cooperate with government to curb the spread.

Dr. Haruna advised the farmers not to cover up any disease in their farms but promptly report such for urgent steps to be taken against

the disease.

He confirmed that 10 farms were so far affected by the disease but noted that intensive awareness was being created so that every farmer would and beware of the outbreak to take proactive and biosafety steps to curtail it.

However, a farmer, Mr Enoch Ejukolem, whose farm was affected by the disease, said the outbreak had almost crippled his business as he had lost almost ten thousands birds in one week.

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

VISIT: Mr. Charles Gerald, of the Corporate Affairs Department, Vanguard Media

Ltd. (middle) and students of Lagos State Polytechnic final year Mass Communication class, during a visit to Vanguard in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

MAYFLOWER: From left— Vice President, Mayflower Old Student Association, Ikenne, Ogun State, Mrs Tokunbo Akinwumi-Sanni; Chairman, Mayflower 60th Anniversary Committee, Chief Olayinka Ogunmekan, and Regional High Value Sales Manager, Lagos Region, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Saheed Woods-Alli, at a press conference on Mayflower's 60th anniversary in Ikenne, Ogun State, organised by the old students. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

PERFECTION MOTOR: From left— Consul of China in Lagos, Mr. Zhaang Peng; Acting Consul-General of China in Lagos, Mr. Li Yong; General Manager, FAW Importing and Expoting Company Limited, Mr. Wang Zhitian; Chairman, Lee Group, Mr. S. F. Lee; General Manager, Perfection Motor Company Limited, Mr. Adrian Fourie, and Director, Policy and Planning, National Automotive Design Development Council, NADDC, Mr. Luqman Mamudu, during the opening ceremony of Perfection Motor Company Limited, representative of FAW Trucks in Nigeria, in Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

From left— Vice Chairman, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, BJAN, Clara Okoro; Leader, Shepherdfield Network/Media Crest, Allen Ose-Ediale; President, White House Hotels, Dr. Austin Eruotor; Chairman, BJAN, Goddie Ofose, and former Chairman of BJAN, Neta Nwosu, at a reception by Eruotor in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

INNER WHEEL: From left— Beneficiary, Alhaja Adebowale Abolanle; Mrs Doyin Otuyala, past National Rep; Mrs. Olayinka Ayanwole, Chairman, District 911; Mrs Julie Shekoni, past Chairman, District 911; and Mrs. Ronke Solomon, Chairman of the event, all of Inner Wheel, presenting food items and gifts to widows and orphans to celebrate the club's 49th anniversary, at its Vocational Centre, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

ILAJE PARAPO: From left— Vice President, Mr. Adelowo Aladetan; Patron, Mr. Segun Onuwaje, and President, Mr. Foluso Ajimuda, all of Ilaje Parapo Forum, IPF, during a briefing on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC's employment and development of Ilaje area in Lagos.

PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

CAPACITY BUILDING: From left— Assistant Director, Centre for Management Development, Wale Olanrewaju; General Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, BATNF, Abimbola Okoya; Director of Education and Social Services, Oluyole LGA, Dr. Alaga Monsurat; Director-General, Centre for Management Development, Dr. K. K. Usman; and Head, Local Government Administration, Oluyole LGA, Mrs. Kemi Oyedeji, at the closing ceremony of the capacity building for staff of Oluyole LGA on vocational skills.

BJAN:

C M Y K

VISIT: From left— Chairman, Executive Motors, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan; MD, PAN, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi; Inspector General, Mr. Solomon Arase, and Executive Director, PAN, Mr. Jumat Alli, during a visit to Arase at Force Headquarters, Abuja.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016—41

The story of my trip to APC — EKWUNIFE MRS. Uche Ekwunife, whose election into the Senate was recently nullified by the Court Appeal, in this interview with journalists in Awka, spoke on her defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, her chances in the new party and against Chief Victor Umeh and why Anambra Central must not give their votes to a neophyte to become senator.

•Ekwunife: My supporters remain behind me

By Clifford Ndujihe

O

N criticisms trailing her defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and why she moved For the six months I was in the Senate and in different courts for PDP petitions from FCT High Court, Federal High Court, Appeal Court to Supreme Court.

I spent the whole six months going from one court to the other.

Everybody was claiming to be the candidate of the party.

When we did our primaries, and I emerged as the candidate, other people started declaring themselves as candidate of the party and went to court.

When the election was nullified, I thought that they would have used that opportunity to reconcile all the factions. I made every effort for reconciliation to happen but it was impossible. I sent a letter to the party notifying them of the nullification of my election and requesting for fresh primaries to be conducted by the party.

I actually do not want to criticize the party but at the same time I felt that with the nullification, the party should have been proactive enough to put the house in order because there are certain things candidates or

people will say, will they say that I was entering another party? So, I said let me continue with my party, but when that publication came out, I had no choice anymore than to move because this is a time bound election, if we do not do primary before Tuesday or Wednesday next week (January 19 and 20) no party will have a candidate anymore. And they said that they are postponing indefinitely, giving condition that until Olisa Metuh is released, and who knows when he will be released?

At that point I had no choice anymore because I believe that Metuh’s detention has nothing to do with lawful activities of a political party. That was the last stroke that broke the camel’s back.

Your reason for leaving PDP for APC appear plausible but there is this impression that you are an itinerant politician, that in the last seven to eight years now that you have moved to four or five parties, PDP, PPA, APGA, PDP and now APC, giving an impression of restlessness Victor Umeh, moved from PDP to APGA and when he was fighting in APGA he thought he wouldn’t win, joined to form Accord with the intention of moving to Accord, until he succeeded in staging a coup against Chekwas Okorie and he stayed back otherwise he would have been the chairman of

I believe and I’m very confident that I will win the primaries because they are not going to import foreigners to come and vote

members can do, and I believe that there are certain obligations the leadership of the party should carry.

When we had stakeholders meeting in Awka with the state chairman of the party, all other members came and at least two of those that took me to court came and I saw the vehemence. One of them said, if the Court of Appeal didn’t nullify the election that he would have nullified it in the Supreme Court.

Even when they cancelled the election some leaders from South East called me on phone and said that since they have nullified the election and requested for fresh election, why don’t we use this opportunity to play national politics? But I was scared of what

Result sheets from different wards

CHIEF Gabriel Ofotokun, is the new President General (Interim Administration) of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, the umbrella body of the Urhobo people at home and in Diaspora.

In this interview with Vanguard he spoke on his recent emergence as President General of the UPU, the eventual collapse of the Chief Joe Omene led UPU executive committee, the Urhobo people in the current nation’s political scene and his agenda for the Urhobo nation. Excerpts:

When I took the microphone, I said they should look at our result sheets from different wards and polling units, with that you know who ran the election and who has the capacity to win election again for the party. Some of them claiming to be candidates lost in their wards.

After that meeting I left, that was on a Monday or Tuesday and the party sent out a paid publication that they are postponing indefinitely all activities relating to congresses and primaries until Olisa Metuh (detained national publicity secretary of the PDP) is released from detention. The publication was in almost four national newspapers.

Accord now. That’s three parties.

The constitution has given the right to freedom of association and freedom of movement, you can’t hold anybody.

On her chances in APC I went through APC’s manifesto and constitution, once you are a member of APC you have the same right and privileges with old members, the only difference is that you are not executive of the party.

Capacity and capability What should be paramount for any political party is the capacity and capability of the candidate to deliver and the sincerity of that candidate to face the electorate.

That is what should be considered. I’m very hopeful and very certain of winning. We are not foreigners irrespective of political parties, affiliations and our religious background.

I believe and I’m very confident that I will win the primaries because they are not going to import foreigners to come and vote.

