Anenih, Mu'azu resign

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62409

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Boko Haram: 509 soldiers face court-martial 54

NEW TWIST TO PDP CRISIS:

Anenih, Mu'azu resign

•I resigned for Jonathan to take over BoT— Anenih •Secondus now Acting National Chairman; meets Jonathan •NWC orders Osun PDP to sanction Fani-Kayode A •Bode George, Babatope, Fayose, Tsav, Filani, others react

By Henry Umoru, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

BUJA—THE P e o p l e s Democratic Party, PDP, was in ferment last night after its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu and chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih resigned their positions.

Mu‘azu resigned in a letter addressed to his erstwhile deputy, Prince Uche Secondus, while Anenih’s letter was fetched from his residence last night after the National Working Committee, NWC, issued a deadline due today for him to review his position.

Anenih in his resignation, however, said that he was resigning in favour of

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BUHARI'S CLASSMATES VISIT—President-elect Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience his classmates, the 1953 intakes of Katsina Middle School. From left: Hassan Sada, Bature Mohamed Ungwar Aikali, Tanimu Saulwa Gidado, Yunisa Ibrahim Paul, Magaji Bakori, Mohammed Kabiu Daura and Muhammadu Buhari as the group led by Senator Abba Ali pays a courtesy visit in Katsina, yesterday.

Gunmen abduct President 6 Jonathan's cousins in Bayelsa COLUMNISTS: Overhaul NNPC, it's one way of tackling Muhammadu corruption, The change Buhari and Blair tells decent company you're already Buhari 9 •P.17 getting •P.19 C M Y K

220, 000 Nigerians applied for US visa in 2014 — Embassy 57

Ukraine at war with Russia 56 Mr & Mrs

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POCKET CARTOON

VALEDICTORY FEC MEETING—From left, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe; Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zainab Maina; Minister of State for Works, Mr Adedayo Adeyeye; Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolomemen; Minister of Youth Development, Mr Boni Haruna; Chief of Staff, Brig-Gen Jones Arogbofa; Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim; Vice-president Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Valedictory Federal Executive Council Meeting in Abuja,yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

PDP CRISIS: Anenih, Mu'azu resign Continues from Page 1 President Goodluck Jonathan to take over as Chairman of the BoT, a suggestion that a senior member of the NWC, last night, dismissed as untenable.

National Secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo in accepting the letter of resignation, however, said that the Secretary of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin would hold fort pending the election of a new BoT chairman.

The NWC had in a stern communiqué earlier in the afternoon confirmed Mu‘azu’s resignation, and affirmed that it would today make a firm pronouncement on Anenih’s fate.

In a related development, the party also, yesterday, directed

its Osun State chapter to confirm the status of presidential campaign spokesman, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode as a member of the party with the intent of applying disciplinary measures on him.

The wrath of the PDP NWC was also turned on the deputy national organising secretary, Chief Okey Nnadozie, who was accused of withholding N2.5 million set aside as transportation allowances to state chairmen of the party for the national convention.

Also yesterday, the party constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee which is expected to decisively address issues of insubordination to the party hierarchy.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

True love is unconditional. The truth is this: Love is not determined by the one being loved but rather by the one choosing to love—S Kendrick

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F you want to be loved unconditionally, practice loving unconditionally. If you want assistance from others, extend assistance whenever and wherever you have the opportunity. If you’d like to be the recipient of generosity, then be as generous as you can, as frequently as you can. This is one of the simplest and most effective ways of attracting the power of intention.

Match up with the abundant flow of the universal mind from which everyone and everything originates while extending it outward, and you’ll attract back to yourself all that you intend to manifest.

Be detached from outcomes and practice infinite patience, this is a crucial step in keeping faith; don’t make the mistake of allowing the ego dictate time schedule. Always see in your inner vision, in your imagination, the energy you are radiating, love, laughter, joy and success and also extend charity and goodwill to all.

Mu'azu’s resignation was effected in a letter he addressed to the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the next in the party hierarchy who is to also take over from him as acting national chairman pending the appointment of a substantive chairman from Mu‘azu’s Northeast geopolitical zone.

Anenih's letter Anenih in a one-page letter he signed and sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated May 20, 2015, wrote: “Your Excellency will recall that in a conversation I had with you a few weeks ago, I had offered to step down from the office of the Chairman of our party’s Board of Trustees and proposed to hand over to you as its new Chairman in a ceremony that would have taken place on the 23rd of May, 2015. I had also repeated this position in our subsequent meetings.

“As a follow-up to the above proposal and in view of the current state of affairs in our party, I have decided to formally put my offer in writing to enable you effectively assume the Chairmanship of Board of Trustees or approve a process that will enable any other member of the BoT who is considered competent, to assume the position.

“Kindly accept, therefore, this letter as notice of my decision to step down from the position of Chairman of the BoT of our party with effect from today, the

20th of May, 2015.

“I am happy to inform you that, I remain a loyal foundation member of our great party and will continue to pray for the prosperity of Nigeria, our party, and for you and your family.

“Your Excellency, kindly accept the expression of my highest regards.”

Earlier yesterday, the PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo at a press conference at the end of its 399th NWC meeting, disclosed that the party received Muazu’s letter of resignation, and said that it was accepted and wished him well in his future endeavours. He added that the NWC would today disclose whether or not Anenih remains Chairman of the BoT.

Seven-man committee

The secretary also announced that the NWC has set up a sevenmember Disciplinary Committee with Chief Michael Addul as chairman, while former Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe; former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin; Dr. Akilu Indabawa; Dr. Hassan Kafayas; and Nonye Nwangwu, with Tony Caesar Okeke to serve as secretary. He added that the committee would be inaugurated on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at the National Secretariat.

Oladipo said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 399th meeting today,

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 received and accepted the voluntary resignation of the National Chairman of our great party, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu.

“Consequently, in line with the provisions of sections 45 (2) of the PDP constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus acts in place of the National Chairman pending a replacement from the North-East zone.

“On the correct position of the status of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, the NWC will make its position public tomor row, Thursday, May 21, 2015 (today).

“Furthermore, the NWC expressed complete confidence of the party in the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh and commended him for his o u t s t a n d i n g performance, exemplary commitment and sacrifices, particularly in the way and manner with which he conducts the affairs of the Publicity Directorate in projecting the positive image of the party and its government."

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh first gave a hint of the developments about to unfold when he told newsmen of the Mu‘azu resignation.

“I can confirm that we have received the resignation letter of the party ’s national chairman. The national chairman, who had health challenges, stayed on for the party’s primaries, the campaigns and the elections after which he traveled abroad for medical treatment.

“Upon his treatment and after consultations with his family and on personal interest, he has decided to resign as national chairman. In line with the constitution of the party, the deputy national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, has taken charge as the acting national chairman of the

party with immediate effect pending replacement from the NorthEast."

PDP crisis The PDP crisis surfaced after the party lost its grounds in the presidential, National Assembly and governorship elections held in March and April.

The loss was followed by calls for the resignation of the NWC with some caucuses, including the South-West Caucus and the governors, demanding the resignation of national officers. The NWC had reacted with the allegation that the Presidential Campaign Organisation upon the powers granted it by President Goodluck Jonathan mismanaged the election campaigns.

President Jonathan’s campaign spokesman, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode had on Tuesday demanded the sack of majority of the members of the NWC, alleging that they betrayed the President.

“We must throw out the bad eggs in the NWC and prepare for a long-drawn war of attrition with the new incoming government. In order to survive over the next four years as a party, we must make the necessary changes at the top, otherwise we will be utterly decimated.”

In response, the NWC in a letter to the party chairman in Osun State, yesterday, sought clarification on the status of Chief Fani-Kayode in the party.

The letter dated May 20, 2015 and authored by the National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo read thus: “You are expected to investigate the membership status of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

If he is a registered and

Continues on Page 52

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Man acquitted after 13 years in prison over friend's death

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A security guard, Abubakar Zibo, who has been in prison custody for 13 years was yesterday discharged and acquitted by a Lagos High Court, which found him not guilty of the murder of his friend, Charles.

While delivering his judgment, Justice Kayode Ogunmekan held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the allegation of conspiracy and murder levelled against him as required by Section 1 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

The case, which was commenced by the Lagos State Coordinator, Legal Aid Council, Mrs L.Y. Salau, was later handed over to Mrs. Grace Adenubi.

The judge held that it was trite law that the burden of proof in a criminal case was on the prosecution, adding that where the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, the defendant must be discharged and acquitted.

6 killed in Plateau

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—FOLLOWING the recent attacks in four villages of Jong, Lobirin, Rabuk and Zim in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, which claimed six lives, the Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki, has ordered the re-deployment of more policemen to curtail further attacks.

The commissioner also urged the affected community not to take laws into their hands, but to remain calm as security agencies were working hard to protect the lives and property of citizens.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Abuh, who disclosed the development, also confirmed the killing of the six persons by the unknown gunmen on Monday night.

Abuh said: “The police are trailing the suspects.

Citizens should remain calm and desist from any unlawful act.”

WORKING: Begging for alms with a set of twins along Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

MOUNTED: Motor boy atop a bus along Orile Iganmu Road, Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Security guard dies after winning drinking, smoking bet

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—A security man, simply identified as Thompson, has died after drinking a bottle of a popular alcoholic drink and smoking five sticks of cigarette in two minutes, which were the terms of a bet he entered into with others he met at a joint.

The incident happened at Agege area of Lagos on May 7, after the deceased bought

bottles of Ogogoro (local gin) for his drinking companions, who then challenged him to finish a bottle of bitters and smoke five sticks of cigarette within a stipulated time.

If he had won, the friends would have paid for everything he consumed.

Vanguard gathered that after agreeing to the terms, the deceased opened the bottle of bitters, drank it in less than two minutes, smoked two sticks of

cigarette, stood up and began to walk away.

His friend's story

His friend, 28-year-old Earnest Joseph, who had gone out with him said: “At about 8am, Thompson returned from his security guard job, went inside his room and slept.

“Later in the afternoon, two of his friends came. So I prepared Eba because he had soup and we all ate. We went out to a

Gunmen abduct President Jonathan's cousins in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—ARMED gunmen have again struck in the creeks of Bayelsa State, kidnapping two maternal cousins of President Goodluck Jonathan at Akipelai in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

The victims, both female, identified as Patience Egbeni, 35, and Kate Eni, were reportedly seized, Tuesday, at gunpoint and whisked away from the sleepy riverine settlement, home town of the President’s mother.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the six unidentified gunmen, clad in military camouflage, stormed the community at about 8.30a.m. and abducted the women from their provision stores along the waterfront.

The gunmen were said to have forced their victims into a waiting speedboat and disappeared into the creeks.

An indigene of the area, who identified himself as Kingsley, said: “The victims are two maternal cousins of the President.

“We know that they have been preparing to welcome the President after May 29 handover. Unless they are rescued before then, their dream of welcoming their brother will be a mirage.”

Contacted on the development, Police Public Relations Officer, Butswat Asinim, said the gunmen were clad in military camouflage.

He said the marine and antikidnapping squad of the police, including the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Pulo Shield, had been

contacted.

Meanwhile, Ogbia clan of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide, yesterday, called on the kidnappers to release the women with immediate effect.

Chairman of the clan, Osaanya Osaanya, said no ransom should be paid for the freedom of the victims.

He said: “We are calling on the kidnappers to, as a matter of urgency, return those innocent women. We will go after them if they refuse to heed our call.

“We will assist security agencies to make sure that those poor women are released with immediate effect.”

The incident is coming less than four weeks after the Chairman of Ogbia council, Mr. Enaye Abah, was kidnapped and regained his freedom after five days in captivity.

Two construction workers kidnapped in Delta

By Perez Brisibe

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ATANI—UNIDENTIFIED gunmen, yesterday, abducted an expatriate and a Nigerian, both staff of Okmas Nig. Ltd., the construction company handling PataniOduophori Road in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State.

Confirming the incident via email, the firm's Public Relations Manager, Owhondah Ebere, said the incident occurred around 9a.m. at an NDDC project site in Patani.

Though details of the abduction was still sketchy at press time, a resident of the community, Perezilagha Orutu,

said the incident occurred along Patani-Oduophori Road.

He said: “The gunmen took their victims, both males, through Agoloma community to Sagbama in Bayelsa State.”

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, could not be reached for comments.

nearby local hot drink vendor, popularly called Tee Sugar.

Thompson bought N50 quantity of Dongoyaro and N30 sachet of Chelsea for each of us.

“From there we went to another vendor in the neighbourhood and met some of Thompson’s friends from his home town. He ordered for two full bottles of local gin, Ogogoro, which we drank together.

“As soon as we finished consuming the first bottle, Thompson and his relatives began to speak their local dialect, which I do not understand.

“All of a sudden, the vendor brought a big bottle of bitters. I asked Thompson if he was the one that ordered for the bottle.

He said his friends ordered it and that he wants to prove to them that he can drink a bottle of Alomo Bitters and five sticks of cigarettes.

“I tried to stop him but he drank it in less than two minutes, smoked two sticks of cigarette and decided to leave.

His relatives called him back to smoke the remaining three.”

Trouble

He said trouble started as soon as he finished the fifth stick.

He reportedly became uncomfortable, staggering, sweating profusely and breathing heavily as he walked away.

Joseph said he took Thompson home on okada. He was said to have vomited several times and then died at about 8p.m. in his room.

Joseph said: “I was arrested because I was the one that brought him home in that condition.”

Confirming the incident, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kenneth Nwosu, said the suspect has been arrested and the case transferred to the Homicide Division of the Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015—7

Residents storm Sapele streets over unending blackout

By Godwin Oghre

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APELE—HUNDREDS of people stormed the streets of Sapele, Delta State, yesterday, in protest against unending blackout in the city.

The protesters, mainly artisans and small business operators at Ugwaja, AT&P and Mowoe Quarters, said the situation had made life unbearable for them, since they could no longer run their businesses due to the blackout.

The declaration of officials of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, that solutions to the problem was not in sight because of failure of consumers to pay accumulated bills further fuelled the anger of the protesters, who claimed they were being charged for services not rendered.

Spokesman of the protesters from Ugwaja, Mr. Ben Tobi, said: “Electricity is always off from 4a.m. to 9a.m.; 12noon to 3p.m.; 5p.m. to 11p.m. That is 14 hours of blackout every day.

“Some BEDC officials have told us that they have been conserving daily power consumption. We want the Minister of Power to intervene at once.

“Our children no longer use NEPA (BEDC) to read; it is now only generator power.

Our transformer has been bad for over four months now and BEDC is saying we should contribute money to buy

zPay your debts, get electricity—BEDC zSays Sapele residents owe N4bn; Oghara, N800m zOutstanding bills owed by old, disabled consumers—RESIDENTS zClaim power off from 4a.m. to 9a.m.; 12noon to 3p.m.; 5p.m. to 11p.m.

The protesters. another one.

“They are even saying we should pay all outstanding bills owed by old and disabled consumers.”

Okirighwre

Pa Alfred Mowoe, who led protesters from Okirighwre axis said though residents of the area contributed money to buy transformer installed by BEDC,

the company was yet to connect the community to the national grid.

He said: “In our case, we contributed money and bought a transformer which we installed but BEDC refused to link us to the national grid.

They said we should pay up all past debts owed by old, jobless and disabled people before they can link us to the national grid.”

Our victim's driver hired us, says suspected kidnapper

Solomon Ugoji.

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By Evelyn Usman

suspected member of a kidnap syndicate arrested weekend in Ajah area of Lagos State has confessed that his gang was hired by driver of their victim,

one Obinna Akammadu.

The suspect, identified as Solomon Ugoji, was reportedly rescued from a mob that was about to lynch him, by policemen attached to Area ‘M’ Command, Ajah.

He disclosed that Akammadu, the driver, informed him and his colleagues, now at large, that he was going to pick his boss, owner of Victoria Water Service, from the airport last Saturday.

According to him: “The plan was that we would kidnap the woman on reaching Lekki, take her to a hide out around Ajah/Epe, from where we would call her relatives and demand for ransom.”

He said they had succeeded in kidnapping the woman, but ran into traffic at Ajah. The woman jumped out of the car and raised alarm.

Narrating her ordeal to police, the woman that was almost kidnapped, who does not want her name in print, expressed surprise over what she described as a movie.

She said: “I was shocked when the men opened the door that was supposed to be locked.

But for God’s intervention, I do not know what would have happened to me.”

Confirming the incident, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said policemen on patrol noticed the struggle in the vehicle and intervened, adding that policemen were on the trail of the driver and two others.

He disclosed that the suspect would be transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, for further investigation.

BEDC reacts

While responding to the claims of the protesters, Business Manager of BEDC, Engr. Okwara Okey, said the perennial blackout in Sapele would continue, since the residents owed huge debts.

He said: “The persistent blackout may continue in Sapele and environs because the people owe us very heavily.

Oghara axis alone is owing over N800 million.

“We have told the local government chairman, who went ahead to install a transformer there, to pay before we can give that local government council the approval to install a transformer, even before we talk of linking it to the national grid.

“The company does not have the money to attend to the immediate power needs of customers in Sapele and environs. They must pay up what they owe.

“Sapele and environs owe over N4 billion, which must be paid up before our head office can approve the installation of new transformers or link them to the national grid.

“From where will the company get that money if the customers do not pay? So they must pay first before problem of electricity in the area can be addressed.

“The problem is beyond immediate solution. We the workers living here are not left out. But sorry, we cannot help it.”

2 dead as okadamen, touts clash again in Lagos

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS—TROUBLE is currently brewing in Era area of Badagry, Lagos, following a battle between motor park touts and commercial motorcyclists from Kogi State, which left two motorcyclists dead.

Several others were reportedly injured, with houses burnt. As at 8p.m., yesterday, Vanguard gathered that residents were fleeing their abodes, apparently out of fear.

Report said trouble began during an argument between the motor park touts and one of the motorcyclists over N50 levy, Tuesday.

A resident, who contacted Vanguard at about 7.50p.m. on phone yesterday, said: “The agberos have been collecting N50 from the motorcyclists, majority of who are from Kogi State.

“However, on Tuesday, explanations by one of the motorcyclists that he had paid fell on deaf ears. He was beaten to a state of coma and news filtered in later that he died.

“His colleagues, who went to rescue him, were also beaten. Two of them were rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, we learned that one of them died this afternoon (yesterday).

“When news of his death filtered in, their aggrieved colleagues went to the mother of one of the agberos, who was alleged to have been responsible for the death of the first motorcyclist. They burnt the house and proceeded to another building owned by a relative of another agbero and also set it ablaze.

“The agberos, on the other hand, have been brandishing dangerous weapons, looking for the Kogi motorcyclists. Some of us are leaving our homes because we do not know when they will strike.

“After this call, I hope to leave with my family because our building is owned by one of the agberos.”

The resident hinted that policemen were patrolling the area.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

House Speaker: Bid to change rules suffers zReps adopt rule to allow continuity of bills setback

By Emman Ovuakporie

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BUJA — PLANS to amend the rules of the House of Representatives to allow open voting for the Speaker of the House were, yesterday, dropped following continued intrigues in the camps of the two leading aspirants for post.

The House, however, amended its rules to allow for the continuity of work on bills not concluded at the end of the tenure of the House. The move was aimed at overcoming the challenges arising from the president’s veto on the Constitution (Alteration) Bill.

The proposal to amend the House rules to allow open voting was championed by Rep. John Byegh, Benue Federal Constituency but was sidestepped, yesterday, upon fears that the motion would fail and as such negatively impact on the aspiration of one of the aspirants said to be backed by a leading chieftain of the party.

The plan to amend the procedure of electing the House's presiding officers was aimed at making the voting process an open ballot from its present secret ballot system.

After failing to present the motion last week, the lawmakers were said to have used the weekend to mobilise more signatures but failed to get the required backing from members, forcing them to defer the move.

There was no mention of the motion on the Order Paper, yesterday, and it was not tabled as a matter of urgent public importance, confirming reports that the plot had failed.

"The two groups had mobilised their supporters ahead of yesterday's sitting but on realising that the motion will be defeated, they beckoned on Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Sam Tsokwa, to step down the item," a member, who preferred anonymity, disclosed.

Sources said interested members were still determined to push the motion for adoption but were bucking in the face of the vehement opposition by majority of incoming members.

Intent of the amendment

The intent of the amendment, it was gathered, is to ensure that members are coerced to vote according to the dictates of a senior national leader of the party, a move many of the returning members are said to be opposed to.

Sources in the House told Vanguard, yesterday, that it was upon this that Speaker Aminu Tambuwal intervened to

appeal to the party leader to restrategise his objectives by presenting his candidate for the position of deputy speaker.

Presidential veto

The House nevertheless amended its rules to pave the way for the override of a presidential veto.

The move followed the adoption of a motion entitled: 'Amendment of the standing Orders of the House of Representatives: Order 13 Rule 98,’ to provide for a veto override procedure in the Standing Orders of the House.

The motion sponsored by Chairman House Committee on Rules and Business, Rep Albert SamTsokwa, PDP Taraba and 22 others argued that: "The recent exercise of veto power by the President on the Constitution, Fourth Alteration, Bill, 2015 forwarded to him for assent and pending suit before the

Supreme Court on same."

Towards this direction, the House resolved that Order 13, Rule 98 be amended to introduce sub-rules (10)-(13) as follows: "Sub Rule 10 should reflect that the final copy of the clauses in the bill that received the support of twothirds majority of the state Houses of Assembly shall be compiled and if passed by a concurrent resolution of the House, shall thereafter be transmitted to the President for assent.

"Sub-Rule 11 should reflect that, where the President withholds assent, the Bill, if passed again by two thirds majority of members of the House, as required by Section 58 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 shall become law.

"Sub-Rule 13 indicated that notwithstanding the provisions of these rules, the process of passage of a Constitution Alteration Bill shall continue from one

session to the other and from one Assembly to the next Assembly.

"When all requirements of sub rules (1) to (10) have been met and the President either withholds his assent or fails to communicate the withholding thereof, or any circumstance arises which makes it impracticable for the National Assembly to consider the issue of overriding the President's veto before the end of the tenure of the Assembly, the succeeding Assembly may, upon such Bill being gazetted again and circulated, resolve to commence the process of veto override under Section 58 of the 1999 constitution."

The motion was overwhelmingly adopted by the members. Members who spoke to Vanguard at the end of the session derided the President’s veto on the Constitution (Alteration) Bill as an affront.

BOOK LAUNCH: From left, former Minister of FCT, Engr Mohammed Abba-Gana; representative, Minister of FCT, Chief Emmanuel Awodu; former National Chairman, PDP/ Chairman of the occasion, Senator Barnabas Gemade; author of the book, Mr Nosike Ogbuenyi and Executive Officer, Naval Unit, Abuja, Navy Capt Tanko Yeldin during the official unveiling of a book, Fragrance of Diversity, in Abuja. yesterday.

Jonathan approves 2015 budget A BUJA— OUTGOING President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the N4.5 trillion ($22.6 billion) budget for 2015, which was passed by the National Assembly in late April, the president’s spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, said yesterday.

The budget is 3.2 per cent smaller than last year’s as the country is facing a cash crunch following the halving of global crude prices in the past year. The budget was passed later than usual in part due to the presidential election on

March 28.

“I can confirm to you that Mr. President had signed the 2015 budget into law some days back without the usual fanfare,” Abati said.

There could be supplements to the budget after incoming president, Muhammadu Buhari, takes office next week. He has yet to outline his economic policy although he is expected to crack down on excessive spending by government officials, including the use of official cars.

The finance ministry was forced to revise down the

assumed oil price in the budget several times before submitting it at $65 a barrel in December. Lawmakers ultimately passed the budget at an even lower level of $53 a barrel.

The fuel subsidy, a heavy burden on the nation’s purse, was also subsequently slashed by 90 per cent because of low income. The government relies on oil sales for up to 80 percent of revenues and an expensive election campaign helped drain its already limited rainy day fund.

Jonathan seeks Nigerians, global community's support for Buhari

By Ben Agande

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BUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has again called on the global community and Nigerians to support the incoming government of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

He spoke at the Presidential Villa while receiving members of the African Ambassadors Group, who were on a farewell and solidarity visit to him.

According to President Jonathan, the incoming government will need the cooperation and commitment of the global community and Nigerians to effectively deliver on its promises to the people.

He noted:“The Presidentelect is not new to governance in Africa so I want you to show the same commitment to him as you have shown to me. The President-elect knows that our commitment is always to project Africa. I am urging you to extend the same warmth and solidarity you have shown to me to him.”

President Jonathan further enjoined African leaders to encourage trade within the continent by building infrastructures and institutions that promote trade and relationships.

The President recalled working extensively for more than five years with other African Presidents to manage crisis in some African countries, especially in the West African subregion, and also leading peace efforts in some of the countries like Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Guinea Bissau.

He said: “I have been involved in solving many problems in African countries for more than five years and I know the enormity and cost of conflicts, especially on the citizenry. We cannot afford that in Nigeria.

“If we were to have a political conflict in Nigeria, I am not sure the sub-region will be able to accommodate our citizens. My commitment is to always put the country before my personal ambition and that is what I have demonstrated.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015—9

Overhaul NNPC, it's one sure way of tackling corruption, Blair tells Buhari zSays be true to your word, be true to your mandate z110 million Nigerians still living in penury --Osinbajo zSays local and international debts stand at $60bn

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA — FORMER British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, has asked the incoming President, General Muhammadu Buhari, to overhaul the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, saying it was one sure way of tackling corruption and saving more money for infrastructural development.

Blair also asked the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to switch from its opposition status and assume the posture of head of an organisation, stressing that the days of persuasion and agitations were over.

He further stated that Buhari and the APC must be true to their words at all times, saying the action of the incoming government within the first 100 days in office would determine the kind of goodwill it would eventually have.

Blair spoke at a two-day policy dialogue themed "Implementing Change: From Vision to Reality,” organised by the Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, yesterday.

Represented by Mr. Peter Benjamin Mandelson, a former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in Blair's government, the former prime minister also asked Buhari to ensure that the revenue of the Federal Government was kept in a comprehensive account.

He also warned against politics of region especially against the zones seen to have not voted for the APC. He said: "You, Mr. Vice President-elect and Mr. Presidentelect, Buhari, I must say you have the expectations and the ambitions of 173 million Nigerians in your hands. You have the hopes of an entire continent as well as the eyes of the entire world focused on your efforts. But I tell you, people are excited about what is about to happen in Nigeria. They really feel a sense of expectation of faith and hope.

First 100 days

"What you do in the first 100 days is important and symbolic and can also have tremendously positive repercussion for the government and throughout the country. You have a limited window of opportunity to make an impact as a government. Looking at Nigeria, I would say your vulnerability is corruption and that is not new to you, particularly around the oil sector.

"People in this country seem to be able to do things with impunity and beyond the reach of the rule of law or proper accountability and the judicial system. You can crack the NNPC nut or you can make a start on it in the first 100 days and

RETREAT: From left: Speaker, House of Representatives and Sokoto State Governor-

elect, Aminu Tambuwal; Oyo State Governor-elect, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Ogun State Governor-elect, Ibikunle Amosun and Borno State Governor-elect, Alhaji Ibrahim Kashim Shettima, during the retreat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors Forum for the Governors-elect, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

if you do so, you would have built a very strong foundation for what you have to do in the next four years and beyond.

Keep all govt money in one account

"I think ensuring that all government revenue goes into a single government account will be a good start. Those revenues from your natural resource are so vital for the country and for your future. I think that will send a very strong message. We did the same thing when we came in in 1997 when we gave the Bank of England its independence and that gave us an instant reputation for fiscal prudence.

"It is quite courageous for a government to give power away to another entity. There were people who voted for the others, mostly in the south and the east of the country. You need to show the people who didn't vote for you that you represent their interest as much as the people who voted for you.

Politics of ethnicity, religion

"This was what we called big tent politics during Tony Blair era. If Nigeria is to transform and evolve towards a politics of performance, it is very important to get away from the politics of ethnicity, religion, politics of patronage and cronyism."

Blair also urged the government to stay focused on its set objectives if it must succeed, reminding Buhari that allowing pressure and external interferences to get into his way would surely take him away from the set priorities.

"The other thing I want to come back to is priority. You need

priority in what you want to deliver to your country, but here is the challenge. Everyday, there is one fresh crisis, some media events, some scandals or some personnel problems to contend with. A whole sack of things will get in the way of getting the real thing done.

Focus on your priorities

"What happens to your priority if you are not careful is that the wall will close in on you and before you know where you are, you are spending the whole time dancing from one place to another, putting out one fire in different parts of the forest without pursuing what you were put in government to do which was to bring about that change and that reform.

"That is why you need to create that mechanism and remain focused on your priorities. That is why you need certain policy delivery mechanisms that you can control, that which you have people working in under your guidance and political will even though you have to deal with the oil scandal.

"One other piece of advice drawn from our experience is that you will have more good will and more authority to do the difficult things at the beginning of your term than at the end.

Be true to your mandate

He also asked Buhari not to derail from his mandate He said: "I remember many of us ministers, including the Prime minister himself, had never been in government before, not even a junior parliamentary or Secretary of State, the lowest for ministerial life. We were all new.

I was the third man. I want to share with you the first rule of

government because it is irrelevant to you. Be true to your word. Be true to your mandate.

"At the beginning for us, there was nothing easy at all. We discovered some important things pretty quickly. The first thing is that the skills of leadership that take you to government is not the same skills you need to be successful in government. You have to switch from what you were campaigning when you are in office. You have to switch from a persuader where the tools of your trade are your words to being a CEO. That is the difference between being a persuader and and being a CEO. One is about words, the other is about deeds.

"Now, I am not saying you should stop communicating the moment you reach office. You have to keep explaining, educating and agitating for change and reforms to keep people behind and following you. But you have to change from being chief wordsmith to chief implementer and the truth is that many governments actually fall on that first hurdle.

"Government by definition is a team effort. In this job, whatever you fit into the leadership of government is to inspire people and to make them believe in you and in what you are doing and you judge others by the same high standards of integrity and efficiency that you must apply each and every one of you to yourselves.

You can't do everything at once

"This is my third theme today.

You cannot do everything at once just by ordering results, just by bashing the system to deliver

those things is not going to achieve change. You have to be much more skillful, much more surgical than that. You have to apply a science of delivering. A science of priorities, a science of proper planning of defining goals, creating data systems that crack progress and developing the routines that make sure you keep all these going even amid the crisis that blow up. And they will.

"And above all, maintain the relationship between yourself and the centre and those in the public service on the frontline, the people who make sure that the delivery actually takes place, praising them when they do well, encouraging them when they fall behind and replacing them when you have to.

"Now, all these might sound straight forward. But it is not straight forward because a lot of the administration you are leading has gone into the habit of driving process rather than outcome."

110 Nigerians live below poverty line —Osinbajo

Meanwhile, while declaring the event open earlier, the Vice President-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who doubled as the chairman of the occasion said the priorities of the incoming government was to tackle poverty and stamp out corruption from the system.

He said: "In the course of the election campaign, we ran an issues-based campaign that identified certain areas of public policy as high priorities for propelling Nigeria forward. We addressed the challenges of the economy, insecurity, corruption and jobs creation. We spoke to the challenge of providing opportunities for selfactualisation to millions of our young people who face an uncertain future with understandable anxiety.

"We also addressed the challenge of providing for the most vulnerable segments of our population by equipping them with the tools to emerge from the crippling limitations of poverty to achieve dignified and productive citizenship.

"The figures of extreme poverty in our society, 110 million by current estimates, makes it clear that our biggest national problem is the extreme poverty of the majority. Thus, no analysis is required to conclude that dealing with poverty and its implications is a priority.

"We are concerned that our economy is currently in, perhaps, its worst moment in history. Local and international debt stands at $60 billion. Our debt servicing bill for 2015 is N953.6 billion, 21 per cent of our budget. On account of severely dwindled resources, over two-thirds of the states in Nigeria owe salaries.

Federal institutions are not in much better shape."

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Lagos relocates 500 displaced Mile 12 traders

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—LAGOS State Government has relocated 500 displaced traders affected by the demolition of properties along Mile 12,Ikorodu Road, for the construction of a Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, corridor.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State disclosed this yesterday, during the third enlarged stakeholders meeting at Majidun, Ikorodu Road, with the former deputy governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ayodele Elesho, among others in attendance.

