Screening: Anxiety grips senators, nominees

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62608

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

LUTH consultant's death: Police arrest widower 9

Crude: Nigeria reaches out to Asian refiners 9 Nigeria, others lose $4bn to shady oil deals — REPORT

Screening: Anxiety grips senators, nominees

By Clifford Ndujihe, Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie, Joseph Erunke & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

•Anyanwu c’ttee to submit reports today •7 nominees lobby Speaker Dogara •Shittu may be dropped for Folorunsho •Adamu, Lokpobiri, Bwari, others to be screened •I didn't visit Saraki, says Amaechi as C'ttee clears him

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BUJA—AS the Senate resumes its screening of ministerial nominees today, anxiety has gripped the senators and nominees. While nominees are bothered over the outcome of the exercise, the senators were unsettled by the decision of the court of Appeal not to stop the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT from proceeding with its hearing of the false assets declaration suit against Senate President Bukola Saraki.

There are also fears that

Ambode's cabinet Who's where Gbolahan Lawal—Housing Jide Idris—Health Ekundayo Mobereola—Transportation Steve Ayorinde—Information & Strategy Adeniji Kazeem—Justice Folarin Coker—Tourism, Arts & Culture Seye Oladejo—Special Duties & Intergovernmental Relations Ganiyu Johnson—Works & Infrastructure Oluwatoyin Suarau—Agriculture Mustapha Akinkunmi—Finance Babatunde Adejare—Environment  Rotimi Ogunleye—Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives Akinyemi Ashade—Economic Planning & Budget Olawale Oluwo—Energy & Mineral Resources  Benson Akintola—Establishment, Training & Pensions Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef—Home Affairs Musiliu Folami—Local Government, Community Affairs; Town Planning Wasiu Anifowoshe—Physical Planning & Urban Development Olufemi Odubiyi—Science & Technology Adebowale Akinsanya—Waterfront Infrastructure Development  Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti—Wealth Creation & Employment Lola Akande—Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation  Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf—Youth & Social

Continues on Page 5

former Governor of Rivers

Continues on Page 5

STRUGGLE FOR KEROSENE— Abuja residents wait for kerosene at FO filling station, Area 11, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

THOSE LISTED FOR SCREENING Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers)  Khadijah AbbaIbrahim (Yobe);  Claudius Omoleye Daramola (Ondo) Anthony Anwuka Gozie (Imo)  Brig-Gen.

Mansur Dan Ali, retd (Zamfara) James E. Ocholi (Kogi)  Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed (Kaduna) Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno) Aisha Abubakar

(Sokoto)  Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa) Adamu Adamu (Bauchi) Pastor Usani Usani Uguru (Cross River) Abubakar Bwari Bawa (Niger)

COLUMNISTS: ABANDONED PROJECTS:

Oil communities, cabal clash See Inside C M Y K

Arewa's songs Don't cry for of conquest •P.20 Bola Tinubu •P.17

Biden and the illusive presidency 46

Appeal Court adjourns Saraki's suit against FG 4 Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 3

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4—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

Senate vows to recover N44bn Stallion, Olam debt

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—TWO foreign rice importing firms, Stallion Group and Olam International are owing Nigeria N44 billion as import duties on rice they imported since May 2014.

To this end, the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Rice Waivers, which revealed this during its sitting yesterday, has vowed to recover the money from the companies.

The committee, which is investigating alleged abuse of rice waivers’ policy in the country, insisted that the country must recover the amount from the two firms.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Adamu Aliero, who spoke when top representatives of the companies appeared before his committee, said: “There is no way the government will ignore this kind of money.

“We have to ensure that this money is collected and deposited into the federation account.

“The companies imported rice into the country without paying waivers, off-loaded it into their warehouses only to refuse to pay required duties when asked by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS.” He said when NCS demanded the money from Stallion Group, the company opted to drag NCS to court.

VISIT: From left— President, Africa's Young Entrepreneurs, AYE, Mr. Summy Francis; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Vice President of AYE, Ms Ibada Ahmed, and AYE National Head, Nigeria, Mr. Femi Fajemisin, during a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

EFCC mulls prosecution of Akpabio

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

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FTER two days of grilling over a corruption petition concerning the eight years of his stewardship as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is now weighing options on whether it had gathered enough evidence to charge Senator Godswill Akpabio to court.

An EFCC source told Vanguard, yesterday, that the commission was yet to decide if the former governor should be charged to court after interrogating him for two days, during which the Senate Minority Leader, was shown details of the expenditure, which the agency considered questionable.

However, the official, who pleaded anonymity because the commission was yet to make its position public, said that investigation on Akpabio

As petitioner fires new petition to Buhari had not been concluded and that he could still be summoned in connection with the probe being conducted by the agency.

The official said: “I can tell you that once we conclude the current phase of investigation on the former governor, we will decide if there is enough evidence to charge him to court.

“Once we are satisfied that we have a good case against him, we shall prosecute him.”

Supporters' protest

This is coming on the heels of planned moves by some supporters of the former governor to stage a peaceful demonstration against the extended interrogation of their ‘hero’ by EFCC in Abuja.

The supporters, Vanguard learned, were upset that EFCC grilled the former governor for two days despite all his

monumental achievements during his eight-year tenure.

The protest would have taken place early in the week but for security intervention and counsel, which forced the protesters to leave the job for the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which eventually issued a statement condemning the action.

PDP's query

It will be recalled that the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, had addressed a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, calling the interrogation of Akpabio a selective, dictatorial action by the APC-led government meant to deplete the strength of his party ahead of the 2019 election.

This is also coming at a time when the man who

Appeal Court adjourns Saraki's suit indefinitely

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—ABUJA Division of the Court of Appeal, yesterday, granted an indefinite adjournment in the suit filed by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to stop the Federal Government from opening its case against him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Saraki is facing charges for alleged false declaration of assets.

Though the appellate court initially slated yesterday to deliver judgment on whether or not Saraki should submit

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himself before the Justice Danladi Umar-led panel of CCT tomorrow, a senior registrar of the court, Mrs. Christine Aruna, informed all the parties that the judgment has been deferred indefinitely.

Effort by newsmen to confirm why the Justice Moore Adumein panel decided to postpone the judgment met a brick wall, yesterday.

The main entrance to the court was kept under lock and key as lawyers, Senators, journalists and supporters of the Senate President, who

besieged the appellate court premises in their numbers, could not gain entrance into the court room.

Reason for adjournment

A highly-placed source at the court disclosed to Vanguard yesterday that the judgment had been ready since Saturday.

The source, who craved anonymity, insisted that the “11th-hour deferment of judgment on Saraki’s appeal” was not unconnected with the ongoing screening of ministerial nominees that were forwarded to the Senate

by the Presidency.

An aide to the Senate President, yesterday, blamed the postponement of the judgment, earlier fixed for 2p.m. yesterday, on “last minute intervention by a governor from the NorthWest, the Presidency and some highly-placed chieftains of All Progressives Congress, APC. “You can see that the courtroom is even under lock and key, which is not the usual practice when the appeal court is not sitting.

Don't you wonder why today should be an exception?”

petitioned Akpabio, Leo Ekpenyong, is unhappy with the EFCC Chairman’s handling of the interrogation of the former governor.

Petitioner calls for Lamorde's resignation

The lawyer, in a new petition to President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, accused Lamorde of mentoring Akpabio on how to write statements that would enable him escape culpability in the corruption case, and asked that he should hands off the matter until a new helmsman is appointed for the agency.

Ekpenyong said that given the evidence already in public domain, there was no need for EFCC to be shopping for evidence to prosecute the former governor and retrieve the state’s funds from him and his associates.

Ekpenyong said: “Lamorde should resign because he is working in league with Akpabio to stall his prosecution.

What he is doing now is mere window dressing in the media to give the impression that he is serious about trying the former governor.

“That is why I have sent a new petition to the Presidency to remove Lamorde from the case and appoint a man with integrity to handle the case.”

However, EFCC said last night that it would not comment on the lawyer ’s new petition to Buhari until they get a copy.

It will be recalled that Akpabio was interrogated by EFCC on Friday and Saturday last week for hours over alleged diversion of Akwa Ibom State funds running into billions of Naira, a charge, he vehemently denied.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

KILLER COP?—Corporal Museliu Aremu (middle), who allegedly murdered Comfort Idongesit with security men who brought him to court in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Screening: Anxiety grips senators, nominees Continues from page 1 State, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, who was the director-general of President Muhammadu Buhari campaign organisation for the 2015 polls may not be screened today. Amaechi, whose screening had been postponed twice may be screened on Wednesday because he is the 15th nominee listed for the exercise. So far, the Senators have not screened more than nine nominees per day.

Amaechi has been a source of division among senators on account of petitions against him.

However, Amaechi, yesterday dismissed report in a national newspaper (not Vanguard ) that he stormed the residence of the Senate President to protest the postponement of his ministerial screening, saying the report was not only a fabrication, but also part of the organised campaign to rubbish his image.

In a statement by David Iyofor of his Media Office, Amaechi insisted the report was absolutely not true and a deliberate and carefully calibrated attempt to characterize Amaechi with a very bad and demeaning mannerism.

Ethics Committee clears Amaechi

This came as the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions cleared Amaechi to be screened and cleared by the Senate.

A source told Vanguard that the committee took the decision to clear Amaechi because the case was in court and therefore it could not consider the petition by the Integrity Group. With the clean bill of health given to Amaechi, he would appear before the Senators today for screening.

To get a soft-landing, seven of the nominees billed to be screened today, visited the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara yesterday.

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO ETTING ahead in life starts by asking the right questions. Until you probe your current situation, you might never see the need to do better.

It's up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Compassion is the basis of morality — Arthur Schopenhauer

B

E kinder towards other people. In life, the way you behave and think towards others seems to have a huge effect on how you behave towards yourself. Judge and criticize people more and you tend to judge and criticize yourself more. Focus on the positive things in yourself and in the people around you. Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

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CHICK that would grow to become a cock, would be spotted the very day it was hatched.

This is coming amid fears that the nominees from Oyo State, Barr Adebayo Shittu and his Zamfara State counterpart, General Dan Ali (retd) may be dropped.

There were indications, yesterday that Shittu may be dropped for Adewole Isaac Folorunsho.

Meantime, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Sam Anyanwu, assured yesterday that reports on the petitions against Amaechi and Aisha Abubakar are ready and will be submitted today before the screening.

Nominees storm Dogara’s office

The seven ministerial nominees, who held a closed-door meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, included Ms Aisha Abubakar who had earlier faced the Senate Committee on Ethics and Petitions over alleged incompetence.

The meeting started at about 3.30pm.

A senior aide to the Speaker, who spoke to journalists on the condition of anonymity said that the visit was part of an ongoing intense lobby by the ministerial nominees, who are currently facing opposition from powerful forces from their respective states.

The ministerial nominees were led to the Speaker’s office by the Special assistants to the President on National Assembly matters for the Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Ita Enang and Hon. Suleiman Kawu, respectively.

Also at the meeting with Dogara were Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Hon. Khadijat Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Brig General Monsur Dan Ali, retd (Zamfara), Hajia Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna) and Suleiman Bello (Adamawa).

The speaker’s aide hinted that the ministerial nominees were trying to lobby some senators opposed to their nomination, through some powerful members of the lower chamber.

He claimed that about seven nominees were at the

closed door meeting with Dogara, while more were expected to join later.

An aide to Dogara had earlier sent invitation to journalists to cover the meeting, but there was a change of mind and the newsmen were barred from gaining access to the venue of the meeting.

Apart from the Speaker, the House leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and other principal officers of the Green Chamber were present.

According to the aide: “Some nominees who are yet to be screened and confirmed by the Senate are with the Speaker right now.

I cannot authoritatively tell you why they are there but one of them said they came to see how Dogara can help them lobby his friends in the Senate to give them a soft landing during the exercise tomorrow (today).

“I saw the nominee from Bayelsa State. I also saw that woman (Aisha Abubakar) who is trying to get the support of her senators to get confirmed. The Professor from Yoruba land was there.

In all, they were about seven in number. I did not see former governor of Rivers state, Chibuike Amaechi. I do not know if he will be part of those that will come later.”

Asked whether the ministerial nominees were at the speaker ’s office to seek assistance in their screening he answered: “This is politics and you cannot rule out any possibility of lobbying the speaker to speak to the Senate President on their nominations. At least, the speaker is close to the Senate President and should be able to speak on their behalf to him if that is why they are here. But I’m not saying that is why they are here. All I can say is that it is a private visit.”

Senate to get new nominee for Oyo

Strong indications emerged yesterday that Senate President Bukola Saraki will today read a letter from President Buhari on a new ministerial nominee from Oyo State.

Vanguard gathered that the initial nominee from Oyo State, Barrister Adebayo Shittu may be replaced with Adewole Isaac Folorunsho.

The nominee from Oyo State, Barrister Adebayo Shittu was one of the 21 nominees sent to the Senate, September 30 and on Wednesday, October 14, his name was number nine on the Order Paper, but was however not called probably for lack of time, just as Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye had said on Thursday that Shittu would be screened today.

Reports on Amaechi, others’ petitions are ready – Anyanwu

Speaking on whether or not Amaechi would be screened today in view of his

committee’s inability to submit its report, which led to the postponement of Amaechi’s screening twice, Senator Anyanwu assured that his panel will submit the report today.

Anyanwu also disclosed that the report on the petition against Aisha Abubakar, another ministerial nominee, would equally be submitted at the plenary.

“We have heard Amaechi’s petition and all these reports will be ready tomorrow. Except there are further petitions, the reports on all the petitions so far received, will be submitted tomorrow. For now, what we have is that of Aisha Abubakar and that of Rotimi Amaechi, which will be submitted to the Senate tomorrow (today),” he said.

Answering questions from Journalists yesterday, Anyanwu who noted that the reports will be very straight forward and ready for submission on the floor of the Senate today, said, “Our reports on petitions against Amaechi and Aisha Abubakar are ready and will be laid before the senate tomorrow( today), to pave way for their screening.”

Outside the petition against Amaechi, there was a petition from some women from Sokoto State against the nominee from Sokoto state.

The Committee had set aside the petitions written against Amaechi by Port Harcourt based Integrity Group, in its report on the grounds of issues raised therein were already in the

court of law.

The Committee yesterday threw out the petition against Aisha Abubakar by concerned Sokoto women on the grounds of being routed through wrong channels.

Aisha who appeared before the senate committee yesterday to answer to the petition against her, got a clean bill of health from all the committee members who all said the petition should not be treated for only being copied to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and not addressed to him directly.

First to raise the issue was senator Obinna Ogba Joshua ( PDP Ebonyi Central) who noted that the petition was addressed directly to President Muhammadu Buhari and not the Senate President which according to him, contravenes rule 41(5a) of the senate standing order.

Other members of the committee like Senators Dino Melaye ( APC Kogi West), Jerry Useni ( PDP Plateau South), Binta Garba Mashi ( APC Adamawa North) and Wale Omogunwa ( PDP Ondo South), agreed with Senator Obinna’s submission by urging the committee chairman to disregard the petition in its entirety for being wrongly addressed.

Speaking, Senator Melaye noted that the petition was dead on arrival because it was addressed to President Buhari and not the Senate President, adding that the committee should not consider it.

Ambode's cabinet: Who's where

Continues from Page 1 Development Deputy Governor, Oluranti Adebule— Education The Special Advisers and their Portfolios Ayodeji Tinubu, Special Adviser Sports/Chairman Lagos State Sports Council Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, Special Adviser, Food Security  Yetunde Onabolu, Special Adviser, Urban Development  Kehinde Joseph, Special Adviser, Civic Engagement  Adebimpe Akinsola, Special Adviser, Arts and Culture  Olufemi Onanuga, Special Adviser, Primary Healthcare Obafela Bank-Olemoh, Special Adviser, Education Adeyemi Olabinjo, Special Adviser, Commerce Anofi Elegushi, Special Adviser, Transport Babatunde Hunpe, Special Adviser, Environment Ademola Abass, Special Adviser, Overseas Affairs and Investment Aramide Giwanson, Special Adviser, Housing  Kehinde Bamigbetan, Community and Communications Agboola Dabiri, Special Adviser, Central Business District.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

2 suspects arrested for kidnapping Chinese national

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By Dayo Johnson

KURE—TWO persons have been arrested by police detectives in Ondo State for kidnapping a 25year-old Chinese national, identified as Jiang Peng Fei. The suspects include Adegbayi Akinmusayo and Lucky Akinnuoye.

Vanguard was informed that the suspects were picked up before they could settle down to negotiate the ransom to be paid for the freedom of the victim.

The office of the victim, JHX Plywood factory, is located at Akinfosile, Omotosho area in Ore town.

It was gathered that the two suspects had visited the plywood company two days earlier, posing as one of their customers who wanted to buy plywood.

Unknown to the workers, the suspects actually came on a surveillance of the offices, especially that of the target, nicknamed “Ginger” by his workers.

Dependable police source said the two suspected kidnappers, armed with locally made pistols, stormed the office of the Chinese national at about 5pm and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

Vanguard gathered that on receipt of information on the kidnap, the command swung into action and through a well coordinated operation, was able to rescue the victim unhurt and arrest one of the suspects in their hideout.

The other suspect, Akinnuoye, described by the police as the prime suspect, was arrested in his hotel where the suspects lodged for four days before carrying out the act.

Akinnuoyeaccordingtothepolice commandspokesman,FemiJoseph, was the Manager of Keneri hotel, Ore. Joseph said the suspects put up andplannedtheiroperationfromthe hotel.

60 homes, 5 churches destroyed by flood in Rivers Renders 1,000 homeless

By Davies Iheamnachor

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ORT HARCOURT— OVER 1000 persons have been rendered homeless as flood sacked about 60 homes and five churches in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The flood caused by overflow of Orashi river, affected five communities, including Oruama, Akinima, Mbiama and Joinkrama 1and 2.

Meteorologists had predicted flooding in some communities in the country, including those in Ahoada, which was also heavily hit by the 2012 flooding.When Vanguard visited the area, flood had already taken over several homes, leaving the residents in absolute confusion and fear. Mr. Eniata Abiaba, a community leader in one of the communities, Akinima, complained that the flood took them unawares, adding that all their farms had been submerged.

He said the communities were now in big problem, noting that the people thought they would never experience the type of flooding that affected the area in 2012.

He said: “The communities that

are experiencing the flood is in a big problem because of the overflow of Orashi river. Now our homes and farms have been submerged in the water. We don’t have where to go and what to eat."

PROTEST: Members of Presidential Amnesty programme during a protest over non-payment of their allowances under the leadership of Joseph Evah in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Gunmen kill pastor, wife in Bauchi B

By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—IT was a day of mourning in Igbo community in Bauchi State last weekend, following the gruesome killing of a pastor and his wife at Bayan Garin area, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis.

The deceased couple, Mr Obi

William and his wife, Ebere, a thrift collector, were shot dead by the gunmen on the evening of Thursday, October, 15, 2015.

The murder of William who hailed from Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State and his wife, an indigene of Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has added to the

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By Onozure Dania

growing list of Igbos who had been killed in cold blood in the state in recent times.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Bauchi State command, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Haruna Mohammed, said the gunmen attacked the couple at Bayan Gari area in the state

Nursing mother nabbed for dumping 9-year-old son at Ondo town A

By Dayo Johnson

KURE—A nursing mother, identified as Esther, has been arrested for dumping her nineyear-old son, Micheal Monday, in Ondo town, Ondo State.

The suspect, who had reportedly severed her relationship with the victim’s father, recently remarried.

She was said to have travelled from Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, to

Ondo town where she dumped her son and took off.

Police source said Esther who was arrested in Ado Ekiti, had confessed that she dumped the boy because she had no job and that it was difficult for her to continue to take care of him.

The victim, said to be a pupil of Saint Fidelis Primary School, Ado Ekiti, was picked up by a good Samaritan while wandering the

Man docked over theft of 190 cows AGOS—A 52-year-old man, Yaya Oluwanisola, was yesterday brought before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court over alleged theft of 190 cows worth N24.6 million.

The defendant, who resides at Atinporomeh Village, via Mowo, Badagry area of Lagos State, was docked before Magistrate F. F.

Meanwhile, the immediate past chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Mr. Ikechukwu Obuzor, has called for a swift intervention by the National Emergency

Management Agency, NEMA, and other responsible agencies.Obuzor said the people of the area were now faced with several challenges, calling on the state government to provide alternative source of livelihood for the people seriously affected.

George.

The defendant is facing a five count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, Corporal Innocent Odugbo, told the court that the defendant and others still at large, committed the alleged offences sometimes between February and June 2015, at

Atinporomeh Village, via Mowo, Badagry.

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

Magistrate George granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million, with two responsible sureties in like sum. The matter was adjourned to November 25, for mention.

streets of Ondo town and was taken to the police station.

The police source in Ondo said the victim was brought to the police station at about 11:30pm by some good Samaritans.

Vanguard gathered that the victim informed the police that his mother brought him from Ado Ekiti and that he had not seen her in the last two days.

Policedetectivessaidtheboytoldthem helivedatOpopogboroareainAdoEkiiti and that his mother had just re-married.

TheCaretakerChairmanofOndoWest Local Government Area of the state, Victor Ogunya, has ordered the police to take the boy back to his parents in AdoEkiti.

Vanguard gathered that the victim led the detectives to their house in Ado Ekiti where the mother was arrested and taken back to Ondo town for interrogation.

The council boss appealed to parents and guardians to always monitor their children and pay proper attention to their welfare.

capital at about 7:45 pm on the fateful day.

Mohammed told newsmen in his office that the suspects took from Ebere a bag containing an undisclosed amount of money, being thrift collected from her customers that day as contributions and fled after shooting the couple.

He said: “Police detectives attached to the Estate Division rushed to the scene and took Williams and his wife to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, ATBUTH, Bauchi, where they were certified dead on arrival by doctors.

“The exhibit recovered from the scene of the crime was a spent 7.62mm ammunition and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act.”

Mohammed said following the killing of the couple, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Mohammed, held a meeting with members of the Igbo community and assured them of the security of their lives and property.

ThePPROsaidthepolicecommissioner enjoined members of the Igbo community to always give police information that would lead to detection and prevention of crimes in the state.

Meanwhile, there have been a wake keep at the residence of the deceased couple as plans are on to take their remains to their home town for final internment. The deceased had four children.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—7

Armed hoodlums steal 10-month-old baby in Imo O

By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—UNEASY calm now reigns supreme at Obinnekele, Umuikuku, and Amatta in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, following the reported stealing of a 10-month-old baby boy, Chibuike Ojii, by a gang of armed hoodlums.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the four hoodlums stormed the seaside residence of the innocent boy’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Ojii, at about 2am.

A source, who spoke on strict

grounds of anonymity, told Vanguard that the traumatized members of Ojii family, are natives of Amaoba, Owutu Edda, of Ebonyi State.

It was also gathered that soon after forcing themselves into the living room of Mr. and Mrs. Ojii, the hoodlums ordered the hapless father at gun point to lie flat face-down.

“Having obeyed the command, the armed hoodlums made straight for the innocent baby who was sleeping at the time.

‘’On trying to leave with the baby, Mr. Ojii pounced on one of the marauders and a bitter struggle ensued,” the source recounted.

Continuing, he recalled that the hoodlum succeeded in extricating himself from the grip of Ojii and fired gunshots into the air to make good his escape.

He said further that a careful tracing of the motorcycle tyre used for operation, led to the home of one of the suspects who goes by a moniker, Snake.

Although Snake roundly denied any involvement in the crime, the

villagers were said to have felt it was best to hand him over to the police for proper investigation.

When Vanguard called the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a deputy superintendent of police, he confirmed the story, adding that two suspects had so far been arrested in connection with the crime.

“A case of child stealing at Amatta, Ikeduru, was reported to the Police. Two suspects have so far been arrested and the police are on the trail of the other two that are now on the run,” the PPRO said.

Police officer ‘breaks' Poly student's skull in Ogun A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—AN assistant superintendent of police attached to Adigbe Police Station in Ogun State, Emmanuel Ogunlesi, has inflicted lifethreatening injuries on a 25-yearold student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Peter Taiwo.

Taiwo, a Higher National Diploma 1 student of Computer Science, was allegedly attacked by Ogunlesi at about 11:00pm last Thursday at Olatidoye Street in Oluwo area of the state capital.

When Vanguard visited him on his sick bed at the hospital yesterday afternoon, the victim who looked emaciated.

He could not speak. He was also so weak that he almost fell off a chair when attempts were made to sit him up.

According to a witness, Kehinde Bello, Ogunlesi came to the student-dominated area on a motorcycle in the company of another policeman and had earlier beaten two female students in the area with his baton on their buttocks and breasts before they escaped.

Bello further alleged that the police officer accosted Taiwo while in pursuit of the two female students who had taken to their heels, following the beatings they

received from him.

Another witness alleged that Ogunlesi and his colleague, however, turned their attention to Taiwo. They allegedly

pursued him into his residence and allegedly attacked him, hitting his head many times with his baton.

The policeman was said to have

left the student unconscious in a pool of blood and escaped from the scene along with his colleague who rode the motorcycle.

Reacting to the incident, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer for the Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told Vanguard that the police officer involved had already been summoned to Eleweran headquarters of the Command and was currently undergoing interrogation.

Oyeyemi disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, has also ordered a comprehensive investigation of the incident.

He added that the police high command in the state would not condone any form of violation of human rights of citizens.

Meanwhile, the state Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Mr. Olayinka Folarin, said the CDHR would employ all legal means to ensure that justice was done concerning the matter.

Folarin also condemned alleged brutality by police officers against innocent citizens.

BRUTALISED: The victim, 25-year-old Peter Taiwo.

Families rendered homeless as fire razes high-rise building in Lagos L

By Lucky Nwanekwu & David Okpe

AGOS—PROPERTIES worth millions of naira were yesterday consumed by fire which gutted a high-rise building at Low Cost Housing Estate, otherwise called Jakande Estate, in Oke-Afa area of Lagos.

Though no life was lost in the fire said to have been caused by power fluctuation, it, however, rendered occupants of the building, among who is a seven month-old baby, homeless.

Reports said the fire started at

about 8am in one of the flats on the top floor of block 369, when most of the occupants had gone to their respective places of work.

When Vanguard arrived the scene, some of the affected occupants who were contacted, were seen lamenting their woes.

One of them, Mr Omenoko Christian, fought hard to hold back tears as he spoke to Vanguard. He said: “The fire was caused by high voltage. I am yet to trace how it started because I switched off my metre before leaving the house to drop

my wife and our seven-month old baby, in her place of work.

"However, on my arrival, I was greeted by the sight of smoke billowing from the flat.

Unfortunately, this is happening just few days to my birthday. I have not only lost everything I have laboured to the fire, but my family and I have also been rendered homeless.

"I only moved into the flat five months ago, after carrying out renovation work which gulped close to a million naira. Had the fire service arrived early, perhaps we would have been able to

salvage some property. The most painful aspect of it all is that we have been on strike for over one month in my place of work. Where will I start from? Where do I take my wife and our little baby to?"

Another occupant, Mr Ambrose Sylvanus, explained that power was restored at about 6am yesterday but that it was fluctuating.

“Initially the voltage was low.

But all of a sudden, it increased. I left it in that state as I left for work, only to be contacted on phone that it had resulted in a fire,” he said.

MURDER:

Police parade kidnap kingpin, Nigga, accomplices in Edo

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY—EDO State police command yesterday paraded the suspected leader of a kidnap gang, Lucky Ameyi, aka ‘Nigga’, and his accomplices who allegedly abducted and murdered Professor Paul Erie, a lecturer at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

Ameyi was paraded along with 71 other suspected kidnappers, armed robbers and child defilers, including an 80-year-old woman, Comfort Izedomwen, who peddles cartridges for suspected armed robbers.

The suspected gang leader and members of his gang murdered the don after N900,000 ransom was allegedly paid by the family to secure his release.

The suspect, who narrated how Prof.Erie died in their custody, said: “We didn’t plan to kill the Professor; the man is even my in-law. If I had known that he was my in-law, I would have released him. ‘’When we kidnapped the man, I sent three of my boys to go and ask the man what he needs so that it can be provided. When they came back, they said he was making noise so they used his singlet to tie his mouth.

“We didn’t beat the man or do anything to him but when I got there to know what was happening his body was already cold. We collected N900,000 from the family. ‘’What I did was to call the family, and tell them where to meet and drop the money.

They did that and we went there to collect the money.”

Meanwhile, the octogenarian, who peddles cartridges for suspected armed robbers, was arrested alongside another woman, Stella Omobude, 48, from whom thirty live cartridges were recovered.

Sixty-eight live cartridges were also recovered from the octogenarian who was arrested at Ekae village, near Benin City, Edo State.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Ezike, who briefed newsmen during the parade, said the confessional statement of Omobude led to the arrest of the octogenarian.

8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—9

Nigeria, others lost $4bn to shady oil deals — GLOBAL WITNESS

By Michael Eboh

I

BOOK PRESENTATION: From left— Former Senate President and Chairman of the occasion, Senator Ken Nnamani; Pro-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Dr. Umaru-Musa Mustapha; Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and former Minister of Education and author, Professor Tunde Adeniran, during the presentation of a book on Professor Adeniran entitled Serving My Fatherland, in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: Dare Fasube.

CRUDE: Nigeria reaches out to Asian refiners

By Clara Nwachukwu, with agency reports

D

ESPITE the free fall in global oil prices, Federal Government has insisted that it would not indulge in the current market share war like the Arabs are doing by offering huge discounts, or grant longer term credit to consumers to boost revenue drive.

Rather, government said, it would become more aggressive with its crude marketing by wooing Asian refiners, especially in India and China, to take up more volumes of Nigeria’s crude through long term contracts.

The development comes even as Iran, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC’s fourth largest producer prepares to re-launch its crude into the global market after decades of economic sanctions by the US and other world economies, while pleading with other producers to cut back production.

Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in response to Vanguard’s enquiry at a recent interactive meeting, said: “I am not going to sell Nigeria’s crude through discounts.

“Obviously, I am going to do that through a clean approach to selecting crude lifters.

“We need to reach to, for example refineries in India, China, who are looking for huge volumes of crude to enable them face their production and to the extent that you can have a consistent pull out of those offtakers. That is the kind of aggressive marketing we are looking at.

“Once you do that and if for example, the refineries, the big players and local ones are all involved in things that are transparent and not brief case

carrying crude lifters, what you find is that long term contracts will make sense.”

To remain competitive in the face of the price war by the Arab producers, experts advised Nigeria to either offer longer term credit for its crude to consuming nations or reach out to big refineries for long term contract. The latter appeared more favourable.

Iran’s push

As oil price continues to slide, trading 2.3 percent lower

to $46.62 on yesterday, Iran’s Oil Minister, Mr. Bijan Zanganeh, urged OPEC member-states to cut crude output to boost prices to a range of $70 to $80 a barrel, even as his country prepares to ramp up production in the aftermath of economic sanctions.

Market analysts blamed the oil price fall on pressure in part by comments from Iran’s oil minister on Monday that he expects the country to boost production by 500,000

barrels a day in the coming months.

If Iran succeeds in its push, Nigeria, a monoproduct oil dependent country, will be the happier for it, as oil prices above $70/barrel is well above its 2015 budget benchmark of $65/barrel.

The benchmark was only sealed after three revisions downward, following a panic-filled period in late 2014, where oil prices fell by more than 40 percent.

Police arrest widower of dead LUTH consultant Autopsy ready weekend— NMA

By Sola Ogundipe, Evelyn Usman & Chioma Obinna

L

AGOS—DR Femi Thomas, widower of late Consultant Paediatrician at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Dr. Hestianna Thomas, was yesterday transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, SCIID, Yaba, over alleged involvement in his wife’s death.

Dr. Thomas, as reliably gathered, submitted himself to policemen at Ajao Estate division immediately his wife was certified dead at the LUTH last week.

However, during interrogation, he reportedly told policemen that his wife could have committed suicide, maintaining that he knew nothing about her death.

As at yesterday, policemen at the homicide section of SCIID had reportedly swung into action in their bid to unravel the cause of the late paediatrician’s death and subsequently bring her assailants to book.

Sources at the SCIID hinted that until the contrary was proved, Dr. Thomas would have to remain their guest.

Sources explained that although Dr. Thomas was the complainant, “with the marks of violence on the body of the deceased, it leaves us with no option than to detain him until the contrary is proved.”

Spokesman for Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, said: “Yes, Dr. Thomas has been transferred to the SCIID. He said that he found the body of his wife outside their room that fateful morning and

rushed her to LUTH where doctors confirmed her dead.

The man submitted himself to the Police at Ajao division.

“We do not know the cause of her death yet. But there were marks of violence on her body. Investigation is, however, still on. The corpse has been deposited at the LUTH morgue.”

However, the management of LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos, has urged the public to refrain from speculations about the cause of death of one of its consultants.

In a statement by the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Professor Chris Bode, it appealed to members of the public to wait for the result of the Coroner’s Inquest into the death of the late consultant before jumping to conclusions.

N T E R N AT I O N A L transparency group, Global Witness, yesterday, stated that Nigeria, Angola, Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo lost about $4 billion (N800 billion) in shady oil and mining deals.

Global Witness, in a recently released report, disclosed that anonymous companies facilitated the loss of national wealth on an epic scale, while it questioned the role of international oil companies that facilitate such deals.

The report revealed how oil and mining assets worth $4 billion have been allocated to companies whose ownership is obscure.

According to the report, in Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, lucrative oil and mining licences were awarded to companies with hidden owners, diverting vast resource revenues to unknown private pockets.

It added that in the Republic of Congo, a company whose beneficiaries remain uncertain – and which has historical connections to high ranking public officials — has recently received lucrative stakes in several oil fields.

Specifically, Global Witness put Nigeria’s loss at $1.1 billion, which, according to the report, was the price agreed with an anonymous company for the OPL 245 oil block, of which Italian prosecutors claim $533 million was fingered to pay bribes.

The report put the loss to Democratic Republic of Congo at $1.36 billion, which was the value lost from just five mining deals and which was almost twice the DRC’s annual spending on health and education combined.

Angola lost $1.3 billion which was the value of part of an oil field interest sold back to the state by a company secretly owned by top officials, while the Republic of Congo lost $20 million, being the estimated value of an oil field interest won by a company previously exposed for payments to offshore companies owned on trust for the ruling elite.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOMBER 20 , 2015

Ambode tasks new commissioners, SAs on moving Lagos forward

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Monsur Olowoopejo, Kelechukwu Iruoma & Amarachi Chukwudi

L

AGOS—LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, swore in the newly appointed Commissioners and Special Advisers, with a charge on them to work round the clock and ensure that the state fulfils its potential.

Speaking at the well attended ceremony held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Governor Ambode reminded the new appointees that their primary allegiance is to the people of the state, irrespective of creed and colour, urging them to dedicate themselves to the service of the state.

The Governor said that the state is currently experiencing rapid urbanization and thus requires hard thinking solutions to develop befitting infrastructure to cater for the increasing population.

Governor Ambode said Lagosians rely entirely on land transportation system,

which has inevitably put pressure on road networks and traffic situation, urging his new team to develop ingenious means of transporting residents across the state with much ease.

Implementing decisions

“You are to implement decisions that will combat crimes and secure our people.

Lagosians call on you to create job opportunities for our youths and attract investments into the state,” the governor said.

He said that the future of any modern state to provide infrastructure and effectively cater for its people lies critically in its ability to generate stable revenues and

resources to drive growth, adding that in the last four months, his administration has worked hard to lay a solid foundation to drive effective governance.

The Governor also named the various portfolios of the newly appointed Commissioners and Special Advisers.

Deputy governor to oversee Education Ministry

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule was also assigned to oversee the Ministry of Education.

Among those present at the ceremony include former Military Governor of Lagos State, Brig Mobolaji Johnson,

first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I, Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State, Otunba Henry Ajomale, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Senator Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos West), Senator Olugbenga Ashafa (Lagos East), Senator Ganiyu Solomon, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Permanent Secretaries, top government functionaries, traditional rulers, clerics among others.

Lawal, who responded on behalf of the other appointees, assured the governor and residents of giving their best to surpass the achievements of past administrations in the state.

Afenifere chieftain, Adebanjo scores Buhari low

I

By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—LEADER of Afenifere and Awoist, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, yesterday, scored the administration of President

Muhammadu Buhari low, saying it has no concrete blueprint aimed at improving the lot of the citizenry.

Chief Adebanjo who spoke in Ibadan yesterday at the launch of a two-volume autobiography written by a former minister, Professor T u n d e Adeniran, as part of activities marking his 70th birthday, said in as much as he would not want the p r e s e n t administration to fail, he insisted that there was no economic blueprint that could alleviate the suffering of the masses.

The event which attracted many important dignitaries across the country was held at the University of Ibadan.

According to the Yoruba leader, the

administration has not done any tangible thing after spending five months in office.

On the ministerial nominees, the statesman said: “Even now that the ministers have been appointed, where is the blueprint that they are going to work with? They are just talking about change, change and anticorruption. After wiping out corruption, will there be food on the table of Nigerians?

“I don’t want Buhari to fail. I only want him to prove people like me who spoke against his ambition wrong.”

Adebanjo said President Buhari should prove that he is not a dictator and a tribalist.

Among the people that attended the programme include the former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani; Professor Alkali Ahmed; Chief Segun Oni; Senator Femi Okurounmu; Mr Tunde Ayeni; Jimi Agbaje; Major General David Jemibewon (retd); Brigadier General Oladayo Popoola (retd); Professor Eghosa Osaghae; Brigadier General Raji Rasaki (retd); Dr Umar Mustapha; Dr Yemi Farounbi among others.

