Reps threaten to impeach Jonathan

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61670

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

PHCN: Transcorp, others beat deadline •P 6

•P.8

Reps threaten to impeach Jonathan •Over poor budget implementation; score FG low in all sectors

•Want Sanusi, Oteh to face prosecution •I share Reps' concerns — Jonathan •P.13

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA —THE House of Representatives, yesterday, threatened to invoke articles of impeachment against President Goodluck Jonathan if by September the Minister of Finance does not release funds for MDAs. Also, the Federal Government was scored far below average in all

Continues on Page 5

DONU KOGBARA: Should the Black race be condemned?

•P.17

Mr & Mrs

AUSTERITY PROTEST—People protest against the Spanish government's latest austerity measures in Se-

ville, yesterday. Photo: AFP.

6 killed as JTF, gunmen clash in Maiduguri •P.6 C M Y K

October 1 bombing: How text messages linked Okah, others, SSS tells court •P.6

2—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 3

4—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

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Vanguard, FRID AY, JUL Y 20, 2012—5 FRIDA JULY

POCKET CARTOON

Reps threaten to impeach Jonathan Continues from Page 1 spheres as various committee chairmen scored all the MDAs they did oversight low.

Hon Femi Gbajabiamila representing Surulere in Lagos State who initiated the debate on budget implementation, suggested that if the economy is not properly greased by September then the House may not have any option than to start impeachment process against the President.

Gbajabiamila in his argument stated that “the President had come to the floor of the House with a budget which he called transformation budget but it is a budget of abracadabra and voodoo.”

As the whole House received his declaration with loud ovation, Gbajabiamila continued: “The president is not doing anybody any favour as constituency projects are done all over the world. I have met the President, he is a fine man, I like him but I like my country more because when the budget is not implemented, our constituents suffer and it leads to lack of infrastructure; so come September, if the budget is not 100 per cent implemented, we will start to throw articles of impeachment at the president” But before he could continue, Hon Nado Terembe representing Bayelsa, raised a point of Order that Order 9 Rule 61 is being violated.

He said:

“Gbajabiamila’s contribution is not in alignment with the first motion or bill on the floor so impeaching the president is not relevant in this issue". Terembe was shouted down but the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal who presided, quickly intervened and sustained his point of order.

Members again gave Gbajabiamila a standing ovation.

The Speaker, however, asked Gbajabiamila to continue.

The Minority Leader intervened saying: “Let me point out a superior Order which is Section 143 of the constitution.

For avoidance of doubts the President may be removed in accordance with the law whenever he is found guilty in the performance of his duties."

How it all started The drama came to the fore when a. Motion supported by 21 members was presented to the floor of the House by Hon Albert Sám Tsokwa.

This resolution which emanated from the motion moved by Rep. Tsokwa (PDP-Taraba) tagged 'the non- implementation of the 2012 budget' was adopted.

Leading the debate, Sam Tsokwa noted that the 2012 budget was passed with an aggregate expenditure figure of N4.8 trillion including the N180 billion Subsidy Reinvestment(SURE) programme.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?

— Hillel

E

ACH of us has something unique to contrib ute in this world and no one else can do it for us. Sometimes the very thing that can give us the most satisfaction - the key unlocking the doorway to our selves - is the very thing we deny most. It is the door we most fear opening. So we keep the key far out of sight to prevent it from reminding us that there’s even a door to be unlocked. We design our lives and busy ourselves from dawn to dusk with activities that rob us of the time to soberly take up the meaning of life and what we need to do to make it truly meaningful. Sometimes we’re the last to know how unique we are, and how much greater we can become. So we procrastinate - even for precisely that which we long for most. And there’s nothing we long for more than the expression of our deepest self. That’s why Hillel feels it vital to remind us that it’s not enough to be aware of the need; we have to act on it. Continually. Relentlessly. Otherwise, what’s life for? And if not now, when?

According to Tsokwa, the budget which was passed and signed into law by the president reflected the application of the highest degree of fiscal responsibility by the National Assembly.

He expressed worries that seven months into the 2012 fiscal year, capital budget implementation by various MDAs was far behind expectations.

The legislator lamented that, in spite of the fact that the MDAs had reached advanced stages in the implementation of the procurement process, they were unable to release contract award letters because of insufficient funds.

Hon. John Enoh ( PDP-Cross River), the chairman of Appropriation Committee in his contribution noted that the total release for capital projects of N400 billion was effected in the first quarter regretting that even with this abysmal release, the cash backing was just N200 billion which translates to only 35 per cent. He said that unless the parliament stepped up its efforts to impress on the executive, the budget would not be implemented.

The legislator noted that the bulk of the problem is the lack of will to implement the law.

Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi (PDPEnugu) who supported the motion said that the House should stop its earlier plans to interface with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies of government.

Hon. Samson Osagie (ACN-Orhionwhon/ Ohuede), Minority Whip said that the executive must be taught the necessary lesson on non-implementation of the budget.

Finance Ministry tasked on MDAs He said that the Ministry of Finance should be compelled to release funds to all MDAs without delay.

Abdulmumin Jibril (PDP-Kano), the chairman of the House Committee on Finance said that Nigeria had enough resources to fund budgets.

Bassey Ewah (PDPCross River) in his own

contribution said that there were MDAs operating foreign bank accounts unknown to the National Assembly. He argued that there was a complete failure on the part of government for not doing what was expected of it.

Ewah alleged that some ministries were keeping secret foreign accounts, pledging to give details of the accounts when he concludes investigations he launched into the matter.

Decrying the worsening state of roads across the country, House Committee Chairman on Works, Hon Ogbuefo

Ozomgbachi said the non payment of contractors has resulted in the stalling of road construction across the nation.

He described as strange and clear violation of the constitution, refusal of

the Minister of Finance to release appropriated funds meant for ministries and agencies. According to him this has slowed down implementation of the budget.

Reps want Sanusi, Oteh to face prosecution M

EANWHILE, the House of Representatives, yesterday, indicted Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; DirectorGeneral of SEC Arunma Oteh and DG of Assets Management Commission (AMCON) Mustafa Chike-Obi for their refusal to submit certain documents required by the House.

The House took the decision while adopting the recommendations of its Adhoc Committee on the near collapse of the Capital Market.

The Report was laid before the House last Tuesday by the committee’s Chairman Ibrahim El-Sudi.

The plenary session of the House adopted almost all the recommendations of the Committee.

However, due to the intervention of the Chairman of the House Committee on Banking and Currency Matters, Hon. Jones Onyereri, some of the Capital Market Committee’s recommendations were stepped down for harmonisation by the two committees.

According to some of the ratified recommendations: “ The Governor of Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; the Managing Director Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mustafa Chike-Obi; Director-General Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) Ms Arunma Oteh are hereby cited for contempt of the House and they should be prosecuted by the At-

torney-General of the Federation under sections 4 and 11 (b) of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act and section 89 of the amended 1999 Constitution for refusing to produce documents as requested and demanded by the Adhoc Committee.

“That the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor through his Deputy Governor Kingsley Moghalu, SEC DG and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Managing Director having lied under oath in their testimony with respect to the ownership structure of the nationalised banks should be prosecuted under Section 10 of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act, Cap 12 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria by the Attorney-General of the Federation for giving false evidence under oath to the Committee.

“That the appointment of Ms Arunma Oteh as DG of SEC be terminated forthwith as her appointment is in violation of section 3 (2) and section 38 (1) b, 2 and 3; Section 315 of the Investment and Security Act, 2007 in that she did not have 15 years experience in the Nigerian Capital Market as required; That she has shown incompetence in the management of human and material resources at her disposal in SEC; lacked transparency in managing Project 50, regulatory failure in some of the recent mergers, acquisitions and approvals of transactions by SEC and general inabil-

ity to carry along her staff, Board, and Management in decision making in SEC and questionable staff recruitment policies.

“That with respect to the missing N8billion, from the Union Bank Plc public offer, a case of fraudulent diversion having been established, the past Board and Management of the bank, the Chief Executive Officer of the Issuing House/Financial Adviser, the present members of the Board and Management, including the Managing Director of the bank Mrs F. Osibodu should be investigated by the EFCC with a view to establishing and recovering the missing amount. Also, the management of AMCON and SEC including their Chief Executive officers should be investigated by EFCC considering their roles in attempting to conceal the fraudulent diversion and missing fund.

“That all former bank executives who are recipients of National Honours and who are currently being prosecuted for crimes and unethical practices which led to the collapse of their banks be stripped of their National Honours by President Goodluck Jonathan in line with section 7 of the National Honours Act and international norms.

That EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the courts are also urged to hasten their prosecution to serve as a deterrence and to help restore investors confidence in the market."

6—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

PHCN: Transcorp, others beat deadline

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

A

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State (middle), presenting a key to one of the beneficiaries of tricycle transportation scheme, Mr. Olota Abdulrasheed at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

6 die as JTF, gunmen clash in Maiduguri

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI — SIX persons were killed, yesterday, in Maiduguri in two separate incidents as gunmen attacked the city ’s largest market while suspected members of Boko Haram also clashed with a team of Joint Task Force At least four traders were shot dead while two others seriously injured when gunmen attacked Monday market in Maiduguri.

The attack came barely 24 hours after President Jonathan lifted the state of emergency earlier imposed in some parts of the state and the subsequent relaxation of the curfew by two hours.

The incident, which happened at about noon, forced many traders who were at the peak of their pre-Ramadan shopping to flee the market.

General Manager of Monday Market, Maiduguri, Alhaji Ajiya Terrab, confirmed the incident to newsmen on phone, saying: "Some gunmen actually attacked the market and killed four traders and injured two others."

Witnesses said following the attack on the shops outside the market, the management of the market had to lock up the six main entrances, forcing traders to remain indoors for hours, until it was later opened.

Also, men of the Joint Task Force, JTF,

yesterday clashed with gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect in Gambouru ward of Maiduguri metropolis in Borno State, killing two persons.

An eyewitness said the clash occurred when suspected gunmen attacked one of the military patrol vehicles near Kofa Biyu on Sir Kashim Ibrahim Way. He said: “We had to run for our dear lives, as the shootings between soldiers and gunmen came from all directions.

I cannot tell you whether some people were killed in the shoot-outs, but some of us ran into our houses for fear of being killed by stray bullets.”

An attendant at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH, said two bodies of civilians were brought into the hospital by the JTF van.

The attendant in a text message to newsmen said: “Two men in personal dress were brought in dead at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit of Teaching Hospital by a JTF van at about noon Thursday.”

Speaking on yesterday ’s clash, spokesman of JTF, Lt. Col Sagir Musa, said: “I am not aware of the shootouts between us and suspected gunmen.

But I will investigate to confirm the shootouts, before reaching you if there were casualties.”

Confirming the

incident, the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Gideon Jibrin, said there was a clash between men of the JTF and suspected gunmen in Gombouru ward of Maiduguri, yesterday, where some

civilians were injured by stray bullets.

He said the Police Area Commander of Gambouru ward, was yet to send his report on the incident to the headquarters for further investigations.

October 1 bombing: How text messages linked Okah, others, SSS tells court

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — A Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, heard how mobile telephone text massages linked Charles Okah and three other suspects to the October 1, 2010 bomb blasts that marred Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration.

The States Security Service, SSS, told the court that its Technical Department successfully extracted incriminating massages exchanged among the accused persons before and after that bomb explosion that resulted in the death of 12 persons at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Testifying in court, yesterday, a lead technical officer with the SSS, Mr Wasiu Agbaje, said he personally extracted text massage contents in the mobile phone of one of the accused persons, Edmund Ebiware, shortly after he was apprehended by undercover operatives.

Agbaje told the court that when the phone of the accused was thoroughly

scrutinized, two of the incriminating messages were discovered, saying one was in his inbox while the other was a reply.

The witness said he used forensic suite software to extract the messages which he said was printed and passed to the service special investigative panel, insisting that the contents of the massages expressly indicted the accused persons of complicity in the crime.

Meanwhile, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, yesterday, admitted the printed text messages into evidence after it was tendered by the prosecuting counsel, Dr Alex Iziyon, SAN, even as further hearing on the case was subsequently adjourned till October 3 and 9.

It would be recalled that the court had on May 3, okayed separate trial for Ebiware, who was previously standing trial alongside Charles Okah who is the younger brother to the embattled ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Henry Okah, and the 3rd accused person, Obi Nwabueze.

BUJA — TRANSCORP Consortium, comprising local and international partners, are among the few companies that beat the July 17 deadline given to interested companies, to submit technical bids for the 25 companies unbundled from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria scheduled for privatisation.

The Bureau of Public Entreprises, BPE, revealed, Wednesday, that about 25 companies met the deadline.

Vanguard gathered that Transcorp was one of the few companies that met the rigorous bid submission deadlines set for the acquisition of thermal and hydro generating plants across the country.

Trancorp led the Transcorp/Woodrock/ Symbion consortium of local and international technical partners with strong experience in power generation in Nigeria and other developing countries in Africa and the Middle East and developed markets in the US to bid for the Ughelli Power Plant after paying the compulsory $200 million bid bond.

Other companies that met the bid submission deadline included the Marubeni Corporation, a giant Japanese firm bidding for the Kainji Power Plant; Fenika Electric, NPG Consortium, Delta Utility, Dan Globe Consortium, Botad/GE, Amperion Power, Taleveras, Ethiope/ Rockson Engineering.

The Ughelli plant, one of the largest under the stable with an installed capacity of

972 Mega watts, attracted the highest interests with nine bids.

To get this far, Transcorp earlier in the year entered into a partnership agreement with Symbion Power; a US-based energy company.

The partnership, thereafter, placed Transcorp in a strong position to bid for and acquire a controlling stake in one or more power generation and distribution companies being privatised by the federal government.

Assets for sale Other assets slated for private acquisition are thermal power plants including: Geregu Power Plc414mw; Afam Power Plc comprising Afam I-V776mw; and Sapele Power Plc-1020mw.

The other plants include the Kainji Hydro Power Plant and the Shiroro Hydro Power Plant.

The call for bids saw international and local companies expressed their interest in the acquisition of these power companies created from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. The bid evaluation team comprises officers from the BPE; the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory.

Commission, NERC; the Economic and Financial.

Crimes Commission, EFCC; and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC. Following the anticipated rigorous bid process, the Federal Government had warned that the team adheres strictly to the privatization guidelines.

Muslims to begin Ramadan fast

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

L

AGOS — Muslims across the country are expected to join other faithful across the world to begin this year Ramadan fasting today.

Already, the Sultan of Sokoto and PresidentGeneral of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad, has urged Muslims who sight the new moon of Ramadan to

communicate to relevant authorities immediately for the commencement of the fast.

Muslims are mandated to fast in the month of Ramadan for either 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the moon.

In a statement made available to Vanguard, the Sultan asked Muslims to look out for the moon from Thursday, July 19, being the 29th day of Sha’aban 1433AH for the commencement of Ramadan fasting.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 7

Fast rising music act, S-Gee flanked by first place winners Ngozi Ogodo and Emmanuel Gia after the trophy presentation at the 27th Emzor Wellness run in Lagos

Impeachment threat: Jonathan shares Reps concerns—Abati

By BEN AGANDE

AGM—From left: Mr. Julius Oranta, MD, Alhaji Bala Zakariya'u, Chairman and Mr. Taiwo Otuneye, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser during the 42nd Annual General Meeting of Niger Insurance Plc at the the Golden Gate Restaurant, Lagos. Photo: Sylva Eleanya.

Edo: Court summons Jega over contempt charge

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, to appear before it to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying a valid court order pertaining to the recently conducted Governorship election in Edo State.

Justice Adamu Bello issued Form-49 against Jega following allegations that contrary to an order of the court, collapsible transparent ballot boxes, were used to conduct gubernatorial election in Edo on July 14.

Relying on the provisions of Order 9 Rule 13 of the Federal High Court procedure rule, the court directed the INEC boss to appear before it with his defence or risk imprisonment for contempt.

Equally summoned by the court was the Registrar of Patent, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

“Take Notice that the plaintiff will apply to this court for an order for committal to prison of the alleged contemnors for having disobeyed the order of this court made on June 5, 2012 enjoining and restraining you,” the order read.

It will be recalled that the court had in its judgment on Tuesday June 5, declared illegal the use of the collapsible transparent ballot boxes used for the 2011 general elections by INEC without the consent of the owner of the patent right to

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the boxes.

The Court also barred the electoral body from using the boxes for any subsequent polls, including the

July 14 Edo governorship elections without first seeking the approval of the patent owner.

The orders of the court

followed a suit filed by an indigenous company, Bedding Holdings Limited challenging the use of the boxes for the elections.

Pension scam: Labour faults inclusion of Agbogun, Agbo as panel members

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

O

RGANISED Labour in the electricity sector has faulted the inclusion of Dr. Sam Agbogun and Nick Agbo as members of a panel of inquiry set up by government to probe the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, pension scheme which an estimated N200 billion is allegedly to be missing, saying both are interested parties.

Under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, labour however demanded that inquiry should be con-

ducted openly and under camera coverage as done in the Police pension investigation.

Reacting to media report on the inauguration of the panel, NUEE through its General Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said while other members of the panel were unknown, Dr. Agbogun who will serve as secretary of the panel, “is currently enjoying arguably illegal pensions which may have contributed to the pension scam.”

For Agbo, the union claimed he “is not acceptable to us for lack of credibil-

ity and transparency. Prior to now he has made comments and pronouncements that cast doubt on his impartiality.”

According to the statement “If the allusion is true, then we sincerely laud the effort of the government in trying to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the disappearance and underfunding of the Superannuation Fund. It is also incumbent on us to further posit that this inquiry should be conducted openly and under camera coverage just as it was done in the police pension investigation.

T

HE Presidency, yes terday, reacted to the failed impeachment threat

by House of Representatives on President Goodluck Jonathan over budget implementation saying the concerns raised by the House were in sync with those of the President.

Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Dr.. Reuben Abati said that President Jonathan was on the same page with the House of Representatives on the need for efficient budget implementation.

He said there was no conflict between the two arms of government, noting that the President was also concerned about budget implementation.

Abati noted that President Jonathan had impressed it on his ministers that his administration lays premium on budget performance, adding that based on the President’s directive, the Minister of Finance, Dr.

Enugu govt blames sack of contractors on incompetence

BY TONY EDIKE

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N U G U — ENUGU State Government, yesterday, blamed the sack of some road contractors and consultants working in the state on incompetence and

Senate probes N172bn oil well scandal •Confirms Akaahs, Alagoe as Supreme Court Justices

By INALEGWU SHAIBU

A

BUJA—SENATE has resolved to investigate the controversy generated by the sale of the $1.092 billion oil bloc OPL 245 involving Malabu Oil and Gas Limited and Shell/ Agip.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, though the Senate was initially divided on the committee to handle the probe.

While some of the Senators opted for the setting up

of an ad hoc committee to carry out the investigation, others demanded that the probe be handled by a standing committee.

But Senate President, David Mark intervened in the argument warning that calls for an ad hoc committee probe was an indication of distrust for the Senate’s standing committees.

He said: “Let me say that no Senate committee is under investigation, so any Senate committee can do the assignment. Any committee can do the job; I want to hear those who do not

want this investigation to take place. Let us not give an impression that there is something that we don’t want to touch. It will not be good,” Leading the debate on the motion, Ningi observed that the Senate was worried by recent media attention on the controversies surrounding a tripartite transaction involving the Federal Government, Shell/Agip and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

He said that the transactions referred to the oil bloc “OPL 245” to the effect that

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had presented a detailed report of the level of performance

by Ministries, Departments and Agencies which formed the basis for discussion at the general meeting.

He said: “The House and the President are on the same page on budget implementation. Just as the House is concerned, Mr. President is concerned too.

What happened today (yesterday) in the House was ironic and a big coincidence because two ministries: interior and police affairs, were in the Villa to make presentations on their key performance index.

“Each ministry came with all the parastatals under it and presented their KPI in relation to Budget 2012.

They were required to state their mandates, the money they collected under Budget 2012, their level of performance and their challenges if any and then define their next steps. After each presentation, there was robust discussion.”

the Federal Government sold the bloc to Shell/Agip consortium in the sum of $1.092billion.

He added: “The media reports have raised legal and ethical issues surrounding the transaction and pattern of distribution of proceeds to the beneficiaries.

If all these weighty allegations are ignored, Nigeria may be sanctioned by the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative(EITI) for violating a global initiative to which it is a signatory and our image will further be eroded locally and internationally,”

lack of commitment, saying some of their projects started failing even before completion.

Speaking at a public hearing organised by the State House of Assembly Committee on Works on the execution of road contracts awarded by the state government from 2007 to date, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Godwin Madueke, said some contractors who were awarded road reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in Enugu metropolis were sacked for lack of capacity to execute the jobs.

According to him, one of the firms, J. Quarison International Ltd was awarded the reconstruction of 37 roads measuring 17.93 kilometers in 2007 at a cost of over N1billion, lamenting however that as at February this year, nothing had been done on five of the roads.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Jonathan mourns Ovie-Whiskey

zHe was a great patriot —Atiku zMark, Tambuwal, Uduaghan mourn

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & HENRY UMORU

A CONFERENCE: From left: Angola Minister of Transport, Mr. Augusio Da Silva Tomas, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Odua, Vice President, Namadi Sambo and President, International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO,, Mr. Robert Gonzalese at the Africa Ministerial Conference on Safety in Africa, declared open by the Vice President in Abuja, yesterday.

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, has condoled the family of late JusticeVictorOvie-Whiskey, who died on Wednesday.

Recalling late Justice OvieWhiskey’s enormous contributions to the nation as a judge and Chairman of Federal Electoral Commission,FEDECO,President Jonathan urged his family to take solace in the knowledge that the late judge lived a very fulfilled life and left a worthy legacy of com-

Re: No deal between Labour, Govt: PHCN not threatened RIGHT OF REPLY

O

UR AT TENTION has been drawn to page 42 of your publication, Vanguard, of Thursday July 12, 2012 on the above subject matter. We wish to assure all Nigerians including PHCN workers that the PHCN Privatisation faces no threat from PHCN workers. The transaction is very much on course as the privatisation of the Successor Companies of PHCN holds great promise for sustainable economic growth and development in our country.

Government, after fourteen months of eight rounds of painstaking and patient negotiations with the labour unions of PHCN, has made the best offer to the Unions on behalf of their members, and has concluded the negotiations. In these months of negotiations with the Unions, government recognized the strategic place of PHCN and its workers in the ongoing reforms of the power sector and the transformation agenda of President Good luck Jonathan’s administration and ensured that their rights and all legitimate claims and entitlements were protected, promoted, defended and paid up as at when due.

We are, however, surprised at the disingenuous portrayal of the offer of Government as a fixed position.

It is pertinent to note that while the Unions were inflexible in their demands for payment of severance as part of a package comprising other items already agreed to, Government shifted its position twice to take cognizance of the concerns of the Unions with respect to years of service and seniority. Thus, while Government moved from its

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initial offer of five weeks for every year of service with a ceiling at twelve months as is prevalent in similar industries, the Unions held on to their position of five weeks for every completed year of service with no capping. Government subsequently reviewed its position and made a final offer of 20 per cent (up from an initial offer of 10 per cent) of total accrued pensions and gratuity.

This final offer was made in consideration of the need to ensure that the employees received an enhanced package and also to remove the ceiling of 12 months for all staff categories.

Rejection of offer Despite this consideration by Government, the Unions rejected the offer. In addition, the unions insisted on being paid gratuity and pensions under the Defined Benefit Scheme which is to be funded through the PHCN Superannuation Fund which is grossly underfunded even by the admission of the President General of SSAEAC in the same publication.

More importantly, the Pension Reform Act 2004 required all active workers to comply to its provisions regarding pensions in the country with effect from July 1st 2004by opening Retirement Savings Account (RSA) with Pension Fund Administrators of their choice. Only workers who had “three or less years” to retire were exempted from the Scheme (PRA 2004 Section 8.1).

The problem in PHCN has been with the Un-

ions’ insistence on remaining in an unfunded pension scheme in clear breach of the law.

Notwithstanding this position of the Unions, and in spite of the underfunding of the PHCN superannuation fund, Government offered to provide all accrued benefits of gratuity and pension under the Defined Benefit Scheme up to June 30th 2004, in addition to the 15 reply contribution under the Contributory Pension Scheme from July 1st2004 to 30th June 2012, in view of the fact that no deductions had been made or paid on behalf of PHCN workers.

In the same edition of Vanguard on page 43 under the banner headline “N331 bn PHCN workers’ pension raises dust” the President General of SSAEAC admitted “unfortunately the management of PHCN has over the years not been funding that account properly.

Funding of scheme If they have not been funding the scheme properly, it is not our business it is that of the Federal Government because they are the ones that appointed the management of the scheme.”

The President General must know how the scheme was mismanaged and who to hold responsible and accountable for the state of affairs of the funding deficit. It is evident that PHCN Management and representatives of the Unions who are the Trustees of the fund failed in their fiduciary duty to ensure that it was well managed and are therefore to be

held responsible for this lapse.

In the light of the foregoing, Government has been fair in the negotiation process in general and in its final offer in particular.The Unions must ensure that their members’ interest are paramount andaccept Government’s magnanimous offer.

Dr Timiebi KoripamoAgary, OON, Government Spokesperson.

mendable service to the nation.

The President argued that the recordofJusticeOvie-Whiskey’s uprightandconscientiousmanagement of Nigeria’s electoral processinverychallengingtimes will stand to his eternal credit in the nation’s history.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has expressedsadnessatJusticeOvieWhiskey’s demise, describing himasagreatpatriot,whomaintained his integrity till death.

Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President,DavidMark,andSpeaker, House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday, described the death of Justice Ovie-Whiskey as another major losstoNigeria’slegalprofession.

Atiku in a condolence messagebyhisMediaOfficeinAbuja, noted that one of the greatest qualities of late Whiskey was his insistence on accuracy on the part of those who made allegations.

Hesaid,Whiskey’sinsistence that accusers should be sure of their facts first was a challenge to our society where people easilygopublicwithwildallegations without having what it takes to substantiate.

SenatorMark,whonotedthat Ovie-Whiskey would be missed

by the nation, said that he departed at a time his wealth of experiences would have been needed to shape and pilot the affairs of the Nation.

Uduaghan in in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sunny Ogefere, said, “Pa OvieWhiskeywasanuprightandnonpartisan man, whose diligence and dedication to duty as a judicial officer saw him emerge as Chief Judge of defunct Bendel State.

“We have lost a patriot, an elder statesman, a quintessential professional and above all, a pride of Delta State whose exit would be felt.”

Tambuwal,inastatementbyhis Special Adviser on Media and PublicAffairs,MalamImamImam, saidthedeceasedservedthecountry diligently as the Chief Justice of the former Bendel State and later as its electoral umpire.

Tambuwalsaid:“Hewasanicon ofthelegalprofessionwhoserved NigeriaselflesslyasitsChiefElectoral Umpire. I remember him for his calm disposition and mature contributions which helped Nigeria’s electoral process between 1980 and 1983 when the military took over power.

“His death is therefore a great lossnotonlytohisimmediatefamily but to Nigeria as a nation. By his death, our country has once again lost an elder statesman.”

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012—9

Soldiers ‘retaliate’ Colonel's arrest on BRT lane

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI & IFEANYI OKOLIE

L

Scene of the clash between soldiers and officials of Lagos State Task-force on Environment and Special Offences, at Yaba, with the Black Maria, which tyres were deflated at the background.

Lagos vows to deliver 10-lane Badagry road by 2015

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI

I

KEJA—LAGOS State Government, yesterday, expressed satisfaction over the level of work on the 10-lane LagosBadagry Expressway project, even as it said that contractors had embraced off-site construction strat-

Briefly

Real estate

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AGOS-BASED real es tate development company, Propertygate Development and Investment Plc, says there is huge economic opportunities to be tapped in the nation's real estate market.

Its Managing Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi, said this at the firm’s third general meeting in Lagos, adding that last year, the company recorded a start-up of 44 housing units of various types, despite challenges such as violation of the global economy, difficulties at the home front and constraints in the real estate industry.

egy because of the prevailing traffic and weather challenges in the state.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at a briefing, assured that Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration would bequeath to residents a first-class transnational highway by 2015.

He said: “It has become necessary to reiterate the plan of the administration in the face of various commentaries on the pace of work by contractors; which for many people, will negatively impact on the delivery of the projects.

“While we are elated that people are monitoring and concerned about the project, it is necessary for us to assure them of the fact that the project is alive

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Oba Akiolu backs use of wind energy

BY CHARLES KUMO-

LU

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AGOS—OBA Rilwanu Akiolu of Lagos has backed the use of hybrid wind energy as alternative source of power generation in the country.

He also advocated the speedy passage of the new power legislation cur-

Lawmakers want moral education back in schools

BY EBUN SESSOU

I

KEJA—LAGOS State House of Assembly has called on the Ministry of Education to re-introduce the teaching of civil/moral -TYCE Lounge and education in all public Restaurant in Karimu and private schools in the Kotun Street, Lagos Island, state.

The assembly also diwould be inaugurated torected the ministry to reday.

The hangout, owned by vitalise the presence of Ugochukwu and Joe, youth organisations such boasts of most impressive as Boy Scout, Girl Guide, relaxation spot, restaurant, Red Cross and Boys Brinight club and roof-top bar gade in all schools with a with a non-obstructed view view to inculcating discipline into students. of the star-filled sky.

The motion was moved According to the promoters of the club, who have by Mr. Ipoola Omisore, been into the hospitality representing Ifako/Ijaiye business for 11 years, they Constituency II, who were out to set a standard noted that misbehaviour in the world of entertain- ranging from examination malpractices, stealing, terment.

Inauguration

and well. It is actually going on according to plan.”

Hamzat said, to ensure that the state government realised the project for public use, it subdivided the work into phases, aimed at ensuring that each chunk was undertaken in a manageable manner.

AG O S — A P PA R ENTLY expressing their displeasure over Tuesday's arrest of two army officers, including Colonel K. I. Yusuf, by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, for driving on the dedicated Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, lane, some soldiers on Wednesday, reportedly went after officials of the Lagos State Task-force on Environment and Special Offences, at the Yaba area of the metropolis.

Although the Chairman, of the task-force, Superintendent of Police, Bayo Sulaimon, said there was no clash between members of his team and militarymen as alleged, he agreed there was ‘a minor face-off.’