According to Fashola, represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga: “They were displaced during the construction of the road and that was why we have decided to construct Oluwo-Idikan Market to relocate the traders.

This is in fulfilment of the promises made during the demolition of the market. Our aim in Lagos is to ensure that everyone has a source of income.”

He, however, warned residents against conversion of road setbacks into market places.

Fashola lamented that residents have converted walkway on the 13.5 kilometre Mile 12 Ikorodu Road constructed at N29 billion into trading zones, saying, “This is a huge fund and we are not happy that such project is being used for the purpose it was not designed for.”

He said: “Many traders have converted the walkway into

trading venue and this is not the reason for the inclusion of the walkway in the project, rather it was included to allow residents who want to walk have access to do so."

Fashola noted that after the commissioning of the road, “if the act continues, the state government will be forced to enforce appropriate laws.”

Earlier, the General

Manager of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who was represented by Engineer Olugbenga Dairo, Director of Public Transportation, said that very soon about 400 buses would be deployed to ply the Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, corridor when completed before the end of the second quarter of this year.

NAFDAC FORUM: From left: Dr Monica Eimunjeze, Director, Registration and Regulatory Affairs; Dr Paul Orhii, DG, NAFDAC; Chief Bunmi Olaopa, President, WAPMA; Mrs. Stella Denloye, Director, Laoratory Services and Mr Ashim Ubale, former Director, Narcortics during the 2nd Regulatory 2015 Forum by National Agency For Food And Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC), in Lagos yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Declare emergency in oil, gas sector, PENGASSAN urges FG

By Victor AhiumaYoung

S

ENIOR staff in the oil and gas sector have called on the in-coming Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the oil and gas sector to address issues bedevilling it.

The workers, under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, argued that all sub-sectors of the oil and gas industry are going through problems that are pulling down the sector and the entire economy.

In a statement, the PENGASSAN President, Comrade Francis Johnson, said that there are many issues which require urgent attention from the in-coming government to reposition the industry for efficient and effective delivery of its benefits to Nigerians.

He noted that there is need for the in-coming government to call an all-inclusive stakeholders’ forum of those

involved in operations in the sector to critically examine and proffer enduring solutions to all the problems in the larger interest of the Nigerian nation.

Comrade Johnson said: “All the subsectors of the oil and gas industry have one challenge or another which are affecting the delivery of the benefits of our God-given hydrocarbon resources to the country.

“These challenges are as a result of past neglect, wrong policies and policy summersault in some areas of the subsectors. All these are inflicting pains on Nigerians who ought to be enjoying the benefits of the natural resources that God bequeathed to the country.”

He listed some of the challenges to include pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, state of the refineries, intractable and persistent scarcity of petroleum products, subsidy payment controversies, divestment, illegal transfer or allocation of oil blocs, irregular Joint

Venture (JV) funding with emphasis on delay in cash call payment, inadequate funding of government agencies in the oil and gas sector and undue interference in the management of government agencies.

The union leader said that the stakeholders’ forum will

chart ways of attending to the critical challenges affecting the industry and evolve a framework that will facilitate its stability, adding that machineries should be set in motion for periodic meetings to evaluate and review the success and workability of the framework.

Ikeja DISCO to install 300,000 smart metres worth N21.2bn

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AGOS—THE Ikeja Electric, a distribution company, said yesterday, that it would soon begin the installation of about 300,000 smart metres in the zone.

The company said the metres which were acquired at a cost of 106 million dollars (N21.2 billion) under its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), would assist in curtailing energy theft and put an end to estimated billing system.

Mr Abiodun Ajifowobaje, the Managing Director of the company, said in Ikeja, that the new metering initiative known as Smart Metering, would address some challenges associated with billing system.

Ajifowobaje said the pilot project would start on May 25 with 2,000 metres for customers, who had electricity challenges or non-functional meters.

He said the company would, during the testrun period, install 2,000 metres in the six business districts in the zone.

The managing director said a study conducted by the organisation showed that 300, 000 of the 600,000 customers in the zone did not have functional meters.

According to him, the new investors inherited about 138,000 metres out of which 40,000 customers illegally by-pass their metres.

15,000 Lekki residents benefit from free medical outreach

L

AGOS—AT least 15,595 residents in Lekki Local Council Development Area of Lagos State and its environs have benefitted from a free health screening organised by the state government.

Dr Jide Idris, the state Commissioner for Health, said this while reviewing the report of the five-day medical expedition yesterday in Lagos.

The health mission, which took place between May 13

and May 17, featured consultation, screening and treatment for various ailments.

Idris said the medical mission was a comprehensive healthcare initiative that covered primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention.

He explained that the programme was aimed at taking healthcare to the grassroots and under-served areas of the state.

“The mission is particularly

significant because it assists the government in its efforts at bringing to the barest minimum, the number of untimely deaths in the state.

“The major beneficiaries of the programme were the most vulnerable members of the population at the grassroots like the elderly, children, youths and pregnant women.

“These people are prone to infections and other maternal and child health-related diseases,” he said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 11

One dies as NURTW members, traders clash in Ekiti

By Gbenga Ariyibi

A

DO EKITI — THERE was pandemonium in the early hours of yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, where there was a free-for-all between members of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and some traders said to be of northern extraction.

The development paralyzed social and economic life of the city, as most shops and banks abruptly closed.

Vanguard gathered that the clash left properties worth millions of naira vandalised.

Unconfirmed reports also had it that one unnamed person was feared dead.

It was gathered that trouble started Tuesday night when the wife of one of the leaders of the NURTW was allegedly molested by unknown persons along the ever-busy Ijigbo old garage area of the city.

Cases of harassment of women and bag snatching had become routine in the area where a large number of the traders reside.

It was learnt that an attempt by the enraged husband of the victim and his followers to find out who actually harassed his wife led to a fight.

In the ensuing pandemonium, at least five vehicles belonging to the drivers were vandalized while 15 houses and offices rented

I

by the traders were either vandalized.

This provided opportunity for hoodlums wielding cutlasses and broken bottles, to break into shops and loot property and money which could not be quantified at press time.

It took the intervention of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe and the new Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Etop James to restore sanity.

While addressing both sides at old garage and Atikankan, the Police boss expressed regret over the incident.

He called on the people to always inform him about any imminent break down of law and order.

Scenes of the fracas, yesterday.

Osun replies ex-HoS, explains salary delay

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO — GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday, described as another demonstration of ignorance, claims by the former Head of Service, Elder Segun Akinwusi, that the unpaid salaries in the state were caused by financial recklessness.

Akinwusi, in a report published in a national newspaper (not Vanguard), yesterday, said the Aregbesola administration had borrowed more than its capacity, saying this explains why the state is unable to pay its workers.

But in a response to the former HoS’s claims, Aregbesola’s Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, said Akinwusi, as usual, demonstrated that he lacks basic knowledge of public finance.

“It is not unexpected for the likes of Mr. Akinwusi to want to score cheap popularity and political points with issues of

UCH performs mass burial of unclaimed corpses

delayed salaries. But his reasons for the delay are wide off the mark for any intelligent rationalisation."

Medical staff bicker over alleged pact

Meantime, the state Association of Medical and Dental Officers, OSAMDO, has denied reaching any agreement with the state government on the issue of seven months unpaid salaries of its members.

The association in a

statement in Osogbo, yesterday, insisted that the claims credited to Osun State government that it had reached an agreement with the doctors over unpaid seven months salaries.

In a statement signed by Chairman and Secretary of the association, Dr. I. A. Adekunle and Dr. O. S. Subair, it disclosed that OSAMDO fully supported all actions taken so far by the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA. This was, however contrary,

to the position of Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of Osun Governor, who claimed the last time a statement was released on the matter, was when he disclosed that officials of government were meeting the doctors.

Okanlawon, said Governor Aregbesola was pained by the situation and had been looking for avenues to get all workers paid their entitlements.

Ogun launches mini lab to check fake drugs

By Daud OlatunjiI

A

BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Government, yesterday, launched a mini laboratory in Abeokuta to prevent importation of fake drugs in the state.

The government said the effort was to check all drugs coming into the central medical store with the aim of detecting adulterated drugs and ensure that genuine ones

are given to patients.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluokun Soyinka, stated this during the commissioning of the laboratory, adding that it was done so that the residents of the state can benefit from the five-point agenda of Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

He said with the mini lab on ground, the production and finances would be lesser burden on the state

government.

“We are living in the shadow of danger by taking sub standard drugs. So with the mini lab in our state we can be rest assured of better drugs across the state," Soyinka said.

He said government would now be working directly with producers to guarantee quality products, saying that it would also guarantee the supply of tested drugs across the state.

BADAN —THE University College Hospital, (UCH), Ibadan in Oyo State, says it has carried out a mass burial for many unclaimed corpses in its mortuary.

Mr Deji Bobade, the spokesman of the college told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday, in Ibadan.

Bobade said the management took the decision because the unclaimed corpses had congested the hospital’s mortuary.

He said some corpses between the ages one and 50 years old had been abandoned in the mortuary since 2012.

The spokesman said the management, however, contacted the relatives of the deceased before carrying out the mass burial.

He claimed the relatives might have refused to claim the corpses due to the culture that says that “parents should not bury their children.”

Bobade explained that three adverts were placed in the newspapers at three different occasions with deadlines for the bodies to be claimed.

He said:“But the adverts generated no response from the relatives either. The decision of the management to perform the mass burial was within the purview of the law.

“The exercise was carried out by a group from our forensic pathologists and it was supposed to be a top confidential issue.

“If the public is aware of the time and date, threats could be posed to the community and this was one of the reasons why we were silent on the issue.

“We tried to take into consideration the cultural and the social effects of this action on the community. Our being silent on the exercise was for security reasons.”

Also, Dr Uwon Eze, a forensic pathologist in charge of the exercise, said that it was against the ethics of the profession to disclose such information to the public.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21 21,, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015—13

AGF persecuting me for not withdrawing suit against NLNG —Omatseye, former NIMASA boss

By Godfrey Bivwere

A

N emotional former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Raymond Omatseye, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, that the N1.5 billion contract scam charge was lodged against him because he refused to do the bidding of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN. Omatseye is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He is facing an amended 27count charge of contract splitting and bid rigging to the tune of N1.5 billion.

Omatseye, who opened his defence, told the court that he believed the AGF was persecuting him for failing to withdraw a case NIMASA filed against the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG. Trial judge in the matter is Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

Led in evidence by his counsel, Mr E. Onyeke, the former NIMASA DG alleged that his trial came shortly after he declined a request by Adoke to discontinue a case that NIMASA filed against the NLNG. The former NIMASA DG, in his testimony, first craved the indulgence of the judge to allow him state the background of his claim, which would help the court appreciate his evidence.

His request was granted by the judge.

He said: “In December of 2010, I was approached by a gentleman, who at that time was the Executive Director of the Cabotage Service of NIMASA, Mr Ibrahim Zailani.

Zailani told me that he had been at a meeting with the AGF and that the AGF had directed him to tell me to withdraw a case between NIMASA and NLNG. “I told him I could not do so because it was the decision of the board to take NLNG to court. Exactly on November 14, 2010, between noon and 1p.m., in my office, I received a call from a gentleman called Tunde Ayeni. He said ‘hello, hold on for your caller’ and then handed the phone to a man who said he was Adoke.

“The man said, `I sent Zailani to you to withdraw the NLNG case and you refused.` "He said: ‘Mr President has called me twice on this matter to instruct you to withdraw this case. I responded to him, “My AGF sir, it is either you please send me a memo to that effect or please send a message through my minister, the Ministry of Transport, to direct me accordingly. I am not in a

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position to unilaterally withdraw the case.

“He said: 'I am the chief law officer of the Federal Republic` and I replied, ‘Sir, please help me to do as I have requested’.

He asked if I was aware that there was a directive from his office that no government institution can sue another government institution without his permission.

“There and then, I told him that NLNG is majorly owned by foreigners and therefore, cannot be said to be a governmental agency. At this moment, my Lord, he said that since I refused to obey his instruction on the NLNG case, that it will be my waterloo,” the former DG of NIMASA, who broke down and cried profusely, stated.

Omatseye added that 10 days after the telephone conversation with Adoke, he was in his office on 4, Burma Road, Apapa, when his secretary informed him that three men from the EFCC, were waiting to see him.

“I invited them in after my meeting with some investors,

and the EFCC operatives made up of one Ibrahim Ahmed (PWI), Folu and the third a Northerner, who was their leader, showed me a letter headed paper of the crimes commission logo and a handwritten shopping list, requesting for some documents.

I then invited M.K. Shehu, the Director of Procurement and Bulama, Director, Finance, to provide the list of documents required by the EFCC. These were provided within three hours.

“Thinking everything was over, they then said I should escort them to their office in company of the directors. We followed them to their Awolowo Road office, Lagos, where they made us to write statements and subsequently detained us.”

Not knowing the charge he was being held for, Omatseye said he put a call through to Yusuf Sulaiman, then Minister of Transport, who asked him if he had a problem with the AGF. “I told him the story and the minister said nothing. At the

Abuja office of the EFCC, I was given another sheet to write my statement. This time, I refused insisting that I must know the reason I am being held by the commission,” he said.

He said the petition was what formed the basis of his trial.

Omatseye said that the contract approval threshold for NIMASA was N2.5 million for supply and N5 million for goods and services.

He said that the thresholds were not yet stipulated as at the time he approved the contracts over which he was being prosecuted.

According to him, while the charges captured contracts awarded between December 2009 and February 2010, the contract award threshold for NIMASA was only put in place by the Bureau of Public Procurement in November 2011.

EFCC Prosecutor, Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, at this juncture, raised an objection to that line of testimony which the judge overruled.

LECTURE: From left: Mr Fela Durotoye,CEO, GEMSTONE Group; Ms Irene Fowler, Director, External Affairs, Vivian Fowler Memorial College and Mr Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman, This Day Newspaper, all panelists during the 2nd Gamaliel and Susan Onosode Foundation Lecture held at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Non-release of voters register by INEC threatens Rivers LG poll

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that it has not released voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, for the May 23 local government elections.

Administrative Secretary of the commission, Mr Roy Oburu, in a statement, yesterday, said it chose to abide by the court order which directed all parties in a suit to maintain status quo pending determination of the suit challenging jurisdiction of the High Court on a matter brought before it.

The statement said: “The attention of INEC, Rivers State, has been drawn to the media report on the release of voters

register by the commission to RSIEC. INEC wishes to state categorically that at no time did INEC Rivers release voters register to RSIEC as alleged in the news item aired by some media houses.“To put the records straight, INEC Rivers received a letter on April 28, 2015 on the pendency of the suit between PDP vs INEC and 40RS from E.C. Aguma counsel to PDP. When the matter came up on April 29, 2015 before Justice Akande of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, counsel to the second and third respondents, B.E. Nwafor, SAN, informed the court that they had gone on appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to entertain the matter and therefore, urged the court to adjourn the matter sine die.

I've no plan to scrap DESOPADEC —Uduaghan

By Festus Ahon & Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, said yesterday, that he had at no time contemplated scrapping Delta State Oil Producing Areas D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, as being insinuated in some parts of the state.

He explained that the bill he submitted to the state House of Assembly was aimed at strengthening the commission to “Make sure that DESOPADEC goes to the grassroots to enable traditional rulers and the youths participate in decision making in DESOPADEC so that nobody tempers with DESOPADEC.” Speaking while commissioning the state Training Centre, Arts and Crafts in Emede, Isoko South Local Government Area, he advised the people to read the bill and understand it and “stop all the blackmail and also stop misleading the people.

“I know the pressure on me, the pressure from those who do not want DESOPADEC and from those who are angry that the money going into DESOPADEC is too much.” He reiterated that the bill was to ensure that the grassroots people benefit more than they are benefiting presently.

On the Arts and Crafts Training Centre, Uduaghan noted that his administration, in its human capacity agenda, has paid attention to formal education and skills acquisition, which he said was also important for the growth and development of the economy of the state.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

SEC suspends BGL Group subsidiaries from capital market

By Peter Egwuatu

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HE SECURITIES and Exchange Commission, SEC yesterday announced the suspension of the three subsidiaries of BGL Group from the Nigerian capital market following complaints of financial impropriety by investors against the companies.

In a statement from the Commission received by Vanguard, it stated that the Executive Management Committee of the SEC at its meeting, Tuesday, considered the report of a detailed investigation into the various complaints received from investors against subsidiaries of BGL Group and directed as follows: “That BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited be suspended from all Capital Market activities; "That all Sponsored Individuals of BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited whose particulars are contained in the Commission’s record as at December 2014 be suspended from performing any Capital Market activity; "That Mr. Albert Okumagba, the Group Managing Director of BGL Group, should cease to be a registered sponsored Individual with the commission following the withdrawal of the registration of BGL Plc as a Capital Market Operator.

He is therefore no longer entitled to carryout Capital Market activities; "That all suspicious transactions observed in the course of the investigation have been referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for further investigation; a "That BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited and all individuals involved in the management of the said companies have been referred to the SEC Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC) which will give all parties to the cases a fair hearing.”

Recall that the SEC recently suspended the management of BGL securities.

Consequently, the Commission appointed an Interim Management Board,IMB, for the company headed by Mr. Oladipo Aina to investigate and submit report for its findings.

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Court stops Police from harassing Saraki over alleged bank loan

By Innocent Anaba

A

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja has cleared the former Kwara State Governor, Senator Bukola Saraki of any wrongdoing in a bank loan being investigated by the Police Special Fraud Unit since 2012.

The clearance given to the former governor in court was based on a legal opinion by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice that the allegations of wrongdoing against him were baseless and unfounded.

The legal opinion of the AGF was a response to the report submitted to him by the Inspector General of Police on Police findings in a complaint by Joy Petroleum Limited.

Trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed in his judgment in the case by Saraki against the police for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, stopped the Inspector General of Police, IG, from inviting or arresting him over the alleged bank loan.

The court also barred the agents of the IG especially the operatives

in the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, from harassing, intimidating and breaching the fundamental rights of the former governor and his aides.

The court held that any attempt to commence any further interrogation of Saraki on an issue already declared closed by the AGF would amount to a breach of his fundamental rights.

Justice Mohammed said that it would be unfair for Saraki to be subjected to further interrogation by police having been cleared of any wrongdoing by the AGF in the report police submitted to the

AWARDS: From left, Coordinator, Global Banking and Finance Review, Mr. Noel O’leary, and Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Olumide Oyetan, at the Global Banking and Finance Review Awards, in London.

minister for legal advice.

The judge said that the court had no choice than to give effect to the legal opinion of the Minister of Justice that the complaints against Saraki were baseless, unfounded and not supported with any shred of documentary evidence since he has no link with Joy Petroleum Limited, the complainant.

The court also held that the police ought to have stopped any further harassment of Senator Saraki since the AGF had officially written to the IG to discontinue the matter.

The judge held: “In law, the court cannot rely on any averment that is not supported with even a faint documentary evidence. The failure of police to produce in court the provisional findings submitted to the Minister of Justice and the letter of the Minister to the Police indicates that the case was not favourable to the Police.”

All the three letters of invitation sent by Police to Saraki for further interrogation on the closed matter were quashed, and set aside by the court for having no effects whatsoever.

Saraki, had dragged the IG to court over series of letters of invitation extended to him to appear before the SFU for investigation on a bank loan resolved in his favour two years ago.

In the suit, Saraki complained of undue harassment and intimidation on the part of Police and sought for protection of his fundamental human rights to justice and fair play.

US fines 5 big banks $5.7bn

By Omoh Gabriel

F

IVE major banks, including Barclays, Citigroup and Royal Bank of Scotland, have been fined a record $5.7billion (£3.7bn) for rigging foreign exchange markets in the latest scandal to engulf the banking industry.

Announcing the fines Loretta Lynch, US attorney general, said the banks had exhibited “breathtaking flagrancy” setting up a group they called “the cartel” to manipulate a market valued at $5trillion a day.

The manipulation of foreign exchange by these banks affects countries like Nigeria which is highly import dependent. Nigeria may have lost billions of dollars through this process as Nigeria banks have correspondence banking affiliation with most of the said banks.

The new fines are a second wave of punishments for fixing forex markets. Six major banks were fined £2.6bn in November 2014. This takes the total penalties to £6.3billion. Barclays, which was hit by the UK regulator’s

biggest ever fine, will fire eight employees.

It said that Citicorp, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Barclays PLC, and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc have agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to manipulate the price of U.S. dollars and euros exchanged in the foreign currency exchange spot market and that the banks have agreed to pay criminal fines totaling more

than $2.5 billion.

A fifth bank, UBS AG, has agreed to plead guilty to manipulating the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other benchmark interest rates and pay a $203 million criminal penalty, after breaching its December 2012 non-prosecution agreement resolving the LIBOR investigation.

The report said “Today’s historic

resolutions are the latest in our ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, and they serve as a stark reminder that this Department of Justice intends to vigorously prosecute all those who tilt the economic system in their favour; who subvert our marketplaces; and who enrich themselves at the expense of American consumers,” said Attorney General Lynch.

Jang faction debunks reconciliation of NGF

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA —Echoes of the friction in the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF sounded again yesterday when the Governor Jonah Jang led faction of the forum debunked the reconciliation that was effected on Monday night.

A statement issued by the secretary of the Jang faction, Osaro Onaiwu, affirmed that the majority of the governors

aligned with Jang were against the reconciliation that was effected on its behalf by some of its members.

The statement issued by Onaiwu did not list the governors that were against the reconciliation which was cemented by the presence of the five of the 16 governors that had been aligned with Jang.

Among the governors aligned to Jang who were present at the reconciliation meeting on Monday night were Godswill Akpabio of

Akwa Ibom, Ramallan Yero of Kaduna; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta; Isa Yuguda of Bauchi and Idris Wada of Kogi State who was represented by his deputy, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi.

The reconciliatory meeting which ended on Tuesday morning had resolved to end the bickering among the governors and elected Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara State as the new chairman of the forum for a one year term.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 —15

Imo legislators on 'strike' over non-payment of salaries, allowances

By Chidi Nkwopara

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W E R R I — L E G I S L AT I V E activities in Imo State House of Assembly have come to a halt, following the nonpayment of about three months arrears of salaries and allowances to the lawmakers.

Some of the serious but stalled legislative businesses, according to Vanguard investigations, include but not limited to the pending work on the 2015 budget proposal.

The lawmakers, who have barely two weeks to go, have obviously abandoned their legislative duties due to alleged maltreatment by the executive arm of government.

It was also gathered that the angry lawmakers have taken their protest to the Office of the State Accountant-General.

When Vanguard visited the House of Assemblyin its temporary venue, at Ikemba Ojukwu Convention Centre, yesterday, only a handful of members were seen as they waited for their colleagues who never came for the plenary.

Feelers from the Assembly

C M Y K

revealed that with only three of the present lawmakers billed to return in the new legislative year, Governor

Rochas Okorocha may not find it easy with the House.

“One of the ways to get back at the governor is to delay the

passage of the budget proposal,” a legislative aide of one of the outgoing lawmakers told Vanguard.

21 Anambra PDP assembly candidates withdraw petitions from tribunal

Imo Police smash dare-devil kidnappers

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—IMO State police command has smashed another gang of daredevil kidnappers, whose operational base is located at Umuevo, Obokwu Ngor in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state.

About three of the suspected kidnappers were nabbed by eagle-eyed policemen, while one managed to escape.

Vanguard gathered that the kidnappers were on the trail of a lady, who came in from her Lagos base to oversee the construction work which her husband was undertaking at her community’s St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

An eyewitness, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, told Vanguard that the kidnappers’ target got wind of the plot and quickly alerted the Divisional Police Headquarters at Umuneke Ngor.

“The Divisional Police Officer and his men kept close watch over

the woman and not long after, the surveillance paid off. ‘’Three of them were picked up from their den, while the kingpin and a native of the community (names withheld) escaped,” the witness recounted.

Confirming the arrest of the three suspects, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, also listed the

items recovered from them the suspects to include a locally made short gun, some live cartridges, one cellotape for sealing the mouths of their victims, a bundle of rope, a mask and an axe.

While noting that the suspects were cooperating with the police, the PPRO also promised that the command would go after the fleeing suspect.

Traders protest payments to govt without receipts in Onitsha

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI—TRADERS at Ose Okwodu Market, yesterday, took to the streets of Onitsha in protest against the refusal of the Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chief Ifeatu Onejieme, and the Ministry’s Director of Trade, Mr. Mike Uzuagu, to issue them with receipt for payments made to Anambra State government.

But the commissioner in a swift reaction, said the receipts were not issued because officials of his ministry were yet to assess and classify the shops, as some of the shops were half and others full.

The trader as early as 7a.m. left Onitsha for Awka to protest to the governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who they claimed was not aware of the situation on ground.

They alleged that some officials of the government had been tossing them around without issuing them receipts for payments made for the shops, stressing that informed the reason they took their protest to the governor’s office.

The placard-wielding protesters returned to Onitsha at about 2.30 pm to continue their protest round Old Market Road Onitsha, Obanye street, Court Road and Benjamin streets, chanting songs against the commissioner and director of markets.

Some of the placards read: “Ose Okwodu market traders wants the receipt of money they paid into government account” “Ifeatu and Mike are causing confusion in the markets” “Mike the Director of Markets wants us to pay money direct to him”. “His Excellency please save us from the duo of Onejeme and Uzuagu”, “Akpokue Dike we want the receipts for the money paid into government accounts” “ We paid money into government account but no receipt, we demand our receipts.”

Addressing newsmen in Onitsha shortly after their protest, Chairman of Ose Okwodu Market Park Line Traders Association, who led the protest, said the traders had been patient enough with the commissioner and his director.

Nze Uzo said the traders paid tax of N300, Stallage fee of N1,800 for full shade and N900 for half shade and development levy of N1,200, totalling N6,000, for those in full shade and N5,100 for half shade, adding that no receipts had been given them on any of the shpos.

“We paid and gave them the bank payment slip and the Accountant General of the state has confirmed the money we paid into the government account but the commissioner, Chief Onejieme, and Mr Uzuagu, have refused to give us our receipt because we refused to pay to the former general chairman of Ose Okwodo Market Traders Association who they want us to pay to but we refused because we are not sure of such directive," he said.

Reacting to the allegation, the commissioner who spoke through his Director of Trade, Mr. Mike Uzuagu, said there was the problem of assessing which of the shops were half or full.

He said the commissioner had earlier told the traders that before receipts could be issued to them, there must be assessment and classification of the shop which the ministry was yet to do.

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA— IN a rare show of sportsmanship, 21 House of Assembly candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who lost the April 11, 2015 election in Anambra State have withdrawn their petitions from the tribunal.

They announced their withdrawal, yesterday, at the Governor ’s Lodge, Amawbia, after a meeting held with the state deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke.

Leader of the group and PDP candidate for Nnewi South 2 constituency, Chief Egwuonyibo Okoye, said Governor Willie Obiano had been performing creditably, adding that based on his track record, they decided to withdraw the petitions they filed at the tribunal sitting in Awka to enable the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, lawmakers who emerged victorious at the election give the governor the needed support to transform the state.

According to him, any distraction against the state government at this point in time can delay the progress being made in the state.

He urged others who lost the election to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan who acknowledged defeat shortly after the presidential election.

Also speaking, Mr. Ifechukwu Udewulu for Nnewi North and Mr. Humphrey Iloh for Njikoka 2 noted that politics was a means to an end, which was to serve the people better, adding that their decision to concede defeat to APGA was a service to the people.

They urged the governor not to relent in his efforts to make Anambra State great.

Receiving the PDP candidates, the deputy governor said the gesture by the PDP candidates was worthy of emulation, noting that the progress of the state was greater than the desires of individuals or a political party.

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Survey exposes rot in health sector

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA— AN assessment and resource tracking studies conducted in six pilot states in Nigeria has exposed the rot in the health sector.

The pilot survey, sponsored by the World Bank, the Bill 7 Melinda Gates Foundation and Hanova Medical Limited, was carried out in Anambra, Cross River, Ekiti, Kebbi, Niger and Bauchi states.

At the presentation of Anambra State fact sheet Service Delivery Indicators, SDI, survey for 2013 in Awka yesterday, almost all the health indicators performed below average.

Emphasis in the survey centered on what health workers know, what they do, what they work with, as well as management of resources, supervision and financing.

According to the report, there is only 17.1 percent to adherence to clinical guidelines, while adherence by doctors, nurses/midwives and paraprofessionals were 32.8%, 21.7%, 14.2% and 10.8% respectively.

Similarly, absence of health workers from facilities ranged from 32.6% in health posts to 48.5% in secondary health facilities, while 42.8% of doctors, 39.1% of nurses, 44.4% of paraprofessionals were absent from all facilities during unannounced visits.

How I delivered ransom to kidnappers of GUO Motors boss —Personal driver

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—IKECHUKWU Okere, personal driver to Chief Godwin Ubaka Okeke, Chairman of GUO Motors Limited, yesterday, at an Onitsha High Court II presided over by Justice Alexander Okuma, gave a graphic account of how some of the suspected kidnappers abducted Okeke, on Sunday, August 23, 2009, in the premises of All Saints Anglican Church Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.

He also explained how he

personally drove the vehicle that took the unspecified amount of ransom to the kidnappers the next day for Okeke to be released from their captivity.

Testifying before the court as second prosecution witness at a resumed hearing of the proceeding in the case against three accused persons, including Kelechi Okafor, Anthony Okafor and Alexander Onyinanya, who are currently standing trial for allegedly participating in Okeke’s kidnap, Okere said Lady Pat Okeke, wife of the kidnap victim, sent him out on a Monday evening, a day after the kidnap,

to take the bag containing the ransom to wherever the kidnappers wanted it and deliver it to them, so her husband could be released.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Chris Ajugwe, Okere said as he was driving out with an SUV containing the ransom, Okeke’s wife gave him the phone number of the kidnappers and instructed him to be in constant contact with them until the money was delivered safely to them, so they would in turn release Okeke from their captivity.

He said he was accompanied on

VALEDICTORY SESSION: Senator Oluremi Tinubu (middle), Senator Zainab Kure, and Mrs. Chukwumerije (right), during the valedictory session in honour of late Senator Uche Chukwumerije, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

Abia gov tribunal grants APGA candidate prayers to inspect election materials

By Anayo Okoli.

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, yesterday, began sitting in Umuahia and granted the application of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the April 2015 poll, Dr. Alex Otti, to inspect materials used in the exercise.

The tribunal also granted Otti’s prayers to serve the first respondent, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor-elect, of the PDP, by substituted means.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Usman Bwala, who granted the prayers at its inaugural sitting, directed that the inspection of materials be done under the supervision of the police and Department of State Service at the INEC state office.

The court ordered that the inspection be conducted for three days, spanning May 28-30, 2015, and also ordered that the 1st C M Y K

Respondent be served between now (yesterday) and 12 noon tomorrow” (today).

Apart from Otti, two other persons, Chief Nyerere Chinenye Anyim, the APC governorship candidate in the election filed a petition against Dr. Ikpeazu, INEC and three others concerning the governorship election.

Also, Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba, who is laying claims to

APGA’s governorship ticket in the said election, filed another petition against Dr. Alex Otti, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, APGA, INEC and 22 others. Only Otti’s petition was entertained yesterday.

Otti’s legal team, led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, had on Monday filed two ex-parte motions seeking leave to serve Dr. Ikpeazu by substituted means and to inspect documents and materials used for the election

which were granted by the court yesterday.

In his inaugural remarks, shortly before the sitting, the chairman, Justices Usman Bwala, leading two other judges, Justices Ekerete Ebienyie and Olusegun Ogunyemi, solicited the cooperation of everyone involved in the process to be able to meet the deadline stipulated by law.

Burglars on the prowl in Awka

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA— SUSPECTED robbers have renewed the onslaught in Awka, Anambra State capital, keeping the residents on their toes.

The latest victims were Silver Bird Communications studios in Awka, where they carted away some property and a cyber café located at the ever busy

Aroma area of the capital city.

