Army speaks on Buharis certificates

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62324

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

DEATH WISH ADVERT:

PDP, Jonathan disown Fayose >>8

From left: MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo; Minister for Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson; Executive Director, Lagos and South-West, Fidelity Bank Plc., Ikemuefuna Mbagwu and Divisional Head, Managed SMEs, Ken Opara at the Fidelity SME Forum, yesterday.

Army speaks on Buhari's certificates AIG Mbu for Lagos, Ogun, as Police move 26 officers

JONATHAN, BUHARI FIGHT FOR NORTH

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By Kingsley Omonobi

B U J A— A S controversy continues to trail the academic qualifications of the Presidential Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS:

>>14

Issue-based campaign?

When, where?

One killed, 40 cars destroyed as cult groups clash in Lagos >>7

Tension mounts in Anambra community over burning of Udume Abor Shrine See Pull-out inside

•P.19

Charlie Hebdo and the fear of Islamisation in the Nigerian •P.17 context

Mr & Mrs

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN—Above: Jonathan in Katsina: Below: Buhari in Kano, yesterday.

Photos: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor/State House.

Enahoro joins octogenarian club >>39

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 3

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4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 —5

POCKET CARTOON state clearly that the Nigerian Army holds the retired senior officer in very high esteem and respect and would not be a party to any controversy surrounding his eligibility for any political office. Suffice it to state that Major General Buhari rose steadily to the enviable rank of Major General before becoming head of state of our dear country in December 1983.”

It's a dangerous game — APC VISIT—President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo (3R);

PDP National Chairman, Mallam Adamu Mua'azu and Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State (R) with the mother of Late President Umaru Yar 'Adua, Hajiya Dada Yar'Adua and the family during a courtesy call on her after his Presidential Campaign in Katsina, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Army speaks on Buhari's certificates Continues from Page 1 candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Major General Mohammadu Buhari, the Army, yesterday, said it was not in possession of Buhari’s credentials.

The APC presidential candidate, Major General Buhari had averred in an affidavit he deposed before an Abuja High Court that all his certificates were with the Secretar y, Military Board, while submitting his Form 199A to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. But the Army, yesterday, denied being in possession of the APC candidate’s original certificates or the certified true copies.

The outgoing Director of Army Public Relations, BrigadierGeneral Olajide Laleye, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, said: “The Nigerian Army does not have the original copy of his (Buhari) West African Examinations Council, WAEC result or a

certified true copy.”

But the APC in a swift reaction has warned that those who are bent on destroying Buhari on the basis of his certificates may end up destroying the country’s military.

The army spokesman told newsmen that what the army had and which he displayed were the information contained in the forms Buhari filled at the point of his entry into the military and some letters of recommendation by Principal of Provincial Secondary School, Katsina.

For the record Olajide said: “Records available indicate that Major General Muhammadu Buhari applied to join the military as a Form Six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina on October 18, 1961. His application was duly endorsed by the Principal of the school, who also wrote a report on him and recommended him

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and foes you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world —Lao Tzu Rather than trying to control the world around us, we can allow our natural abilities and positive traits to emerge by tapping into what Wayne Dyer calls the Power of Intention: the capacity for joy, creativity and kindness built into each of us. “Intention is not something you do,” says Dyer, “but rather a force that exists in the universe as an invisible field of energy—a power that can carry us.” Where is this field? “Where is it not?” “A caterpillar, a tiny acorn, an apple blossom all have intention built into them.

That caterpillar becomes a butterfly, the acorn a giant oak tree, the apple blossom an apple. Intention doesn’t err. The acorn never turns into a pumpkin!

Every aspect of nature has intention built in.

suitable for military commission.”

The report which was shown to newsmen, read: “I recommend Muhammadu Buhari fit for military commission.”

On Buhari’s result, the Principal also wrote, “I consider that he will pass Maths, English and three other subjects.”

Laleye said the briefing was necessitated by deluge of requests from civil society groups and the media among others, over General Buhari’s eligibility for any political office.

He said: “It is a practice in the Nigerian Army that before candidates are shortlisted for commissioning into the officers’ cadre of the service, the selection board verifies the original copies of credentials that are presented.

“However, there is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 60s.

Nevertheless, the entry made on the Nigerian Army Form 199A at the point of documentation after commission as an officer indicated that the former head of state obtained the West African School Certificate, WASC, in 1961 with credits in relevant subjects: English Language, Geography, History, Health Science, Hausa and a pass in English Literature.

“Neither the original copy, Certified True Copy, CTC, nor statement of result of Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s WASC result is in his personal file. What I have said here is what is contained in his service records’ personal file. We have not added or subtracted anything.”

Earlier, Brig-General Laleye, said: “Let me

The APC in a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretar y, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, warned that the PDP and the Jonathan administration are playing a dangerous game by allegedly trying to compromise the military in order to satisfy selfish political objectives, and urged the military, as a symbol of national unity, to beware of those who may be seeking to use it to achieve selfish and divisive ends.

The APC said the statement credited to the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Olajide Olaleye, at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, that the Army is not in possession of Gen. Buhari’s certificates, is in direct conflict with what he said on January 4, 2015 on the same issue.

"In an interview with the Punch on Jan. 4, 2015, Brig.-Gen. Olaleye had said: ‘Every serving and retired Army officer has at least a copy of his certificates and credentials kept in the Nigerian Army while that same serving and retired officer has copies of those same certificates and credentials’.

"Is Brig.-Gen. Olaleye now saying that he did not make that statement?

If he did, what has happened between then and now to make him to recant? It will be interesting to know what has transpired between then and now," APC said.

The party also said that there was no evidence that the certificates of all those who joined the army in the early 1960s were verified by the selection board.

"Is he now saying that all those who were commissioned into the officer cadres in the 1960s did not have their certificates verified?

Does this not confirm what we said that in trying to destroy Gen. Buhari, the PDP and the Jonathan administration will end up destroying the army as an institution? Or is it only Gen. Buhari that was commissioned into the

army in the 1960s?"

The party also quoted Gen. Buhari as saying in an affidavit on November 24, 2014 that "All my academic qualification documents as filled in my presidential form, President APC/001/2015 are currently with the Secretary, Military Board as at the time of this affidavit."

APC said: "Those who are behind the latest controversy should now tell Nigerians what happened to Gen. Buhari’s certificates between the time of his affidavit and now".

APC said further that even if the Army now says it does not have the certificates of Gen. Buhari, he is still very qualified to run for the country’s highest office, as stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

What the constitution says— APC The party quoted Section 131 (d) of the Constitution: "A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent".

APC said the meaning and interpretation of "School Certificate level or its equivalent can be found in the Constitution under part IV, Section 318. In that Section, a "School Certificate or its equivalent" is defined quite succinctly thus: (a) A Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) Education up to Secondary School Certificate Level; or a (c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent.

The party said since Brig.-Gen. Olaleye has confirmed that Gen. Buhari indeed applied to join the Army from form six, that the principal of the school he attended

even attested to his suitability, and that the form he filled contained his Secondary School Certificate results, there is no scintilla of doubt about his qualification to run for president as stipulated by the Constitution.

"However, we know that the PDP and the Jonathan administration have constituted themselves into a court of law and will like nothing more than the disqualification of our candidate so they will face no challenge in next month’s election. This is wishful thinking," it said.

APC said the PDP and the Jonathan administration should expend their energy on how to revive their floundering campaign instead of seeking the disqualification of its (APC) candidate.

On the contradictions in the statements credited to the Army spokesman, the party said: "It is true that our once globally-respected military has now been made comatose by the PDP-led Federal Government, but we believe things have not reached the level where the same military will be engaging in actions that amount to self destruction, just to satisfy some political interests.

"We believe things have not reached a level where we, as a nation, will now be giving the impression that a man who rose to become a Major-General in the Nigerian Army does not have requisite qualifications?

"What really is happening in our country if some politicians have now decided to engage in an action that will amount to dragging the military into politics, dividing an institution that is a symbol of national unity, trivializing the service of those who fought to keep Nigeria one and ridiculing the same country it is supposed to be ruling? ‘’We have said it before and will like to repeat: Enough is enough about this distraction".

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Man allegedly steals 8 goats in Jigawa

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UTSE—THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, in Jigawa State, yesterday, said it arrested a 30-yearold man for allegedly stealing eight goats.

The state NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Muhammad Gidado, told newsmen in Dutse that the suspect was a resident of Azarawa village in Babura Local Government area of the state.

Gidado said the suspect allegedly stole the goats from Achiya village in the same local government area, but was apprehended in Aujara village of Jahun Local Government Area.

The commandant said the suspect was arrested after he failed to give satisfactory explanation as to the source of the goats.

According to him, preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect is among a gang terrorising residents of the area and stealing their animals.

Gidado also announced the arrest of a suspected cattle rustler, after series of complaints from communities in Guri and Birniwa Local Government areas.

2-yr-old marriage crashes over alcohol, hemp

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AGOS—A Lagos customary court, yesterday, dissolved a twoyear-old marriage between Segun Falaye and his wife, Celestina, over his love for alcohol and Indian help.

President of the Igando Customary Court, Mr. Ruphus Adeyeri, said all efforts to reconcile both parties were unsuccessful.

He ruled: “Both parties are no longer husband and wife; they are free to go their separate ways.”

The petitioner, Celestina, 33, had filed a suit seeking the dissolution of her marriage, citing her husband’s heavy drinking and hemp smoking habit.

Falaye, 40, said: “I take alcoholic drinks, but not excessively. I have never taken Indian hemp.

“My wife controls and commands me, all because she pays the bills.

“I used to pay the bills, but now that I have no job I cannot steal to fend for my family.”

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NO ORDER: A typical day at Ikotun Roundabout, Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Area, Alimosho, yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Soldiers intercept truck-load of 3,600 ballot boxes

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—A team of soldiers, popularly called OP MESSA, attached to 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala in Ogun State, yesterday, intercepted a truck-load of about 3,600 ballot boxes at Odogbolu axis of the SagamuIjebu Ode Expressway.

The soldiers reportedly handed over the truck and the contents to the Police in IjebuOde area command, which was then reportedly taken to a special security facility in the state.

However, sources told Vanguard that two other trucks escaped. It was also learned that the ballot boxes were filled with ballot papers.

Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the story, saying, however, he was only aware of one truck loaded with 3,600 ballot boxes that was intercepted.

He said: “When the soldiers could not ascertain the authenticity of the ballot boxes, they handed them over to the Police at Ijebu-Ode Area Command to commence investigation.

“Right now, we had 3,600 ballot boxes belonging to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. “Some top officials of INEC and at Wharf have called us to say that the consignment

belongs to INEC and that the ballot boxes are meant for its INEC office at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

“The INEC official said the contractor or agent would come to the Police headquarters with relevant documents to clarify the authenticity of the vehicle.

“The items are with us at the command, while we are waiting for the relevant documents.”

When asked whether a particular political party had been linked with the incident, the Police spokesperson said it would be premature to jump into

zTwo trucks escaped— SOURCES zINEC officials called us— POLICE conclusion on the status of the consignment.

He said: “It is too early for us to say that those items are illegal. With the information we have, they are INEC's property.

If we cannot see those documents to verify ownership, we will take necessary steps.”

Responding to the allegation that two trucks escaped, Adejobi said: “I am aware of just one vehicle, which

contains 3,600 ballot boxes.

“One person is in custody in connection with the vehicle and if there are other vehicles, our officers are on the road to apprehend them.

“An original document was tendered by security agents and governmental agencies, particularly INEC. All the documents with us point towards INEC as owner, but we are not relying on that.”

Fire razes Warri clinic, sacks patients

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—A noon fire, yesterday, in Willie Street, Warri, Delta State, razed the entire top floor of Syracuse Clinic, belonging to popular surgeon and television health enlightenment campaigner, Dr. Victor Oroegbu.

It took the intervention of youths in the neighbourhood to prevent the fire from spreading to the adjoining residence of the medical director and other buildings standing close to the affected

clinic.

When Vanguard visited the scene, the youths were still busy pouring water on flashes of flames on the already ruined roof of the top floor of the single-storey clinic.

A by-stander at the scene said: “The youths were timely in evacuating patients and staff on the top floor. When a fire service van rushed in, we thought respite had come.

“You will not believe the fire van ran out of water shortly after arrival. And they were just redundant, without making any effort.

“If not for the youths, it

would have been a different story, because buildings in the area are standing just too close.”

Vanguard further learned that the Medical Director, Dr. Oroegbu, had barely returned to duty at the clinic from Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, as guest on its health enlightenment television programme, when the fire started.

Oroegbu said he could not pinpoint the actual cause of the fire and the point where it started, but indications were rife that power surge may have sparked the fire.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015—7

One killed, 40 cars destroyed as cult groups clash in Lagos

By Evelyn Usman & Lucky Nwanekwu

zJournalist’s family escapes death

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IGHT broke out, yesterday, between a group of boys and suspected cult members at Afariogun area of Oshodi, Lagos, leaving one person dead and several others severely injured.

About 40 vehicles were also destroyed by the rampaging youths. Some buildings were also torched and shops looted.

A staff of Vanguard, Nicolas Esekhile, his wife and two-yearold child narrowly escaped death after the suspected members of Aiye confraternity shattered his louvers with machetes in an attempt to break into the house.

Report said trouble started at about 11p.m., Monday, between some boys from Orile-Oshodi and Afariogun, at a naming ceremony of one Jimoh Odekunle at Okeleye Street, Afariogun,with the cause unknown.

In the process, one Kamoru, said to have been severely injured, died in the early hours of yesterday, in an undisclosed hospital around the area, where he was rushed for treatment.

When news of his death filtered in yesterday, his colleagues from Orile-Oshodi reportedly embarked on a reprisal attack.

Their first port of call was reportedly the residence of one Sunday Anajonu, alleged to have been responsible for the death of their colleague.

But for the timely intervention of policemen from Akinpelu Division, Anajonu would have been lynched by his assailants.

When Vanguard visited the trouble zone at noon yesterday, some of the residents were discovered to have fled their abodes for fear of being entangled in the warring factions’ web.

Over 40 vehicles and about 20 buildings were destroyed.

Eyewitness account

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the fight was between the host and some suspected cult group.

The elderly woman said: “The cultists came at about 11pm, when the party was about winding up and started shooting at residents.

“They tried to break into a hotel around the area but could not. They looted shops, whose owners had locked up for the day, and invaded a restaurant where they collected the money realized for that day. They were over 50 in number.

“They went to the refrigerator, brought out the drinks and

NIS: Families of stampede victims appeal to Jonathan

By Gabriel Enogholase

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DISORDER: Affected property. attacked people with the bottles.

Vanguard staff escapes death by whiskers

Pieces of glass from Mr. Esekhile, the Vanguard staff's shattered louvers littered his living room and bedroom.

It was gathered that his wife and baby were lying on a couch close to the window in the living room, when the rampaging cult groups embarked on the destruction.

But for divine intervention, the matchet would have reportedly landed on Mrs Esekhile or her baby.

When approached, Esekhile, who was too stunned to speak,

only muttered “I thank God that members of my family are alive to recount the ordeal.”

Five persons arrested

When contacted, spokesman for Lagos State Police Command, Kenneth Nwosu, said five persons had been arrested in connection with the crisis.

He said only one person died in the fracas and not the three making the round.

He said: “On Monday night, one Kamoru Hassan was seriously wounded and died yesterday morning.

“Orile-Oshodi boys embarked on reprisal attack this morning

(yesterday)on the suspected killer of Kamoru, named Sunday Anajonu.

“Police from Akinpelu swiftly rescued him and took him to hospital, where he is currently being treated. From our record, only one person was killed.

“Five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and are undergoing interrogation as investigation to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the matter has commenced immediately.

“Normalcy has been restored in the area through patrol and surveillance and further efforts are being made to arrest anyone connected with the incident.”

Anambra traditionalists, Christians in supremacy battle

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA—A combined team of soldiers, police and the Department of State Services, DSS, officers, yesterday, foiled what would have led to a bloodbath at Amichi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State as a group of masquerades planned to unleash mayhem on Anglican worshippers during their Sunday outreach at Eke Amichi village square.

The clash ensued, following Ezumezu monthly cultural festival, which coincided with the day Anglican Diocese of Amichi holds its own monthly outreach.

According to sources, the battle line was drawn as irate youths were seen wielding dangerous weapons, apparently to attack the Christians, who gathered at the village square for the outreach.

The source said this latest onslaught was the third by the youths, allegedly sponsored by undercover elders and stakeholders to disrupt religious activities in the area.

It was also learned that some clerics and other church workers had earlier been attacked and their vehicles vandalized, while a police officer was brutalized and assaulted.

The leader of the masquerade group, Mr. Amichi Okonkwo, said they had warned the Anglican Bishop of Amichi, Rt. Rev Ephraim Ikeakor, and the entire Anglican community to steer clear of the market square, especially on Sundays that fall

on Eke market days.

He said they disobeyed the Bishop because he disobeyed their elders, including the traditional ruler, who the bishop was accusing of making trouble.

However, Archdeacon and Cathedral Administrator, Ven. Chukwuebuka Chukwuemeka, insisted that Sundays that fall on Eke market days were used by the Anglican Communion as Ozioma Okeke, which was not domiciled at Amichi alone, but cuts across the Niger region.

ENIN—TEN months after families of the victims of March 15, 2014, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, recruitment stampede were promised employment by the Federal Government, an appeal has gone to President Goodluck Jonathan from families in Edo State to fulfill his pledge.

Addressing newsmen in Benin at the premises of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Benin yesterday, spokesman for the group, Mr. Edmund Osumah, alleged that information at their disposal indicated that the names of the original victims, which were documented in the hospitals they were rushed to by officials of the FRSC and NIS, were now being substituted with names of those that were not victims.

He said: “Sadly, it is now over 10 months since Mr. President, in an attempt to remove despair and bring hope to the NIS victims and their families, issued the directive and none of the victims from the recruitment disaster has heard as much as a whimper from the NIS, Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Federal Government.”

He lamented that families of the victims were still living in despair, pains and trauma, arising from the way the Presidency was handling the issue.

They lamented that in a decent society, Mr. Abba Moro, who had earlier taken responsibility for the incident, ought to have resigned his appointment.

33-yr-old man killed, 2 injured at campaign rally

By Esther Onyegbula

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man (names withheld) has reportedly died as two others are in a critical state after they were allegedly flogged with charms by hoodlums at All Progressives Congress, APC, rally at Oworoshoki in Lagos.

This is contrary to earlier reports that two persons were allegedly stabbed at the rally held on Ifako playground, Oworoshoki, last Monday.

Vanguard gathered that trouble began towards the end of the rally, when a renowned politician allegedly dished out bundles of N1,000 notes to hired thugs.

According to reports, the sharing formula did not go well with the parties involved as they reportedly began to unleash terror on one another.

It was also learned that in the heat of the squabble, one of the warring parties

allegedly used charms on another, causing the instant of the 33-year-old man.

It was gathered that but for the timely intervention of police officers from Oworonsonki Division, who stormed the scene, the crisis would have degenerated further.

However, a locally-made pistol was recovered at the scene after the officers chased the hoodlums.

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8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

New accord needed with tech firms to stop terrorism —Ex-UK spy chief

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AGOS — INTELLIGENCE agencies and technology companies need to reach a new agreement on data-sharing to prevent attacks like those in Paris earlier this month becoming commonplace, the former head of Britain’s foreign intelligence service said on Tuesday.

John Sawers, speaking in public for the first time since leaving the Secret Intelligence Service, SIS, in November, said trust between governments and technology companies had been shattered and needed to be rebuilt.

“There needs to be some new compact between the technology companies and those who are responsible for security if we’re not to see events like we saw in Paris last week ... becoming more and more features of our lives,” Sawers said, also citing recent security incidents in Yemen and Nigeria.

He blamed revelations

by Edward Snowden, the former US spy agency contractor who disclosed details of the extent of surveillance and electronic monitoring by the US and Britain, for the breakdown in trust.

The call for greater monitoring of online communications carried out through companies like Facebook and Twitter is a familiar one from intelligence officials.

On Sunday, a former head of the domestic intelligence service said Britain’s anti-terror laws were “not designed for the current digital world” and no longer fit for purpose.

The issue has taken on greater political significance following attacks by Islamist gunmen in Paris which killed 17 people. Britain is on its second-highest threat level, meaning an attack is considered highly likely.

DEATH WISH ADVERT: Jonathan, PDP disown Fayose

By Henry Umoru & Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have distanced themselves from the advertisements in some major newspapers by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, warning against voting for the APC presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), because of the possibilities that he would die in office because of his age.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCPCO, yesterday dismissed the denial by the PDP as “merely a case of a master dissociating himself from the errand boy after the message had backfired.”

Fayose had in the publications entitled "Enough of state burials," warned that almost all the past Presidents from the North-West died in the office, adding: “Will thou allow history to repeat itself?

Enough of state burials, Nigerians vote wisely, vote Goodluck Jonathan, Northern Presidency should wait till 2019.”

Reacting to the advertisement, yesterday, in Abuja, Director of Media and Publicity of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, noted that the organisation and the party were not in support of the governor ’s position on the issue.

Fani-Kayode said: “Governor Ayo Fayose is a distinguished leader of our party; a democratically elected governor and someone we have immense respect and affection for and he released this advert in his own name. That represents his own personal opinion which he is entitled to.

“What I can tell you on our part is that it does not represent the opinion of the Presidential Campaign Organisation or indeed the President. It is his (Fayose’s) opinion, which he is entitled to and he is somebody that we have immense respect for.

"He is a leading member of the party. I have spoken with him and we respect him but for any body to suggest that this is the position of the Presidential Campaign Organisation or President Goodluck Jonathan, that will be most unfair.

“If we wanted to say

zSay we never wished Buhari dead zPDP’s self dissociation not convincing – APC zInsists on independent probe of threat on Buhari

VISIT: The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Osun State Command, Alhaji Tajudeen Balogun, presenting a gift to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade during a courtesy call on the monarch in his palace. something like that we will say it without any kind of apology but of course, we will never say that because we believe in the sanctity of life. Age is not a function of how long you will live.

“It is important that we recognise the fact that age is not an indication of how long somebody will live. We believe strongly that we must continue to show immense respect to the person of General Buhari.”

He is entitled to his opinion Fani-Kayode, however, said that he would not disclaim the advertisement since Fayose never claimed that he made his publication on behalf of either Jonathan or the PDP. He said: “Fayose never said that he was speaking on behalf of President Jonathan but for himself and he said that he issued it in his name.

And I have emphasised that, that is his opinion and he is entitled to it.

“I could only disown if a statement was purportedly made on our behalf and in fairness to him, he never said that. What is important is to emphasise that fact that his position does not represent our position on this. He is entitled to that position, he is a leading member of our party.

Questions relating to

Buhari's health Fani-Kayode, however, insisted that although the PDP never wished the APC presidential candidate dead, "we will continue to raise questions over issues relating to his health."

He further said: “We do not wish him ill, we do not wish him dead, we wish him long life and we believe strongly that such sentiment can be aired by individuals certainly not in our name.

“We believe it is important to always raise questions about facts; you know what these questions are and we will continue to raise them.”

PDP’s self dissociation not convincing – APC In rejecting the denial by the Jonathan Campaign, the APC Campaign said that the response on the matter was “too casual and off-handed to impress anyone. It doesn’t sound convincing."

It said the party "needs to take this issue more seriously to underscore its commitment to the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and the nonviolence pact entered into by the party and its presidential candidate.

“It is very irresponsible for the PDP to want to distance itself from the death threat

to General Buhari, made by not only a sitting governor of the PDP but also a high ranking member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Committee.

“Just in case the PDP had forgotten, what was FaniKayode thinking in his mind when he challenged General Buhari to make a jog round a field? Was it to put him through a body fitness workout or to plant a sniper somewhere around the field?

“Whatever the intention of the PDP was about the health status of General Buhari, we in the APC Campaign believe in the exclusivity of the divine role in the matters of life and death.

“It is not difficult for Nigerians to discern what the PDP odd intention towards the APC and its presidential candidate is. The PDP’s uncivilised death plot only exposes the mindset of the party and their cohorts.

“That the PDP can place such noxious campaign advertorial into the public domain, in a desperate attempt to promote an incompetent incumbent president is tantamount to PDP’s tradition of violence and victimization as well as an eloquent commentary on how President Goodluck Jonathan runs his administration.”

The Campaign Organisation, however, restated its request for an independent investigation into the PDP threat against General Buhari to ensure his safety and free and fair election on February 14.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 —9

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA — INDICATIONS emerged last night that several top-ranking members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, might soon be dragged to court for allegedly demanding and collecting N750 million from a governoship aspirant in Delta State, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu.

The PDP top officials, who are members of the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, were named by the prime suspect, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, who was arrested and detained for five days by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for his role in the crime.

Before he was admitted to bail last week, Kachikwu, who is a former son-in-law to the former Aviation Minister, Kema Chikwe and Women Leader of the PDP, had made what a top source in EFCC called "very useful information" on how the money was received and shared to the "beneficiaries."

Further findings by Vanguard revealed that N100 million of the N750 million given by Elumelu had been traced to a top businessman in Delta State, who was also mentioned by the suspect.

EFCC confirmed, yesterday, that its operatives had since arrested and grilled the Delta businessman and brought him to its Abuja office for questioning having traced N100 million of the money to his account.

2 PDP NWC members under close watch

An impeccable source in EFCC confirmed to Vanguard that two members of the PDP NWC, who were named by the prime suspect in the bribery saga, were being kept under close watch and might soon be arrested for questioning.

The source explained that the two NWC members were being closely monitored to ensure that they do not escape from the country.

The EFCC source said the commission would leave no stone unturned in bringing those named in the scandal to book in response to the challenge by the PDP leadership to the commission to name the suspects and charge them to court.

The source said: “We have accepted the PDP challenge and we are going all out to ensure that all those who shared the N750 million bribe will be duly exposed and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent no matter their positions in this country."

The source confirmed that EFCC operatives were working assiduously to wrap up investigations on the suspects before pressing charges against them.

It was, however, learnt that the man, who reportedly gave the money-for-ticket bribe, and House Health Committee

N750M BRIBE: EFCC goes after PDP NWC members zPlaces suspects under close watch zN100m traced to Delta bizman’s account

Chairman, Ndudi Elumelu, was more interested in recovering his money than in prosecuting the suspects.

It was further gathered that the delay in proceeding with prosecution might not be

unconnected with the forces behind the crime and the ongoing campaigns for next month’s polls.

Elumelu had petitioned the EFCC, asking it to move in and recover the huge sum from

Kachikwu, who had demanded and collected the sum with a promise to use it and influence top ranking Wadatta House members in securing the PDP governorship ticket for him.

He lamented that having given

the suspect the money, he failed to secure the Delta State governorship ticket for him and did not also refund the huge amount to him, making him to suffer double jeopardy in the process.

CBN sticks with 13% MPR, as Emefiele warns speculators zSays no devaluation of Naira for now

By Emma Ujah & Emma Elebeke

zFG not reviewing oil benchmark

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BUJA — THE Monetary Policy Committee rose from its first meeting in the year, in Abuja, yesterday, with a decision to retain the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, at the current 13 per cent, the Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, on Private and Public deposits at 20 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who briefed the press on the decisions of the committee, also announced that the liquidity ratio was also retained at 30 per cent.

While saying that his team was closely monitoring developments in the money market, Emefiele said it was paramount to defend the external reserve and the Naira at the foreign exchange market.

According to him, “anybody that needed to do business in the country will be allowed to do so but for only legitimate purposes,” but warned: “We will not tolerate speculative attacks on the devaluation. We have a mandate to ensure that transaction activities taking place in the market are only for legitimate transactions.

“We have also made it very clear that we are monitoring the market to the extent that we feel that the inter-bank market will continue to support trading activities of both Nigerians and foreign investors.

“And at any point, where we discover that the market is unable to absorb or to provide the liquidity that is needed, the CBN will come up to intervene in the market, to provide the liquidity that is needed for transaction to go on for legitimate transaction.

JP Morgan Index

On JP Morgan’s negative watch on Nigeria, Emefiele said the bank would do everything necessary to remain on the index.

He said: “We are looking at it and are ready to provide the number and increase the level of liquidity required in the

LAUNCHING: From left: Group Managing Director/CEO, Vlisco, Mr Hans Ouwendijk; Minister of Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Frank Jacobs during the official launch of National Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy in Abuja, yesterday. market. I am very optimistic that the JP Morgan will see reasons with us.

“We are committed to remaining on the index. We will do everything possible to remain on the index because we know what the departure will cause the country.”

No further devaluation for now

Asked if the CBN was planning further devaluation of the Naira, he said: “We cannot comment on that now, whether or not there would be devaluation. It is again, an issue that will be subjected to review from time to time.

“At this time, the naira is appropriately priced and there is no need for anybody to worry about devaluation.

At this time, the currency is appropriately priced."

On the widening gap between the official exchange rate and that of the Bureau de Change segment of the foreign exchange market, the governor said the CBN was doing its best to bridge the gap.

His words: “We will continue to ensure that exchange rate does not spiral out of control. That is why we are watching it and at the appropriate time, certain actions will be taken.”

According to the governor, the nation’s gross official external reserves as at December 31, 2014 stood at $34.25 billion compared with $42.85 billion at the corresponding period of 2013.

The decrease in the reserves level, according to him, was driven largely by increased funding of the foreign exchange market interventions to stabilise the exchange rate in the face of decline in reserve accretion.

The country ’s external reserves as at end-December 2014 could finance 7.44 months of imports.

FG not reviewing 2015 oil benchmark

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has insisted that it would not review the $65 per barrel in the 2015 benchmark.

Reacting to enquiries on the position of the Federal Government on the benchmark, given the

persistent fall in oil prices, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said the price was still too volatile for such a review and that the scenariobased approach to the budget was capable of handling the situation.

His words: “We are not reviewing the budget benchmark price at the moment. The price of oil is still quite volatile and we do not know how it will bottom out.

“We are taking a scenariobased approach in handling the 2015 Budget. That means that for various levels of oil price, we have additional measures both on the revenue and expenditure side, which will kick in when it bottoms out.

“The Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, is currently at the National Assembly. We have been working together with our lawmakers to ensure that we steer the country in the right direction during this period.”

10— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Don't alter Nigerians' wish, Oba of Lagos tells INEC zAs printers complain of low patronage L

AGOS—THE Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to alter the wish of Nigerians at the February elections.

