Boko Haram leader, Shekau feared killed

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...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61950

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

How we stole N700m at Ikeja Airport —K MONEY •I wasted my N90m robbery loot

34

Fears in Rivers as IG redeploys police •P.41 officers ....Why I shunned Rivers •P.13 Deputy Gov — Dame Jonathan

Boko Haram leader, Shekau feared killed •Dies of gunshot wounds in Borno •Top informant arrested as Air Force plans air strikes HIGHLIGHTS: •Is Shekau really dead?

•The $7m bounty connection

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH; KINGSLEY OMONOBI, UMAR YUSUF & NDAHI MARAMA

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BUJA—MOST wanted Boko Haram Leader, Abubakar Shekau, might have been fatally shot and died from his wounds during a gun duel with the Nigerian Army, the military said, yesterday.

Shekau was initially reported wounded in combat with Nigerian soldiers while his second

Continues on Page 5

•Economic fall-out of Boko Haram activities

COLUMNISTS:

•CAN, MURIC, others react

•P.17

•Is Shekau's death the end of Boko Haram?

•P.19

Mr & Mrs

•See pages 8, 9 & 16

I'll not resign as PDP chairman — Tukur P.15

BOKO HARAM LEADER—Shekau in a file photo. Inset: Shekau (middle) with his men.

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POCKET CARTOON

CONDOLENCE—First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan (Centre) with some female ambassadors during a condolence visit to the First Family in Aso Villa, Abuja.

Boko Haram leader, Shekau feared killed Continues from Page 1 in command, Momodu Bama, was killed last week in a fierce battle that lasted days in the mountains of Borno.

The Joint Task Force, Operation Restore Order, yesterday, quoted intelligence reports suggesting that the sect leader might have died of gunshot wounds sustained in confrontation

with the soldiers.

A statement released by the spokesman of the JTF, Lt Col. Sagir Musa, said the terrorist leader sustained serious gunshot wounds in an encounter with the JTF troops in one of their camps at Sambisa Forest on June 30, 2013.

According to the statement, “intelligence reports available to the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Start saying what God says about your life. Your words decide divine events in your life. Say the right things and believe.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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HE world’s wisdom traditions all point in ward, stating that there is a level of the mind that serves as the source of happiness. When a person locates this core self, there is peace and silence. One feels safe and cared for. Love and bliss are available as normal aspects of life, not as intermittent experiences that arrive randomly — Deepak Chopra Happiness is life’s most cherished goal. On every continent, in every country and in every culture, when people are asked, “What do you want?” the most popular answer is “happiness.” When parents are asked, “What do you most want for your children?” the answer is “happiness.” Happiness is the goal that makes other life goals—like success, prosperity and relationships —feel meaningful and enjoyable.

With all the current research uncovering what makes people happy, you’d think we’d be happier.

So, why aren’t we? Deepak Chopra reveals why choice is the biggest predictor of overall well-being and what you can do to find lasting happiness.

The need for a new kind of happiness grows every day. The world’s supply of material goods grows slimmer; yet billions more people the world over want them. As traditional society crumbles, the rise of materialism fills in the vacuum, making it more likely rampant consumerism will keep spreading.

But consumerism, although it provides little fixes of pleasure, is one of the worse ways to achieve lasting happiness.

Joint Task Force revealed that Abubakar Shekau, the most dreaded and wanted Boko Haram terrorist leader may have died.

He died of gunshot wounds received in an encounter with the JTF troops in one of their camps at Sambisa Forest on June 30, 2013.

Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide — a border community in Cameroun for treatment, from which he never recovered.

“It is greatly believed that Shekau might have died between July 25 and August 3, 2013. He was reported to have masterminded the kidnap of the seven French citizens and that of the elder statesman, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno in addition to many murders of Islamic clerics in Northern Nigeria. He was also responsible for bombings of many places of worship and public buildings, including Police and United Nations Headquarters in Abuja.

Recent video was fake — JTF ‘The recent video released on August 13, 2013 by the purported sect leader was dramatized by an impostor to hoodwink the sect members to continue with the terrorism and to deceive the undiscerning minds.

“The JTF wishes to

appeal to the sect members to lay down their arms and embrace the Federal Government’s offer of dialogue”.

The death of Shekau came barely five days after his deputy, Bama, was slain in combat with security forces currently encamped in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states following the declaration of a state of emergency by the Federal Government to rout insurgents from those states.

Shortly after confirming the death of Bama, the Defence Headquarters released a statement to prove that the terrorists were not invincible as wrongly held in some quarters.

The Defence Headquarters said: “As troops intensify pursuit of terrorists, who have been unleashing mayhem on Borno and Yobe communities, the death of Momodu Bama, said to be the second-in-command to the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has been confirmed by other arrested terrorists. This followed encounters with the terrorists around the Bama corridor.

“Momodu Bama has been personally leading the attacks against troops and innocent citizens in the communities of Yobe and Adamawa. A specialist in manning the anti-aircraft guns of the group, he is known to be vicious and heartless with a penchant for personally slaughtering and executing his victims. Momodu Bama has been a most wanted terrorist with a N25 million bounty already placed on his head.”

According to the military, others who died in the operation included Bama’s father, Alhaji Abatcha Flatari, who is also one of the spiritual guiding lights of the outlawed terrorist group.

The Defence Headquarters further added that 17 other terrorists also lost their lives in the encounter, while 24 were arrested.

“The troops are continuing the pursuit of the terrorists while intensifying aggressive aerial and land patrols to ensure better security cover for the communities especially in the two states,” the statement also stated.

Boko Haram informant arrested

Meanwhile, as the newly created Army Division Headquarters in Maiduguri took over from Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Restore Order, yesterday to rid Borno State of Boko Haram sect insurgents, Vigilance Youths Group (BVYG) popularly addressed as ‘Civilian JTF’ and the Military Joint Task Force (JTF) have arrested a top Boko Haram informant (name withheld) on Baban Layi road in Maiduguri metropolis last Sunday, recovering incriminating documents from him.

Baban Layi located in the heart of Maiduguri is a commercial area mostly dominated by Igbo traders in the past, but during the heat of the Boko Haram crisis, most of them relocated their businesses out of Borno, leaving only few with other indigenous traders patronizing the place.

According to JTF sources, yesterday in Maiduguri, five other Boko Haram suspects were also arrested by the vigilance youths in Gwange and Kulolori/ Shuwari wards off Damaboa road areas of the metropolis.

One of the youths, Isa Yahaya also said that the two suspects arrested in Kulolori ward, were confirmed members of the Islamist sect, as the youths have their photographs and other identities which show that they were bonafide members of the sect. The other three arrested in Gwange area, were picked up in a tricycle in a “stop and search” operations by the youths on Lagos Street.

Confirming the incident, chairman of BVYG, Abubakar Mallum told newsmen that the arrested top Boko Haram informant, claimed to be a merchant of sacks in Maiduguri

and an influential member of the Boko Haram sect who had been involved in coordinating series of attacks in Maiduguri and its environs.

He said: “We have evidence before arresting this Bagco sacks dealer by our boys yesterday on Baban Layin. He also claimed that he is second in command to Shekau, but this could be a diversionary tactic, but we handed him over to JTF for further investigation.”

He said the hunt for and arrest of fleeing Boko Haram sect members in Maiduguri is a continuous process, until the terrorists are flushed out of all the towns and villages of Borno State.

Air Force to carry out air strikes Meantime, the Nigerian Air Force is to carry out air strikes and surveillance in its offensive operations against the Boko Haram insurgents, the Chief of Air Staff has confirmed.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex S. Badeh, told newsmen in Yola, yesterday, that the Air Force was ready to do everything to achieve the mission as directed

by President Goodluck Jonathan, while declaring the emergency rule.

He added that the Air Force would go the extra mile to assert Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by crushing the insurgents.

“Whatever it will take to achieve the mission will be done, air strike inclusive. We will carry out border surveillance and even air strike. Everything needed for the mission is being mobilised, men, material and all resources.

"We will do anything to achieve the mission,” Badeh said.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Navy kills 12 suspected pirates, arrests 4

BY EMMA AMAIZE & SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ARRI — THE Nigerian Navy, NN, Sunday, killed 12 suspected pirates who allegedly hijacked an ocean-going vessel, MT Notre, carrying 17,000 metric tonne of petrol motor spirit, PMS, in the Gulf of Guinea, last Thursday.

Four of the suspects were captured alive and are currently being detained at NNS Delta in Warri, Delta State.

Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan told newsmen in Warri that the vessel with the product was recovered by naval personnel after a 30-minute gun battle with the oil thieves along the Forcados flank of the western Niger Delta.

The Nigerian Navy sent an emergency signal through the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral I.E. Ibas as soon as report of the hijack was made.

A security alarm was immediately declared and NNS ANDONI and NNS IKOT ABASI were dispatched to engage the bandits.

Also deployed were six other gunboats and NN vessels increment from NNS Delta in Warri and the Navy Operation Base in Egweama, Brass Island.

The suspected pipeline vandals and exhibits

Suspected pipeline vandals reveal motive, modus operandi zI was told it’s more lucrative than selling ogogoro zWe use detergent to clear our tracks z10 suspects nabbed, 4 boats, 140 jerricans found

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — OPERATIVES of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on AntiPipeline Vandalism Unit, have arrested 10 suspected pipeline vandals who allegedly broke the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipelines in Elekete area of Ogun State to si-

Woman, 25, jailed for pouring hot oil on lover A

BUJA — A KARU Senior Magistrates’ court, yesterday, sentenced a 25-yearold woman, Victoria Alonge, to one-year in jail for pouring hot oil on her boyfriend, Roland Nna, over his refusal to marry her.

The Senior Magistrate, Omolola Akindele, summarily sentenced Alonge without an option of fine after the convict admitted to committing the offence in court.

Alonge was arraigned by the police on a one-count charge of causing grievous hurt on Nna, her boyfriend, who lives in Kurudu, Abuja.

The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Paschal Njoku, had earlier told the court that Nna reported the incident at Kurudu Police Station on August 11.

Njoku said Alonge went to Nna’s house at about 4:30 a.m. on the fateful day and poured hot oil on him while he was asleep, resulting in

grievous hurt on his body.

He said she was immediately arrested by the police, based on the report and confession to committing the crime before the police.

Njoku said while in detention, Alonge threatened to inflict more harm on the victim.

The prosecutor urged the court to summarily punish the accused since she did not deny the charge brought against her.

In her defence, Alonge told the court that her estranged lover dated her for over four years and promised to marry her, only for him to change his mind after falling in love with another women in Abuja.

She said: “I did that to teach him a bitter lesson because he refused to marry me after dating me for over four years.

“He fooled me and my parents and ditched me after finding a new lover here in Abuja.

I live in Lagos with my parents.”

phon petroleum products, at the weekend.

Recovered from the suspects were four boats and 140 jerrycans, of which 62 were filled with siphoned petroleum products.

Parading the suspects and exhibits before newsmen, yesterday, the unit’s commander, Friday Ibadin, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, explained that the vandals earlier stormed the area, Saturday night, where they broke one of the pipelines and loaded an unspecified amount of petroleum product.

Not satisfied, he said two separate gangs stormed the creeks again, Sunday night, but were arrested by the operatives led by the Lagos State Sector Commander, Osas Onaghaise, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, before they started siphoning.

He said four of the suspected vandals who earlier stormed the scene to siphon petroleum product were apprehended on their way out with the recovery of 62 jerrycans filled with petroleum products.

Ibadin said: “These suspects are among those that have been on our wanted list. With their arrest, we believe respite will return to this area. Currently, the pipeline had been opened because it was shut down to allow repairs to be carried out at the broken portions. They will be charged to court.”

Access to the terrain He, however, attributed the cause of the vandals access to the terrain to low waters which needed only canoes to reach.

He said: “We are combatants and can only patrol the waters with canoes. Speed boats can’t be used there because of the level of the water. That not withstanding, we are using the available platforms at our disposal and this has so far paved the way for us.”

We use detergent to clear our tracks Although the arrested suspects, all of whom came from Ondo State, claimed that was their first time in the illicit business, they disclosed that to cover their tracks, they came with three bags of detergent, which they intended to apply at the end of their operation.

One of the suspects, Precious Osuwo, 24, said: “I am a puller.

I was contracted to pull the boat and the siphoned product out at the end of the operation. We were three that came from Ondo State.

One Terry invited me, saying the business was lucrative. My job was not to be involved in siphoning the product but to pull the boat out at the end of which I would be given N20,000 or more, depending on the number of jerrycans we were able to fill.

"We came with detergent. They said the detergent would be used to clear the area at the end of the operation, in order not to give any clue to security men. The detergent is also meant to prevent fire incident which usually occur when vandals are running from security operatives. But we were unable to use it before we were arrested.”

I invested N400,000 into this business

On his part, Gbataomini Isepe who hails from Ondo State, said he was forced to abandon his local gin business otherwise known as ogogoro in Ondo State, after a friend convinced him that pipeline vandalism was a lucrative business.

He said: “I am an ogogoro seller and palm wine tapper, married with seven children. I invested about N400,000 that I have saved since I started the ogogoro and palm wine business. I used it to buy canoe and drums because I was made to understand I would realise the amount at the end of a successful operation. I was told to come here by a friend. He specifically told me to come on Sunday at about 9 p.m because by then those inspecting the pipeline would have gone. Unfortunately, I was arrested and all the money I managed to save in my entire life is gone.”

I was lured into it out of frustration For Samson John (18), he was lured into the illicit business out of frustration. According to him,“all those I approached to assist me with N75,000 to buy camera ignored me. I learnt photography but had no equipment to stay on my own. I even met some so-called commissioners in my state to assist but they ignored me because I am not a woman.

"So I learnt that vandal business was striving here and decided to come down with the aim of realising money to buy my camera, only to be arrested. If I am left off the hook, I swear, I will never go back. If I do, police should shoot me dead.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—7

Police allegedly shoots electrician to death in Lagos

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — PANDEMONIUM broke out in Aka Town, Iba Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos State, yesterday, after an electrician, Mr. Adamson Bello, was allegedly shot dead by a yet to be identified policeman attached to the South Bound Hotel.

The incident which occurred at about 9:00 pm on Sunday at the hotel, located at 5, Elias Lane threw the entire town into mourning, as many were yet to come to terms with the reality that Adamson, who was popularly called Baba Fasilat, could be shot dead innocently.

When Vanguard visited the scene, it gathered that the deceased was said to be sitting at the front of a provision shop less than 10 metres from the hotel, where he was hit by a bullet.

It was further learnt that the body of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital, Badagry morgue.

Vanguard further learnt that youths who were angered by the action of the policemen vandalized and carted away several property from the hotel that was opened less than a month ago.

Sources also said that some arrests had been made and the suspects were currently being detained at the Okokomaiko police station for interrogation.

According to Mr. Adedayo Fatai, “Baba Fasilat was shot dead by a police officer attached to the hotel.

“I was standing few metres beside him and when we heard the gun shot, everyone scampered for safety. And when we returned to the scene, I saw him on the ground in the pool of his blood.”

How it happened Explaining how it happened, Mr. Buchi Okechukwu said: “The hotel commenced their usual night activities as early as 7:00 pm.

And at about 8:30 pm when some youths were also trying to gain entrance into the hotel, the police officers at the gate denied them access, saying the dance hall was already filled to capac-

K

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UMBAI, INDIA — A 28YEAR-OLD Nigerian has died while undergoing

number plate BTM 349 AA, collided with a Mitsibushi pick-up vehicle with number plate KATSINA XC 797 KTN. He said the driver of the Passat car tried to avoid a pothole, as a result of which it collided head-on with the pickup van from opposite direction, causing the death of five persons and injury of six others.

According to him, the injured persons are now receiving attention at the General Hospital, Katsina, while the deceased have been buried by their relations in accordance with Islamic injunctions.

Court remands drummer for allegedly abducting 3 children

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LORIN — AN Ilorin Mag istrates’ court, yesterday, remanded a drummer, Bashiru Ishola, for allegedly kidnapping three female children.

The victims, aged between six and 10 years, were allegedly lured by the accused with bread on July 26 at Popo-Giwa area of Ilorin.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Alhassan Jubril, told the court that the accused was arrested at Okekere area of Ilorin while boarding a cab with the chil-

Mr. Adamson Bello, the victim

“As the argument dragged on, the policemen began to shoot sporadically in the air to scare the youths away. But it boomeranged as the police officer shot straight at Adamson who wasn’t involved in the scuffle.”

Son of the deceased, Afeez, said: “He bidded us goodbye when he came to check on me where I had gone for my disc jockey business.

And few minutes after, I received a call from my sister that policemen attached to the hotel had shot my father in the neck.”

Efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ngozi Braide, proved abortive.

Nigerian dies of alcohol overdose in India

5 die in Katsina auto crash AITA (KATSINA) – NO fewer than five persons lost their lives and six others seriously injured in an auto crash in Kaita Local Government Area of Katsina State, Sunday.

Katsina State Sector Commander of the Federal Road safety Commission, FRSC, Alhaji Habu Dauda, who confirmed the incident, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaita, yesterday, that the tragedy occurred at about 2.30p.m. near Tashar Jawara village.

He said the accident occurred when a commercial Volkswagen Passat car with

ity.

“But the youths turned down their plea, arguing that there was still space in the hall that could accommodate more customers.

dren.

Jubril said the accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of kidnapping and abduction, contrary to Section 271 of the Penal Code.

He objected to the bail of the accused on the ground that the alleged offences were not bailable.

Magistrate Ibijoke Olawoyin ordered the remand of the accused in Mondala Prison, Ilorin, and adjourned the case to August 30 for mention.

treatment at Inamdar Hospital, in India only a few minutes after a group of seven persons dropped him off at the hospital, then fled the scene.

According to PuneMirror, an Indian news portal, the man identified as Mbamara Chideara Festus, normally stays in Nigeria, but at the time of the incidence, he was in Mumbai.

A post-mortem conducted at Sassoon General Hospital, said Festus died of alcohol overdose after a party at Hotel Shalimar, Kondhwa.

After he fell unconscious, seven of his friends — five men and two women — dropped him off at the hospital and left immediately. He was declared dead minutes later.

A guard at the hospital noted down the registration number of the car and the Wanowrie police managed to track it down in Kondhwa.

A senior police inspector, B. D. Mohite, who is in charge of Wanowrie police station said: “As per primary information, Festus is from Mumbai, and originally from Nigeria.

His friends are students in Mumbai, mostly from Nigeria as well. They had all come to Pune on Friday to attend a party at Hotel Shalimar in Kondhwa. It looks like he may have drank beyond his limits and then faced its ill-effects.

“We established contact with his friends in Mumbai. They came to Pune in two separate cars at the invitation of one of their friends here. While partying, Festus suddenly col-

lapsed.

"One of his friends, identified as Chukwuma took him to the hospital, along with six others. While treating him, doctors declared him dead. On hearing this, his friends panicked, thinking they might get into trouble with the police, especially since they did not have their passports with them. They left the hospital at once and got in touch with us only after they got back to Mumbai.”

Mohite further said that, as per the post-mortem report, Festus had no external or internal injuries. The report states that the details of the cause of death have been kept confidential.

“However, it is part of the investigation as to whether any other narcotic substances were used,” Mohite said.

Sunil Date, administrative officer, Inamdar Multispeciality Hospital said: “Around 3:15 am, around seven to eight people came in two cars. They took the patient to the casualties ward, then left in a hurry. He was in a very bad state. When doctors took him and checked his ECG, they found he was already dead.

“Our security guards chased the car and noted the registration number, which we then handed over to the police.

Since the death occurred before we could treat him, we do not know the exact cause. We have already given the police CDs of our CCV footage to help them in their investigation.”

Baby factory: Police nab two over sale of baby

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI— THE Ebonyi State Police command said, weekend, that it arrested two suspects allegedly involved in the sale of a boy to a baby factory in Imo State.

Briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sylvester Igbo, said one of the suspects, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, specialised in conveying pregnant young girls from Amasiri to Amaraku, Amaigbo in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State where the baby factory is located.

The suspect was said to have taken the pregnant teenager, Miss Uchechi Sunday, from Amasiri in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State to the baby factory after he had promised to link her to a provision store where she would be engaged as a sales girl.

Vanguard gathered that the victim, Uchechi, on reaching the factory was shocked to discover that only pregnant girls where confined in the building used for the factory but had no option but to remain in the building until she delivered her baby.

After the delivery, Uchechi was stripped of her baby and transported to Okigwe where she was left with N10,000 to transport herself to Amasiri and to purchase some new clothes.

Angered by the development, her parents reported the incident to the police who commenced investigation into the matter.

According to the police spokesman, police investigation led to the arrest of the suspect and a nurse, Gloria Ezenwa in Feziechi Hospital at Orlu which served as a referral centre to the baby factory when incidences of complications arose.

He said: “The case of child trafficking was reported to us.

It is all about a teenager, Uchechi Sunday, I7 years, who became pregnant to an Ebonyi husband and was taken away by one man named Ifeanyi Agwu, 24, from Amasiri in Afikpo North. He deceived the lady, telling her that he had a place where she will do sales work at Amaigbo in Imo State."

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editor

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HEN the news of the death of Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect, broke yesterday, one of the questions on the lips of observers was ‘Are you sure he is dead?’

The doubt arose from claims and counter-claims regarding Shekau’s status and whereabouts in recent times as reports of cracks and division in the group came out.

Early August, Shekau was reported to have been shot and deposed by members of the sect. A new leader, Abu Zamira Mohammed, who is the sect’s leader negotiating cease-fire agreement with the Federal Government, was appointed new leader by the group’s Shura Council.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Restoration of Peace in the North-East, Tanimu Turaki, last month, announced that his committee had reached an “understanding for ceasefire” with members of Boko Haram.

Sect's ceasefire reps Leaders of the sect also nominated five people to enter peace discussions with the Federal Government: Abu Liman Ibrahim, Abu Zamira Mohammed, Abu Adam Maisandari, Kassim Imam Biu and Mallam Modu Damaturu.

In a press statement, it said the ceasefire would be in effect for 60 days, and that during the period, any attacks in its name or in the name of its leader, Imam Shekau, would be bogus attacks. The ceasefire was declared on June 26 However, Shekau, through the Internet, later dismissed the reports as false. He said he was still alive and that Boko Haram would never negotiate with the government.

He claimed responsibility for the series of attacks that took place after the widely reported cease-fire agreement.

But the Joint Military Task Force, JTF, insisted, yesterday, that Shekau was mortally wounded in a shoot-out with security forces and might have died from the deadly injuries.

How Shekau became Boko Haram leader Shekau was deputy leader under Boko Haram founder, Imam Mohammed Yusuf, who was captured in July 2009 during a fighting in Maiduguri, Borno State and executed by Nigeria’s Police force in what appears to have been an extrajudicial killing.

The interrogation and Yusuf ’s bullet-riddled body were filmed on video.

Yusuf ’s death radicalised Boko Haram leaders and led them to move underground and identify more closely with

A screengrab taken from a video released on YouTube on April 12, 2012 showing Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau (middle) flanked by militants.

Is Shekau really dead?

Al Qaeda.

Following the founder’s killing, Shekau emerged as the new leader of a revitalised Boko Haram in 2010 and he and other commanders refocused the group towards global jihad.

He launched a series of wellplanned assassinations and suicide bombings that targeted Nigerian police headquarters and the UN offices in Abuja, among many other locations.

Through a series of video appearances on television stations, notably Al Jazeera, Shekau emerged as the face of Boko Haram. Earlier this year, the United States of America, USA, placed a $7-million bounty on his head.

A few weeks ago, Shekau said the Nigeria Army was no match for him and that the USA could not capture him.

How Boko Haram started The Jama’atu Allus Sunnah Lilda wati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, meaning Western education is sin, came into existence in the 1960s, but survived through the decades under various names.

However, it started drawing attention to itself in 2002, when Mohammed Yusuf became its leader. In 2004, it moved to Kanamma, Yobe State, where it set up a base called ‘Afghanistan’ from where it attacked nearby police stations, killing police officers.

In July 2009, the Nigeria Police started investigating Boko Haram, following reports that the group was arming itself.

Yusuf, the leader and others, were arrested and on July 30, 2009 allegations were made

that Yusuf was extra-judicially killed by Nigerian security forces after being taken into custody.

The development invigorated deadly clashes with Nigerian security forces and attacks on churches, public institutions and military facilities, among others, which have led to the death of about 4,000 people.

Ignored warnings Before the clashes, many Muslim leaders, and at least one military official, had warned the authorities about Boko Haram.

Former Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Lt. General Jeremiah Useni (rtd), in 2011, said Boko Haram used to function as a political thuggery cell to a former governor of Borno State.

Useni disclosed that he had earlier warned the former governor against the use of thugs

during election, saying that like in Rivers State where thuggery gave birth to militancy, Boko Haram used to be a political thug group, but later metamorphosed into a terror entity.

Useni and others’ warnings were reportedly ignored.

According to Human Rights Watch, between July and December 2010, at least 85 people were killed in some 35 separate attacks in four states in northern and central Nigeria, as well as in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Attacks attributed to Boko Haram in 2011 left at least 550 people dead in 115 separate incidents.

Litany of attacks Between January and December 2012, Boko Haram-related attacks occurred in 14 of the country‘s 36 states, including all the 12 states that have already adopted Sharia Islamic law, Plateau State and

in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Violence blamed on Boko Haram, which said it wants to create an Islamic state in Nigeria, killed more than 900 people in 2012, in about 290 separate attacks in 12 north-eastern and central states, and Abuja, making 2012 the deadliest year since the group began its attacks in 2009.

And in 2013, about 800 people have been killed in Boko Haram-related attacks and incidents.

The litany of attacks include those of the United Nations Office, Abuja; Police Headquarters, Abuja; the buildings housing ThisDay Newspapers, Sun Newspapers and Daily Trust in Abuja; St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State; Deeper Life Church, Okene; Military Cantonment Jaji; Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SAS, office and other numerous security facilities, especially police stations.

Abubakar Shekau: The $7 million boun

BY MIKE EBONUGWO

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HEN the government of the United States of America, USA, through its Department of Justice Reward for Justice Programme, recently announced a $7 million bounty for the capture of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, expectations were high that this could signal a quick end for the dreaded terrorist and his horde of followers, thus bringing to an to end the reign of terror which the extremist Islamist sect has unleashed on Nigeria and Nigerians.

Shekau was one of five individuals declared wanted by the US for spreading terrorism in West Africa.

The belief is that most bounty hunters, including some members of the Boko Haram, will find the $7 million, which translates to about N1.12 billion, too irresistible to ignore and may go to any length to trace and expose Shekau’s hide-out.

The amount was also expected to be tempting enough to all other criminal elements in Nigeria to stake everything they have got in search of the wanted Shekau.

The announcement, yesterday, credited to the military Joint Task Force, JTF, set up to flush out the Islamist terrorists in Northern Nigeria, that it has eventually located and killed the wily Shekau, is already being seen in some quarters as an indication that the bounty option or ploy has paid off.

It may also come as a fitting and welcome climax to recent reports from JTF that it was winning the war against the terrorists and that it was only a matter of time before it would swoop on Shekau and his lieutenants.

Among the reports was

Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—9

REACTIONS I've heard of his death many times—Col Kachako

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

F A file photograph of one of the many attacks attributed to the Boko Haram sect.

Economic fall-out of Boko Haram activities

BY YINKA KOLAWOLE, with agency reports

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HE activities of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, have destroyed economic and commercial activities in the Northern part of the country.

The 2011 World Investment Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, noted that the Nigerian economy had lost over six billion dollars (N1.3 trillion) as a result of attacks by the sect.

Mr. Shedrack Madlion, a businessman based in northern Nigeria, lamented the situation.

He said: “Business activities in northern Nigeria today have gone to almost zero percent.

“There is no way anybody can come and put up any investment where there is insecurity. I was thriving on N3 million daily in business, in my agricultural inputs, but today, I don’t see N80,000.”

Madlion disclosed that farmers in Plateau, Kaduna and Sokoto states no longer go to farm for fear of what will happen to them, adding that it was a serious threat to food production in the North.

He said: “If we don’t have peace, there would be a need to review the Federal budget

nty connection Shekau narrow escape from arrest in Kano, when a joint security team stormed an apartment in the Naibawa Darnamawa area of the city, where he had for long been hiding. This was after one of his lieutenants was reported killed, while two other terrorists were apprehended by the JTF. More remarkable was the reported killing of Shekau’s second in command, Momodu Bama, during an encounter between the Islamist sect and Nigerian troops.

If true, the reported killing of Shekau will come as a welcome relief.

as Nigeria would be forced to import yam from Jamaica and enhance rice imports from Thailand and Cambodia.”

Borno In Maiduguri, Borno State, the activities of the sect have weighed down seriously on commercial and businesses activities in the city as many businesses have reportedly crumbled while many people have fled the state.

The Maiduguri Monday Market, said to be the biggest market in the city, was reported to have been seriously affected as hundreds of shop owners, especially Southerners were said to have closed their businesses and left the troubled city.

Banks are also said to be operating under difficult situation and have reduced their business hours.

Borno State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, said the activities of the sect constitute a setback to the economy of the state, noting that it may take the state 20 years to recover.

Kano

Since the militant group’s devastating attack in Kano on January 20, 2012, life has not

been the same again in the city.

Kano, which is reputed to be the hub of business and commercial activities in the entire 19 Northern states and beyond, is gradually losing steam.

About 80 per cent of the industries are said to have closed shops due to the daunting security challenges posed by activities of Boko Haram.

The Centre for Research and Documentation in the northern city of Kano attributes the threat to a drop in earnings for nearly all businesses in Kano State.

Umar Ibrahim Yakubu, Executive Director of the Centre, said: “We discovered that 97 percent of businesses were negatively affected by the security problem.”

Kaduna Kaduna, the former capital of the defunct Northern region has not fared better as business activities in the city continued to nose dive as a result of the increasing level of insecurity in state.

Many residents live in perpetual fear of the unknown as the Boko Haram sect continuous to attack the city as they restrict their business activities to areas where they feel safe.

Worst hit is the hospitality business in the city.

We can't rejoice over anyone's death, says CAN

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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RESIDENT of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday, in reaction to the reported death of the Islamist sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, said: “I have not heard the story yet but if it is true, as a Christian, we should not rejoice over the death of any one.

“Nevertheless I must commend the security forces, which had taken this war against terrorism in this country to a new and commendable height by the accomplishment they had achieved in the last couple of months.”

According to him, the Chris-

tian community in Nigeria would have preferred that Shekau was caught alive and arraigned before a court of competence jurisdiction, where Nigerians would have the opportunity of hearing his explanation for the mindless killings of innocent Nigerians.

“That is why I say that it is heavy on me to react to the death of this fellow. I would really have been glad if he was caught alive so that he can answer so many questions bothering people’s minds.

“Once again, I commend the members of the security forces, who had ensured that the turbulence in the North-East is gradually simmering down and people can now go about their daily chores almost unhindered.”

ORMER acting Military Governor of Katsina State and Third Republic Seantor, Colonel Isa Kachako, has expressed doubts on whether the death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, would lead to the end of insurgency in northern parts of the country.

He spoke from Kano, yesterday, in a telephone interview with Vanguard.

He expressed worry that the polarisation of the concept of Boko Haram had made it difficult for one to conclude that an end had come with the death of Shekau.

According to him, there are other people that are carrying out criminal acts against humanity in the North in the name of Boko Haram.

However, the former military top brass, who as Commanding Officer, flushed Maitasine out of Kano in the Second Republic, said the death of Shekau would bring desired peace if the government, military and civilians could work assiduously to separate the other criminal forces hiding under the Islamic sect to perpetrate criminality and deal with them accordingly.

He said: “First and foremost, let us hope he is truly dead this time around. I have heard about his death many times and the next thing you hear would be that he is still alive.

“Secondly, I need to tell you the death of Shekau as we are now told, may not necessarily bring the insurgency to an end because there is more to Boko Haram than meets the eye.

“There are three groups of people now parading themselves as Boko Haram: one, the group of stupid politicians, who kill their political enemies for political interests. Then, the group of armed robbers, who use all types of dangerous weapons to rob banks, snatch cars and unsuspecting people and still call themselves Boko Haram.

“Do you hear about armed robbery in the North any longer? They are now called Boko Haram. And the third group is the group of so-called Muslims, who claim to be fighting Islamic cause.

“It is difficult to identify the first two: that is the stupid politicians and armed robbers.

“But with the dialogue going on between the government’s amnesty committee and the Boko Haram group, if that is the group that Shekau actually belonged to, I think there can be said to be an end to insurgency in the horizon.”

Killing leader, no guarantee for security— Muric

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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ROFESSOR Is-haq Akintola, the Executive Di rector of Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, said: “The killing of Shekau may have little or nothing to guarantee the security of the people, except justice and equity.

“If you look at the issue of the leader of Al-qaeda, Osama Bin laden, he was hunted for so many years before he was killed. However, that did nothing to the group.

Did Al-qaeda die? Not at all.