Items taken away by the robbers include laptops, radio equipment, head phones, recorders, motorcycle and other valuables estimated at over N2 million .

At Aroma, the burglars invaded cyber cafés by gaining access through the ceiling of the buildings and carted away television sets, decoders, desk tops, recharge cards and

ransacked the offices, apparently in search of money.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Uche Ezeh, confirmed the incident, saying investigations into the incident were still on.

He said that though the police had been patrolling the state at night, the state command would intensify the patrol to ensure such occurrences were stopped.

the journey by one Daniel Okeke, adding that on contacting them on phone, the kidnappers directed him to come to Nkwo Nnewi Triangle and meet with them, and that on getting to the Triangle, they directed him to Nnobi.

He said on getting to Nnobi, the kidnappers wasted some time and told him to drive back to Nnewi, noting that on getting back to Nnewi, they told him to drive to Agulu He said when he got to Agulu, they told him to come back to Nnobi with his roof light and oneway trafficator switched on for proper identification.

He said on his way to Nnobi, the kidnappers blocked him at a place very close to Okacha Junction, adding that as they alighted from their own vehicle, they starting shooting sporadically with all their headlamps on.

Okere said as they were shooting, some commuters plying the road abandoned their vehicles with headlamps on and ran into the bush.

He said the second defendant, Anthony Ifeanyi Okafor, and other members of his gang, immediately ordered him to open the SUV boot which he did, following which he dropped his gun and inspected the bag containing the ransom.

He said the kidnappers collected the SUV keys and drove off with the vehicle, leaving their own vehicle for him and Okeke who they just freed from their captivity.

Also in a cross-examination by Uchenna Nwafor, counsel to the second defendant, Anthony Ifeanyi Okafor, Okere insisted that it was Anthony Ifeanyi that inspected the bag containing the ransom and at a stage, asked him to get out, adding that when eventually Anthony Ifeanyi was arrested and detained at Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Awkuzu, he was invited to identify him.

Okere also informed the court in a cross-examination by Jideofor Okongwu, counsel to the third defendant, Alexander Onyinanya, that Onyinanya was a former member of staff of Onitsha North Vigilante Operatives who worked at Okeke’s home town, Adazi-Ani, before he was posted out.

He added that Onyinanya even visited Okeke’s home town barely a week or two before the August 23, 2009, kidnap to see a fellow vigilante operative, known as Nwa-Baby.

The presiding Judge, Justice Okuma, adjourned the case for an accelerated hearing for seven days, four days in June and three days in July, starting from June 15, for continuation of evidences of more prosecution witnesses and possibly defence witnesses.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 17

E

ARLY this week, the All Progressives Congress, APC’s Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate, announced a 2-Day Policy Dialogue on the Implementation of the Agenda for Change, on the eve of the inauguration of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency, by May 29th, 2015. The initiative is ordinarily welcome and many newspapers saw it as the unveiling of the incoming government’s policy direction.

But there is a most devious element to the whole project, and that is the inclusion of former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair as “Keynote Speaker ” in a Policy Dialogue of an incoming administration elected on the platform of bringing change to our country. Last week Thursday, most Nigerian newspapers had also carried on their front pages, a picture of the same Tony Blair flanked by Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Tony Bliar had visited the incoming leaders in Abuja. And as is his wont, Blair spoke very patronisingly “assuring” Buhari of “the support of the major democracies of the world” (On what authority was he giving such an assurance?). He went further to tell Buhari: “In whatever way we can, we are ready to support you and help you (And who are the ‘ we’ that the war criminal spoke for?)…Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to see you again here in Nigeria…”

The romance with Tony Blair started on the eve of the last elections when Bukola Saraki organised a meeting and photo-op with the former British Prime Minister for General Muhammadu Buhari. If we had thought that it was just a pre-election faux pas, that was perhaps a necessary part of the Chatham House appearance by General Buhari, we were mistaken.

Because, the larger-than –life image that Tony Blair is being invested with by the incoming administration, through the machinations of an overambitious member of the APC has become a most disturbing aspect of potential policy, including foreign policy. Last week, Bukola Saraki posted a selfie of himself and Tony Bliar on his facebookpage, soon after a meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja.

It is also instructive that the 2-Day Policy Dialogue had been announced by longstanding Bukola Saraki aide, Bolaji Abdullahi, who is Deputy Head of the Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

An unwelcome visitor The problem is that Tony Blair does not possess the halo and aura of credibility that the neocolonial elite and some individuals in the APC are investing him with. If we have a serious, politically-conscious ruling elite that is dedicated to the best interests of humanity, we would actually have organised Tony Bliar ’s arrest for onward C M Y K

working out for Nigeria that warrants the “Keynote Address” of a Tony Blair? There is also a neo-colonial contraption called the Honourary Investment Council headed by the British Conservative Baroness, Lynda Chalker, that was put in place

by Olusegun Obasanjo, who also suffers a surprisingly unacceptable level of inferiority complex, vis-à-vis the leading imperialist politicians.

Muhammadu Buhari and decent company transportation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, to be tried for crimes against humanity and the illegal invasion, occupation and destruction of Iraq, on the basis of lies. On Tuesday this week, Olatunji Dare’s THE NATION column, titled: “AN UNWELCOME VISITOR”, explained in great detail, the crimes and indecencies of Tony Blair, that has been turned into some policy Guru befitting the change that Nigerians desired with the election of Muhammadu Buhari. This is the same Tony Blair that cannot freely walk on the streets of London and is perhaps the most detested politician in the whole of Europe today. As Olatunji Dare reminded: “So unpopular and discredited had he become at the end of his record tenure as prime minister that he could not embark on a farewell tour of Britain, where he was sure to be greeted with shouts of ‘liar, liar ’ and pelted with tomatoes and eggs…The last time Blair went to testify

before a parliamentary committee looking into how the UK entered into the unholy alliance that invaded, occupied and destroyed Iraq, he had to be smuggled into the committee room through a back door, to save him from the

General Muhammadu Buhari should remember early enough, that he has been elected to provide leadership for change that works for the Nigerian people

wrath of protesters”!

If the APC denizens inviting him to be “Keynote Speaker ” at their Policy Dialogue had looked carefully, they probably would have seen the blood of innocent Iraqi men and women dripping from the pores of their guest and each time he opens his mouth, they probably would have also seen the flesh of Iraqi children still hanging on his teeth! The neo-colonial elite is by nature not better than a eunuch; they always believe that they need the imprimatur of the metropolitan, imperialist bourgeoisie to validate their rule. When such elite groups include over-ambitious individuals like that touting Blair for the APC, they make very elementary but unpardonable mistakes because of the deeply unpatriotic content of their intentions! Why would any serious patriot committed to the real development of our country be seen in the company of Tony Blair? What policy directions are they

Emma Ezeazu: The passing of a patriot

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T was on Monday night, that Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, posted that: “Colleagues, sadly, we’ve just lost Emma Ezeazu, former President of NANS, former National Secretary Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) & founder, Community Action for Popular Participation…”

In the wake of that sad announcement, many individuals that knew or had worked with our dear Comrade Emma Ezeazu, wrote very solemn tributes which recognised his commitment to our country’s development. Ayo Obe, who had headed CLO, was saddened by Emma’s death, adding that the last time she saw him: “it was obvious that he had been seriously ill, but was fairly upbeat, and one hoped that he was on the road to recovery”. She reminded that Emma was “also a stalwart of the activist prodemocracy movement-as well as the CLO and CAPP, he was a leader of the Democratic Alternative political party, as well as the Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE)”. I spoke with Chidi Odinkalu, soon after the postings and he reminded me that Emma had been sick for the past eight years, off and on, and it was testimony to his strength of character and

commitment to our country, that he kept a very crowded schedule of work in all those years.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement of his death, I had posted as follows: “Soon after Emma was elected President of NANS, he was brought by a group of comrades to the radio house in Ilorin. I interviewed him live and he was as passionately militant as most of our PYMN comrades of that generation.

PYMN, the Patriotic Youth Movement of Nigeria, was the

umbrella body for all Marxist student organizations on Nigerian campuses and it was actually from its ranks that NANS leaders used to emerge from. Sadly, even PYMN became a victim of the rot that’s eaten our mass progressive movements.

Over the years, Emma stayed the course as a patriot whose love for our country was central to his work. By Emma Ezeazu’s death, we have lost a wonderful individual who was committed to the betterment of our country”.

Kashim Shettima is chairman, northern governors' forum

O

N Monday this week, Kashim Shettima, the Borno state Governor, was elected the new Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF). He promised that the NGF would unite to fight against Boko Haram as well as work together to face the many challenges facing Northern Nigeria. Kashim Shettima is very passionate about the need to confront the issues of underdevelopment and poverty, which have been the basis of the insurgency wracking the North, in the past six years. One of the problems of the NGF was the refusal of many of the governors to attend meetings because of an unstated but implicit clash of egos amongst them. It became difficult for them therefore, to work in a concerted manner, to build the platforms of unity that were necessary, to create agendas to coordinate the development of the North. There is a younger and more dynamic group of governors elected in the North, who Kashim Shettima will provide leadership for. The expectation is for them to work with zeal for the development of Northern Nigeria. They cannot afford to fail! We are watching.

Congratulations, Governor Kashim Shettima.

Elected to provide leadeship General Muhammadu Buhari should remember early enough, that he has been elected to provide leadership for change that works for the Nigerian people. He needs the acceptance and approval of the Nigerian people, not the imprimatur of imperialist politicians. He should, please, keep very decent company.

Being lured into photo-ops with Tony Blair, at the behest of an overambitious young man, actually diminishes his stature. Tony Blair is not decent company! If we cannot arrest him to face his day at the International Criminal Court, because of our neocolonial encumbrances, they should please stop inviting Tony Blair to our country. We are a nation of decent people with a strong sense of history.

The crimes that Tony Blair committed against the Iraqi people were some of the worst war crimes of the Twenty-First Century. They were crimes not only against Iraq, but also against our collective humanity. And the invasion, occupation and destruction of Iraq had been on the basis of a lie. Olatunji Dare puts it very succinctly: “Contrived earnestness, evangelical fervor, and ability to tell a blatant lie with a straight face: That is the quintessence of Tony Blair. No weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq. But by the time British forces pulled out, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi had been killed. Hundreds of thousands more had been displaced and Iraq lay in ruins. Hundreds of British soldiers had also been killedall for a lie…The hundreds of thousands of Iraqis whom Blair ’s war mongering removed from this world, and the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis it turned into refugees or otherwise brought to ruin have no place in Blair ’s consciousness”. They obviously have no place in the consciousness of those who have been arranging this liaison with Muhammadu Buhari (for the sake of a personal and unpatriotic political agenda, we hasten to add!) and those in the APC Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate, who have chosen Tony Blair as the “Keynote Speaker ” at their Policy Dialogue.

Muhammadu Buhari must see through the personal agendas of overambitious individuals that in the long run, do disservice to our countr y ’s heritage of support for oppressed peoples and which opposes imperialist brigandage; the type Tony Blair typifies!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 ONE of the assignments the out going session of the National Assembly set for itself very early in the day was to ensure certain sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria were amended.

The need for the amendments was also shared by President Goodluck Jonathan who empanelled the Justice Alfa Belgore Committee to codify all previous constitutional conference reports for the Federal Government. The Senate and House of Representatives set up separate committees. The National Assembly found a joint committee approach too acrimonious.

After a tedious and painstaking effort, which involved passage of amendment of certain sections and the concurrence of the State Houses of Assembly, the federal law makers presented a document to President Jonathan late in 2014. Trouble, however, started when the President announced his decision to

Messy Amendments withhold assent to the document, citing unwholesome procedures in passing some sections and the implications of their interpretations.

An enraged National Assembly started a process of over riding the presidential veto, and the President instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court.

The National Assembly appeared set to do the unthinkable by over riding the President’s veto though the Supreme Court ordered suspension of action on the process.

Fortunately, President of the Senate, David Alechenu Mark, once again, exerted his statesmanship on his colleagues, and after an executive session, the Senate backed down, saying it does not intend to be a “lawbreaker”.

We commend the Senate for its timely decision not to disobey the Supreme Court for any reason. It is true each arm of government has its constitutional powers, but the separation of powers ensures no arm of government becomes over bearing, or usurps the powers of the other.

The Senate would have set a terri-

ble precedent if it rejected the Supreme Court’s effort to interpret the law to settle the disagreement between the Legislature and the Executive. With all three arms cancelling each other out, we would have wound up in a “jungle” of sorts, and still the amendment would never have worked.

It is a pity that such valuable time, efforts and over N4 billion were wasted on this exercise. It made the actors look like amateurs. We must learn the relevant lessons.

In any case, it was unwise to seek to amend so many sections at the same time. The situation would have worsened if the Presidency had made good its intentions to implement the resolutions of the National Conference.

The nation must take a collective decision on what to do to bring the Constitution up to date. It should no longer be the pet project of any arm of government.

OPINION

Open le tt er tto o all Igbo elect ed lett tter elected politicial leaders (2)

By Cyril Ezeani Continued from yesterday's pg 18 4.Oil & Gas BIA and Imo states are oil producing states and currently part of the NDDC. There is the need to examine the NDDC projects with a view to determining whether these Igbo states are shortchanged in terms of projects allocation and execution.

Also, efforts should be made to ensure that Anambra State with its oil reserve in the Aguleri axis and rich gas deposit at Igboariam is properly enlisted so that it can begin to receive her due benefits as other oil producing states of Nigeria.

5.Additional state The issue of creation of additional state for the South East to put it at per with other zones of the country is still pending. Despite the consensus reached on this matter with the other zones of the country during the 2005 Political Reform Conference of President Olusegun Obasanjo and the 2014 National Conference of President Goodluck Jonathan administration, this

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matter is yet to be implemented.

Ndigbo looks up to you to bring this matter to full realisation.

6.The 3-Rs There is no gainsaying that there has not been any deliberate effort by the Federal Government to implement the Yakubu Gowon programme of the 3-Rs – Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reintegration - since the end of the civil war in 1970. The Igbo still live with the scars of the war 45 years after despite the fact that the Federal Government is currently budgeting billions of Naira to reconstruct and rehabilitate the Boko Haram damages in North East Nigeria.

The Igbo should demand the immediate establishment of a commission to address the genocide, war crimes and

We shall continue to demand for a full federalism based on equity, justice and fairness

destructions committed by the Federal Government of Nigeria against the Igbo people of Biafra during the 30-monthold civil war.

7.Projects completion The hope of completing the on-going projects in the South East such as the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, the Second Niger Bridge, the rehabilitation of Enugu – Port Harcourt and Enugu – Onitsha Express Roads and the Alaoji Power Plant now hangs in the balance.

It is expected that you will not only move to ensure the timely completion of these projects but also lobby for new projects.

8.Restructuring The Igbo agenda in the restructuring of Nigeria remains unambiguous. We shall continue to demand for a full federalism based on equity, justice and fairness. We demand for a federation in which all the federating units are allowed to grow and develop at their own pace. We want devolution of powers to the federating units. We demand equal opportunities for all peoples of Nigeria devoid of ethnic, religious or political favouritism.We want a country where the rights and privileges of all Nigerians are absolutely guaranteed in any part of the country they choose to live. These and more such like agenda are the basic guarantee

for peace and progress of any egalitarian society. Ndigbo expects you to stand on these principles which have been clearly articulated by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and work with other Nigerians of like minds for its actualisation.

Your Excellencies, these are not by any means exhaustive but my main aim is to draw your kind attention to the enormity of challenges and expectations from our people so as to prepare your mind for the great task ahead. You must strive to present a united front on these issues and align properly with the Executive, leadership of the National Assembly and your colleagues from other zones of the country in a manner like ‘you rob my back I rob yours’ in order to achieve your objectives.

Always count on me as your partner in progress as I continue to interface with you to offer my suggestions and advice while I sit at the sidelines to watch the political developments in our dear country.

While wishing you all the best in this onerous assignment, kindly accept, your Excellencies, the humble Concluded *Mr. Ezeani, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21 21,, 2015— 19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

The change you’re already getting

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OU must have heard about the publication of the official portraits of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) and his Deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (should we say PYO?). Talking about portraits, have you heard what some evilminded people did to those of President Goodluck Jonathan in Kano and some other parts of the North? Even before the man is out of office, some office rats removed his portraits, and no one seems to have raised their voices against such an ignoble and unpatriotic act that could promote politics of bitterness among Nigerians.

The security agents have not arrested or held anyone to account. Where shall we be if the recently published official portraits of Buhari are refused their rightful places in government offices in South East and South-South? Why should some people continue to commit unspeakable acts of barbarism and lack of regard for people from some parts of the country and we all carry on as if they do not matter, simply because the other side does not retaliate? The

security agencies must restore President Jonathan’s portraits in Kano and maintain them in all government offices nationwide, and anyone who tampers with them or condones the act before the morning of May 29th 2015 must be made to face the full wrath of the law!

Meanwhile, we are waiting for the dawn of a supposed new era, when our new president will take charge after the brief ceremonies of May 29th. A quick look at the new portrait of Buhari, and you will know that the “change” the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer promised is already taking place, right before our naked eyes.

During the campaigns, Buhari was accorded the most sophisticated branding we have ever seen in the annals of our history.

Perhaps, the information and computer technology (ICT) age leveraged on the impetus of the Internet is to “blame”. You have to give it to a superior media strategy conceived by the APC team, which put its rivals, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the shade. During the campaigns,

Buhari was branded as a religious messiah in the Muslim North. He told the Arewa rabble that he would implement the “ideologies” of the Islamic religion. Ask anyone who cares to tell the truth in the North, and he would confess to you that religion, coupled with the ravages of Boko Haram, were the primary ingredients that turned the opinion of Arewa North against Jonathan and in favour of Buhari. The lie that Jonathan was behind the Boko Haram scourge was successfully sold to the Arewa voter.

But down South, Buhari was branded totally in different raiment and colours. To seduce the Southern youth, he was dressed in a black dinner suit, white shirt and black bow tie, and shown smiling. With his handsome gapped teeth displayed for maximum effect, he stood like a benevolent chief executive in an office with

If Muhammadu Buhari (MB) fights the good fight, those who dressed up this masquerade will be the first to experience the “change” he will dish out!

The Speaker Nigeria needs

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HERE is a political philosophy that was popularised by Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the 28th President of the United States of America, “To the victor belongs the spoil of office”. Besides, people talk of the winner-takes-all syndrome.

What is not clear to many is why, for instance, Muhammadu Buhari, our President-elect, cannot, in the face of all these assertions, proceed to fill his entire cabinet and other openings in government with people from his home State of Katsina.

For one thing, Buhari is neither the victor nor the winner. The victor is the All Progressives Congress, APC. That is the party that must now distribute the offices it has won.

For another, there are many constitutional guarantees backing the citizenry. One such guarantee is to be found in Section 42(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which insulates every Nigerian from discrimination based on the circumstances of birth. Put differently, no one shall suffer any deprivation because of the accident of geography.

Section 14(3) is devoted to the issue of federal character, which forbids the concentration of powers in the hands of a few States to the exclusion of others.

The federal character application appears in all segments of our national life. That explains why any political party that fails to pick its national officers from all parts of the federation cannot pass the test of registration. The sharing of party offices cannot be mixed up with the positions in the Executive and Legislative branches.

Essentially, the sharing of the spoils of office has started. The President-elect, the nation’s First Citizen, has emerged from the North-West sub-region and the VicePresident-elect, the Number Two Citizen, is from the South West. The next two positions in contention are those of the C M Y K

President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives who should also come from different zones of the country.

Apparently, the Senate presidency is already gravitating towards the NorthCentral and the North-East zones where the political gladiators – Senator Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Senator George Akume (Benue), Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno), and Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe) – are warming up for the final armada.

Heaven helps those who help themselves.

The struggle for these offices is open only to those who have won elections to the relevant Houses. That explains why those from the South-East geo-political zone cannot even raise a finger to demand for the any principal officer’s position. In the last election, the APC candidates from that zone fell to the superior maneuvering machines of an opposing party to the extent that no single APC candidate succeeded from there.

The same cannot be said about the South-South where Edo State came out as the clear saviour of the zone, having performed creditably at the elections.

As they say in the traditional, if the kolanut, on its own, falls where you intended to plant it, you simply put sand on it and move ahead. That is the clear case of Hon. Pally Iriase. Of the six Representatives who have shown interest in the speakership – Pally Iriase (Edo/South-South), Israel Ajibola (Osun/South-West), Yakubu

To hint that Iriase cannot be made Speaker simply because he comes from the same State with the National Chairman of the APC is to lapse into political illiteracy

Nigeria’s flag standing nearby.

For the Yoruba voter, he was dressed in agbada with a matching cap. And for the Igbo, he was dressed in a typical Anambra traditional chieftain, with their long red cap to match, not forgetting the alluring smile.

All the wrinkles that adorn his septuagenarian visage were airbrushed to make him look younger, unlike the much older man his PDP opponents said he was. He was expertly packaged to seduce those born less than thirty years ago, which should be more than half the 170 million people of Nigeria, especially those who are restlessly looking for a better, more functional and less corrupt country.

With the publication of his official portrait, you will see that the difference is clear. The “change” is rather dramatic!

GMB has already started assuming his real element. Don’t get me wrong. I do not subscribe to the use of “Baba One Chance” (as some internet worms or “infestations” have been doing) to characterise this change. I am only saying that our in-coming president is transiting from the fantasy of electioneering campaigns to the reality of presenting himself in his true colours. He will no longer be seen in suit and tie, agbada or Igbo chief regalia. He will be dressed as he has always been: in babanriga or kaftan with the Arewa cap to match. He will stare down the wall at everyone in every office without his campaign smiles. He will be businesslike, stern and watchful through his nerdy spectacles.

And he will no longer be called General Muhammadu Buhari

D o g a r a (Bauchi/NorthEast), Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos/SouthW e s t ) , Mohammed M o n g o n o (Borno/NorthEast) and Abdualmumin Jibrin (Kano/North-West) – Iriase stands out as the most favoured by both history and geography.

Certainly, the federal character principle would frown at having two of the four highest positions in one zone. This is where Iriase has a clear advantage over other contenders. He is from the SouthSouth zone where his home State, Edo, has since become, irretrievably, a major stronghold of the APC. On his own, Iriase parades very tall credentials – an accountant by training, banker extra-ordinaire, two-time Chairman of Owan East Local Government, two-time member of Edo State House of Assembly where he was a very successful Deputy Speaker, former Secretary to Edo State Government and currently, a ranking member of the House of Representatives.

Nothing in the foregoing vitiates the fact that other contenders may also be eminently qualified. But we insist that in all things, people must look the role they want to play. One illustration here will suffice: Hon. Gbajabiamila is a natural leader. The APC must ensure that this young man is not derailed from the path of leadership.

It would be recalled that this four-time returnee to the House of Representatives was the Deputy Minority Leader from 2007 to 2011. In 2011, he emerged Minority Leader. His oratory and erudite approach to debates can even lure a monkey down from the tree-top. In a Speaker, these fine attributes would simply be buried. In Gbajabiamila, the

(GMB). That would remind us of his dark military past, especially dictatorship days that elicited PDP’s “hate” documentaries on AIT and NTA. He won’t be called a “Mr” – since when! Too Western, anyway. He won't be referred to as “Alhaji” or “Malam”. That would play into the hands of his traducers who love to brand him as a “religious fanatic”. He would walk a safe middle ground and be referred to simply as Muhammadu Buhari, President, Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The bottom line is that when Buhari assumed power, we are going to see many things totally different from what his branders presented to us. He is going to have to smile a lot less to bring about the change we need. He is going to fight tough wars: war on Boko Haram insurgency, pipelines vandals, oil thieves, including those in the armed forces, petroleum cabals creating artificial scarcity, economic saboteurs; looters, especially those who will feel entitled to steal having funded his campaign and carry out brutal cut-down in the size of government. He will have running battles with forces in his party, the National Assembly, the opposition, former military colleagues such as Olusegun Obasanjo and TY Danjuma, as well as entrenched prebendarians masquerading as ethnic “elders” and “youths”.

If Muhammadu Buhari (MB) fights the good fight, those who dressed up this masquerade will be the first to experience the “change” he will dish out!

APC has a natural Majority Leader who will provide a solid bridge and a perfect liaison between the Executive and Legislature on the one hand; and a smooth relationship between the Legislature and the Party on the other. To divert him from this natural course would be disastrous. Who even says he will make a good Speaker?

Iriase is the Speaker Nigeria needs. To hint that Iriase cannot be made Speaker simply because he comes from the same State with the National Chairman of the APC is to lapse into political illiteracy.

Politically speaking, both men live on different streets.

Again, those who argue that the APC could behave like the PDP where in the out-going dispensation the Vice-President and the Speaker came from the same North-West zone certainly miss the point or they do not wish the APC well. They have forgotten so soon that the “legislative rascality”, which produced that result was the last straw that broke PDP’s neck.

Such should be avoided like plague.

We remember Alexander Pope (16881744), “For forms of government, let fools contest. That which is best administered is best”. As morning shows the day, if the APC gets the sharing formula right from the very beginning, it shall have established the framework for lasting success. As they say, the federal government is an elephant. With just a little patience, the meat will go round.

Every part, including States where APC did not win, must be carried along. After all, there is always another election!

20 — Vanguard,THURSDAY Vanguard,THURSDAY,, MAY 21, 2015

Mob attack at palace: Paramount ruler escapes death by whiskers, recounts ordeal

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

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AST weekend, there was palpable tension in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when a mob, made up mostly of angry youths, attacked and sacked the palace of the paramount ruler of Makurdi town, Ter Makurdi, Chief Sule Abenga. The mob completely vandalized the palace and six cars parked within the premises, while the royal father escaped death by the whiskers after a friend smuggled him, with the aid of the police, out of his besieged palace.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered from an eye witness that the angry youths had stormed the palace, located by the ever-busy Makurdi-Otukpo highway, at about 9am, protesting the alleged involvement of one of Chief Abenga’s sons in alleged criminal activities in the area.

According to the witness, the irate youths barricaded the highway and demanded that the paramount ruler produced the said son (name withheld) whom they insisted must explain his alleged involvement in recent crimes in the area. “They insisted that the young man should be produced to explain his roles in several crimes in the area, and when they felt that the royal father and his family were shielding him from ‘justice’ the youths became infuriated.

“It was at that point that they decided to move into the palace to search for and arrest the young man, but the situation degenerated. The mob resorted to pulling down the perimeter fence, destroying several cars that were parked within the vicinity and in the process completely vandalised his residence and six cars in the palace, while the paramount ruler and his family members ran for dear lives,” he said.

VM also learned that after destroying the palace, the mob moved from house to house in search of other suspected cult members in the area.

Chief Abenga’s ordeal Recounting his ordeal to VM, Chief Abenga , who is renowned for his calm disposition said: “As you know, this is a palace and my private residence. My practice every morning is that after breakfast I move to the palace to attend to people. But that particular Saturday morning I was preparing to go for a wedding ceremony when the children in the house ran to me C M Y K

*Two of the vandalised cars. INSET: Chief Sule Abenga standing behind another vandalised vehicle and said some youths were knocking at the gate and wanted to come in.

“But suddenly, I saw all the children running into the house, shouting that the people were trying to force their way into the premises. At that point I started hearing bangs on the gate. I wanted to go and see things for myself but the children restrained me, saying that they were in a multitude. I decided to call the police and couldn’t reach them. I then put a call to the Tor Tiv (the Head of the Tiv traditional leader) who assured me that he would get across to

They made several attempts to burn down the entire house and the cars there, but God stopped them because they would have burnt me and my family in the building

security operatives.

“Few minutes later, I saw police officers in my compound; I met and told them that it was good that they were around, stressing that if the mob had to kill me it should be in the presence of the police. I asked the officers what was actually happening and why the mob besieged my residence. At that time, the Divisional Police Officer who led the team said the mob wanted one of my sons, and I said none of them was around.

War songs; reign of terror “But members of the mob insisted that they would come in to search my premises, but I suggested that they should pick few persons to come in because they were many; but they refused. Then I heard war songs coming from outside and they started pulling down the entrance gate, and the moment they gained entry into the building, it was reign of terror.

Everything in sight, including vehicles, dogs and other property were destroyed. They made several attempts to burn down the entire house and the cars there, but God stopped them because they would have burnt me and my family in the building.

“I am saddened by the response of the police in this

matter because when it started the police officers who came around told me that the alleged crime did not fall under their jurisdiction. That is why I said that the response of the police was lackadaisical.

“Even at that, I have not till date set my eyes on my son that they were looking for. Is it a crime to have a son who does not follow your footsteps? I am a lawabiding citizen who does not like crisis, but some have tied what happen to cultism. Some say it’s political, but the fact is that nobody is above the law. So, if my son has any issues with them(the mob) because they said somebody was killed which necessitated the mob action, the matter should have been reported to the police for necessary action.

“I believe that some people are using this to settle scores; my loyalty is to the Tor Tiv, my actions are not political. I only demand that the truth of the matter should be unravelled by the police because if I, as a royal father, could be attacked, what then is the fate of the common man? ” The royal father who cautioned his kinsmen against any form of reprisal attack said: “My people thought that I was killed in the attack. So, on Sunday morning I went to the village to worship in the church so that they can all see me. But some are already

insinuating the I was mobilising a reprisal attack. I will never do that because I have left everything to God and the police because I don’t believe in violence. I don’t want to be killed for what I know nothing about; anyone who takes the law into his hands is on his own; even if it’s my son, the law should take its cause.”

Five persons arrested Meantime, the Benue State Police Command, few days back, announced the arrest of five persons in connection with the attack. The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Austine Ezeani, told VM in a telephone interview that investigations into the matter was still ongoing. He said the Command had drafted a detachment of Mobile Police officers to the residence to forestall further attacks on the palace.

According to Ezeani: “The Area Commander in charge of Makurdi, has also initiated peace moves among residents of Welfare Quarters, where the palace is located, in order to find lasting solution to the crisis.

Investigation into the matter is still ongoing. I can assure you that the police will get to the root of the matter in order to ensure that peace reigns.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

PRESENTATION: From left, Managing Director/CEO, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Henry J. Semenitari; Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; Chairman, Unity Bank, Mr. Thomas Etuh and Executive Director, Unity Bank Plc, Aisha Abraham at the presentation of the Facts Behind the Figures by the bank at the exchange.

5 serving ministers, 3 others in race for AfDB presidency

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor, with agency reports

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IGHT prominent Africans including Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina are contesting for the Presidency of the African Development Bank. The other contenders are Sufian Ahmed of Ethiopia, Jaloul Ayed of Tunisia, Kordjé Bedoumra of Chad, Cristina Duarte of Cape Verde, M. W. Kamara of Sierra Leone, Thomas Z. Sakala of

$142.05

-1.10

$3,124.00

-16.00

$12.84

0.06

$65.90

59.07 CURRENCY BUYING

-0.37

-0.36

CENTRAL

DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 POUNDS 303.5452 304.3196 305.0939 EURO 219. 0888 219.6477 220.2066 FRANC 210.1201 210.6561 211.1921 YEN 1.6309 1.635 1.6392 CFA 0.3212 0.3312 0.3412 WAUA 277. 248 277.9552 278.6625 RENMINBI 31.5769 31.6579 31.7389 RIYAL 52.2639 52.3972 52.5305 KRONA 29.373 29.4479 29.5228 SDR 275.8504 276.5541 277.2578

CBN Exchange Rate as at 20/ 05 /15

Zimbabwe, and Boubacar Sidibe of Mali.

Five of the eight are currently serving as ministers, while one is a former minister and development banking specialist. In an extensive dossier published in the second quarter issue of African Banker, the eight candidates indicated their suitability for the job and the credentials required to lead Africa’s most prominent development institution.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, feels that his experience in transforming the agricultural sector

in Nigeria, as well as his first experience working and operating in various African countries will keep him in good stead. His vision is based on continuing decentralisation and increasing support for private initiatives.

Having overseen Ethiopia’s strong growth into one of Africa’s leading economies, Sufian Ahmed, the country’s Finance Minister believes the AfDB will be safe in his experienced hands.

The Former Minister of Finance of Tunisia, Jaloul Ayed, asserts that his banking experience has allowed him to gain a clear understanding of

— 21

Africa’s full potential. He calls for an AfDB that is closer to its markets.