Akiolu made the appeal in Lagos.

He said that INEC should not tolerate rigging or any other electoral malpractice to ensure free, fair and credible polls that would deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

The monarch tasked the commission to ensure that all eligible voters would get their cards before the elections.

He assured INEC of the support of the traditional institution in the state toward credible general elections.

Akiolu regretted the insurgency in some parts of the country but hoped that it would soon end.

“I know that our military was not equipped in the past the way it should, but everybody has learnt from his mistakes,” the royal father said.

Olu Adefowope, said that the trend had kept most printers guessing, with just a few weeks to the end of campaigns.

“We thought the electioneering period will be good for business but the reverse is the case. Most of us are yet to be patronized and we are wondering why.

“We see flyers, handbills, posters, flood Lagos and other states in the country but we don’t

know where the jobs are being done,” Adefowope said.

According to him, it seems some politicians have their printing presses or go to their associates who have unlicensed printing presses.

“In fact, we have been fighting against this act of patronizing unlicensed printers.

“It is stipulated in the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria

that no individual, partnership or group should practice printing without being licensed.

“Most of these people are violating this law because we are yet to put the right machinery in place,” he said.

Adefowope, who is also the Chairman of the Somolu Division of the association, added that some politicians go as far as printing their campaign materials outside the country.

Printers disappointed over low patronage

Meantime, the Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria, yesterday, in Lagos, expressed disappointment over the low patronage of their services in the 2015 electioneering campaigns.

The printers said the trend was very poor when compared with that of the 2011 electioneering campaigns.

The Vice Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the association, Mr

BRIEFING: From left: Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Lagos State deputy governor, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos and Chairman, General Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo campaign fund raising committee, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Otunba Henry Ajomole, Chairman, APC Lagos, and Mr. Bola Ayobode, member of committee, during the briefing to unveil the All Progressives Congress, APC, platforms for GMB/PYO campaign fund drive in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Jonathan, business leaders parley in Lagos

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—A forum of business leaders in Nigeria under the platform of Corporate Forum has concluded plans to interact with President Goodluck Jonathan on diverse issues of national interest ahead of the Presidential polls.

The forum disclosed the plan in a statement, noting that the interactive session was basically arranged to interact with the president on the success of his administration since 2011.

The statement explained the significance of the interactive session with the president, which it said, was arranged to promote robust discussion with the organised private sector, OPS, captains of industries and professional groups.

It added that the session with the president will hold on Sunday, January 25, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island axis. It would feature comprehensive presentation on Jonathan’s

Group throws weight behind Ambode Pledging to work for Ambode’s

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AGOS—A GROUP under the platform of Lagos Vanguard Group, has thrown its weight behind the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, saying he has people friendly agenda for the people of Lagos.

Convener of the group, Mr Rotimi Martins said that having carefully studied the manifestos of the governorship candidates in Lagos State, it decided to support Ambode’s ambition.

victory in the February 28 governorship election, Martins said: “The Lagos Vanguard Group has scrutinized all the candidates presented by various political parties, we have looked at their manifestoes to see how Lagosians will reap the dividends of democracy.

"Our conclusion is that Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has the most impressive and people friendly agenda for the common people of Lagos State."

achievement in the past five years.

It added that the forum “has a tradition of organising interactive session with the president since Nigeria’s democratic transition with a view to promoting a culture of meaningful engagement between the business and political class.”

It stated that the forum held a

meaningful session with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999; interacted with former President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007 and discussed with President Jonathan in 2011 on diverse matters of socio-economic interest.

According to the statement, there will be a dinner with the president immediately after the interactive session.

PDP stalwart defects to APC, urges support for Buhari

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By Onozure Dania

AGOS—A former stalwart of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in EtiOsa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Prince Ibrahim Odofin, who decamped to the All Progressives Congress has urged the people in the area to vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in February 14 presidential poll.

Odofin, who is the President of Ojomu Youth Forum and also

a security expert advised members of the communities to show massive support for Buhari in the presidential election as he had since discovered that the PDPled government “is anti-masses and selfish.”

Speaking at a meeting with the leaders of all the ethnic groups in the area as well as commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders and tricycle operators, Odofin said that as a community leader, his meeting with them was to formally announce his membership of the APC.

‘APC has no link with Muslim Brotherhood'

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By Providence Obuh

AGOS—CLAIMS published online that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is a Muslim Brotherhood member has been debunked by a group in support of Gen. Muhamadu Buhari’s candidacy.

Speaking in Lagos, Lagos State Coordinator of the body known as Buhari Vanguard, Mr. Pade Ojoodide, describe the claim as malicious and in bad taste.

Ojoodide said that the message is intended to poison the minds of Nigerians and that it is encumbered with the spirit of error, saying, “The message going round both on the internet, video and magazine that the APC has a link with the Muslim Brotherhood is a fallacy.

“It is dangerous to steer up Christians against their fellow Nigerians who are Muslims.

“Claiming that APC has sympathy for the Muslim Brotherhood is heresy because the APC chairman, John Oyegun is a Christian like several others in the party.

What they are trying to sell to the Christendom can best be described as poison.

“Buhari is a man of integrity that was not corrupt when he was head of state and even till date, within 20 months of his leadership there was a turnaround, currency was changed within two weeks and people who stocked capital in their houses suffered for it.

“During his tenure, there was discipline, as Head of State, he worked his talk. If he has not Islamised the country then, is it now that we are in the era of democracy that such things would happen.’’

PPC Ipaja holds programme

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AGOS—IN continuation of its 21 days fasting and prayer programme, Power Pentecostal Church, PPC, Ipaja parish will be hosting the Presiding Bishop of the mission, Bishop Bola Odeleke, on Friday, January 23 at the church auditorium, 16, Alhaji Sule Street, besides Mighty Oaks School, Ipaja.

She will be ministering from 5.00pm

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 —11

Fayose under fire over anti-Buhari advert It's my personal opinion, not a death wish for Buhari z

By Leke Adeseri, South West Regional Editor & Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—A coalition of 60 Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in Nigeria, yesterday, berated Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State for sponsoring an advertisement they said suggested that the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Major-General Muhammad Buhari (retd), will die in office if elected next month.

The group, under the aegis of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room , in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, maintained that Governor Fayose’s advertisement was in “extreme bad taste,” saying it fell within the category of hate speech prohibited under the Electoral Act and other known international laws that forbade the publication of hate speech.

It noted that the said advert was published on the front page of select newspapers on Monday January 19, with the banner headline, “Nigerians Be Warned.”

According to the group; “The advertisement negates the Abuja Accord recently signed by the presidential candidates and leaders of political parties for the elections.”

Consequently, it urged politicians to be cautious in their campaign and conduct ahead of the February polls so as to allow peace to reign in the country.

It’s my personal opinion, not a death wish for Buhari – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose, has reacted to comments that trailed the advertorial he caused to be published on Monday, saying it was his personal opinion as a citizen of this country and not opinion of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and that he stood by it.

He also said he had no apology over the publication as it contained facts.

Fayose, who stated this through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, said the truth could never be covered indefinitely, insisting that the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, was too old and sick to be president of the country.

The governor asserted: “ I wish to refer to the late President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua who former President Olusegun Obasanjo claimed was hale and hearty to lead this country and subsequently took ill and died.

“I must assure all those who have expressed genuine concerns, unlike the APC that is playing cheap politics over the issue -that my intention is not a death wish to General Buhari but a factual position that APC is covering.

“My consideration for the advertorial in the midst of alleged ill-health of the late president is the need for the nation not to forget the crisis we were thrown into in 2010 but saved by the National Assembly which had to invoked the Doctrine of Necessity after protests by the Save Nigeria Group, SNG. “It is in defence of fairness that I called attention to the potential crisis we may face, God forbid that

the health of the general becomes a hindrance if he was president and his Vice who is from the South West would have to step into the saddle not too long after Obasanjo's eight years in office. “ I wish to draw attention to the lead story in a national newspaper ( not Vanguard) of January 18, 2015, entitled, "Buhari’s planned visit to US causes furore.

“The story revealed that arrangement had been concluded to fly Buhari to US for a medical check up. That Buhari has been stressed from effects of the rigours of presidential campaigns across the country and he is definitely in need of medical attention, adding that

age was a factor as rigours of the campaign was getting at him”.

Fayose, therefore, advised Buhari to be sincere with himself and step down for a younger and more vibrant person..again,I say it that Buhari is too old and spent to lead Nigeria.

The governor added; “The health of all of us who have stepped into the leadership space is nothing personal to us any more as it has implications on the polity.”

Fayose said he was certain that time will vindicate him, calling on all Nigerians to vote en-mass for the vibrant and energetic President Jonathan to avoid a repeat of history

Ado-Ekiti Poly shut over students unrest

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By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI—THE management of the Federal Polytechnic, AdoEkiti has announced the closure of the institution following series of protests embarked upon by the students The three trade unions in the school had been at loggerhead with the Rector of the institution,Dr. Teresa Akande over unresolved issues which has to do with the welfare of the workers In a press statement issued in Ado Ekiti yesterday by the Principal Assistant Registrar (Information), Ade Adejolu the management ordered all students to leave their halls of residence latest by noon on Tuesday (yesterday).

Customs officers receive marine training in Oron

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CAMPAIGN: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun interacting with well-wishers and party supporters at Oja-Odan, during his re-election campaign in Yewa North Local Government Area. Photo: Wunmi Akinola.

Why I want to unseat Amosun, by UPN candidate education free at all levels in the

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By Daud Olatunji

B E O K U TA — T H E governorship candidate of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Prince Rotimi Paseda yesterday, promised to implement free healthcare programme and provide social security for the senior citizens in Ogun State if elected governor at the February election.

Paseda said he desired to unseat the incumbent governor,

Senator Ibikunle Amosun in the coming governorship election so as to implement Awolowo legacies on education, health and others.

Paseda stated this, yesterday, at the UPN party secretariat, Onikolobo in Abeokuta shortly after he received the party flag from the interim national chairman of the party Dr. Manzo Abubakar.

He said that apart from making

state which he promised to announce during his inaugural speech, he also pledged to devote special attention to the welfare of the aged.

The United Kingdom-based business said he would set aside special fund in form of social security as it is done in developed nations where those who have laboured to develop the land would have a befitting old age.

....As Isiaka pledges functional LGs if elected

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BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka has promised to allow local governments to operate as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria if elected into office.

He, however, berated the government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun for stifling that tier of government and making them ineffective to carry out their constitutional responsibilities as the closest tier of government to the people.

Isiaka said this while fielding questions from the panelists

during the gubernatorial debate organised by the Committee For Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, in Abeokuta yesterday where six candidates participated.

Governor Amosun was conspicuously absent at the gathering where candidates were asked various questions on their agenda for the state.

By Godwin Oritse

RON—THE Customs Area Controller, Western Marine Command, Mr Yusuf Umar, yesterday, said that some of its officers would soon proceed to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron, Akwa Ibom, on marine training during the first quarter of the year.

Umar made the disclosure in Lagos.

According to him, "we intend to send some of our officers to Oron, where they will undergo some training in terms of our activities in the maritime industry.

“The officers will learn everything that has to do with marine operations,” he said.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Suspected ex-militants warn First Lady against attending presidential rally in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

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deal with anti-Patience elements, who had threatened to disrupt the proposed rally if the First Lady accompanied her husband to the state.

JOY 2015 said: “We have concluded plans to mobilise 10,000 youths to attend the rally and provide maximum security for Dame Patience.”

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the state Coordinator JOY 2015, Mr. Daniel Etai,

said it will be suicidal for anybody to think of preventing the First Lady from coming to the state, adding: “The authentic youths and students’ leaders from the state are eagerly waiting to welcome the First Lady to the state. We commend Governor Dickson for his giant strides in the state.

The youths will queue behind the governor to accord Dame Patience a deserving

reception.”

The anti-Patience group, in a statement by its president, Mr. Opuyo Engobara, accused the First Lady of aiding her anointed governorship candidate, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa to recruit youths to embarrass Governor Dickson, at the proposed rally.

It lamented the President’s silence over the alleged excesses of his wife.

ENAGOA—YOUTHS suspected to be exmilitants from the creeks of Bayelsa State, yesterday, warned Dame Patience, wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, against accompanying her husband to the presidential rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scheduled to hold in the state on February 5.

The warning followed a similar one by a group which called itself, Bayelsa Youth Vanguard, BYV, barring the First Lady from attending the proposed rally.

The ex-militant youths, under the aegis of the Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa, MBB, asked Mrs. Jonathan to steer clear of the rally over her alleged involvement in an alleged plot to embarrass the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, during the forthcoming presidential rally in the state.

Meanwhile, a coalition of seven youth groups from the state, reacting to the threat, declared their readiness to rally round Dame Patience and warned trouble makers to steer clear of the PDP presidential rally.

The youths, under the aegis of the Jonathan Youth VISIT: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and HRH George Omoaze I, Vanguard, JOY 2015, vowed to Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno, during the governor's visit to introduce the All Progressives use “all means possible” to Congress, APC, candidates in the forthcoming elections to the royal father.

Delta Speaker vows to deliver Oshimili South

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PEAKER of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Onwusanya, has assured that Oshimili South Local Government Area will vote for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and record the highest votes in all the elections scheduled for February.

The Speaker gave the assurance when he received more than 300 members of Oshimili South Progressive Union, OSPUN, at his constituency office in Asaba, yesterday.

He said that the area registered more than 120,000 voters and would mobilize the people to ensure that the area records 100 percent vote.

Onwusanya, who represents Oshimili South constituency in the state House of Assembly, added that the emergence of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as governorship candidate of PDP was a blessing to the people of Delta North.

Oshiomhole slams FG’s employment policy ...says youths fleeced of N800m

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has attacked the Federal Government’s employment policy, accusing the government of deceit and fleecing unemployed Nigerian youths of over N800 million in the name of employment.

Speaking at a rally of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Agenebode, Fugar and Jattu

in Etsako Local Government Areas of the state, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government’s claim of creating three million jobs was false as nobody can point to any of his relations so employed by the Federal Government.

He said the Jonathan administration was full of deceit, as it only says things it would never deliver on.

According to Oshiomhole, even after the PDP-led Federal

Government spent over $30 billion on power, Nigerians still live in darkness; and after promising the people the construction of a second Niger Bridge, nothing is on ground to justify the huge sums of money so far pumped into the project.

He said: “They claim to have created three million jobs.

Among you people here, how many of your brothers have got Federal Government jobs.

Over the years, government employment is done based on rules.”

Don't alter wishes of Nigerians, Oba Akiolu urges INEC

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AGOS—THE Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, yesterday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to alter the wish of Nigerians at the February elections.

Akiolu, who made the appeal in Lagos, said that INEC should not tolerate rigging or any other form of

electoral malpractice to ensure free, fair and credible polls that would deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

The monarch tasked the commission to ensure that all eligible voters get their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, before the elections.

He assured INEC of the support of the traditional institution in the state toward

credible general elections.

Akiolu regretted the insurgency in some parts of the country but hoped that it would soon end.

“I know that our military was not equipped in the past the way it should be, but everybody has learnt from his mistakes,” the royal father said.

No party can shake PDP in C-River —IMOKE

By Emma Una

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GOJA—SENATOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, yesterday, said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will win all elective positions in the state, despite the strong showing of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Labour Party in the state.

Senator Imoke, in Ogoja, Cross River North senatorial district, while flagging off the PDP campaign rally for the February elections, said the party has presented genuine and credible young men and women on whom the future of the state and the country lie and as such, the party would stop at nothing to ensure their victory at the polls.

He said: “The people of Ogoja should be grateful that the governor is coming from here this time around and we have presented young men and women with capacity, so we must ensure their victory in the elections.”

UPU never endorsed only PDP, APC, Delta LP insists

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ELTA State Labour Party Secretary, Chief Lance Orhierho, has faulted reports that UPU had endorsed only the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC, as the only parties on which any Delta State governorship candidate of Urhobo origin could be supported.

Speaking on what transpired at the Urhobo Cultural Centre, he explained that the agreement reached by the various stakeholders which included traditional rulers, clerics, the president generals, the UPU executive and representatives of various interest groups was that Urhobo nation would throw her weight behind qualified sons or daughters of Urhobo extraction that were able to secure their parties' tickets.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015—13

HRM, Ovie Richard Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I, the Ohworode of Olomu, cutting his 98th birthday cake, supported by some of his children and members of the Olomu Traditional Council of Chiefs.

HRM, Ovie Richard Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I, the Ohworode of Olomu, some members of the Olomu Traditional Council of Chiefs and children of the monarch during the special thanksgiving service marking his 98th birthday and 27th coronation anniversary, yesterday. Photos: Akpokona Omaafuaire.

Emerhor flags off Delta APC campaign today

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BRIEFING: Delta PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa briefing leadership of Delta NUJ on his five points agenda, in Asaba. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

LL Progressives Congress, APC and its governorship candidate in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, will flag off the party's campaign rally today, in Agbor, Delta State.

The event is expected to attract over 300,000 party faithful, supporters, elders, leaders of the APC and members of the general public.

Director of Media and Political Communication, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, in a statement, said that the choice of Agbor was as a result of the support and followership for the APC and its governorship candidate by the good people of Delta North senatorial district, which has in recent times surprised the opposition, who hitherto thought that the

Itsekiri group urges Jonathan to perform EPZ groundbreaking

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI—THE Warri Study Group, WSG, Warri, Delta State, yesterday, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the multi-billion dollar Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project at Ogidigben, Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of the state without delay, to create employment for thousands of Nigerian youths.

WSG, in a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, said there was no connection between the groundbreaking of the EPZ and the proposed Gbaramatu Deep Seaport project.

He said: “There has been a lot of misinformation or lack of proper understanding of the Ogidigben EPZ project going by what some people have said in recent times in the media. There is no nexus between the ground-breaking of the EPZ, thrice postponed, and the proposed Gbaramatu Deep Seaport project whose preliminaries are yet to begin.

“The project site for the Ogidigben EPZ has long been acquired and preliminary works are in progress. For the

C M Y K

Gbaramatu Deep Seaport Project, no land has been acquired. While the EPZ is a project of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the Deep Seaport project is that of the Nigerian Ports Authority, a different organisation.

“The Maritime University and the Dockyard in

Okerenkoko are projects of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and were not tied to the Ogidigben EPZ which made the President to commission the projects at Okerenkoko even though at that time the Ogidigben EPZ was ripe for the groundbreaking.

“The reason given was that the two projects are being handled by two different institutions and since NNPC was not ready at the time Mr. President came to Okerenkoko. It was only the ground-breaking ceremony of the Dockyard and the Maritime University that was performed,” he added.

Jonathan'll use Amasieamaka Stadium for presidential rally —WIKE

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IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Mr Nyesom Wike, has said that the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally in Rivers State will hold at the Amasieamaka stadium on January 28 contrary to claims by the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

Wike said that the stadium belongs to Rivers people and President Jonathan will use it for his campaign rally.

The former Minister of State for Education spoke in Port Harcourt, yesterday, during a meeting with Goodluck to Goodluck Political pressure group.

He said: “The PDP

Presidential Rally will hold at the Amasieamaka Stadium on January 28. The APC held its presidential campaign rally on January 6, and an earlier rally on October 25, 2014 at the same stadium.

“Our presidential rally will hold at that stadium because it belongs to the people. We are working with all stakeholders to ensure that the right thing is done to move the nation forward. We are committed to the peaceful use of the stadium for our presidential campaign.”

He urged members of the Goodluck to Goodluck Political Group to continue with their massive mobilization for the re-election of President

Jonathan.

In his remarks, Legal Adviser of Goodluck to Goodluck Political Group, said: “We are working for the emergence of President Jonathan and Wike.”

Also, yesterday, Wike inaugurated the committee that will organise the Presidential Campaign Rally in Rivers State.

He charged the committees to work selflessly to set the tone for Jonathan's re-election.

Responding on behalf of committee members, Rivers State PDP Chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah, assured that the members will deliver an outstanding presidential rally in the state.

APC had no political weight in the Anioma nation.

He said that the Agbor mega rally will be second to none in governorship flag off events as plans had been concluded to host the enthusiastic APC supporters as well as treat them to a political jamboree, a gathering of political eagles desirous of socio-economic and political change in Delta State.

Okpe Union flays UPU sanctions on Urhobo politicians

T

HE Okpe Union, an apex body of the Okpe people at home and in the Diaspora, has frowned at the sanctions imposed on some Urhobo politicians who aligned with politicians from Delta North senatorial zone and not towing the line of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, directives on the Urhobo governorship project in the February polls in the state as amplified by the Uvwiamuge declaration.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos on a recent media report, the President General of Okpe Union, Mr. Patrick Akpotor, said that the body did not agree with the UPU on some of the reasons for imposing sanctions on those it considered obdurate and recalcitrant to its directives.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Brookings tips Jonathan to win Feb polls

By Clifford Ndujihe

A

WASHINGTON, US-based influential think-tank, the Brookings Institution/Africa Growth Initiative has rated President Goodluck Jonathan as the favourite to win the February 14 presidential polls In a report entitled: "The 2015 presidential elections in Nigeria: The issues and challenges," Brookings said the article published under the Africa Growth Initiative said Jonathan’s Peoples Domocratic Party, PDP, was more likely to win the February election.

The paper, which dwells on several aspects of the Nigerian election said that “though the election is expected to be very competitive, the odds still favour President Jonathan.”

While highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the two main political parties, the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, the institution said the APC will be unable to unseat the PDP in the February elections.

The paper said: “After suffering a wave of defections to the APC last year, including five of its governors, the PDP seems to have rebounded strongly.

In the battleground South-West, for instance, the party won recent governorship elections in Ekiti State and got the governor of Ondo State to defect from the Labour Party to the PDP. “The party is especially strong in the South-South (where Jonathan comes from), the South-East and among Christians in the North. Again, while the PDP remains weak in the Muslim North, it has gained new influential members who decamped from the APC including the former governors of Kano and Borno States.

And, of course, the PDP has power of incumbency.

“APC gets much of its strength from tapping into Jonathan sentiments in the Muslim North and grievances among the Yoruba who feel that the Jonathan administration has ignored them in key political appointments.

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AIG Mbu takes charge of Lagos, Ogun as Police move 26 officers .Lagos APC kicks

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA — AHEAD of the 2015 general elections which would kick off on February 14, the Police High Command has redeployed Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu to Lagos as the AIG in charge of Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun states.

Mbu was former AIG Zone 7, Abuja, and also former Commissioner of Police in charge Rivers State; Federal Capital Territory and CP in charge of Mobile Police, MOPOL. In a swift reaction, spokesperson for the APC in Lagos,

Mr. Joe Igbokwe, kicked against the move, saying: “Mbu must understand clearly that this is Lagos. Since Lagos was created in 1967, it has been in the hands of progressives. It is not Rivers or Abuja. This is a special state where the best minds live. The is the city of civil societies and the media. We know his antecedents and if he brings his unbecoming behaviour to Lagos, we will retire him from the Police.

Also affected by the redeployment are Mr. Tunde Ogunshakin, formerly AIG in charge of Training, now redeployed as AIG in charge Zone 6, Calabar, comprising Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross

Rivers states, while AIG Tambari Mohammed takes charge of Zone 1, Kano.

AIG Musa Daura takes charge of Zone 5, Benin, comprising Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states, while AIG Adenrele Shinaba, formerly CP, Kano is now AIG, Zone 4, Makurdi; AIG Mohammed J. Abubakar is the AIG in charge Zone 3, Yola.

AIG Patrick D. Dokumor, formerly a directing officer at NIPSS, Jos, is new AIG, Zone 7, Abuja.

Christopher T. Dega now heads Zone 8, Lokoja; Usman Akila Gwarry is AIG heads Zone 9, Umuahia; Bala A. Hassan is now AIG Zone 10 Sokoto; while Ikemefuna Okoye is AIG Zone

VISIT: Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji (middle), flanked left, by Rt. Rev. John Charlmers, Moderator of General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, during a courtesy visit by some top ministers from the church in Scotland to the governor in Umuahia. With them, left, is Rt. Rev. Agwu Ibeabuchi, Moderator, South Central Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.

11, Osogbo. Mohammed J. Gana is AIG Zone 12, Bauchi, while Sule Mamman is AIG Force HQ. Other AIGs are Adisa B. Bolanta, Commandant, Police Academy, Kano; Edgar Tam Nanakumo, Force Animal Branch; Sabo Ringim Ibrahim, Border Patrol; Wilfred Eje Obute, Armaments, FHQ Abuja; Kalafite Helen Adeyemi is AIG Maritime, FHQ; Ibrahim M. Maishanu is AIG Info-tech, FHQ; while Jubrin Olawale Adeniji is FHQ 2i/C FCID. Lawal Tanko is AIG in charge Police Mobile Force, FHQ, Abuja; Ballah Magaji Nasarawa, formerly AIG Intelligence, is now CMDT, PSC Jos; while Yahaya Garba Ardo is AIG in charge of Counter -Terrorism Unit, FHQ AIG Buhari Tanko is in charge Special Duties at FHQ; Olufemi Adenaike is AIG Training, FHQ; Umaru Abubakar Manko, formerly AIG Zone 2, Lagos, is now Director, Study Group, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos; Irimiya F. Yerima is AIG Communication, FHQ; with Mark Adamu Idakwo now AIG in charge of Federal Operations at FHQ. A statement signed by CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, Force Public Relations Officer, said the redeployment followed recent promotions of some senior officers and vacancies occasioned by retirements.

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission, PSC, yesterday, approved, with immediate effect, the promotion of CP Adenike Abuwa to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG.

Zamfara, Bayelsa share common challenges, says Jonathan

By Charles Kumolu & Salisu Maradun

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK Jonathan yesterday took his campaign for re-election to Zamfara and Katsina States, reminding supporters of his achievements in the last four

years with promises to boost infrastructure in the two states.

While President Jonathan pulled away from criticising his rival, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, many in his entourage were not so restrained. His campaign manager and former national

chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Col. Ahmadu Ali rained tirades on Buhari who he said committed atrocities in the past, including drugging and preparing to crate Dr. Umaru Dikko from England to Nigeria.

Others who were on the campaign train included Vice-

FG okays low interest funding plan for textile sub-sector

T

HE FEDERAL Government has approved a new funding plan that will ensure that cotton, textile and garment firms access long-term, low interest loans to finance their operations.

This is part of the new National Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy aimed at revitalising and boosting the growth and development of the cotton, textile and garment

industry.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this during the launch of the Nation Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy and the inauguration of a 17member Implementation, Monitoring and Review Committee for the CTG Policy, in Abuja.

Aganga said the policy, a product of prolonged consultation with stakeholders

in the industry, was expected to address bottlenecks inhibiting growth and development of the industry.

He added that it would improve the quality, quantity, production capacity, marketing and competitiveness of players across the entire value chain; control influx of sub-standard textiles and garments and improve competitiveness of CTG nationwide, among others.

President Namadi Sambo, national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu and the Defence Minister, General Aliyu Gusau.

The president who made his first stop in Zamfara which he described as his second home after Bayelsa said: “I consider Zamfara State as my state.

Whenever I come to the state, you take me as one of you. The unique thing about this state and mine is that they were both created the same day by late Gen Sani Abacha, rtd. The two states have the same challenges of infrastructure and youth unemployment, challenges of improving agriculture and fishing. That is why I am always at home whenever I come. Please, I will work with you and your incoming governor to develop the state. I will work with your minister to make sure that we develop this state. That is why we are emphasising on agriculture that Zamfara is known for. We will fix the Bakolori dam for irrigation.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 15

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16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 17

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WON'T dwell too much on the unfairness of Muslims permanently being made to feel they must apologise for the erring of a few mad men.

It is what Niger Deltans feel when they must either apologize for, defend or explain to the rest of Nigerians “Goodluck’s Good Work” (or lack thereof). Instead I’ll focus on the parallels between the West’s relationship to Islam, our own dealings with our Muslim community and how one must understand terrorism to fight it.

Some have described Charlie Hebdo’s work as “Muslim Baiting” i.e. going out of one’s way to anger the Muslim community and to portray Islam as backward and intolerant.

“France is the land of Voltaire, but too often editorial foolishness has prevailed at Charlie Hebdo”, The Financial Times’ Europe Editor, Mr. Barber says. Of course, he doesn’t condone the murderers, or suggest that freedom of expression should not extend to religion but advises “common sense” as “such publications purport to strike a blow for freedom when they provoke Muslims, but are actually just being stupid”.

Although Mr. Barber has been criticized for his unabashed view, one must see the truth behind it.

Today’s world is by and large returning to old civilizational rivalries present since the crusades, where Europeans, fighting a “holy war” against the ancient caliphates of today’s Middle-East, saw Islam as violent and unprogressive, which is interesting because a large number of inventions we enjoy today were created by Muslim Arabs.

Degree granting institutions The Muslim Golden Age gave the world algebra without which modern maths and engineering would not be possible. The first degreegranting institutions originated in the Arab/Muslim world and then spread to Europe, which had no culture of granting certificates to universally certify students had mastered a subject.

Modern science and art owe more than is recognized or acknowledged to the Muslim world. Fine, you might say, but what does this have to do with us Nigerians? I’m getting there.

Hatred that poisons:Hatred based on ethnicity, race or religion can “poison a nation’s spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society ’s tolerance and humanity and block a nation’s progress to freedom and democracy ” (Liu Xiaobo, Chinese human rights activist).

Sound familiar?

This exemplifies Nigeria where politically motivated fears rule. Over time we began to despise anything Muslim or Northern: whether one is a Buhari supporter or not, one must wonder why he had no

certain leadership, propped up by these same colonizers, preys on.

Divide and rule politics has brought our societies to the point where some citizens kill for God and others are lost in another kind of mysticism and slavery, chained not to the cross they worship but to the pastors of the day.

Enter the oil crash, corruption and the ensuing job-loss: some “strongmen” promote religion as a unifying identity to defend their interests in a complex, unstable world.

In Nigeria, groups are often armed before elections to secure politicians’ bids for power and it seems no one has yet bothered to question what happens to young armed and unemployed men when politicians no longer need them.

In both cases, terrorism seems to be the consequence of disillusioned, lost young men whose misguided and misdirected anger harms innocent citizens. Some “big men” in society see no harm in brainwashing and sacrificing lives while what they truly seek is control.