“Until we are able to uphold justice, killing a single leader means a little. They have several deputies. So, you don’t stop violence by just killing a leader.”

Akintola, a lecturer at the Lagos State University, LASU, further said: “The issue is the movement. You cannot kill a single person without resolving the issue concerning their movement.

“We do not know who their followers are. So, we cannot go around and start arresting people but find a way of bringing them around and dialogue to finally resolve issues.

“I will tell you that we repeat our condemnation of all forms of violence. However we of the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, takes the Federal Government’s statement on taking Boko Haram case to ICC with a pinch of salt.

“It, in the same statement, contradicted itself by adding that the amnesty committee set up by it was on course.”

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Yaba LCDA holds security awareness forum

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ABA Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos, in partnership with Crime Fighters, a police awareness initiative, is organising a security awareness forum.

According to Mr. Olajide Jimoh, Chairman, Yaba LCDA and Chief host, the forum, with the themed Public Safety and Security in Our Community: Securing the Nation Through Community Participation, is scheduled to hold today, at the main Auditorium of University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu is expected as the special guest of honour while Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, is the Chief Host.

Lagos APC blasts PDP scribe over comment on Fashola

BY UJU MBANUSI AGOS—LAGOS State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the Acting National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Tony Okeke, as an “upstart desperate to impress his principals on his suitability for the job of image maker of a failed party.”

The APC’s response followed an earlier depiction by Mr. Okeke of Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, as a dictator, on account of the recent deportation of 14 alleged destitute persons to Anambra State.

Lagos APC, in a statement by its Interim Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the party said that having failed woefully in 14 years of regressive politics, the PDP, crumbling from its own failures, was now clutching on any imaginable straw to survive.

The APC wondered why a party that had allegedly stolen hundreds of trillions of Naira while promoting destitution, poverty and want in Nigeria, was so shameless to take ad-

L

vantage of the victims of its own corrupt governance to gain political favour.

The statement said: “We ask the Acting PDP Publicity Secretary to help resolve the issues raised by the full disclosure by

the Lagos State government on the resettlement issue, which bordered on communications between the Lagos and Anambra State governments on the 14 destitute prior to their resettlement. Does he think he can walk away with trading in the

cheap banalities offered by those that initially tried to benefit from the issue but who have gone into deep silence since the Lagos State government released details of its efforts to get the destitute properly reintegrated with their people?

SIGNING: From right: Hon. Florence Oguntuase, Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Mr. Ade Ipaye, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Hon. Segun Olulade, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Lagos State House of Assembly, during the signing of a Re-enactment Bill of the Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Center into law by Governor Fashola in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Russia pledges stronger bilateral ties with Lagos ...as Fashola signs PSSDC bill into law

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—RUSSIAN Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Nickolay Udovicheuko, yesterday, expressed his countr y ’s readiness to strengthen the level of bilateral relations and agreement with Nigeria, especially with the Lagos State government.

Udovicheuko, who gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, said the need for stronger ties with Nigeria, especially Lagos State, was informed by its strategic

position of the country.

The ambassador explained that some of the areas in which the agreement would be strengthened included education, economy and cultural exchange.

Responding, Fashola assured the ambassador that the doors of the state were open to ideas that would fast-track development of the state.

The governor declared that the state was looking forward to buying into the success story of railway system and successes recorded by the country over the years.

In another development, Governor Fashola

has reiterated his administration’s resolve to continue to develop strategies to improve the skills and competence of the 120, 000 civil servants in the state.

He made the pledge while signing into law, a bill re-establishing the Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre, PSSDC, in Ikeja.

Te governor noted that a well-trained and motivated civil service was central to the realisation of the state’s developmental goals, saying government would continue to pursue workers‘ development strategies.

Police Sergeant’s son lynched in Benue over suspected robbery

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—A 22year-old son of a retired Police Sergeant, Terfa Adim, of Mbaketsa Council Ward of Shangev-ya district, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, has been burnt to death by an irate mob over suspected armed robbery. The incident happened weekend.

Vanguard reliably gathered from an eyewitness that the deceased, alongside two other members of the gang, had on Sunday, robbed one Michael Hwande of Mbakertsa, of the same district, after firing several gun shots into the air to scare residents before breaking into the house of their victim.

He said: “But as God would have it, the leader

of the gang,Terfa, who mounted guard at the door with a gun while the others were carrying out the operation, was attacked by a courageous neigbour who disarmed him with a knife.

“Sensing danger the two others took to their heels and escaped before members of the vigilante group in the area would arrive the scene.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—11

S-West PDP alleges plans to impose Okeya as V-Chairman

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LAUNCH OF APC: From left: Speaker Suraj Adekunbi, Prince Segun Adesegun, Deputy Governor; Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his wife Mrs. Funso Amosun during the launch of All Progressives Congress, in Ogun State, at Ake Palace ground, Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo by WUMI AKINOLA.

Osoba, 21 lawmakers, others, shun Ogun APC launch

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—NATIONAL leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the three senators and eight House of Representatives members from the state as well as 10 members from the state House of Assembly, were among prominent party stalwarts that shunned the official lunch of the newly registered party, in the state.

The launch, held at Ake palace ground in Ake, Abeokuta, yesterday, was mostly attended by members of the party believed to be loyalists of governor Ibikunle Amosun.

There had been internal wrangling within the defunct ACN which led to its factionalisation into Osoba and Amosun groups.

The crisis was pronounced yesterday as Osoba and his

leaders, including the governor, addressed the people.

Addressing the crowd, former Chairman of defunct Congress for Progressive Change in the state, Mr. Kunle Mudashiru, vowed that the merger of the defunct parties would defeat the Peoples Democratic Party in the coming elections.

Also speaking, one of the national officers of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Wasiu Olalekan pledged that the new party would give the people of the country good dividends of democracy, compared to the dark

followers, including 21 lawmakers, both at the federal and state Assemblies, were conspicuously absent at the official launch of the party in the state.

But, in a swift reaction, the state commissioner for Information and strategy, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, denied any crisis in the party, saying Osoba is a national leader who was not expected at the event.

Olaniyonu, who spoke with our correspondent on phone, said that the members of the National Assembly could not attend the launch because they were in Brazil.

Against the expectation that the

BY DAYO JOHNSON stalwarts of the merging parties would address the KURE—ONDO crowd one after the State government, other, only three yesterday, said that it embarked on verification of workers across the 18 council areas because the wage bill of the councils were inflated and too much for government to bear.

The Administrative Secretary of the State Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Odunayo Ketiku, gave the clarification following criticism that greeted the exercise and the delay in payment of workers' salaries.

Ketiku said aside this, the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, had

14 years of the PDP at the national level.

However, the Interim Chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Tajudeen Bello, did not make any comment but, rather sang two songs.

Thereafter, governor Ibikunle Amosun took the centre stage assuring the people of the state of better governance both at the state and the national level if the party is voted into office in the coming general elections.

He described the party as the only party that has presence in all the six geopolitical zones in the country.

HEAD of the SouthWest zonal congress of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, slated for Saturday, the zonal leadership of the party has raised alarm over plans by the former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Chief Olabode George and the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), to allegedly impose one Dele Okeya as the National Vice-Chairman of the party in the zone.

In a statement yesterday by the Deputy Zonal Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Hon. Semiu Babatunde, the party alleged: “The duo have perfected plans to drop the name of the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, with a view to achieving their invidious aim of imposing a non-politician as the Zonal Vice-Chairman.

Already, they have scheduled a meeting for Tuesday night in Abuja where they intend to perfect their plan.”

2015: Gowon calls for prayers

Ondo clarifies verification of I council workers

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been inundated with complains from the local government workers themselves that the wage bill was being padded.

The Administrative Secretary said the screening, which led to daunting discoveries, was

however, not done to witch-hunt people or force them out of service.

According to her, in the course of the screening, it was discovered that there was no basic data on local government workers in the state.

Ondo’s former SSG leads scores from PDP to APC

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—FORMER Secretary to the Ondo State Government and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, yesterday, led other notable leaders of the party to decamp to the newly registered All Progressives Congress,

APC. Kekemeke, who was also a former commissioner under governor Olusegun Agagu, led others who include a former council chairman Mr. Tunde Alake, former Chairman of Ile Oluji/ Okeigbo, Yejide Ogundipe and Prof. Olu Aboluwoye, Ojajuni Philip, among others.

BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN—AS the 2015 general elections draw near, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon(rtd), has urged all Nigerians to pray fervently to God so that he could uproot all leaders who have evil intention against the country.

According to him, some politicians in the country are just over ambitious and should be ignored by all Nigerians adding that “those types of politicians are spelling doom for the nation, and Nigerians need to be careful.”

He spoke at the commissioning of Gethsemane World Prayer Tower at Eleyele, Ibadan, which was built by the General Overseer, Gethsemane World Prayer Ministry, Reverend Moses Aransiola.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Ezekwesili tasks FG over oil theft

BY EMMA UJAH

FORMER MINISTER of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, has once again taken the Federal Government to task over its sincerity in revenue generation and management, especially with regard to the alleged massive oil theft which she said was not normal.

Mrs. Ezekwesili, who spoke at a civil society dialogue on the Steven Oransaye Report, in Abuja, yesterday, said, “the government must be sincere with Nigerians on the oil theft. This government can’t claim that the oil theft is normal.

“We can’t be in a country that sees the loss of the most critical commodity as normal, this is not normal. We are trapped. When you are in a hole, as the Americans say, ‘ you stop digging.’”

Edo migrant farmers get Okomu Oil Palm support

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IGRANT FARMERS, who voluntarily relocated from Okomu Oil Palm’s Extension One concession in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State are now beneficiaries of various sums of money to re-establish their livelihoods.

The farmers occupied three camps: Sunday, Olomu and Oluwo. At their disengagement, last week, the company disbursed N11.5 million to 140 farmers involved.

Depending on their holdings, the farmers collected once off exgratia payment varying from N30, 000 to N260, 000.

The ceremony was witnessed by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Abdul Oroh as well as other government representatives from the ministries of agriculture and natural resources and land and survey.

The farmers had encroached on the company ’s land and planted crops such as cocoa, cassava and plantains.

Irrua Specialist Hospital chairman tasks security agents on kidnapped doctor

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN— CHAIRMAN of the Board of Management of Irrua Specialist and Teaching Hospital, Chief Boyelayefa

Debekeme, has appealed to security agents in the state to assist in fishing out those responsible for the abduction of a physician in the hospital, Dr. Edeawe Osahogie.

Dr. Osahogie was allegedly kidnapped, weekend, in Irrua

by gunmen while retiring home from the hospital.

Following his abduction, resident doctors in the hospital, Friday, took to the streets of Ekpoma and Irrua to protest the kidnap of their colleague.

....CMD not asked to proceed on compulsory leave — SSAUTHRIAI

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CTY — MEMBERS of Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institute and Associated Institutions, SSAUTHRIAI, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, have raised alarm over alleged plot by groups they described as faceless, to cause crisis between the staff of the institution and management.

Chairman of SAUTHRIAI, Mr. Fidelis Ogobor, who addressed newsmen, on the de-

velopment, said ‘faceless group’ under the aegis of “National Movement of Nigeria” had alleged that there was tension in the hospital after the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof.

George Akpede embarked on compulsory leave as allegedly directed by the management of the hospital.

Ogobor, who acknowledged that the outgoing CMD was on leave, described as misleading and untrue, insinuations that the CMB was asked to proceed of compulsory leave.

He said: “The CMD had ap-

plied for leave and same was granted by the board. I do not understand how a faceless group supposedly based in Lagos State will go about peddling falsehood on activities of the teaching hospital.

“There has been peace in the teaching hospital since the current board assumed duties in April and it is our belief that this group is being sponsored to cause unnecessary tension in the institution.

“We wouldn’t know where this group and its publicity secretary, Okharedia Ihimekpen got their information. We are fully aware that the outgoing CMD had himself applied for leave which was duly approved by the board.

“We call on the faceless group to stop peddling falsehood. We also call on Mr. President, the Minister of health and o t h e r stakeholders to ignore any of such falsehood.

Debekeme described the abduction of Dr. Osahogie as very unfortunate and capable of militating against the hospital’s commitment to deliver qualitative health care to the people, and appealed to the resident doctors not to allowed the unfortunate incident affect their duties to patients and the communities, which the hospital serve.

He said that the board will do all within its powers to ensure that they were protected and provide a safe working environment in the performance of their duties.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, ISTH chapter, Dr. Emmanuel Ighodalo, who led the protest, had appealed to the kidnappers to release their colleague unhurt and unconditionally.

The protesting doctors also appealed to the police to play its role to secure the release of the doctor, just as they appealed to members of public not to withhold useful information from the security agents.

“We are out to protest the kidnap of our colleague. It has been a harrowing experience since he was kidnapped Monday. It is disheartening that while we are in the business of saving lives, we are constantly targets of kidnappers.

“We appeal to the individuals who have abducted him to, please, let him go. It is distressing for anybody to be kidnapped,” he said.

The Ekpoma Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Okpako Omuohowo, assured the protesting doctors that his men were on top of the situation, as they were making frantic efforts to ensure the doctor’s release and also bring the perpetrators to book.

2 female teachers, 3 children abducted in Benin

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN –— TWO female teachers and three children have been allegedly abducted in Benin, Edo State by gunmen.

The abduction of the victims is coming barely a week after three female teachers in Orogbua Primary School, Ekekhuan in Ovia North Local Government Area of the state were released after spending 14 days with their abductors.

Vanguard gathered that one of the teachers, was seized in her car along with three of her children while driving to church on Sunday.

It was further learnt that the car was recovered, yesterday, while the whereabouts of the teacher and her three children are still unknown.

The abductors are also yet to contact their families. Coincidentally, the second teacher was said to have been abducted while coming from the church.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—13

Why I shunned Rivers Dep Gov — Mrs Jonathan T

VISIT: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Rev. Felix Omobude, President, Pentocostal Fellowhip of Nigeria, PFN, during a visit to the Governor in Benin City, yesterday.

Group flays call for Amaechi to step down

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN

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group, the Broad Minded Youth Assembly has flayed recent calls on Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State to step down as chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, describing same as undemocratic.

National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Mo-

hammed Hassan, in a statement in Abuja, “expressed shock that a democratic process that transparently produced the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum should be jettisoned when similar process was responsible for “the vibrant leadership we currently have in the National Assembly.”

Noting that the call

Delta Senatorial by-election: Keyamo increases rhythm

BY EMMAAMAIZE

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ARRI — LAW-YER and activist, Chief Festus Keyamo, who is eyeing the Delta Central senatorial seat that became vacant following the death of Senator Pius Ewherido, has intensified his campaign with tours to various communities and meetings with prominent Urhobo leaders. He met with influential leaders in Urhobo land, including PresidentGeneral of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Major-General

Patrick Aziza (rtd), Chief P.E. Ideh, Senator Adegor Eferakeya, Dr. T. Salubi, Mr. Charles Oniyere, Chief Phillip Eyagomare and Mr. Ufuoma Oyen.

His spokesman, Mr. Frank Oshanugor, said “Everywhere he went, the leaders gave their blessings and many of them could not hide their feelings that his entry into Delta State politics and particularly the Delta Central senatorial race had elevated political discourse in the area to a higher intellectual height.

was not worthy in a democratic setting, he said “the idea is not only illegal but unhealthy for Nigeria’s nascent democracy.”

He tasked those proposing the idea to rather call on the chairman of the rival faction of the NGF, Governor Jonah Jang and his supporters to follow popular counsel and support Ama echi.

NOUN law students kick over ‘no Law School’ threat

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ORT HARCOURT — LAW students of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, have faulted the Nigerian Law School and Nigerian University Commission, NUC, over threat that graduates of the open varsity would not be admitted into the Law School.

The students expressed discontent with lawyers and groups supporting the perceived denial, when the Law Society of the Port Harcourt Study Centre of the National Open University swore in new executive as part of the centre’s 2013 Law Week celebration.

Out-gone President of the centre’s Law Society, Livingstone Wechie, who handed over to incoming Daniel Ejii, said it was unjustifiable and negates the essence of the open varsity system to deny its law students the benefit of passing through the Law School at the completion of their regular studies.

CHANGE OF NAME AGU - I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Agu Chinenye Loyce, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okoye Chinenye Loyce. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

HE COUNTRY’S First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday, said that she should be left out of the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

A statement by her Director of Information, Mrs. Ayo Adesugba, said “the attention of the First Lady has been drawn to reports carried in some sections of the media, alleging that top officials of the Rivers State Government, including the deputy gover nor, Mr. Tele Ikuru, who came to receive the First Lady, were shielded from Dame Jonathan on her arrival at Port Harcourt International Airport, Sunday.

“Some of the media reports went to the extent of alleging that Dame Jonathan “snubbed” the Deputy Governor. It is important to set the record straight in order to prevent the public from being misled.

“The First Lady arrived Rivers State, Sun-

day, for a private visit, to make arrangements for the burial of her late mother with members of her extended family.

“Customarily, the wife of the state governor receives the First Lady, whenever she visits any state. That was why the wife of Bayelsa State governor travelled from Yenagoa to receive the First Lady.

Ordinarily, one would have expected the same compliment from the wife of the Rivers State governor.

“It is instructive to note that since the death of Mrs. Charity Oba, the mother of the First L ady, several groups and individuals from across the country have come to condole the First Family at the State House, Abuja.

“They include state governors and their wives from all the political divides; Nigeria’s former Presidents and Heads of State and their wives, captains of industry, female ambassadors and High Commissioners of Ni-

geria, other members of the diplomatic corps, royal fathers and traditional leaders - the list is too numerous to call.

“However, the governor and the wife from the state (Rivers) where the First Lady hails, have not paid such a visit.

“It should be clear to all that for quite some time, the First Lady has refrained from commenting on issues relating to the politics of Rivers State.

“Dame Patience does not want her name to be used to heat up the polity. We, therefore, urge that the name of the First Lady be left out of the politics in Rivers State.

“The First Lady, like any Nigerian, is free to visit the state of her birth. Dame Jonathan bears no grudge towards anyone as she is an individual who continues to tirelessly advocate peace and harmony in Nigeria. We, therefore, reiterate that the First Lady’s name be left out of the politics in the state.”

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

BY DAYO BENSON

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HEN the news broke, yesterday, that leader of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has been killed by the Joint Military Task Force JTF; it instantly evoked a reaction of doubt.

Was it actually Shekau that was killed or someone else? Such question was

NEWS ANALYSIS pertinent because there had been several rumour of his death in recent times.

The curiosity to see the photograph or video clips of his bullet ridden body was punctured by the realization that video clips and pictures of Osama bin Ladin’s body was not made available for security reasons when he was

2015: Kolade recommends Katsina model for PDP

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

C

HAIRMAN of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programe, SURE-P, Mr. Christopher Kolade, yesterday, advised the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to emulate the bottom-up approach of Katsina State to governance as strategy for winning the general election in 2015.

He gave this advice in Lagos at the guest speaker Forum of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative, NLI. Kolade said: “If PDP uses the template (of Katsina state government), it will be sure of 2015 election. But the way they are going right now the road is far.”

The forum featured the Governor of Katsina State, Dr. Ibrahim Shema, as guest speaker. Shema, who was represented by the Head of Service , Alhaji Ali Muhammed, presented a paper titled, “The Challenges of Political Leadership.”

Speaking further, he said: “In the Nigeria Leadership Institute, the focus is on leadership that performs because we believe that performance is the real test of leadership. That is what is demonstrated by the government of Katsina State. Katsina state has confirmed to us that there is hope that leadership that performs can be achieved in Nigeria.”

C M Y K

Is Shekau's death the end of Boko Haram? killed by the US Naval Seal.

President Barrack Obama, simply informed the world that Bin Laden’s body had been cast into the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean’s womb.

Other details remain classified information until they are de-classified.

It is also instructive that when Shekau’s second in command was killed penultimate week, the picture of his corpse was not made public. The Boko Haram Sect leaders were swathed with aura of seeming invisibility.

A couple of months ago, a splinter group from the sect had claimed that Shekau had been deposed and that a new leader had been installed.

This, however, turned out to be mere claim as Shekau remained fully in charge of the sect. The arrest of some of his commanders, including Kabiru Sokoto, would not yield the one who was actually calling the shot from his hide –out.

Modus Operandi of Shekau-led Boko Haram suggested that it was a well organised group, with the

solo aim of hitting its target when it was least expected.

Violent campaigns by other insurgents which were attributed to Shekau’s faction were routinely disclaimed via press statements.

Until yesterday when he was killed, the ideology of the sect was to say the least, contradictory. At inception, religious undertone was implied in its activities.

Later it, however, became clear that the group has other agenda. Several ceasefires had been declared by the sect but they

never lasted. Not even the amnesty committee set up by the Federal Government could placate Boko Haram.

Perhaps, the killing of his second in command by the JTF was an indication that the end was near for Shekau.

A monetary reward of N25 million and a more coherent intelligence efforts were all it took to take out his deputy.

Now that Shekau himself has fallen, the question that pleads answer is will his eternal exit mark the end of Boko Haram?

The sect, like other similar insurgent groups, is known to have mutating cells, such that when the leader is killed by whatever circumstances, there is always an able successor waiting in the wings.

Since the death of Bin Laden, not much had been heard of Al-Qaeda, but there is always an abiding fear, especially in the western world, that his disciples are still around and may strike again. Will the case of Boko Haram be different? Time, indeed, will tell.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—15

I 'll not resign as PDP chairman — TUKUR

BY HENRY UMORU

A

B U J A — N AT I O N A L chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said yesterday, that he was neither resigning as the head of the present National Working Committee, NWC, nor contemplating doing so.

Tukur said, while dismissing media reports about plans to remove him from office, that he was never under any pressure to resign his position.

In a statement he personally signed, Tukur boasted that he had a good working relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT leaders, stakeholders and elders of the party, adding that he had been strategising with them on the need to address the challenges facing the party Tukur said: “Let me reiterate that I am not resigning and I have no intention of doing so as an elected National Chairman of PDP. I accepted to become chairman based on my conviction that I can use my wealth of experience to help my party and my country.

"I am not looking for anything at my age other than putting it on record that God has helped me, and then, I am using the opportunities he gave me to serve the rest of Nigeria to the best of my abilities.”

The PDP national chairman noted that he was aware of the antics of some black legs in and out of the PDP who had been funding negative media reports on activities of the party, both at the state and national levels, noting that such antics would amount to naught as no sponsor of such reports would go far.

Tukur said he had a firm belief that the Nigerian media had come of age in observing the tenet of journalism, anchored on fairness, thorough investigation and balancing of reports before publication, as well as reporting the truth, all with intents to promote national interest and cohesion.

The statement read: “He expressed dismay that the media, since he assumed office as the PDP chairman, had made several failed prediction that he would not last long in office, based on projections by those he described as enemies of the party.

“He wondered why a section of media would persist in reporting falsehood which, according to him, has been exposing their inadequacies or rather lack of depth and professionalism.

“I had hardly settled down in office when some newspapers C M Y K

predicted that I would not last three months. Later, some newspapers wrote that I would resign in December. Another one said two days ago that I had been asked to resign.

“Well, I have spent more than one year in office and they still continue to write same and same thing all over. I really do not understand whether Bamanga Tukur is really the media problem, or the problem of faceless individuals who were manufacturing the miserable reports.

“It was more ludicrous that some people funded a report that I had resigned when, indeed, I was on my way to Canada for an official engagement, and yet our so called media bought the untruth without shuddering.

Then I ask myself, where is the sense of fairness and professionalism by our media in this regard?

“The problem is so bad that when members of our party meet and discuss behind closed doors, the media would say

Bamanga Tukur is the issue.

The media do not seem to know that we have better things to discuss in our party than issue of crises.

“I will not relent in using the good office given to me by God to bring peace into the party. It is on this note that I appeal to all our members to come together to face the challenges confronting us as a party. If we must remain the strongest party that we are in Africa, it is high time we buried the hatchets and begin to close ranks".

PRESENTATION—From left: Specialist, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Dayo Adeyelure; Laptop winners, ND Computer Science Student, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Chukwuma Kalu; ND Business Studies, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Nnenna Mark and Specialist, Youth Market Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Ifeoluwa Oyeyipo during presentation of laptops to winners at the Etisalat Cliqfest, at Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

Federal character principle, a set back for Nigeria — MOMAH

BY SONI DANIEL, REGINAL EDITOR, NORTH

A

BUJA—WRONG application of Federal Character principle by the Federal Government and its agencies is drawing Nigeria backwards rather than propelling it to grow and make progress in the comity of nations.

Besides, the principle is promoting culture of indolence and low productivity, instead of meritocracy and hard work for which Nigerians were known and respected globally.

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Gen. Sam Momah, (rtd), who made the observations in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, called for an urgent step to redefine the principle so as not to plunge the country into avoidable disaster and lower its image in the international community.

Momah, who is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers,

pointed out that although the initiators of the Federal Character principle meant well for Nigeria, its implementation had been manipulated to achieve ulterior motives rather than national interest.

Momah, who has written a book entitled, “Nigeria beyond Divorce”, which chronicles the ills and measures for salvaging the country, noted that before the emergence of the principle, Nigerians were more productive and competitive in their chosen areas of endeavours.

He said: “This Federal Character principle should be redefined and made more productive so that it does not continue to sacrifice merit on the altar of mediocrity.

“Federal Character as it is currently practised in Nigeria tends to inculcate cheating rather than emphasise hard work, selflessness and nationbuilding, the core values, which our founding fathers lived by.”

The retired general said he was deeply worried over the way Nigeria was going and pleaded with those in positions of authority to measure their actions and utterances before acting or speaking so as not to heat up the polity.

He also said although the country would not break up as predicted by some Nigerians and foreigners, the leadership must begin to take actions to unite rather than give room for loose talks and provocative proclamations.

He said: “I’m really worried about Nigeria although I do not believe that it will disintegrate as predicted by some of our people. Having said that, I want to warn that we must be ready to retrace our steps from actions and utterances that tend to divide rather than bring us together.

“I must advise that no one should be allowed to do anything to weaken our national cohesion and sense of unity."

APC members, political merchants — Yerima

BY LEVI NWABUGHIOGU

A

BUJA—MOST members of the recently registered All Progressive Congress, APC, are political merchants who see the party platform as an instrument of negotiation rather than seeking to win the 2015 Presidential election, National President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, Alhaji Shetima Yerima, has said.

Yerima, who spoke to newsmen while examining the chances of President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015 general elections, advised Nigerians not to be carried away by the new development.

He said though some of the personalities in the APC were principled, they might be swayed by others who are mercenaries.

Yerima also stated that with the enormous powers granted to the office of the President by the current constitution, Jonathan was sure to secure another term, despite the “noise” being made by the opposition.

Works Minister denies N52bn palliatives on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

A

BUJA—MINISTER of Works, Arch Mike Onolememen, yesterday, denied paying N52billion as palliatives on the LagosIbadan expressway.

The Minister in a statement said the ministry had so far paid N1.1billion palliative on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, spanning 127.8-kilometres awarded at a cost of N167.8 billion.

The minister said: “The sum of N620 million was paid to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for the first section, while about N522 million was paid to Reynolds Construction Company, RCC, for the second section of the expressway.

“The section I which traverses from Lagos to Shagamu interchange is a sixlane dual carriage way with a fly-over at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, junction, while section II will maintain the existing four lanes with rehabilitation of six fly-overs.”

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Power privatisation: BPE insists on Wednesday’s deadline zOnly 3 companies have paid, others may go to court

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU &

EMMA UJAH

A

BUJA—THE Federal Gov ernment said yesterday, that there was no going back on the Wednesday deadline given to the 14 bidders for the 15 successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, which were put up for sale by the Bureau of Public Entreprises, BPE. About 10 of the bidders at a round table with the government last week, had requested for a month extension to enable them conclude the financial transactions with their respective banks.

The 14 companies cumulatively paid $559.44 million for the 15 successor companies on March 21, being the mandatory 25 per cent bond requested by government to confirm their statuses as the preferred bidders.

However, the BPE in a statement, said the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, insisted that: “The deadline for payment of the remaining 75 per cent remains Wednesday, August 21, 2013, as stipulated in the Request for Proposal, RFP.” The statement added, “In compliance with the tenets of transparency and accountability, the Bureau will continue to strictly abide by the terms and conditions in the RFP.”

Liability free assets Recall that the bidders under the aegis of the Roundtable of Distribution Companies, had also requested that government should fulfill all the “conditions precedent” of the RFP by paying off all the liabilities of PHCN workers.

The Roundtable Chairman, Dr. Ransome Owan, had said: “It is a condition precedent that the Discos would be handed over free from all legacy liabilities.”

He insisted that this was paramount as their financiers “are reluctant to approve loans and condition draw-down. Therefore, it is vital for full payment obligations to the current PHCN employees be finalised before the long stop date of August 21. Lenders expect evidence of these payments before we can draw down on funds to complete our payments.”

In response to the above, the Bureau confirmed in the statement that as at Friday, August 16, a total of N119,176, 731,492.88k had so far been paid to 20,304 of the 40,000 PHCN workers as severance benefits The council noted that the payments were “in line with the agreement reached with Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, labour unions dated December 12, 2012. The Federal GovC M Y K

ernment commenced payment of benefits due to the staff on August 1, 2013.

“The payment is being handled by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, OAGF, and commenced on Thursday, August 1, 2013.”

Failure will result in losses Already, there are fears that the bidders may not meet the 5pm Wednesday deadline (tomorrow), as only three met the payment of the balance 75 per cent of their bid prices.

Confirming the development to Vanguard, the Chairman of the Technical Committee, Mr. Atedo Peterside, said those who failed to meet the 75 per cent obligations would lose the 25 per cent bond already paid.

Peterside said: “As at today, only three companies have paid. Those who are unable to pay by 5pm on Wednesday, will face the consequences; they will lose what have already been paid.”

Peterside, however, could not give details of those that had paid, but expressed optimism that the bidders would meet the deadline, as they appeared to be toeing the line in the payment for the 25 per cent bid price by paying up on the last day.

He disclosed that contrary to what the Roundtable wanted the public to believe; only one of the bidders was having challenges raising the balance 75 per cent bid price.

He said: “Only one of them is having problems with the banks and made it look like all of them were. My take on that having been a banker all my life is that if you cannot raise the fund in six months, you cannot raise it ever.

“I tell you that there is no bank in the world that cannot conclude a loan transaction within six months. So when others realised the implication of not meeting the deadline if they went along with the one month extension, they simply pulled back from the group since they signed individual contracts.”

In affirmation, one of promoters of the Vigeo Group, which won the Benin Discos, told Vanguard in confidence that the Group did not see the rationale in aligning with the Roundtable, and that it would pay by Wednesday.

He said: “For us in Vigeo, everybody put in individual bids, so each has to be on its own. Besides, the bid process is very clear, as the conditions were clearly stated.

“Yes, we have not paid, but we will pay by Wednesday. There is no rationale in rushing to pay, since we are looking at the cost of funds.”

There was no confirmation of payment from the Transcorp Group, which won the Ughelli Plant, while a source told Vanguard that the Amperion Group is among the three that have paid.

Possible litigations But legal experts believe that the development could lead to possible litigations, in the event that some of them were unable to meet the Wednesday deadline.

According to them, “the bidders will not just watch millions of dollars just go like that. They will plead extraneous circumstances like the oil companies plead force majeure, when they are unable to meet their supply obligations.

“But the determination of the suit rests with the judge handling the case; because if he is understanding, the parties may recover some of their money, definitely not all, and if the judge is a straight guy, he will simply insist on the terms of the contract.

“Again, it may take some years before they can recover anything because the cases may drag for long considering they are dealing with government.”

Noting the futility of going to court, Peterside insisted that the terms of the contracts were very clear, saying, “They can go to the highest court because the terms are very clear, they read it, made observations and signed. So they can’t come down the road to say they want more time or that they want to back out.”

Preferred bidders: z$31million paid by four Power Consortium for Port-Harcourt Disco, z$31.5 million by Interstate Electrics Limited, Enugu Disco, z$27,913,633.50 million by North-South Power Company for Shiroro Power Plc, z$32.25 million by Vigeo Consortium for Benin Disco, z$75 million by Transcorp/ Woodrock Consortium for Ughelli Power Plc, z $50,249,965 by CMEC/ EUAFRIC Energy JV for Sapele

Power Plc, z$41 million by Kann Consortium for Abuja Disco, z$20,464,968.15 by Aura Energy for Jos Disco, z$59,467,500 by Mainstream Energy Ltd for Kainji Power Plc; and, z$34.25 million by Sahelian Power SPV for Kano Distribution Company.

Others z $33 million by Amperion Power Company Limited for Geregu Power Plc, z$42.25 million and $14.75 million by Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Company for Ibadan and Yola Discos respectively. z$32.75 million by NEDC/ KEPCO for Ikeja Distribution Company; and z$33.75 million by West Power & Gas for Eko Disco.