Chad’s Minister of Finance and Budget, Kordjé Bedoumra, states that following his previous tenure at the AfDB, he has the experience and expertise to improve operational efficiency of the Bank as well as shape its short and long term policies.

The only female candidate in the running is Cristina Duarte, Minister of Finance and Planning, Cape Verde.

She says that whatever improvements need to be made, the AfDB can never forget its mission - that is to serve Africa and its people.

With his broad experience in a number of financial institutions Samura M. W. Kamara, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation believes that he is the right person to ensure the AfDB works for Africa.

The former AfDB vice president, Zimbabwe’s Thomas Z. Sakala, has plenty of experience working at the AfDB, and believes he is well suited to keep the Bank’s programmes and strategies on the right track.

And last but not least, Birama Boubacar Sidibé, the Malian Vice President of the Islamic Bank of Development says that with his wealth of experience in African development institutions, he intends to make the AfDB more efficient in its decentralised organisation and expand its business operations.

The contenders are Akinwumi A. Adesina of Nigeria, Sufian Ahmed of Ethiopia, Jaloul Ayed of Tunisia, Kordjé Bedoumra of Chad, Cristina Duarte of Cape Verde, M. W. Kamara of Sierra Leone, Thomas Z. Sakala of Zimbabwe, and Boubacar Sidibe of Mali

FG okays financial advisers for BoI’s partial privatisation

By Favour Nnabugwu

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he Federal Government has approved financial advisers for the commencement of partial privatisation of the Bank of Industry, BoI, the Managing Director, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa has said.

Olaoluwa said that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) had commenced the partial privatisation of the bank with the approval of Financial advisers by the NCP. BoI MD at the workshop with the theme: “BOI’s impacting on Nigeria Industrial Sector ”, explained that the approval was granted last week for the partial privatisation exercise to commence in order to reduce the over-dependence of the bank on public funding and be able to attract additional funding on its own.

While amplifying the positive progress made by the bank, he said that Agusto and Co recently rated the bank A- which by global standard, indicates that the bank’s operational standards, particularly corporate governance are in line with global best practice.

He added that the bank was the first development bank in the country to be so rated. He said that the rating was an affirmation of the bank’s tireless effort at maintaining international best practices in every segment of its operation.

“The Bank of Industry remains the only development finance institution to be rated by any rating agency.

We have opened our books to regulators in order to assess our services so as to serve customers better.

We have re-engineered our credit approval process such that it is easy to access loans within five days of submitting an application.”

He continued, “The positive rating is an endorsement of our ongoing transformation project at BOI, and an affirmation of our strategic intent of adopting global best practices in all aspects of our operations.”

He also said that the bank’s authorised capital was N250bn out of which N146bn have been paid up.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

A bank will not lend you money unless you can show that bank that you have a good business plan

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Obtaining small business loan from a bank

O

ne of the challenges of running and expanding a small business in Nigeria is getting access to funds to finance the business. People usually start their businesses with money they have saved and, sometimes, donations or loans from friends and family. Sometimes, money from these sources is not enough to really grow a business, and so the business owner starts looking for other ways to finance his ventures.

Some business owners say that banks are not willing to lend money to small businesses. This is not the case. The issue, many times, is that business owners do not know how to organize and present their businesses in a way that will help them get money from banks.

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (20/05/15) Currency Buying(N) Central(N) Selling(N) 196 196.5 197 DOLLAR STERLING 304.4076 305.1842 305.9607 EURO 217.9128 218.4687 219.0246 FRANC 208.7105 209.2429 209.7753 YEN 1.621 1.6252 1.6293 CFA 0.3149 0.3249 0.3349 WAUA 275.16 275.862 276.5639 RENMINBI 31.5926 31.6737 31.7547 RIYAL 52.2625 52.3958 52.5291 KRONA 29.2036 29.2781 29.3526 SDR 29.3526 275.3948 276.0955

Commod Light Crud

Natural G Sugar Coffee Cocoa

H

ere are five simple ways through which you can increase your chances of getting a loan from a bank, and grow your business.

Number one, you must understand why banks give out loans in the first place. Banks give out loans because they expect to be paid back. They will therefore only lend to a business purpose that they think is sound. A bank will not lend you money unless you can show that bank that you have a good business plan and that you will use the money that you are given as your business plan says.

The second thing is your reputation. Do you have a record of borrowing from banks and repaying what you borrowed?

Or have you borrowed from other banks and not paid back?

If you have a track record of not paying loans you have taken or issuing cheques which bounce, most banks will not be willing to lend you money.

Number three; do you have a good accounting system in place for your business? Many banks will only lend to

It is important to know that banks have different areas in which they focus businesses that have a good and accurate accounting system. The accounting system must show that the owner•fs accounts and the accounts of the business are separate.

The accounting documents which banks like to see before they lend you money for your business are the profit and loss account of the business, the balance sheet, the cash flow statement and etc.

Four, are you familiar with your industry? It is easier to convince a bank to lend to you if you are able to show that you understand the industry that you do business in and, that you understand the value that you bring to that industry.

Do you know who your major competitions are? What do you offer that they do not or cannot? How do you intend to win a bigger market share over time? If you can show that you understand your competition and how to get ahead of them, banks may consider your business a good one to support.

F

inally, be persistent. Many small business owners try just one of two banks and then give up on their goal of getting a loan because they have been rejected. It is important to know that banks have different business areas in which they focus. They also have different areas of knowledge. Some banks prefer to lend to really big companies while others prefer to lend to small or medium sized ones. If you really need a loan, don't give up after trying just one or two banks.

If you have a good business plan, keep the right accounts and find the right bank, chances are that you will get the loan that you are looking for to grow your business.

Courtesy of Wema Bank as part of Bankers Committee’s Financial Literacy Public Enlightenment Programme

BoI loans: How SMEs can package business plans

By Yinka Kolawole & Franlin Alli

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ank of Industry (BoI) was established with a mandate to provide financial assistance for the establishment of large, medium and small projects as well as expansion, diversification and modernisation of existing enterprise; and rehabilitation of ailing ones in Nigeria. It was restructured in 2001 out of the defunct Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) Limited, which was incorporated in 1964.

The bank has however revealed that less than 10 percent of its total loan portfolio goes to the small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) due to their poorly packaged and non-bankable business plans and loan requests. In a bid to redress the situation, BoI has mandated existing and potential entrepreneurs planning to access its facility to go through accredited

Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to help them package their business plans.

BDSPs It would be recalled that BoI in 2014 accredited 122 BDSPs to help people in business develop bankable business plans and proposals, which will facilitate their access to the bank•fs machinery and working capital loans. Vanguard learned that the service providers are spread across the six geo-political zones of the country. They include: 3T Consulting Nigeria Limited; Adebola Sobanjo Company Ltd and IBFC Alliance Ltd; BoIInvestment and Trust Company Limited; BCG Associate, Fortis Academy Ltd and Nigerian Youths Chamber of Commerce.

Others include WorldHope Resources; Road Master Link; Koinonia Ventures Limited; African Consult Limited; Corporate Consulting Limited, Kano, etc.

Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director, BoI, asserted that the rate of projects rejection among

SMEs companies seeking for BoI facility is too high. He said the BDSPs are some of the vehicles the bank aims to use to increase SMEs’ access to the bank’s loans from the current 10 percent to about 30 percent. •"Loans to SMEs account for less than 10 percent of BoI's total loan portfolio. One of the main factors responsible for the current low level of financial support to SMEs is the fact that their business plans and loan requests are poorly packaged and non-bankable.

In recognition of this challenge, as well as in fulfillment of BOI's core mandate of providing long-term financial and business support services to large, medium and small projects, the bank has decided to engage the services of BDSPs. Scope Olaoluwa said that the BDSPs will be guided by BOI’s Risk Acceptance Criteria (RAC), and will also ensure that a sound business model is developed

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 23

,

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COMMODITIES (20/05/15) Last 58.86

Change ($) +0.87

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2.99

+0.04

+1.39

12.66

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-1.56

136.70

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and presented. According to him, the scope of services to be provided by the BDSPs include: Collaborating with BOI to identify credible SMEs that require finance; Developing bankable business plans and proposals for SMEs to facilitate their access to finance; Collaborating with BOI to conduct periodic postfinance monitoring of the SMEs; Providing post-finance services such as mentorship, handholding, financial advice and inculcation of best practices; Supporting the SMEs to develop synergies and sustainable relationships with large enterprises, industrial buyers, and suppliers along the value chain.

Remuneration of BDSPs The BDSPs will be remunerated as follows: Initial Token Fee to be paid by the SME to the BDSP before the submission of the business plan and loan application to BoI based on the following graduated scale: Loans less than N10 million, N10,000; N10 - 50 million, N25,000; while N50 - N200 million attracts N50,000.00. The initial token fee is designed to ensure that SMEs show some commitment to their projects and help to eliminate frivolous applications.

Success fee The total success fee is 0.5 percent of the approved loan amount and is payable by BoI to BDSPs as follows: 50 percent

Loans to SMEs account for less than 10 percent of BoI's total loan portfolio

of the total fee payable after the collection of the Loan Offer Letter by the SME. Balance of 50 percent of the total fee is payable immediately after the disbursement of the loan by BoI. Post-finance remuneration The SME is responsible for any post-finance remuneration of the BDSPs based on the agreed scope of services to be provided and negotiated between both parties. The BoI boss said that terms and conditions have been exhaustively discussed, negotiated and agreed with the BDSPs. •"The BDSPs have certain obligations. There are a number of specific performance benchmarks they must satisfy failing which they may become delisted by BoI. They must make full disclosures to BoI in respect of the SME and any BDSP that misrepresents facts in the course of processing any loan application shall be blacklisted. Business plans and loan applications submitted shall be in accordance with BoI's Risk Acceptance Criteria (RAC) and other applicable criteria which shall be communicated to the BDSPs by BoI. Each BDSP is expected to achieve a minimum of ten (10) successful applications annually. This is a worst case scenario.

•"Any BDSP that fails to achieve a success rate of at least 40 percent in terms of successful loan applications may be disqualified from the renewal of this agreement. It is evident that painstaking efforts have been made to ensure the effectiveness and overall success of this initiative, which is aimed at accelerating the growth of the SME subsector. With this initiative, BoI has taken a major step to address the deficiency of lack of capacity inherent in most of our SMEs," he said.

Growth often times come from doing things that have not been tested and might seem meaningless to a lot of people

,

Is creativity celebrated or punished in your organization?

“An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail” …Edwin Land

O

ne easy way to stifle creativity in every organization is to have a culture of punishing someone whose initiatives did not deliver anticipated results. I often ask CEOs a vital question. Do you punish the sins of commission or omission in your organization? Quite frankly, a lot of them punish more the employees whose initiatives did not yield the promised results (sins of commission), and surprisingly set free someone who made his or organization to miss out growth or income opportunity simply because the employee did not use his initiatives at work (sins of omission).

Growth often times come from doing things that have not been tested and might seem meaningless to a lot of people. Even if at the end of the day, the desired result were not achieved, – necessary lessons should be learnt and used for tomorrow.

H

aving worked in organizations before becoming a consultant and trainer, I have seen situations where organizations have lost business opportunities or contracts, missed deadlines, encountered service failures all because someone out there did not use his or her initiative without delay. I have also seen a situation whereby in the absence of the head of a department (who probably was sick) and on the spot decisions that were supposed to be made – that could have prevented the organization from a lawsuit was not made. That organization has to pay heavily for it. All the events mentioned above arose because people or employees are not being encouraged to use their initiatives or they lack initiatives. One of the key functions of leaders is to motivate their people to always wear their initiative hats to work. Making an organization to be an initiative driven organization cannot work unless the leaders begin to communicate it and also encourage everyone to live by it.

You might ask, how about those that lack initiatives? The real solution should come from finding the root causes. In finding the root causes, we need to ask ourselves the following questions: As a boss or manager, do I feel comfortable when my direct report takes actions or decisions in my absence whether good or bad? Do I reprimand my direct report for mistakes associated with actions taken? Do I view their

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

One of the key functions of leaders is to motivate their people to always wear their initiative hats to work personal actions or decisions as being inferior or without substance? Do I sometimes or always take my views to be the ultimate? Do I feel that nothing good can come from my subordinates?

Let us assume that a manager out there answered yes to all these questions. The truth is that there is no way someone working under that kind of a manager will ever use his or her initiatives no matter how he or she tries. A lot has to be done by leaders and managers to ensure that they encourage their people to always be eager to use their initiatives and creative mind at work. One of the ways organizations can do this is to begin to recognize and celebrate employees who have used their initiatives at work. This will send a message to employees that their organizations value and recognize their creative spirits.

Final note: Having employees who can stand on their feet and think for themselves is highly needed in running a high performing organization. This means that making organizations to be an initiative driven organization should be the watch word of leaders and managers. They have to by all means motivate and encourage everyone in their organizations to have initiatives. When they do that, new ideas and new ways of doing things will emerge and your organization will be better for it.

For your views or perspectives Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093 C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Fidelity Bank recovers N8bn debt in 2014 … Pledges to deepen retail segment

By Peter Egwuatu

F

From Left: Gbola Aiyedun, Publishing Director, Learn Africa Plc; Mr. Segun Oladipo, Managing Director/CEO, Learn Africa Plc; Mrs. Joy Ojeah, Director, Curriculum Service Department, Ministry of Education, Lagos State; Dr. Moses Salau, Director/Head South-West Zone, Nigeria Education Research Development Council and Dr. Jacob Adeyanju at the Learn Africa Plc mega workshop for primary school teachers in Lagos.

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN yesterday said that it would henceforth share with banks, interest earnings on loans granted to farmers under the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS).

This was announced in an amendment to the guidelines for the (CACS) via a circular titled, “Amendment to Pricing of Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) and guidelines”.

Signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Mr. Kelvin Amugo, the circular stated, “Commercial agriculture credit scheme (CACS), introduced in April 2010, has elicited tremendous interest from the Nigerian public. As part of efforts to sustain the public interest and enhance its operations to meet expectations, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revised CACS Guidelines. The revision, which affects section 8.0 and 17.0 (b) (IV) of the revised guidelines, provides as follows; Payment of interest on CACS facilities shall not exceed 9.0 per cent, inclusive of all charges. These charges shall be shared in ratio of 7 percent to the participating bank and 2 per cent to the CBN: “Section 8.0 subsection (ii) of the CACS Guidelines has been amended accordingly to reflect the revised interest sharing ratio. The revised fee sharing formula shall take effect from the date of the revised guidelines; “Funds shall be released to participating banks at 2. Per cent interest rate after a confirmation of its intent/ readiness to disburse the funds- Section 17.0 (b) (iv) of the extant revised Guidelines.

Participating banks and the banking public are enjoined to

idelity Bank Plc said it has recovered about N8 billion from its Non Perfor ming Loan in 2014, just as it targets a 10 per cent loan growth for the financial year 2015.

Speaking at the bank’s facts behind its financial year 2014 figures held at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE in Lagos, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity B a n k P l c , M r. N n a m d i

CBN, banks to share interest earnings on CACS loans note that the revised Guidelines dated April 29, 2015 supersede the previous ones. For further information, kindly contact the Director, Development Finance Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja.”

The CACS is financed from the proceeds of the N200billion seven (7) year bond raised by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

The fund made available to the participating bank(s) to finance commercial agricultural enterprises. In addition, each State

Funds shall be released to participating banks at 2. Per cent interest rate after a confirmation of its intent/ readiness to disburse the funds

Government could borrow up to N1.0billion for on-lending to farmers’ cooperative societies and other areas of agricultural development provided such initiatives/ interventions are line with the objectives of CACS. According to the CBN Economic report for February, “At end-February 2015, the total amount released by the CBN under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) to the participating banks for disbursement stood at N272.36 billion for three hundred and fifty one (351) projects/promoters.”

FCMB assures funding for environmental friendly projects

F

irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has assured that it will continue to provide funding support for projects and other initiatives that would impact on the environment, people and the Nigerian economy.

Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun, gave this assurance at commissioning of the multibillion naira Solous 1 Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at Igando in Lagos recently.

First City Monument Bank Limited acted as the Senior Lender to the project, while FCMB Capital Markets Limited (another subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc) acted as the Sole Financial Adviser and Arranger.

The facility adopts low/mid technology with a wide range of waste recycling and materials recovery equipment. It recovers waste products at land fill sites and sorts same into re-useable materials which are then sold to various off-takers. Such recycled materials include textiles, metals, plastics, glass and paper.

The project was undertaken by WestAfricaENRG Limited under the terms of a concession agreement with Lagos State Government. The unique waste management solution proffers environmental benefits including, Improved air quality, waste

minimization and improved soil quality, Leachate prevention and protection of ground water resources. Balogun said that FCMB’s funding and support of the project is part of its contributions to the well-being of the society and the nation’s economy. ‘’We are particularly proud to be associated with this waste-towealth project as it will go a long way to improve waste management in the state, therefore promoting a cleaner and safer environment, and a healthier populace, whilst creating employment and income opportunities”, he said.

He stated that, ‘’we believe that protecting the environment and conserving our shared scarce resources should be a collective effort.

This is why we focus on Environmental Sustainability as a core CSR pillar and we continue to innovatively devise means of minimising or totally eliminating challenges posed by the environment. Additionally, we are committed to championing and supporting initiatives to make our planet a safe haven for us and the future generation”.

In his address, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, described the facility as, ‘’another bold step and landmark project in Lagos”, adding that, ‘’we will continue to explore every opportunity that would create a healthier and cleaner environment”.

Okonkwo said the bank would deepen its play in the retail and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) segment this year, so as to sustain the growth realised in 2014.

According to him “ In 2014 , we grew loan book by 26 per cent, but if you factor in devaluation, you will see that our actual growth last year was 18 per cent. This year, we are targeting a 10 per cent loan growth because we are not going to have the kind of big ticket transaction we had last year, like the Shell Divestment, which we played actively in.

This year 2015 is going to be tough, but we will do all we can to meet our projections.”

Continuing, he said “We are going to maintain our strong corporate banking role but the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs banking would help us grow low cost deposits because the multinationals and upper market players cannot pay the type of interest rate we will charge.

So, if we deepen our retail play, our cost of fund would be lower.”

The Fidelity Bank boss, however pointed out that 2015 would be a tough year for banks, saying that given the traction that Fidelity B a n k h a d g a i n e d “ We anticipates a greater financial year for the financial institution.

Okonkwo noted that the 2014 performance was a positive reinforcement of the medium term strategic objectives which are anchored on the following pillars: improving the efficiency of the balance sheet; growing the retail and SME businesses; focusing on niche corporate banking segments; increased migration of customers to electronic channels and improving the customer experience across all service channels.

He explained that the bank has a solid platform for growth, underpinned by strong customer loyalty and significant investments in physical and electronic distribution channels.

H e a d d e d : “O u r r e t a i l banking strategy gathered increased momentum in 2014 with the bank acquiring over 471,000 new retail customers, consumer loans growing by over 21 per cent and core low-cost retail deposit by 18 per cent which lowered our average cost of customer deposits.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 25

Primary school pupils

What Buhari should do on education, by Olashore

By Dayo Adesulu

B

OTHERED by the deplorable state of our education sector, stakeholders are calling on the incoming administration of Mohammadu Buhari, to choose one, among primary, secondary and tertiary education and adequately fund it, while others should be left in the hands of private investors to strengthen.

This, according to an expert, will allow the government with its limited resources to concentrate fully on a single aspect to enable it give the best to our teeming

Two teen brothers build mobile web browser PG. 28 Without quality basic education, a country can achieve nothing —Vicky Colbert PG. 30 C M Y K

population of children.

It was also suggested that government should pick primary education and make it solid enough to give sound secondary and tertiary education to its citizenry because it is the foundation of education. ‘’If we get it right in the primary, the secondary and tertiary education will naturally fall in place,’’ they said.

Chairman, Board of Governors, Olashore International School, Iloko,

Prince Abimbola Olashore during a forum with journalists in Lagos urged government to fund primary education to the age of ten or eleven to give them a solid base. He added that Awolowo brought free education because he wanted everyone to a have the minimum level of education.

According to him, the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari should focus on primary education and ensure it is funded to the best.

‘’If government can fund primary education to the age of ten or eleven by giving them a solid base, the better for the country,’’ he said.

The government, he noted can leave secondary and tertiary education for other private hands to handle.

Whether education is set up by government or by individuals, the most important thing, Olashore

Continues on page 26

LASU: It's within our rights to determine VC’s tenure, SSANU tells Fashola

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

A

S Lagos State University, LASU, commence a new academic session this week, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU-LASU said they have the prerogative to determine whether the Vice Chancellor remains in office or not.

This was a reaction to the state governor, Babatunde Fashola’s statement at the 2, 900 days celebration alleging that the crisis affecting the institution was that “some people (unions) are demanding that they want to decide when to remove and replace the VC, and that isn’t their prerogative.

Their responsibility is to teach our children and not to choose the vice chancellor.”

The governor added that “this happens whenever the

tenure of the VC of the institution is about to come to an end; that is when the crisis starts. But no one can sit down and say that after one term, he must go. That will not work; that is not what the work envisages. The union should sheathe its sword and stop being part of the problem, rather they should be part of the solution.”

The union alleged that their allegations were genuine and that the government was bias in addressing the issue.

Chairman of SSANU LASU, Mr. Oseni Saheed in an interview with Vanguard lamented that the Unions were castigated by the government for standing against issues bordering on the progress of the institution.

According to Oseni “As a stakeholder, we deserve to have

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

LASU: We can determine VC’s tenure, SSANU tells Fashola Continues from page 25

VISIT: From left, Editor, BrandiQ Magazine, Ntia Usukuma; Managing Director, Synthesis Communications Ltd, Desmond Ekeh; Redeemer's University lecturer, Dr. Omowale Adelabu and other managers and students of Redeemer's University during the visit to Synthesis in Lagos.

What Buhari should do on education, by Olashore Continues from page 25 pointed out, is the sustainability of what you start.

He stated, if government says it wants to provide free education for all, the question to ask is: what is the quality of education it wants to provide and how does it fund it?

In the wake of the development, he enjoins the federal government not to close down the existing federal schools, adding the new will complement the existing ones.

His words: “If government says it will operate free education from primary to university level, I will doubt it because, I don’t think government has the resources to adequately fund it. The cost of getting quality secondary and tertiary education is heavy and capital intensive for government alone to fund.

"If you say you have a university that produces engineers and they cannot compete with their counterpart world over, what's the use? If the facilities are not there in the university, you cannot produce a sound graduate in any field of study.’’

Olashore who urged the in coming administration to allow private sector invest in both secondary and tertiary education, maintained that the initiative allows government conveniently handle primary education of its citizenry.

He thus lamented that the existing regulatory policy makes it difficult for private sector to invest in education, stressing that the law regulating education in the country should be looked into. ‘’When you approach the regulatory body for

establishment of a university, they tell you that before you can start, you must get hundred acres of land. That demand alone is a discouragement to investors in education."

He advised that investors should be allowed to establish schools based on their philosophy on education, arguing that where an investor might just have vision for a Law school or Accounting school and perform optimally, others may be interested in only Medical school, as such, the regulatory body denying such person, will kill the dream and philosophy for

Whether education is set up by government or by individuals, the most important thing, Olashore pointed out, is the sustainability of what you start

that area of education.

He urged the government to encourage persons and never make it compulsory for investors to include other courses of study. "If such investors are allowed, it will no longer be required to acquire hundred acres of land before starting a university which will make it easy to invest in."

Considering the density of Nigeria's population, Olashore averred that the country should have about five to ten thousand universities, adding that not all universities must have 40,000 student capacity.

“Some universities can just focus on just 1,000 students and ensure that the facilities are in place to give the best output to meet the minimum standard. That was why I said that the philosophy of those in charge of education is really important before we can fix the education sector. If the philosophy is sound, anyone can come and build on it to get the desired result."

Olashore who said he would be very disappointed if the incoming government calls for education summit immediately he assumes power, noted that holding a summit means that the person in charge does not know what to do, hence he is inviting experts.

He said: “When Buhari gets there May 29, he should not be calling for education summit by June. For over 12 years Mohammadu Buhari has wanted to be president, he must know what he wants to do in the education sector by now and not to call for education summit. Before now, he should have called all the experts and listened to their suggestion that will help him hit the ground running from May 29."

input in who should be the Vice Chancellor of the institution. If someone is administering a university and he isn’t doing it well.

“Whoever wants to administer the institution must treat us like human beings and not slaves. We understand that the government decides who is chosen as the Vice Chancellor of the school but that doesn’t mean that if the Vice Chancellor is going out of order, we cannot raise concerns. If we fail to raise concerns, we will not have a functioning citadel of learning.

“We have leveled allegations against the Vice Chancellor and what we believe the government should do is investigate if they are genuine or not.

“We have accused the Vice Chancellor of high handedness, double standard, victimization and violating due process in the appointment of staff. For instance, the Vice Chancellor will appoint a junior officer to lead a department when there are senior officers who are more qualified to oversee the affairs in such department.

Also, the Vice Chancellor has been appointing academic staff to head the non-teaching staff. Is that how it should be done in a university?

“The Vice Chancellor has been administering the school as if it was his private establishment. A university is a place where you have people with high level of intellect. We know that all the allegations leveled against him are genuine.

“We believe that the government should verify all these allegations rather than accusing the unions for the crisis in the institution. We aren’t trouble shooters. We want peace to reign in the school. But we cannot say that because we want peace then we should allow things go wrong.

“The government should investigate all these issues before the Governor and his aides accuse the unions in the school,” he added.

SIJ Foundation gives 300 scholarship

By Tare Youdeowei

I

n its quest to see the less privilege get access to education, SIJ Foundation has awarded scholarship to 300 students.

President of the foundation, Oluwashola Jimmy Idiagbon, said the 300 scholarship was specifically given to students in Kwara State metropolis.

Idiagbon, a protégé of former governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, handed over the scholarship to the students, varying from kindergarten to senior secondary.

Jimmy Idiagbon, describes the gesture as his own way of giving back to the society. He said; “There is great potential in these children. Unfortunately, a lot are from poor homes where their parents are struggling to put food on the table. We decided to do this from the little that God has blessed us with.

This is just the beginning as we intend to make the scholarship scheme a continuing project.”

The schools which benefitted from the scholarship award include Modupe Nur/Pry School, Alafia Nur/Pry school, Opeyemi Nur/Pry school, United Community Sec. School, Rukayat Science Academy, Access Nur/Pry School, Okesena Pry School, Quareeb Nur/Pry School, to mention a few.

The fees were paid on behalf of the students to their various schools through Manzuna Aliyu and Ahmed Alhassan, who are

Jimmy Idiagbon the coordinators of the foundation.

In addition to the scholarships, the SIJ Foundation also distributed over 30,000 books and pens to students across the state. Materials such as praying kettles, Qurans, hijabs, tesbews were also distributed to mosques in the Ilorin metropolis.

It was also revealed that, graduates will also benefit from the generosity of the foundation as a few selected ones will be sponsored for their masters degree.

Recently, the foundation visited some hospitals in the state, and assisted patients with cancer.

According to the coordinator Mr Manzanu Aliyu; “The goodwill of the SIJ foundation is not for showoff, but to complement the efforts of Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state. We are only trying to be our brother’s keeper and this is the way we know how to do it best.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 27

Government College, Epe wins Spirit of Lagos challenge

By Amaka Abayomi

G

OVERNMENT College, Ketu, Epe, has won this year ’s edition of the Spirit of Lagos, SOL, challenge which is aimed at allowing the students come up with solutions to some of the social problems they face either in their schools or communities.

The keenly contested competition by secondary schools from the six education districts of the state saw the winning school, representing Education District 3, come up with a presentation on the need for people, especially students, to imbibe the maintenance culture as a habit so as to protect private and public infrastructure around them. In second place is Community Senior Grammar School, Gberigbe, Ikorodu, representing Education District 2, with a

presentation tagged ‘Wipe Out Dirt and Litters from CSGS’ community.

Ifesowapo Aboru Senior Secondary School, Alimosho, representing Education District 1, came third with their presentation focusing on ‘Converting Waste to Wealth’.

According to their presentation, the need to repair and maintain school furniture has become imperative as lack of adequate furniture is a major challenge most schools in the state face.

“We faced a lot of challenges, chief among which are changes in weather which led to the reconstruction of our workshop and fear of sustaining injury, which prompted us to organise a seminar on first aid.

“The introduction of the SOL has led to us repairing over 261 school furniture which has led to an improvement in our academics as we concentrate more when we have adequate furniture. With the

repairs, we have helped the Lagos State government save over N1.8 million.”

Urging students to embrace the SOL Initiative, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, said the initiative, which is in

tandem with the state government’s efforts in ensuring overall development of the various communities in the state, will reawaken in the students, the spirit of patriotism, which is the hallmark of development in any community.

I aspire to govern Lagos State — Edun, One-day gov

By Amaka Abayomi

T

HE immediate past one-day governor of Lagos State, Master Edun Olabanji, of Army Children Senior High School, Ikeja Cantonment, has said being the one-day governor has ignited his passion to become the Governor of Lagos State.

Speaking to Vanguard Learning at the just concluded Spelling Bee competition organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Education, the 16 years old SS3 student said

being the one-day governor exposed him to a lot of things he never thought he would experience and his classmates see him as their role model.

He said “My cabinet members and I visited the wife of the state governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, and had breakfast with her.

From there, we went to Friesland Campina where I gave a speech and was given gifts. We then went to Dufil Prima, LTV 8, Ministry of Education and finally the Lagos State House of Assembly where I also gave a speech.

Stemming dominance of Western culture, by Chukwu

By Tare Youdeowei

C

ONSIDERING the current decline in the embrace and display of our rich cultural heritage amongst adults and youths, Mr. Chukwunyere Chukwu has written his first book, “Are You Ready?” a fiction to convey his message of unity in diversity, particularly against the dominance of western culture.

Using a village setting in the four chapters, 47 paged book, a king preparing for war gives a phrase in Igbo dialect to the people to find the meaning and take over the throne as reward, Chukwunyere depicts how Nigerians and Africans, can turn against each other for power and greed.

Employing names from a few tribes in Nigeria as characters in the book, the author portrayed how if Nigerians and Africans are disunited, they become vulnerable to west to enrich and allot power to themselves.

Laced with short sing-alongs, adages, proverbs and wise sayings to educate the reader, the author averred; “We can make a change because we are great in culture and deep in colour.” “An average African does not think of empowering his fellow African. He looks ahead to eating up the so called national cake. Some are happy when poverty,

Some are happy when poverty, corruption and mismanagement of funds ravage Africa, including delay in budget implementation and provision corruption and mismanagement of funds ravage Africa, including delay in budget implementation and provision.”

'Are You Ready?' is a simple book without the technicalities of a table of contents an index page.

The book is ideal for the busy and persons of all literacy levels.

The book which is a quick read due to its large font size and short 47 pages is not without some errors. In an attempt to make it a simple read, probably for semiliterates too, the author used “street terms” that are not English or Pidgin English, as well as wrong use of tenses, words, tautology and poor sentence structure across 23 of 47 pages of the book, including the rider of the book title on the cover page, “a riddle exposing the influence of computer to culture.” These muffled ideas and would most likely confuse the reader.

It would be best if a second edition is done with adequate proof reading and improved sentence structure to adequately and clearly convey ideas.

Other books written and published by Chukwunyere Chukwu include; You are a Success, Dan Iska! The Place of Exploit, Owanbee! One Good turn Deserves Another, Songs of Wisdom, Echoes from the Jungle, Aru! Avenge the Avengers.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

So you want to go to Law School? (2) “Things are not always what they seem.”

Anonymous.

T

HE first part of this series last week ended with the list of Law Schools accredited by the National University Commission and how granting of “Provisional Accreditation is creating havoc for thousands of law students nationwide.

But, this matter will only be touched lightly here.

Since the release of the situation report on NUC’s website more recent information had been received which renders choosing a university to study law more risky for Nigerian youth. The Nigerian Law School recently announced that graduates from the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, would no longer be accepted. The fate of all those who had spent years at NOUN remains uncertain at the moment.