On how stakeholders in Anambra Central received her defection Some initially didn’t know what was going on and were a bit skeptical but those of them who followed the trend of events in PDP were very happy and supported the movement. We have started explaining to some of them that didn’t know and they now understand. That’s exactly what happened and it has caused a rush into APC in this senatorial zone and even beyond.

I am from Anambra South, Igboukwu in Aguata Local Government, that is the biggest clan in Anambra, then I married to Anambra Central and I bet you that because of me many people in Anambra South are moving into APC.

Why UPU lifted sanctions against Amori, Igbuya, Ibori — OFOTOKUN

By Godwin Oghre

R

ECENTLY you emerged as the President General of the current interim administration of UPU, how did it happen?

Every Urhobo man and woman, including you (pointing to this reporter) knows very well the running battle that crumbled the Chief Joe Omene executive committee. Omene made himself a god of the Urhobo people and his immediate executive committee.

But Chief Joe Omene has been quoted to say that he would not hand over to you?

Is he God? It is God that makes and unmakes leaders, kings and queens. Chief Omene is a young man compared to me. If he says he is not handling over to me, I leave him to God to judge. God will carry out His own judgment at His own time. Omene is not the God of the Urhobo people.

What are your plans for the Urhobo nation between now and the first weekend of December,

•Ofotokun 2016?

Good. First I will ensure that the Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko nations live together in harmony. Already, the Ijaws are our brothers and we are one. So also we should be one with the others. My committee has started building a harmonious

Continues on page 42

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

By Charles Kumolu

H

OW do you think the issue of zoning and pedigree of aspirants would shape the governorship election?

I have read some comments lately in the newspapers where some people said Oshiomhole should not be a godfather in this election because of their belief that Oshiomhole prefers one of his aides to succeed him. Those raising issues on it are misreading the lessons of history.

It will be strange if after serving Edo for seven years, Oshiomhole does not take interest in who succeeds him. Having built something, it will be very strange to look away and say you don’t care about whoever comes to take over. I would say that those behind the hue and cry over that are not being fair to him. Even in the media, newspapers are known to endorse candidates not to talk of someone who is leaving office. Oshiomhole as a governor is entitled to have a favourite, if only to preserve his own legacy.

If a prodigal son takes over in Edo State it will not take him one month to destroy all that Oshiomhole has done in eight years.

Hope you are aware that there is no legal framework giving him the right to choose a successor?

Oshiomhole that we have seen in the last seven years is not a guy who will manipulate the electoral process. Don’t forget that in the state APC primaries we had in 2014 and early 2015 many of those close to him who contested lost. His Chief of Staff, my friend and brother, Patrick Obahiqgbon, contested the senatorial primaries and lost. He is very close to Comrade and I will be surprised if Comrade did not offer him support.

Song and dance of godfatherism By support I mean endorsement but he lost.

Oshiomhole did not rig the primaries for him or anyone. And that was Oshiomhole’s style. He will not put his personal reputation on the line to rig or manipulate the electoral process.

Therefore, for those who are currently making a song and dance of godfatherism, I think they are crying wolf where there is none.

I want to believe these are PDP agents. It is nothing but distraction. I think the real issue at this point is focus more on finding someone who is credible and someone who will ensure that the solid foundation Oshiomhole has put in place is built on. If among those presently vying for the office, Obaseki turns out to be the most knowledgeable, I don’t think genuine Edo man or woman would care less who bought form for him or where he comes from or the son of who he is.

must be an Esan man?

You worked with a principal, who is known to be a man of many parts. To a lot of people he comes across as a slave driver and someone with an overbearing influence. How was it like working with him?

If you said Oshiomhole is not fun to work with, I will agree.

Before I accepted the offer, some of my friends who have had experience with Oshiomhole said I would not spend up to one month working with him. They said the man I was going to work for is a difficult man. Some said that it was as if I was going to a slave camp.

They said Edo State, with its meager resources, cannot sustain the kind of lifestyle I was used to in Lagos. But I told them that my own humble understanding of someone being difficult is that the person is industrious. And I told them well, I am not a lazy man myself.

EDO GOV RACE:

Oshiomhole has right to pick his successor — Odion IMMEDIATE past Commissioner for Information in Edo State, Mr. Louis Odion in this interview addresses the key issues marking the build up to the forthcoming governorship election in the state, emphasising that it is Governor Oshiomhole’s right to be concerned about who succeeds him.

•Odion: Edo has gone beyond ethnic politics Those raising dust now are people who are weaned on PDP values, who probably defected to APC only for the sake of power.

Another argument against the alleged endorsement of Obaseki is that he is not a core APC person; there are also those raising questions on his actual place of origin. What do you make of that?

When I also got involved in Edo in 2011 as Commissioner, mischief-makers also raised such

Therefore, for those who are currently making a song and dance of godfatherism, I think they are crying wolf where there is none. I want to believe these are PDP agents

idiotic arguments. They also said that I am not an Edo indigene.

They said I am actually from Akure. At some point, they took out half page advert in a local newspaper and said I should resign and apologise to Edo people for taking their generosity for granted. Such idle talks should not be dignified with response.

Saying that Obaseki is not a Benin person is the biggest joke of the century. The name Obaseki is rooted in Benin history. His elder brother (Gauis Obaseki) was the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. By bringing such issues, they want to distract the people of Edo State from the real issue which is about merit and pedigree.

The people of Edo Central are also craving for the ticket?

The argument of those who say that it should be the turn of Esan man to be governor is persuasive.

But unfortunately, I think Edo has gone beyond ethnic politics today. By that I mean a situation

where someone comes out to say that what will entitle him to be governor is where he comes from. People no longer vote based on ethnic sentiments.

In the last governorship election, Oshiomhole defeated a Benin man in Edo South. Benin people voted against their own son!

And if you also go back to history, you will see the stark ironies. In terms of patronage, the Esan Central had benefited more in terms of federal patronage in the last 16 years. That is because there are people like Chief Tony Anenih, now commonly called expired godfather, who had access to power at the federal level.

But how has that impacted on the living conditions in Esan land? Anenih was a Minister of Works and had the opportunity of nominating Minsters of Works for eight years but the road leading to his community in Uromi was tarred by Oshiomhole. So, how can someone like that now come out and say that the next governor

Hedonistic governor So, I thought we would be able to operate on the same frequency. But the average guy will find Oshiomhoke difficult to work with in the sense that he wants results and is always in a hurry.

But overall, I would say that at the point he came to Edo, the state needed someone like Oshiomhole to change the narrative from a hedonistic governor and governor donothing to a governor with social conscience and performance.

The good news for me was the fact that the Comrade Governor saw me as someone who came to assist him to deliver in the area of information management and not a sycophant or a hungry jobber. He knew I was doing well in journalism before he made me a Commissioner.

To that extent, if you are good at what you do, you will be able to flow with Oshiomhole. The fact that he considered me for renomination in 2013 showed the level of confidence he had in me.

Why UPU lifted sanctions against Amori, Igbuya, Ibori — OFOTOKUN Continues from page 41 relationship with our surrounding ethnic groups.

We have already paid a courtesy visit to the new Olu and he was very glad to receive us.

We shall do the same to the others. Again, I will ensure that the Urhobo nation gets its place in the politics of the country. We should be reckoned with, being the 5th largest ethnic group in the country. Really, we were the 4th but due to oppression we were relegated to the 5th position. The Ijaws have claimed ownership of all the coastal line from Lagos to Calabar and took number 4 and pushed us to number 5. Right inside us we know that we are number 4 but

let us concede that position to them because we love peace and harmony.

Is it true your committee has lifted the sanctions imposed on some Urhobo politicians by the Joe Omene regime?

Yes, we have lifted the sanctions. The reason is that you cannot sit in the comfort of your bedroom and impose sanction on anyone. Those sanctions were not imposed by the Urhobo people but only Chief Joe Omene.