Political instability A muslim praying at a mosque in Cairo, Egypt

Charlie Hebdo and the fear of islamization in the Nigerian context issues with his “missing certificates” before this election or how he gained admission to such a prestigious institution as

Interestingly, the West uses this fear of Islam we inherited from our colonial masters to create the impression that there is a global anti-Muslim movement which we must adhere to

the US Army War College without proving he had attained any level of formal education. If in Nigeria one can bribe a dean to look the other way at a student’s ineptitude, one cannot do so at the United States Army War College. It is tacitly allowed in today ’s international society (so not just in Nigeria), to berate Muslims, to declare them uneducated and uncultured.

As terrorists maim and kill in the name of God, or so they believe, it is easily assumed by fearful observers that their faith is the issue.

One commonly hears: “Hausa people don’t want to go to school, instead, they will join Boko Haram”. Interestingly, no one seems to agree on terrorism’s root causes. What are islamists, jihadists or

‘Black lives matter'

I

'M sure you’ve seen the campaigns responding to police brutality in America.

All of society came together to protest, whether they felt the pinch or not. When in Nigeria will we get to that point?

terrorists (the terminology itself is vast) fighting for?

Anarchists believe violence is the only way to bring about radical social change: the end justifies the means. In many developing countries, the concepts of statehood and ethnic nationalism remain unresolved so economic inequality is juxtaposed with certain political resentment: a group feels it has been kept out of power, another believes it must cling to it whereas the common man of both ethnicities sees no benefit or change to his daily life whether group A or B holds sway.

Arbitrary boundaries The same prevails in the Arab world where colonization created arbitrary boundaries, division and conflict, which

Beyond 2015

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HAT will happen to those displaced by Boko Haram? Are they no longer Nigerian citizens, having fled to Chad etc.?

Where is our public indignation?

Westerners cannot begin to understand the evil at play in much of Africa and the MiddleEast, where some elites knowingly ideologically and physically arm their people to create division, opportunities for corruption and enough political instability for them to do as they please.

Interestingly, the West uses this fear of Islam we inherited from our colonial masters—after all, from a historical perspective Islam was introduced to Africa in the Middle Ages and therefore before Christianity— to create the impression that there is a global anti-Muslim movement which we must adhere to.

Rather than obsess over islamization (Nigerians are too boisterous to be sheep, or to be forcefully converted by anyone), let us work together to fix our economy (and therefore our society) by increasing trade between Northern and Southern Nigeria.

Let us export goods within Africa (the Economist describes inter-african trade as “pitifully weak”). The West has come together, at several defining moments in history and decided to subjugate the rest of the world. It is my fundamental belief that Nigeria can lead the charge that will give the earth’s bottom billion it’s dignity and prosperity back.

Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the co-host and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 THE Africa Cup of Nations began on Saturday without Nigeria – the defending champion.

Some Nigerians consider Nigeria’s absence from the championship painful. Nigerians would watch from the sidelines, following the inability of the Eagles to qualify, something some rate as a tragedy.

Painful as it may be, the Nations Cup disappointment is a deserved reward for the serial low performances of the Eagles after their 2013 surprise victory in South Africa. Nigerians also need to concentrate on the elections, they are more important than football, and their outcomes would play a bigger role in our lives than whatever would have happened in Equatorial Guinea.

Brazil’s biggest cities were awash with riots over the billions of Dollars the country was pouring into preparations for the 2014 World Cup, the first in Brazil in 60 years. Hungry, unemployed youth were on the streets - they thought their future was more important than the FIFA Confederation Cup, the 2014 World Cup, and the Olympic Games in 2016.

Unaddressed poverty and misdirected priorities were central issues to the protests. “If your

By Alex Atawa

S

OME years back, I wrote a piece titled “The Dilemma of the Urhobos.” This was right before the 2013 Delta Central Senatorial By-election and after my return from America. The outcome of the election brought Urhobos back to the majority ruling party of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Subsequent to that, Dr. Steve Oru was also appointed as the Minister for Niger-delta Affairs.

Last year, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay was greatly misunderstood when he talked about zoning. Those of us who came to his defense clearly pointed out the ills of zoning. Nonetheless, some of us still believed in the issue of equity and power shift, just like we understood the underpinnings of the Federal Character that is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria.

Some years back, our American friends (who our 1979 and 1999 Constitutions are modeled after) had to deal with issues of affirmative action. Affirmative action in its purest sense was meant to correct injustices perpetrated against the minority created by years of racial discrimination against blacks (African Americans). It was an equitable remedy that brought some semblance of security and social justice. Equity and power shift can be likened to the American Affirmative Action because they both foresee a situation where a particular group of people will be disenfranchised without a policy that allows them to be a part of the

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More Important Than Football kid gets sick, take him to the stadium,” said a banner outside the Maracana Stadium, Brazil’s football shrine, in reference to the priority given to stadium construction over health, education and jobs. Who would have thought Brazilians would protest against football?

Turkey was another protest point. Its fanatical football supporters, many of them in the crowds that have been jamming streets of Istanbul for over three weeks, created headaches for FIFA as the 2013 FIFA U-21 competition was about to begin. Turks were incensed over a government decision to convert a public park to a mall. They resisted every move to force them off the streets

of Istanbul.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan who remained defiant, said, “Nobody can intimidate us. We don’t take orders from anybody except God.” The recourse to the Almighty, when leaders refuse to listen to their people saw regime changes in Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.

In Brazil, they were questioning appropriation of national resources, particularly the uncontrolled costs of constructing the stadia for major international sports events. In both cases the people wanted a say in how they were governed – they demanded it.

Anti-people policies, whether in Brazil, Turkey or elsewhere, could endanger the world as visitors to Brazil and Turkey found out.

Nigerians are about to make decisions that would affect their future. They need to interrogate how Nigerian resources have been used and the promises they get from those who propagate change.

These decisions require contemplation away from the distractions that Nigeria’s participation at the Nations Cup would have provided. They are more important than whatever football would offer.

OPINION Ur hobos,Ok owa and 20 15 Urhobos,Ok hobos,Oko 2015 government and participate in determining their destiny.

The reality is that Nigeria as a Nation has not fully developed to a situation where we can have people voted on without ethnoreligious considerations. A MuslimMuslim, Christian-Christian, South-South or North-North presidential ticket is currently not palatable.

One of the alleged dangers of zoning is the possibility of fostering mediocrity.

However, in the recently conducted PDP primaries, we saw the amazing calibre of aspirants from Delta North Senatorial District, with Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, emerging as the flag bearer. In fact, I can categorically state that Dr. Okowa was the most qualified of all the aspirants. He had been a medical doctor, Local Government Councilor. Chairman, three times Commissioner, SSG and Senator. No other aspirants had these qualifications.

Prior to the PDP primaries, the apex Urhobo Umbrella issued a declaration that Urhobos must produce the governorship of Delta State and that all Urhobos should go into PDP or All Progressives Congress (APC) and fight for the gubernatorial ticket.

Urhobos cannot afford to be in the minority again

Several events have happened since the famous Uviamughe Declaration. Of course, David Edevbie did not succeed in PDP, while Chief Great Ogboru obtained the ticket of Labour Party (LP), and Olorogun Otega Emerhor was given the APC ticket.

Unlike the PDP primaries that was highly contested, the LP and APC primaries were tantamount to endorsement as the candidates that emerged faced virtually little or no opposition.

UPU is now faced with only two options to maintain any form of credibility. It must either wholeheartedly endorse all APC candidates from presidential to House of Assembly. Alternatively, it must withdraw the now famous Uviamughe declaration.

Any attempt to endorse President Goodluck of PDP and Great Ogboru of LP will be the height of hypocrisy and will make UPU lose its respect that our forefathers have worked hard to achieve. Prudence will dictate that the Uviamughe declaration should be withdrawn with explanation that the Urhobos as Nation has decided to support PDP because it will be in the best interest of us as a people. I believe all Urhobo kingmakers should muster up enough courage to do this and ensure the marginalization of Urhobos stop now. Let us elect Dr. Okowa, who is a friend of the Urhobos that will not marginalize us. As an Urhobo and a former aspirant for House of Representatives, I was cautioned against writing this piece by someone because they claim it will be political suicide. The

reception received so far by the PDP campaign train in Delta Central shows that PDP will win.

Let me quote from my article on the Dilemma of the Urhobos” “History as they say is written by victors.

The Urhobos, the fifth (possibly 4th) largest ethnic group in Nigeria, must now decide how to handle the perceived and obvious marginalization at the national level. The history of the Urhobos, as it relates to position of power at the national level appears to be written by the detractors who believe that they were in opposition to the government of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, CON in the last election. This is apparently because the Urhobos voted en masse for Democratic People’s Party and its flag bearer, Chief Great Ogboru in the 2011 gubernatorial elections. The dilemma is that in a democracy, you should be able to be in opposition, while not being afraid of political repercussions. However, it does not work like that in Nigeria. Usually, the list of ministerial appointments comes from the head of the party in the state, which is usually the Governor, in consultation with the State Chairman of the party.”

Urhobos cannot afford to be in the minority again. This is now another opportunity for the Urhobos to make a statement and carve out our niche or stake in the coming eight (8) years as we prepare to take over from Delta North. We should ensure we actively participate in the upcoming election and vote en masse for the ruling PDP. *Prof. Atawa, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015—19 —19

‘Issue-based’ campaign?

When, where?

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NE can say that the general feeling among Nigerians, even without the benefit of a survey or an opinion poll, is that the February elections will be violent.

Those who say this or think this way are not without their reasons.

History tells us so. Our recent political experience confirms it.

Even now, the fault lines are already manifesting. There have been violent skirmishes among supporters of the leading political parties in different parts of the country. Campaign posters have been torn. Party offices have been invaded, houses have been burnt and lives have been lost.

All of these have been on a relatively low scale. We are still some way off the scale of violence that followed the 2011 elections and we do hope that we won’t get there. But there are indications that things would definitely boil over as the elections draw nearer. All of which have given vent to calls for ‘issuebased’ campaign. The question now is when will this be and where? Where can the contestants meet without them or their supporters trading blows? What issues have engaged the contestants until now? What issues should Nigerians insist they engage?

Goodluck Jonathan and Mohammadu Buhari, both

presidential candidates of the two leading parties in the land, endorsed an accord last Wednesday that they and their supporters would ensure that the coming elections are conducted in a violence-free climate. Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Kofi Anan, former Secretary General of the UN, were on hand to lend their authority and support for the accord. Let us hope that the coming together of these highlyrespected diplomats and their good work on behalf of Nigeria would be more auspicious for the country than in the past.

The last time they came together in this manner on behalf of Nigeria, the outcome was not all too pleasant. This definitely couldn’t have been for any fault of theirs. It was in the immediate aftermath of the June 12, 1993 struggle and these international diplomats had come to persuade MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled election, to let peace reign by giving up his mandate.

Abiola didn’t share their view.

What follwed next was his obituary.

The names of Anyaoku and Anan, two great sons of Africa, were thereafter almost anathema in certain parts and among certain

By Eric Teniola

N

IGERIA is not the first country to move its capital,but Nigeria must be one of the few countries that has abandoned its old capital. Parana was the former capital of Argentina before it was moved to Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro was former capital of Brazil before it was moved to Brasilia,Salvador da Bahia was former capital before it was moved to Rio de Janeiro, Jauja was former capital of Peru before it was moved to Lima, Coro was former capital of Venezuela before it was moved to Caracas, Caparra was former capital of Puerto Rico before it was moved San Juan, Old Road Town was former capital of Saints Kitts before it was moved to Basseterre, Granada was former capital of Nicaragua before it was moved to Managua, Cartago was former of Costa Rica before it was to move to San Jose, James Town was former capital of Barbados before it was moved to Bridge Town, Russell was former capital of New Zealand before it was moved to Auckland, Levuka was former capital of Fiji before it was moved to Suva, Krakow was former capital of Poland before it was moved to Warsaw. Kragujevac was former capital of Serbia before it was moved to Belgrade, Kharkiv was former capital of Ukraine before it was moved to Kiev, Dares Salaam was former capital of Tanzania before it was moved to Dodoma in 1996, Nanking was former capital of the Republic of China before it was moved to Beijing, Kandy was former capital of Sri Lanka before it was moved to Colombo, Karachi was former capital of Pakistan before it was moved to Islamabad, Mandalay was former capital of Myanmar (Burma) before it was moved Rangoon, Calcutta was former capital of India before it was moved to New Delhi, Diriyah was former capital of Saudi Arabia before it was moved to Riyadh, Gondar was

people of this country. They emerged in very unfavourable light for their role at this time. Very critical voices rose against them for what was seen as their complicity in a militaryengineered international conspiracy against the wishes of Nigerians.

But Chief Anyaoku, Mr. Kofi Anan, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria have risen with one voice and are saying enough of violence.

The issues that should decide these elections ought to be clear cut enough. They could not have been more definite. The times bring them out in such sharp relief that only a politically blind electorate would fail to see. But the electorates are already being misled and misinformed in this regard. Rather than speaking to the issues raised by corruption in high places, a floundering economy that is clearly headed for disaster with fast-plummeting oil prices, and a polity ravaged by insecurity and insurgency, all the politicians are interested in is hurling abuses across party lines. The nature of these abuses and personal insults

What Nigerians need now is a forum for all the contestants, especially Buhari and Jonathan, to square up to each other face to face, telling Nigerians the whys, how and wherefores of their manifestoes

can hardly be bettered by illiterate vegetable sellers in our markets and their badly-dressed, drunken counterparts conducting passenger-packed commercial buses.

President Goodluck Jonathan has taken a starring role in all of this while Buhari has been far more dignified, only responding to Jonathan’s tantrum-like comments without being disagreeable. In what looks like a clear failure of anger management for a public figure, the President has been hurling invectives in all directions. This newly-acquired facility for mudslinging, spewing curses and personal insults at his perceived enemies and competitors is Goodluck Jonathan’s own way, it seems, of showing his strength of character. This has been under serious questioning by Nigerians for long. While such petty muck racking may be forgivable in an attention-seeking politician, it sits ill on an incumbent president.

Whoever advised the president to take this path has not done him any good. He has no doubt been the butt of jokes and harsh criticisms. Many of these have been for very good reasons if not entirely justified. The way to convince Nigerians that he is not what they take him for is by his action and performance. Not growing a fondness for intemperance which shows him up as desperate and lacking the right arguments to counter his opponents.

Right from when he flagged off his campaign at the TBS in Lagos, Jonathan came out firing. He suddenly appeared conscious of the fact that, far from being a mere contestant as on three previous occasions, Buhari could actually defeat him at the polls. For this reason, Jonathan appears to have developed a fondness to throw what sounds like personal insults

Neglecting Lagos capital of Ethiopia before it moved to Addis Abba, Zomba was capital of Malawi before it was moved to Lilongwe, Aneho was former capital of Togo before it was moved to Lome,Bolama was former capital of Guinea-Bissau before it moved to Bissau and Al-Askarwas former capital of Egypt in centuries ago before it was moved to Cairo.

There are numerous examples of old capitals but none was abandoned by the central government, except of course, Nigeria.

On August 7, 1975, the then Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed (1938-1976) inaugurated a five man panel on the creation of more states in the country.

The committee was headed by Justice Ayo Gabriel Irikefe (1922-1996). It was the panel that increased the number of states in Nigeria from twelve (12) to nineteen (19).

Justice Irikefe later became the ninth Chief Justice of the Federation between (19851987).

Two days later on August 9, 1975, General MurtalaMohammed inaugurated another committee on the new Federal Capital for the country. The committee was headed by

Not a single block has been erected by any Head of State in Lagos.

The city right now is like a car park

the former Chief Justice of Botswana, late Justice Timothy Akinola Aguda (19232001).

Dr.Aguda,who later became the Director of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, was from Akure in Ondo state. Other members of the committee were Dr. Tai Solarin,Col, Monsignor Pedro Martins, AlhajiMohammed Musa Isma,Chief Owen Feibai, Dr.AjutoGandonu and Professor O.K. Ogan.

After the submission of the committee’s report, the Federal Government then enacted Decree 6 of 1976 which gave birth to Abuja as the new Federal Capital. In the 72-page report of Aguda’scommittee, it was recommended that Lagos has become “over congested” and as a result the Federal Capital should be moved out of the city for Administrative purposes. The committee recommended further that the movement to Abuja should be gradual and should be in seven phases. Drawing a lesson from the Tanzanian experience it was the contention of the Aguda committee that Abuja should be functional by the year 2025. It should be noted that the committee’s report was accepted by the Federal Government.

It was not until 1979 that Mr. John Jatau Kadiya was appointed the first Minister for Abuja. At that time the appointment was made just to facilitate the creation of Abuja out of Nassarawa, Niger and Kogi states.

Former President Usman Aliyu Shagari replaced Kadiya with Irro AbubakarDan Musa in 1982 and later named Aliru Dantorro as Minister in 1983. The post became not too important at that time because Abuja was not considered a priority.

Following the complete movement of the Federal capital to Abuja in December 12, 1991 by General Ibrahim Babangida (72),

at him. This is taking the campaign further away from being ‘issue-based’. After calling Buhari an old man and charging him and other past rulers with responsibility for our poorly equipped military, Jonathan would in the following days bait him for not knowing his phone number (he’s yet to tell Nigerians how he knew this). Well, let us congratulate Goodluck Jonathan for obviously knowing his own phone number. He probably also knows the make of his phone, when and where it was manufactured.

But is this the kind of information he stores in his mind, turning it practically into a warehouse of trivia? I should think Nigerians want a more informed president than one who uses his mind as a portacabin of phone numbers.

Not done yet with that, Jonathan would follow up the barb at Buhari with another at Obasanjo (not a neophyte, himself, at baiting his opponents), calling him a motor park tout. The president seems to have been listening too much to Ayo Fayose. He would be better off keeping his cool, which in this instance means his dignity, especially now that his hold on the presidency beyond February looks ever more tenuous. What Nigerians need now is a forum for all the contestants, especially Buhari and Jonathan, to square up to each other face to face, telling Nigerians the whys, how and wherefores of their manifestoes. At least two of such encounters should happen before the elections for all categories of contestants. The generalised, free wheeling talk and vituperations that have characterised these campaigns are more like Fela-style yabis sessions.

It’s time now to get down to the practical question of how to implement the advertised party manifestoes. It’s time now for the first of the presidential debates.

Lagos has been abandoned since then. Not a single block has been erected by any Head of State in Lagos. The city right now is like a car park.

The last biggest project so far executed by the Federal Government in Lagos, was the Third Mainland Bridge of 11.8kilometre built by General Babangida which is the longest bridge connecting the Lagos Island to the Mainland. The Eko Bridge which is the shortest of the three bridges, the other two being the Third Mainland and Carter bridges. It spans a distance of 430 metres and its landward extension of 1350 metres was constructed in phases between 1965 and 1975 during the tenure General Yakubu Gowon. The first Carter Bridge named after Governor Gilbert Thomas Carter (1848 1927)was constructed by the British Government in 1901. After Independence, the Bridge was dismantled and redesigned and rebuilt in the late 1970s. The AlakaIjora flyover of the Carter Bridge was completed in 1973.

Since December 12, 1991, when General Babangida finally moved the capital to Abuja, we have had six presidential tenures.None has thought it fit to develop Lagos. The Interim Government of Chief Earnest Shonekan (26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993), General Sanni Abacha from 17 November 1993 to 8 June 1998, General AbdusalamAbubakar (9 June 1998 to 29 May 1999), President Olusegun Obasanjo (29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007), President Musa Yar’adua (29May 2007 – 5 May 2010) and President Goodluck Jonathan from 6 May 2010 till date.

It is to be hoped that Lagos with 5.8 million voters will receive the concern of the coming President of Nigeria. For Lagos is beyond the capability of any state government however prudent it could be.

•Mr. Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 21

WorldRemit, MTN seal global mobile money partnership

By Yinka Kolawole with agency reports

O

BRIEFING: From left: Chairman, Association of Issuing Houses in Nigeria (AIHN), Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi; Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike; President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Albert Okumagba; and General Secretary, ASHON, Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale, during media briefing by coalition of market operators on Nigerian Capital Market and economy in Lagos .

Nigeria, others to lose $25bn over Ebola —World Bank

By Babajide Komolafe

T

HE World Bank has predicted that Nigeria and other countries in the West African region could lose $25 billion in economic growth this year due to the Ebola crisis.

This prediction was contained in World Bank Group analysis on the economic impact of Ebola in Africa. According to the report, the Ebola epidemic will continue to cripple the economies of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone even as transmission rates in the three countries show significant signs of slowing. The Bank Group estimates that these three countries will lose at least

$182.15

$5.25

$2,957.00

-$29.00

$14.93

CURRENCY DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA

BUYING

$0.05

$49.95

-$1.01

$45.27

-$0.80

CENTRAL

167 167.5 253.8233 254.5833 193.4862 194.0655 190.9663 191.538 1.4304 1.4347 0.279 0.289 237.6897 238.4014 RENMINBI 26.902 26.983 RIYAL 44.4776 44.6108 KRONA 26.0242 26.1021 SDR 238.3925 239.1063

168 255.3432 194.6448 192.1098 1.439 0.299 239.113 27.064 44.7439 26.1801 239.82

CBN Exchange Rate as 12/1/2015

C M Y K

US$1.6 billion in forgone economic growth in 2015 as a result of the epidemic.

But the new report — released on the eve of the 2015 World Economic Forum in Davos — also contains more positive news: the probability of spread and the associated economic costs beyond the three most-affected countries are now much lower than previously feared because of the intensive global and national responses to the epidemic over the past several months.

An earlier World Bank Group economic analysis (from October 8, 2014) found that the West Africa region alone could experience a downside scenario of US$25 billion in economic losses in 2015, but the current report estimates the range for sub-Saharan Africa as a whole to be from a low of US$500 million to a high of US$6.2 billion.

The national and international responses have resulted in a number of public health improvements within the three West African nations, including

Even if Ebola is controlled and further outbreaks avoided, economic costs will be incurred across sub-Saharan Africa in 2015

safer burial practices, earlier case detections, more health workers and treatment facilities, public awareness campaigns and stepped-up contact tracing.

These policy and behavior responses have contributed to a lower risk of spread across borders. The lower estimates also reflect fast and effective containment measures taken in the neighboring countries of Mali, Nigeria and Senegal, all of which have now been declared Ebola-free.

Cummulative losses “Even if Ebola is controlled and further outbreaks avoided,” said the report, “economic costs will be incurred across sub-Saharan Africa in 2015. Consumer and investor confidence has been eroded by the outbreak of the virus, and disruptions to travel and cross-border trade suggest cumulative losses of more than US$500 million across the region in 2015, outside the three directly affected countries.” The report said the losses could be closer to the higher end of the estimate — US$6 billion — if the Ebola outbreak were to spread through the region, reinforcing the need for a swift end to the epidemic.

“I am very encouraged to see Ebola transmission rates slowing markedly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and that other potential outbreaks have been averted because of swift action by other West African governments,” said Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, who will discuss the emerging lessons from the Ebola crisis with world leaders in Davos this week.

“Yet as welcome as these latest signs are, we cannot afford to be complacent.

Until we have zero new Ebola cases, the risk of continued severe economic impact to the three countries and beyond remains unacceptably high.”

NLINE money transfer service, WorldRemit and telecoms operator, MTN have signed a global partnership that will enable WorldRemit customers to send remittances instantly to MTN’s Mobile Money customers across the world.

MTN Mobile Money is currently used by 22.2 million customers in 16 countries across Africa. These include Nigeria, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, (Cyprus), Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda and Zambia. It enables users to perform local and international money transfers, make utility payments, save money in their interest bearing mobile wallets, purchase airtime and access a range of mobile financial products. MTN Mobile Money is increasingly an important part of MTN’s service offering, and the partnership with WorldRemit further strengthens the operator’s position in cross border remittances.

Cross border remittances Ismail Ahmed, Founder and CEO of WorldRemit said: “Mobile Money is rapidly displacing cash as a way of receiving money from friends and family abroad. WorldRemit’s partnership with MTN allows our customers around the world to send money instantly to MTN Mobile Money users.

“As well as being fast and convenient, MTN Mobile Money is reaching millions of people who don’t have bank accounts, giving them access to a variety of lifeenhancing financial services including savings and insurance schemes.”

More than 50 percent of all WorldRemit transfers to Africa are received in Mobile Money accounts or as mobile airtime topups. The agreement extends WorldRemit’s position as the leading provider of remittances to Mobile Money users (also known as mobile wallets) at a time when the technology is experiencing rapid uptake, especially in Africa. To kick-start the partnership, MTN’s operations in Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia will be added to WorldRemit’s list of mobile recipient options, with additional countries following soon after.

Pieter Verkade, MTN Group Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The partnership with WorldRemit is yet another important step in our journey to enable the affordable transfer of monies across borders. Our remittance strategy places the customer at the heart of any offer we introduce as MTN and, working with WorldRemit” we intend to further extend the convenience of MTN Mobile Money to our customers.” Globally, there are 256 Mobile Money services currently active, according to the GSMA. There were an estimated 60 million active Mobile Money users in June 2013, up from 30 million in 2012, according to the GSMA State of the Industry Report.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 23

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Governance and social inclusion in Lagos State

I

TRAINING: From left: Mr. Paul Uduk, Managing Director, Vision and Talent International; Mr. Femi Oke, Head, Human Resourse and Administration, Berger Paint Nigeria Ltd and Mrs. Winifred Ajakpovi, Head, Human Resource, Business Partnering (Support functions), Nigerian Breweries Plc during the 2015 Vision and Talents Training Colloquium in Lagos.

Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Capital market operators bemoan CBN’s fixing of Naira value

By Peter Egwuatu

C

APITAL market operators have criticized the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s fixing of the value of naira, saying that the currency should be allowed to find its value through market forces.

The operators also lamented the continuous tightening of the monetary and fiscal policies by the government authorities, stressing that these measures affect liquidity in the Nigerian capital market.

Speaking to newsmen during a combined briefing organised by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, and Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, AIHN in Lagos, the Chairman of AIHN, Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi, told newsmen that the continuous fixing of naira does not encourage investors to invest in the capital market and the economy in

general.

According to him “The CBN could have devalued the naira longtime ago rather than continuous defense of the naira.

The apex bank would have allowed the naira to find its value and saved the foreign exchange reserve. The continuous use of the dollar earned by the countr to defend the naira has put the nation in tight corner as the global oil price continued to decline. This has made the dollar to rise and made foreign portfolio investors to continue to withdraw their money.”

Continuing, he said “The country needs to diversify its source of foreign exchange earnings by pursuing aggressive exports. We should reduce the rate of import and encourage domestic production for export. There is illiquidity in the capital market caused by the loss in the value of naira, drop in global oil prices, tightening of monetary and

fiscal policies.”

In the same vein, the President of CIS, Mr. Albert Okumagba said that the stakeholders in the capital market have decided to engage government authorities to discuss issues that will move the market and make it contribute to the growth of the economy.

According to him “All over the world, the capital market drives the entire economy as it provides a platform for government at all tiers to access medium and long term fund to execute developmental projects.”

Speaking, Chairman, ASHON, Mr. Emeka Madubuike said “This is the time for the local retail investors to invest in the market as the value of stocks are generally low. The foreign investors should not be allowed to come back to reap the opportunity in the market.”

FMDQ OTC market turnover hits over N100trn in 2014

By Nkiruka Nnorom

T

HE Financial Market Dealers Quotation, FMDQ OTC Plc, has said that it achieved N104 trillion in turnover in Over-the-Counter (OTC) market for Foreign Exchange (FX), Treasury Bills (T.Bills), bonds, money and derivatives in 2014.

The turnover, according to a statement from the company, represents trades executed between dealing members, dealing members and clients, and dealing members and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

It added that it excludes primary market auctions in T.Bills, bonds and FX. In the first half of 2014, the Dealing Members achieved an overall OTC market turnover of N45 trillion and by the end of December 2014, this rose significantly to N104 trillion, with the top 10 dealing members accounting for over 70 percent of this turnover.

FX (including FX derivatives) was the most C M Y K

actively traded product, accounting for the largest share of the market turnover at 37.5 percent, followed by T.Bills and Repos/BuyBacks with a share of 25.4 percent and 22.8 percent respectively.

The bond market accounts for only 7.7 percent of the market turnover, an area where FMDQ and other market stakeholders are looking to boost in 2015, through market development initiatives to be championed by FMDQ, said Mr. Bola Onadele-Koko, Chief Executive Officer, FMDQ OTC. “FMDQ will continue to engage in initiatives that will make the Nigerian OTC market globally competitive by working with the stakeholders to improve liquidity, transparency, governance and efficiency in the OTC market.

“With new initiatives and activities planned for 2015 - listings and quotations of Bonds, Commercial Papers and Short Term Notes, product diversity,” he added.

N the periods before and situation in which other health immediately after Nigeria’s workers in government hospitals independence in 1960, doctors are on strike and these hospitals and mining engineers were are not attending to patients.

This is the last in the series amongst the best remunerated officials in the Nigerian civil about what the next governor of service. There were also Lagos State should do for us. Nine government establishments like of the candidates for the position the Lagos Executive of governor were at a public Development Board which debate this past week and they employed Architects, Town gave their visions of a healthy and Planners, Engineers, Estate prosperous Lagos. The Lagos Surveyors, etc. who were better State Government, LASG, paid than their counterparts in continues to provide new health similar positions in the Ministry facilities and also expands existing ones but with personnel of Works.

However, the 1974 Udoji Public problems in the health sector, the Service Review Commission expenditure on facilities would introduced a unified classification not give the expected and grading system in the public improvements in services to the service covering government populace. The personnel ministries and departments, local problems would appear to be authorities, the police, the national in scope as the unions judiciary, public enterprises, the representing the workers are universities, the teachings service national. etc.

The grading system was such National that a fresh university graduate minimum wage would start as Officer II and the progressively higher positions are However, whenever the issue Officer I, Senior Officer, Principal of a national minimum wage is Officer, Assistant Chief Officer, raised, the states usually indicate Chief Officer, Assistant Director that they should be allowed to set and Director. Thus a university the applicable minimum wage. professor and a director in a The next governor should put in ministry were at the same salary place a body that would look at grade. the pay of public servants and The new salary scale was political office holders in relation implemented with backdated to the worth of the work salary increases for everybody performed. As a first step, the next which payments gave everyone governor should get his political a good feeling. The basic premise party to agree to a cut in the pay was that public servants should of political office holders. be paid on the basis of the worth The debate of the candidates for of the work performed. the position of governor also had During the last 15 years, the the candidates indicating their Revenue Mobilisation Allocation positions and policies regarding and Fiscal Commission has put the provision of employment especially for young in place a salary persons. I hope that scale for political whoever emerges as office holders that is governor from the much higher than elections would draw what applies to from the ideas of the other public other candidates. This servants.