But, for most, if not all, of them, the experience would have amounted to a colossal waste of funds and time. Most would never recover from it. The major reason for the disqualification of NOUN graduates from Law School is summarized by saying that “the study of law must be undertaken on a full-time basis…”

This is a most controversial position and we shall revisit it very soon. But, as things stand right now, NOUN’s graduates are out in the cold.

Madonna’s graduates have long been shut out; so have Lead City University. It might be safer to stake your money at the nearest casino than to apply for law admission in Nigeria these days.

As if, surprises would never end with regard to law schools in Nigeria, another one just landed on our laps. Apparently, the university attended can have a tremendous influence on your performance in the Nigerian Law School.

Some universities prepare their students better in terms of course content, attitude and diligence than others and the same few universities have been producing the top graduates in the Law School. But, the real

surprise is the university adjudged the best overall. Nobody could have predicted it. And, for me, it was at first unbelievable until I read that among the judges were the following eminent people. The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Lagos State, Mr Ade Ipaye, SAN; Professor J.A Audi, representing the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA; Professor E. Olarinde, Provost, College of Law, Afe Babalola University; Dr Y.M Yusuf, Dean of Law School, University of Maiduguri; Mr Emeke Obejelu, representing the NBA, among others. That settled it. With such judges, the outcome cannot be disputed – even if it flies in the face of conventional wisdom.

Forget private universities if you want to read law. Once again Nigeria is proving to be a country full of paradoxes. Just as one is beginning to think that some private universities offer better services in preparing future lawyers, a recent report has proved conclusively that the best four universities for law education in Nigeria are all public universities.

In a report published in the GUARDIAN edition of April 21, 2015, page 6, titled “COUNCIL RATES UNILORIN LAW STUDENTS BEST IN 2014 BAR FINAL EXAMS, written by Abiodun Fagbemi, University of Ilorin has emerged as the best Law School in Nigeria today.

Yet, if you take another look at the chart published last week, you will notice that Unilorin,

It might be safer to stake your money at the nearest casino than to apply for law admission in Nigeria these days

like most of our universities, operates with Provisional Accreditation. The only fully accredited Law faculty in Nigeria is that of UNILAG. Is it a case of country of the blind where the one-eyed man is king?

As the report revealed, the result for 2014 was not a fluke. Unilorin has been tops for several years. Let me supply the information from the excellent report.

“The Council of Legal Education has rated the University of Ilorin, the best in the country based on the cumulative performance of its students in the 2014 Bar Final Examination of the Nigerian Law School.

According to the Committee report, University of Ilorin beat others among the top five.” These were, in order of merit: university of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Adekunle Ajasin University. In 2012 and 2013, University of Ilorin came second. In 2013 Unilorin came second to University of Ado-Ekiti.

Meanwhile, the only private university to top the table, Babcock, was first in 2012 and had since dropped out of the top five. Some private universities have remained at the bottom for years.

So, what does that tell us? Clearly, if law is to serve as basis for judging universities, it would appear that parents and guardians paying huge fees for their wards to study law at private universities are wasting their money. Anybody wanting to receive the best law education should head for Ilorin.

NEXT: NOUN AND NUC; MATTERS ARISING For how long will the NUC continue to grant extended “Provisional Approval” for courses offered by universities which proceed to dupe students who, at the end of their courses, are not accepted for Youth Service or, in the case of law, into the Nigerian Law School?

Does it make sense to grant such approval for unlimited time – considering the consequences to students and parents? Should not some people file a Class Action Suit against NUC for messing up their lives?

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 29

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG successrecipe2009@gmail.com www.worldlightbearersint.com

Maximizing your time!

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ICT CHALLENGE: Dr Daniel Apori, Chairman, Nana Apori Schools (4th left); Evang Vida Apori proprietress (5th left); Mr Ebun Arowosegbe P.T.A Chairman, (3rd left); Mrs Tinuola Alabi (Parent) (1st left) Mrs Onayemi Adenike P. T.A Welfare Officer, (2nd left); Mr Olabode Olawole (2nd Right) and Mr Yemi Olaifa, MD Edge Varsity (1st Right) at the Nana Apori ICT Challenge Season Two held at Adiyan, Ogun State.

Vodacom empowers girls to study ICT ...calls for more female participation

By Dayo Adesulu

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O fewer than 100 Nigerian girls from private and public senior secondary schools in Lagos get support from the partnership between Vodacom Business Nigeria and e-Business Life Communication Limited to studying Information and communication technology at tertiary level. This was disclosed as the students converged to celebrate the International Girls in ICT Day. Speaking at the event, Mrs. Obafunke Atanda, Senior Manager Product Portfolio, Vodacom Business Nigeria, noted that the number of females currently employed in ICT in Nigeria is extremely low compared to males. According to her, the development could

be attributed not only to the relative lack of females studying science and technology at secondary and tertiary level, but also, the number of females given access to formal education.

She explained that the partnership is aimed at encouraging youths especially females to include science and technology among their career choices. ‘’The intention is to increase the number of females in the ICT sector of Nigeria which is currently dominated by men. The company promotes the education and training of girls in primary and secondary schools, thereby empowering them at an early stage. “We feel it’s our responsibility to support initiatives aimed at increasing the number of skilled and

qualified women in Nigeria, and we enjoin other companies to contribute to this course.”

Empowering female students, she maintained would address the root cause of the lack of female advancement in education, unwanted teenage pregnancy and domestic violence.

Meanwhile, the CEO of eBusiness Life Communication Limited, convener of the Girls in ICT for Lagos, Mrs. Ufoma Emuophedaro said “Companies like Vodacom are playing a key role in the global push to get young women and girls excited about a future career in ICT. You educate a woman, you educate a generation. We are grateful for Vodacom’s participation and support for this event”.

Nana Apori Schools boosts ICT knowledge with 500 computers T HE Chairman, Nana Apori Schools, Evang.

Daniel Obeng Apori has introduced a project on ICT with 500 computers to enhance the students' knowledge on ICT. Just as the Chairman also stated that the Nana Apori musical studio will soon come on board for the students who are interested in music which is a multi-million Naira project.

Apori who disclosed this during Nana Apori Schools 2015 ICTS challenge grand finale and presentation of certificate to students at the ICT challenge season two which took place at the school premises in Adiyan Ogun State said the development will boost students learning.

In her speech, the proprietress Evang Vida

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Obeng Apori encouraged all the students to be focused in their academic pursuit. She, however lauded parents on their effort in bringing up their children in the way of the Lord and also for investing in their education.

Meanwhile, the event presents a preview of 2014 ICT day and the 2015 edition on the students performance from different categories. The categories include; JSS1 category on Desktop Publishing, JSS2 Desktop Publishing, JSS3 Graphics.

Others were, SS1 Graphics AD, SS2 Computer Engineering and SS3 Graphics Animation.

At the event, students who participated in the ICT questions and practical segments at the grand finale received prizes anchored by Mr Ali Kolawole and Mrs Lydia Adesuyi.

On his part, Mr Idris Salako, a parent who was so delighted in the students’ performances during the ICT day, rained accolade on the chairman Dr Daniel for the innovations in the school. He urged the management not to relent in their oars, adding that what he saw was beyond imagination. ‘’I have met many graduates of Computer Science, but these students have performed very well,’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Edge Varsity, Mr Yemi Olaitan commended the students' performance stressing the need to catch them young in ICT. According to him, by so doing the world will be a better place, as opportunities are there for the students to obtain their professional courses from Edge varsity.

T has been estimated how the average person spends a typical life span of seventy years. For many, reaching the age of seventy they probably will spend twenty-three years sleeping, sixteen years working, eight years watching television, six years eating, six years travelling, four and a half years on leisure activities, four years being sick, and two years getting dressed. The average person spends six months of his or her life on spiritual activities. If you sum up the numbers the result will be seventy years-and then life on earth is over.

Time is synonymous with life; Life is measured with time.

Time is your most precious resource; it is your most valuable asset. Time is irreplaceable and unrepeatable. Life is an opportunity of time allocated to us with a purpose to discover and fulfill; Life is a domain assigned to us with a specific time-frame in which to make our contribution in the world and leave it better than we met it. Therefore, we do not have any time to lose but rather we have all the time allocated to us to use. Our desire should be for Life to use us up before we are taken up. However, in order to make the preceding statement a reality we need to invest our time rather than spend it. The end product of an invested time is a fulfilled and a rewarding life; the end product of time spent is a life of regret that cannot be remedied. The value you attach to time will be the corresponding value that you will command in life. The Universal Law of value states: “Do not waste your time on thoughts, people, or actions which are not worthy. Do not waste your thoughts on ideas that are not worthy. Do not waste your energies on activities which are not worthy. Do not waste your money on that which is not worthy ”. Ever y aspect of the Law of value revolves around time; thoughts, actions and substance. The use of your money will determine the use of your time. Jesus reveals, “For where your treasure is, there will your At most, eight heart be also” It is wise to hours should be ask yourself, “What is the best use of my money right allotted to sleep for now, in terms of my goals, a sound health and vision, and purpose”.

Without vision or effective body. purpose for your life, time About eight to ten has no meaning. A successful life is built on a hours is utilized for plan or blueprint every work other thing revolves around it. At every given moment ask yourself, “What is the best use of my time right now, taking into consideration my goals, vision, and purpose?” At most, eight hours should be allotted to sleep for a sound health and effective body. About eight to ten hours is utilized for work. Then we have about eight hours left which could be called “free time”. Here’s the catch, the use to which you put the free time into spells the difference between success and failure in life. In fact, free time could be termed either an “opportunity time” or “misfortune time”.

Many people are desperate for their circumstance to change, however, during their free time they engage in aimless socializing, prolonged viewing of television, idling gossiping, plain laziness, associating with people going nowhere who feed each other ’s destructive habits like drinking, smoking etc. Free time is an opportunity to invest in you and others; acquiring additional education or knowledge, rendering of service and creating goodwill. Work should be fun and fun should be work. Truly successful people love their work; they engage in a work that taps into their passion. However, if you are engaged in a job that you do not like; that does not tap into your passion then take a clue from Henry Ford.

Henry Ford began as a Detroit powerhouse worker at a salary of $11 a week working 10 hours a day. But he had a vision of manufacturing cars, so he utilized his free time each evening for three years to create the first Ford car.

Wow! His free time was indeed an opportunity time.

Therefore, guard your time for out of it determines the quality of your life.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Without quality basic education, a country can achieve nothing — Vicky Colbert

By Ebele Orakpo My vision is to see Escuela Nueva empower all children to become contributing members of their communities through quality education that promotes citizenship skills and democratic behaviours – Vicky Colbert

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t is often said that the change you desire begins with you. If you need to change the world, start wi th the man in the mirror.

We all have something the Creator deposited in us to deliver to the world and leave it better than we met it. This was not lost on Ms. Vicky Colbert who, against all odds, developed a model of education that has today transformed millions of lives around the world. Ms. Colbert is the co-creator of the Escuela Nueva (New School) model, an educational model that combines flexible, modular curriculum with socialization and citizenship activities; working with children, teachers, families, and e d u c a t i o n administrators to improve the quality of basic education. Colbert who has won various awards, including WISE prize for Education and the first Clinton Global Citizenship Award, was the speaker at the American University of Nigeria’s 7th Commencement.

Excerpts: Why Escuela Nueva?

Ms. Colbert sees the plight of children who are denied quality education due to no fault of theirs as injustice and inequity, and so, she went to work in the education sector to correct this injustice.

The Sociology graduate whose main interest was to reduce inequalities and drive social change, taught Sociology of Education for some time in Colombia during which she came to the conclusion that quality basic education was crucial.

As a teacher in Colombia, she realized the huge gap between what teachers learned in colleges of education and the reality of remote schools and wondered how they could teach what they do not know. "Everybody had the rhetoric but not the concrete instruments to make it really happen," she said.

Having noted that the rote learning methods failed because they hindered pupils' development of their curiosity and love of learning instead of engaging them, she got together with Beryl Levinger and Óscar Mogollónis in the mid 1970’s to develop the Escuela Nueva model, an educational model designed to improve the quality, relevance and effectiveness of Colombian schools. This childC M Y K

*Ms. Vicky Colbert: .....When school systems fail students, nations miss the opportunity to build effective citizens of the future centered, collaborative learning approach improves academic achievements and fosters democratic behaviours, tolerance, citizenship and entrepreneurial skills becauase "it is a flexible educational model tailored to meet the needs of each individual child, allowing students to complete units and advance to higher grade levels at their own pace."

As a graduate student at Stanford University, she understood how changes in the way students interact and solve problems in the classroom, could have an impact on society, especially in nurturing citizenship skills, attitudes and peaceful behaviours.

"This is because of the intimate relationship between pedagogy and citizenship building. I realised that cultivating the soft skills of human capital is essential to produce engaged, responsible citizens," she said, so on returning to Colombia, she continued to work with the poorest isolated rural schools.

"Most of them were multigrade schools, where one or two teachers have to handle all the grades and these schools were invisible to educational planners, teachers colleges and funders despite the fact that they were 60% of the rural schools.

"So, I decided to make these schools and their teachers visible because education is the core task of development; without quality basic education, no social, economic, peace or development could ever be achieved."

Working with low income schools: "I started to work in the poorest and isolated schools where the greatest inequalities exist. These schools exhibited high drop-out and repetition rates, no academic results, low self-esteem of children and low teacher morale, inefficient theoretical, expensive teacher training with no follow up mechanisms, overloaded, urban-biased

curriculums, weak schoolfamily-community relationships, conventional, rote memory, teacher-centered methods and teachers in multigrade schools did not have any specific training to handle several grades simultaneously.

It was like a failed business.

Escuela Nueva is like the story of Cinderella; we started with the poorest of the poor with so many difficulties and it ended up being cutting edge pedagogy

Today, the little mustard seed has become a giant tree. It started as a local innovation in Colombia where it has impacted over 20,000 schools and reached over five million learners in 16 countries including Zambia, East Timor and Vietnam through governments and support of international organisations.

For Colbert, learning goes beyond just cognitive achievements; it involves developing and practising civic, social and emotional skills, learning to be, to know, to do, and to live together.

"These are the basis for peace and democracy. We need comprehensive and systemic thinking if we want to lead large scale reform."

How it was made possible: "From the outset, the plan was to make this social innovation technically, politically and financially viable so that it could impact the national policy and reach great numbers. We demonstrated that it worked and started its dissemination in a bottom up, organic manner: from child to child, teacher to teacher, school to school, community to community and town to town. The real actors of change were children, teachers and communities themselves.

Escuela Nueva for IDPs : As AUN battles with other agencies to feed, clothe and educate some of the displaced children in the North-East, Colbert believes strongly that Escuela Nueva model will help in giving them quality education.

"We adapted the Escuela Nueva model for internally displaced children in Colombia through the Learning Circles, a transition from out-of-school to regular schooling. The Escuela Nueva Learning Circles (ENLC) are learning spaces where groups of around 15 students work together with the aid of a tutor from the community, who facilitates learning and provides personalized attention until they are ready to transition into

the formal, official school. The personalized and extra socioaffective support restores and strengthens children's selfesteem, develops social and life skills as well as a joyful learning experience.

ENLCs operate off-site from mainstream formal schools, but are officially linked to them through shared academic calendars, grading systems and extracurricular activities.

"Children are officially enrolled in school, but study in learning circles that can be set up in any communal space. The program does not create a parallel educational system; it is integrated to it and recognized by the Ministry of Education as an effective strategy to accelerate action on getting outof-school children into school.

They provide marginalized children and youth a chance for inclusion, they accelerate enrollment and retention for outof-school children, provide quality education through a relevant meaningful curriculum and provide a protective space for vulnerable children and youth at risk.

The evaluation of the program set up by Fundación Escuela Nueva in 2001 showed that in a period of nine months, the Learning Circles program achieved a significant increase in enrollment of out-of-school children, an 18.5% increase in their self-esteem and significant improvements in both Language and Math, placing these children 13.9 and 17.3 points above the national mean.

Constraints to opportunity: "Frequently, people are pessimistic about the possibility of making transformational changes in society. However, our experience is different. All of those committed to this Escuela Nueva life project have been able to witness that it is possible to transform massively learning environments in thousands of schools and promote a pedagogical renewal for quality learning. We have done it and it can be done," she said.

Winners emerge at 2015 Young Ministers competition ... as 100 pupils receive scholarship

By Ebele Orakpo

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IDDIES Vision Magazine (KVM), organisers of the annual Young Ministers' Competition (YMC) in collaboration with Seven Stars Paper & Allied Products Limited, sponsors of the event, held the Grand Finale Award of the second Young Ministers Competition last Thursday at Exhibition Hall 2, National Art Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

According to the Director, KVM, Mrs Nnenna Umeohia, YMC was established to educate and empower young Nigerians so as to produce purposeful and visionary role models. She said her organisation is currently mentoring thousands of students in over 2,000 primary and secondary schools in Nigeria.

At the end of the competition, the winners in the young ministers and commissioners categories went home with N100,000 each, first runners-up got N50,000 each while second runners-up took home N30,000 each.

Ministers category: Education: Ononuju Daniella (1st), Okoli Justice (2nd) and Favour Georgeson (3rd). Health: Onwumere Justina (1st), Sunday Oluchi Chisom (2nd) and Ossai Sarah (3rd).

Culture/Tourism: Adanna Emeghara (1st), Master Ezenwa Chisom (2nd) and Okoli Precious (3rd).

Finance: Olayemi Michael (1st); Bukola Ibukun (2nd) and Mogaji Abdulazeez (3rd). Youth & Sports: Igwe Sussan (1st), Emeruwa Henry (2nd) and Nwafor Akachukwu (3rd).

Commissioners: Education: Aramide Aishat (1st); Tochukwu Urenyere (2nd) and Chibuike Obojiofor (3rd).

Health: Nicole Ikenna (1st), Akpo Christiana (2nd) and Isabella Babalola (3rd). Finance: Abdulrazak Sukurat (1st), Anyanwu Daniella (2nd) and Abolade Emmanuella (3rd).

Youths & Sports: Ajayi Oyinkansola (1st); Jimoh Mubarak (2nd) and Abdulkareem Mariam (3rd).

Home Affairs & Culture: Aderinokun Eniola (1st), Nduka Chikaosoro (2nd) and Is’haq Abdulbasit (3rd).

Offering scholarships worth N20,000 to 100 pupils each from 100 schools in Lagos, Mr. Eric Lee, CEO of Seven-Stars Paper & Allied Products Ltd, said he enjoys supporting children because they are the leaders of tomorrow.

In his keynote address, Governor Michael Initimi urged government to include Security Studies in the school curriculum and asked school administrators to make safety of their students a priority in order to avoid a repeat of Chibok incident.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21 21,, 2015 — 31

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32—V anguard A Y , MA Y 21 32—Vanguard anguard,, THURSD THURSDA MAY 21,, 2015

On the falsification of Nigerian history: A response to Prof Kayode Oyediran and Adetowo Aderemi (2)

By Obi Nwakanma Continues from yesterday

NPC threatened to secede from Nigeria

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OR example in 1953, the NPC threatened to secede from Nigeria following disagreements with the Southern parties over the timeline for independence. The fallout of the disagreement was the Kano riots of 1953, which the British authorities tried to paint as arising from irreconcilable ethnic tensions and difference. That event led Dr. Azikiwe to declare, at a meeting of the NCNC in Yaba on May 12, 1953: “I am obliged to issue a solemn warning to those who are goading the North towards secession.”

Dr. Azikiwe’s critique of that move and the expression of what might now be considered his doctrine of indissoluble union was based on a very pragmatic construct of necessity. An economically and politically weak and backward North, he reasoned, would be a dangerous neighbour and could pose serious problems to a free and prosperous south.

In his words: “In my opinion, the Northerners are perfectly entitled to consider whether or not they should secede from the indissoluble union which nature has formed between it and the South, but it would be calamitous to the corporate existence of the North should the clamour for secession prevail.

"I, therefore, counsel Northern leaders to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of secession before embarking upon this dangerous course. As one who was born in the North, I have a deep spiritual attachment to that part of the country, but it would be a capital political blunder if the North should break away from the South.

"The latter is in a better position to make rapid constitutional advance, so that if the North should become truncated from the South, it would benefit both Southerners and Northerners who are domiciled in the South more than their kith and kin who are domiciled in the North.

Reasons for holding to this view "There are seven reasons for my holding to this view.

Secession by the North may lead to internal political convulsion there when it is realised that militant C M Y K

Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. nationalists and their organisations, like the NLPU, the Askianist Movement, and the Middle Zone League, have aspirations for self-government in 1956 identical with those of their Southern compatriots. It may lead to justifiable demands for the right of selfdetermination by non-Muslims, who form the majority of the population in the so-called ‘Pagan’ provinces, like Benue, Ilorin, Kabba, Niger and Plateau, not to mention the claims of non-Muslims who are domiciled in Adamawa and Bauchi Provinces.

"It may lead to economic nationalism in the Eastern Region, which can pursue a policy of blockade of the North, by refusing it access to the sea, over and under the River Niger, except upon payment of tolls.

It may lead to economic warfare between the North on the one hand, and the Eastern or Western regions on the other, should they decide to fix protective tariffs which will make the use of the ports of the East and West uneconomic for the North.

"The North may be rich in mineral resources and certain cash crops, but that is no guarantee that it would be capable of growing sufficient food crops to enable it to feed its teeming millions, unlike the East and the West. Secession may create hardship for Easterners and Westerners who are domiciled in the North, since the price of food crops to be imported into the North from the South is bound to be very high and to cause an increase in the cost of living…."

Azikiwe’s counsel of 1953 remains prescient, and even more vital in the 21st century.

Brief partnership between AG, NCNC

came to an end In that same year, 1953, the brief partnership that existed between the AG and the NCNC following the motion for selfgovernment in 1956, which both parties endorsed, came to an end when the AG walked out of the alliance, following the issue of the autonomy of Lagos as a federal territory which the NCNC pushed.

Awolowo had, in fact, declared that Lagos would be separated from the West over his dead body, and the Action Group had threatened to secede. This matter was finally resolved in the 1953 constitutional conference in London. The threat of the AG to secede was contained following concessions made during the London conference that in general negatively impacted the East financially; gave economic advantage to the West, and made significant political allowances to the North, all in the bid to preserve

Azikiwe’s concession of the office of Prime Minister to the NPC arguably saved Nigeria from possible disintegration very early in the day

the union.

This period began to lay the grounds for a new programme of cooperation between the Northern party and the NCNC, given the practical reality of British constitutional manipulations that destroyed any possibility of the emergence of a coherent national political leadership or a national movement in the period.

The nature of these manipulations have been admirably captured in James P. Hubbard’s book, The United States and the End of British Colonial Rule, 1941-1968. In 1954, the NCNC had won the federal elections in two of the three regions, and practically formed the bulk of the federal cabinet from 1955 under the government of the colonial Governor-General, Sir James Robertson.

"It was practically the “ruling government” in a unique constitutional arrangement that gave the NPC slight control of the Parliament and the NCNC control of the cabinet. It was, therefore, all the more “dramatic,” even though not unexpected of the British Governor-General to announce Sir Abubakar in 1957, to be prime minister and leader of the transitional Federal Government over his cabinet colleagues, especially having confined the leadership of the national party constitutionally to a regional position. This was the point I was labouring, perhaps a little too generally, to make.

Secession was constant possibility Secession was a constant possibility, and the North threatened to secede from the union again in 1957, and Northern secession was a

possibility following the 1959 elections. It was like a wraith haunting Nigeria’s political future. Of all the parties that went into that election in 1959, the NCNC had the widest national following, and was represented in some strength, nationally.

The result of that election was, however, basically such that none of the parties won a majority to form the government at the centre, even with the NPC winning more seats than any of the parties. On the score of that election, it is on record that the Action Group offered itself, under the leadership of Chief Awolowo, for a coalition with the NCNC to form the independence government with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as Prime Minister.

Following consultations with his party ’s leadership, and gauging the internal dynamics of the party, Dr. Azikiwe made the most important political concession of his political career. He chose not to be Prime Minister. He chose to partner with the Northern Peoples Congress among other factors, but largely on three principles: (a) if the two southern parties formed the national government, the NPC which always feared marginalization by the South would feel even more dangerously isolated by power, and as a regional opposition.

Such a situation would certainly awaken the secessionist moves of the North, (b) It was imperative, especially at the early stages of the nation, to maintain a “government of national unity” and the NCNC thus favoured a continuation of the 1954 arrangement of inclusive government, and (c) Dr. Azikiwe did not want to further exacerbate the internal rebellion in the NCNC which had been convulsed by party crises since 1956/7 by working with the Action Group following the stout opposition of the NCNC Western committee.

Azikiwe’s concession of the office of Prime Minister to the NPC arguably saved Nigeria from possible disintegration very early in the day.

Awolowo’s refusal to join the national government, quite clearly isolated his party, and was a significant factor in the crisis that convulsed the Action Group and led remotely to the collapse of the first republic.

Azikiwe read the mood of history clearly and made that concession to work with the NPC. That is a fact of history which I hope Professor Oyediran and Mr. Aderemi can come to terms with.

Dr. Nwakanma writes the ‘Orbit’ column in Sunday Vanguard.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21 21,, 2015 — 33

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34—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Appointment of judges shouldn't be done in secret — OBLA

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hief Godwin Obla, SAN, is one of the foremost prosecutors in the country. He has prosecuted some cases for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. In this interview, he spoke of the expectation of Nigerians, particularly litigants and lawyers from the in-coming administration of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari in the area of justice sector reforms.

He also spoke on the need for the next National Assembly to consider and pass laws that will generally move the country forward and not be guided by personal considerations and gains which were the banes of previous Assemblies.

Excerpts:

By Innocent Anaba

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hich sector of the country do you expect the incoming General Muhammadu Buhari administration to pay more attention?

First, Nigerians are very expectant today, •Chief Godwin Obla, SAN because they believe that things have not been going the way they expected them to go. But I think that the expectations •Corruption has affected the should be reasonable because the activities of the National Assembly usual thing is that when a new government comes in, the populace expect a magic wand, but life is not about magic, life is about reality. The justice sector to which I belong is a sector that has had a lot of challenges over person with a land crisis also is substantially traceable to him, 6th National Assembly could the years. These challenges are needs that his situation be dealt so I think that he will work hand still not be passed into law by not new but what the populace with, so also those involved in in hand with the new Attorney- the outgoing 7th Assembly. are looking forward to is a matrimonial issues or those that General and Minister of Justice, Naturally such bills will start reform that will enhance speedy have issues of inheritance. So, whoever that may be, to bring fresh legislative journey to be dispensation of justice without it is a complete overhaul that we some serious reforms to the passed into law in the forthcoming 8th Assembly, affecting the quality of justice need. May be our procedural Justice sector.

A lot of Justice Sector Bills how do we checkmate this that is dispensed. In criminal laws have been too inhibiting, mattes, especially in matters if they have, then we need to that started their journey in the unnecessary waste of time and resources in the legislature? involving politically exposed do something about it.

What kind of transformation We need to be realistic with persons, the public expects should we expect? ourselves, most times, blames speedy justice.

It is not an overnight are heaped on the executive However, I think that it will transformation that we are arms of government and people be unfair to pigeon hole these forget that the system of Corruption has expectations in relation to expecting, because the Chinese government that we operate, particular category of persons. would say the journey of a also affected the involves the Legislature, the Politically exposed persons thousand miles begins with a first step.

So, there will be a lot Judiciary and the Executive activities of the deserve speedy justice, people arms of government. We also involved in other forms of crime of interventions in the justice National forget the fact that the three deserve speedy justice, the sector. Incidentally, the Assembly, those arms are to work in synergy and business man deserve speedy incoming Vice-President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo SAN has carved the failure to work in synergy justice, the banker who lends are bills (Non affects the quality of out money to people desires a niche for himself in the area Conviction bills, governance that we all that his matter be tried on time of Justice Sector reforms, the experience. A lot of those bills so that he can recover his reforms that the Lagos State Assets Recovery Judiciary is experiencing today you mentioned will never be money and move on. The bills) that hold any passed into law because of the diverse interests that are potential of involved in them, like the Non actually impacting Conviction bills, Assets Recovery bills. People are on the members, —Pg 36 looking at the fact that some of so there is no these bills, when passed into law will impact on them incentive for the personally, or their businesses members to pass later on. So, they actually put these bills into law their feet down and frustrate it.

2015 general elections & survival of democracy in Nigeria

Judges, lawyers encourage impunity — Justice Oyewole —Pg 37

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Corruption has also affected the activities of the National Assembly, those are bills that hold any potential of actually impacting on the members, so there is no incentive for the members to pass these bills into law. They are not like the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, or like any other bill that has any serious commercial interest.

So, how do we get over this?

I believe that until the members of the incoming National Assembly change their attitudes, their work ethics and do what is right for the country, no matter how well intentioned the incoming executive may be, you will find out that they will achieve very little because our laws are the basis upon which they will operate effectively. So, if you don’t have good laws, no matter your good intentions, it will definitely meet obstacles on the road.

Law has always been a catalyst for economic development, what is your advice to the incoming National Assembly in this respect so that we can have good governance in the country?

Continues on page 35

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 35

Continues from page 34 I think that the incoming National Assembly should first have a proactive perspective of development all over the world and to reflect this perspective on the nature and character of laws we make. Let me give you an example, commerce now, has largely been influenced by telecommunications and the internet. We are doing a lot of the things that Europeans and Americans are doing here, but do we have the legal framework to support the transactions that we are doing?

Most times, they ask you to pay for items over the internet in Nigeria, you pay for Joint Admissions and Matriculation, JAMB forms, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA forms, conference forms over the internet, what is the legal framework that support these payment platforms that we are using.

T

he world has substantially changed, there is so much cyber related crimes and offences now, what has the National Assembly done? How far have they gone to bring our laws in tandem with all these developments? So, the next National Assembly needs to be very proactive and speed is required in everything that they do. They may think that four years is a long time, but it is a very short period indeed for them to articulate these bills, bring them out, conduct public hearings, then go back, clean them up and then send them to the executive for signature.

So, they have to hit the ground running and do the right thing, all these distractions and unnecessary altercations with the executive arm should be a thing of the past.

The race for Senate Presidency is getting hot, your zone, the North Central Zone is contesting for that and your state, Benue is in the frontline for it, what is your reaction to this?

My zone which is the North Central zone of all the geo political Zones in the country, has been the most dynamic of all the zones in this election. I say this because it the zone that changed the equation, it was

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com C M Y K

Appointment of judges shouldn’t be done in secret — OBLA the zone that was essentially in the mainstream Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Niger states were in PDP, all these states made a 360 degrees turn and moved in favour of the opposition party, that was the zone that determined the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in that election. So, allowing the Senate Presidency to stay there is not a big deal for a zone that ensured victory, it is just an acknowledgement of what they have done and I strongly believe that the zoning should be left there. Don’t forget that Nigeria is a religious and politically sensitive contraption. I heard that some people have said that they want to move it to the North Central zone, that will be a most unwise decision for the party. I am not a religious fanatic neither am I am extremist canvassing a position that is not realistic.

What do you mean by this?

Don’ forget that the incoming President is from the North West, Katsina. North East just moved two hitherto PDP States into the main APC but the North Central moved five states into the APC, that number is not a number that you can ignore. The North as it used to be has two religious positions, the Christian minorities of the North and then the Muslim majorities of the North. Gen. Buhari is from the Muslim majority of the North, the North Central is essentially the Christian belt of Northern Nigeria. As a President, he is already a Muslim and is from the Northwest, there is no Christian member of the incoming government that I know that is a Senator. So, if you are moving it to the North East, it is going to be Muslim Muslim thing again from the North. Those of us from the

•Right to fair hearing is a fundamental aspect of our constitution

North Central that are Christians, we feel that the history of marginalisation of our people that has always led to rebellion is being made manifest again and that we have been used as guinea pigs

I don’t understand why the appointment of judges should be like a matter involving the appointment of the Pope where people are secretly locked up somewhere to conduct the process

in a political laboratory and that we are no longer needed. Of course, we are very patient people, we are hopeful that it will not come to that but if it does, we will still take a look at ourselves, don’t forget that government is an ongoing thing and that when you get to the National Assembly and all that, we will still be required for purposes of the various permutations that will take place, so it is just a question of time, but I think that the best thing to do is to leave it in the North Central zone.