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, in his speech said: “I am excited about the personality of Professor Tunde Adeniran, not only as an intellectual but also as a politician."

ELECTROCUTION AT UNILAG:

Varsity recommends compensation for victim's family

L

By Dayo Adesulu

AGOS—THE Vice C h a n c e l l o r, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Professor Rahmon Bello has said that adequate compensation must be made by Eko Electricity Distribution Plc, EKEDP to the family of late Miss Oluchi Anekwe.

Bello who spoke during a press briefing at the institution’s conference centre said: ‘’The Federal Government panel findings has established that the faulty cable which caused Oluchi’s death belong to EKEDP and they must pay compensation to the family of the deceased. ‘’EKEDP has put in place an Assurance Policy by an Insurance company whereby a compensation will be paid to family of a deceased in case of lost of life. The Insurance company has been contacted to come and assess the damage and give their recommendations for compensation. As soon as this is done, we will know the amount.’’

Contrary to reports that late Oluchi was not professionally handled when she arrived at the Medical Centre, Bello disclosed that the University panel has established that both the nurse and doctor on duty confirmed she had no pulse on arrival and she was brought in dead to the Medical Centre.

Court fixes date for Synagogue building within the church engineers' suit premises.

L

By Ebun Sessou

AGOS—A Federal High Court in Lagos will on November 2, rule in the suit filed by Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN’s structural engineers, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun against the Commissioner of Police,

Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, the Attorney General of Lagos State and the Coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe over restricting the police from arresting or questioning the engineers over the collapse of a six-storey

A Lagos coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, who conducted an inquest into the death of the 116 persons that perished in the accident, had on July 8, 2015 indicted Ogundeji and Fatiregun of criminal negligence and recommended them for criminal prosecution by Lagos State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—11

Police mediate in Akure monarch, Eze Ndigbo feud

O L O K U N LECTURE: From

left— Araba of Mushin, Ifagbemi Ifajobi; President, Ijaw Monitoring Group, Mr. Joseph Evah; guest speaker, Dr. Enomhen Sylvester and Chief Promoter, Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams, during the annual lecture to mark year 2015 Olokun festival on t he theme Culture, Cultural Heritage and Modernity in Nigeria, in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—ONDO State Police Command is mediating the feud between the paramount ruler of Akureland, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo and the Eze Ndigbo, Mr. Gregory Iloehika.

Also the Akure Council of Chiefs has appealed to all indigenes and residents of the town to go about their lawful duties just as they advised traders to open their shops and market their wares.

The Oba and the Eze Ndigbo have been at daggers drawn over an a l l e g e d uncomplimentary remark by the Eze Ndigbo to the Oba. Commissioner of Police, Mike Ogbodu, invited Igbo, led by the Eze Ndigbo, to a meeting yesterday. The Akure Council of Chiefs, led by the Asamo of Akure, High Chief Rotimi Olusanya, have also met with the police top hierarchy.

The Police Command's spokesman, Peter Joseph, promised to speak on the issue when briefed.

The Akure Council of Chiefs had reported the Eze Ndigbo to the state government and police over alleged dis-respect to the stool of the Deji of Akureland.

The Eze was invited by Deji of Akureland over leadership tussle between the Igbo and Yoruba in Mojere market in Akure metropolis and the beating of some chiefs sent by the Oba to mediate in the crisis.

The Eze Ndigbo was said to have made some uncomplimentary remarks while addressing the Deji and was allegedly walked out of the palace.

Consequently, the Igbo, in support of their leaders, were said to have closed their shops for three days.

At press time, a meeting of the Akure Council of Chief was still on.

HERDSMEN’S REGISTRATION: Fulani leadership seeks govt approval

I

By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—THE leader of Fulani herdsmen in the South-West, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin, has said he is awaiting the approval of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State for the registration of his men.

Maiyasin, who said all herdsmen in the zone would soon be registered to make monitoring them easy, told Vanguard in a telephone interview that until the state government gives him ‘go ahead’, he cannot do anything about his kinsmen in the

state.

Reacting to the said registration, a lawyer, Mr. Adeola Fehintola, who is resident in Ibadan, said: “Although the move will identify the herdsmen, it may not address the real problem.

“Unless there is re-enactment of a colonial law, which regulates how domestic animals should be kept, the encroachment of their cattle on our farmlands may still con-

Ife elders seek out-of-court settlement on Ooni stool

O

SOGBO—IFE Elders Forum and stakeholders of Ile-Ife have appealed to all aggrieved ruling houses laying claim to the vacant stool to withdraw the various court cases for amicable resolution of the issues.

The Forum, comprising Ife Elders, royal fathers, princes, head of princes (Ajo Sookoo), Ife Development Board, Ife Progressives Forum, religious leaders and village heads at a meeting, Sunday, declared that the litigations surrounding succession to the throne of Ooni were not in the best interest of Ife. The forum's resolution is coming even as the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, yesterday, fixed Friday, October 23, for ruling on applications seeking the court to interpret the 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration and the suit challenging the jurisdiction of the court in entertaining the cases before it.

tinue.

“So many farmers have come to me complaining of how herdsmen’s cattle destroy their farmlands. If you tell the farmers to report at the police station, they will tell you nothing would come out of it.

“If you advise them to go to court, they will complain that their time will be wasted. So

they choose to suffer in silence.”

The Fulani leader, however, assured residents in the zone of cooperation to stem the tide of reported violence by his men.

It will be recalled that the Fulani leader advised leaders in the country to exercise caution in their comments, adding that such could fan ember of disunity and should be avoided.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

FUEL SCARCITY: 10 litres of petrol sell for N2,500 in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— SCARCITY of petroleum product yesterday worsened in Rivers State as 10 litres of petrol cost N2,500, even as there was no end in sight to the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigerian, PENGASSAN, counterpart.

The strike, which enjoys the support of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, was declared last week to protest alleged harassment by the police at the premises of Weatherford Nigeria Limited.

Members of the union were picketing the firm over alleged unfair labour practices when they had a confrontation with some policemen.

However, state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ahmad Muhammad, denied the allegation of police harassment and molestation of NUPENG members, claiming that the policemen were only drafted to ensure that court bailiffs from the National Industrial Court, NIC, in Bayelsa discharged an assignment from the court to some staff of the firm without problem.

As a result of the strike, black market operators were having a field day when Vanguard went round some of the major roads in Port Harcourt metropolis yesterday.

They were seen making brisk

business on major roads and in front of some filling stations in the state capital, Port Harcourt yesterday.

“We get products from the filling stations to sell on the streets. It is not our fault. We did not order the strike. We are just doing our business,” one Ebuka, who sells at Amadiama Roundabout said.

Commercial buses had also taken advantage of the scarcity to hike transport fares.

For example, from Rumuokoro to Education bus stop, which before the strike cost N100, now

attract a fare of N150.00, as bus drivers blamed the fare hike on the scarcity of petrol.

Aggrieved motorists who spoke to Vanguard lamented the situation and wondered why the oil workers decided to subject residents of the state to the harrowing experience.

Mr Agbi Festus, who described the action of the oil unions as an abuse of position, said the matter should have been settled in court instead of punishing innocent citizens.

Meantime, Port Harcourt zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Mr

F

ORMER governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday dismissed a report in a national newspaper that he stormed the residence of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to protest the postponement of his ministerial screening, saying the report was not only a fabrication, but part of an organised campaign to rubbish his image.

Amaechi, in a statement by David Iyofor, from his media office, insisted that the report was untrue and a deliberate attempt to characterize him with a demeaning mannerism.

The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the front page report in a national newspaper (name withheld) of Monday, October 19, 2015, where it was reported that Mr. Rotimi Amaechi was incensed over the deferment of his screening last week and stormed Saraki’s house to register his protest.

"The report which the newspaper said it got from

M

OVE on Nigeria, a political and civicaction group, has urged the Senate to confirm former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as minister, noting that Amaechi merited his appointment given the active role he played in the emergence of the new dispensation.

The group, in a statement in Abuja by its national coordinator, Mr. Clem Aguiyi, said: “Former Governor Amaechi worked tirelessly for this era including taking some personal risks. During the period we were opposed to each other and luckily for him his side won the election. If the President needs him as part of the cabinet's team, his nomination should be allowed to go through. I don’t think President Buhari should be denied any tool he needs to work or be given an excuse to fail.”

IGP urged to ensure release of abducted doctors VISIT: Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State (left), receiving the approved package for the 2015 Christian Pilgrims from the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, Mr. John Kennedy Okpara, in Calabar, yesterday.

I did not visit Saraki —AMAECHI

By Jimitota Onoyume

Godwin Eruba, yesterday dismissed speculations that the strike had been called off, saying it was still in force.

Eruba confirmed that there was a meeting with the state Police Commissioner, Mr Musa Kimo, on the matter, but said that no agreement was reached.

According to him, the strike would only be called off when conditions given by tlabour were met. Top among them was the recall of all its members whose appointments were allegedly terminated by their employers.

Ministerial screening: Senate urged to confirm Amaechi

‘sources’, further claimed that during the visit Amaechi was said to have raised his voice to express his frustration before leaving the residence without seeing the Senate President.

"The impression created in the report was one of an angry Amaechi who stormed the Senate President's residence, raising his voice

as he made a scene over the deferment of his screening by the Senate, before storming out in a huff without seeing the Senate President."

The Media Office, noted: “This is absolutely untrue.

We must clarify that Amaechi did not visit and was not at the residence of the Senate President on Thursday of last week. Since he did not go to

the residence of the Senate President on Thursday of last week, there is absolutely no way what the newspaper sources claimed to have transpired, happened.

We must emphasize that former Governor Amaechi holds the office of the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in very high esteem and will never disrespect or act in any way that would put the office in disrepute."

Ayade submits list of 28 commissioner-nominees to C-River Assembly

By Emma Una

C

A L A B A R — GOVERNOR Ben Ayade of Cross River State, yesterday, submitted a list of 28 commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

Top on the list is Mr Goddy Etta, Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state; Mr. Etim Ayimobi, a commissioner in Mr. Donald Duke’s administration; John Ulafor, Special Assistant to

former Governor Lyle Imoke on Inter-Party Matters; Stella Odey, Vice Chairman of Yala Local Government Area; Engineer Francis Eraye, former Secretary of Obudu Urban Development Authority; George Abang Kabu, and Mr. Joe Abang, a former governorship aspirant in the state.

Nelson Ofem, member representing Yakurr 1 state constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Media, who told Vanguard that the list was already with the House

and that 28 names were on the list in conformity with the governor’s plan to expand the number of ministries in the state to give more people an opportunity to serve.

He said the state had 25 constituencies but some constituencies would have more than one commissioner in the state’s executive council.

“We shall unveil the list on the floor of the House tomorrow (today) after the President has performed the groundbreaking of the super highway at Akamkpa.”

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Benin National Congress, BNC, and the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, yesterday urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase, to ensure the safe release of the former chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in Edo State, Dr Philip Ugbodaga, and two other doctors abducted by suspected kidnappers, at Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, weekend.

The doctors were abducted while on their way to render free medical services to some communities in the area on the invitation of a friend.

Ugbodaga and his colleagues had hardly arrived their base when they were forcefully stopped by the suspected kidnappers and taken away at gunpoint.

He said: “The news of Dr. Phillip Ugbodaga’s kidnap came to us as a rude shock because apart from his easygoing lifestyle; he is an indefatigable advocate for the emancipation of the poor; the preservation of the rights of the oppressed Nigerians and health care provider for the vulnerable citizens of Edo and Nigeria."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—13

Why we suspended LG bosses —OSHIOMHOLE G

O V E R N O R A d a m s Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, dismissed insinuations that the recent suspension of four local government chairmen was connected to the political calculations leading to the 2016 governorship elections in the state, saying it was motivated by their inabilities to meet their responsibilities to workers and the people of the council areas and financial abuses, among others.

This came as the governor said his government was setting up panels to investigate the allegations against the suspended council chairmen, insisting that the next action would depend on the findings of the panels.

Speaking, yesterday, at the swearing-in of Prince Joe Okojie as a commissioner in the state Executive Council and Mr.

Busari Yesufu as Chairman, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, Oshiomhole said: “Today, we have ensured that with all the crisis in Nigeria, when many state governments are unable to pay salaries, in Edo State we are paying. However, some of these local governments, for some reasons, were not able to pay salaries as and when due. We have looked at some of their books and have received some petitions against them. It is true that finances are low, but even if your finances are low, you also need to cut your wastages. We looked at the locally generated revenue. In many cases, these locally generated revenues were never reflected in the books of the local governments. They were just generated and paid directly to some of the local government chairmen. There have been

several other abuses and I am proud to say that when the new local government chairmen were sworn in, I made sure all the revenue accruing to local governments before we conducted elections, were left in the treasury of the local governments so that the local governments could use them judiciously to develop their various localities.

“I know, for example, in Akoko Edo, we had more than N560 million that they inherited because I directed the Heads of Service of the local governments not to spend the money of the local governments.

Some inherited N600 million, others N400 million accruing from previous years and of course, all the debts which their predecessors incurred, we made sure that all of those were paid. That is how far we have gone, whereas, in

some states, the local government money comes and the governor just

spends it. In Edo State, we don’t do that and we will never do that and if any

future governor wants to do that, I will expect the local government chairmen to react."

BUHARI'S VISIT TO C-RIVER: BSG, IMSA rally support for grand reception

By Tom Moses

U

YO—AS President Muhammadu Buhari visits Cross River State today, the Akwa Ibom State chapter of Buhari Support Group, BSG, in conjunction with Ibom Mega Synergy Assembly, IMSA, have urged all supporters of change in the state and the entire South-South geopolitical zone to besiege Calabar to give the president a rousing reception.

President Buhari is expected in Cross River State to perform the

ground-breaking of the Super Highway project initiated by Governor Ben Ayade.

A statement jointly signed by the SouthSouth Coordinator of IMSA, Mr. Ubong Sam and his BSG counterpart in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Dominic Akpan, said the President’s visit to Calabar was akin to a visit to the entire SouthSouth zone.

According to the statement: “We are indeed elated by this visit which will avail the President another opportunity to look into

the challenges of physical infrastructure including the poor condition of federal roads in the zone as well as the problem of unemployment facing over 80 percent of the youths population. We are also happy that the President’s visit will help to reinvigorate the confidence of the people of the SouthSouth in this administration in terms of what he had programmed originally on his agenda for this zone.”

SEND FORTH SERVICE FOR LATE GAMALIEL ONOSODE AT GOOD NEWS BAPTIST CHURCH, SURULERE, LAGOS

From left: Mrs Susan Onosode, widow, and children, Alixes Ikhinmwin, Ete Olusola, Toyin Olowo-Ake and Karen Onosode, during the service.

Mr & Mrs Franklin Ogbemi.

From left: Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Mr. Felix Ohiwerei.

From left: Chief (Mrs.) Opral Benson, Mr Kola Awani and Prof. Pat Utomi.

Photos: Biodun Ogunleye.

14—Vanguard,TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

Lagos State governor swears-in commissioners, special advisers

From left: Dr. Oluranti Adebule, deputy governor of Lagos state, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, Hon. Mudasir Obasa, Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly and Otunba Henry Ajomole, Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State, during the swearing-in ceremony of the state's commissioners and special advisers, at Alausa Auditorium, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Cross section of newly sworn-in commissioners and special advisers, taking oaths of office,.

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State Governor, (right) in a handshake with the newly appointed Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

....Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande.

....Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris.

...Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef.

....Commissioner for Transportation, Dayo Mopereola.

Cross section of traditional rulers.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 15

Arrested Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kalu granted bail Igbo

World Assembly, World Igbo Congress condemn arrest

the pirate radio station was over- Ndigbo to continue angling for the

By Emeka Aginam, Chidi made clear.

“While we are yet to know the reaching its bounds, others Republic of Biafra.”

Nkwopara & Francis Igata

E

NUGU—DIRECTOR OF Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kalu,who was arrested at Golden Tulip Hotel in Lagos by the Department of State Service,DSS, after he returned from the United Kingdom has been granted bail by the Abuja Municipal Council Magistrate court where he was secretly arraigned by the DSS. He is, however, yet to fulfil his bail conditions.

According to the Indigenous People of Biafra’s lawyer, Mr. Egechukwu Obetta, “Nnamdi was put in the same cell with terrorists. He has a health challenge which is life threatening. He is sensitive to delicacies. He told us that he will never eat any food served by the Federal Government of Nigeria.“ But midway into Vanguard's chat with the lawyer, a call came in indicating that Kalu has been granted bail in the sum of N2 million or with surety of N2 million with a civil servant of grade level 16.

“The DSS secretly arraigned him before the magistrate's court and he was granted bail. He is, however, yet to meet the bail conditions and that is holding him still in detention.

“Last week, the Afenifere threatened to secede, but nobody was vilified. I am talking about the recent Olu Falae’s kidnap case. The militants in the Niger Delta have done same and at all times, the political gladiators have appealed to the FG to douse the tension instead of using political brigandage and executive lawlessness.”

Meantime, the arrest of Nnamdi Kalu by the Directorate of State Security, DSS, has continued to elicit diverse opinions.

The apex Igbo organization in Diaspora, Igbo World Assembly, IWA, condemned the arrest of the Director of Radio Biafra, weekend, by the Nigeria secret police, the Department of State Services, DSS. The President of the Diaspora Igbo group in a telephone interview with Vanguard, yesterday, said that every Nigerian has freedom of speech, adding that the Nigerian government should tell the whole world the offence Kanu hadcommitted.

Similarly, the World Igbo Congress, WIC, has condemned the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, saying that the Federal Government should explain the reasons for his arrest.

The Public Relations Officer of WIC, Jimmy Asiegbu told Vanguard, yesterday, in a telephone interview that the reasons for the arrest should be C M Y K

reasons for his arrest, we pray that it does not have anything to do with his exercising his constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and association. We call on the Federal Government to explain the reasons for his arrest and allow due process to take its course,” Asiegbu noted.

In Imo State, while some citizens were of the opinion that

commended Kalu for unearthing a number of things that were largely unknown to the public.

Speaking to Vanguard, yesterday, on the issue, Mr. Okorie Kalu, described Mr. Nnamdi Kalu as “a freedom fighter.”

In his considered opinion, “the arrest of the freedom fighter by operatives of the DSS, would rather strengthen the resolve of

SIGNING: From left, Tony Duncan, International Director, Sales, Affordable Building Concept International Ltd; Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State; Igwe Cyril Enweze, Chairman, ANSIPPA during the signing of MoU for the construction of 10,000 houses, in Anambra State, yesterday.

Abia Tribunal concludes hearing on Otti's petition

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—THE Abia Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Umuahia, yesterday, concluded hearing on the petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Dr. Alex Otti and reserved ruling sine die.

Dr. Otti and his party, APGA in their petition, are challenging the declaration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP as the winner of the April governorship election.

All the parties in the petition adopted their final written addresses, yesterday.

Meanwhile, in his oral application before adopting his final written address, counsel to Governor Ikpeazu, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), raised objections on the filing of three separate addresses of 40 pages each by the petitioners.

Olanipekun said that the Electoral Act allowed parties in election petitions to file only one address of 40 pages, and argued that the petitioner's counsel could adopt only one out of the addresses.

Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), supported Olanipekun’s position.

But counsel to the petitioner, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), faulted the respondent's arguments, saying that the argument ‘’does not stand for justice.”

He advised the Federal Government against tampering with Kalu’s cherished freedom, adding that it was best for the government to avoid doing anything that would heat up the polity.

While denying that he had blood relationship with the embattled citizen, Mr. Kalu also said that “nobody can destroy the Biafran spirit.”

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT:

Abia APC chieftain supports Enelamah

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State, Chief Offor Okorie has urged the three senators representing the state at the Senate and members of the party to support the state’s ministerial nominee, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, describing him as an accomplished person.

Okorie, who is the State Auditor of the party, in a chat with Vanguard, said Enelamah is the person who will help actualize President Muhammadu Buhari’s change agenda.

“We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah who is an accomplished technocrat. I have no doubt he will represent Abia well in the federal cabinet, " he said.

16—Vanguard,TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

ABIA GOV POLLS:

APGA’s blackmail diversionary —PDP chieftain

By Tare Youdeowei

A

BUJA—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and former special assistant to Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Ben Onyechere said, yesterday, in Abuja that the incessant claims by All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, that the elections petitions tribunal had been compromised is indecent and diversionary.

He said: “It is a clear indication that the APGA candidate is not in politics for the sake of service but for what he can get, by assuming that he can blackmail his way through, but unfortunately, such gimmickry is outdated as it is infantile.

"Their original intention is to make it seem as if they are serious contenders and for that reason, they are engaging blackmail as an instrument to embarrass and coarse the tribunal and lNEC, expecting to attract public sympathy.

“Their do-or-die attitude is a mockery of participatory democracy and primitive tactics which seeks to prevent justice from taking its course and as such cannot be sustained.

"It is utterly condemnable and unacceptable to cast aspersions on the respectable members of the tribunal who are adjudicating on Abia electoral matters as it is disruptive and unwarranted to pre-empt the outcome of the cases.“

RCCG holds special service

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EDEEMED CHRISTIAN Church of God, Miracle Centre will present Jacob Service, October Edition, Exceeding Greatness, on Wednesday, october 28, 2015, at 19, Bello Folawiyo Crescent, Ikosi Road, by Mr. Biggs, Ikosi Ketu Lagos.

Ministering pastor is M.O. Ikotun and guest speaker, Pastor J.T. Kalejaiye

Why some amendments failed during constitutional reviews —Ekweremadu

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—DEPUTY Senate President, DSP, Ike Ekweremadu yesterday attributed failure of Nigeria’s quest for a more acceptable constitution to embedded ethnosectional interests and considerations.

Ekweremadu, a guest lecturer at this year ’s 2015 Annual Lecture of the Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,

UNIZIK, Awka, Anambra State, with a theme: ‘The politics of Constitution Review in MultiEthnic Societies’, regretted that vital amendments, which should have helped to deepen Nigeria’s democratic experience, strengthen equity and justice, and escalate national development had perished at the altar of mutual suspicion and narrow elites' interests masqueraded as ethnosectional interests.

According to him, “Mutual ethno-sectional and religious

SUMMIT: From left, the Head, Admin & Personnel of Nigerian Export Promotion Council in Rivers State, Mrs. Pauline Ndulaka; Head, SMEs Strategic Alliances and Partnerships of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Opeyemi Ojesina; Programme Director, International Entrepreneur Business Summit, EBS, Dr. Larry Goodwill-Ajiola and Chairman, Security Trade Group of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Princess Sabena Akpe, during the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Summit and Exhibition held from October 7 to 9, 2015, in Rivers State where FCMB received award of 'Most Outstanding SMEs Friendly and Sponsorship Commercial Bank of the Year,.'

Lanlehin calls for release of tribunal judgment

S

ENATOR OLUFEMI Lanlehin has cried out over the incessant postponement in obtaining the written judgement delivered in the petition which he filed against the election of Senator Adesoji Akanbi.

Senator Lanlehin in a statement by his media assistant, Taiwo Ashiru stated that the said judgment was delivered on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, which was the last day of the 180 days prescribed for the trial and judgment of the petition.

He stated further that a time limit of 60 days was prescribed by law for the hearing and delivery of judgment in the appeal, which he intended to file at the Court of Appeal.

The statement noted that “the Chairman of the Tribunal Justice Tanko Usman assured the petitioner that the said judgment would be ready two days after, that is, Friday, October 16, 2015.

"It is now (after many postponements) six days after the judgment and we are again being told that the judgment would not be ready until Wednesday, October 21, 2015. That will make it eight days after the said judgment and there is also no certainty to the said new date given.”

Senator Lanlehin, therefore, appealed to the Tribunal to make available to him in the interest of justice, equity and good conscience, the said written judgment, so that he could pursue his appeal, which was time bound in the Court of Appeal.

suspicions have become so ingrained in our body polity that even the most patriotic and altruistic intentions are almost always interpreted from myopic prisms of such sentiments and interests”.

Ekweremadu, who piloted the first set of successful amendments to the 1999 Constitution in the sixth National Assembly, said the last efforts to further alter the constitution were scuttled by vested interests due to misperceptions over the attempt to

remove presidential assent to constitution amendment bills, set a 30-day timeline for presidential assent to normal bills or indicate refusal of assent, failing which it automatically becomes an Act of the National Assembly in line with the United States presidential system where the president has a grace period of only two weeks.

He also listed, among others, the attempt to separate the Office of the Minister of Justice from that of the Attorney-General, which current merger in a political appointee, he said, leads to abuses and clogs in the wheel of justice.

“Currently, by simply entering a nolle proseque, the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation can technically quash a case. The same applies at the state level," he lamented, adding, section 150 was altered to provide for establishment of the Office of Minister of Justice separate from Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, while new Sections 174A to 174H were inserted to set out the qualifications and secure autonomy, improved powers for the AGF and insulate the Office from political manipulations.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 17

M

ANY monuments have been built in honour of the man Bola Tinubu. He is acclaimed as the political genius of our times who not only engineered the taming of the PDP juggernaut, he caged it and confined it to the backwaters of Otuoke. Since the APC defeat of the PDP in the presidential election, Tinubu the tactician has been feted, celebrated and praised to high heavens. But all these encomiums have proved to be highly exaggerated.

The truth of the matter is that Tinubu, the veritable Jagaban of Borgu, is a master of political illusion. He is remarkable for the distinction of characteristically pulling defeat out of the jaws of putative victory. He mid-wifed the birth of the APC, only to be shut out of its vice-presidential sweepstakes. He engineered APC"s victory at the centre, only to see his arch-enemies take over the posts of Speaker and Senate President in the National Assembly. He piggy-backed Buhari to the presidency, only to be shut out of a say in the president’s cabinet nominees.

Tinubu is called the National Leader of the APC when there is no such post in the party’s Constitution. When a critical meeting of APC bigwigs was called to address the party’s imbroglio in the National Assembly, the “National Leader” could not attend because, in actual fact, he is not even a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

Sowing and reaping In 2011, Tinubu was hailed for cutting his nose to spite his face.

The PDP nominated his kinswoman, Mulikat Akande, as Speaker of the National Assembly. However, Tinubu conspired with recalcitrant PDP party-members to frustrate the plans of their party for his Southwest homestead. Instead, he engineered the election of Sokoto’s Aminu Tambuwal, an APC wolf in PDP sheep’s clothing, as Speaker.

In 2015, Tinubu received payback for these shenanigans again to the detriment of his native South-West. The same Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto he schemed into the position of Speaker in 2011, repaid Tinubu by frustrating his efforts to install his Lagos acolyte, Femi Gbajabiamila, as Speaker in 2015. Taking a leaf straight out of Tinubu’s 2011 playbook, Tambuwal conspired with opposition PDP members to install another Northern PDP turncoat, Yakubu Dogara, as Speaker.

Tinubu’s comeuppance here is particularly savage because it was actually Gbajabiamila who reportedly convinced Tinubu that Tambuwal would readily act as traitor to his PDP party in 2011. It is therefore veritable poetic justice that the same Tambuwal became an equally C M Y K

Don't cry for Bola Tinubu ready tool of the PDP in the frustration of Gbajabiamila's ambitions and the interests of Tinubu and the APC in 2015.

Moreover, Tinubu was repaid for his 2011 manipulations with interest. The same treachery employed to Tinubu’s political disadvantage in the House was also duplicated in the Senate.

Bukola Saraki, another PDP turncoat, refused to abide by the dictates of APC Central, firmly controlled by Tinubu’s ACN. He snatched the position of Senate President without official APC approval, but with the support of the opposition PDP. So doing, he sidelined both Tinubu’s firstchoice of George Akume, as well as his second-choice of Ahmed Lawan.

Crumbled cookie Just as Tinubu was licking his wounds at the denial of his “rightful inheritance” in the National Assembly after the APC victory at the polls, the news came that his political cookie had equally crumbled at Aso Rock.

It had been popularly alleged that Tinubu’s portion in Buhari’s presidency would not be limited to the appointment of his political godson as vicepresident, but would also include the allocation of no less than nine choice ministerial nominees to the discretion of the Jagaban of Borgu.

But by the time Buhari unfurled his ministerial list two weeks ago, the alleged dedicated slots had shrunk to zero. Many of us had warned in the heady days of the formation of the APC that those insistent that power must return to the North would

The Jagaban of Borgu has been slain politically upon his high places. How are the mighty fallen!

be determined to checkmate Tinubu if and when the election was won. We warned Tinubu that even as he cannot conceivably be accepted nationally to rule Nigeria as president, even so can he not rule Nigeria by proxy. We warned him that the North would never allow Buhari to be his Man Friday in Aso Rock.

However, Tinubu was too far gone to listen. It would now appear that he even failed to take out insurance policies against such probable eventualities.

But once elected, Buhari started a romance with Babatunde Fashola and Kayode Fayemi designed clearly to sideline the Jagaban. While these former governors were previously members of Tinubu’s inner-circle, they had since run out of patience with the heavy handedness of their boss.

Therefore, during the election campaign, both of them campaigned for Buhari above and beyond the call of party duty.

Fashola, in particular, was clearly fed up with being under Tinubu’s political shadow. In the struggle for who would be the APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Tinubu did not allow Fashola to choose his successor, in the ignoble tradition of Nigerian governors. While Fashola favoured Dapo Sasore, the former Attorney General of Lagos State, Tinubu railroaded in Akinwunmi Ambode as the APC candidate.

While again, in the ignoble tradition of Nigerian politics, governors promptly transform themselves into Senators when their term as governor ends, this option was closed off to Fashola because Tinubu had already installed his wife as the Senator from Fashola’s constitutency.

The only option left for Fashola politically was presidential ministerial appointment and, even there, Tinubu had put up a road block against him.

Tinubu prefers to nominate political nonentities for higher office in the South-West, so that he would be the only Iroko tree in the forests of the region.

Therefore his candidates for ministerial appointment from Lagos were his little nationallyknown former commissioners, Wale Edun and Yemi Cadosso, who could pose no threats whatsoever to his ascribed South-West political supremacy.

Alarm bells: But when Fashola and Fayemi accompanied Buhari to the G7 meeting in Germany in June 2015, alarm bells started ringing in Tinubu’s Bourdillon Road mansion in Lagos. This was clearly a signial that these former governors were intent on bypassing the official godfather of the South-West by applying to be members of Buhari’s kitchen cabinet on their own recognisance.

The Tinubu brigade would have none of this. Therefore, a campaign of calumny was launched to cut Fashola in particular to dimunitive size.

Suddenly, the “memo” was sent out implying the former governor had developed political leprosy. When two books were launched simultaneously celebrating his achievements as governor, none of his APC colleagues from Lagos dared to attend for fear of entering the bad books of the dreaded Jagaban.

In order to nail the coffin on Fashola’s ministerial aspirations, it was leaked to the press that a whopping 78 million naira of public money was spent on the construction of his personal website. 139 million naira was also alleged to have been spent on two boreholes constructed in Government House, Lagos during his tenure.

The intention here was to ensure that Fashola becomes ineligible for ministerial consideration on grounds that he would not pass Buhari’s anti-corruption integrity test.

However, Buhari was apparently unimpressed by these political shenanigans.

When his list of ministerial nominees were unfurled, Fashola and Fayemi featured prominently among Buhari’s “first eleven.” None of Tinubu’s nominees made the list. Other nominees from the South-West were precisely the kind of people Tinubu did not want in Buhari’s team; people who would not be indebted to Tinubu but to Buhari.

While Buhari completely ignored Tinubu’s candidates, he included that of another SouthWest bigwig. Obasanjo’s favourite-son, Prince Olagusoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun State, was included in Buhari’s list. Thereby, the president asserted the saliency

of Obasanjo’s South-West influence in Aso Rock over that of the Jagaban. He even pointedly appointed Obasanjo as his special envoy to GuineaBissau.

This is certainly not what Tinubu bargained for when he decided to pitch his tent with Buhari and the APC. If he were to be furthermore overlooked in the appointment of BOT chairman of the APC, the marginalisation of the Jagaban in the post-election APC would be complete.

Comeuppance: Some of us saw this coming. In the heady early days of the APC coalition, we warned that Tinubu would be used and dumped. But we were labelled as PDP lapdogs and charlatans. That is why I say today: let no one cry for Bola Tinubu.

Anyone who hears Tinubu’s recent vicious attack on Saraki would realise these are the tokens of a frustrated man.

Tinubu could not attack the President, therefore he poured all his venom on the Senate President. He accused him of indiscipline and disloyalty; the very things he celebrated in the PDP rebels who joined forces with him against their party in 2011.

Face saving device The recent declaration that Buhari appointed Babachir Lawal as Secretary to the Government of the Federation at the instance of Tinubu is a facesaving device. The Tinubu camp forgot to tell us this until now. At the time of new SGF’s appointment, all the uproar was about the Northern lopsidedness in Buhari’s choices.

Observing the sidelining of Tinubu by Buhari, Senator Femi Okunroumu said: “I am having a good laugh. This is what I expected. In any case, Tinubu is stretching his luck too far as he wants to dictate who will rule Nigeria. Tinubu’s wings need to be clipped. With the ministerial list, Tinubu has been dumped.

He should not just be dumped, he should be disgraced.”

On his part, Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said: “APC is not a party; it is a gang of people whose sole aim was to remove Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as president. In a real party, you share the spoils of office before elections not after elections.

This is what is happening in APC. We warned our people, but they failed to listen.”

In the new politics of today’s APC, it is better to be the enemy of Bola Tinubu than to be his friend. The enemies of Tinubu become Senate presidents; they become Speakers of the House of Representatives; they become ministers of the Federal government. But the friends of Tinubu are sent to Siberia.

The Jagaban of Borgu himself has been slain politically upon his high places. How are the mighty fallen!

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 IN true African culture and tradition, children are valued beyond silver and gold. It is one of the tragedies of “modernity” that children have now become “commodities” criminally bought and sold by evil rings of hustlers who operate what are cynically referred to as “baby factories”.

Teenage mothers are forced to give up their newborns for sale to childless couples and ritualists. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates more than ten newborns are sold in Nigeria every day. According to UNESCO, human trafficking is designated as the third most prevalent crime in Nigeria, after corruption and drug trafficking.

Though several arrests are routinely made in different parts of the country, no case has been conclusively prosecuted.

The average childless Nigerian

Traffic in newborns must stop couple would prefer to arrange with the child traffickers to “buy” newlyborn children and later pretend to have miraculously overcome their childlessness. They find it an easier way of escaping social and family pressures than adopting children through the normal, lawful processes.

There is the need, therefore, to crack down heavily on child traffickers and their patrons to show zero tolerance for this heinous and inhumane crime. We should regulate the operations of orphanages to make legal adoption easier. The National Agency for the Prohibition

of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) needs to be more proactive in this regard. No decent society allows human life to be so debased as to condone the existence of “baby farms”. The very idea is odious, abominable and a cultural taboo.

We must come out as a society to protect these innocent and helpless infants brought into the world through no choice of their own. All the “baby farms” in Nigeria should be identified and closed down immediately. Law enforcement agencies should go beyond arresting offenders to prosecute and bring them to justice to

deter other intending culprits from engaging in the crime.

Childless couples and individuals should be encouraged to see adoption as a proud model of parenthood as in advanced countries of the world, rather than embracing the crime of stealing and “buying” children from evil traffickers. Our laws should also be strengthened to offer such children and their mothers full family and inheritance rights to protect them from being victimised by their extended foster family members.

We must be more serious with the full implementation of the Child Rights Act. It does not matter the circumstances under which a child is brought into the world, but once a child is born in any part of Nigeria, it is the bounden duty of the state and people of this country to protect them and give them the opportunity to be the best they can possibly be.

OPINION Of disunity and the albatross of national integration(2) Continued from yesterday pg. 18

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By Bobson Gbinije

IGERIA as a nation is still hor rendously steeple chasing in the cesspit of total disunity, so much so that some analysts and political alarmists predicted that Nigeria as a nation will be no more by 2015. But 2015 has come, like the ides of March “not gone”.

Unity is the sublime pedestal on which Nigeria can be super-structured to enable it make constructive march to nationhood and take its respectful place in the comity of Nations. In its Editorial of 17th June 1966, the New Statesman publication, posited thus, “for no one doubts that to build a strong Nigeria – Africa’s most populous country – demands unified direction. If the base for unity is not there then Nigerians must seek another rationale for coexistence as citizens of the same country”.

The New Nigeria Newspaper of 20th January 1966 quoted the then Major Hassan Usman Katsina on his assumption of office as Military Governor of the then North after the riot, “Everyone must realise that we are one nation irrespective of the tribe from which each of us originates. At our present C M Y K

stage of development we need not be divided by tribal unions, political parties or trade unions. It is our experience in the past that such bodies had not worked for the common good but for sectional interest”.

It is unequivocally clear that Nigeria is in desperate need of unity in its continuous march to nationhood. We therefore call for strategic repositioning through political renaissance, social integration, religious tolerance, economic destructuralisation, cultural rebirth, ethical renascence, patriotism, leadership zeitgeist and a total love of country. Hence, the essayist Lord Schiller (1759-1805) said in his book Maid of Orleans that “that nation is worthless which does not joyfully stake everything in defence of her honour” corroborated by George Washington (1732-1799) in his letter to Congress in 1778 that “it is a maxim founded on the universal experience of mankind that no nation is to be trusted farther than it is bound by its interest”.

We need a new orientation in leader-

There must be a New National Orientation Body that will pursue a policy of systematic and strategic indoctrination

ship that will refocus our concentration on national rebirth and unity of Nigeria. The indivisibility, indissolubility of Nigeria as one united sovereign nation must remain the mantra, ethics, desideratum and canticle of all Nigerians from play group, primary school, through secondary school to university level. There must be a New National Orientation Body that will pursue a policy of systematic and strategic indoctrination of Nigerians on the fundamental imperative of unity in diversity in Nigeria.