The soldier were allegedly said to have attacked the task-force officials who were on patrol on Murtala Muhammed Way, Yaba, using broken bottles and stones. They were also said to have punctured

rorism, sexual promiscuity, non-conformity with social norms, insubordination, disrespect and others had contributed to low educational standards which in turn created distrust and corruption.

He said the spate of moral decadence among youths in the country had generated a lot of problem.

Other members including Bisi Yusuf and Sanni Agunbiade agreed that there was no moral value system in place in the country any longer, noting that money was the key thing nowadays and parents do not have time for their children.

Omisore urged his colleagues to condemn lack of moral values in teachings in schools.

rently going through legislative process in the National Assembly.

Akiolu made this call when a team of Lombard Groups Inc, a hydropower solution company, visited him in his palace.

The Oba, who spoke through Bajulu of Lagos, Alhaji Mustapha Akiola, after a demonstration of the hybrid wind energy by the firm, said it was necessary to encourage alternative source of power supply in the face of ongoing fixing of the power sector.

He said: “Alternative power supply is a good idea that can enable individuals to have their own independent power supply without necessarily waiting for government. ''To the best of my knowledge, those who have money can adopt it. There is need for a law to encourage independent power supply and distribution.

The lawmakers should ensure a speedy passage of the law and when the law comes, people should embrace it.”

Earlier, the firm's Managing Director, Mr. Timothy Ola, advised Lagosians to embrace Hybrid wind energy as an efficient alternative source of power.

the tyres of a Black Maria used by the task-force in transporting traffic offenders.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the incident occurred about 9a.m, when the taskforce officials attempted to arrest a commercial bus caught violating traffic rules at a spot close to an Army barracks.

According to reports, a soldier seated in front of the commercial bus quickly retrieved the key from the driver, preventing the task-force officials from taking the bus away.

A heated argument was said to have erupted between the soldier and the task-force officials which soon degenerated into a brawl.

The soldier allegedly called for reinforcement from the 81 Division barracks and pronto, several soldiers trooped out from the barracks and began to haul stones and other missiles at the task-force officials.

“As the clash ensued, some of the soldiers made unpleasant remarks about the governor for attempting to arrest and humiliate an Army Colonel, threatening to vent their anger on the officials. ''As the situation worsened, the task-force men also called for reinforcement. It was in the heat of the clash that the tyres of the Black Maria were punctured,” an eye-witness, who pleaded anonymity said.

Army denies attack

When Vanguard contacted, army spokesman, 81 Division, Lt-Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, he said he was unaware of any clash between sol-

diers and officials of the task-force at Yaba.

Ogunsanya, however, said an un-named high ranking official of the state confirmed the attack on the officials, saying it was an affront on the state government for soldiers to vandalise a government vehicle.

He said it was wrong for soldiers to attack taskforce officials on legitimate duty with stones and other dangerous weapons.

In his narration of what transpired, through the task-force’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Tayo, Sulaimon, clarified that there was no clash between them and the army,” but there was a slight altercation which was later settled without anybody sustaining injury.

Sulaimon said: “In the early hours of Wednesday about 9a.m, one of our men, who was on duty post at Yaba area apprehended a commercial bus driver for contravening the state traffic law. ''In the process, an army personnel in the bus prevented the task-force men from impounding the vehicle. Consequently, there was a little confusion. ''The militaryman called for reinforcement from a nearby barracks, but before the men arrived, the matter had been resolved without any casualty or clash as the commercial bus was let off the hook.”

It was learnt that the soldier came up with the action in protest of the media hype on the reports that Governor Fashola arrested a Colonel who drove on the BRT lane the previous day.

Man, 37, arraigned for allegedly stealing N1.5m goods

BY ONOZURE DANIA

I

KEJA—A 37-year- old man, Ambrose Nwakuma, was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate's Court, yesterday, for stealing goods worth N1, 496,000.

Nwakuma is facing a three-count charge of pretence, stealing and life threatening.

The prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere, told the court that the accused person allegedly committed the offence on May 17, 2011 about 12 noon at 23, Toyin Street, Ikeja. Lagos.

Ekikere said the accused person, on the aforesaid

date, time and place did obtained and stole goods worth N1, 496, 000 pretending that he would pay back in a week's time, but never did.

He said the offence is punishable under Section 284 of the Criminal Laws No. 11 Vol. 44, laws of Lagos State 2011.

Ekikere said the goods belonged to one Mrs. Bridget Eddo, who resides at 17, Joel Ogunnaike Streeet, GRA Ikeja. He also alleged that the accused threatened the life of Mrs Eddo telling her that her life will be terminated if she asked for the money for the goods.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Tinubu chides FG over low budgetary vote for security

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN—FORMER governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, condemned the Federal Gov-

ernment for voting a paltry N921 billion for security in this year's budget.

He said with the inadequate money voted for security, they have failed for providing security for

Witchcraft: Police to quiz Ekiti monarch over woman's death

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO-EKITI— OLOMUO of Omuo-Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin, has been summoned by Ekiti State Police Command over his alleged role in the killing of 70-year-old Mrs. Rebecca Adewumi for allegedly being a witchcraft.

The police image maker in the state, Mr. Victor Olu, said this in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

Babayemi, however, clarified that the monarch was never arrested nor detained by the police, as claimed in certain quarters Olu said: “He was invited yesterday (Wednesday).

He came with some people, we did not arrest him.

We had discussions and we are working on the discus-

sions.”

He said autopsy had been conducted at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, on Adewumi’s death.

“The autopsy has been carried out . It was carried out on Wednesday; the report, which is yet to come out, will inform the next line of action.''

The deceased was allegedly killed in June 2012 by some rampaging youths in the community over allegation that she afflicted her step-son, Ola Adewumi, with a strange disease.

According to her family, the woman was allegedly tortured to death by a group of youths called Omekula, whom they claimed were carrying out the instruction of some top traditional chiefs in the town.

Magistrate orders lawyer to frog-jump for noise-making

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—MR. A d e w u n m i Makanjuola of an Osun State Chief Magistrate's Court sitting in Osogbo, yesterday, ordered a middle-aged lawyer, Nnajite Okobie, to frog-jump for five minutes in front of the court premises as a punishment for disrupting court proceeding.

Makanjuola, who was presiding over a case of alleged rape of a 11-year-old pupil, was apparently disturbed from the noise by Okobie, who was having a conversation with two other people suspected to be his clients on the court premises.

The magistrate, worried by the development, sent the court orderly to warn the lawyer to desist from making noise. But the man failed to heed to the advice of the judge.

Provoked by the action of Okobie and his two clients, Magistrate Makanjuola ordered the court orderly to bring the trio before him and asked them to make a choice on whether to be

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docked for contempt of court or to frog-jump for five minutes for their punishment.

It was at this point that Okobie and his clients chose to frog-jump.

Makanjuola then asked the court orderly to sanction them by engaging them in a five-minute frog-jump.

The magistrate stressed that the action of the lawyer and his clients had put the court in disrepute.

The punishment attracted many passers-by including workers of the court, suspects to the scene. Not a few people took pity on the lawyer while others made mockery of him while the punishment lasted.

After serving out the punishment, Makanjuola warned them to desist from making noise on the court premises, adding that the fact that Okobie was a lawyer should not give him the impetus to disrespect the court. He said: “Even if the court is not on, you should have respect for it and for the government, not to talk of when the court is in progress. Mr. Okobie, sorry for treating you like a novice.”

most Nigerians.

He said this in Ibadan, at the launch of Oyo State Security Trust Fund.

Tinubu said: “States have had to fund from their scarce resources effective policing in their states. In this year ’s budget, for example, the Federal Government allocated N921 billion for security, which amounts to a paltry 19.4 per cent of the total budgetary outlay of N4.749 trillion. Yet, no state or country can attract investments and development without assurances of security of life and property.”

Governor Abiola Ajimobi explained how the state was engulfed in violence before assuming office.

The situation, he noted, was deplorable that legitimate businesses were threatened and those desirous of contributing their quota to the development of the state fled for their lives.

Those at the event included Chairman of Honeywell Group, Mr. Oba Otudeko; Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao; Chairman, Coscharis, Chief Cosmas Maduka, royal fathers, captains of industry, representatives of banks, security agencies, and top government officials.

Police nab 20 drug thieves

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—NO fewer than 20 hoodlums broke into Ondo State Central Medical Stores on Ondo Road, in Akure, and carted away drugs valued at about N34 million.

Luck ran against the hoodlums as five of them were arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State, with drugs worth N2 million A statement by the state Police Public Relations Offiicer, Mr. Aremu Adeniran, said the seven security operatives at the stores were overpowered and disarmed.

Aremu said the hands and legs of the security operatives were tied and then locked up in a toilet.

The police said the hoodlums, who came in a lorry broke into the stores and carted away expensive drugs and hospital equipment.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 —11

Agbarho residents mourn Ovie-Whiskey zHis death, a great loss—Ewherido

BY FESTUSAHON

U

Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and his wife, Pastor Helen Oritsejafor on arrival at the Osubi airport, Warri, Delta State after their one month long visit to the United States and Europe.

G H E L L I — AGBARHO community in Edo State, yesterday,woreamournfullookfollowing to the death of Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey(rtd),formerChief Judge of Old Bendel State and chairman of Federal Electoral Commission,FEDECO. Our correspondent, who was at the Ikweghu-Agbarho residence of Ovie-Whiskey at 11am, noted that a condolence register hadbeenopened.Someofthose who signed the condolence register described the late OvieWhiskeyasuprightandadevout Christian.

Speakingtonewsmen,hisonly son, Mr Anthony Ovie-Whiskey,

Bonga spill: Oil communities slam minister

BY EMMAAMAIZE

W

ARRI—NO fewer than 100 oil communities in Bayelsa and Delta states, yesterday, slammed the Minister for Environment, Hadjia Hadiza Mailafia, for allegedly playing down the impact of the December 2011 crude oil spill from Bonga Oil Field on their environment for upward of seven months.

Reacting to the recent $5 billion fine by National Oil Spill DetectionandResponseAgency, NOSDRA, on Shell Petroleum Development Company, which facility spilt the crude, they said theministeramateurishlyundercut the impact of the spill on the communities after a guided tour bythepollutercompany,lastyear.

Solicitor to Azamabiri, Bakri, Kokomokeme-Gbene and other affected communities, fishing camps and villages, Osteen

Igbapike, in a statement, said: “That NOSDRA penalized SPDC/SNEPCOtothesumof $5 billion for thegraveenvironmental damageoccasionedby Bonga Oil Field spill of December 2011, puts to rest the fact that the Minister for Environment, Hadjia Mailafia, is a square peg in a round whole.

“She is not a fit and proper person to hold the office of the Min-

ister for Environment. Let it be on record that the Minister together with Mr. Peter Idabor, Director General of NOSDRA and Deputy Director Safety of NigerianMaritimeAdministrationand Safety Agency, NIMASA, Capt.

Warredi Enisuoh, addressed newsmen in Lagos shortly after they visited the Bonga Oil Field spilling facility on a Shell chartered chopper on or about the 26/

5 fake policemen arrested

BY EMMAARUBI

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ARRI—FIVE fake plain clothes policemen allegedly from the Zone 5 police headquarters, Benin City, Edo State, have been apprehended by youths of Iyara community, Warri, Delta State and handed over to the “A” Division police authorities.

The fake policemen drove in a commando-like style into the

communityinasirenfittedToyota Hiluxjeepwithnumber-plateDN 174 BEN and a Mercedez Benz 190carwithnumber-plateBF166 RBC fully loaded with charms, drove straight to the community town hall at 9p.m., with intent to adopt a lady.

Vanguard learnt that both cars, fullyloadedwithheavilybuiltmen took strategic positions and without talking to any body at the youth secretariat, moved in and

FG threatens to revoke South-East nomic importance and the only road project, others access to Bonny land was one of

A

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

BUJA — WORRIED by the wastages associated with unattended projects across the country, the Federal Government, yesterday, revoked major road projects in the country, particularly those abandoned for years due to one reason or the other.

Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen,whodisclosedthis inAbuja,whenhereceivedadelegation of Ogoni Council of Traditional Rulers from Rivers State, who visited him in his office, said the Federal Government would revokemajorroadprojects,including the South-East Road, which hadbeenabandonedfor10years.

The minister regretted that the South East road had gulped N11billion, adding that an initial N6 billion was paid to the contractor with an additional N5 billion paid.

12/2011.

“In the said briefing that was reported by the media, which some of us took as the official position of Ministry of Environment,NIMASAandNOSDRA, the Minister undermined the cause, extent and impact of the Bonga spill and even said that the spill did not hit the coastline, which was put by this polluting IOC at 40,000 barrels."

Onolememen said the 39km Bodo/Ogoni Road in Rivers State was awarded to GITTO Construction Company in 2002, noting that the projects did not enjoy yearly allocations from the Federal Government, yet the projectedwasengulfedincontroversy in addition to technical issues surrounding it.

He said: “The project due to negligence had a lot of controversies involving the contractor, consultants and communal clashes, which led to its current state. The only option left for the Federal Government is to revoke the project and that was what the community had called for.”

Onolememen noted that the ministry would ensure all the issueswereresolvedandworkcommenced on the road before the end of the year, adding: "The budget proposal this year for the projectisN1.14billiontokickstart the road rehabilitation.”

He said the road with its eco-

the prioritized projects to be completed in line with the road sector transformationagendaofgovernment.

He assured the Ogoni people that the road would hence forth beproperlymonitoredandfunded and completed within the stipulated time.

He also called for collaboration between the Rivers State Government to ensure its speedy completion.

Speakingearlieronbehalfofthe Ogoni delegates, HRM Mene Kotex, the Diira Gbomemen Oboniland appealed to the Federal Government to investigate andrevoketheabandoned South East Road, which he confirmed, wasawardedtoGITTOconstruction company in 2002 for rehabilitation.

“Ourhumblesubmissionisthat the road should be re awarded to amorewellintentionedandcompetent contracting company that wouldswiftlygettheworkdone.”

went to a lady’s house, knocked twice and broke the door to the single room apartment, where the occupant was busy cooking and after telling her that they werepolicemenfromZone5,gave her two slaps on her face and were about taking her forcefully, when the youth leaders of the community accosted them for proper identification.

Itwaswhentheissueofproper identification came that the suspects all violently jumped into their waiting vehicles and drove off.Unknowingtothem,theonly gateway out of the community had been locked on the instruction of the youth leader.

They disembarked from the cars and attempted to run away through different routes and in the process, three of them were caught.Theyallegedlyconfessed that they were not policemen.

The incident took place Tuesday night.

said his father died at the age of 88, after being unconscious for two weeks, describing his father as “erudite and upright judge.”

The late Ovie-Whiskey hailed from Ohore in Uvwie Local Government Area of the Delta State and was survived by a wife and nine children.

Anthony, who is the eight and only son of the family, said the father after retirement and returnedasFEDECOChairmanin 1983, went into farming to keep himself busy. Meanwhile, Senator Pius Ewherido, has described the late Justice Ovie-Whiskey as aGodfearingman,whogaveselfless service to the nation as Chairman of the defunct FEDECO. Ewherido, representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly in a state-

Edo North monarchs thank Oba of Benin over Oshiomhole's victory

BY SIMONEBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—TRADI TIONAL rulers from Edo North senatorial district led by Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe 111, yesterday, visited the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, thanking him for the support he gave in the re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole who is their son.

Oshiomhole is from Etsako, Edo North senatorial district. It would be recalled that traditional rulers in the area had rejected the deputy governorship position zoned to the area by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and insisted that they

S

APELE—FOLLOW ING a recent Delta State High Court sitting in Sapele ruling, restraining the interim executive committee of Sapele Okpe Community from conducting an election into the executive offices of the community, the chairman of the interim executivecommitteeofthecommunity, Mr. Moses Ogodo, has assured the people that his committeewillrespecttherulingand

will support Adams Oshiomhole in his second term bid.

Addressing the Oba, Otaru of Auchi, thanked the Oba for his continued support for the administration of Oshiomhole, saying that it would have been difficult for him to have recorded the achievements so far made in the state with out the support of the palace.

Responding, Omo N’Oba thanked the traditional rulers for the visit, noting that Oshiomhole's was a collective effort and urged the traditional rulers and the entire people of the state to continue to support the governor so that his second term will be more successful.

Count me out of Ogbemudia's birthday —Owie

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN,

POLITICA EDITOR

B

ENIN CITY— FORMER Senate Chief Whip, Senator Roland Owie, has distanced himself from reported plans to organise the 80th birthday activities of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, a former governor of the old

Election stoppage: We 'll obey court order —Ogodo

BY GODWINOGHRE

ment, yesterday, said the death of the former FEDECO boss, was painful.

He said that, the death of JusticeOvieWhiskeywasagreatloss to the Urhobo nation, Delta State and Nigeria at large, noting “the current crop of leaders have a lot to learn from the quality of service rendered to the nation by the late sage without pecuniary consideration.

“ThelateJusticeOvieWhiskey led a saintly life of moral probity, selfless conduct and undisputed patriotic zeal.

As Chairman of the nation’s electoral body, Ovie-Whiskey gave a good account of himself, his era beingoneofthegoldenmoments in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.”

willnotconductthesaidelection, until the matter was concluded.

The interim chairman, who sued for calm, urged the people of the community to be law abiding and go about their daily duties, saying that his interim government was fully on ground to maintain the existing peace, which the community had alwaysenjoyedandforwhichithad received several peace awards from different multinational oil companies.

Bendel State.

Senator Owie, in a statement in reaction to media report, yesterday, listing him among several persons to plan the three-day birthday activities for the former governor, said Ogbemudia did not fit into the four persons in Biniland he could plan a birthday for.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to a publication in the media in respect of the 80th birthdayofDr.Ogbemudia,where my name was listed as a member of a committee to organise Ogbemudia’s80thbirthdayactivities.

“Iwishtostatecategoricallythat I wasn’t consulted before my name was listed as a member. At this stage of my life and by my birth,apartfromtheObaofBenin, there are only four Binis whose birthday committees I can serve and Ogbemudia is not one of those four. I urge my well wishers to disregard the publication.”

12—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Police declare alleged Abavo monarch, 24 others wanted zNab 12 suspected kidnappers

BY EMMAAMAIZE

W

ARRI—POLICE in Delta State, yesterday, declared 25 persons, including self-styled new monarch of Abavo Kingdom, Ika South Local Government Area of the state, Chukuma Jegbefume, some members of the royal

family and two lawyers wanted.

The wanted persons were accused of promoting nativewarandviolenceagainstthe reigning monarch, Obi Uche IrenumaII. Also, 19 members of the community, arrested last week, over the Abavo imbroglio had been

Ijaw leader condoles with Uduaghan over mother-in-law's leged in our dear state.” death Comrade Evah, who was the

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AGOS—COORDI NATOR of Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, Comrade Joseph Evah has condoled with the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Udughan on the death of his mother-inlaw, Madam Rebecca Ayomike.

TheIjawleaderinacondolence message described the death of Madam Ayomike as painful and a great loss not only to her immediatefamilybuttotheentireDelta state.

“There is no doubt that Mama Rebecca’s death has left a vacuuminherimmediateandextended family especially at a time her daughter, the first lady relied on her godly counsel to formulate her pet programmes for the vulnerable and the under-privi-

publicity secretary of Ijaw National Congress, INC, urged the Delta state First Lady not to depart from the good counsel of her mother, adding that her late mother’s exemplary life should continue to be a guide to her in her efforts to put smiles in the faces of the less-privileged in the state. “ Like any other good mother, we praise Mama Ayomike for holding her family together through prayers all these years, including her son-in-law, Dr Uduaghan, in piloting the affairs of the state. As we pray for the repose of her soul, we ask God to give Ayomike’s family the strength to bear this painful lost” Evah prayed.

charged to court and remanded in prison custody.

Meanwhile12kidnapsuspects were arrestedinthelastoneweek.

Spokesperson of the state PoliceCommand,Mr.CharlesMuka, who confirmed the manhunt for the 25 persons, advised them to report to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Asaba.

He said, “The suspects underminedallthepeacefulmovesand counsel of the command to settle the matter or go to court, instead, they resorted to violence. One Chukwuma Jegbefume was unlawfully crowned the Obi of

Abavo, whereas there is a sitting Obi, an act which amounted to native war and violence.”

He said the 19 suspects were chargedforconspiracy,managing an unlawful society, engaging in riotous assembly, conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace, malicious damage, assault, attempt to commit felony and promoting native war against the Obi and people of Abavo.”

On the 12 kidnap suspects, he said one of the suspects, Junior Okotie, was arrested int Auchi, Edo State, where he went to sell a Toyota car, belonging to a kidnap victim, Pius Overuraye, who was laterrescuedfromthekidnappers’ den at Kokori forest in Delta State.

Kubeyinje inspects Abigborodo communal farm commissioner, who was ac-

D

ELTA STATE Commis sioner of Agriculture, Mr. Misan Kubeyinje, has said that the state was committed to pursue the goal of food sufficiency through its agricultural programmes.

Kubeyinje, spoke when he visited Abigborodo community to inspect the communal farm established in the community by the state government.

During the inspection, the

companied by the state Director of Communal Farms, Dr. Sajere and Permanent Secretary in the ministry, discussedwiththeSpecialProjectDirector of the construction of the Sapele-Abigborodo Road, Mr. Francis Maku-Eyituoyor over the impacttheconstructionoftheroad wouldhaveonthecommunalfarm.

Maku-Eyituoyor told the commissioner that the road will inevitably go through a portion of the farm, which will affect the farm.

Crisis brews in Edo PDP as group wants Orbih's exco sacked

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—CRI SIS is brewing in the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP, in Edo state, as a group in the party under the umbrella of the Edo State Stakeholders Forum, yesterday, gave a 48 hours ultimatum to members of the state Executive of the party led by Chief Dan Orbih to resign.

Besides, the group urged the Federal Government and the national leadership of the PDP, to disregard any lists of nomination to Federal Boards or any appointment by the leadership of the party in the state “ as they have failed to represent the interest and wishes of PDP members which we belief the result of the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the state have clearly shown”.

Their demands were containedinacommuniquésigned

by Mr. Kamin Asunogie, made available to Vanguard, shortly aftertheirmeetinginBeninCity.

The group recalled that the party had lost all the elections conducted in the state since 2007, therefore said they lacked the capacity and leadership drive to lead the party “to any electoral victory which is the hallmark of the existence of a

political party in any political system.”

Delta warring community ends rift

W

ARRI—THE lingering leadershiptusslebetween two factions of Agaga Erugba CommunityinUvwieLocalGovernment Area of Delta State have been resolved as the parties agreed to sheath their swords in ordertomovethecommunityforward.

Elders and youths of the community during the peace meeting agreed that that Elder Paul Agaga remain the Chairman of the Elders' Council while Mr. Ovie Esievo was chosen as the Vice-ChairmanandPrinceSunny Fregene the Public Relations Officer, PRO. Thereafter, the vice-chairman ofAgagaErugbaCommunity,Mr. Ovie Esievo on behalf of Elder Paul Agaga who was absent inaugurated the Agaga Erugba Community Development Committee,AECDC,withEjiroAjuetsi (President); Anslem Ifeta (VicePresident); Felix Akpoghenebor (PRO);PhilipOgbabunor(FinancialSecretary);GodspowerEsuke (Treasurer) and Omovodies Onomavwe (Provost).

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 13

PIB: Mark urges Senators to guide against circulation of fake copies zNew PIB has special lock codes to prevent falsification — Alison-Madueke

BY INALEGWU SHAIBU & OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI

A

BUJA — SENATE President David Mark, yesterday, acknowledged the receipt of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, charging Senators to guide against the circulation of fake copies.

This came as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke, yesterday threw light into the draft Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, saying the new Bill is

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tamper proof Mark in a brief remark after reading a letter from President Goodluck Jonathan forwarding the bill to the Senate said the Senate had made 200 copies to avoid circulation of fake copies of the bill.

He urged the Senators to study the bill during their two-month recess period to enable them make valuable contributions when the Senate resumes in September.

We 'll be reasonable

—Enang Meanwhile, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, has assured that the Senate would be reasonable while addressing the PIB. Enang who addressed journalists, yesterday, in Abuja assured that the bill would not suffer the fate of the previous delays that led to the non-passage of the bill in the 6th Senate.

He said: “I want to urge Nigerians that we have

just received this bill and I know it is in the character that pressure will be mounted and press campaigns that the National Assembly has just taken the bill and has gone on recess that they don’t take it as important.

“We will be very reasonable in our consideration of the bill knowing the importance that it has in investment in the petroleum sector. We will be reasonable in the timing and consideration.

But please let there be reasonable reactions and

comments so that they will not say the Senate collected it and went to sleep.”

Jonathan proposes N250bn for NDDC Meanwhile, President Jonathan has also forwarded N250 billion to the Senate for consideration as budget proposal for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for 2012.

The President in a letter to the Senate read by

David Mark said the budget was meant to effectively impact on the on-going government efforts to develop the Niger Delta region.

New PIB has special lock codes —Alison-Madueke Alison-Madueke made the clarifications while receiving a delegation of the United States of American government led

by Mr. Michael Froman, a Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States and Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economic Affairs.

She said besides the watermarks bearing her own handwriting on every page, the draft Bill is locked in with a code such that no one can add to or remove anything from it without the code, explaining that she took the pain to secure the document to avoid the type of duplication that led to the emergence of fake versions of the old PIB which created confusion in the National Assembly.

The minister said the new PIB was drafted with equity in mind and that the concerns of the international oil companies were taken into consideration so as to engender a win-win situation for Nigeria as well as stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.

She listed some of the new provisions in the Bill to include those creating the Asset Management Company which will take over the management of the Joint Ventures from the NNPC which will be unbundled to make way for the establishment of a new company, the National Oil Company which will be competitive and profitdriven.

The minister also briefed the US delegates on the worrisome trend of professional and foreign involvement in crude oil theft, adding that with the establishment of a Special Task Force made up of senior military officers, more arrests are being made and that the President has directed the Attorney General of the Federation to ensure diligent prosecution of any oil thief arrested.

She said effort was on to introduce a number of measures such as electronic bill of laden, DNA tracking and certification of Nigerian crude oil to make it less attractive for it to be stolen.

14—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Appeal Court withdraws autonomy granted 68 Anambra communities zAs communities reject judgment, vow to challenge ruling

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

M UA H I A — T H E Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu has withdrawn the autonomy granted 68 autonomous communities created in Anambra State in 2003, saying that they should remain in their original communities.

Anambra State government had in 2003 during the administration of Dr. Chinweoke Mbadinuju created

68 autonomous communities from the existing 177 communities and granted them autonomy.

However, in 2006, during the administration Dr. Chris Ngige, the Mike Balonwuled House of Assembly repealed the law creating the 68 autonomous communities. Not happy with the action of the House, the 68 communities approached an Awka High Court for re-

dress.

The court presided by Justice Nri Ezeadi in December 2006 declared the decision of the Anambra State House of Assembly illegal, null and void and allowed the communities to remain autonomous.

Anambra State government proceeded to the Court of Appeal in 2007 to challenge the decision of Justice Ezeadi.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, the Court Appeal set aside the decision of the Awka High Court.

According to the court, the constitutional right of the members of autonomous communities was not violated as they still have their various original communities to operate with.

According to Justice Jau-

ro, what was removed was the recognition granted the communities by the government and not the right for them to freely associate, saying that they retain their right to associate in their original communities from where they were carved out.

In a swift reaction, the communities rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

BY ANAYO OKOLI

LG boss arrested in Abia zOver alleged murder of monarch

BY ANAYO OKOLIE

U

MUAHIA—THE Transition Committee Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, Prince Dan Okoli has been arrested and whisked to Abuja in connection with the murder of the 65-year-old traditional ruler of Ugwuleru Autonomous community, Eze Iroha Nwankwo.

The chairman’s arrest followed a petition by the family of the murdered monarch, accusing the chairman of complicity in the death of their father.

Since the murder of the traditional ruler about three weeks ago, his family led by the son, Prince Samuel Iroha, has consistently accused the council chairman of being behind the killing, even though, Okoli has continued to deny any involvement.

The Assistant Commissioner in-charge of Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Joseph Micloth, when contacted confirmed that Abuja had taken over the matter.

Before this development, Abia State Police Command had arrested about 20 suspects in connection with the case.

NGO donates ambulances, equipment to hospitals

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—ANAMBRA S t a t e government yesterday took delivery of three ambulances and three trailer load of hospital equipment donated to three hospitals in the state by the EmmaBishop Okonkwo Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.

The benefitting hospitals are St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi and Iyi-Enu Hospital, Ogidi.

Chief Emma Okonkwo, who presented the items to Governor Peter Obi, also promised that his foundation would make a similar donation to the newly established Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka.

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Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012—15

TOUR: From left— Mrs. Risikat Akiyode, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Lagos State Deputy Governor; Mrs. Adetoun Adegboyega, Osun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, and Mrs Funso Eso Williams, Osun State Special Adviser on Women Affairs, during a courtesy visit and facility tour of skills and vocational centres in Lagos State. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Senate advocates industrial harmony

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA— S E N AT E Committee on Employment Labour and Productivity, yesterday, said that unless there was industrial harmony, no nation can succeed in its quest for rapid economic development.

The committee, which visited Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity in Abuja, on oversight function, said it was happy with the current relationship between govern-

ment and labour groups in the country.

Its chairman, Senator Wilson Ake, noted that industrial harmony was central to the economic development of Nigeria and thanked the minister for sustaining industrial peace and harmony in the country.

He said: “Whenever there is peace and harmony, development is imminent. For Nigeria to move forward, the industrial sector must support the activities and policies of the government.”

INEC denies inauguration of Kogi lawmaker

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

L

OKOJA—INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, denied a media report that it was planning to issue a Certificate of Return to the controversial new member of Kogi State House of Assembly from Olamaboro Constituency, Mr. Yunusa Olofu.

Public Affairs Officer of INEC in Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Bagudu, told news-

men, yesterday, that the media had reported that a Certificate of Return will soon be issued to the winner of the disputed Olamaboro state constituency by the commission.

He said: “I want to clarify the issue and set the record straight that Kogi Office of INEC don’t issue Certificate of Return to any candidate. It is done in Abuja.

“I was surprised when I saw my name in the newspaper claiming that I made such a comment.”

Bauchi flags off 30Mw solar power project

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—BAUCHI State Government, in collaboration with Siemens German Company, is to construct a 30 Mega watts solar power project in the state.