The column covered the Academic Staff issue of secondary/ Union of tertiary education and Universities has youth employment in carried out many this newspaper on 6 strike actions over November and 13 the years and November 2013. One university teachers of the candidates now earn enhanced warned that we must salaries outside the Whoever take steps to arrest the public service growth of an scales. Doctors in emerges as government service governor from alternative youth economy in which have also obtained the elections young people higher salaries and demand payment allowances through would draw strike actions led by from the ideas from anyone who wants to carry out the Nigerian economic activities in M e d i c a l of the other their neighbourhood.

Association. We candidates now have a

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 —25

DIARY zARTEMIS &ITEA Cosummit Berlin Mar 10-11, 2015 zTelecoDays

Prague Marriott HotelPrague Czech Republic Mar 23-24 2015

Preview

Edible dispersant tackles oil spill A new oil dispersant made primarily of edible ingredients could provide a more environmentally friendly way to clean up slicks and spills scientists say.

The new dispersant, developed by scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), also floats, an important consideration when thinking about what happens to the droplets of "dispersed" oil.

Lisa Kemp, a research scientist at USM, presented the findings at the American Chemical Society's fall meeting in Philadelphia recently.

14 YRS OF GSM REVOLUTION:

The thorns, the thrills

By Prince Osuagwu

I

T seems like yesterday; but 14 years have goneby since the Global system for Mobile communication, GSM debuted in Nigeria.

In fact, last Monday, January 19, 2015, marked exactly 14 years Nigeria concluded the historic Digital Mobile Licensing round which came at the heels of telecoms deregulation in Nigeria.

The auction actually commenced on January 17 and ended on January 19, 2001.

Radio Spectrum International, RSI, Charles Rivers Associates, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and Mr.Paul Usoro (SAN) were consultants to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the auction.

Although, this licensing regime ushered in the ubiquitous GSM which consequently changed the face of the telecoms landscape in Africa and made Nigeria the haven for telecommunications investors, the story is not allthrough rosy.

However, industry practitioners who took a critical look at the road this sector has taken from the country's paltry 450, 000 connected lines in 2001 to over 135 million active subscribers as at the end of 2014, are seeing tremendous growth with multiplier effects in all other sectors of the

I N S I TECNO Mobile deepens D penetration with E innovative technologies C M Y K

economy, including the banking, education, ecommerce/retailing, agriculture, medicine, media, oil and gas, among other sectors.

Even at that, the problem of perennial low quality of service in the sector, apparently puts a clog in the wheel of progress and perhaps slowed down the pace of growth that would have made the country greater.

Besides poor quality of service with its attendant problem of dropped calls and poor voice clarity, there are other issues that bother on poor services from the operators, like unsolicited text messages, unwanted and nauseating telemarketing and locked-messages which infringe on subscribers' right of privacy.

Increased investments Despite these deluge of problems, Foreign direct Investment inflow in the sector is on the rise.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr, Eugene Juwah, “Over $32 billion investment has been recorded in the sector as at June 2014 from $50 million in year 2001. The investment stood at $18 billion in 2010 and $25 billion in 2012.”

With the investment, telecoms

Nigeria moves 21 steps in e-Governance —Johnson

•Telecommunication tower

Besides Poor quality of service, with its attendant problem of dropped calls and poor voice clarity, there are other issues that bother on poor services from the operators companies have been able to successfully deploy 68,124 kilometre of fibre optic cabling as at the end of December, 2013 while in 2014 alone, additional 38, 000 kilometre of fibre optic cables were laid, representing an increase of about 44.2 per cent investment in fibre optic

Companies need not build data centres

cabling by the telecoms companies last year alone.

Increased base stations Meanwhile, in the last 14 years, telecoms companies in Nigeria have also increased their base transceiver stations (BTS) expansion efforts from few thousands to over 27, 000, making it possible for more people to have access to telephone services thus covering many hitherto unserved and underserved communities across the country.

Beyond carrying voice signals, the industry operators are also making their BTS either 2G-enabled or 3Genabled to be able to carry adequate data services, with the country relying on the 11 terabyte of internet capacity brought into the country by the likes of Main One, Glo1, West African Cable Systems (WACS), among others.

According to data from the Ministry of Communication Technology, between 2013 and December, 2014, 2G-enabled sites have increased from 22, 578 to 28,289 while 3G-enabled sites have increased from less than 10,000 to 15,048 during the same period.

—Rack Centre Boss Continues on page 28

26— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

TECNO Mobile deepens penetration with innovative technologies ...clinches quality crown BID awards

By Emeka Aginam & Sophia Esumike

M

OBILE phone maker, Tecno Mobile has said that maintaining brand development, and unleashing high quality products that are affordable have in no small way helped it to meet the growing needs of African market.

It also said that ensuring customer satisfaction has not only helped it set the benchmark in the technology sector, but has also contributed immensely to the social and economic development of the countries where it operates.

Understanding that the continuous improvement of product image and brand value is very vital, not only to the survival of the brand, but to its resounding success in the ever evolving mobile technology space and a highly competitive market, Tecno mobile says it continues to strive for positive change in delivering world class quality and yet making it accessible to everyone, no matter the age or class.

Little wonder, Tecno mobile has become recipients of

several global quality recognition awards.

Just recently, the president of Business Initiative Directions (BID), Mr. Jose E. Prieto presented quality c r o w n a w a r d ‘ G o l d ’ category to M r .

Mohammad A . H .

Chowdhury, V i c e president TECNO Mobile limited.

B I D International quality c r o w n a w a r d acknowledges s t r o n g commitment

AL-Watania Poultry-Saudi Arabia, NEWSWATCH Nigeria, among others that received awards in different categories.

of global companies to quality and excellence.

At the just concluded London 2014 presentation of awards, TECNO Mobile was among companies from 51 countries including: MindZet A/S-Denmark, Zurich Sigorta A.S-Turkey, Agricultural Development Bank-Ghana,

brands in the technology sector across Africa where it has full dominance.

Being considered for the award however requires full commitment to the criteria of the QC100 TQM model which ensures customer satisfaction, leadership, innovation and efficient processes at every

Understanding that the continuous improvement of product image and brand value is very vital... to its resounding success....

WITH CHRIS UWAJE

Mastering small data:

How is big data?

T

HERE is need to adequately master “SMALL DATA” design, structures, standards and functions, if we want to effectively handle and deliver sustainably the challenges of Big Data. Currently, our national Database structures are perceived to be weak and venerable! The hype in and around the concept and acclaimed deliverables of Big Data is so overwhelmingly tempting to the extent that it currently blinds developing countries and economics on how to match forward with their plans for engaging the 21st century Information Technology Ecosystem.

However, that does not in any way remove or diminish the fundamental need for and importance of appropriate and secured storage of Data at Local Data Centre. Thanks to Mainone that has professionally pointed the right way forward, by establishing a formidable and globally certified Tier 3 Data Centre in Nigeria.

Reliable Internet resources has revealed that the world’s technological per-capita capacity to store information roughly doubled every 40 months since the 1980s. As of 2012, every day 2.5 exabytes (2.5×1018) of data were created. As of 2014, every day 2.3 zettabytes (2.3×1021) of

Tecno mobile was recognized not only for outstanding commitment to quality and excellence, but also for its dedication to continuous improvement and innovation.

The award proved an ideal way to celebrate the Tecno brand which is said to have made a g r a n d e u r impact as one of the leading

The power and significance of Software as the blood that flows through the digital world becomes evident from day to day data were created by Superpower high-tech Corporation worldwide. As far as available date can lead us, no Nigerian corporate enterprise is currently in that Big data league!

The convergence in the global ICT Ecosystem has revealed the importance and strength of embedded systems. This phenomenal trend has led to what is now known as Softwareization.

Due to this complex trend of “Softwareization of Things” (SoT), every nation is looking inwards for strategies to adequately address the challenges and delivers solutions required to respond to the current and emerging

FROM LEFT: Mounir Boukali, Head of Public Relations, Transsion Group, President of Business Initiative Directions, BID, Jose E. Prieto, and Mr Arif Chowdhury, Vice President of Transsion Group receiving the Quality Crown BID awards recently in United Kingdom. level of the business.

With this development, TECNO Mobile now joins the prestigious league of BID winners for commitment to quality and customer satisfaction having met the

desires in ICT. Nigeria must rethink her IT strategy, organize her information technology ecosystem and master the design, processes, retrieval and storage of SMALL DATA as a reliable gateway and veritable tool and migration strategy towards Big Data.

Simply defined, Softwareization is the Internetization of the emergence of convergence of Information Technology, Telecommunications and Broadcasting.

These converged technologies have led to the monumental inflation of the content on the Internet and compelled mankind to migrate from IPv4 to IPv6, giving birth to “Internet of Things” (IoT), where all connectable devises will acquire a recognized and secured IP Address.

The power and significance of Software as the blood that flows through the digital world becomes evident from day to day.

Today it represents the blanket with which we rap the earthly cold of our planet - keeping it warm for sustainable development.

quality control one hundred (QC 100) criteria of Business Initiative Directions’ Total Quality Management (TQM).

Speaking during the award ceremony, Jose Prieto, President Business Initiative Directions said that , “the award recipients are icons of commitment to leadership, technology and innovation, making them models for others in their sectors” In his reaction while receiving the award, the Vice president of TECNO Mobile limited said: “We make quality a core focus for continuous improvement of management to maintain 997 leadership in our sector."

According to him, TECNO Mobile as the fastest growing Mobile brand in Africa has continued to show innovation in design, quality and product pricing with research and development center in France.

He informed that TECNO Mobile introduced the first dual SIM mobile phones to Africa and now enjoys huge patronage across the continent within five years of entry into the market.

He assured that TECNO Mobile will continue to manufacture high performance feature phones and smart phones with great recreational functions and seamless internet connectivity sold at affordable prices with +2 years warranty across support centers.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 27

28—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Nigeria moves 21 steps in e-Governance — Johnson “The Nigerian telecom sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world and continues to attract significant foreign Direct Investment. The Ministry has laid down key policy documents: the National ICT Policy, National Broadband Strategy and Local Content Guidelines among others,” she added.

Johnson, who lamented the loss of $360 million to the purchase and maintenance of software on products and services over the years,

By Emma Elebeke

T

he Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, says Nigeria has moved 21 places in the bi-annual United Nations e- Government Development Ranking index.

The Minister disclosed this at a function in Abuja recently.

She said the improvement was made possible through the standardization of all MDA websites and deployment of ICT in all government parastatals, where their daily routines had become seamless.

According to her, Nigeria pooled a total of 190 points to climb to 141st position in 2014, from 162nd in 2012, an indication that the country moved 21 places from the previous ranking in 2012.

She listed some of the achievements of the Ministry as: establishment of

•Johnson Presidential committee on eGovernment; expand capacity building of e-Government; draw special budget on eGovernment; and creation of organizational framework for e-government among others.

As part of its contribution to the nation’s economy, the Minister told the audience that the industry now

contributes over $50 billion (9.58%) to the GDP and is further enabling other parts of the economy.

She stated that the improved environment assured by the President’s Transformation Agenda helped in creating local companies that are innovating and adding value to the Nigerian economy.

The thorns, the thrills Continued from page 25 USPF's subsidy-based backbone transmission In a similar vein, the commission said through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), it has bridged the gap between the served and underserved areas of the country, with a subsidy-based project designed to facilitate the connection of rural and semiurban areas to the national transmission backbone infrastructure with the intention to facilitate the build-out of backbone transmission infrastructure.

The project is expected to be implemented in all the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, using targeted subsidies.

Just recently, the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said that about 1, 200 kilometres of fibre optic cabling has also been run so far, through the project.

The minister listed that over 170 base stations, in total, had been deployed only through the USPF to un-served and underserved areas by the end of 2014, with each of the base stations serving a cluster of communities.

Consequently, telecoms sector has grown from obscurity to limelight, emerging as a major contributor to the country’s economy with its current contribution of 10 per cent to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

These metrics contributed immensely in the International Telecommunication Union, ITU's rating of the country as the fastest growing telecommunications market for five consecutive years. Perhaps, other areas of positive impact of the sector in 14 years includes the areas of service tariff, cost of owning communication devices and cost of acquiring telephone line.

From N50 per minute of phone call in 2001, the cost has crashed by 78 per cent today as telecoms subscribers now make call for as low as N10 or N9 per minute across networks.

The NCC adopted in 2013 Progressive

reduction interconnect termination rates whereby New Entrants and small operators had termination rates for voice services pegged at N4.90 in April 2013, N4.40 in April 2014 and by April this year it will drop to N3.90 for all networks.

Also, SIM cards are almost given pro bono by telecoms networks today, whereas, 14 years ago, Nigerians were paying between N25, 000 and N20, 000 to acquire a SIM card with only net-worth individuals being able to own telephone lines.

The NCC introduced the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) whereby subscribers are at liberty to navigate across networks without losing their SIM number. This has put operators on their toes on areas of service provision in order not to lose subscribers.

The sector can fare better

Universal Service Pr o v i s i o n F u n d (USPF), has bridged the g a p between the served a n d underserved areas of the country

However, while subscribing to the belief that the sector has not done badly in the last 14 years, the president of the Association of Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Engr Lanre Ajayi submitted that for the sector to do better, going forward, telecom infrastructure must be spread massively and for this to happen, that government must find a way to address issues of multiple taxation by different levels of government; environmental hostilities like bringing down BTS, especially in parts of the North by terror groups and some government agencies; permits challenge as well as vandalism and theft of telecoms equipments .

promised to usher in a new regime that would address the huge loss.

Connect Nigeria Johnson explained that the ministry, through the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF has rolled out targeted initiatives to connect Nigerian students.

Specifically, she noted that 1.4 million students in 27 federal universities are now connected while 3.4 million from Polytechnics would be connected by the end of 2015 in second phase.

NITDA to establish research fund for academic projects

By Prince Osuagwu

T

he National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has sprung to action in the new year, strongly indicating its desire to upscale its capacity building efforts through training and research of government agencies and departments.

The agency also promises to continue the broad objectives towards boosting Nigeria’s ICT capabilities and skills in the year 2015.

Part of NITDA’s new year resolution, is to establish research fund to sponsor ICT focused academic research projects for Nigerian scholars and educational institutions across the world.

NITDA’s core mandate is developing ICTs in Nigeria, and this, the Agency said it has been implementing through training Nigerians across all strata and investing in researches to increase the country’s knowledge base in ICT innovations, especially in the area of software development.

In a likelihood of a new year message in Abuja, the agency’s Director General, Mr Peter Jack, said that in 2015, his agency will explore its ACT which mandates it to proactively assist Nigerian governments, agencies and

•NITDA DG, Peter Jack

companies to improve their processes and product quality, adding that this has been its focus through its initiatives of trainings and retraining programmes, which many Nigerians have benefitted from.

However, he promised that to increase the tempo and fast track the nation’s development with technology, the agency, this year, will raise the bar on its ICT training programmes.

NITDA’s training focus, Jack said, can also be seen in the establishment of technology incubation programs, rural ICT programmes, ICT clusters and other IT development networks, which are been used to stimulate the growth of the sector.

The NITDA DG said that in broadening the scope and focus the Agency is undertaking in 2015, he had seen a companion in the 2014 E-Government Survey tagged ‘E-Government for the Future We Want’, where the United Nations noted that “Egovernment and innovation can provide significant opportunities to transform public administration into an instrument of sustainable development.”

Jack said that “the opportunities offered by the digital development of recent years, whether through online services, big data, social media, mobile apps, or cloud computing, are expanding the way we look at e-government.”

He also claimed that NITDA was taking the issue of capacity building in government circles seriously in order for Nigeria to key into the UN agenda, adding that while providing all the necessary incentives to encourage the use of information technology in all spheres of life in Nigeria, it will also ensure that government and its agencies adopt a transparent and open way of doing business.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 29

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 31

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Five Players to Watch out for at the Super Six

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buja will come alive this weekend as the season curtain raiser, the Glo Premier League Super 4 (Invitational) kicks off.

Champions Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Warri Wolves and Dolphins will be joined by two of Nigeria’s junior national teams, the Under-23 and the Under-20 in the ten day tournament.

Of the various stars expected to light up the tournament, here are five you want to watch out for.

Godspower Aniefiok (Kano Pillars)

A

niefiok’s last season’s perform ance Five Players to Watch out for at the Super Sixes for Akwa United did not go unnoticed by the big boys. After a tussle between Pillars, Enyimba and Warri Wolves, the young player opted to sign for Kano Pillars a couple of weeks ago. All eyes will be on this lanky upcoming midfield dynamo as he looks to exert his influence in the middle of the park for the League Champions. He boasts of a good vision, an excellent ball passing ability as well as knowing how to find the back of the net. Ladies and Gentlemen, Kano Pillars have gotten even stronger.

Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC and Under-23)

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amson Siasia’s strong Under-23 side got even better with the arrival of Arsenal Under-21 Winger Alex Iwobi. Followers of the English game might not have seen him in action as he is yet to break into the senior team but Arsene Wenger has named him on the substitutes bench a couple of times this season. Iwobi also comes into this tournament with another pedigree ahead of him. He is the nephew to former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha.

Now, your ears have lit up, he will be lining up for the Nigeria Under-23 team.

Chima Uluocha (Enyimba International)

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luocha was one of the big moves we saw during the break with the Abia Warriors captain dumping Abia’s Red corner for the blue corner. Kadiri Ikhana spotted Uluocha after Abia Warriors 3-3 draw with Enyimba and quickly settled the move. Enyimba have the likes of Chinedu Udoji, Emma Anyanwu and Uche John but it is likely that we will see Uluocha playing a key role in Enyimba’s Super 4 campaign.

Chidera Ezeh (FC Porto and Under-21)

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he 2013 Under-17 World Championships saw the revelation of such talents as Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ezeh among others. While English Premier League Champions Manchester City snapped up Iheanacho, Portuguese side FC Porto went for Ezeh. The attacking midfielder who turned 17 last October is currently honing his skills with the youth team of the Portuguese Giants who cannot wait to offer him a contract. Garba Manu has invited the youngster and the Super 4 tournament is another opportunity for us to see this youngster whose heroics at the cadet mundial last year brought him to the limelight.

Onyekachi Okafor (Warri Wolves)

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rown FC had a season to forget in the Glo Premier League last season and eventually getting themselves relegated at the end of the season but one bright spark of that troubled season was Onyekachi Okafor. The striker gave a good account of himself nonetheless and it was no surprise when Warri Wolves signed him as a replacement for Serbia bound Gbolahan Salami. He will be key to their domestic and Continental aspirations. His move seems a good one and Paul Aigbogun will be hoping he hits the ground running.

Algeria escaped ‘catastrophic’ start says Coach A

lgeria escaped a “catastrophic” start to their Africa Cup of Nations campaign, says coach Christian Gourcuff after Monday’s win over South Africa.

Despite being one of the tournament favourites, they trailed after Thuso Phala’s 51st minute goal.

Bournemouth’s Tokelo Rantie then missed a penalty for Bafana Bafana before Algeria scored three goals in the final 23 minutes.

“The penalty was a turning point,” said Gourcuff.

He added: “ At 2-0 the game was

not over but we would have been in a difficult situation.”

Having impressed on their way to reaching the knockout stages in the World Cup in Brazil last summer, Algeria are tipped by many to go all the way in Equatorial Guinea.

But, after a disappointing first hour, it took Rantie’s missed penalty and an own goal from Thulani Hlatshwayo to give them hope of the expected victory.

Goals from Faouzi Ghoulam and Islam Slimani then secured the win for the North Africans, who face Ghana next on Friday.

AFCON hosts cr oul cryy ffoul over cancelled goal

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osts of the 2015 AFCON Equatorial Guinea have lodged an official protest to CAF over a cancelled goal in Saturday’s opening Group A match against Congo.

Skipper Emilio Nsue’s lobbed effort in the 74th minute was ruled for offside

by African Referee of the Year 2013 and 2014 Bakary Papa Gassama from Gambia.

Television replays showed it was a poor decision and the Equatorial Guinea football federation (Feguifut) alleged

on the government official website that this was a gangup by the referee to stop the home country from reaching the last-eight of the tournament.

The statement said experts have reviewed several times the video of that goal and said it should have stood.

Spain-based striker Thievy Bifouma will go on to draw level for Congo with Nzalang Nacional in the dying minutes of the game.

Interestingly, Congo coach

Emilio Nsue

Claude Le Roy alleged their performance against Equatorial Guinea was affected because they were deliberately held up in traffic on their way to the stadium hours to the kick-off.

Couple stranded at Onitsha Hospital after birth of triplet VOL. 1 NO 19

PAGE 2

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Tension mounts in Anambra community over burning of Udume Abor Shrine •Udume shrine staff seized from chief priest’s house, burnt •Battle line drawn between Christians, traditionalists •Community leaders dumfounded

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MUOJI—THERE is tension in Umuoji, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State over the burning of Udume Abor Shrine by a group of Christians permitted by the community to pray for the progress and development of the community.

The battle line is drawn between Christians and traditionalists with the leadership of the community dumbfounded having approved the prayer session ab-initio. The organizers of the prayer session burnt the Udume Shrine on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 by three 3pm after a three-day prayer summit.

South East Voice was told the prayer session was organized by Umuoji Christian group at Uzoiyi Umuoji Stadium after getting the endorsement of the traditional ruler of he community, Igwe Cyril Enweze, who is also chairman of Anambra State Investment Board.

The leadership of the Umuoji town union led by Mr. Basil Okonkwo equally gave its nod but the group went outside its brief to cause mayhem.

The villagers locked their shops for the three days praying and fasting as all markets were shut in the area.

Apparently propelled by the Christian group led by one Simon Akpaka, the prayer warriors rose in unison on the last day of the prayers, and allegedly matched straight to Udume Abor Shrine, searched for the deities before setting the place ablaze. They later headed to the house of the chief priest at Ifite Umuoji, where they located his staff of office inside the residence and also set it ablaze, chanting victory songs. But for the intervention of some members of the sect, the new building of the chief priest would have been burnt down as they assisted in salvaging it. But the regalia of office and other traditional materials were burnt alongside the staff.

Christians jubilate,

Burning of the Udume Abor deity and other deity materials, as well as items brought by people to worship in his house would take over N9 million to replace

Udume worshippers spoil for war

There was indeed jubilation everywhere by the Christians.

However, in a twinkle of an eye, the youths and worshippers of the shrine mobilized and are spoiling for war. They are said to be amazed on why the Udume, their ancestral oracle worshipped by their forefathers should be destroyed and the ancient Udume Abor chief priest violated and molested.

•A deity in Igboland

Chief priest expresses sadness

The victim/the chief priest and a former Christian, Samuel Nweke Nwankwo, who was short of words to express what happened, however, managed to express sadness by the development.

He said that Christians and traditionalists had been living peacefully and wondered what led to the burning of the deity.

He said the burning of the Udume Abor deity and other

•The shrine with some worshippers before it was burnt deity materials, as well as items brought by people to worship in his house would take over N9 million to replace.

Nwankwo said that it was a

taboo to burn the god of Umuoji and that the perpetrators would have reasons to regret fighting a

ALSO IN THIS EDITION

How Anambra govt clamped down on 6 illegal private — PAGE 4 schools

Continues on page 3

Abia communities cry out over failed Opobo-Azumini Highway — PAGE 6

2— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

I told some of my friends when I discovered that I was pregnant and some advised me to terminate the pregnancy, while others advised me against terminating it

•The triplet

Couple stranded at Onitsha Hospital after birth of triplet ...laments failure of family planning method

By CHIMOBI NWAIWU

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NEWI—FOR Mr. Emmanuel Nwaokolo a petty trader and his wife Mrs. Vivian, an unemployed NCE holder in Chemistry/ Integrated Science from the Nwafor Orizu Collage of Education, Nsugbe, and native of Abatete in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, having a triplet; (two boys and a girl, all weighing over 2.7 kilogrammes), has turned to a curse rather than blessing. The couple is now stranded with their new born babies at a private hospital in Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state.

The couple is stranded at the Paragon Hospital and Maternity Fegge Onitsha South Local Government Area, because they are unable to pay the hospital bill of the new born babies delivered on January 7, 2015.

The couple which already had four male children, aged nine, seven, five and three years each before the arrival of the triplet.

According to Mr. Nwaokolo who looked devastated, confused and almost losing his memory, following the coming of the triplet, “we did not plan to have another baby at least for now because I have not established my electrical parts trading business I learnt about 10 years

ago at the Electrical Dealers Market Obosi, off Onitsha Owerri Road Anambra State. I have been selling snacks since then.”

Mrs. Nwaokolo who also graduated in 2004, told South East Voice that her family planning failed her as she got pregnant without realising it until about three months later when she went to hospital and did some tests.

“My menstrual period aggravated my problem, some months I had heavy flow, while in others, I had drops of blood.

Although I was looking for a baby girl, I wanted it after securing a job, as I took part in the last teachers employment examination conducted by Post Primary Schools Service Commission, PPSSC, at Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka.

“I told some of my friends when I discovered that I was pregnant and some advised me to terminate the pregnancy, while others advised me against terminating it. It was a difficult decision and I later decided to keep it, since, I needed a female child. and here is the situation, a baby girl and two baby boys,” she said.

The mother of the triplet has already named the first, a boy Chibuzor (God is the way); the second also a boy, Chiemerie

(God has won) and the girl, Chisimdi (God asked me to live).

The couple is however, appealing to the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, Dr. Chris Ngige, Chief Victor Umeh, the Idemili North Local Government and good spirited individuals and organizations in and outside the state for assistance to pay the hospital bill of the triplet as well as in their upkeep with the other four children already in school.

Mrs. Nwaokolo is also appealing to the state governor to provide her a job to take care of the seven children as they would not depend on begging to train the children.

“These children are now a big challenge to us, we have to take

care of them. We will not throw them away; what I want now is the money to pay the hospital bill, and a job that I will do to take care of all the children. They will eat and go to school and we must not beg to train them, we have to work to train them,” she said.

Medical Director of the hospital Dr. Emma Udegbunam said Mrs. Nwaokolo was referred to his hospital from a maternity where they delivered the first baby because they had difficulties in delivering the rest two.

He said: “So when we saw her, we tried everything we could to deliver the other two normally, but it was not possible and her blood pressure was going up and the children were getting stressed, so we had no other

choice than to do a caesarian on her.

“We had a successful operation and the two remaining children were brought out. That is what we did and we thank God for their lives” he said, adding that the couple would pay over N200,000.

Udegbunam said that, although he had not calculated the exact amount to be paid, “but based on previous experiences, the couple should look for, that amount and above for them to be paid before Mrs Nwaokolo would be discharged from the hospital.

“If the couple does not have money to pay the hospital bill they can call on people to help them. It is not a wrong move, they are in order, because it is not easy to have triplet and be able to provide for them.

“Considering the economic situation we find ourselves and for somebody who is a below average income earner, the person will not be able to take care of these children; they certainly need help. I am appealing to people to assist them, we are doing everything to ensure that the woman continues to be stable and the babies are doing well.”

The Landlady of the couple, Lady Oji Pat of 21 Ozomagala Street, Odoakpu, Onitsha, who had been running around and taking care of the woman said that any assistance to the couple would be a welcome development.

“Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Nwaokolo are good tenants, except that they have problems raising their kids and now their situation has been compounded with the coming of the triplet; but we thank God. It is a good thing that has happened to them, what makes it look as if they are not happy or welcoming the children is their financial problem.

“They are now going to provide for seven children, it is certainly not going to be easy for them, so I am asking the government and well to do individuals, politicians and other good spirited individuals to come and help them; get them out of the hospital, help them raise the children; pay their school fees and other things and also give job to the wife who is an NCE holder, and then help the husband to establish his business. ‘’Personally, I have been trying for them and I will continue to try my best. They can confirm that I have been doing my best for them.’’

Ivedezi counsels transport workers against thuggery O NITSHA—THE Chairman of Onitsha Township Taxi and Semitrucks, Association, Chief Douglas Ivedezi, has asked transport workers ‘’not to allow themselves to be recruited as political thugs during the forth coming general elections in the country.

Ivedezi spoke during an interview with South East

Voice in Onitsha, saying that some politicians would resort to thuggery in the light of the irregularities in the just concluded party primaries in the state.

He commended the Anambra State government for banning the sale of alcohol within and around motor parks in the state, saying that the action would go a long

way in curtailing crimes in the area.

According to him, the ban on the sale of alcohol would go a long way in reengineering the mindset and general persona of those who work in and around the motor parks as well as transforming the attitude of the passengers who had hitherto looked down on park workers because of their behaviour.

Vanguard, JANUARY 21, 2015 —3

Tension mounts in Anambra community over burning of Udume Abor Shrine Continues from page 1 war they would not win.

He admitted passing the Christian group on the road without knowing that his house and the shrine were their target, regretting that it was an effrontery of one Simon Akpaka to have led a group to burn the ancestral deity of Udume Abor.

He also expressed unhappiness and shock that rather than assist promote the rich cultural heritage of Umuoji, the Christians were busy destroying it and denying future generations of the knowledge of their ancestors.

He called on government and stakeholders in Igbo tradition and culture to look into this dastardly act and come to his help before the gods begin to retaliate.

Departure Hall, Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

BY FRANCIS IGATA

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NUGU—THE delay in completion of the international terminal of the Akanu-Ibiam International Airport, Emene, Enugu State has left the people of the South-East geopolitical zone bewildered.

President Goodluck Jonathan had upgraded the airport to an international status in 2010 with a promise to construct the international terminal immediately to enable it commence full operations.

Proposed Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Contract for the construcEnugu tion of the international terminal was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, but work at the site seem to have stopped.

Jonathan had visited the site during his presidential rally on January 9, in Enugu and promised the people that he had asked the contractor to shorten the completion time to 18 months. upgraded in 2010 to an international status.

South East Voice, however, visited He said: “The funding and release of the site situated on the left side of the funds have been the bane of the delay in entrance of the airport and discovered the completion even though it is captured that construction work had stopped, yearly in the budgets. although construction equipment were “The upgrading of the airport had been still there. in the national annual budget since 1999.