We must introduce patriotic classes and amend areas in our constitution that tend to encourage disunity. We must encourage inter-faith and multidimensional religious dialogue especially the Christians, Muslims and Family Units as pedestal to concretise the drive for National unity. Unity of Nigeria should be taught in our schools.

The leadership must create a political, socio-economic, religious and cultural ambience of justice, egalitarianism and fairness. There can be no peace and unity without justice and ethnic groups must have a sense of belonging and shared values. The aftermaths of the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War (19671970) must be squarely addressed. The issue of Reintegration, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (GOWON’S 3Rs)

must be revisited to ensure justice and fairness to the Igbos. On the issue of Boundary Adjustment, State Creation, Abandoned Property, Biafra Currency Delimitation, Hate and Discriminatory Posturing must be addressed.

The clauses on Federal Character, Indigenous/Indigeneship Status, Tribe, Religious, Local Government and State of Origin must be re-worded and reorientated to propel unity amongst Nigerians. There must be the proper and explicit articulation of Rotative or Rotational Presidency in all Party Manifestoes and in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The minorities or minority ethnic nationalities in the North West, North Central, North East and that in the South East, South West and South South must be accorded due constitutional recognition and representation to give a sense of belonging.

The National Youth Service Corps objectives must be expanded to include military training, discipline, love of country, patriotism, unity and oneness MANDATE AGAINST POVERTY (MAP) WARRI - 08023250378 Concluded *Mr. Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015— —19

Proposed electricity tariff and buck passing

By Sunny Ikhioya

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COUNTRY that cannot guarantee regular electricity supply to its citizens will remain grounded in the production and manufacturing sectors. What this means is that there will be stunted development. In a report by Premium Times online edition of October 8, 2015, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo addressing members of the manufacturing association of Nigeria (MAN) admonished them to brace up for electricity tariff increases. The reason for this is as follows: “…at this point, if we wanted to have a cost effective tariff, the only way is to service the core value chain, the only way is to ensure that we are paying and compensating the core value chain – from generation down to distribution – a cost effective tariff”. He went further: “….losses on account of distribution are significant. In some, cases you have up to 40% losses in the distribution and of course it is the Discos that have to take that burden”. The VP said nothing new, such views have been expressed by previous governments and if we follow the same pattern, we will still be faced with power challenge. The summary of the VP’s comment sums up thus, that a reasonable

amount- 40%- is lost along the chain from the Gencos to the Discos. The losses have to be accounted for and in this instance, the consumers will bear the brunt. The question is: why should consumers bear the cost of the inefficiencies or mismanagement of the electricity companies? When consumers pay, will it stop the waste? The Discos just have to re-invent themselves and apply the correct solutions. I do not think that up to 40% of electricity consumers pay their bills, especially along the borderline towns and rural areas. So, what is responsible for this? If you cannot make certain categories of consumers pay electricity bills, do you have to make those who pay, suffer by paying more? This is what will happen if the Discos decide to increase tariffs now. If billions of naira is lost through this process, we must first plug the loop holes.

Too many tariffs can also hurt production, especially if the service is not steady and regular.

The point is clear, provide the people with uninterrupted power supply and see the reactions. It must follow that order – provide service before price increase, else, it will fail and serve no purpose than to produce a very disgruntled customer base, which is not good for business. We

have all witnessed the success in the communication sector, when it started, not everyone could afford a GSM line and those who had it enjoyedthe services, which further attracted others. With the increased number of service providers and subscribers, the prices nose dived. We must also not forget the huge investments made by the service providers, that is the way to do it – service first.

The most important challenge in the power sector is the inability to generate steady supplies to consumers. There must be no interruptions, if this is accomplished, people can now concentrate on ensuring the maintenance of a steady flow by paying up their bills as at when due. You cannot ask people to pay for services not rendered, covering up for the lapses with estimated bills. If we have taken the privatisation and commercialisation of the power

In the business world, the assumption is that the customer is always right, that should be the focus of our electricity power generating companies

Imperative of strengthening BuhariNASS relationship

By Dare Atoye

S

INCE 1999, the dominant thinking in the executive branch of government in Nigeria has been one that favours the ancient aristocratic system of government in which small elite that constitutes the executive arm held sway. This is even more evident at the state level, where the principle of checks and balances has been largely undermined by the executive, as the governors practically dictate to the legislative arm. The only semblance of separation of power as espoused by renowned French Philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu, can only be seen at the Federal level where the National Assembly, against all odds, has been able to robustly exert its influence in the scheme of democratic governance.

Indeed, because of the unnecessary interference and pressure that the National Assembly usually faces from the Presidency, Nigerians were gladdened when President Muhammadu Buhari made that famous line of thought in his speech, to wit: "I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody." It raised the hope in parliamentary watchers and political commentators that this era will present a President that will not interfere in the internal affairs of the Legislature.

Coming from the Olusegun Obasanjo's experience where executive's influence nearly marred the National Assembly and compromised its independence, through the disquiet of the Umaru Musa Yar'Adua era and the running battle that characterised the Goodluck Jonathan administration, that statement reinforced a new approach to Executive-Legislative relationship.

Although we experienced a bit of improvement during the Yar'Adua and Jonathan administrations, there was however no let up in the Presidency having a say in the leadership arrangements of the parliament.

C M Y K

It would be recalled also that Buhari had on more than one occasion assured the nation that he was ready to work with the leadership choices of the federal lawmakers.

He was quoted to have said: "I am prepared to work with any leader that the House or Senate selects. It doesn’t matter who the person is or where he or she is from ....there is due process for the selection of leaders of the National Assembly, and I will not interfere in that process." Commentators have had to reference this to adjudge Buhari as a born-again democrat who now understands the tenets of democracy.

But a few months down the line, it appears that the a few power mongers in our politics, who are never comfortable with the independence of the legislature, have wormed their ways into the heart of the President. I don't want to make a wrong assumption that there is a special group of people whose business it is to always play up this executive supremacy over the parliament as it will sound superficial.

However, it is an ideological thinking that has remained in our politics since 1999 and one which believes that the leadership of the National Assembly must be settled in the Aso Rock villa and not in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly. This is very wrong and has been severally resisted.

Unfortunately, this thought process has

Buhari should engage the Legislature constructively and feed a positive relationship between them while, at the same time, starve the flashpoints of discord

sector seriously, we will not be talking about estimated billings by now. It is over two years that the power sector was handed over to private hands; it is no longer a social responsibility of the government.

These companies applied under a competitive bidding atmosphere with proofs of their ability to deliver electricity to the people in line with normal terms of business but two years down the line, we are still battling with the NEPA/PHCN stuff.

It is now strictly a business matter and in business, you have to cope with the initial starting costs associated with teething problems. The early years should not be focused on making profit alone but providing services and building the confidence of the customers. You will have to sow before you reap. The staff, management and owners of the new power companies are still suffering from the hangover of the previous regime of government ownership, the government way of doing things, the lackadaisical attitude to government business.

They need to change their ways, they should realise that it is no more business as usual. If they want to earn the consumers respect and confidence, they have to work for it and not hide under the government over bearing cover. It is only the quality of service they provide that will determine consumer’s response. Some people have simply refused to pay their electricity bills because they are dissatisfied with the quality of service provided and the staff of

found its way into the Buhari's presidency.

At this juncture, it is apposite to tell the President some home truths: that he must now rise above the imaginary fears that power mongers, stooges and sycophants usually create around the Presidency about the National Assembly. They are at best products of contrived imagination designed to create tension and in the process pave the way for the “greasing” of some palms. In the midst of confusions and rivalries, some politicians do get richer. Although it is not in doubt that the constitutional power to impeach the President lies with the federal lawmakers, it is however an expensive venture that hardly any session of the National Assembly will want to venture into.

It will be a huge distraction and an almost impossible mission in our climes. The idea of impeachment was once tried by Ghali Na'aba-led House of Representatives against Obasanjo, but the outcome was futile.

Buhari must come to the reasonable understanding that, over time, the frictions between the executive and the legislature have become a big business in Nigeria.

History should avail him of the fact that there will always be some very mischievous politicians on both sides of the divide, who will never stop pulling strings to create unnecessary rivalries between the two arms while they go from behind to act as gobetweens, with profit motives denominated in mega cash. Maybe if the President is not aware of this, let him now becomes aware that there will be interest-induced frictions.

As long as the interest of the Presidency is involved, the President or indirectly through his ministers and other aides will sometimes be forced to play games, especially when they suspect or know that the body language of the President is in conflict with the leadership of the National Assembly.

The kind of politics that plays out in the National Assembly is usually slippery, internal and peculiar to its members; it is sometimes full of uncertainty. Any time conflict in the House is externalised, because of the influence of the Presidency, it is the country that usually suffers, while more money is spent to sustain the allies of the

these Discos even fear to visit such areas for payment compliance.

The ball is in their court, there must be fresh orientation for staff, training and re-training on how to satisfy the customers and most importantly; professionalise their technicians, most of them are still in the ‘cut and nail’ categories, mere artisans.

The Vanguard Newspaper of October13, 2015 reported an agreement reached between the Federal government and OEM TE connectivity to conduct trainings for power companies’ staff through the national training institute. This is more like it, but in the case I am proposing, the initiative must come from the power companies and not the 'father Christmas’ federal government. Power has been privatised in Nigeria, it should be run like a truly commercialised and profit oriented company, no underhand dealings and no cheating of the customers.

In the business world, the assumption is that the customer is always right, that should be the focus of our electricity power generating companies. In vigorously trying to find solutions to customers’ demands, they will sort out the electricity challenges of the nation.

They should hold on to the buck and not pass it to the consumers.

*Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

President in the National Assembly and funds will be deployed to do media battle and curry public opinion. Yet, there is no guarantee that the interest of the Presidency will prevail because majority of the lawmakers usually prefer to be independent of executive interference. It is always a “loselose” situation for the nation when the executive and the legislature engage in a battle of political supremacy. The experience has never been good for the nation, but some political players know how to circumvent the process to get richer.

As it is now, Buhari has no option other than to work with the National Assembly through its current leadership composition in the spirit of the interdependence, not necessarily independence of the arms of government. He must realise that the recent vote of confidence passed in the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is a strong message, not just in favour of Saraki, but in favour of strengthening and defending the institution of the Senate and the entire National Assembly. It is a bold statement deliberately made to exert its authority as both an interdependent and independent arm of government. The last vote of confidence passed in him following the disquiet that followed his emergence was sanctioned by 81 Senators. This figure increased to 83 in the last confidence vote despite his much-publicised trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. This is noteworthy.

Buhari should engage the Legislature constructively and feed a positive relationship between them while, at the same time, starve the flashpoints of discord.

This effort should be reciprocated by the Legislature and its leaders.

The consequences of a stand-off between the two arms of government will not augur well for the nation’s democracy. As the leader of the party that controls the majority seats in the National Assembly, he should reconcile all his party members and get them on board to drive his policies. The Presidential system of government is always very tough with a Parliament that could be hostile.

•Mr. Atoye, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

Arewa's songs of conquest

A

REWA political artistes have been singing songs of captivity lately and not a few ears would have b e e n tingling especially among the greedy lot whose misplaced expectations have led to this quandary. But thank goodness for Col. Dangiwa Umar of that region who sings redemption songs.

Among the former who see Nigeria basically as the northern soil and conquest from the south is Senator Saidu Dansadau.

His surname is from the Dansadau Emirate of Zamfara, the land of Sharia.

He carries the typical aristocratic traits of many Fulanis, at least that was my impression when I entered his residence in Abuja in 2006 at the peak of the battle to stop Obasanjo’s evil agenda to change the constitution so he could have a third term in office. You cannot but want to give up on Nigeria when you see the same man as “navigator” carrying useless memos from some silly thinktank on the future of a country he nearly plunged into war over inordinate ambition.

men in the region were not compliant with Sharia when it comes to divorce as many kick out wives after eight children.

He spoke about a gentleman who already had 78 divorces in his 50 years on earth.

A conquest song gone viral But why I’m writing about him this week is his song of conquest that just went viral even before the inauguration of a northern president. It was a simple question to him on whether the APC South West demand for Speaker of the House of Representatives was just and fair.

He said it was gluttonous after having the VicePresident as if there is no aspirant for the same position from the North West where the President comes from. I personally don’t give a damn how they share their spoils.

The bit that got my goat, however, were the additional statement that came from the abundance of his heart and I quote the former Zamfara Senator verbatim:

Inordinate ambition Back to Dansadau. I was invited to some event in Abuja in 2006 at the Adamawa Governor’s lodge in Abuja by then Hon. Sola Adeyeye (now a Senator) to gather more pressure against the third term gambit. Obasanjo’s deputy, Atiku Abubakar was part of the night’s event. We were about an hour into the meeting when security operatives stormed the place with an instruction to disperse the gathering.

The day after, Prof.

Adeyeye whom I spent the night with invited me to a meeting at Dansadau’s residence in Abuja. He was soft-spoken (as if they are trained in it) with the usual aloofness.

I did not see him again until the 2014 National Conference where we were both delegates. One of his major contributions at the conference was the call for the establishment of a Women and Children Islamic Commission to deal with the prevalence of divorce in northern Nigeria. He said C M Y K

The children of Oduduwa who gave an identity and the formula to engage all nationalities with pride are now hovering like Almajiris in Abuja because they sacrifice their core values to play at their traducers’ area of strength

“Nigerians should take note of the voting trend since independence. In fact, since the 1950s, the North Central per se had never voted in the manner it did along with the other parts of the North as it did at this particular time.

These are the kind of things we have been looking for, (for) a long time.

Various initiatives have been put in place in order to see that northerners from wherever they are, from the 19 states, become one as far as voting is concerned. We are not saying 100 percent of northerners should be in one political party but that northerners should have one voice, they should decide and dictate the politics of Nigeria; like it has been before independence and even during the First Republic because of the numerical strength of the North.

Need for balance of power “But of recent we became divided so we became so vulnerable. But God in His infinite wisdom and mercy used the goodwill of General Muhammadu Buhari and we have gotten the kind of unity that we have been yearning for, for so long. We have realised this dream now.

So, now that we have achieved the unity we long for because of Buhari’s goodwill, it is only fair that we now make some efforts to consolidate these gains because General Buhari will not be the president for ever. ''So that after him, we have consolidated on this goodwill and we will be able to grow this unity, political cooperation, electoral cooperation from strength to strength so that the North will as much as possible dictate the political landscape of the country and what happens in Nigeria as it used to do.

This is necessary because my fear is that not that Senator Ahmad Lawan is not qualified, he is very much qualified, but in third world countries where there are lots of crises and ethnicity and religions, you have to balance power in such a manner that every ethnic and religious group as much as possible will feel satisfied with the balancing of power. That

is all we are saying.

“And for the North East, they really deserve the Speakership. There is no doubt going by their number and how they contributed to the success of the APC going by the candidates contesting for the position, they truly deserve a very important office in this dispensation.

There is no doubt about that.

But I feel no sacrifice is too much as far as the unity of this country is concerned. No sacrifice is too much as far as it concerns the growth and the continuity in power of the APC. So, in order not to take a decision that will make the strength of APC wane so quickly, I think regional groups and individuals should learn to make sacrifices.

“In fact, where I fault the leadership of the APC is why should the leadership do zoning piecemeal? Why should they zone the Speakership to the South West? When you are taking that decision, why didn’t they take the entire zoning together?

That was what the PDP did in the past and since it is good, the APC should emulate it. If any crisis arises as a result of the zoning I will blame the leadership of the APC. Why, because if they had sat down from the word go to zone all the positions, this problem wouldn’t have arisen.”

Only the naive and uninitiated would not be able to get his drift.

Senator Abraham Adesanya in his lifetime was fond of telling the story of two friends,the cock and the fox.

The fox was relating with the cock with respect thinking that the comb on its head was a burning fire until the day the latter, driven by greed, asked the former to feel his head in exchange for a favour. The fox did and discovered that what it feared as fire was so cold and delicious.

That was how the cock that was hitherto feared became a regular meal for the fox.

Solomon in the Bible carried out all possible experiments on behalf of humanity and documented it all in the Book of Ecclesiastics.

Those immovable truths have proved inviolable to date. In like manner, Prophet Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo who created ethnic pride for the Yoruba country carried out loads of experiments with the Nigeria project and like Solomon documented his findings in his various publications.

Yoruba political landscape Unfortunately, the Yoruba political landscape of today is littered with men who have never read a book from Awo even when they are in love with his glasses, without his vision, and his cap covering brains that never engage in

serious strategic thought.

It is not that difficult for such men to remove the ancient landmarks, which their fathers have set and thus become a plaything and song themes on the lips of Arewa children like the gentleman I quoted extensively.

The summary of all Awo's findings is that a multi-ethnic Nigeria can only prosper with its constituent units living in peace and happiness if it is run along federal principles.

That was what Awo fought for all his political life that denied him “power at the centre” but he remains at the centre of political discourse in Nigeria, 28 years after his transition to higher glory.

And within those years arose strange children in Yorubaland who, buoyed by unearned wealth, felt the Awo way was not for them. They chose the Akintola road and with their media power they blackmailed those who insisted on the Awo path.

They were able to mobilise a generation of angry and disoriented youth who were totally bereft of knowledge to act against their own enlightened self-interest. Like bewitched Galatians, they confused their own desires for good governance with Arewa's quest for CHANGE of baton.

In a matter of weeks, Arewa spokesmen are making it clear that the March 28 removal of the virus that entered their power computer was the only common denominator and hangers-on should find their level.

Tragedy of victory What a tragedy of victory!

The stiff-necked adventurers who uncritically assumed a day would come when Arewa would embrace power sharing are now doing what Yoruba call “aramora, iso kijipa”, like you are being whipped but you can’t afford to drop any tear.

The children of Oduduwa who gave an identity and the formula to engage all nationalities with pride are now hovering like Almajiris in Abuja because they sacrifice their core values to play at their traducers’ area of strength.

The gloom on their faces is worse than those who lost elections. They are now busy tearing themselves into pieces jostling for who will be the senior in the slavery they have just sold themselves into. Like Fela Anikulapo Kuti around this time in 1984, “I just dey look and dey laugh”.

To be concluded .

*This piece first published elsewhere early May 2015 has been reproduced by popular demand.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

— 21

Buhari, IoD, others to champion cause on global best practices in Nigeria I

N a bid to promote government’s diversification agenda, especially through sustainable investments, President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders will lead the discussion on ensuring stable investment in Nigeria through global best practices.

Specifically, President Buhari is expected to deliver the keynote address at this year ’s Directors’conference of the Institute of Directors (IoD) scheduled to hold on Thursday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, in Abuja.

According to a statement from the Institute, the 2015 Directors’ conference will focus on the declining fortunes in the oil sector and the need for diversification of the nation’s economy through promotion of investment in other viable and sustainable sectors.

A Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, Victor Banjo, in the statement

said: “As a recognised member of the MINT Countries developing with high hopes, Nigeria just like Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey is under the global spotlight to fulfil its potentials by harnessing its vast resources to join the league of leading economic powers.

“This conference, which is being supported by the Embassies of Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey will be a departure from conventional events as representatives of these countries have been invited to share their countries’ experiences and discuss critical success factors for sustainable investment with the Nigerian business community.

“The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, as the custodian of trade investment in Nigeria, recognising that this initiative by IoD Nigeria is aimed at focusing attention on investment and local

SEMINAR: Ben Langat, Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (L), one of the discussants on the theme, ‘De-Industrialisation and the Future of Multinational Companies Manufacturing in Nigeria’ at the just concluded 26th Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) event, with Professor Patrick Utomi, Founder, CVL. sufficiency, has pledged its full support for the 2015 Directors Conference by collaborating with IoD Nigeria in hosting it”.

Some of the speakers and panellists expected at the event include, Chairman of the Honorary International Investment Council, Baroness Lynda Chalker, Managing Director, Nigerian Sovereign

Investment Authority, Uche Orji, Director-General, Institute of Directors UK, Simon Walker, Managing Director, Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Roberts Orya, Chairman, Dubri Oil, Dr. Umo Itsueli, Adviser, UK Department of International Development, Andrew Thorburn, Executive Chairman, National Electricity Regulatory Commission, Sam

Amadi and Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd, James Olotu.

The Institute of Directors Nigeria, an affiliate of the Institute of Directors UK, champions corporate governance and promotes business ethics.

Its activities spans across all sectors of the economy and aims at securing greater effectiveness and efficiency in boardrooms

Nigeria records N815bn mobile money transactions •3 telcos bid for license as super agent

By Babajide Komolafe & Emma Ujah

the nation’s GSM telecommunications firm has HE Central Bank of Nigeria applied to the Central Bank of (CBN) yesterday said that Nigeria (CBN) for license to the country has recorded N815 operate as mobile money ‘Super billion worth of mobile money Agent’. Mobile money was transactions. Meanwhile, three of introduced in Nigeria in 2012.

Director of Banking and Payment System Department, CBN, MR. Dipo Fatokun, disclosed this in Ilorin 123.95 -1.90 yesterday at the annual seminar for $3,112.00 -7.00 business editors and f i n a n c e $14.27 0.00 correspondents by the Nigeria Deposit I n s u r a n c e Corporation (NDIC).

49.72 -0.74 Represented by Mr. Shola Agboola, 46.77 -0.49 Assistant Director, Banking and Payment CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL System Department, DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 CBN, Fatokun POUNDS 302.6828 303.455 304.2271 stated that mobile EURO 222.4992 223.0668 223.6344 payment was FRANC 205.8824 206.4076 206.9328 introduced to leverage YEN 1.6468 1.651 1.6552 CFA 0.3218 0.3318 0.3418 on the rapid growth of WAUA 276.4495 277.1548 277.86 mobile telephony in RENMINBI 30.8561 30.9308 31.0099 Nigeria, which has RIYAL 52.2611 52.3944 52.5277 over 120 million SDR 276.9284 277.6349 278.3413 subscribers, with KRONA 29.8271 29.9032 30.9793 majority of the CBN Exchange Rate as at 19 /10 /15 unbanked having

T

access to a mobile phone. Mobile payment he, said, was introduced on, “The need to leverage exisying business network infrastructures as a practical and well thought strategy for driving financial inclusion of the unbanked in Nigeria.

“The primary objective is to: foster financial inclusion; deliver on employment; transaction cost reduction; and facilitate economic growth in the medium to long-

The volume of transactions since inception is 76.952 million while total value of transactions stands at N815.464 billion

run”.

Speaking on the progress recorded on the policy, he said, “So far, the CBN has licensed 21 mobile payment operators. Seven of them are bank-Led, while 14 are non-bank led. 98,158 as been enrolled as agents, while the number of subscribers stand at 24.389 million.

Volume of transactions The volume of transactions since inception is 76.952 million while total value of transactions stands at N815.464 billion.

Fatokun also disclosed that three of the nation’s Telecommunications Companies (TelCos) have applied for mobile payment Super Agent licences.

According to Mr. Fatokun, “three TelCos have applied for Super Agent licences and the CBN is currently porcessing their applications. Very soon, the licences will be issued and we are optimistic that with the coming in of the Super Agents, the Mobile Money Scheme would receive a major boost. “This is because; the TelCos already have a wide spread across the country. There

is no village you go to in this country that you will not see someone selling mobile phone recharge cards.

“Our design is that the TelCos will deal directly with the Mobile Money financial institutions.

They will engage sub-agents who would work with them. By so doing, we believe that all those selling recharge cards can easily key into the chain and reach more rural dwellers in our efforts to financially include them”.

He added that provisions of the mobile payment framework make room for non - exclusivity such that a sole agent could work with more than one TelCo. He identified epileptic electric power supply, poor telecommunications connectivity, lack of synergy between Mobile Money Operators and TelCos, as well as, lack of awareness of the various policies and products as some of the challenges facing the scheme. However, the he assured that the CBN was working with other stakeholders towards eliminating or at least reducing the challenges to the minimum level, possible.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

That the number of SMEs in Nigeria has increased from 17 million in 2011 to 37 million in 2013 and employs 60 – 80 per cent of the workforce while contributing over 60 per cent of the GDP

INVESTOR'S ,

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

We all have dormant accounts

By Babajide Komolafe

O

komu Oil Palm Plc led the top 10 performing stocks, rising by 24.32 per cent or N6.97 to close at N35.63 from N28.66 at the beginning of the week. NASCON Allied Industries Plc trailed behind with 10.90 per cent or N0.76 price increase, closing at N7.73 from N6.97 per share; Axamansard Insurance Plc closed as the third most active stock the previous week, appreciating by 10.74 per cent or N0.26 to close at N2.68 from N2.42 per share; Forte Oil Plc was the next as the share price rose by 9.81 per cent or N25.02 to close at N280.00 from N254.98, while Zenith International Bank Plc closed as the fifth most active with 7.42 per cent or N1.21 increase, closing at N17.51 from N16.30 per share.

Others were R.T Briscoe, which rose by 7.14 per cent or N0.04 to close at N0.60 from N0.56; Red Star Express Plc advanced by 6.78 per cent or N0.27 to close at N4.25 from N3.98 per share; Academy Press Plc appreciated by 4.84 per cent or N0.03 to close at N0.65 from N0.62; FCMB Group Plc appreciated by 4.78 per cent or N0.10 to close at N2.19 from N2.09, while Transnationwide Express Plc went up by 4.63 per cent or N0.05 to close at N1.13 from N1.08 per share.

Okomu Oil, which led the pack had its shares assigned a buy rating by ARMS research following the release of its full year financial statement, where its revenue and profit after tax fell by 2.3 per cent YoY to N8.7 billion and 26 per cent to N1.6 billion. Recently, the company purchased 11,400 hectares of land in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State on which it intended to plant about 10,000 hectares of palm oil.

Clearing of the site, according to the company, w o u l d commence this year, while planting would take-off next year. Available result for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 was a consolidation of losses sustained in Q4 2014/2015 full year report. For the period, Okomu Oil’s turnover declined to N2.57 billion compared to N3.04 billion it recorded in the same period in 2014. Its finance cost went up to N124.04 million from N92.40 million in equivalent

period in 2014, while the profit after tax declined to N808.78 million from N841.64 million in 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, it paid N250 million dividend to the shareholders, which translated to 25 kobo per share.

NASCON Allied, the second in the list, assumed the name recently after successful rebranding. According to the company, the adoption became necessary to reflect current investments and new operational status of the company as a manufacturer of other related consumer and daily need products apart from salt. The change of name and expectation by the management and shareholders that inclusion of other product brands to the company’s core business of processing salt will result in increased financial fortune may have started manifesting as shown by increase in both its topline and bottomline for the half year ended June 30, 2015. The company’s revenue for the period stood at N6.61 billion, 18.6 per cent increase over N5.38 billion posted a year earlier. Profit after taxation rose by 2.9 per cent to N1.063 billion as against N1.032 billion for H1, 2014.

NASCON allied is a leading salt manufacturer in Nigeria and controls more than 60 per cent of the market. The company was incorporated in Nigeria as a limited liability company on 30th April 1973; became fully privatised in April, 1982 and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange on October, 1992.

The third most active stock was Axamansard. Due to its acquisition in 2014 by Axa Group of France, Mansard adopted new corporate identity that culminated in a change of name to Axamansard. According to Mansard, its acquisition by Axa Group would result in limitless access to global resources, c a p a c i t y development, strong global brand recognition in corporate space and staff crosspositioning. Half year 2015 financial results saw Axamansard Insurance grow gross premium by 10 per cent to N10.57 billion from N9.61 billion in 2014.

Investment income was up 40 per cent from N1.58 billion in H1, 2014 to N2.18 billion, while the underwriting profit dipped by 17 per cent to N1.45 billion from N1.75 billion in the H1, 2014.

L

IKE the phenomenon called unclaimed dividends, the incidence of dormant bank accounts is on the rise in the banking industry. It would most likely continue to be except the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) addresses the root causes of this phenomenon.

Though, the apex bank, two weeks ago, published guidelines on management of dormant accounts and unclaimed funds by banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria, this

can best be described as treating the symptoms.

I have dormant accounts, uncountable. And I guess that about 80 percent of Nigeria’s educated working class population do. I cannot even remember how many dormant accounts I have. I am quite sure, the same for many you.

But why do we have dormant accounts? My first bank account, opened while doing menial jobs before I got university admission, became dormant, because, the balance in the account was quite small to even withdraw visi-a-vis the stress of banking transactions

during the days of ‘tally numbers’. Secondly, by the time I started my working career, and I needed a bank account to receive my salary, I could not use the account because it was a savings account. Overtime, I misplaced the documents to the account, hence when I really needed a savings account; I had to open another one with another bank. The new savings account, which I operated for a while, also became dormant, as I was no longer motivated to keep idle cash in the bank account.

My third and fourth dormant

Continued on Page 23

Middle: Knorr Ambassador and Nollywood Actress, Omotola Jalade and Brand Building Director, Foods, Unilever Nigeria, Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe celebrating World Food Day with students of Government College, Agege, Lagos, on Friday

MARKET NEWS

Why 2014 was challenging for us – Fidson •shareholders approve N225m dividend

By Providnece Obuh

A

NUMBER of reasons have been reeled out by Fidson Healthcare Plc on why the performance of the healthcare sector was affected in the financial year ended, December 31, 2014, just as shareholders of the company approved a dividend of 15 kobo per 50 kobo ordinary share, amounting to N225 million.

Incessant industrial actions throughout 2014; attempted implementation of the proposed National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) were identified by the company as contributing factors to the sector’s slow down.

Chairman, Fidson, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, said that the bid to introduce the new NDDG policy created apathy in the middle of 2014 as key distributors reduced their patronage where major

players decided to put heads together to fine-tune the guideline with a view to coming up with a more robust platform, which will address the malaise of drug distribution in the country.

Ohiwerei, who said this in his statement at the 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, added that the operating

The bid to introduce the new National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) policy created apathy in the middle of 2014 as key distributors reduced their patronage

environment remained ever challenging in the year as a result of high cost of borrowing, epileptic power supply, poor infrastructure and Boko Haram activities in the North Eastern part of the country.

He said that the situation worsened as a result of the sharp fall in the price of crude oil with the consequent weakening of the naira against the dollar and other currencies during the last quarter of 2014, saying “GDP growth rate hovered around 6.5 per cent, a decline from 6.87 per cent in 2013. On a positive note, inflation rate remained at single digits of between 7.7 per cent and 8.5 per cent throughout the year.”

To this end, he promised that the company will continue to meet the expectations of its investors and other players in the industry.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 23

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S FORUM

Once these companies list, the Nigerian investing public will buy from these companies and they will be partakers and coowners of these companies

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INVESTORS SPEAK bank accounts were not my making, but that of the banks. One of the bank participated in a project I coordinated, and when it was time to pay, the bank insisted that, I must open an account with it. The staff insisted the bank has a policy of not paying to support any group or project except the promoter open an account with it. So they opened the account, paid in the money, which I promptly withdrew, and abandoned the account for them.

The fourth dormant account was because a microfinance bank also operated a similar policy.

Though, the apex bank, two weeks ago, published guidelines on management of dormant accounts and unclaimed funds by banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria, this can best be described as treating the symptoms

And before I forget, my kids also have dormant accounts. But they were also bank induced. In order to meet her target for a children's account just launched by her bank, a family friend, opened the account for each of my kids, and deposited money into them, of course with the hope that, I will operate it for my kids. But I already have bank accounts for my kids. So I just abandoned the two accounts. My dormant bank accounts are more that these, but these are the ones I can remember for now.

Now there are other reasons why a bank account can be become dormant. For example, when the account holder dies, or when a company collapses. Also when people change jobs, the new employer may insist that the worker must open account with the company’s bank, for receive his salary.

But the greatest contributing factors to dormancy of bank accounts are bank induced. While the incidence of dormancy due to other factors is likely to reduce due to increased awareness, technology etc, incidence of dormancy due to bank’s policy of compulsion and the desperation of their staff to meet target for new accounts, will most likely continue and increase, except the CBN wades in to checkmate such polices and desperations.

Fidelity Bank to launch online marketplace for SMEs

By Nkiruka Nnorom

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has revealed plans to launch an online market place, theGreenMallwithfullyintegratede-commerce capabilities for online payment engine, delivery logistics, advertising boards, and business networking opportunities for SMEs. Aku Odinkemelu, Executive Director, South, FidelityBankPlc,whodisclosedthisatthebank’s South-EastRegionalSMEConferencerevealed thatthenumberofSMEsinNigeriahasincreased from 17 million in 2011 to 37 million in 2013 and employs 60 – 80 per cent of the workforce while contributing over 60 per cent of the GDP. Odinkemelu, who was the lead discussant on the panel discussion session on ‘Overcoming Barriers to Funding’, lamented the numerous challenges facing SMEs in Nigeria.

She listed some of the challenges to include: low levels of business management capacity which has to do with poor managerial/ entrepreneurial skills and inadequate business processes; inadequate research/market informationtodeterminebusinessviability; poor access to market; limited access to the export markets;inadequaterecordkeepingandabsence of proper business planning among others.

She urged fund providers to provide business management capacity, building support and other accompanying support to empowerSMEsbypartneringwithanetwork of pre-qualified SME-focused professional services firms (Alliance Partners) to provide needed professional services supportaccounting, HR, website building and management, inventory management/ERP deployment, to target MSMEs as well as creation of low-cost shared services platforms for back and front office support.

She stated that the Fidelity approach comes handy, explaining that the bank works with a network of pre-qualified SME-friendly professional services firms that provide business management capacity building support and services to SMEs at discounted rates.

Continuing, she explained that funders should allow nil/low-cost banking transactions to enable MSMEs build up relevant activity history to position them more strongly for formal lenders; de-risk the sector by developing and offering customized product paper loans that could take the followingforms:clusterlendingprogrammes thatidentifyindustryandmarketpeculiarities.

•Edeh

•Oduyemi

Tread softly on entrepreneurs to encourage listing, shareholders told Entrepreneurs are being encouraged to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. While some have taken the bold step others are watching to see the outcome. The performances of quoted enterprises in the stock market may not encourage those on the waiting list. Shareholders said there is need to watch regulations and sanctions , adding that caution should be employed in dealing with the entrepreneurs to encourage others to list.

By Providence Obuh

F

EMI Oduyemi, Nigeria Shareholder Solidarity Association: If you want the entrepreneurs to come to the market, then the stock exchange must be re-organised and there must be something to entice them by cutting down listing requirements. Part of the entrepreneurs is the stock exchange, they should come on board and list and even the communication companies too should come and list, they should be encouraged to list so that they can also enjoy the benefit of the stock market investment. Seplat have listed, but it is unquoted, if they want it unquoted, they should come.

Company's accounts Why the entrepreneurs in the market are not performing well is due to the economic and political situation and the over-regulation and high charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), as well as VAT. It means the CBN should come to their aid and review all these things including the Inland revenue. All these agencies should put heads together to entice those those already on the exchange, if you open some company's accounts, you will see various types of taxes and charges which they can't escape and FRC and NAICOM is another problem we have.

FRC should not come because they are part of the over regulation in the sense that anything you do they fine you, like SEC too, these things are killing the companies. You have to invite them sometimes, it is not always you sanction them, you don't flog a child always.

Mr. Godwin Edeh Evergreen Shareholders Association Inc. The Government have not provided enabling environment for industrialist or entrepreneurs which ever name you call them, presently, the market is not bullish

but bearish, therefore the government needs to do what it ought to do by providing the enabling environment which will drive some of these companies to list on the capital market. Once these companies list, the Nigerian investing public will buy from these companies and they will be partakers and co-owners of these companies but if the there is no enabling environment for an industrialist to provide borehole, fix the road leading to where he is doing his business and also the local government will come and slam them with different kind of taxes so you will just discover that the bottom line will shrink considerably and most of the companies would not be able to pay dividend to their stakeholders, so that is just the problem most of these companies have and there is a recession globally, it is not only Nigeria that is affected, it has affected other countries.

You will realise that the cost of crude oil per barrel has gone down. So the global recession has also affected the Nigeria market, so we cannot be an exemption. The entrepreneurs that are already quoted can approach the commercial bank and if their interest rate is on the high side, they can approach the BOI because their interest rate is low compared to the commercial banks, with that they can pay up the loans granted to them by commercial banks and the 28 percent interest rate they can pay up that and reschedule the payment of the BOI. The BOI grants moratorium of two years before they start repaying the loan, so that is an advantage on them.

Why the entrepreneurs in the market are not performing well is relative to the economic and political situation and the over-regulation and high charges

24—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

Nigeria earns N5trn from oil sales

By Michael Eboh

N

IGERIA earned $25.105 billion, about N5.021 trillion from the sale of crude oil between January and July 2015, data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has revealed.

This represents total earnings from crude oil sales by the Federal Government, the NNPC and oil companies and a host of others according to the NNPC Financial and Operations Report for August.

This was even as independent and marginal fields operators, despite efforts by the government to ensure an increase in their contribution to Nigeria’s crude oil production, contributed only 5.21 per cent to the country’s total oil production in the seven-month period.

Giving a breakdown of the figure, the report said the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, and the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, earned $1.966 billion about N393.2 billion, and $229.668 million or N45.93 billion respectively from Production Sharing Contract, PSC revenue.

The report further said the country earned $2.01 billion (N401.6 billion) and $5.148 billion (N1.029 trillion) from crude oil export and domestic sales of crude oil respectively.

Domestic sales of crude oil In addition, the NNPC earned $7.156 billion or N1.43 trillion in the period under review, while the amount accrued to the Federal Government was $9.351 billion (N1.87 trillion). Oil companies including the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, earned $15.077 billion or N3.02 trillion, while Alternative Finance received $676.287 million (N135.257 billion).