Flagging off the project in Bauchi yesterday, Governor Isa Yuguda said the project, to be completed in 18 months, was the first of its kind in the West African region.

Yuguda said: “Many na-

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tions in the world view Nigeria as a country that is plagued with communal clashes, conflicts associated with politics, religion and terrorism, amongst other social vices.

“The reason for all these upheavals in the country is lack of jobs for the people.

With an opportunity such as the solar power project in the country, employment opportunity will abound, thereby reducing the high rate of insecurity in the country.”

COMMISSIONING: From left— Mrs. Olubunmi Fabanwo, Director-General, Public Service Staff Development Centre, Lagos State; Prince Gbolahan Lawal, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative; Dr. Yakub Basorun, Permanent Secretary, and Mrs Ayo Awokulehin, Director of Cooperative, at the International Cooperative Day lecture/raffle draw in Lagos, Tuesday. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Reps back NUC on suspended universities

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

A

BUJA—HOUSE of Representatives’ Committee on Public Petition, has thrown its weight behind the National Universities Commission, NUC, over the suspension of the licences of six private universities, but expressed fear over the effect on students of the institutions.

The House said in Abuja, yesterday, that the suspension of the six institutions would not affect academic programme of students.

Chairman of the committee, Mr. Uzo Azubike, supported NUC’s action at the public hearing in Abuja, yesterday, on the petition by Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Azubike said the committee had been assured that the suspension of the licences of the six universities would not in any way disrupt the overall academic programmes of the institutions.

He said: “The suspension of the operating li-

cences would not affect students currently undergoing studies in approved programmes in these universities.

“The immediate implication of the suspension, therefore, is the cessation of admission of new entrants into each of the affected uni-

versities.”

The lawmakers, however, expressed concern over the effect on students, saying “our worry is that with the level of insecurity in Nigeria, coupled with youth restiveness and terrorism, it may not be reasonable to push out the young men and women into the streets.

“We are equally worried about it because this

is an exercise that affected seven institutions, and one had willingly approached NUC to find ways of resolving the crisis.”

Deputy Executive Secretary of NUC, Mr. Akinbode Agbaoye, said that the licences were suspended because of the institutions’ noncompliance with operational guidelines for the universities.

Police IG lauds Edo electorate

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—INSPEC TOR-General of Police, IGP, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, hailed the people of Edo State for their peaceful conduct during and after the governorship election in the state, won by Governor Adams Oshiomole.

The IG said Edo State electorate had shown that power belongs to the people.

Abubakar, in a statement

by Police Spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, commended Edo people for “the high level of discipline, orderliness, patience and under-

standing displayed even in the face of some operational and logistic problems.”

The IG observed that the development, had given a ray of hope for the stability and growth of democracy in the country.

The statement said: “It is the belief of the IG that the exemplary comportment and conduct of the Edo people attest to the fact that power belongs to the people.

“It is also a confirmation of the age-long position of the Force that security is the task of everyone and that the responsibility of policing a nation should not be abandoned to the Police and the security agencies.

“One of the positive fall-

out of the Edo State election is the clear message that the Nigeria Police can amicably and successfully work with the general public in the discharge of its statutory responsibility of protecting life and property.

“This in itself unequivocally points to the fact that our democracy has come to stay.

“Nigerians, in all works of life, irrespective of geographical heritage, tribe and tongue, culture and tradition; are challenged to emulate and replicate, not just in political and election-related matters, but in all other spheres of life, the maturity displayed by the people of Edo State.”

Nigeria-Canada trade volume hits N480bn

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—CANADIAN High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Chris Cooter, said, yesterday, that bilateral trade between Nigeria and Canada has risen well above $3 billion (N480 billion), while Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, from Canada to Nigeria had also tripled.

He spoke when he paid a courtesy call on National Chairman of Peoples

Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Mr. Cooter noted that the relationship between the two countries was very good and that plans were on by his country for Nigeria’s health sector, especially in the area of maternal and child health, where over $40 million had been earmarked for assistance, up from about $10 million.

Tukur applauded the relationship between Nigeria and Canada. He

expressed optimism that the relationship will get stronger with the establishment of a bilateral commission between the two countries.

He appealed to the Ambassador to work towards reducing the difficulties faced by Nigerians in obtaining Canadian visa to enhance free movement of persons between the two countries and for business and investment to flourish.

Ambassador Cooter, who

told the PDP National Chairman that Canada was interested in investing in the area of mining in Nigeria, said as a country with heavy investment in that sector, it has over 350 mining companies.

He said Canada plans to build a huge vocational training centre in Nigeria to help train the youth in line with the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan to provide more employment opportunities for the people.

16

—

Vanguard,

FRIDAY , JULY 20, 2012

Assad reappears as rebels attack Presidential palace E

MBATTLED Syrian President Bashar AlAssad appeared on Syrian state television yesterday ending speculation that he may have left Damascus for the coastal city of Latakia, as fighting intensified around the presidential building with the rebel forces fighting with every gasp of their breathe.

Buoyed by the success of assassinating four top lieutenants of the president and injuring several members of his war cabinet, the rebels have kept up pressure on President Bashar al-Assad by launching attacks on

the seat of power.

Information on the president’s whereabout remained sketchy as it had dawned on him that he is not so secured after the mortal blow to his war machine on Wednesday.

Reports yesterday said the battles encroached within sight of the presidential palace, near the security headquarters where an emergency meeting was held on Wednesday after the attack.

Videos recording from the capital show billows of smoke rising in Damascus as government forces engaged the rebels in

armed mostly with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

President Bashar made the first public appearance twenty-four hours after the attack at the venue of the meeting of defense and security chiefs. There have been intense public interest to see how the president maintains control of the command and structure of his war

•Assad fierce retaliatory action with heavy artillery fire on the rebels who massed in several districts and

Egypt’s former VP dies at 76

O

MAR Suleiman, Egypt’s former vice-president and longtime spy chief to deposed president Hosni Mubarak, has died in the US, the official MENA news agency has reported. He was 76.

“Former vice president General Omar Suleiman died in the early hours of

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yesterday in a hospital in the United States,” the agency said.

“He was undergoing medical tests in Cleveland,” Suleiman’s aide Hussein Kamal said, adding that arrangements were being made to return his body to Egypt for burial.

The former intelligence

chief stepped briefly into the limelight when he was appointed vicepresident during the uprising that toppled Mubarak.

“His health deteriorated recently. He was in the United States with his family,” said Reem Mamdouh, another member of the team.

team which was shaken to its foundation on Wednesday.

There are speculations of a deep division within the government which made it possible for the rebels to penertate into the venue of the meeting.Assad, whose family has dominated the political space in Syria for 42 years may be leaving the palace, which Assad

used before to conduct official business, is located in hills near the city, Syria’s main Mediterranean port.

Latakia province is home to several towns inhabited by members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect. Residents said the assasination on Wednesday was a huge blow, but not fatal.

China, Russia veto resolution

R

USSIA and China yesterday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would impose sanctions against Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad if he does not end the use of heavy weapons.

It was the third time in nine months that Russia and China have used their powers as permanent members of the 15-nation council to block resolutions on Syria.

There were 11 votes in favor, Russia and China’s votes against and two abstentions.

The vote was held yesterday, with 11 countries voting in favour, two against, and two more abstaining. It is the third resolution to be vetoed by the two countries, both Syria’s key allies, in nine months.

“The United Kingdom is appalled at the veto of Russia and China,” said Britain’s UN envoy Mark Lyall Grant, whose country took the lead in writing up the resolution.

The United States condemned the move as a “highly regrettable

•Koffi Annan decision”. It is a “mistake to prop up that regime”, said Jay Carney.

Sweet & SOUR

AST weekend, Engineer Gabriel Egbunefu quietly went to meet his Maker after a brief illness. I was totally shocked when I this bad news was conveyed to me because

Donu Kogbara

Farewell to a good man

,

L

he had looked so healthy and untroubled when I last saw him.

I knew Egbunefu well because he had been my colleague and chairman for over three years. We were both, thanks to our Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, members of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA) Board; and he headed the Board’s finance committee to which I belong.

It is customary to sentimentally heap praise on those who have died, even when they don’t actually deserve praise. But I can honestly say that I am not merely respecting cultural conventions when I tell you that Egbunefu was a good

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 17

Gabriel Egbunefu man.

He took his professional responsibilities very seriously

If I lost my temper with someone, he would tell me off. If he was exposed to physical discomfort, he rarely complained. If any of the people around him behaved extravagantly, he expressed disapproval. If a problem arose, he would lead us in prayer

,

indeed and was God-fearing, stoical, unmaterialistic and kind. If I lost my temper with someone, he would tell me off. If he was exposed to physical discomfort, he rarely

Should the Black race be condemned?

L

AST Friday, I quoted PW Botha, the white exPresident of South Africa and unapologetic champion of the racist apartheid doctrine, who regarded black people as undisciplined, short-sighted, self-destructive and so on.

The Nigerians who drew my attention to Botha’s comments felt that they contained large grains of truth. And, sadly, I agree with those who feel that we are our own worst enemies and unlikely to fulfill our potential in the near future.

The reaction from Vanguard readers was mixed. Professor Bolaji Akinyemi (B.A, M.A, M.A.L.D, D.Phil (Oxon), CFR), the distinguished

former Minister of Foreign Affairs, displayed a formidable grasp of historical realities when he said: Dear Donu, let us not lose any sleep over the views of P.W. Botha. Those views were born out of ignorance. Were Blacks involved in the Spartan war, the Crimean war, the various civil wars in various European countries, the first great European+American war (mislabelled First World War), the second great European+American war (mislabelled Second World War), the Spanish civil war, the horrendous war in Serbia/ Bosnia and the on-going civil

war in Syria? …We Africans have our own wars. But no race is innocent. The tragedy of racist regimes is that it is government of illiterates for illiterates.

Botha’s statements are, sadly, 100 percent correct.

Else how come South Africa without oil is the most developed economy in Africa?

From: Davidson Otite otite9@yahoo.com

Dear DK, when one views the assertions of P.W Botha objectively, they would seem to be correct…Is it not said that Africa is the capital of natural resources and headquarters of poverty?...There is something wrong with the black man as far as leadership is concerned. And it is time to start correcting it if the likes of Botha are to be proved wrong.

If you look at what has happened in Nigeria since 1999, you will agree with Botha’s statements. However, looking at power in the hands of black men in Ghana for instance, his statements become insulting lies. +2348023794203 O OLORI

+2347032971054 Jahkwelin

OPINION T

BY VICTOR OKONJE

HE recent re-opening of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, depot at Aba, Abia State is a landmark achievement and welcome development, especially for the residents of the commercial city of Aba and its environs who have suffered for long due to its closure some years ago as result of insecurity, bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

For those that made the re-opening possible, especially the Abia State government which partnered with the Federal Government and the NNPC management to achieve this, it is a big plus because the development will increase commercial activities in Aba and other nearby states and towns.

There is no doubt that the re-opening was possible because of the level of security that has been achieved and maintained in the state in recent time following the commitment and efforts of the present government in the state. When the depot was closed some years ago due to insecurity that brought about pipeline vandalism and bunkering, the development inflicted untold hardship on the people in many ways. Apart from some people, especially the petty traders and artisans, losing their means of livelihood, many people were made to pay more for petroleum products, unlike when the depot was functional.

While the official price of fuel is N97 per litre, most filling station were not ready to sell at such price in Aba and its environs, unless one goes to NNPC mega filling station in the state and queue for a long time without being sure of when to get the product. Sometimes one might spend hours on the queue without getting the product at the end of the day. Those who could not afford to queue at the NNPC mega filling station for long had no option but to buy the product at N120 in other filling

complained. If any of the people around him behaved extravagantly, he expressed disapproval. If a problem arose, he would lead us in prayer.

Engineer Egbunefu will be sorely missed by me, every other Board Member, our Board Chairman (Chief Ferdinand Alabraba), our CEO (Dame Aleruchi CookeyGam) and GPHCDA staff.

May the family he adored find the strength to bear this unexpected and terrible loss.

May his gentle, modest soul rest in peace.

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

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED IN VANGUARD, WITH YOUR NAMES AND NUMBERS OR EMAIL ADDRESSES ATTACHED.

Abia and re-opening of Aba NNPC depot stations.

Worst hit by the disparity in products price before now was the state capital Umuahia where dealers of the petroleum products had always justified hike in price to poor electricity supply and other logistics like transportation of the products from Rivers State.

But presently, there is no justification for any filling station in the state to sell petroleum products above the official prices because apart from the products being at their doorstep with the re-opening of NNPC depot in Aba, there is steady power supply in the state capital now. This development no matter what anybody would say was made possible by the synergy between the Federal Government and the Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji. Before now, power supply in Umuahia and its environs was nothing to write home about as it was quite epileptic.

B

ut the problem has been solved now with the partnership between the state government and Federal Government that brought about the successful evacuation of power at 2x 40 MVA, 132/33 transmission substation in Ohiya, Umuahia.

The project which was recently commissioned by Governor Orji has succeeded in stabilizing power supply in Umuahia and its environs. Power outage in the state capital is a thing of the past presently, though it sometimes goes off, but returns without much delay. A development which has boosted commercial activities in the state and stabilized price of petroleum products, as dealers do not have to depend on the use of generators to run their businesses. Same for the business men and women in the state who need power to run their

businesses. The noise and other health hazards associated with the use of generators appeared to have been reduced drastically as most homes in the capital and its environs now enjoy steady power supply.

In a bid to reduce or tackle the ugly incidence of bunkering and pipeline vandalism that led to the closure of the depot in the past, Governor Orji has made it clear that he will present a bill to the state House of Assembly seeking to make bunkering and pipeline vandalism a capital offence in the state. Such a move is the muchneeded tonic or recipe to guarantee security, ensure effective and smooth operations and assure the management of the depot of their safety and that of their equipment. The move will also discourage or deter vandals and bunkerers who had thrived in the illegal business in the past.

Also to benefit from the re-opening of the depot are the neighbouring towns, villages and states who had before now had to go to Port Harcourt to get petroleum products following the closure of the Aba depot. To ensure that the re-opening of the depot will not bring about congestion on the Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway following the influx of heavy tankers and lorries, the Abia State government has built an ultra-modern park before Osisioma junction to accommodate the tankers and other commercial vehicles in the city.

One remarkable thing about the possible re-opening of the depot is that it goes a long way to show that the restoration of peace and order in Abia State, especially the commercial city of Aba by the present administration in the state is a reality and not a lip service. *Mr. Bosah, a business man, wrote from Aba, Abia State.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 THE arrest Tuesday of two military personnel who were plying lanes dedicated to the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, is another pointer to the disdain some have for traffic laws, often with devastating consequences.

On the same day, a commercial bus driver running against the traffic killed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA. Why do motorists break traffic laws? Many of them enjoy the impunity, especially when they are high-ranking military officers like the colonel Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola reprimanded for abusing the BRT lane.

Colonel K. I. Yusuf drove an official car registered BO1 – 150 NA. He did not expect anyone dared stop him in his military vehicle.

Sergeant A. J. Adeomi drove in another vehicle. The sight of “other ranks” abusing the BRT lane is normal. How does one account for a senior military officer joining in violating the law?

Would Yusuf have obeyed if a LASTMA official stopped his vehicle? He was a sight saluting the governor and apologising, “I am

Violation Of TTraf raf fic raffic Laws sorry, very, very sorry.” The poor example of the military officer is surprising after an incident, involving “other ranks” and LASTMA had sparked off a riot on Ikorodu Road two years ago.

Yusuf could not answer the simple question Fashola posed: “Why, as a senior military officer, did you choose to break the law instead of preserving it?” From where do the likes of Yusuf get their example? Their conduct has infected most users of government vehicles, particularly the military. They consider the BRT lane theirs.

On highways, they barely tolerate other road users, who they treat as if they are a

hindrance to their journeys. Sometimes attempts to force other vehicles off the road result in accidents.

It is not as if they are acting with any official reasons or on any emergencies. They delight in harnessing the “benefits” of their uniform. As Fashola noted, “The highest levels of the military command have continuously expressed their commitment to supporting democracy and to subjecting themselves and their officers to the laws of the country. Those officers that I caught today are a very bad example for the military.

“I don’t use the BRT lane, I sit down in traffic and I expect everyone who wants to drive his car to do the same. The alternative is to use the bus.”

The governor of Lagos State sits in traffic but some road users, including commercial bus drivers, who link their ownership to some security officers, wantonly violate the BRT lane. LASTMA looks the other way.

Fashola should in addition start monitoring the performance of LASTMA officials.

They encourage impunity by not enforcing the law.

OPINION

BY OGHENEKEVWE LABA

B

EFORE now, poverty, illiteracy and high rate of criminal activities ranging from militancy, piracy, armed robbery, oil pipeline vandalism and incessant attack on oil pipeline and platforms were the order of the day in the Niger Delta region.

Today, the situation looks different. Environment experts say the damage done to the Niger Delta region's fragile natural environment and to the health of the people was due largely to uncontrolled exploration and exploitation of crude oil and natural gas, which led to numerous spills, gas flaring, the opening up of the forests to loggers, indiscriminate canalizations, flooding, coastal erosion and earth tremor.

Criminal activities in the region resulting from the degradation of the region led to speedy decline of the nation’s economy as the oil production, which is our main source of revenue generation, dropped to an all time low rate of 700 barrels per day.

Reasons for the criminal activities in the region were not farfetched. The indigenes of the region felt that as the ‘chicken that lays the golden eggs', they ought to feel the impact of the resources taken from their area. Successive governments from military rule to democratic government neglected the region.

But the people breathed a sigh of relief when Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua became the President of Nigeria in 2007.

The President saw reasons with the people of the region and decided to implement programmes that will ameliorate their sufferings. Thus, he introduced the amnesty programme and urged the warring youths of the region to embrace the programme by denouncing hostility and handing over their illegally acquired fire arms to the government.

Unfortunately Yar’Adua did not live long to see the fruit of the programme he started.

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Fast-tracking development in the Niger Delta However, President Goodluck Jonathan, who took over from Yar’Adua as the President of Nigeria did not let his late boss down as he implemented the programme to the letter. Thus, three years after, Kingsley Kuku, the man at the helm of the amnesty programme for Niger Delta militants, gives credit to President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he said had pursued the programme with a single-minded tenacity. Kuku, who is a Special Adviser to the President, said the success of the programme was all part of the President's greater picture of leaving behind a united country with a robust economy, where the citizens and foreigners would be free to live and pursue their trades under a safe environment. According to him, the success of the programme had seen the growth of oil production in the Niger Delta region from a mere 700 barrels per day, at the peak of the crisis in the Niger Delta area, to the current 2.6million barrels per day, and a leap in its earnings. The militants, who had been targeting oil installations apart from engaging in other forms of activities that made the area unsafe to live and do business have all been evacuated from the creeks and have been rehabilitated at various institutions in Nigeria and abroad, where they are learning both formal and informal skills.

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total of 5,204 ex-militants are currently undergoing various forms of skills acquisition training or formal education in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The career choices selected by the delegates range from marine, heavy duty operations, welding, agriculture, boat building, oil and gas techniques, entrepreneurship, automobile technology and aviation, among others. The Amnesty programme’s trainees are spread across 28 foreign training institutions in

15 countries across the globe and 36 local training institutions in 10 states of the federation. No fewer than 5,067 of the beneficiaries had already graduated in skills acquisition fields such as welding and fabrication (1,847), entrepreneurship (1,609), pipe fitting (150), carpentry & plumbing (206), oil drilling (32), electrical installation (232), ICT (125), marine related courses (564) and others (302).

Already, 95 delegates have been offered direct employment in various governmental and private establishments. Beside that, the Amnesty Office is putting finishing touches to mentoring programmes that would see many of the graduates becoming self-employed and employing other Nigerian youths.

In addition, 6,280 delegates had already been processed for deployment to local and foreign training institutions to undergo courses ranging from aviation technicians, oil and gas technicians, marine technicians, entrepreneurial development programmes as well as formal education.

The rehabilitation of the militants has resulted in the creating of peace and security in the region which has lead to the production of between 2.4 million and 2.6 million barrels of crude oil per day as against the abysmally low between 700,000 and 800,000 barrels per day at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis in January 2009. The nation and its Joint Venture Partners are currently making production savings of up to 1.9 million barrels per day.

When computed with prevailing exchange rate of about N160 to $1, daily production savings for Nigeria and the JV partners currently stand at a minimum of N33.4 billion per day. Given that oil production in Nigeria hovered between 2.4 and 2.6 barrels for all of 2011, it would be safe to emphatically assert that savings for Nigeria and the JV partners for year ending 2011 is estimated to be a whopping N6 trillion. *Mr. Laba, a journalist, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, JULY 20, 2012 — 19

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FEW days ago, several persons reportedly lost their lives in the Apata area of Ibadan, when a live power line snapped and fell in a vegetable market, at early morning.

This is only the most recent instance in which Nigerian citizens perished due to mishaps involving high voltage transmission lines strung over populated areas.

At one time or the other, in various population centres around the country, power cables have fallen on houses, buses, schools, flooded streets and even petrol tankers, triggering catastrophic explosions.

These accidents are clearly preventable. But that doesn’t seem to bother the policy makers and administrators whose responsibility it is to route, regulate and maintain power conducting systems.

The victims of these repeated electrocutions are faceless individuals whose demise apparently causes little emotional discomfort on the part of administrators at the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN—not to mention affected ministerial functionaries and law enforcers.

In light of this, I don’t think it would be in the least unfair to refer to power line fatalities as “executions”, rather than “electrocutions”: Because surrounding circumstances suggest that, for all intents and purposes, such fatalities amount to socially sanctioned killings.

Otherwise the loss of precious lives from power line accidents would long ago have become a thing of the past. There is no question that the technological means, the legal authority and financial resources required to

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render transmission areas safe, are at the fingertips of the providers.

In the interest of objectivity though, I must, perforce, emphasize that managers and policy makers like in many manmade Nigerian disasters, are not lone culprits. Those who insist on building, transacting business and holding social outings underneath high voltage lines, in defiance of local ordinances and codes, can hardly claim innocence even if Nigerian society means everyone takes their life into their own hands lest they die anyway.

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ence, the onus is on those in positions of authority. The culpability of public offenders, cannot absolve political leaders and utility administrators of blame.

The latter have both the capacity and the responsibility to ensure

What is Obi @ 51?

BY VALENTINE OBIENYEM

Y

ESTERDAY, the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi was 51, but he loathes celebrations, especially when they have epicurean dimension. He would rather preach to you on the futility of presenting to him a gold wrist watch worth millions of Naira when such an amount would equally buy some computers that when donated to schools, will help in moulding the young ones. But since the world is not guided by his own thought process, many people are bound to celebrate him according to their preferences and fancies. In my own case, through this piece. As far as we can pry into his journey on earth since July 19, 1961, he was puffed out into the world, one can rightly observe that it has been a life where actions that ought to take place in one full life time are crowded into 51. This eventful life started with good education at Christ the King College, Onitsha and the University of Nigeria. He was naturally born with many faculties and he may have acquired more as could be attested to by his wit and cleverness, a ready tongue and inexhaustible and exhausting vivacity.We cannot here recount his achievements, which he stared recording during his days in primary school where he successfully formulated the famous egg theory, which, though beyond this piece, has to do with the recording of gains in egg business. The climax of it being that at the age of 42, he won the gubernatorial election in Anambra State, but the victory was denied him. As if Providence has always had interest in his affairs, that denial of victories, which he had always fought and came out unhurt – indeed, triumphant, was the challenges he faced that made him to become a noted name in politics in diverse ways. His fame was accentuated by the fact that Nigerians in similar circumstances either sold out or abandoned themselves to cynical C M Y K

pessimism. Thus, one can say that he is a man capable of taking in his strides the natural difficulties of life.

Obi was the first person, who, through pertinacity of will, recovered his stolen gubernatorial victory through the courts.

It was from one victory to another victory he always pursued to correct obvious injustice. This was how he ended up being the first person to come back from impeachment, to go for tenure interpretation and to get a second term to govern our great State many think ungovernable.

Beyond his trials and triumphs, at 51 he is a life worthy of Homer as the herald of his achievements and the virtues he represents. Writing about him, one of the things that readily come to mind is the reward for hard work.

In his private life, he worked so hard to reach where he was, becoming the chairman of a bank before entering into public life. There is something about him that seems strange: he has the passion for business and making money and he has made a lot of it, yet he prefers the life of stoic simplicity. As far as he is concerned, money and material acquisition are good but cannot become the epicentre of existence, only as an instrument to solving the problems of life. Thus, buying of private jet, jetties, yachts and houses in the choicest parts of the world and flaunting riches in a manner that is offensively conspicuous, do not appeal to him. However, the people he has helped through inconspicuous philanthropy are legion.

He believes that money is to solve problems and not to live in a manner inconsistent with rationality. Tell him about the need to have houses in the Maitamas and Ikoyis of Nigeria, and he will remind you that one of the richest men of all times in the World, Warren Buffett has been living in the same house and driving the same vehicle for donkey years. He has no useless taste to burden his life.

One annoying phenomenon among

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Power line executions (1)

Managers in many man-made Nigerian disasters, are not lone culprits; those who insist on building underneath high voltage lines can hardly claim innocence

public safety.

According to a report I read in The Pilot, for instance, the Ibadan market incident, in which a pregnant woman and a nursing mother were among the dead, was neither the first power line breakage in the Apata area nor the only one with mortal consequences.

A tailor who lives in the community, and has a shop at Apata, told Sunny Adeloye that residents had complained repeatedly that the power lines were too thin and needed to be replaced. The tailor also said the cables had snapped previously, more than once, with deaths resulting on two occasions.

But the locals reported to Adeloye that, instead of replacing the defective lines, the electricity workers took advantage of the poor state of the wires to extort money from them. “They always collect money from us before coming here to fix the wires…,” said an anonymous informant.

I have focused on the Apata incident in Ibadan, because it is current and the details are conveniently available. But when it comes to PHCN, nee NEPA, “Apata” is everywhere; and we are all vulnerable.

Anyone who hasn’t seen a broken cable in a populated area, or an overloaded line, burning over residential streets, must be a tourist, a hermit or hopelessly unobservant.

Also, even those who have never thrown in a hand, to help “settle” a PHCN employee, are

As Obi turns 51, part of the achievements that should be credited to him is the restoration of the pride of Anambra people; you need to experience a grim situation where your pride is wounded to understand this

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the Igbos is the misplacement of values.

Today our pristine values have all been bastardised. Looking at our people you will ask where our love for excellence has gone. Igbos cherish excellence and are known to strive to achieve that in any of their chosen endeavours even if it means wearing themselves out . That is why he strives to be dimgba, the master wrestler; diochi, the master wine tapper; dike, the master of strength; di this and di that in many fields. Can we say that about the Igbos today?

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oday things have all changed. Our people have jumped on the band wagon of those who want to record phenomenal successes through shortcuts punctuated by frauds. Today, kidnapping, 419 and other crimes, foreign to us are all here with us. Today, rather than build public wealth and contribute to the development of the State, our people prefer easy access to the common kitty. Those in government no longer see governance as public trust and a vocation, a call to serve the people.

This is the society Governor Obi met in 2006, amidst fiscal chaos and administrative indolence. Today, he has done a lot trying to restore the values of our people. At first, when he became governor and in his resolve to change the mindset of the people, he turned himself into a preacher, but the people, accustomed to the eroding morals of the

surely aware that this is a common occurrence in many local communities.

Corruption though, is just part of the problem—and, possibly, not the most important part.

More threatening, perhaps, is the lethargy of power sector managers and policy makers who, in my estimate, simply have not been sufficiently proactive.

In the June 4 (Online) issue of The Punch, for example, Stanley Opara reports on a “ warning” which Tokunbo Peters, Senior Public Affairs Manager, issued on behalf PHCN’s business units in the Molete and Akaran areas of Ibadan.

Peters urged the public to desist from erecting structures and otherwise positioning themselves “under high- and low-tension power lines” in these jurisdictions.

He complained that people were not keeping the mandatory distances, which town and regional planning laws require.

I’m sure PHCN’s management issued this statement with the best of intentions. But the fact that it comes a week after the Apata electrocutions, gives me cause for concern. It’s as if PHCN is closing the gate, after the horses have bolted.

After all, what has to be done, to prevent power line electrocutions (sorry executions), is not written in Meroitic script or hieroglyphics.

To be continued.

time, listened to him in sceptical apathy.

Undaunted, he continued. In the 51st year of his life and seven into his governorship, he can look at his people with happiness on the realisation that his words to them which appeared frozen are now thawing and its meanings are gradually permeating their subconscious.

Until Obi became the Governor, Anambra was a battlefield and the war plan was scripted by Bedlam. There is hardly any aspect of life in the State that the torch of confusion was not aglow. At a point, the entire State was burnt down.

As an Abuja based Anambrarian at that time, hardly did any good news come out of the State. I recall how we greatly felt dejected reading stories of primitive tortures by the Bakassi group, the people hailed them because they were the lesser of the many evils in the State. Though what we had was a de facto Governor, but it was injurious to our sense of pride that he was slapped and buffeted. We read stories of Okija and generally, rape competed with rapine for supremacy.

As a result, the State collapsed.

As Obi turns 51, part of the achievements that should be credited to him is the restoration of the pride of Anambra people. You need to experience a grim situation where your pride is wounded to understand this.

Today, we read of our Governor belonging to many Federal Committees, travelling with the President and parleying with development partners.

The other day, after a presentation at the World Bank 2012 Spring meeting on Anambra State, the Bank, impressed, sent some Oxford Professors and other experts to understudy what Obi is doing in the education sector in the State with the aim of presenting it as a model to other African countries. Today, Ambassadors and investors see Anambra as a place to be. To whom do we credit all this epochal liberation of Anambra? To Governor Obi, of course. At 51, this is his gift to Anambra State. *Mr. Obienyem, wrote from Awka, Anambra State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 21

FG plans 24-hr registration for businesses

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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HE Federal Government will as part of its plans to open up the Nigerian business space for more investments ensure that serious investors who intend to register their businesses in the country do so within 24 hours, says the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga.

Aganga spoke recently at the ground breaking ceremony to flag off construction of Procter&Gamble’s multibillion state-of-art baby care manufacturing plant in Ogun State.

Aganga, who represented President GoodLuck Jonathan at the event, said it was part of federal government’s initiative of industrialising the nation, and making her the hub of investment in Africa.