Immediately after our inauguration, I stood up and asked the entire congress if they took part in imposing the sanction and every one present said I was speaking Greek, saying they do not know about

anything like sanction imposed on any Urhobo son or daughter.

The 24 Presidents General of Urhobo nation said they knew nothing about the sanctions.

They said it was only Chief Omene who imposed sanctions on some illustrious sons of Urhobo nation from his bedroom and that he did not consult with them and that they had no hands in it. When we the interim committee heard that from them, we sought their cooperation to lift the sanctions and we all lifted the sanctions and they remain lifted forever.

So all the people he sanctioned are free to go about their businesses across the nook and crannies of Urhobo nation. Why

will a man sanction his first eleven? Some of the people he sanctioned included Chief Amori, Chief Igbuya, Barr. Ben Ibakpa and Miss Eriatake Ibori.

Today see how many people that are employed by Barr. Ben Ibakpa and the others he sanctioned, and ask him to tell you how many people he employed or empowered. That was very bad of him.

What is the present political direction for the Urhobo people?

We should be accorded the prominent positions in all the political parties so that good things can be coming to the Urhobo nation. We should not be marginalized.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016—43

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 — 45

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Karekezi: We’ve to be more focus against Gabon

CHAN: We’re not getting carried away — Ibenegbu

F

ormer Rwanda captain Olivier Karekezi has urged Amavubi players not to underestimate Gabon in their next 2016 African Championship Nations (CHAN) Group A game today.

Amavubi as Rwanda’s senior national team is affectionately known, caused an upset when they humbled Ivory Coast 1-0 in their Group A opener on Saturday afternoon.

Tournament hosts Rwanda will clash with Gabon at the Amahoro Stadium in Kgali as they look to book their place in the knockout stages of the continental competition.

“It is going to be tougher more than the first match because Gabon want to win the game to stay in the competition. Our players have to be more focused than they did against Ivory Coast,” Karekezi said.

B

ARTHOLOMEW Ibenegbu has stressed Nigeria are not getting carried away following their 4-1 win over Niger Republic claiming it has been business as usual in the Super Eagles’ camp.

Sunday Oliseh’s men produced the performance of the tournament so far by getting four goals past the Menas and take the early initiative in Group C. And the energetic player feels recording a victory was a good result and the team’s handler was delighted they secured maximum points.

“The victory means so much to us because in every tournament, it is always crucial to win the first game.

We are glad to get the maximum points though the game was tough,” Ibenegbu said.

“Coach Sunday Oliseh was also happy with us because we played according to his instructions and also got the maximum points.

“After a scoreless first half, he made some corrections and told us to go for everything in the second half and that really helped us.”

And although morale is high in the team, Ibenegbu is confident his side will not become complacent against the Carthage Eagles.

“We will start tactical preparation for Tunisia game because we cannot afford to slip,” he continued.

“A win for us will see us through to the next round of the competition which will ease some pressure from us.

“For now, we will take each game as they come and try to achieve our ultimate target which is the title,” he concluded.

“If we survive in this deadly

•Karekezi

DRC target a second win

D

R Congo will look to put on foot in the quarterfinals of the 2016 African Nations Championship when they face Angola in their second Group C match. Kick-off at Stade Huye in Butare tomorrow afternoon.

The Leopards eased to a comfortable win in their opening match on Sunday, defeating Ethiopia 3-0 to establish themselves at the top of the Group C standings. They lead Cameroon – who beat Angola 1-0 – on goal difference.

DRC’s goals were scored by Guy Lusadisu, who netted a brace of goals, and Elia Meshak.

Angola, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back following their loss to the Indomitable Lions. The Palancas Negras felt they should have gotten something out of the game, with Cameroon playing the final quarter with just 10 men after the sending off of Joseph Ngwem.

“We showed too much respect to our opponent early in the game, and were not masters of our game,” Angola coach Jose Kalamba said in the aftermath.

Bosso heaps praises on Chikatara F

ORMER Abia Warriors coach, Ladan Bosso has described as expected the side top striker, Chisom Chikatara ‘man of the match’ performance against the Mena of Niger Republic.

The Super Eagles marksman scored a hattrick in the 4-1 demolition of the West Africans on Monday at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Bosso said the youngster has the innate potential to destroy any opposition in a championship.

“I’m not surprised at the hattrick and man of the match performance C M Y K

achieved by Chisom Chikatara against the Nigeriens in the CHAN clash.

“I did not discover Chisom I met him in Abia Warriors I only worked hard to develop and stabilise him to be a potential national material.

“Chisom has every quality to destroy any opponent which he showcased handsomely against Niger.

“What we have seen so far is a tip of the iceberg as Chisom will inflict more pains on opponents as the CHAN matches progress.

•Ladan Bosso

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 — 47

Kakembo bags Uganda award for GOtv Boxing Night victory

B

ack in November of last year, Nigeria’s Olanrewaju Durodola travelled to Russia to take on unbeaten knockout terror, Dmitry Kudryashov. Shocking the local cruiserweight, Durodola got through a tough opening round and then stopped Kudryashov in the 2nd.

Winning the WBC Silver title, the 35-year-old scored the biggest win of his four year pro career. To his dismay, Durodola was later accused of having used an illegal substance in the fight (later he was cleared and exonerated) and he now says his promised shot at WBC cruiserweight champ Grigory Drozd may not happen.

It was a great win, and an upset win, that you scored over Dmitry Kudryashov in Russia last November. Were you surprised yourself you stopped him so quickly?

I never knew it would be that quick, but I was ready for him, I had studied him. Kudryashov is a big puncher but I am too! We had our game-plan and we knew he took the fight with me because of my age, he saw I am 35 and he thought I was old. But they don’t know how strong we are in Africa, and they never see what I do, training every day. So I surprised him.

Kudryashov was knocking everyone out at 18-0, all his wins coming by stoppage. He caught you in the opening round, how badly hurt were you, if at all?

He came out very fast, but I knew he would do that, so I came out fast myself. And when he attacked me, I used my guard. But whenever previous opponents fought him, they just tried to cover up and not punch back and the fight was over.

Thank God I used my speed and my talent and I fought back when I got caught in the opening round. I

E

•Olanrewaju

I’m ready for a world title — Durodola trained very hard for the fight.

I want to make something of myself in boxing, I wanna make some money. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency said after the fight that I used drugs. I don’t use drugs, I use my natural heart. I trained my mind and my body for the fight.

I use what God gave me. That’s why I am called God’s Power.

You are in line for a WBC title shot, and we read it would be against Grigory Drozd. What is the latest on that?

What I know is, they told us in Russia that the winner between me and Kudryashov would fight Drozd for the world

title next. Now they are saying I used drugs and they are avoiding me. They are saying Drozd will fight Ilunga Makabu next instead of me. I’m waiting for the chance to fight Drozd, or I’ll fight Makabu. But now they are avoiding me.

Would you go back to Russia to fight?

I don’t know, after what they said about me using drugs. If the money is right I would. I’ll see what my manager puts on the table for me. I’m not scared of anybody. I’ll fight anyone.

I’m ready. I’m in Nigeria now, spending time with my family, and I am training every day.”

You have won your last five fights, since losing a decision to Thabiso Mchunu in January of 2014…

I fought Mchunu for the NABF title and he was smart, he fought smart. I know that nobody is King Kong, no-one can beat everyone – look at Mike Tyson, he was knocking everyone out and then he lost.

I used to be cocky like that and that’s why I lost in the past.

The only fighter who has never lost is Floyd Mayweather and that is because he is very smart. I took the fight with Kudryashov and I fought smart. Now I want either Drozd or Makabu, or I’ll fight Kudryashov again and then Drozd. I have earned my shot.”