The report said: “A total volume of 63.7 million barrels of crude oil and condensate was lifted in the month of July 2015 by all parties. Out of this volume, 25.2 million barrels were lifted for and on behalf of the Federal government of Nigeria comprising 17.4 million barrels lifted on the account of NNPC and 7.8 million barrels lifted on the account of FIRS. The 17.4 million barrels lifted on the account of NNPC in July comprises 15.4 and 1.9 million barrels for the domestic and export markets respectively. At an average oil price of $51.97/bbl and exchange rate of N195.95/ $1, the domestic crude oil lifted

by NNPC is valued at $805.221 million or N157.783 billion.

NNPC mulls co-location model to cut refining costs

By Sebastine Obasi

T

Oil vessel The remaining crude oil lifted for export was valued at $108.917

For the period from January to July 2015, a total volume of 439 million barrels of crude oil and condensate was lifted by all parties

million at an average price of $56.76/barrel. The total value of crude oil lifted on the account of NNPC in July was $914.137 million.

For the period from January to July 2015, a total volume of 439 million barrels of crude oil and condensate was lifted by all parties.

Furthermore, the report said the independent and marginal fields operators produced a total of 23.177 million barrels of crude oil in the period under review, representing 5.21 per cent of total production of 445 million barrels recorded in the country during the period.

Multinational companies continued to dominate crude output in the country, as PSC and Joint Ventures, JV, comprising mostly foreign companies, accounted for 41.97 per cent and 31.47 per cent respectively of the total oil production.

Particularly, PSC produced 186.768 million barrels of oil in the period under review, while JVs produced 140.06 million barrels. Alternative Finance/ Modified Carry Agreement churned out 71.9 million barrels, representing 16.18 per cent of total national production.

Oil sector contributes N1.78trn to Q2 GDP

By Michael Eboh

T

HE oil and gas sector contributed N1.782 trillion to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in the Second Quarter, Q2 2015, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS. Giving a breakdown of the oil and gas sector’s contribution, the NBS Nigerian GDP Report for Quarter Two 2015, said the Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas sub-sector in the Mining and Quarrying sector accounted for N1.746 trillion of the country’s GDP during the period.

Also, the Oil Refining subsector, under the manufacturing sector accounted for N35.24 billion, just as This is compared to the N1.39 trillion and N41.5 billion contributed by the crude petroleum and natural gas sub-

sector, and the oil refining subsector, respectively, in Q1 2015.

In general, the NBS said Nigeria’s GDP grew by 2.35 per cent, year-on-year, in real terms lower by 1.61 per cent points from growth recorded in the preceding quarter, and also lower by 4.19 per cent points from growth recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2014.

But quarter on quarter real GDP increased by 2.57 per cent.

Nominal terms “During the quarter, aggregate GDP stood at N22.859 trillion, in nominal terms, at basic prices.

Compared to the Second Quarter 2014 value of N21.735 trillion, nominal GDP was 5.17 per cent higher. Nominal GDP growth was also higher relative to growth recorded in first

quarter of 2015 by 0.85 per cent points,” the NBS report said.

The NBS further said that oil production in Q2 2015 stood at 2.05 million barrels per day (mbpd), dropping 5.9 per cent from Q1 levels.

It also disclosed that oil production was lower, relative to the corresponding quarter in 2014 by 7.3 per cent when output was recorded at 2.21 mbpd.

It said: “As a result, real growth of the oil sector slowed by 6.79 per cent (year-on-year) in the second quarter of 2015.

This represents a decline relative to growth recorded in the second quarter of 2014 (5.14 per cent).

“Growth was however relatively better by 1.35 per cent points relative to growth in the first quarter of 2015.

Quarter-on-Quarter, growth also slowed by 3.82 per cent.”

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said it intends to reduce the cost of refining crude oil in country through resource co-location.

The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who said this, also said that with the co-location model, which is still at the proposal level, the Corporation will ensure that new refineries are situated in clusters. This is to allow for sharing of critical infrastructure like power, pipelines and technologies, and a host of other resources.

He explained that the model is aimed at encouraging the private sector to invest in new refineries.

Presently, Nigeria’s four refineries have combined refining capacity of about 450,000 barrels of oil, but a large proportion of this quantum is not utilised because of the near-comatose state of the refineries, except for the Port Harcourt plant, which has shown some level of improvement in recent times.

According to Kachikwu, the co-location model for new refineries is feasible and had the capacity to drive efficiency in the midstream segment of the petroleum industry. More so, in the area of crude refining, the NNPC is open to Nigerians willing to key into the model and give the petroleum sector a lift.

“The co-location model for the refineries is actually a proposal. I will like a situation where we will deal with our own existing refineries and then find individuals who are willing and ready to invest in other refineries,” he said.

As regards how the model would work, the NNPC boss said: “In a co-located area, they (refineries) share common tanks, common pipelines, common power, and this will obviously bring down the cost of building refineries. And the effect of that is, if they are sharing technical skills and management together, there would be huge cost efficiency.

We have to do our marketing very well and get people who are willing to do this,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—25

60% electricity poles in Lagos are obsolete — Survey

By Caleb Ayansina & Funmi Oladipo

A

BUJA – The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, and other experts in the oil and gas sector have called on the Federal Government to desist from issuing pioneer status, PS, to companies in the oil and gas industry.

Pioneer Status is a tax holiday incentive, designed by the federal government and backed by the law granted to targeted industries, products and services, designated as priority areas and growth drivers of the economy.

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, NIPC, had between 2009 and 2014, granted pioneer status to a total of 22 oil and gas companies.

But NIPC has now issued letters to some of the companies that were granted the incentives for five straight years, informing them that the holidays should have been for an initial three years period. This is in line with the Industrial Development Income Tax Relief Act, IDITRA, of 1971, which states three years but renewable for another two years.

This no doubt is generating controversy owing to the dwindling oil revenue, the major source of income for the country.

The Federal Government has so far defended its action, citing employment generation among other economic benefits for granting the waiver.

But a group known as Tax Justice and Governance Platform, TJ&GP, in a report

By Ediri Ejoh

A Oil Chiefs

NEITI, stakeholders condemn pioneer status As Nigeria loses $2.1bn to waivers in 5 years

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tagged, ‘’Pioneer Status in Oil and Gas Industry; Is It Worth It?,” said the colossal revenue losses

The colossal revenue losses of $2.1 billion to the pioneer status far outweighed the little benefit of 2,208 employment generated by 11 of the 22 companies

of $2.1 billion to the pioneer status far outweighed the little benefit of 2,208 employment generated by 11 of the 22 companies.

At a forum to deliberate on the report in Abuja, stakeholders questioned the rationale behind the tax exemption to companies in the oil and gas industry by NIPC management.

A Representative of NEITI, Mr. Abdultayib Sheidu, said the country witnessed a colossal loss due to waiver granted to some oil and gas industry.

He maintained that some of the companies granted tax waivers had outgrown the pioneer status, but they still hold on to the

pioneer status at the expense of the country’s development.

Sheidu noted that companies in the oil and gas industry did not need to be granted pioneer status, because activities in the upstream oil and gas sector are regulated by the Petroleum Profit Tax Act, PPTA, which gives tax breaks and concessions.

According to him, “Without giving PS to oil and gas companies, they always come to do business in the country and make their money.

So, why are we doing that?

Granting them PS does not increase our revenue status or increase economy, rather, the country is at loss.”

Conditions for developing greenfield refineries in Nigeria

By Chijioke Nwaozuzu URRENTLY, Nigeria’s value proposition for investors in refining is import parity pricing, 60 percent crude oil availability, ample regional demand, and a deficit local product market especially for petrol and diesel.

However, foreign investors are unlikely to invest in refineries in Nigeria, if the government charges international spot prices for crude oil for domestic processing and consumption.

They will consider it more profitable to procure the same volume of feedstock at the same price in New York or Rotterdam and operate their refineries in Europe or in the USA, where refining margins are higher, markets bigger, institutional environment more stable, and social overhead capital more developed.

Therefore, foreign investors and indeed domestic investors would require the right incentives (i.e. a guaranteed profit margin) to enable them venture into the Nigerian refining market. The price of crude oil for domestic consumption should be

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discounted; a minimum of 60 days credit cycle for each cargo of crude oil, at least for the first five years of operations.

Should we not rather subsidise local production of refined petroleum products, than subsidise its importation?

This is the first condition!

Next, let us consider the politics of refineries’ location.

Most refining projects are likely to ‘come to grief ’, unless the Federal Government negotiates with state governments on where refineries could possibly be profitably located. The outcome of such negotiations should be based on ensuring that the relevant governors grant access to intending domestic refiners.

Most governors, with the possible exception of those who are not interested in propagating their local political influence beyond their tenure, would be unwilling to support such projects unless they are an integral part of it. They do not want a ‘cash cow’ in their states breathing down politically on their necks! A 16,000 barrel a day refinery can generate above $100m in a year, if it operates efficiently!! With

such cash flows, the refiners can control the politics of that very state, almost perpetually.

For instance, the Amakpe Refining Company which is located in Akwa Ibom State had completed the fabrication of its modular refinery (by VENTECH, USA) as at 2012, but the State Government ‘pulled the plug’ on the project. The fabricated modular refinery units are still incurring demurrage and gathering dust in the US. This is the second condition!!

Crude oil feed stock Refineries are constructed to process crude oil on a daily basis. Therefore, refiners must have 100% guarantee of crude oil feedstock for at least ten years. The supply of crude feedstock should commence as soon as the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, can certify mechanical completion of each new plant. This is the third condition!!!

Refineries are designed to operate continuously for two years, only to be switched off for say two months for routine

maintenance. Thereafter, the refinery is operated for another two years non-stop, and that pattern continues. Refineries cannot be switched off ‘just like electric bulbs’. This has implications for product evacuation from the refinery storage tanks. Therefore, government has to guarantee 100% refined products off-take.

Currently, the Pipelines & Products Marketing Company, PPMC, is the NNPC subsidiary in charge of evacuation of refined products through national pipelines and storage depots.

This is the fourth condition!!!!

Government has to provide guarantees of foreign loans for domestic companies wishing to set up refineries. Refining is a capital-intensive business. For instance, based on a feasibility study I conducted for a company, to construct a 16, 000 barrels per day refinery would cost about $250 million.

The equivalent in Naira using an exchange rate of $1/N200 is N50 billion. You have to liquidate two Nigerian banks (with the minimum capitalisation of N25 billion) to construct such a refinery! This is the fifth condition!!!!!

SURVEY conducted by Good Governance Initiative, GGI, has revealed that over 60 percent of electricity poles and cables in Lagos State are obsolete.

The Chairman of Blue Diamond Group/President, GGI, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, while speaking at a public function in Lagos, said since its privatisation, there has been little or no investment made in the power sector.

Rather, he said the investors are lamenting over low returns on their investment, adding that there have been constant cuts from power supply for months.

Reacting, spokesperson for Ikeja Electric, Mr. Pekun Adeyanju, told Vanguardthat the dysfunctional materials being used by the distribution company were inherited from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. According to him, “The materials we have are what we inherited from the defunct PHCN. Regardless of that, we have been working hard to replace some of the weak poles and bad cables.

“Since we came in, we have been replacing some of these obsolete cables and mounting credible poles in the environs. We will continue to put things in the right perspective to serve our customers.”

Also commenting, his counterpart at the Eko Distribution Company Limited, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, said that to augment these shortfalls in the value chain, the company plans to roll out smart meters.

He said: “We have also planned to roll out smart meters very soon. This will help to strengthen efficiency in the system.”

On his part; Chairman of the company, Mr. Kola Adesina, argued that for a country to have regular power supply, some factor have to be put in place.

According to him, “regular and stable power supply depends on a lot of factors. Some of them are availability of gas, transmission system stability, prompt payment of cost reflective tariffs by customers, elimination of vandalism, liquidity/funding, proper maintenance of equipment and machines “Sustainable energy supply is predicated on running our power assets efficiently, mobilising all available resources, leveraging domestic resources, scale up of generation and transmission capacities, electrification of rural areas for GDP growth and appropriate tariff methodology,” he added.

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

Nigeria, others, account for 90% of Africa’s gas — Report

By Sebastine Obasi

N

IGERIA, Libya, Algeria, and Egypt, account for 90 percent of Africa’s annual natural gas production, PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC 2015 report on Africa’s oil and gas said.

The just released report also said that as at the end of 2014, Africa has proven natural gas reserves of about 500 trillion cubic feet, Tcf. This is a slight drop compared to 2013, while production also decreased slightly over the period.

Nonetheless, Africa still has nearly 70 years of natural gas production available given current production rates, the report noted.

According to the report, Nigeria has plans to quintuple natural gas production by 2020, so the gas economy in Africa could be well-poised for an uptick in activity.

Growth and development and overall industry activity on the continent has slowed given the oil price falls, adding that exploration activity has been the hardest hit, though Kenya has seen marginal onshore success over the past year.

The focus still seems to be on East Africa and developing its significant gas projects, while some players are turning to South Africa, as hopes for favourable legislation are renewed. “Despite a slack off in activity, Africa continues to grow as governments and players alike plan their next moves. It is

clear through our interactions that many companies are taking a different perspective on the challenges they face. They are being looked at as realities that can and must be dealt with if they wish to enter African markets.

Strategies are therefore being implemented to handle the new African reality,” the report said.

It further said that natural gas continues to be high on the African agenda for both producers and consumers. In Angola, LNG came online, but production was forced to stop due to feedstock not meeting the engineering requirement. Production is expected to be back on line at full capacity by early 2016.

For Mozambique, legislation has made progress for large-scale LNG projects. Both Anadarko and

Eni are positive that they will be able to reach final investment decision, FID, soon, which will enable them to meet their target for first gas in 2020.

Tanzania also continues on the LNG path with hopes of achieving first production shortly after Mozambique.

Continued electricity shortages around the continent have led policymakers to gas as a viable power feedstock. Many of these programmes have progressed, and various studies have been commissioned or completed, especially in South Africa.

However, oil and gas skills shortages continue to pose a challenge in Africa, but this is one area that companies feel they have a good grasp of at this stage.

The PwC report also said that many of the companies are no longer investing heavily in skills development, as they have already established programmes and are now simply operating them. Retention of skilled resources will soon become the main theme dominating the operating environment in many countries.

Donor funding continues to flow into the continent, while skills and knowledge transfer continue to flavour initiatives from entities such as the World Bank. In addition to donor funding, governments are establishing training programmes, and many of the private players are also working to educate in the sector.

Forging ahead in a bearish market

BRIEFING : From left: President- Elect, NAPE, Nosa Omorodion, President, Mr. Chikwendu Edoziem and Publicity Secretary, Anthony Ofoma, at the press conference to introduce its 33rd yearly International Conference & Exhibition.

The report further said that the lull in activity is giving the industry a moment to make plans for the execution of large scale projects, while also formulating a strategy that will make them more competitive for the future in the new African market.

In this time of reduced exploration spend; many companies have decided to focus their effort on seismic surveys and seismic interpretation. To do so, some have had to negotiate extensions to existing licences, but governments seem to be willing to do so in most cases given current circumstances.

Development of infrastructure Another focus area that seems to be gaining momentum is the development of infrastructure.

The report noted that with activity reduced; this is a good time for companies to address challenges related to doing business in Africa. Strategic planning is necessary for continued, profitable presence on the continent.

While the industry is in a fragile state, PwC envisions that the players who survive the downturn in prices at the best will emerge as agile machines with well thought-out plans to execute in the dynamic and exciting market. Getting costs under control is the first step to take.

Once costs are under control, the strongest players will be looking at acquisition opportunities if their balance sheets can accommodate them.

While mergers and acquisitions, M&A activity has not been as high as expected, activity could still ramp up.

Instability, technology, others impeding reserves addition — NAPE

By Ediri Ejoh & Prince Okafor

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NTIL the Federal G o v e r n m e n t restructures its policy, introduces upgraded technologies, signes the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, and improves exploration activities, its quest to growing reserves will remain a dream.

Disclosing this at a press conference, the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, added that policy inconsistency, technological challenges and the delay and non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, remain the bane of oil and gas development.

President of NAPE, Mr. Chikwendu Edoziem, made these assertions, when he announced the association’s 33rd yearly International Conference & Exhibition, targged: “Global Energy Dynamics and Implications C M Y K

for Nigeria’s Energy and Economic Security.”

He argued that these challenges have continued to hamper growth in oil exploration projects, and stalled the country from advancing towards its target to grow reserve base and production.

His words: “Technology is the heart of all the significant achievements in the oil and gas industry. The way hydrocarbon is discovered, developed and produced, has been impacted by evolutionary technologies that have emerged since the Drake well of 1859.

“The perception of declining profitability and competitiveness of the Nigerian operating environment has been exacerbated by the anxiety over the fate of the PIB. Coupled with the incidence of oil and gas discoveries in other African countries, this has afforded investors greater

choice of investment location to the detriment of Nigeria.”

To this end, he said industry operators are tasked to increase exploration activities. “Finding as much reserves as you produce is very important. You have a

Technology is the heart of all the significant achievements in the oil and gas industry...

target that encourages you to exceed it. Deepwater exploration well could cost you $100 million and these are investments that are huge and can’t be toiled with.”

However, he hinted that the celebrated Niger Delta is a maturing basin with declining exploration opportunities and success ratio, while opportunities are known to abound beneath existing brown fields (operating fields), which are yet to be explored.

He argued that Nigeria is currently maintaining an economically unstable negative net energy trade balance in which the nation exports virtually all the crude produced, and imports a substantial part of its refined petroleum products needs.

Consequently, other energy sources such as bitumen, coal, lignite, and shale oil are under-utilised, thereby leading to a mono

product economy that is largely dependent on crude export.

On the forthcoming conference, scheduled to hold from 8-12th November, 2015, Edoziem said the event will be hosting reputable practitioners, speakers, and key personnel in government and the academia, delivering technical papers on six subthemes.

Expected to attend the conference are, Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu; Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor; Managing Director, Tenoil, Mr. Tony Chukwueke. Others are the Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Accenture Upstream Strategy Consulting, Mr. Al Esher; and President, Software Integrated Solutions, SIS, Mr. Uwem Ukpong, and a host of many others.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—27

Frequent fire outbreaks: Festac residents cry out •Say: We’ve lost millions to infernos; decry moribund fire station •Lawmaker appeals to government

By Simon Adewale

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HE common perception at the moment is that the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, the owners and managers of Festac Town in Lagos, has become comatose which explains the barrage of criticisms it is receiving over the rot that currently pervade the entire estate community. Residents are particularly irked by the inability of the authority to address the problem of fire outbreaks within the federal estate in recent times.

Their grouse may not be unconnected with the fact that the Festac fire station has virtually ceased to exist as it no longer has fire vehicles to fight any inferno. Consequently, many residents are said to have lost millions of naira in fire outbreaks.

For instance, a businessman, Ikechukwu Eburauja, said he lost goods worth several millions of naira when fire engulfed his building on House 8, at 5th avenue, P close in Festac, sometime last year.

The incident made matters worse for Mr. Eburuaja, a freight forwarder, who earlier had his left leg amputated due to health challenges, as it seriously undermined his ability to provide for his family.

Water tanker Members of the Eburuaja family as well as their tenants lost everything they had laboured for to the incident. Giving vent to his agony, the businessman informed that the fire started from his tenant’s apartment about 2: 30 p.m. but it did not extend to his apartment until an hour later. While the fire was raging, residents did their best to put it out. They even brought a water tanker from a pure water company.

This was long after they had reached out to the fire service people, but they did not arrive until after three hours because they came all the way from Ikeja. They could not get any response from the Festac fire station due to lack of fire vehicles. ‘’Even the Police Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, were here and they both witnessed the incident,” he informed. PointC M Y K

ing to a bus in front of their razed home, he said: ‘’This is where I now sleep most of the time because I don’t have anywhere to sleep”. He appealed to government to come to their aid because he needs to move around so he can fend for his family. His wife, Mrs. Eburuaja, who deals in jewellery, said she lost over N18 million worth of jewels to the fire, adding that even her husband lost his artificial leg as the fire consumed all they have laboured for.

The President of Festac Residents Association, Mr. Shola Fakorede, said that but for divine intervention, a man who was asleep in the house would have been burnt to death by the fire. The lucky fellow is, however, receiving treatment at the Holy Family Catholic Church Medical Centre in Festac Town. Also addressing newsmen, the member representing Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Oghene Egoh, regretted the fate that had befallen Eburuaja, his family and tenants.

Egoh stressed that it is a case of failure on the part of government because if government had been alive and proactive in its responsibilities, the sad incident would not have happened. ‘’ I cannot imagine that a community like Festac Town will not have a functional fire station because

While the fire was raging, residents did their best to put it out; this was long after they had reached out to the fire service people, but they did not arrive until after three hours because they came all the way from Ikeja

Oghene Egoh(c) after presenting relief materials to one of the affected families. INSET: Man who narrowly escaped death in recent fire at Festac we are talking about a place with more than half a million residents. I came all the way from Abuja to sympathise with the victims because I cannot imagine a fire incident without any response from the fire service for more than three hours,” he said.

While presenting relief mate-

rials to the fire victims, he added that the blame is largely that of the FHA, saying: “I want to assure you that I will see the relevant authorities when I return back to Abuja. I also want to appeal to the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to please compensate the affected families adequately and

also provide Festac Town with fire fighting trucks. I know Ambode is a good man because he worked as the council treasurer while I was councilor in Badagry Local Government Area in 1987. I know he is compassionate and would assist the families’’.

AUN API Insurgency Appeal Fund: A N50m lifeline, courtesy Dangote Foundation

T

HE N1 billion Insurgency Appeal Fund, sponsored by the American University of Nigeria, AUN and Adamawa Peace Initiative, API, its partner organisation, is presently N50 million richer, thanks to the Dangote Foundation. The Fund was officially launched in Lagos on October 6 to rehabilitate persons displaced by Boko Haram, Leading industrialist and philanthropist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, after whom the Foundation is named, promised to assist the IDPs at the Lagos event. The Appeal Fund launch was held at the same time as the launch of the 2015 Banking Sector Report and 20th anniversary of Afrinvest West Africa Limited. Afrinvest is offering pro bono advisory services to the Appeal Fund.

Dr. Margee Ensign, the President of AUN and Chair of API, said news of the ¦ 50 million donation from Dangote was conveyed to her via letter on October 15. Thirty-five million naira

of the donation will be given in kind: rice, spaghetti, sugar, seasonings, salt, vegetable oil, and 5,000 blankets.

The AUN President was keynote speaker at the Afrinvest event on October 6. Dr. Ensign, whose address dwelt on peace, development, reconstruction, and the way forward for northeast Nigeria, told her audience of the dire situation faced by those displaced by the Boko Haram crisis.

AUN-API have helped thousands of vulnerable Nigerian youth obtain an education, develop valuable life skills, and nurture the fortitude to resist recruitment by Boko Haram, which has slain innocent children, women, and men, causing more than 1.5 million survivors to flee their homes.

AUN-API, she continued, counts among its members prominent Muslims and Christians, traditional rulers, academic and business leaders, NGOs, and other members of the Yola commu-

nity, and has the capacity and nimbleness to address the challenges in real time, given adequate access to aid money, food, and other supplies.

With strong extended family bonding in the local culture, most displaced people now live with relatives rather than in refugee camps. For example, an estimated 405,000 IDPs fled to Yola, yet only 15,000 sheltered in refugee camps. The international aid community, however, is generally illequipped and inexperienced in dealing with refugees outside of camps or camp-like settings, people the AUN-API partnership has been able to reach.

“We know our community and we are in a unique position to bring diverse resources together to find and implement solutions to crises, prevent our youth from succumbing to the temptation to join extremist organizations, and bring stability to the region,” she told a Geneva meeting of the UN High Commission for Refugees in July this year.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

We can provide services to make local airlines do 24hrs flight operations —FAAN MD The Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engineer Saleh Dunoma fielded questions from selected Aviation reporters on the relationship between the agency and airline operators and the general state of our country’s airports. Below are excerpts.

By Lawani Mikairu

A

IRLINES always complain that they could have been operating late into the night in some airports if there were runway lighting. Is there anything you are doing to provide lighting at the runways of more airports?

Most of our airports have runway lighting. We have just installed solar runway lighting in six or seven airports: in Yola, Benin, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, and Kano.

So most of these airports that require night operations have these facilities but what we do in order not to incur too much cost for FAAN, is to switch off power when there are no operations. We reduce the hour of operation to 18 hours, so immediately after the last flight in the evening we close the airport. We will not open it until there is emergency.

Minimum lighting Closure does not mean that everybody closes and goes home, no, closure means that you have minimum lighting, few number of people at the airport; so that in the case of emergency operations we can just put everything on.

If public supply of power continues to be steady, would it still be necessary to be closing the airport?

Of course, with the public power supply we still pay. So all you need to do is to conserve energy, they will also need the power somewhere; power is not just consumed by FAAN. If we are not using it they can divert it and send it to some other places that it is needed.

There is no point for us when we know that there is no flight plan to the airport, then we put on the airfield lighting and everything and start burning energy for no operations. We have our generators and everything but just to make sure that we don’t waste energy we now shut down. And then if there is a request that they need to use this airport at these hours,we will put them on.

There has always been a plan to have a second runway at the Abuja airport and so far the

present administration has indicated interest to build it.

What is the level of preparation, and if you were to locate it,where would you put it in Abuja airport?

Well, the second runway is very important; it is key to our operations. The present runway has deteriorated so much such that we need to do a major work on it to make it better. So the second runway will be necessary.

You cannot afford to close Abuja airport because it is the seat of government and it is important to our economy. A committee was setup last year between FAAN and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and we have come out with a scope of what we want in terms of the facilities that should be included in the second runway design.

That scope has been developed, we have also advertised both nationally and internationally for consultant that will develop that scope into working drawings and bill of quantities so that we can both tender them. But we are yet to select the consultatant because the process of procuring a consulting firm is what we are doing.

Already, preliminary survey has been carried out in Abuja by our in-house engineers; we have a fair idea of the location of the second runway and the facilities that we need to provide there. Because we need to provide link taxiways, taxiways, aprons and some other things that will make both the new and the existing facility work together as an airport.

You cannot afford to close Abuja airport because it is the seat of government and it is important to our economy

•Engineer Saleh Dunoma, FAAN MD.

These locations have been identified, it is part of the brief that we are going to give the consultant; that this is the area that we want the second runway to be located and these are the facilities we want to be included in this project and the consultant will go ahead to do a detailed survey, detailed design and a detailed bill of quantity will come out with which government can go to tender.

Approximate location So we have an approximate location but of course during the design, the tendency is that the consultant will make some adjustment in order to make sure that he optimises the place in terms of optimal cost because if you change the location then it will also affect the cost. So he will choose the best place to have best cost for government work.

We saw the advance level of work at the new terminals that are being built, but there are projections that in the next five years you may be building other new terminals for international services at those airports due to projected upsurge of passenger traffic?

No. I don’t think so the capacities are good enough because what we have done in these new terminals is that we do not provide for offices, we just provided strictly passenger facilitation facilities. If you look at Murtala MohammedAirport, Lagos andAbuja airport there are so many offices in the terminals; so, a large percentage of the space within the building has been taken up by offices and operational space.

In these new terminals it is not like that; all that we have is passenger processing facilities and shops, commercial offerings, so a lot of passengers can be processed through that. We are also trying to link them with the existing terminals so that they can work together.

We are sure that it will take us quite some time depending on passenger’s growth, but it will take quite some time to start thinking of another terminal or expansion.

These new terminals are strictly for passenger processing and commercial offerings, no offices.

Airport certification. What arrangements are you making with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)?

NCAA has given us the list of the “open gaps that we need to close;” we are working on those closures.

In fact, committees have been setup in the two airports:Abuja and Lagos.

We have assigned responsibilities to individual offices and departments in order to close these gaps. We have also given them timeline, although that will depend on resources that we are able to give them. But we are working together with NCAA, in fact they are in the committee, so that whatever we are doing in order to close those identified gaps, we work together with them so that they see how and what procedures we are using in order to close those gaps.

Do you think Lagos can ever have a very efficient perimeter fencing looking at the way people encroach FAAN’s territory; Is there any measure you have taken or intend to take to curtail their entry to your land?

Lagos has a very efficient fence now because we have two types of fence around the airport. We have

what we call the boundary fence and it is the boundary fence that we have issues with. Because a lot of land encroachers have come and built houses very close to our fence and some of them in fact extended our perimeter fence to be part of their fence which is not allowed.

But we have made some progress in that area, we went to court with the people that are living around Shasha and we won the case. So we are just at the verge of implementing the court decision, they are wrong and the court rules in our favour, so we are going to take action.

This is a signal to other people in other locations that are encroaching on our land that one-day the same thing will happen to them.

So I am warning people that are living very close to the airport to desist from encroaching on airport land.

We are working closely with the Lagos State government; they are going to help us to make sure that all those that are within our safety zones are removed from that place. And the Lagos state government is going to help us in getting that done.

Now we have the second type of fence, which is the operational fence, that one is intact. It covers the aircraft maneuvering area, so that nobody gets access into that area except staff that have something to do there and is well equipped with a two-way radio communication and other gadgets.

Two-way radio communication And these staff are normally either maintenance or inspectors or people that are authorised to go into that operational area or security. These are the only people that are within the operational area and they have a reason to be there. Before they get there, there are procedures also for them to get there.

People outside believe that with the size of FAAN, the agency should be making more than double of what it is making now. What is your revenue drive now, and is there any measure to curtail cash movement for things to run on computer system without people handling cash?

Of course we have reduced cash handling drastically, I remember some years back everything we did was collected by cash but all these are not there now except of course the toll gate which is a bit difficult for us. But any other revenue is paid through the banks.

Now, we have International Air Transport Association (IATA), for example, collecting all the landing and parking charges and the passengers service charge on our behalf. And every two weeks this money is transferred to FAAN account.

IATA is a clearing house for all the airlines, they have a system already in place where travel agents sell tickets on their behalf and these travel agents pay the money to IATA.

IGBE religion torn apart by worship of mermaids, animals, conflicting doctrines

Pirates, oil thieves seize Rivers community — Monarch PAGE 8

PAGE 5

VOL. 1: N o. 771 1 No.

TUESD A Y, OCT OBER 20, 20 15 TUESDA OCTOBER 201

•Abandoned classroom block

•Ajatition elders flanked by protesting youths.

ABANDONED PROJECTS:

Oil communities, cabal clash in Edo A

JAOKI—OIL and gas producing communities of Itsekiri extraction at Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, are embroiled in an all-consuming face-off with a cabal they accused of armtwisting the communities and collecting mobilization fees from the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission, EDSOGPADEC, without executing the projects.

The communities (Ajaoki, Ajamimogha, Kolokolo, Ajatiton and Ikara), under the aegis of Forum of Itsekiri Oil and Gas Producing Communities, Ikpoba Okha Local Government, first raised the alarm over perceived neglect of the area by the state government in June.

They particularly pointed

•Classroom project deserted fingers at EDSOGPADEC, lamenting that the commission had forsaken projects awarded in the communities.

The deserted projects Some of the projects listed by the communities included construction of a six-classroom block with VIP toilets in Ajaoki, construction of a sixclassroom block with VIP toilets in Kolokolo and construction of six-classroom block with VIP toilets in Ajaminmogha.

Others are a solar-powered borehole project in Ajatiton, a borehole water project in Ajatiton, borehole water project in Ikara, among others, all of which the syndicate abandoned.

Syndicate fights back Around

the

time

the

communities raised dust in June, they never knew that a syndicate was behind their ordeal until about a month later when a faceless group started witch-hunting and attacking their leaders for going public with the development.

The outburst of the

...there is a cabal of dubious contractors, which specializes in collection of huge mobilization fees for projects in our communities and then abandons them

communities angered the syndicate, which tried to incite their leaders against the state government. It described them as aggrieved community leaders and stalwarts of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, out to undermine the All Progressives Congress, APC, government in the state, led by M r.

Adams Oshiomhole.

Niger Delta Voice learned that in the past few months, both sides have been at daggers drawn and many expect Governor Oshiomhole to wade into the matter and direct that the oil commission take appropriate steps for peace to reign.

Diversionary plot

The battle continued, last month, when the aggrieved villagers carried out a protest,

alleging that the cabal, mainly EDSOGPADEC contractors and their sponsored agents, wanted to divert the governor's and public attention from abandonment of projects in the area, which was the real reason for their fury.

President of the forum, Mr. Samuel Ireokane, who addressed reporters, said: “We thank the Edo state government for creating EDSOGPADEC and creating a position for Itsekiri in the management for the first time since inception, but there is a cabal of dubious contractors, which specializes in collection of huge mobilization fees for projects in our communities and then abandons them.”

He said the cabal

Continued on Page 7

2 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD Some flood victims at the Ashaka IDP camp (above and top right).

Why we shun Delta IDPs camps— Flood victims *I was waiting to die— Octogenarian *Otuaro, Dep Gov leads flood team

By Ochuko Akuopha

A

SHAKA—FLOOD victims at Ashaka, Adia, Abala Oshimili and other endangered communities in Delta State have given reasons why, despite their pathetic condition, they refused to stay at the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps set up by government.

At Ndokwa East Local Government Area, ensnared residents, who rebuffed attempts by the council’s flood rescue team to evacuate them in rented houseboats, said some government officials maltreated and used them to enrich themselves in the 2012 flood and they do not want to be used again.

Many vowed to die in their

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Theresa Ugbobu Ochuko Akuopha Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

community rather than move into the IDPs camp. But some victims have found their way to the IDPs’ camps at the Skills Acquisition Centre, Ashaka and Asaba Township Stadium, which are hosting 180 and 257 displaced persons, respectively, at the time of this report.

Eighty-five-year-old Pa Charles Obi stared wearily at his temporal settlement, mindful of the adverse situation

BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By Emem Idio

T

O M B I A — T H E rampaging flood is gradually taking its toll on the socio-economic life of the people of Bayelsa State.

One of the worst hit areas is the mega rice farms spread over 40 hectares of land, along the Tombia-Amassoma Road, cultivated by the state chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN. The farmers were preparing for another mega harvest season when the latest disaster occurred.

Chair, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, Bayelsa, Mr. Ezekiel Ogbianko, said: “The flood has submerged over 10 hectares of the 40 hectares of land we cultivated.

“RIFAN rice project in Bayelsa is well known to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and therefore, we want to humbly appeal to the Federal Government to come to our aid because the flood has devastated our crops.

“We have spent over N25 million on this flooded farm. We

he would have to contend with long after the flood, occasioned by heavy rains at the IDPs camp at Ashaka, last week.

I wanted to die — Pa Obi For him, the ravaging flood that had submerged houses, destroyed farmlands and household properties in his community, Aballa-Oshimili, like every natural disaster, has

come along with excruciating hardship.

The octogenarian said he had lost hope and was patiently waiting for death when the flood rescue team set up by the Ndokwa East Local Government Area rescued him.

He said: “The flood took over our community and destroyed our property. I suffered a lot from the flood due to the fact that I have arthritis, which prevented me from walking.”

Our challenges— Otuaro Expressing worry at the reluctance of flood victims to relocate from their communities, Deputy Governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, said, “The people have so much primordial attachment to their environment such that a lot of them are finding it difficult to leave their domain.”

Otuaro, who spoke when he led members of Delta State Flood Management Committee to some flooded areas and IDPs camp at Asaba, said the committee had carried out advocacy to persuade the people to leave their various domains to the IDPs camp “for proper checks, proper keeps and safety.

“In Delta State, we have a long stretch of coastline and the impact is real. It is our prayer that it will not be too much as we had in the 2012 flood disaster.”

Officials fleeced them in 2012 A member of the Ndokwa East flood rescue team, Mr. Major Azubike, said the reasons advanced by people of AdiaObiaka for rejecting the evacuation move was the death of their traditional ruler, who they said lost his life in a boat mishap during a similar evacuation mission embarked upon by the council in 2012.

They are angry that government did nothing to assuage the pains of the people.

He said: “They also told us that life in the place where they were camped at Utagba-Ogbe in 2012 was unbearable and that the people that managed the camp then were taking the food items meant for flood victims to their own homes.

“They complained that even the one bag of rice, which the state government ordered should be given to each flood victim was also taken away and government did nothing about it.”

One of the IDPs at Ashaka, who sought anonymity, said the people were avoiding being used by politicians to enrich themselves.

He said: “In 2012, we were told that Federal Government released N500 million for flood victims. We learned that other monies were also released, but nothing was given to us.”

Flood wrecks rice farms in Bayelsa are a cooperative society with a dream to feed Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region. We want the officials from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to come and inspect our farms to see for themselves the level of destruction wrought by the flood, because we need support, we need paddies, and we are appealing to them because they know about our mega rice farms project.”

Chair, Board of Trustees of the state chapter, HRM, Dr. (Capt.)

Winston Ogoun, told Niger Delta Voice, “as we speak, our farms

have been overrun by the present flood, along the TombiaAmassoma Road and even the rice we have just harvested is threatened by the flood.

“We are trying to get warehouses to store them because we are losing millions.”

Ogoun, the paramount ruler of Bilabiri Mein Kingdom, said: “We have written to the Ministry of Agriculture in Abuja and copied the state Ministry of Agriculture, yet nothing. We are facing a very difficult challenge this period.”

Public Relations Officer of

RIFAN, Archbishop Ebikake Ekpebu, challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to bring back the old days when agriculture was the pride of the nation and its major foreign revenue earner.