He affirmed that its plan to grant 10 year automatic Visa to intending foreign investors on entry to Nigeria was still subsisting.

He said, “The government now have industrialisation plan. We have also established competitiveness committee to help us in this regard. We have embarked on national tax reform which has culminated in national tax policy and we will also make it easy for businesses to be registered in 24 hours.

For serious investors, we will also have Visa application processing in 24 hours.”

He stated that key sectors of the economy, especially where the country has competitive advantage have successfully been opened up for participation by interested individuals, saying that the government is investing heavily in education, health, and other areas.

He said the federal government would concentrate on using available resources to develop the country instead of encouraging exportation of manpower through continuing exportation of raw materials.

From left: Mr. John Condon, Chief Operating Officer, Global Advisory, KPMG International; Mrs. Toyin Gbagi, Partner, Audit, KPMG Nigeria; Mr. Seyi Bickersteth, National Senior Partner, KPMG Nigeria; Mr. Alan Buckle, Deputy Chairman, KPMG International and Mr. Ajibola Olomola, Partner, Tax, KPMG Nigeria at a Dinner party with Alan Buckle, the Deputy Chairman, KPMG International in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Single accounting framework expedient for companies’ growth — Deloitte A

recent Deloitte survey which hinged on the need for increased financial reporting transparency, has led to more insurers calling for a single global accounting framework.

The new survey of insurance finance executives conducted on behalf of Deloitte, by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) found that nearly half of insurers want to see a convergence of the two main accounting regimes used by global insurance companies.

Also, 47 per cent of respondents said

they want the United States to abandon its national accounting standards in favour of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). However, a complete set of IFRS rules for insurance liabilities does not exist yet and US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) on the same subject has been earmarked for a radical reform since 2008.

Already, proposals to address this situation and substantially re-write accounting standards commonly used

Cashless policy’ll not hurt low income group — Sanusi

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OVERNOR of Central Bank of Nigeria Malam Sanusi Lamido

182.85

+0.15

2,205.00

+10.00

22.89

+0.10

105.14 89.73

+1.14 +0.51

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA KRONER EURO POUNDS RIYAL SDR FRANC DOLLAR WAUA YEN RENMINBI

0.2684 25.4813 189.6073 241.6746 41.2943 232.909 157.8373 154.87 231.7188 1.9606 24.3126

0.2784 25.5636 190.2195 242.4549 41.4276 233.661 158.3469 155.37 232.4669 1.967 24.3916

0.2884 25.6458 190.8316 243.2351 41.5609 234.4129 158.8565 155.87 233.215 1.9733 24.4705

CBN Exchange rate as at 19/07/2012 C M Y K

Sanusi, has re-iterated that the cashless policy of the bank will not affect low income group adversely as being speculated. Sanusi made the remark at the opening of the 3-day 17th Seminar for Financial Correspondents, organised by the bank in Akure on Wednesday.

The CBN had in January launched the cashless policy in Lagos as a pilot scheme, with a plan to launch it nationwide in 2013. “There is a subsisting myth that the cashless policy will hurt the low income group adversely. In truth though, many of them cannot, with the volume of their transactions, qualify for the cost that the cashless policy attracts,’’ he said Represented by Mr Sam Olofin, a CBN board member, Sanusi said that a recent survey carried out by the bank indicated that only 10 per cent of daily banking transaction was above N150, 000.

According to him, 10 per cent accounts for majority of the high value transactions. This, he said, suggested that the bulk of the banking population subsides, the costs that the tiny majority

incurs in terms of high cash usage, resulting in a lot of money circulating outside the formal sector. Sanusi said though the policy had challenges like every other policy, the banking penetration level in the country was still low and needed to be improved.

Commenting on the benefits of the policy, he said that the cardinal strategies of the programme aimed to reduce drastically the volume of cash in circulation in favour of electronic form of transaction. “The cash policy will help achieve the CBN objective of expanding, depending and modernising the payments system and also galvanise the CBN in ensuring that Nigeria ranks among the top 20 economies of the world by 2020.

Sanusi said the CBN cashless policy was designed to break the traditional barriers hindering financial inclusion for millions of Nigerians and bring lowcost, secure and convenient financial services to urban, semi-urban and rural areas across the country. He urged the media to join the apex bank in its effort to educate Nigerians on the importance of the policy to the economy.

by insurers for liabilities and investments are being finalised jointly by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).

The report noted that despite significant progress, the boards have struggled to reach an agreement on all issues. This has resulted in a slip in timetable for implementation of what could be heralded as the first set of global accounting rules for insurance companies.

The survey further revealed that given the potential consequences these rules will have on insurance companies, more than half of respondents rated the uncertainty around the timeframe for implementation of the new IFRS for insurance contracts (IFRS 4 Phase II) (51 percent) and for financial instruments (IFRS 9) (52 percent) as their biggest concern.

However, many insurers are stuck in a ‘ wait and see’ mode, with 56 percent saying they will wait until the standards are final before starting their projects to implement the new rules.

In a related development, Francesco Nagari, global IFRS insurance leader at Deloitte, said: “The extended uncertainty surrounding the completion of a converged insurance project has hampered insurers’ desire to prepare for this major implementation challenge. Several insurers in our survey said they will be able to look at the business impact of the standards only from next year. This implementation will be a considerable undertaking in terms of IT systems and processes, not to mention the effect on investors’ perception of insurers’ profitability. ”

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

AfDB seeks stricter regulation of derivatives, commodities exchanges

By MICHAEL EBOH & RITA OBODOECHINA

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S the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, plans to introduce derivatives trading within the next couple of years, the African Development Bank has raised an alarm over the need for stricter regulation of the derivatives and commodities market in the African continent to

forestall a recurrence of the global financial crisis.

The AfDB, in a statement signed by Chawki Chahed, Senior Communications Officer, AfDB, said it is aware that derivatives, if properly structured, will help in the growth and development of financial systems across the African economic landscape.

“Considered as one of the most important causes

of the global financial crisis that broke out in 2008, derivatives could enhance the liquidity, stability and robustness of financial systems, as long as they are structured and regulated in an appropriate manner.

“They are critically important risk m a n a g e m e n t instruments for commodity chains, companies, banks, financial institutions and

investors,” Chahed said.

On the need for stricter regulation of derivatives trading, Chahed noted that global regulatory reform recommends that derivative contracts are traded through Exchanges, derivative obligations are cleared through Central C o u n t e r p a r t y Clearinghouses (CCPs) by end 2012 at the latest.

According to him, except South Africa, derivatives exchanges

and CCPs do not yet exist in Africa, adding however, that there has been growing realisation that efficient financial and commodity markets are a prerequisite for equitable, inclusive and s u s t a i n a b l e development.

This, he said, has been manifested in key policy documents, including the African Union’s Arusha Plan of Action and Declaration on African Commodities, 2005, as well as in the Final Communique the Tripartite Summit of Heads of State and Government, 2008.

To this end, Chahed disclosed that the AfDB is organizing a ‘PanAfrican Workshop for

Regulators of Derivatives and Commodity Exchanges,’ that will see more than 100 high level experts from across Africa discussing ways and means to develop the derivatives and commodity exchanges in Africa, through the alignment of the African regulatory framework with global standards.

Chahed said the workshop will bring together in Gaborone, B o t s w a n a , representatives of ministries of finance and central banks, commodity exchanges, securities and capital markets authorities as well as representatives of m u l t i l a t e r a l organizations.

First quarter profit boosts investors’ interest in UBA shares

By PETER EGWUATU

From left: Head,Tactical Operations, MarketingMix, Mr. Yemi Akinbode; Chairman, Tricontinental Group, Chief Olabintan Famutimi and Managing Director, Tricontinental Group, Prof Toyin Ashiru at a press conference on the forthcoming Nigeria-America Business and Investment Summit, Atlanta USA, in Lagos.

Transcorp grows profit by 72% …Tripple Gee returns to profitability

BY MICHAEL EBOH & NKIRU NNOROM

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RANSNATIONAL Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Transcorp, has announced a profit after tax of N939.932 million for its second quarter ended, June 30, 2012, financial statement.

The profit after tax figures represents an improvement of 71.8 per cent from N547.211 million recorded in similar period in 2011.

However, the company recorded significant decline in its t op line figures, with its gross revenue dropping by 36.8 per cent to N788.752 million, from N1.249 billion recorded in the same period in 2011.

Transcorp recorded operating profit of N304.877 million, dropping by 62.4 per cent from N810.781

million in 2011 and a profit before tax of N1.052 billion, rising by 53.8 per cent from N684.014 million recorded in 2011.

The company ’s profitability was eroded by administrative expenses of N487.866 million, down by 11.3 per cent from N438.182 million in second quarter 2011 and finance costs of N220.435, up from N127.628 million in 2011.

Transcorp’s investment in its subsidiaries stood at N20.678 billion, compared to N20.677 billion in the same period in 2011; financial assets grew by 1,746 per cent from N100 million to N1.846 billion; working capital, stood at a negative of N2.811 billion, from a negative of N4.884 billion, while net assets appreciated by 11.9 per cent to

N15.935 billion from N14.241 billion recorded in 2011.

Transcorp’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Obinna Ufudo commented “We are quite pleased with our half year results which have surpassed the performance of Year 2011 by N162million. We are certain that Transcorp is on the right path and will realize the performance targets set at the beginning of the year.” .He added, “Our half year results confirm that Transcorp is on sound footing. We are confident that the steps taken so far in each of our business areas will further accelerate our growth. We have an enviable pipeline of deals, opportunities and projects, and are well positioned to take advantage of them and ensure that Transcorp

delivers even stronger results for the remaining half of this year.”

Meanwhile, Tripple Gee Plc has bounced back to profitability, declared a profit after tax of N6.234 million for its 2012 financial year.

According to its audited results for the year ended, March 31, 2012, presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, the figure was an improvement over a loss after tax of N49.22 million recorded in its 2011 financial year.

The company ’ s turnover grew by 14.4 per cent to N619.812 million, compared to N541.605 million recorded in 2011, while gross profit appreciated by 4.9 per cent to N155.762 million, from N148.527 million recorded in 2011.

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NVESTORS’ interest in United Bank for Africa (UBA) shares have continued to rise following the release of the bank’s first quarter result (Q1) for 2012.

The renewed interest by investors have contributed immensely to push UBA share price higher from below N4.29 per share when it closed last week Thursday to a high of N4.75 per share as at the end of trading on Tuesday.

Specifically, UBA surged to a two month high after the bank said pre-tax profit for the first half of the year more than doubled to N31.84 billion. ‘ UBA, a top tier bank, rose 4.89 percent to N 4.29 by close of trading at Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) when it released its first quarter result, almost the maximum five percent limit allowed, to value it at around N141 billion and help lift the All-Share Index up 0.37 percent to 22,203 points.

Market analysts have observed that the bank’s improved performance can be traced to its improved operational efficiency, as its total operating expense dropped by 12

per cent in the period under review.

Specifically, interest income also grew by 24 per cent in the first half of the year; fallout of the 6 per cent increase in risk asset, as well as the net effect of the prevailing interest rate regime in the market.

The bank’s net profit margin improved substantially in the period under review from 11.29 per cent to 24.38 per cent year on year.

The implication of the result according to analysts is that the first quarter 2012 results running well ahead of 20 per cent Return on Equity (ROE) guidance for the full year. Profit Before Tax ( PBT) and Profit After Tax ( PAT ) of N15.8billion and N12.9 billion very close to record first quarter 2012 comparables.

UBA kicked off the second quarter (Q2)2012 earnings season with a reassuring set of financials, following its stellar performance in Q1 2012.

The comparable Q2 2011 IFRS financials are not available; however, compared with the Nigerian Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (Nigerian GAAP).

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 23

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T the tail end of the sixth National Assembly in 2011, one of the major worries of investors in the Nigerian economy and stakeholders in the oil and gas sector was the Petroleum Industry Bill, popularly initialed as the PIB, this was because not a few of these experts were of the opinion that with the wounding up of all relevant activities at the National Assembly this most import piece of legislation would again suffer another rounds of delay.

This was brought to bear especially with the fact that the federal government through the Petroleum Minister had given different time frames for the passage of the bill all of which never came to pass.

Specifically, the importance of the PIB in a monodependent economy such as Nigeria’s cannot be overemphasized, as over 95 percent of foreign exchange earnings is derived from this sector, even as there is very little to show for the over 50 years of commercial oil exports, especially in terms of infrastructures and national development as well as the integration of host communities in oil activities as a means to stem the tide of violent uprising which can derail oil production activities in the country, all of these and more is what the PIB intends to regulate.

The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is conceived to repeal the Petroleum Act of 1969, and consolidate about 16 other petroleum industry laws into a transparent and coherent document. The objective, according to its proponents, is to establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for good governance, transparency and accountability, with regard to operational and fiscal terms for revenue management, and removal of confidentiality clauses in licences, leases, and contracts in the nation’s petroleum industry.

However, the failure of the National Assembly to pass this all anticipated bill until the end of the sixth Assembly in March 2011after assurances by the federal government brought about uncertainties as it would be recalled that the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, declared earlier in 2010 that the PIB would be passed before the end of August, and subsequently shifted it to the end of November, while Presidential Advisor on Petroleum Matters, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah hinted that the bill would be legislated before the end of the year.

With the non passage of the PIB, at the end of 2010, emphasis shifted to March 2011, But March came and

PIB and the dangers of delay …Why N/Assembly should act fast!

The Petroleum Industry Bill is described as an Act to establish the legal and regulatory framework, institutions and regulatory authorities for the Nigerian petroleum industry, to establish guidelines for the operation of the upstream and downstream sectors, and for purposes connected with the same. It is however worrisome that well over 10 years after the moves commenced for a law governing the oil sector and almost half a decade after the Late President Umar Yar’Adua forwarded the PIB to the sixth National Assembly the bill is yet to see the light of day. In this report YEMIE ADEOYE takes a critical look at the importance of this bill not just to the oil and gas sector but to the entire Nigerian economy, negative effects of its non passage, the controversies surrounding the bill as well as the newly approved draft bill as brought forward by the Special Task Force on PIB amongst other relevant issues. Excerpts: gone with the bill making no progress. It was envisaged that PIB would be one of the few pending bills that would be given accelerated passage before the elections, at least to boost President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid to return to power. The president and his supporters are pushing for the approval of the PIB as Oil sector reforms have been a key element of his manifesto, but all attempts to trash out the various conflicting clauses had proved abortive as was demonstrated in the House of Representatives in March, 2011.

Although, there were indications from the National Assembly that most of the technical huddles that have plagued the bill for months, especially the new tax regime

*President Goodluck Jonathan

The Senate is inaugurated for a period of four years. At the end of the four years, the Senate stands dissolved and anything that is pending stands dead unless it is reintroduced that was opposed by mostly international oil companies, have been resolved, analysts insist that intense lobbying involving multinational and indigenous companies as well as political groups with personal interest in the outcome of the bill is the major cause of the delay.

Given the ongoing dispute over the final contents of the PIB at the National Assembly, the oil industry will continually face uncertainties over the outcome of the bill when it is passed.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Solomon Ita Enang said in a recent interview in Abuja “There is no Petroleum Industry Bill in the National Assembly and in particular, in the Senate because, that Bill was introduced during the Sixth National Assembly and it lapsed with the Sixth Assembly.”

Speaking further he said “The Senate is inaugurated for a

,

period of four years. At the end of the four years, the Senate stands dissolved and anything that is pending stands dead unless it is re-introduced.”

“Therefore, if the President wants it, he has to send a letter, re-introducing it. The President has to send a covering letter, which he will attach to the Bill he wants because on the Bill that was earlier sent, there may be need for adjustments and some alterations, after all, they did some public hearings on the Bill. They would have known areas which will not fly.”

This amongst other controversial issues surrounding the non passage of this all-important Bill forced the petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to inaugurate the Special Task Force on PIB which was Chaired

by Senator Udo Udoma.

The Task force has carried out an intensive review of the PIB and issues affecting its swift

*David Mark

passage at the National Assembly while taking into cognizance all the efforts that have been put into the Bill by all stakeholders especially after several public hearings at the National Assembly and came up with the new draft bill which the Federal Executive Council has approved for dispatch to the National Assembly for prompt deliberations and passage into law.

This move has been hailed by several stakeholders as not a few of them can stand the almost zero investment in the Oil and gas sector much longer.

During a visit by members of the 7th Assembly to Nigerdock sometimes in 2011, the Chairman of the company Anwar Jarmakani told members of the Senate committee visiting his facility on Snake Island, in Lagos the dangers of further delay in the passage of the Bill. According to him further investments in the oil sector is seriously threatened due to the none availability of a piece of legislation guiding the industry and the resultant effect of this would be intensive job cuts ‘which has since commenced’.

“The situation is heightened due to the non availability of contract jobs to service companies who forms the bulk of employers in the sector, and it goes without saying that because most service companies who hitherto get

jobs from Multinational Oil Companies no longer get these jobs it would be difficult to retain and pay their workforce. Please distinguished Senators when you get back to Abuja impress it on your colleagues to ensure the passage of this Bill in whatever form, amendments can be carried out afterwards but the Bill should be passed as it had stayed far too long at the detriment of investments which keeps going to neigbouring countries like Ghana and Angola. Hence if the economy of this country must be saved the PIB must be passed.”

A major controversy that had affected the quick passage of the Bill had been the tax regime and royalties, an issue which rattled most IOC’s prompting some of them to establish a full division with strategically and statutorily dedicated staff to consistently review and deliberate on the Bill aimed at protecting the interest of the organization.

Sadly though the government prior to this time did not deem it fit to establish such a team of dedicated people to critically look at the Bill with the singular aim of protecting the nation’s interest especially after claims of exploits by the multinationals in the past, it is for this reason that the inauguration of the Udo Udoma committee was hailed by several industry watchers as it has become clear that the 7th Assembly would not have anything to do with the Bill since it ended with the 6 th Assembly.

24 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Cashew: Adding value to Nigerian non-oil expor exportt

BY DANIEL GUMM

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HIS year ’s conference in Benin is already bigger than ever before — the ACA has confirmed three first-time participants at the World Cashew Expo12, joining a group of manufacturers already twice the size of those who exhibited at last year’s conference.

As the only event of its kind in the cashew industry, the ACA Annual Conference offers unique opportunities for all stakeholders — from farmers to international buyers. It is about innovation in cashew, share business strategy with a group of specialised participants, and build relationships

Warri Chamber holds AGM/ Luncheon Aug 10

with key industry players.

ACA members around the world are preparing for the conference. The conference plans sharing more testimonials with delegates from the past about their positive experiences.

Between plenary sessions with international experts, the interactive World Cashew Forum, more than 500 Business2Business meetings, two field trips, and the World Cashew Expo12, the 7th ACA Annual Conference offers everything to expand and improve the cashew business in Africa.

In Nigeria, cashew nuts are produced in 28 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In 2004, Nigeria's production of cashew amounted to 60,660 tonnes out of which, 30,510 tonnes were exported at a value of US$22.27 million.

Worldwide, trade in

A

LL preparations are high as the 49th AGM/Luncheon of Warri Chamber of Commerce holds on August 10, at Wellinton Hotel, Warri.

According to the Chairman, 2012 AGM/ Luncheon Planning Committee, Sir Simon Asite, this year ’s event is very significant to the chamber and the business community of Warri because it preludes the golden jubilee of WACCIMA coming up in April, 2013.

This year ’s theme titled: “Economics of Diversification, Delta State’s Perspective,” will be delivered by Commissioner for Economic Planning, Hon. Kenneth Okpara, who will be supported by Dr. Douglason Omotor, a Reader in Economics and Head of Department, Business Administration, Delta State University, Abraka.

The topic was specially chosen to key into the emerging economy of Delta State as propelled by the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who launched, “Delta Beyond Oil,” recently at Asaba.

Asite urged all prospective investors and drivers of the economy of Delta State to come and take advantage of the opportunity in order to be properly informed and guided .

CEO SECTORAL DINNER — From left: Tola Faseru, National President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN); Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Mr. Anga Sotonye, National Public Relations Officer (NCAN), and Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) at the CEO Sectoral Dinner, in Lagos. cashews exceeds US$2 billion and demand is increasing. Of the total world supply, 110,000 tonnes are traded on international markets.

There is great investment opportunity for the processing and export of the commodity in Nigeria.

Nigeria is the 6th largest producer of cashew in the world after India, Brazil, Vietnam, Guinea Bissau and Tanzania. Like most African producers, most of Nigeria’s production are exported in raw form to India and Vietnam for processing and export

with added value and benefits to those economies. Vietnam, for example entered the field of cashew production for export in the early 80s about the same time Nigerians became aware of the commercial significance of cashew.

Oper ations Unit ‘A eja monar Operations ‘A’’ visits Ik Ikeja monarcch would continue to work towards ensuring the suppression of smuggling and facilitation of legitimate trade, which he described as the Customs core function.

. . . visits Commander 9 Brigade, Ikeja also

T

VISIT — Controller Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos, Comptroller Dan Ugo, paid a courtesy visit on the Olu of Ikejaland and Vice-Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, His Royal Majesty Alayeluwa Oba Rauf Adeniyi Matemi (Amore I). Here, Comptroller Ugo presents a gift to his majesty.

I

N continuation of efforts of the Customs Service to strengthen existing relationships with its neighbours, the Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos, Comptroller Dan Ugo, has paid a courtesy visit on the Olu of Ikejaland and Vice-Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, His Royal Majesty Alayeluwa Oba Rauf Adeniyi Matemi (Amore I).

Welcoming the CAC and his entourage to his palace, the royal father

expressed his deep sense of appreciation for the august visit. The royal father said: “This is the first time that I will be having such a delegation from the Service since my ascension to the throne of my forefathers seven years ago.”

He praised the articulation of the CAC for the wonderful and symbolic gesture, assuring the CAC that, as the custodian of the traditional institution, he would continue to partner with the Service

and the Unit to ensure a peaceful co-habitation.

In his response, the CAC pointed out that the visit became very necessary in view of the role of traditional rulers in the maintenance of peace and orderliness in human societies. He noted that his high regards for the traditional institutions, stemmed from his royal background. He further stated that the loyalty of the Unit and Service to the traditional authority is sacrosanct.

The CAC assured the royal father that the Unit

Controller Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos, Comptroller Dan Ugo, also paid a courtesy call on the Brigade Commander of 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Brigadier-General Pat Akem.

The visit is in continuation of efforts of the Service to strengthen existing relationships with other agencies of government for effective collaboration and synergy which he described as panacea for mutual understanding.

Welcoming the CAC and his entourage to his office, Gen. Akem expressed his deep sense of appreciation for the visit.

He showered encomium on the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of the CGC, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko HE

The United States is the largest importer of cashew kernels, accounting for over 50 per cent of world imports. Other importers include the Netherlands (10 per cent), Germany (7%), Japan (5%) and the United Kingdom (5%).

The former Soviet Union was previously a major importer of cashew kernels, but with recent economic changes, trade to this part of the world has diminished.

Other emerging markets include the Middle East, South East Asia and Australia.

There is an urgent need for the injection of more funds by the government into the Nigerian cashew processing sector in order to add value to the products such that processed kernels are exported.

The Nigerian cashew nuts are of high quality and its processed kernels have wide acceptability in European and American markets.

Inde (CFR) and the unit for the contributions of the service to the development of the economy.

He said that he has been following the activities of the Service in the past few years, urging the CAC to ensure sustenance of these achievements.

He assured the CAC of the operational readiness of the Brigade to always support the activities of the Unit whenever the need arises.

The CAC thanked the Commander for the reception accorded him and reiterated his determination to reciprocate this gesture.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012—25

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26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

148,000 farmers to benefit from GES scheme in Yobe — Minister “We are looking at the pos-

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From Left: Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina at the Inauguration of Lagos State Cooperative College in Lagos.

r Bukar Tijjani, Min ister of State for Ag riculture on Monday said that 148,000 farmers in Yobe would benefit from the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme for the 2012 cropping season.

Addressing newsmen in D a m a g u m i n Yobe after launching the GES fertiliser sales to farmers, the minister said “the scheme is targeting five million farmers across the country this cropping season”.

He said that government was aware of the challenges of inadequacy of fertilisers under the scheme.

Jigawa gets improved seeds from IITA

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE with agency reports

I

n the coming weeks, Ji gawa state farmers will be getting improved cowpea and maize varieties from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as part of efforts to help improve the fortunes of agriculture in that state.

The Institute also plans to backstop the newly established state-owned cassava starch industry, linking it to markets and also offering farmers improved cassava planting materials to ensure a steady supply of cassava roots to the factory.

The Deputy Director General, Partnerships and Capacity Building (IITA), Dr Kenton Dashiell, who disclosed this during the week in Dutse, Jigawa State, said “In the next two weeks, the institute will be delivering improved cassava planting materials for multiplication.”

Cassava, cowpea and maize are important crops in that Nigeria’s north western state, contributing to the food security and wealth creation of millions of people.

The donation of the improved planting materials comes after the governor of the north western state, Dr Sule Lamido, gave an open invitation to the foremost agricultural research institute in Africa, IITA, to help his government turn-around agriculture at the Institute’s 45th anniversary held on 6 July in

Ibadan, Oyo state.

Dr Dashiell said “the institute is glad to help Jigawa state to tackle the challenge of food insecurity, create wealth and improve livelihoods.”

The about 1000kg of improved seeds comprising 500kg of cowpea and 500kg of maize will be planted across the 27 local governments of the state on demonstration plots with the support of farmers and the Jigawa State Agricultural Development Program. Seeds harvested from the demonstrations will be

given to farmers ahead of next planting season in 2013, amplifying the benefits of improved technologies to farmers in the state.

The Institute will also assist the government by linking buyers to the Jigawa State cassava starch factory.

With an installed processing capacity of 4 tons of cassava roots per hour, the factory aims to add value to cassava, thereby creating wealth for cassava farmers.

Plans are also on the table to begin the production of gari, and high quality cassa-

va flour that can be used by bakers and in the confectionary industry.

The introduction of improved cassava varieties will offer the state the opportunity to tap the power of the root crop for its rapid agricultural development.

Jigawa State Governor, Dr Sule Lamido thanked IITA for offering to support the state in its agricultural transformation agenda.

“We need to develop a strong partnership to impact positively on the lives of our people,” Lamido said.

He pledged to give the Institute the necessary support to improve the livelihoods of the people of the state.

… buys N50m veterinary equipment, vaccines

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he Jigawa Govern ment said it has bought N50 million worth of vaccines and veterinary equipment to enhance animal health services.

In a statement in Dutse on Monday, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Rabiu Isa, said that the equipment were distributed to 80 veterinary clinics across the state.

Isa said that N4.5 million was spent on the procurement of veterinary surgical equipment.

He said that N6 million was spent on vaccines procurement, while storage facilities worth more than N5.5 million were distributed to the Birnin kudu, Gumel and Hadejia veterinary clinics.

The commissioner said,

“More than N15 million was spent on the purchase of 900,000 doses of animal vaccines, drugs and four solar deep freezer between 2010 and 2011.

“The aim is to improve veterinary services and curtail

out break of animal diseases.”

He said that more than N26 million was expended on the construction of modern slaughter houses at Malammadori and Gumel local government areas of the state.

Farmers weeding at Dass in Bauchi

sibilities of over-coming this challenge in subsequent cropping seasons.”

The minister said the scheme had checked the problems associated with diversion and monopoly by marketers, adding that farmers under the scheme had been given the right to buy products from their preferred marketers.

He said that GES was intended to provide food and security and ensure availability of seeds and fertilisers to farmers.

“The scheme will also assist in moving farmers from rudimentary subsistence practice to a commercial-based agriculture for an increased income to farmers.”

Yobe Governor Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Idi Gubana, said that government had procured 17,500 tonnes of fertilisers for distribution to farmers this cropping season.

He said that government had paid N90 million counterpart fund to IFAD and N35 million for dredging of River Hadejia to enhance water flow for irrigation.

The governor noted that government had also provided bore holes, water pumps, improved seedlings and fertilisers to irrigation farmers across the state.

Ministry to boost fish production in Rivers, Bayelsa

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he Minister of Agri culture and Rural De velopment, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said on Monday in Abuja that plans were underway to boost fish production in Rivers and Bayelsa.

He said this when King Barnabas Bagia, Vice-President of the Ogoni Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers (OSCTR) led a delegation to his office.

Adesina explained that the ministry would invest seven million naira on fish production in the two states.

He assured them of the ministry’s commitment to farmers in Ogoni land.

The minister urged the delegation to mobilise rural communities in Ogoni to get youths back to agriculture.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 27 Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

ernment to promoting and supporting the hosting right granted to Port Harcourt by UNESCO, noting: “I made a commitment that we will not relent in this initiative and you can be rest assured that we shall keep the promise.”

A cross section of students at the event

Niger Delta: Hopes, Dreams and History.’

To demonstrate that the project was about reading promotion, star actors and actresses were equally compelled to read to the students. Dakore Egbuson read from Gabriel Okara’s romantic poem ‘The Call of River Nun’; Presence of Omoni Oboli read from JP Clark’s Streamside Exchange; notable scholars Desmond Elliot read an excerpt In the tradition of Bring Back from Bina Nengi Illagha’s Conthe Book, the event witnessed the dolences, while Omotala Jolade participation of students drawn also read from Clark’s popular from different schools across the poem, Night Rain.