VISIT: Mr. Charles Gerard of Corporate Affairs Department, Vanguard Newspapers, addressing members of the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, CYON, Warri, during a visit to Vanguard Media Ltd, Apapa, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

FG earmarks $6.43m to educate 40 million illiterate Nigerians

BY DEMOLAAKINYEMI

I

LORIN—THE Federal Gov ernment has earmarked $6.43 million “self benefiting” Trust Fund for the delivery of quality literacy programme for estimated 40 million illiterate Nigerians by 2015.

Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Education, Alhaji Jibrin Paiko, declared this yesterday, in Ilorin at a workshop for 111 adult and youth facilitators in three local government areas of Baruten, Edu and Kaiama in Kwara State.

He explained that the project, was captured under a three-year strategic frame work (2012-2015), aimed at revitalising adult and youth literacy project.

Paiko said it was designed to meet the education for all, EFA, goals and education related Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, by 2015.

Represented by a Monitoring Officer in the agency, Mr. Lukuman Paiko said: “The workshop held simultaneously in Lagos, Edo and Kwara, is to improve the skills and knowledge of 4,107 facilitators across the country at the av-

erage of 111 per state.”

Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago, who declared the workshop open, said: “Each of the facilitators must enroll at least 24 adult and youth illiterates and make them literates within nine months.”

The commissioner was represented by a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mohammad Alabi.

He commended the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, for sponsoring the workshop.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—17

T

HE year was 1965. I was an innocent starry-eyed 13 year-old and Nigeria was in turmoil. It was the era of the “wetie,” when the houses of politicians and key public-figures were burnt down in the brouhaha that was then Western Nigeria.

We lived in Oke-Ado in Ibadan and our next-door neighbour was Chief Ogundiran, a minister in the government of Chief S.L. Akintola, the Premier of the Western Region. (Ogundiran was famous for only wearing white.) In the spirit of the times, a mob came early one morning and burnt down his house. He jumped out of the window and managed to escape.

Fani-Power: I was having private lessons in Mathematics at the home of a colleague, Enitan Abiodun, when we heard the noise of a crowd outside. We rushed to the veranda to see Chief Remi Fani-Kayode (alias FaniPower), then Deputy Governor of the Western Region, standing on the seat of a moving convertible.

He was surrounded by a mob, which was shouting and hailing him. On hearing the noise, Enitan’s mother rushed to the veranda shouting “Awo!” only to discover that the people outside were not supporters of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, but those of his arch-enemies.

The shout of “Awo!” by Mrs. Abiodun brought the procession to a screeching halt. “Who said that? Who said that?” demanded the mob, enraged. “Fani-Power” turned and looked up at us. His eyes were the usual blood-shot red. At the time, many claimed it was because he regularly smoked Indian-hemp. Fani-Kayode pointed to our building and identified to his thugs that the offending shout came from our direction. We did not know that the floor of the convertible he was

Towards an Ibo governor of Lagos State

legitimate claim to Lagos is that he was born there. But then so were many Ibos who are, therefore, Lagosians. Moreover, Ibo-Lagosians have one up on Femi FaniKayode. They live in Lagos. Femi Fani- Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State. Femi Fani-Kayode, a tribalist.

Kayode does not. IboLagosians work in Lagos and pay taxes to the Lagos the Ibos of Lagos are Lagosians. Ibos led to the appointment of a State government. Femi Fani- They are Lagosians whether token Ibo man, Pastor Ben Kayode does not. Therefore, what ethnic jingoists like Femi Fani- Akabueze, as Commissioner for right does he have to write his Kayode like it or not. The Lagos Economic Planning and Budget diatribe against them? What right branch of the old Action Congress in Lagos by Governor Babatunde does he have to maintain Lagos of Nigeria acknowledged that no Fashola; a post he has held for does not belong to Ibo-Lagosians? less than 45% of the population six years. Femi Fani-Kayode Train-wreck: Having thrown of Lagos is Ibo. That is a fact that should have gone to court to these bottles maliciously, Femi cannot be ignored or simply challenge that appointment.

Fani-Kayode decided to throw a wished-away. It is not improbable Soon, such tokenism will just not few more. He wrote another that, in a few years time, the cut it. Ibo-Lagosians will demand invective entitled: “A Word For majority of people living in Lagos a more proportionate share of the Those Who Say I Am A Tribalist.” will be Ibos. Short of changing local political power. If they play In order to demonstrate that he the Constitution of the Federal their cards right, they will get it. was not anti-Ibo, he presented the Republic of Nigeria, that tells me Ibo-Lagosians vote in Lagos. cliché that some of his best friends an Ibo man can rightfully become Therefore, they can be voted for are Ibos. As proof, he detailed the future Governor of Lagos in Lagos. No constitutional three Ibo women (some now State. That should give some amendment is required to bring happily-married) he claims to food-for-thought to the Fani- this about.

New multi-culture: Given his have had affairs with in the past. Kayodes.

The system of government in educational background, one Only God knows how this shows he is not biased against the Ibos. Nigeria is modeled after that of would have expected Fanithe United States. In the U.S., Kayode to be more enlightened.

Hilary Clinton is a native of A Nigerian cannot be an alien in It is not improbable that, in a few years time, Illinois. Nevertheless, in 2000 she Nigeria. An Ibo man cannot be contested for election as Senator an alien in Lagos. Ibos are not the majority of people living in Lagos will be in New York and won. She was illegal aliens in Lagos. They are Ibos. Short of changing the Constitution of eligible to run for the seat simply at home. In Nigeria, a Nigerian because she and her husband is entitled to live wherever he the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that tells me moved to New York and lived wants. If the resources of the an Ibo man can rightfully become the future there for only one year. Similarly, Niger-Delta can be Nigerianised Governor of Lagos State some Ibos have been in Lagos for to the benefit of Yoruba50 years. That should make them Lagosians, then Lagos cannot be standing in was loaded with Slave-traders slept with their eligible to run for office. If they the exclusive preserve of Yorubaempty bottles. His thugs reached slaves. Is that proof they were not vote the ethnic card, as Yorubas Lagosians. Since Nigeria for the bottles and rained them racist? often do, Femi Fani-Kayode belongs to all Nigerians, then down on us as we all scrambled The jury is out already. Femi might have a heart-attack. An Ibo Lagos belongs to all Nigerians. back inside the house for dear life. Fani-Kayode is a bigoted tribalist. man might conceivably become During the census enumeration, Like father, like son: That was Only a tribalist can say he is not the Governor of Lagos State. That some of us insisted that Ibos must 48 years ago. Today, Femi Fani- anti-Ibo and then say this about is what democracy is all about. stay and be counted in Lagos for Kayode, the 53-year-old son of the Ibos: “(They are) collectively The growing political muscle of that very reason. Since Ibo“Fani-Power,” continues in the unlettered, uncouth, uncultured, Ibo-Lagosians has been obscured Lagosians are a significant part mischievous tradition of his father: unrestrained and crude in all by electoral malpractices. That of the local population who throwing dangerous missiles at their ways.” “They have no cannot last forever. Sooner than contribute immensely to key the innocent. He recently wrote restraining factors because money later, Ibo-Lagosians will start to sectors of the economy, the an incendiary article entitled: and the acquisition of wealth is pull their political weight in national census must reflect the “The Bitter Truth About the Igbo,” their sole objective and purpose Lagos. True indigenes of Lagos, fact that they live and work in in which he maligned the Ibos in life.” Clearly, Femi Fani- as opposed to carpet-baggers like Lagos. and virtually told them to get out Kayode is out of control. He has the Fani-Kayodes, have I recently visited London after of Lagos and leave Lagos for the become something of a train- traditionally been open-minded a ten-year absence. What I saw Yorubas. wreck. He was President about Ibos and non-indigenes. was a highly cosmopolitan city What is peculiar about the Obasanjo’s agent-provocateur for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, a Nigerian with people of different article is that Femi Fani-Kayode so long, where he maligned nationalist who happened to be nationalities, including himself is no more Lagosian than elder-statesmen like Yakubu Ibo, once won an election in Nigerians. London is no longer the Ibos he berates. The Fani- Gowon; he no longer knows how Lagos, before Awolowo appealed a town of the English. It is now a Kayodes are not from Lagos. to speak with decorum. megalopolis in the true sense of to tribal politics to truncate it.

They are from Ile-Ife in Osun The American model: I am Grudging acknowledgement of the word. On several occasions, I State. Femi Fani-Kayode’s only Yoruba. Nevertheless, I repeat; the growing political clout of the overheard people speaking

, C M Y K

,

Yoruba in the streets of London.

On one occasion, I could not resist the urge to interject, even though uninvited.

Nigerians are everywhere. On a visit in May 2013 to Washington D.C., United States for the Nigerian Development and Finance Forum, under the auspices of Financial Nigeria Limited, I was informed by the Deputy Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States that there are currently five million Nigerians in the U.S. There are even more Nigerians in Sudan; over eight million. Nigerians constitute a significant percentage of the population of Cote d’Ivoire. There are more Nigerians in Equatorial Guinea than EquatorialGuineans. There is no country on planet earth where you will not find a sizeable population of Nigerians. U.N. projections predict that Nigeria will soon be the fourth largest country in the world, surpassed by only China, India and the United States.

Under such circumstances, a Nigerian like Femi Fani-Kayode should not be hankering after a small real-estate called Lagos.

Nigerians must become citizens of the world.

Signs of the times Joseph was a Jewish slave in Egypt. Nevertheless, he rose to become the Egyptian PrimeMinister. That happened in biblical days, and not twenty-first century Egypt. More recently in 2008, Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan, became president of the United States. In 2010, John Abraham Godson, a Nigerianborn Polish citizen became a Member of Parliament in Poland.

In April, 2013, Cecile Kyenge, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, became the Minister of Integration of the Republic of Italy. Surely, Femi Fani-Kayode cannot discern these signs of the times.

New Nigeria: Back home, M.K.O. Abiola, a Yoruba man, won his famous presidential election in 1993 by relying on Hausa, Fulani, Ibo and other votes. He was not just elected by Yorubas. Yorubas did not even vote for Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. He became President by relying on northern, eastern and south-south votes. Goodluck Jonathan became president in 2011 by forging a coalition that stretched across the Niger and the Benue to all parts of Nigeria.

When Odumegwu Ojukwu died, the entire nation of Nigeria consoled the Ibos. Collectively, we declared with one voice that the civil war is truly over. We must not allow the Femi Fani-Kayodes to turn back the clock. Next time Femi Fani-Kayode wants to tell us “the bitter truth,” he should tell us about N19.5 billion Aviation Fund mismanaged under his watch as Minister of Aviation under the Obasanjo administration. That is the bitter truth we need to hear from him right now.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 THERE is a paradox governments have built around education – they are spending billions of Naira on education, yet the financial issues around education are not being resolved. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike is only one of many matters that are dogging education.

Government’s supposed interests in negotiating with ASUU, the speed being applied, and the uttermost neglect of other aspects of education confirm the diminishing importance that governments attach to education.

ASUU’s case is exceptional, in that governments appeared concerned. When the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, went on strike, it took almost three months before governments started talking to the union. The issue remains partially resolved.

With the ASUU strike, the failure of governments and their programmes are obvious. Governments sign agreements they do not intend to keep. ASUU is on strike over a 2009 agreement. Governments want to renegotiate implementation of a four-year-old agreement.

They also know that the negotiations for a new agreement are due. We have governments that plan for immediate needs, if they ever do.

Doubtful F uture F or Future For Education They are exhausting themselves over ASUU strike as if meeting ASUU’s demands would solve all the challenges that our education faces.

How do governments spend billions of Naira they budget annually for education?

Bureaucracy consumes the bulk of the money.

Duplication of agencies that manage education is the biggest cost centre in our national education management.

Governments are running up new costs.

New higher institutions are being built with emphases on physical structures. Laboratories, libraries and research centres that they require to be centres for meaningful academic engagements are available in inadequate numbers.

It is absurd that governments – the owners of the universities – would need an ASUU strike to determine the status of the facilities in universities.

What plans do governments have for education? How would they tackle sustainable funding so that we are not soon back to another wave of strikes in a matter of months? Would governments ever consider education important enough that it should run without disruptions from strike?

There would be no easy solutions. Many of the federal agencies on education just drain resources that should have been invested in improving learning facilities. States imitate the waste the federal make in education, making it one of governments’ biggest cost centres, without commensurate value for the expenditures.

Governments can save costs by eliminating the duplication in the functions of education agencies. There should be clearer lines about the roles of governments in different levels of education. The Federal Government should not be dabbling in primary school education.

Finally, the future of education is too important to be left to haphazard funding.

Governments should tackle funding of education beyond ASUU’s strike.

OPINION

BY ERIC TENIOLA Continued from yesterday's Viewpoints pg

H

IS Highness Alhaji Umaru Sanda Ndayanko(1937-2002) the late Etsu Nupe was Permanent Secretary in Kaduna in 1964. He ascended the throne in 1975 and was nominated as a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1976. When he died in 2003 his people mourned his passage for the development he brought to his kingdom. One of his sons, Dangana Ndayanko has since been elected into the Senate.

The former Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Anirare Aladesanmi II ruled Ado Ekiti from 1937-1983.

Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko (18851904) was the ninth Emir of Katsina between 1906 and 1944. He ruled for 38 years. He was succeeded by his son, Alhaji Usman Nagogo (19051981) who also ruled for 37 years. He was the father of the late MajorGeneral Hassan Usman Katsina, the first Military Governor of Northern Nigeria.

The Sarkin of Gobir, Alhaji Muhammadu Bara reigned from 1975 to 2004, and ruled for 29 years.

On a bright Sunday on April 2, 1960, the former Ogbenioja of Ijebu, Dr. Timothy Adeola Odutola in the presence of Bobasuwa Okunowo, Chief Samuel Olatunbosun Shonibare and over 120,000 jubilant people from many parts of the country gathered at

Close tto o 50 and abo abovve in dominion(2) Obanta Square in Ijebu-Ode, when he presented a young handsome man, Sikiru Kayode Adetona, born on May 10, 1934, to the people of Ijebu-Ode as their Awujale.

It was the beginning of a prosperous reign that has spanned till date, for over 53 years.

Tall, big and friendly, Oba Adetona’s big stature also reflects the largeness of his Ijebu Kingdom.

His father, Prince Rufai Adetona is from Anikinayo Ogbagba royal family of Ijebu-ode, while his mother Alhaja Ajibabi Adetona, nee Onasile, hailed from Ijebu-Igbo, hence his close family ties with Dr. Michael Adenuga Jnr. My friend Fasi Adetokunbo Yusuf is fond of telling anyone who cares to listen, that Oba Adetona is a special gift from God to the Ijebu people.

The Igwe of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Onyeke Orizu III, has been on the throne since 1963, thus marking 50 years on the throne this year.

There are other traditional rulers we are expecting to be 50 years and above on the throne.

The Emir of Zaria, Dr. Shehu Idris was crowned in 1976; he is 36 years on the throne. He is a charismatic figure.

Oba Adekunle Aromolaran,the Owa Obokun Adimula II of Ijesha land is

31 years on the throne. He is a phenomenon.

Oba Oladunni Jimoh Oyewunmi, Ajagungbade III, was born on May 27, 1926,and was crowned the Soun of Ogbomoso on October 24, 1973.

He has been on the throne for over 39 years. He is an outstanding figure.

I

ku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi (74)JP, CFR , LL.D, Per manent Chairman Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, who once lived with the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Ademola, in his palace in Abeokuta and Sir Kofoworola Adebayo Abayomi in Keffi,Lagos, was installed the Alaafin of Oyo in November 1970 by former Governor Robert Adeyinka Adebayo. He is 42 years on the throne.

He is a living legend.

Alayeluwa ObaOkunade Sijuade II,Olofin Oduduwa, was crowned Ooni of Ife on December 8, 1980 by the late Governor Bola Ige. He is 32 years on the throne. He is a living metaphor.

The Emir of Jama’are, Muhammadu Wabi has been on the throne since 1975, while the Emir of Gumel, Ahmad Muhammed Sani Dan Maina Muhammed has been reigning since 1981. They are remarkable leaders.

The Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu

Usman Abubakar has been reigning since August 1984, the Shehu of Damaturu,Hushimi Ibn Umar Elkanemi has been in power since 1973.

The Olu of War ri, Oba Agiame Atuwatse II has been on the throne since 1987.

I have not left out of the list other traditional rulers deliberately but for lack of space.

We may not all agree on the relevance of the institution of traditional rulers, but we must all endorse that the institution still represents a vital part of our tradition and culture even in the present age of globisation. They are the roots of our culture and the roots are the strongest part of the tree.

I am aware that the institution was once brutalised by the British colonialists, the military and politicians and is still being undermined by the political class, but the traditional rulers are the most essential group left now to preserve and protect our glorious past.

And who says we don’t have a past.

We have a beautifulpast, a strong past for that matter.

And as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes (1840-1935) wrote, “historic continuity with the past is not a duty, it is only a necessity”.

Concluded.

Mr. Teniola, a former Director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,AUGUST 20, 2013— 19

, Continues from last week

T

“

HE most flagrant display of the conqueror’s attitude to the wealth of the people is the case of the Police Pension Funds.

The context of this event is the attitude of government officials.

The distinction between being in power and being in office is completely obliterated in their treatment of office as a spoil. We are not discussing hyperinflation of contract but the outright stealing of pension funds. The treating of pensioners as “non-beings”. This attitude to power turns the Constitution to mere piece of paper. The result is a Government Nigeria without Nigerian citizenry and the People Nigeria consisting of the subjugated. The implication of this fact is the issue. Nigeria without Nigerian citizenry ultimately will depend on mercenaries for its defence. From the Military-in-Power to the Civilians-in-Power care has been taken by all governments to keep the Armed Forces satisfied, if not

happy. Governments have seen that they cannot call upon The People to rise and defend them in the case of unconstitutional change of government. The Boko Harams have also shown that government is not protected by The People.

Mr. Gabriel Zowam in his “Democracy and its porous economy” in Vanguard, Friday, February 8, 2013 spells out the consequence of elite economic predatory behaviour. His contrasts of what Government did with the gross oil revenue in the 29 years from 1970 to 1999 and what Government has not done with the gross oil revenue from 2000 to 2006 defines a government under the rule of the John Yakubu Yusufu.

Government had available to it from 1970 to 1999 N3trillion.

From 2000 to 2006 Government coffers contained N20.8trillion.

Zowam provides a partial itemisation of what Government procured with N3 trillion.

“There is no doubt about what we achieved with N3 trillion of the first (mostly military) 29 years; the massive post-war infrastructure development, including the extensive network of federal roads, numerous power plants and water dams; various airports across the country; seaports built in Lagos, Sapele, Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar; various telephone exchanges across the country; the Lagos “flyovers” and bridges, including the Third Mainland Bridge; the Ikoyi Federal Secretariat; the massive Ajaokuta and Delta steel companies, and various steel rolling mills; our various oil refineries; the petrochemical plants; the paper mills and fertilizer companies; various vehicle assembly plants in Kaduna, Lagos, Enugu, etc; all those federal universities, colleges

Abba Moro on Boko Haram attacks

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI

I

F there is anything that should seriously be deployed in the effective management of what has turned out to be a national disaster called Boko Haram, it is the way we acquire, process and disseminate sensitive information.

The fear of this monster is the beginning of nightmare not only for our brothers and sisters in the northern part of the country but also down south because recent disclosures point to the fact that nowhere is, in the real sense of it, safe from the reach of this group.

To worse matters, our government officials appear to be portraying the whole episode as a child’s play – it is either they are saying something at a point and saying something different about the same situation at another time - just to give an impression that everything is under control and that they are on top of the situation.

The problem with this kind of posturing is that we may not be able to face the stark reality staring us in the face headlong with a view to collectively tackle our common enemy once and for all.

Just a few days ago, the nation’s Interior Minister, Comrade Abba Moro told the world that the country’s armed forces were making progress in the war against Boko Haram and glibly dismissed the recent deadly Boko Haram’s attacks as "desperate" and "isolated".

Speaking on the British Broadcasting Corporation’s ‘Focus on Africa’ programme, the minister said "The security agencies of Nigeria have been able to push the Boko Haram sect from their major strongholds".

It is on this premise that I think we need to make an attempt to understand the point of

,

the minister for a better discourse.

Wikipedia, an online dictionary simply defines ‘isolated’ to mean: ‘separated from others; solitary or singular ’ while ‘desperate’ is a ‘condition of despair or when everything else has failed; having little hope of success’.

The import of Moro’s statement is that there is nothing to worry about despite Boko Haram’s continued hostility on our nation.

Or, that it the onslaught is not startling but merely restricted, inconsequential and remote.

On the contrary, any serious-minded observer - who knows what is happening in the country or is a victim of the casualty will agree that we are dangerously lying on a keg of gun powder.

No doubt, since 2009, Boko Haram has never hidden its interest in blindly pursuing the course of its queer kind of Islam in the country through the use of force and violence by embarking on wicked acts of unbridled terrorism and wanton destruction of lives and property.

The sect’s spokesman, Abubakar Shekau, had claimed responsibility for the recent Konduga massacre alongside those that had occurred in Malumfatori, Biu, Bama, Gamboru Ngala, Gwoza, among others.

In its latest attacks, over 100 people including about 15 soldiers were killed and that of Konduga’s resulted into a casualty in which more than 45 people were killed, as gunmen dressed in military uniform attacked worshippers.

The untold effects of the Boko Haram holocaust, as depicted by a United States government report on terrorism, ‘Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism’ (START), conducted by the University of Maryland indicated that apart from the Taliban in Afghanistan, Nigeria’s Boko Haram had the highest number of terror

,

The Armed FFor or ces and the orces existence of Nigeria: The security issue (2)

Nigeria deprived of its citizenry is an estate and a spoil given a semblance of a country by the people’s tenacity to earn their living where they presently call their country and their place- even when this place is under the bridge

of education, and unity schools; the building of modern capital Abuja (including Aso Rock, the Abuja road network, federal secretariats, the Three-Arm Zone, various governmental edifices, the massive Gwarinpa Housing Estate (also estate in Karu, Lugbe Wuye etc) and so on. All these were carried out from the N3trillion in the 29 years up to 1999. What on earth did we do with the unprecedented N20.8trillion that poured into the country in the next seven years? Where on earth did the money go?”

W

hile we need another itemization of the past seven years achievements, we know where the money did not go.

It did not go into poverty alleviation or the reductions of poverty in the people Nigeria.

Zowam asks and answers his question thus: “But most importantly, how did that wealth impact on ordinary Nigerians? This was perhaps, the most tragic aspect of that windfull.

Our population in poverty (as published by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS) increased nationwide, from 67million in 1996, to 69million 2004! It has continued to get worse, such that by 2010, the number of Nigerians in poverty had hit 112million”.

Life for the working poor, the trading poor, the small scale traders have been oppressive.

Government has its own projects and the people theirs. These stories

by Obuh Providence in the Vanguard, Monday, February 4, 2013 show one instance of how the people contrived to earn a living for themselves and for their dependents and how Government deals with the people.

“Small scale traders selling wares under the bridge at the

A sincere, frank and objective appraisal of the scenario will go a long way in finding a lasting solution to the crisis

,

attacks that killed the second highest number of people in 2012 alone!

While Taliban murdered 1,842 people in 525 attacks, Boko Haram killed 1,132 people in 364 attacks. It noted that the Taliban and Boko Haram caused more casualties than Iraq’s Al-Qaeda, India’s Maoists, Somalia’s Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on the list of global terrorist groups.

In the statistical report, of the top 10 countries with the most terrorist attacks last year, Nigeria was fifth as it ranked fourth in number of deaths from terrorist attacks, which accounted for a staggering 81.67 per cent.

S

TAART observes that “the average lethality of terrorist attacks in Nigeria - 2.54 deaths per attack - is more than 50 per cent higher than the global average of 1.64” while majority of highly lethal attacks – 159 in all - took place in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Nigeria and Syria, killing a total of 2,880 people.

Unfortunately, the government is busy claiming that it is on top of the matter, as we daily hear of more sophisticated and well coordinated strikes, which are often targeted

popular trade-fair complex, have lamented over the demolition of their kiosk. The demolition was carried out penultimate week by officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, at “under the bridge” bus stop. A trader, Mr. Francis Onyekachi—with a wife and five children said that he was not against the demolition, but that the government should make provision for shops for the poor masses before taking such steps…

Another woman in her late fifties, identified as Mrs. Rachael appealed to the government to allow them, owing to the fact that they earn their living with the shops. “The government should allow us because this is where we get our daily bread, we do not have any other place, many of us here are widows, no husbands and this is the last hope of many people”.

Measured against the lofty ideals of the Preamble to the 1999 Constitution, the relationship between these people trading under the bridges and the Government in total territorial control of The Peoples Nigeria is not one of representatives and the represented, but one of lords and serfs. Such under the bridge traders have no democratic relationship to Government and so government cannot count on The People for their defence. Nigeria deprived of its citizenry is an estate and a spoil given a semblance of a country by the people’s tenacity to earn their living where they presently call their country and their place- even when this place is under the bridge, and it is maintained as a society by the Armed and Security Forces.

Scatter the Armed Forces and the country scatters. This is how tenous our security presently is.

Concluded

at worship centres, schools, relaxation spots, and security apparatus including the police.

Boko Haram’s spokesman once claimed that “The military is lying to the world about the battle we had with them; they lied that they have killed our members, but we are the ones that have killed the soldiers … We have killed countless soldiers and we are going to kill more. Our strength and firepower has surpassed that of Nigeria.

Nigeria is no longer a big deal as far as we are concerned ...” (Premium Times, 12/08/ 2013).

Despite the amnesty offer, emergency rule and the doggedness of security forces in the north, winning war on Boko Haram is still Herculean.

The group itself has regrettably continued to hold fast to its stated mission of foisting its strange Islamic mode of governance on the country. Therefore, giving of a simplistic impression that the sect is an assemblage of frustrated and confused gangsters is misleading and tokenism.

In another breadth, it remains unconvincing why some apologists of the group would ignorantly or mischievously attribute Boko Haram’s mindless acts of terrorism to poverty, social frustration, unemployment and bad governance.

While it is worrisome that a quick remedy may not seem to be in sight through an opportunity of a dialogue, the use of legitimate force to maintain law and order should not be compromised for any reason.

A sincere, frank and objective appraisal of the scenario will go a long way in finding a lasting solution to the crisis. This will not only restore confidence in the perceived capability to put the situation under control, it will go a step further to empathize with the bereaved and victims of the attacks, which should be uppermost in the scheme of things of a sensitive, caring and focused government. *Mr. Kupoluyi wrote from federal Varsity of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

20 -- Vanguard, TUESDAY,AUGUST 20, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 — 21

RMAFC Commissioner wants states, LGs to diversify revenue base A

COMMISSIONER in the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Alhaji Saidu Fawu, has urged states and local governments to diversify their resource bases to reduce over-dependence on federal allocations.

Fawu, who represents Gombe State at the commission, said this when he addressed newsmen in Gombe on Saturday.

He spoke on the forthcoming August 19, North East zonal advocacy workshop with the theme, “Economic Diversification and Enhanced Revenue Generation.”

He said it was unwise for the country to continue to depend on revenue from oil, which he said would dry up one day.

According to him, Nigeria has over the years depended on oil as the main stay of revenue shared monthly as revenue allocation.

“It is a very risky business, and we feel there is the need for Nigeria to diversify so that we pay less attention on the dependence on oil and gas.

Oil and gas cannot continue forever. The oil market is becoming more and more hostile,’’ he said.

He said three ministers, six governors, members of the National Assembly from the zone and other critical stakeholders were expected at the workshop.

Fawu said the workshop was the last in the series organised by the commission

120.25

at the zonal level, adding that it had been held in other zones. Asked if there was special provision for states facing security challenges, he said such interventions fell under the 7.5 per cent Special funds allocation formula. He said that Gombe State made a case for assistance to cater for the ‘’population explosion’’ caused by those displaced in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, now under the emergency

-1.6

-0.24

110.49 +0.89 107.55 +0.22 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.75 242.0135 206.5139 167.0445 1.5867 0.2947 234.1795 25.3037 41.2612 27.6873 235.5295

155.25 242.7955 207.1811 167.5842 1.5918 0.3047 234.9362 25.3859 41.3945 27.7768 236.2905

and participate in the two-day workshop to enable them to

SELLING 155.75 243.5774 207.8484 68.1239 1.5969 0.3147 235.6928 25.4681 41.5278 27.8662 237.0515

CBN Exchange rate as at 16/08/2013

make input before the final report to government.

Chevron, Bayelsa communities disagree on gas leakage

C

HEVRON Nigeria Limited and its host communities have expressed divergent views on a gas leak reported at Chevron’s offshore gas field in the Atlantic Ocean

located off Bayelsa coastline.

Officials of National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) confirmed receiving a report of a leakage in Chevron’s field last week.

UNVEILING: From left: Head, Business to Business Division, Samsung Electronics, West Africa, Mr. Ayo Adegboye; Managing Director, Samsung Electronics, West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim; Group Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emeka Emuwa; a customer of the bank, Dr. Charles Nwakoby at the unveiling of of the Future prototype, in Lagos.

2,440.00 +4.00 16.95

rule. Fawu appealed to all stakeholders to attendance

Mr Adeyinka Adewumi, Head of NOSDRA’s Zonal Operations office in Port Harcourt said that the agency had received a report of the leak from Chevron and was awaiting a Joint Visit to ascertain the cause of the leak. Coastal communities in Koluama 1 and Koluama 2 communities had alleged that the gas leakage had discharged crude and gas into the environment leading to pollution of the air and marine ecosystem.

Community sources told NAN on Sunday that the oil firm had been making frantic efforts to mitigate the leakage while the leak continued. Mr Larry Gabriel a resident from Fishtown community in Brass council area of Bayelsa said that leaking well, located about five kilometres from the site of Jan. 2012 gas explosion “is still discharging gas into the air.”

“The leakage is yet to stop, they have been deploying chemicals to dissolved the oil and sink it to the sea bed as it gushes out from the well. That is why they are saying that they have no oil spill. The traces of dissolved crude have hit the shoreline.”

Investec lured by Nigeria banks on rebound from discount N

IGERIAN banks are rebounding from a record discount to South Africa banks as growth prospects for the continent’s two largest economies diverge. A report by Investec Asset Management said the rally has further to run.

The report said that the Nigerian Stock Exchange Banking 10 Index has increased 19 per cent this year compared with a 3.4 per cent drop for South Africa’s six-company FTSE/JSE Africa Banks Index and a 8.2 per cent decline for the MSCI Emerging Markets Banks Index.

Investec said that South African banks trade at a premium of 2.4 times to their Nigerian peers on a price-to-book basis, down from a record 2.7 times in January.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc,

Ecobank Transnational Inc. and Zenith Bank Plc are benefiting from financing oil, gas and power projects in Nigeria while bad debts fall as the International Monetary Fund predicts Africa’s second-largest economy will grow 7.2 per cent this year. In South Africa, consumers are struggling to repay loans, curbing profit at companies including Standard Bank Group Ltd. as the jobless rate climbs and the IMF forecasts 2013 growth of 2 percent, the slowest since the 2009 recession.

“Nigerian banks do look favourable,” Mishnah Seth, a banks analyst at Investec, which manages the equivalent of $105 billion, said by phone from Cape Town Aug. 8.

“From a valuation perspective they’re cheaper ” than their South African peers. “They ’ll give you

superior growth” over the next two years, she said.

The benchmark banking index sank 34 percent in 2009, rose 26 per cent the following year than dropped another 32 per cent in 2011 before advancing 24 per cent last year. United Bank for Africa Plc is leading gains this year with a 78 per cent increase followed by Union Bank Nigeria Plc and Diamond Bank Plc. Skye Bank Plc is the only lender in the index to retreat in 2013.

Nigeria’s publicly-traded banks are set for profit growth of about 20 per cent a year over the next two to three years, Investec’s Seth said.

That compares with estimated earnings growth this year of 9.8 per cent at Johannesburg-based Standard Bank, which owns Nigeria’s Stanbic IBTC, and 13 per cent growth for 2014, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Asset sales and expansion plans are buoying demand for Nigerian banks.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Establishing a successful and enduring cooperative society

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

C

OOPERATIVES are risky and have limitations. But the long term benefits are very rewarding for the individual, the group and the nation. If you and some other people have decided to form one (everybody should be encouraged to belong to a cooperative group), the following tips would help you avoid or reduce to barest minimum, the risk and limitations of investment through a cooperative.

Commonality of members: Don’t form cooperative with strangers, or with people you don’t have anything in common with. It’s either you are friends and you have known one another for a long time, or you belong to the same trade group, or work in the same place.

Unity is critical to successful cooperative group, and this element of commonality is vital for unity. It promotes or facilitates unity of purpose, thinking and regular interaction and harmonious relationship among members Don’t compel or levy: Don’t compel anybody to join.

Cooperative is a marathon, and

not a 100 meters dash. It requires sacrifices from time to time. To be able to meet up with the demands of belonging to a cooperative, the individual must believe in it, and be resolutely committed. Thus, the choice of being a member must be a personal choice, out of personal volition, with full recognition of the benefits and the demands. Also, individual members should decide amount of contribution to be made. The contribution must be regular, but the individual must decide

whether it is N1 per month or N10 per month. In fact, it is expedient that members are encouraged to start with small contributions, which can be increased as income increases.