He said: “We are happy that we have a president, who has experience in governance and has seen it all. In the good old days, groundnut, cocoa and oil palm were great revenue earners.

“We are hopeful that that he will re-enact those glorious days when agriculture was the pride of the nation.”

•The flooded rice farm along the Tombia- Amassoma road, Bayelsa State.

•Bayelsa State Chair, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, Mr. Ezekiel Ogbianko.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 3 lamented that they go outside the school’s premises to access internet services, saying it was stressful.

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

By Chioma Onuegbu

E

TINAN—STUDENTS of the School of Health Technology, Etinan, Etinan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have disclosed that they fight for seats during lectures and when writing examinations. They opened up on the development to the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, who was in the school on a factfinding mission.

The worried students also said they do not know their fate after graduation, as the relevant authorities have not accredited courses offered by the school.

This is even as the institution lacks all the basic infrastructure required of a school of higher learning.

The students, angered by the sudden increase of school fees from N46,000 to N76,300 per session for indigenes and N87,300 for non-indigenes, had, penultimate Thursday, stormed the Ministry of Health, Uyo, where they met a flustered Dr. Ukpong.

The commissioner agreed to visit the school the next day to assess the situation on ground.

Why we took to the streets— Students In an interactive session with the students during the visit, Asuquo Akpan of the Department of Environmental Health, said: “Apart from lack of lecture halls, we do not even have enough seats in the few halls. So sometimes, you see students fighting over seats and during exams, you will be looking for seats.

“The situation is bad and we are demonstrating.

If government did not do something to address these problems, we will not be happy.

“Another thing that makes me angry in this school is this issue of accreditation. For instance, the department of Environmental Health is not accredited. As it is now, when I graduate, I do not know what my fate will be. The issue of accreditation to me is the worst challenge we are facing.

“Also in this community, if there is no light, we will not have light in the school. It is only when the Principal is around that we can use the school generator.”

I don’t know if I’m a student—Okon Ekanem Keresifon Okon, a 300 level student of Department of Medical Laboratory Science, presented a catalogue of infrastructure challenges, ranging from lack of lecture classrooms/halls, toilet system, poor laboratory facility, lack of access road to the school, hostel accommodation, and non-

A’ Ibom school where students fight for seats *Courses not accredited, no matriculation for students *Students protest lack of toilet, epileptic power supply *Govt‘ll do its best to address problems-—Health Commissioner availability of a computer laboratory.

Okon also identified other issues such as high school fees, non-accreditation of courses, non-issuance of student identification cards and matriculation in the school.

Her words: “The students have been given a new school fees proposal, which is on the high side. So we are saying that we want a 50 percent reduction of the proposed fees.

“We also want this school to be moved to the permanent site where there is land donated by Etinan community. The female hostel II has been abandoned

for some years now, so we are appealing to government to

It is only when the Principal is around that we can use the school generator

•Abandoned female hostel

come and address these problems.

“In addition, we want government to look into the issue of matriculation in this school.

“Since 2013 that I was admitted into this school, I have not signed any matriculation register and the situation is that I do not even know if I am recognized as a student or not and the same thing with the students identification card. We are only issued the association identity card.”

Clark Friday of the School of Environmental Health

No replacement for rundown structures One of the teachers, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, described the situation in the school as pitiable, adding that the poor state of infrastructure has been a very challenging issue to the school.

The teacher said government had not built any new structure to replace dilapidated ones for over 10 years.

Ukpong condemns protest Responding to the litany of complaints and demands, Commissioner Ukpong said his intention was to address the aggrieved students when they demonstrated to the Ministry penultimate Thursday, but for the manner, the students conducted themselves.

He said issues such as the ones they raised required dialogue and discussions and not making trouble.

His words: “I decided that I will come today to listen to you and to be able to make my own observation and proffer solutions where possible.”

•Students in class

Army takes free medicare to A’Ibom communities

By Tom Moses

A

BAK — THE Nigerian Army, 6 Battalion, Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, which oversees the southern flank of the country, weekend, took its medical outreach programme to residents of the community and surroundings.

Commanding Officer of Ibagwa Military Barracks, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Getso, who led his men on the one-on-one diagnosis and treatment, explained that the objectives of the medical outreach programme were to consolidate on the existing friendly relationship between the civilian population and the military in the community.

He also said the intention was to bring quality and free health care services to the host community so that the people would know the existing

medical services and access them to address their health conditions.

Hygiene not witches During the programme, the

military disabused the people of the weird and long-held belief that certain ailments affecting them were because of manipulations by enemies and spiritual forces or from generational factors.

Members of Ibagwa community accessing army’s medical service.

They told them that many of the ailments occurred from environmental issues such as lack of adequate sanitary culture.

They were asked to keep their environments clean, clear the bushes close to their homes, wash hands after contacting dirt and take regular baths to avoid unconsciously harbouring disease vectors.

Besides, the military health experts traced the cause of most of the sicknesses to lack of or irregular medical checkups and preference for unscientific and unorthodox methods of self-medication.

Speaking with Niger Delta Voice, the Regimental Medical Officer, RMO, of the 6 Battalion, Lt. Olayemi Ilori, said part of the reason for the programme was to sensitize the people on the prevalence of some killer diseases in the community and on ways to prevent them.

4 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By Emmanuel Una

C

ALABAR — THE Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, has increased patrol on the Calabar waterways to flush out pirates and illegitimate anglers since the new Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, mounted the saddle.

Following the sustained pressure, Naval personnel have seized an illegal vessel with 14 Nigerians and a Ghanaian carrying on illegal fishing activity.

Navy intensifies battle against pirates in Calabar Abdulkadir told Niger Delta Voice, “the Navy arrested the vessel for violating extant regulations; it was operating without permit from any relevant quarter. This vessel is not fit to be in the sea. It has one foreigner on board and we are not sure if he has a valid working permit.”

The FOC, who visited units and formations within the command, called on naval officials to live up to

expectation and make sure they observed all standing rules and avoid engaging in illegal activities.

He said: “We have zero tolerance for illegalities such as crude oil theft, illegal fishing, piracy and sea robbery in our maritime environment and we have a time limit to achieve this. So everyone must contribute his quota in achieving this.”

•Chairman, PZ Cussone Nig. Ltd.

•The classroom block

CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

Firm builds 18-classroom block for C-River community

By Ike Uchechukwu

M

•Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadi

T EDO… HEART BEA BEAT

OF THE NA TION NATION

By Gabriel Enogholase

O

KPELLA—THE once peaceful villages of Okpella Kingdom in Etsako East Local Government Area, Edo State, are now at each other’s throats, following the discovery of mineral deposits, including limestone, iron ore, gold, clay, dolomite phosphate, among others in marketable quantity.

Ordinarily, the mineral deposits ought to be a commonwealth for the entire Okpella people, but since Bua Groups of Companies revitalized the moribund Okpella Cement Company established by the defunct MidWest government, divergent economic interests have triggered off a consuming ownership struggle.

This cat and mouse relationship of today was unheard of when their ancestors left Benin 500 years ago.

3 quarters claim ownership Investigations by Niger Delta Voice showed that three of the communities in the clan, Iddo, Ogriga and Imiegile are claiming ownership of the rich mineral section of the town and had accused Komunio in AfeOkpella of trespassing into the territory, which they said does

•Navy Mikinya

BARAKOM — THE PZ Wilmar Group of companies has built and handed over an 18-classroom block worth millions of naira to Mbarakom community in

Mineral deposits tear Edo villages apart •Komunio people‘re tenants—Iddo, Ogriga and Imiegile leaders •It’s a lie, we’re aborigines—Chief Charles Adogah (SAN)

•High Chief Peter Aronokh

•Okuokpellagbe of Okpella

not belong to it.

They insisted that Komunio people were settlers in their present place at Afe-Okpella and, therefore, cannot lay claim to the ownership of the land housing the factories and mineral deposits.

Representatives of Iddo, Ogriga and Imiegile quarters, who met recently at Okpella, reaffirmed their collective ownership of the land, saying they had been farming there for years and lived peacefully with one another.

At the meeting were MajorGeneral Fred Irepitan, a retired

infantry general, High Chief Peter Aronokhale, High Chief Francis Ibijiesan,High Chief Samanu Briamah, Chief Lawrence Adejumo, Alhaji Muhammed Jubril, Chief Abdullahi Isa Kadiri, High Chief Charles Oba High Chief Obamule Anthony and Chief Ekehunumhe Anthony.

Daring the king They also accused the Komunio people of writing existing companies and intending ones to negotiate with them before entering the land in any manner, thus by-

passing the authority of the traditional ruler of Okpella Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) A.Y. Dirisu, Okuokellagbe of Okpella, who they said is the only prescribed authority in the community.

According to one of the community leaders, “His Royal Highness, Alhaji A. Y. Dirisu is the prescribed authority in Okpella Kingdom and he has been controlling all the land on our behalf without any challenge from anybody.

“It is, therefore, surprising that the trespassers are now saying that the palace of the Okuokellagbe has no right to control them, that they are the owner of the land. This is false; we want the whole world to know today that the Komunio people have no right to claim ownership of the land.

“It is because the Iddo, Ogriga and Imiegile people allowed them to settle down with us.

How can a people, who came to settle down with us, now suddenly become our landlord?

This is what we are disputing.”

Warning Corroborating the claim that Kuminio people were tenants,

Continued on Page 7

Akampka Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Chair, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Chief Kola Jamodu, said the firm built the classroom blocks for both the primary and secondary schools in the community to make the learning environment more conducive for students.

Jamodu, who spoke with Niger Delta Voice, after the handover ceremony, said: “We take corporate social responsibility very seriously because we consider it the only way we can affect the lives of fellow human beings, particularly through education.

When you educate children, you are building a very strong and viable future.”

Village Head of Uwet, HRH (Obort) Celestine Asiya II, lauded the company for its magnanimity and thinking it wise to proffer solution to one of their felt needs, stressing that they would make sure the aim of putting up such an edifice was not defeated.

His words: “This is evidence that to whom much is given much is expected. As community leaders we will ensure that the structure remains intact no matter the season or years and we will ensure that the environment is peaceful and secured for your operations in our domain.”

Principal of the benefitting Onun Secondary School, Mr. Mbong Ezekiel, stated that Wilmar ’s benevolence was beyond words and urged other corporate bodies to emulate what they have done.

A community leader, Chief Fidelis Mbang told Niger Delta Voice that companies have been coming and going in the area, but none had initiated a project of the magnitude that Wilmar undertook in the area.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 5

•Mathias Orhen

•An Igbe dance band

•An Orhen

Igbe religion torn apart by worship of mermaids, animals, conflicting doctrines

By Perez Brisibe

K

OKORI—SUCH were the authority and fame of the late Ubiecha Etarakpo, the founder of the historic African religion, Igbe, that the reigning Oba of Benin at the time had to travel incognito as a leper to Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State, to validate his power.

Etarakpo, who died in 1926, reportedly cured people of madness and healed men of various diseases even on his sick bed. He detected the undercover Benin monarch as he came in while an Igbe service was on and stood on his altar-like seat in acknowledgment.

Worshipers in mortal realm could not fathom the forces at play, but Etarakpo ushered the “strange visitor” to his seat.

Marvelling at his act, his members wondered if a tormenting spirit had possessed the sect’s founder, but after the Oba departed, Etarakpo told his bewildered congregation that the person, who just left was no less a person than the Benin monarch.

“Three weeks after, the Oba visited Kokori again, this time, he came in his full regalia as an Oba and presented gifts and honoured Etarakpo for his spiritual prowess,” an unabashed Igbe worshiper told Niger Delta Voice at Kokori.

His words: “That was when people feared and respected the Igbe religion founded in the 19th century. More so, there was no division in the worship rites, as approved by the founder, Etarakpo, an indigene of Kokori.”

Divine call Etarakpo allegedly received the call of “God” in 1893 and sat on the throne in 1920 with a female called Oniruesi, also

•Micheal Ejemedefe

known as Erukainure.

According to myth, he went to the farm and fell into a trance after he ate a native chalk given to him during an encounter with a divine spirit. When he woke up from his trance, he became unconventional and acted strangely.

Back at the community, a woman known as Oniruesi noticed something mysteriously divine about him, unlike others, who thought he had gone round the bend.

Though he later got married to her, he resided in her apartment and continued dancing each passing day, eating nothing but Orhen (native chalk), healing people miraculously by praying for them and giving them the same native chalk to consume.

Legend A school of thought said Etarakpo, purportedly mentally imbalanced, was roaming the streets of Kokori when he got a divine call, knelt down along the road, closed his hand and eyes in prayer, went into a trance and when he woke up, he saw a native chalk in his hand.

As he marveled at how it came about, a divine spirit ministered to him on the efficacy and how to go about using the

The leadership crisis over who would step into his shoes started with three of his children: Igbe-Ibodje, Igbe-Akpokovo and IgbeEmegalise

native chalk to heal people. This manifestation reportedly led to the beginning of Igbe.

“Armed with the power of clairvoyance, Ubiecha’s deeds quickly spread far and wide with persons trooping to Kokori to consult him on their medical and spiritual problems,” the chief priest of Igbe, Chief Oberiko Omonemu, told Niger Delta Voice.

Because of the increase of Etarakpo’s followers, who were trooping to Kokori for consultation and healing, he later built a worship house known as Ogwa, where he ministered to his devotees and made prophesies with stunning accuracy.

Division However, following his death in 1926, Igbe, described as Africa’s first monotheistic religion by the Urhobo Historic Society, UHS, had since split into over 50 denominations with some worshipping animals, mermaids and other divinities.

The leadership crisis over who would step into his shoes started with three of his children: IgbeIbodje, Igbe-Akpokovo and Igbe-Emegalise.

Welcoming Niger Delta Voice into his barely lit apartment at Kokori, Mr. Micheal Ejemedefe, who described himself as the life-bearer and final authority of Igbe, being the last link and descendant of the founder of Igbe, whose mother is the eldest daughter of Etarakpo’s second son, Akpokovo, took our team down memory lane on the intricacies that befell the religion.

Worship of animals According to him, following the demise of Etarakpo and the birth of the three circuits of Igbe, various offshoots like IgbeUbiecha, Igbe-Oghene-Uku,

•Praise and worship session

Igbe-Agege and Osanuge-Igbe emerged.

He said the offsprings gave birth to the proliferation of Igbe with most of them involved in the culture of mermaids and other divinities, while others even indulge in the worship of animals, which they describe as the custodian of the spirit of “God.” We believe in Jesus Ejemedefe bellowed the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth while making a point prompting the reporter to ask what darkness has to do with light.

He explained: “The main Igbe worshipers believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God and also believe in his Father as the Almighty God. “Though Jews call him Yahweh, Islam call him Allah and Christians call him Jehovah, we (Igbe) call him Owheya.

“We are also conscious of the fact that religion is not defined as belief in God but the kind of life you live while on earth, hence giving room for our belief in reincarnation and a life of purity while on earth.

“Just like the liturgy of the Catholic Church, Igbe also has

its liturgy, which involves Eucharistic rites and confessions before an Uku (Priest),” 58-yearold Ejemedefe, said to have amassed several degrees in London, asserted.

Clay as prescribed in Bible!

A scholar in Urhobo culture, Mathias Orhero, who confirmed that Etarakpo’s sudden death in his prime, caused a big challenge to the group, shed light on the Igbe religion.

He said as evident in the creation of man by God, Igbe adherents believe strongly in the efficacy of native chalk gotten from the earth’s crust.

He said: “Do not forget that according to the Bible, Jesus Christ performed series of miracles using clay and even asked some persons to go dip themselves inside a particular river seven times.

“With devotees spread across Africa, Europe, North and South America and other parts of the world, the once unified Igbe, as founded by Etarakpo, now has over 50 sects with some of these sub-divisions no longer toeing the line of their founder having introduced the worship of mermaids, divinities and animals in the worship of God.” The chief priest (Igbe Uku), Chief Omonemu, who believes in the worship of mermaids, said mermaid worship and belief in divinities do not affect his belief in Jesus Christ as the Messenger and Son of God. According to him, “Jesus Christ was sent to the earth by God for a purpose and He had since completed the task. But do not forget that there are other spiritual messengers of God. “One of such is what you refer to as mermaid, but we call them divinities and we commune with God through and with these divinities.”

6 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

PODIUM…

DEADLOCK IN BURUTU *Odimodi community rejects Delta govt verdict *Accuses SSG, Burutu chair of partiality *We’re not biased— Ebikeme Clark

By Emma Amaize

O

DIMODI — WHEN Delta State Government set up a committee to mediate in the leadership crisis between two rival factions at Odimodi community, Burutu Local Government Area of the state, over a month ago, many heaved a sigh of relief.

The community had been in turmoil for a long time and the August 31 invasion of the riverine settlement by suspected militants, who razed houses, was a clear indication that if not checked, there might be a total breakdown of law and order in the town.

However, the resolutions of the committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Festus Agas, seemed to have aggravated the crisis, as the community is alleging perversion of justice.

The state government had in a letter, dated October 7, reference number, SC/ T.6.Vol.78/191, from the Governor’s Office (Directorate of Political and Security Services), Asaba, addressed to the Chairman, Burutu Local Government, conveyed its decisions, which rather than douse frayed nerves, has generated fresh uproar in the oil-rich settlement.

Govt resolutions The letter, signed by A. C. Abuah for the SSG is entitled, Resolutions at the peace meeting on the Odimodi community crisis held in the office of the Secretary to the State Government on Tuesday, September 29, 2015, read in part: “You will recall that following reports of threat to peace in Odimodi community arising from the leadership tussle in the community, Council directed that you, in liaison with the Pere of Iduwini Kingdom, should look into the matter with a view to resolving it.

“After meeting with the parties involved in the matter, another meeting was convened by the SSG on September 29, and the following resolutions were arrived at and agreed on by all the parties.

“The resolutions are as follows: that the Benjamin Gbesine, Peter Iyalagha-led executive and the Caretaker Committee led by Chief Alex Puk should be dissolved and a new Caretaker Committee headed by an Ifikorowei son, to

be selected by the Eluwe Congress under the supervision of the Local Government Council Chairman; “That all the community funds, henceforth, be paid directly into the community’s account; “That all the pending court cases should be withdrawn accordingly; “That government at all levels and oil companies, including those operating within Odimodi community network efforts to bring succour to the victims of the crisis; and “That the security agency (JTF) should maintain surveillance for the time being in Odimodi till peace is fully restored to the community.”

The state government further directed the chair of the council, Mr. Ebikeme Clark, to ensure the implementation of the directives and warned that “anybody or group of persons” that breached the orders would be dealt with by the security agencies, which had been briefed to the effect.

Community snubs declaration Few days after the council

chair communicated the resolutions to the community, Odimodi sent a letter to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, rebuffing the said resolutions and asking him (governor) to call the SSG to order before he inflicts another crisis on Odimodi.

Signed by the Secretary/ Spokesman, Amadiwei-inCouncil, Elder Anthony Pudie, the community, which held an emergency meeting on October 10, said it was in receipt of the

The Odimodi community at no time agreed with position of the SSG on the change of leadership of the community, which was duly constituted in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Odimodi community, 1995

SSG correspondence, which threatened that security agencies had been directed to deal with anybody or group of persons that violates the unilateral resolutions of the SSG, nay, the state government.

The community said: “We immediately resolved to reject in very clear terms the so-called resolutions of your SSG because they were reached unilaterally and autocratically when we now run democratic institutions and decisions are arrived at democratically.

“This letter, therefore, is to inform you that we stand by the position of the Odimodi community handed over personally to the SSG himself and was signed for by him in the meeting of Tuesday, September 29, at the Conference Hall of the SSG. Daring SSG “This letter is also to inform you that, we, as Odimodi community, have resolved this time, not ‘anybody or group of persons’ as anticipated by your SSG , to violate his skewed and unpopular resolutions and threats as expressed in the letter of October 7.

“We wait for your SSG to deal, albeit ruthlessly, with us because we say no to perversion of justice, which was deliberately executed to favour the individuals who took up arms against our community.

“A man or a community that is already knocked down by the unprovoked attack on community on August 31 fears no further fall.

‘Wrong use of discretion’ “To execute this fait accompli, we are shocked at the brazenness with which the SSG couched the bogus lie in his letter, dated October 7, wherein he stated in part, ‘After meeting with the parties involved in the matter, another meeting was convened by the SSG on September 29 and the following resolutions were arrived at and agreed on by all parties’.

“To say the least, this is dubious. The Odimodi community at no time agreed with position of the SSG on the change of leadership of the community, which was duly constituted in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Odimodi community, 1995.

“Rather, the Odimodi community insisted that the crimes against the community should be punished and this is clearly contained in ODI-2, which he received from the community.

“Your Excellency would recall the mild drama which played out before you at the Security Council meeting of September 2 at the Government House, Asaba, which you chaired briefly before you left for a journey and handed over to the SSG to continue.

“Remember the skewed representation of Odimodi community: one (1) against four (4) in favour of the individuals, who burnt our community. The Odimodi community representative raised this issue at the meeting and you immediately reacted and corrected the anomaly and to put it in your own words, you said it was ‘a wrong use of discretion’.

Stoking crisis “What is currently at play is the wrong use of the discretion by your SSG and Hon. Ebikeme Clark, who are bent on perverting the course of justice to shield their political associates from the crimes

•Festus Agas, SSG

•Building used a millitant

•Ebikeme Clark

Continued on Page 8

•Cache of arms recovered from millitant

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 7

Mineral deposits tear Edo villages apart Continued from Page 4

•Rundele High School

•Dr Clifford, viglante Chairman of Agba-Ndele

•Community Development Committee Chairman, Mr. Ikechi Chimezie

•Awute, after receiving treatment

RIVERS…

THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NA TION NATION

Agba-Ndele, Rivers community in the clutches of gangsters

By Davies Iheamnachor

A

GBA-NDELE— ANYBODY acquainted with the sleepy Agba-Ndele community in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, would not be flabbergasted at the kidnap, last Monday, of five persons, including three teachers, a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, a security guard at Rundele High School, Agba-Ndele, by a profit-making kidnap gang.

For some time now, the community has been a transit route for kidnap gangs, who know the terrain and protection weak point. They abduct people on land and convey them to their den in the creeks through the community’s waterfront.

Earlier this year, they kidnapped a vice principal in the Universal Basic Education, UBE, section of the school at his home town (not in Agba-Ndele) took him away through community’s waterfront, the same path they ferried away the recently abducted five.

The community made several appeals for the establishment of security outpost before the present breach, but the authorities treated the requests with levity.

The kidnappers know that there is neither police nor army outpost in the area and that government did not favourably consider letters by the community requesting for its establishment. For them, it is better such requests were never considered.

Community Development Committee, CDC, Chair of Agba-Ndele, Mr. Ikechi Chimezie, said: “Earlier this year, the paramount ruler wrote to the Army Headquarters, Abuja and they promised to come and put a check point for us. But till date we have not seen them.

“We demand a check point because that waterfront has been an exit point for kidnappers. When they kidnap people outside, they pass through this road to that waterside and they escape.

“We now want the police to come into the community to help us check the criminal activities perpetrated by these boys in our community.”

The audacity with which the kidnappers struck showed they were in a well-known setting.

They knowledgeably evaded the vigilance group and melted into the thin air before they knew it.

How kidnappers stormed community Agba-Ndele vigilance Chair Mr. Dimkpa Clifford, told Niger Delta Voice, “the kidnappers that came to our community took us, the vigilance group members, unaware. We never knew that the boys had entered the community through the bushes.

They used their flying boat at a point and then entered the bush.

“Before we could realize that bad boys had entered the community, they have already

taken over the secondary school, and before we could organize ourselves, they have already kidnapped the teachers. They took the teachers through the waterside.

“When we gathered that the boys have gone to where their boat is, we immediately called the police. Before police arrived three hours later, the boys had gone.

Abductors ask for N25m ransom “The principal of the school told me that the boys have called him and are demanding N25 million for the teachers to be released.

“The kidnap has brought fear and panic in the community.

The people, whose houses are close to that school have all ran away; men in the village are not sleeping again and we the vigilante are just restless.

“We do not even have anything to defend ourselves with. We need help from the government seriously.”

Chief Charles Oba from Iddo community, said the Kuminio took his late father, Chief Jack Oba, to court years ago for calling them tenants; he won, and there was no appeal against the judgment until date.

He said: “We are informing all prospective investors in the mineral deposits to consult the rightful owners of the land through the Okuokpellagbe, who is the prescribed authority in Okpella Kingdom instead of meeting with the wrong people; the 419s parading themselves as the land owners.

“We will not fold our hands and allow investors go to the dubious elements in some quarters, who now write to investors laying claim to the land.”

The community leaders warned that anyone, who does business with the Kuminio people other than the three communities through the traditional ruler of the town, does so at his own risk and would have themselves to blame for any adversity.

The leaders said that they had prevailed on youths of their quarters to be calm and remain non-violent on the issue, as they would do everything to recover their land.

They also resolved to take legal action against the Kuminio people if they fail to stop laying claim to the disputed land.

They‘re all liars However, leader of the Kuminio in Afeokpella, Chief Charles Adogah (SAN), dismissed the allegations against his community when

contacted by Niger Delta Voice.

He said: “For whatever reason, a few people are always out to distort history.

The land they are claiming to be theirs now belongs to my people, the Kuminio.

“What they are claiming now is close to the cement factory the Mid-West gazette published on January 28, 1965, entitled Public Lands Acquisition Law, simply said notice is hereby given that the following land at KominioOkene Road, Komunio, in the Afemai Division of the Benin Province, Mid-Western Nigeria is required by the government for public purposes absolutely.

“It did not say Iddo, Imiegle or Okugbe.

Therefore, the lands where you have the mineral deposits are behind, towards the North-East. Their allegation that Iddo and Imieghele own the land is not true.

“Ogriga is part of Komunio; they have no existence of their own, Ogriga is just a settlement in Komunio.

“Ogriga is right if they say that they are co-owner of the land because all of us are under one umbrella called Komunio. What happened is that the Komunio people, as peace-loving people, were interested in peace and good neighbourliness and did not just bother when the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Alhaji A. Y. Dirisu, overtime, was doing a lot of things signing concession papers and giving out our land.”

ABANDONED PROJECTS: Oil communities, cabal clash in Edo Continued from Page 1 spearheaded the abandonment of the projects, yet claim that Itsekiri people have benefited tremendously from Edo State and its agencies.

The communities, which consider themselves as “the goose that lays the golden egg in Edo State” contended that it was morally wrong for them to suffer deprivation by government in the exploitation of natural resources in their area and at the same time face saboteur contractors, who do not mean well for them.

A peeved Ireokane said: “The notorious cabal, working against our interest and our leadership in the Itsekiri oil and gas producing communities of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, has consistently frustrated the execution and completion of infrastructural projects in our areas.”

Modus operandi

“That appointment has been hijacked by the cabal through installing their stooge to the position for their selfish end, against our desire and our true leaders.

“They have since kept us in the dark about the activities of EDSOPADEC and

about other government projects, all of which they have abandoned in the Itsekiri communities.

“The antics of the cabal were not known to the state Governor Oshimohole, who for the first time since the existence of EDSOGPADEC, created a position for us (Itsekiri) on the management of EDSOGPADEC. “We would not allow projects intended to make life meaningful for us to get abandoned and uncompleted by conscienceless contractors, whose only desire is the acquisition of filthy lucre from any source, without a thought as to whether the people for whom these projects are allotted by government suffer deprivation and untold hardship.”

An Ajoki villager, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said: “We were angered that virtually all the agency’s projects awarded to EDSOGPADEC contractors in the area were abandoned against media claims by the nameless group that they have benefited tremendously from government.”

He urged Governor Oshiomhole to compel the affected contractors to complete all abandoned projects awarded by the interventionist agency in their locality.

8 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

•Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, FOC, addressing Bonny chiefs

•Bonny chiefs

Sea pirates, oil thieves seize Rivers community — Monarch RIVERS…

THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NA TION NATION

By Jimitota Onoyume

B

O N N Y — T H E Amanyanabo of Bonny in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, HRM Edward Asimini Willaim Dappa-Pepple III (Perekule XI) of Bonny, has bemoaned the travails of his people in the hands of pirates, militants and oil thieves on the waterways.

The monarch, who spoke through one of his chiefs, Lt Col Owen Amin Manilla-Pepple (retd) when the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, visited his palace, said criminals were on the loose in the area.

He complained that crude oil spill caused by oil thieves was destroying aquatic life and environment in the area.

The monarch pleaded with the FOC to take urgent steps to rescue the area from the grip of oil thieves and pirates, who have become a nightmare to the people.

Begs Navy chief for assistance The monarch said: “Bonny is an island. We have challenges of

piracy, militancy along the waterways from Port Harcourt to Bonny. We ask that you kindly look into the problem of insecurity facing us."

He said more surveillance of oil facilities by the Navy, Army and increased security patrol of the waterways would help resolve the problem.

His words: “We do not have anything to complain about your officers and men here. The commanding officers here do not last; the frequent movements of commanders here retard certain achievements, these short durations do not help matters.”

We ‘re prepared—FOC The FOC, Rear Admiral Abdulkadir, thanked the monarch and chiefs for their frank talk, assuring that efforts were on to secure the waterways in the region against criminal elements.

He said the Navy had acquired two ships to enhance security in the eastern naval command. Abdulkadir solicited cooperation of the people in the fight against oil theft and other related security issues.

The FOC said that security was a shared responsibility and required the input of all stakeholders, adding “we will

collaborate very well with you.”

Parades 4 suspected oil thieves Earlier, the FOC had paraded four suspected oil thieves arrested onboard a merchant tanker, MT Ever Rest, few metres away from the Port Harcourt Refinery.

Rear Admiral Abdulkadir said the ship was arrested because its hoses were rigged at the time his men saw it, an act he said indicated that it had positioned for illegal act.

He said those arrested onboard the vessel did not have any formal qualification to be workers in such a ship, adding that the ship could convey 3000 metric tonnes of crude. …reads riot act to men The FOC said he would not spare any of his men caught aiding illegal bunkering operations.

He said: “We take cognizance of the fact that in every environment, there is likelihood of bad elements.

“If we find any of our personnel directly assisting illegal activities or not doing what he should do, we are going to treat that person as an offender. He or she will be dealt with and there will be no hiding place for such a person.”

DELTA... FINGER OF GOD Delta chief impregnates 15-yr-old granddaughter *It’s a lie; I never slept with her

By Perez Brisibe

U

over his position and sales of land in the community, they swore to unseat him by any means.

He said the 15-year-old girl was living with him from birth until the incident that led to her voluntary departure from his residence.

DU—A 15-year-old primary school leaver, names withheld, has pointed finger at her step grandfather, a chief and presidentgeneral of a community in Delta State for her four-month-old pregnancy.

She told Niger Delta Voice that the husband of Pregnancy hatched in Egini ! her grandmother slept with her in his twoThe chief asserted: “This is an orchestrated plot bedroom domicile, an accusation the man hotly to dent my image. As at the time they claimed denied. she got pregnant, she had travelled to Egini to visit her mother; I suspect that was where she Handiwork of enemies— Chief took in with the plot hatched there as well.

The chief said the entire episode was a set-up “Even her grandmother has told the community by his adversaries, alluding that following his that the girl does not know who is responsible disagreement with close relatives of the victim for the pregnancy, but these group of individuals,

•FOC in operation on the waterways

DEADLOCK IN BURUTU Continued on Page 6 against our community and against Nigeria.

“It is condoning of crimes of this nature that has turned into the hydra-headed security problems bedevilling our country.

“We believe that you have not been properly briefed and even if you have been briefed, you have been given a tainted and skewed version from the spectacles of heavily-compromised individuals, who are in pursuit of their primordial tendencies that create crisis where there is none.

Like Ekpan, like Odimodi!

“Recall that sometime in July, your SSG was accused by the Ekpan people of Uvwie Local Government Area of ‘undue partisan interference’ capable of causing violence in the community over the reverse of Community Liaison Officers appointed following expiration of their tenures, especially for Julius Berger.

“The exact same scenario is playing out on his resolutions in the burning down of the Odimodi community.

“Finally, we urge you to take the wind out of the sail of your SSG, Mr. Ebikeme Clark and other known serving and immediate past representatives of the Delta State Government, who are bent on perverting justice.”

LG to enforce govt resolutions— Clark Burutu Chair, Mr. Clark, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice on phone, dismissed the allegation of bias against him and the committee, saying the local government council would implement the resolutions of the state government to the letter.

Firstly, he said, election of a new chair of the community would hold October 21, adding that those causing confusion in the community were those prevented from holding the community to ransom.

He explained that the committee visited the council and discovered that community’s money was been paid to personal accounts by some persons, who extort the community in several ways and government decided that the impunity must stop.

Clark said government would not benefit anything by taking sides with some persons in a community dispute, pointing out that the committee pushed for reconciliation of the warring factions and because both sides accused each other of criminal acts, it was decided they should let bygone by bygone as brothers, and live together in unity.

The council chair said the committee’s position is that government will pay compensation for losses incurred by victims of the crisis, but the community should move forward with the reconstitution of the leadership of the community, which was the bane of the crisis, while government would handle compensation later.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—29

CFAO unveils Fuso Full range in Nigeria C

FAO Automotive, sole distributors of Fuso range of trucks in Nigeria and a leading player in the Nigerian automotive industry, has finally introduced the full range of Fuso trucks into the Nigerian market.

Speaking during the unveiling at its Amuwo Odofin office in Lagos, Managing Director CFAO Automotive, Mr. Thomas Pelletier, explained that the success of the Fuso Canter in Nigeria necessitated the introduction of the whole range into the market.

According to the Managing Director, the Fuso Canter is the leading light truck in the country, hence their decision to add the medium and heavy duty Fuso trucks to meet the need of their customers.

Leading truck brand “We want to expand the range as we have Fuso trucks that fit every need of our customers,’’ he said, adding that CFAO would like to replicate what it had done with the Fuso Canter in Nigeria with the full range by becoming the leading truck brand in Nigeria.

The new trucks were unveiled to members of the Nigerian automotive media at the Mitsubishi Fuso flagship in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, by Mr Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Head of Regional Centre Africa; Mr Ilan Elad, Director of Sales Africa, Fuso; Mr. Frederic Nonet, Director Equipment CFAO Automotive Equipment and Services West Africa; Mr Thomas Pelletier, Managing Director CFAO Automotive Equipment and Services Nigeria, Mr Fabrice Claire, General Manager, CFAO, Equipment Nigeria and Idris Siyaka, Head of Sales, Fuso, CFAO Equipment.

•From left: Idris Siyaka, Commercial Manager, CFAO Equipment; Thomas Pelletier, Managing Director, CFAO Automotive Equipment and Services Nigeria; Ilan Elad Director of Sales Africa Fuso; Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Head of Regional Centre Africa; Fabrice Claire, General Manager, CFAO Equipment Nigeria and Frederic Nonet, Director Equipment, CFAO Automotive Equipment and Services, West Africa, at the launch of Mitsubishi Fuso trucks in Lagos, yesterday. ''The Canter is the leader in the light truck segment. Our ambition is to be the leader in medium and heavy truck like we have done in the light truck segment with Canter,’’ the Managing Director stated.

The CFAO boss, who briefed the press with a power team from France and Japan, noted that the setting up of Fuso plant is in the pipeline.

According to him, Fuso offers quality for money being a member of the Daimler family.

He explained that in 2004 Daimler took over Fuso by acquiring 90 percent of the business.

Making presentation to the press, the General Manager CFAO Equipment, in charge of Fuso brand said that the Fuso Canter, which is dominating its segment, was launched in Japan in 1963 and since then it had maintained the lead in its segment.

With the expansion of the

range in Nigeria, it means more choice for all application such as tipper, mixer, minning and rigid.

According to him, the Fuso range delivers superior level of driving programme and loading, adding that the Fuso range has simple technology as it is balance of technology and easy maintenance with less electronics.

Also speaking, Iian Elad, Director Sales and Marketing, Fuso Region 2 Africa/Southern Asia Marketing Sales and Customer Service Truck, Asia, said that the Fuso brand was well known all over the world as a performer and Nigeria is a strategic market for Fuso with its huge population. ‘’For us, Nigeria is a very strategic market. We will like to

Stakeholders x-ray progress of nation’s auto policy

T

HE Nigerian Automobile Industry Implementation and Monitoring Committee will be meeting at the Radisson Blue Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, today to examine the progress made on the Federal Government automotive policy.

The meeting is scheduled to

brainstorm on various updates and issues arising from the implementation of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan, NAIDP. Such matters include, but not limited to, inspection and certification of vehicle assembly plants, transition from semi knock down, SKD, to complete

FRSC partners Guinness on ember months campaign

A

S part of its support to the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, ember months safety awareness campaign this year, Guinness Nigeria Plc has donated breathalysers to the corps for random testing of motorists blood alcohol concentration level.

Making the presentation to the FRSC Sector Commander, Lagos, Mr. Hygenuis Omeje at a joint press conference to flag off the 2015 ‘ember’ months drink-drive awareness campaign, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, stated that drinking and driving do not mix.

The Guinness boss explained C M Y K

that as a leading manufacturer of alcoholic beverage, Guinness was committed to creating awareness about responsible drinking and promoting the enjoyment of alcohol and its brands as part of a healthy balanced lifestyle.

“We believe that our position as a market leader places a significant responsibility on us to raise awareness about the importance of consuming alcohol responsibly,’’ he said.

This, he said, they were committed to achieving through a number of responsible drinking initiatives which are directed at their various stakeholders: customers, consumers and

sell kits and have facilities where the kits will be assembled, giving assurance that the brand will soon be assembled in Nigeria,’’ he stated.