Beside the readings, Bayelsa state and was richly flavoured by the presence of notable scholars State cultural troupe, as well and star brands from Nigeria’s lived to its billings by showcaswave making Nollywood indus- ing rich cultural performances try. As a novelty, besides read- that helped in projecting the viing of excerpts from books done sion of the project. Speaking at the event, Governor of Bayelsa State represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Alison-Oguru assured the students of the governor’s passion for the project. According to him, a committee has been set up to determine areas where renovation and rebuilding of schools are necessary for intervention. ment. In his reAllison-Oguru equalmark at the event, ly revealed that besides President school fees being made Jonathan said: “I A cross section of Nollywood stars at the event free in the State, N1bilhave accorded the Bring Back the Book campaign by important guests including lion has been set aside, from next the status of a Federal Govern- wife of slain environmental ac- session, for scholarship and ment programme facilitated tivist and writer, late Ken Saro grants to Bayelsa State post gradthrough the Federal Ministry of Wiwa, Maria, who read from Ay- uate students to help further deEducation, so that we can make odele Olofinttuade’s Eno’s Story velop human capital in the state. in-roads into schools all over the by Bayelsa State first lady, Mrs And to demonstrate his support country. By so doing, we will get Rachel Dickson, there was for the to President Jonathan’s book our pupils reading to feed their first time in the history of Bring campaign, Alhaji Musa Bello imagination for the upliftment of Back the Book, a lecture present- was moved to donate 50 computthe entire society.” ed by renowned scholar and his- ers to schools and non governThe President also reaffirmed torian, Prof. Alagoa. He spoke on mental organisations in the state. the commitment of Federal Gov- the subject ‘ The Future of the

Bring Back the Book ••goes to Yenagoa

By MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, and poet, Odia Ofeimun, reOR book lovers and the ceived wide acceptance by largebook industry in Nige ly the Nigerian youths and was ria, last week was a week to re- quickly launched in other parts member for a long time. It was of the country including the Fedone week to remember for two eral Capital Territory, FCT, and significant things that happened, Benin in Edo State. which underline the importance Sadly, the laudable project was of the book to the general well put on a hold all through last year being of Nigeria as a nation. raising fears that the project may First was the nomination of Port have died a natural death and Harcourt as the designated city may have gone the way of other for UNESCO World Book capi- unfulfilled campaign promises of tal in 2014. Port Harpast administrations in court got this hosting the country. But Presiright after a competident Jonathan proved tive bid by Rainbow every person wrong, Book Club, organizers when last week, the of the Garden City Lit- The presicreek town of Yenagoa erary Festival with played host to the flag eleven other countries dent’s off of another leg of this from across the world. book camlaudable project.

The Yenagoa launch paign is Important of Bring Back the Book equally book country is important in many ways: First, it took proFollowing this nomplace in the home state ination, Nigeria in grammed of the President, an 2014, which will mark to help action that corrects the her centenary year impression that a would be presented to redirect prophet is hardly the world as an impor- the creknown among his own tant book country, people. Second, the whose interest in the ative enerlaunch makes a fundabusiness of the intel- gy of the mental statement relect has made fundagarding the place of mental contributions youths book and reading as to human civilization. towards a change agents. Given The second importhe level of hostility more tant event that headand grievances being lined last week was knowlunleashed in the rethe resuscitation of edge progion by disaffected President Goodluck youths, the president’s Jonathan’s Bring Back ductive book campaign is the book, which took ventures equally programmed place at the Gloryland to help redirect the creCultural Centre, Yeneative energy of the goa. The project which was youths towards a more knowlflagged off on December 20, 2010 edge productive ventures capaand headlined by important cul- ble of helping in the fight against tural and intellectual figures like marginality and under develop-

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US marks independence with poetry reading

By PRISCA SAM-DURU & VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

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HE importance of poetry as a vehicle for proper historical documentation was brought to the fore last week during the commemoration of America Independence Day, held at the consulate’s office in Lagos.

“Read It Loud”, a new reading initiative established by the United States Public Affairs Section in partnership with U.S-Africa Literary Foundation for positive change in literary world was the platform utilized for the celebration.

The occasion featured readings from United States Ambassador, Terrence Macaulay; MTN representative, two established poets in Nigeria as well as students from some secondary schools in Lagos and their teachers.

The US Ambassador Terrence

Macaulay opened the floor with readings from poetry collection of Langston Huges, an American poet renowned for his insightful and colourful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties. Among poems read by the Ambassador were, I Too, Sing America, Dream Deferred and a poem that captures all aspects of America’s history from founding and declaration of independence to the dark days of slavery and civil rights movement entitled Let America Be America Again.

Praise of Africa His renditions were followed by that of the MTN Corporate Services executive, Akinwale Goodluck, who read one of David Diop’s poems which was written in praise of Africa. Akinwale later encouraged the

students present to take poetry reading serious as it would help them pass their exams in addition to becoming great writers in future. He said: “poetry provides opportunity for us to be fulfilled, so use the talent within you and fulfill your dreams”.

Other readers were Adeoye Adetoba who read Dreams from a jaundiced Eye and Macaulay Oluseyi: I Will Marry Tomorrow. Both poems were from their personal collections.

Of all the poems read during the celebration, most significant were Let America be America Again which chronicles the poet's thirst for freedom and equality in America and Dreams from a jaundiced Eye which is a caricature of what is currently going on in the public sector where trillions of naira are looted on daily basis at the expense of the impoverished masses.

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,JULY 20, 2012

Restrategizing and transformation of the agricultural sector in Abia State

Stakeholders, authors brainstorm on future of book

By JAPHET ALAKAM

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es are located as a target for its implementation.” Another blue pill is the reformation of teacher education so that teachers will be trained in a way that will strengthen their content knowledge in their teaching subjects.

Prof. Peter Okebukola using his position as an administrator pointed reasons why quality authors are dying and identified the red pills or indicators of deficiencies in the attributes of potential authors at the tertiary education level. Some of them include the sharp practices which the vice chancellors, professors and aspiring professors indulge in while seeking for promotion for example the publication of what he described as roadside journals that do not meet the data base.

The incidence of self published books where lecturers churn out books that do not meet the standard only to be sold to students offering their courses as a passport for pass.

He also identified the case of students who lack both creativity and investigative spirit to read and carry out project research but resort to Googling and copying wikipedia and other materials for their long essay thereby blunting independent study

OR many that graced the fourth edition of Authors’ Forum, a gathering of authors and major stakeholders in the book industry organised by the foremost publishers, University Press Plc at Ibadan, penultimate week, and those who had graced previous editions, one major issue that was observed was the concerted effort by the company to use resources at their disposal to address some of the problems in the educational sector.

This they demonstrated by inviting seasoned scholars to deliver papers on issues bothering on the way forward for the educational sector in Nigeria. And as expected, the Authors’ Forum has gradually become a meeting point where ideas about the future of the book, reading, education, the place of language in education, roles by segments of society are freely discussed both by laymen and scholars alike. And in all, there has been a harvest of ideas, though they have all suffered similar fate like every other good idea in Nigeria which is the lack of political will to translate the ideas into concrete action.

At the forum last year, a literary scholar and poet, Professor Niyi Osundare in his well researched paper titled Homage to the Book urged Mr President to provide a conducive Chukwuemeka Ike, Prof. Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo and Prof. Peter e n v i r o n - Prof.

Okebukola, the keynote speaker at the forum ment that will enable the book to stay before bringing back the thereby killing the potential author. Othbook and this year, another great scholar ers are lack of creativity and the investiwho has been in the saddles of most top gative spirit to read by students, the poor education committees, Prof. Peter Oke- environment where they learn, the poor bukola in his paper titled Long Live the reading culture of the students who preauthor came up with his own blue print fer music/entertainment and the poor reon how to revive the fading reading cul- muneration of the teachers etc.

Prof Niyi Osundare on his part noted ture in the country. that from what is happening in the country today, the purpose of going to school Implementation of is defeated. He charged government to a restoration agenda set up the mega structure right so that NiProf. Okebukola who was the former gerians can get there. Prof. ChukwuemeExecutive Secretary of the National Uni- ka Ike who also spoke said that “despite versities Commission, in his paper ob- all these mess, we must continue to pubserved that the generation of quality au- lish quality books.” He charged UP Plc to thors is fading and there is some urgency go the extra mile to make sure that dein implementing a restoration agenda. He spite the problems, they keep on publishidentified ten keys problems or red pills ing quality books.

Samuel Kolawole, the managing directhat hinder the emergence of quality authors and also proffered some recommen- tor of UP Plc promised to look into the recdations or what he called the blue pills for ommendations and take appropriate steps ensuring that successor generation of au- to make their own contributions in improvthors do not diminish from the eminence ing the life of the authors.

Chairman of the occasion and chairman of the globally famous stock of Nigerian of UP Plc, Laleka Are, had earlier welauthors. comed all to the forum which he described The number one blue pill is the adoption of St Malachy’s model of promoting as an annual event to reflect on the comreading culture among secondary school pany, authors and nation building. “It has students as practiced at his alma mater, always been a way to celebrate ourselves, St. Malachy College, Sapele, now in Del- to appreciate our efforts and commitment ta State, where every two weeks, all stu- to University Press Plc in its drive as the dents read a book of any type obtained nation’s foremost publishers,” He added.

Present at the forum were: Profs. Chukufrom the school library or elsewhere and emeka Ike, Ayo Banjo (emeritus profespresent a summary to the class. According to him, “since University Press Plc is sor), Akinwumi Isola, Niyi Osundare, desirous of nurturing potential authors, Akachi Ezeigbo, Remi Raji, Bayo Lawal; they should select two schools in Oyo State Adebayo Faleti, Tony Marinho and a host and in States where UP Plc regional offic- of others.

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BY ERIC UGBOR

sava flour to be established this year as well as the attraction of a Malaysian Conglomerate palm produce company which is investing over $400 million Dollars in Abia State with the pilot programme coming from Ukwa West.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina was also in the State, Wednesday, June 27, to flag off the Growth Enhancement Scheme support Programme which would enable farmers in the State to assess fertilizer through ewallet system while the State also acquired their own customized, high quality and world standard fertilizer to be distributed to farmers as a fall back to that of the Fed-

NE outstanding achievement re corded by the Abia State government in the past first year of the second tenure of Governor Theodore Orji’s administration is the current revolution within the agricultural sector aimed at re-strategizing and transforming the sector to boost the economic base of the State.

Prior to this time, the agricultural potentials of the State have been lying in comatose and untapped with successive administrations neglecting this productive sector which if properly revived is capable of turning around and revamping the development expectations of the State.Abia State boosts of the Abia Rubber Company which was established by the late Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Michael Okpara and it has been moribund, likewise the Abia Palm which was also a veritable economic source of the State between the 70s and 80s. The Cashew and Cocoa plantations and Ogwe Golden Chicken have all been wasting in the State while many of the workers have been laid off.

Every effort by past ad- Abia governor, Theodore Orji...creating jobs in the agricultural sector ministrations to resuscitate this agricultural sector in the state has ever eral Government. ended up in lip service and papers and The State Governor, Chief T. A. Orji also as such most farmers and populace of the on that date flagged off the handover of state who were supposed to benefit from the N1 Billion Federal Agricultural Loan the services of the Agricultural sector have to farmers in the State as well as distributended up in disillusion and despondence. ed various farm inputs to farmers. The It is on record that over 2000 workers of State Ministry of Agriculture had earlier the State were laid off due to the failed embarked on sensitization tour of the sevattempts of previous governments to re- enteen Local Government Areas of the vive these agricultural sectors in the past State to inform the farmers on the need 15 years while supposed revenue accru- and way of obtaining the Agricultural loan able to the state have been lost. where forms were obtained by many farmers in that regard.

Creating job These programmes would to a large exopportunities tent promote farming this season in the State and boost food production as many Agriculture when appropriately revived farmers including the peasant ones are in Abia State is capable of replicating the expected to benefit from these programmes as the Ministry of Agriculture has Federal Allocation based on oil as mapped out appropriate chanwell as provide food for the peonels of distribution to ensure that ple and create job opportunities no farmer is left out of the profor both the youths, women and gramme. other groups of the populace. ToWith the privatization of the day, the agricultural sector of the Abia Rubber Company, it is exState through the State Ministry pected that the new Company of Agriculture has taken bold steps would replant and raise nursery to reverse the ugly trend in the for the farm as well as tap the sector by keying into all the Fedproduct to raise the economy of eral Government Agricultural prothe state. The Abia Palm Indusgrammes as well as providing entry, the Commissioner also said abling environment to ensure that is currently seen managed by an Agricultural activities are extendItalian firm for five years while ed to the farmers.

The State Commissioner for AgBoth the the Ogwe Golden Chicken would riculture, Chief Ike Onyenweaku Cocoa and soon be functional with many investors showing interest in the in an interview with journalist refirm which has been closed down cently in Umuahia disclosed vari- cashew ous ways initiated by the State farms are due to insecurity in the state last two years. Both the Cocoa and Government to reposition the Agalready cashew farms are already funcricultural sector in tandem with the Transformation Agenda of the functional tional and yielding while the Federal and State Governments to and yield- State is exploring every other activity in the Sector to ensure ensure that the Agricultural potening that it doesn’t fail in its efforts to tial of the State is harnessed. diversify the economy through The State has also keyed into all Agriculture.

Federal Government, Ministry of It is a glowing situation in the Agricultural Programmes and folagricultural sector of Abia State lowing them religiously as the and with the determination of the Commissioner said and this has state Ministry of Agriculture fulpaid off and resulted into the Federal Ministry of Agriculture given to the ly backed with the political and genuine State two Rice Mills to be located in Bende will of the state Governor, Chief T.A. Orji and Arochukwu Local Government Areas, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and that will result into the production of there is no doubt that these culminating 140 tonnes per hour of high quality Cas- efforts will lift and transform the state.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 29

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30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

*Gov Amosun

*Aremo Osoba

OGUN LG POLL:

Is ACN about to eat itself up?

GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun was yesterday running against time in a desperate bid to avert the long predicted political showdown with his predecessor, former Governor Segun Osoba. At issue is the selection of candidates for tomorrow’s local government election which has led to a dramatic face-off between the incumbent governor and associates of Osoba.

O

GUN State appears set to witness a crisis similar to the battle between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-governor Gbenga Daniel, which tore the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, into pieces in the last dispensation.

The result of that crisis was that the PDP lost grip of the levers of power at the state level to the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. The chances of a similar scenario playing out against the A C N during tomorrow’s local government election, were yesterday still uncertain. As of press time, the dispute over the list of candidates was yet to be resolved by the court.

Governor Amosun, who came into the ACN just in time to contest the gubernatorial election C M Y K

last year, is poised to settle the alleged injury he supposedly received when all those who came with him into the ACN from the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP were stopped from flying the ACN ticket in the National Assembly and State legislative elections, last year.

The governor’s retribution, it is claimed, is his alleged imposition of his own list of candidates on the ACN against the list earlier compiled by the party.

Remarkably, the wrangling even on the eve of the election today is yet to be decided as the 17 aggrieved aspirants earlier picked by the party for the chairmanship positions were still locked in court against the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC. Their main prayer is that they be declared the ACN candidates.

Women are equally not left out of the crisis as some female party

,

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

Remarkably, Amosun and Osoba have denied insinuations of a rift between them over the issue. However, recent developments have shown clearly that all is not well within the two camps

,

members under the aegis of Women in Politics, have vowed to protest naked against what they called marginalisation of women in ACN. Speaking to Vanguard, the leader of the group, Funmi

Aiyeola, said, “we are not happy about the Local Government selection of candidates, on television they are asking people to vote women and our question is which women to vote for, out of 20 local Government in the state, they selected one. “ Remarkably, Amosun and Osoba have denied insinuations of a rift between them over the issue. However, recent developments have shown clearly that all is not well within the two camps.

Associates of former Governor Osoba allege that the list of the 20 chairmanship candidates and 236 councillorship candidates originally compiled was tampered with.

According to them , the original list of chairmanship candidates include Isaq Adesanya (Abeokuta North), Moshood Akinyele (Abeokuta South), Musiliu Akindele (Odeda),

Folorunso Sotubo (Sagamu), Tajudeen Odumade (IjebuNorth_East), Wale Balogun (Ijebu North), Nathaniel Sodipo (Ewekoro), Soliu Falade (Ipokia), Abiodun Oluwaseun (Obafemi Owode) and Olaotan Odunayo (Yewa South).

Others are Gabriel Falola (Yewa North), Sunday Bankole (Ifo), Shamsudeen Onanuga (Ijebu_Ode), Dumosu Adebanjo (Odogbolu), Omotayo Olusegun (Ijebu East), Samuel Idowu (Remo North), Isiaka Ojuroye (Ikenne), Ismaila Sanusi (Imeko Afon), Sunday Onanuga (Ogun Waterside) and Mustapha Kunle (Ado_Odo/Ota).

In a letter dated June 15, 2012 signed by the ACN State Secretary, Alhaji Abimbola Awofeso, and addressed to OGSIEC Chairman, the party said the candidates were endorsed at its enlarged State Executive Committee meeting held on May 31, 2012.

Awofeso’s letter partly reads: “At the meeting of the Enlarged State Executive Committee of the party, held on the 31st May, 2012, it was unanimously resolved that the attached list of the party’s nominated candidates for the coming council polls be forwarded to your commission.

“As the State Secretary of our great party and going by the said resolution of 31st May, 2012, I hereby forward the attached list of the candidates of Action Congress of Nigeria for the coming local government council polls.” chieftain of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said while the ACN list was forwarded to OGSIEC on June 15, Amosun’s group submitted another one on June 18, 2012, adding that candidates nominated by the party passed through due process as stipulated by the ACN constitution.

In the letter of protest sent by the Secretary of the party in the state made available to Vanguard, Awofeso wrote that Section 21:5 subsection A,B and C as well as Section 21:6 subsection A,B,C and D specifically stipulated the procedure through which chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the party would emerge.

The ACN chieftain alleged that the candidates being paraded by the governor failed to emerge through the constitutionally stipulated process.

The beef of the Osoba associates is that the governor used his position as governor to compel OGSIEC to endorse his list which came up after their names were submitted.

A

Candidates recognised

by OGSIEC The list of the A C N local government chairmanship

Continues on page 32

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012—31

Yes, I'm a polygamous author and satisfied — Prof. Adamolekun speaks on life at 70 •Says the politics of old led to devt

BY DAYO JOHNSON

P

What was it like as an administrator?

It was interesting but academic administration is not exactly the same thing as being in administration in the sense that some things called stupid in the academic line but in civil service you will not dare say that. I enjoyed being the Head of Department and Dean of Faculty.

You have authored about 25 books. What exactly is your inspiration?

I am a polygamous author and I can reel out (books) to you from C M Y K

P

*Adamolekun: I am a polygamous author different publishers.

One of my books that I printed first in 1986 about 25years ago, "Politics and Administration in Nigeria" has been reprinted about five times and another one titled Public Administration in Africa published in 1999, I just produced the second edition last year through Evans the first edition was published in USA . f you believe that ideas matter, then the book allows that avenue. You will get some money in the early years through royalty but these days what interests you does not go far and in any case publishers do not really market books these days. They are now interested in the contracts with the government. So nobody is marketing any book now.

I

How do you relate the politics

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ROFESSOR Ladipo A d a m o l e k u n accomplished academic, international diplomat, veteran author and yes, one time politician, would clock 70 tomorrow, Saturday, July 21, 2012. It has certainly been an interesting life for Prof.

Adamolekun The young Ladipo was born in Iju, Akure North council area of Ondo State. He earned a first class degree in French at the University of Ibadan, a Masters degree in Public Administration at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife and a Doctorate degree in Politics at the Oxford University in the United Kingdom. He held senior appointments at the World Bank, working on governance and Public sector management issues from 1987 to 2004.

Between 1975 and 1986 he served on many Nigerian Federal and state government committees, councils and boards dealing with issues in the field of public affairs. At the international level between 1973 and 1986 and since 2004 he was and has been involved in providing analytical and advisory services focused on governance and public sector management for many international organisations within and outside the continent.

He is the author of over 25 books and monographs and over 100 articles and book chapters on politics and public administration in Africa.

Prof. Adamolekun has won many honours and distinctions in Nigeria and abroad. In December 2005, he won the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) award, officially described as the highest national prize for academic and intellectual attainment. Ahead of his seventieth birthday tomorrow, he spoke on the events that marked his life so far and contemporary issues. Excerpts:

lavished praise on the civil service thanking them for their incorruptibility, competence and hard work.

You need that combination of public management capability and quality political leadership.

It was in that same context and background that some of us got attracted to politics because he delivered result.

I was one of the first products of Universal Primary education which was introduced in 1955 and that was my last year in primary school because my primary school education was cut short by a year. Those that were in standard 6 were called primary 6 special and those of us in standard 6 were called primary 6. So we saw the result of how politics could lead to development.

Coming to the current situation, if you look at the poverty profile of Nigeria today, the reason the South West is the least in the poverty profile is because of that giant education stride. Also, the passion for meritocracy is no more there. What we now have at the federal level is that primacy has been given to federal character that allows arbitrariness, it has gotten so bad! rimacy must be on the merit principle but representativeness is important.

The issue in Nigeria is that we confuse many things. Nobody can say federal character is meaningless. No, it is desirable but define the criteria. In what area do you want to apply it? Be transparent, consistent.

The Western Nigeria public management capability was stronger than that at the federal level. So one of the factors that is missing in getting us persistently underdeveloped is refusal or lack acceptance of the need to attach primacy to the merit principle.

There is no country in the world that is doing well economically that does not attach primacy to the merit principle. Singapore, Botswana, UK, France, even China in its politicised technocracy. The technocracy is there and it is politicised, but also in a disciplined manner. But will you say principle is one of our characteristics? Because if you politicise in an undisciplined context you get the worse and that is a huge part of our problem.

At the (presidential) inauguration lecture I had the privilege of being invited to give, with President Goodluck Jonathan in attendance, I said within three months publicly declare your assets and that of your wife. The reason is very clear. It will send a signal that anti_corruption is in existence. It is not as if we do not know how

Awolowo the visionary, leader the mobilizer and Adebo was developing competence and technical expertise to deliver and to implement

of today with that of the days of the Action Group?

My favourite point is to say that no one can deny the successes recorded by the Western Nigerian regional government in the fifties to the early sixties before the crisis.

The critical explanatory factor was the political administrative leadership of highest quality provided by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Adebo. Awolowo the visionary, leader the mobilizer

,

and Adebo was developing competence and technical expertise to deliver and to implement. I have read a lot and I have travelled to many countries (and can say) that combination of quality leadership and quality administrative leadership working together is very rare and it’s a major if not, the major explanation for what was achieved in the West.

In 1959 in the Regional Assembly in the west, Awolowo

Continues on page 32

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Yes, I'm a polygamous author and satisfied — Adamolekun Continues from page 31 to fight corruption but we are not doing it.

The other issue of our under development is the abandonment of devolution. We have to return to devolution. You cannot develop Nigeria from Abuja. I think the first time I said that was in 2001.

Abuja should be a coordinating centre for foreign policy, defence, rapid economy policy and not more than one third of the resources ought to be spent at the centre. Everybody wants a state and there are about one hundred demands for new states that have been made at the National Assembly.

I want to argue for the six geo political zones that ensure equality between the South and North. Remember one of the problems that the Igbos are saying legitimately is that they have only five states but of course they cannot say they do not have a zone?

In 1966 when they were creating states in this country it was written in black and white that an equal number of states should be created in North and South. I want to strongly make the point that let the six geo political zones constitute the constituent units of our federal system. It would enable devolution and this I think is an essential giant step towards it. If we do not devolve, this federal system will be creaking until you do not know why.

Continues from page 30 candidates recognised by OGSIEC obtained by Vanguard include; Taofik Olabode(Abeokuta North), Lanre Edun (Abeokuta South), Sulaiman Adebayo (Odeda), Funmi Efuwape(Sagamu), Femi Odufowokon (Ijebu North-East), Laide Osifeso (Ijebu North), Dele Soluade(Ewekoro), Isiak Aderounmu (Ipokia), Nurudeen Diyaolu (Obafemi Owode) and Shafiu Odebiyi (Yewa South).

The others are Tajudeen Amoo (Yewa North), Oluwole Enilolobo (Ifo), Others are; Oluwakemi Rasaq Dada (Ijebu_Ode), Olawale Shittu (Odogbolu), Dare Ogunde (Ijebu East), Olufemi Abayomi Soyemi (Remo North), Tajudeen Salako (Ikenne), Ajani Ayilara (Imeko Afon), Tunde Rufai (OgunWaterside) and Rotimi Ramon (Ado-Odo/Ota).

The list essentially, consists mainly of those who came with the governor from the old ANPP in the state. The argument of the governor’s camp, it is claimed, is that the local government election has provided an C M Y K

Secondly, the allocation of resources should not be more than one third to the centre and derivation should be restored to 50% to those states with the resources.

You should grow what you can develop in your area. I am convinced that every zone is viable. In the 1950s, it was clearly said that if the government in Kaduna were to collapse the Northern part of this country would be properly covered by the native authorities. We do not have that anymore as everything is now in Abuja where the money is being shared and that is why I said we cannot develop Nigeria from Abuja.

What is your take on accountability in government now? l was one of those who believed that President Jonathan was legitimately elected in the last election. However, the question now is, has his government been accountable? This is because lack of accountability can undermine your legitimacy.

By accountability, we mean that if you take the oil subsidy issue which has not been revealed, in fact there was no subsidy. To me President Jonathan will find it hard to admit the need for accountability when he said he would not have declared his assets. He is not talking like someone that believes in accountability and that is undermining his legitimacy that

*Adamolekun he won last year.

Some governors had declared their assets publicly because people complained and that is the purpose of making it public.

With the public declaration of assets, you have something you

can measure something against when they leave office. That is the whole logic behind public declaration.

What is your take on the issue of insecurity challenges in some

sections of the country?

There is a religious dimension to the issue of insecurity in this country and for anybody to say that there is no religious dimension to the issue of insecurity in this country that person is economic with the truth.

There is some connection between level of education and religious fanaticism. An educated religious fanatic would be an exception. Education is part of the problems too and also the reality of poverty. There are also our weak security institutions and poor intelligence.

This brings us to the issue of state police. I believe so much in state police. If people are saying it would be abused, is it not being abused at the national level? I believe in state police l believe that state governors are their chief security officers and they should be able to participate meaningfully. Can the current police that are posted anyhow do effective intelligent gathering?

Some have called for dialogue between the government and the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Do you share this view?

You cannot rule out dialogue in any conflict situation but we need to do more in terms of intelligence gathering. To what extent? For me dialogue is part of the package that will add to the solution of the problem. It should not be dialogue and then nothing more is done. If we are only dialoguing and more people are being killed that is not a serious thing to do.

We should improve the intelligence in the areas affected, engage the governors who to my view are not doing enough in this matter. There should also be monthly security intelligence brainstorming that will involve stakeholders across the country.

Is ACN about to eat itself up?

*Tinubu opportunity for those who were displaced during the 2011 state and federal assembly elections to

be compensated.

It is not surprising that given the scenario that many party

members have vowed to work against the party tomorrow.

It would be recalled that ACN leaders and members loyal to the camp of Osoba recently disowned the list of candidates allegedly imposed by Amosun.

They maintained that a letter dated June 15, 2012 and signed

by ACN State Secretary, Awofeso, contained names of chairmanship and councillorship candidates originally submitted to OGSIEC , adding that Amosun’s list was forwarded to the electoral body on June 18.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues after a meeting of the aggrieved aspirants, Shamsudeen Olaide Onanuga said the emergency meeting was called to express their position on the imposition of “unknown and unaccepted” candidates by the governor.

Onanuga also rejected last Friday’s harmonisation meeting convened by Amosun at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta for the adoption of his candidates.

“The meeting believes that the party is supreme and the governor has nothing to do with the supremacy of our party constitution. The meeting believes and adopts Article 21 and section 21.5 of the ACN party constitution,” he said.

Onanuga urged the governor and concerned party leaders to reverse the imposition and respect popular wishes at various local government areas.

He expressed the readiness of the original candidates to work against the party in the elections “if the governor refuses to reverse the imposition of candidates on us.”

Vanguard learnt that this development has pitched Amosun against his Deputy Segun Adesegun who apparently is a staunch member of Osoba camp .

Their relationship which has never been amiable is now said to be even more coldly distant!

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 33

Rotary is building families through good health—Rotarian Olowu

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BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

INCE it was set up in 2005, the “Rotarians for Fighting AIDS in Africa” an offshoot of Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria, has touched lives of thousands of children affected by HIV & AIDS, giving them education, nutrition and psychosocial support.

Rotarian Olugbemiga Olu Olowu, District Governor 2013-14 and Chairman, Rotarians For Fighting AIDS in Nigeria, speaks on the goal of preserving family values through caring for children affected

by HIV & AIDS and ensuring good family health. Excerpts: Rotarians and AIDS Rotarians for Fighting AIDS is against the spread of AIDS. This is the first of its type in the country. We started in a small way dealing with children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. The Board of Governors, came together to bring families together and get them tested for various ailments affecting the family so that everyone is protected. The point is that if parents are healthy, they will be able to look after the children.

Target Averagely, Rotarians For Fighting AIDS attends to 500 children every year since 2005. It is a very big incentive for us to move ahead and work in the North and the East where we have the society unit in the other Rotary Clubs. Our experience has been a very happy one. We started by

wanting to reach just 25,000 children in five years during which we started the African Network for Children who are Orphaned and at Risk, ANCOR, network.

Through this, we were able to reach 125,000 children in 57 countries in Africa, Nigeria inclusive Family and health We are working towards ensuring development of the family and this is assured through having every member of the family knowing his or her health status. When every member of the family is healthy, the

• Rotarian Olugbemiga Olu Olowu

children are happier, and there is greater development and emphasis on their progress in life, job wise and relationship

wise.

Support One way we ensure our support for the children are beneficial is by putting them in groups. We start one group in JSS I and ensure everyone in that group gets to JSS III. Another group is started in SSS I and runs through SSS III. After JSS III, they either take up a trade or go to senior secondary school. Those in Senior Secondary are similarly encouraged. We do not get involved in university education, but we ensure that at least those in the Junior Secondary classes complete their education and that those at the senior level have their Senior Secondary School certificate.

Partnerships The faith-based organisations and other organisations bring in the children. We have a programme for five years with Hope Worldwide, Nigeria and Coca-Cola Africa Foundation. Hope Worldwide gets the children; we provide the funding for their school fees, uniforms, school materials, nutrition and psychosocial support.

We give funding and technical support while they bring the children out. Hope Worldwide Nigeria are experts in HIV work, and Coca-Cola Africa is a big funder.

Family values Over the years we have realised there has been a drop in value systems in the country, and Rotary is now restructuring the societies. Rotary International places very high importance on the family.

Hit-and-run victim needs N4.5 m for prosthesis, ear treatment

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BY CHIOMA OBINNA

HEN 20–year-old Philip Akhigbe visited Vanguard’s Corporate Head Office in Lagos, not many persons who saw him as he walked into the visitors’ lounge had inkling what was troubling the young man. Not even this reporter initially understood why he required assistance. At a glance, his looks almost gave him out as a fraudster, but closer scrutiny revealed the source ofhisproblem. With a head-warmer carefully fitted on his head down to his ears any body would have believed that Philip was just wearing it for the fun of it. Unfortunately, that was not the case.He has a head injury and abnormal ear which requires a life-saving surgery far away in Haifa, Israel.