IAAF corruption worse than FIFA’s – Johnson

T

• Murray

Match-fixing: Tennis must act on claims

A

NDY Murray says tennis needs to do “a better job” of warning young players about the perils of match-fixing.

The British number one was responding to BBC and BuzzFeed News revelations about suspected illegal betting in tennis over the past decade. World number one Novak Djokovic has revealed he was offered £110,000 to fix a match early in his career.

•Michael Johnson.

HE corruption scandal plaguing athletics is worse than the one faced by football, says four-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson.

Three senior IAAF officials were banned for life for alleged doping breaches.

And Russia is currently banned from all athletics competitions following accusations of widespread doping.

Asked how the scandal facing athletics compared to that of Fifa, Johnson told the BBC: “If you think about the victims, it is absolutely worse.”

Fifa, the body that governs world football, is also in crisis following a series of damaging corruption claims. Its president, Sepp Blatter, has been banned for eight years for breaching ethics rules.

In an interview with Mishal Husain, Johnson said that those athletes cheated out of medals by dopers “never had the opportunity to stand on the podium - and they should have”.

However, he stopped short of backing an Olympic ban for Russian athletes later this year.

“Do you ban an entire country that ostensibly could include clean athletes, from participating in Rio?” asked the American, who still holds the world andOlympic records for the 400m.

“That is a very difficult decision to make.”

dward Kakembo, the Ugandan boxer who won the African Boxing Union featherweight title at the fifth edition of GOtv Boxing Night on 26 December, was this week announced winner of Nile Special Sports Personality Award for last month.

The prestigious award is organised by Uganda’s Sports Press Association (USPA).

Kakembo’s defeat of Nigeria’s Waidi “Skoro” Usman to win the title at the GOtv Boxing Night in Lagos, swung things in his favour via a vote by USPA members to beat Dennis Masinde Onyango, national football team goalkeeper, with a tally 495 votes to 415 votes.

Onyango guided his South African based club, Mamelodi Sundowns F.C to the Nedbank Cup success.

Konta upsets Venus Williams

J

ohanna Konta outclassed eighth seed Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 to reach the second round of the Australian Open. Britain’s number one, 24, raced to victory in 79 minutes as seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams, her left thigh heavily strapped, struggled.

Konta denied that 35-yearold Williams’ age had anything to do with the American’s laboured display.

“It’s irrelevant how old she is because she’s such a champion with so much experience and knowledge,” said Konta.

“Even if she’s playing with one leg out there, you’ve got to really take care of things on your own because she’s an incredible player. I have all the respect for her in the world.”

•Konta C M Y K

48 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state (middle) inspecting the cement pavement technology road construction at Echefu road in Aba. with him on the immediate right is the Commissioner for Works Dr. Eziuche Ubani and Mr. Richard Nwala, Perm. Sec. Ministry of Works.

Tension, uncertainty in God’s Own State as political storm threatens development

By Mike Ebonugwo

T

HE United States of America, USA prides itself as God’s Own Country, an expression of faith by its founding fathers that the country derives its existence from God who on the basis of this will continue to preside over its affairs and guarantee its survival.

Remarkably the USA has over the years, grown to become not just a great country but a global super power.

There is reason to believe in some quarters that the American success story must have inspired the people of Abia State in South East Nigeria to proudly proclaim it as God’s Own State, which underlines the belief that the state and its people have been dedicated to the Almighty and under His divine control would flourish into greatness in no distant time.

But years after its creation, indeed after a succession of leaders, Abia State is still evolving, searching for the success story that will launch it into greatness as envisaged by its founding leaders.

Although Abians are sharply divided about the performance profiles of their political leaders with many expressing disenchantment with how the state has been administered over the years, there was a noticeable shift of sentiment few weeks after Dr Okezie Ikpeazu was sworn in as Governor following last year’s gubernatorial election in the

state. The reason for this is probably not far to seek. Like a man running a race against time, Ikpeazu who succeeded Senator Theodore Orji as governor, had immediately demonstrated that he was in a hurry to make a positive and lasting difference.

A major focus of his development efforts appears to be infrastructure, especially the construction and rehabilitation of roads for which several projects were initiated.

Development machinery Abians particularly took note of his efforts in this regard when he moved his development machinery to Aba, the popular commercial nerve centre of the state which many observers claim was neglected and allowed to go to rot by successive administrations in the state.

And 200 days after, officials of his government are flaunting a scorecard which they claim boasts of several completed and ongoing projects intended to put the state on a sound development footing.

In fact, it is said that roads started in the Governor’s first 100 days have already been commissioned. According to Governor Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary, Godwin Adindu, three of such roads were recently commissioned in Aba by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

These roads cut across the three geopolitical zones of the state.

Included in the road construction and rehabilitation initiative is an agreement between the state and its neighbour, Akwa Ibom, to jointly rehabilitate the shared federal roads between them.

Adindu also informed that: ‘’Abia State is pioneering the use of cement technology or what experts call rigid pavement technology in road construction, which means we have to cast with concrete over a mass of iron before asphalting the road. The idea is to extend the lifespan of the roads to ensure durability...’’.

As part of roads rehabilitation efforts, Vanguard Features , VF, was informed that government had launched a programme to demonstrate its zero tolerance on potholes. ‘’By this, the old roads are constantly being asphalted and resurfaced. This programme is being executed by the state road management agency and it is taking place simultaneously in the two cities of Umuahia and Aba.

A major focus of his development efforts appears to be infrastructure, especially the construction and rehabilitation of roads for which several projects were initiated

Under this project, five roads have been asphalted in Umuahia and completely resurfaced St Michael Road , Park Road, Kent, Ube and many others all in Aba city,’’ Adindu informed.

He said in addition to that, government was also paying attention to bridges, with one already completed while two others are presently under construction. According to him: ‘’We have completed the construction of a brand new bridge at Okonu Afia, Ohafia and done a realignment of the bridge at Umunneochie. And we are erecting solar light at the both sides of the bridges’’.

Realignment of the bridge There are also claims that streetlights have been installed along roads in Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia, just as 52 water schemes have been revitalised.

Establishment of Trade Centres: Away from roads, government’s attention in Aba has also shifted to enhancing and promoting its commercial and industrial potentials through reviving the trade centres there. ‘’This will be supervised and handled by some Mexicans and Filipinos. The idea is for them to begin to teach Abia children the rudiments of the old craft works like carpentry, masonry, tiling, plumbing, electrical wiring, etc, so that we can produce our own household items without going abroad to import them,’’ Adindu

said, adding that the process ‘’is to help the artisans add some professionalism and education to their trade; we expect that the trade centres will create jobs and empower people with skills’’.

VF was also informed that the administration intends to explore its foreign partnership in developing the agricultural potentials of the state. In this regard, it is collaborating with the state of Georgia in the area of Green House farming and poultry since Georgia is reputed to be the poultry headquarters of the world.

Aba industrial clusters: Part of government’s large scale development plan is to commence construction work on the Abia Industrial Clusters starting with Aba. To this end, it is said to be currently procuring appropriate equipment needed for the technological development of the clusters.

The aim, according to officials, is to mechanise and automate the process of leather making and other artisan-related works in Abia State. The Aba Industrial Cluster is expected to involve 40,000 shoemakers capable of producing 1000 shoes daily.

Skill acquisition programme: Relatedly, the Ikpeazu-led administration also claims to have resuscitated three moribund technical schools in the state to run the skills acquisition programme, with others to follow soon. ‘’Our goal is to develop the trade sector in Abia so that the

Adequate support State could make all the shoes for school children, the military and the paramilitary in Nigeria instead of us having to import them. Other countries, particularly African countries will be buying shoes and belts from Aba,’’ Adindu told VF. The National Directorate of Employment, NDE, component of the programme will entail the Abia State government giving adequate support for the development of the NDE ICT SKILL Acquisition Centre at Osieke in Ugwunagbo LGA of the state. Governor Ikpeazu was said to have also promised to place the first 125 intakes into the scheme on N25,000 monthly stipend. The centre, VF was told, has commenced full training of youths on different skills.