Small and steady: Cooperatives should start with small business ventures, with little technical knowledge.

Don’t attempt to start with big projects, which you know little about. This has caused the infant mortality of many cooperative groups. The truth is that most members don’t

have the acumen to manage big business projects. But by starting small, individually and collectively, they can acquire the acumen over time.

Emphasise safety and not profitability: The higher the profit, the higher the risk of losing your money. This is an unbreakable law of business and investment. That is why if your cooperative would survive and endure, you must not emphasise profit or return. Your emphasis must be safety. Before you embark on any investment

or venture, you must be very certain, how your money will come back, intact. Your members would criticise you more for losing their money than for not making any profit.

Focus on investment and not consumption: At the beginning, you can engage mostly in buying and selling essential commodities and electrical appliances (TV, Sound system) etc. But these are consumption oriented activities and only improve welfare in the short term. To improve or guarantee welfare in the long term, you must, as quickly as possible, start engaging in investment activities, i.e. activities that create jobs and generate wealth on a long term basis. The difference between the two is like the difference between rain and well. Rain provides water and relief for a short period of time. But a well provides water for a long period.

But while rain is for a season and based on chance (you don’t determine when it would rain), well water requires deliberate and planned hard work over a long time. But everybody knows that it is better and more expedient to have a well.

Top 10 performing stocks

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

N the list of the top 10 performing stocks last week were Jos International Breweries Plc, Trans-Nationwide Express Plc, Champion Breweries Plc, Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc, Wapic Insurance and UACN Property Development Co. Others are A.G Leventis Nig. Plc, Guinness Nig. Plc, Mansard Insurance Plc and Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc. Jos International Breweries, JIB, the third least priced stock in the Beverages-Brewers/ Distillers sector, led the pack of gainers with N0.35 or 43.21 percent capital appreciation to close the market at N1.16 from N0.81. The stock price had earlier in the year risen to N2.05, its highest so far, following disclosure of re-evaluation of its N1.3 billion debt claims to N970 million and later settlement of N700 million it owed one of the commercial banks by the Plateau State government to retain its status as a going concern. JIB is presently undergoing revitalisation exercise by the new board members put together in 2010 after three years of inactivity as a result of closure of the company. Available financial statement

of the company for the year ended 31st December, 2009, showed 61.07 percent decline in revenue from N524 million to N204 million.

It recorded loss before tax of N431million and loss after tax of N432 million, while working capital was in negative position of N1.3 billion as at the time.

Courier/Freight/Delivery listed security, TransNationwide Express, rose by 41.89 percent or N0.31 from N0.74 to N1.05 per share to close as the second top gainer in the week. TRANEX is a wholly owned Nigerian transportation company engaged in express delivery, logistics and freight businesses. At various times, the company has held the franchise for TNT Express worldwide and Bax Global USA, respectively, and currently has a Cooperation Agreement with Hecny Transportation South Africa Pty Limited. The 2012 full year financial statement showed that the company fell to loss position from a profit position in 2011. It recorded loss after tax of N345.39 million in comparison to a profit after tax of N48.653 million in 2011. Profit before tax stood at N56.168 million, which was four percent less than N58.518 million posted in 2011. However, revenue for the period grew by 6.8 percent from N563 million in 2011 to N601 million in the review period.

Champion Breweries followed with 32.17 percent or N4.71 gains to close at N19.35 from

N14.64 per share. Analysts believe that the proposed fresh capital injection to be undertaken through a hybrid offer of debt-to-equity conversion and rights issue has been the reason behind the galloping in the share price. Two years ago, Heineken, the parent company of Nigerian Breweries Plc, bought controlling interest in Champion Breweries. Before the acquisition, Champion was struggling with problem of inadequate working capital, low productivity, poor market share and low employee morale.

Multi-Trex Integrated Foods was the fourth with 20 percent or N0.11 gains. It started the week at N0.55 and closed at N0.66 per share.

Multi-Trex was registered in 1999 as a cocoa beans merchant. In 2003, the company expanded its business operation to include processing of cocoa beans into semi-finished industrial products i.e.

Cocoa Butter and Cocoa Cake. Then, it exclusively hired the facility of the Nigeria’s premier cocoa processing plant, Cocoa Industries Limited (CIL), Ikeja, Lagos. The stock price had risen to N1.21 before falling to the present price.

Wapic Insurance’s share price rose by 14.29 percent or N0.10 from N0.70 to N0.80; UACN Property advanced by 9.42 percent or N1.55 from N16.45 to N18.00. A.G Leventis went up by 7.69 percent or N0.11 to N1.54 from N1.43 per share. Guinness Nig. Plc’s share price rose by 5.99 percent or N14.97 to close at N265.00 from N250.03, while Mansard Insurance and Neimeth gained N0.10 or 4.69 and N0.05 or 3.70 percent to close at N2.28 and N1.40 respectively.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 — 23

INVESTORS SPEAK

By WILLIAM JIMOH

O

LUGBOSUN ARIYO, National Coordinator, Exceptional Shareholders Association of Nigeria I share the mindset of some people in the market decrying the current level of market knowledge of majority of the Nigerian minority shareholders. And that is where enlightenment exercise should come in because our people need to be educated.

Often times, the regulators put a lot of attention on enlightenment of foreign investors, neglecting the local ones and if there is any problem in the market tomorrow these people will park their loads and go to their country, but it is the local investors that will remain come rain, come shine.

What I am saying is that the regulator ’s contribution to educating shareholders in the country still appears very insignificant and that is why we don’t have enough of enlightenment programme, I feel we are been marginalised.

People really want to invest in the market. I said this because I am a coordinator of a shareholders’ association and with my little experience, I have met with many people who are ready to invest, but they do not have the understanding of what the market has to offer them.

Even some that are already in the market don’t know anything about capital appreciation; that

Regulators not doing enough to educate investors

•Oscar Onyema if a particular share appreciates, you can sell it off amidst other common senses that applies to the market.

Some people are still holding on to the certificate of companies like Nestle that has nearly entered N1, 000 and they do not know what they will do about it.

Investors’ education should not therefore be considered as what the shareholders’ associations alone can do, but rather jointly.The regulators and companies should also contribute their own part.

There is need for an all-

•Boniface Okezie inclusive participation for all these market women and other small scale business owners who dominate shareholders’ groups. This can be achievable only when they are educated properly.

Many of them believe that when you buy shares, it is only about getting dividend. Many don’t know that there are other things behind the scene. Some people buy their shares from the primary market and they don’t know that there is a secondary market and because of this, they are exposed to fraudulent acts in the market.

I know of a man who bought shares some years ago and he told me that he did not know that there are other places where he can buy shares other than where he bought. Also, there are some certificates he has that worth millions of naira which he had to go and dematerialise thus the need to encourage people to belong to a shareholder association so that they can share ideas and by that be educated the more about the market and all the activities therein.

At this point, the regulator should come in and strengthen the shareholder associations, because we are closer to the shareholders, we understand their languages. We are the right channel through which the regulators can pass whatever information/education they want to shareholders.

Like when they are talking about market making, majority of these market women did not know what market making is all about. But it is the shareholders’ associations that usually break it down to them. And we normally encourage them also to buy shares for their children, because most people don’t know that they can buy shares even for their one year old child,

we therefore encourage them on issues generally relating to their investment as well as direct them to trustworthy shareholding firms.

Also I want to admit that most leaders of the Nigerian shareholders’ association are not also educated enough to carry their members along. To me, I think many of them are heading those positions because of their personal interest, not because they have the understanding and ability and the interest to deliver what an ordinary shareholder requires to remain and make profit in the market. We need to go beyond setting up shareholders’ associations as an avenue for money making, because people need to be educated and know what is happening in the market.

JOSEPH OKPOYE, a minority shareholder: Talking about investors’ education, it is true that there are a good number of investors that are ignorant of what is happening in the market and that is what necessitates the fact that as shareholder, you should belong to a registered shareholders association.

It is a platform where you share ideals, information, experiences and updates about the market. For these reasons, I will say it is a forum every shareholder should belong to.

Because of the nature of the market, hardly can you thrive well in the market as an investor if you remain in isolation.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS I need contact of Finmal Securities Please send me the recent contact address of Finmal Securities ltd. The letter I sent to their Lagos office was returned undelivered.

(Blaise Okechukwu) Investors Forum Write to the Head office of the company, i.e. Finmal Finance Services, 3rd Floor Millennium Builders Plaza, Plot 251 Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Area, Abuja, Nigeria. Tel: +234 802 3134437; +234 806 8039820; +234 805 5145164; +234 803 7179791 I need contact of Forte Oil registrar Sir I want to know where the address of the registrar of former AP now Forte Oil is and my total unclaimed dividend. (Adewara Olusegun Olayinka) Investors Forum The registrar is Zenith Registrars Limited and it is located at Plot 89 Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island Extension, Lagos.

Tel: 234-1-2708930-4. E-mail: enquiry@zenithregistrars.com

I want to invest N500, 000 Sir I am a final year student of a polytechnic. I have N500, 000, and I want to invest the money, but I don’t know what to invest the money in.

Investors Forum You need to decide how long you want to invest the money. If it is money you would need within the next one year, you can invest in treasury bills. But if you would not need the money for more than one year or two years, we advise you invest in the shares of a blue chip company. Contact your bank for treasury, and a stockbroker for investment in shares.

I have been shortchanged

by Transcorp I have been shortchanged

by Transcorp. My actual number of shares in the company is 213,000 units, and this is what was reflected in my account with my stockbroker, Cashcraft Asset Management. But Trascorp sent me right issue document in 2013, which claimed that my

shareholding is 110,000 units, and that the right share due to me was 55,000.

(Abraham Ayigbe)

Street, Victoria Island Extension, Lagos. Tel: 2341-2708930-4. E-mail: enquiry@zenithregistrars.com

Investors Forum It is advisable to complain formally to the registrar of Transcorp to clarify the issues. But, if you are not satisfied by their response, write a formal complaint to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and copy Investors Forum. The registrar is Africa Prudential Registrars Plc at 220B, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos. You can call 018401153, 01-8931501, and 01-4606460 or send message to info@africaprudentialregistrars.com.

How do I get electronic dividend I am a shareholder of Skye Bank, Please how do I go about electronic dividend, so that future dividend can be paid directly into my account to avoid last year issue.

(Babalola Oluyemi)

No dividend, communication from AP I bought 248 units of AP (now Forte Oil) shares. But since 2005, I have not received dividend or any communication (Mrs. Christie Ruppee) Investors Forum Please contact the registrar of Forte Oil. The company is Zenith Registrars Limited at Plot 89 Ajose Adeogun

Investors Forum Visit the registrar of Skye Bank (City Securities) to complete a form called edividend mandate. You will need to take the completed form to your bank for what is called Bankers Confirmation.

This confirms to the registrar that you are the owner of the account you are claiming as yours. The contact of City Securities is Primrose Tower, 2nd Floor, 17A Tinubu Street, Lagos. Tel: 234-12641298, 234-1-7924462.

No communication for Transcorp I bought 10,000 units of transcorp’ shares for worth N75,000 during the company’s public offer. This

was done through the then Intercontinental Bank Onitsha. Till date, I have not heard from the company.

What should I do please?

(Eze Gozie).

Investors Forum Please contact the registrar of Transcorp. The company is Africa Prudential Registrars Plc at 220B, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos. You can call 01-8401153, 018931501, and 01-4606460 or send message to info@africaprudentialregistrars.com.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS Do you have any challenge with your investment in the stock market or with any company (stockbroker, Registrar Company etc), write to vanguardinvestorsforum @gmail.com OR send text to 07043855187. We will INVESTIGATE AND REPLY

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Shell, Chevron, others declare $38.76bn dividend …amount is 53% of NSE’s market capitalisation

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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IGERIANS were once again the losers, as six international oil companies — Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhilips, Chevron, Total, Eni and ExxonMobil — paid their shareholders a dividend of $38.76 billion (N6.201 trillion) in 2013.

The dividends were for the 2012 financial year, which was approved by their respective shareholders a couple of weeks ago.

The dividends declared by the six oil majors represent about 52.93 per cent of the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s, NSE, market capitalization of N11.714 trillion.

The market capitalization of the NSE is the total market value of all the companies listed on the stock exchange.

Last year, Nigerians also missed out from the over $30.82 billion or N4.87 trillion cumulative dividends declared by five IOCs in their home countries, following their refusal to list their shares on the NSE. The five oil majors operating in Nigeria – Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhilips, Statoil, and Eni, had declared a cumulative dividend of $30.82 billion for the 2011 financial year.

Dividends declared in 2012 are as follows: •Shell - $7.4 billion (N1.184 trillion); •ConocoPhillips - $3.278 billion (N524.48 billion); •Chevron — $6.8 billion (N1.088 trillion); •Total — $6.8 billion (N1.088 trillion); •Eni — $4.38 billion (N700.8 billion) and •ExxonMobil - $10.1 billion (N1.616 trillion) Shell Nigeria operations espite excluding Nigerians from the dividends, Shell, in its financial statement, warned that an erosion of the business and operating environment in Nigeria would adversely impact its operations.

The company claimed it faced various risks in its Nigerian operations, ranging from security issues surrounding the safety of its people, host communities, and operations; its ability to enforce existing contractual rights; limited infrastructure; and potential legislation that could increase its taxes or costs of operation.

“The Nigerian government is contemplating new legislation to govern the petroleum industry which, if passed into law, would likely have a significant adverse impact on Shell’s existing and future activities in that country,” it said.

Giving a breakdown of its operations in Nigeria, Shell said it produced approximately 365,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2012 compared to 385,000 in 2011, while its 30 per cent interest in the Gbaran-Ubie integrated oil and gas project in Bayelsa State, yielded 0.9 billion Standard Cubic Feet per day (scf/d ) of gas.

The company said it sold its 30 per cent stake in Oil Mining Leases, OMLs, 30, 34 and 40, for a consideration of $1.1 billion (N176 billion).

Contiuing, it said, “To provide funding, Modified Carry Agreements

D

are in place for certain key projects and a bridge loan was drawn down by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) in 2010. The Modified Carry Agreements are being reimbursed, and in December 2012 NNPC repaid the

bridge loan with interest. New financing agreements with NNPC are under discussion and are expected to be put in place during 2013.”

ConocoPhillips activities

ConocoPhilips, on the other hand, said its operations in Nigeria were adversely impacted in the second half of 2012 by flooding in the Niger Delta, resulting in its full year production falling to 40 million barrels of oil equivalent.

The company further stated that on December 20, 2012, it entered into agreements with affiliates of Oando Plc to sell its Nigerian business unit for a total of $1.79 billion (N286.4 billion) plus customary adjustments..

ExxonMobil contributes to local development n its part, ExxonMobil said, “Contributing to the economic development of local communities is an important part of our business. This strategic objective is embedded into our project plans.

“In 2012, for example, ExxonMobil celebrated the completion of the first offshore structures to be designed, procured, and constructed in Nigeria.

The event represented years of dedication and collaboration between joint venture partners Mobil Producing Nigeria and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

“The project supports ExxonMobil’s goal to build and maintain a reliable and globally competitive supply chain wherever we operate.”

O

•OIL THEFT AND BUBKERING: From left: Mr. Brian Nair, Regional Security Manager, Sub-Sahara Africa, Shell and Evaristo Da Silva, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Angola, at the Oil Theft and Bunkering in the Niger Delta conference, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

FG tasked on clean-up, pipeline monitoring

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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he Federal Government has been urged to immediately mandate and fund the cleanup of the Niger Delta as well as to immediately introduce community monitoring of oil pipelines.

These are expected to mitigate the environmental hazards resulting from oil and gas activities in the region, which are compounded by incessant oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

The tasks are among the different roles that have been mapped out for various stakeholders with a view to ending the scourge of oil theft and illegal bunkering in Nigeria.

The roles, followed a community-focused, “Conference on Oil Theft and Illegal Oil Bunkering,” Organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, which held in Lagos last week.

In a communiqué issued after exchanging views on the prevailing situation in the oil sector, the Conference, which strongly condemned oil theft and illegal bunkering, further charged government to, “As a matter of urgency immediately pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, into law.”

It also urged it to, “Strengthen the law against illegal bunkering and economic sabotage with fast track prosecution and long jail terms.”

Other roles which government is expected to play in order to curb the menace of oil theft and illegal bunkering include: ·Increase funding and equipment of the Navy, the Joint Task Force, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, and other security operatives working in

… identifies roles for stakeholders the region to defeat oil theft ·Facilitate socio-economic development of the Niger Delta to curtail criminality in the oil sector, and, ·Carry out intensive and concerted campaign to curtail oil theft.

Besides tasking the different levels of government, the conference equally identified specific roles to be played by host communities, industry operators, and international community and security operatives, to boost government’s efforts in checking such criminal activates.

For the communities, the conference expects as follows: ·Report illegal activities within our communities, ·Identify characters involved in illegal activities in our communities, ·Take part in the process of decisionmaking in all aspects of resource management, and, ·Be part of a comprehensive mechanism to defeat oil theft

On their part, companies were charged to: ·Install meters at the point of production that would measure the quantity of oil produced, ·Improve corporate social responsibility anchored on human capacity development, ·Move the Head Quarters of the Oil Companies to the Niger Delta, ·Make petroleum products available for people in the Niger Delta and at the right price, ·Institute a more transparent oil loading regime and stop forthwith the loading of + 5%, ·Provide first line of protection for their

facilities, ·Expand and keep clear pipeline right of way, ·Encase pipeline in a minimum depth to protect against vandalism, ·Establish joint mini-refineries to absorb illegal refineries and engage local communities, and, ·Fund the immediate clean up of the Niger Delta.

Security agencies, International community ·Enhance security sector collaboration with community participation, ·Enhance intelligence gathering system with advance electronic and community input, ·Stop the unsystematic destruction of illegal oil theft facilities which compounds environmental damage, ·Commence oil finger printing to curtail stolen crude from the demand side, ·Increase collaboration with the Federal Government in combating oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, and the Gulf of Guinea.

The conference, which was held against the backdrop of the incessant theft and illegal bunkering of crude oil in the Niger Delta, also reviewed the socio-economic impacts of the menace to the economy.

These include environmental degradation, loss of economic activities for the communities, loss of revenue to the government resulting in inadequate funding for development initiatives, increased criminality in the region, and lack of security due to illegal activities and infiltration of international collaborators and bad image for the country.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,AUGUST 20, 2013— 25

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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NTERNATIONAL Finance Corporation, IFC has announced plans to support investments that will add 1,500 megawatts of power generation to the national grid.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the IFC Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Jean Philippe Prosper, said the corporation has already signed a mandate to mobilize funds for a power generation company, and to provide similar support for others.

He added that IFC also plans to support up to three power generation companies, saying, “These projects will add 1,500 MW to the national grid and are part of the World Bank Group’s intervention in the sector, which is built into the Energy Business Plan. IFC is also considering participation in a gas-to-power project,” he said.

He explained that under the Energy Business Plan, each World Bank group institution will leverage its competencies and products to provide solutions to projects that encourage their viability and contribute to the sustainability of the power sector.

Prosper further noted that, “the federal government has demonstrated strong commitment to the successful implementation of the power sector reform so that all the pieces of a sustainable power sector are coming together. The World Bank Group has put together an Energy Business Plan that will allow IFC, the World Bank and MIGA, to help address key project structuring issues and boost power supply to Nigerians,” he said.

“IFC and the other institutions of the World Bank Group are committed to supporting Nigeria with targeted interventions in the power sector that facilitate demonstration projects and boost investor confidence and contribute to better living standards,” he added.

Recall that the federal government estimated that about N1.6 trillion worth investment is required for infrastructure development in Nigeria to achieve its target of 40,000MW generation capacity by 2020.

The IFC also said it is actively supporting this goal by structuring projects to attract commercial financing, which will assist Nigeria in leveraging its scarce budget resources and mobilize private investment towards improving infrastructure in Nigeria.

Power generation rises to 3248MW ... As Shell Afam lights on

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LECTRICITY generation got a boost last week with additional 300 Megawatts, following the restoration of operations at Shell’s Afam VI power plant.

The Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP, which announced this via a statement issued by its Head, Media Communication, Mrs. Awele Okigbo in Abuja, said the development brought total system generation up to 3248.4 megawatts.

According to the statement, “the Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP, is pleased to announce the restoration of operations at the Shell Afam VI Generating Station, thus adding 300MW of electricity back to the national grid.

“Afam VI experienced a cutback in power generation on Saturday, August 9 due to the vandalism and bunkering of crude oil pipelines which affects the disposal of liquids from gas operations.

•FELIX AYANRUOH

felix.ayanruohlaw@gmail.com

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HY should there be any opposition to the enactment of a law with strong powers of enforcement to protect consumers from exploitation by electricity companies, and other purveyors of the Nigerian consumer?

With the fixed charge – tariff that makes it mandatory for power consumers to pay between N700 – N800 monthly regardless of whether the consumer makes use of electricity for the period or not, calls for a holistic examination of what liberalization of the power sector have done to consumers’ fairness.

This article is not about increased tariff, since I am not oblivious to the underlying reasons behind the increases. It was a known fact that before the tariff increase, electricity was sold to consumers below the short-run and longrun marginal cost of production; and even the most rudimentary understanding of basic economics and common sense dictates that it was not a sustainable business model. But the rationale behind the “fixed charge” levied against the consumers under the name of prepaid meters is a different issue altogether.

There is a potential for market manipulation and other abuses, when power regulation is devoid of antitrust regulation. Leaving full economic regulatory power to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will not serve this country well, particularly at this stage of the reform process. Traditionally, economic regulation of energy industries can be done from two basic sources, (a) direct regulation through administrative agencies - NERC, and (b) indirect regulation under antitrust laws. These two forms of regulation are geared toward protecting the public interest by achieving the most efficient allocation of resources possible.

Administrative or sector specific regulation is believed to be successful in dealing with general competition issue. However, experiences have shown that sector-specific regulations cannot meet all the challenges inherent in a liberalized industry.

When sectoral regulators have to apply wider standards than competition standards, they may contemplate that some of the interests they must safeguard require that competition be assuaged. For example, the public interest standard may clash with the efficiency standard and lead a sectoral regulator to protect non efficient competitors to favor creating an investment friendly environment.

However, it is not necessarily true that overbearing standards will clash with competition standards. The promotion of competition and efficiency is a worthwhile goal in itself and an important part of a broader public interest standard.

There may be other circumstances in which the lack of a proper regulatory framework may limit the effectiveness of competition law enforcement. Take for example, where consumers have very little information about their demand or the quality of the products or services offered them. In such cases sectoral regulation without competition law enforcement may lead to artificially increasing market power and to consumers being offered less than optimal quality service or products.

Antitrust laws have played a small role in the evolution of the energy industry. The basic purpose of the antitrust laws is to protect competition from predatory business practices by ensuring that fair competition exists in an open market economy. Thereby increase the welfare of, and ensure fairness to consumers. Antitrust laws are applied to a wide range of questionable business activities, including but not limited to price related issues. There appear to be growing convergence that antitrust rules also remain essential in dealing with a range of issues of economic regulation not addressed by the sectorspecific rules and to fill any gaps in sector-specific regulatory regimes.

Suffice it to state that sectoral regulations and competition law enforcement may be complementary even if they have different goals and they may sometimes contradict one another even when they share the same goal. Consequently, we need a law that would give the government greater power to enforce consumer welfare and anti-competition violation.

Also, because of the importance of electricity to all segments of the economy, there is a strong need to ensure that this sector ’s service is reliable and just.

We need a law that would give the government greater power to enforce consumer welfare and anticompetition violation

2013 Esso Mobil inter postgraduate scholarship awardees.

By CHRIS OCHAYI

Why Oil & Nigeria People needs antitrust law in electricity

,

IFC invests to boost Nigeria’s power supply with 1500MW

As at 5:00 pm on Thursday, Afam’s 300MW has brought total system generation up to 3248.4MW. Commenting on the development, the Chairman of PTFP, Mr. Beks Dagogo-Jack, commended the patriotic zeal with which Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, worked round the clock to fix the damage and resume production within a short turnaround time.

He also strongly condemned these acts of vandalism and bunkering and the effect it has on Nigeria’s electricity industry. “It is high time these vandals and bunkerers realize that they are plunging Nigeria into darkness. Their actions have a deleterious impact on the economy.” he said.

Power generation dropped to about 2,628.6MW due to persistent sabotage of the pipelines in the eastern axis network, and the Shell Afam VI facility is a critical component of thermal power generation in the country.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY,AUGUST 20, 2013— 27

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Alison-Madueke tasks operators on nuclear regulations T

HE Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, has called on operators and service providers in the oil and gas industry to cooperate with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, NNRA, in its mandate to ensure effective monitoring of nuclear application in the industry.

Delivering a Keynote Address at the Technical Meeting on Regulating Nuclear Application in the Oil and Gas Sector- Challenges and Stakeholders Expectations, organized by the NNRA in Abuja at the weekend, Alison-Madueke noted that as the biggest importer of radio-active materials in the country, petroleum industry operators must conform to basic safety and security standards.

The minister, who is also the Chairperson of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, explained that nuclear applications in the petroleum industry in Nigeria are not new, with some practitioners having about half a century of experience.

She said some companies have close to 200 radioactive sources in some instances noting that these sources are high-risk sources and may cause serious concern if control over them is lost or inadequate.

“It was for concerns such as these that, amongst others, led to the promulgation of the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act (Act) in 1995, at the behest of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the subsequent establishment of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in 2001. Since its inception, the NNRA has been supervised by - the Ministry of Petroleum Resources,’’ the Minister stated.

While commending the NNRA for organising the technical session, AlisonMadueke noted that the Agency is responsible for Nuclear Safety and Radiological Protection Regulation. And it is also saddled with the mandate of ensuring the protection of life and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

“The need for the NNRA to safely regulate nuclear applications by bringing them effectively under control cannot be overemphasized.

This shall also ensure the safety and health of personnel involved with their usage, as well as the safety of other members of the public,’’ She said.

She added that as member of the IAEA, and as a party to a number of binding and nonbinding international treaties, conventions and agreements - is under obligation to properly regulate and control nuclear materials and radioactive sources.

“This is not only for the safety of the Nigerian public, but also to prevent these materials from diversion to illicit uses,’’ Alison-Madueke explained. .

The Minister remarked that since its inception, the NNRA has taken steps to emplace a proper regulatory framework, within the context of its enabling Act, to effectively fulfill its major regulatory functions.

She said the agency is able

to achieve this through a system of registration, licensing and inspection of practices involving ionizing radiation and the overall enforcement of compliance with the provisions of the Act. She identified some of the specific regulations to include ·Nigerian Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulations (2003); ·Nigerian Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources Regulations, 2006; ·Nigerian Transportation of Radioactive Sources Regulations, 2006; ·Nigeria Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography Regulations (2006); ·Nigeria Radioactive Waste Management Regulations (2006), ·Nigerian Radiation Safety in Nuclear Well Logging Regulations, 2008; and, ·Nigerian Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Regulations, 2008.

PRESENTATION: From left: Representative from Lagos State Waste Management Office, Mrs. Agoro Halimat; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs. Iyabo Obasa; and Director, Finance and Administration, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs. Joko Ojosipe, at the presentation of Geophysical and Litho Logs data to the Lagos State Waste Water Management Office (LSWWO) in Ikeja.

FG to tackle transmission challenges with $1.6bn

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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HE Federal Government has said that it would commit the majority of about $1.6 billion proceeds to be realized from the sale of the National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP, to tackle the problem of transmission in the country.

The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, who disclosed this while receiving members of the Independent Power Providers Association of Nigeria, IPPAN, in Abuja, said further that the Nigeria Bulk

Electricity Trader, NBET, will be fully capitalized to guarantee smooth operation for independent power providers in the country before the end of the year.

The minister said the move was to ensure that there is enough wheeling power provided for the distribution of every megawatt of electricity generated.

Nebo, who called for more active participation by independent power providers in the sector, assured that import duty waivers would be provided for all power

equipment, added that the suppressed demand for power in the country is so huge that no matter the number of providers on board, there will still be a market for any amount of power generated.

He drew attention to the breakthrough in the Telecommunications Industry, saying, “ what is about to happen in the power sector will dwarf that of the Telecoms.” He also stated that the President will be performing the commissioning ceremony of Geometric, Aba, the first independent power

project in the country.

The Chairman of IPPAN, Prof. Jerry Gana, in his response, called for urgent government intervention in the area of challenges faced

by IPPAN to fast track the development of power projects being undertaken by its members. Also speaking, Vice Chairman of the group, Mrs. Agatha Nnaji, acknowledged the various problems militating against the smooth flow of power in Nigeria, adding that the group was comforted by the support being promised by the Minister.

BRIEF NERC, Power African Initiative mull policies

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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ETERMINED to broaden investments scope in the power sector, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and a President Barack Obama team referred to as, Power Africa Initiative, to discuss key investments initiatives that can be harnessed for Nigeria industries.

The meeting was at the instance of the Power Africa Group, which considers Nigeria a key nation in the scheme of things in Africa, was held at the Commission head office in Abuja.

The team Leader and coordinator for Power Africa and Trade Africa, Andrew Herscowits noted that Nigeria is an attractive place to invest.

He said that Nigeria is its model at a goal-oriented drive and implementation, the impact for which can then be replicated in other African countries.

Herscowits said that the Commission could count on its support for specific targeted assistance, which makes it imperative for collaboration that would shape the group’s intervention. He stressed that it was all about partnership.

A member of the team and Director, Economic Growth Office, United States Agency for International Development, USAID, Ms Sharon Paciling, said the Agency was already into a result yielding partnership with the Commission.

Accordingly, the Power Africa Initiative provides a veritable avenue for sustaining and furthering the parameters of the existing collaboration. She noted that the group was also considering maximizing its support to NERC. Responding, the NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, assured the delegation of better communication and feedback, adding that Nigeria’s reform has been most consistent.

The Head, Media at the Commission, Mrs. Maryam Yaya Abubakar, quoted Amadi in a statement as saying that the reform was moving the electricity industry towards a competitive market that would be driven by private sector.

Amadi reiterated NERC’s critical role in the transformation drive, and also advanced the cardinal point of regulation which was to ensure transparency.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 — 29

NIPCO steps up human capital development

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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IPCO Plc, a downstream player in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector said it has stepped up its human capital development initiatives to boost manpower development in line with the Local Content Act (2010, which harps on effective harnessing of indigenous capacity in the nation’s hydrocarbon industry.

The initiative is part of the company’s commitment to adding value to Nigeria’s economy by growing indigenous capacity especially in the oil and gas industry.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr. Venkataraman Venkatapathy, who disclosed this at a training programme to equip the staff properly on Safety and Security challenges in Downstream Operations, said the feat became imperative to enable the staff operate effectively and efficiently in a truly competitive business environment.

He told participants that Nipco will continue to support capacity building of its workforce in line with the Nigerian Content guidelines, even as the staff remained the bedrock of its steady

growth over the years.

He said the two-day training programme facilitated by Hybrid Consulting Limited, is designed to give a broader awareness to all participants on contemporary issues in safety and security management in downstream operations as part of efforts at meeting challenges in these areas.

The NIPCO boss asserted that the staff have not only remained a major pillar, but had also continued to maintain productive work ethic, which has helped the organisation sustain its key position in the industry

with satisfactory service delivery to its numerous publics.

According to him, the management will continue to place high priority on staff training and

development, seek and retain the best talents in its pursuit of operational and service excellence.

Venkatapathy stated that a robust performance framework has been put

in place by the company to ensure that all staff are properly managed and supported to deliver higher levels of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Conoil repackages lubricants to check adulteration

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ONOIL, a major petroleum products marketer, has repackaged its premium lubricant, Quatro Ultra, to protect it from adulteration and safeguard the interest of unsuspecting motorists who crave for the best engine

oil for their vehicles.

The company said the move followed the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s (SON) declaration that 70 per cent of products displayed in the Nigerian market are substandard, as well as to safeguard its over N1.5

billion investment in lubricant production.

The company in a statement made available to Vanguard, also promised to extend this unique initiative to other lubricants in its stable, adding that its range of engine oils are certified

by SON, as being produced under global-best practices and meeting international standards.

It added that the Quatro Ultra lubricant pack now comes wrapped in a transparent tamper proof, weather-proof cellophane sheen, which reinforces other security features currently on its pack.

Conoil also said that the engine oil is its “most advanced multi-grade gasoline engine lubricant, specially formulated to give automobiles all-year-round engine protection and performance plus superior fuel economy.”

Madueke, Nebo, others for PIB confab

By EDIRI EJOH

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he Minister of Petro leum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, legislators and other top officials of the petroleum and power industries as well as industry regulators are expected to chart a new course for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and other issues.

The event, which is the annual conference of the National Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC), has as its theme: “PIB: Harmonisation and Implementation for Economy Growth,” will hold on Thursday August 22, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos by 9am.