A cross section of people from the The problem is misappropriation. The geopolitical zone had shown airport is of utmost importance to the resentment over federal government’s commercially oriented people of the South failed promises to the people which they East. Even if the airport is built like JFK lubricate each time elections Airport in New York, USA, it cannot attract approached. major airliners like Lufthansa, British Air, The international operation of the etc because the government has left what airport would reduce the man hours spent in travelling to Lagos, Abuja or led to the creation of the state, which is other places to catch international flights coal to be moribund.

“The Ethopian Airline that you see by the Igbo, save costs, provide the operating here is subsidised by the Federal people of the region a direct access to Government.

It is a cosmetic approach international arena and give them a sense of belonging for their massive which cannot be sustained especially with support to the administration of the country’s dwindling resources.

“The same thing that happened to the President Jonathan.

The people wondered why such Airport also happened to the 2nd-Niger important projects would be used as a Bridge. The 2nd-Niger Bridge was political bargaining chip during awarded on a Build-Operate and Transfer, BOT, agreement. Our generations will pay elections. tolls for the next 25 years to recover the money used for the construction if at all it Lamentations Mr. Philip Iwu, a businessman, will be constructed.” wondered why the project had not been completed since the airport was

Travellers worry over non-completion of Akanu-Ibiam airport terminal

Attack, unprovoked aggression—Udume worshipper

An Udume worshipper whose shrine and house were also burnt at Idoma Umuoji, Mr. Andy Mbanusi described the incident as unprovoked aggression.

Mbanusi further expressed dismay over the heartless attitude of a group that called themselves Christians waging a war against their fellow residents without provocation. He said apart from millions he would need in cash to re-build what had been destroyed, the gods needed to be appeased.

Restraining the youths/ worshippers from attacking Christians

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hairman, Cultural Committee in Umuoji kingdom, Dr. Fidelis Nwankwo Ibekwe appeared to have saved the day by holding the youths that mobilized to attack the Christians.

Ibekwe condemned the unholy act, describing it as sin. ‘’This is sinful and unjust. It is injustice against humanity,” he added.

Chief Ibekwe confirmed that the community was taken aback by the actions of the organizers as the event was jointly planned

with the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Umuoji Improvement Union, Mr. Basil Okonkwo, the traditional ruler, cabinet members and the entire Umuoji people but the people did not ask anybody to commit that type of sacrilege.

He lamented that the ancient Umuoji kingdom known for its rich tradition and cultural heritage in Idemili North Local Government Area, had come under a disguised attack.

According to him, the killing of python is forbidden in Umuoji but yet people were daily killing pythons as a way of provoking the people.

Igwe Enweze told South East Voice that; “The prayer was planned several months ago. The group came for approval and said it was going to be an inter-denominational service involving the Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal churches. They said that they want to pray for the peace and progress of Umuoji town for about five days but we later agreed that it would last for three days.

“We said to them, we have a very important market day in Umuoji which is Eke day, and that Umuoji doesn’t joke with Eke day as it is the most important day which everybody needed to respect and we urged them to make it peaceful as Christians by preaching peace and love of their neighbours, as well as live and let live.’’

Enweze further disclosed that Umuoji Improvement Union, UIU, met with them and approved the prayer session for the whole Umuoji people, and they agreed, lamenting that the news he was hearing was ‘’nasty and capable of igniting crisis in the community.”

The alleged Christian group could not be reached for comments despite efforts as nobody wanted to be identified as being part of those who burnt the shrine.

There was crisis in Umuoji, precisely on May 12, 2013, following the killing of a python by members of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN. The matter was, however, resolved by the Anambra State Police Command which was said to have mediated and prevented total breakdown of law and order then.

•The forest where the shrine was located

4 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

•Prof. Kate Omenugha, Anambra State Commissioner for Education

•One of the illegal private schools.

How Anambra govt clamped down on 6 illegal private schools

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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WKA—SIX illegal private schools allegedly posing great impediment to the educational well-being of school children in Anambra State, have been closed down by the state government.

The schools closed were part of the over 800 alleged illegal schools, earlier published by the state’s ministry of education, warning the operators to close the institutions forthwith.

The affected schools were located at Awka South, Nnewi North, Onitsha North and Onitsha South and Ogbaru Local Government Areas of the state.

They include the Excellent Academy Pre-Nursery, Nursery/ Primary School at IsiaguAmikwo, Awka; God’s Elect Nursery/ Primary School, Amudo, Awka and God’s Glory Day Care Nursery/Primary School, Ozomagana-Odoakpu, Onitsha.

Others were the Excellent Academy Foundation, Fegge, Onitsha; Light Bearers and Pacesetters School, Okpoko, in Onitsha and Kadimal ‘A’ International Nursery/Primary School, OkpunoegbuUmamudim, Nnewi.

Speaking to South East Voice, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, stated that their closure followed the state government’s conviction

that such illegal schools posed serious challenges to the educational well-being of Anambra State children.

Omenugha who regretted the illegal and unpatriotic activities of the schools’ proprietors, wondered why some parents still patronized such illegal schools which operate mainly in makeshift accommodations, under

unhygienic and unfriendly environment.

She said: “It is the total commitment of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration to improve the teaching and learning environments through infrastructural development and provision of instructional materials to public schools and serious minded private schools.

Therefore, parents and guardians should send their children and wards to government approved schools.’’

Proprietors and teachers in illegal schools to be dealt with “The children of Anambra State deserve the best environment for their academic pursuit, to enable

them realize their potentials,” she further said, adding that “government cannot fold its hands and watch unpatriotic elements play with the future of our children.”

Omenugha, however, commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, in Anambra State for their collaborative efforts that brought about the success recorded during the closure of the six schools, noting that follow up actions would be carried out to ensure compliance.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Harry Udu, explained that the closure of the illegal schools was to further advance the educational standard already established in the state.

Meanwhile, the illegal schools were officially declared closed on behalf of the state government by the Director of Schools in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Festus Uwakwe.

Uwakwe who noted that education was one aspect of the economy that should not be neglected, however, advised parents to stop patronizing illegal schools.

“Our state stands to benefit more if they send their children and wards to good schools.

Therefore, owners of these substandard schools must stop operating or bear the full weight of the law,’’ he added.

Igbo's oldest dynasty celebrates 115th Ovala festival

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—THE Idigo Dynasty of Aguleri is believed to be the oldest in Igboland as it was said to be in existence before the birth of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago. The annual Ovala Festival of Aguleri held recently in the ancient town had full compliments of culture and tradition spiced with modernity.

The appearance of Igwe Christopher Idigo IV, (Ogalagidi) at the ancient arena sent the mammoth crowd roaring and it was a wonderful sight to behold. Indeed, the royal dance was the climax of the festival, which also featured the conferment of chieftaincy titles on the national chairman of All

A

Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh and a prominent entrepreneur, Chief Okwuchukwu Ezeonyeodu.

Before Eze Chritstopher Idigo IV, an Engineer, mounted the throne in 1995, there had been Ogbuanyinya Onyekomeli Idigo, Eze Nwanne Idigo 1, Eze Raphael Anakwuba Idigo 11 and Eze Alphonsus Ezeudu Idigo 111 on the saddle.

The 115th Ovala celebration lived up to expectation, especially as it is the first Ovala since the inauguration of an Aguleri son and a member of the Aguleri Royal Cabinet, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano (Akpokuodike Aguleri), as the governor of Anambra State in March last year. For the people

of Aguleri and Omabala clan in general, their excitement knew no bounds knowing where they were coming from politically.

Expectedly, because of the involvement and presence of the governor, men of timber and caliber in politics, industry, commerce and the visiting traditional rulers across Anambra State made the cultural fiesta spectacular.

The event overshadowed the recent controversy over the real origin of the Igbos to which Aguleri and Nri in Anaocha local government area had laid claim.

It also subdued the frequent clashes at the Aguleri/Kogi State/ Enugu State boundary over the land habouring the oil-wells in Aguleri-Out in which many lives had been lost and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

The dispute began two years

ago shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan declared Anambra State an oil-producing state. To date, the National Boundary Commission is still battling to resolve the matter.

Most visitors to the 115th Ovala Festival were marveled at the infrastructural development that had taken place in the town between the 114th Festival and the 115th Festival as a result of the emergence of their son, Chief Willie Obiano as the governor of the state. The expectation is that by this time next year when the 116th Ovala Festival will be celebrated, Aguleri would have become a city to behold, especially as there are plans to have a Cargo Airport, a refinery and good road network in the area in line with the development agenda of the governor.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 5

Police wade into Nkpor/Umuoji inter-communal land dispute in Anambra

•IGP Sulleiman Abba

REACH US

O

By NWABUEZE OKONKWO

N I T S H A — DETECTIVES attached to Ogidi Police Division in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the burning down of a vehicle and damaging of some structures erected on a disputed portion of land between Nkpor and Umuoji communities in the area.

Both communities are laying claim to the land to the extent that while Nkpor called it Abomili Layout, Mgbachu village, Nkpor, Umuoji called it Dimboko Village land, Umuoji.

It was gathered that while the claims and counter claims were on-going, Umuoji people allegedly sold a large portion of the land to Winners Chapel, one of the popular pentecostal churches for the erection of their cathedral.

Trouble started at the weekend when members of the Winners Chapel hired a bulldozer and a low-bed trailer to convey the caterpillar to the land for clearing, having completed all the necessary agreements concerning the land acquisition with Umuoji people.

As the low-bed trailer was conveying the caterpillar to the land, a team of soldiers believed to have been engaged by the Winners Chapel from the Onitsha

Military Cantonment and some youths from Umuoji escorted them into the land for protection.

However, it was said that, on entering the land, the youths allegedly went on rampage and started pulling down any structure on the way to ensure that the Winners Chapel had an unfettered access into the land.

According to sources, it was while the drama was going on that the Nkpor people got a wind of the development and quickly alerted both the military and police authorities. It was further said that the soldiers engaged by the Umuoji people and the youths allegedly fled the scene, on sighting a combined team of military and police officers but the police, however, succeeded in arresting the trailer driver and took him and the vehicle to the station for interrogation.

At the police station, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Hassan Musa said he was aware of the incident and declined further comments on the ground that the state Police Public Relations Officer, Uche Ezeh was in a better position to comment on the matter.

However, the head of Dimboko village, Umuoji who simply identified himself as Chief Onwuachu, told the police in a statement that the land actually belonged to Umuoji people, adding that they sold it to the Winners Chapel as a virgin land.

Onwuachu said he never

expected any structure to be standing in a virgin land, adding however that he was only aware that the Winners Chapel went into the land to clear the bush for their building but not aware that there were vehicles and structures damaged in the process.

The Nkpor people who spoke through Dr. Christian Okeke and Chris Aniemeka, said they were surprised that Umuoji people would still go ahead and sell the disputed land which was already in court and which the Inspector-General of Police had once warned against criminalising the matter.

Okeke and Aniemeka noted that when they heard that Umuoji youths and soldiers had escorted the trailer and caterpillar into the disputed land to damage peoples houses and vehicles, they alerted the police and the Commander of the 302 Artillery Regiment, Col. Bello who quickly sent some military police to the area, adding that on hearing that the military police had been sent after them, the soldiers quickly fled the area for their own safety, while the police moved in and arrested the trailer driver, a Winners Chapel pastor and some of the youths.

They quoted one Pastor Frank, a developer in the land as alleging that he lost N35,000 to the youths who also gave him a machete cut, adding that one other developer who simply himself

as Mr. Okeke also claimed to have lost N3.5 million and his GSM handset to the youths at gun point.

They said the police had released both the caterpillar and trailer drivers on bail when they showed the cheques issued to them by the Winners Chapel for the hiring of their vehicles, adding that they did not even know that the land was in dispute until they got there.

The leader of the Winners Chapel, Pastor Fred Attabor declined comments on the matter when he was contacted on the telephone, adding that any clarification on the matter must come from their headquarters.

The soldiers engaged by the Umuoji people and the youths allegedly fled the scene, on sighting a combined team of military and police officers

DO you have any news of neglect or abandoned projects or your representative at the local, state or federal governments are not representing you well?

Do you have unique cultural activities coming up or any community news to tell us?

Emeka Mamah (Co-ordinator): 08033218645 Austin Ogwuda(Enugu): 08037136440 Francis Igata 08033387069 Vincent Ujumadu(Awka): 08035804090 Anayo Okoli(Umuahia): 08034046839 Chidi Nkwopara(Imo): 08033391108 Peter Okutu (Abakaliki): 08032680756 Chinenyeh Ozor (Nsukka): 08185664011 Nwabueze Okonkwo (Nnewi): 08037794782 Enyim Enyim (Onitsha): 08169297179 Or: e-mail us: easternvoice@yahoo.com

6 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014

By FELIX OGBONNA

U

MUAHIA—RESIDENTS of Akirika-Ukwu and Akirika-Nta communities in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State have cried out over the dilapidated state of the Opobo-Azumini highway.

The road which links the two Ukwa East communities with their Ika neighbours in Akwa Ibom State has become a death trap with deep craters capable of burying trucks.

For motorists and passengers travelling to Akwa Ibom State, the situation is even worse since the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road was also impassable during the rainy season.

South East Voice gathered that the road which criss-crosses Abia and Akwa Ibom States also, serves as the major route to Azumini in Abia State through Iwukem and Ukanafun among other town in Akwa Ibom State. It is also the nearest route to the country home of former Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara in Ohambele town from where one can also connect the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway at Obehie in Ukwa West council area.

The first sign that all is not well with the Opobo-Azumini road are the large pot holes that greet motorists passing through the Aba to Obingwa section to the AkirikaAzumini end. The worst part of the road lies between the Akirika-Ukwu Police Post in Abia State to the Government Secondary School, Ikot Uko, in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, where there are about five deep gullies with one of them looking like a trench dug by soldiers during the Nigerian civil war era.

A resident of Akirika-Ukwu community, Chief Sunday Nna told South East Voice that he was lucky to visit the area during the dry season as only big trucks managed to wade through the deep gullies which now dot the road.

He lamented that the residents of the two Akirika communities severely suffered during the rainy season as they were cut off from the Azumini and Ika neighbours in Akwa Ibom State. Chief Nna narrated the ordeal of motorists and traders from the Azumini and Akwa Ibom areas who travelled to Aba to buy goods and were usually stuck in the mud even as some of them spent a day or two at the gullies before their vehicles could be offloaded and rescued from

•One of the many portions of the dilapidated Opobo-Azumini road

•Opobo-Azumini road

Abia communities cry out over failed Opobo-Azumini Highway the gullies.

While corroborating Nna’s accounts, a resident of neighbouring Akirika-Nta Community, Sam Nwankwo appealed to both the state and federal governments to rehabilitate the road and save the people from reliving their ugly experience during the past rainy season.

A commercial motorcyclist (Okada rider) at the popular Umuogele Junction along the Aba section of the road, who gave his name simply as Itoro, said he and his colleagues enjoyed the rainy season as they waded through bush paths to take Ika and Azumini bound passengers to their destinations for some fees.

According to him;”Even passengers going to Ukanafun and Abak hired us to take them to Azumini where they boarded buses to their destinations. Those travelling to Aba also hired us at Azumini, from where we took them to the Umuogele Junction where they boarded tricycles to the town. People

suffered during the last rainy seaon.”

South East Voice gathered that the Aba-OpoboIka-Azumini highway was rehabilitated during the tenure of Senator Wabara as Senate president in 2005.

While the Aba section is in good condition; the section from the Akirika communities to Azumini has remained dilapidated.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 —7

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—CIVIL Society Organizations, CSOs, and the media have decided to form a synergy ahead of the 2015 general elections to ensure free and fair exercise. In an awareness workshop put together by the Centre for Civic Education, otherwise known as the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, and sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, in Enugu for the South East geo-political zone, the two groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, for the purpose of proper monitoring and reporting the polls before, during and after.

The MoU also provided for a mutual partnership between them on the best way to ensure sustainable democracy in the country. As the South East zonal coordinator of TMG, Dr. Ogbu explained, since it would be very difficult for election monitors to be posted to the 120,000 polling units across the country, a representative sample of areas to cover would be adopted even as what would be happening in all the poling units would be found out by use of communication gadgets and collated reports forwarded to the •Cross section of the participants at the TMG/ headquarters of the organization in UNDP workshop on 2015 election.

Abuja.

A resource person at the workshop, Dr. Ifeoma Dunu of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in her paper said that as the 2015 election draws close, “ we realize that we are at the threshold of deciding the fate of this country for the next decade and as such it becomes imperative that we use whatever we have at our disposal to get it right.”

She said: “To achieve free and fair election and ensure credibility of the electoral process media reportage of electoral events must uphold the code of ethics for journalists. Good journalistic practice in election reporting must take cognizance of accuracy, responsibility, the fairness doctrine, balanced reporting and conflict sensitive reporting. The Nigerian media should ensure all these despite the many challenges facing receives media information because both parties are any violation during them. One significant fact sources, transmitters and and then distill to the election, he has the right to the media must bear in mind members of their groups. interpreters of information to caution those involved and is that their coverage and Similarly the media relies on the masses and are therefore can make reports to the reportage of election in the these civil society groups as powerful in influencing and appropriate quarters, just country has dual shaping voter’s decision the basic sources of the way the media can consumption audiences and information. making. The synergy report what transpires implications..

“What we have therefore is between the two may be without jeopardizing the “The two step flow theory better appreciated if the a symbiotic significant integrity of the exercise.” of the media identifies that functions and roles of these relationship between the two For instance, he argued information from the mass two key players are kept in institutions that serve that there can never be an media gets first to opinion view. common and identical ideal democracy if people leaders then to the general As Dr. Ogbu, an associate functions to the members of continue to manipulate public. In this instance the professor of law at the society. These two chief themselves into political civil society groups Odumegwu Ojukwu players are central to offices with the attendant constitutes the bulk of the University put it, “if a ensuring the smooth corruption trailing the opinion leaders that first member of CSO discovers running of the election

CSOs, media form synergy to ensure free 2015 polls corrupt system.

Though the issue of commercialized media, especially the electronic media, dominated the contributions during the workshop, the participants agreed that there should be a way out in the interest of the nation’s electoral process. One way of achieving the desired goal, they noted, is to see credible election as the only way to ensure steady growth of democracy in Nigeria.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 Sexual satisfaction

68-yr-old herbalist takes 15-yr-old girl as 56th wife zHas over 300 children zSpends N1.4 million monthly on feeding

By CHINENYEH OZOR

N

SUKKA—AN Enugu based herbalist, Simon Odoh a.k.a Onu Uwa, from Aji Community, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Enugu State has married a 15-year-old girl as his 56th wife. Onu-Uwa who is over 68 had 54 wives from different tribes across the country, and about 300 children, however, said that he would not stop marrying until he died.

The renowned herbalist who spoke with South East Voice said “I am Africa’s King Solomon.

King Solomon had 700 concubines, so there is nothing wrong in my retinue of wives. I was a Christian. I was baptised in 1956 and confirmed in 1958 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Aji. My Christian name is Simon Odo. I served mass in 1960 as a Catholic faithful. What happened was that people wanted to kill me.

I was poisoned with tuberculosis and later became crippled. After these travails, I entered the healing people with herbs in 1962.

"My marrying 56 wives was because I was the only son of my late parents. My late father had abundant land. People wanted to kill me at infancy to claim my father’s possession because I was a lone child. I decided to raise as many children as possible to have a village of my own. My children are numerous with many being grand and great grand children.

My family is a happy one; all my children eat from one pot and we eat a 50kg bag of rice every Sunday. Some of my children took to my profession, some to education and trading. I identify all my children with a mark. The average of seven of my wives give birth in a day.

How I became herbalist/ native doctor

"I suffered so much before becoming a native doctor. I started to cure people of various diseases as well as prepare charms for the progress of people. That is where I found my talent; to cure people of different ailments and prepare protective charms for my numerous clients who troop to my shrine.

"I became a herbalist at Ijebu Ode, Ondo State. I was in Ijebu Ode for seven years those days; not now that so many things are happening as a lot of people are looking for material wealth.

C M Y K

These days most of us claim to cure all manner of diseases and disabilities. I have had no regrets so far since I started as a herbalist. My talent is to cure and prepare charms for the progress of people; not to kill. Any herbalist that prepares concoction to kill is not real because they call on God to help them.

five and three children respectively. Some are still pregnant, just last week one gave birth to twins. I can’t say the number that are pregnant as I speak with you. I feed all of them comfortably without hassles. I have over 15 storey buildings and other bungalows. All my wives and children are properly housed

"I satisfy all my wives sexually, none complains of being starved sexually. I make love to a given number daily. Sexual satisfaction of my wives is a gift from God. All my children have marks as form of identity and I train those of them who crave for education in primary, post primary and tertiary institutions. Most of my children are graduates; one of my daughters was a councillor that represented Aji Ward for four years at Igbo Eze North Local Government Area.

"I meet my wives on daily basis, the funny and happy aspect of my family is that about seven of my wives can put to bed in one day.

The young ones that are still active on bed are more than 11. My latest wife who I just married last December is 15 years.

How he marries

"There is no magic as people may think. I marry them according to the custom and tradition of where the person comes from. I do not marry with any thing less

go and multiply. In that case Satan is my father. Most humans are Satans. I usually write on my vehicles: don’t wake up the Satan, which means dont make false accusations or dangerous overtaking, hence waking the Satan up from slumber.

Own village

"Mindsets are not the same; some of my children are either Catholic, Anglican or Pentecostal faithful while some took to native medicine. To gather them together is not easy for me. They know themselves with the mark I gave them. A good number of them are married with up to five children. Each. In no distant time they could apply for recognition as a village of their own village.

The number of my children and great and great grand children command a force in Aji community. We eat one bag of rice every Sunday.

"We ate with one spoon in one big pot. The grown up ones are no longer staying with me. The ones I mention now were from 10 years down. Some of my sons have built their own houses. My first child Emeka Odo was born in 1969 and has raised his own family, now as a grandfather.

Emeka, equally a native doctor.

Some of my graduate daughters have married to different places.

Love potion

"I lost two of my wives who left my house and misbehaved and died. None of my wives can meet any other man. Once the person tries it, she will die. I have not recorded any child death outside those that die at birth because of measles and jaundice. My father married only two wives with 12 children but I was the only man.

I married 56 wives because my God is different from my biological father’s.

Early life.

Herberlist Simon Odoh a.k.a Onu Uwa and one of his wives

Native doctor that kills

"I love those native doctors that prepare charm to kill people because if they poison or charm any person, I will cure the person and get my daily bread. So without those that prepare charms to harm people, I will not get enough to feed my family. God forbid bad thing if I kill someone and later my own child is killed will I like it? God condemned killing.

Number of children

"My children are numerous and that is what I bargained for as Africa’s King Solomon. Out of 56 wives some have seven, eight,

without complaints. I built an underground two- storey; three storey buildings and flats of four to five storey buildings. My children, to say the fact are over 300.

I love those native doctors that prepare charm to kill people because if they poison or charm any person, I will cure the person and get my daily bread

than N100,000. I have built houses for some of my in-laws, some received car gifts from me, and you can go and verify my claims. I do not marry from a family with rich background but from the poor ones, so that I can help them one way or the other. All my marriages are gifts of love and not by charm.

I came to the world for beautiful women to love, follow and marry me.

King of Satan

"No human being on earth can go to heaven. God told Lucifer to go to the world and procreate and multiply. So, Satan is the king of the earth. A reverend father once approached me to inquire why I chose the name King of Satan. I told him that God asked Lucifer to

"I stopped schooling at standard three at St. Mary’s Primary School, Aji Enugu Ezike. I was 16 years when I did standard three. I was later poisoned. They inflicted me with tuberculosis because of my father’s vast estate.

"They killed my father because of the land and knowing fully well that I will ask about what killed my father; they wanted to kill me equally. I suffered the tuberculosis for five years, after which I became crippled for another five years.

"By then, I was a mass server at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and then I said, God why do you allow all these to be happening to me. I then ran to Ijebu Ode to one old woman and stayed there for seven years, and learnt the business of native medicine and the business started thriving. If you go to Anambra State, most of those people who late Osita Osadebe mentioned in his music People’s Club have visited my shrine for protection and progress among others. I have spent up to 54 years as a native doctor. I was born in 1947. I am not a politician but a good number of them have come to me for assistance."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 33

AFCON Matches today E/Guinea v B/Faso 5pm Gabon v Congo 8pm

Congo’s Malonga confident of beating Gabon C ongo striker Dominique Malonga believes his side will beat Gabon in their Nations Cup Group A match on Wednesday if they play with intensity.

Congo’s 1-1 draw with hosts Equatorial Guinea has left them two points behind Gabon, who beat Burkina Faso.

“We have a big game against Gabon. We know exactly what we have to do and we have to be focused, “Malonga said.

“Gabon are a good team, you have to have good intensity for all of the game and I think we can win.”

Malonga, who plays his club football for Scottish side Hibernian, also paid tribute to coach Claude LeRoy, who he feels is vital to the team’s chances of success.

“He is really important as all the pressure is on him and he has big experience,” Malonga said. “He talks so much with everyone and he knows the competition so well- we are happy to have a coach like that.”

LeRoy had to draw on all his experience to boost his side after a poor first half against Equatorial Guinea left them trailing 1-0, but he said after the game that he expects his team to improve as they become more accustomed to the high-level competition.

It is a steep learning curve for the Congo players, all 23 of whom are playing at the Nations Cup for the first time.

Malonga is eager for his side to carry on where they left off in the second half against Equatorial Guinea.

“There was intensity in the second half we played very well.” he said. “Against Gabon we have to attack very well to try to score.

“All is possible for us - it is a very important game and we are ready to compete.”

Gyan

Ebola risk ‘under control’ E

quatorial Guinea Football Federation president Andres Jorge Mbombio admits it was a “big risk” to host the 2015 AFCON, but claims the Ebola threat is now “under control”.

The country has implemented a whole host of preventative measures in a bid to limited the potential threat of the virus spreading, including thermographic screenings at airports and laser thermometers for all the borders.

Equatorial Guinea’s proactive approach doesn’t end there as they have also implemented screenings outside stadiums prior to matches, with supporters asked to clean their hands with sanitising gel.

And the preventative measures appear to be working, despite the high number of foreign visitors.

“When we decided to host the tournament, we increased the preventive measures, so that now we can say everything is under control,” Mbombio said.

“We feel proud and reassured, and only want to think of football” he added

*Ivory Coast won the 1992 title without conceding a single goal in their six-match campaign. *Egyptian legend Mohamed Diab El-Attar “El-Diba” is the only player to have scored four goals in a final game – Egypt’s 4-0 victory over Ethiopia in 1957. *The first goal of the African Cup of Nations was scored by Egyptian forward Raafat Attia, who converted a penalty against Sudan in 1957. The 1000th goal was also a penalty converted by Nigeria’s Captain Austin Jay-Jay Okocha in 2004 in Tunisia. *For the first time in CAN history, the 2000 tournament was held in two countries, Ghana and Nigeria. *In 1982, the Confederation of African Football rescinded the two-player limit on foreign based players for each national team, allowing all the countries to use their best stars.

Before 1967, no foreign-based players were eligible to play in the Nations Cup. *The African Cup of Nations was televised for the first time in the 1970 edition in Sudan. *The 1970 final was the only one which had to be replayed as Zaire were held to a 2-2 draw by Zambia in the final. Two days later, Zaire defeated Zambia 2-0 at Cairo Stadium to claim the title. *The competition initially started with three teams in 1957, expanded to four teams in 1962, six in 1963, eight in 1968, 12 in 1992 and 16 in 1998.

Malonga

We missed Gyan - Ayew G hana forward Andre Ayew admits Asamoah Gyan’s absence in the defeat to Senegal on Monday was a big loss.

The Black Stars threw away an early lead to concede the defeat in their opening Group C game at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana was playing their first competitive match under new coach Avram Grant but was without inspirational captain Asamoah Gyan who was battling illness.

Andre Ayew admits the Al Ain hitman’s absence was a blow to the team but understands he couldn’t be risked as his health

Facts & ffigures igures about the Africa Cup of Nations

was more important.

“Asamoah [Gyan] is our leader, he’s our captain and he brings a lot to the squad when you see his stats,” he said.

“But as we know, we don’t take risks with someone’s health.

“It is true we all love football, we love the game and we’d love to win but after football life is more important.

“He wasn’t feeling well and he couldn’t make it. He would have loved to be there.

“We would have loved to see him there but I want to congratulate those who replaced him because they did a fantastic job upfront.”

*The Confederation of African football (CAF) decided to hold CAN in odd-numbered years starting 2013 to avoid playing in the same year of the World Cup. Coaches and players from African countries that qualified for World Cups had previously complained about a packed schedule. The CAN has been played in even years since 1968. *Nigeria used three captains during their game against Benin in CAN 2010. Captain Joseph Yobo started the game but had to be replaced because of injury. He gave the captain’s armband to Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who was also substituted as the armband was finally given to Osaze Odenwengie.

The Super Eagles ended up having three captains in one match. *During the 1965 edition in Tunisia, the hosts reached the final game via a coin tossing as they were level with Senegal on the number of points and goal difference. The Tunisians lost the final 3-2 against Ghana. A coin toss was also used in 1988, helping Algeria reach the semi-finals at the expense of Ivory Coast. Just like Tunisia, Algeria were unfortunate in the semi-finals as they lost to Nigeria 9-8 on penalties following a 1-1 draw. *The 1959 edition in Egypt featured only three participants: Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. The trio had three coaches from Eastern Europe: Czechoslovakians Jiri Starosta (Ethiopia) and Josef Hada (Sudan) and Hungarian Pal Titkos (Egypt).

Titkos led the Pharaohs to the title. *Given that South Africa were one of the founders of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), they were due to play in the first CAN edition in 1957 but were suspended because of their apartheid regime, as they intended to play with a squad including only Caucasians. They made a victorious return in 1996 when they won the title on home soil. *Egypt forward Mohamed Nagy “Gedo” is the best ever substitute in the history of CAN, having finished the 2010 edition as the top scorer with five goals scored off the bench. *Egyptian Abdel-Aziz Salem – who became the first CAF president – went to the FIFA Congress in Zurich in 1956 with the aim of establishing the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, the demand was subject to sarcasm due to the little number of cofounders (Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia), and wasn’t even included in the meeting’s agenda. Salem decided to withdraw from the Congress as a sign of protest, saying “If all the countries aren’t treated equally here, then our presence is useless.” Sudanese Mohamed Abdelhalim followed in his footsteps as FIFA eventually responded to their demand. The CAF was officially founded in 8 February 1957.