Philip, an undergraduate student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, was allegedly knocked down by a reckless commercial vehicle driver leading to a ghastly head injury. The young man, was treated at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, and later referred to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria, ABUTH, and finally the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH were he was treated temporarily before being referred to Shemer Medical Centre, Israel.

Although he eventually lost his right ear in the process of treatment, doctors handling his case, say the only succour is a course of treatment amounting to N4.5 million for a life-saving prosthesis ear treatment at Shemer Medical Centre, Haifa, Israel.

The accident which occurred precisely on 20th of December, 2008, has left the Akhigbe family bankrupt.

• Philip Akhigbe

In an emotion laden voice, Philip who is obviously depressed with his condition said he is suffering. “I can no longer speak coherently. I know you may be thinking that I am enjoying wearing this head warmer even under the hottest sun. It is not so. Since this injury occurred, I cannot read and understand. Even when you speak to me, I do not understand everything. This is how bad my condition is right now.” A medical report from the Department of Surgery, ABUTH, signed

by Dr. A. Ibrahim a Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon, Philip has a three year history of post traumatic am putation of the right ear sustained in a motor vehicle accident and was seen im mediately at UBTH where he had wound debridement and suturing of lacerations.

The report also states that he has extensive scarring over right temporal region thus reconstruction with autogenously tis sue using the superficial temporal artery is not possible but would benefit from use of Prosthesis. Unfortunately, it is presently not available in the hospital.

Also, a quotation for an evaluation and possible treatment from Shemer Medical Centre, Haifa, Israel, signed by Mr. Barry Varkel, states that the N4.5 million will cover hospital bills, return tickets for two persons, Visa fee for two people, accommodation for two weeks and other miscellaneous expenses. Philip is appealing to well-meaning Nigerians, friends, corporate organisations and the Edo State government to come to his aid. “I am appealing to all Nigerians to look into my situation and see how they will see me through this difficult moment of my life.”

If you are touched by Philip’s story, please call 07069238679, 08133895189 for further details.

Foundation tasks Nigerians on healthy living

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

N

IGERIANS have been urged to shun unhealthy life styles with a view to prevent heart related diseases such as heart failure. This call was made during a One-Day Grassroots Cardiovascular Health Programme at Dolphin Senior Secondary school, Sabo Lagos Island organised by Chike Okoli Foundation in partnership with Lagos State Ministry of Education.

Addressing over 1000 students of the school including their teachers, Programme Coordinator of the Foundation, Ms Beauty Alfred stressed the need for Nigerians to adopt healthy eating habits as studies have shown inherent dangers in the consumption of unhealthy food on the heart.

Alfred who further examined the significance of the programme said it was anchored on the fact that the youths are the most vulnerable group due to their unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles, which they are most times, ignorant of the grave consequences.

The programme coordinator listed some of risk factors of heart diseases to include bad diet, smoking, fatty foods, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, stress, depression, obesity, cloudy climate, excessive consumption of red meat, as well as individuals with family history.

Cardiovascular disease She said: “We are here to create awareness about cardiovascular disease and ensuring that students live a healthier life style. It is important that as teenagers and youths, they understand that they need to watch what they eat and drink. Sugar and fat intake should be reduced to the barest minimum and they should also learn to exercise regularly. ”Fried and fatty foods should be discouraged as much as possible so that at least if they cannot control what their children eat outside they can control what they consume at home.”she added.

In her remarks, the School Principal, Mrs. Fajulugbe Olapeju commended the Foundation for its passion to eradicate heart disease among Nigerians.

Olapeju said the importance of awareness creation for heart disease can not be underestimated given the number of lives it had taken in the past few years.

According to her, some people know what to eat but can’t eat it while others don’t know what to eat because of ignorance. The Principal said if people can take good diet, exercise and avoid stress, the incidence of heart failure, diabetes and obesity will be put to an end.

While urging the people to take more of natural food to be able to live well, she charged the students to take the message home to their parents.

The Chike Okoli Foundation was established six years ago in memory of Edward Chike Okoli, who died of Coronary heart failure at the age of 25 years as a successful entrepreneur after establishing an oil and gas firm. Since inception 2006, the Foundation has been reaching out to schools, media houses, traffic areas and other organisations to create awareness and reduce causes of diseases.

34—Vanguard , FRI DAY, JULY 20, 2012 FRIDAY,

Tina Ebiga

late Nnamdi

late Goodnews Evans

late Agwnita Bethuel

late Mrs. Evidence Uwandu

PETROL FIRE

Harvest of deaths in Ula Okogbe community •Govt should compensate parents of victims - youth leader •They were not oil thieves - youth leader

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

L

IFE has not been the same in Ula Okogbe community in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State after the recent petrol fire disaster that consumed hundreds of lives at the East West road end of the community.

Paramount ruler of the Community, Chief Franklin Ego, Eze Nwula could not hold back tears while talking to the Vanguard in his house at the community.

According to him, the community was mourning because almost every family lost one or more of its members in the disaster. Vanguard gathered that the community lost over a hundred of its youths in the sad incident.

The Paramount ruler said as at 11am last Friday the community had buried about ten victims of the petrol disaster that were rushed to the hospital, adding that more were still expected. Chief Franklin who was visibly rattled by the incident prayed God not to allow such tragedy to befall the community again.

“The community is mourning.

Almost all the compounds were bereaved. Some lost one, two, three or four persons. We are really in a state of agony”, the Paramount ruler said as he C M Y K

Paramount ruler of Ula Okogbe, Eze Nwula, Chief Franklin Ego

shook his head. “What happened now has never happened to us. No compound is happy. We have been burying since morning. I have been moving from house to house to see that the corpses brought in were buried”.

Nobody to console the other, a senior uncle of the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs in Rivers State, Chief Nelson Eyiba told the Vanguard when our Correspondent visited him. Chief Eyiba who managed to utter some words to our Correspondent

amid tears said his son, ThankGod also perished in the inferno, adding that the wife of the son was even pregnant.

Councillor representing ward 6 in the local government, Hon Nnamdi Ojimini said it had been harvest of death in the community. “We are very sorrowful. It is a pain to have lost this huge number in one single incident. This is harvest of deaths. Every ten minutes we get news of corpses being brought in for burial. We have received ten corpses today and we heard more are still com-

A father mourning death of his son ing”, he sighed.

Chief Godwin blamed lack of It was wailing at the resi- medical attention for the death dence of Mrs Theresa Ezekiel of his son. According to him, who lost her two children in the he was abandoned at the state inferno. “I had five children but owned Braithwaite Memorial only three left now”, she said hospital, Port Harcourt where as she wept. Chief Joseph he was rushed to.” They did not Godwin could not believe that treat him at the BMH where he his twenty two year old son, was referred to from the AhoaHenry Godwin who danced so da General hospital”, he alwell in Church last leged.

Wednesday was A youth leader in gone the following the community, Felix day. Lamenting O. Felix who led our the passage he reCorrespondent round called that the son most of the homes who was a member said the community of the Royal Amhad not slept since bassador, the youth the incident. “Our wing of the Baptist eyes are heavy with church in Okogbe Nobody has Federal gov- tears. danced so well the slept in this commuday before the in- ernment is a nity since that black cident at the blood sucker.

Thursday afternoon”, church. adding that he lost Those runsome of his relatives Ambassadors’ ning our gov- and close friends. uniform Secretary of Ekpeye ernments youth, Eketu Oliver “I don’t know only consider who was in the area what to say ”, their interests. to commiserate with pointing at the people described Or what else the son’s Royal amthe situation as a cabassadors uniform can I say lamity. hung in the sitting when a govYouth President of room. See his unithe community and form. He was a ernment fails Supervisory Councilmember of the Roy- to fix its roads lor of Youths in the loal Ambassador of for safety of cal government, Mr the Baptist church Green Daddy John in our village. He users and said at press time that danced very well provide its they were yet to know yesterday in people jobs the total number of church”.

Continues on page 35

Vanguard , FRI DAY, JULY 20, 2012— 35 FRIDAY,

late Lawrence Uchi

late Mrs. Mary Evans

Grieving women of Ula Okogbe

Nwagi Ngozi

Harvest of deaths in Ula Okogbe community Continues from page 34

persons that died from the community. “We don’t know the real record yet because families are still announcing deaths. So far we have noted one hundred”, he said.

Mr Daddy said Okogbe was not the only community that recorded casualty from the incident. He said some neighbouring communities were also affected. He gave their names as Oyakama Ogbede, Oshika, Ogbologbo, Ugbelede, Lokobo 1 and 2, Edulekpe, Ula Ukata, Ulakpata, Awunugbokor. He pleaded with the state government to foot the bill of survivors.

Tradomedical doctors Vanguard gathered that the survivors were rushed to various hospitals in Rivers and Bayelsa states. At the General Hospital in Ahoada where some of them were taken to a source told the Vanguard that some of the patients discharged against medical advice. “They said they preferred herbal and tradomedical doctors”.

When Vanguard told the youth president of Ula Okogbe, Mr Daddy that some patients from the area had allegedly discharged against medi-

Mr. Daddy, Ula Okogbe youth president

cal advice he said he was aware to scoop fuel. Government that some families sought tra- should cushion the pains of ditional approach to the burns. their parents; give them one Our youths should not die in form of assistance or the other. vain; government should set up You know what it means for old empowerment projects in our parents to lose their children”, community he pleaded.

Felix O. Felix pleaded with Secretary, Ekpeye youth, Mr the state and federal govern- Eketu blamed poverty for the ments to initiate empowerment painful development in the area. He said most programme in the of those who died in area to tackle the the incident thought problem of poverthey could make litty. He said the tle money from the government fuel that was spilling should not allow from the petrol tank the over a hunthat fell in their dred youths of the area. He enjoined area to just die in government to tackvain. “They died the problem of trying to scoop Poverty was le poverty among profuel from a tanker responsible ductive youths in that fell in their the area, create emarea, they did not for the proindulge in pipedeath. You powerment grammes. “They felt line vandalism. don’t have to the petrol should not “Their death speaks of poverty blame them be allowed to just waste away when in the land. Govafter all, they could make ernment should they did not money from selling come up with emsome few jerricans. powerment provandalise “Poverty was regramme for the pipeline sponsible for the community.” death. You don’t Continuing, he have to blame them pleaded with the after all, they did not vandagovernment to evolve a way to lise pipeline”, Mr Eketu told console aged parents who lost the Vanguard. their children in the incident.

For Solomon, the federal and “It will not be fair to just disthe Rivers State governments miss them as those who went

Late Ukelabuchi Onyemechi Ebiga

late Mr. Dabey

should share in the blame. He said it was the bad state of the East West road that made the petrol tanker to fall. “Federal government is a blood sucker.

Those running our governments only consider their interests. Or what else can I say when a government fails to fix its roads for safety of users and provide its people jobs. All they do is embezzle public funds meant for development and creation of jobs”, he wept

late Henry Owigwe

H

e said the state and fed eral government emergency response institutions were not alive to their duties.

“The petrol tanker fell and was there for several hours yet no government emergency response body came to intervene to ensure no life was lost”. According to him, it was after the fire had consumed hundreds of lives that they all started rushing there.” Where was NEMA, FRSC when the tanker fell”, he queried.

It would be recalled that a petrol tanker fell at Okogbe, Ahoada West local government, Rivers State end of the EastWest road last Thursday, spilling its content.

Sources said the driver of the petrol tanker was making effort to avoid a head on collision with a car coming from the opposite direction when it fell in a ditch in the area.

Jacob Wilson

Late Sunday Okpurugwe

Late Thankgod Eyiba

Chigozie

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

water when they cast them for fish because the chemicals used to disperse crude from Bonga field affect them.

“My people now go to the high sea because of the thickness of the crude oil spill. It damaged our fishing nets and the dispersants used worsened the whole thing.

No relief material was sent by Shell since the incident and they did not also bother to deploy doctors and medical drugs to attend to our health problems. We have observed chronic cough, catarrh, headache and stooling, which are still prevalent till date.”

Bonga oil field ...source of pollution?

SIX MONTHS AFTER BONGA SPILL:

Oil communities still grumbling (2)

By EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South

Continues from yesterday

BONGA spill severely altered our life – Williams, Azatitor community

A

T Azatitor community in Ek eremor local government area, one of the community leaders, Mr. Ebiyekon Williams, said: “Till now, we have been disturbed from carrying out our normal fishing occupation because of the heavy pollution of our river since last year. What we have observed in our area is that our women are having miscarriages, while there are cases of severe headache and vomiting. Life was good for us before the Bonga spill, we have oil wells, but we are not yet oilbearing. Please tell government to come and help us, the people are dying here.”

Ex-militants loiter around: At Agge community, Vanguard ran into some ex-militants who were smoking Indian hemp under a tree at a strategic location at Agge.

Still behaving like overlords, they barred our crew from taking photographs and threatened to deal with the “intruders’, but some community leaders intervened before they agreed to simmer down.

Motorcycle to the rescue At the time of our visit, it was not possible to go by boat to Ogbeintu, Oroibiri and Azamabiri community, which is the closest to Bonga oil field in that axis. This was because of the high river tide. The only available means of transportation is motorcycle, riding on the seaside and that was what our reporter used.

C M Y K

We are famished – Ogbeintu women, children

At Ogbeintu, where clean up exercise was carried out by SPDC just as it did in some other communities, frustration was written visibly on the faces of women and children. They openly begged for money to buy food, saying they were hungry and had no other means of livelihood since crude spill allegedly from Bonga polluted their river. One of the community leaders told Vanguard, “It is not strange, you can see that this place (Ogbeintu and other neighbouring communities) are practically cut off from civilization, there is acute hunger here, and the people beg anybody who comes around money for survival because it is not easy for them.

Anything you have, you can give them, they are not forcing you, but if you don’t have”.

Begging for money

Juliana Oyadongha said: “We will protest if they don’t provide us with a means of livelihood, our suffering here has been too much since the crude spill”.

Azamabiri worst hit – His Highness Edi, High Chief Fedezena

The nearest community to Bonga oil field and the worst hit from our findings is Azamabiri community in Bayelsa state. The community is less than 100 nautical miles from Bonga. His Highness, Emmanuel Edi, recalled the December 20, 2011 oil spillage with melancholy, saying, “We are the worst hit, you can see that we are the closest. After that corner you see in the front (indicated a direction with his hand at the high seas, you get to Bonga). Actually, the spillage affected us and is still affecting us; all our fishing nets were destroyed. Though SPDC said it had carried out clean up, it is still difficult for our people to pull their nets out of the

“We are all Ijaw people, I cannot deny them because they are begging for money to buy food, if they were fishing, they will not beg you for money, they will give you fish to eat, but there is nothing now.”

Oroibiri women spoil for showdown: At Oroibiri, the women said the spill was still affecting fishing in the area, complaining that their planned protest was halted by a woman activist, Mrs. Sarah Gbagboo, who appealed to them to give SPDC time after a senior official pleaded with her to beg the people, but till now, the company has not done any- -His Highness, Emmanuel Edi, thing. One of the women, Mrs Azamabiri community

December 27, they flew us again to the same place. All the while, I did not know that it was delay tactics they were using to keep us out while the company was busy dispersing the crude. They did not want some of us to see the extent of the crude spill in our communities so that we would not cry out. After they had dispersed the spill, they now took us to Bonga. At Bonga, they told us that the spill did not get to the shoreline and this was after they had dispersed it. It was NIMASA that stood its grounds, maintaining that crude flowed to the shorelines.”

How SPDC deceived us Not a mystery spill: Gbagbo — Mrs. Gbagbo, activist said she was shocked to her bones Woman leader of Azamabiri and when SPDC came up after the activist, Mrs. Sarah Gbagbo, was JIV with the claim that what ocvery angry at the antics of Shell curred was a mystery the spill and when she spoke to Vanguard. the truth would be determined She said: “Two days when the result of the finafter the December 20 gerprinting is out. spill, the company She fumed: “I can tell called a stakeholders’ you that SPDC does not meeting in Warri, want peace, are they uswhere they told us We catch ing the ignorance of the about the Bonga spill people to punish them or oil instead and told us to be alert what? Our ecosystem is in case the spill of fish now polluted, we are drinking comes around to our from the same water they and the communities.” She polluted with crude and said an SPDC official dispersants this thing has a long time pleaded with her to effect, and they are talkused are a beg the women to siming about mystery spill mer down and that problem to from what they know was the company would caused by them.” our envireplace their damaged fishing nets, but ronment.

We did not trick till the time she spoke anybody — Okonedo You see, we to Vanguard, nothing media managdrink water er,SPDC’s had been done.

Mr. Okonedo in reHer words: “I came from River sponse to Gbagbo’s outto my community burst on the time of visit, Ramos but (Azamabiri) on Desaid there was a lot of cember 24 and from because of work going on during the Agge Palm Bush to dispersal of crude oil with the spill, it Oroibiri, the impact vessels and airplanes, was everywhere, I is now and so, it was not approcould not pass, I priate at that time to fly causing us called a top official of people to the place when SPDC, he said I sickness serious work was going should send Short on.

Message System, We catch oil instead SMS. On December of fish – Ogbolo, Ag25, they arranged horo I community community visits and At Aghoro 1 communithe next day, 26th, they called me to join them for a JIV ty in Ekeremor local government of Bayelsa state, Mr. Jacob Ogtour.

Delay tactics: “They flew us to bolo asserted: “Bonga spill affectForcados, nothing happened that ed us and till today, we are still day, they brought us back and on feeling the impact. Our main occupation is fishing, we farm a little, and we do not catch fishes again when we set our net because of the effect of the crude oil spill. We catch oil instead of fish now and the dispersants used are a problem to our environment. You see, we drink water from River Ramos but because of the spill, it is now causing us sickness.

Our babies are suffering from cholera.”

Like Mrs. Gbago, he said he was surprised High Chief Pius Fedezena, community leader, Azamabiri

Continues on page 37

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012—37

Oil communities still grumbling (2) Continues frompage 36 that SPDC was tagging the spill a mystery spill, adding, “I have a sample of the spill. We are not bunkerers, SPDC invited us to a meeting on December 22, 2011 and told us there was a spill in Bonga, why are they saying it is a mystery spill now”.

Ogbolo said the clean up that was done in Aghoro I community was not done properly, as the chemicals were still affecting the people.

No more fishes in our river – Chief Azuzufunwei, Mrs Ebinabi, Aghoro community Woman leader, Mrs. Alice Ebinabi said: “We are afraid as our river is contaminated, we can’t drink our water anymore because it gives us health problem. The soil we plant our crops is also contaminated as a result of the spill, just like our animals are also affected”.

Eldest man in Aghoro, Chief Siere Azuzufunwei told Vanguard, “Since the spill, there is

no fish again in our river; it is like they used a poisonous chemical in the whole community. Shell should give us potable water; provide us with relief materials and compensation because they are the ones that caused us this problem”.

Legal fireworks: The battle between the affected communities and the oil company has since shifted to the court. Igbapike, who spoke to Vanguard in Warri said the people were not only dumbfounded by the perpendicular claim of the alleged polluter , but by the failure of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, the lead agency in oil spill response management in the country to perform its duty.

The affected communities had since approached a Federal High Court, sitting in Asaba, Delta state to determine, among other things, whether the oil spill, which Shell unilaterally adjudged by itself to be about 40,000 barrels of crude

oil is a tier- three oil spill. Furthermore, Whether SNEPCo/SPDC were empowered to unilaterally manage a third- tier oil spill without recourse to NOSDRA; and whether by virtue of the NOSDRA (Establishment) Act, 2006 and its regulations, the oil multinational company ought not to have reported the oil spill within 24 hours to the nearest zonal office of the agency.

Communities seek determination In addition, the communities are praying the court to determine whether the nearest zonal office of NOSDRA is not in Warri, Delta State and if the oil company was not bound to pay a penalty of N500,000 daily for everyday of default to report to the appropriate office of NOSDRA. Besides, the communities urged the court to resolve whether by regulation nine of the

Damaged ecosystem from oil spill

Oil Spill and Oily Waste Management Regulation, 2011, NOSDRA ought not to constitute a Joint Investigation Team, JIV, made up of SNEPCo, SPDC and the affected communities within 24 hours.

Also, they prayed the court to decide whether the clean up method of third tier oil spillage, together with the award of contracts for clean up, ought not to be in compliance with the NOSDRA Act 2006, Oil Spill and Oily Waste Management Regulation, 2011 and Oil Spill Recovery, Clean-Up, Remediation and Damage Assessment Regulation, 2011. For palpable reason, they asked the court to make a declaration that NOSDRA is the lead

agency in oil response management in the country and not any other government ministry, agency or parasatal, including SNPECo and SPDC. On the use of dispersants by the multinational to contain about 40,000 barrels of crude oil, they urged the court to declare the action as a violation of regulations 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the Oil Spill Recovery, Clean Up, Remediation and Damage Regulation, 2011. Finally, they asked the court to order NOSDRA to immediately constitute JIV to visit the location where the spill occurred to investigate the cause and extent of the spill by December 20, 2011 spill oil company.

No facts to support allegations against SPDC —Mr. Tony Attah, Vice President, HSE and Corporate Affairs

Mr. Tony Attah, Shell ...no evidence to back communities claims

Vice president, HSE and Corporate Affairs, SPDC, Mr. Tony Attah in this interview, however, denied the claims by the communities, saying that Bonga spill never spread to the shoreline and there is no evidence to support claims of the communities that crude oil from Bonga polluted their waters. On the fingerprinting result, he said the company was also awaiting the conclusion of the analysis from the regulatory agencies.

Excerpts:

T

HERE was no spill from any other oil company and no known third party spill between December 20 and December 24 , in Niger-Delta and it was the spill from Bonga that affected Azamabiri, Ogbeintu, Orobiri, Aghoro I , Ogheye, Ogulagha, Oporoza and other communities in the Niger-Delta?

As we have said publicly before, a body of oil, apparently spilled from a yet unknown source which (from the location, consistency and colour) could not have been Bonga oil, was reported on December 24. SNEPCo had almost finished dispersing the actual Bonga spill before sighting this third party oil over100km away from Bonga and in an area SNEPCo had over flown several C M Y K

times during the previous days without any oil in sight. Like any responsible operator would do, the SNEPCo tried to clean up this third party spill, pending the outcome of the investigation to determine the source of the oil.

Azamabiri, Ogbeintu, Orobiri, etc are less than or about 100 nautical miles from Bonga, on what grounds is the company claiming that the crude oil spill did not get to the communities because our findings indicate that the spill , indeed, got there?

The company made every effort to prevent the Bonga Crude from hitting the shoreline. The trajectory of the Bonga spill was continuously monitored and as at the date the third party spill was noticed, the Bonga spill had almost

dispersed. The location, consistency and colour of the third party spill suggest strongly that it could not therefore have been part of the Bonga spill.

Why is it that contrary to the assurance given to the communities by SPDC, the fingerprinting results are not out two weeks after, and this is the sixth month of the spill?

Samples were taken by the regulatory authorities for analysis and we defer to the outcome of their analysis.

Outcome of the analysis When is the result of the fingerprinting going to ready, what is delaying it?

We await the outcome of the analysis undertaken by the relevant regulatory authority.

Our investigations showed that the spill got to the shorelines of many Niger Delta communities and chemicals were used to disperse them contrary to your claim that it did not get to the communities?

We are unaware of the details of those ‘investigations’ and therefore cannot comment on them or their alleged outcomes.

However, it is our view that it is the yet unidentified third party oil that hit the shoreline of certain communities and dispersants were used only as sanctioned by the regulators on the original

Bonga spill when it was many kilometres offshore.

Is Shell aware that many of these communities are no longer carrying out fishing business or that fishing occupation is virtually crippled as a result of the spill and dispersants that were used?

We are not aware and the evidence so far available to us does not support such claims.

Are you also aware that the crude oil spill not only killed their fishes and polluted their water, but also affected their ecology?

We are not aware and the evidence so far available to us does not support such claims.

Name the chemicals that were used because the people are complaining of cholera, vomiting, bronchitis, strange cough and other sicknesses since the dispersants were used?

We used Corexit 9500 and 9527 and Slickgone NS, all duly approved for use by DPR. Dispersants were specifically formulated for use in marine environments, and were only applied as stipulated by the regulators many tens of kilometres out to sea. We have no basis to confirm or validate the health effects being claimed.

The complaint is that the chemicals used further pushed the crude down the river, but now, when they go fishing, their fishing nets are soaked with crude?

The crude from Bonga was never in the river, but many kilometers out at sea. We are not aware of any evidence, scientific or otherwise to support this assertion.

After dispersing the spill, is the company not considering relief materials and compensation for the havoc done to the people and their means of livelihood of the people?

We are not aware of any ‘havoc’ done to people and livelihoods as a result of the Bonga Spill.

A

re you aware that oil ex ploration and exploitation by your company is encroaching on most of the communities, like Agge, Azamabiri, Ogbeintu, etc?

No we are not aware.

A woman leader, Mrs. Sarah Gbago from Azamabiri told us how she reported the spill that was observed in her community to an SPDC official in Warri, Mr. Donald Ovberedjo on December 24, four days after the Bonga spill, how the company flew them to Forcados, instead of the affected area, and kept playing on their intelligence till December 27 after dispersants had been used, is this not deceitful on part of SPDC? SPDC has continued to operate its business based on the principles of full disclosure and collaboration with all stakeholders.

Continues next week

38 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012—39

Osun sacred grove:

Beyond the festival Evidence of grinding activities at the Oja Ontoto shrine.

The first palace of the king of Osogbo within the grove

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE

S

INCE 1370 AD, when the people of Osogbo began the celebration of the Osun goddess, the annual Osun Osogbo festival has come to be regarded as a major event in the country ’s tourism calendar.

The highlight of the annual festival is the cultural procession to the groove led by votary maid, Arugba, carrying the symbolic calabash.

To many, the Osun groove begins and ends with the Osun river where the calabash carried by the Arugba is emptied, but a visit to the grove which is today listed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites is beyond the festival.

From one of the two roads and several footpaths leading into the sacred grove , the sounds of birds, animals like monkeys could be heard amidst the breeze pushing the

trees on that sunny afternoon.

‘You are welcome to Osun grove’ said the tour guide, Ayo, who met this reporter at the beginning of a tarred road that form part of the pilgrimage route into the grove. Along the roads are sacred stone, metal objects, mud and wooden sculptures used in defining and impersonating the various deities inside the grove.

“The grove has a mature, reasonably undisturbed, forest canopy, which supports a rich and diverse flora and fauna including the endangered white-throated monkey. Some parts were cleared in the colonial period, and teak plantations and agriculture introduced, but these are now being re-established.

“The grove is a highly sacred sanctuary where shrines, sculptures and artworks honour Osun and other Yoruba deities. It has five

The suspended bridge in the grove C M Y K

main sacred divisions associated with different gods and cults.”

As we approached the metal gate that stretches into the Osun courtyard where the temple, the Osun shrine and the river side altar are located, the tour guide pointed to a decrepit building, “this is the first palace.”

T

he first palace, according to him, is where the first Ataoja (Oba) of Osogbo, Larooye and his people first settled. It is located in the Osun courtyard and it houses the Osun shrine and the temple. The temple contains the sacred stone stool, the rock of authority of the Oba used some 500 years ago.

About 600 meters away from the first palace was the second palace which was said to have been built by Larooye to avoid the effect of constant flooding experienced at the first palace.

“Today, the ogboni cult house stands within a symbolic reconstruction of the second palace. The ogboni cult is an elitist society of men of influence and affluence. “ Both buildings are constructed of mud walls with tin roofs supported variously by mud and carved wooden pillars. The three Ogboni buildings are constructed with sweeping roofs rising high over the entrances and supported on a cluster of slender carved wooden posts.

He pointed to the carved wooden posts , “ these are the work of the Sacred Art Movement.” Ayo added late Susan Wenger and her

traditional associates of the sacred Art movement did a lot here in the grove to erect sculptures in place of old ones that were destroyed , and giant immovable ones as protection of threatened spaces in the grove.

“Individual sculptures, ensembles, decorated walls and sculptural monuments have been erected at more than forty different points in the grove.”

As we moved behind the palaces upward in the grove, we came across a rustic suspended bridge built over the Osun River. “This bridge was built around 1935 by the colonial masters , probably to link Osogbo with other Yoruba towns or to carry supplies and men during the world war 11.”

From the bridge, I took a panoramic view of the surrounding grove as well as the Osun river, with a memories of the push that take place there during the annual Osun festival with people struggling to fetch from the river after the votary maid would have emptied here calabash. Those people believe the water has curative power.

For tourists who are ardent

of the god of Sango, the grove provides an avenue to learn about the god as there is a place dedicated to Oya, one of the three wives of Sango, the god of thunder and lightening.

Ayo, explained that the grove has five main sacred divisions which are associated with different deities and cults. The Oya bush is one of them and it was said to be the spot that the great hunter of Osogbo, Timehin first encountered the god of herbal medicine, called Osayin.

OJA ONTOTO SHRINE Oja ontoto market according to the tour guide is a mythological market where human and spirit beings are said to have interacted. It is the first market in Osogbo. A traditional shrine is located at the market. Evidence of grinding activities is represented by oval pits out of the pre-cambrian outcrops of stone slabs that cover the market space.

As we moved out of the interior of the grove, my mind races through the history contained in the grove and the work of those who thought it wise to preserve them for generations to come.

Naija 7 wonders team honoured

M

EMBERS of the Naija 7 wonders’ project committee were recently honoured by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) in Lagos for their efforts at coming up with seven attractions for tourists in the country.

The committee had chosen the following attractions, Obudu Mountain Resort; Sukur Kingdom; Osun Groove, Osogbo; Kano Walls; Oke Idanre Hills; Benin moat and National War Museum, Umuahia, as must visit destinations in Nigeria.

Director General, NTDC, Segun Runsewe, while eulogizing the recipients said they have distinguished themselves by contributing their quota to the development of tourism in Nigeria stressing the need for all to work as a team to check the activities of fraudsters in the industry.

Speaking further, the NTDC chief observed that all over the world, tourism is private sector driven charging all stakeholders and state governments to key into the effort to develop tourism in Nigeria.

Speaking during the event, project Director and publisher of African Travel Quarterly magazine, Mr. Ikechi Uko explained that the project commenced in 2010 with inputs from several individuals with Nigerians having a final say in the choice of the seven most wonderful sites in Nigeria while appreciating Otunba Runsewe for his fatherly role and supporting the project in its totality.