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30—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

By Theodore Opara

New date for FUTA motor show

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Coscharis drives Rolls Royce into Nigeria C

OSCHARIS Motors has been appointed the exclusive dealer on Rolls-Royce in Nigeria

by Rolls-Royce in Nigeria Motor Cars.

The franchise agreement was signed by the two companies at the Lekki corporate headquarters of Coscharis Group early this month.

A senior management team from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Germany, comprising its Managing Director, Mr Geoff Briscoe and the Regional Dealer Development Manager, Rolls-Royce

Motor Cars Limited, Middle East, Africa & Latin America, Mr. Mohamed Fawzi appended their signatures for Rolls Royce while the management team of Coscharis Group was represented by its President/CEO, Dr Cosmas Maduka and the Group Managing Director, Mr Josiah Samuel.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Cosmas Maduka expressed joy over yet another milestone attained by the company in signing on a high premium brand such as Rolls-Royce

Mandilas organises customers interactive forum

D

ETERMINED to give its customers the best of service, Mandilas Motor Warri branch, last week, organised a special customers interactive forum.

Mandilas is one of the accredited dealers of Toyota in Nigeria with showrooms and garages across the country.

The customers interactive service was attended by Mandilas Motors customers in Warri and its environs at Mandilas premises.

The theme of the forum was “Mandilas new package to serve you better.” Others were “fix it right the first time” and C M Y K

“talk on your car, your life”.

Speaking to Vanguard Motoring, the Regional Marketing Manager, Mandilas Motors, Mr. Patrick Onabu explained that service and customers satisfaction are key to Mandilas Motors.

According to him, Mandilas Motors is renowned to share customers experience and how to serve them better.

He further expressed thanks to the customers for bearing their mind on their cherished Toyota cars which will help the company to do more to satisfy their needs.

which celebrated its 10 years of production at the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England early this year.

Dr Maduka explained that the choice of adding Rolls-Royce to its portfolio was borne out of the company’s continued stance in identifying with world class brands in keeping with the company’s vision to build an institution that will be timeless in its relevance.

According to him, a well-defined concept was initiated beforehand in which the market was thoroughly analyzed.

Also speaking, the Group Managing Director, Coscharis Group, Mr. Josiah Samuel, expressed optimism that with the support of the brand manufacturers, the company would grow the clientele base of the Rolls-Royce brand in Nigeria while assuring its customers of a full after sales back up for the unique brand.

Responding, the Managing Director, RollsRoyce Motor Company Limited, Mr Geoff Briscoe said that in 10 years, the Home of Rolls-Royce has established a reputation as the benchmark of craftsmanship excellence pointing out that the cars will celebrate the first of many decades in this extraordinary British manufacturing success story.

He stated that a fastidious commitment to perfection underlines RollsRoyce’s position at the pinnacle of super-luxury manufacturing and was glad that Coscharis Motors has joined the brand family while assuring it of its total support in growing the market in Nigeria.

He revealed that RollsRoyce Motor Cars was thrilled to be able to offer Rolls-Royce Cars to discerning customers.

According to him the purchase of a RollsRoyce car is a unique and personalised process adding that the Motor company has tailored its service to every customer ’s individual needs.

The Rolls-Royce brand

from the stable of BMW is described as a unique Bespoke masterpiece and superior to its competition and by getting the franchise of RollsRoyce, Coscharis Motors now has acquired the franchise for all the brands on the stable of BMW Group, namely BMW, MINI and RollsRoyce.

It is on record that Rolls- Royce Motor Cars, aptly the leading manufacturer of super luxury cars in the world announced recently the creation of more than 100 new jobs.

This follows record sales over the last three years, significant expansion of the manufacturing plant and the launch of the company’s latest model, Wraith.

HE Federal Universi ty of Technology, Akure has said that a new date will be announced for the proposed motor show by the institution. Vanguard gathered that the on-going ASUU strike must have been responsible for the shift in hosting the event.

According to a statement by the organising committee, signed by Professor J.O. Okunlola and Dr. P. A. Aborisade, a new date will be announced.

“We sincerely appreciate and thank all prospective sponsors and participants for their interest and commitment to our proposed FUTA Auto Fair scheduled to hold from 20th to 26th August, 2013 and Workshop planned between 21st and 23rd August, 2013 at Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

“We wish to inform all signed up prospective sponsors and participants that response to the planned programme has been overwhelming and we continue to receive calls of interest from various quarters.

We would like to give opportunity to all stakeholders in the Auto industry: government establishments, educational institutions, students, artisans and all to take part in this unique event.

“In light of this, we have to announce, regretfully, that the FUTA Auto Fair and Workshops will now be held at a date to be announced as soon as consultation with signed up sponsors and participants on the most suitable dates are concluded, but certainly shortly.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 —31

By Theodore Opara

Ssangyong Motor global sales on the rise a domestic sales upswing, which has continued for the seventh straight month during July. The Korando series including Korando Turismo have led this sales momentum.

Domestic sales in July jumped to the highest level in 2013 with an increase of 38.5% from a year earlier, exceeding 5,000 units every month since April.

Ssangyong’s exports grew

S

SANGYONG Motor a member of Mahindra Group, has announced that the company sold a total of 12,536 vehicles in July 2013 – 5,768 vehicles in domestic sales and 6,768 in exports, including CKD kits.

Ssangyong’s monthly global sales exceeded 12,000 units for four months in a row backed by the launch of the Korando Turismo. Its sales in July also increased by 28.5% from a year earlier and its cumulative sales rose by 23.5% compared to the same period last year. This sales growth was driven by

Ssangyong car

by 21% year-on-year thanks to increased shipments of the Korando C gasoline model as well as increased sales in the Russian and Chilean markets.

Compared to June, exports decreased by 6.6% temporarily due to reduced working days at the plant as a result of the summer vacation schedule and priority being given towards meeting domestic demand.

ABC Transport boosts sleeper, shuttle services

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BC Transport has deployed three new coaches for its Sleeper Service. The new coaches are configured to suit the peculiar needs of late travels.

Each coach is equipped with fully-reclinabale seats, comfortable footrests, toilet facility, spacious seating arrangement, security surveillance cameras onboard, GPRS tracking technology, and speed limiters.

Expanding on its refleeting programme, ABC Transport has deployed 12 new mini buses to service its Shuttle Service in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Calabar, Uyo, Warri, Awka, and Owerri. Some of the new buses will service the newly introduced ABC Shuttle Servicefrom Warri and Benin to Lagos. In addition, ABC Sprinter Servicehas commenced operations on Owerri-Lagos route daily.

Economy class coach service has also been introduced on some routes too.

According to the management of the company, the custmers are now enjoying timely departure and earlyarrival due to the improvement.

Keen on satisfying service demands within Benin City, ABC Transport has opened a more convenient terminal at INE Oil Limited, off Km 8 BeninLagos Expressway, Euboumore Village, Edo State, while ABC Cargo Expresshas established an outlet at C23, Anambra Complex, Balogun, inside Trade Fair, Ojo, Lagos, as part of its cargo expansion plan.

Meanwhile, ABC Transport will be holding its 20th Annual General Meeting on August 23, 2013 at Ariana Hall, Concorde Hotel Owerri.

Presenting its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 to the public, the management of ABC Transport declared that the company recorded growth in turnover of 11.18 per cent and gross profit of 31.26 per cent over the amounts recorded in 2011.

Profit before tax and profit after tax also recorded a growth of 444.64 per cent and 413.67 per cent respectively over amounts recorded in 2011.

Toyota motorsport warms up for Dakar rally

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WEEK of concentrat ed testing in the Namib Desert near Walvis Bay has taken Toyota Motorsport South Africa a big step forward in their preparations for the 2014 Dakar Rally in South America from January 5 to 18, 2014.

It will be the third time the Toyota Imperial Dakar Team tackles the world’s longest and toughest motor race following a third place in 2012 and a second in 2013. The team will again enjoy sponsorship support from commercial partners Imperial Toyota, Duxbury Netgear, Innovation Group and Toyota Financial Services.

2009 Dakar winners Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz, third in 2012 and C M Y K

second in 2013, and Imperial Toyota Hilux teammates, Dakar rookie Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie, who navigated Duncan Vos to 10th place in 2012, travelled to the vast, open expanse of desert, some 32 kilometres south east of Walvis Bay and within 18 kilometres of the Atlantic Ocean, to take advantage of the combination of sand dune fields and gravel tracks closely resembling the geography they will experience in the Dakar Rally.

“Since our success in the 2013 Dakar Rally in January we have continued our development of the Toyota Hilux in the Donaldson South African Cross Country Championship."

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

BUILDINGS COLLAPSE:

Lagos goes tough on building

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

N

O fewer than five buildings collapsed in different parts of Lagos State in the past three months, with the attendant loss of lives, all due to human error largely committed by property owners.

The trend became a source of worry to government and residents who are at the mercy of greedy property developers whose aim is to maximize profits through the use of sub-standard materials in construction.

To curtail the trend Governor Babatunde Fashola, announced the immediate take off of the Lagos State Building Control Agency LASBCA, the agency, established to ensure standard in the industry and called for an inter-ministerial collaboration between ministries of

LAGOS STATE BUILDINGS CONTROL LAW REQUIREMENTS Any building that does not conform to the following requirements, risk contravention of building control laws •Building control in all its ramification (foundation to roofing) •Approval to commence construction after obtaining development permit •Inspection and certification of various stages of building construction •Verification of general contractors' all risk and building insurance policy •Issuance of certificate of completion and fitness for habitation.

•Identification and removal of distressed and non-conforming buildings •Public health control in buildings, (ramp) •Fire safety requirements of buildings(fire extinguishers) Physical Planning and Urban Development, Housing and Environment on measures that will curb the unfortunate incidence of building collapse.

LASBCA was created about 18 months ago for the enforcement of building control regulations and implementation of the 2010 Physical Planning,

Urban Development and Building Law in the state.

The functions of LASBCA, led

by Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun-Odunayo include:

Inspection of building works and the certification of various stages of building construction and keeping of such records; removal of illegal and non-con-

Old buildings inspection

A

CCORDING to a senior official of LASBCA who preferred anonymity, inspection of an old building includes; Visual observation – This has to do with physical signs that could be seen with naked eye on the wall of a building. There are two types, horizontal and vertical cracks.

When there is an opening with about 5-10 millimetres on a building, which can be measured through a ruler, there is possibility for distress.

Based on the above step, LASBCA serves Contravention Notice, CN, to the owner of the building. In the notice, the agency states the reason why the building was marked. This is followed

by Seal Up, SU which is issued 48 hours after.

According to the law, if the building is occupied and it is defected, the agency is expected to serve the occupants quit notice within seven days.

But if the state of the building is very dangerous for habitation that is, it can cave in within a short time, the agency could serve, CN and Quit Notice, QN, simultaneously. According to the law, the quit notice is

meant to evacuate the occupants of the building.

However, for a building not in too dangerous state, after the SU, LABSCA will prepare file for approval to evacuate the occupants from the building for the owner of the structure in order to subject it to integrity test.

Integrity test involves compliance to building standard.

Subsequently, a notice is issued to the owner to instruct his engineer to contact the agency on how the intends to conduct the test. At the test stage, the pillar, slabs and beams and others would be

tested. The standard is 30 by 30 metres for columns.

And if the result of the test showed that the building is not defective, LASBCA, directs the owner, through his engineer to write a letter to the agency on how the renovation of the building would be done.

If the test proves negative, the agency serves demolition notice, demanding that the building be pulled down.

Visible settlement – When a building is sinking or there is differential settlement-when a part of the building is slanted which can lead to cracks and eventual collapse. Even settlement: where window level of a building shows downward shift It has also been observed lately that some building shows visible signs of distress as a result of its plastering peeling off, exposing the casting (iron rod). These are exposed to harsh weather, such as rains and sun, which subsequently, corrodes the iron and weakens the effect.

When laying the iron rods, the expected measurement should be about 25 Millimeters MM, calf concrete. (Most developers do not adhere to this).

The iron is supposed to be suspended in the middle of the concrete and not at the bottom as is usually done.

According to the expert; “If the standard is adhered to, the wall of the building can not peel off to the level of exposing the casting. The iron rod, serves as stabilizer. It holds the entire pressure on a building.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20 2013

— 33

Buildings at 70% completion

I

requirements ing, verification and certification of building insurance, among others.

To demonstrate government’s seriousness, LASBCA, in the latest move to prevent distressed buildings from collapse, demolished a shopping plaza, located at Ireti Oluwa Street, Oshodi Local Government, which was under construction, for the inLASBCA was created about 18 months failing tegrity test. It ago for the enforcement of building con- also marked a 20-year-old Botrol regulations and implementation of ladale Mosque, the 2010 Physical Planning, Urban Devel- located at 29 Boladale Street, opment and Building Law in the state Oshodi and three other discontrol; establishment of District Develtressed buildings, with no approved opment Control Offices for the displan and use of sub-standard buildcharge of these functions; Conducting ing materials. research in building construction and Construction of the mall owned by control; Cooperating with the DevelopAlhaji Ibrahim Afolayan, Vanguard ment Permit Authority to achieve zero gathered, commenced about six tolerance of illegal developments; Enmonths ago and construction was alforcing the provisions of the new law ready at the second-floor. and any regulations that may be made under the law for inspection of build-

forming developments; identification and removal of distressed buildings to prevent collapse and; the issuance of Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation.

Other functions are: the provision of building services such as material evaluation and testing, fire and public health

,

,

F the building is at 70 percent completion before the agency discovers it, the owner must subject its structure to integrity test, to know the status of the building.

Marked new buildings This happens when during construction, we issued all the necessary notice but rather than comply, the owner continued with the construction of the building. Even if the building is completed and the owner paints it to show that the building was new, we will mark it because we have the records of the building.

Types of marking SW, Stop Work, DN, Distress Notice, QN, Quits Notice, these are served on registered Engineers.

Final demolition LASBCA only embarks on demolition after three notices must have been served and the owner is not forthcoming.

The cost of demolition is settled in two way – After the demolition of a distressed building, the government through the agency bears the cost.

But after the demolition exercise, when the owner is about to rebuild on the land, the owner will be required to secure building approval.

When he or she comes forward for such documents, he will be mandated to pay for the cost of the demolition.

However, until the owner pays he will not be able to construct a new building on his land. The building process begins again.

Buildings under construction

A

PPLICATION for development permit should be sought. There is a guideline to follow for door, window, decking before the approval is granted. A copy of the building’s approved drawings should be sent to LASBCA If there is contravention on newly completed building, – that is when someone starts construction of a new building, a Stop Work, SW, is served, demanding that the construction be halted. If the owner does not have genuine document, a Seal Up, SU, is issued. And sometimes, demolition is carried out. This confirms that the building in question is an illegal structure.

But if the agency discovered that the owner has genuine documents, the stage inspection exercise commences.

Site inspection A developer is expected to have architectural/ structural drawings on site.

A two to three storey building must have structural drawings. Soil test

certificate or result containing details of reinforcement materials, depth of foundation and type of foundation should be available.

A competent site Engineer will carry out soil test and soil pressure to determine the soil component (cement and sand depending the type of soil) before determination of foundation type.

Types of foundation There is raft foundation and pile (German floor) foundation. Soil test will determine the choice of foundation.

Procedure for certification The certification process includes: Inspection and certification of various stages of building construction; Verification of general contractors, developers, engineers among others and issuance of certification of completion and fitness for habitation.

The owner through his contractor would send a letter to the agency on how joint (the agency engineers and the site engineers) stage inspection would be done.

This means that at every stage, there would be material testing, to test the strength of the irons and the concretes for the slabs and pillars and all the facilities that must be provided within the construction premises.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20,

2013

How we stole N700m at Ikeja Airport —K MONEY IN February 2012, a gang of heavily armed robbers attacked the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. They carted away N700 million from a bureau de change operator. Each member, including the informant, a cart pusher at the airport, got N90million, an amount that could have turned their lives around. But barely one year after that operation, Felix Sunday, a.k.a. K-Money, a native of Delta State became broke and went back to robbery.

The 32 year old man, who is currently cooling off at the Specail Anti-Robbery Sqaud, SARS, Ikeja, narrated to Vanguard how he robbed with the notorious Southwest robbery czar, Abiodun Ogunjobi, a.k.a. Godogodo and how he lavished his N90million share of the loot. Excerpts.

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE My name is Felix Sunday. I am a resident of Lagos State and I was a commercial buse driver. I joined my first robbery gang in 2009 and was the gang’s driver.

Members of my gang then were old men and all of them are dead now.

They were killed in a robbery operation at Ajah area, but before then, a member of my gang had introduced me to Emmanuel Ehianeta, a.k.a. Arab, who is also a notorious robber. After their death I joined Arab and we

I quickly moved out of that state because the police were also looking for me. I relocated to Oyo State, where I became a commercial bus driver. I vowed never to return to robbery and was contented with what I was making. But there was this man who usually sent me to the prison to deliver some items to his younger brother who was locked up there.

The man was paying me very well and I was happy doing the job for him. However in one of my numerous visits to the prison, I asked his brother what brought him to the prison and he said he

,

,

I got a call from a member of our gang, a pastor, who prepared the charms and oath we took before the operation. He said that he needed to see me for a job. I didn’t know that he was with the police

began to operate together. Arab specialized in car snatching and we stole many cars at gun point.

After each operation, he usually gave the car to a man who would drive it into Benin Republic to deliver to some of our buyers.

We did that for some time before we had issues. I stopped working with him because he was cheating me. He usually gave me peanuts after receiving proceeds from the cars we stole.

I relocated to Ondo State and formed a new gang. There, I had Chiboy and Okey as members and we specialized in house visiting. We robbed people of their valuables each time we visited their homes. We did that until 2011 when Chiboy was killed by the police in Ondo State.

was arrested for robbery, I felt sorry for him and told him that I was also a robber but had quit the job because it is dangerous.

He looked at me and laughed.

Thereafter he described me as a small time robber. He asked if I could ignore a big job that could fetch me a million naira. I thought about it for a while and said, I would only do it if it would make me rich and pull me out of poverty. He told me to be patient adding that he would give my number to someone who would link me to the job.

In January 2012, I got a call from a man who identified himself as OJ and he explained that he got my number from Destiny, the guy I had been seeing in prison. OJ later told

•Felix Sunday... wasted his N90 million robbery proceeds

me that there was a job for me at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and he would want me to come to Computer Village in Lagos, to meet other members of the gang.

When I got there I met Asiwaju, Atoba, Eso and OJ. There OJ told me that they had concluded plans to strike at the airport and the only thing they needed then

were rifles for the job. I told them not to worry that I knew someone who could provide us with some rifles.

I contacted one Ore, who used to be close to Arab and asked him how to get a rifle. He told me that Arab had two AK 47 rifles given to him in Benin Republic by his receivers in exchange for some cars. I called

Arab. At first he was mad at me and asked why I was calling. I told him of the job at the airport that the foreign currencies were being exported ungaurded and all we needed was to steal it. He doubted me but I managed to convince him to meet other members of the gang and he was taken to the airport and shown how the monies were being

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—35 I drove my gang to the scene and we succeeded in that operation. We carted away a huge sum of money from the bank .

Since the number of men involved in that job was much, I was given just N200,000 and I took it home to my family. By January 2013, Asiwaju, called again to say there was a job in Kwara State and the operation was being coordinated by Godogodo.

We struck at two banks in that state and I got about N500,000 as my share and life began to become normal for me again.

Godogodo also brought a bullion van job for us again at Ijebu-ode and we succeeded in carting away all the money in the bullion van which included foreign currencies. My share in that job was N150,000.

Godogodo and other big time robbers like Paul, Odun and others took the larger share of it.

But in March 2013, Asiwaju who had three Ak47 rifles then called a meeting of all members of the gang and said we have to rob the airport again. This time we sidelined the Alhaji and OJ, and went to the MMIA ourselves to survey how the money was being moved.

Movements of the money •The Ikeja airport robbery gang with their box of rifles and charms

How we stole N700m at Ikeja Airport—K Money

Threat to kill everyone Before then Arab had asked Eso and Asiwaju to hand over the pistol and rifles to him so he could keep them safe from the police. But when we began to share the money Arab corked one of the rifles and threatened to kill everyone. He said he wanted to leave with the whole money but I begged him not to do so and agreed that he should take any amount he wanted as his share.

He then asked me to bring a bag and said I should load the money into it until the bag was full and I did so. After that he ordered us to share the remaining

Since I was a transporter, I decided to open a transport company, I bought three Toyota Sienna space buses and took them to MazaMaza Motor Park, where I wanted them to be used for inter-state transportation.One of the Sienna buses had an accident on it first journey and all the passengers including the driver died in the process.

Things were moving smoothly for me until the police in Oyo State •Lagos Police Commissioner, Manko stumbled on the money equally among ourselves rifles we used for the airport including the informant and the operation. They found it in the middle-man that brought the job. home of a man Arab gave them I gave Eso, Asiwaju, Atoba and to keep. The man told the Oyo myself N90million each and kept SARS operatives that I was very N45million for the informant and close to Arab so they stormed another N45 million for OJ, who Ijebu-Ode and they started was the middle-man. looking for me. They didn’t find Asiwaju offered to deliver the it difficult locating me because money to the informant and the my sudden wealth and business middle-man. We all went our empires gave me out. They separate ways from there. The first stormed my home and looted all thing I did was to contact a lawyer my property and they went to to help me register a company my show room and took all the because I wanted to sell cars. The cars in it. I was left with no other lawyer took about N500, 000 from option than to run out of the state me and also leased a land for me and I relocated to Calabar, Cross for about N1.6million which I River State. I lived in Calabar for used as show room. I went to about three months but life in that Benin Republic and bought state was too expensive. My many cars which I kept in my money was dwindling seriously show room. I also bought many and the man who was managing landed property at Ijebu-Ode. my transportation company

stopped remitting money to me, so I decided to come to Lagos State. I went to Ikorodu, but I was very scared.

I was moving from one hotel to the other and spending too much money. A girl who was very close to me became pregnant and I decided to marry her. We didin’t even have a house of our own then and I didn’t have enough money to rent an apartment.

Then I decided to sell the Toyota Corolla I was using for N1.6million and bought a Peugeot 406 for N400, 000. I used the balance to rent an apartment and furnished it. I

,

exported.

By February of that year I, Atoba, Eso, Arab and Asiwaju drove to the airport around 7:pm.

I was the one driving. I parked near the barbed wire and waited in the car while four of them went into the airport for the money. Arab and Eso held the Ak 47 rifles while Asiwaju held a pistol.

I was told that when they got to the spot where the money was Arab shot sporadically into the air to scare passersby and Atoba went straight for the bags containing the money. In less then 10 minutes, they were through with the operation and entered my vehicle with the money while I drove off. We escaped through Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and when we got to Ijebu-Ode we entered into a bush to share the money.

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, we struck at the airport, but before we got there we encountered a little traffic on our away. Two members of our gang who we had stationed earlier to monitor the movements of the money called us and said the money was already moving and by the time we arrived at the airport, the money had been moved from the car park into the departure lounge of the airport.

We shot sporadically into the air to cause panic and distraction but some policemen who were at the airport to escort some expatriates shot at us and they killed Eso. But Asiwaju, Atoba faced them, rained bullets and killed two of them. Before we knew what was happening the money had moved beyond our reach. We couldn’t do anything, we

When we began to share the money Arab corked one of the rifles and threatened to kill everyone. He said he wanted to leave with the whole money but I begged him not to do so and agreed that he should take any amount he wanted as his share

became almost broke at that time, and then started working my phones, calling other members of my gang to ask if there was any job. Luckily I was told that plans were on ground to rob a bank in Osun State and what they were working on was to pick a suitable date for the job. But on December 18,2012, Asiwaju asked me to meet him at IjebuOde, from where we proceeded to the bank.

My gang wasn’t the only one that was involved in that operation. Paul, an Igbo boy was also leading a gang of Igbo boys from the south east. As usual

,

descended on the bureau de change operators at the airport and we carted away the sum of N10 million.

That operation turned out to be my last. I went home to my family but one week later I got a call from a member of our gang, a Pastor, who prepared the charms and oath we took before the operation. He said that he needed to see me for a job. I didn’t know that he was with the police and when I came out to see him, I was arrested. I regret getting back to armed robbery and would have stuck to my vows.”

36—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Onokpite murder: Family accuses Keyamo of betrayal

IPC lauds firm over recognition of communities

T

HE family of slain gubernatorial candidate of Citizens Popular Party, CPP, Chief Ogbe Onokpite, has called on the public to disregard claims

by Mr. Festus Keyamo that he withdrew from the case when he noticed that late Onokpite’s family was fighting for compensation.

It will be recalled that Festus Keyamo, while declaring his intention to run for the Senate, following the demise of Senator Pius Ewherido, said that he withdrew from representing the Onokpites over the murder of their brother, Chief Onokpite, when it became clear to him that the family was after a different goal.

Mr. Diemo Onokpite, who spoke on behalf of the family, told journalists that Festus Keyamo betrayed the Onokpite family, explaining that when Chief Onokpite died, Keyamo in a television interview, stated that Ogbe was murdered and that he would fight for justice and would not stop until he get justice.

He said: “When I called Keyamo several times concerning the case and on the next line of action, he told me that he had written a petition to the Presidency and the Inspector-General of Police on the issue.

“We later noticed that Keyamo was not doing anything about

T

HE Ijaw People’s Congress, IPC, has commended the management of Integrated Data Services Limited, IDSL, for the recognition and inclusion of Opuapale, Akparemog-bene, Ayakoromo, Amasuomo, Oyangbene and others in the ongoing seismic operation, saying that it shows IDSL’s sensitivity to crisis-resolution.

IDSL, a subsidiary of NNPC, is currently carrying out seismic operations in some communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to a statement

by IPC’s National President, Mr. Ekanpou Enewaridideke, “in their new spirit of sufficient information and familiarity with their terrain of operation, IDSL has recognised Opuapale, Akparemogbene, Amasuomo, Oyangbene and others that are part of the agitation for recognition and inclusion.

“We appeal to IDSL to fully execute the project according to agreed terms, though we are aware that IDSL is already on that acceptable path.”

the case and we were not aware of the reasons behind his withdrawal from the case.

“The family quickly hired another lawyer, who then wrote fresh petitions via courier to Keyamo and notified him that he had written fresh petitions on the matter and he had sent

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Deputy Governor, Prof.

Amos Utuama, yesterday, said that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would produce the Senator that will replace late Senator Pius Ewherido in the forthcoming by-election in Delta

Central Senatorial District.

Utuama, told newsmen at the Osubi Airtsrip on his way from the United States of America, where he went for medical treatment, “l want to thank the media and my people for coming out to receive us.”

On the Delta Central senatorial by-election, he said: “Let

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—THERE was con fusion in Egbemene community, opposite Macver Market, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, as soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force, JTF, raided the quiet neighbourhood in alleged pursuit of suspected female crude oil bunkerers.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects, who were conveying

diesel in a boat to Warri, ran into the community and fled in a desperate attempt to escape from the soldiers, who were chasing them.

They abandoned the boat on the riverbank, while the soldiers ransacked homes in search of them.

A community source said that the military men harassed villagers, including Chief Perebina-bin Ebiton and a married woman, Mrs. Akren

Yodiowei, who was said to be innocent.

The source said: “As I speak to you, the whereabouts of four kids are not known.

“One of the victims was asked by the soldiers to roll and destroy the drums of diesel and he refused, which led to beating and maltreatment.

“There was pandemonium as residents were alarmed by the brutalisation, while some persons were asked to strip naked.”

Commissioner tasks youths on security of community projects

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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ELTA State Commissioner for Special Duties (Delta State Oil Producing Area De-

me use this opportunity to condole with the immediate and extended family of Ewherido for the sudden death.

“The vacancy is yet to be declared and I believe as a people, we will sit down and screen whoever will replace him. But I can assure you that that seat will go to PDP.”

velopment Commission, DESOPADEC), Mr. Timi Tonye, has called on youths and communities in the state to protect projects sited in their areas.

Tonye spoke while inspecting ongoing and completed projects awarded by the interventionist agency in Warri.

Accompanied by aides and other government officials, the commissioner inspected the re-enforced concrete road and pavement at Miller Waterside, Okere Junction beautification project, Agbasa Primary School, Mowoe Primary School, Yonwuren College, Ugbuwangue Primary School,

Uwangue College, I.C.E. and Awani Road, Ajamimoga, among others.

Tonye said: “DESOPADEC efforts is to complement that of the state government; the agency is working hard and all the projects we have visited show that we did a thorough study of the people’s need before sitting projects in the area.

“We have confidence in Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan because he has the passion to inspire positive development in the state. I urge Deltans to support him. He is a great leader. I am happy to be in his team.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

in the case up till date. Chief Ogbe’s case file is currently with the Attorney-General of the state, awaiting his advice.”

Diemo pointed out that the Onokpite family never in any way requested for compensation over their murdered son and brother, adding that even if they wanted compensation, they could have sue the police for same.

Soldiers ransack community in search of female oil thieves

PDP'll win Delta Central— Utuama

BY FESTUS AHON

them to him.

“Keyamo later received the fresh petitions from the family lawyer and pictures of how Chief Ogbe was murdered, which was a good evidence for the case.

“After waiting for Keyamo’s action on the issue without result, we directed the family lawyer to act on his own, which he did and we are still

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On ‘deportation' of Igbo from Lagos

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T’S quite an unfortunate incident. Deporting people from one part of same country to another is unheard of.

It can only happen here.

You can’t tell me that in one way or the other, Igbo have not contributed to the development of Lagos.— Miss Mercy John, Student.

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HE interpretation of this situation is a big issue to start with. Was it really a deportation or rehabilitation? However, we should respect the wishes of any state. It is one good thing about true Federalism.— Mr. Adesina Oluwasegun, Student.

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F after staying in KAI cell from six months to two years nobody could raise money, at least N10,000, to bail you out, that says a lot about your family and what you can contribute to the society. Let us face facts and stop saying crap.— Mr. Balogun Seyi, Economist.

AGOS is not a NoMan’s Land as some people think.

It is a legacy of the Yoruba. And that is the truth. The Federal Government needs to address the issue. Some people constitute themselves into nuisance in other states.— Mr. Femi Igwe, Sound Engineer.

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HE fact is that Nigeria is not a country as we Igbo erroneously believed to our chagrin and disappointment. Now we know better. Nigeria is a collection of nations that got welded together by the colonial masters.— Mr. Chinedu Chinweoda, Student.

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OOKING all the facts, Mr. Fashola got it all wrong. Although his agenda is a good one, he handled the issue wrongly.

Ndigbo, please do not be offended and let us stop seeing each other as enemies. We are all Nigerians.— Miss Maryjane Promise, Student.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—37

Ultimatum to Warri refinery: Ughelli North LG boss refutes media report

Delta Dep Speaker lauds Rotary Club of Asaba on humanitarian service

BY FESTUS AHON

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

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GHELLI—CHAIRMAN of Ughelli North Local Government Transition Committee, Delta State, Chief Friday Akpoyibo, has dissociated himself from recent media reports, calling for the sack of the Deport Manager, Warri Refinery, Engr Ali Abdallah, over alleged non-release of 50 trucks of kerosene to flood victims in the state.

A group, Almagamation of Oil Producing Communities Youths, AOPCY, had in a media report, accused Engr Abdallah of not releasing 50 trucks of kerosene approved for flood victims in the state

by Managing Director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC. Describing the group as faceless and non-existent, Akpoyibo, said that the group has no power to shut down oil facilities in the state.

“I was shocked and embarrassed with the said publication made by this faceless group. At the time of sharing relief materials to flood victims in Ughelli North, I went round the affected communities and among their demand was kerosene. When I came back, I met with my other colleagues, who also confirmed that flood victims in their areas also needed kerosene as one of their pressing needs.

“I wrote to PPMC in Abuja and my letter was approved by the Managing Director of PPMC and he sent an email and the approval letter to the Deport Manager, Warri Refinery, Engr Abdallah to release kerosene to flood victims in Delta."

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LECTURE— From left: Mr.HenryAwodele, Chairman, Ikeja PPCA; Mr. Abiola Popopla, Immediate Past President, PPCA; Mr.Victor Famuyiwa, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria and Mr.Anthony Arabome, Vice President, CIPMN, during the 2013 annual lecture and luncheon of Personnel Practitioners’ Consultative Association, PPCA, Ikeja, Lagos.

FG earmarks N1.03bn for revitalisation of adult literacy

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—THE Federal Government has set aside $6.43million trust fund aimed at revitalising the adult and youth literacy project in the country.

Executive Secretary of National Commission for Mass Education, Alhaji Jibrin Paiko, disclosed this in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, during the training of trainers of literacy facilitators in the state.

He said that the objective of the programme was to strengthen national capacity for the delivery of quality literacy programme to the estimated 40 million illiterates in the country with a view to achieving the education for all and education

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ENAGOA—AS part of activities to mark this year’s medical week of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, the Bayelsa State chapter of the association will today commence free medical outreach in Gbarantoru community, Yenagoa Local Area of the state.