Abia schools adoption and feeding initiatives: Also worthy of note is the fact that the Governor had used the occasion of his 51th birthday to launch a pet project tagged Friends of Abia Schools Adoption Initiative, FASAI, to mobilize funds to renovate some seriously rundown public primary schools in the 17 local government areas of the State.

To be concluded

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 — 49

I’m resolute in my commitment to serve Lagosians —Ambode •Renders Second Quarter Scorecard •Says Crime Rate Reduced by 65 Percent •Approves N2.5bn For Schools' Upgrade •Commences construction Of Ajah, Abule Egba, Berger fly-overs

By Monsuru Olowoopejo LAGOS STATE Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, reaffirmed his commitment to remain resolute to serve and justify the trust reposed in him, assuring that he would continue to work tirelessly to deliver good governance for the collective good of all Lagosians.

The governor, who spoke while rendering his account of stewardship at the Second Quarterly Town Hall Meeting at the City Hall, Lagos, said his administration will continue to stay true to its overall policy built on a tripod of security, infrastructure development and job creation.

Addressing a large gathering of party chieftains, captains of industry, members of the diplomatic corps, top government functionaries, as well as market men and women, Governor Ambode said his

Lagos State Gover nor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), rendering account of stewardship of his administration for the Second Quarter, at the City Hall, Lagos, on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

administration was fully aware that a safer Lagos would attract more investments from local and foreign investors, hence he kept to his promise in the first quarter to improve on the security in the state with investment in security equipment worth over N4.7billion.

The governor said that the investment in the security equipment had led to the reduction in crime in the state by 65 per cent in the last quarter of 2015.

“I am happy to report that our state is a lot safer today as statistics shows that crime rate has reduced by 65 per cent during the last quarter compared to 2014,” he said.

Governor Ambode said his administration, in another spirited effort to tackle crime, invested in the “Light Up Lagos” project, which had since restored light on major highways and inner roads in the state at night.

He said an Advisory Committee on

Power, chaired by the Deputy Governor, was also set up to keep faith with the promise to ensure that every nook and cranny of the state is lit up, just as he urged residents to key into the project in return for a reward.

His words: “In the past few months, we have fixed street lights from Berger in Ojodu to Lekki, Ikorodu to Lagos Island, the entire Ikeja axis, Victoria Island and Ikoyi. We are taking this project to every part of the state. If we are not yet in your neighbourhood, give us a little time; we will soon be there. As we light up the State, we expect crime to reduce as criminals will have nowhere to hide and operate. I call on individuals and corporate bodies to join our Light Up Lagos project by adopting a street and lighting it up either by connecting it to your meter or your generator. In return, these individuals and institutions will receive special concessions on Land Use Charge and commendation from the State and Local Governments.”

Update on Lassa Fever

FG confirms 212 cases in 17 states Warns against conspiracy of silence among states

By Victoria Ojeme, Gbenga Olarinoye & Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government has confirmed 212 suspected cases of Lassa Fever in 64 Local government areas across 17 states in the country, even as it warned against a conspiracy of silence among the states of the federation.

The Minister of Health, Prof.

Issac Adewole, who disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja at the Emergency National Council on Health meeting with state Commissioners of Health and other stake- holders in the health sector, said the current out-break was a national embarrassment.

Adewole, who debunked rumours in some quarters that the disease was a “gimmick to get money from the government," said objective of the meeting, was to facilitate discussion on control of the ongoing disease outbreak; to develop strategies of prevention and management of all cases in Nigeria, among others.

He said: “There is a high level of denial and a conspiracy of silence in some of our states. I think people take delight in saying we have no case and to me that is not the issue.

“In fact, if you are able to pick a suspicious cases, to me that is the issue because that goes to tell us that the surveillance system is at work.

“We also want to alert all health professionals in the country that they should report any case. I have described the outbreak as a national embarrassment. We can manage embarrassment, but

when we allow another outbreak to occur in August this year, it will become a national shame to all of us. One of the things we will do to prevent us from dragging this nation into shame is to stamp out Lassa Fever.”

“Healthcare managers should not deceive their political leaders that all is well. All states should consider themselves at risk.

He noted that 17 states have been affected. “It has affected 64 local governments across the country and we have been able to pick 212 suspected cases. It dates back from August last year, not just this year. It is better to over-count suspected cases than to under-count.

“The real hot spots are Niger, Bauchi, Taraba, Kano, Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau and Rivers, but for us to be honest with ourselves, all states should consider themselves at risk and please, put up measures to contain, prevent and reassure the community that we are on top of the situation,” he asserted.

An atmosphere of fear had enveloped the Obafemi Awolowo University community as news of the doctor’s demise filtered out.

Vanguard gathered from sources close to the hospital that the late doctor died after vomiting blood within the hospital premises.

A colleague of the deceased, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that he had visited Ekiti State before arriving Ile-Ife, Monday.

But the hospital authorities debunked insinuations that the doctor died from Lassa Fever.

In a statement confirming the death, the Chairman, OAUTHC, Professor Adedeji Onayade, said the fact that the doctor bled to death could not be taken to mean he died of Lassa Fever.

Onayade said blood samples of the late doctor had been obtained and sent for screening and confirmation, and that until the result was confirmed positive, it could not be said that the hospital recorded a case of Lassa Fever.

Fear grips OAUTHC workers as doctor dies .It’s false alarm — Hospital Management There was panic among workers of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday, following the death of a resident doctor after exhibiting suspected Lassa Fever symptoms.

The incident, fuelled by rumours that the Lassa virus may have spread from neighbouring Ekiti State, led to other medical personnel as well as patients at the Emergency Unit of the hospital, fleeing the scene.

Ekiti takes steps to arrest spread The Ekiti State government has commenced efforts to check the spread of the disease, with a directive to principals of secondary schools with boarding facilities to monitor food in-take of students, even as the18-year old student of the School of Nursing, Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, reported to have contracted the infection, Monday, is recovering.

The step, it was gathered, followed Monday ’s announcement by the state Health Commissioner, Dr. Ojo Olurotimi that the state had

Prof. Issac Adewole, Min. of Health

recorded first case of Lassa Fever.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mr. Jide Egunjobi said the directive to schools had become necessary to prevent spread of the disease among students living in schools.

He told newsmen that the principals had also been told to pay particular attention to the state of sanitation in the schools without delay.

He said the students on the other hand had also been advised to complement government's efforts by maintaining personal hygiene during and after school hours, especially when they were in the dormitories.

Also, the ministries of Information, Health and Environment had begun a massive sensitization exercise on the state owned electronic media on the lassa outbreak.

Renders second quarter scorecard The Governor also said in the last quarter, 49 transformers were donated to communities that were hitherto in darkness for five years, while electricity has now been restored to 63 Communities starting from Eleko to Ode-Omi in Ibeju Lekki Local Government.

According to him, “We also commissioned the 33kva Electrical Sub-Station in Gberigbe Community, Ikorodu.

This is expected to improve the electricity situation in that axis.”

On infrastructural development, Ambode said that over 300 roads were rehabilitated during the period under review, adding that 66 major road projects are at various stages of completion while 80 road grading and surface dressing projects will soon be completed in all the local government areas and local council development areas of the state.

He listed some of the completed roads to include Afa Nla Road, Agege, CIPM Road, Alausa, Ijegun-Ikotun Road, Mba Street, Ajegunle, 1st and 2nd Avenue, Festac Town, Afolabi Ege Street, Ojo, Thomson Road, Ikoyi, 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Ebutte Ero Road, Lagos Island and Akin Adeshola Road, Victoria Island.