Also in his remark, the Commercial Manager CFAO Equipment, Mr. Idris Siyaka noted that the Fuso Canter had paved the way for the full range in Nigeria with its reliability, quality and performance in general. ‘’We know the fleet owners would like to have a tested brand in the fleet. They need to have something from Fuso that can deliver like the Canter,’’ he further stated.

Nonet Frederic, Equipment Director, CFAO, Paris, who also spoke at the presentation stated ‘’that with Daimler expertise in the Fuso coupled with Japanese technology, the Fuso range would stand out among its competitors. ‘’It is a Euro 3 engine and the idea is to enable our customers to have a whole range as we cater for a wider range of customers,’’ he said.

Reacting to competition in the truck market, the CFAO director said that they welcome it as it keeps them on their toes. ‘’The competition keeps us on our toes. The Fuso truck offers value for money with excellent reliability, spare parts availability and easy to maintain,’’ he explained.

employees.

At Guinness Nigeria, he noted that they were passionately committed to responsible drinking and enlightening the public about the values of responsible alcohol consumption.

During the festive period, especially, they were eager to create increased awareness to ensure that Nigerians have accident free experience.

To this end, he said, in working with various stakeholders on their responsible drinking initiatives, they have found a worthy partner in the Federal Road Safety Corps, with whom on an annual basis they had carried

out the ‘ember months campaign to create awareness around the dangers of drinking and driving.

Explaining their association with FRSC since 2014, when the United Nations declared the year as International Road Safety Year with the theme: Safe Roads, he said that both organizations had consolidated on the relationship over the years.

He pointed out that activities for this year ’s programme include joint road shows, radio and television talk shows and, for the first time, random testing of motorists with breathalysers to check their blood alcohol concentration level.

knock down, CKD, operations, auto data collection and analysis, distributorships, standards, local content development, technical and quality audit of plants, among others.

Membership of the committee is drawn from industry stakeholders, regulatory bodies and related association in both public and private sectors.

They include representatives of Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association, NAMA; Automobile Local Contents Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, ALCMAN; Automotive Dealers Group of NACCIMA; Automobile Franchise Holders; Motor Dealers Association of Nigeria, Original Equipment Manufacturers, OEM; and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN. Others are representatives of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON; Consumer Protection Council, CPC; Nigeria Customs Service, NCS; Directorate of Road Traffic Administration, DRTA; Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and National Automotive Design and Development Council.

30—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

By Theodore Opara

The capable and economical 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi fourcylinder diesel engine remains part of the line-up, available in mid-power 88kW (120PS)/ 285Nm guise, or the high-power version with 110kW (150PS) and 375Nm. Combined with the addition of EPAS and the use of a longer final drive ratio, this reduces overall fuel consumption.

The new Ranger is also available with Ford’s dependable 2.5-litre Duratec petrol engine, providing 122kW (163PS) of power and 226Nm of torque.

Buyers can specify the new Ranger with the option of sixspeed manual or automatic transmissions on the 3.2 and 2.2 High-Power models, while a fivespeed manual is standard on the 2.2 Mid-Power and petrol versions.

Tougher, smarter capable Ranger hits the road F

ORD Motors has launched the all-new Ford Rangers into the market with uncompromising blend of robust capability, craftmanship and advance technology.

According to Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, Ford Motors Company SubSaharan Africa Region, ''the new Ford Ranger brings a new level of comfort and refinement to its segment without compromising on the rugged capability that our customers demand.

“It represents a smarter kind of tough, and will help our customers to achieve more in every type of application.

“The current Ranger is one of the toughest, most capable pickups out there and this is reflected in the exceptional sales of the Rangers which have increased significantly since it was launched in 2011.”

Capability refinement With a modern design, the new Ford Ranger remains one of the most capable pick-ups in its class.

With an exceptional 800mm water wading depth, and with 230mm of ground clearance, it is designed and engineered to handle the most extreme terrains with ease.

Thanks to a 28-degree approach angle and 25-degree departure angle, drivers in the new Ranger can feel confident when taking on steep obstacles.

A robust electronically controlled transfer case allows drivers in 4x4 models to shift on the fly from 4x2 to 4x4 high via a knob on the centre console. For low-speed torque or additional downhill control, drivers can also engage low-range 4x4 gearing, while an electronic locking rear differential helps to improve traction in difficult conditions.

These off-road strengths are matched to a towing capability C M Y K

of up to 3,500kg and impressive payload capacity.

The new Ranger achieves all this with a level of refinement not usually seen in the pick-up segment. While the current Ranger already sets the standard for ride and handling, Ford engineers fine-tuned the suspension of the new version for additional comfort and even better handling.

The driving experience is further enhanced by an electric power-assisted steering, EPAS, system, which provides precise steering with a natural and confident feel. With EPAS, steering is light and manageable for low-speed manoeuvring, such as parking, and precision at higher speeds.

The level of assistance varies based on speed, steering wheel angle, cornering forces and acceleration or deceleration.

Furthermore, by eliminating the power steering pump used in a traditional power-steering system, EPAS also results in a quieter vehicle and improves fuel efficiency by about three percent.

Engineers fitted the new Ranger with advanced sound-deadening materials and improved insulation for one of the quietest and most comfortable cabin interiors in its class.

Efficient power The new Ranger’s impressive power, capability, and payload and towing capacity are made possible thanks to the latest

generation of powerful, refined and fuel-efficient Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, as well as the proven Duratec petrol unit.

These engines provide new Ranger customers with a winning combination of power and efficiency in all conditions, and help to underscore Ford’s fun-to-drive promise.

Ford’s mighty 3.2-litre Duratorq TDCi five-cylinder diesel engine tops the range, and has earned an impressive reputation for its segmentdefining levels of performance.

Upgrades include a new exhaust gas recirculation system that helps improve fuel efficiency, while still producing 147kW (200PS) of power and 470Nm of torque.

Refreshed model range The new Ford Ranger is available in a wide range of models and specification levels, with the line-up comprising a total of 30 derivatives.

For the single cab Commercial series three models are offered matched to the 2.2 Mid-Power diesel engine, including a single 4x2 model and two 4x4s.

Six RAP cabs are available, comprising a commercial 2.2 4x4 and five XLT 4x4 derivatives.

The bulk of the line-up encompasses Ford’s trend-setting double cab range, which includes four commercial offerings, along with six XL, two XLS and six XLT models.

The popular, eye-catching Wildtrak can be specified in 3.2 4x2 automatic, or the rangetopping 4x4 manual and automatic.

Hyundai, Diamond Bank inaugurate vehicle credit facility for customers

H

YUNDAI Motors Nigeria in partnership with Diamond Bank Plc have inaugurated yet another vehicle finance initiative tagged ‘Hyundai-Diamond Dream Deal: It’s time to own a brand new Hyundai.’

The unique credit initiative is aimed at helping desiring patrons and fleet managers to access low interest bank credit for the procurement of discounted Hyundai vehicles without necessarily paying commitment and management fees.

Both corporations brokered this agreement in Lagos at the launch of the scheme designed to ease challenges associated with accessing bank credit to procure choice cars.

Hyundai Motors Head of Sales and Marketing, Jatin Nadkarni, said: “The credit scheme is in line with Hyundai strategy and direction of making vehicle acquisition a seamless experience.”

“Successful customers

would, aside these seamless benefits enjoy series of other offers including free six months service, including labour and consumables; interest rate as low as 14%; discounted prices; 5-year or 100,000Km warranty and free Samsung Galaxy tab for every car purchased.

Also noting that credit facility has become a common practice in advanced markets, Hyundai Motors Nigeria sales and marketing helmsman said: “Our goal is to encourage more prospective customers to buy new Hyundai vehicles particularly now that the federal government is committed to the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).

Hyundai Motors Nigeria listed some of the models that can be procured during this campaign as Automatic Transmission (A/T) powered Accent 1.4/1.6litre; Grand Xcent i10 1.2litre; Elantra 1.6/1.8litre; Sonata 2.0/2.4litre and Azera 2.4litre cars. Others are premium Hyundai Genesis

3.8litre with 2.0litre powered iX35 and 2.4litre Santa Fe sport utility vehicles.

He dismissed any hidden agenda, remarking that Hyundai Motors - Diamond Bank Dream Deal was initiated to assist more customers, including those without functional account with Diamond Bank, to access the facility.

“What we are simply doing in collaboration with Diamond Bank is to help prospective buyers stave-off the burden of sourcing funds in one fellswoop to buy a new car. Now, you can simply source credit to buy your choice car and thereafter pay at your convenience,” Mr. Nadkarni explained.

•Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander, Lagos,.

Hyginius Omeje, and MD/CEO, Guinness Nigeria, Peter Ndegwa at the flagoff of the Guinness sponsored "Ember Months Responsible Drinking Awareness Campaign" in Lagos, recently.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 31

C M Y K

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

LFTZ: Multi-billion dollar controversial project •Issues around acquired 16,500 hectares of land unresolved

•Lekki Free Trade Zone.

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

N

INE years after the Lagos State government signed the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the residents of Lekki for the acquisition of the 16,500 hectares Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, Lekki, unresolved issues on the acquired land have continued to cripple the project’s development.

The project is tailored towards replicating the China model in Nigeria. The Chinese model first came into force in 1988.

China established several Free Trade Zones, F TZs, across the country; fostering growth and foreign direct investment into the country.

Divided into four quadrants Owing to the vastness of the land area and the attendant

C M Y K

huge cost of infrastructure provision therein, the Zone was divided into fourquadrants for ease of

The project is tailored towards replicating the Chinese model in Nigeria. The Chinese model first came into force in 1988

development. And each quadrant dedicated to precise industries and special category of businesses.

For the development of the Southern West quadrant, the State Government engaged in development partnership with a Chinese Consortium for the development of 3,000 hectares.

According to the state government, the Joint Venture arrangement resulted in the development and provision of 72kilometres of paved roads,5.5kilometres of stabilized earth roads, 1,92kilometres of drainages, 87 units of staff quarters, three units of VIP chalets, 22 units of guest houses, three potable water schemes, 150 solar powered street-lights, three hectares of green area, three standard factories of 2,970m2 and a telecommunicationsbase among other infrastructural facilities.

According to the state government, larger percent of the South West quadrant zone has been subscribed to by investors and the four factories and workshops were already in operation.

In a bid to ensure a conducive environment for investors, former Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola five months ago commissioned 12 Megawatts Independent Power Plant, IPP project, to supply uninterrupted power supply to the zone.

Uninterrupted power supply He also commissioned the Candel Agrochemical Manufacturing Plant, owned by one of the investors.

He said during the commissioning: “Today, we have lived the dream; block by block, the zone has emerged.

This zone will outlive all of us because it will be here in another 200 years. So, it must grow gradually and at its own pace.

“Today, we have achieved another milestone. This place was thick forest in 2007 without roads. We built roads and today, it is havingelectricity. It is only a modest journey and all the community will benefit.”

Also at the event, the Chinese company disclosed that 98 enterprises had till date expressed interest in the zone, further raising the optimism for steady growth.

Some of the companies include Dangote Group of Companies and others.

For instance, Dangote is expected to commit over $10 billion to the construction of his refinery and others in the zone.

Dangote’s involvement:

Continues on page 33

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 33

LFTZ: Multi-billion dollar controversial project Continues from page 32 During his visit to the community, President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote assured the community that they would benefit from the project.

He added that the construction of a refinery would require over 8,000 engineers while jobs would be created foryouths of the communities.

Fashola noted that the refinery when completed would produce 400,000 barrel of refined crude daily, adding that 2000 engineers would be employed for the project.

U n s a t i s f a c t o r y compensation to land owners Aside this, the government paid compensation three years after signing the MoU to the families who owned the farmland in parcel A. While on May 7th, 2015 the state government disclosed that N1,785 billion was paid as compensation to families in Parcel B. Also, on 2014-06-26, the state government issued Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for 750 hectares of land in the Lekki Free Zone area to two Development Associations representing communities within the zone saying it is in fulfilment of the MOU signed between Government and the communities towards the development of the Free Zone.

Development of the free zone The communities, who were represented by their associations at a short ceremony held in Alausa Secretariat, Ikeje were the Epe-Lagoon Area Development Association which got a certificate for 375.03 hectares and Lekki Coastal Area Development Association Resettlement Community which also got C of O for 375.09 hectares.

While Alhaji (Otunba) Bisiriyu Abiodun signed for the former, Alhaji Tajudeen Jegede signed for the latter.

Even with this, the communities have continued to complain over the acquisition of their land for the zone.

Due to the frequent complaints by the residents, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate at the last election, Mr. Jimi Agbaje promised to return all illegally acquired land by the state government to their

*

•Suspected killers of Disu, MD Lekki Free Trade Zone. Inset: The late Disu original owners, if elected as the next governor. Well, he was not elected and the rest is history.

Government’s denial: In its reaction, the state government, through the Office of Surveyor-General, denied the accusation by those it called ‘unscrupulous individuals’ that the government is acquiring lands from communities in Eluju Town located around LFTZ and its environs in Ibeju Lekki LocalGovernment Area of the state.

Even with this, the communities have continued to complain over the acquisition of their land for the zone

•Tinubu

•Fashola

•Ambode

Proposed airport suspended Ex-commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Sola Oworu, disclosed the current challenge facing the realization of the airport while briefing newsmen on the activities of her ministry.

Oworu explained that further work has been suspended on the construction of the airport meant for the zone as the former investor which earlier indicated interest later withdrew from pursuing the project over certain reasons.

Though, she was not specific

on lack of funds for the withdrawal but said one of the reasons given by the investors was the 2015 generalelections outcome, which they feared could endanger the investment by incoming administration.

“The state government is currently shopping for new investors. Efforts are being made to conclude discussion with prospective investors.

As soon as all documents are ready we will recommence construction work at the site,” Oworu stated.

Owuru however, assured

that the incoming administration in the state would continue with the project, saying investors’ investments are guaranteed, as “a ready market is provided for their products with the state’s estimated over 20 million residents.”

She also reiterated that the project is a reality as it had so far attracted key players particularly in the oil and gas sector with a greater prospect of attracting more investors as its development progresses, especially with the provision of standby 12 megawatts of electricity supply.

34 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

Demolition looms over illegal developments in Festac Phase 2

By Jude Njoku

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ARELY one year after the historic signing of the concession agreement between the Federal Government and Messrs New Festac Property Development Company Limited for the reclamation and infrastructure development of Festac Phase Two in Lagos, a presidential monitoring team last week, evaluated the progress of work on the multi-billion Naira development expected to add 50,000 units to the nation’s housing stock.

The presidential project monitoring team which was led by its director, Dr Sandra Fadeyi frowned at the activities of land speculators who have encroached on the 1,260 hectares of swampy land located in the AmuwoOdofin area of Lagos.

Vanguard Homes & Property which accompanied the team comprising officials of the Federal Housing Authority, FHA and the New Festac Property Development Company on the inspection, observed that many exotic buildings have been erected by the speculators who have also built upon area earmarked for roads infrastructure.

Although the leader of the seven-member monitoring team avoided making policy statements, Vanguard Homes & Property overheard some of the members saying that the illegally built houses will be pulled down in order to ensure orderly development of the new settlement.

Planning approval FHA’s General Manager, Mr David Kpue who was in the delegation, explained that some of those who have built in the new city, actually have allocations from the Authority. He was quick to point out however that they did not obtain building/planning approval from either the Lagos State Government or the FHA Prior to the site inspection, the concessionaire through its Managing Director, Mr. Goddy Egbuji, an engineer, made a visual presentation of the project to the monitoring team. He chronicled all aspects of the project, details of the already completed site investigation studies and preliminary works, the status of the ongoing reclamation as well as pockets of legal challenges that have unduly hindered the pace of the project.

According to him, the illegal

structures if allowed to remain, would alter the original master plan of the upcoming Festac new city.

Vanguard Homes & Property recalls that the immediate past Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi and the Vice Chairman of New Festac Property Development Company, Sir Isaac Chuks formally signed the concession agreement in September, 2015 on behalf of

the the Federal Government and the developers respectively. .

Eyakenyi had at the brief signing ceremony in Abuja, explained that the realisation of the concession will transform Festac Town into a modern city and yield great benefits both in the infrastructure and economic development of Lagos.

“The serviced plots to be realised through the concession shall be complemented with green areas, off street parking,

power supply, petrol station, shopping malls, hospitals, hospitality centres and laid roads, water works, street lights, sewage disposal systems, incinerators and all necessary support infrastructure,” she said.

According to her, the government will earn an estimated N25.765 billion per annum as premium for 30 years of the concession. This is in to the sum of N150 million to be realised annually as ground rent. The

Exotic houses in Festac Phase 1 ...Such developments are illegally springing up in Phase Two

parties agreed to review the earning clause to reflect the market situation.

The origin of the project could be traced to the 1970s when the Federal Government made massive acquisition of land for the development of Festival Town to host the 1977 World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture.

In 2006, FHA took advantage of the public-private partnership initiative and invited bids for the reclamation and infrastructural development of Festac phase Two to produce 7,000 serviced plots complete with standard infrastructure and essential services.

Essential services The bid was won by Messrs New Festac Property Development Company which is a special purpose vehicle made up of four companies – Fung Tai Engineering Limited, PW Nig Limited, SCC Nigeria Limited and Energo Nigeria Limited.

The Vice Chairman of the Concessionaire, Sir Chuks explained that his company will “fully fund the implementation of the project and recoup its funds mainly through the sale and management of plots of the land over the concession period...

Meanwhile, six estate surveying firms - Messrs M.I. Okoro & Associates, J.AjayiPatunola & Co, Osas & Oseji, Herbert Onodingene & Partners, Godwin Iteghete & Co and Sola Badmus & Co. have been given the nod to handle the sale of 240 hectares of land comprising about 800 plots of land in Egolima District, which is part of the larger Imperial City planned by the Concessionaire.

Engineers to release maiden National Infrastructure Assessment scorecard in November

By Favour Nnabugwu & Grace Udofia

T

HE Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, will next month, release the country’s first National Infrastructure Assessment scorecard.

The score card is an assessment of the infrastructure needs of Nigeria and a step by step approach to providing them.

This was disclosed by the President of the Society, Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi at the October lecture hosted by the professional body.

“An infrastructure scorecard is a veritable tool for designing any nation’s developmental framework as well as a tool for comparative assessment of performance of such a nation in infrastructure delivery.

Olorunfemi who regretted that Nigeria does not have a National Infrastructure

Scorecard said “Survey reports on critical infrastructure from crucial sectors of the economy such as Power, Communications, Oil & Gas, among others will form the crux of the score card which will be presented to President Mohammad Buhari and the Public on November 17, 2015, at the opening ceremony of the National Engineering Conference in Akure.”

In a keynote lecture delivered by a former President of the NSE, Engr.

Olumuyiwa Ajibola stated that “there will never be a time where when the objectives of the foreign powers will tally with those of the developing countries, both in content and strategies”.

He added that it is left for each country to chart its own best option path to development and growth by identifying and pursuing only the areas of those

foreign interests that can aid its development maximally.

Ajibola who spoke on Creativity in the Application of Nigerian Engineers Resources for Effective Economic Development: A National Policy Imperative,’ noted that creativity is the bedrock of a country’s rapid growth that will lead to accelerated development designed to yield maximum benefits to its nationals.

Infrastructural development is essential to national growth as no sector can function without it.

“Virtually all the sectors of the economy are driven by the capability of engineering and technology application. In the face of dwindling fortune from oil and its attendant volatility over the years, it becomes imperative for our nations to diversify its economy,” he said

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 35

Lafarge Forum: Experts seek involvement of professionals in construction

By Kingsley Adegboye

B

UILT environment stakeholders have called for the engagement of professionals at every stage of the construction process guard against the failure of such projects in future. The experts who spoke last week at one-day Lafarge media engagement in Lagos, also advocated collaboration among built environment professionals to ensure sustainable buildings and safe living The media forum was put together by Messrs Lafarge Africa Plc, makers of Elephant Cement, to demonstrate its determination and commitment to curbing the rising incidents of collapsed buildings in the country.

The media engagement involved presentation of the company ’s programmes, projects and achievements over the years as well as interactive session which centred on the theme, “Build Safe, Live Safe, What Role For The Stakeholders?”

Immediate past Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, Mr. Olayemi Shonubi noted that build safe and live safe can only be ensured if stakeholders in the sub-sector engage professionals throughout the construction process.

Construction process Shonubi who is the Managing Partner of Dwab Costprudence described the engagement of quacks by developers as the major cause of building collapse in the country.

He called for the engagement of built environment experts right from the design stage of the projects to their completion, insisting that engagement of non-professionals or quacks cannot ensure sustainable housing nor safe living.

Corroborating Shonubi’s submission, a structural engineer and deputy president, Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE Mr. Oreoluwa Fadayomi enjoined those embarking on building construction to learn to do the right thing by engaging the services of built environment professionals.

Fadayomi who is a director at Landmark Technologies Ltd, hinted that the

engagement of professionals must commence from the design stage of the project with the engagement of an architect to do the design.

Pointing out that concrete mixing is an issue in construction, Fadayomi said

cement is not the only aggregate making up concrete. According to him, all aggregates making up concrete must be well mixed to their ratios in order to have good concrete mix. He added that it is only a structural

engineer that is qualified to recommend concrete mix in construction. He advised the Nigerian Standard Organisation should determine the use of concrete mix in construction.

In his contribution, the

Director of Operations, Lafarge Ready Mix, Mr. Fred Amobi stated that in terms of concrete mix, Explaining the concept of Lafarge Ready Mix, he said the technology has “A clear strategy as a project enabler, driving quality and innovation forward and promoting a sustainable environment for generations to come. We will achieve this by working closely with our valued customers and partners”.

“Lafarge Group’s core values include health and safety as first priority, people development, respect for employees and local culture, corporate governance, customer care and market orientation together with commitment to be ranked among the World’s most effective industrial groups in terms of environmental protection, social responsibility and corporate governance. To make advances in building materials, the company places the customer at the heart of its concerns. It offers the construction industry and the general public innovative solutions bringing greater safety, comfort and quality to their everyday surroundings", he said.

•Workers laying a concrete mix

Lagos budget will emphasise maintenance of public infrastructure —Perm Sec

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE 2016 Lagos State budget will lay emphasis on maintenance of public assets and effective management of parastatal organisations in order to reduce their dependence on the state’s finances.

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Kadri Abayomi. at the 2016 Budget Consultative Forum at the weekend The forum, he explained, was organised by his Ministry to promote citizens’ participation in budget preparation, update stakeholders on the half-year performance of the 2015 budget and obtain inputs, contributions and opinion on the 2016 budget process.

He assured participants that the government, pursuant to her public engagement posture would accommodate all shades of opinion in preparing the budget in order for it to satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of all strata of people of the state.

He stated that sectoral allocation in the budget will reflect government priority areas as illustrated in the Lagos State Development Plan

of 2012-2025, while reducing expenditure on governance as well as prepare for Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) winds up.

Kadri who stated that all the observations raised at the past budget consultative fora and economic summits had helped the government to run a peoples- based government, said most of the roads and other infrastructure that the governments’ attention was

drawn to at the last consultative forum, have been attended to either by way of rehabilitation or reconstruction.

He further explained that the 2015 budget was used to fund major ongoing infrastructure projects and new initiatives such as the Light Rail project, expansion of Mile 12 to Ikorodu which he noted was nearing completion, Adiyan Water Plant Phase II, New Sewage Treatment Plants at Itedo and

Odo Iya Alaro to improve waste water management in the state, Abayomi said the expansion of reticulation network for water supply, expansion of Lagos-Badagry Express way Phase II and the construction of Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikorodu were some of the major projects funded by the 2015 budget. He said the ¦ 498.690bn budget the current fiscal year had attained 63 per cent performance by half year.

Planners brainstorm on functional cities at AGM

By Jude Njoku

A

GAINST the backdrop of the failure of Nigerian cities to provide for an environment sustainable for living, work and recreation, town planners in the country say they will use their forthcoming 46 th annual conference in Ilorin to address the anomaly.

The conference which will be hosted by their professional body - the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, will have “Making Cities in Nigeria Functional” as its theme. Slated for the Banquet Hall, Government House, Ilorin, Kwara State between October

27th to 30th, participants at the conference will take stock of developments in the profession as well as welfare of the practitioners. It will also attempt an overview of the functionality element of cities with a view to making them facilitate growth and development.

The Chairman of the conference organising committee, Mr. Luka Achi, said: the focus of this year’s theme is on making settlements in Nigeria functional. Achi who is also the First National VicePresident of the NITP, said: “The human settlement is expected to provide and

promote an environment suitable for sustainable living, work and recreation. In Nigeria, this dream has continued to be an illusion as settlements of various sizes and characteristics exhibit elements of disjointed and dysfunctional space use and inter-relationship.

“The impact of this can be observed in the absence of physical plans, poor transportation and related services, absence of social amenities and services and a general neglect of the socially disadvantaged group of the society. Where these plans exist, they are either distorted or not complied with,” he said.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

By Jude Njoku

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OLSTERED by the successful completion of Miserere on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi, Messrs Cadwell Limited last week, unveiled plans to launch another luxury project in the highbrow Ikoyi neighbourhood.

‘Cuddle’ as the integrated high-rise development which would be sited on Bourdillon Road is called, is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2016.

The projects will incorporate residences, large size apartments, extra-large penthouses and two levels of leisure lane, roof top swimming pools with skyline deck and a breathless ball hall. Cuddle, according to the developers, will give an imposing and majestic look to the highbrow location.

Specifically, the project will consist of three and four bedroom apartments with a drawing hall, dinning, family

Cuddle as the name implies is meant to embrace the desire of those who know and appreciate the true meaning of a luxury lifestyle

living and a study. The Penthouses are in three different grades - Prime, Platinum and Premier, and on two and three floors giving the occupants the opportunity to view the Cowrie creek, sea view, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and

Lekki.

Cadwell’s Chief Operating Officer, Olaseni Oguntoyinbo disclosed that Cuddle would be dedicated the deceased former Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Tayo Aderinokun aka Uncle T “to

cuddle his legacy of kindness, generosity, genuine and strong support for Cadwell”. “ The mild-classic architectural designs are created by one of the best Nigerian architectural firms Pieach Limited and the new

Developer unveils plans to launch new high-rise building in Ikoyi

project comes with high quality building materials and facilities management service while fixtures and fittings are from top of the line products known for their durability and reliability and sourced from the best manufacturers as well as surpass the uncommon features of other Cadwell properties.

Primary pledge “Our primary pledge to the market is to provide best-inclass properties, marketing and sales of real estate products and services in a tasteful manner and facility maintenance through tried and tested skills,” Oguntoyinbo said.

“Cuddle as the name implies is meant to embrace the desire of those who know and appreciate the true meaning of a luxury lifestyle, seekers of unpretentious coziness and lovers of long lasting investment products. The building is gigantic and intimidating in stature but gentle, warm and cuddly in nature,” the Cadwell CEO said.

The company l is presently selling off-plan by taking reservations through formal subscriptions. The apartments are offered to buyers either as owner-occupier, property investors and precious gifts to loved ones. The main attraction of this scheme is its payment terms with minimum deposit of 15 – 25 per cent as commitment / sign-on fees, while the balance is payable in installments throughout the construction period.

•Proposed Cuddle project

Nigerite inaugurates Kalsi Experience Centre

By Kingsley Adegboye

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UOYED by the successful introduction of its Kalsi Building Board Solutions , Messrs Nigerite Limited has taken the innovation a step further by commissioning a Kalsi Experience Centre right within the company ’s premises.

The structure, a one story duplex, embodies the dynamism and precision of the Kalsi boards as it offers a glimpse into the remarkable and endless possibilities of the dry construction system compared with the traditional wet method. Apart from the foundation of the building, done with the wet process, the other parts of the construction embodied the beauty of the Kalsi building boards. They included the floors, claddings, partitions, along with the internal and external walls and ceilings.

The event was witnessed by major stakeholders in the

building and construction industry in Nigeria, who were wowed as they were being taken on a tour round the structure.

Nigerite’s Managing Director Mr. Frank Le Bris, told guests drawn mainly from professional associations and academia that the innovative Kalsi board solutions from Nigerite is a step in the right direction. “It

is the future of Nigerite and the building industry in Nigeria,” he boasted.

Chairman Nigerian Institute of Architects, Mr. Ladipo Lewis described the Kalsi building board as a welcome development that offers a fresh new possibility for the building and construction industry in Nigeria. He noted that it is high time Nigerians

embraced change because of the numerous advantages therein.

“Though the concept of dry construction has been a wellknown phenomenon around the world for many years, but it is still largely uncommon in Nigeria, that is why Nigerite Limited, knowing the inherent benefit of this method has taken the initiative to bring the

building board solution to Nigeria,” he said While insisting that the Kalsi boards are not intended to displace the wet methods, but to complement and create an alternative for builders, the company maintained that the advantages of the boards over the traditional methods are endless,as it can save up to 70 percent of construction time.

Kresta Laurel will develop Nigeria technologically —Osinbajo

By Kelechukwu Iruoma

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HE Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has predicted that Messrs Krastel Laurel, one of the leading elevator companies chaired by the former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, will develop Nigeria technologically.

Osinbajo said this while delivering a keynote address at the 25th anniversary of Kresta Laurel in Lekki, Lagos. He described Kresta Laurel as a company with distinctive creativity and competence in the field of electromechanical systems which had the bests

elevators, travelling cranes, among others in Nigeria.

Prof. Osinbajo described the chairman of the company, Otunba Daniel as a man of creativity rare to find. He said, “I am here to celebrate a friend, a man of creativity, rare to find and that is what has driven him for so many years to establish the Kresta Laurel limited to build the best elevators in Nigeria.

He is someone you can rely on as friend. Kresta Laurel will build its own lift in the next 25 years,” he said.

Otunba Daniel in his remarks, revealed that what was celebrated was success and uniqueness, adding that

what motivated him to establish the engineering company was to ensure that elevators in Nigeria were built strongly.

He revealed that some of the notable buildings in various parts of the country, were built by Kresta Laurel.

The event held at Oriental hotel was also attended by the former Senate President, David Mark, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe state, Deputy governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, Otunba Subomi Balogun, the Awujale of Ijebuland, former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, among others.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOMBER 20 , 2015—37

Tribunal frustrating my appeal, Abe cries out

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA —ERSTWHILE Chairman of Senate Committee on Petroleum downstream, Senator Magnus Abe, has alleged a deliberate plot by the Rivers State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, to frustrate his appeal against its judgment.

The Justice Mohammed Sai’du Sifawa-led three-man tribunal had in a judgment it delivered on October 13, dismissed a petition that was lodged before it

by Senator Abe and the All Progressives Congress, APC. The tribunal, went ahead and affirmed Senator Olaka Nwogu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the bona-fide winner of Rivers South East Senatorial seat.

While dismissing Abe’s petition for want of merit, the panel said it was convinced that election was duly conducted in that Senatorial District on March 28, 2015.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the panel, Abe vowed to take the matter before the appellate court, insisting that the verdict of the tribunal was nothing but “ judicial 419.”

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Abe lamented that the tribunal had refused to furnish him with a copy of the judgement and record of its proceedings, six days after the judgment was delivered.

He claimed that spirited effort by his team of lawyers to secure the court processes had not yielded any fruit.

According to him, request for

release of the judgement was to enable his lawyers to study it holistically to be able to raise solid grounds of appeal within the 21 days time frame allowed by the law.

He said applications his lawyers submitted before the tribunal with a view to getting the required records, were totally ignored, saying “we have only 21 days to file an appeal against the judgement of the tribunal and the tribunal has already taken more than six days out of that for no reason whatsoever, How many days will then be left for me and my lawyers to study the case and prepare the appeal?”

He appealed to Nigerians in

whatever position not to play god, saying the Rivers State APC was of the view that if the judgement was allowed to stand, it would translate to an open ticket for politicians and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials to do whatever they could on election day to produce results either by hook or by crook.

“It is important for the future of Nigeria that we appeal this judgement, the tribunal having delivered its judgement has become functus officio in the case.

They should assist and not frustrate our efforts to test the judgement at the appeal tribunal,” Abe said.

While stressing that he had great

respect and confidence in the Judiciary, Abe urged judicial authorities to intervene in his case to ensure that the quest of the APC for justice in Rivers State was not frustrated.

“We wish to humbly draw the attention of the President of the Court of Appeal and indeed all judicial authorities to intervene and direct the tribunal judges to release our records accordingly. As Law abiding Nigerians we draw the attention of the public to this dangerous development and appeal to all lovers of justice to speak up before it is too late”, he added.

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S A B A —G O V E R N O R Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, yesterday said the way out of the frightening employment crisis confronting Nigeria, especially the state, was not acquisition of certificate, but skills building through vocational education.

The governor spoke while inaugurating the Governing Council of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, headed by a former Commissioner for Works in the state, Solomon Funkekeme.

He said: “We are deeply convinced that the solution to the massive youth unemployment that we are facing in the country, and especially in our state, lies not with certificate acquisition, but with skills building through technical cum vocational education. Students must be thought and equipped with entrepreneurial skills, problemsolving abilities, principles of

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By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA State Bursary and Scholarship Board, has warned students of the state origin against fraudulent acts in their bid to be part of the Students Special Assistant Scheme, SSAS. Executive Secretary of the board, Elijah Ologe, who handed down the warning in a chat with newsmen in Asaba, said the board would not condone any fraudulent act, noting that any student caught would be barred from the programme.

He also warned that students who had graduated from school but took the board’s scheme as ground for committing fraud by still applying for assistance using forged documents would be handed over to law enforcement agents for prosecution.

Ologe added that the board had set machinery in motion to fish out such dubious students and that it was no longer going to be business as usual.

APC gov aspirant tasks party on level playing field EDO 2016:

SUMMIT: From left: Vice Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, and CEO, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc., Mrs. Sola David-Borha; Chairman, NESG, Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar; Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr. Babachir David Lawal; Chairman, Phillips Consulting, Mr. Folusho Philips, and CEO, Kainos Edge Consulting, Mrs. Wonu Adetayo, at the closing of the 21st edition of Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

How Nigeria can tackle rising unemployment,

by Gov Okowa

By Emma Amaize, Festus Ahon & Ochuko Akuopha

Delta bursary board warns students

personal effectiveness, leadership development, business and crisis management, as well as current trends in business and ethics.

These should be complemented with regular skills building and training programmes to upgrade and update their knowledge base.

“The development of technical education is at the very core of our S.M.A.R.T agenda because we believe that until we get our

youths to acquire the requisite technical and vocational skills, we are not building a future for them.

"No meaningful national development can be achieved without sound, qualitative technical education and in Delta State, three of our technical colleges are currently being rehabilitated and refocused to equip students with the knowledge and entrepreneurial skills for business, trade and commerce.”

He challenged polytechnic lecturers to pay emphasis on multi-disciplinary research and practical life skills to ensure that polytechnic graduates became self employed.

Responding on behalf of members of the council, Funkekeme thanked Governor Okowa for deeming them fit to serve the government and people of the state, assuring that they would carry out their functions diligently.

Dickson tasks Bayelsa NASS members on Lokpobiri's clearance

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By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, has called on members of the National Assembly from the state to close ranks with the ministerial nomination of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri with a view to ensuring his screening and clearance.

Dickson made the call when the members on the aegis of National

Assembly Caucus Forum paid a condolence visit to him in Government House, Yenagoa, over the demise of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Governor of the state.

He urged them to always commit themselves to the unity and progress of the state, noting that the development of the state was paramount regardless of party affiliations or personal interest.

The governor expressed resolve to collaborate with representatives of the state at the national level towards accelerating the pace of development and lauded members of the National Assembly from the state for partnering with the state government with a view to actualizing its vision

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By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—AHEAD of the Edo State governorship election in 2016, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Calsey Omon-Irabor, has appealed to the leadership of the party to give all aspirants a level playing ground during its primaries.

Omon- Irabor who made the call in Benin at a meeting with the Edo Civil Society Organizations and the Talakawa Parliament, to inform them of his governorship ambition, said anything short of that would be unacceptable.

He said: “If the primaries of the party that would nominate the party’s flag bearer is free, fair and just and it did not favour me, I will accept the result and support and work with who so ever is nominated."

38—Vanguard,TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

UNTH refutes alleged service failure

JOHESU reads riot act in Imo

...emphasizes hospital's competence

By Tony Edike

By Chidi Nkwopara

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HE MANAGEMENT of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku/ Ozalla, Enugu has dismissed as totally false, claims by striking members of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, in the hospital that surgeries are conducted with candles and torch-lights, saying that apart from power supply from public power source, which has improved since the past few months, the hospital has functional generating sets,

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WERRI—BARELY 24 hours after the Imo State Branch of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, made some demands on the state government, the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, after an emergency meeting in Owerri, condemned the proposed concessioning of general hospitals and health centres by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri, the JOHESU Chairman, Mr. Francis Nzenwata, argued that the concessioning of health centres, which is the first line of primary healthcare delivery, is patently wrong.

“Concession relates to profit maximization, which is inimical to quality.

Healthcare provided by health centres is a social responsibility of government, which should not be profit-oriented,” Nzenwata said.

JOHESU also warned that unless extant layout laws and rules were strictly observed in the process, the welfare of its members would be jeopardized.

The labour leader was particularly irked that Okorocha failed to discuss the proposal with the organized labour and the related industrial unions.

“Government is advised to drop the idea of the planned concession of General Hospitals and Health Centres, as it will increase maternal and child morbidity and lead to outbreak of communicable diseases,” Nzenwata said.

powering various departments of the hospital.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr. Cyril Keleze, the management also faulted the claim that activities in the hospital had collapsed, saying that even when resident doctors decided to embark on strike, the Open Heart Surgery programme was in progress while other departments are rendering services.