34 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2015 — 35 Yes. The book is meant to create awareness about the insurance sector in Nigeria.

It is quite easy to read. Like I said, most times, people run away from insurance because of the wrong notion they have about it. But once they get better information, that mindset immediately changes. Frankly, the rates charged for insurance are very meagre compared to what we do; they are not equal to the risks we handle.

Nigerians do not believe in insurance

What has been your motivating factor?

That’s my husband.

Though he is an engineer, he believes so much in me and the career that I have chosen.

He encourages me to be the very best in whatever I do and that has been responsible for the progress I have made so far. As a branch manager, I was the best and everywhere I had worked before setting up my company, I was usually the best. Even when I get fed up or discouraged, he gives me the push to go the e x t r a mile.

— Victoria Adegbaju, BAC Insurance boss C

HIEF Executive Officer of BAC Insurance Consultants Limited, Mrs Victoria Bolajoko Adegbaju is working assiduously to expunge unfavourable impressions held by a large section of the Nigerian public about insurance.

She is the author of ‘Know Your Insurance Rights’, a readerfriendly book that provides answers to myriad of questions bothering on insurance. In this interview, she speaks on issues hindering the industry and calls on regulators to rise up to the task of improving it in entirety.

By Josephine Agbonkhese What’s actually the focus of your organisation?

My mission is to meet people’s needs as far as insurance is concerned. I actually have a strong passion for educating people about insurance.

So, I do consultations, seminars and workshops.

Having worked in the industry for over 15 years, what’s your assessment of the sector in Nigeria?

The insurance sector in Nigeria is obviously not the same as the insurance industry outside the country.

This is because we do not believe in insurance in Nigeria and we have not been able to do the things that we should be doing. Outside Nigeria, we get a number of offers from clients but here in Nigeria, it is the insurance personnel that would beg the client to do business.

C M Y K

•Mrs Victoria Bolajoko Adegbaju

A lot of times, people see the sector as unstable but overtime there has been a number of enlightenment and awareness and I think things are getting better unlike what we had in the past when I just came into the industry. I actually started my career with Great Nigeria Insurance Plc where I rose to the position of the branch manager. I was later employed at the Intercontinental Life Assurance Limited as a management staff and head of public sector marketing before joining Mutual Benefits Assurance Limited in 2012.

But what could be responsible for this?

Like every other profession, there are good and bad people operating in the sector. Sadly, it is because of the terrible experiences members of the public have

had with some practitioners in the past. You can imagine if such happens to one, two, three and more people. It becomes difficult to change people’s mindset as the news

Outside Nigeria, we get a number of offers from clients but here in Nigeria, it is the insurance personnel that would beg the client to do business

goes round. So, when people are saying the same thing, you can imagine the kind of effect this can have on the sector.

How have you tried to improve the situation in your little corner?

I once had a client who had a vehicle theft case. The car was stolen and I was in marketing and servicing and I took it upon myself to see that the claim was settled.

From the beginning to the end, I made sure everything was in place and I have many other cases like that. I have also assisted people and even those I did not know before, especially those who have had nasty experiences with insurance operators in the past. I take it upon myself to create a better impression.

Could that goal also be what inspired your book on insurance?

Let us t a l k about o t h e r challenges bedevilling t h e sector…

There are a number o f challenges a n d t h e s e include awareness a b o u t how the sector operates, as well as unhealthy competition among underwriters, among workers and the other people in the industry. I think it is the work of regulators to really make things better, though. I would say that a number of us are trying our best, but it is the regulators that should set a pace and make things better.

Your schedule as the CEO of an insurance consultancy firm must be quite demanding; how do you blend this with personal life Well, I would say that God has been very good to me. At the initial stage of my career, it was quite hectic but my mother-in-law was there for me. We lost her in 2012 and that created a yawning gap, but luckily, my children are grown up now.

She was a wonderful mother-in-law and she did her best to help bring up my children.

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015—37

•Andy Uba: Fighting off his brother

•Chris Uba: Seeks to take brother's place

•Stella Oduah: Not on INEC list

ANAMBRA: Confusion again!

ANAMBRA State has since the advent of the Fourth Republic won the uncanny political reputation for eccentricity. It was the first state to move its governorship election outside the usual general election cycle after its second governor in the Fourth Republic, Dr. Chris Ngige was sacked by the courts.

Hence it would not be holding election for governor in the forthcoming round of general elections. As in the past round of elections, the PDP is again presenting multiple lists of candidates for the legislative elections. However, for the first time the party is being resisted.

By Vincent Ujumadu

G

OVERNOR Willie Obiano was still ensconced in the norms of banking during the 2011 general elections and so would not have been familiar with the time tested pattern of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in presenting at least two sets of candidates for federal and state level elections.

IT is a practise that had in the past paid off for the party as the various candidates of the party would mobilise their various supporters to ensure victory for the party leaving the final decision on the occupant on the seat for the courts.

It was as such surprising when Governor Obiano in a state wide broadcast said:“Sadly, since the publication of the final list of candidates that are duly approved by INEC to contest the coming elections, we have seen many aspirants whose names are not on the INEC list parading themselves as candidates and campaigning for election in Anambra State.

“This is not only a total breach of the law, but also a deliberate attempt to mislead the electorate and manipulate the electoral process. These booby-traps have

unnecessarily heated the system in the past. They are not acceptable to Ndi Anambra today.

“Therefore, I wish to categorically declare that any aspirant whose name is not on the INEC list and who continues to parade himself or herself as a candidate for the coming elections will be assumed to be deliberately misleading the public in contravention of the

Before Obiano’s broadcast, Umeh, the national chairman of APGA, said he had notified INEC chairman of the alleged ploy by PDP to present multiple candidates for the election

electoral laws and shall face the law.

All the security agencies are fully prepared to enforce the electoral laws in Anambra State and ensure a peaceful, free and fair atmosphere for the coming elections.”

Before Obiano’s broadcast, Umeh, the national chairman of APGA, said he had notified INEC chairman of the alleged ploy by PDP to present multiple candidates for the election, warning that though PDP had in the past got away with it by allowing two or more persons to lay claim to its ticket and go into the election proper with such claims, it will never be allowed to do so in 2015.

According to Umeh, his party

would take all the necessary legal measures to stop what he called the deceit by PDP, arguing that the party was resorting to the presentation of double candidates because of the fear that one person cannot win election for it.

As in the past, Chief Chris Uba is a prominent figure in the contentions in the PDP. Unlike before he is not just dictating the tune from the background, he has for the first time come out as a candidate himself having taken for himself, the party’s Senate ticket for Anambra South presently occupied by his senior brother, Dr. Andy Uba. Andy, however, is not surrendering his seat to his brother and has mobilised associates against his brother.

The two brothers, Andy and Chris are presently campaigning for the seat even if Chris is the one presently recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Vigorous campaigns Should Chris succeed and win,

ANAMBRA SENATE CONTESTS Anambra Central Victor Umeh — APGA Chris Ngige — APC Annie Okonkwo/ Uche Ekwunife — PDP? Anambra North Chief Dubem Obaze — APGA John Emeka /Stella Oduah — PDP? Anambra South Chief Ernest Ndukwe — APGA Andy Uba and Chris Uba — PDP?

the Uba brothers would have made history being the first family to have produced three brothers as senators.

The seat had in the past been occupied by the eldest of the Uba brothers, Senator Ugochukwu Uba. In Anambra Central senatorial zone, though Senator Annie Okonkwo’s name is the candidate as published by INEC, another aspirant in the zone, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, is still campaigning vigorously and telling her supporters that she is the candidate of PDP for the zone.

The situation is the same in Anambra North senatorial zone where former minister of aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah is still campaigning, even though Chief John Emeka, another former minister is the INEC recognized candidate.

There are similar situations for the House of Representatives where many of those who stood for the party primaries and lost are still telling the electorate that they are the rightful candidates.

For instance, in Nnewi North/ Nnewi South/Ekwusigo federal constituency, it is still not clear who is the rightful candidate among Mr. Julius Oforma, Chief Chris Azubougu and Dr. Harry Ohanezi. Same for Ihiala federal constituency where Mr. Emeka Anohu and Mrs. Erinne are laying claim to the ticket of the

Continues on page 38

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

ONDO: It

is PDP versus PDP

THE next governorship election in Ondo State is not due until 2016.

However, three Senate seats, nine seats in the House of Representatives and 26 seats in the House of Assembly are on offer in the forthcoming round of elections for voters in Ondo State.

By Dayo Johnson

N

O doubt the division within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Ondo State will affect the fortunes of the party in the forthcoming general elections quite unlike the last presidential election in 2011.

Reason is that the personal ambition of some of the leaders of the party in the southern area of the state is taking its toil on his chances in the election.

Instead of focusing on how to mobilise for their presidential candidate, party chieftains are preoccupied with internal bickering and court cases which have helped to slow down the integration of Labour Party LP into the state PDP. Central to the issue dividing the political chieftains is the positioning of the party leaders for the succession at the end of the second term of the Segun Mimiko administration due in two years time.

Another disadvantage The defection by some PDP leaders led by the younger brother of the late Governor Segun Agagu, Femi Agagu to the All Progressives Congress, APC is said to be another disadvantage for the party in the state. Agagu’s group of the PD had been famously described as PDP-Jagaban obviously on account of their past dalliance with the APC and its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu.

Although Femi who served as chief of staff to his brother for six years is not a grassroots politician like his late brother but he was able to mobilise some former political appointees to defect to the opposition party. But many of those that defected are like Femi not considered as rooted politicians who could alter the political permutations.

One of the defectors, a former speaker of the House of Assembly and presently, a commissioner in the Federal Civil Service Commission, Victor Olabimtan from Akoko South West area of the state is however

•Olajumoke: Seeks peace

•Mimiko: The Iroko a big plus to the APC because of his firm control of his Akoko South West constituency. He has always been trashing the state deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi who hails from the same area while he was in PDP. Barring any hindrance he may win the council for APC presidential candidate.

Coupled with this is the recognition of the candidates list aligned to Mimiko by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Another list of candidates was produced by the faction of the

party aligned to business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim.

He has gone to court to stop the electoral body from recognising the list but the ongoing strike by Judicial officers has halted the proceedings.

But while leaders from the South are fighting the governor having read his body language that he will not support his successor to come from the area, leaders in the other two Senatorial districts - North and Central are all out to ensure victory for President Jonathan.

The South has always been the

PDP stronghold but if the leaders fail to bury their governorship ambitions and work for President Jonathan, APC may spring surprises coupled with the defection of some foot soldiers of a leader and former governorship candidate of the party in the 2012 governorship election Chief Olusola Oke to the APC. The BOT member Dr Bode Olajumoke, the Director General of National Sports Commission Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye and the Chief of Staff to the President Brigadier Jones Arogbofa are formidable forces that will garner

votes for President Jonathan from the Northern areas of the state.

Elegbeleye is believed to have buried his governorship ambition for now to garner support for President Jonathan to win the February election.

In the central, the governor is the commander in chief with his foot soldiers in the state and National Assemblies.

In the National Assembly election, the PDP candidates Dr Olajumoke (North) is set to sack the APC candidate Prof Ajayi Boroffice who many even within Continues on page 39

ANAMBRA: Confusion again!

Continues from page 37 party.

As it is, the APGA candidate for Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh and his counterpart in All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Chris Ngige may have to contend with Okonkwo/Ekwunife for PDP, while Chief Dubem Obaze of APGA will contend with the duo of Emeka/Oduah in Anambra North. In Anambra South, former NCC vice chairman, Chief Ernest Ndukwe of APGA may have to go to the poll against two brothers, Andy Uba and Chris Uba, unless there is a categorical statement banning those who are not in the INEC list from parading themselves as candidates.

During President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign tour of

Anambra State weekend, PDP politicians, including those whose names were not published

The situation is the same in Anambra North senatorial zone where former minister of aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah is still campaigning, even though Chief John Emeka, another former minister is the INEC recognized candidate

as candidates, tried to outdo the other at the Holy Trinity field, Onitsha as they danced around with their supporters and posters in the presence of the party’s national leadership.

According to Umeh, his party would take all the necessary legal measures to stop what he called the deceit by PDP, arguing that the party was resorting to the presentation of double candidates because of the fear that one person cannot win election for it.

But Uche Ekwunife, who was favoured to clinch the PDP ticket before the INEC list was made public, still insists that she is the candidate of the party, adding that PDP submitted her name to INEC after she won the primary elections conducted by the party and observed by INEC.

She however said that no matter whose name was published by INEC, the major emphasis should be to vote for PDP as Anambra State stands to loose a lot at the central politics if the party’s candidates lost the national assembly elections.

According to her, it would be easier for her to attract more projects if voted as PDP senator.

Since the publication of the INEC list, Ekwunife has been canvassing for votes for herself and PDP, just as Senator Annie Okonkwo is doing in the zone.

Among the communities Ekwunife visited last week include Nawfia, Nawgu, Abba and Enugu-Adidi during which she informed her supporters that she would campaign in all the 109 wards in the senatorial district before the election proper.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015—39

Enahoro joins the octogenarian club

By Ben Asante

C

ELEBRATED media icon, Mr. Peter Enahoro turns 80 today with a legacy undiminished and unfaded even as the profession where he made his mark in Nigeria and abroad faces revolutionary changes in its processes.

Remarkably, a group of friends led by Mr. Ben Asante is planning events to mark the landmark. However, they do not want to make much noise about the events planned around the birthday.

Among the activities scheduled are a number of electronic media and print interviews, panel discussions and lectures to take place in a number of universities.

As part of the events, some of •Enahoro: Veteran journalist his celebrated books including a new edition of his autobiography, ‘Then Times several years later.

Spoke the Thunder’ are due to be released Peter Enahoro’s years of journalism has in bookshops across the country. produced years of exciting and interesting Asante in a statement to that effect said: pages of news items and feature write‘’Enahoro who currently lives in London ups.’’ was only 23 years old when he edited the ‘’He has also published in 1966 “How “Sunday Times” and later the “Daily to be a Nigerian” – a satire, “You gotta Times” national newspapers. Enahoro a Cry to Laugh” in 1972, “The Complete prolific Nigerian journalist wrote under Nigerian” in 1992 and in 2009 “Then the moniker Peter Pan when he worked Spoke the Thunder” – an autobiography. for the Sunday and Daily Times. Peter Peter is a simple, skillful and quintessential Enahoro had strong and penetrating persona both in dialogue and in his desire for change and the development writings. He achieved national reverence of his country in the pre and post- with his nerve-cracking writings with his independence days.’’ popular household column – ‘’Peter is a younger the Peter Pan column, from brother to the former which he permanently became Federal commissioner for known and associated with as information and frontline “Peter Pan” – a terse but highly pro-democracy activist, penetrating and effective Chief Anthony Enahoro pseudonym.’’ who famously tabled the ‘’Not many know that Peter Peter Enahoro, is first demand in the motion was also a broadcaster in for an independent an author, Germany but would hopefully Nigeria in 1953.’’ recall that he was the pioneer distinguished ‘’Peter Enahoro, is an chairman of the National author, distinguished journalist and Broadcasting Commission journalist and media (NBC). media administrator of repute.

Respecting his preference, Peter started out his administrator of the birthday will be subdued journalism career in the repute. Peter and limited to colloquium Daily Times at the youthful lecture and interview items. age of about 19 and rose started out his Though, Peter still lives abroad through the ranks to journalism career commuting between Abuja and become the paper’s editor London, his crisp, sharp and before going into self-exile in the Daily Times witty and humour remains. He unwilling to live under at the youthful writes and engages anyone military rule after the 1966 who dares put his knowledge age of about 19 coup. Peter became the of issues to the test." managing director of Daily

ONDO: It is PDP versus PDP Continues from page 38 his party as a non performance while in the South the PDP candidate Yele Omogunwa a former Works Commissioner who is a grassroots mobilise is expected to walk over a relatively new entrant Morayo Lebi paraded by the opposition APC. In the central senatorial zone, the candidate of the APC Chief Tayo

Alasoadura even if he is popular but he has to contend with the combined influence of the governor and the incumbent, Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

Remarkably, while Alasoadura may be banking on the votes from Akure North/ Akure South, but those votes would not compare with what the governor would bring from the two Ondo councils, and Ifedore and Idanre would.

40 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 41

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Ghana joins list of guineaworm-free countries 1986. The following year, Ghana became one of the Carter Center Guinea Worm Eradication Programme's first country partners.

Nearly 180,000 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported during the county's first national case search in 1989.

This ranked Ghana second in the world in cases at the time.

Strong partnerships throughout the campaign helped the nation overcome many challenges and setbacks, including a massive Guinea worm outbreak in Savelugu town in 2007.

By Sola Ogundipe

T

HE move toward a Guinea worm free world became more realisable last week as Ghana was officially certified by the World Health Organisation, WHO, as having eliminated the disease.

Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis), is a water-borne parasitic disease poised to be the second human disease in history to be eradicated.

At end of 2014, a total of 197 countries and territories have been certified by the WHO to be free of Guinea worm disease. Nigeria was officially declared Guinea worm free by the World Health Organisation in July 2013.

International commitments

Congratulatory message In a congratulatory message to Ghana, Former US President Jimmy Carter said: "Ghana's triumph over Guinea worm disease serves as a reminder to the world and the remaining endemic countries that the greatest challenges can be overcome with hard work, political commitment, and the support of the international community," s Carter who is founder of The Carter Centre, which has led the international campaign to eradicate the disease, recalled seeing his first case of Guinea worm disease in Denchira, a village near Accra in March 1988.

The WHO’s International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication,

• Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter comfort ng 6-year-old Ruhama Issah at Savelugu (Ghana) Hospital as a Carter Centre technical assistant dresses Issah's extremely painful Guinea worm wound. In May 2010, Ghana reported its last case of Guinea worm disease and announced it had stopped disease transmission a year later. in consultation with Ghana's Ministry of Health, sent a certification team to Ghana in July 2014 to assess whether transmission of the disease continued or whether it was interrupted for three or more years after the last indigenous case was reported.

On January 14, 2015, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan provided Ghana with the official notification that WHO has certified Ghana as Guinea

worm-free.

For a disease to be eradicated

In May 2010, Ghana reported and contained its last indigenous case, indicating that the disease cycle had been broken after a 22-year (1988-2010) nationwide battle

(worldwide), every country must be certified as free of the disease, even if transmission has never taken place there. To date, 198 countries and territories have been certified. The WHO is responsible for certifying countries as Guinea wormfree, and is the only organization that can officially certify the eradication of a disease.

The Carter Centre began leading the international Guinea worm eradication campaign in

As a result of redoubled program efforts and reaffirmed national and international commitments, cases were reduced the following year by 85 percent— the greatest single-year reduction of any moderately endemic country in the history of the campaign.

In May 2010, Ghana reported and contained its last indigenous case, indicating that the disease cycle had been broken after a 22-year (1988-2010) nationwide battle.

Today, Guinea worm disease remains endemic in pockets of South Sudan, Mali, Chad, and Ethiopia. On Jan. 12, 2015, The Carter Centre announced there were 126 provisional Guinea worm cases reported in 2014.

When the campaign began, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases in 21 countries in Africa and Asia.

Spurs (not the football team) I

HAVE seen a few patients in Lagos these last few weeks whose MRI scans show something called osteophytes. Someone, usually a fellow physician, has requested this investigation. A few times the report has already been discussed in detail with the patient. But the patient is not satisfied. He/she is concerned ......a tumour?

A growth? cancer in the bone? The patient wants more explanation and answers. Osteophytes, otherwise known as "bone spurs" are none of these.

The term "bone spurs" is not really accurate. The word "spurs" implies that these bony growths are spurring or poking some part of the spinal anatomy and causing pain.

They are actually smooth structures that form over time.

Above 60 years of age they are quite common, and normal, findings on radiological studies.

The two commonest causes of bone spurs are osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. Osteoarthritis can cause stiffness and lower back pain that is usually worse in the morning, gets better after moving around, and then gets worse again toward the end of the day.

The most common root cause of cervical and lumbar osteoarthritis is a genetic predisposition. Patients may typically develop symptoms of osteoarthritis in their mid 40s to early 50s. Men are more likely to develop arthritic related symptoms earlier in life, however, postmenopausal women with stiffening spines (accelerated bone spur formation) rapidly approach men in incidence and severity of osteoarthritis.

Patients complain of dull pain in the neck or lower back when standing or walking. Radiating pain into the shoulders (often including headaches) for cervical spurs

Radiating pain into the bottom and thigh for lumbar spurs. The symptoms of bone spurs are made worse with activity and often improve with rest.

Lumbar bone spurs often improve when an individual is bending forward and flexing at the waist, such as leaning over a shopping cart or over a cane.

As the nerves become compressed, patients with bone spurs complain of several neurological symptoms including: Pain, tingling and progressive weakness in one or both arms or legs. In very rare cases, bowel and bladder incontinence may occur.

Diagnosis is usually made through radiographs like Xrays, CT and MRI scans. Electromyographic (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCV) also aid diagnosis when nerve involvement is suspected.

Treatment can be divided into three broad groups -Non surgical Conservative Treatment, Injection therapy and Surgical treatment.

Nearly all bone spur related pain will respond well to conservative therapy with medications (anti inflammatories and muscle relaxants) bed rest, and rehabilitation. Bed rest reduces joint irritation.

Rehabilitation over 1-2 weeks will involve physical therapy, exercise, and chiropractic adjustment. These modalities attempt to restore flexibility and strength to the neck and back, improving posture and possibly decreasing any nerve compression.

Injections

Cortisone epidural steroid injections have potential therapeutic value for some patients with facet joint inflammation by reducing the joint swelling and

doctor@lagospainclinic.com improving spinal pain and radiating extremity pain syndromes. The results are usually only temporary, but repeat injections maybe indicated. Pain relief from an injection may allow the patient to progress with rehabilitation.

In my experience with these patients over the past two decades, results for epidural steroids to bone spurs in the neck may not be as good as for the lower back.

Scientific evidence does however support the use of special heating (radiofrequency) techniques to the facet joints in situations of facet joint arthritis.

A surgical consultation (though rare) is appropriate if these nonsurgical measures to treat bone spurs fail. A referral is appropriate if patients suffer from severe pain or there is clinical evidence of nerve compression and damage. I would recommend surgery only in situations of impending nerve damage, paralysis, incontinence or extreme disability.

A procedure such as a laminectomy, is designed to relieve the pain and neurological symptoms by removing the bone spurs and thickened ligaments causing painful nerve compression.

In my experience, the risks of developing a distinct pain condition called "post laminectomy syndrome" remains high. Patients often return to the pain clinic with more pain and debilitation months after any initial good results.

Bone spurs? Don't panic.

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, JANU ARY 21, 2015—43 VANGUARD, WEDNESDA JANUARY

BySamEyoboka sam.eyoboka@gmail.com

Christians in S-East caution against destructive forces

By Sam Eyoboka

W

ORRIED by the contin u e d insurgency by Islamic fundamentalists in the North Eastern part of country in addition to tension following preparations for February general elections, Southern Nigeria Christian Elders Forum has urged all patriotic Nigerians to unite against forces of destruction, religious intolerance and political stability.

The Forum also pledged to join forces with all patriotic Nigerians to ensure an end to all forms of religious intolerance in all parts of the federation, noting that South Eastern Christian leaders can no longer watch hundreds of their youths being systematically exterminated even they prevail on their counterparts from avenging their mindless killings in the North.

In a 10-point communique signed by 24 religious leaders representing the five eastern states of the federation, the Forum noted with dismay and deep sorrow the plight of Christians in the northern parts of the country, calling on the

Methodists gather to pray for peaceful polls

Federal, state, local and international forces to join hands to rescue Christian brethren in the troubled region.

SOCEF condemned the state of abuse and killing of innocent Nigerians in the region and warned that the situation must be stopped forthwith so that it does not degenerate into something terrible for Nigeria, adding "we are fast becoming weary of burying our children

while holding back our restless youths who are crying for vengeance and retaliation. " The Forum vowed to support fellow Christians in the region until the forces of religious intolerance are defeated, while joining other well meaning Nigerians to caution politicians, in their desperation for electoral gains, make reckless and provocative utterances capable of over-heating the polity.

While urging all Christians to collect their permanent voters cards and endeavour to exercise their civic duties by voting their choice of leaders in the forthcoming elections, the Forum urged governors in the South East geo-political zone to revitalise the Southern Nigerian Governor's Forum for the sake of political co-opetation and development.

(L-R) Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye, wife of the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God; Bishop Felix 'Remi Adejumo, Senior Pastor, Agape Christian Ministries; Rev (Mrs) Funke Felix-Adejumo, convener, Women on the Winning Edge (WOWE) Conference held at the TBS, Lagos, at the weekend.

By Sam Eyoboka

F

EW days before the crucial 2015 General Elections, members of Methodist Church Nigeria from across the country will gather in Sagamu, Ogun State from today to pray for a peaceful and rancour-free elections and other areas of our national life.

This is contained in a release made available by the church’s Media and Public Relations Officer, Rev. Oladapo Daramola who said the special prayer sessions form part of programmes lined up for the church’s 2015 convention which will be led by the Prelate, His Eminence Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, archbishops and bishops and others like Pastor Gbile Akanni.

Speaking more on this, bishop for Evangelism and Discipleship, Rt. Rev. Edoka Amuta explained that, “the decision of the church to put the 2015 General Elections on the front burner at the convention is informed by the conviction that since God has always intervened divinely in the affairs of men, the state of our nation vis-à-vis the coming election will not be different.

"We are further impelled to take the elections seriously considering some worrying signs as evident in the increase of violence, arson and brigandage in some parts of the country."

Adeboye tasks Nigerians on thanksgiving

G

ENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye has urged Nigerians to appreciate God at all times for His doings in the nation. He gave the charge at the church's first Sunday thanks-giving service held at the national headquarters of the church in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. In a sermon titled; “The Power of Thanksgiving”, Pastor Adeyobe noted that it is only through the grace and mercy of God that one is still among the living, adding that when man knows how to appreciate and thank God in the days of trouble, deliverance from such challenges is sure.

He therefore urged the congregation that irrespective of the challenges of life they are passing through, they should imbibe the culture of thanksgiving by appreciating God that they are still among the living and do such thanksgiving willingly without being forced.

In his words: “When you know how to thank God in the day of trouble then deliverance is sure.

Those who were held in captivity were released through the power of praise. When you learn to thank God, you provoke several things from God and He pays you a visit”.

Praying for matrimonial homes that are currently facing one problem or the other, the cleric prayed that such homes will experience healing and divine wholeness.

He explained that there is no storm or challenge that will remain forever, assuring them that through thanksgiving, a new era of deliverance and breakthrough will emerge.

Avwomakpa counsels Ijaw over Jonathan

S

Rev. (Mrs) Funke Felix-Adejumo, Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye, Her Excellency, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, wife of the Kwara Sate governor; Her Excellency, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Lagos Sate governor at the Women on the Winning Edge (WOWE) conference held at the TBS, Lagos.

2015: Cleric urges more prayers

A

By Caleb Ayansina

BUJA – SENIOR Pastor, Trinity Living Church, Pastor Emmanuel Adefowora has called on all Nigerians irrespective of religious background, to pray for the forthcoming general elections.

Adefowora in a chat with Vanguard in Abuja said the election will be tough, so people need to pray. The man of God said there had been revelations on what will happen to the country in the past which were not shared or made public.

“The Lord had said that all Nigerians, whether

Muslims or Christians, youth or elder, INEC officers, security officers, media houses, politicians, religious leaders, etc should to be prayerful and continually ask for mercy, because this year general elections will be very tough," he maintained.

“God said Nigerians should pray and fast on February 1, to avert evils and tragedies that may occur as a result of the elections,” Adefowora stated. The cleric called on Nigerians “to obey the great commandment of love by loving God wholeheartedly and love their neighbours as themselves, while walking in peace and harmony to build the nation.

OUTH South chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop God-Do-Well Avwomakpa has called on Ijaw people to use the opportunity of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as president of Nigeria to build bridges of friendship with other ethnic groups in the country.

Avwomakpa who made this known during the 6th annual thanksgiving/prayer programme of Ogodobri and Ezebri communities in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, also used the occasion to canvas support for President Jonathan's re-election.

The cleric said, “the Ijaw people should not toy with the opportunity for one of them to be at the helm of affairs of Nigeria because before the emergence of Dr. Jonathan as president of Nigeria, no one thought that an Ijaw man will ever be given an opportunity to rule Nigeria”.

44 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

I w as a ffool ool tto o think he’d change was Dear Bunmi, OR 18 years, I put up with my nasty abusive husband.

Although he wasn’t physically violent, he’d call me terrible names and accused me of sleeping around. Two years ago, I reached a breaking point, so I left to stay with a cousin. My husband was distraught, promising to get help and telling me how much I meant to him. I thought he was a changed man, so I stupidly went back to him.

Now the verbal abusive is worse than ever. I want to leave, but I don’t think I’d cope on my own financially or emotionally.

Derin, By e-mail

F

Am I falling out of love with him?

Dear Bunmi,

I

’VE been living with my boyfriend for over six years. I am 27 and he’s almost 30. We’ve had good times and plenty of bad times, I’m currently very concerned about the way I’m feeling at the moment. I’ve gone off sex completely and I can’t understand why.

Until now I’ve always been highly sexy and we’ve had a healthy sex life.

But things have now reached the point where I feel that I don’t have to sleep with him, whether I want to or not.

It’s not just sex that is the problem.

I don’t like him being anywhere near me and I dread him wanting to be affectionate with me. Sometimes, his merely touching me makes me cringe. I

still have feelings for this man, so why am I feeling so resentful?

I am scared that he’ll go elsewhere if he doesn’t get what he wants from me.

He’s assured me he won’t, but we’ve both had affairs in the past. I know he’s impatient with me. He gets angry, slams doors and shouts. How can I get things back to the way they once were?

Maggie, By e-mail Dear Maggie, suspect that after six years of living with this man without prospect of marriage or children, you’re beginning to panic that these things might never be.

After six years of emotional investment in a relationship, the body that was once so eager for this man’s love

I

is now cautious and asking.

Aren’t I wasting my time?

Your man is equally frustrated because with frequent love-making, the more likely his chances of being a father.

He could be one of the men who favour pregnancy before marriage.