Gbarantoru is one of the few communities in the state that can be accessed by land and water and is also host to the PHCN substation in the state.

Chairman of the state chapter of NMA, Dr. James Omietimi,

fectively in contemporary society.

“Nigeria, like other sub-Saharan African countries, is facing huge challenges of higher number of illiterates which comprises mostly of out-of-school children, youth and adults, who have never attended school. A huge percentage of these are girls and young women.

“Hence, the on-going revitalization adult and youth literacy project focuses on the promotion of access, equity, quality and innovations in non-formal education through the integration of functional, vocational and entrepreneurial skills into basic education,” he said.

Oil spill in Nigeria among highest globally — NOSDRA

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT—NIGERIA currently ranks among countries with the highest

Bayelsa NMA embarks on free medicare

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

related MDGs by the year 2015.

On the training of the facilitators, the Executive Secretary said that the objective was to improve skills and knowledge of no fewer than 4,107 facilitators across the country with an average of 111 facilitators per state.

He listed the specific objectives of the training to include enablement of grassroots field workers in adult basic education, improve the quality of programme delivery, update facilitators’ knowledge on current and most innovative ways of discharging their duties and equip the facilitators with skills and knowledge that will enable them function ef-

who briefed newsmen, yesterday, said that the free medical outreach was being sponsored by the Bayelsa State Post Flood Committee.

He said that the committee had donated drugs and food supplements for malnourished kids as well as mosquito treated nets for distribution to the natives.

He said that 40 medical doctors and other personnel would be on ground during the exercise, adding that patients with serious health challenges would be referred to the Federal Medical Centre and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Where they would be treated free of charge.

frequency of oil spillages worldwide.

Director General of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Sir Peter Idabor, made the disclosure in Port Harcourt, Rivers State when the Minister of Environment, Hiaja Hadiza Mailafia, unveiled the agency’s first marine pollution response vessel named Recovery 1.

According to the NOSDRA boss, most of the recurring spillages result from third party interferences, including pipeline vandalism, bunkering and artisanal local refining of stolen crude oil, aside operational failures among industry operators.

He said, “from the unfortunate and even tragic devastation from these incidents, most spill

response efforts in Nigeria involve international support usually with great financial implication” in capital flight.

With the acquisition of Recovery 1, capital flight suffered by relying on international responders will be significantly reduced while building local capacity and engendering efficient response to spills.”

He said that the vessel, the first by the agency, also meant Nigeria’s fulfillment of the transnational obligation derived from the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response Cooperation in 1990 to which Nigeria is signatory.

The vessel, Recovery 1 as unveiled has an oil recovery speed of six knots; a recovery rate of 50 tonnes per hour in addition to on board oil tank with maximum 48 tonnes.

EMBERS of Rotary Club of Asaba Metropolitan, Delta State, have been commended for their continued support towards humanitarian services to the people.

Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Basil Ganagana made the commendation when he received in his office, Rotarians, who were on a thank-you visit to some Deltans that contributed to the sponsorship of little Miss Chizzy Ndibe, who underwent a surgery in America for a hole in the heart.

The Rotary Club of Asaba Metropolitan members led by its president, Mr. Stanley Mebaghanje, the Charter President, Mr. Andy Uweyeyan and others, said that the visit was to present the little girl to some of those who supported the club to carry out the successful surgical operation carried out on the girl.

Also speaking, the Past District Governor of the Club, Mr. Ben Udenze, expressed appreciation to the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, his deputy, Prof.Amos Utuama, Speaker, Mr Victor Ochei, for their support to the club, adding that the club was designed to assist the down trodden in the society.

Plumbing contractors console Fashola

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HE Lagos State Association of Plumbing Contractors has condoled the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and his family over the death of their father, Alhaji Ibrahim Fashola, who died recently.

The President of the association, Mr. Femi Awotoye in a statement, prayed the Almighty Allah will give the family fortitude to bear the loss.

He also urged the governor not to deter from making the state the best among others in the area of development.

He thanked the governor for declaring July 23rd of every year Enterprising Day and the attention given to the association on many occasions.

38—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Man arraigned over alleged car theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS—A 29-yearold driver, Kenneth Nwahunaya, was yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly stealing one Toyota Hilux Van, from his boss.

Nwahunaya, who was docked before Magistrate Eniola Fabamwo, is facing a two- count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against him by the police.

Police prosecutor, ASP Barth Nwaokoye, told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the alleged offence on August 9, 2013, at about 3pm at Freanchies Food, at Adeola Odeku, in Victoria Island area of Lagos.

FCTA assures residents on employment

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA—THE Minis ter of State for Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, has reiterated the commitment of the administration to wealth creation and employment generation in the territory.

She stated this at the commissioning of the Pottery Crank Wheel at the Pottery Centre, Giri Community in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Akinjide, who was represented by her Special Assistant on Area Councils, Alhaji Ibraheem Aminu Ibraheem, said the support of FCT Administration for employment generation, poverty alleviation, and wealth creation was consistent with the aspiration of the Federal Government to create employment for the growing youth population.

Reasons for drug abuse, by NDLEA

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AGOS—THE Na tional Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has identified availability of drugs and peer influence as some of the factors that endeared to drug abuse.

NDLEA Intelligence Officer, Akpa Akpabio, disclosed this at a seminar for youths on drug abuse organised by Ikeja Pearl Lions Club in Lagos.

He said: “Drug kills and once you abuse drug, drug will equally abuse you. Let us understand that abuse of drugs ruins and maim people.”

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Deportation: Group demands N500bn compensation for victims zAsks Ohanaeze, S-East govs, lawmakers to react

BY TONY EDIKE NUGU—PAN-IGBO group, the Enugu State Roots Initiative, ESRI, weekend, demanded immediate payment of N500 billion compensation to the people deported to River Niger Bridge in Onitsha by Lagos State Government.

Apart from paying the monetary compensation, the body also asked Lagos State Government to provide them with befitting housing accommodation and publicly apologize for denigrating their personal liberty and smearing the sanctity of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It also called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo, South East Governors Forum, South East caucus in the National Assembly and Igbo professionals and other groups to speak up in condemnation of the act.

In a statement by the national president, Mr. Joni Icheka; Secretary, Mr. Uche Nwegbo and Treasurer, Mr. Emma Nwodo, the group maintained that the deportation negated sections 21 (1), 22 (1) and 15 (3) of the Constitution.

It also condemned the Lagos State Government for sealing off the property of former Abia State governor, Dr. Uzor Kalu, and frowned on the statements credited to the former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-

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Kayode, saying such statements were capable of bringing about ethnic hatred and a breakdown of law and order.

The statement reads in part: “ESRI therefore, demands an immediate payment of the sum of N500 billion compensation to these ill-treated Nigerians, whom the Lagos State Government said were Ndi Anambra.

“Apart from paying them the compensation, the state government should also immedi-

ately provide them with befitting accommodation and publicly apologize for denigrating their personal liberty and smearing the sanctity of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“If the Lagos State Government and their governor fails to do these things within one month, we will be left with no option than to conclude that it was done with clear negative

mind-set and vendetta and we would be left with no option than to take appropriate legal action.”

Pointing out that deporting any Nigerian from one part of the country to another negated the constitution of the country, the group described the action as ill-advised, adding that it exposed the victims to danger and extreme rainy season weather.

LAUNCHING: From left: Mrs. Folashade Onanuga,Executive Director,Technical,Lagos State Pension Commission, Dr Demola Sogunle,CEO, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd,Mr Paul Awoyemi Ebong,Principal Insurance Officer, National Open University of Nigeria, Mr Steve Elusope, ED, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd and Mrs. Bunmi Dayo-Olagunji, at the launch of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers mobile office in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola.

Police nab 2 women with fake N35,000 notes

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State Police Command weekend, arrested two women for allegedly being in possession of fake N35,000 notes at Iboko Market square in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, Amechi Okoro and Ngozi Okike, who are indigenes of Enugu State but reside at No. 30 Chukwu and 3 Nwanchor Streets respectively in Abakaliki, were arrested as they tried to use the fake naira notes to purchase materials at Iboko market.

Briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, state Police Public Relations Officer, Sylvester Igbo, DSP, said the suspects were helping the police in their investigation to ascertain the source of the fake currency.

He said: “ At 15:45 pm, two females, Amechi Okoro and Ngozi Okike, both from Enugu State but reside at No. 30 Chukwu Street and No. 3 Nwanchor Street respectively in Ebonyi State, were found at Iboko market square in Izzi LGA with N35,500 counterfeit currencies which they were

using to buy materials from the market.

“When they made payment for the items they had already bought, it was then that the owner of the goods suspected that the currency were fake. Remember, we had already made a public announcement that there were influx of fake naira notes in circulation in Ebonyi

State.

“As the trader raised alarm which attracted other bystanders who came to find out what exactly was going on; it was there and then that the attention of the police was drawn to the development and the two women were arrested.

“At present, the two suspects are

helping the police in their investigation. Right now, police have not concluded investigation but at the end of it, we can either establish whether the currencies were fake or not; and if they are fake, the suspects would be arraigned in court for the court to give its ruling on the matter.”

Obi, Umeh didn’t teleguide our screening,

by APGA stalwart

BY TONY EDIKE NUGU—A stalwart of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and member of the party ’s governorship screening committee for the November 16 Anambra State governorship election, Chief Onwuka Ukwa, yesterday, said the committee was never teleguided by either the national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, or Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.

He said the screening was handled in a transparent man-

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ner and that all the aspirants that appeared before the panel were given equal opportunity to make their presentations, which they acknowledged in their interviews with the media shortly after the exercise in Abuja.

“Nobody teleguided the screening committee; APGA decided that a political process devoid of the usual rancor and violence should be created. It’s not a do-or-die process. The intention is to ensure selfless service to the people,”

he said.

Reacting to criticisms trailing the screening and disqualification of six aspirants, including former Central Bank governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Ukwa said: “The governorship aspirants had pledged their dedication to APGA, let me also say that the admirable way all of them conducted themselves throughout the screening exercise is a remarkable testimony that our democracy is advancing.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—39

OPENING: From left, Mr. Joseph Ebata, retail training consultant to Grocery Bazaar; Mr. Femi Bello, Head, Sales operations; Mrs. Nathaniel, Mr. Sam Ejeh, MD, all of Grocery Bazaar; Mrs. Oyinye Okoroji, representing the Chairman, Ejigbo Local Government Development Area; Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan; Bishop Olateye, and the representative of the Ejigbo Police Station, Mr. Solomon Olaleye, at the opening ceremony of Grocery Bazaar supermarket, in Ejigbo.

CONFERENCE: President, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, NPMCN, Prof. Victor Wakwe, presenting a plaque to the guest speaker, Emeritus Prof. Adeoye Adeniyi, and NPMCN Vice President, Prof. R.A. Arogundade, during the 8th Annual Scientific Conference and All Fellows Congress of the College, at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife

CEREMONY: MD/CEO, Imani Holdings Ltd, Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar; First Lady of Belize, Mrs. Kim Barrow, and MD, UACN Property Development Company, Mr. Hakeem Oguniran, at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Pinnacle Estate, in Abuja.

LAUNCH: From left, Deji Omotoyinbo, Chief Judge; Felix Awogu, General Manager, SuperSport; Chinedu Ani (Nedu of Wazobia FM), one of the judges, and Nomsa Mazibuko, Marketing Director, SuperSport International, during the launch of the SuperSport's ‘Follow Ya Mouth’ Pidgin Commentator Search, at Unity Centre, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja.

10th WAGGGS AFRICA REGION FUND-RAISING DINNER

From left, Mrs. Clementina Damegos, Vice Chairperson, Friends of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts,WAGGGS, Africa Region, Nigeria Chapter; Mrs. Grace Ogbemi, Chairperson, Friends of WAGGGS Africa Region, Nigeria Chapter, Lagos, and Otunba Yetunde Arobieke, Chairperson of the opening ceremony of the 10th WAGGGS African Region, Nigeria Chapter's fund raising dinner, at Airport Hotel, Ikeja. Photo: Shola Oyelese

From left, Mrs. Ansa Uko, Mrs. Grace Ogbemi, Chairperson, Freinds of WAGGGS, Africa Region, Nigeria Chapter, Lagos, and Dame Christie Toby (Chief Commissioner, Nigeria Girl Guides)

From left, Ms Nadine El Adry, Chairperson, World Board of WAGGGS; Ms Morwenna Moseley, Coordinator, and Ms Gill Sewell, World Centre, WAGGGS. Photo: Shola Oyelese

BURIAL CEREMONY OF LATE MRS MARY AKUYA

From left, Arc. Macauley E-Nunu, Mrs. Nellie Alero Ohaka, Mr. Gabriel Akuya, Miss Alero Akuya, and Junior Okechukwu Ohaka, during the burial ceremony of late Mrs. Mary Akuya, at Egbokodo-Itsekiri. Photos: Akpokona From Left; Arc. Macauley E-Nunu, Mr. Phelix Amoruwa-Onofomi, Mr. Gabriel Akuya, and Mr. Fred Dudu. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire Omafauire.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Nasarawa Poly suspends 12 students over cult activities

Group asks Amori to withdraw from senatorial contest

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T

HE Association of Delta State Magazines and Newspapers Publishers at a meeting in Lagos has urged Chief Ighoyota Amori, who is the National Chairman of Urhobo Political Congress, UPC, to withdraw from Delta Central Senatorial race.

The group’s coordinator, Deacon Ovie Edomi, noted that the UPC under Amori’s leadership has not brought any dividend to the Delta Central of which the common man and grassroot Urhobos reside.

Edomi further noted that the role UPC played in the past was seen by some elders in Urboboland home and abroad as partly responsible for why the Urhobos could not present a common voice under the President Jonathan’s regime.

“Such a leader who had served as two time Commissioner in Delta State and now senior political adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will not be able to represent the interest of the Delta Central people at the senate."

Jigawa speaker mourns late deputy

WORKSHOP—From left: Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj. Gen. Garba Wahab at the 2013 second commanding officers' workshop in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Group flays Northern leaders over 2015 presidency

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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AGOS—NATIONAL President of the Advancement for Democracy and Development, ADD, Mr Abuchi Iwuji, has berated the Professor Ango Abdullahi-led Northern Elders Forum, NEF, for insisting that the North must produce the president in 2015.

Briefing newsmen at the end of an emergency National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting in Lagos, Iwuji said the statements attributed to the NEF leader were “highly condemnable,” noting that “it is totally unacceptable for Prof Ango Abdullahi and his group of elders of the North, to make provocative and uncharitable statements capable of inciting and misleading unsuspecting northerners against their southern brothers”.

Noting what he described as strings of unsubstantiated criticisms and outbursts by the group and other similar groups from the North

against the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, he said: “For some time now, I have carefully followed the negative anti-Jonathan media attacks and blackmails particularly from this group, and it is quite disgusting, untenable and totally unacceptable to wellmeaning Nigerians. I implore Nigerians to be careful about the intentions and activities of this group. Since I started to hear about them in the media, I have never seen them comment positively about Jonathan’s government.

“Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the North has ruled the nation for more years than the South. The rulership of this nation was in the hands of the North for more years than any other section, but no visible and sustainable achievements were made.

"It is disheartening to say that

there is little or nothing to show for it. Any where you go in the North, all you see is poverty and negligence by their so called leaders. It is regrettable that most of the challenges we have today are simply the manifestations of the many years of misrule and neglect by past leaders."

Querying the reasons behind the NEF agitation, Iwuji accused the group of embarking on political blackmail, aimed at achieving ethnic agenda, saying “I would want well-meaning northerners to ask Ango Abdullahi and his group what they have done for them over the years when they were in power. It is unfortunate that they have nothing to offer to the people. Their only interest is to ensure that the North rules this nation for ever. They have erroneous believe that the leadership of this nation belongs to the North."

BY ALIYU DANGIDA

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INGIM, JIGAWA— SPEAKER of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Adamu Ahmed Sarawa, has described his late deputy, Inuwa Sule Udi Ringim, as loyal and hardworking leader whose contribution and cordial working relationship with his colleagues and other people will linger on.

The deputy speaker died in an auto crash on the Kano-Hadeija highway last Thursday at the age of 48.

Sarawa who could not hold back his emotion as he broke down in tears at the residence of the deceased in Ringim, said he was mourning the death of his deputy and indeed, a brother.

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Plateau holds information management workshop

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS—BETTER information management has been advocated at the local government level to improve community driven development at the grassroots.

This was part of a communiqué reached at the end of a two-day orientation workshop for special assistants in Plateau State with the theme: “Enhancing the Capacity of Government Appointment Holders for Results Based Performance”.

The communiqué noted that lack of strategic communication at the third tier of government should be addressed to accelerate development.

Director General, Research, Training and Documentation in the office of the governor, Mr. Chris Kwaja, whose office organised the workshop, explained that it was to make the political appointees appreciate their roles better and equip them with monitoring and evaluation skills to enable them succeed in their duties.

He said it was also to keep them abreast of the agenda of the Jang administration, saying “Governor Jang has demonstrated that he is focused, determined and willing to deliver on electoral promises as is already clearly seen by the infrastructural

development the state has witnessed since 2007.”

The communiqué stressed the need for special assistants to be given requisite Information and Communication Technology, ICT, tools for research, documentation and reporting to enhance their productivity.

It also suggested more training in monitoring and evaluation to enable them evaluate public response to government projects and programmes.

Participants commended the state government for organizing the workshop as it would improve performance on their job.

AFIA—NASARAWA State Polytechnic has suspended 12 students for their alleged involvement in secret cult activities, the Registrar, Mr Labani Joseph, said in a statement, yesterday.

The statement, released in Lafia, stated that the affected students comprised nine males and three females in NDI and NDII classes in different departments.

It said the decision to suspend the students was part of measures taken by the authority to stamp out secret cult activities from the institution.

The registrar warned the affected students to steer clear of the polytechnic community, pending the outcome of police investigations.

The statement attributed the recurrent trend of cult activities in the polytechnic to the lack of hostel accommodation as majority of the students resided with communities around school.

“The institution will collaborate with the police and other security agencies to check criminal activities in the campus,” it said.

Yuguda commissions NUJ press centre in Bauchi

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AUCHI—BAUCHI State Governor, Isa Yuguda, yesterday, commissioned the Bauchi State Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, press centre, calling on the media practitioners to champion the cause of equity and justice in the country.

Yuguda commissioned the centre in company of the NUJ National President, Muhammed Garba; Senator Babayo Gamawa, Commissioner of Information, Muhammed Damina and Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yusuf Musa Gumli.

According to Yuguda, the contract for the renovation and completion of the Bauchi State press centre was awarded in the first tenure of his administration, but it suffered a setback because the contractor handling the project embezzled the contract funds.

He said the contract was revoked and rewarded to the state Ministry of Special Duties through direct labour.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—41

HUMAN HEADS SAGA:

Hotelier asks court to stop Gov Obi from confiscating property

BY OKONKWO EZE

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NITSHA—AN Onitsha High Court in Anambra State, yesterday, adjourned hearing to September 2 in a motion exparte filed against Governor Peter Obi by Chief Bonaventure Mokwe, detained proprietor of Upper Class Hotel, which was demolished on Thursday, August 1, 2013. The demolition came on the orders of the governor, following the discovery of some decomposing human heads and arms inside the hotel room.

The adjournment came after counsel to the applicant, M. N. Umenweke, moved the motion afresh as directed by the court.

Presiding judge, Justice J.O. Okuma, had directed counsel to the applicant to move the motion afresh because the one previously moved could not stand due to the fact that the case file was not duly approved by the chief judge of the state before it was assigned to the vacation court by the state Chief Registrar, which led to the returning of the file to the CJ for approval.

Standing order He said now that the case filed had been duly approved and assigned to him by the CJ, in line with the standing order, the motion had to be moved afresh.

Mokwe had through his solicitors, brought the motion against Obi and the AttorneyGeneral of Anambra State, pursuant to Order 40, Rules 1 (A & B), 3(1),(2) and (1) of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules of Anambra State, 2006 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

In the motion, the applicant is praying the court for a leave to apply for the order of prohibition against the respondents herein from confiscating, destroying and further destroying his assets and property, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The applicant is also seeking the court order that the leave so granted should act as a stay of confiscating, demolishing and further demolishing and all further actions of the respondents in connection with the complaint in the suit, pending its determination.

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Produce agreement on single term, Presidency challenges ACF, others

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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HE presidency has challenged the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and others of like mind, to produce an agreement reached between them and President Goodluck Jonathan to serve a single term in office.

The presidency threw the challenge, yesterday, following fresh assertions by ACF to the president to honour the terms of the alleged agreement purportedly reached prior to the 2011 presidential election.

ACF spokesman, Anthony Sani, reacting to the agitation by five northern governors for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to address their concerns, had told a national newspaper in an interview published yesterday: “Our understanding of the G-5 governors is that they want governors to be carried along in the management of their party.

“They want an end to divisions and entrenchment of internal democracy in the party, and for President Jonathan to respect agreements he entered into voluntarily with stakeholders.”

However, responding to the assertion, political adviser to the President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, told Vanguard yesterday: “There was no agreement President Jonathan had with anybody for a single term.

“I have challenged them before and not even the governor of Niger State that started the debate could prove it.”

Said agreement Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State raised the issue last February, during a live radio interview, when he claimed that the President agreed to serve a single term as a condition to get the support of governors, especially

those from the north.

He had said: “I recall that at the time he was going to declare for the 2011 election, all the PDP governors were brought together to ensure that we were all in the same frame of mind.

“And I recall that some of us said given the circumstances of the death of President Umaru Yar ’Adua and given the PDP zoning arrangement, it was expected

that the North was to produce the president for a given number of years.

“I recall that at that discussion, it was agreed that Jonathan would serve only one term of four years and we all signed the agreement.

“Even when Jonathan went to Kampala, Uganda, and also said he was going to serve a single term.”

•General Yakubu Gowon rtd. (middle) dedicating the Gethsemane Prayer Ministries International while Rev (Dr.) Moses Aransi, General Overseer of the prayer ministries and his wife Funmi watch.

Photo: Dare Fasube

Fears in Rivers Govt as IG redeploys police officers •6 AIGs and 13 CPs on capacity building course •Urges them to step up fight against crime

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI

T

HERE were fears in Rivers State Government House, yesterday, as the Inspector-General of Police, MD Abubakar, ordered a massive redeployment of policemen across the country.

The order showed that six assistant inspectors-general of Police, AIGs, and 14 commissioners of Police, CPs, are involved.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, was not involved in the redeployments but it was learnt, yesterday, that most of the policemen and women serving in the Rivers State Government House, Port-Harcourt, are to be moved out of the state.

The affected CPs have been urged to vigorously step up the fight against all forms of criminality in their new commands and formations.

The IG also enjoined them to leverage on the cordial relationship among sister security

agencies in their respective beats, to ensure that criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum. He charged them to ensure that officers and men under their supervision were mindful of the rights of the citizenry, while cultivating the trust and confidence of the public in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.

The 14 newly redeployed CPs are: CP Lawal Tanko to Borno State; CP Ibrahim Ahmed moves to Zamfara; CP Hilary Okpara moves to Bayelsa State; CP Maigari Dikko moves to Ebonyi State; CP Adebayo Ajileye moves to Inspectorate ‘E’ Dept, FHQ; while CP Adeola A. Adeniji, moves to Border Patrol.

Others affected are, CP Waheed O. Salau who becomes CP Airport; CP Markus Danladi, Commandant, Police College, Maiduguri; CP Tonye E. Ebitibituwa, CP Training ‘E’ Dept, FHQ; CP Hyacinth M.

Dagala, Deputy Commandant, POLAC, Kano; DCP Lawal Shehu, CP Admin, ‘E’ Dept, FHQ; DCP Ibrahim Adamu, Deputy Force Secretary; DCP Abdul D. Danwawu, becomes CP Armament while DCP Salisu F. Abdullahi moves to CP ‘X’ Squad.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, said that all the postings are with immediate effect.

Leadership course In a related development, the IGP has ordered six assistant inspectors-general of Police, AIGs, and 13 commissioners of Police, CPs, from various Police commands and formations, including zonal commands and Force Headquarters, to proceed on a one week Leadership and Strategic Management Course for senior officers.

The course being conducted at the Centre for Management Development, Shangisha, Lagos, commenced yesterday

and ends on Friday. The IG said that the course was geared towards equipping the senior officers with requisite leadership and managerial skills necessary for driving the vision and mission of the current Police Management in line with ongoing reforms of the Federal Government.

He noted that training and re-training of Officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force is a cardinal policy of the present Police administration.

The affected senior Officers for the leadership course are: AIGs David O. Omojala, Christopher Terhem Dega, Tambari Y. Mohammed, Mark Adamu Idakwo, Sule Mamman and Adisa Baba Bolanta.

Others are; Cp Isaac Chinyerem Eke, Cp Marcus K. Danladi, Cp Ahmed Ibrahim, Cp Salihu Garba, Cp Kudu Nma, Cp Umaru U. Shehu, Cp Usman Isa Baba, Cp Saidu Madawaki, Cp Usman Yakubu, Cp Abdulmajid Ali, Cp Abubakar Adamu Mohammed, Cp Kayode C. Aderanti and Cp Abdul Salami Iyaji.

42 -- Vanguard Vanguard,,

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

VIRGO; This is not the right time to rely on promises made by others. Continue to take matters-ofthe-heart seriously. Reason with your reliable associates.

LIBRA; Tension within the domestic scene will start to ease off. Yet you will need to watch what you do within your base till after 10.15pm tonight.

SCORPIO; Both yourself and other important personalities to you are beginning to see things from same point of view making it easy for you to eliminate unnecessary rift.

SAGITTARIUS; Venus moves into a positive angle to your Star and encourages peaceful settlement. Exhibition of maturity on your part will favour you better.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

HE truth is that as human beings our wants are very many but our needs limited.

We want food, we want shelter and we want clothing. After these three basic needs our other needs are just met to satisfy our ego.

Do you need everything...?

T

Some of our needs are essentials, for example, water. And to some extent, a car is a necessity, but several cars is just part of satisfying our ego. The issue is can we get our

needs satisfied? The holy writ admonished us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness and all other things shall be for us. In other words, once we have accepted

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

Him into our life and live a righteous life, our needs will be met.

Mind you, He did not say He will meet our greed.

You do not need everything. But that which you need to live a contented life shall be supplied you provided you live righteously.

By Lanre Kehinde

CAPRICORN; Gradually you are dropping aggressive approach you have adopted in the last few days to the betterment of your cause. Remain practical till after 10.15pm.

AQUARIUS; Better than yesterday; however that is not to say you should throw caution to the wind.

Improvement on your love life indicated. Try to comport yourself.

PISCES; After a few days of fun you may need to settle down to serious business. Those of you working till very late evening will need to be more careful till after 10.15pm. Reason with your tried and trusted old hands(friends).

ARIES; Venus at positive angle boosts your sparkling personality to the betterment of your cause.

Could be a nice day for the-young-at-heart.

TAURUS; It is important you don’t allow your mind to wander unnecessarily so that minor but costly mistakes would be averted. Avoid late evening confusion.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI; Recent tension generated by controversy over money will start to ease off. Be more vigilant if you are working late in the evening.

CANCER;. Other people will continue to have their says and if you try to indoctrinate them tensed atmosphere will be aggravated. Be patient.

LEO; Entrance of romantic Venus into your Star Sign will enhance your prospects. Both financial and love related success are possible.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Would my life be stable?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I want to know about my future, especially what I should expect from my love life both in the immediate and far future. However that is not to say I am not interested in good financial standing.

Lawal,Abuja.

Dear Lawal, Although there will be a particular time you will need to be more careful so that you will not gamble with love as predicted under your love life.

The love of luxury comes from your stelliu-Taurus which must not be totally discouraged but should not be allowed to go beyond your control. Yes envy and jealousy can creep in as indicated by the oppositions between your natal Venus/Saturn in Taurus and Jupiter in Scorpio, but that is not enough excuse for either failure or manipulation of occult powers against you.

Whatever anybody says and/or does GREAT FINANCIAL SUCCESS is your portion.

The most influential planet during your birth hour is Venus-the planet of MONEY and LOVE. You are the romantic type whose magnetic personality and open handedness are sources of big trap to his members of opposite sex. As handsome as you are you truly crave stability in your love life/ home and the happiness you desired will be yours. You will need to watch carefully around and during your 46th year on earth as you may be tempted to gamble with matters-of-the-heart.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 —43

Igbo Youths Mov't want Soludo, others' disqualification reversed

•Soludo

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

T

HE Igbo Youths Movement (IYM) has urged

the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to reconsider its disqualification of seven

governorship aspirants and allow all those seeking the Anambra governorship seat on its platform to take part in the primaries.

The party, weekend disqualified former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, former Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze and five after screening all the aspirants.

Speaking on the issue, yesterday, IYM President, Evangelist Elliot Uko, pleaded with the APGA hierarchy to reconsider the decision because “it is suspicious and has been fueling conspiracy theory of deliberate ploy to stop some people from running. They should open up the democratic space and let all aspirants take part in the primaries.

Meanwhile, the group has commended Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, who aspiring for the gubernatorial seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on his commitment to Ndigbo since 2007.

“IYM appreciates the fact that Nwankpo played

Umeh condoles mourning Ekwunife

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

T

HE national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief (Sir) Victor Umeh, has called on all members of the party to unite as a family, so as to face the political challenges ahead of the party.

Addressing members of Hon. Uche Ekwunife Campaign Organization when he paid a condolence visit to Hon. Ekwunife in her residence in

PDP: We're not part of any court injunction — Okeke

O

NE of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirants, Chief Ugochukwu Okeke (Enyioha) yesterday dissociated himself from the alleged injunction by 11 governorship aspirants against the Independent National Electoral Commission,

INEC, over last week’s congress of the party.

Mr. Ugochukwu Adileje, a lawyer, who reacted on behalf of Okeke said the PDP aspirant cannot be part of any gang up, adding that while he (Okeke) believes in the leadership of PDP at the national level and

Prince Kenneth Emeakayi’s leadership at the state level, he does not believe in forming a coalition of protesters in the run up to the gubernatorial election.

Adileje said, “We are not involved in any court injunction. Our principal is in

••Says I'm the new face of Anambra

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

C

HIEF Ugochukwu Okeke, a PDP governorship aspirant said he is primarily in the race to develop Anambra State and empower youths of the state who have remained unemployed after many years of leaving school.

According to him, a blueprint for the development of the state has already been prepared by his campaign organization, adding that many stakeholders in the state were desirous of joining

hands with him to move the state forward.

The aspirant, who is from Anambra South senatorial zone, said that Anambra indigenes abroad have expressed their desire to join him in attracting international investors into the state, adding that as somebody who has established contacts outside the state, donor agencies would double their interest in Anambra State if he became the governor.

He said: “I am a new face of

Anambra leadership. I am not a money bag.

S

ENATOR Emma Anosike is not new on the terrain but admits that unlike many old soldiers on the field that he is not a money bag. The former lawmaker and PDP gubernatorial running mate in 2010 told Vanguard that people form the

My vision bigger than my fear —Ubah

BY DAPO AKINREFON

L

ABOUR Party governorship aspirant for the polls, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah has promised to make security of lives and properties a priority in his administration if elected governor of the state.

Reeling out his action plan for the state in his manifesto, Dr Ubah said he would “ensure security of lives and property, preventing, detecting and fighting crime and use of technology to fight crime.”

He said, “I have a proven

C M Y K

record of investments and capacity to create wealth and employment, which I believe makes me ideally suited to tackle the challenges facing our state. I have also in practical terms created thousands of jobs and empowered thousands of Anambra indigenes, mostly youths. I have no doubt that my leadership will make Anambra better. I am confident that despite the challenging times we have passed through, the trials and tribulations, there are brighter days ahead. We have forgiven and we should also be

touch with other aspirants, but not for the purpose of engaging in any protest. We believe that

forgiven for any misunderstandings, conflicts, or shortcomings.

Contesting on the platform of the Labour Party, Ubah said “my vision is bigger than my fear; my actions are louder than my words; and my word is my bond. Our beloved state has a rich background of success in many fields of human endeavour. Our people have greatly excelled in politics, commerce and industry, academia, economic development and religion, to mention a few.”

Awka over the death of her mother, Chief Umeh explained that what happened in the recent past in the party, was not really a battle for supremacy, but a struggle for the common good of APGA and its members.

He recalled that during that struggle, Hon. Uche Ekwunife and Chief Austin Ndigwe, stood firmly by him, insisting that he (Umeh) did nothing wrong to deserve persecution at the time.

Umeh emphasized that all his efforts were geared towards ensuring that APGA remained a political force to contend with in Nigeria, adding that members of the party must work as a family to ensure victory for APGA in the forth-coming gubernatorial election in the state.

We'll miss Gov Obi —Ohanaeze

BY VINCENT UJUMADU THE Anambra State chairman of Ohanez Ndigbo, Chief Chris Eluemunoh says the apex Igbo socio –cultural organization, would miss

Anosike’s clean hands

BY GBENGA OKE

strategic role in getting Ndigbo to vote in one direction in the 2007 presidential polls. We commend him for his commitment to building Igbo organizations and assistance to flood victims last year,” Uko said.

basis of his own strength as he denied being a godfather or having a godfather.