40 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Akpabio orders Commissioner, A-G to clear salary arrears

PENGASSAN congratulates Oshiomhole, Falana

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

P

BY TONY NYONG

U

YO—AKWA IBOM State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Bassey Albert, and tAccountant General received hard knocks, Tuesday, as the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio ordered that they clear the backlog of staff salaries or be shown the way out.

Governor Akpabio who gave the four days ultimatum was irked by the sabotage going on in his government and ordered that a backlog of May and June salaries owed civil and public servants in the state be cleared by the relevant agencies before today.

Speaking while addressing senior civil and public servants at the Civil Service Auditorium, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo, the governor expressed displeasure over delay in the payment of salaries to all cadres of civil and public servants in the state and noted that prompt payment of salaries was one of the achievements of his administration.

From left: Mr Abiodun Junaid, Perm Sec, Lagos Youth & Social Development, Mr Thabo Mabe, MD Unilever Nigeria Plc and Mr Yinka Akande, DG Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, during the 32nd anniversary of Close-Up product in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

BADAN—ACTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday accused the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, of hindering the growth of democracy in N i g e r i a .

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party accused the PDP of anti-democratic antics, election manipulation, lack of respect for the rule of law and disregard for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, just to mention a few.

The statement read: ‘’Mr. President, the reason Nigeria’s democracy has survived thus far is not the robustness of the PDP, as you have said, but the determination and courage of the good people of Nigeria, who have resolved to say ‘never again’ to anti-democratic forces, as well as the robust opposition mounted by a few progressive forces.

"Were it left for the PDP, this democracy as we know it would have become history. This is the party that has weakened all the insti-

'Why Esan land voted for Oshiomhole'

A

community leader in Esan Land, Edo Central Senatorial District, Chief Francis Onabis has said the Esan people voted massively for the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and its candidate, Comrade Adams Oshiomole to disgrace Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, bigwigs from the zone.

He said the result from the zone has again proved

From left: Lagos Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed, and Chairman, Ejigbo LCDA, Kehinde Bamigbetan, during the flag off of the 2012 tree planting campaign in Ejigbo.

PDP hindering growth of democracy in Nigeria—ACN I

ETROLEUM and Nat ural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has congratulated Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State over his re-election.

This came as the association also congratulated radical Lagos lawyer, Mr, Femi Falana, SAN, for his upliftment as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.

tutions that are indispensable to building a virile democracy, from the judiciary to the legislature.

This is the party that has sought to emasculate the opposition by infiltrating their ranks and coercing

them into a fake unity government. This is the party that does not believe in one man, one vote, but will rather engage in do-or-die politics to win at all cost.

The PDP is the party that has frittered away the com-

monwealth since 1999 and failed woefully to deliver the dividends of democracy, thus shaking the belief of an increasing number of our citizens in democracy as a system of governance," the statement added.

Rights group faults reinstatement of Oteh

BY LAJA THOMAS

T

HE Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has condemned the reinstatement of Ms Arumah Oteh as the Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission.

Reacting to the news of her reinstatement, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran expressed surprise at the inglorious step of the Federal Government to restore Oteh, despite the overwhelming allegations against her.

Adeniran said: “It is disheartening that Arumah Oteh could be reinstated as the DG of SEC despite the overwhelming allegations of corrupt practices and

underhand dealings against her. The reinstatement has confirmed the fear of many well-meaning Nigerians that the present government does not have the interest of the masses at heart. President Goodluck Jonathan’s government is filled with a preponderance of people with questionable characters.”

Adeniran argued that restoring Oteh back to her post “implies that Jonathan’s administration with his party, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, relishes corruption and anyone that is not regaled in the toga of sleaze may not be able to find his feet in this government.

It is regrettable that de-

spite Goodluck Jonathan’s ingenuous attitude and his zero tolerance for corruption, he could take such an inglorious step to restore Oteh as the SEC DG, not minding the weighty allegations against her, whereas President Jonathan, after many months of recommendation from the National Judicial Council, has not been able to muster enough courage to reinstate Justice Ayo Salami as the President, Court of Appeal, despite knowing that Ayo Salami’s suspension was malic i o u s . ” CACOL urged the presidency to reverse the ignominious reinstatement to avoid outburst of the masses.

In a separate messages

by Babatunde Ogun and Lumumba Okugbawa, President and Deputy General Secretary respectively, commended the duo for their achievements.

In the message to Governor Oshiomhole, PENGASSAN, said “Your resounding victory was a clear attestation of the dedication and commitment to ensure that the people of Edo State enjoy the dividends of democracy.

to the PDP politicians from Esan that “the people are now wiser unlike in the past."

Onabis said the results from the five local councils making up the Esan land make the people feel important in the democratic process, “the result is the defining moment for Esan people who had disgraced ‘money and slavery politics’ in the region,” he added .

Court orders NIMASA to pay oil coy N6.8bn

A

FTER eight years of legal battle to reclaim its vessel impounded by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Hensmor Nigeria Limited, an indigenous oil company, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has awarded N6.8 billion against NIMASA. In a judgment delivered

by Justice O. E. Abang, the court said NIMAS, had violated Hensmor’s right to carry out its legitimate business.

Reacting to the judgment, Hensmor’s spokesperson,

Mr Blaize Nwafor, said NIMASA had in 2004 impounded its company’s vessel, MTAGBONMIE, conveying 1/500 metric tonnes of DPK (kerosine) in Apapa. The vessel was allegedly accused of un-sea worthiness. However, appeals to NIMASA to release the vessel failed until it became moribund.

According to him, despite July 2, 2012 ruling on the garnishee order instructing First City Monument Bank, FCMB, who are bankers to NIMASA, to pay the said N6.8 billion, it has refused to comply.

PCRC debunks allegations against member, DCO

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HE Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, Otu-Jeremi Division in Ughelli South, Delta State, yesterday debunked the N100,000 bail bribery and sale of Indian hemp allegations levelled against its Secretary, Mr. Jeremiah Ovwere and the Police Divisional Crime Officer, D C O .

In a statement by its Chairman, Chief B. A.M..

Ochorada, and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tony Obaonyedo, the PCRC has investigated the allegations and found out it was a false

alarm and a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of its Secretary, Mr. Ovwere, and the DCO. It would be recalled that some persons from Edjophe community had made the bribery and sale of Indian hemp allegations against the DCO and Mr. Ovwere over power tussle among people of the comm u n i t y .

The PCRC, therefore, called on the Inspector General of Police to order a proper investigation or probably send investigation team to Edjophe community to ascertain the truth.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20 , 2012 — 41

BY CHARLES KUMOLU HE family of Mrs Rekhia Osakunni, late wife of Mr Sunday Osakunni popularly known as Ekwe has stated the need for the deceased killer(s) to be brought to book.

In a statement signed by Mr Usman Ibrahim on behalf of the family, they said “following the senseless and brutal murder of our daughter in Lagos on April 13, 2012, we the family of Idris have decided that our daughter cannot die without justice against the perpetrators of this evil deed.”

The deceased family argued that the death of Osakunni was “most brutal, and has brought great pain and sorrow to the entire family” adding that “the death has been confirmed to be due to strangulation by the doctor’s autopsy report, signed by Dr A N Awolola of Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

Therefore, we know that it was done by somebody. This confirms the suspicions of the family that our daughter did not die a natural death.”

The statement read in part: “Following the controversial union of our daughter and Sunday Osakunni, (Stereoman), which we never supported, marred by wife battery, fights and other forms of abuse by her husband, we

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Death of Ekwe’s wife: Wife’s family wants killer brought to book We were separated before her death—Ekwe

hold that Sunday Osakunni never loved our daughter, and therefore used her. What happened after he got tired of her, which led to the death

of their first child, as well as her own death is what we pray that the Nigerian judiciary unravel for the sake of humanity.

‘’We are therefore seeking justice, and the first hearing to this case shall come up on Monday, 10th July, 2012 at Court 7, Ebutte Metta Lagos

at 9 am. In our pursuance of justice, we are hereby praying all media to make this information available to the general public as their own little way of fighting against the abuse of women and children in all forms.”

Meanwhile, Ekwe, who is currently being detained at State Criminal Investigative Department, SCID, Panti, was reported to have told detectives that he and Rekia had been having constant quarrels for a long time after the birth of their son. He was said to have told the police that he packed out of their house in Satellite Town, Lagos.

He said his wife could not afford to renew the rent and she was evicted by the landlord.

Ekwe was said to have told the police that since he separated from his wife, he had no contacts with her.

In addition, Ekwe had in an interview with a national daily before the incident, said, ‘’I am not the first to have a child outside marriage. I don’t want to marry her, and she is trying to force me. I don’t want her in my life; she only torments me with her nagging.

Whatever she told you is meant to rubbish my personality, but God knows which the truth is.’’

Sammie Okposo drags Dietrick Haddon to Nigeria T

he much anticipated album release concert of gospel star, Sammie Okposo holds in Lagos on August 3, 2012.

And to give the show an A-list status, the Warri, Delta State born musician is dragging to Nigeria, multiple awards winning American artiste, Deitrick Haddon who will be coming to West Africa for the first time.

The concert will take place at the Muson Centre and will also feature top gospel artistes and popular comedians.

The 26 tracker album features collaborations from other talented Nigerian artistes like Bouqui, Lamboginy, Marvellous and many others. The album will be released in Africa by Zamar Entertainment and released in America by Tate Music Group (TMG) Records, Oklahoma as part

•Sammie Okposo

INSIDE

I feel comfortable in jeans and T-shirts — Warri Wolves TM

Ekiti Deputy Governor shows the ‘Lagosian’ in her

of the deal the artist signed with the label in July 2011 to introduce his work to the international market.

Okposo told WG that “what is giving me joy about the album concert is the positive reactions I have been getting from people. We are putting all necessary resources together to stage one of the biggest album release concerts in Nigeria”.

“It’s very challenging though but I’m overwhelmed with the responses we have been getting. I’m convinced

that it will definitely be a show of a life time for all those that will make it to the concert”, he added.

As regards his relationship with Deitrick Haddon, Okposo said there is a lineup of collaboration projects they will embark on in the nearest future.

“My record label has been working hard to project more internationally the image of Sammie Okposo. One of the strategies is inviting Deitick Haddon to Nigeria to perform together on same stage at my album concert and also work together on new tracks in the studio. There are lots of other plans but we will take them one after the other”.

EnableTalk gloves translates sign language-tospeech

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42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Tyre merchant, Ajadi Lamidi opens ultra modern event centre in Ibadan Dana air crash: Dr. Akwaeze came to mourn husband, met her end

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motions, elegies and trib utes have continued to pour in for victims of the ill-fated Dana Air flight of June 3rd which crashed in the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos state. One of the victims was the United Kingdom based 66 years old Dr (Mrs) Elizabeth Akwaeze,a member of the British Medical Association, who was only in Nigeria in Late May for the end of mourning activities for her late husband, Ichie Gabriel Akwaeze who passed on some months ago.

Late Ichie Chukwuemeka Akwaeze, former Federal Commissioner of Trade, and MD/CEO of Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry who passed away recently was barely resting in his grave when his loving wife of many years joined him in the great beyond. Dr. (Mrs) Elizabeth Akwaeze, specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist was due to return back to the UK where she has been

living for sometime on June 7th when death caught up with her on the Dana flight from a personal trip to Abuja.

She is survived by four children, who have now lost both parents in less than a year and nine siblings. Her son, Ichie Chukwuemeka Akwaeze, on behalf of the family made public funeral arrangements for the departed medical doctor who worked in various medical institutions both in Nigeria and in the U.K. Notably is her sojourn in the Nigerian Ministry of Defence (Military Hospital, Lagos). Service of songs was held in her honour at the Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Thursday June 28th followed by Vigil Mass at St Jude’s Catholic Church, Abube-Agu Nando, Anambra East Local Government , Anambra State. Friday, 6th of July funeral service was held at the same venue in Anambra. Interment followed at the Ichie Gabriel C. Akwaeze’s Residence, Abube-Agu Nando while the family was back in Lagos on Sunday July 8th for the thanksgiving mass at St Leo’s Catholic Church, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

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OT many people would stir at the mention of the name, Ajadi Lamidi, but in Ibadan where the man was born and bred the name looms larger than life. His immense success in business, spanning over 50 years, has earned him a place with kings, governors and even presidents. Some weeks ago, the man announced his arrival on the bludgeoning scene of event centre business as he opened an ultramodern event centre christened Sablak in Ibadan on Km 130 Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Sanyo area of Ibadan.

Bringing to fore that the Chairman of Ajadi Lamidi and Sons Limited walks with kings and dines with top government officials the event centre was declared opened by the Imperial Majesty of the Source himself, Oba Okunade Sijuade, the

Ooni of Ife, who like giving a royal order enjoined his chiefs to patronise the centre should there be need to have an event in Ibadan.

Also present at the commissioning were Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi; former Deputy Governor in Oyo state, Ambassador Ronke Adefowope, Oloye Lekan Alabi, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo and many others The centre has a 2,500 seating capacity with three heavy duty generating sets; an open garden, large car park and other facilities of world standard. According to the owner the whole idea behind opening of the event centre is to open the city to hosting big and high-class events.

However it seems there exists a script to make Ibadan the hub of entertainment and social events in the country, only second to Lagos,

•Ajadi Lamidi because in the last couple of years there have been an upsurge of event centres with world class facilities. Just a couple of months ago Chief Gani Shonubi opened Casa Lucio, an event centre which could very host 5,000 guests, even in a banquet arrangement.

No truth in break-up rumour of Sherrif Shagaya and Maryam Tukur Ekiti Deputy

Governor shows the ‘Lagosian’ in her

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•Sherrif and Maryam

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HE rumour that the marriage between Sherrif Shagaya, son of billionaire business woman, Hajia Bola Shagaya and Maryam Tukur, daughter of Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, Chairman of People’s Democratic Party is on the brink of collapse has been refuted by a source close to the couple.

Describing the rumour as “untrue and malicious”, the source said the couple are living everyday of their like they are still on honeymoon. “ Maryam has been a dutiful, respectful and obedient wife to Sherrif just as Sherrif has been a good, loving husband” said the source.

The rumour had it that C M Y K

Maryam, born with silverspoon had been allegedly reluctant to submit to the matrimonial demands of the union. She is also said to have resisted the overbearing influence her mother in-law, Hajia Bola Shagaya is having on the marriage.

Sheriff and Maryam wedded November 13, 2010 in Lagos in a ceremony that remains talk of the town.

The wedding still holds the record of

being the only wedding to have taken place in the Eko Hotel Expo Centre, combining the five Halls of Eko Hotel into one.

EAUTIFUL Ekiti Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmi Olayinka, has lived all her life in Lagos and this fact does not escape anyone except some group of street urchins, called ‘Area Boys’ who found out the hard way.

The alluring Ekiti number two citizen had come to grace a wedding ceremony at the Muson Centre recently when the ‘Area Boys’ descended on her, ribbing and jabbing her, oblivious of the threats from her security details.

Just as her security men were about to really get going on the ‘Area Boys’ the beautiful former banker intervened, resulting to

•Funmi Olayinka the cockey street language which set the ‘Area Boys’ wild, hailing her that ‘she is one of their own’.

The “Area Boys’ then went into another ‘street song’ which the Deputy Governor replied and thus went the

engagement between the two parties to the admiration of everyone present. But at the end of the day, ‘the Area Boys’ seemed to have won the battle as the Beautiful politician dished out some Naira notes to whet their waywardness

Chidi Mokeme gets out of character

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E know the ques tion popping up in your mind right now is, what could Chidi Mokeme be up to this time.

So much gists, both unsavoury and a bit offkey have been peddled about the Nollywood hotshot who came off the

Vanguard’s Sexiest in Nollywood as the Hunk of Nollywood 2011 that one begins to wonder if the guy hasn’t developed some special affinity for playing his way into media attention.

Just some weeks ago the handsome actor was caught aboard a Aero

contractor flight from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja en route Lagos, looking as dashing as ever. He did cut the Nollywood bigshot picture even though he was ensconced smugly in the Economy Class, not that anyone would have blamed him, not after hav-

ing to spend through his nose for his wedding recently.

But surely eyes on the flight began to twitch when the actor spotted our own loving Onyeka Onwenu, who was every inch up to the task as a super star in the First Class section of the flight.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012—43

Hi

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RINCE Gordon Ogbe is the Team Manager of Warri Wolves. In this interview, he discloses to Hi Groove his love for good clothes and how his love for Jeans and short sleeves makes him the cynosure of all eyes.

Having featured in football competitions during his primary and university level, he relates his experiences as a footballer among many other issues. Excerpts: Growing up I have fond memories of growing up. I came from a family where education was a priority. My parents gave birth to three children and out of three, I was the most gentle. Because of that; my mother nicknamed me“Reverend Father”.

Childhood memories I remember vividly the day I was scolded by my father. He flogged me mercilessly because I refused to go to school. What happened was that on that fateful day, I had prepared for school but could not find my bag. I was searching for it when my mother saw me. She wondered why I had not gone to school, having being set long before then. At the backyard where she was, she had a cup of cold water in her hand and being close to her, she poured it on me. I didn’t like it so, I refused to go to school that day.

When my father came back home and was told, he flogged me mercilessly because With wife, Rosemary he never compromised with education- I would never forget that day in a hurry.

Venturing into football I actually started the football trade on the streets of Ogunu.

I teamed up with other teenagers to form a youth club called Ogunu Settlers FC where we horned our raw skills. By the time I got into Secondary School, I had made a name for myself as a top striker. I used to score with

By KATE OBODO both legs. Aside that, I could also scored with my head. off even as the Team ManagWhile playing for Hussey Col- er of Warri Wolves. lege and because of my scorMy daily routine ing ability, a journalist with I start off my day with a the Observer Newspaper took morning devotion. After then, note of me and nickname me I go for training and watch my ‘The Man-Mountain’. team train. As the Team ManI actually came into limelight ager of Warri Wolves, I ensure in 1975 when I led my school, that everything is intact. And Ikegbuwa to lift the then pres- after the day’s activities, I go tigious Headmaster’s Cup at home to my family. I don’t go the expense of Nana Primary clubbing.

School.

Outside sports My life revolves more was in primary three around the game of soccer. But when I broke into my whenever I am off duty as the school’s football team. When Team Manager of Warri my father discovered that I Wolves, I spend more time was interested in football watching sports programmes, (because he had wanted me particularly football. to complete my education), Smoking/Drinking Habit he advised me not to rely only Coming from a good on football. He wanted me to Christian background, also take my education seri- smoking has never appealed ously so that at the end of my to me. As for drinking, I drink footballing career, I would sometimes although I don’t have something to fall back have a special brand. My on. I took his advice and went mood determines the brand. I on to get a University degree could go for an event and take and continued playing. Unfor- Star, Heineken or any other tunately, I couldn’t take my drink that appeals to me. This passion for football to a pro- is because my father advised fessional level due to a chron- that I shouldn’t stick to a paric leg injury which ended my ticular brand as it would atfootball career untimely. Apart tract the wrong set of people from that, I could not have to me. risked travelling abroad for triFashion als because my father wanted ashion is a lifestyle and me to go to school. But I thank good business as well.

God, education has really paid I’m a fashion conscious per-

I feel comfortable in jeans and T-shirts — Warri Wolves TM

,

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F

Working with a new general manager of Warri Wolves, Mr. Tony Rafua, has also helped to improve my dress sense.

People tend to appreciate me wherever I go

son and I love fashion a lot.

My love for fashion emanated from my elder brother who always dresses well. He has a good sense of dress and colour combination along side quality attires. Having stayed with him for sometime, I learnt to appreciate fashion more than I used to. As a sports man, I often go sporting with good combination of colours.

Working with a new general manager of Warri Wolves, Mr. Tony Rafua, has also helped to improve my dress sense and people tend to appreciate me wherever I go. Most times, I prefer to wear Jeans and T.shirts with canvass, shoes or trainers or as the occasion demands. I also like good and quality perfume.

Mode of dressing My mood does not really affect what I wear. Again, I don’t wear my clothes more than once- I don’t repeat dresses.

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•Gordon Me and Women Ladies admire me a lot bee became friends but cause of my dress sense and lost contact when she my social approach to people. left the country for Spain. Few But I don’t maintain intimacy years later, as fate would have with any of them. it, I was able to contact her Meeting my Wife again through her sister. I Meeting my wife was love at knew I didn’t want to lose her first sight, all thanks to my so, I quickly proposed to her grandmother who paved way and she agreed; the rest is hisfor our meeting. On the day we tory. met, my grandmother who was Idea of a good home a business woman was returnA good home is where there ing from the market. Behind is understanding between the her was a beautiful lady carry- couple. It is also where both ing my grandmother ’s bag. parties are able to live together Then, my grandmother came as friends. close to me and whispered in Best meal our dialect saying; “this is your I like black plantain and wife”. I was amazed and went pepper soup with fish sauce. I to her to take the load off her. also like Banga soup with Seeing her for the first time, I Starch or Eba. could not take my eyes off her.

I also enjoy fruits- my best She was 19 years old then. fruit is paw-paw and Then I told her I’d like her to pineapple. I prefer them sliced be my friend but she said “not and I usually take them first now”. before my meals.

C M Y K

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44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012—45 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com

EnableTalk gloves translates sign language to speech S

INCE Microsoft began the Imagine Cup competition in 2003, it has tasked students all over the world with developing technology aimed at solving real-world problems.

In its just concluded10th edition which held in Sydney Australia, students were asked to build their project around a specific Millennium Development Goal, (MDG).

But the Ukraine’s quadSquad with their EnableTalk gloves project, that translate sign language into speech in real time, won the competition.

What this means is that if developed, EnableTalk will help people with hearing and speech defects compete with their peers who talk normal.

No wonder, with it, QuadSquard was able to beat other teams from 75 countries to

•Talk is serious business...at least EnableTalk gloves say so!

claim first place in the competition in the Software Design category, landing itself with a whopping US$25,000 The team comprising Stepanov Anton and Osika

Maxim said that the urge to extend the communication capabilities of those with hearing and speech disabilities began after interacting with hearing and speech impaired athletes

Samsung unveils EX2F compact with fast, bright F1.4 lens A

S new technologies con tinue to evolve, Samsung seems to be keeping pace as it early this week unveiled the new EX2F making it a successor to its EX1/TL500 compact launched in 2010.

The new EX2F model features built-in wireless connectivity, which makes it the latest addition to the company’s SMART range that includes some of its mirrorless NX cameras.

While the F1.8 lens on the predecessor was pretty quick, Samsung has significantly improved on that for the new release with a (very) fast F1.4 wide-angle lens.

According to the company, the megapixel count has also increased and the video re-

•Samsung Smart camera cording capabilities have been upped to 1080/30p.

At first glance, the modest sensor increased from 10 megapixels to 12.4 but the CCD of old has been replaced by a 1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS sensor.

The EX2F benefits from a faster F1.4, 24mm, 3.3x Sch-

PPLE will launch the new iPad in China on 20 July. Apple said that the third-generation iPad will be available through its Online Store, select authorised resellers, and by reservation from Apple retail stores.

It however said that reservation requests will be accepted daily from 09.00 to 12.00hrs beginning 19 July for pick-up the following day.

It also announced that the iPad 2 was also available at a more affordable price.

neider KREUZNACH lens consisting of eleven elements in nine groups with four aspherical lenses and two high refractive lenses. The combination is claimed to increase the amount of light hitting the sensor by 20 percent, in addition to boosting image quality and zoom ratio, while also offering users a very shallow depth of field for that appealing blurred background in portraits.

The new device with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities offers wirefree online backup and storage opportunities, in addition to the sharing of content on social networking sites or sending photos to friends and family via email. Users can also use a smartphone as a remote viewfinder.

Like the EX1/TL500 before it, the EX2F features a bright 3inch AMOLED vari-angle display panel and is topped by two control dials and a wheel at the front for quick settings selection and parameter switching. The Samsung EX2F compact will be available from August for US$549.

gyroscope, compass, and 15 flex sensors along the fingers, thumb and palm that determine the position of the glove in space. Data from the sensors is relayed to a controller on the back of the glove that is powered by a rechargeable battery. The battery can be recharged via USB, while a small solar panel also helps extend the intervals between charging. Data from the glove is then transmitted via Bluetooth to a mobile device that translates the signs into speech using the Microsoft Speech API and Bing API. The team anticipates selling each glove for around US$200 if they can get them to mass production. If they do manage to get them to market, they would sell the system with a library of standard gestures.

However, with sign language varying greatly around the world, the team says users can teach the system new gestures and modify existing ones.

Hybrid phone case gives iPhone users room for more photos, videos A

Apple to launch iPad 3 in China on July 20

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at their school. According to the team, the experience garnered in that interaction set them out to develop a way for those who know sign language to more easily communicate with those who don’t.

Their solution includes a hardware component, gloves fitted with various sensors and a software component which translates the hand signals into speech in real time.

Although the software was developed under Windows Phone 7, the team was forced to turn to the older Windows Mobile platform for the entry because Windows Phone 7 doesn’t provide developers access to the Bluetooth stack, which is how the gloves communicate wirelessly with a mobile device running the translation software.

The gloves themselves are fitted with an accelerometer,

lot of people like the idea of being able to carry things like photo or video files with them on their iPhone, but depending on what capacity model they have, may not necessarily want to take up memory on the phone with those files.

This is where Ego & company’s Hybrid Series USB Case comes into play. It’s a case for the iPhone 4 and 4S, with a built-in USB Flash drive. The scratch-resistant case protects against dings and drops, while still offering access to all of the phone’s ports and controls . Integrated into the back of it, however, is a removable USB Flash drive. These are available in 4, 8 or 16 GB capacities.

Users can load the drive up

at their computer, then have the files close at hand – but not taking up space on their phone – when they’re out and about. It should be pointed out, however, that since the iPhone doesn’t have a USB port of its own, files on the Flash drive can only be accessed via a nearby laptop, tablet or desktop computer with a USB port ... so, you might not want to use it for storing photos that you plan on showing to your friends next time you’re at the bar.

The Hybrid Series USB Case and its Flash drives are available in six mix-and-match colors. A case with a 4GB drive is priced at US$34.95, while the 8 and 16 GB versions sell for $39.95 and $49.95, respectively.

•The Hybrid Series USB Case

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 Bismillahi Rahamani Raheem.

Wasalatu wasalam ala seyidina Muhammad, wa ala alihi, wa ashabihi, wasselim.

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Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk

Purify your soul now food and drink for 29 or 30 days as Allah commanded, but the inner dimension of the fast is necessary so as to reap fully the benefits of the blessed month.

Some of the ways to keep it away from contamination is to forgive those who have wronged you, be good to others. Seek forgiveness from Allah, show kindness and compassion to others, shun bad acts and free your soul from the grip of Shaytan, cleanse the soul of iniquities, evil thoughts, malice, backbiting, hatred and other bad acts. Naturally, the two forces that usually inhibit us from doing good, are Shaytan and our nafs. (our inner self) The Prophet (s.a.w) said that Shaytan is chained during the

month of Ramadan; that leaves us with our oun souls.

Therefore, we need to work on purifying our souls so that it will be in concert with the activities of the month.

Evaluate your nafs, or inner

,

HERE is no other time to purify your soul than now.

Almighty Allah has offered us another opportunity to be alive to witness another glorious month, Ramadan.

Alhamdullilah. Not all those who prayed for it got it. Within the last twelve months, innumerable souls have gone to the great beyound, so many who had wished and prepared for the month even some hours ago could not have the grace to witness it. Some though not dead but in critical conditions without the consciousness of observing the first Ramadan.

We, of course are not better than them, we are rather specially blessed by Allah (SWT).

Allahuma, Laka lihamduShukran.

At this point, the purity of one’s soul is very essential in achieving the best of this month. It is better we plan and work in such a way that our personality and whole lives will be better for it at the end of the month. The beauty is that if we are able to achieve it, it will ultimately help to regulate what we do for the rest of the year.

Yes! We want to abstain from

You must have a pure life, pure personality and a pure you. You must not only purify your ways of thinking and feeling, but must also purify your living

,

Sheikh Zuglool queries conferment of Asiwaju on Adebayo M

USLIM cleric and Proprietor of DaruDawah Wal-Irshad Arabic and Islamic Studies Centre, Isolo, Sheikh Mustapha Zuglool has expressed dissatisfaction on the conferment of the title Asiwaju (leader) of Yoruba on the former Military governor of defunct Western Region, Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd) saying “the conferment is wrong and does not represent the entire Yoruba who are Muslims and Christians” The cleric in his reaction stated that although without any ill-feeling against the person of Gen. Adebayo, the Elders' Council should have considered more qualified Muslim for the position.

“I wondered if there are no Muslims who have made their marks in the region. Why is it that they make it appear as if it was

exclusive preserve of Christians? No doubt Gen Adebayo made his own mark, he was one of those who stood firmly for the Yorubas during the Military era. I don't have anything against his person, but to those who again took part in the decision to appoint him without considering others who are more qualified. Don't they reasoned that it is time we have a leader among the Muslims who have distinguished themselves and even contributed to the unity of Yoruba?", he queried.

The Sheikh in an interview with Vanguard in his office, Isolo, Lagos, said: “Chief Obafemi Awolowo was chosen as the leader because of the good works. It was a honour well deserved and nobody objected let alone talking about whether he

was a christian or Muslim.

When Pa Adekunle Ajasin was also chosen, it did not spark any controversy because Ajasin worked tirelessly for political development of the Yorubas. But when they appointed Abraham Adesanya, we did not know how they came about it; there were more qualified persons but for the sake of unity, we accepted the error. It was then we said there must be a change in the nomination and appointment of Yoruba leaders”, he added.

"Each time there is a need to request for anything for the benefits of the region, there is always a religious undercurrents to it. We have counted the first, second and third of leaders who were Christians, yet, Gen Adebayo was chosen. Let there be fairness in

From right: Senator Ganiu Solomon, Alh AbdulHafeez Abuo, Baba Adini of Lagos, Alhaji Muhammad Garuba Ibrahim Akinola, OON, Chief Imam of Lagos State and Sheikh Mustapha Zuglool, Proprietor of Daru-Dawah- Wal-Irshad Arabic and Islamic Studies Center, Isolo, Lagos at a function recently.

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self, discover those things you have done wrong and repent never to do them again. This is important because, fasting without the purification of the inner soul will not produce the fully reward.

whatever we do for God's sake.”