Have you both sat down to agree to what you want in this relationship?

With the ‘plenty of bad times’ you claimed you’ve had and with both of you sleeping around, it’s a wonder you’re still together. In other words, you still both care so much to want the relationship to work, and it would be a shame to allow your loving bond to die.

When you agree to get married and start a family, you’ll restore naturalness and life to this long relationship.

I’m not ready to commit to him Dear Bunmi,

M

Y current boyfriend wants me to get involved with his two little children but I don’t feel ready to settle down.

I’m a 22 year-old undergraduate and have only

known him for six months.

He’s 33 and I love him.

He told me just recently that he has two children aged six and three and I was shocked. He said he hadn’t told me before because I’d said when we first met that I’d never get involved with

I resent being the breadwinner Dear Bunmi,

M

Y husband and I have a two year-old daughter but he is a rotten husband and father.

He lost his job a year ago but couldn’t be bothered to find another one.

He sleeps late whilst I go to work and won’t allow me to see my friends.

He often accuses me of cheating on him and calls my friends whores! Most of the time, he sits in front of the TV drinking.

I used to be in love with him but I’m not thinking seriously of leaving him.

But he thinks that we should have a second child but the idea doesn’t thrill me as he’s not much of a father to the child we currently have.

Joke By e-mail

Dear Joke, lease think twice be fore getting pregnant, then follow your instinct and leave. From everything you say, your husband is not suited to fatherhood. He might want another baby but he obviously doesn’t want the responsibility that goes with it. He obviously is not a good role model to any child. If you get pregnant, there will only be trouble ahead.

Ask your friends and family for support so you can make the break – then you can set up life on your own with your daughter and give her the upbringing she deserves.

In the meantime, make sure you don’t get pregnant and don’t trust your partner to take care of contraception.

Gone are the days when you stay in abusive relationships to please society.

P

a man with children.

His children live with his ex and her new boyfriend.

She won’t let my boyfriend see the children and he’ s decided he’s going to court over it.

He wants me to go with him to support him but I don’t want to get involved. I know my parents would disapprove and wouldn’t want me to be with a man who already has children.

I want to concentrate on my studies and I don’t feel ready to settle down.

Tinuade By e-mail Dear Tinuade, our boyfriend comes as a package with his two children and he is absolutely right to want regular contact with his children. It isn’t his fault he has to go to court to get access.

It is however unfair of him to spring children on you at a later date in your relationship instead of being upfront with you at the beginning.

Being in a step-parent role isn’t easy, especially when you’re not at that stage in your life when you would want children.

You have to be honest with him your studies come first. Would he want to stick around for you to finish your studies?

Only time will tell.

Y

Dear Derin, hen you left the first time, you must have thought of a sur vival plan and you need to look at this plan again. Your man is a monster and people like him seldom change. Before he whittles down your self-esteem until you become a nervous wreck, make the break as soon as you can. You’ll be surprised at the number of people who would support you.

You must have skills of your own, so plan on having a source of income. It’s not going to be easy but in time you’d get the hang of it and begin to remember the person you had once been. Once you make this second break, don’t ever look back.

W

Mistress refuses abor tion abortion Dear Bunmi, ’M currently married to my childhood sweetheart. In the three years we’ve been married, she’s had a couple of miscarriages and is currently undergoing treatment. In the meantime, this girlfriend I met at the beginning of the year is now pregnant. I was shocked. I told her to have an early abortion but she was furious, insisting she was going ahead with the pregnancy and that I should be man enough to face my responsibilities.

When my wife found out, she went ballistic and called me a heartless pig. My mum has refused to take anyone’s side and life looks a complete mess. I feel as if I’ve ruined everything for everyone. I just can’t see a way out.

Alfred, By e-mail

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Dear Alfred, ou’re in a mess alright, but the only way through this is to face up to your responsibilities as your mistress suggested. You can’t force her to have an abortion, so you will have to support your child, and I hope, be an actively involved dad. Once your wife has calmed down, she may realise none of this is the baby’s fault, but it is going to take a lot of hard work if she is ever to forgive and trust you again.

It is sad that despite the campaign against unprotected sex, a lot of men freely indulge in it leaving strings of unwanted pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Y

In love with an old friend Dear Bunmi, ’ve been mandated by a group of friends to organise a congratulatory party for one of us. The party is to take place at a small events’ centre and a close friend I’ve known since school is to help. My fear now is that I might not be able to keep my hands off him. We are in our late 20s I’ve secretly liked him for ages and would love to tell him how I feel. Unfortunately, he has a girlfriend.

We’ve been friends for years but it’s only recently that I have come to realise that I am in fact in love with him. We get on so well and I know he is perfect for me. My fear now is that I might not be able to stop myself from making a play for him, after all, girls make the first move these days. That would likely get me into trouble with his girlfriend – who will also be there.

Carolyn By e-mail

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Dear Carolyn t is natural to feel tempted but I wouldn’t go there if I were you! He is committed to another woman who is well known to you, so he’s not free to start anything with you. I would stay well clear of him at the party if I were you, and find a free agent to flirt with.

You’re clearly obsessed with this man. He hasn’t encouraged you in any way and you need to hang on to your self respect by leaving him alone and moving on.

I

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

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015—45

FEB POLLS: Anenih and I united to liberate Edo —IKIMI

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—FORMER External Affairs Minister under the regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha, has emphasized the unity between him and Chief Tony Anenih in the political struggle to liberate Esanland and the entire Edo State from the clutches of All Progressives Congress, APC. He spoke at a rally by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Igueben, his home town.

Meanwhile, the daughter of late Professor Ambrose Alli, first civilian governor of the defunct Bendel State, Ms Rosemary Alli, who was also at the rally, called on Esan people not to vote for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the APC Presidential candidate, alleging that he was responsible for the death of her father shortly after he was released from prison.

She said: “Buhari killed my father; he put my father in prison for over one year for no just cause and he died from the humiliation and torture he was made to go through. As far as we, Alli's political children, are concerned, Buhari will never become the President of Nigeria. I appeal to Esan and Edo people to cast their votes for Goodluck Jonathan.”

Chief Ikimi said: “All Esan

people gathered here this day must make a declaration that we the people of Esanland are united. We must take our destiny in our hands, that we the people of Esanland will ensure that a Southerner from a minority South-South region, Goodluck Jonathan, a man who

is humble and has done what others have not done since 1999, must be allowed to complete his second term.

“Chief Anenih and I are now united on the basis of our struggle for Esan people. But we will do ours and find a new generation of Esan people to whom we can hand over the baton. Six weeks ago, I decided

on my own to withdraw my membership of the APC. “I was a foundation member of APC. The party was founded in my house in Abuja and you all know why I left the party. All I said then is playing out today.

I will not be part of a group which for extreme reasons wants to seize power and throw the country into confusion."

RALLY: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State addressing the Paramount Ruler of Obot Akara, HRM Okuku Uwah Umoh Adiaka, at his palace during the PDP Campaign Rally in Obot Akara Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

Wike tackles Amaechi on cancellation of Trans-Kalabari link road

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IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Mr Nyesom Wike, has berated the state gogernor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, for allegedly canceling the trans-Kalabari link road.

Speaking at a PDP governorship campaign rally in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Wike said that Amaechi’s termination of the road project had negatively impacted on the economy of Kalabariland.

He said: “The Trans-Kalabari link road started by exGovernor Peter Odili was cancelled by the outgoing Amaechi administration. That singular act negatively affected the Kalabari economy.

“When we take over governance on May 29, the construction of the transKalabari link road will be given priority. I will dutifully revive the Kalabari economy, using this road as a stepping stone.”

He noted that he will invest in the sand-filling of the area and the reclamation of land in Asari Toru council, adding that he will execute the shore-line

protection project for AsariToru council and rebuild the dilapidated General Hospital, Buguma.

He said that the people of Kalabari will benefit from his administration as his running mate, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, will play a vital role in the growth

of the state.

Former Rivers PDP governorship aspirant, Chief Ibinabo Michael-West, declared that Wike's emergence will lead to a PDP victory in the state.

A Kalabari PDP leader, Ambassador Sogboma

Jackriss, alias Egberipapa, said that his group had agreed to work with Wike for the total victory of PDP. Another Kalabari leader, Chief George Kelly assured that Asari Toru people were united behind Wike and PDP for victory at all levels.

Okowa/Otuaro ticket, best for Deltans —DTHA CANDIDATE Describing Okowa as a for.

By Daniel Gumm

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ARRI —GOVERNORSHIP candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his running mate, Mr. Kinsley Otuaro, have been described as the best to lead the state, when elected into office.

Addressing supporters at Bomadi, the immediate past Chairman of PDP in Bomadi Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Labo, said that given the discordant voices along ethnic leanings, the Okowa/ Otuaro ticket, when elected, will harmonise all groups and called on the people of the council to come out and massively vote for the PDP in all the elections.

detribalised Deltan, the PDP House of Assembly flag-bearer said that the governorship hopeful represents the symbol of unity Deltans were yearning

“Given the experience of the candidate and his deputy, they are match for the job. Their support is a support for greater Delta,” Labo said.

We've not endorsed any candidate for gov, Senate, say Delta South leaders

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—THE Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri Leaders Forum, in Delta South senatorial district, Delta State, has said that it had not selected any candidate for next month’s governorship and senatorial elections in the state.

Chairman of the group, Mr Edward Ekpoko, in a statement, said: “It has come to the

knowledge of the Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri Leaders of Thought in Delta South senatorial district that some politicians and aspirants are going about claiming to have been endorsed by our body in the forthcoming governorship and senatorial elections.

“The Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri Leaders Forum has not adopted any candidate for either governorship or Delta South senatorial seat," he said.

FEB POLL: Why I left PDP for SDP —ABIGOR

By Dapo Akinrefon

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ANDIDATE of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, contesting the Delta State House of Assembly for Warri South constituency 1, Mr Godwin Abigor, has said that he left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following the party’s decision to hand over the ticket to the Chief Whip of the Assembly, Mrs Omawumi Udoh.

Abigor won the PDP primary election and was duly given a Certificate of Return, but his name was substituted in Abuja.

Abigor lamented that the national leadership of the party failed to wade into the crisis.

“I decided to leave the PDP when it became clear that the party had chosen not to take the part of democracy with the process of picking its candidate.

They violated the same principle and standard set by the party. The party has electoral guidelines and constitution that provide that any aspirant that gets one simple majority, in the party primaries, should be the rightful candidate of the party," he said.

PVC, voters’ power for change, says Delta SDP candidate

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ESS than four weeks to the general elections, the Delta State House of Assembly candidate representing Ughelli North Constituency 11, on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Mr Rufus Akpodiete, has called on his supporters to collect their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, saying that it was their power to make the changes they are clamouring for.

Akpodiete, in Ughelli, yesterday, during his official campaign flagoff at Johnson Numa Plaza, Ughelli, Delta State, said he wants to go back to the House because he believes he has the experience to bring more development to his constituency.

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Politicians mourn Olejeme's late father

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EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and former Chairman of Okpe and Udu Local Government areas of Delta State, Mr. Deacon Eddie Ono-Sorhue; and another PDP stalwart, Engr. Bestman Odibo, have commiserated with Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, over the death of her father, Pa Philip Diunor.

In a statement in Warri, the PDP chieftains noted that late Diunor was a father figure to all those who came around him and that he would be missed greatly.

They prayed God to grant her the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

... as Delta APC chieftains assures of victory

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Delta State All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Chief Isaac Emetitiri, has charged Deltans to be focused and be committed to the message of change, stressing that APC is the official party of Urhobo by virtue of the Uvwiamuge Declaration.

Addressing newsmen in Warri on the coming elections, Chief Emetitiri called on Deltans to stand

by Olorogun Otega Emerhor, the gubernatorial candidate of APC in the state, stressing that APC will not step down for Labour Party, LP, as widely being speculated.

He added that many had been misled in the past and that the people must get it right this time.

Aviation Minister for UNN lecture

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HE Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, is expected to deliver the lecture at the 44th convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Enugu State, holding tomorrow.

The lecture is entitled Rebuilding the Nigeria Dream: Mapping the Building Blocks.

SYMPOSIUM: From left— Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe and Mrs Bukola Ladoja, at a symposium for Ladoja’s 70th birthday by the Reading Awareness Society for Development in Africa, RASDA.

NUPENG tasks marketers on new pump price

By Kelechi Azubuike

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IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has urged oil marketers to comply with the new pump price of petrol of N87 per litre.

NUPENG, in a statement by its President, Mr. Igwe Achese, noted that it noticed that most of the filling

stations were still dispensing fuel at the old rate of N97 per litre or not selling fuel at all.

It said: “It amounts to total disservice for the oil marketers to continue to sell fuel at the old rate, thus exploiting the consumers.”

NUPENG, however, commended the Federal Government for bringing down the price of petroleum

products in line with the falling prices of crude oil in the international market.

It called on the Federal Government to put other measures in place to cushion the inflationary effects of the fall in crude oil price.

The union enjoined government to speed up the Turn-Around-Maintenance, TAM, of the nation’s four refineries, instead of the dependence on massive importation of petroleum

products that was depleting the scare foreign exchange.

NUPENG also called on the Federal Government to establish more refineries and encourage private developers to do same.

Senator Udo Udoma loses mum

NARTO issues PEF 10-day ultimatum over dues, Aquila, others

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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IGERIA Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, PEF, to settle all pending issues, including payments to members, or face unpleasant consequences.

NARTO, in a petition by its President, Dr. Kassim Bataiya, to the Executive Secretary, PEF, dated January 15, said the issues had dragged for so long and that members’ patient had elapsed.

In the eight-point petition entitled Unresolved Issues Relating to Aquila and Payments, NARTO recalled its December 12, 2014 letter to PEF in which it complained about the problems generated by the implementation of the project Aquila and other related issues.

According to the petition, “our members had complained that the implementation of Project AQUILA has been problematic. The response to

application or Aquila has been very slow taking up to the three months in some cases, whereas bank loans amortization does not wait.

“The locations for fixing Aquila are few and far apart leading to trucks having to travel for over 500 kilometres to fix Aquila.

“There also undue delay in freight payment leading to cash-flow problem to our members, non-payment for several months to some of our members on the excuse that

Aquila does not capture already delivered products, for example, in Calabar and Port Harcourt Axis.

“There is the problematic transition from old to new aquila procedure, inconsistency in the Aquila itself, leading to three sets of Aquila within three years.

“Our members bear the brunt as to the cost and your refusal to pay for products delivered by broken down trucks is unfair and punitive to our members.”

Abia South monarchs endorse PDP candidates

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—ABIA South Traditional Rulers Council has endorsed the state’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Dr. Okezia Ikpeazu, saying he is the choice candidate of the zone for the February 28 governorship election.

Rising from its meeting at Aba, the council also endorsed

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, also of PDP as the zone’s candidate for the senatorial seat.

The Chairman of Abia Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Eberechi Dick told the council that the zone could not afford not to support PDP since it was the only major party committed to ceding the governorship seat of Abia State to Abia South.

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ADY Grace Udo Udoma, matriarch of the Udo Udoma family of Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, has passed on, aged 87.

A statement by the family said Lady Udoma, wife of late Justice Udo Udoma, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and former Chief Justice of Uganda, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 17.

Lady Udoma is survived by six children and several grand children, including Mr. Ayanti Udo Udoma, Mr. Inam Udo Udoma and Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.

She will be laid to rest in Ikot Abasi on Friday, February 6.

A commendation service will be held for her at the Trinity Methodist Church, Tinubu, Lagos, on Monday, February 2.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015— 47

We've 981,416 internally displaced persons zSays Boko Haram's end in sight in Nigerria —FG A

By Caleb Ayansina

BUJA—THE Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi has said that there were currently 981,416 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the country.

“There are currently 981, 416 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the country,” he said.

Sani spoke in Abuja, saying that some groups were circulating false figures of the IDPs for their own selfish reasons.

The NEMA boss said the figures were based on quantitative and qualitative data collected by NEMA in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, the State Emergency Management Agencies, the Nigeria Red Cross Society and traditional rulers.

He said that out of the figure, 107,997 were living in IDPs established camps, while 804,732 live with the host communities and relations.

About 66,087 of the IDPs were reportedly displaced by natural disasters while 915,329 were affected by the insurgency in the North East, just as there were 20 IDPs camps across northern part of the country.

“NEMA together with UN agencies is currently providing

medical equipment to health facilities treating victims of the insurgency attacks in all three states of emergency.

“NEMA has deployed ambulances at strategic locations to support and evacuate victims to hospitals and to provide first aid were necessary,” he said.

On the situation in Baga town, Sidi said; “NEMA is providing comprehensive humanitarian support to

3,200 IDPs from Baga at its secure facility in Madiguri; the Teacher’s Village Camp.”

While speaking, the Coordinator of NIC, Mr Mike Omeri said the recent success recorded by the security operatives in Biu, Borno State was evidence that end to insurgency was in sight.

He said; “This operation is another example in a string of recent successes against

Boko Haram. Security forces will continue to make remarkable progress against these terrorists.

“The recent rise in suicide bombings is clear evidence that Boko Haram is running out of options. The government is fully committed to ensuring all militants are rooted out from their hiding places and a safe and secure country for all Nigerians is restored."

BUSINESS: From left: Economic Officer, Embassy of the United States of America, Mr. Joel Kopp, Commercial Specialist, United States Embassy, Mr Ibrahim Ibrahim, and Chairman, Nigerian-American Chambers of Commerce, Kaduna State chapter, Mr Sherrif Balogun, at the Business Networking with the US Economic and Commercial Department, in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

....As Bauchi receives 500 displaced persons

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By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—GOVERNOR Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State Sunday received 500 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, from Plateau, Kaduna, Adamawa and Yobe States, promising to employ educated ones among them.

Receiving the IDPs at the Government House, in Bauchi, Yuguda said that their number in the state, had risen to over two million.

He said that with the security challenges facing the country, particularly the North East, the state had become a safe haven for IDPs because of the relative peace in the area.

The governor said that his administration, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, had put measures in place to accommodate any IDP, who wished to resettle in the state,

adding that he would not only provide land but ‘’support them with little capital to start something meaningful.’’

He also promised to employ those with National Certificate of Education, NCE, who wished

Labour tasks INEC on voters' cards' distribution Victor Ahiuma-Young

K

ADUNA—ORGANISED Labour has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to quickly resolve the issue of Permanent Voters’ Card PVC and other issues capable of

undermining the electoral process across the country ahead of next month’s general election..

Speaking in Kaduna, a Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and General Secretary, National Union of

Forum of NGOs endorses Okowa, Otuaro

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SABA—THE Forum of Delta State NGOs has endorsed Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his running mate, Kingsley Otuaro as the best team for the 2015 governorship election and call on Deltans to vote them for the sustainable development of the state.

According to Mr Okezi Odugala, coordinator of the forum, the endorsement of Senator Okowa was based on an in-depth study of the candidates of other parties which clearly showed

to settle permanently in the state and teach.

Earlier, Mohammed Hari, who led the IDPs, told the governor that they had settled in Too Local Government Area of the state.

Okowa and Otuaro as men of impeccable characters and God fearing.

He said: “The forum of Delta State NGOs said the time has come for civil society to take its rightful place in advocating for a better Delta State and therefore advice Okowa to on assumption of office, to select only men of probity to deliver good governance to Deltans.

“The era of mediocrity and selfish patronage of political never-do-well should not be

tolerated and that only reputable and tested contractors should be the ones to be engaged in the state."

The forum also tasked Sen. Okowa on his promise to sustain the Delta Beyond Oil programme with priority attention given to agriculture, industrialization, health insurance among others.

Theyalsoenjoinedhimtogive special attention to environmental sustainabilityandtourismdevelopment which has the potential of turning the fortunes of Delta State round.

Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Mr. Issa Aremu, insisted that all that the nation needed were the credibility of the electoral register, independence of INEC, the democratic behaviour of all the contestants.

At a briefing, he contended that there should be contest of ideas and policies not battle and conquest of contestants, saying, “I am personally proud to witness this historic democratic process. Having witnessed military dictatorships with its restrictions on liberty and freedom and violation of trade unions and workers rights, it is exciting to be part of the ongoing democratic transitions at Federal, states and legislative levels."

Shettima tasks APC members on grassroots' politics

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By Suzan Edeh

A U C H I — GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima of Borno State has urged APC stakeholders to go to the grass-roots for the mobilisation of members.

Shettima spoke at the inaugural meeting of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, APC-PCC, for the North East zone in Bauchi.

Addressing the meeting, the governor, who is the PCC Coordinator in the area said: “All APC stalwarts and chieftains must reunite and be extra vigilant so as not to be divided.

“We should all go back to the grass-roots in our region and mobilise our people.”

He, however, assured the meeting that as governors, they would do all they could to ensure victory for the party.

He further said that the zone was short changed in the 2014 Federal Government’s budget, as it was allocated N236 billion, while the SouthSouth zone was given N661 billion.

APC on failed mission —Suswam

M

By Peter Duru

AKURDI—AS anxiety mounts across the country ahead of February’s general elections, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, has declared that “the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, is on a failed mission.’’

Suswam said: “As far as I know, especially with our records of achievements which is there for everyone to see, the PDP would record a resounding victory at the coming elections.”

He spoke weekend, while welcoming defecting members of the APC from across the state to the PDP, at the party’s zonal campaign rally in Makurdi, adding, “there is much desperation among APC members and it’s an early sign of despair and failure which is watering the grounds for the eventual victory of the PDP in Benue State and the country at large.

“Today, we are witnessing consistent defections from the APC to the PDP in Benue State because of the imposition of a former PDP Minister, Dr. Samuel Ortom, on the APC as its governorship candidate."

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

CONFERENCE: From left, Bishop Felix 'Remi Adejumo, Senior Pastor, Agape Christian Ministry; Rev. Funke Felix-Adejumo, Convener, Women on the Winning Edge, WOWE, Conference; Pastor Folu Adeboye, wife of the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, and Her Excellency, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, wife of the Kwara Sate Governor, at WOWE, Conference, at the Tafawa Balewa Square,TBS, Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Nigerian Automobile Technician Association, NATA, Jacob Fayeun; Senator representing Lagos West, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, and Chairman, Lagos State Vulcaniser Association, Rasheed Adeyemi, during presentation of mechanical tools and vulcanising machines to the artisans by Senator Ganiyu Solomon in Lagos.

INSPECTION: From left, Engr. Yung Li, CCECC Contractors; Alhaji Adamu Muazu, National Chairman, PDP; President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President, and Chief Osita Chidoka, Minister of Aviation,explaining some key details to the President, during the inspection of the new Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

PRESENTATION: From left, Director, Consumer Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa; winner of the Etisalat Smart Ambassador Reward Star Prize, Miss Miracle; Deputy General Manager, Tecno Mobile limited, Mr. Chidi Okonkwo, and Manager of the Operator Department of TECNO Mobile Nigeria, Mr. Joe He, during the presentation of TECNO sales team with a brand new car, online shopping vouchers and other gifts in appreciation of their contribution to the success of the 2014 Etisalat One Million 3G Upgrade Campaign, in Lagos.

INSPECTION: From left, Engr. Austin Ogbuanya, Assitant Director, Carriage &Wagon, Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC; Engr. Adeseyi Sijuade, Managing Director, NRC, and Akinwoye Abdulrauf, at the inspection of five 68-seater air conditioned passenger coaches, acquired by the Coproration, in Lagos.

RALLY: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (right), raising the hands of the Edo Central senatorial candidate of the APC, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, at a rally in Edo State.

SIGNING: From left, Mr. Adeola Adesanya, Associate Director, PML Advisory Ltd; Mr. Abdul- Wahhab Ibrahim, Executive Director PML Advisory Ltd; Mr. Manesh Karani, Director, Etrend Technologies Ltd India, and Mr. Abiola Fajimi, CEO PML Advisory Ltd, during the signing of PML Advisory's partnership agreement with Etrend, India, in Lagos.

COLLOQUIUM: From left, Mrs. Ayo Jaiyesimi, Group Head, Human Capital Management and Development, First Bank Nigeria; Mr. Paul Uduk, Managing Director, Vision and Talent International, and Irunna Ejibe, Head, Learning and Development, Fidelity Bank Plc, during the 2015 Vision and Talents Training Colloquium, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 49

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50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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52—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

INEC clears 1m IDPs for voting

By Jude Opara & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—AHEAD of the forthcoming general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it had cleared about one million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, from the three North-East states of Adamawa, Bornu and Yobe to vote.

This was even as Governor James Ngilari of Adamawa State had said it would be impossible to conduct elections in his state before April this year and asked INEC to suspend further preparations for the polls.

INEC Chairman, Professor

Attahiru Jega, who spoke in Abuja at a stakeholders meeting with the theme Presentation on IDPs and 2015 General Elections yesterday, said the action was taken to afford as many people as possible the opportunity to exercise their franchise and also to avoid a possible constitutional crisis which may arise if the people of the troubled states do not vote in the elections.

He said: “We have gone too far in the preparation and it will be difficult to reverse to the use of Temporary Voters Card, TVCs. I have read about the resolution of the House of

Representatives even though we have not been officially communicated.

“But I want to urge every eligible voter to go and pick up his or her Permanent Voters Card, PVC because without it there will be no voting.

“Even if the machine gives any problem, which I know will be minimal, such would be replaced immediately and in the event it last for a long time, the election in such polling unit will be postponed till the next day.”

Jega also used the occasion to reiterate the position of INEC that only voters with the PVC will be eligible to vote.

According to him, the process had gone too far to reverse to the idea of using TVC. The Power Point presentation, which was carried out by National Commissioner and Chairperson in charge of INEC Task Force on IDPs, Mrs. Thelma Iremire, showed that Bornu State had the highest number of designated places for IDPs, followed by Adamawa State, while Yobe State had the least, with 198 centres.

However, Iremire explained that before the end of January, INEC would have identified the actual polling centres to be used by the IDPs. In his contribution on the

state of security in his state, Governor Kashim Shettima of Bornu State said there were still tension in the state, adding that Boko Haram insurgents had the tendency of attacking people who may want to exercise their franchise.

Shettima stated that a village in Mungono was fined N4 million by members of Boko Haram for going to the local government to collect their PVCs, a development he stressed should give an inkling of what could happen at the polling units.

Other dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Abubakar Aliyu, members of the National Assembly and the diplomatic corps.

Jonathan's administration handed Nigeria to Boko Haram — BSO

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—BUHARI S u p p o r t Organization, BSO, has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan's administration handed over Nigeria to the Boko Haram sect.

BSO’s allegation followed the assertion by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Publicity Secretary, Chief Oliseh Metu, that the President was instrumental to why Boko Haram had not over run the country.

The Head, Media and Publicity Unit, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, in a statement, said the initial kid gloves treatment given to the eruption of insurgency in the northeast by the Federal Government gave the insurgents the impetus to accelerate their cause.

He said: “Contrary to what Olisa Metuh wants Nigerians to believe that Mr. President prevented Boko Haram from overrunning Nigeria, available evidence points otherwise.

“It is the Jonathan administration that handed over Nigeria to Boko Haram when he admitted publicly his strategy of dealing with Boko Haram at its infancy was one of kids glove.

“This miss-judgment of strategy made him lose valuable time to tackle the insurgency most appropriately.”

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 53

54—Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Fuel price cut: FG to reimburse marketers for old stock

Microsoft gives out 12 cars to promo winners

By Michael Eboh

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ICROSOFT Mobile Devices and Service has rewarded twelve winners of its Lumia Christmas promo with brand new cars.

The promo, which kicked off last year November ran up till December 31st as winners were selected randomly from four different draws, in which three winners each emerged.

The winners are from different parts of the country.

Speaking during the ceremony, the company's General Manager, Joseph Umunakwe, said, “Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services is a productivity and platform company that believes in the power of technology to enhance lives. Lumia is a brand that connects people and empowers them to do more, hence, the promo where we decided to give back to our loyal consumers by handing them brand new cars.”

While thanking the Nigerian Lottery Commission for their unrelenting support all through the period of the campaign, he said that Nigerians should look out for more from the company as they are completely devoted to empowering people.

Also speaking at the event, Senior Marketing Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, Olumide Balogun, said “Microsoft is a brand that delivers on whatever promise has been made to their consumers. Lumia will continue to empower people to do more and to lead more productive lives, either at work or at play”

COMMISSIONING: From left; Dr. Olayinka David-West, Lagos Business School; Mr Oluseyi Akindeinde, CTO, Digital Encode Ltd; Dr Chris Uwaje, Special guest of the occasion and Mr Obadare Peter Adewale, Chief Operating Officer, during the official commissioning of Digital Encode, the 1st privately-owned cyber security operations centre in Igbosere, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Blame game in Nollywood over Muna Obiekwe's death

By Benjamin Njoku

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ONTRARY to reports that Nollywood practitioners abandoned Muna Obiekwe, who died of a kidneyrelated disease last Sunday, National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, Mrs Ibinabo Fiberesima-Egbuka has explained that the industry did not abandon the actor.

A popular Yoruba actress-cum filmmaker, Dayo Amusa, on Monday had accused her colleagues in the Nigerian movie industry of neglecting Muna’s deteriorating state of health prior to his demise.

The actress took to her Instagram page to register her displeasure. “Muna might have wanted or lived a private life but people knew he was sick. People knew his health condition and yet what did they do? Some tried but if they had cried out to the world, Muna might have gotten help,” she wrote.

But reacting to the allegation yesterday when she was contacted, Ibinabo blamed the deceased for not opening up on time to his colleagues concerning his state of health.

Ibinabo said, the guild had

Nigerian officers face court martial over Boko Haram

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IGERIA has ordered a brigadier general and 21 other army officers to face a court martial over alleged sabotage in the war against Islamist militant group Boko Haram, two military sources said on Tuesday.

The charges were not specified.

Some officers have long been suspected of colluding with Boko Haram, with President Goodluck Jonathan saying in

May that the Sunni jihadist group had “infiltrated ... the armed forces and police”.

This is the first time senior army officers have been put on trial for offences relating to the fight against Boko Haram.

The militant group killed an estimated 10,000 people last year in its battle to revive a medieval caliphate in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and its biggest energy producer.

...Nobody abandoned him—AGN President gone out of its way in the past to assist ailing actors such as Ifeanyi Dike, Chike Byran and Prince James Uche, among others.