“Almighty God is my God-father and I can tell you that so far that I have gone in life was due to Gods support.”

On his financial prowess for the contest, he said: “I am not a money bag but my industry is relationship with people and anybody that has the people has the majority. My hands are clean, I feel excited when I'm with them but not excited about their money, I believe in doing things for the less privileged.

Every year, I sponsor two thousand widows, I raise money to start up things for them and I support several motherless babies home every year, that is my calling and if I become the Governor of the state, those areas will be key in my government. “I believe in helping people and acquisition of knowledge. They believe money can do all things because some of them are illiterates but for me, knowledge is power and key.”

Governor Peter Obi’s wise counseling to the body when he leaves office on March 17, 2014..

Eluemunoh, who spoke when the governor presented a cheque of N2 million to the body, said Ohaneze appreciates the Obi’s efforts both in the development of Anambra State and the promotion of Igbo course in the country.

“We are going to miss you as your tenure nears the end for all your support to Ohaneze and for your uncommon development of our state,” he said.

•Anosike

44—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

It's not yet time for power shift to North — Onoja MAJOR-GENERAL Lawrence Onoja is a former military governor of, Plateau and Katsina States and was Principal Staff Officer to Gen. Sanni Abacha, he is presently president of the Alumni Assoicaiton of the National Institute and chairman, Strategic Mobilization Committee of the Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF). In this interview he speaks on issues concerning the 2015 presidential election, power shift and the position of the Middle-Belt. Excerpts:

Y

OU were out of PDP for some time and now you are back in the PDP, why are you back?

As of today, I have not officially decamped from ACN to PDP yet. But technically, I am almost in PDP now because I am working for the second term of Mr. President and obviously he would want me to be in the same party with him.

But the actual ceremony of receiving me in the PDP has not been done. So as at today I am still a member of the ACN. And then because of my position as president of the Alumni Association of the National Institute, I am not allowed to be very visible in political parties but as a citizen, I have a right to belong to a political party.

But I cannot contest any election as long as I am president of the institute. And I cannot accept any visible position from any political party. But our constitution in Kuru allows us to be partners with any government and advise that government in terms of policy formulation.

But the opposition believes that it has better democratic credentials to upstage the PDP? It is very doubtful. The approach they are taking now, insulting the president and individuals, if they take that approach they will not be an effective opposition to upstage the PDP. What I expect them to do at this point is that if they have any criticism they should direct it at the PDP as a party, not Mr. President as a person.

And they should show Nigerians their own credentials and what they can do to improve the situation.

Showing their credentials

]Not descending low to call Mr. President all sorts of names.

If they continue then I am afraid they will not be able to come near PDP in any election at all.

One other issue in the PDP is power shift to the North.

Don’t you think it is ripe time to return power to that zone?

Every group has a right to ask for power but I believe power is not given that way. You work for it. I want to let you know categorically here that it is not yet time for power to shift to the North.

Mr. President has not done his second term.

All the other Presidents were given opportunity to do their second terms and Mr. President by virtue of the fact that he is a minority like me, it would be unfair and injustice to stop him from doing his second term. If he finishes his second term in 2019, then other areas or blocks can now begin to •Onoja: Which president did better than agitate for power Jonathan? shift.

Laying claim to power

•Onoja: I don't know of one-term agreement I think it is only fair to allow Mr. President do his second term.

But we understand that the power shift is a Northern agenda and you are from the North?

There is a misconception. The North of the sixties when Sarduana was alive is no long the same North today. Let me correct that misconception, I am from Middle Belt which is a geographical reality today.

I am an active member of Congress for Equality and Change which is a non political association. I am also a member of Middle Belt Forum. So, if you say I am from the North, and you are referring to the old North yes, I am from the North, but now, the middle belt is a geographical reality and I am a member of the middle belt. I am not from the core North.

You said Mr. President should be allowed to go for second term, but people will ask whether it is a question of second term or performance?

I believe Mr. President is doing well. This is my own opinion. Anybody has right to express his or her own opinion.

I believe Mr. President is doing well. Look at the situation, those who have been there before what is extra ordinary in

their performance that Mr. President has not done.

The President is rehabilitating the railway system which everybody is yearning for and they are very grateful. The power situation has improved.

Look at the steps he took to restore security in some parts of the North.

Those steps are welcomed by me and they are very adequate now. While the military are doing what they are trained for,

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

hearts and minds of the people through pamphlets, through propaganda. So with time what Mr. President has put in place will yield results.

Agitators for power shift to the North are pinning down Mr. President to an alleged agreement which says he is going to run for one term.

They also claimed that when he went to Ethiopia, he said he was going to do one term.

They claim that what they are looking at is his honour and integrity of a leader over his words?

I am not privy to any agreement. I do not know if any agreement was signed.

And I don’t think Mr. President signed any agreement with anybody. This is politics. Why there is unpredictability in political events always is because you have the mind as an individual to change your mind if you do anything depending on the situation.

All I am saying is that he should be allowed to do his second term before any group can lay claim to power. I am not privy to any agreement he had with anybody.

Do you mean Northern elders like Prof. Ango Abdullahi do not represent your view on power shift?

There could be anger in certain parts of the North. But there is no anger against Jonathan in my own Middle Belt part of the North.

Every group has the fundamental right to agitate for power. The groups that are talking, the Northern Elders, Arewa, they are not political parties. They are socio-political cum cultural associations. So they probably cannot install a

There could be anger in certain parts of the North, but there is no anger against Jonathan in my own Middle Belt part of the North

there is a committee on amnesty trying to appeal to those who are belligerent in the North.

With time I am sure these things will yield peace and peace is already coming back to the North. We will still have pockets of these militants who will be resisting but after some time with the appeals being made by many Nigerians, and the amnesty committee working, day and night to ensure they attract them.

The governor of Borno is already rehabilitating the children of the militants. The military there in Borno are even trying to embark on winning of

,

president.

At best they are talking of supporting a candidate from the North. You don’t blame me for saying that my own people support Jonathan. This is because assuming the power comes to the North today would you tell them to concede power to the Idoma people where I come from because I am a minority in the North and Jonathan is a minority form South South. Why don’t you allow him finish his second term then after that any other group can now begin to agitate for power.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 —45

Delta Central:

My plans, my prospects — Emerhor

CHIEF O’tega Emerhor is an All Progressives Congress (APC) is an aspirant for the vacant Delta Central Senatorial seat occasioned by the death of Senator Pius Ewherido. An insurance expert, he is chairman of Standard Alliance Group, Lagos, Emerhor spoke on the political situation in Delta Central, the state and the country in general. He also opened up on his prospects and plans to win the bye-election. Excerpts:

BY GODWIN OGHRE

T

Maintaining of contacts But I still maintain my contacts with DPP because some progressives are still there. In fact, I am working hard to ensure that APC and DPP form alliance or merger as soon as possible so that all the progressives can be under one political umbrella.

Our over all interest is to wrest power from PDP and that means we must come together as a united front for the struggle.

What is your relationship with Chief Great Ogboru?

He is my very good friend. We are political brothers and we do agree on many things. I know that we shall soon agree in the area of alliance or merger of APC and DPP in Delta State.

Do you think that APC or DPP, as the case may be, can wrest power from PDP? Oh yes. Alliance or no alliance, merger or no merger of APC and DPP, I can assure you that APC will continue to beat PDP, as usual, in this Senatorial District, and eventually in this state. It is only

,

HERE are comments that you have not made up your mind yet to join any political party. Is that correct?

I am not only a full-fledged member of APC, but also, I am among aspirants gunning to be the party’s candidate in the forth coming Delta Central Senatorial bye-election in the state.

I have already declared my interest to run for the election and I know I shall eventually emerge as the party ’s candidate for the bye-election, and I also know that with the kind of structures I already have on ground I will win the bye-election.

Delta State Chairman of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, was quoted to have said that you are a friend of the party….

I agree. I am a friend of the DPP. You know, initially, all of us who are progressives were in DPP. But when APC was registered, so many of us who fought for the registration APC pulled out into APC when the p[arty was eventually registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

done so far. I think the previous executive did not do well.

I do hope that the present executive, ably headed by the revered Gen. Patrick Aziza (rtd), will do much better, and some of us will always be there to assist them achieve the onerous task of completing the centre to the glory of God. How would you respond to claims that the “Political Family” of the late Senator Ewerido requested you to fill the vacuum left on his demise?

When we talk of Pius Ewherido’s political family, we mean the people who stood by him while he was developing this senatorial district. They are party members, friends and immediate family.

present marginalization of the Urhobo is not orchestrated by the President.

In fact he seems not to have been properly briefed on the true position of things until recently when a delegation of Urhobo elites, led by the President-General, General Patrick Aziza, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja and used the opportunity to brief him on the situation report before the President got the full knowledge of the situation. He has promised to rectify it and we know that he is a man of his words. He will do just what he said.

What is your assessment of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration?

,

I am not only a full-fledged member of APC, but also I am one of the present crop of aspirants gunning to be the party’s candidate in the forth coming Delta Central Senatorial bye-election in the state

•Emerhor: Doing my best for Urhobom people at the national or presidential level that we shall all vote for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. It is a journey and we shall complete the race.

What is your relationship with Urhobo Progress Union, UPU? Extremely cordial! As you may have heard, I am actually doing my best for my Urhobo people, and I will continue to

Enugu 2015:

do my very best. This is my home and I should be foremost in the work of developing it.

You made a substantial donation some years ago towards the building of the Urhobo Cultural Centre at Uvwiamuge, are you satisfied with the level of work done at the moment?

Well to be frank, I am not very satisfied with the level of work

No much comment for now. I salute him. I think he is doing his best.

What is your assessment of PDP as a party in the country and in the state in particular?

I do not want to meddle into the affairs of PDP. I am not a member of PDP and I cannot speak on its performance. But what I do know and convinced on is that APC will always displace PDP in Delta Central Senatorial District.

It will also do that in 2015 and subsequently at the state level.

However, I and my people will vote for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the national level, in 2015, and he shall win again. We support his government.

Chime on power shift

BY LINDA AMALU

T

HE decision by Governor Sullivan Chime to throw support for the emergence of his successor from Enugu North Senatorial zone is being lauded as a demonstration of his inclination towards the promotion of equity and justice in the sharing of political offices.

Commending Chime, recently, Marshal 7 Club, a socio-cultural organization with members drawn from the Southeast region said Chime’s action was a sterling example of leadership. Chairman of the club, Chief Fidelis Ezima said:“His Excellency has exhibited not only honesty, but also a rare civility in

They are the progressives in the state. They have jointly called on me to start from where Ewherido stopped. I accept the offer and I am currently working towards the realisation of that objective, and with God on our side, we shall achieve it.

Why are you contesting the bye-election for Delta Central Senatorial District and in what areas are you going to make impact, if elected?

First of all, I want a stop to the marginalization of the Urhobo in government. If you take a look at the composition of the federal cabinet, you will not find an Urhobo man. That should stop.

But I can assure you that the

•Ezima

leadership. We thank him not only for his statement but also for the good work he is doing in the state. Peace and security

plus infrastructural and human capital development have become hallmarks of his administration.

“His presence is felt across the nooks and crannies of Enugu State. It must be put on record that this same club had some time in the past advised all political officers in Nsukka to rally round the governor in 2011, so as to enable them have their tenure unencumbered in 2015. Today, that prophesy has come to pass. We are therefore advising egoistic politicians to take a cue from him and learn how to play politics without bitterness.

Giving the statistics of Enugu State and its political growth from the era of Chief Jim Nwobodo, the club

recalled that Nwobodo (Enugu East) was governor of old Anambra State which included Enugu from 1979 – 1983. in 1983, Chief C.C Onoh from Enugu West was elected but his administration was short lived because of military coup.

In 1990, when the military conducted elections Chief Okwesilieze from North won.

In 1999, Dr. Chimaraoke Nnamani (Enugu East) took over and ruled for eight years before handing over to Chime (Enugu West), whose tenure will end in 2015, adding “it therefore becomes imperative that an Enugu North person will emerge as governor in 2015, based on this road map created by both man and nature.”

46— Vanguard, TUESD AY, AUGUST 20, 2013 TUESDA

Novel knee, hip replacement systems launched by Smith & Nephew

S

• Now, patients can stand up for their rights in Lagos hospitals.

Malpractice:

Lagos doctors promote patients’ rights

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

S

UCCOUR has come the way of patients who may have suffered unduly in the hands of Nigerian medical professionals at one time or the other as medical doctors under the auspices of the Lagos State branch of the Nigeria Medical Association; NMA, last week say patients right must not be trample upon.

Speaking in Lagos during the Association’s Annual Conference with the theme: “Litigation in Medical Practice and Emerging Trend”, the doctors acknowledged that rights of patients which include right to consent, confidentiality among others, have suffered unduly due to patients’ inability to reocognise them.

“It is no longer business as usual as the national body of the profession is working assiduously to upgrade the laws to the present state of things so that patients are well taken care of; and are given the best of care in the current medical practice,” said Chairman, Lagos State NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile who lamented that many of the laws guiding medical profession in Nigeria date back as far back as 1940s and 1960s.

Faduyile who stated that the theme of the conference was chosen as people are becoming more aware and the world is also becoming a global village said: “We want to get it right and also to let the public know that they have a right for good treatment by their doctors, also,

for the doctors to be aware of the new ways of doing things.

Rights of patients should be respected.

“We are saying let us start the process of doing things according to the dictates of the law so that we will not run afoul of any of the codes of the medical profession.”

Faduyile urged patients not to resign to fate whenever they feel their rights have been trampled upon. “We are telling

patients to be aware of their rights and to know the appropriate way to seek redress. If your right has been breached you should also know where to report. It is not good to go to your house and resign to your fate.”

He said patients have the Right of Confidentiality, Right of Consent and to determine the extent of how the treatment should be given as well as to know what the doctor wants to

do or is doing. He urged those with genuine cases to report to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, a body set to be in the level of high court to attend to medical cases.

Guest Lecturer, a Consultant Mental Health Physician, Dr. Adegboyega Ogunwale from the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Teaching Hospital, Abeokuta, said the time had come for Continues on page 47

MITH & Nephew, a USbased implant company, in conjunction with Morison Industries Plc and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, have developed novel total hip replacement, THR, and Total Knee Replacement, TKR, systems.

At the formal presentation of the products in Benin City, Edo State recently, the Nigerian team was led by Prof. Phillip Umebese, and facilitator, Dr. Anirejuoritse Bafor a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon.

Dr. Adetayo Olagbegi , Business Development Manager, Smith & Nephew, Nigeria, and Prof. Umesh Nagare, a British trained orthopaedic surgeon whose expertise was drawn upon during the workshop, described the process as a significant feat in bone surgery.

Lectures were held for orthopaedic consultants interested in knee and hip replacement to make the technology and surgical know how- available to indigenous doctors.

NACA steps up campaign on behavioural change

•Inaugurates HIV media team

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

S the National AIDS Control Agency, NACA, steps up its HIV/ AIDS behavioural change campaign with the development of a comprehensive communication plan, a media team has been inaugurated to ensure that Nigerians are regularly presented with adequate and balanced information about HIV/AIDS prevention and control with the aim of promoting effective behavioural and attitudinal change communication.

Inaugurating the media team made up of journalists from mainstream print, electronic and broadcast media organizations, last week in Abuja, Director General, NACA, Professor John Idoko, said the team is expected to collaborate with the Agency, to help attain the goal of informing, educating and communicating with the public about HIV/AIDS and other issues of relevance.

Idoko observed that even though HIV

• NACA DG, Prof. John Idoko has been on the table for long, there was the need to keep it on the front burner and the media was best equipped to do that.

"Everything about HIV is about behaviour, and about how to change people's behaviour at every point so they don't get infected and if they do get

infected, how to change their behaviour so they would seek treatment and care."

Speaking on the plan, the DG said everything NACA is doing about HIV is to modify the people's behaviour such that the epidemic can be driven down.

"Our prevention plan is hinged on Behavioural Change Communication, BCC, but we have packaged things now into communication and prevention which is a set of strategies that can be grouped under biomedical and structural and each of these require communication to present it to people.

"We need corporate communication to put HIV as a discussion on the table and to show that things are being done to encourage behavioural change. For me, the major thing is putting HIV as a discussion that is continuously sitting on the table, otherwise, people will forget about responding to it," he argued.

Highlighting the importance of communication as part of the Agency's Continues on page 47

Vanguard, TUESD AY, AUGUST 20, 2013 —47 TUESDA

Chinese, African leaders collaborate on health

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE FRICAN and Chinese health ministers and officials have mapped out new strategies to support Africa’s long-term health progress and shape the future of China-Africa health cooperation. At the first-ever Ministerial Forum on ChinaAfrica Health Development on China-Africa Cooperation, FOCAC, that demonstrated the highest level of political commitment to tackle Africa’s most pressing health challenges, participants launched the Beijing Declaration of the Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Development, which sets a roadmap for jointly addressing key health challenges across Africa.

Under the Declaration, China and African countries will embark on new efforts to achieve sustainable, long-term health solutions, such as increasing partnerships on joint research and addressing the shortage of healthcare workers. China and African countries will engage further with private enterprise to encourage technology transfer and increase access to low-cost health technologies that meet high quality standards. The Declaration emphasizes that such health cooperation efforts will align with African countries’ priorities as well as national and regional development plans.

In this new era of collaboration, Chinese and African government officials and other stakeholders will work closely together to identify sustainable solutions to health challenges. This will include bolstering human resources capacity in African countries, supporting domestic manufacturing capacity, and increasing access to low-cost, high-quality health products.

These joint efforts will draw on and leverage China’s own

A

• Chinese and African leaders during the 4th International Roundtable on China-Africa Health Cooperation.

experiences with improving public health in a resource-limited setting. China will also share the tools and expertise it has acquired

through its investments in health research and development, the production of health technologies, and its current health reform effort

to expand healthcare to all citizens.

The countries will also work closely with key global health stakeholders to support ChinaAfrica health cooperation.

“China and African countries have enjoyed strong and effective partnerships on health for half a century, based on our common experiences and our shared vision for a brighter and healthier future for all our citizens,” said Hon. Min. Awa Coll-Seck, Minister of Health of Senegal.

“The Beijing Declaration solidifies our governments’ commitments to developing and implementing Africa-led strategies that drive sustainable health progress and improve lives across the continent.

Stakeholders seek policy change on breastfeeding

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

S

TAKEHOLDERS have risen from a National Summit on breastfeeding to seek policy change and promotion of legislations that would guarantee longer maternity leave for nursing mothers and fathers as well as support for nursing mothers in workplaces, at home and in the community.

In her submission at the event organised by Colostrum International, in commemoration of the 2013 World Breastfeeding Week, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, regretted a UNICEF report which states that breast feeding in Nigeria has declined to 17

NACA steps up campaign Continued from Page 46 programming, he said: "All the programmes we do - prevention, treatment, care and support require communication. Specifically, you will need to communicate to people about where services are available and how they can access the services, and to engage people and show them how to take the drugs, to support the services available in the community, and those on drugs. We also need communication to drive community engagement and mobilisation to drive the demand of services and supply of services. It is about advocacy.

All along we have been doing things in bits and pieces, now we have a plan particularly that is going to look at a comprehensive package of things from now till 2015. There are 13 priority areas in the comprehensive plan, and each requires communication. "At every point, communication is critical. As we speak, the number of people who have correct information about HIV/AIDS in the

country is still extremely low and there is no way we can drive out the epidemic if people do not have new and better knowledge about HIV." Idoko was optimistic that the media will do particularly well in the rural areas where although most persons have heard about HIV, and awareness is like 100 percent, only few persons have changed their behavior so they do not get infected or that when infected, they seek knowledge so they do not pass the virus to others.

"We are only lifting ourselves to the next level to see how we can engage in conversation such that we can bring correct new information to the people.

Only recently, we developed the new plan towards 2015, called the President's Comprehensive Response Plan, PCRP, so now the volume of our media activities will expand as we undertake the journey together."

NACA is trying to be more proactive and expand what it is doing to meet the goals and targets set in its new plan.

percent, adding that, "it is a very sad as it impact negatively on the health of both mother and infant."

Represented by Hajiya Rabiu Galadima, Director, Child Development in the Ministry, Maina observed that "The key to best breastfeeding practices is continued day - to -day support for the breastfeeding mother within her home and community. Encouraging breastfeeding of infants, I believe will not only reduce disease, poverty and child mortality but ensure the foundation of life and the future of every society/nation is guaranteed."

Project Coordinator, Colostrum International, Dr. Bunmi Ogundimu called for policy change and promotion of legislations that will ensure six months maternity leave for nursing mothers and two weeks break for nursing fathers.

Ogundimu said already, Colostrum International is proposing a Child Rearing Bill before the Lagos State House of Assembly adding that the Bill, seeks a minimum of two weeks antenatal leave, 24-weeks of exclusive breastfeeding leave, two weeks paternity leave, provision of crèche in organisations, nursing mothers' empowerment scheme and establishment of Breast milk banks among others.

In a lecture entitled; "Breastfeeding: A tool to achieving the MDG 4", Dr. Abimbola Ajayi, Deputy Director, Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health maintained that the time to plan, protect and support the next generation is now.

Patients’ rights Continued from page 46 doctors to respect the rights of patients as well as realize that they cannot continue to give treatment to their clients without informing them about the dangers and risks involved.

“It is critical to understand the burden of duty that when a doctor assumes a duty of care, he should discharge that duty following the standard, the décor, the methods that are generally acceptable within our own responsible body of medical personnel and within society at large.”

Ogunwale, also a specialist in medical law, said in the face of increasing litigations from aggrieved patients, anyone can seek redress if their rights, are infringed upon by medical personnel. He said a patient cannot not only sue when it involves death or malpractice, but can hold a doctor liable for any treatment given in a rude or insolent manner in any hospital.

“A doctor must seek written consent from a patient before some operations that will lead to irreversible changes, or consequences in his life, are carried out. For example, if surgery may lead to fracture or loss of an organ, the patient must be told and must have a written consent. If it is not an emergency, the law says you must have counselled the patient, at least four times, before you seek his or her consent. The patient must have agreed without coercion.”

Key of theme of the conference was to ensure that practitioners conform to the standards in décor and those things that are acceptable within professionals own responsible body opinion.

Ogunwale stated that understanding the décor would help reduce the risk of litigation to barest minimum.

“There are many times when Continues on page 48

L-R- Operations Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Abiola Adebayo; Assistant Director, Policy Planning Research and Statistics, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Grillo Aderoju; Sales and Marketing Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Olugbenga Olayeye and General Manager, Marketing, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Ola Ijimakin during the 3rd edition of Astymin Brilliance Reward event in Lagos

48—Vanguard, TUESD AY, AUGUST 20, 2013 TUESDA

CVDs: We need to monitor risk factors — Carl Engleman, Country Manager, Pfizer NEAR

CORPORATE HEALTH ONE of the major challenges of public health in Africa is the increasing prevalence of NonCommunicale Diseases, NCDs such as Cardiovascular, CV, diseases. To address the trend, Pfizer Nigeria & East Africa Region, NEAR, held the 6th CV Summit in Lagos recently. In a chat with SOLA OGUNDIPE, Country Manager, Pfizer NEAR, Mr Carl Engleman, identifies the best way forward for Nigeria. Excerpts: On CVDs Nigeria is at a phase where it is going from the biggest health crisis burden of communicable disorders to the noncommunicable disorders and that is a big challenge because the health system is set up to manage acute communicable disorders.

For now the health burden is changing, and the healthcare system needs to change to manage that as well.

That means a change in the attitude of the people and the healthcare providers as well and potentially in the way the healthcare system is set up as well.

Risk factors Younger persons are coming down with NCDs

because the controllable factors are not being properly controlled. As we grow old and get more wealthy, we become more sedentary. We are also seeing a decrease in the age of people who come down with these disorders. We need to monitor the risk factors and have a healthy lifestyle. The challenge is to educate people, to find a lifestyle that works and modify the risk factors. If people modify and monitor these, we won’t have the risk factors.

Cost of management The most affected are the lowly class in the countryside. The more wealthya patient, the more likely he will go for diagnosis. Less wealthy people are less likely to

longer term chronic disease management.

Pfizer’s role Pfizer is bringing innovative drugs more quickly than in the past I'm part of an emerging market and one of our objectives is to bring in products or medicine more quickly. In the past it used to take two, three, four or even five years delay after launch in the US to get the drugs into the market especially Africa other developing countries, but now it takes one to two years.

We are planning to launch new cardiovascular medicines in Africa next year and these medicines have only been launched this year in the US. We are carrying out awareness campaigns and screenings to enable

people know what is going on.From a purely scientific point of view, we would try to bring in medicines to people that need them.

Local partners We are looking at local partners that meet the standards we set. We have to do that in order to continue to sell the drugs to the patient at the right cost so that we can continue to meet the patients’needs. We need the right partner to make us keep the drugs affordable. When you buy Pfizer produats you have the full weight of the behind it. We need to find Pfizer is carrying out public awareness campaigns and screenings to enable people know what is going on and also to talk about partnerships.

• Mr. Carl Engleman go to the doctor to have their blood pressure checked. So what we are likely to see is that the prevalence may be the same but the diagnosis is different. Truth is that we do not know the levels of these things which is why we stress the importance of screening and research to understand the level within the populace. Cost of screen does not need to be high,

it all depends on how it is done and the setting it is done. People need to change what their perception of a health check up looks like and where they go for that check up.

Way forward The challenge is for our health systems to balance the need for acute care for communicable disease with this new need for

Patients’ rights Continued from page 47 a patient is unclear about an issue. The first thing is to raise the issue with the doctor because raising a legal contest to every matter will lead unduly to what we call defensive practice and the patient at the end would not get the best of care,” he added.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Femi Olugbile said providing services to patients is no way a favour to the patient, but rather an entitlement. The state government has established a Service Charter which spells out the order of services and the period to be delivered after which, if not given, the client can complain or seek redress.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—49

Experts fault proposed mortgage refinance firm •Says its a duplication of FMBN’s functions •Seeks reduction of interest rates to single digits

By JUDE NJOKU

T

HE proposed Mortgage Refinance Company slated for inauguration by President Goodluck Jonathan between now and the end of September, may not be what Nigeria requires to reduce the housing deficit currently put at a staggering 16 million units.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had through her Special Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, announced that President Goodluck Jonathan would officially launch the firm between now and the end of September.

The minister explained that the company was established by the Federal Government to make it easier for many Nigerians to own their own houses. Mortgage refinancing is the process of paying off an existing loan by taking a new loan with same property as collateral.

Mortgage financing But a lecturer in the Department of Estate Management at the University of Lagos, Professor Timothy Nubi stated that although mortgage financing in Nigeria is a welcome idea, he frowned at its establishment because it is a duplication of an already existing institution Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN. Professor Nubi who is an expert in mortgage issues, told Channels Television’s Business Morning last week, that although mortgage refinancing aims at making housing affordable for Nigerians, “the Federal Mortgage Bank should have been empowered to do it”. “ We are multiplying institutions in this country. The Federal Mortgage Bank should have been empowered to do that. If you have an institution and you are paying billions of Naira to workers as salaries, it is not as if you have scrapped them, they are still there and you are creating a parallel institution, is that wise?” he queried.

He recalled what happened in Ogun State some years ago when there were two development agencies, the Ogun State Property and Investment Company, OPIC

Housing Estate in Lagos... acquisition of such houses hampered by high interest rates and Gateway Developing Company doing the same thing.

“We are just creating institutions, it not about creating institutions.

We should diagonise our existing institutions and see what they are not doing right and correct them.

We have said that much of our resources in this country is for recurrent expenditure, paying salaries and we don’t have enough money to do capital projects and we are still creating institutions, creating General

Manager, creating layers of officers in the new company and the other company, FMBN is there, doing nothing... Let’s look at our institutions, what is the Federal Housing Authority not doing right? Let us restructure them and that was what we started in 2006,” he said..

Nubi predicted that what happened to FMBN will happen to the Federal Mortgage Refinance Company.

For the President of the

Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Mr. Emeka Eleh, government’s main concern should be how to bring down interest rates on mortgages to a single digit because the rate as it is presently, is outrageous.

“If you check the western countries, the collapse of the world-wide economy, the depreciation we are having right now, arose as a result of the

collapse of the mortgage sector in the United states of America and Europe. Once that sector collapsed, the economy collapsed. That is why in the US and Europe, they keep monitoring the housing sector – how high it is, is it going up or coming down? If it is coming down, they become worried”, he said.

Mr. Eleh noted that apart from land reform, one area of jumpstarting the housing sector is to reduce the interest rate. The Federal Government is trying to float a mortgage liquidity company because they feel that ( I don’t agree with it), the supply end of mortgage funds is more important. That is to say, if a mortgage bank has a steady flow of funds, they would be able to keep on giving mortgages. But that has not addressed the issue of high interest rates. If you check the income of the average Nigerian, I don’t know how many Nigerians earn more than two, three million Naira per annum.

Even if the interest rate is 20 percent, right now, it is more than 20 percent, it means that if you borrow N10 million at 20 percent interest, you will be paying N2 million annually. That is a lot of interest to pay; how much is your salary?

Continuing, the NIESV president declared: :Our own view is that government must intervene directly in the housing sector because the money won’t be lost. Government has intervened in the aviation sector, in the textile sector, the agric.

Sector is a permanent intervention. Government has also intervened in the small scale industries SMEs. I don’t see why government cannot intervene in the housing sector to bring down interest rates.

FG plans to link geo-political zones with dual carriageways

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

HE Federal government has finalised plans to link up the six geo-political zones of the country with dual carriageways.

Minister of State for Works, Amb. Bahir Yuguda made it known at the 2013 extra-ordinary general meeting and workshop of the Association of Consulting Engineers Nigeria, ACEN in Abuja.

Yuguda who reiterated government’s resolve to deliver better and safer roads to Nigerians, said linking up the six geopolitical zones in the

country with dual carriageways will go a long way to stimulate private sector financing of road infrastructure and ensure sustainability in the delivery of good road infrastructure in the country.

“There is the need to increase the total road network from the current 193,000 to over 300,000kilometres and increase the current paved network from 60,000 to over 200,000km which will translate into the construction or paving of an average 14,000km of roads every year, requiring an estimated N600 billion annually,” he said.

He said the government is fully committed at the highest level, more than ever before, to carry out a comprehensive

reform of the Nigerian Road Sector so as to create new institutional framework, which will promote maintenance culture and attract private sector participation in road development.

It is in line with this thinking, according to the minister, that the Federal Ministry of Works on October 18, 2011 inaugurated a Committee for Road Sector Reform,CRSR, which in arriving at the preferred model for the reforms, submitted two draft bills for consideration and passage by the National Assembly. They are the National Road Fund and the Federal Roads Authority bills.

The Minister also stated that, in order to achieve scale and a

friendly business environment, government has put in place adequate mechanisms towards ensuring a favorable platform for investors to thrive and created an enabling environment for infrastructure development through the Public-Private-Partnership,PPP model. “When the two bills are passed into law, not only will huge private sector funds be attracted to fill the financing gap in providing critical road infrastructure in the country, it will also lead to the creation of business opportunities for engineering professionals, help create millions of jobs in the industry, as well as other allied industries,” he said.

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Before demolition

The demolished guest house

Lawyer, rights activists fault demolition of Abraka hotel by government agents

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

C

ondemnations have continued to trail the demolition of Uncle ‘ P’ Guest House , Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area in Delta State by agents of the state government led by the Delta State Commissioner of Police , Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba and the Transitional Chairman, Ethiope East Local Government Council, Mr. Onoriode Sunday. The facility was demolished for allegedly harbouring a suspected kidnapper.

The guest house, owned by a retiree of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Mr. Pius Ogbeni was demolished on July 20, 2013 because a suspected kidnapper who lodged in the guest house for three days, confessed that he stayed in the guest house.

The flurry of criticisms came from human rights activists and Constitutional lawyers who described the demolition as an injustice which should not happen in a democratic dispensation.

Mr. Azeez Alade of the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR who spoke to Vanguard Homes & Property said the

action was condemnable. “This reminds us of the military era when military men took laws into their hands and carried out the bidding of their masters.

“It was very wrong for the government to have done that using the security operatives to oppress the people they are paid to protect. Yes, government may take action to prevent a spread of crimes and criminals, especially, the issue of kidnapping, but the fact that a suspected criminal lodged in the hotel was not enough for the government agents to pull the guest house down.

“So, it was clear that this hotel demolished was a commercial operation which was registered for hosting and accommodating visitors. The only thing that was not clear was whether the hotelier had been warned about habouring the same man or other kidnappers over time. This does not in anyway justify their action to demolish the facility. No court of law has made any pronouncement of sealing the building or demolishing it because a suspected criminal lodged in it. It was completely wrong, illegal and ultra vires of the law. So, the government is liable for demolishing the property. They have to pay for damages”, Alade said.