This is the period of election petitions, how do you think our laws, especially the 180 days rule will affect the expeditious determination of electoral disputes?

Well, a lot of the election petitions have just been filed and I don’t think any of the respondents have filed processes in rebuttal of what most of the petitioners have

filed.

It all depends on the nature and character of the case, if for instance the petitioner said that he is going to call 300 witnesses and the respondent in rebuttal said that he is going to call 600 witnesses, it is within his right.

Do not also forget that the right to fair hearing is a fundamental aspect of our constitution and everybody, the petitioner and the respondent have a right to be heard. So, if in the course of hearing 180 days elapses, well, in that case the law has not been changed.

What lessons did we learn along this line from the 2011 experiences, how did the law affect the determination of electoral disputes then?

We ought to have learned lessons from the 2011 elections and the related petitions that arose there from.

My expectation is that may be the National Assembly having regard to the lessons learnt, would have taken appropriate steps to make certain amendments if need be. Well they just over looked it and as far as we are concerned, it is our law, a good law and we are stuck with it.

The process of appointing Judges has been blamed for most of the ills bedevilling the Judiciary including the quality of judgments d at our Courts, what is your reaction to this?

I think that there is always room for improvement in the conduct of human affairs, but the area that I am most worried about is the area of the perceived secrecy of the process. If our procurement process for the purpose of contract award has been made so open that the entire public participates in it, I don’t understand why the appointment of Judges should be like a matter involving the appointment of the Pope where people are secretly locked up somewhere to conduct the process, I don’t understand this. If Judges need to be appointed, there should be an advertorial, just the way the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria is also appointed, would be judges should be made to pass through a filtering process that is rigorous.

36 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

2015 general elections and survival of democracy in Nigeria

By Joseph Daudu, SAN

T

he journey we undertook in the past 100 years saw us metamorphose from colonialism (1914-1960) to independence when we embraced Parliamentar y Democracy of the West Minster Export Model and practised politics of bitterness, deceit, avarice and disunity for 6 years i.e. 1960-1966. The novelty of the excesses of the political class during this period referred to caused the awakening or emergence of an unknown political monster i.e. the Nigerian military (Armed Forces) and they seized power in the year 1966, suspended the Constitution and ruled by military fiat and Decree from 1966-1979. During this period, the military defragmented the entity known as Nigeria from 4 Regions to 12 States then 19 States by the time they handed over power to a civilian administration in 1979.

They also prosecuted an expensive and divisive civil war (1967-1970) at the end of which ‘a no victor no vanquished status’ was declared. The civilian democracy was terminated in 1983 by the military relying as justification on the corrupt excesses of the then NPN Government. At that time our political evolution and maturity had not reached the point where the electorate could override the corruption machinery of the political party in power as they did in the 2015 elections when all the stakeholders i.e. political overlords, the electorate, business moguls, civil society groups etc (excluding however traditional rulers, religious leaders, militant groups etc) were in agreement that it was time for the governing political party, the PDP to be sent out of the political arena. Thus in 1983, the military led by, guess who?

GMB seized power and attempted to cure the ills of then Nigeria which was largely one of moral decadence through a cocktail of ethical re-orientation and anti-corruption measures albeit orchestrated and directed through the barrel of the gun.

Their efforts, sadly in my view, were cut short by another military coup d’état in August 1985 championed this time by C M Y K

the triumvirate of Generals’ Mohammed Babangida, Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar who ruled in succession from that date to 1999 when power was then handed over to a retired military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo who rode into power on the wings of the Peoples •J.B. Daudu Democratic Party. Now, this political party the PDP held sway from 1999 to not possess that moral high 2015 when their rule was ground from which to launch unceremoniously cut short by their intent and policies. Before the combined efforts of Nigerians proceeding further, who are those that must take substantial as described above.

The performance of the PDP blame for this lacuna? For me, in the economic growth of I have always been worried that Nigeria, indeed in all spheres of the South-West of Nigeria, with development i.e. infrastructure, its immense human resources, power, transportation, political early exposure to western unparalleled culture, probity and education, accountability, the legislature economic advantage and and to a large extent, the justice initiative abandoned its delivery system, which leadership position after the encompasses the judiciary, the departure of the generation of provision of security, the the great sage Chief Obafemi creation of a level playing field Awolowo SAN and his for Nigerians etc was abysmally contemporaries from the low and in these and other political stage. It seems from all unspecified but strategic areas available stevidence that the political 1 eleven in Western the PDP failed to deliver.

Nigeria has abandoned in the Absence of political majority, the political stage to philosophy or party ideology their mosquito team. It is clear that majority of Yoruba in Nigerian politics Indeed, it came to light in the intelligentsia now populate areas past 16 years that all the such as banking, finance, political parties that bestrode the political landscape like the proverbial Colossus had no political or social philosophy. No one could say what their The magnitude fundamental beliefs were although it seemed that their of insecurity members were agreed on one arsing from point, which is that political power was an avenue to the political acquisition of personal wealth activities and stature in the society. In reached the established democracies the position of Government on all point that issues is based on the historical Government philosophy of the political party in power or in opposition. It is introduced not based on the principle of elements from who stands to benefit the most financially before a policy is the armed forces passed or agreed upon. The such as the absence of principles and Army and Air philosophy upon which governmental policy or actions force in order to are anchored remains the bane keep the peace or albatross of our present political system. Our leaders do during elections

insurance, cyber-science, law and justice, entertainment, oil and gas etc as opposed to politics. The effect of the abandonment of the political arena as described is now visible for all to see. I will return to this phenomenon when the role of violence as employed by the political gladiators is considered in this presentation.

Returning back to the thrust of this discourse, firstly, having acknowledged the fact that Nigeria has returned to civilian democracy and apparently now resolved not to allow the military to truncate our political march, it is necessary to consider whether our the foundation laid for the transition of power from one administration to the other can stand the test of time and sustain our political march as conceptualised by the 1999 constitution.

Secondly, it is necessary to consider how the electoral umpire INEC has fared in its effort to conduct fee and fair elections in Nigeria and particular how it conducted the 2015 general elections and the flaws, if any, associated with the latter.

In concluding this part i.e. introduction it is necessary to draw attention to the fact that the topic in issue i.e. the survival of democracy in Nigeria cannot be viewed solely from the prism of the conduct of the 2015 elections by INEC. The principal bane to the survival of the democratic process or put in another way the survival of modern Nigeria is the effect of the activities of the political class on the institutions and infrastructure that sustain our national life. Consequently, it is intended in this discourse to suggest to the new Administration-elect the steps and agenda it should take having

regard not only to the electorally induced problems, which in itself is substantial but also as iit relates to institutional problems of leadership and governance that have afflicted Nigeria from time immemorial.

Violence and the 2015 general elections The violence that characterised the 2015 had been predictable. Leading to EDay there had been violent expressions of political rivalry among stakeholders and agents of political parties leading to the use of thugs, arson, terrorism and other extreme criminal measures. It is so sad that in the year 2015 our politicians are still resorting to the same vicious tactics employed by our founding fathers in politics. The result is that the polity even post - election is still super-charged.

Economic activity has been severely affected due to politics.

The magnitude of insecurity arsing from political activities reached the point that Government introduced elements from the armed forces such as the Army and Air force in order to keep the peace during elections. The result showed a slight reduction in the criminal activities during elections when compared to the data from the 2007 and 2011 elections.

According to the National Human Right Commission no fewer than 58 people have been killed in election related violence from Dec 3, 2014 to February 2015. In Lagos, 11 incidences were tracked with 2 dead people for each incident, an average of 22 people killed over a span of just 52 days. Kaduna State, there was within that period, three incidents and nine killings; Rivers has six incidents, including the detonation of explosives and attacks on courts.

Election day and postelection violence In Akwa-Ibom State, three persons were killed during the Gubernatorial and House of Assemble elections. In Rivers State four persons including a Soldier were feared dead during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the State.

During the Governorship and House of Assembly, five persons were feared killed in Benue State; four in Kebbi; two, each, in Rivers and Lagos; and one, each, in Plateau, Bauchi and Ebonyi.2 According to a postelection assessment by the Centre for Democracy and Development it was authoritatively revealed that over 100 people were killed during the just concluded general elections.

Please note that the electoral violence witnessed was predominant in the SouthSouth, South-West and the South-East Zones of the country.

To be continued

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 37

Ikeja NBA holds annual law week

Judges, lawyers encourage impunity — Justice Oyewole

By Abdulwahab Abdulah, Bartholomew Madukwe & Jane Echewodo

A

n Appeal Court judge, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, has accused some judges and lawyers of encouraging impunity in the country.

Delivering a lecture at the Alao Aka-Bashorun annual memorial lecture, organized by Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), as part of events marking its annual law week, Justice Oyewole noted that judges encourage impunity by failing to take control of their proceedings and applying extant case management strategies.

According to Oyewole, who is a judge in the Criminal Division of the Lagos State Judiciary: “When we look the other way while our clients jump bail, interfere with witnesses and in the conduct of our cases do everything to impede the flow of justice under an unbridled commitment to our clients, we encourage impunity. And when we as Judges grant u n n e c e s s a r y adjournments, delay rulings and judgments, fail to take control of our proceedings and apply extant case management strategies, we unwittingly encourage impunity.

“We must not venture the thought that it is only through corruption that lawyers encourage impunity in the administration of justice.

When frivolous applications are filed to frustrate trials, when unceasing interlocutory appeals are filed, when we totally turn professional ethics upside down all to satisfy clients, we as practitioners are engendering impunity.”

Justice Oyewole, who is currently a judge of the Benue State division of the Court of Appeal, defined impunity as a pattern of behavior that challenges the very fabric of any organized society, done out of a consciousness that the particular society lacks the institutions or is too weak

It will be interesting to compute how much actually goes into settling damages imposed by courts against the Federal Government for human rights abuses annually

to prevent or punish deviance.

He said: “It (impunity) is conduct without fear of consequence or repercussion; crime without fear of punishment. It will be interesting to compute how much actually goes into settling damages imposed by courts against the Federal Government for human rights abuses annually. I have inkling that the result would be very interesting.”

The lecture with the theme, “Curtailing the Culture of Impunity in our National Life” had in attendance the SolicitorGeneral of Lagos, Lawal Pedro SAN; wife of the honouree, Mrs Kudirat; national legal adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Muiz Banire; DirectorOffice of Public Defender, Mrs Omotola Rotimi; Chairman, NBA Ikeja branch, Yinka Farounbi and lawyers in the state.

Explaining how AkaBashorun performed as president of NBA, Justice Oyewole said, “his presidency of the NBA was at a time when the bar yearned for purposeful leadership that would connect it with the yearnings and aspirations of the ordinary people of the country. He did not disappoint. He delivered on those yearnings, as would be readily testified to by older members of the Bar.”

Perchstone & Graeys annual business forum holds in India

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

T

he 2015 edition of Perchstone & Graeys India Nigeria Business Forum (INBF) was designed to widen the space of commercial opportunities and deepen the exchange of best practices between Nigeria and India.

This was disclosed by the organisers of the annual programme which holds between September 10 to 11, 2015 with the theme: “Challenging the Levers of Emerging Economies: Rigs to Chips.”

The Forum, second in the series is organised by Perchstone & Graeys, a leading commercial law firm in Nigeria in collaboration with the

Federation of India Chamber of Commerce (FICCI).

Briefing the press on the event, which takes place in Mubi, India, Mr. Kunle Ajagbe and Mr. Olawale Adebambo, both Senior Partners at Perchstone & Graeys said it will focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and how it can be harnessed to widen the space of commercial opportunities and deepen the exchange of best practices between Nigeria.

According to them, the conference is expected to serve as a platform to boost investment opportunities in ICT in Nigeria and raise the level of best practices

operators, policy makers and the business communities.

“This year ’s theme takes account of the strides India has recorded in ICT and how it has established itself as a global ICT leader. This is, of course, coming at a time when Nigeria’s rebased GDP indicates that about 10% (or $50 billion) is attributed to ICT. In view of the fact that ICT is an indispensable enabler to all sectors of the economy, from all indications, its share contributions to national GDP is likely to witness a steady upswing.

“In practical term, this will mean more jobs, skill acquisition and transfer and overall positive for Nigeria.

The Alao Aka-Bashorun Annual Memorial Lecture held during the 2015 Law Week of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch.

Photos: Bartholomew Madukwe

From left, Chairman NBA Ikeja Branch, Mr. Yinka Farounbi; Wife of the honouree, Mrs Kudirat Alao Aka-Bashorun and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the LearnAfrica Education Development Foundation, Chief Emeka Iwerebon.

From left, Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole; Lagos State Solicitor-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN and National Legal Adviser of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Muiz Banire.

Former Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch, Chief Olalekan Yusuf, SAN and Director of Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, Mrs Omotola Rotimi.

From left, immediate past Chairman NBA Ikeja Branch, Mr. Monday Ubani; former General Manager (Legal) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Mahmud Alabidun and Mr. Alesinloye Dele.

Cross-section of attendants at the 2015 Ikeja, NBA Law Week.

Chief Debo Bashorun and Mr. Segun Aka-Bashorun.

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

•Ogbulafor

•Nwodo

•Mohammed

•Baraje

PDP: Jonathan’s Chairmen

By Dapo Akinrefon

W

ITH the resignation of the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the curtain has fallen on the tenure of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu as the party’s leader.

The clamour for Mu’azu’s exit was fuelled by the poor performance of the party which under him for the first time lost in a presidential election and lost control of the two houses of the National Assembly.

Mu‘azu became the eleventh national chairman of the party that was founded in 1998 and the sixth to have worked under President Jonathan who first came to power in 2010.

Mu‘azu’s emergence was generally perceived as the final antidote to the two •President Jonathan •Mu’azu year instability that shadowed the time in office of the five others that preceeded him. It was as such Not long after Jonathan the party along acceptable membership registration not surprising that he was settled in as president, the once democratic practices and the exercise, a scheme he had immediately hailed as the forgotten case about a financial strained relationship with the earlier convinced the president Game Changer. He, however, governor of his home state, would remove the party from to the pain of the party case that preceded his Sullivan Chime, contributed in the hands of the governors. emergence as national members changed the game chairman was revived and he cutting short his tenure as PDP President Jonathan was said to negatively. chairman.

Particularly, have accepted the proposal and Mu‘azu was alleged to have was dragged to court. Not long Ogbulafor came up with the flagged off the membership pulled back from joining other after, Ogbulafor was forced out. party leaders in the abusing the Nwodo All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, General Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, a HIGHLIGHTS OF MU'AZU'S ERA IN RETROSPECT Muhammadu Buhari and by former scribe of the PDP, was that incurring the wrath of seen to have a deep • January 19, 2014: Alhaji President during the those in the inner circle of the understanding of the workings Adamu Muazu succeeds electioneering period leading president. of the NEC having first served embattled Alhaji Bamanga to his defeat. as a National Secretary of the Tukur as the eleventh national •May 6, 2015: Fayose claims Those who preceded him in party. chairman of the party. to have evidence that Muazu office during the Jonathan era Nwodo’s plans of reinventing He was picked as a consensus worked for the APC. were candidate at a meeting •May 7, 2015: Mu‘azu between President Goodluck says Fayose’s death wish Jonathan and governors of the Prince Vincent advert on president-elect, party at the Presidential Villa Muhammadu Buhari led to Ogbulafor in Abuja. the President’s defeat.

Chief Ogbulafor emerged as • March 28, 2015: •May 9, 2015: Niger State chairman of the party after Dr. Muhammadu Buhari defeats governor, Babangida Aliyu Ahmadu Ali and is President Jonathan in the calls on Muazu to resign. remembered as the one who presidential election.

•May 11, 2015: Muazu says boasted that the PDP would • MAY 7,2015: Ekiti State PDP would be buried if he rule Nigeria for 60 years. governor, Ayo Fayose accuses resigns, adding that no organ Having emerged as chairman Muazu of sabotage, wants him of the party under the tenure of the party should try to to resign for leading the party of President Umaru Yar‘adua extricate itself from the to its first presidential election and given the intrigues that misfortune that befell the defeat in 16 years. played out during the period PDP. •May 2, 2015: Muazu accuses of the Cabal, Ogbulafor was •April 19, 2015: Femi FaniJonathan’s aides of being alleged in quarters to have Kayode calls on Muazu led responsible for the party ’s been sympathetic towards the National Working Committee defeat. cabal and against the to resign. He said there was emergence of Dr. Jonathan as He said praise singers and need for a change at the top acting president. insincere people misled the if the PDP move ahead.

Mu‘azu became the eleventh national chairman of the party that was founded in 1998 and the sixth to have worked under President Jonathan who first came to power in 2010.

•Bamanga Tukur registration exercise by registering himself. However, once the governors got to know the purpose of the exercise, they compelled the president to stop the registration exercise and quickly used the case he had with his home governor, Sullivan Chime to chase him out of office even at the national convention of the party in December, 2011.

Mohammed

Dr. Haliru Mohammed Bello, who was Nwodo’s deputy stepped in and ably marshalled the Jonathan campaign to victory in the 2011 election. His tenure brought much stability to the party and he was subsequently compensated with the appointment as a minister.

Baraje

Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, who hails from Kwara State, was never confirmed a full-fledged Chairman and stepped in following the exit of Dr. Harliru Mohammed and he was there until Dr. Bamanga Tukur was elected national chairman in March 2012.

After his exit and following the crisis that broke out in the party in August 2013, Baraje emerged as the national chairman of the New PDP, nPDP which subsequently fused into the All Progressives Congress, APC in November 2013.

Bamanga Tukur

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur ’s tenure as chairman of the PDP was characterised with crisis from beginning to the ending.

Tukur like Nwodo, sought to remove the party from the influence of governors and it was during his tenure that the party for the first time suspended a governor, Chibuke Amaechi and also suspended another governor, Aliyu Wamakko supposedly for not answering the chairman’s phone call. The crisis culminated in the exit of five governors, a development many directly link to the defeat of the party in the recent general elections.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015—39

The Senate needs an incorruptible leader — Sen Lawan deral e longest surviving fe th of e on is , an w La nal Assembly SENATOR Ahmad ng been in the Natio vi ha y tr un co e th e lecturer, in legislators ic in 1999. A onetim bl pu Re th ur Fo e th be since the advent of presentatives from Yo Re of se ou H e th to ted t Yobe Lawan was first elec d senator to represen te ec el as w , 07 20 e in State in 1999, and won re-election for th ly nt ce re g in av H t. tric e North Senatorial Dis s in the hot race for th ite ur vo fa e th of e on on second time, he is rview with newsmen te in an in e ok sp e H te.

President of the Sena pathway. Excerpts: d an his plans, politics

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

W

HY do you want to contest as the President of the Senate of Nigeria?

First of all, I believe that my experience as a legislator that has worked in the two chambers gives me an added advantage of knowing how the House of Representatives works, what the sentiments, tendencies and workings of the House are. Having been in the Senate for eight years, I know how the Senate works and I know all the tenets of the Senate.

In these 16 years I have worked with six presiding officers, three speakers in the House of Representatives; Salisu Buhari, Umar Na’Abba and Aminu Masari and my experience in the Senate that I moved to in 2007 has been remarkable up to date.

I have watched these presiding officers conduct affairs in the two chambers.

Secondly, I have been able to work across party lines with all my colleagues in the House and Senate. So, I believe that I have learnt to be a team player and I can work with all sorts of people regardless of their political affiliations.

I always like to work on the basis of consensus, and what we need today is to ensure that we build and sustain consensus in the different political parties in the House of Representatives and the Senate. I have also learnt to work with the executive arm of government. I believe that today, we need a situation that good governance must

be supported by the legislature and good governance means delivery of service to Nigerians.

Talking about corruption, you were in the House and in the Senate when issues of corruption came up?

I think the National Assembly has indeed public image crisis right from 1999, when the National Labour Congress (NLC) protested against our furniture allowances. Till today, we have not recovered from that. We have not done enough to make Nigerians, who voted for us understand what they should expect from us. I believe that we need to shed this toga of corruption and one way of doing that is to keep ourselves on the line of integrity.

We need a National Assembly that is led by incorruptible people so that within the system, the tendencies that go toward corruption would be minimised and I believe that I have that capacity and I believe that with the cooperation of everyone in the National Assembly, particularly in the Senate, we will do what Nigerians expect from us, to be credible, to be pro-people, and by the grace of God, we will achieve that.

What of your score on zoning?

Zoning is for our leaders to decide. We don’t have a say in it. What is expected of us is to show interest. I am from the North East and there are about two or three people from the North East who are vying for the same office.

Two people from the North

Central are vying for the office and I believe that it is our duty to tell our leaders that we deserve to have the Senate Presidency in the North East and not the North Central.

Secondly, our votes for the APC is second only to that of North West. If your votes count and when you are rewarding such, we are next in ranking in the North, and if the North West has the presidency, we should have the Senate Presidency.

We are ahead of the North Central because we gave over 78 per cent of our votes to the APC, whereas North Central gave only 57 per cent, which places us above

•Lawan: Zoning is for our leaders to decide

I believe in the independence of the legislature and in my first tenure we fought for the independence of the legislature

them. North Central itself has produced three Senate Presidents from Dr.Iyorchia Ayu to Ameh Ebute to the current Senate President David Mark, and three deputy senate presidents from the late Wash Pam, AbubakarHaruna and to Ibrahim Mantu. The North East never had any opportunity; we believe that our party can trust us and test us to lead the Senate this time. We also have people, who can fill the office because you don’t zone into a vacuum. I am available.

The North East Senate caucus has said they would not endorse you. Why this?

The North East Senate caucus did not say they would not endorse me. I was endorsed by the Northwest recently, about 20 senators and the Northeast Caucus

felt I was hijacked by the North West caucus, and there are about two or three other people that want to run for the Senate Presidency from my area. It was not like they did not endorse me, but they said they did not endorse anyone from the North East caucus, and that is fair enough. I don’t think the North Central has endorsed anyone, no one has been endorsed. I am still seeking that my brothers and sisters would endorse me just like two others from the area want to be endorsed, but thank God that I have been endorsed by two caucuses now; the North West and the South West. We are still working to ensure that we are endorsed by even the North Central.

Continues on page 40

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Senator Chukwumerije: The authentic comrade I

By David Mark

T is difficult to express one’s innermost feelings on the passage unto glory of the enigma and nationalist per excellence, Senator (Comrade) Uche Chukwumerije. It is even harder to attempt to express an opinion in a single narrative. As much as one tries, there will always be something missing in the story line.

He was an economist, educationist and Journalist of note. Chukwumerije left no one in doubt about his beliefs and where he stood on any issue concerning the nation and its people no matter how complicated. He stood firmly to be counted especially when it concerned the security and welfare of the Nigerian people. His unwavering commitment to the ideals of nationhood was unparalleled.

He was Chairman, Senate Committee on Education and a member of Committees on Drugs, Narcotics & Financial Crimes, Federal Character & Governmental Affairs as well as Power. As is typical of all he did, in these committees, Chukwumerije radiated intelligence and exemplary conduct.

During the last ASUU strike, he, more than any other person was very committed to resolving the impasse. He was a team player who brought meaning to hard work.

He was very passionate about raising the standard of education in the country.

Senator Chukwumerije set up an informal ‘Think Tank’ committee comprising some Senators to examine the merits and demerits of every Bill before the Senate.

Senator Chukwumerije was an excellent parliamentarian.

He was an unrepentant soldier and

defender of the ‘talakawa’ who was ever determined to make positive difference. He was one of the brightest and fertile minds in the Senate.

He was a shining light and a pathfinder. His contributions to debates were always scintillating and reverberating.

I recall my contest for Senate Presidency in 2007; Senator Chukwumerije had been reelected as Senator on the platform of Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA). In the previous Senate, we were both elected as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators but we held divergent views on some national issues.

Chukwumerije was the first opposition Senator as it was then along with Senator Olorunmibe Mamora to openly endorse my candidature. I was deeply touched.

He remained an authentic comrade who had been consistent in all he did. He never wore any other dress, “white safari suit was his trade mark”. He was steadfast and resolute to the end.

When I visited him on his sick bed, he said to me; “My President, I will not die”.

Though he was physically weak, his mental alertness was never diminished. That showed his strong will to live. But who is man in deciding when the time is up? God has the final say.

Chukwumerije was a very courageous Senator in this hallowed chamber. Those of us that have been here long enough will know that for nominees coming to be screened by the Senate, ‘the fear of Senator Chukwumerije was the beginning of wisdom’. You will recall the Senate screening of a Ministerial nominee who claimed to be an Engineer but could not substantiate his claim. Senator Chukwumerije queried him thus: Chukwumerije: Mr. nominee did you say you’re an engineer?

Nominee: Silence

*Senator Uche Chukwumerije

He remained an authentic comrade who had been consistent in all he did. He never wore any other dress, white safari suit was his trade mark, he was steadfast and resolute to the end

The Senate needs an incorruptible leader Continues from page 39 What is the assurance that under your leadership, the Senate would not be a rubber stamp of the executive?

I believe in the independence of the legislature and in my first tenure we fought for the independence of the legislature, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power. At that time, what we wanted was a legislature that would not be taking orders from the executive arm of government.

I am sure APC is a different player in this, our party is a progressive party, our president believes in the rule of law.

In fact, that is the stand of our party and our leaders, and while we have independence of the legislative arm of government, we also have to collaborate, co-operate and partner with the executive arm of government to work for the benefit of

Nigerians.

What we need is good governance for the benefit of Nigerians, so I don’t see how we can become a rubber stamp. When you become a rubber stamp, you would not function properly and we don’t want what happened to the PDP that they were booted out to happen to us.

What is your relationship with PDP members in the Senate?

My relationship with them has always been cordial. I have been a cosmopolitan legislator. In the House of Representatives I was in charge of the House Committees on Agriculture and that of Education and these are committees that I should not ordinarily hold because I was in the opposition party, and when I got to the Senate in 2007, I was made the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, the highest committee that any opposition lawmaker could hold in

the two chambers. And I have been working together with my colleagues in the Senate, who are PDP. In an open race, do you stand a chance of winning?

The arithmetic is simple, out of the four zones that produced APC, I have got two, we are 60 senators in APC, North West has 20, South West has 13, which is 33, which is already a winner. Ask anyone what my relationship with the PDP senators in the chamber is, and ask the same question about the other senators aspiring for the Senate Presidency.

For me, all the aspirants are brothers; if any of us gets it, I would work with them, if I get it, they need to work with me and we belong to the same party and we don’t want to rock the boat.

Chukwumerije: Are you a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers?

Nominee: Silence Chukwumerije: Are you registered with the Council for the Registration of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN).

Nominee: Silence Chukwumerije: Mr. nominee, any man who claims to be what he is not, what is he?

At that point the nominee fainted and that was the end of the screening. That was vintage Chukwumerije – blunt, frank and fearless.

In Chukwumerije, a great ‘Iroko’ has fallen. He has left a huge vacuum that would be too difficult to fill. He was a consummate and passionate Nigerian who worked for the peace and progress of Nigeria.

We shall miss his cerebral, erudite and scholarly prowess on the floor of the Senate.

In all he did, he pursued the course for the adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights. He proved himself a national hero and a worthy son of Africa.

No doubt, Chukwumerije was an intellectual of very high standing and a parliamentarian per excellence who contributed immensely to the making and successes of the 5th, 6th and 7th Senates.

He was a man who will not genuflect to dishonest political posturing and grandstanding. He was resolute and in all his actions, dignity, integrity and principle remained the guiding beacons.

Surely, he was an extra-ordinary patriot who left a positive legacy that the family, Abia State and the nation can always be proud of.

We will miss his fruitful and positive contributions. May his soul rest in the bosom of our Lord.

Adieu – the great Comrade!

*Senator Mark is the President of the Senate

41—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Moderate salt intake, regular monitoring reduce risk of hypertension — CARDIOLOGIST

By Chioma Obinna

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ITH 30 in 100 Nigerians suffering from hypertension, cardiac expert has said that moderating salt intake and regular blood pressure monitoring will help reduce the risk of high blood pressure and other related diseases.

A renowned cardiologist and Associate Professor of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr Amam Mbakwem said hypertension is one subject every Nigerian should be aware of due to growing incidences of the diseases among Nigerians and because hypertension does not have any sign or symptom. Emphasising the theme of this year which is “Know Your Numbers”, Mbakwem who is also the President of the Cardiac Society of Nigeria, explained the rationale behind the high prevalence of the disorder in blacks. According to her, more blacks have hypertension than whites because of the way blacks handle salt.

“We tend to hold onto more salt because of our climate. We sweat a lot and so we require more salt to balance up. But once too much salt is in the system, it triggers high blood pressure. There is also some genetic differences between whites and blacks. The rate at which hypertension develops complications is worse in blacks even for the same level of blood pressure.

Diet is also another reason for the high rate of hypertensive cases in black people.

From left: Chairman, SOFPON Lagos Zone, Dr. Blessing Chukwukelu; Vice Chairman, SOFPON, Lagos Zone, Dr. Adedokun Ayoade; and Chairman, AGPMPN Lagos, Dr. Adeyeye Arigbabuwo during media parley to mark this year’s World Family Doctors Day in Lagos yesterday.

Hypertension can damage the eyes and the heart can fail. It can damage the kidneys and the arteries in the body.

If discovered early, it is better to manage

“About 15 to 20 years ago, the statistics was about 11 per cent Nigerian adults that had hypertension. These days, we are looking at figures over 30 per cent. In some areas, it’s as high as 47 per cent. Putting it simply, if you meet 100 Nigerian adults, 30 people are hypertensive. “Hypertension does not have any sign or symptom. Few people may have headache, but most people do not know they are hypertensive.

It is either somebody checks your blood

pressure and it is there or an organ has been damaged before it is discovered. That is why we worry about it. It is not just about the numbers, but the damage high blood pressure causes.

Mbakwem said that high blood pressure heats up the brain, it can also damage it.

“Hypertension can damage the eyes, causing blindness, heart can fail. It can damage the kidneys and the arteries in the body. If it is discovered early, it is better to manage. “What we are saying is - check your blood pressure at the slightest opportunity you can ever find. Any time you visit a hospital or any medical centre, make sure you check your blood pressure.

Most pharmacies now have Omron blood pressure monitors. If you go to buy medication, spare some more time to check your blood pressure. You can also keep a record of your numbers on a daily or weekly basis. This is the way we can nip this problem in the bud. Speaking, Country Manager, for Nigeria, Omron Healthcare Europe B.V, Mr. Olugbenga Abiodun said what is more worrisome is that most Nigerians are unaware of their blood pressure levels or numbers and “that means we have a big problem on our hands.”

Abiodun posited that people need to take responsibility and know their numbers as this year’s World Hypertension day theme proposes. “It is important that people start checking their blood pressure even at home. That way, at least you can begin to raise your level of consciousness, make lifestyle modification and then consult your doctor. Prevention is better than cure. The Omron blood pressure monitors are the only clinically validated products in Nigeria.”

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42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

A-Ibom tribunal Chairman warns against frivolous applications

By Chioma Onuegbu

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YO—CHAIRMAN of the election petition tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Justice Goddy Anunihu, has warned that members of the tribunal will not tolerate frivolous applications that may delay or derail the job assigned to them.

Anunihu, in his inaugural speech at the formal sitting of the tribunal, also urged lawyers to work hard on their cases and be ready at all times to play their roles as officers of the court effectively.

He added that the tribunal and lawyers, as members of the legal profession, have a duty to carry out their functions with the highest degree of professionalism as it was the only way to ensure that justice was done in all the

matters before them.

He said: “We are all aware that the petitions before us are billed to be heard and determined within 180 days from the date of filing. Some weeks of the said 180 days have already elapsed. We should, therefore, be ready for serious work immediately the petitions become ripe for hearing on fulfilment of the

preliminary requirements of the law.

“For the parties, their supporters and other spectators, I urge everybody to exhibit the highest degree of discipline. This sitting is intended to sensitize all persons who have interest in the petitions filed in respect of the governorship election in this state conducted on April

11, 2015 of the existence of this tribunal and its willingness to discharge the duties assigned to it effectively.