According to the AGN president who said she is in touch with the actor’s family, “Muna didn’t want anyone to know about his failing health from what I gathered. But we can’t help anybody if we don’t know you have a problem. We run a Guild. ''You must revalidate your membership and be on our health plan in addition to paying your dues. We have asked and even begged our members to identify with our health plan.

They only remember, they belong to a Guild when there is a problem. Muna was a wonderful actor. He was a very private person, or was extremely private for his own good.”

Also, speaking in the same vein, former Chairman, Enugu State chapter of AGN, Ofiafuluagu Mbaka expressed sadness over the actor’s demise.

According to him, “Muna hardly socialized with people.

It’s only when you socialize that you can open up to people and tell them what you are passing through. It’s very unfortunate and a very big blow to the industry.”

Meanwhile, facts emerged yesterday on why the late actor maintained sealed lips over his ailment.

Those close to him revealed, however, that Muna was particularly afraid of the press, hence his shutting his colleagues out of his pain. He knew if some Nollywood people got to know about it, the press would also get to know. He refused to beg to save Nollywood’s image and in turn lost himself,” a close associate said.

However, shortly before his death, Muna who starred in over 300 movies was said to have summoned enough courage despite his private nature and

contacted AGN president. He told her he would get back to her to discuss details of his deteriorating health but he never did.

According to reports, the actor discovered his kidney problem a long time ago but like most people, he thought he could manage it. He ignored the pain and continued working without paying much attention to his health.

He only took his drugs and medication once in a while as Muna never believed the ailment could lead to his death. He believed he would survive it.

ETROLEUM products marketers, under the aegis of the Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria, MOMAN, yesterday, said they have reached an agreement with the Federal Government on compensation of oil marketers for losses incurred on the stock in their tanks before the downward review in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, to N87 per litre.

It has been estimated that the oil petroleum marketers will lose billions of naira over the reduction and possibly put a number of banks at risk, due to the fact that a number of the marketers borrow money to finance their purchase.

Mr. Obafemi Olawore, Executive Secretary, MOMAN, who disclosed at a press briefing in Lagos, expressed concern over the government's failure to address the issue of over N250 billion outstanding subsidy payments and dealers/marketers' margins.

He said that at the meeting between government and MOMAN, it was agreed that the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, Department of Petroleum Resources, marine inspectors and auditors of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will take stock of the products in the tanks of all oil marketers and compensate them accordingly, on the basis of the difference of N10 per litre.

Kano stands still as Buhari campaign train hits town

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—KANO State was brought to a standstill yesterday by several thousands of All Progressives Congress, APC, supporters who poured out to welcome their Presidential flag bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari into the state.

The supporters took over major streets and the Sani Abacha stadium, venue of yesterday ’s presidential campaign rally, Emir’s Palace and Aminu Kano International Airport shortly after the morning rush hour in their various regalia.

The ecstatic crowd broke into wild jubilation when the aircraft conveying Buhari and other top officials of the opposition party touched the tarmac of the international airport chanting, Baba oyoyo, Baba oyoyo.

A brief airport ceremony saw Gen. Buhari and his entourage embarking on a gruelling fivehour journey to Sani Abacha Stadium venue of the campaign as supporters that included

women in purdah lined up the streets to catch a glimpse of the retired general.

The Buhari’s motorcade that consisted of cyclists, tricycles and four wheeled auto mobile added colour to the visit as many of them displayed acrobat-ism on their way.

The APC flag bearer who was overwhelmed by the multitude stepped out at the Kano City Centre to commission the multi billion Naira overhead bridge constructed by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

At the emir‘ s palace, the Emir, Malam Sanusi I I prayed for the peaceful conduct of the election, as he appealed to politicians to play by the rules.

It however, took Buhari who arrived the overcrowded Sani Abacha stadium at about 2.30pm about 40 minutes before he waded through to the VIP stand.

Addressing the crowd, Gen. Buhari restated his commitment to fight corruption and check insurgency if voted into office and appealed to his supporters to come out en masse and vote for APC candidates at all levels.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015 — 55

TUC, oil unions differ on fuel price cut …Petrol stations stick to old price; IPMAN orders members to comply

By Our Reporters

FG approves low interest funding plan for cotton, textile manufacturers

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ARIED reactions have continued to trail Federal Government's reduction of petrol price from N97 to N87.

President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Igwe Achese, said, Nigerians were expecting the petroleum pump price to go down to about N60 and not the N87 which the government announced, stressing that the new rate was still on the high side.

Also speaking, President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson, described the N10 reduction of petroleum pump price as a welcome development.

Johnson said he was not sure whether the reduction was political, as the reduction of petroleum pump price was one of the issues raised in December last year, when the oil and gas unions embarked on strike.

He said it was canvassed during the December strike that as the price of crude oil in the international market had dropped, it was imperative for the price of the petroleum pump price to also drop, adding that the recent reduction was good for Nigerians.

Similarly, President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Bobboi Kaigama, commended the government for the action which he said the TUC had been agitating for.

Kaigama said, “TUC has been agitating for government to reduce the pump price. If government has done that, it shows that the government is sensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

In his reaction, a professor at the Pan African University, Austin Nweze, believes the new petrol price will not affect the ordinary citizen immediately. According to him, the Nigerian Government’s reduction of the pump price of petrol is a welcome development considering it came without a fight from Nigerians.

While sharing the view that it was not yet time to celebrate, he also noted that such a reduction would not affect majority of Nigerians as commuters would still be paying the same amount they pay for transportation. He noted that vehicle owners who buy petrol daily would immediately stand to benefit.

DPR to axe violators

However, despite the announcement by the Federal Government, majority of the petrol stations across the country were yet to comply with the directive and are still selling the product at N97 per litre. The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, claimed that about 70 per cent compliance had been recorded among outlets visited in Abuja.

Spokesperson of the DPR in Abuja, Mr Mohammed Saidu, said the agency was poised to

By Gabriel Omoh

T

VISIT: Former Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to Late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Senator Abba Aji greeting President Goodluck Jonathan at the Maiduguri International Airport during the President recent visit to Borno State. Photo by Ndahi Marama. ensure full compliance with the new directive. He said the agency yesterday, deployed surveillance teams led by the Director of DPR, Mr. George Osahon, to ensure full compliance in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. “The Director of DPR, Mr George Osahon, and other management staff were on the field today in Abuja to enforce strict compliance with the directive by the Petroleum Minister on the reduction. We are happy with the level of compliance and success stories recorded so far,” he said.

He also said about 70 per cent of the filling stations visited had changed the meters to reflect the new pump price as announced by the Federal government.

According to him, the few that were yet to comply said their engineers were not around to effect the changes and as soon as they come, the meters would be adjusted.

While calling on owners of filling stations to comply with the directive immediately, he warned that the agency would severely penalise any station that refused to comply.

When Vanguard contacted Mr. Lawal Abiodun, the spokesperson for NIPCO Plc, jointly owned by the Independent Petroleum Marketers, he said, “All our retail outlets in Abuja and environs (three) have complied with the new pump price to the admiration of DPR, PPRRA, and other stakeholders were at the Jabi station to confirm the development. ''Our technical department accompanied by retail unit staff will move to all our stations in Lagos and environs (Ogun) to confirm proper compliance tomorrow (today.)

In his remarks, President of the Independent Petroleum Markers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chief Chinedu Okoronkwo, said the association had directed its members to comply with the

directive immediately. He however, noted that there are still few members that the association is unable to reach out to as a result of communication problems.

He gave the assurance that by Tuesday (yesterday) all the association members would have been contacted to ensure strict compliance with the directive.

Old price stay in Lagos

However, despite the directive that the new pump price should be implemented with immediate effect, petrol stations in Lagos and other states in the federation have refused to comply, saying they do not have official directive to do so.

In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre for instance, nothing had changed as all the filling stations along the Festac area, Agbara, Alaba, Cele busstop and environs were seen selling at N97 per litre.

Some of the petrol stations argued that the delay is as a result of the absence of the technicians who were yet to make the adjustment, adding that such adjustments can only be effective when old stocks already on ground were exhausted.

Abia adamant

In Abia, operators of petrol stations were reluctant to adjust their meters to the N87 announced on Sunday as only the NNPC mega station on the Umuahia-Okigwe expressway complied with the directive.

Other filling stations, including the big marketers were yet to adjust to the new price regime.

Some of them even closed to customers, claiming that there were no products to dispense.

Others were still dispensing at the old price of N97 per litre.

Also, reports from Aba said owners of petrol stations were yet to adjust to the new price.

FCT complies

In the Federal Capital Territory,

FCT, a number of petrol filling stations, yesterday reverted to the new pump price of N87 per litre, as a visit to some of the fuel stations in Abuja showed that there was total compliance to the new price regime by the filling stations attendants.

Not so in Benue

In Makurdi and environs in Benue State, virtually all the filling stations were yet to comply with the new policy.

Vanguard investigations yesterday showed that all independent marketers in the state were still dispensing at the old pump price while the NNPC Mega Station, on old Otukpo road and Forte Oil by the Makurdi new bridge were the only stations dispensing the product at the new rate.

No change in Anambra yet

In Anambra State, fuel dealers were yet to effect changes in the pump price of PMS, as all the filling stations in the state, including NNPC filling stations have not adjusted their prices at the time of filing this report, as the attendants said they were yet to get instructions to do so.

..Borno too

A petroleum market dealer in Maiduguri, who did not want his name mentioned, said they found it difficult to adhere to the new price, as the commodity at their disposal were bought at the old price, insisting they would stick to the old price after disposing their old stock.

Some of the IPMAN members interviewed on compliance with the new directive said that they were yet to get directives from the DPR on effecting the reduction in fuel price.

Usman Yahaya, an attendant at Kolo Petroleum Station, Maiduguri, said that he was not directed by either his manager or DPR to change and reduce the fuel pump price from N100 to N87 per litre.

HE Federal Government yesterday announced a new funding policy mechanism that will ensure that cotton, textile and garment companies access long-term, low interest loans to finance their operations.

The new policy is part of the new National Cotton, Textile and Garment programme aimed at revitalising and boosting the growth and development of the cotton, textile and garment industry in Nigeria.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this during the launch of the Nation Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy and the inauguration of a 17member Implementation, Monitoring and Review Committee for the CTG Policy, in Abuja.

Aganga said the Policy, which was a product of prolonged and comprehensive consultation with all the stakeholders in the industry, was expected to address all bottlenecks inhibiting the growth and development of the industry.

He added that it would improve the quality, quantity, production capacity, marketing and competitiveness of the players across the entire value chain; control the influx of fake and substandard textile and garments into Nigeria; and improve the competitiveness of CTG across the nation, among others.

He said, “Extensive stakeholders’ consultation gave birth to the National Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council on December 17, 2014. In 2010, the Federal Government introduced a N100 billion Cotton, Textile and Garment Revival Fund, managed by the Bank of Industry to reverse the ugly trend of progressive collapse of the textile industry.

56 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 57

58 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21 , 2015

Rebel coup ousts Yemen’s leader, minister says Y

EMEN’s presiden tial palace has been completely taken over by Shiite Houthi rebels, the country ’s Minister of Information Nadia Sakkaf told CNN yesterday amid reports of renewed clashes.

Sakkaf said the Prime Minister ’s residence was also under attack from the street.

She called the situation “the completion of a coup,” adding that “the President has no control.”

Fighting was earlier

reported around the presidential palace in the capital, Sanaa, a day after heavy fighting between government forces and Houthis Shiite Muslims who have long felt marginalized in the majority Sunni Muslim country ended in a ceasefire deal.

Nine people were killed and 67 others injured in the fighting between government forces and Houthi militants on Monday, Yemen’s Health Ministry said, before the sides agreed

Opposition Houthi militants hold the presidential palace

to a ceasefire.

Gunfire could be heard sporadically across the city yesterday , whereas a day earlier it was constant.

Unknown assailants fired shots Monday night at a U.S. Embassy vehicle in Sanaa, the U.S. Embassy said yesterday.

The shooters fired first into the air and then turned the guns on its vehicle, the embassy said. The vehicle carried U.S. diplomatic personnel and was at a checkpoint near the embassy at the time. No injuries were reported.

The embassy is known to use SUVs that are recognizable as U.S. government vehicles.

Two U.S. Navy warships moved into new positions in the Red Sea late Monday to be ready to evacuate Americans from the embassy if needed, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the planning told CNN.

AirAsia QZ8501: No sign of terrorism in cockpit recording — Investigators

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UDIO recordings from the cockpit of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 contain no sounds of gunfire or explosions, making it unlikely the plane was brought down by terrorism, Indonesian investigators have said.

The he aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder, which captures all noises on the flight deck, was recovered last week from the depths of the Java Sea, along with the other so-called black box, the flight data recorder.

“The voice from the cockpit does not show any sign of a terrorist attack. It is only the pilot, sounding very busy,” Andreas Hananto, an investigator at Indone-

sia’s National Transportation Safety Committee, said in an interview with the news agency Reuters.

He said Monday that investigators had heard

“no threats” in the recordings.

“We didn’t hear any voice of other persons other than the pilots,” Nurcahyo Utomo, another investigator, told Reuters.

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A

NTI-government pro testers block a road and burn tires during a protest against a new law that could delay elections to be held in 2016, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jan. 19, 2015.

Police in Democratic Republic of Congo fired shots in the air on Tuesday to halt a second day of protests against a draft measure that could delay a presidential election set for 2016 and allow President Joseph Kabila to stay in power.

Kabila won elections in 2006 and 2011 and is constitutionally ineligible to stand for a third

Congo protesters yesterday term.

Students burned tires and barricaded the road leading to the University of Kinshasa in the south of the capital and large numbers of people were in streets in the Ndjili neighborhood, blocking

access to the airport, witnesses said.

Riot police deployed across the city but protests appeared to be less organized and more sporadic than on Monday, when at least four people died in clashes.

Cameroon troops in ‘heavy clashes’ with Boko Haram

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AMEROONIAN troops fought “heavy clashes” Tuesday with Boko Haram militants near the border with Nigeria as a security summit kicked off in Niger on a regional plan to stop the Islamist fighters.

Boko Haram insurgents from neighbouring Nigeria attacked the far northern Cameroon border village of Bonderi, a source told AFP, adding that “it’s too early to give a casualty toll.”

The fighting comes as Nigeria and its regional neighbours, including Chad, Niger and Cameroon, met in Niger’s capital Niamey to plan a strategy against the Islamist fighters.

Boko Haram controls swathes of Nigeria and has stepped up cross-border attacks in the region as part of an insurgency that has left 13,000 dead and forced 1.5 million from their homes

since 2009.

Chad sent a convoy of troops and 400 military vehicles into Cameroon Saturday to help in the fight against Boko Haram and its president has called for the creation of a regional force.

A Boko Haram assault this month on the town of Baga on the shores of Lake Chad trigged widespread outrage and helped spur calls for a broader response.

Nigerians buy up to £250m London homes to escape Boko Haram

B

OKO Haram is driv ing super rich Nigerians to London where they are now its biggest spenders on homes there. In three years, they have spent £250 million buying up most expensive homes there.

Other wealthy individuals from Africa and the

Middle East are also among the biggest purchasers of prime properties in central London.

Beauchamp Estates, which sells some of London’s most expensive homes, recently reported that around 5% by value of London buyers come from Africa, with

six countries - Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and Senegal - topping the list. Nigerians are among the biggest spenders, forking out £250 million on London homes in the last three years.

Killer of 28 yr old woman caught in UK hotel in Tanzania gation involving law enInvestigators examining the tail of AirAsia flight QZ8501

5-year-old boy shoots baby brother HE mother called 911 to say her 5-year-old boy shot his baby brother with a paintball gun.

But it wasn’t a paintball gun. It was a .22-caliber Magnum revolver. And the 9-month-old boy didn’t survive.

Meanwhile, authorities are trying to figure out what led to Monday’s shooting in Elmo,

Congo police fire shots in air to disperse protesters

in the northwest corner of Missouri.

“At this point foul play is not suspected, and it appears at this time that the shooting was accidental,” the Nodaway County Sheriff ’s Office said.

Sheriff Darren White told CNN affiliate KCTV that the baby was in a playpen when his

brother found the gun lying around a bed.

When emergency crews arrived, they found the infant had been shot in the head.

The child was flown to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, where he was pronounced dead, the station reported.

A

man has been ar rested over the murder of a 28-year-old woman who was found dead in a hotel room in Cardiff.

Sam Almahri, 44, sparked an international manhunt after the death of Nadine Aburas, who was discovered by staff at the Future Inn Hotel on Hemingway Road on New Year’s Eve. South Wales Police worked with Interpol and other agencies to trace the US national who had fled to Tanzania.

Almahri is currently being held by Tanzanian

police.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley said: “This has been a fast moving and complex investi-

forcement agencies from three continents and we are particularly grateful for the professional co-operation we have received from the Tanzanian police.

Zambian lawyer, economist in tight presidential vote

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AMBIANS flocked to the polls on Tuesday to choose the next leader of one of Africa’s most promising frontier markets, in what shaped up as a tight race between a populist lawyer and a wealthy economist.

Edgar Lungu, leader of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), is seen having a slight edge over main rival Hakainde Hichilema, a businessman whose United Party for National Development has wooed the middle-class and investors.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 59

60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 61

Super 4: Ikhana confesses fear of Pillars T

•Juan Cuadrado

Chelsea target £26 million Colombia star

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HELSEA are reportedly lining up a move for Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado, according to reports.

The 26-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer after impressing for Colombia at the World Cup. However, it now seems Jose Mourinho is keen on bringing the South American to Stamford Bridge as he looks to

bolster a squad still challenging on four fronts.

The Portuguese boss looks set to let Andre Schurrle head back to Germany and Mohamed Salah may also depart Stamford Bridge, meaning there’s a place available for at least one new wide man.

Cuadrado, who is valued at £26m by the Italian club, has scored four times in 16 Serie A matches this term.

Woods’ loses tooth after being hit by cameraman

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IGER Woods has lost one of his front teeth after being accidentally hit by a cameraman when photographers tried to capture proceedings at the Skiing World Cup event in Italy.

The Golfer was hit in the face by a camera while trying to surprise his girlfriend Lindsey Vonn, who won her 63rd World Cup Alpine ski triumph.

“During a crush of photographers at the awards’ podium, a media member with a shoulder-mounted video

•Woods camera pushed and surged towards the stage, turned and hit Tiger Woods in the mouth,” his agent Mark Steinberg said.

“Woods’s tooth was knocked out by the incident.”

HE manager of E n y i m b a International Football Club of Aba, Kadiri Ikhana, has nominated Kano Pillars as the team most likely to win the Super 4 trophy.

The former Kano Pillars handler singled out the league champions as the likely toughest opponents for Enyimba, noting that they have been preparing very well since last year unlike the other clubs in the tournament.

“If you ask me the best club at the moment, I would say Kano Pillars because they have had an excellent preparation and when a club prepares well, it is easier to win.

“But then, Enyimba cannot be ruled out because we also have retained most of the players that were with us last season.

“We will count on their experience and team spirit to do well,” submitted Ikhana, who led Enyimba to Nigeria’s first ever Champions League win in 2003.

He is also counting on the quality of some of his new signings to make a good showing at the tournament, showing special interest in the duo from Abia Warriors, defender, Chima Uluocha and Onyekachi Peter, a striker.

“We saw those boys

play against us and we are convinced they have the quality to help Enyimba and this tournament is a good place to integrate them into the squad in a c o m p e t i t i v e environment,” the coach revealed.

Enyimba, Dolphins, Kano Pillars and Warri Wolves are the clubs involved in the Glo Premier League Super 4

•Ikhana

Dream Team to play Tunisia HE proposed against other countries, T friendly game which enhanced the between Nigeria and decision to play Tunisia.

•Siasia

Tunisia has been approved by their Football Federation, which will be played this Saturday.

Also, Tunisia will lock horn with North African counterparts, Algeria, as they all prepare for the forthcoming All Africa Games and Olympics qualifiers.

Samson Siasia, last week noted that he would love to test his team

They were initially slated to play in the Super Six tournament in Nigeria, but Siasia opted out of the competition in preference to the game against Tunisia.

Already Tunisia have listed their players for the double games, the first coming up against Nigeria on Saturday and four days later against Algeria.

ISIS kill 13 for watching Asian Cup match

I

SLAMIC State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have executed 13 teenage boys.

The young fans were reportedly watching an Asian Cup match between Iraq and Jordan on TV last week when they were caught

Sack Keshi •Continues from BP team.

Sambawa who was speaking in a television interview in Abuja aired Tuesday, said his advice was informed by the need to get a technically sound coach who would chart a new course for the national team.

In his view, the NFF should advertise the vacant position of the national team coach in national and international newspapers so as to open the process of getting a replacement for out-of-contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.

“Anybody form anywhere, who is qualified and meet the requirements can apply,” the former Minister said, adding, “it does not matter if the new coach

which also has the National U-20 (Flying Eagles) and the National U-23 (Dream Team) participating on invitation. We however gathered that coach Samson Siasia has opted out of the competition which starts on Saturday, January 24 with opening fixture between Dolphins and Kano Pillars.

comes from Ghana or Nigeria, whether he is black or white, let a competent hand be employed.”

Continuing, Sambawa said, “ what we need now is a technically sound and well remunerated coach. We don’t want a coach who will be taking money from players before he invites them to camp, share their allowances before fielding them. We need a sound comfortable coach who can instill discipline in the team and can call off players’ bluff when they feel bigger than the team.”

A weak coach would only make matters worse, the former minister reasoned, saying, “ we don’t want a coach who will field a player from Bayelsa because the President is from Bayelsa.”

by the militants in the Iraqi city of Mosul, which ISIS controls.

The group of teens was executed in public by a firing squad that used machine guns, according to Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, an activist group that exposes ISIS atrocities.

Before the kids were killed, their “crime” was announced over a loudspeaker, reports said.

“The bodies remained lying in the open and their parents were unable to withdraw them for fear of murder by the terrorist organization,” RIBSS posted on its website.

The boys were slaughtered because they were said to be violating Sharia law by watching the game.

Iraq beat Jordan 1-0 in the Jan. 12 match, which took place in Brisbane, Australia.

Mashaba

goals today and that is something we have to repair. We have made things very difficult and the next two games is a must win [for us].”

Rivaldo Coetzee’s injury on the half-hour was a big blow to Bafana and Mashaba believes the injury to the 18-yearold effected his side.

“I think the change effected us because they started playing long balls in behind us and started to get into onev-one positions,” Mashaba concluded.

With Coetzee likely to miss the game against the Lions of Teranga on Friday, Erick Mathoho is expected to partner Thulani Hlatshwayo in defence.

•Continues from BP Shakes Mashaba’s men took the lead through Thuso Phala and should have been 20 up nine minutes into the second-half, but a penalty miss from Tokelo Rantie swung the game’s momentum in Algeria’s favour who would ultimately go on to claim all three points.

Next up for Bafana Bafana is Senegal who beat Ghana 2-1 in their opening game.

“We now need to motivate the guys [ahead of the next game],” said Mashaba in the aftermath.

“We conceded poor

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

AFCON 2015 Toure: Elephants are underdogs

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OTE d'Ivoire cap tain Yaya Toure accepts the team are not considered Africa Cup of Nations favourites, but insists they have the desire to conquer Equatorial Guinea.

The Elephants have only been crowned champions of Africa once, in 1992 when they beat Ghana on penalties in the final, while they were runners-up in 2006 and 2012. They had been billed as pre-tournament favourites in recent years, but find themselves on the wane of late as Algeria and Tunisia have risen to the fore.

Herve Renard’s side only secured qualification for AFCON 2015 as runners-up in their pool behind traditional powerhouses Cameroon, and they will contest Group D alongside the Indomitable Lions, Mali and Guinea.

Manchester City midfielder Toure admits the squad lacks some experience following the retirement of former skipper Didier Drogba, but is adamant they are as hungry as ever to succeed.

He is quoted by RMC as saying: “You saw our qualifying campaign. It

was difficult and laborious. We come here with a lot of desire.

“We have a new generation which is coming on strong with Gervais, Bony, Doumbia and others.

“Yes, the team is young, but it wants to learn, to experience this competition and go as far as possible.

“We know we’re not favourites, but we want to show our compatriots that we’re going to fly the flag high, that Ivory Coast is still a great football country, even if we have dangerous opponents up against us.”

Atsu sues for Black Stars’ revival

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HANA winger Christian Atsu has urged his colleagues to forget about Monday’s defeat to Senegal and focus on the remaining two games at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars swallowed a painful 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Terranga Lions in their group C opener despite taken an early lead.

The strong Senegalese squeezed the maximum points at the death with substitute striker Mousa Sow grabbing the headlines with a super low grounder on the stroke

on full-time to win the game.

While Atsu admits the Ghanaians could have improved in the second half, he has called for focus on the next two games- starting with Friday ’s must-win game against Algeria.

“We played against a very good side and we must accept the defeat, no need to cry foul on the results, it is a true reflection of what happened on the field of play, although we could have done better in the second half,” he said “The Senegal game is over and we have two

more games to play in the group stages, we must concentrate and plan on how to bounce back in our two remaining matches in the group.

“We have no excuse now after losing to Senegal, so what we have to do is to go all out against Algeria and South Africa in the other games and pick the six points to qualify from the group. “We can qualify from this group despite our early setback, these things happen in football and we must just accept the defeat and move on from there.”

CRACKER....Ghana’s midfielder Andre Ayew (R) challenges Senegal’s defender Serigne Modou Kara Mbodji during the 2015 African Cup of Nations group C football match.

Aussie Open: Don’t rule out Nadal, Djokovic warns Gerrard’s Liverpool exit pains Wozniacki

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AFA Nadal has been shrugging his shoulders and suggesting he may not be ready mentally or physically to win this year ’s Australian Open after an injury-riddled 2014, but top seed Novak Djokovic is having none of it.

“Well, I don’t know what his intentions are, how he feels, but he is definitely always one of the top favourites in every tournament that he plays,” said Djokovic, who beat Slovenian qualifier Aljaz Bedene 6-3 62 6-4 to join the Spaniard in the second round on Tuesday.

“There is no question about it. “We always talk prior to the big tournaments, during the first days of the grand slams,

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•Serena Williams about who the potential players are for winning the trophy (and) more or less the same names have been going around for the last seven or eight years.''

Serena forges ahead

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ERENA Williams claims to suffer from nerves and jitters before her first-round matches at the

Grand Slams.

She certainly didn’t show it, winning her first set in 21 minutes Tuesday night

AROLINE Wozni acki came through a tough test in her firstround match at the Australian Open - but turned her attention to her beloved Liverpool afterwards as she revealed her sadness at Steven Gerrard’s departure.

Wozniacki was pushed hard in the first set by 18year-old Taylor Townsend but eventually went on to secure a 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 victory to progress to the last 64 on Tuesday.

But the post-match dis-

cussion was not all about tennis as Gerrard’s impending summer switch to LA Galaxy was brought up in Wozniacki’s press conference.

The Dane is a huge Liverpool fan and once warmed up in a Reds shirt signed by Gerrard before a match at the 2011 Qatar Open.

But now that Gerrard is due to leave the Anfield club, Wozniacki is considering a trip to Los Angeles to watch him in action in MLS.

on the way to a 6-0, 6-4 win over Alison Van Uytvanck at the Australian Open.

The 18-time major winner has only once lost in the opening round at a

Grand Slam tournament, and this is her 58th. One more Grand Slam title and she’ll pass Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the all-time list of champions.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 — 63

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Next two games a must win — Mashaba B AFANA Bafana head coach Shakes Mashaba has labelled South Africa’s next games against

Senegal and Ghana as a must win as South Africa aim to bounce back from their loss to Algeria.

South Africa sit bottom

Sack Keshi, others now — Ex-sports minister

•Mashaba

By Jacob Ajom

Elephants survive Guinea scare

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ORMER Minister of Sports, Dr. Sa’idu Sumaila Sambawa has advised the Nigeria Football Federation not to renew the contract of Coach Stephen Keshi or any of the other coaches currently in the technical crew of the national

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•Continues on Page 61

ECSTACY: Guinean players celebrate their goal against Ivory Coast in Malabo yesterday. The match ended 11. Photo: AFP.

ISIS kill 13 for watching Asian Cup match — Pg 61

•Keshi

of Group C following a 3-1 loss to the Fennec Foxes in Mongomo on Monday.

•Continues on Page 61

Today's matches

Result Ivory Coast

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goal by Ivory Coast substitute Seydou Doumbia rescued a point for ten-man Elephants who were stunned by Guinea’s first half goal.

Mohammed Yattara gave Guinea the lead with a volleyed goal on the break during the first half before Doumbia netted the leveller.

Guinea

1

E. Guinea vs B. Faso Gabon vs Congo

5 pm 8 pm

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 2 Respond (5) 7 Pointer (5) 8 Eject (5) 10 Erect (5) 12 Owns (3) 13 War-horse (5) 15 Polluted (7) 17 Cashier (6) 19 Taxi (3) 20 Fiendish (7) 23 Tardy (4) 25 Excursion (4) 26 Appeared (7) 30 Wonder (3) 31 Moisten (6) 34 Foolishness (7) 37 Length (5) 38 Snake (3) 39 Fish (5) 40 Trivial (5) 41 Farm-birds (5) 42 Beneath (5)

DOWN: 1 Combine (5) 2 Revolt (5) 3 Oozed (6) 4 Frigid (4) 5 Show (7) 6 Beleaguer (5) 9 Friend (3) 11 Deciphered (7) 13 Booth (5) 14 Chosen (5) 16 Enthusiast (3) 18 Subdue (7) 21 Vault (5) 22 Backbone (5) 24 Originate (7) 27 Sheep (3) 28 Harm (6) 29 Tag (5) 32 Measure (5) 33 Delete (5) 35 Spot (3) 36 Rotate (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 2, Aroma 7, Hand 8, Slight 9, Dress 11, Cur 13, Mar 15, Reel 16, Lap 18, Fate 19, Deliver 20, Aver 22, Erse 23, Damaged 25, Open 27, Led 28, Here 30, Rid 31, Did 33, Wreck 36, Solace 37, Idea 38, Titan

DOWN: 1, Vague 2, Add 3, Ode 4, Ass 5, Win 5, Cheat 10, Seal 11, Creator 12, Receded 13, Married 14, Renewed 16, Legal 17, Piled 18, Fee 21, Ran 24, Gear 26, Pivot 29, Risen 32, Pad 33, Wet 34, Eft 35, Kin.

How to Play Sudoku

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lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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