Equally condemning the action, the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Ikeja branch, Mr. Monday Ubani said: “Even if it is confirmed that the man involved is an armed robber or a convict, it is only the court of law that can order the demolition of the hotel. “There must be provision in law that expressly support such action, otherwise, every step taken will be illegal and unconstitutional.

“So, the hotelier has a very strong ground for a legal action against the government and the security officials used in the operation. The action was illegal, ultra vires, and highest form of transgression by the government. They have to pay heavy damages in billions, if the owner of the hotel pursue a legal action. It is a case he has to pursue to a logical conclusion. It is necessary”, the NBA boss noted.

Mr. Ogbeni told Vanguard Homes & Property that Uncle ‘P’ Guest House which is worth N150 million was built with proceeds from his retirement benefits from Shell Petroleum Development Company which he augmented with bank loans. The retiree who said he is still shocked and devastated by the demolition declared:

Archibuilt 2013 kicks off next week

By CHRIS OCHAYI

T

HE Nigeria Institute of Architects, NIA, has concluded plans to host this year ’s Archibuilt starting from August 26th to 29th, 2013 in Abuja.

Archibuilt is an annual international forum organised by the institute with a focus on bringing together stakeholders in the building and construction industry with a view to addressing the needs of the sector.

It is the single largest marketing opportunity for construction and building materials, and the single largest gathering of key players in the building industry, to showcase the latest innovations, technologies and orientations in architecture and the construction sector.

The Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of Archibuilt, Arc. Lanre Olusola, said in a statement in Abuja

that the 2013 edition being the first on the platform of Archibuilt Development Services Limited, ADSL will focus on bringing together stakeholders in the building and construction industry with a view to addressing the needs of the industry.

Among the targeted audience/ exhibitors are policy makers which include manufactures, producers, exporters and importers, suppliers, installers of housing fittings like lifts.

Others are remodeling contractors, fabricators, distributors, allied products, facility managers and building contractors.

The four-day event will be declared opened on the 27th of August 2013 by Ms Ama Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development while the Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc will deliver the keynote address.

The chairman Senate committee on housing and his counterpart in House of Representatives will be the guests of honour, while Arc. Jimoh Faworaja, Chairman, Archibuilt Board will be the chief host.

“The 24 years old forum has been repackaged from seminar and conference sessions to discussions with this year ’s theme ‘Providing Solutions to Every Day Living’ such as the issues of social housing, power, infrastructure , with focus on where we are, where we are supposed to be and how to get there”, the statement noted.

“the truth of the matter is that one young man lodged in the hotel on July 14, 2013.

He checked out on July 19, 2013 at about 7pm. But at about 12:30 am of the next day, the young man was brought into the hotel by the Police in handcuff and chains. The leader of the police team asked the manager of the hotel if he could identify the suspect. The manager, unsuspecting of any foul play , answered in the affirmative, claiming that the young man was a guest in the hotel and had officially checked out the previous day.

“The young man completed a form before he was allocated a room wherein he claimed to be a film maker on a shooting exercise in the area. The manager argued that as one of the hotel’s management’s security measures, no two male guests are allowed in one room, except they are a couple.

Kidnapped victim He said the young man was in the hotel without any incident till he checked out on July 19, 2013. He argued that there was no way he could have known that he was a kidnapper at the point of checking into the hotel which is a public place.

“The suspect was not arrested in the hotel. The kidnapped victim was not rescued from the hotel. If the kidnapped victim had been rescued from the hotel as being misleadingly claimed by the police, they would not have arrested and detained only the hotel manager but the entire workforce on duty at the time of the arrest. It was not established by the police that the owner of the hotel was directly or indirectly connected with the activities or actions of the kidnappers.

Reacting to the demolition, Delta Police Command said the order to demolish the property was from the state government and its role was supervisory. According to ASP Lucky Uyabeme, Delta state Police Public Relations Officer, “the demolition of the hotel was a directive from the Delta State government. “There is a law that any abode whether dwelling or commercial that a kidnap victim is kept should be pulled down. The police only carried out a standing order of the state security council by providing security for the operation”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013—51

Govt is not doing enough to stem occurrence of collapsed buildings — Bode Adediji MR. Bode Adediji is the immediate past President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.

NIESV. In this interview, the alumnus of University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University) proffered solutions to the incessant collapse of buildings in the country.

By ISHOLA BALOGUN

T

HE statistics of building collapse is very disturbing.

Why has continued particularly in Lagos state?

The trend is not limited to Lagos, it happened in some other states even though the preponderance of it happened in Lagos. It is now a world wide phenomenon as we recall its occurrence in the Philippines, Bangladesh and recently in America where several people were killed. In an attempt to look at why it happened in Lagos, we have to look at the geology of Lagos, the expertise and technology available to avert such incidents. You should also note that majority of these buildings were built 30-40 years ago. There is so much pressure on these buildings as Lagos continues to expand in terms of population.

So, virtually all the factors responsible for these incidents are man-made. They are not caused by wizardry or act of God, rather by human factors.

But what then can be done to stop this phenomenon?

I say this all the time that one thing that separates collapse building from other forms of calamities is that you see your own people trapped in the debris and in most cases they are helpless. That is why every body, including the government must pay special attention to the issue of collapsed buildings.

Immediately a building crashes, you can rationalise it that you

Collapsed building site in Lagos

cannot stop at that moment, but when a building exhibits signs of weaknesses and vulnerability and we still close our eyes for whatever r e a s o n s pretending we do Mr. Bode Adediji not see it, then we are guilty – whether we are bystanders, journalists, clerics or government officials. This is because if you find a 4-storey building with about 200 people trapped and the rescue team does not get there until several hours later; and even when they eventually get there, they become helpless as a result of undercapacity and lack of technological equipments.

Again, there should be I give all these insights because budgetary allocation by the state no measure emanating from government can be considered for prevention and intervention, too chronic and expensive to assuming there is a collapsed forestall the rising occurrence of building any where in the country. Although we have collapsed buildings.

Federal Emergency and rescue mission team but we should be Sensitisation able to identify and isolate the on buildings tragedy of collapse building from We believe that when you see other calamities because it a problem, you can legislate it demands more For instance, even when a away, but as far as this matter is layman sees a weak building, concerned, it is not only a matter where there is moral courage to of legislation, it deserves a force the occupants out, there is comprehensive approach. It will no financial willpower to provide be better if the government in alternative place for them. collaboration with other public Unfortunately, we have not been spirited individuals can establish able to do enough on housing a special radio station dedicated to information and sensitization policy to provide alternative for displaced persons from areas of on buildings.

vulnerability. Mere empathy and sermon cannot change this situation.

How will a prospective, desperate tenant know a building that exhibits weaknesses and vulnerability?

You see, the remedial strategy often deployed by our government is not adequate professionally. The involvement of professionals who are actually in direct contact with tenants on daily basis is minimal.

Involvement of professionals For example, when addressing the issue of collapsed buildings, there is no Estate surveyors and Valuer in any committee set up

Amuwo Odofin LGA boss makes case for environmental court

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

E

nvironmental sanitation offenders in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, may from now, be charged to a court specially empowered to try cases of environmental abuse. The Chairman of the Council, Comrade Ayodele Adewale who dropped the hint, said the measure was taken to discourage residents from avoiding the monthly environmental sanitation.

He also cautioned against erecting illegal structures as they constitute security risk to the environment.

Adewale who spoke during the last environmental sanitation exercise in the LGA, frowned at the manner some residents channel human waste into drainage systems.

His words: ‘’ We need to start using the instrument of the law and I have

beckoned on the Ministry of Environment and they have assured us that they will bring an environmental court to address the issue of offenders. I can assure you that once we have that, more people will take environmental issues serious.’’

The council chairman explained that the local government has been trying to ensure that environmental issues are adhered to. “We have had town hall meetings to that effect. We keep talking to them through the print and electronic media and also our local newsletter. If you noticed, you will discover that we distributed fliers around to discourage people from hanging clothes indiscriminately to avoid constituting environmental nuisance. There was an executive council directive that the ministry of

Environment should cart away all clothes on the highway,.’’ he said.

First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola, who was represented by the wife of the Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mrs. Azeezat Tijani commended the LGA boss for ensuring that residents carry out the exercise. ‘’There is room for improvement. Some of them did not pay for PSP so it is difficult to evacuate their waste. I will advise that they take it as a duty to buy the black nylon bags and pack it properly, to allow for easy evacuation.

There are some buildings, potacabins and shops that should not be were they are erected. All those spaces were left by government for a purpose, so they should not be used illegally. The chairman is trying, but you know how difficult it is to get Nigerians do things properly,’’ she noted.

by government to address the issue either from policy framework or from intervention point when it happened; yet these are the professional swho are in regular contact with the neighbourhood. Civil servant behaves from the perspective of I-know-it-all. When you have a gigantic problem such as collapsed building, it is the interface between the professionals and the people that can produce a good result. You have to bring them on board to be able to tap from their resource for the benefit of the people.

As a professional, what do you think is the solution?

Let us carry the incidence of collapse building beyound this present scenario and take a holistic approach involving the professionals.

Let us also understand that there are conditions and necessities that are responsible for this problem evenwhentheyareavoidable.Until government tackles with all its might, the huge gap in the housing system which have led to 1.6million housing deficit, until that is done, people will still go to vulnerable environmentoutofsheernecessities and ignorance. So, it is incumbent on both the state and federal government to remove housing policy from the back burner of government planning and programmes to the front burner.

That is what we have lacked from past regimes in the last three decades. Again, there is social strata balancing which government must address. There is so many houses in Lekki now without occupiers as a result of the downturn of the economywhichhasforcedthemass movement of people from this area to where vulnerability is high.

Credit must be given to Obasanjo who saw this problem and moved to tackle it.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 — 52

Egypt’s army boss vows to use full force T

HE Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah elSisi has said he will no longer restrain his forces from confronting “attackers who want to destroy Egypt”, in his first public comments since a security crackdown on anticoup protesters that left an estimated 600 people dead.

“Our self-restraint will not continue. We will not accept any more attacks.

We will meet with full force. Attackers want to destroy Egypt,” he said in a speech televised on Egyptian television on Sunday.

He vowed to stand firm in the face of violence. “Whoever imagines violence will make the state and Egyptians kneel must reconsider; we will never be silent in the face of the destruction of the country,” he said.

Sisi removed president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July in a coup, saying he could not ignore the widespread protests

against Morsi’s rule.

Mubarak cleared of corruption charges Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s imprisoned former ruler, has been cleared in a corruption case by prosecutors.

Judicial officials told the AP news agency that a court yesterday ordered the 85-year-old be cleared in the case that alleged he embezzled funds for presidential palaces.

Mubarak, who was arrested after his overthrow in 2011, still faces charges in another corruption case where he is accused of accepting gifts from state newspapers, but he has already paid back the value of the gifts.

Mubarak is also awaiting retrial after appeals against his conviction and sentence to life in prison last year over his complicity in the deaths of protesters during the uprising.

•Mubarak Mubarak’s lawyer, Fareed el-Deeb, told the

TEAM of U.N. chemical weapons experts have arrived in Damascus and will start work on Monday to investigate the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria’s civil war.

President Bashar alAssad’s government and the rebels fighting him have accused each other of using chemical weapons, a step which the United States had said would cross a “red line” in a conflict which has killed 100,000 people.

Like the broader Syrian conflict, the issue of chemical weapons has divided world powers.

Washington said in June it believed Assad’s forces have used them on a small scale, while in July Moscow said rebels fired sarin gas near Aleppo in March.The U.N. team, including weapons experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, will try to establish only

whether chemical weapons including sarin and other toxic nerve agents were used, not who used them. The 20-member team declined to comment to reporters as they checked into a hotel in central Damascus on Sunday. A U.N statement in New York said they would start work on

GYPT’S Muslim Brotherhood, fighting for its political survival, has accused security forces of killing dozens of detained Islamists, upping the pressure in a crisis that has rocked the Arab world’s most populous state.

Monday.

Led by Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom, the team had been on standby since early April to visit Syria but the mission was held up for months by negotiations over the access Damascus would grant them.

Anti-coup marchers are back on the streets of Egypt amid calls for an international probe into the deaths of 36 protesters while in police custody.

Crowds were gathering on Monday evening in areas including Helwan in Cairo, Assuit, Zagazig and Gharbia.

Troops and armoured vehicles were deployed

E

to areas of Cairo, to guard government buildings.

The protests come hours after the AntiCoup Alliance, which includes the Muslim Brotherhood, demanded a formal investigation into the deaths of 36 men being transported in a police van.

The alliance called the deaths an “horrific

crime, in addition to other crimes committed by leaders of the 3rd of July coup”.

At least 850 people have died since last Wednesday in clashes pitting followers of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi against the army-backed government in the worst bloodletting in Egypt’s modern history.

Rebel chief becomes president in CAR

T

HE rebel leader whose fighters toppled the government of Central African Republic earlier this year was sworn in as president on Sunday, beginning an 18-month countdown to

Diana: Fears of fresh probe rattles Royal family X-MEMBERS of the British royal family’s security team were baffled Sunday at the possibility of a reinvestigation into Princess Diana ’s death in a gruesome 1997 car crash.

“I’m mystified...how any new information can possibly allege anything other than (that) this was a tragic accident,” Dai Davies, the Metropolitan Police’s former head of royal protection, told The Telegraph newspaper.

Confusion reigned fol-

His release could stir more political tension in Egypt, where at least 850 people, including 70 policemen and soldiers, have been killed since the army-backed interim government forcibly dispersed Muslim Brotherhood sit-ins in Cairo on Wednesday.

Mubarak is being held at Tora prison on the southern outskirts of Cairo, the same facility where leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood are being held after their arrest following the coup against Mubarak’s successor, Mohamed Morsi.

•••Brotherhood cries foul over deaths E

U.N. inspectors start works in Syria

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Reuters news agency that the second corrup-

tion case would be settled swiftly. “All we have left is a simple administrative procedure that should take no more than 48 hours. He should be freed by the end of the week,” Deeb told the agency.

Egyptian law does not compel his incarceration while he faces retrial over the protester deaths.

However, judicial sources told the Reuters news agency that he would spend another two weeks behind bars before a final decision was made on the outstanding corruption case against him.

beloved princess was somehow murdered in the Paris crash by a member of the British military.

elections in a country that aid organizations say is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Michel Djotodia’s Seleka rebel coalition ousted longtime ruler Francois Bozize in March. After Djotodia declared himself president, a regional summit called on him to form a transitional council that would prepare for free and fair elections.

In remarks during Sunday ’s swearing-in

ceremony in Bangui, Djotodia said the transitional period and elections would be crucial to the country’s recovery. ”This transition must lead to the holding of free, transparent and credible elections to give our country a leader with unchallenged legitimacy,” he said. “For this, I urge the political class to show responsibility by observing a truce during this period that requires cohesion.”

Liberia celebrates decade of peace

L •Late Diana lowing Saturday ’s shocking report that Scotland Yard had new information alleging the

IBERIA President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf celebrated a decade of peace on Sunday by attending a prayer service held at the scene of one of the worst massacres recorded during the country’s 14-year civil war.

The service at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Mon-

rovia marked the 10-year anniversary of a peace accord signed in Accra, Ghana.Accompanied by high-ranking officials including Vice President Joseph Boakai, Sirleaf listened to a grisly retelling of the July 1990 massacre at the church carried out by

fighters supporting thenPresident Samuel Doe. Because of their ethnicity, displaced Liberians who had gathered at the church were suspected of backing a rebel faction headed by Prince Johnson, and hundreds were killed by Doe’s fighters.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013— 53

Is he in love with you?

BY ONOZURE DANIA

I

Behind closed doors (3) HI, WE have all experienced it at some point. That rush of adrenalin when we are engaged in something exciting or dangerous. Some people live by it and sometimes allow it to take over their sense of judgement, staking everything they stand for. How far will you go for a quick rump in the sack? How much will you stake for a few minutes of pleasure? Do you really know when to call it off when things begin to get out of hand? It is assumed that most people would cheat on their partners at some point or another, it is those who allow themselves to get caught that do not know how to play the game.

Our opening story featured the secret affair of a young, married lady with the husband of her older friend and benefactor. The cat was let out of the bag when the older woman mistakenly took her husband’s mobilephone out for the day. So, while the treacherous young friend thought she was chatting with her friend’s husband, the messages where actually being received by her friend seated next to her.

Our second story featured Adeola, who dated her friends rich cousin and befriended his wife just to remove suspicion. Today, Philomena, (28), narrates how she began dating her direct boss at the office. Why did they end relationship? find out below as she shares her story. Don’t forget that you can also be a part of this column by sending us your contribution if you or someone you know of, have been through a similar experience. Feel free also to send in any story of your choice so long as it is based on a true life experience. Happy reading!

C M Y K

to discuss my relationship with him. sometimes, I gist him about who and who I met and was asking me out.

I also discuss my boyfriend at the time with him. Often I would discuss his escapades and how I’m always catching him cheating on me. He would always offer advice like an older friend. He used to drop me off at home after office hours, so, we would be to-

,

Philomena’s story: IT was very exciting, at least, at the beginning. However, I did not really think it was worth all the fuss that we had to put up with just to be together. It is a different case if one was dating a sugar daddy. At least, you will know that the reason you are sneaking around is because of his wife and family. and in return, you will be compensated in some way for your thoughtfulness. But in this case, it was not so. He was not a sugar daddy, maybe I should call him a “lolly pop” like my friends did.

He was in his mid 30s, married with two handsome boys and we both work in the same office. In fact, he was my direct boss and if people did notice that there was something funny between us, no one asked me directly, so I cannot really confirm that we did not keep it a secret properly.

We started as friends and got along very well as he used to grant me some special considerations from time to time. On several occasions, he’d taken me out for lunch and been particularly nice to me at official functions, one of which was where I’d met his wife.

She was a very sweet,lovable woman and we took to each other like sisters.I called her aunty as she was older than me.

Over time, he began to gist me about his wife, where they spent their weekends, his in-laws, you know that kind of thing. sometimes when they have little disagreements, he would tell me about it and ask why women behave in that manner. In turn, I used

agement of my friends that I had nothing to worry about as the wife would be the last person to suspect that nothing like that could be happening between us.

Moreso, we were talking about access to large amounts of material gains.

In fact, the affair was neatly times because we had just recently called it off with our relationships, mine due mainly from his advice that the guy was taking advantage of me.

By the time we started, there was not much difference from what we had been doing together. The only addition was the sexual part of it. He would spend the weekend virtually at my place.

Friday nights we spend at the club and would go home after dropping me off on Saturday morning.

Then, in the evenings, he would come along with his boys to take me out. Sometimes, we would just stay at my place and I would do the cooking. It appeared the children understood the rules of the game and played along as if they were already experts.

Their coming to my place was not a secret as often, their mother would send them to me and that meant that she was aware of their movements. On a couple of occasions, she’d had cause to send them over for the weekend at my place whenever she was traveling out of town and could not find anyone to stay with the children.

,

It appeared the children understood the rules of the game and played along as if they were already experts,their coming to my place was not a secret as often

gether until late in the night. I shared a flat in Surulere with two other girls, so, there was actually no one to stop us from doing whatever we wanted to do.

By the time we began dating, it came as a shock to me too. This is because I had come to the conclusion that we were just friends and fond of each other. I knew his girlfriend and he knew my boyfriend.

In my confusion at the time, I had to confide in a friend at the office as well as seek the opinions of my flatmates.

I was surprised that they all gave their consent almost immediately, even expressing surprise that we were not already romantically involved. That all these while, they had concluded that we were actually dating, or that we would eventually do so. With the encour-

She loved partying and had many friends, so, she is never at home most weekends. I soon discovered that the two were one of a kind. If she had lovers too, it would not come as a surprise.

However, tongues soon began wagging at the office about the relationship and we were forced to start being a little discreet about our movements. We stopped leaving the premises together as we used to. Sometimes, I would go with someone else or walk to the bus stop and wait for him to pick me there. That way, it would not really look like we were leaving together but like he was giving me a ride. It was then that I started thinking about the futility of what we were doing together. I began feeling terribly guilty and ashamed of myself for engaging in something as deceitful as that.

T’S easy to find out whether a guy loves you if you know the little signs that any guy in love gives away. So, have you met a guy recently and found yourself wondering if he likes you? But seriously, is he in love with you? It can be confusing at times, or at times, you may just have that instinctive feeling that there is something more than friends in the air but you may just not be able to pinpoint what it is.

And at times, there may be no clear cut signs but there are some not-so-obvious clues that guys give away, which can tell you whether he’s in love with you or not.

One of the signs you should look out for is his eyes sparkle.

Have you ever watched a child being served a big bowl of ice cream with all the works? You can’t help but notice that the child’s eyes light up with happiness.

Expressing desire through the eyes Likewise, when you meet someone you are happy to see, you are obviously excited.

Surprisingly, the human pupil dilates when someone is excited or has strong feelings about something.

You can tell a lot about whether a guy likes you by the way he looks at you and the way he pays attention to you. A guy’s eye contact often tells a lot about him and his feelings towards you. Remember this, we often reveal far more than we desire through our eyes. If his eyes sparkle with happiness, you have definitely made a great impression on him.

The second sign you have to look out for again, is he happy around you? Now don’t get me wrong here. Friends make each other happy but when a guy likes you, he would plaster his face with a wide grin no matter what he’s doing.

If he’s fond of you or likes you, you will see that he smiles and blushes a lot more easily when you are around him. He would avoid any distractions and

I was not only betraying the trust of his wife, now my friend and their two boys who had now become so fond of me, but was also doing myself harm.

For, the more I followed him around, the more I blocked my chances of meeting someone I could have a meaningful relationship with. Since I did not want to marry him, there was absolutely no reason for me to continue the hide and seek game we were doing.

make you the center of his attention, no matter where he is or what he’s doing. The next sign is common interest, If a guy is engaging in activities that you like to do, or making an extra effort to be a part of them, chances are he’s doing it just to spend more time with you.

Girls love company and so do boys and we all enjoy activities a lot more when we are with someone we like. So take notice of how often he wants to do things with you or go out with you, be it movies, games or chores. If it seems rather frequent, it’s a good sign he’s into you.

And he obviously wants you to think you share a lot of common interests, which makes him more likeable!

Spending weekends together, all of us have hectic lives and everyday can be quite a handful. A weekend is that part of the week when we get a bit of time to relax and do what we enjoy most.

But when a guy wants to spend weekends with you or wants to hang out with you, it could well mean that he’s interested in something more than just hanging out together.

When we like someone, we want to be with them all the time.

What better way to spend time than by spending weekends together? After all, when you spend weekends together, you are not doing it because you bumped into each other by accident. And any guy who likes you would love that thought. So if a guy wants to meet you on weekends all the time, ask yourself if you are ready for something more. Is he overly concerned?

Good friends are concerned about you but a guy who likes you would always be overly concerned. He would remind you about all your appointments. He would even ask you if you have had lunch. He would offer you a jacket even if it is not cold. He can suggest a trip to the doctor’s even if you just cough once! There’s a big chance he’s trying to impress you if you find that he’s overly concerned almost all the time, no matter where you both are.

Dear readers; comments, opinions and views on this issue are very much welcome.

Please send contributions to: The Human Angle, Vanguard Media Limited, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos.

Email Address: thehumanangle93@yahoo.com hoping to read from you soon.

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013

Ancelotti: Real didn’t play well

Rio ready for Chelsea clash

R

IO Ferdinand is relishing Manchester United’s showdown with Chelsea next Monday, after the champions’ impressive opening day victory away to Swansea.

“I’m looking forward to Chelsea. We are really

looking forward to it.

Now we can start playing for something. We are professional people and want to win. You don’t appreciate it when people don’t put you in the position you should be.

“Being champions you warrant maybe a little bit more but every next person is tipping someone else to win the league and putting us in third or fourth place.”

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ARLO Ancelotti has admitted that Real Madrid did not play well in their 2-1 win over Real Betis. “We didn’t play well today, but we’ll improve. If we want to play quality football then our players have to be ready to work”.

Why I took off Messi, by ATA Martino has Martino Tcome out to explain

•Ferdinand

EPL performance of the weekend Swansea 1-4 Man United

A

LL eyes were on David Moyes on Saturday evening as the former Everton boss opened the post-Fergie

era with a tough looking trip to upwardly mobile Swansea. Once the game kicked off though, little (other

than the man in the dugout) appeared to have changed, with United picking up where they left off last season. Robin van Persie again sparkled with a spectacular brace

while Danny Welbeck scorer of just one league goal last season - doubled that tally in just one game to give the new boss the perfect start to life in the Old Trafford hotseat.

•Messi

why he took out Lionel Messi in the 7-01 routing of Levante.

“I’ve already talked with him about it. The season is very long and has lots of games. Saving a few minutes in four games means a rest of almost a whole game.

Since he’s bright, we agreed straight away. If the game were even then neither I nor anyone else would bring Messi off. But in a game like today’s, which is settled so early, it’s important to give players a rest and think about their fitness”.

Cavani rescues PSG

F

ACED with a Guillermo Ochoa in transcendent form, PSG had Edinson Cavani to thank for their dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Ajaccio, the •64m man scoring a screamer in his first start to rescue a point for the capital club.

•Cavani

Ribery’s run goes on

Robin van Persie (R) scores against Swansea City. Photos: AFP.

Arsenal fail to land Cabaye N

•Cabaye

EWCASTLE have rejected an Arsenal bid of around £10m for highly-rated French midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

Wenger has made it clear he does expect to make signings before the transfer window closes at the end of the month and Cabaye has now emerged as a target.

However, Newcastle are not thought to have paid much less than

£10m for Cabaye themselves and have turned down Arsenal’s offer.

The 27-year-old Cabaye has been linked with several clubs over the summer, notably French champions Paris Saint Germain.

And Arsenal have now entered the running for the France international, who joined Newcastle from Lille in the summer of 2011 and helped the Magpies to finish fifth in the Premier League that season.

B

•Ribery

AYERN Munich’s 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt was the club’s 17th straight victory in which French international Franck Ribery has played, equalling a club record held

by Roy Makaay.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 — 55

Malawi Continues from BP the visas upon arrival in Abuja.

However, Fam general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said they would not want to leave anything to chance and want to have the visas processed before leaving for Nigeria.

“We have Nigeria embassy right here in Lilongwe. We can have our visa processed before starting off,” Nyirenda said.

“We don’t want to leave anything to chance. We don’t want to experience what other teams in the group experienced when they went to play in Calabar.”

Nyirenda confirmed that he had been warned by their Namibia and Kenya counterparts that they should expect a tough ride in Nigeria if they do not process their visas before leaving for Nigeria.

“We are reliably informed that if we go there

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without processing the visas, we might spend hours at the airport waiting for the visas to be processed like the way Kenya and Namibia were made to wait. We don’t want that to happen.

That’s why we will make sure we get our visas processed right here,” he said.

“There is only one local flight connecting to Calabar and if we miss that flight due to the visas complications we are bound to arrive in Calabar an hour before the game which we don’t want to happen.”

Meanwhile, Fam is expected to send an advance party which would give the association a picture of what to expect in Calabar. Fam has raised security concerns about Calabar, the Cross River State capital, which is famous for kidnappings of foreigners for ransom.

Keshi Continues from BP stant touch and he has been very enthusiastic about the operation that was carried out last Wednesday and he is now recuperating very well which is good news to me personally and to the entire national team, because we really missed him durinmg the Bafana Bafana game in Durban.

“The shocking thing is that while he was at the hospital for the operation, he was monitoring the game and speaking constantly to me, which shows his total dedication to the team and Nigerian football”. Keshi added that he was aware that the Alhaji Aminu Maigari led Nigeria Football Federation has also been in constant touch with the player and the entire Nigerian football community is happy at the progress

the player has made so far after the operation.

The shoulder operation is expected to keep Omeruo out of the team for some months. But Keshi declared that the player will always be a part of of his natipnal team plans because his quality on and off the pitch. “We all in the national team and on behalf of the NFF are wishing him the quickest of recoveries because both club and country need his quality play at all times”, he concluded.

Supersport Continues from BP eration, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Country General Manager of SuperSport, Felix Awogu, Chairman of the LMC, Hon. Nduka Irabor and some of his members including Shehu Dikko, Seyi Akinwumi and Mike Enahoro According to the deal, SuperSport, Africa’s leading television sports channel will broadcast live matches and highlights of the Nigeria Professional Football League to its audience that spans the African countinent. LMC officials say the deal has been

Arsenal supporters Continues from BP their Premier League opener on Saturday, with the Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST) saying contract talks for the manager must be put on hold.

“In recent weeks [chief executive] Ivan Gazidis

has spoken of the club’s intent to offer Arsène Wenger a new contract.

The AST believes this is inappropriate,” the group of more than 800 members, who own a handful of shares in the club, said in a statement on Sunday.

“There remain important

tailored to also take care of the wider population of football followers in Nigeria who have access to only free-to-air television as terrestrial stations can structure collaborations with SuperSport than will enable them rebroadcast signals from live matches..

According to Irabor, the LMC Chairman “the broadcast sponsorship represents another major boost for the actualization of LMC’s mandate to exploit the commercial assets of the NPFL to the maximum benefit of the Clubs and other stakeholders. questions about the way player identification, recruitment and remuneration processes are managed at Arsenal.

“The failings we highlighted in Arsène Wenger holding too much power have only been amplified in recent weeks. These must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

V anguard anguard,, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20 , 2013

Arsenal supporters warn against offering Wenger new deal

D

After a failed attempt to get FIFA move match out of Calabar

Malawi in fresh allegation against Nigeria •Claim they’ve been warned

by Namibia and Kenya PPARENTLY not comfortable with the rejection of their petition for a change of venue for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria by FIFA, the Football Association of Malawi has said it wants to process Nigeria visas for the national team right there in Malawi before flying to Nigeria.

The Flames play the Super Eagles on September 7 in Calabar and are allowed to process

S

UPER Eagles Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has revealed that he has been in constant telephone conversation with Chelsea of England’s defence ace, Kenneth Omeruo, who underwent a successful surgery last week in England.

“We have been in con Continues on Page 55

Continues on Page 55 HAPPY MOMENT — Keshi and Omeruo

Sudoku PUZZLE

•Wenger board’s assurances the club had money to spend and could compete financially with the elite.

Fans called for investment throughout the disappointing 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa in Continues on Page 55

Keshi celebrates Omeruo’s successful SuperSport, LMC announce N5.4b Broadcast deal surgery

A

TODAY'S

ISGRUNTLED Arsenal fans have stoked up the pressure on their under-fire manager Arsène Wenger by telling the club’s board it would be “inappropriate” to offer the Frenchman a new contract.

Wenger’s deal expires at the end of the season but having failed to win a trophy in the last eight years, the 63-year-old is facing more heat than ever before in his 17 years in north London.

Many of the grievances come from Wenger’s recruitment policy, with the young French forward Yaya Sanogo the only addition of the close season so far despite the

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

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UPERSPORT of South Africa and League Management Company (LMC) of Nigeria have agreed a four-year broadcast sponsorship deal with a cummulative worth of $34 million (about N5.4 Billion) for the Nigeria Professional Football League. The deal which was announced at a joint press briefing in Abuja will commence from the

2015 season though it is said to have been structured to take care of developmental imperatives of the League beginning from this season.

In attendance at the briefing inside the conference room of the Hon. Minister for Sports were the Hon. Minister, Bolaji Abdulahi, President of the Nigeria Football Fed Continues on Page 55

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Enthusiast (6) 5 Ring (6) 8 Outmoded (8) 9 Hazard (4) 10 Energy (3) 12 Feat (5) 15 Wand (3) 17 Groove (3) 18 Colour (3) 19 Fuss (3) 20 Divert (5) 21 Wrath (3) 22 Away (3) 23 Cup (3) 24 Sprite (3) 26 Untrue (5) 29 Entrap (3) 33 Difficult (4) 34 Valuable (8) 35 Discount (6) 36 Decayed (6)

DOWN 2 Saunter (5) 3 Image (4) 4 Fissure (5) 5 Wash (5) 6 Unusual (4) 7 Lariat (5) 10 Put (5) 11 Evidence (5) 12 Rod (5) 13 Customary (5) 14 Topic (5) 15 Rule (5) 16 Resided (5) 25 Depart (5) 27 Plentiful (5) 28 Curse (5) 30 Avoid (5) 31 Thought (4) 32 Present (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Seer 4, Die 6, Wish 8, Tussle 9, Signal 10, Pay 12, Spoil 14, Dregs 15, React 18, Asleep 20, Assert 24, Toxic 26, Fatal 28, Taste 30, Peg 32, Plague 33, Redeem 34, Awry 35, Lap 36, Loth.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 2, Equip 3, Respire 4, Deep 5, Easy 6, Wager 7, Stagger 11, Arc 12, Spa 13, Lee 16, Apt 17, Tax 19, Shallow 21, Sit 22, Scandal 23, Tie 25, Ore 27, Angry 29, Theft 30, Peal 31, Grip.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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