Patients in various wards, he said were still being attended to by the consultants while

nurses were at their duty posts.

The management said that it was unfortunate that ARD embarked on smear campaign against the management over water supply at a time that functional boreholes had been provided and the age-long problem of water supply had been solved.

The UNTH management said: “It is unfortunate that the President of the Association of Resident Doctors at UNTH, Dr. Ifedinso Ugwoke decided to embarked on lies and falsehood in his bid to diminish the rising profile of the

Assemblies of God Church drags factional group to EFCC over embezzlement

By Chinenyeh Ozor

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FACTION of Assemblies of God Church has been dragged to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the Assistant General Superintendent, accusing the factional General Superintendent and six others of alleged fraudulent conversion of funds running into billions of naira.

The Assistant General Superintendent, Rev. Ramsey Ogagaoghene in a petition addressed to the EFCC noted that the factional General Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor and six others allegedly embezzled over N100 billion belonging to the church, adding that Rev. Okoroafor was the Assistant General Superintendent until March, 2014 when he could not account for funds of the church and formed a parallel group that threw the church into crisis.

On account of the petition dated September, 2015 submitted to the Commission by Mr. Eli Ugwu, counsel to the petitioner and four others, the group urged the Commission to investigate the alleged fraudulent conversion of

money and embezzlement of funds belonging to the church by Rev. Okoroafor and his cohorts as they approved money for projects without due process of the church, and allegedly executed such projects by themselves.

Petition The petition read in part: "On behalf of the Assistant General Superintendent, Rev. Ramsey Ogagaoghene, Bright Arukwe, Clement Esochaghi, Oliver Udensi and Sunday Palma for and on behalf of pastors and other concerned members of the church, we claim that Rev. Vincent Alaje, Rev. Femi Adegoke, Mr. Dickson Ukpai, Mr. Michael Ugbor, Elder Mike Okoro and Tony Ewelike engaged in illegal and unauthorized business without the approval of the General Suprintendent.

"Alaje unilaterally spent about N115 million belonging to the church, personally negotiated and concluded payments for three plots of lands and has started developing the plots without the consent and authority of the General Superintendent and other officers of the church.

“Alaje was fond of

commandeering the money of the church, approving same by himself, and authorized payments without the consent of the General Superintendent. This was evidenced by his requisition of 5/4/2013 for the sum of N1.5 million which he tagged, 'Trip to Ibadan with family.' The unilateral stashing of fund was after the church magnanimously approved N2 million for him" The petition further indicted Alaje of illegally collecting N28.5 million as staff investment premium without any authorization, which according to the report, was against the general council accounts procedures. The petition further noted that the same amount was deposited into an account with Diamond Bank.

Rev Ogagaoghene in the petition also prayed EFCC to question Mr. Tony Ewelike on the N1.4 billion Assemblies of God Ministers Benefit Scheme, AGMBS, which he was unable to account for. The petition further pointed out that Rev. Femi Adegoke,, the former media director of the church should also be investigated for allegedly defrauding the church of over N50 milliion.

hospital which was made possible by ongoing transformation by the Dr. Christopher Amah-led administration.

“In as much as the doctors under the ARD have rights to make case for the payment of what they claim to be their entitlements, it is not enough to engage in a smear campaign against the management that has worked hard to improve service delivery in the hospital.

“It is laughable that the ARD President could turn a blind eye to the clear fact that water from the motorised boreholes recently sunk by the management is now being used in the hospital. It is ridiculous to also claim that surgeries are carried out with torch and candle lights at a time power supply has appreciably improved and the generating sets are functioning.

Destabilization “We hereby warn some agents of destabilization among the ARD members, who are being used by some top staff, who failed in their ambition to occupy the seat of Chief Medical Director in the past, to desist from further media attacks which are targeted at running down the hospital that has remained the last hope for the people of the South East.”

The UNTH Chief Medical Director, Dr. Amah had while speaking on the activities of the hospital, weekend, said that over N120 million spent on services handled by contractors per annum had been saved through a review carried out recently.

These services were reviewed with effect from July this year.

Dr. Amah said that the review followed the expiration of the fiveyear contracts in the area of laundry, cleaning and security services in the hospital.

He added that the review had also infused competition and efficiency in the system as more than one contractor now handle these services within the hospital.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On Diezani’s pra uest fr om Nigerians prayyer req request from

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advise the former Petroleum Resources Minister to sow seeds by sending some of her wealth back home so that the poor and needy in Nigeria will benefit. Nigerians need her money more than she needs our prayers. -Mr. Anthony Nneji, Administrator

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his politicians are wicked, they only remember Nigerians when they need our prayer. But when they loot our tax and natural resources do they care? The wicked must not go unpunished; thank God I am not the one that said it. -Mr. James Chukwunenye, Self Employed

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he worst you can wish your enemy is cancer.

In any case, may God grant Diezani healing and health. As for our money, Madam, please, pity the helpless poor masses in Nigeria and return our money even as healing is going on. -Mr. Vitus Nwenyi, Businessman

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have come to realize one thing about most Nigerians,that those killing us are the ones we show care for and support. We may now forget that the money she looted was meant to develop this nation, yet she want us to pray for her? -Miss Chioma Ani, Model

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here is no small sin, sin is sin. What position will you and I take if we are privileged to find ourselves in the corridor of power? She is no different from any of our political leaders. They all are birds of same feathers.

-Mr. Ben Onyekachi, NYSC member

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et her recover so she and Ibori can hold prayer meetings for the next 15 years. She has destroyed this country and she is still attempting to manipulate the populace because she feels she is that smart, and Nigerians appear stupid. -Mr. Ogwu Nwachukwu, Student

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 39

Bauchi police arrest 2 suspected cattle rustlers

By Suzan Edeh

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L-r: Senator Ike Nwachukwu, and Otunba Babatunde A special party to mark the 50th birthday of Sanya Onayoade, a director Bada at the 50th birthday of Mr. Sanya Onayade of ISO Black Concept Ltd was held at Lagos Country Club, at Lagos Country Club, weekend . Photos: Joe Ikeja, yesterday. L-r: Mrs Olanrewaju Oluwasola, nee Esan, Akintola, photo editor Mrs Victoria Onayoade and Mr. Sanya Onayoade, celebrator at the event

NDIC boss tasks rural women on investment in MFBs

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS — RURAL women in Plateau State have been urged to take advantage of the micro-finance banks in their locality to save money, rather than spend same on frivolity which adds no value to their lives.

The Bauchi Zonal Controller, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, Mr. Emmanuel Vontau who gave the charge in Jos, weekend, assured the women they have nothing to fear about the future of MicroFinance Banks as most of them are “well organized and better than some major banks in the country.”

Addressing shareholders at the maiden edition of the annual general meeting of Light Microfinance Bank Ltd, the Zonal Controller said the Portfolio at Risk, PAR, of Light Microfinance Bank was two per cent, adding that this showed that the microfinance bank was credible to do business with.

He said: “As regulators, we know the capabilities of banks, performances of microfinance banks are better than some major banks in the country.

Management makes great impact on banks, I can attest that Light Microfinance bank is

credible. Our people especially women at the grassroots should take advantage of the microfinance bank, save with them and invest in shares instead of spending their resources on frivolous ventures which add no value to them and their families.”

Earlier, the Managing Director of the microfinance bank, Mr. Danjuman Tat, said Light Microfinance Bank had a vision of being a dynamic and sustainable financial institution

providing economic and social empowerment to the active poor.

He said, “We are a microfinance bank engaged in empowering economically active poor through provision of economic and social services so as to reduce poverty and improve livelihood through sustainable best practices.

Since the bank started operation in 2012, our operating environment has

I remain the best alternative for Kogi — PPN Candidate

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA —THE governorship candidate of Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, in Kogi State, Dr Ojuh Hussein, has said the party remained the best alternative for the people of the state in the next election.

Hussein said the candidates of the two leading parties, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governor Idris Wada, and that of All Progressives Congress, APC, Prince Abubakar Audu, were not the alternatives that the people of the state actually needed.

Hussein, who stated this during his formal declaration for the governorship of the state in Lokoja, yesterday, said the PPN was the only party that had a well thought out policy and programme for the development of the state.

He said, “My party is ready to provide viable alternative to Wada and Audu, who had at one time or the other had the opportunity of ruling the state but could not better the lot of the people. My party, PPN, had a 10-point agenda for the development of Kogi State.

Maku tasks CBN on loans to Gov Almakura

By Abel Daniel

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AFIA— The governorship candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in the 2015 general elections in Nasarawa State, Labaran Maku, has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to refrain from giving Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura more loans until there was physical audit and evaluation of the state account.

Maku who made the call at a press conference in Lafia, yesterday, said the call had become imperative, given alleged misappropriation of state funds by Almukura’s administration.

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been faced with many challenges ranging from religious crisis/security challenges majorly by boko haram and unknown gunmen/ Fulani herdsmen among others.

“Despite these challenges, the bank posted positive results as reference point to other microfinance banks. The bank is conscious of the enormous task of sustaining and exceeding this performance.”

However, the shareholders in microfinance bank, having reposed confidence in the management of the bank, ratified their re-appointment and authorized the increase of the bank’s authorization capital from N2 million to N5 million.

He explained that the move by the state governor to access N10 billion loan from the CBN, in addition to the N8 billion bailout funds from the federal government, was a plan to plunge the state into a long term debt.

He added that Al-makura in the last four years, obtained over N200 billion from the federation account without any physical projects commensurate with the funds.

Maku who said the state government had subjected the people of the state to abject poverty through non-payment of

salaries and pensions, despite the release of bailout funds to the state, said it was unfortunate that Al-makura was harassing youths in the state who did not support his ‘inordinate’ ambition.

He urged the people of the state to exercise patience while he followed due process to obtain his mandate.

Similarly, Maku disclosed that he had carefully studied the judgement of the elections tribunal and had concluded arrangement to appeal the case.

They include local government autonomy, industrialisation, youth and women empowerment, rural and infrastructural development, war against poverty and transportation. Others are quality health care services, tourism, job creation and free and compulsory education.”

Hussein said he was ready to harness the potentialities of the state to make it one of the richest in the country. He added,“The people of Kogi State have suffered from decades of mismanagement and lack of idealist leadership to steward the state to growth and development.

Our phenomenon only fix Kogi state far back behind its glories of 1914 of being the first capital of modern day Nigeria.

“PPN has offered young minds and brains to steer the course of leadership for Kogi State so that eagle ideas can fly in the process of making our dear Kogi great once again. All young men and women come out en mass to vote for PPN come November 21, 2015.”

He stated that the party, with representation across the 21 local government areas of the state, had commenced voter education among the electorate in order to secure the majority of the votes on the day of the election.

AUCHI—The Police in Bauchi State, yesterday, said they have arrested two suspected cattle rustlers in the state.

The State Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, in a statement made available to newsmen in Bauchi, said the suspects, 25-year-old Muhammadu Shumi and Abubakar Muhammad, both indigenes of Zaria local government in Kaduna State, were arrested following an intelligence report.

Vanguard reports that there had been concern by many residents in the state due to increased cases of cattle rustling.

The PPRO stated that the suspects lured one Auwal Mohammed and stole 40 cows belonging to his father, Mohammed Bello, of Zaria local government at Yuga forest.

He said the exhibits recovered from the suspects include 65 cows and 19 sheep and called on members of the public whose animals were stolen to report to Toro police division for identification.

‘Digital marketing, indispensable for small businesses'

By Laju Iren

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XPERTS have said that digital marketing is an indispensable tool small business must take advantage of if they are to survive.

Championing this idea, is Ms Mariam Thompson, programme coordinator of the third digital marketing event for small business owners in Nigeria, scheduled to hold in Lagos on Thursday, October 22, 2015.

The event, organised by the iVEN team, is themed: “Discover the secret sauce to ïdentifying and âttracting your ïdeal çlients using online marketing tools. “ Thompson said in a statement: “This is a mustattend event for every entrepreneur, sales professional and marketing executive.’’

According to Bloomberg eight out of 10 entrepreneurs who start businesses fail within the first 18 months for so many reasons, among which the lack of a solid marketing plan.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

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BUDGET FORUM: From left— Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos; Permanent Secretary, Minisry of Economic Planning & Budget, Mr. Kadri Abayomi; Director of Administration & Human Resources, Ministry of Economic Planning & Budget, Kofoworola Awobamise; and Director, Lagos Bureau of Statistics, LBS, Tayo Hossein-Ope, during the 2016 Budget Consultative Forum by the minstry in Lagos.

FRSC/GUINNESS EMBER CAMPAIGN: From left— Head, Policy and Public Affairs, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Michael Onuoha; Lagos Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Hyginius Omeje; MD/CEO, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, and Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, both of Guinness, at the flag off of Ember Months Responsible Drinking Awareness Campaign in Lagos. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

PEAK PROMO: One million Naira winner in the Peak Reach for Millions promo, Mrs. Oyinyechukwuka Jonathan (left) and Area Sales Manager, Enugu, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Faith Kukogho, at the prize presentation in Enugu.

SES/SOFTWIRE: From left— Business Development Manager, Softwire, Gabriel Eluma; Communications & Public Relations, Tinat Chowdhry; General Manager, Sales, North, West & Central Africa, Eric Lecocq; Sales Manager, North, West and Central Africa, Joy Emenike, all of SES, and COO, Softwire, Igbinosa Nosa, during a media briefing announcing the partnership between SES and Softwire in Lagos.

HERBAL SOCIETY: Mr. Yommy Dauda (right), presenting a copy of Vanguard newspaper to members of Herbal Therapy Society of Nigeria,Lagos Branch, during the society's executive monthly meeting in Lagos.

BIDA POLY: From left—Chairman, LOC, Mr. Fashagba Femi; Dean, School of Business and Management, Mr. Nor Lysander; Head, Department of Business Administration, Mallam Zubair Twachi, and Head, Department of Marketing, Alhaji Saidu Aliyu, all of Federal Polytechnic, Bida, at the 6th Annual National Conference in Bida. PHOTO: Ola Ajayi.

DULUX: Managing Director, Chemical & Allied Products, CAP, Plc, Mrs. Omolara Elemide; a beneficiary of the Dulux Painters Academy, Akinbowale Solomon; Environment, Health & Safety Manager, Oando Marketing Plc, Mr. Chidubem Obiodu, and Finance Director, CAP Plc, Mrs. Adeline Ogunfidodo, during the 2015 graduation of the academy in Lagos.

INSPECTION: Executive Secretary, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Deaconess Modupe Ajibola-Ojodu (middle); Head, Environmental Health Department, Mr. Adeyemi Tella (right) and an Amuwo Odofin Mile 2 Estate community leader, Captain Rasheed Folami (retd), during the inspection of ongoing drainage construction at Zone F, Mile 2 Estate, Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—41

Africapitalism: A philosophy for the era of sustainable development Tony Elumelu presented this paper at a conference organised

by Liberation newspapers for encouraging new thinking and perspectives about Africa at the Liberation Forum, Libreville, Gabon helpful approach to consider in achieving the SDGs. 015 is an important year. It Africa is a continent of 54 is the year when the countries that have complex and Millennium Development Goals varying dynamics, but in many (MDGs), first announced in the cases, common challenges to year 2000, come to a close, which I believe there should be focusing the world’s attention common solutions. I also believe once again on Africa and global that Africapitalism, a philosophy policy relating to our that centers around the private development. I am an African, a sector’s critical role in driving private sector leader and a father, economic and social so the business of African development, can be applied to development is extremely all countries in Africa, and is even important to me. Only two weeks applicable well beyond our ago, I had the privilege of shores for the benefit of people travelling to New York at the in other regions of the world. The invitation of the UN Secretary private sector has an imperative General to witness global leaders to be involved in the business of adopt a new set of 17 Sustainable development because: Development Goals to build on • First, for decades African the successes, as well as address governments have strived to the deficits, in achieving the achieve developmental MDGs. And from Libreville, this aspirations and put their evening, I will travel on to Lima, countries on course to catch up Peru, to participate in discussions with developed economies but with top global economists, they have not succeeded. business and political leaders at Therefore, it will take more than the efforts of African and donor governments and multilateral agencies to achieve the expected outcome. It will take all of us – governments, civil society and, most importantly, the private sector working in A Common cause to create truly transformative change.

• Secondly, the United Nations estimates that the SDGs will cost $170 trillion TONY ELUMELU, C.O.N over 15 years. Current the World Bank/IMF meetings on global GDP annually is only $73 ‘Implementing the SDGs’ to give trillion. That means each and an African private sector every year 15 per cent of the perspective – a perspective which world’s GDP may have to be I will share with you first, this dedicated to financing the SDGs, assuming this cost is accurate. evening.

Working together, the world African governments certainly has recorded many successes don’t have that kind of money. relating to the MDGs, including: Nobody but the private sector can • Providing more than 14 help with mobilising the kind of million people with access to life- huge resources which may be required. But let us not be saving treatment; • 91% of the world’s population having access to clean water; and • 43 million kids attending school for the very first time.

However, the painful truth is that with the exception of high performing countries like Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Namibia, Africa is the region that has made the least progress in achieving the targets set forth in In Africa, the the MDGs. This means that in the era of the SDGs, more universal strategic resources, more innovation and sectors are more scrutiny are required to ensure that our region delivers agriculture, natural on the 17 Global Goals. It also resources and means that Africa must decisively take charge of its own healthcare development. I am, therefore, proposing Africapitalism as one

By Tony Elumelu

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•Map of Africa

2

pessimistic. Practically speaking, what these figures mean is that: • We need to marshal massive amounts of resources - financial and otherwise • We need everyone to participate - and by “everyone” I mean the public sector, the private sector and the non-profit sector - and • We need to innovate.

•Since the majority of government revenues that will be allocated to achieving the SDGs will come from taxing the commercial activities of the private sector - it’s in the self interest of governments to see their private sectors thrive.

• Because the private sector holds most of global capital, and because it is the sector that has the greatest capacity for innovation, our governments must develop the enabling environments that help businesses in their countries to succeed.

Role of the private sector But the good news is that the world is beginning to appreciate the role of the private sector in achieving these goals. The inclusion of the private sector in the consultations that led to the selection of the new Global Goals and the fact that I and a few other global private sector leaders were invited to witness their adoption alongside global political leaders, shows this realization.

In fact, at a private sector lunch during the just concluded United Nations General Assembly, even Bono, the world’s leading champion of foreign aid to Africa, conceded that the key to ending extreme poverty in the world is more private sector investments than aid.

Africapitalism as an approach to achieving the SDGs Africapitalism is an economic philosophy that promotes long-term investment in strategic sectors that will create economic and social wealth. It includes

financial returns for shareholders as well as development dividends for society. At the core of Africapitalism is development.

Conventional development practice prioritizes the provision of basic health, feeding and education programs to poor and under-- privileged people in the hopes that they will eventually have the tools to lift themselves out of poverty.

Economic opportunity But, I believe that if we also help people make something of themselves by providing access to economic opportunity, they will be able to purchase food, healthcare, education, and clean water for themselves and their children. From my perspective, humanitarian aid and economic opportunity are two sides of the same development coin: international development assistance focuses primarily on helping the poor meet their basic needs, whereas Africapitalism promotes inclusive economic expansion in a way that creates new opportunities for people to help themselves.

Attributes of Africapitalism Africapitalism is defined by a particular set of characteristics that are key to unleashing the potential of African countries to take charge of their own destiny and achieve their own development aspirations, specifically the SDGs. These characteristics include: Shared Purpose: This is at the heart of fostering collaboration between government, business, and other stakeholders to achieve development ends. No single sector or entity can achieve the kind of transformative change we need in Africa on its own. A key feature of this is the creation of national plans and supporting policies around specific sectors and related targets where the private sector can step in with capital and expertise dedicated

to achieving set targets. For instance, the Nigerian government set a target of achieving 40,000 MW watts of electricity by 2020 and in partnership with the private sector, enacted key reforms that made the sector attractive, and the private sector stepped up with billions of dollars of investment in power generation and distribution towards meeting that target. My company, Heirs Holdings, committed $2.5billion to invest in the power sector with a goal of generating 25% of the Nigerian government’s power generation target. That is “Shared Purpose” in working towards SDG 7 (Access to Affordable and Sustainable Energy).

Long-term Investments: Development is never a shortterm project or goal and yet private sector capital, particularly in what is described as “frontier markets” or developing countries, tends to be very impatient, seeking rapid returns and quick exits.

Rapid returns Long-term planning by governments and the deployment of patient capital by the private sector will together create greater and broader economic value as opposed to being merely focused on the extraction of resources. for too long African countries have benefited far too little from our own natural and human resources as global interests have extracted primary resources only to export them at a fraction of their eventual value.

Strategic Sectors: Government and business leaders need to define sectors where their countries have an inherent and unique competitive advantage and then jointly agree a strategy to capitalize on it. Government and business also need to be aligned in order to identify policies and regulations that unnecessarily, and perhaps unintentionally, stifle private sector growth.

In Africa, the universal strategic sectors are agriculture, natural resources and healthcare.

However, each country has opportunities specific to it. In Nigeria for instance, the film industry or Nollywood is a strategic sector that has created millions of jobs and generated billions in revenue through production and distribution and this addresses for instance, SDG 8 (that is Sustained Economic Growth and Decent Work for All).

This makes the case for us Africans to take charge of our own development agenda because well-meaning donors tend to focus on life-saving assistance and are less likely to recognize, much less prioritize, the development potential of industries like entertainment, despite the fact that it is an important part of the Nigerian economy.

To be concluded

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 43

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44 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

in the new regime was enough to stir what his associates have described as a campaign of calumny against him.

On the Senate floor, the antagonism is led by Senator Thompson Sekibo, a third-term senator who returned to the Senate in 2011 under Amaechi’s political shadow.

Outside the Senate, the campaign against Amaechi is reportedly fuelled by his successor as governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, his one-time chief of staff who was promoted minister under Amaechi’s gaze. Even before Amaechi was formally nominated, Wike’s apprehension was buttressed in a statement he issued last July.

In the statement issued on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, the governor, pre-empted a panel he charged to investigate Amaechi by describing his predecessor as corrupt and who, according to him, would stain Buhari’s vaunted anti-corruption stance.

“If Buhari is sincere in his fight against corruption, let him probe Amaechi’s government, and he will discover that there cannot be a government official that is more corrupt than Amaechi,” he said.

Associates of Wike in the Rivers State chapter of the PDP have seized upon the White Paper on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to launch a public campaign against Amaechi’s confirmation.

Remarkably, the White Paper on the report quickly came out once it emerged that Amaechi had been named as a ministerial nominee.

Even thought the issues raised in the panel report are presently the subject of court processes, they are, under the correct atmosphere, sufficient to stop anyone from holding the high office of Minister of the Federal Republic.

•Amaechi: Will he scale Senate hurdle?

MINISTERIAL SCREENING OF AMAECHI:

The moral burden

Commission of inquiry

THE fate of Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, arguably, one of the best performing governors in the last dispensation hangs as a moral burden on the All Progressives Congress, APC Senate caucus. After deferring the screening on two occasions, the Senate would be hard put to justify another deferment today.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

I

T is not surprising that Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi’s ministerial confirmation hearing has generated the most contentious debate among stakeholders. Controversy was imprinted at his naming ceremony even as an infant. Though he is neither Yoruba nor Igbo, Amaechi bears two of the most popular names among the mutually suspicious Yoruba and Igbo.

His schooling was also not without controversy peaking with his activism on the platform of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS in the mid-80s.

Politically, Amaechi’s footprints are also laced with much controversy underpinned by his revolutionary emergence as governor in 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, despite having a ‘K-leg’ problem as perceived by the former leader of the party and then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

However, his most controversial political landmark was his role in marshalling the successful campaign of the APC in the 2015 presidential

election. That was despite the fact that just four years before, Amaechi, was perhaps the closest confidant of President Goodluck Jonathan among the five governors of the PDP in the South-South.

Buffeted and browbeaten by the political intrigues of Governor Timipire Sylva in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, Jonathan as vice-president, reportedly found comfort and companionship in Port-Harcourt where he mostly resorted to in the desert years under the late President Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua regime.

It was perhaps that companionship that gave Amaechi the opportunity to understand the future foibles and failures inherent in a second term for Jonathan, leading to his violent disagreement that made him the number one enemy of the Jonathan family.

Indeed, against the odds and inclination of the political leaders of his South-South region, Amaechi took the uncommon step of leading the push against his “brother” Jonathan, and in

the process, facilitated the first election defeat for a president in Nigeria.

His efforts should ordinarily have been rewarded with a high-level position in the new government, and it was no surprise that he was easily pointed out for high office in the new administration.

The realisation of his possible emergence as an official power broker

The realisation of his possible emergence as an official power broker in the new regime was enough to stir what his associates have described as a campaign of calumny against him

Associates of the former governor and lately, Amaechi himself, have poohpoohed the assertions against him, notably alleging that the Commission of Inquiry was instigated against him. It was further claimed that the report and white paper were timed to cause maximum damage to derail Amaechi’s nomination.

The frenzy against his screening by the PDP in Rivers State, it is feared in some quarters, may be because of speculations that Amaechi may be given the Police Affairs Ministry on account of his successes in arranging the security infrastructure that at one time kept robbers and kidnappers at bay in Rivers State.

Whatever it is, Amaechi has turned into a bone in the throat of the Senate and especially the APC caucus. Many APC senators rode on the coattails of President Muhammadu Buhari to win election which was held on the same day as the presidential election.

Amaechi’s associates have also come out to defend their man citing the world class primary and secondary institutions that became a model for other governors, the healthcare infrastructure established by the preceding regime and the once impregnable security infrastructure put up by Amaechi as legacies that cannot be rewritten. But in the game of politics facts quickly fade out as political interests becloud political players.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 45

Cabinet: Buhari has short-changed women, youths — Rep Ogun •Says PDP”ll take over Edo State in 2016 HONOURABLE Sergius Ogun, an oil and gas expert represents Esan North/ South East Federal Constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. In this interview, he painted a gloomy picture of Edo State debt profile. He also says that the utterances of Governor Adams Oshiomhole on the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration has become embarrassing to the people of the state adding that the PDP will take over Edo State government in 2016.

2015: KOGI DECIDES

Wada promises more infrastructure, flaunts score card

By Kingsley Fanwo

•Ogun

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

O

N the chances of the PDP winning the Edo State governorship election in 2016 The PDP will win the elections because that’s the wind of change, we have had APC in the state for eight years and the people of Edo State are tired. They want a change, and the change is PDP. Why do you say so?

The state is in debt, when this government came in after nine years of PDP government the state was owing N4 billion. As of the last count, the debt profile of the state that the government has acknowledged is over N260 billion.

Let me give credit to the Comrade Governor for increasing the internally generated revenue (IGR) but I will also be quick to add the tax money is not pocket money for the governor or any governor in this country, its the sweat of Edo state people. So why all the debt? why all the borrowing? The state has been mortgaged and now there is an election next year, Edo people should come out clearly and then sack the APC government.

Are you worried that your state governor appears to be too critical of the President Jonathan administration?

I am not because each time he opens his mouth he embarrasses himself, remember the Second Niger bridge he was saying one thing and PENCOM was saying another.

He is a governor, a governor should be respected. He is no longer a labour leader he is a governor of a state. You can’t just come out and be making statements that are not supported with facts.

On the quality of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees There are no young people there and

there are few women. For the people, most of the nominees are of the PDP. It is just few of them who have not served in PDP. Besides, if you are going to bring these old men, which is okay because of their experience, why did it have to take five months? I’m saying five months because from the day you win election you choose your team. They have been around, if you are going to Russia to bring a rocket scientist to head somewhere or something in this country we would say it took you this long to investigate that there is a Nigerian in Russia who is about the best individual in that field.

Is it Rotimi Amaechi that would take you five months to pick? Or three months to eventually send to the Senate or is it Chris Ngige or Raji Fashola? These people have been around, their experience might be good but why did it take long?

Strengthening institutions This would have gone the very first week the National Assembly was inaugurated.

On the sincerity of President Buhari’s war against corruption Somebody’s body language can scare Nigerians away from being corrupt but let me just add that there is corruption all over the world. That of Nigeria is being systemic and where is it coming from? It’s the institutions, every time I have the opportunity to say this I do not hesitate to say it,. We should strengthen our institutions, when you strengthen the institutions most things would be taken care of.

We blame civil servants, we call them evil servants, what is their take home pay? We should stop deceiving ourselves, you have a director in the ministry he is retiring in two years time, what is his annual pay? Why would they not be corrupt? Let us look at the enumeration of civil servants maybe we don’t need the number we have right now, the number of people working there.

If you can trim it down then make them IT compliant Nigeria would work. I am starting from the civil service because they are the engine room of any government.

G

OVERNOR of Kogi State, Capt Idris Wada has promised to provide more social amenities if reelected.

Addressing party supporters in Ajaka, the governor said the 12 years of PDP leadership in the state have transformed Kogi into one of the most developed states in the federation, saying his administration will continue with such trend.

“I do not expect the opposition to hail what we have achieved. They want to win an election. That is why they kept saying we have done nothing. I won’t say that previous governments did nothing. But we have built on what they did and will place Kogi on the map of development.

“We have built roads, hospitals, schools and many construction works are ongoing at the moment. The magnificent Kogi House in Abuja is close to completion. That architectural landmark will be a pride to Nigeria.

We have completed the Greater Lokoja Water works and we are currently redeveloping the Kogi Hotels. When we complete all our projects in Lokoja which include an ultra modern park, township roads, housing estates and many others, Kogites will see what we have used their resources to achieve.

“One of my biggest achievements is the Kogi State University Teaching Hospital. It will be a massive benefit to the people of Kogi State. Let me also inform the people of Kogi who are my bosses, that our Diagnostic Centre will soon be completed. We have also ordered for medical equipment for the recently upgraded Specialist Hospitals in Obangede and Kabba. They deserve to have the best of medical facilities. To the youths, YAD4KOGI

•Wada has been able to create jobs. But with our massive industrial revolution going on, we expect more jobs to be created. I am not only committed to your education, I want to create jobs for you and we have started that already.

“I am your servant and I have done the work I promised to do in 2012. I have managed the commonwealth of Kogi with a very high sense of responsibility, fairness and probity. We have invested in the future of the state.

We have paid our workers regularly and appreciate the challenges Local Government Areas are facing in paying their workers. The expected bailout will be used to clear the backlog.”

I remain the best alternative — PPN candidate

By Boluwaji Obahopo

G

OVERNORSHIP candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, in Kogi State, Dr Ojuh Hussein, has said that the party is the best alternative for the people of the state.

He said the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governor Idris Wada and that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prince Abubakar Audu are not the options needed at this time.

Hussein, who stated this yesterday in Lokoja during his formal declaration to contest for the governorship of the state, said the PPN is the only party that has a well thought out policy and programme for the development of the state.

“My party is ready to provide a

viable alternative to Wada and Audu, could not better the lot of the people.

“My party, PPN, has a 10-point agenda for the development of Kogi State. They include; local government autonomy, industrialisation, youth and women empowerment, rural and infrastructural development, war against poverty and transportation.

Others are quality health care services, tourism, job creation and free and compulsory education”.

Hussein expressed readiness to harness the potentialities of the state to make it one of the richest in the country.

He stated that the party, with representation across the 21 local government areas of the state, had commenced voter education.

46 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

Touré: I've won titles, money, but not happy Biden and the illusive presidency

P

RIOR to last week’s presidential primaries debate, the first of six for Democrats in this presidential election cycle, the American political scene was dominated by this single question: Will vice president Joe Bide run for office?

The huge image of the amiable vice president loomed large over the debate.

Although Biden had not explicitly indicated his intention to run for office, CNN provided an extra podium for the vice president just in case he made a lastminute decision to run and showed up to debate his co-contestants. But, it was not to be as the veteran politician had calculated his options and considered it a politically adroit move to stay away and above the fray for now.

As the Republicans and their conservative media pundits painfully admit, the debate went far above expectations. Unlike the GOP presidential debates whose hallmarks were the hurling of personal innuendos and skating around important issues of the day, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Jim Webb, Martin O’Malley, and Lincoln Chafee elegantly stayed on message and issues. Those political pundits who had foretold a debate that would boil down to a single issue – the political crucifixion of Hillary Clinton on the so-called private e-mail issue that has made more than its fair share of headline news – were roundly disappointed. The Democratic Party presidential hopefuls brushed the e-mail question aside and consigned it to the shelf of non-issues.

At the end of the debate, the verdict was not necessarily about which candidate won as much as the fact of the general agreement that the Democratic Party won.

I daresay that the next Republican Party political debate will no doubt attempt to emulate the standard set by their Democratic Party counterparts.

But, one of the outcomes of the political debate was that it transformed the question about Joe Biden running for office, from “ will Biden run” to something like “will Biden still run”? The thinking before the debate was that the political gladiators will I don’t conduct themselves in such a messy way that see Joe Joe Biden, the knight Biden in shining armour, will ride in to save his running party from being the for the butt of political jokes and caricatures. In U.S. particular, it was presidency, anticipated that Hillary Clinton will although emerge from the this is his debate so bruised and battered that Biden will last certainly step in to realistic repair the damage for it is generally felt that opportunity in spite of Sanders’ to do so popular appeal and

force of message on behalf of the downtrodden, Americans might not really be in the mood to elected an avowed socialist as president.

All predictions about the nastiness of the debate turned on their heads. Hillary did not falter. Sanders did not stutter. None of the other candidates gave viewers serious reasons to feel utterly disappointed. In all, there was no space for the anticipation of Biden the redeemer to waltz in and take the commanding position. My prediction is that sooner than later, Joe Biden will emerge and tell his teeming supporters across America that political wisdom dictates that he should not run for office, perhaps will no longer run to fulfill his all-time ambition. I do not envision him coming out to face humiliation and walk into history books with the image of a failed ambition for that will certainly be how the chroniclers of U.S. presidential history will record him. Better to bow out on the esteemed pedestal of vice president than as someone who was trounced in a bid to realize his ultimate political ambition.

Previous failed attempts What is not in doubt is that Biden would really love to run for office one more time after previous failed attempts. The U.S. presidency is even more alluring to him now that as vice president, he is just a heartbeat away for the position of the most powerful man in our contemporary world.

Not only is he one of President Obama’s chief advisers, he is physically in a location where he has first-hand knowledge of, and can actually feel the power and presence of the U.S. president. And any man or woman in his position will not be blamed for having a presidential aspiration.

However, aspirations alone do not win the presidency. As it is, President Obama has opted to steer clear of “endorsing” any of the Democratic Party contenders. Yes, he has on several occasions talked about how blessed he is to have Joe Biden as his vice president.

In a way therefore, he owes Joe Biden some loyalty. But then, so does he owe Hillary Clinton and the Clintons in general. Hillary stunned the world when she accepted the positon of secretary of state under Obama and worked tirelessly in the service of her boss and America.

And no one is in a hurry to forget the role played by the Clintons in Obama’s reelection in 2012.

Should Joe Biden decide to run, not only will he not count on President Obama’s open support against Hillary, he must also reckon with the political prowess of Hillary Clinton and the force of the Clinton dynasty. As I write, there is hardly any poll that shows undeclared Joe Biden matching Hillary, or Bernie Sanders for that matter. Throwing his cap into the ring may not change much. But, the polls show that with Joe Biden officially out of contention, Hillary Clinton will soar so high against Bernie Sanders, her closest rival.

I don’t see Joe Biden running for the U.S. presidency, although this is his last realistic opportunity to do so.

Y

AYA Touré has launched a stinging attack on the media in England and Ivory Coast, insisting that he has been treated unfairly for his performances with Manchester City, claiming: “I have won titles, lots of money, but I am not happy.”

Touré told L’Equipe on Monday that his goal record deserves more praise and that he is deeply hurt and sickened by “lots of bitter people who tried to dirty my name”.

The 32-year-old has scored once this season in 11 appearances for City, who are top of the Premier League after nine games played.

“Journalists have spoken about a new departure for me,” Touré said. “But what new departure? I have just come out of a season with City where we finished second in the English league, which is the hardest in the world.

“Last season, exactly, I scored 26 goals, 20 in the Premier League, and nobody mentioned it. You understand a bit by disgust. Here, when it is bad, they stress it; when it’s

•Touré good, they leave that in the dungeon. They have always used their little methods to annoy me, to alienate me.”

Touré scored only half the number of goals last season that he claimed – 13 in total, 10 of which came in the Premier League – but still had an impressive campaign with City, especially considering that before 2014-15, his

brother, Ibrahim, died of cancer while Touré was at the World Cup. Furthermore, at the start of 2015 Touré missed six matches for City – of which the Manchester club won just one – to attend the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast, with the central midfielder captaining his country to their first triumph in the competition since 1992.

Ezeh, Marylove win SNEPCo awards

By Precious Ubani, Mary-Jane Anyaegbu

T

OCHUKWU Ezeh from Anambra and Marylove Edwards of Lagos State were named the most outstanding players at the SNEPCo Junior Tennis Championship which ended at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club over the weekend.

Ezeh, 16, who was made to play in the boys’

Chris Bulus winner Boys U-16

18 category by the organisers, justified their confidence in him by beating the number one seed, Timibra Godgift from Port Harcourt in the semifinals but lost a tight contest against Martins Abamu of Lagos in the finals.

Edwards on the other hand lost only five games in five matches in the girls’ 16 including her 92 victory over Toyin Asagba in the finals. However, the petit “future great” showed outstanding courage and confidence in a challenge match against Patience Enobamhoin, a top ten senior player. Edwards, cheered on by 1500 school children, beat her senior challenger 9-2, leading 7-0 at a stage in the match before Enobamhoin found her rhythm and confidence.

It turned out to be too little too late.