“We are aware of the enormity of the job before us.

We appeal to counsel whose duty it is to direct and counsel their clients to assist us in resisting and overcoming any attempt to throw spanners in the works of this tribunal."

Don't use Urhobo as battle ground, youths warn Dokubo

By Emma Amaize & Ochuko Akuopha

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ORMER Vice President of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Alhaji MumakaiUnagha, has cautioned Asari Dokubo against dragging Urhobo youths into his self-determination struggle.

He also said that Dokubo should remain in his Ijaw enclave and not use Urhobo as battle ground.

Mumakai-Unagha while reacting to statements credited to the leader of the Niger Delta Salvation Front at a ceremony allegedly held at Ughelli, Delta State, on Sunday, said that the Urhobo people should be counted out of the various threats issued in the name of Niger Delta, adding that the Niger Delta was not synonymous with any ethnic group.

He called on the leadership of the Niger Delta Salvation Front to blame President Goodluck Jonathan for his failure to address the various challenges facing the people of the region.

Mumakai-Unagha who is also the National Publicity Secretary of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, challenged Dokubo to disclose what projects the Urhobos benefited from in Jonathan's six years administration.

ANNIVERSARY: From left: Mr Chadrick Idjeneba, Deputy President-General; Mr Patrick Akpotor, President-General and Mr. Pius Unaeyefe, Spokesman, all of Okpe Union, Delta State, during the union's 85th anniversary celebration, in Lagos.

Obuoforibo remains INC president —Scribe

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By Wale Akinola

HE acting National Secretary of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Worldwide, Chief Williams Mkpah, has said that the purported suspension of Boma Obuoforibo as President of INC was illegal, null, void and of no effect.

Mkpah, in a statement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, advised all Ijaw sons and daughters to disregard the purported suspension, saying: “All members of INC are enjoined to disregard the purported suspension by some National Executive Council, NEC members who have been uncomfortable with Obuoforibo’s insistence on accountability and transparency as articles of faith in running the affairs of the congress.

“The constitution of INC 2009, as amended, provides that meetings of all national organs of congress shall be summoned by the National Secretary on the directive of the president of congress. The constitution further provides that if the president refuses to summon meetings of the NEC for two months, twothirds of the members of NEC can cause a meeting to be held.

“The said NEC meeting at

which Obuoforibo was purportedly suspended was neither on the directive of the president nor was it summoned at the instance of two-thirds of the members of NEC as provided by INC constitution. The holding of an unauthorised meeting is an act of gross misconduct as clearly defined in Article 22(vi) of INC

constitution. Any decision purportedly taken at any such meeting is illegal and, therefore, unenforceable.

“The Ijaw nation should treat this ill-motivated action as the height of executive lawlessness, carefully orchestrated by those who have seen the INC as their means of livelihood."

How DSC youths allegedly chopped off man’s hand

By Akpokona Omafuaire

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ARRI—IT was a gory sight, yesterday, as Mr. Stanley Okobiebi, a native of Orhuwhorun, in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, narrated how suspected youths from DSC Township of Orhuwhorun chopped off his hand.

Vanguard had reported, weekend, how the incident triggered a reprisal attack by angry Orhuwhorun youths who went on rampage.

It was gathered that crisis started over manual job at a building site between youths in Ekrabe Quarter in Orhuwhorun

community leaving several others with various degrees of injuries.

An eyewitness said that disagreement ensued over the refusal of township youths to allow the youths of Orhuwhorun participate in the laying of concrete at the building site.

According to the witness: “During the heated argument, the township youths ran to a notorious thug in the area and came out with guns, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically into the air as weapons were used freely in the melee, leaving over five Orhuwhorun youths with deep matchete cuts and the chopping off of the hand of one Stanley Okobiebi.”

I never denied opposition access to election materials — A-Ibom REC

By Tom Moses

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YO—THE Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Austin Okojie, has denied allegation of non-compliance with the directive of the Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in the state to allow the opposition parties access to inspect the materials used in the presidential/ National Assembly elections on April 28.

Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, Okojie said that all the materials including voter register, ballot papers and all other sensitive materials needed for inspection, sorting, counting and scanning had been released and presented by the commission for inspection by the representatives of the various political parties as ordered by the tribunal.

N-Delta ex-militants slam colleagues over comments on Amnesty programme

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IGER Delta former militants from Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri, under the aegis of Niger Delta Advocate for Peace, NDAP, have described the recent publication by the leadership of United Delta for Peace, UNDP, led by Mr. Michael Johnny, Francis Muturu and Bonny Gawei, against the Amnesty programme as not only misleading but a cheap means of seeking recognition from the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Chairman of NDAP, Mr Ayakpo Niekebi, in a statement, yesterday, said that the publication was a calculated attempt to dent the image of top managers of the amnesty programme, adding that gains of the amnesty programme were unprecedented in the region.

43—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

12 escape death as 4-storey building collapses

Enugu govt demolishes 56 shops

By Chidi Nkwopara

By Francis Igata

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WERRI—ABOUT 12 people narrowly cheated death, yesterday, as a four-storey building under construction, crumbled at

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FFICIALS OF the Enugu Capital Te r ritor y Development Authority, ECTDA, yesterday, embarked on the demolition of 56 shops along Air Force Primary and Secondary School road.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the exercise, a D6 earthmoving machine was demolishing shops along the road, even as residents wept profusely, wondering why a government that had eight days to go would embark on such an exercise.

But the Commissioner for ECTDA, Mr. Emmanuel Omeje, while fielding questions in his office, explained that the shop owners contravened the government green verge policy.

He said: “The shops were built on government green verge. Shops should not be built with 10 metres from the road.

We had issued the shop owners quit notice two years ago. They refused to quit.

“The shop owners do not have approval for those structures. There will be no compensation for affected victims because we cannot legalise illegality.”

Umukehi, Orji, in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.

Some of the residents around the vicinity, complained that they were not very comfortable with the way the structure was erected, and

blamed the collapse on structural defects.

It was gathered that prior to the collapse, the owner of the edifice allegedly noticed some dangerous cracks in the building and invited some engineers who advised that it

Enugu communities protest alleged destruction of cash crops, land

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—OVER 500 natives of Agbudu and Enyimba in Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State, yesterday, took to major streets of Enugu metropolis, protesting alleged expropriation of their farmland and destruction of cash crops

by San-Calous Company Nig Ltd .

The protesters, mainly aged women and men, marched round the entrance gate of Enugu Government House, chanting solidarity songs.

They also wielded placards with inscription such as “Enugu State Government wants us to become militants, "San Calus Company has destroyed our farmland and refused to pay compensation since three years now," "We are dying of hunger and cannot pay our children's school fees.”

Addressing newsmen in a joint briefing, Oji Clifford and Thomas Chukwu of the two communities, regretted that San Calus Company Nig Ltd took their farmlands three years ago without any compensation.

They said: “The company

came and forcefully took our farmland. As if that was not enough,they have destroyed all our cash crops.

“Over one million palm trees,pineapples, among other cash crops, have been destroyed. We can longer fend for ourselves, let alone pay our children's school fees. We have appealed to them in several fora, but to no avail.

“We have decided to bring our plight and predicament before the government for intervention. We will not relent in our agitations until justice is done.”

Meanwhile, at the time of filing the report, no government official had attended to the protesters as they continued to wait in the scorching sun for answers.

could be stopped from collapsing.

“It was during the process of trying to salvage the structural defect that the entire building went down,” said an eyewitness.

The witness affirmed that no life was lost in the disaster, stressing that the building collapsed as soon as the last workman came out of it.

“I thank God that no life was lost in the disaster. The building went down as soon as the last workman came out of it. ‘’It would have been a very bad tale if the workers were still inside the building when it came crashing,” the witness said.

All efforts made to reach the owner failed as nobody around the vicinity accepted that he had the man’s contact.

Reps speakership, not exclusive to ranking lawmakers —Onyeweife

By Enyim Enyim

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NITSHA—A House of Representatives member-elect representing Ayamelum/Oyi federal Constituency in Anambra State, Mr. Gabriel Onyeweife, yesterday, declared that both old and new members had the legal right to contest for the post of speaker of the lower chamber.

Onyeweife, who recently attended the induction course organized for National Assembly memberselect in Abuja, said there was

no known law that stipulated that only old members of the House of Representatives were eligible to contest for the plum position.

“Once the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, proclaims the inauguration of the House of Representatives, the clerk conducts the election of the speaker as the presiding officer, in line with order 2, Rule 4.

“Order 2, Rule 4 states that no issue of privilege or right should be accorded any member until after the election.”

On the issue of Senate President, he insisted that

the position was not zoned to any geo-political zone, saying that the incumbent Senate President, Senator David Mark, who was reelected, could contest if he so wished.

“The Senate presidency election is not an issue of party. It is by simple majority,” he said.

Onyeweife, a two time member of Anambra State House of Assembly, said the 8th National Assembly would be rewarding as it would make far-reaching legislation that would fasttrack the development of the country.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What do you expect from Buhari's govt?

I

expect the establishment of a hotline, especially in the Presidency, where people can give report on/of corrupt police officers, FRSC, VIO, other security agents, abandoned projects and other irregularities both at the federal and state levels. -Mrs. Foluke Florence, Teacher

A

s the saying goes, “morning shows the day,” so the morning of Buhari/Osinbajo administration will indicate if it is going to be a good day for Nigerians. If this administration succeeds, the common man/masses succeed. -Mr. Timileyin Jaiyeola, Worker

C

ongratulations to the President—elect.

Let him not forget that we now have democracy at work, so if he performs below our expectation we will not fail to show him the way out of power.

God bless Nigeria! -Mrs. Mgbemena Nenny, Businesswoman

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MB must bridge the lengthy barriers between him and the masses, in order to make the expected new dawn for Nigeria a more feasible and easily attainable one. Such bridging, with him, I do not think is far-fetched. -Mr. Ajiboye Emmanuel, Music Director

I

believe that with GMB’s doggedness and perseverance, coupled with the hype that Nigerians have given to the Presidentelect, he will perform to show Nigerians that they were not wrong to stand by him through the struggles.

-Mr. Uchenna Azuka, Graduate

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MB should not forget that he is the people’s choice. So he should not disappoint Nigerians.

He should try to restructure the country. The expectation of Nigerians is that President Buhari should fight corruption to the last.

-Mr. Ngene Chijioke, Banker

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

200 benefit from CBN's N220bn loan in Benue

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—OVER 200 indigenous entrepreneurs in Benue State have benefited from the N220 billion Micro, Small, Medium and Enterprise Development Fund, MSMEDF, floated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The beneficiaries, who were presented with cheques of various amounts, were also availed the opportunity of a one-day training on capacity building and enhancement in Makurdi, the state capital.

Addressing the beneficiaries, a CBN Consultant, Mr. Celestine Okeke, urged them to apply the funds for the purpose they were meant for.

Okeke said: “It is the desire of CBN to boost the businesses of individuals through the revolving loan, because that is the only way they can improve their economic status and by extension help the Nigerian economy grow.”

The trainees, who included the loan administrators from micro finance banks, were issued certificates at the end of the workshop by the Director of the Entrepreneurial Development Centre, EDC, North Central Zone, Professor Te Tyoor.

HONOUR: Chief Pam Botmang, Chief Host (left) and Mr. Simon Lalong, Plateau State Governor-elect, when the state's indigenes in Lagos hosted the Governor-elect.

Senate c’ttee vice chair advocates subsidy removal, deregulation A

BUJA—THE Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Kabir Marafa, has called for the removal of oil subsidy to end the lingering scarcity of the product in the country.

Marafa (APC Zamfara Central), who spoke in Abuja,

AFIA—DISTRICT Head of Akwanga in Nasarawa State, Chief Anthony Yamusa, has called for 24 hours police patrol in the city to check incessant robbery attacks.

Yamusa made the call in Akwanga, headquarters of Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

He said armed robbery attacks had created fears and panic in the people of his domain.

Chief Yamusa said: “The incessant armed robbery attacks in this local government had become a serious concern not only to the residents of this area, but to the entire Nasarawa State because people can no longer sleep with their eyes closed.

He said: “With all sense of responsibility, I think Nigerians need to stand up and say enough of this hypocrisy.

“This thing called fuel subsidy; I do not believe there is one. I do not believe it is benefiting the masses and it does not help them in any

Hoteliers in Kaduna laud govt on harmonised tax regime zTourism has contributed 10% to GDP—SCRIBE A D U N A — zCalls for 2-year tax exemption K SECRETARY of Kaduna State branch of Nigeria Hoteliers Association, Mr. Jijiwon Akpovwovwo, has said the new Harmonised Tax System had brought relief to hotel operators in the state.

District head calls for 24-hr police patrol at Akwanga

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also called for the deregulation of the oil sector.

He said the unending subsidy claims were as a result of the non-deregulation of the sector. According to him, fuel meant for Nigeria is being diverted to other African countries, where it sells at a higher price.

“This is the concern of everybody; we, as traditional institutions, are more worried because we are the custodians of people’s culture and peace.

“What is happening in this town is embarrassing, unfortunate and uncalled for.”

The district head then called on the state government and security agents to beef up security in the area through 24 hours patrol.

The traditional ruler said no nation or society could develop with insecurity, adding that the security challenges facing the state and some parts of the country had generally affected the lives and socio-economic development of the country.

Akpovwovwo told newsmen in Kaduna that the new tax system introduced by the government last year had clarified issues of multiple taxation in the state.

He reiterated the association’s call for a two-year tax exemption for new hotel operators to attract investments to the state.

He said more investments in the tourism sector would assist the administration to close gaps in its revenue drive due to fall in global oil price.

The state government had, on June 10, 2014, signed into law the bill passed by the state House of Assembly on a Harmonised Tax Regime.

According to Akpovwovwo, the harmonised tax system had brought relief to hotel owners in the state, adding “and this will attract both local and foreign investors to the state hotel business.

“The government has responded to the yearnings and aspirations of the hotel industry in the state. The

hoteliers have confidence in the government and we look forward to partnering with the incoming government.”

The secretary advised the incoming administration to collaborate with the hotel industry as it was one of the major sources of employment and revenue generation that would boost the state economy.

He said the tourism industry had contributed about 10 percent of the National Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and provided employment to Nigerian youths within the last five years.

He appealed to the state government to utilise the two percent of Tourism Development Levy for the development of the sector in the state.

The hoteliers’ association scribe, however, decried the high tariff on electricity in the state, which he said should be addressed before it killed their business.

way, as far as I am concerned.

“So long as fuel is selling at a lower price than some other neighbouring countries, you will continue to have fuel going out through the borders.

“Until the neighbouring countries get enough, the local markets will not be served. If Nigerians want to help this incoming administration and if this incoming administration wants to help, I think we need to look at the issue of this subsidy and do away with it once and for all.

“If you deregulate the market, you allow whoever wants to bring petroleum products into the country to go ahead and bring it; you regulate only and fuel will not sell as much as it is selling now.’’

The telecom example

He cited the transformation in the telecommunication sector from near comatose landlines to the GSM phones that had reached even the remotest areas in Nigeria as an example.

The lawmaker said: “Before it, everyone will tell you that if there is no NITEL, the common man will not make call. But today, you have people with telephones even in remote villages.

“So also with this fuel thing, we may suffer in the first one or two months. But as the thing starts taking its roots, these things will all go away, our local refineries will start functioning and all these cartels will go.”

He said that with deregulation, prices would stabilise and petroleum products would be readily available and competition would force down the price of the commodity.

Meanwhile, fuel subsidy payment was not captured in the 2015 budget passed by the National Assembly on April 28.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015—45

MTN/GOLF: From left— Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, Admiral Superintendent, Naval Ordinance Depot; Michael Ikpoki, CEO, MTN Nigeria, and Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan, Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, at the MTN Golf Championship at the Lakowe Golf Course, Lagos.

From left— Femi Ogala, Treasurer, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, OAAN; Danladi Yaro, Vice President; Charles Chijide, President; Kole Ademulegun, immediate past President/Chairman, 2015 Poster Award Committee, and Emmanuel Ajufo, Secretary, at the briefing on OAAN 2015 poster in Lagos.

IBTC/IE VARSITY: From left— Mr. Obinnia Abajue, Executive Director, Personal & Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC; Diego Del Alcazar, Vice Chairman of IE University; Daniella Okumagba, Head, International Personal Banking, Stanbic IBTC, and Eniola Harrison, Country Director, Nigeria IE University, at the memorandum of understanding, MoU, signing between Stanbic and IE Business School in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

VIVIAN FOWLER: From left— Miss Folawe Omikunle, Programme Director, Teach for Nigeria; Konyinsola Titiloye, winner in essay category; Damisola Animashaun, winner in Mathematics category; David Emele of Home Science Association, Ikoyi, winner in art category; and Mrs Olufunke Amba, Director, Vivian Fowler College for Girls, at the Vivian Fowler College for Girls 9th annual competition for Primary 5 and 6 pupils during the prize presentation in Lagos.

NIGERIAN HAIR: From left— Felicia Leatherwood, US-based hair beautician; Nibi Lawson, Director, Kinky Apothecary; Cassidy Blackwell, CEO, Natural Selection Blog.com, at a briefing on the Nigerian Natural Hair & Beauty Show, held in Lagos.

NSE/LAFARGE: Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, MD, WAPCO Operations, Lafarge Africa Plc (middle), flanked by Mr. Gbenga Adeyinka (right) and the 2nd runner-up during the presentation of medals at the 2015 NSE Corporate Challenge co-sponsored by Lafarge in Lagos

GOLF TOURNAMENT: From left— Mr. Obum Arum, Executive Chairman, Enugu Sports Club, ESC; Dr. Amaka Okoye, Lady Captain, Enugu Golf Club, EGC; Miss Blessing Obaje, Gross Winner ESC Lady Captain Tournament; Mrs Ethel Emma-Uche, Brewery Manager, Nigeria Breweries Plc; Mr. Vin Martin-Ilo, Captain EGC, and Chief Ben Etiaba, Vice Chairman ESC, during ESC Lady Captain's Tournament in Enugu.

OAAN:

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EASYLIFE : From left— Idowu Adesokan, Head, Mass Market Segments; Francesco Angelone, Chief Marketing Officer; and Chinelo Mbanefo, Manager, High Value Prepaid, all of Etisalat, during the Easylife 4.0 Limited offer briefing in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Piracy... Confronting the faceless monster drowning arts

By Prisca Sam-Duru

E

ver wondered why some Nigerian artistes had to solicit for fund from the general public before proceeding abroad for medical operations?

Did you hear that colleagues contributed money to purchase ordinary casket to bury a particular renowned artiste after decades of flying high as king in the music industry?

Have you also heard that most Nigerian entertainers retired from active entertainment as paupers even after putting smiles on the faces of millions of fans within and across the globe? And worse of all, do you know that many artistes became so broke while still active in the industry such that it took both divine and human interventions for them to bounce back? Does it not bother anyone that most Nigerian actors, musicians and comedians earn as much as a million for an outing, yet many end up worse than they began?

Well, the answers to the above posers are not far fetched. Aside the well known extravagant lifestyle of most entertainers contributing to their fatal ending, piracy has remained a major hydra-headed monster ravaging the arts.

Piracy though a global phenomenon, the effect appears minimal on the developed nations. In countries like America, the entertainment industry be it Hollywood or Music, piracy has been a subject of serious concern but the difference is that practitioners recover money spent for production including making huge profit, before works of art are pirated.

Otherwise, how does one explain the fact that no country has been able to topple their position as no.1 globally.

Moreso, filmmakers remain consistent with releasing blockbuster movies one after the other.

Back home, the scenario is far from being close to the America example. Here in Nigeria, movies, music albums and books are pirated even before they hit the market. What an industry ravaged by corruption and greed!

After the boom brought about

by Living In Bondage in the early 90s which actually birthed the Nollywood of today, there was a nose-dive around 2003 precipitated by the same monster draining the industry today-piracy. This lowered the quality of movies churned out into the market, as producers had to make do with meagre fund which they ended up not C M Y K

recovering. This situation in turn, gave rise to premierring movies in cinemas so as to make enough money before they are finally released into the market. It was a big relief as films such as Through The Glass by Stephanie Okereke (2008), Figurine by Kunle Afolayan (2009) Ije by Chineze Anyaene etc, became talk of the world. As you may well know, that sterling innovation has once again, been defeated by piracy. Recently, there were leaks right from the cinema and Kunle Afolayan’s October 1 made it to the outside world, leaving the filmmaker, wondering what happened.

Popular comedian, Ayo Makun a.k.a AY, also had his 30 Days In Atlanta, suffering same fate while still in the cinema. Lucky for AY, the movie already made millions before the monster struck. Now, we are left with piracy incorporated! Oh! How

Here in Nigeria, movies, albums and books are pirated even before they hit the market.

What an industry ravaged by corruption and greed

that the dog has eaten the very bone fastened to its neck.

This ugly situation has elicited condemnations from concerned individuals and stakeholders across the nation.

They accused poor distribution channels as responsible for creating avenues for piracy adding that the problem has escalated from hawking CD copies, to the spread in the digital space. Here are some of their statements.

Nollywood actress Joke Silva said, “If piracy is not dealt with the way we dealt with fake drugs, the industry will be killed and by so doing, we would have murderers and criminals due to lack of jobs.”

Singer and record label executive, Eldee, stated that “There must be sanctions, adequate data remains one of the biggest problems facing the entertainment industry. Many artistes today are unaware of how much airplay their music are getting as well as the royalty, if any, that are accruing to them. There is no data collection in the industry as regards what is due to artistes for their music. And when you do get the information, you have to pay an arm and a leg for it.”

Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji, “Alaba is our past. The digital space is the future. We must be ahead in the digital age because our intellectual properties such as music, movies and literature are the power-house of the future of the nation” Moviemaker, Lancelot Imasuen stated that, “I strongly, personally condemn this mindless infringement on Right to life and existence in

•Joke Sylva

•AY this country called Nigeria, where our intellectual right is openly stolen and pirated without any fear or any form of confrontation by the Authorities, is getting out of hand!"

Gabosky, an influential film distributor in Nigeria while lashing out at NCC and NFVCB, two regulatory agencies, for negligence of duty , called them, “Another branch of piracy” The big question here is, will these statements prevent the industry from completely becoming comatose as a result of menace of piracy? Definitely no!

Piracy has for long feasted on the intellectual properties of

Poets dazzle at Freedom Spoke Words

By Elizabeth Uwandu

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he 4 th edition of Freedom Spoke Words, a monthly event organised by AJ House of poetry in conjunction with Goethe Institut, had poets in the likes of renowned journalist, Akeem Lasisi,Daggar T o l a r e t c , thrilling Lagosians with soul moving renditions, at the weekend.

Poems on Lagos, Oshodi and Udeme, a satire on trifle spending by politicians, were performed by the poet, the climax was the rendition of ‘Correct Pricing”. The poem

speaks on the deteriorating conditions of the nation via bad roads, poor infrastructure, epileptic power supply and the incessant fuel scarcity upheaval facing the country.

On “Correct Pricing” the poet said despite years of his writing the poem , the poem remains relevant as situations in Nigeria remain unchanged.

According to him,”some people who are supposed to be here today are not here due to lack of fuel for their cars”.

During the question and answer section, Daggar Tolar,

the anchorman of the event asked the special guest which of his works was his favourite.

With a smile on his face, Lasisi said,”My most loved child is yet unborn. Although, I fancy Udeme and Night of my Flight.

While thanking the organisers of the event, Mr Akeem Lasisi praised the likes of Mr Ken Ike of inspiration FM, Tunde Obayeun, Edaoto Adewuyi, Kafayat Gold and the audience for attending the event. He however urged that poets should come together like the Nollyhood to effect

change in the country.

•Kunle Afolayan practitioners and has so far, left the industry, devastated. Now that it is evident that this monster has turned out to become the proverbial bird that learned to fly without perching, it is high time practitioners learnt to shoot without missing.

To make a head way, technology must be used to deflate pirates. Pretty Okafor of the Junior and Pretty fame while as Interim President of PMAN, came on board with strategy involving getting a biometric card in order to get a data bank of all the musicians in Nigeria both at home and in the Diaspora.

With this, there is an automatic health insurance. All albums, songs, releases, singles and CDs, are barcoded. Artistes will be able to trace their music, check how many albums sold, where and how their songs are being used, which country and how many copies of albums are selling at a particular time.

If technology of this nature is employed, it will secure not just works of artistes but their future as well as those of their generations unborn.

Nollywood filmmakers can also borrow same strategy.

American artistes are known to collect royalties even after they pass on. This can happen in Naija!

Artistes must eschew rancour within the industry. They must understand that a house divided amongst itself cannot stand. Also, responsible authorities such as The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Nigerian Films and Video Censors Board, must awake from slumber. It is unimaginable that rights owners fund anti piracy raids for the Commission.

Now that there is an incoming government, it is expected that offenders will be prosecuted accordingly. Piracy has declared a total war and if practitioners must be victorious, serious and viable machineries and strategies must be employed.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015—47

Artistry on display as Omo rewards winner with N1m

By Princewill Ekwujuru

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HE Omo detergent in spired creative art and essay writing competition christened; ‘Omo Imagine and Achieve’ ended in Lagos penultimate week with 12 years old Imurana Salisu of Army Children school, Abule Egba, emerging tops, winning the N1 million grand prize.

The competition tagged: “Unleash your potential,” also saw the First Runner-up, Clementina Emmanuel of De Brain Foundation School, Kaduna State and Sunday Daniel of Mafah Education Centre, Benin in Edo State smiled home with a bursary of N500, 000 and N200, 000 respectively.

Also receiving his prize was the Lagos State winner in the Essay Writing category,

Adedeji Adesida of the Corona School in Gbagada.

Speaking at the event, Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria, David Okeme said that the Competition had served as a platform for thousands of School children to express their talent.

“Omo is very proud that many more children, their parents and schools are getting onboard the Omo Imagine and Achieve Initiative and even several years after its inception, the level of creativity shown by the entrants has continued to amaze. Selecting the absolute best also wasn’t an easy feat as there were tons of great work and you could see the effort the kids put in.”, he said.

Meanwhile, Category Manager for Fabrics Cleaning, Unilever Nigeria, Ibironke Ugbaja declared the Initiative a resounding success and an

affirmation that Unilever ’s continued investment in empowering the Nigerian Child was already yielding brilliant results. “The growing popu-

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HE book, The Example: The Era of Babatunde Fashola as Executive Governor of Lagos State, is a 351-page book that encapsulates the many faces and steller achievements of the out going governor of Lagos State. The man, Babatunde Raji Fashola, BRF who was former Chief of Staff of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is documented in the book, as a governor who through stunning ingenuity, transformed himself into a model for his contemporaries.

The gem’s story as edited by no other than poet, journalist, playwright and novelist Sam Omatseye, who is currently the Chairman, Editorial Board, of The Nation newspaper, is not told in a single narrative but in a collection of essays and testimonials. The articles were written by different individuals whose close encounter with BRF, left a warm impression of a selfless leader, politician and technocrat.

The essays which span his work in eight years, cover major aspects of his activities while in office. Each essayist, examines a different aspect of his job, ranging from his efforts towards crime fighting, tackling issues relating to education, communication, managing finances, C M Y K

infrastructural development, uplifting standard of living of Lagosians, his style as a disciplined manager, and so much more.

Irrespective of which area is covered, the whole idea of documenting this great achiever, boils down to showcasing BRF as one of the best gifts Lagosians have ever received.

The multiplicities of voices as well as styles employed in weaving the narrative on BRF’s extraordinary and phenomenal sojourn as Governor of Lagos State, are eloquent indication of the essayists’ modest analysis of their encounter or impression of the man who coordinated affairs of one of the world’s

A whole lot of issues which are documented in the essays, establish BRF as an important Figure who has stamped his thoughts, vision and dreams on the polity, on an epic scale

is burning brighter than ever”, she said.

The featured winners from the various State finals along with their winning entries and was graced by parents, teachers and dignitaries from the education sector, government and Industry.

FROM LEFT: Brand Amb. Omo, Funke Akindele; Brand Building Director, Unilever Nig, Mr David Okeme; Brand Amb. Omo, Chioma Akpotha; winner of 1 million naira, Imurang Salisu; Brand Amb. Omo, Ali Nuhu and Category Manager Fab Cleaning, Unilever, Ibironke Ugbaja at the Omo Imagine and Achieve Competition grand finale in Lagos.

Documenting achievements, many sides of BRF in print

By Prisca Sam-Duru

larity of the Omo Imagine and Achieve Initiative justifies all the energy the Brand puts into discovering and nurturing young talent in the country and from what I have seen and heard throughout the period of the competition, I feel confident that the nation’s future

mega cities in such an outstanding manner.

Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, who once headed the Faculty of Law from where BRF graduated, in his foreword, wrote, “Whenever I think of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, my heart swells with pride, that a student who emerged from a Faculty of Law I once headed, has achieved such an incredible height in life, with such spectacular success, in an arena in which the majority of actors have been such tragic failures. I refer to politics. To be associated with such success, no matter how tangentially, gives me great pleasure and satisfaction.”

A whole lot of issues which are documented in the essays, establish BRF as an important “Figure who has stamped his thoughts, vision and dreams on the polity, on an epic scale” thus, putting his name on the sands of time.

The total reconstruction and upgrade of Lagos roads and bridges to developed world standards, the B.R.T project which has brought relieve to commuters and improved sanity on Lagos roads, the greening and beautification of the State with building of parks and gardens which were former havens for touts, the up-

coming Eko Atlantic City etc, are all given adequate coverage in the individual write-ups.

John Kayode Fayemi PhD, former governor of Ekiti State; Tunji Bello, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment; Ben Akabueze, Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planing and Budget; Titi Anibaba, General Manager of Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK); Adejoke Orelope-

Adefulire, Lagos State Deputy Governor; Dr Jide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner for Health; Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser on Media to BRF and 26 others, make up the essayists in the collection.

Through titles such as Early Days(Oluwaseun Faleye), Megacity: Raising the Stakes

(Toyin Ayinde), Fashola: The Technocrat and Democrat (Tunji Bello), BRF: The Vision of a Mega Melting Pot(Leo Stan Ekeh), Education: a Matter of Standards (Ronke Azeez), Eight Years of Managing the Media( Lateef Ibirogba), HealthCare: Healing a State, Saving a Nation The BRF Story in LASUTH (Wale Oke), PublicPrivate Partnership (Sola Oworu) etc, present vividly, Governor Fashola’s achievements as well as his person as one with sound thought process, high intellectual capacity and innovative ideas.

Page 158, precedes 28 unnumbered pages which present the BRF narrative in colourful pictures.

Apart from helping the general public have an overview of the subject in the book under review, Sam Omatseye’s efforts at collating the articles also serve as a parting gift to the governor. BRF has just few days before the mantle of office which he has judiciously utilised in serving the state and nation in general, will be handed over to the Lagos State Governor-Elect, Akinwumi Ambode. And as Prof. Sagay noted in his closing, Nigerians may enjoy yet another privilege of benefiting more from BRF’s wealth of experience and brilliance at the national level.

Students, young political aspirants, researchers, foreigners etc stand to gain so much from reading this book.

48 — Vanguard,THURSDAY Vanguard,THURSDAY,, MAY 21, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21 21,, 2015 — 49

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50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Amaechi's suit to stop Wike’s inauguration suffers setback ...as court strikes out suit T

By Innocent Anaba

HE bid by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state to use a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, to stop the inauguration of Chief Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State and his Deputy Mrs Ipalibo Harry-Banigo on May 29, has suffered a setback, as the court struck out the suit.

Trial judge, Justice S. M. Shuaibu, struck out the suit, FHC/OW/CS/100/2015 for lack of jurisdiction.

The suit filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State and the APC, had sought to stop Wike's inauguration on May 29.

Rivers APC and the AttorneyGeneral of Rivers State through their counsel, B. E. Nwofor, SAN, had argued that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that was listed as the third defendant, the Police listed as the eighth defendant and the DSS listed as the 10th defendant and all have offices in Owerri, hence the court has the jurisdiction to hear the suit.