“In addition to this, the construction of two roads in each of the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Government Development Areas in the state was flagged off last week. A total of 114 roads will be delivered through this intervention in the next six months at a cost of N17.5 billion,” the governor said.

50—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

The Voice Nigeria rides on Airtel’s wings PAGE 51

Ericsson raises bar in smart homes, cities with new IoT solutions PAGE 51

•CDMA PHONE

•Danbatta

Visafone acquisition, end for CDMA? •Or can NCC’s bail-out strategy salvage sector?

By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-tech Editor

I

T became official, January 5, 2016, that the last Nigerian Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA operator standing, Visafone, has finally succumbed to the terrible distress in that genre of telecommunications operation and allowed itself to be swallowed by a GSM counterpart, MTN Nigeria.

However, when Vanguard carried the news eight months earlier that the CDMA operator may soon melt into another, it was quickly and unofficially, dismissed as a rumour by both players. But today, MTN has admitted that the acquisition falls in line with the company’s determination to improve the quality of broadband services for its subscribers.

According to MTN Executive, Amina Oyagbola, the acquisition is also a reflective of MTN’s concerted efforts to deepen the growth and rollout of broadband services across the country in support of the National

Broadband Plan for the benefit of Nigerians.

Visafone is one of the leading CDMA operators in Nigeria offering a number of services including voice, high speed data (3G), internet and other Value Added Services (VAS). Visafone also provides business solutions to small and medium sized companies and corporate organisations in Nigeria.

However, market forces and poor financial status which have continually bedeviled the sector have now caught up with the operator, leading to its sale. The question among industry observers is whether this is the end for CDMA operation in the country.

Is acquisition a lifeline to the sector?

Although, many have seen the acquisition as a lifeline to the sector, MTN’s body language does not reflect a company pretty eager to go into core CDMA operation. Addressing newsmen recently, Oyagbola admitted that her company was already mulling the idea of launching

4GLTE technology even before approaching visafone.

Originally we had planned to roll out 4G network. At the end we got in touch with visafone and began negotiations. But now, our primary concern is to manage the subscribers, making sure that whatever we do now does not influence them negatively. We have the equipment on ground to roll out 4G and our plan is to roll out pretty soon though it would be limited. It’s not going to be total roll out. Another challenge we have is that it is getting difficult to import equipment now because of the

High hopes were placed on the planned merger of Starcomms, MultiLinks and MTS, because of the challenges they were facing then in the country

forex issue. Although the mistake has been corrected by the government, it is still going to take a while to relax.

“We are taking time not to import the wrong equipment and besides, we also want to expand our broadband platform by improving significantly on our 3G offerings. We have put a team to manage the place and ensure customers enjoy the services they paid for” she added.

NCC’s bail out strategy While the industry continues to deliberate on how to ensure this technology did not eventually collapse completely in Nigeria, NCC is hatching plans to revive the sub-Sector.

The regulator ’s in house magazine, The Communicator, has quoted the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, as admitting that Fixed networks have been neglected and that nobody is interested in them despite the promises they hold.

According to him, operators are

more interested in providing mobile services which manifests in their subscribers base; MTN having over 60 million subscribers, Glo and Airtel having over 30 million, Etisalat, 20 million and Visafone a paltry 2.5 million subscribers.

His plan is that “If we can deliberately introduce incentives to any operator to come in and roll out fixed telecoms services we can do it. The Commission is open to negotiations on how this could be done.

“We intend to convince the government to key into this important initiative of the Commission. Through this medium I send a message to operators who will be willing to buy into this important idea of availing themselves the opportunity to get the incentives that we intend to put in place in order to revive fixed telephony services.”, he stated.

Whether this would achieve better result, will depend on how much passion the commission will put into monitoring the activities and making the right interventions. Experience of hindsight has shown that several interventions in the past were Continues on page 51

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016—51

The Voice Nigeria rides on Airtel’s wings platforms, continue to display the best of African entertainment content to the world and with the launch of The Voice Nigeria, we have once again provided a platform for African talent to shine.”

Since its original launch in 2010, The Voice has gone on to win audiences in countries like the US, Australia and the UK, where renowned artistes includ-

ing Adam Levine, Blake Sheldon, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Tom Jones, Pharrell Williams, Kylie Minogue and Ricky Martin have occupied the show’s famous red chairs as coaches.

The Voice Nigeria employs the same format including a panel of four coaches who critique the contestants’ performances.

The coaches guide their teams of selected artistes through the remainder of the season whilst also competing to ensure that their act wins the competition.

Ericsson raises bar in smart homes, cities with new IoT solutions

By Emeka Aginam

Celebrity judges of ‘The Voice’ USA

I

By Laju Iren

T is a phenomenon that has taken the world by storm, and now it has come to Nigeria in the same manner. Reality music competition, the Voice, will began auditions in cities across Nigeria recently, thanks to telecommunications giant, Airtel and its joint partnership with Africa Magic.

Speaking on the partnership, Airtel’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mokhles, said the telco is committed to seeking partnerships that will empower talented Nigerians, especially young people and also bring joy, laughter and happiness to the homes of Nigerians.

“As the smartphone network,

Airtel is passionate about innovative initiatives that will empower and enrich the lives of Nigerian youths. Airtel is positioned as the mobile Internet service provider of first choice for Nigerian youths and we shall continue to support programmes that will connect more young Nigerians to their dreams,” he said.

Auditions of The Voice will began on the 9th of January, 2016 and the show begins airing in April, 2016.

The Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of The Voice Nigeria. All over the world, lovers of entertainment recognise The Voice franchise as premium, exciting

entertainment and we are thrilled to introduce the franchise to viewers in Nigeria and across Africa. Our viewers will definitely enjoy the stellar performances by the artistes and the excitement as the coaches jostle to pick the best performers.” To stand a chance of participating in The Voice Nigeria, prospective contestants visited various audition centres across Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja.

On his part, the Managing Director, Multichoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, said: “For over 20 years, Multichoice has played an active role in the development of the African film and television industry.

The Africa Magic channels, which sit on our Dstv and GOtv

part of its resolve to ASequip communication

service providers and utility companies to address services and requirements in the fast-growing Internet of Things ,IoT, Ericsson has introduced three new IoT solutions support smart home and cities globally.

The new solutions including smart metering as a service, user & IoT data analytics and networks software 17A diversifying cellular for massive IoT are expected to strengthen Ericsson’s unique position with end-to-end capability. IoT is quickly emerging as a very significant agent of transformation as it blends the physical and digital worlds.

Recall that in the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, 28 billion connected devices are forecasted by

the year 2021, more than half of which are M2M and IoT connections. Meanwhile, numerous studies have identified the potential and value of IoT to society, with smart cities and connected homes, including consumer devices, making up as much that value.

Driving industry innovations in smart cities and connected homes, Ericsson is launching three IoT solutions: ICT is becoming increasingly critical for utility providers as they look to improve operational efficiency and find ways to innovate and improve customer experience.

Smart Metering as a Service enables end-to-end business process outsourcing drawing on Ericsson’s experience of enabling more than 42 million smart meters worldwide.

Visafone acquisition, end for CDMA? Continues from page 50 either dead on arrival or not strong enough to gather momentum.

Acquisitions in the CDMA sector: The fortunes of the Nigerian CDMA operators experienced a nosedive shortly after the GSM operators opened shop in August 2001 and since then, while the Global System for Mobile communications, GSM operators keep increasing in number and financial record, their CDMA counterparts have been depleting in both numbers and bank balance.