“Before the creation of states, we saw how Military Administrator, Popoola appointed 12 commissioners without one being a Muslim. The Muslims rose up and he later appointed one and another half Muslim. Why the other was half Muslim was not the question now.

When Obasanjo was there, he ruled for eight years, he did not appoint a Muslim from the South West as Minister, he defended himself by saying there was no qualified Muslim from the region. Fairness is necessary if we want to move forward.

I therefore, call on the Elders' Council to reverse this trend and thread the path of fairness.”

“They cannot say there is no one among the Muslim elders that is deserving of that position. We have people like Lateef Jakande whose political records cannot be pushed aside; we have Senator Fasinro, who has distinguished himself both in politics and in our socio-cultural lives; Abdul Hafeez Abuo and Alh Abdul-Azeez Arisekola, Femi Okunnu among several others.”

“The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo knew this and he fraternised very well with the then Chief Imam of Ibadan, Alfa Oke Are, Baba Popo, the then Chief Imam of Lagos, Alfa Eko, Alhaji Awelenje, among others. He held them in high esteem simply because of the large followership they commanded,” he said.

Let us for once reminds ourselves that there is more to life than physical and material joy; there is a deeper fulfillment than eating, sleeping, and drinking. There is the need to take away focus from the worldly things we have been doing since the last 11 months, let us turn a new leaf, let us see one another as brothers, let us share from what we have and build better spirituality. You must have a pure life, pure personality and a pure you. You must not only purify your ways of thinking and feeling, but must also purify your living.

We know it is not an easy task combating one’s soul on what is bad, but the opportunity is here now.

Begin the month on a good note. It cannot be as usual, you’ve got to be a changed person this Ramadan. The Qur’an says “Indeed who succeeds, who purifies his own self, and indeed he fails who corrupts his own self” (91:9-10).

Prayer: Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha wa zakkiha anta khayru man zakkiha anta waliyyuha wa mawlaha “O Allah grant my soul its piety and purify it, you are the best to purify it, you are its guardian and master”

RAMAD AN BRIEFS RAMADAN Anwar-ul-Islam holds Ramadan lecture

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S part of the Ramadan activities, the Anwar-ul-Islam Movement of Nigeria will hold its national Ramadan Lecture on Sunday, July 22, 2012, at the main auditorium of Anwar-ul-Islam Model College, Agege, Lagos.

According to a release sent to Vanguard, the guest lecturer is Professor Musilihu Tayo Yahya of Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, University of Jos. Theme of the lecture is “The Last Messages of Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and the Present

Day” Speaking on the event, the National Secretary of the movement, Alhaji Dr. L Jokomba stated that adequate preparations have been put in place to welcome Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos who will be the eminent guest, the Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba rilwan Aremu Akiolu 1 (the Royal Father of the Day) and others from far and near including members from various missions to the annual Ramadan lecture. The event starts by 10am.

Chief Imams meet in Alausa today •Offer prayers for Gawat

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HIEF Imams from various areas in the state will today meet at the Lagos secretariat, Alausa to offer prayers for the ace Presenter, Alhaji Razaq Aremu Gawat declared missing ten days ago. The monthly meeting which will be chaired by the Chief Imam of the state, Alhaji Muhammad Garuba Akinola Ibrahim, OON will also discuss issues affecting the Muslim Ummah in the state.

Vanguard gathered that the leaders were rattled by the unknown

whereabouts of the ace presenter in spite of measure put in place by the security agents in the sate.

One of them who spoke to us on the issue said: “All of us were inundated with calls by Muslims from various quarters desirous of getting update on him and you know we have directed that prayers be offered for him in all the mosques and we have also not relented. We will still pray for him at our meeting and I know he will return safely,” he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 47

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Poor leadership bane of our aviation industry The summary of the final report of the Presidential Task Force on Aviation Industry submitted by the Task Force team headed by Air Vice Marshal Paul Dike (rtd) on March 2006 Continues from yesterday (iv) The Fire services at most of the airports were below standard and the firemen lacked training in modern fire fighting techniques. (v) The staff strength in the technical departments was not comensurate with the maintenance task that had to be done. Consequently, most maintenance tasks of FAAN were either left undone or contracted out. (vi) A Financial Audit of the agency revealed financial improprieties and the lack of transparency and accountability in finan-

,

The FMA has been unable to give the industry the right leadership while its overbearing influence on the agencies has constrained them in properly discharging their regulatory oversight functions

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cial transactions, including contract awards. (vii) FAAN is severally constrained in the number of its technical staff, especially those involving engineering skills.

3.9 NIGERIAN COLEGE OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY (NCAT) ZARIA. 3.9.1 Human resources are the greatest asset of any nation. A vibrant aviation industry requires highly skilled and experienced manpower of international acceptability. The Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) was established for the training of various cadres of aviation personnel for the aviation industry in Nigeria and, indeed, the African region.

At the peak of its operations, the school trained pilots, flight engineers, air traffic controllers, aircraft maintenance engineers, aeronautical telecommunication engineers and related professionals. However, the College has been allowed to decay, to a point where it graduated only one set of pilots in seven years.

Performance of other specialties The performance of the other specialities was equally unsatisfactory. This has manifested in the serious shortage being experienced in the aviation workforce across the entire professional cadre of the institution. Equipment and facilities are either obsolete, unserviceable or non-existent.

Qualified and experienced instructors are grossly inadequate.

Most of the professionals who are instructors at the school have not gone for retraining for years.

The cost of ab-initio training itself has quadrupled over the last two decades. The few who can afford it, go overseas for their training. Some never return, and those who are good, end up with the oil companies, or are poached by stronger airlines.

SUMMARY 3.10.1 As can be seen from the

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Aircraft in flames foregoing, a number of factors contributed to the dereliction in the aviation industry. These revolve around the general lack of sincerity and commitment to addressing safety and security issues on the part of industry stakeholders particularly, the airlines and the regulatory agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA).

3.10.2 The bottom line is that the regulatory agencies, particularly, the NCAA, have failed to carry out the correct oversight that would have ensured that the airlines comply fully with established standards and Recommended Practices. On its part, the FMA has been unable to give the industry the right leadership while its overbearing influence on the agencies has constrained them in properly discharging their regulatory oversight functions. The poor maintenance practices and unprofessional conduct of some of the Airlines, in an effort to make profit at all cost, have jeopardised industry safety and security.

Qualified technical manpower 3.10.3 The situation has been compound by the dearth of experienced and qualified technical manpower in the industry. The magnitude of the problem is such that poorly trained and relatively inexperienced personnel are performing core tasks, both in the aviation agencies and some of the

airlines, clearly beyond their com- in the country, post liberalisation, petencies. The aviation industry seems to have overwhelmed the also currently lacks a robust finan- aviation regulatory agencies who cial framework that could support have consistently been accused its activities, especially long term of inadequate enforcement of esfunding. Thus, most of the indig- tablished standards and generenous airlines resort to short-term ally failing to ensure orderly, and loans to finance their operations. safe development of the indusThe Tenor and terms of such fa- try. The competence and integricilities constitute, in final analy- ty of the regulatory authority the sis, an additional burden on the safety of aerodrome, the quality airlines. On the part of the avia- of air traffic services as well as the tion agencies, maintenance and upgrade of facilities, and staff development which are critical success factors, are neglected due to inadequacy of fund, and where available, misapplied.

3.10.4 The relevant Recommendations are taken up in the individual chapters.

Introduction 4.1.1.The liberalisation of airlines operations in Nigeria and •Air Vice Marshal Paul Dike (rtd), the subsequent emer- chairman, Task Force on Aviation Industry gence of private airlines brought with it a gradual reduction in the obser- airworthiness of airlines are at an vance and enforcement of estab- all tiome time low and well below lished safety and security stan- ICAO standards and recommenddards hitherto unknown in Nige- ed practices SARRs. Therefore, ria aviation. Prior to this, the in- government’s determination to dustry was dominated by Nige- halt the slide and restore confiria Airways, the national carrier dence in air travel in Nigeria which has a commendable safety could not have come at a server record and which formed the nu- time.

4.1.3. It is with the aforemencleus of Nigeria aviation.

4.1.2.Private airlines operating Continues on page 49

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012—49

Poor leadership bane of our aviation industry Continues frompage 48 tioned situation in mind that the Task Force examined the critical issues that needed to be addressed to restore safety in the industry.

4.2 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AND SPARE 4.2.1.DISCUSSION 4.2.1.1. During the interactive session with stakeholders, the Task Force was repeatedly reminded of the fact that aircraft maintenance facilities in the country are limited, both in number and scope of services The National Hangar Projects is yet to be realised, while the few hangar facilities available belong to private airlines and offer only rudimentary services. These are in any case, not usually available for third party maintenance. A major disincentive to the setting up of more hangar facilities is the high cost of land at the airports.

4.2.1.2. In the mean time, most airlines who do most of their aircraft maintenance overseas, complain not only of delay in getting slot but also, of the high cost of

longed aircraft extra-time. It is alleged that some grounded aircraft are sometimes cannibalised due to non-availability of spare parts, in order to keep other aircraft within the same fleet, flying.

4.2.1.5.

The Airlines Operator Of Nigeria (AON) has blamed the cumbersome custom clearance precedures, which they also described as long, tortuous and corruption ridden for undue delays of taking delivery of spare parts for Aircraft On Ground (AOGs). AGN has therefore advocated for a special aviation desk to be repeated by the customs for fast tracking the clearance of spare parts for AOGs. They also pointed out that the 2.5% duty on aircraft spares and related equipment imposses additional financial strain on the industry.

4.2.2. OBSERVATION 4.2.2.1.The Task Force is of the view that although most of the aircraft in use in Nigeria are not of a recent generation, the age of aircraft spare parts needs not be in problem. Rather, what is of paramount importance is ensuring

tenance Repair Organisation (MROs) in Nigeria.

(IV) Government should grant custom cuty waivers on aircraft spares, engines and test equipment.

4.3 DOMESTICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS 4.3.1 OBSERVATION 4.3.1.1. Nigeria is yet to domesticate some international treaties that have the potential of facilating safety and growth of the nation’s aviation industry. Notable, among these is the Cape Town Convention. This convention facilates acquisition through financing and leasing of expensive aviation equipment such as aircraft, rolling stock and spare assets with the equipment itself serving as collateral thereby eliminating the need for large cash collaterals, buildings, state and bank gurantees, which have hitherto, constrained previous new acquisition efforts.

4.3.2. Domestication of these and similar conventions would enable the nation’s aviation industry full advantage of the win-

A Concorde plane that crashed in Paris at take off 4.4.1.2. It is noteworthy that the draft of Aviation Bill of 2004 which was originated by the Federal Ministry of Aviation addresses some of the lapses observed above. Some of the powers of the Minister of Aviation, as presently curtailed in the Civil Aviation Act, LFN 1990, have been severely curtailed by the proposed legislation. The functions of the aviation parastatals have also been streamlined with NCAA as industry regulator while the others – NAMA, NIMET, FAAN, NCAT, are service providers. These proposed arrangements would greatly enhance the position of the NCAA as industry regulator while the Minister of Aviation would retain control over policy making functions and exercise residual executives powers.

Holistic framework

such aircraft maintenance. The fact that this is paid for in foreign currency, is a further drain on an already limited revenue base and so, a major disincentive to keeping to prescribed maintenance schedules. The allegation that some airlines are persistently “cutting corners” is directly linked to the issue of the prohibitive cost of aircraft maintenance overseas vis-a-vis the revenue base of the operators.

4.2.1.3. As a interim measure, one of the interest groups i.e. Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) suggested to theTask Force at the interactive session that the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) hangar facilities at Ikeja, Makurdi and Kainji be permitted to accept civil aircraft so that interested private airlines could avail themselves of their use .

4.2.1.4.

Another problem reported to be chasing against safe aircraft operation in Nigeria is non-availability of aircraft spares. Airlines complain of subtantial revenue losses due to proC M Y K

that such older aircraft currently in use, comply strictly with the maintenance requirements of such aircraft by undertaking the mandatory checks as and when due.

4.2.3.RECOMMENDATIONS 4.2.3.1 In view of the foregoing, to facilitate proper maintenance of aircraft in use in Nigeria airspace, the Task Force recommends that: (I) Government should approve the us e of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) hangars by interested private airlines pending the fruition of the National Hangar Project.

The NCAA should provide oversight.

(II) The private sector should be encouraged to invest more in aircraft maintenance hangars by granting interested investors concessions in land acquisition.

NCAA should also remove any existing obstacles ot third party use of avilable maintenance facilities.

(III) NCAA should provide regulation and standards for Main-

dow of opportunities available internationally and thus enable the local industry address critical safety related issues such as acquisition of newer aircraft maintenance facilities and spare parts.

4.3.3. RECOMMENDATION 4.3.3.1 Government should ratify and implement outstanding international aviation convention.

4.4.CIVIL AVIATION LEGISLATION 4.4.1 OBSERVATIONS 4.4.1.1.

The existing civil aviation legislation in Nigeria does not give the regulatory agency (NCAA) the requisite power over the industry. This is at variance with ICAO standards. The functions of the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA) and those of the various civil aviation agencies are not clearly delineated. There is also extensive duplication of funtions and powers and wrangling among aviation agencies themselves. Some safety and security related functions are therefore not properly carried out.

4.4.2 RECOMMENDATION 4.4.2.1.Government should grant autonomy to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

4.4.2.2.

Government should urgently set up a committee comprising representatives from the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA), NCAA, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), a legal practitioners with considerable experience in aviation matters, and a representative of aviation professional bodies, to review and harmonise the BPE/ FMA versions of the Bill.

4.4.2.3.

The new Aviation Bill should be passed before October 2006.

4.4.2.4.

The NCAA Act should be amended to give the authority the powers to develop issue and raise operating regulations.

Concluded

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No longer safe in the sky

4.4.1.3. The Task Force also observed that there are two versions of the Civil Aviation Bill – the FMA and the BPE versions. It was also observed that there are fundamental differences between the two versions of the new Civil Aviation Bill. While the BPE version is predicated on a need to position the industry for privatisation and greater private sector participation the FMA version is focused mainly on meeting ICAO requirements. Both versions of the Bill could therefore be harmonised into holistic framework, dynamic enough to accommodate emerging realities without compromising ICAO standards.

The Task Force is of the view that although most of the aircraft in use in Nigeria are not of a recent generation, the age of aircraft spare parts needs not be in problem

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50—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 51

52—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

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Akwa Ibom records no polio case in 5 years

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O case of polio has been recorded in Akwa Ibom State in the past five years, the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, announced in Uyo, yesterday.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Nsima Ekere, said at the 36th Annual General and Scientific Meeting of the Nigeria Chapter of the West African College of Physicians in Uyo, that the state was determined to maintain that clean record.

While attributing the clean record to the fact that healthcare delivery has been taken to the front burner of state government’s policies, Akpabio said his government has injected life into the healthcare sector through infrastructural renaissance of healthcare facilities including the provision of five new general hospitals, across the state, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and the 20th Anniversary Specialist Hospital which is at an advanced stage of completion.

Akpabio said the state government has also enhanced healthcare delivery by enhancing the working conditions of health workers, improving the packages of doctors in its employ and providing them with utility vehicles while other health workers have been encouraged with good remuneration.

He said: “On our part as a government, we have made it clear that our number one priority is the people and their health. We have significantly reduced infant and maternal mortality rate in our state by the introduction of free medical treatment for pregnant women and children who are five years and under. Added to this mix, we also have free treatment for the aged.”

The Nigeria Chapter chairman of the West African College of Physicians, Dr. Ifeoma Egbuonu, said the major functions of the college, which was formally inaugurated in Lagos in 1976 as an agency of the West African Health Organization, included training and certification of physicians in the different specialities, accreditation of suitable institutions in member countries for the residency training programme leading to the Membership and Fellowship examinations of the college.

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

I

HAVE seen spectacles. I have enjoyed some great shows from music to movies and exciting atmospheres in sports from tennis to track and field and of course football. But nothing is like the Olympics. Some adore it almost as a religion. Yes, it even started like a religion before it became competitive. The Greeks, some five thousand years ago, would appease a particular god by running a race to meet it. They ran, dissipating energy as they approached the god who would be expected to appreciate the effort each racer made to get to it. Sports became some kind of religion in the ancient times and up till now it has remained such a moving spectacle that millions get very emotional about some performances.

Some get sick and weep openly when their team is down while the winners create scenes celebrating. I have been part of it. I couldn't hold back tears when our national anthem was being played for the first time at the Olympics and the whole world stood to celebrate our Chioma Ajunwa in Atlanta 1996. I looked at her as she smiled, looking strong and controlling her emotions. Most athletes give in to the emotion and tears of joy follow. It was not so with Chioma who smiled away and I was wondering why I was overwhelmed and in tears but the star of the moment stood firm, smiling and waving to the crowd. It was a stupendous moment for Nigeria. Chioma had given Nigeria her first ever gold medal in the Olympic Games since she started participating from the Helsinki Games in 1952. And it was an individual medal. She jumped 7.12m to win the Long Jump gold Great. Awesome.

Many of our men now struggle to make the seven meter mark. Chioma was out of this world on that podium. And we all got emotional while she smiled on the podium. What an irony. And when we met I told her what an Amazon she was and inquired why she was not moved by the atmosphere when Nigeria's National Anthem was being played in her honour. She said that she didn't know where she was and that what she achieved had not dawned on her at that moment.

"It was still like a dream," she told me in her first ever interview after the feat.

"I was still wondering if it was true, wondering if I

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them of the people and his songs inspired millions of whites and blacks even in the days of white supremacy. Atlanta made us feel good. There, Mary Onyali won an individual medal in 200m meters beating top athletes Marie Jose Perec on the line by dipping even ten meters to the end. It was the race of her life. She gave her all and so did Falilat Ogunkoya who won another individual bronze medal in 400m, setting a national record that is still standing at 49.10 seconds.

Perec took the gold. We had great moments in Atlanta.

Sydney 2000 Enefiok Udobong who was asth Who will die for Nigeria alIfornmatic was torn between dying and winning a medNigeria or hanging in and living. He opted to die for Nigeria in the 4x400m final. He anchored the in London? race and four athletes were in front at the time he got was really the person on that podium receiving gold.

That's why I was just smiling. It hadn't dawned on me at that time. When it did, I cried. I got emotional and I thanked God for His blessing."

K

anu Nwankwo and his teammates gave us an other moment to cheer few days later when they lifted the soccer gold, beating Argentina in the final after eliminating Brazil in the semi-final. The world chased us for autographs and news. All Nigerians in that magnificent stadium owned by Georgia University became champions and provided news pegs. Everything about Nigeria was news. Some foreign journalists were interviewing me while I was interviewing our players for memorable quotes. A particular journalist pinned me to interpret the songs of the Nigerian Supporters Club who, in my estimation also won a gold in Atlanta. Another journalist whose beat in the stadium was to capture the atmosphere and do stories on Nigerian songs appeared not satisfied with my interpretation of what Obi Kere Renke Obi meant.

I had explained it as just a football song whose rhyme inspired more than the literary meaning. Obi Kererenke Obi. Obi Kererenke Obi. There were unforgettable moments in Georgia, the state that produced Ray Charles whose song, Georgia became the an-

the baton. Off he went like a Gazelle. His face conjured his strong will and his strides were actualizing it. At the 200m curve he had passed two athletes and at the 100m distance he had run past another just remaining USA in front. He increased his pace and was powering to the finish like a man who actually opted to die in the race. He won Nigeria a silver but did not die. He lived on to celebrate it. One American athlete had tested positive to doping and Nigeria's silver ought to have counted as gold. Udobong and Gloria Alozie who won silver in 100m Hurdles made Sydney memorable. In Athens Udobong re-enacted his effort and won us a bronze in the relay. Blessing Okagbore was a miracle girl in Beijing. Some poor management saw her failing to qualify for the final of her Long Jump event but when a Polish athlete was disqualified for doping she got the chance and jumped to Bronze in the final. Great moment.

A

nd as we land in London my question is who will opt to die for Nigeria like Udobong did?

Who will dip like Mary Onyali and coast like Falilat?

Will results come from Taekwando, Canoeing, Wrestling or Boxing? Our preparation has not been Olympian and any medal will be a surprise. I will feed you with news stories from London as I rest this column for the Olympics. Welcome to London 2012.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 — 55

'We’re not Gunner sell RVP' ARSENAL have no intention of flogging captain Robin van Persie to bitter rivals Manchester United.

Reports in Italy yesterday claimed that the Gunners had turned down an offer from United for their double Footballer of the Year, who wants out of the Emirates.

The Dutch international has told Gunners boss Arsene Wenger he wants his future sorted out before Saturday, when the squad are due to fly out to Malaysia for the club’s summer tour.

Arsenal value their top scorer from last season at £30million — a price way above what United are prepared to pay.

But Wenger is also reluctant to sell his prized asset to the club which have been his main title rivals during his 16 years in charge of the Gunners.

That would leave the door open for Manchester City, who would have no problem matching that fee and who now appear to be favourites for the Dutchman’s signature after Juventus turned their attentions elsewhere.

The Italian giants are

now tracking Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic who would be available for a fee in the region of

of Israel for four days now to pray for Nigeria’s success.

To him, prayers are part of the preparation.

Ogba has committed so much to the preparation of the athletes, raising funds where the National Sports Commission failed and sometimes motivating athletes from his personal purse. Delta State, where he served as commissioner for sports for eight years, has been handy in many ways. If Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was not approving training grants for athletes of Delta origin, he was hosting some sports events meant to prepare the athletes.

And having gone through the rigours of preparations in spite of the disappointments from the federal Governent, Ogba felt that the best step now was to hand over Nigeria’s team to God. “Ogba has gone to pray for Nigeria’s suc-

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week whereas Van Persie turned down £130,000 a week to stay at Arsenal.

I

F you’re looking for Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi as she makes

Isiguzo heads Nigerian Spor ts A wards panel Sports Aw

BY JACOB AJOM

C

HAIRMAN of the Ed itorial Board, Vanguard Newspapers, Ikeddy Isiguzo was yesterday named as head of a panel that will co-ordinate the annual Nigerian Sports Award which is making a big come-back after it was last held in 2003.

The panel also include veteran sports journalist and broadcaster, Fabio Olanipekun, General Manager of Multichoice Nigeria, Felix Awogu, former Nigeria quarter miler, Falilat Ogunkoya and the Managing Director of Masterssports International, Ejiro Omonode.

Others are Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Sports Writers Association, Fred Edore, Tunde Dekunle and Kayode Idowu of Unmissable Incentive Limited, who will serve as the secretary of the panel. The 2012 Nigerian Sports Awards ceremony has been fixed for 29 November at the Federal Pal-

Ogba In Holy Land F or Divine For Grace Continues from B/P

£23million.

The 22-year-old could be snapped up on wages of around £45,000 a

8 months pregnant woman to compete in Olympics

cess. He went from London after watching Blessing Okagbare beat the best in the world at the Crystal Palace Samsung Diamond League,” said a member of the Athletics Federation. He has repeatedly said that God would complement his efforts and those of the athletes.

Ogba formally became an Evangelist three years ago, about two years after declaring that he was a born-again christian.

“One thing is to pray, another is to do the right thing for who does the wrong thing and relies on God to right his wrongs may not be blessed at the expense of those who have done the right thing,” said one Nigerian sports official who commended the efforts of Ogba but regretted that the National Sports Commission did not adequately help the Athletics Federation in their preparation. That has become a tradition in Nigeria.

L-R The Managing Director, MasterSports International Mr Ejiro Omonode,the Chairman of the Award Panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo and the General Manager Unmissable Incentives Limited Mr. Kayode Idowu at the Press conference to Unveil the Nigerian Sports Award held at Protea Hotel, Maryland, Lagos on Thursday. Photo by Joe Akintola, photo Editor ace Hotel, Lagos.

In a media briefing to unveil the awards in Lagos Thursday, Kayode Idowu said the awards which will be in 16 categories cover all sports, including athletics, soccer, combat sports, special sports, schools sports and sports journalist of the year in both print and electronic categories.

Speaking on the essence of the awards, chairman of the awards panel informed that “the Nigerian Sports Awards was is aimed at motivating our athletes to lift their standards,” adding, “people must meet the criteria to be able to win.

If not, nobody gets it because you cannot reward

Nadal pulls out of Olympics Continues from B/P

who called it “one of the saddest days of my career as one of my biggest ambitions, that of being Spain’s flag-bearer in the opening ceremony of the Games in London, cannot be.”

But “I do not find myself in a condition to compete,” he said, adding: “I have to think about my companions. I

Arbitration for Sport.

The ruling by CAS will cause huge embarrassment to FIFA, whose ethics committee imposed the lifetime ban one year ago.

The 63-year-old Qatari has been not proven innocent by CAS but the appeal has been upheld on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

•Nur Suryani

Moses Continues from B/P

can’t be selfish, and I have to think of what’s best for Spanish sport, especially tennis and Spanish players, and give fellow sportsmen with better preparation the chance to compete.”

The London Games, of course, would have been a return to the All England Club, where Nadal, 25, won Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010.

CAS annuls Bin Hammam’s Fifa ba n Continues from B/P

non-performance.”

Members of the public will have inputs in the process of selecting winners through nomination and voting athletes of their choice. The panel will then sit and reconcile the public vote with other criteria before announcing winners.

her Olympic debut in London, she shouldn’t be too hard to miss. Just look for the eightmonths pregnant woman with a gun.

Nur Suryani, 29, will be the first woman to represent Malaysia in shooting. She will also likely be the furthest along in a pregnancy of any woman to ever compete in the Olympics.

Only three other women have competed while pregnant, and they participated in the Winter Games, according to the New York Times.

Nur Suryani, ranked 47th in the world and taking a year off from her job as a Malaysian Navy logistics officer, is worried about whether the baby girl inside her will kick just as she pulls the trigger.

FIFA can bring fresh proceedings against Bin Hammam if the revamped ethics committee has any new evidence.

Bin Hammam was found guilty by FIFA’s ethics committee last year of paying bribes to Caribbean Football Union officials at a meeting in Trinidad last year while campaigning against Blatter for the FIFA presidency.

the Champions League and FA Cup holders have no intention of ending their pursuit of the former Crystal Palace man.

He said: “It’s something the clubs are discussing but at the mo-

ment he is a Wigan player.

“He had a good season last season, he is young and an interesting prospect.”

Moses, who scored six goals last term, has a year left on his contract at the DW Stadium.

Wor ker s sstrik trik e threat ens ork ers trike threatens Olympics Continues from B/P

arrived for the games, but a walkout threatens a return of the endless waits at the worst possible moment for Britain’s international image.

Home Secretary Theresa May, Britain’s interior minister, called the decision to stage a strike on the eve of the games “shameful.” She said the government would “put contingency arrangements in place to ensure we can deal with people coming through the border as smoothly as possible.”

Jeremy Hunt, the top government official handling the Olympics, said he was “absolutely confident” that the government would be able to minimize any disruption.

During previous border guard strikes in November and May, the government drafted in managers and civil servants - including Prime Minister David Cameron’s press secretary to help staff immigration desks and minimize the disruption to incoming travelers.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

Olympics: Ogba In Holy Land For Divine Grace

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

A

BOUT 50 percent of the Nigerian delegation to the London Olympics will be from track and field.

Athletics offers Nigeria the brightest prospect of medals and the man who pilots the affairs of this sport, Solomon Ogba, has been in the holy land

Continues on Page 55

— Pg 55

Moses is just Di man for Roberto Whelan yesterday

Nadal pulls out of Olympics R

R

OBERTO DI MAT TEO has confirmed Chelsea’s interest in Wigan striker Victor Moses.

Latics owner Dave

claimed the club had rejected a third bid of £5million from the Blues for 21-year-old Moses.

And Di Matteo admits Continues on Page 55

B

•Nadal

ORDER guards at British airports will walk off the job July 26, the day before the London Olympics begin, creating an Olympicsized logistical headache for British officials.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union voted for the 24-hour strike in a dispute over pay and job losses.

Even without the strike, London’s Heath-

row Airport has been beset for months by sporadic long lines at passport control, which the union blames on government spending cuts.

The problem had eased in the last week as thousands of Olympic VIPs

Continues on Page 55

8 months pregnant woman to compete in Olympics — Pg 55 TODAY'S

•Moses

Workers strike threatens CAS annuls Olympics Bin

AFAEL Nadal who won men’s singles at the Beijing Games in 2008, withdrew from the coming London Games on Thursday because of knee tendinitis, which was aggravated in his surprisingly early exit at Wimbledon.

The pageantry and magnitude of defending his gold medal and carrying the Spanish flag was not lost on Nadal,

Continues on Page 55

•Ogba

PUZZLES

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Hammam’s Fifa ban

M

OHAMED Bin Hammam’s lifetime FIFA ban imposed for allegedly paying bribes has been annulled by the Court of

Continues on Page 55

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Precise (6) 5 Cook (4) 8 Dim (5) 9 Tin (3) 10 Seethe (4) 11 Genuine (4) 12 Pungent (5) 13 Empty (6) 16 Inform (4) 18 Impel (4) 20 Consumed (3) 22 Beverage (3) 23 Droop (3) 24 Summit (4) 25 Speed (4) 28 Rouse (6) 30 Collapse (5) 32 Threesome (4) 33 Comfort (4) 34 Born (3) 35 Tendency (5) 36 Mirth (4) 37 Dull (6)

DOWN 1 Front (6) 2 Repair (8) 3 Although (6) 4 Compute (9) 5 Inquisitive (7) 6 Observe (4) 7 Decline (4) 8 By way of (3) 14 Harm (9) 15 Ovum (3) 17 Meadow (3) 19 Sane (8) 20 Copy (3) 21 Examine (7) 26 Ace (6) 27 Protest (6) 29 Animal (4) 30 Location (4) 31 Cushion (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Sober 9, Trader 10, Author 11, Edict 12, Flag 15, Base 17, Fanatic 20, Pen 21, Novel 23, Gang 25, Dire 26, Tamed 28, Dig 30, Revival 33, Idea 35, Dale 36, Pagan 38, Guided 39, Misuse 40, Rebel.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Staff 2, Satan 3, See 4, Ordain 5, Each 6, Rut 7, Cheap 8, Green 13, Languid 14, Gaunt 16, Several 18, Cover 19, Bed 22, Livid 24, Gag 27, Defame 28, Dingy 29, Genie 31, Value 32, Level 34, Fade 36, Per 37, Nil

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place 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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