“The most interesting and fulfilling outcome of this year’s tournament is that each zone of this country made a podium finish, that is, had a player as champion or runner up.” Said Godwin Kienka, director of the International Tennis Academy,

organisers of the tournament.

The boys 10 was won by Daniel Adeleye from Ekiti who beat ‘Lagos boy’ Joseph Fortune while the boys 12 title went to David Johnson from Port Harcourt.

Two Abuja based Fulani boys playing in a major championship for the first time, showed tremendous focus and courage to produce the first all-abuja finals. Saminu Abubarkar won the category beating Musa Sanni who had earlier in the tournament upset Gabriel Friday, the boys 14 top seed.

In other categories, Chris Bulus won the boys 16 defeating Chris Itodo of Kaduna while Timpre Maxwell from Port Harcourt who recently moved up from the girls’ 12 category fought tenaciously to overcome Kaduna’s Favour Moses in a match decided in the end by a tiebreaker.

Another revelation from the weeklong tournament was Rebecca Peters who took the girls’ 10 event beating the favourite, Chidinma Ezeh, from Anambra in a very close finals.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—47

THIS WEEK October 20, 2015 DRASA Trust, an initiative of the son and family of the late Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, holds Benefit Dinner and Formal Launch at Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

October 20, 2015 World Osteoporosis Day is observed annually with the International Foundation. The Day is observed annually as part of a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Each year features a different campaign theme and message. The 2015 campaign theme is “Serve Up Bone Strength”.

Science World Drug screening tool eliminates animal testing

S

CIENTISTS from the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore have developed the platform using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and machine learning methods.

As well as predicting toxicity, they note that the new platform also correctly identifies the injury mechanisms that a drug may induce, which can improve understanding of the compound and its effects.

The team anticipates the new tool will be very useful not only to pharmaceutical companies looking to improve and speed up drug development as well as reduce its costs, but also to the food and cosmetics industry.

In addition to raising ethical concerns, using animals to try and predict whether a new drug is safe to use in humans has many drawbacks. For instance, it is expensive, time-consuming and does not necessarily ensure reliable results because of interspecies differences.

The authors also note that often, a drug's toxicity is not discovered until the later stages of drug development, and sometimes only after it has been marketed.

So there is a need for tools that can detect any toxic effects much earlier in the drug development phase.

There are now many parts of the world, such as the EU, India and Israel, where it is illegal to sell cosmetic products if they have been tested on animals.

Baby born with sealed eye seeks N0.5m for surgery

By Akpokona Omafuaire

T

HE Omonigho family of Ughoton, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, is facing a huge challenge in the bid to save Emmanuel Oghenetejiri, the 4-month-old second child of the couple’s fouryear marital union.

Emmanuel was healthy at birth, but for his left eye that was completely sealed up. This strange condition drained the joy of having a new son, and put fear into the hearts of the parents.

They became apprehensive each passing day as the boy grew with the sealed eye bulging out causing him pains and discomfort.

The unemployed parents went in search of expert medical help on advice from Jeddo Health Centre, place of the boy’s birth.

The search which began at the Ekpan Central hospital continued to Delta State Teaching Hospital, Oghara. There, they were told that solution to their son's problem was at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, but would cost N500,000.

Parents’ ordeal Narrating his ordeal in a chat with Good Health Weekly, , Emmanuel’s father, Elvis Omonigho, 31, said it is the quest to raise this sum that has driven the young couple to seek assistance from the public.

“When my wife was pregnant, she registered in the government health centre, and also attended native birth care. But I was surprised when she delivered, one of the bay’s eyes was sealed completely.

“At Oghara we started spending money and they told us that for the situation to be resolved; it requires surgery and that can only be done at the University College Hospital Ibadan, UCH at a cost of about N500,000. When I heard this, my heart failed me because there is no work, things are so hard now.

“We made all efforts to get help from the state government but we were prevented from getting access by officials who said the government was broke. We went to some churches too but no help.

“So while I was brooding over the situation, someone advised me to go to the media in order to reach out to good citizens who may be touched to help my son out of his present condition.

“I was given assurances that if we can raise the money my son’s life will be saved. I am a bricklayer with no father to assist me. Now it is rainy season and there is no patronage, things are very hard

IN PAINS: Four-month-old Emmanuel Omonigho.

We made all efforts to get help from the state government but we were told the government is broke

with my family. My son is just four months now.

We have gone to many places to seek for help for our son we went to one hospital in Ekpan where they gave us the UCH Doctor’s number and we called and he promised that they can handle the situation if we can raise the money. All the hospitals we have visited directed us to

UCH, this is what has given us hope to seek assistance.

“We have spent so much money looking for solution to this eye problem, even to the point of borrowing. My son does not have other problems apart from the eye issue. He is very energetic and playful. We have two children, a girl and this boy. We have been married for four years now.”

Also speaking, Emmanuel’s mother, Blessing, 27, and a hairdresser, said the boy is constantly in pain. Blessing who is native of Ugbowo in BeninCity, pleaded for assitance from government and public spirited Nigerians.

“I noticed that the baby is feeling pains in the eye whenever I try to touch it. He feels pains and cries. I want the Nigerians to help me with money to save my son. We are almost hopeless and cannot raise the money ourselves but I know someone will be touched to help us. I have cried to my family members in Benin-City but no hope yet.”

Blessing said her church promised to help but it is a small congregation and has no money.

“We don’t want to lose our son.

I believe in God as a Christian and I know that God will raise help from anywhere.

“I named him Emmanuel Oghenetejiri Omonigho because I know God is with us in this problem, also I feel that the boy is a special child. God will not disappoint me.”

If you are touched, kindly send your donation to Emmanuel Omonigho, UBA 2084561978. For more details, call 08028271401, 08056639818

LUTH procures laparoscopic machine for keyhole surgery training

By Chioma Obinna

I

N line with advancement in surgery procedures particularly in knifeless surgery, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos, has procured a Medtronic Laparoscopic Simulator machine valued at 80,000 Euros for the training of laparoscopic surgeons in Nigeria and beyond.

The machine, first of its kind in the West African sub-region, according to the Chief Medical Director of the institution, Prof.

Chris Bode, would also provide up to date knowledge to practicing surgeons.

Unveiling the equipment and other machines during a training workshop by members of the Nigeria Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons, NISOLS, in Lagos last week,

Bode said the machine was same as those thousands of Nigerian surgeons go abroad to train on.

"We are happy we have this machine now in LUTH today.

It will boost activities in the health sector because it is an opportunity for surgeons to practise and perfect their skills on keyhole surgeries."

Continued on page 48

PRESENTATION: From left - Marketing Director, Condion Medronic, USA, Mr. John Monroe, presenting the laparoscopic machine to the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

WORLD FOOD DAY: Unilever advocates iron-rich foods for mothers, girls

By Chioma Obinna

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ITH 1 in 4 going to bed without a nutritious meal, a passionate call has gone to mothers and adolescent girls in the spirit of World Food Day to imbibe the culture of ensuring that meal prepared in the homes have the required level of nutrients the family needs to live healthier lives.

Making the call at Knorr School Feeding Programme held at Government College, Agege, Lagos to mark this year's World Food Day with the theme; "Share A Meal", Nollywood star and Knorr Ambassador, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, advised Nigerian mothers and daughters to prepare nutritious meals with green leafy vegetables and iron fortified Knorr cubes.

The multi award-winning superstar explained that cooking nutritious meals would help address the serious issues of anaemia.

"Teenage girls need 50 percent more iron than when they were younger to cope with body changes and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to anaemia. Knorr is re-enforcing its promise to help the majority of Nigerians who do not eat enough food high in iron, especially adolescent girls."

In May 2015, Knorr unveiled its commitment to help reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in Nigeria, and Omotola described prevalence of iron deficiency as a major public health, adding that Knorr is now making nutritious cooking more desirable, easy to understand and affordable.

She said the Green Food Steps programme is engaging 50,000 mothers and daughters, tapping into the deeply rooted habits of mothers passing recipes on to their daughters, to practice the

WORLD FOOD DAY: Nollywood Actress and Knorr Ambassador, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde (middle) with Brand Building Director, Foods, Unilever Nigeria, Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe (right) during theWorld Food Day with students of Government College, Agege. new cooking habits in Ijebu Ode and Amaigbo, with the ambition to roll out to the rest of Nigeria next year.

On the launch, Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria, Yaw Nsarkoh said: "We're excited to be playing such a big part of World Food Day. We're completely committed to helping Nigerians get the nutrients they need from their meals.

"The radio cook-along with Omotola has been brilliant - the perfect opportunity to have fun

Teenage girls need 50 percent more iron than when younger to cope with body changes and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to anaemia

Global leaders foster commitment to family planning at 4th ICFP

By Sola Ogundipe

H

EALTH advocates includ ing Indonesian President Joko Widodo, UNFPA Executive Director Prof, Babatunde Osotimehin, and Bill & Melinda Gates Founda-

tion Co-Chair Melinda Gates are among world leaders to highlight the need for global collaboration and local action to improve family planning access worldwide at the 4th International Conference on Family Planning, ICFP, which gets un-

Nigerian scientists explore novel malaria control methods

By Kingsley Adegboye

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XPERTS in the study of insects say there is ongoing research on factors that encourage the breeding of mosquitoes with the intention of curtailing malaria.

The experts who gathered last week in Lagos under the aegis of the Entomological Society of Nigeria's Golden Jubilee Anniversary and 46th Annual Conference, noted that research is currently ongoing on more effective control methods that will subsequently help in the curtailing of malaria which claims over one million lives every year in Nigeria and other parts of tropical Africa.

In his welcome address , President of ESN, Professor Dan Enobakhare of the Department of Crop Science,

and encourage people to share a meal with each other."

Nsarkoh explained that Knorr's Green Food Steps programme was to improve the health and happiness of a billion people by unlocking more flavour and goodness from everyday food.

Brand Building Director, Nsima Ogedi said research shows that 1 in 4 go to bed without a nutritious meal said a nutritious meal must have the required nutrients, adding that mothers should ensure that adolescent girls get enough iron.

Faculty Agriculture, University of Benin, said Nigeria was long overdue for a pest museum that could be a major source of tourist centre and an income generation platform.

Enobakhare noted that much as insects damage food, destroy harvested food in storage and often cause loss of entire crops, some insects and arthropods

Mosquito

play beneficial roles using their biodiversity and ecosystem for benefits of mankind. The university don noted that given the diverse nature of pests in Nigeria and the need to maximize their benefits, ESN had always been at the forefront of establishing a Pest Museum in Nigeria.

derway in Nusa Dua, Indonesia on 9–12 November 2015.

Organised around the theme “Global Commitments, Local Actions,” the 2015 ICFP will call attention to the wide-ranging benefits of helping people plan their fertility and their futures— which include improved maternal, newborn and child health; increased educational attainment; and greater household wealth.

Highlights The conference will also highlight global and national efforts to ensure that access to contraceptive information and services remain a priority for policymakers, donors and the private sector.

It is expected that meeting would address the global unmet need for family planning services that could save an estimated 1 in 4 women from deaths related to pregnancy or childbirth and prevent 1.1 million infant deaths each year.

The 2015 ICFP will serve as a platform for global partners to revisit their commitments to family planning and accelerate progress towards the FP2020 goal of expanding contraceptive access to an additional 120 million women by 2020.

LUTH

Continues from page 47 Continuing, Bode who said electricity will no longer be a problem at LUTH, said already the hospital is addressing epileptic power supply holistically with a 3.48 MW electricity generating plant, awaiting gas link to start working in few weeks.

"Nigerian surgeons do a lot of work and with these machines in place the future of surgery is assured. It is a good day for Nigerians. A few years ago, we did not have these machines but we can proudly boast of them today. The cost of the surgery is still low because we want many Nigerians to enjoy the service."

Bode also disclosed that Company also donated to the hospital five brand new laparascopic machines.

Speaking, President, NISOLS, Dr. Jimi Coker, who is also the Chief, Surgery Unit, Lagoon Hospital, Lagos, said with the machines and training centre in place, the future of laparoscopic surgery is brighter.

Knowledge transfer

He said the training which brought together cream of laparoscopic surgeons across Nigeria and beyond, was aimed at transferring knowledge to the trainee doctors as well as ensuring that the future of laparoscopic surgery is guaranteed in Nigeria.

He cited poor power supply, lack of skills and training of surgeons, as well as insufficient awareness of patients as major challenges of the new trend of surgery in the country.

Coker who explained that laparoscopic surgery is the future of surgery said apart from Caesarean Section, CS, the keyhole surgery can be carried out in any other surgery cases.

"With the key hole, you put a camera in the patient, and that serves as your eyes, so effective powersupplyisessential.

"Nigerianwould-bepatientsdonotneedto travelabroadfortheprocedurestheycan safelyandconfidentlyhave inthecountry.

Withthekeyholesurgerycomparedtothe opensurgery,quickrecoveryofpatientsis assured.Italsoguaranteesshorterstayin hospital."

Takingturnstospeak,aGhana-based surgeonatthe37MilitaryHospital,Accra, Ghana,Dr.NuamahNabilstatedthatthestate oflaparoscopicsurgeryinGhanaisstillinits infantstageasitwasstartedinthehospitalin 2013. He said there are only two other laparoscopiccentresinGhana.

Nuamah, who noted that Nigeria had taken the lead in laparoscopy in the West African sub-region, said the workshop was in the right direction as Ghana and other countries have a lot to learn.

He said they look forward to partnering with LUTH, since Ghana currently does not have a centre or laboratory to start training their residents.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015—49

How malnutrition hinders a child’s future

By Gabriel Olawale

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N Associate Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Dr. Rasaki Sanusi, has warned that lack of good nutritional intake for pregnant women and in the first 1000 days of life for a child, tends to have lasting negative impact on development of the child.

Sanusi, who spoke during the annual symposium of the Association of Nutrition Science Students, University of Ibadan, organised in partnership with Coca-Cola, said inadequate nutrition intake would not only affect the health of the child, but place such child at disadvantage.

He said any effort to correct such abnormality in future would amount to applying the brake after an accident.

“Poor nutrition can lead to reduced immunity, impaired physical and mental development and reduced productivity, such child will fall sick more often than normal and their ability to learn will be reduced.

“The teacher will talk, the children would hear, but they would not understand because their brain is not working well to appreciate and assimilate what ther are hearing.”

The nutritionist said it has been estimated that 50 percent of mobility in children can be linked to malnutrition which means that in children and infants that are dying, half wouldn’t have died but for malnutrition.

In 2014, the National Population Commission stated that 37 percent of children under five are stunted while 21 percent are severely stunted. Children in rural areas are more likely to be stunted (43 percent) compared to those in urban areas (27 percent) and children in poorest

households are three times more likely to be stunted (54 percent) compared to those from wealthiest households (18 percent).

Sanusi explained that inadequate or excess nutritional intake can also lead to different types of malnutrition in adults.

“That is why we preach moderation. If something is not enough, it is inadequate.

When we eat too much, and become obese, that is, heavier than we should be, indeed it attracts more diseases.”

Earlier, the Head of Department, Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Dr Folake Samuel, noted that having access to nutritious food is vital to ending the self sustaining cycles of extreme poverty, “Better-nourished individuals constitute the bedrock of a nation that respects human rights and strives for high labour productivity.”

Samuel said good nutritional intake for under-fives, adolescents and pregnant

women is critical because poor nutrition in the first five years and during pregnancy has devastating and irreversible effects which perpetuate poverty cycles.

“Enhancing nutrition will break very harmful and yet preventable poverty transfers,” she avowed.

On his part, the Community Affairs Officer, Coca-Cola, Mr. Emeka Mba said as a beverage company and industry leader, Coca Cola is committed to promoting long term awareness in the community.

“Coca-Cola is committed to fora where knowledge gap is bridged and our belief in transparency informed our decision to be the first beverage company to publish the content of our products before others follows.

“Adherence to responsible marketing is another aspect, not marketing our brand in an audience where you have children below 12 years,” he argued.

SYMPOSIUM: Community Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola Nig. Ltd., Emeka Mba; Nutritionist, Hadizat Ibrahim; HOD, Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Dr. Folake Samuel; Consultant Public Health Physician , CMUL, Dr. Oluwakemi Odukoya during the symposium on 2015 World Food Day organised by Association of Nutrition Science Students, UI Chapter last week.

IDPs targeted for polio immunisation

By Victoria Ojeme & Samuel Ujah

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HE Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr Ado Muhammad, has said that it will provide routine immunisation for all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable groups in the country.

Consequently, he said the next polio immunisation campaign in 11 polio vulnerable States will commence immediately.

Muhammad said this while briefing the press on the October 2015 Polio Immunisation Plus Days in Abuja.

He said the national goal for the month is to boost population immunity among vulnerable groups and in particular, the internally displaced persons.

“Our house–to-house vaccination of children against polio is continuous in order to boost population immunity of children aged zero to five years and achieve eradication status.

“Nigeria will continue to vaccinate these children irrespective of their previous immunisation status.

“We therefore call on all caregivers to allow vaccinators into their homes to immunise their children against polio,” he appealed.

The States include Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara which will target all children aged zero to five years, irrespective of their previous immunisation status.

A total of 32 million children are expected to be immunised during the campaign.

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50—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CRISIS: Mob African standby force starts first military exercises lynches Eritrean in Israel

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A

N Eritrean man has died after he was shot and beaten by a mob after he was mistaken for an attacker during a raid in southern Israel, Israeli police say.

The attack on Sunday night at a bus station in the city of Beersheba saw a Palestinian man armed with a rifle and a knife kill an Israeli soldier and wound about 10 other people.

The Palestinian attacker was killed, while a security guard shot the Eritrean bystander, identified

by Israeli media as 29year-old Haftom Zarhum, thinking he was an accomplice of the assailant.

A video circulating online shows that a mob also beat Zarhum, who later died in hospital.

At least one Israeli soldier was filmed kicking Zarhum in the head as he

•Migrants wait at a registration center at a SloveniaHungary border crossing in Dolga Vas, Slovenia

lay bleeding on the floor of the terminal. Another man lifted a bench and dropped it on Zarhum’s head as others tried to protect him by placing a bar stool over his body.

HINA’s economic growth has slowed down in the latest quarter, the slowest since early 2009 in the aftermath of the global crisis, latest data say.

The world’s second-largest economy grew by 6.9 percent in the three months ended in September, data showed on Monday. That was down from the previous quarter’s 7 percent.

Weakening trade and manufacturing have fuelled concern about possible job losses and unrest. The communist government has cut interest rates five times since last

C

ROATIA has opened its border with Serbia, removing one of the bottlenecks for thousands of stranded

November in an effort to shore up growth.

However, consumer spending accelerated over the course of the quarter, helping to shore up the expansion. Growth in retail sales picked up from 10.5 percent in July to 10.9 percent in September.

Spending on e-commerce grew by 36 percent in the third quarter over a year earlier.

N attempt by UN of ficials to get countries to decriminalise the possession and use of all drugs has been foiled.

A paper from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been withdrawn after pressure from at least one country.

The document, which was leaked, recommends that UN members consider “decriminalising drug and possession for personal consumption”.

It argued “arrest and incarceration are disproportionate measures”.

The document was

field where the ASF will have to intervene in a fictitious country.

The operation, which continues until 5 November, is intended help evaluate how ready the force is to respond to crises and monitor peacekeeping missions.

The exercise was meant to be carried out in Lesotho in 2014 but was delayed because of security issues in the country.

Universities in South Africa close amid student fee protests

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ROTESTS over fee increases have forced the suspension of teaching at three of South migrants trying to make Africa’s top universities.

Protests have spread their way north. from Johannesburg’s Wits About 3,000 people had University, closed last been stuck in cold and wet week after thousands weather in the Serbian demonstrated on campus, border village of Berkasoto the universities of vo, after Croatia moved to Rhodes and Cape Town curb new arrivals.

The UN refugee agency (UCT).

Wits University agreed (UNHCR) had described to suspend a 10.5% tuition conditions there as “dire”. fee increase on Friday, Many remain stranded pending negotiations near the Croatia-Slovenia with students. border. The Balkan route Protesters argue that has been squeezed by repoorer, mainly black stustrictions. dents would be worst afHundreds of thousands fected. of migrants, many from A statement from Wits Syria, Africa and AfghanUniversity said that a deistan, have been making cline in state subsidy over their way from Turkey to the years, combined with the Balkans in recent inflationary pressures, months, in a bid to reach Germany, Sweden and other EU states.

UK Ebola nurse’s condition improves

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HE condition of a Scottish nurse who contracted Ebola while working in West Africa has improved, according

UN attempt to decriminalise drugs foiled

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side world in peacekeeping across the continent.

The logistical base for the African Standby Force (ASF) will be in Douala in Cameroon following a deal signed last week.

The training begins at the South African Army Combat Training Centre in Lohatla with an opening ceremony on Monday.

On Tuesday, 5,000 officers from the military and police officer will be in the

Croatia opens border to migrants

China’s GDP growth slows to 6.9 per cent

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Speaking to Al Jazeera, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed Zarhum was “misidentified”.

EMBERS of the African Union’s new 25,000-strong multinational standby force are gathering to begin field training for the first time.

The exercises in South Africa aim to make sure the force is ready by January to respond to crises across the continent.

The force will be made up of five brigades from Africa’s economic blocs.

It is being set up to avoid reliance on the out-

drawn up by Dr Monica Beg, chief of the HIV/ AIDs section of the UNODC in Vienna. It was prepared for an international harm reduction conference in Kuala Lumpur next month.

to the hospital where she is being treated.

Pauline Cafferkey was readmitted to a specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London this month.

She was being treated for complications after tests showed the infection was still present in her system. Last week her condition was described as “critical”, but the hospital said she was now “serious but stable”.

Britain to seize passports of teens at risk extremism

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RITISH Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled new plans to combat extremism Monday, expanding the government’s power to seize passports from young people at risk of traveling abroad to join groups like Islamic State. Cameron challenged Muslim communities to “own” the problem, arguing that those who reject extremism were the key to driving out radicals in schools, universities, local councils, charities and prisons. He defined the fight against Islamist extremism as one of the great struggles of the era.

•African Union soldiers walk past street in Mogadishu, Somalia. were behind the fee increases in recent years.

Many of the affected universities are historically white institutions and while the demographics in the classrooms have changed since the end of apartheid in 1994, critics say the economic conditions of black families

wanting to enrol their children have all but remained the same.

Black students say the institutions’ high fees are now keeping them from getting a good education.

Many say they rely on student loans and scholarships and these are at times difficult to secure.

ZAMBIA: President seeks God’s help over currency freefall

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AMBIA’S President Edgar Lungu has turned to God in a bid to stop the freefall of his country’s ailing currency, with bars shut and football matches cancelled on a national day of prayer to end a record slump.

Lungu ordered the prayer session last month after the local currency, the kwacha, fell 45 percent against the dollar since the start of the year due to a sharp drop in the price of copper, the country’s main export.

Food prices have soared and crippling power shortages have been triggered by low water levels in Lake Kariba, where hydropower plants supply much of the country ’s electricity.

The kwacha’s 45 percent slump against the dollar this year has been

the worst of all 155 currencies tracked by Bloomberg news service.

“Our God has heard our cries; he has forgiven us our sins, and we are sure he will heal our country

[as] we face serious social-economic challenges,” Lungu told a gathering of some 5,000 Zambians, including former presidents Kenneth Kaunda and Rupiah Banda.

Nigerians in Qatar urged to support President Buhari

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IGERIANS resi dent in Republic of Qatar have been urged to support the policies of the Federal Government led

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The call was made by the Charge D’Affaires of Embassy of Nigeria in Qatar, Enoch Duchi, at a ceremony to mark Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary in Doha.

Duchi, who was the keynote speaker at the event congratulated Nigerians and encouraged them to

always support the change agenda of the present administration, even as he challenged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in their host country.

Earlier in his address, the President of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation,Qatar chapter (NIDO-Qatar), Amadi Nwokocha, said the celebration was an opportunity for critical reflection on the country’s journey so far, and a rededication to the ideals of the founding fathers.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 51

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52 – Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

We could’ve beaten B/Faso 4-0 – Salisu A

SSISTANT coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf says “ill luck” was responsible for the marginal 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in the first leg of the African Nations Championship qualifier in Port Harcourt last Saturday.

In a post-mortem of the match, Salisu said, “if we had had a little more luck, we could have scored four goals at least,” he said.

Salisu also rose in defence of Abia Warriors striker, Chisom Chikatara who failed to put away any of the chances that came his way in the match.

The Abia Warriors attacker was guilty of missing no less than three excellent opportunities against the Stallions in the second half at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

Salisu does not question the quality of the forward and believes he did not enjoy the rub of the green.

“I think it was down to ill luck that made him miss those chances.

“Our decision to bring in Chikatara and (Gbolahan) Salami late in the game was tactical because we wanted to attack with strength in the second half and we achieved that.

The trainer then took the time to review the game which Nigeria won 2-0 courtesy of goals in each half by Bature Yaro and Salami.

“It was a tough game

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HE much awaited FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiying tournament for Men and Women has been confirmed for Cotonou, the Republic of Benin following the acceptance of the Fédération Béninoise de Basketball to stage the event billed to commence from November 4 - 12, 2015.

Confirming the date over the weekend, President of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 executive board, Col Sam Ahmedu (Rtd) stated that the event will hold in Cotonou, Benin Republic thus ending speculations that have been making the rounds for several months

regarding the venue for the eliminations.

The Zone board President expressed happiness that a federation eventually picked the hosting for the eliminations stressing that the Zone would lost the chance of her teams in the finals proper billed for Angola.

He stated that the Zone Qualifying Tournaments for the FIBA Africa Champions Cup 2015 (Men & Women), were slated for the month of October, 2015. “FIBA Africa sent the requisite Forms for National Federations to bid to host their respective Zonal Qualifiers.

Blatter Continues from BP

Super Eagles defender, Solomon Kwambe (l) shields the ball from a Burkinabe player during the first leg match. Nigeria won 2-0. but we could have won 4-0. The boys did very well.

“The Burkinabes are good and could have scored here. Generally our boys have done very well but made some mistakes.

“There is never a perfect game in football so we will go back to the drawing board and try to rectify some of the mistakes we have made in the first leg,” he said.

Eaglets Continues from BP Amuneke said their winning start will further boost their confidence.

“It was important we won the first game since it would boost our confidence going into the next game against hosts Chile, so we are happy but will continue to work harder,” he said.

Nigeria have won the trophy four times and are now seeking a fifth title, while Chile are gunning for their firstever title as their best performance at the competition was winning bronze at Japan 1993, when they beat Poland 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Nigeria are participating in the competition for the 11th time, but this is Chile’s third ap-

Benin hosts FIBA Africa Zone 3 championship qualifiers

pearance, having played at tournament in 1993 and 1997.

Both countries have not met at this level previously.

Former Golden Eaglets star Olanrewaju Kayode said the players should keep working hard game by game and not get carried away with the win over USA. “They are good side.

The win against USA is a good way to start the tournament.

They should keep working hard ahead of Chile game,” the Austria Wien striker said.

“They should forget about the win over the USA and look ahead to the next game. I am sure they will reach the stage they wanted.”

Etim replaces Kwambe

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NUGU Rangers d e f e n d e r, Matthew Etim, has been called up to the Nigerian camp as they prepare for the second leg game against Burkina Faso in the 2016 Chan qualification this weekend.

Etim takes the place of Warri Wolves defender, Solomon Kwambe, who has had to be left out of the squad after he crocked up in Saturday’s 2-0 win over the Stallions of Burkina Faso at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

“Solomon Kwambe has had to pull out of the trip to Burkina Faso unfortunately due to injury. He will be replaced by Rangers defender, Matthew Etim,” Super Eagles

spokesman, Toyin Ibitoye, told supersport.com on Monday.

The story of Kwambe’s replacement, however, broke on the Super Eagles official Twitter and the Warri Wolves man has expressed sadness at missing out of the trip to Burkina Faso.

LMC Postpones Sunshine Stars vs Rangers fixture

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minor adjustment has been made to the Match Day 34 fixture of the Glo Premier League as the game between Sunshine Stars and Rangers International has been put on hold.

A letter to both clubs signed by Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of the League Management

Player

Continues from BP Dhafra player who filmed the rant, were given the three-month sentences by the Abu Dhabi Court of Misdemeanours, the paper said.

The duo were found guilty of using telecommunications services to offend and hurt the feelings of others, and displaying a recording that

weekend, Blatter said Africa had contributed so much to the development of football that it would not be out of place if the continent produces the next FIFA president. “Africa can produce the next FIFA president, why not?.

Nigeria is an interesting football country which has participated in all FIFA competitions, winning the U-17 World cup four times and doing well at the big stage.

Other continents should support Nigeria because of her pedigree. The world should give Nigeria a chance because she can bring a

lot of positive developments to world football. “ Meanwhile, Blattter has also urged FIFA to stick to the time table for the elections, affirming that this would ensure the credibility of the process.

CAF is expected to meet in Cairo next week to consider the candidacy of Kalu and Odegbami for the FIFA top job.

There is a proposal to bar any past FIFA Executive Committee members from contesting the election due to their indictments over allegations of corruption.

breached public ethics through the internet.

Both players had already been suspended by their club but Qassem’s lawyer had argued the video was published without his client’s consent and that he was a victim in the crime. He also said Ali had not wished to press charges against Qassem.

Company (LMC) said it had granted the request of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure which cited the involvement of six of their players in the Super Eagles team scheduled to play against Burkina Faso in a return leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers this weekend.

The LMC noted that it approved the request in line with Article B15.14 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) which provides that a club with five players or more in the national team camp can apply for a postponement of its fixture.

The LMC said all other fixtures of Match Day 34 will hold as scheduled on Wednesday, October 21 while a date for the

Sunshine Stars versus Rangers International engagement will be announced on or before Thursday, October 22.

Akinloye ‘At Large’ dies at 54

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former Deputy Sports Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Abimbola Akinloye, is dead.

He died on October 13 in Lagos at age of 54 after a brief illness.

Akinloye also worked at Punch Newspapers. He was also the Editor in chief and managing Director of Sports Spectacular Newspaper, a weekly sports newspaper between 1992 and 95.

His wife, Nora Akinloye, confirmed on Monday that Akinloye, popularly known as ‘At Large’ was buried on Saturday October 17 in Ayobo, Ipaja area of Lagos State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 20155 — 53

Fear of Lewandowski grips Arsenal •says Bayern stronger now

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ITH 16 goals in 12 appearances in all competitions for FC Bayern München in 2015/ 16, Robert Lewandowski goes into today ’s UEFA Champions League group stage clash with Arsenal FC in the form of his life. And his fear has already gripped the English giants, who are in danger of crashing out of the competition.

In this interview with bundesliga.com, the prolific Poland international discusses tonight’s game, Bayern’s chances of reclaiming the Champions League title, the secrets behind his impressive physique and his role in Pep Guardiola’s system Considering the form Bayern are in at present, a lot of people are also looking at you as favourites to win the Champions League?

Lewandowski: We didn’t have a bad campaign at Europe’s top table last season, but then we found ourselves knocked out of the competition. We were coping with a lot of injuries and for me it proved difficult to play in a mask. We weren’t in the best shape at the most important moment, and that moment is still to come this season.

Are Bayern stronger in comparison to last season?

I think so, yes. You could perhaps say we’re more balanced and we now know that retaining our level of concentration is essential.

It is no secret that

Pep Guardiola hasn’t always been the biggest fan of out-andout strikers, but it seems to be different with you. Former Bayern striker Giovane Elber has claimed that it’s because Guardiola has adapted to your needs and you to his?

That could well be. It’s all about the balance of the team. That’s the most important point, nothing else.

Your wife, Anna, has also had something to say about the amount of goals you are scoring. We read a quote in which she said it was “boring”? [laughs] That was just her messing about! She’s always delighted for me.

Furthermore, she helps me a lot when it comes to my nutrition and recovery. She’s a professional dietician.

Your reward is scoring more goals, then.

So basically it gets increasingly more dangerous for opponents when you don’t want to eat sweets anymore? For Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League as well? [laughs] It’s definitely not going to be straightforward. We want to take three points from the game, but know that it’s pretty much Arsenal’s last chance to get into the next round of the competition.

It’s going to be a very tight match and a tough nut for us to crack. But the requirement for us is to win there.

Wenger: We can cause upset against Bayern

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RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger is confident the Gunners can cause an upset against Bayern Munich and open their Champions League account when the German champions visit the Emirates Stadium today.

“It is true that (we have delivered big results) before, but we want to do it again because we feel a bit that the pain inflicted (in the Champions League) was a bit by ourselves,” Wenger told the club website (www.arsenal.com).

“Maybe subconsciously we thought ‘anyway we will win these (first two games)’,” the Frenchman added.

“Now to correct that, we need a great performance. The confidence level is there, we know exactly what is required (because) a 0-0 is not even a good result. To score goals, we have to attack.”

•Lewandowski

Suarez: Teamwork can replace Messi Guardiola: It’s our first final

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UIS Suarez has urged his Barcelona teammates to “take responsibility together” in Lionel Messi’s prolonged absence.

“Messi’s irreplaceable [in terms of a single player replacing him]. Without him, we must take respon-

sibility together, Everyone knows what their role within the team is and I know mine; helping my teammates in addition to scoring goals.Messi’s the best player in the world and noone can replace him.''

B

AYERN Munich manager, Pep Guardiola has said that although there is less at stake for Bayern, who have won their first two

Chelsea battle Porto without Pedro, Remy

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HELSEA will be without forwards Pedro and Loic Remy for today ’s Champions League visit to Dynamo Kiev.

Manager Jose Mourinho told a news conference on Monday that

both players had minor injuries and would not be risked against the Group G joint leaders.

Premier League champions Chelsea have made a poor start to the season but were boosted

by Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Aston Villa.

The Londoners, who won the Champions League in 2012, have three points from two games in Group G, one fewer than Kiev and Porto.

Group F fixtures and has warned Arsenal not to expect an easy ride tonight.

And he concedes time is running out to lift the European title both he and the club craves in the third and potentially final year of his current contract.

“My time here won’t have been complete if we don’t win the Champions League title. I know where I am, so this isn’t a problem for me. It’s my first final before the actual final” Guardiola said.

•Guardiola

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 55

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

Fear of Lewandowski grips Arsenal — Page 53 FIFA U-17 World Cup USA v Croatia 9pm England v Brazil 9pm Chile v Golden Eaglets Midnight Korea Republic v Guinea Midnight

Eaglets go for Player bags 3-month coach Chile’s jugular jail for criticising T F

•Amuneke

IFA U17 World Cup champions Nigeria will battle host country Chile in a second group match as they look to book a place in the second round of the competition.

The game will kick off 12 midnight of October 20 Nigerian time.

The coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led team opened their campaign on Saturday with a 2-0 win over USA, while hosts Chile were held to a 1-1 draw by Croatia.

Continues on Page 52

Qassem

Blatter backs African successor E

MBATTLED FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter has thrown his hat in the ring in support of Africa producing the next FIFA President.

Two Nigerians, DR Orji

Uzor Kalu and Chief Olusegun Patrick Odegbami have indicated interest in the plum job.

Speaking on a local Swiss radio station at the Continues on Page 52 •Kalu

HE UAE international Abdullah Qassem has been jailed for three months after insulting his national team manager Mahdi Ali in a video, according to local media.

The 29-year-old, who plays for Al-Dhafra in the UAE Arabian Gulf League, had made indecent gestures and criticised Ali after the manager had not included him in the team, The National newspaper reported on Monday.

Qassem, along with a second unnamed AlContinues on Page 52

Touré: I’ve won titles, money, but unhappy — Pg.46

LMC shifts Sunshine Stars vs Rangers fixture — Pg. 52

Today’s Fixtures

Champions League

•Odegbami

Zenit BATE Dynamo Kyiv Dinamo Zagreb Arsenal Porto

v v v v v v

Lyon Barcelona Chelsea Olympiacos Bayern Munich M. Tel-Aviv

7:45 7:45 7:45 7:45 7:45 7:45

pm pm pm pm pm pm

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Wicked (3) 6 Dash (4) 8 Rotated (6) 9 Edit (6) 10 Animal (3) 12 Under (5) 14 Admission (5) 15 Lasso (5) 18 Guard (6) 20 Threadbare (6) 24 Old-fashioned (5) 26 Mar (5) 28 Drab (5) 30 Morass (3) 32 Elude (6) 33 Rebel (^0 34 Border (4) 35 Bath (3) 36 Sea-eagle (4)

DOWN 2 Dwelling (5) 3 Forgive (7) 4 Corpse (4) 5 Swarthy (4) 6 Couch (5) 7 Reticence (7) 11 Donkey (3) 12 Tender (3) 13 Gained (3) 16 Unusual (3) 17 Newt (3) 19 Uncovered (7) 21 Colour (3) 22 Fatty (7) 23 Parched (3) 25 Fuss (3) 27 Silly (5) 29 Verdant (5) 30 Defeat (4) 31 Clutch (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Grope 7, Cobra 8, Limit 10, Enter 12, Van 13, Duvet 15, Resided 17, Reader 19, Cad 20, Decoded 23, Pair 25, Dial 26, Devoted 30, Fil 31, Recede 34, Depress 37, Lorry 38, Pea 39, Eager 40, Mania 41, Table 42, Revel.

DOWN: 1, Rogue 2, Greed 3, Ranted 4, Peer 5, Divided 6, Miner 9, Mad 11, Recover 13, Drape 14, Vapid 16, Sad 18, Remorse 21, Dinner 22, Alley 24, Refrain 27, Vie 28, Delete 29, Repay 32, Coral 33, Droll 35, Pen 36, Safe.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Ag.Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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