Although things began to look bright in 2006 when their regional licences were upgraded to Unified Access Services Licences, the operators could not sustain the tempo and from a position of strength in terms of the number of operators, there are today, just about only two active CDMA operators, Starcomms and Visafone.

From the official statistics released by the NCC at the beginning of 2012, the CDMA operators lost 17 percent of their total subscriber base between January and October 2011, translating to about 1,069,485 lines in number.

The regulator said that at the opening of business in January 2011, the CDMA networks had

pooled together a total of 6,186,442 telecoms subscribers from their various networks.

However, the figure kept experiencing consistent decline, slipping to 5,116,957 active lines at the end of October, 2011 from a loss of an estimated N10 bn in revenues.

This represented a monthly revenue loss of N1 bn. This scenario increased the calls for consolidation in that sector.

That call, apparently resulted in what seemed a special purpose vehicle, by an American investor-CAPCOM, which came with the hope of reviving the CDMA segment.

The plan by CAPCOM was to merge Starcomms, MultiLinks and MTS, in a deal that was worth $210 million, but retained the Starcomms as the brand name.

CAPCOM had thought that the merger in the CDMA sector would enhance Starcomms’ position in competing strongly with operators like MTN, Globacom and Etisalat.

However, the ambition was later cut short as a result of the inability of CAPCOM to raise the required money to seal the deal and to move the new company forward.

Giving an insight into how the CAPCOM deal became a flop, the Chief Executive Officer designate, who now chairs

ConSol Limited, a contact management solution company, Ademola Eleso, was quoted in an interview to have said that : “The vision of CAPCOM was to help merge the CDMA operations in the country, and make them have strong financial base, hence it tried buying and merging Starcomms, MultiLinks and MTS, but as at the time I left them, which was in December 2014, funding was an issue. The funding from both local and foreign partners was not enough to realise the ambition of CAPCOM”.

The inability of Capcom to succeed in the merger of the three CDMA operators, eventually led to the death of

The inability of Capcom to succeed in the merger of the three CDMA operators, eventually led to the death of MTS and Starcomms and others, leaving Visafone and MultiLinks as the only surviving CDMA operators in the country

MTS and Starcomms and others, leaving Visafone and MultiLinks as the only surviving CDMA operators in the country, out of 13. But, the survival of the operators also continued to be threatened by market forces, as revenue and subscribers base dwindled every month.

As at December 2015, the combined subscriber number of the two surviving CDMA operators was 2.1 million as against GSM subscriber number that was 150 million.

With this development, this acquisition was just a matter of time to manifest.

How EMIS paved way for distress in the sector: Traditionally, the story of telecom revolution in the country always begins with the liberalisation of the sector in 1999. This followed with the auction of the GSM licences, which saw giant telecommunications outfits like MTN and the then Econet wireless (now Airtel Nigeria) rolling out services.

There is also the account of later entrants, Globacom, Etisalat and probably with a few additional accounts of Starcomms, Visafone and others in the CDMA sector.

However, the account of the telecommunications sector may not be complete without those companies that went under and why they went under.

Telecoms mast: For instance, among the earliest private telecommunications operators in Nigeria soon after the deregulation of the sector, was EMIS. A telecommunications company that probably had the best marketing war chest of the entire lot at the time, dominating the airwaves and nearly every inch of space in Nigeria’s leading newspapers.

It was headquartered in an impressive edifice, painted in bright colours on Ajose Adeogun Street, in highbrow Victoria Island. During working hours, expensive cars were parked in every available space in front of the edifice. Smartly-dressed security officials mounted sentry at the gates.

Beautiful ladies in smart business suits welcomed visitors at the reception. It was the darling of many well-heeled individuals and prosperous corporate bodies who at that time, could no longer tolerate the poor services and arrogance of the state-owned national telecommunications carrier, NITEL. Early signs of distress: Suddenly, signs began to appear that all was not well with this once promising company. The hustle and bustle at the company’s premises started to ebb.

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Sports Ministry keeps Africa Games medallists in suspense

By Ben Efe

A

S various successful Nigerian sportsmen and women look forward to a Presidential hand shake on January 21 in Abuja, athletes who won medals at the 2015 Africa Games in Congo, have been left in the dark about their participation in the event.

President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to host the Nigerian teams including the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles, the Olympic Eagles and the D’Tigers for their triumphs in 2015 Thursday in Abuja. But the African Games athletes have not received any notification or invitation to the event, a situation which is fuelling fears that they might have been left out of the occasion, which they have been expecting.

“Our athletes have not been given any directive to proceed to Abuja. They are all anxiously waiting, and no one from the

Sports Ministry seems to have answers to our questions,” a member of the Athletics Federation said yesterday.

He added that all the elite athletes have reported to camp in Port Harcourt to start preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the Africa Championships.

“We have most of our elite athletes here. And they have not been told anything about joining others for any occasion in Abuja.

“We can only hope that they will still be part of the reception for the athletes who did Nigeria proud in 2015.”

Christie demands ‘purge’ of IAAF

L

INFORD Christie has criticised IAAF president Lord Coe and suggested there needs to be “a purge” at the world governing body.

Coe was given the backing of the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Dick Pound, last week after an independent commission report was published presenting their findings on corruption and doping coverups at the IAAF. Christie, who won gold for Great Britain in the 100 metres at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barce-

lona, said: “It’s not for me to say (he should resign), it’s for him to know. I think it’s for him to make that decision.

“The sport needs to be clear, there needs to be total transparency and I think that’s the only way.

“I said the IAAF was corrupt way back in 2000 and it’s all coming to light now."

All Nigerian Girls... from (right) Regina George, Funke Oladoye, Tosin Adeloye and Patience Okon George. Nigeria Women’s 4x400 they won gold at the Africa Games.

Sundowns ready to offload Uzoenyi

M

AMELODI Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has

confirmed the club is willing to release Ejike Uzoenyi and Mukuka Mulenga if there are teams interested in their services.

Nigerian attacker Uzoenyi and Zambian midfielder Mulenga are still training at Sundowns but can not play for the Brazilians

this season as the club has exhausted its foreign quota.

Ejike only started one game and battled with injuries through his first year at Sundowns last season.

Mulenga was on loan at Bloemfontein Celtic in 2014/15 where he started 15 games. He did not feature for the

Tshwane giants in his first season at Chloorkop as injuries hampered his progress.

“We are going to release them to go if there is a team interested,” says Mosimane.

“But we have to honour their contracts, we can’t dump them.”

Ibe deserves first team chance, Murphy tells Klopp

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ANNY Murphy has urged Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to give youngster Jordon Ibe a chance in the first team.

The 20-year-old is highly rated at Anfield, with many hoping he can follow in the footsteps of Raheem Sterling in becoming a first team star.

He has struggled under new manager Jurgen Klopp with the German preferring the likes of Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana ahead of him on the wings.

He has started eight games since Klopp took charge, and was once again left on the bench for Sunday ’s 1-0 loss to Manchester United.

And Murphy says he was surprised by that decision, saying the youngster should be handed a chance in the first team.

“Jordon Ibe is well thought of at the club and I think he could go on to be a really good player for Liverpool,” he told TalkSport.

“He need games to

gain a bit of confidence, and when you play more often you get that confidence.”

“I love his pace and his ability to go past peo-

ple. I was surprised he didn’t start against United, I really was. I’m not sure Jurgen Klopp knows his best 11 at the moment.”

Hayatou steps aside as CAF president

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OLLOWING the accu sation levelled against the African and Asian Football Confederations over the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two bodies, Issa Hayatou, the man who stepped into the shoes of disgraced and suspended FIFA president, Sepp Blatter in acting capacity, has opted to step aside as CAF president until a new leader of the world governing body is elected next month.

Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, the Jordanian candidate for the FIFA Presidency, had cried out that the MOU which was coming too close to the FIFA election appeared to be a “blatant attempt” to secure a bloc vote for one of

his rivals in the race to succeed Blatter - the AFC President Shaikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

The 69-year-old Cameroonian, also a member of the International Olympic Committee, who signed the agreement with Shaikh Salman, a candidate in the FIFA election, will step away from CAF temporarily to avoid accusations of a conflict of interest.

Even though both the African (CAF) and Asian (AFC) bodies have denied signing the MOU because of the FIFA election, Prince Ali has asked the FIFA Electoral Committee to investigate the matter, stressing that African votes in the crucial FIFA election should not be “for sale”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 — 53

Veterans mourn Akosa

Aussie Open: Verdasco stuns Nadal

SSOCIATION of Sports Veterans Nigeria (ASVN) have received with shock, the death of Mr Austin Akosa, one of its founding fathers.

The Association President Chief Jonathan Ogufere in a press release said Nigeria has lost a colossus in sports administration whose shoes will be difficult to fill. “This is very shocking. Very shocking. It came out of the blues.

We were never aware of his ill health not to talk of eventual death,” the

former President of West African Football Union ( WAFU) said.

Veteran Ogufere went down memory lane, to the time Mr Akosa was a co. staff in P &T but later transferred his services to the National Sports Commission where he excelled as Organising Secretary in many sports associations. “He was that dexterous so much that wherever he found himself, he excelled. When I became WAFU President in 1988 until 1994, he was a member of the

Oliseh

ficial. Jamiu Alimi was outstanding in the team’s training camp in South Africa, but he was a nervous wreck in the heart of the defence against Niger on Monday so much so that he bagged a booking after a late reaction and he was promptly hauled off after just 16 minutes.

And his replacement Orji Kalu came in to post a solid display in central defence, a position he plays for his club Enugu Rangers, even though the Eagles have used him in right back.

With the return from suspension of Austin

AFAEL Nadal suffered his first round-one exit at the Australian Open as Fernando Verdasco recorded a stunning fiveset win at Melbourne Park.

The Spanish left-handers produced an exhibition of hard-hitting to thrill those inside the Rod Laver Arena over four hours and 40 minutes.

Verdasco saved a break point to prevent going 30 down in the decider, going on to win 7-6 (86) 4-6 3-6 7-6 (4-7) 6-2.

Verdasco, he now meets Israel’s Dudi Sela after hitting 90 winners and winning six straight games to clinch victory over fifth seed Nadal.

“I played unbelievably in the fifth set,” said Verdasco, 32. “I don’t know how I did it. I closed my eyes and everything

HAIRMAN of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko presented a cash gift of $10,000 to the victorious Super Eagles on behalf of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

LMC are the organizers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) from which the

“We kind of lost concentration immediately the second half began and that is what finished us. “We are in a very tough group but what we can do is to generously accept the defeat and start work on our next game because we tried our best against Nigeria

but they proved to be too good. “We want to try and make amends in our next game but let’s remember Guinea are a very aggressive team, but we will learn from our mistakes against Nigeria and try to give our best performance as it is a tournament not a league.”

A

Continues from BP Eagles strike force against Tunisia on Friday afternoon.

Usman Mohammed did more in the 20 minutes he was on the pitch than the older and more experienced Bartholomew ‘Mosquito’ Ibenegbu produced in 70 minutes. “‘Mosquito’ was far apart from the two defensive midfielders, Paul Onobi and Ifeanyi Matthew. He could not thread a through pass to the attack, he did not follow the tactical instructions,” said one of-

R

•Akosa Organising Committee and he was an epitome of diligence, hard work and played a strategic role in the success of my tenure.”

Obaroakpo, it is left to be seen whether coach Sunday Oliseh will stick with the new central defence pairing of Kalu and Stephen Eze or get Obaroakpo back in the deep end right away against Tunisia on Friday.

Niger coach

Continues from BP can bounce back in their remaining games.

“Nigeria is a very good side, you could all see how they came back in the second half strongly and with determination,” he told SuperSport.

went in.”

Verdasco, beaten by Nadal in the semi-finals in 2009, showed grit to stay in touch when his compatriot threatened to dominate.

After surrendering a 52 lead in the fourth set, he dug deep to win the tie-break and take the match the distance.

At 2-2 in the decider, a

glorious forehand packed with the type of power he had showed throughout the contest put Verdasco ahead and the would number 45 never looked back.

Nadal, who had beaten Verdasco 14 times in 16 meetings, talked about his game and the way tennis is changing following his loss.

CHAN: LMC splash Eagles with Dollars 23 players were select-

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ed to represent Nigeria at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.

Dikko, who also is the second vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), made the cash presentation to the team at a dinner organised by the Nigerian High Commission in Rwanda.

“The LMC, club owners and all the stakeholders of the league appreciate your excellent display tonight (Monday), we are proud of the team. You guys have been good ambassadors of the league and I have been mandated to present this cash as reward for your hard work,” Dikko said.

54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 — 55

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Aussie Open: Nadal, Williams crash out — Inside CHAN:

Oliseh to unleash Chikatara on Tunisia H

•Chikatara

Nigeria too good – Niger coach

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IGER coach Francois Zahoui admitted that Nigeria were too good for his side after the Super Eagles claimed a 4-1 victory in the team’s opening Group C match

at the 2016 Africa Nations Championship on Monday. Zahoui praised Nigeria for their powerful performance, but believes his side

Continues on Page 53

AT-TRICK hero C h i s o m Chikatara, midfielder Usman Mohammed and defender Orji Kalu have pushed for starting shirts with Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the CHAN on the strength of their displays against Niger, officials have disclosed.

Chikatara came off the bench in the 58th minute to replace the hugely ineffective Tunde Adeniji and he showed his class with three welltaken goals and could even have scored more against Mena.

He has done more than enough to lead the Continues on Page 53

CHAN Results Zimbabwe Mali

1 2

Zambia Uganda

0 2

Today’s Matches Rwanda Morocco

v v

Gabon Cote d’Ivoire

2 pm 5 pm

LMC splash Eagles withDollars — Pg.53 QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Account-book (6) 5 Thaw (4) 8 Relaxed (5) 9 Curve (3) 10 Rotate (4) 11 Elderly (4) 12 Expiate (5) 13 Terrible (6) 16 Dregs (4) 18 Discharge (4) 20 Consumed (3) 22 Fixed (3) 23 Tear (3) 24 Rank (4) 25 Cut (4) 28 Cows (6) 30 Sorcery (5) 32 Warmth (4) 33 Sun-bathe (4) 34 Relatives (3) 35 Located (5) 36 Record (4) 37 Posture (6)

DOWN 1 Hate (6) 2 Deck (8) 3 Involve (6) 4 Unrealistic (9) 5 Wander (7) 6 Border (4) 7 Neat (4) 8 Epoch (3) 14 Delineated (9) 15 Mouthful (3) 17 Fish (3) 19 Wrong (8) 20 Point (3) 21 Unpredictable (7) 26 Parcel (6) 27 Sitting (6) 29 Hut (4) 30 Gather (4) 31 Rotter (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 3, Odium 9, Couple 10, Suffer 11, Dried 12, Eros 15, Menu 17, Deserve 20, Rod 21, Ended 23, Item 25, Taxi 26, Renew 28, Cup 30, Receded 33, Real 35, Dude 36, Crisp 38, Clique 39, Elicit 40, Tally.

DOWN: 1, Acted 2, Kudos 3, Old 4, Derive 5, Used 6, Mud 7, Offer 8, Proud 13, Retinue 14, Sewer 16, Noticed 18, Enter 19, Met 22, Dated 24, Men 27, Weasel 28, Crack 29, Panic 31, Dunce 32, Death 34, Area 36, Cut 37, Ply.

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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