The court held that by the provisions of the Federal High Court 2011, notice on the venue of filing suits and the territorial jurisdiction limits of the Judicial Divisions of the Federal High Court enacted by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court pursuant to section 19 of the Federal High Court Act, Port Harcourt and not Owerri was the place in which the suit

ought to have been filed.

The judge noted that all the principal claims in the suit were against Wike, the governorelect and Dr Harry- Banigo, the deputy governor-elect.

Reacting to the court’s decision, Chairman of the PDP in Rivers State, Mr. Felix Obuah, praised the judiciary for rising up to the occasion as the true hope of the common man.

He added that Amaechi, who essentially is a creation of the Judiciary as a court judgment put him in office, has shown only one agenda since he came to power which is to ridicule and destroy the judiciary.

He said that the PDP and Wike were ready to meet

Amaechi and his people anywhere they go to subvert the rule of law.

Obuah welcomed what he described as the sound and unambiguous judgment of Justice Shuaibu in favour of Wike, over his swearing-in ceremony billed for May 29.

The PDP expressed gratitude to the judiciary over the failure of Amaechi and the APC, through his Attorney-General, Mr Worgu Boms, to secure judgment in the matter through the back door, which it said would have truncated the democratic process in the state.

Obuah added: “The manner in which Amaechi and the APC leadership have carried on the

administration of government in Rivers State since they lost in the last elections in the state has become worrisome and exposes their desperation to hold on to power at all cost.

This, to us, is undemocratic, selfish and unpatriotic of people who ought to act as statesmen, considering their political offices.

“Amaechi and the APC should allow peace reign in Rivers State by not distorting the anticipated smooth handover of government to the PDP in the state on May 29, 2015, which is sacrosanct, as the party cannot wait to deliver to the people of the state what it promised them and many more after being inaugurated.”

COMMISSIONING: Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (second right) his deputy Prof Amos Utuama (second left) commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah (right) and the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Frank Omare, during the commissioning of vehicles for environmental marshals in Delta State. Photo: Nath Onojake.

Ikimi, Ize-Iyamu can't return to APC, party leaders tell Oshiomhole

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, met with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the 18 local government areas of the state, yesterday, with the leaders unanimously informing the governor that they will resist any attempt to allow the likes of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu return to the party.

But Ize-Iyamu, who was at the wedding ceremony of the governor, told journalists that his presence at the event should not be misconstrued as a plan to go back to the APC, assuring that he remains a proud member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The meeting was called by the governor at Government House, to thank the leaders for their support during the elections and his wedding.

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The meeting, which kicked off at 2.30p.m., was attended by about 300 APC leaders.

The governor admonished the party leaders not to commence campaigns for the 2016 governorship election yet as it was still too early.

Commending them for their support so far, Oshiomhole

said he will not want to be distracted in the governance of the state and appealed for unity and vigilance, assuring that when the time comes, the issue of 2016 governorship will be addressed.

After speaking, his Political Adviser, Mr. Charles Idahosa, who dedicated the APC

victory in the state to the hard work of the governor, however, pointed out the fears among party members that the governor intends to bring back some of his “friends” who left the party for the PDP through the back door, and vowed that such move will be resisted.

Move to discredit NDDC board sponsored by outgoing gov, N-Delta activists allege

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— NIGER Delta activists, under the aegis of Niger Delta Coalition of Civil Rights Activists, NDCCRA, have accused a governor in the region of making moves to discredit the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. National Coordinator of NDCCRA, Dumo Jaja, in a statement, alleged that the governor was struggling to see

how the board could be dissolved so that he could recommend his cronies for appointment, adding that the governor had planted advertorials in some national newspapers recently in which the commission’s board was accused of mismanaging funds.

Describing the allegation of mismanagement of funds levelled against the board as untrue, Jaja said the board should not be “allowed to become a victim of mere political bigotry,” stressing that such act

could stifle development in the region.

The body challenged those with substantial proof of mismanagement of funds by the board not to hesitate to come up with such.

He said: “The report against the present board is a blatant falsehood and deliberate distortion of facts orchestrated by unpatriotic self-seeking elements sponsored by desperate politicians."

Buhari urged to pardon fleeing Ogoni citizens

By Davies Iheamnachor

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HE people of oil rich Ogoni ethnic nationality of Rivers State, have called on the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to grant presidential pardon to Ogoni citizens who fled the country during General Sani Abacha’s regime, are now refugees in Benin Republic.

The people under the aegis of Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, who are in the struggle for the welfare of the Ogoni people, said the call to the in-coming administration to allow the associates of the late SaroWiwa, who went into exile when declared wanted by Gen. Abacha to return to the country, was in furtherance of the change agenda of the incoming Buhari administration.

Protect infrastructures in your domain, NDDC tells communities

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—THE commissioner representing Delta State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Tom Amioku, has charged benefiting communities of the commission’s projects in the Niger Delta region to protect the infrastructures for more of such projects to be attracted to their communities.

Commissioning six completed projects in communities in Isoko nation, Delta State Chief Amioku reiterated the determination of the new board of the NDDC to make a difference by bringing development to all the states of the region.

The projects commissioned on the second day of the inauguration of over 40 completed projects in the state during Amioku’s tenure, include Omodu Road project in Emede, Isoko South and Concrete Pavement Road and Drains in Okolobiri Street, Irri, also in Isoko South.

Vanguard, THURSDAY , MAY 21 , 2015—51

Taming the trauma of def eat defeat Dear sir

T

HE soul of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, since the defeat in the 2015 general elections is still very fresh.

The ruling party's wings were shattered in the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections and in the April 11 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections. It was a real things fall apart and a political tsunami for a party which was once acclaimed to be the biggest in Africa and already targeting to continue in power in the next 60yrs.

Since its failure at the general elections, the soul of PDP generals and the political juggernauts are now like a half-slaughtered chicken strugging to survive with the blame game strong in the midst.

Defeat is not strange in the journey of success. History has shown that success is inherent with failures and defeats.

Champions are failures of yesterdays!

Political commentators are of the view that PDP's loss at the polls is not the problem as any other party can also lose an election,but the blame game and counter-accusations that are tearing the left-over of the party is uncalled for..

The political war is now within, not even external forces, the trauma from the defeat to them is not a lesson but spreading more damages across the party chieftains. The N7bn realised from the sale of forms and the N21bn generated from campaign fundraising was also thrown to the public domain

for discussion on how it was diverted and wrongly spent. The party's National secretary alleged that the National Working Committee members were not carried along on how the fund was spent and how the campaign went and that the party would have won if they were directtly involed. Medcine after death any way!

Again as if the party chieftains are yet to wake up from their psychological damage, David Mark, the Senate President expressed another message of defeat "PDP in coma" the party is heading for a final destruction. He says " the party is already haemorrhaging" unlesss we halt the bleeding and find the neccessary therapy we may be heading for the final burial" of course, it does no good but harm!

Defeat should be seen as mechanism for success if we can build a road map, develop confidence that there can always be a way out.

It is obvious from this scenario that PDP, the acclaimed biggest party in Africa from the on set built its house on a sinking sand which could easily be swept away by tornado. Just first defeat after holding unto power for 16-year is tearing the party apart.

The party should put its house together and get ready to be a viable opposition.

Alifia Sunday,Ibadan ,Oyo state.

08035850876,alfsun2014@gmail.com

Waiting ffor or Buhari’s magic w and wand Dear sir

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OT many countries on earth are as divinely blessed as Nigeria. So, it is not for nothing that Nigeria is being called the giant of Africa. But, I feel that the characterization of Nigeria as the giant of Africa is a hyperbole. But the truth is, Nigeria has the potentialities to become the true giant of Africa.

Nigeria is a potentially great country, what with its large arable landmass, waters (rivers, lakes, seas, and ponds), equable weather conditions, and humongous human population. But sadly, Nigeria has not attained a great technological and economic height owing to our inept and corrupt political leadership.

The dynamics of our politics and the processes of electing political leaders in Nigeria are flawed. In Nigeria, these factors do throw up political charlatans, who dominate our politics and contest elective posts. But it’s the departing British imperialists that sowed the seed of imposition of leaders in Nigeria. They helped Alhaji Tafawa Balewa to become our prime minister in 1960. Since then, the egregious culture of political godfatherism as well as imposition of political leaders on the people has been thriving in Nigeria. But no country can grow higher than the vision, leadership qualities, and abilities of its national leader. So, do you still wonder why Nigeria is floundering? Bad political leadership has become the bane of Nigeria.

Until 1999, our democratic leaderships were interspersed with military ones.

But the jackboots and brass-hats, who were with messianic complexes and notions, caused the depredation of Nigeria’s infrastructure and emasculation of its economy. Happily, now, military rule has become an aberration and a thing of the past in Nigeria. And we have been enjoying democratic governance for sixteen

unbroken years.

But has our embrace and practice of representative governance bettered and improved the lot of the suffering hoi poil?

It is an indisputable fact that the PDP’s leadership of Nigeria for the past sixteen years has brought woes and underdevelopment to Nigeria rather than better living conditions. As our leaders’ perception of political leadership is warped, they cannot take Nigeria to a great economical and technological height. The erosion of ennobling family values among us is the reason they have imbibed twisted perceptions about political leadership and other things.

Now, the consequences of bad and inept political leadership in Nigeria are rutted thorough-fares, dysfunctional educational system, collapsed health institutions, terrorism, and youth ` So, the masses who are unemployment. shortchanged in the scheme of things revenged themselves on the ‘go-slow’ president, President Goodluck Jonathan. President Jonathan’s electoral loss is an indictment of his unimpressive political leadership by indignant and short-changed Nigerians.

The President-elect, Buhari, is being projected as the messiah, who will put an end to the reign of corruption in Nigeria. Corrupt political leadership is the reason Nigeria is stuck in the mud of underdevelopment. Buhari is well – intentioned and poised to fight corruption in Nigeria. But he is surrounded by top-notch APC members who are with moral vacuity, spiritual aridity, and ideological hollowness.

Those disgruntled political elements migrated to APC from PDP when they lost out in the PDP’s political power game. APC is a party that portrays itself as belonging to the left of the centre.

But, with the passage of time, we shall know how progressive they are.

Chiedu Uche Okoye,Uruowulu – Obosi, Anambra state. 08062220654

PDP’s broken monopoly

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HE Nigerian political landscape was dotted with over 50 registered political Parties to scatter the power base and effectively challenge the PDP. The permutation to dislodge same came with the coalition under APC. Unfortunately, the leadership of PDP did not act promptly and did not take advice, hence the party lost the presidency. It takes courage for a loser to congratulate the winner and to that I say kudos. Nigeria should move on.

I advocate that the poverty level should be reduced by giving the people the enormous amount being wasted by those in government.

A.0. OBI Esq+2348056009586

Politicians and defections I have great respect for the imcoming knight who will be on the saddle come May 29, to fight the seemingly invincible monster called corruption.

But wonders shall never end. Time changes everything.

How else can one explain the recent order given to the Peoples Democratic Party defectors who wanted to join their co- travellers in the All Progressive Congress to reap the dividends of victory? Don’t birds of the same feather flock together? A polity bereft of visionary leadership may become the achilles heel of the soon coming knight. Most of the leaders with skeletons in their cupboards now preach morality in the most annoying fashion. They should produce a blueprint of the ideology they can be identified with, for example, is it Marxist, socialist, conservative or revolutionary ideology.

The general cluelessness of Nigerian political parties on how to produce ideologically based blueprints to sell their programmes to the electorate, will make nonsense of the change phenomenon. This accounts for the waywardness and the unbridled switching of parties at the slightest opportunity by bread and butter politicians.

Otugo, B 2348067557715

Nigerians and xenophobic attacks My concern about the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa is the recent statements made by Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Martin Cobham to the effect that government did not evacuate Nigerian citizens from South Africa.

The confusing point in his statement is that Nigerians are not being attacked in the ruthless and unwanted killing of fellow Africans. If the media is disseminating a particular information and the ambassador is saying something else, which do we

believe?

Udofot Toby +2348129938064

Umana,

Improve economy

Lagos.

national

It is high time we discussed the state of the economy and what to do to improve in the new democratic dispensation. To change the living condition of our people, we must have enterprenueurs of different interests and for this to happen, the importance of conducive environment for our businesses cannot be overemphasised.

I really want to seize this opportunity to implore the incoming government of Gen. Buhari to embark on the journey of positive change in all aspects of his administration in order to improve the economic conditions of Nigerians and eradicate extreme hunger and povderty in the land.

Dozie Orji, 08034944060

South Africa’s xenophobic attacks South Africans should not be forced into being Africans. Their leaders are insincere with the situation on ground.

There is this feeling of rivalry and superiority South Africans exhibit everywhere especially when they see Nigerians and other Africans. They always insist that they are South Africa, not Africa. Apatheid is still inherent in their mentality. They need decolonisation.

Okey Brown-Ajaegbo.

Lagos.+2348181167166

Just concluded presidential elections The defeat of PDP in the just concluded election was not because the party did not perform well during its tenure in government, but it was because the emergence of President Jonathan was seen as an attempt to deny the north the opportunity of becoming Nigeria’s number one citizen following the death of President Yar ’Adua.

Members of the PDP in the north wanted power back to the north at all cost, even if it means destroying the party to help APC. It’s unfortunate that when the north wanted to betray Jonathan by destroying PDP, they refused to realise that the South S outh and the South E ast who gave all their support to PDP, would have voted for Yar’Adua but not for his death.

Solo Aloba.+2347052624455

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deed and words return back to us sooner or later.

Be kind to get kindness back in return.

Simon Adewale08056180103, Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable.

Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

PDP CRISIS: Anenih, Mu'azu resign Continues from Page 5 financial member, proper disciplinary actions should be meted against him through the Ward for engaging in acts contrary to Section (b) of the Party Constitution. If not a member, you are to reprimand him as a usurper."

Fani-Kayode reacts

Fani-Kayode in a swift reaction, described the action as laughable, insisting that all NWC members must resign, especially Oladipo and Metuh.

Fani-Kayode, who wondered why the party would single him out when some governors had made earlier calls for the NWC to resign said: “Why did the NWC refuse to ask Niger governor, Babangida Aliyu; Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido to be reprimanded for their comments?

“We are glad that Mu’azu is gone, we called for the resignation of the entire NWC, their action is a reflection of dictatorial tendency of the party.

“We will continue to question until all of them (NWC) resign, they should answer the call of the party members, we don’t want them any longer.”

The Deputy National Organising Secretary, Chief Okey Nnadozie was also asked to appear before it today following complaints against him on the non-remittance of the balance of N2.5 million transport allowance for state chairmen to the recent National Convention.

Oladipo in a the letter had said: “I write to inform you that the National Working Committee is in receipt of disturbing complaint from the Conference of State Chairmen about the nonpayment of their transport allowance at the last National Convention.

Upon investigation, the NWC discovered that you were in charge of these monies.

“In view of the gravity of the allegation, the NWC invites you to its meeting holding on Thursday, May 21, 2015 by 10.00 am at the NWC Hall, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.”

But reacting to the development, Nnadozie who spoke with Vanguard on telephone disclosed that he was yet to see such a letter and wondered why a letter inviting a National Executive Committee, NEC, member over such serious issues should be channelled through the

media. He promised to present himself before the committee.

“I am coming to defend myself; no fund is missing, and it is wrong to leak a letter of invitation to a NEC member to the press. Are they looking for a scapegoat? Is it proper to summon a NEC member on the pages of newspapers?" he asked.

Few hours after taking over as Acting Chairman of the party, Secondus drove to the Presidential Villa where he met behind closed doors with President Jonathan.

The Acting National Chairman arrived the Presidential Villa at about 5.15 p.m. in the company of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

The meeting was still ongoing at press time.

Some party stakeholders, reacted to the development, yesterday.

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State: "The resignation is a welcome development.

We see it as paving way for total repositioning of the party for its new role post-May 29.

"The normal thing is for leadership of a political party to resign after losing a major election. The PDP which held power at the centre for 16 years can’t be different. The chairman ought not to have waited for people to question his continuing in office before throwing in the towel.

PDP is bigger than every one of us. The party can now move forward."

Bode George

Chief Bode George, erstwhile Deputy National Chairman of the party in his reaction commended Mu‘azu for his action saying that it would enable the party to investigate what happened during the election.

He, however, described Anenih’s resignation as a shock to him even as he called on party stakeholders to rally together to push the party forward.

It’ll help move PDP forward—Akitoye A former acting national secretary of the party, Chief Remi Akitoye said Mu’azu’s resignation would help reposition and move the party forward.

Akitoye said: “It is a good development, it will help move and reposition the party”.

He did his best —Senator Uzamere Commending the PDP chairman, the Senator representing Edo South

Senatorial District, Senator Ehigie Edobor Uzamere said: “I see that he has done the right thing by resigning voluntarily. He cited health reasons and we accept it. He has done his best.”

He has done an honourable thing – Babatope On his part, a member of the Board of Trustees, (BOT) of the PDP, Chief Ebenezer Babatope said: “Mu’azu has done an honourable thing by resigning and I believe strongly that the party will move forward and play its role as the opposition party to the APC”.

The wishes of people prevailed – Opara Also, a former deputy speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Austin Opara said: “It is a good development for the party and it is an honourable thing that Mu’azu has resigned. The wishes of the people have prevailed and now the party will be able to reposition itself ahead of future elections.

I believe his resignation is good for our democracy”.

His resignation makes PDP a regional party —Tsav A retired Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, said: "I think he has acted very wisely because those urging him to resign felt he is the problem of PDP. Unfortunately those who championed the calls for his resignation were the ones that are supposed to leave the PDP. I am talking about people like Fani-Kayode and Ayo Fayose, whose conducts were embarrassing during the campaign.

"His resignation has turned the PDP into a regional and tribal party because the North no longer has any top member in the PDP leadership. Now that he has resigned, lets see what becomes of the party.”

NWC should also resign—Filani Chief Ishola Filani, in his reaction, said the NWC members should resign along with Mu’azu.

Filani, a chairman of the South West zonal caretaker committee said: “That was patriotic of him and I hope that other members of the NWC will follow suit because he (Mu’azu) should not be the only person to make sacrifice. The failure was collective, other members should resign, including the state executives.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 —53

Recover stolen funds, remove fuel subsidy, CD tells Buhari

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—RIGHTS group, Campaign for Democracy, CD, yesterday urged the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to set up a high-powered government machinery to recover stolen public funds.

Chairman of CD in Anambra State, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, told newsmen in Onitsha that Buhari should consider total removal of fuel subsidy since the common man was not feeling the impact.

“As an anti-corruption crusader, all corrupt politicians

that may derail your good intention of righting the wrongs of the society must be kept at arm’s length.

“Complete removal of fuel subsidy and ensuring that all those that embezzled public funds are brought to book, their ill-gotten money confiscated.

Such money will be used to build refineries in the country” he said.

Ezekwueme also urged the President-elect to run an all inclusive government and be magnanimous in victory. ‘’CD hails the President-elect for his courage; consistence in standing for the election, despite that he had earlier contested the post for three

consecutive times.

“We thank Nigerians for their peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections,” he said.

The CD boss appealed to the President-elect to appoint men

and women of impeccable integrity into his cabinet, if he really wanted to effect a change in the society.

He, however, appreciated President Goodluck Jonathan for

earning international respect and recognition for willingly accepting the people’s wishes and aspirations of majority of Nigerian electorate in the just-concluded election.

TNL says no cause for alarm over Hilux, Yaris recall

By Theodore Opara

T

HE MANAGEMENT of Toyota Nigeria Limited, TNL, has said that there was no cause for alarm over the recent global recall of two of their models, Toyota Hilux pick-up and Yaris, as the company is

taking proactive measures to address the problem in Nigeria.

Toyota Nigeria Managing Director, Mr. Kunle Ade Ojo, who briefed the press at the company’s head office in Lekki, disclosed that the affected models were the Toyota Yaris produced between 2003 and 2005 and Hilux pick-ups pro-

duced between 2003 and 2007.

Although Mr. Ade Ojo said that Toyota vehicles were not the only models affected by the problem, he noted that the company has taken proactive measures to tackle the problem as a market leader and responsible corporate organisation.

The problem, according to him, had to do with air-bag issue affecting same auto manufactures worldwide, of which Nigeria is one of the countries affected.

Toyota, he said, had discovered that the air-bags of some of these two model produced between 2003 and 2007 may not be actively deployed in the event of a crash, thereby endangering the lives of the occupants of the vehicles.

This, he said had been traced to defective inflater module that may not activate the safety air-bags due to accumulation of moisture inside the inflator in the case of the frontal collision thereby causing abnormal deployment of the air-bag.

To this end, he said, Toyota Nigeria Ltd, in conjunction with Toyota Japan, will be taking the bold step to contact owners of the affected models to address the problem.

According to him, not all the units of the models are involved, but a particular batch of the models of which they are collating the details, adding that as soon as they get the details of the units involved, they will be inviting them for the replacement of the parts.

Asked if the models imported through unauthorised dealers would be handled by his company, the Toyota boss said that Toyota Japan will only give them details of the Hilux and Yaris genuinely imported into the country by Toyota Nigeria Ltd which makes it difficult for them to know whether the ones imported through other sources were affected.

“As a corporate organization, we had vigorously advertised on the need for customers to buy their Toyota cars from Toyota Nigeria Ltd and what we have record of are those vehicles we sold," he said.

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Court disqualifies Benue Rep-elect's victory over certificate forgery

BIRTHDAY: Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, President, SouthEast South-South Professionals of Nigeria; his wife, Nkechi, and two daughters during his birthday celebration in Lagos.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—JUSTICE Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to void the certificate of return it issued the House of Representatives memberelect for Ado/Okpokwu/ Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, Mr. Christian Abah.

Justice Adeniyi said he was convinced that the Ordinary National Diploma, OND, that Abah submitted to INEC was forged.

Consequently, the court ordered the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to immediately prosecute Abah for both forgery and perjury.

Justice Adeniyi said he was satisfied that the allegation of forgery against Abah was successfully established to be true.

The court, therefore, declared all the votes that accrued to him in PDP’s primary election that held on December 6, 2014, as wasted and also declared Saleh, who came second at the contest, as the bona fide winner of the primary.

Aside directing INEC to issue fresh certificate of return to Saleh, Justice Adeniyi ýordered the incoming Speaker of the ý8th National Assembly to swear in Saleh as the member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal ýConstituency.

The court berated Abah’s lawyer, Mr. S. I. Ameh (SAN), for attempting to use frivolous application to frustrate and delay hearing on the matter.

BOKO HARAM: 509 soldiers face court martial—MILITARY

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA—THE Nigerian Army said, yesterday, that a total of 509 officers and soldiers were currently facing separate courts martial for offences relating to conspiracy, disobedience to lawful orders, neglect and mutiny.

It noted that none of the officers or soldiers have in any way received dehumanising treatment or denied access to medical facilities.

Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman who made the disclosure in Abuja, noted that 473 officers and soldiers were standing trial at the General Court Martial sitting at the Army Headquarters Garrison Command in Abuja, while 106 officers and soldiers were facing another General Court Martial at 81 Division in Lagos.

Emphasising that setting up of separate court martial was to ensure q u i c k dispensation of justice, discipline a n d professionalism, Usman said the

zFate of condemned 66 soldiers in balance rights of every accused soldier or officer to fair hearing would be upheld.

In death row

So far, the various court martial set up by the Army High Command to try officers and soldiers, who flouted military laws and went against the order of battle, have sentenced 66 officers and soldiers to death.

Asked how long the officers will be kept in detention and when the Army Council (comprising the President, Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Permanent Secretary, Defence Ministry) will act on the death sentences passed on them, the Army spokesman said he was not in a position to answer as he was not a member of the council.

Coalition

On efforts at increasing the capacity of the Army towards containing insurgency and terrorism, Colonel Usman said: “It is heart warming to note that within the last month, 481 personnel of the special forces, comprising personnel from Army, Navy, Air Force and Police have completed their training and have been inducted into the theatre of operations within the seven division area of responsibilities.

“Recent achievements recorded in the North-East can be attributable to the exploits of this elite force.

“Also, one additional battalion (151 battalion) has also completed its training and inducted into the theatre, while two battalion, 152 and 153 battalions are currently undergoing training and will be inducted on completion.

“Army headquarters task force is currently in its last phase of training, while Nigeria Army Armoured School, Bauchi, has intensified training of tank corps personnel. “ M o r e o v e r, personnel training in improvised explosive devices in the United

States and United Kingdom are ongoing.”

On welfare

Concerning welfare, Usman said: “The Nigerian Army administrative policies and procedures have recently been reviewed to be in line with current and future realities.

“The last review of the document was in 2005. To ease the problems associated with retiring Nigerian Army officers, a one-stop documentation procedure was devised.

“An office of Deputy Director, Retirement and Documentation was established at army headquarters under the Department of Administration with a 90-day timeline of documenting and processing retiring officers’ benefits.”

Virtuous women hold confab

V

IRTUOUS Women of Victorious Army Ministries International will begin its 5th annual women conference today, at the church headquarters in Ogba, Lagos.

A statement by the ministries co-pastor, Mama Blessing Agbodi, said the event, which will end Saturday, will have preachers and motivational speakers helping women realise their potentials.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 —55

Community in Bauchi hands over anti-aircraft gun allegedly recovered from terrorists

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCH—THE Sayawa Community in Tafawa Balewa Local government Area of Bauchi State has handed over an anti-aircraft gun, allegedly recovered from terrorists by youths in the community on March 30, 2015 to the Special Task Force, STF, Command in Jos. The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, Rev. Isaac Istifanus, spoke at the official submission and handing over of the Anti- aircraft gun to the STF Commander, Major General D. D Enetie in Tafawa Balewa town, yesterday.

He said:” The gallant youths of Sawaya Community recovered the anti- Aircraft Gun from the Boko Haram terrorists when Tafawa Balewa town was attacked on March 30, 2015; immediately after the general elections.

“This is not the first time of handing over of weapons to military personnel .During the attack, a soldier was killed and his machine gun was seized by the Boko haram terrorists .The same Sawaya youths pursued the terrorists and recovered the machine gun and returned it to the military base.”

He commended Dogara Yakubu for being instrumental to the peace building between the Fulani and Sayawa who are the majority tribes in the community.

He then appealed to the Federal Government to engage the youths in the Army and create

a permanent military unit of battalion strength in Tafawa Balewa town.

Also speaking, the District Head of Bogoro, Mr. Sauratu Damina commended the STF for maintaining peace and sacrificing their lives for the area, assuring that the community would continue to complement the efforts of the military towards combating the security challenges

in the area.

Damina said: “We want to commend the youths for their bravery in collecting those weapons from the terrorists.

Sayawa community has no reason to keep the weapon, but rather to submit it to the military because we have no capacity to keep weapons and that is why we deemed it fit to give it back to the military.”

In his remarks STF Commander, Major General Enetie, commended the efforts of the youths in Sayawa community for handing over the weapons recovered from terrorists to the military.

He told the people of the community that security was a collective responsibility, pointing out that each person had a role to play for society to develop.

OPENING: From right, Vice President-lect, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo; representative of former Britain Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, Mr. Lord Mandelson, and Director, Policy Research and Strategy Directorate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, during the opening ceremony of two-day policy dialogue on the implementation of the Agenda for Change, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

Govt withdraws charges against child bride

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—THE Kano State government has dropped murder charges against a 14-year-old girl, who reportedly killed her husband.

The child bride, Wasila Tasiu allegedly thumb-printed a confessional statement while in police custody that she killed her husband, Umar Sani through application of rat poison in his local delicacy.

Tasiu was said to to have taken the action after she was forced to marry the deceased against her wish.

However, a government lawyer, Abba Lamido Sorondinki made an oral application before the Gezewa High Court, Kano, where Tasiu had been standing trial in the last 20 months that the accused person be set free as the state was no longer interested in prosecuting her.

“I am declaring the

government position of dropping the charges against her and she should be set free,” Sorondinki said.

But the presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Yahaya ordered the prosecution counsel to follow due process, pointing out that “the law is explicit on procedure of dropping charges and this is

through written and not oral application.’’

In his reaction, the defence Counsel, Hussaina Aliyu doubted government sincerity, adding that, “ we expect government to enter nolle prosequi and this has been our position that the girl should be discharged and acquitted.”

Aliyu further said that

“government’s current position is nothing but a trap as the incoming administration may decide to re-open the case against my client,’’ adding, ‘’we demand for total freedom for my client and we will continue to press for what is right until justice is done.”

Our doors are closed to PDP, LP defectors —Ebonyi APC

By Charles Kumolu

E

BONYI STATE chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that it would not allow some chieftains of the Labour Party, LP, and Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, who are allegedly being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, to join the party.

A statement by its chairman, Mr. Ben Nwobasi said it had already denied overtures by same people to join the party.

His words: ‘’The curious aspect

of the haste by the disgruntled members of LP and PDP in the state is that they are being carried along by well known moles in the party to further destabilize APC in the state. We have already petitioned the national working committee of the party on the need for caution in admitting defectors for the time being. ‘’The leadership of the party in the state was not contacted about the planned defection. However, we are alarmed that the defection plan is being championed by local government council transition chairmen most of whom have outstanding issues to settle with

the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The possibility that these desperadoes want the APC to inherit their image could be readily seen.” ‘’Our concerns border on several issues that could greatly affect APC negatively in Ebonyi State. For instance, why should corrupt and disgruntled politicians who were forced out of PDP come and infect the APC with their corrupt tendencies. Was due diligence carried out on the character qualities and background of these members of Ebonyi LP who want to take shelter in APC.’’

Yobe monarch urges federal, state govts to end six yrs insurgency

By Bala Ajiya & Ndahi Marama

D

AMATURU—THE Deputy Chairman of Yobe State Traditional Council of Chiefs, YOTCC, Alhaji Abubakark Suleiman has urged both the federal and state governments to end the six-year Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed many lives and property in the North East sub-region of the country.

Suleiman made the call while presenting the 2014 Amirul Hajj report to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam at Government House, Damaturu, the state capital yesterday.

He said that no meaningful development could take place without peace, adding that the lingering insurgency had lingered for too long.

His words: “The 11member Amirul Hajj committee prayed Almighty Allah to quickly put a permanent stop to the state of insecurity in the state and for Allah (SWT) to quickly answer our coordinated special prayers for everlasting and enduring peace and tranquillity.

Residents flee Gusau, Zamfara capital, over acute water scarcity

By Salisu Maradun

G

U S A U — RESIDENTS of Gusau, the Zamfara State capital are now fleeing the area, following acute water scarcity which had paralysed economic and domestic activities in the last few weeks.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that many parents had been unable to send their children to schools as they were unable to afford the high cost of water from vendors who had cashed on the situation to increase the price of the essential commodity.

As a result of the situation, many students and pupils spent hours searching for ponds and wells where

56 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 21 , 2015

UN condemns ‘terrorist’ attack on Russian embassy in Syria

T

Migrants: France backs controversial EU plan F

RANCE gave broad backing yesterday to an EU scheme to share out asylum-seekers among EU states to deal with a surge of migrants, after a week of ambiguity that reflected growing public opposition to immigration.

French diplomats acknowledged there had been confusion between Paris and Brussels on the project, but officials dismissed media reports that Paris opposed the plan outright.

The episode is the latest to underline growing sensitivities in the European Union as antiimmigrant movements such as France’s National Front win support just as the continent sees a surge in migrants fleeing strife in Africa and the Middle East.

The EU executive, the European Commission, last week unveiled a plan including a “temporary distribution mechanism” to help the bloc’s 28 states

HE U.N. Security Council on Tuesday strongly condemned what it called a “terrorist attack” on the Russian embassy in Syria’s capital.Russia’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov told The Associated Press that a mortar round penetrated a diplomat’s office, but no one was killed because people were out at lunch.

Safronkov said the attack came from the Jobar neighborhood, which he said “as far as we understand is controlled by

illegal armed groups.” He did not know which group was responsible.

The Russian diplomat said the embassy in Damascus has been targeted before.

Russia is a strong ally of the Syrian government.

The Security Council statement said the Russian embassy sustained “serious material damage.”

The current council president told reporters that news of the attack came during a council meeting.

China, Brazil, unveil new trade, investment deals

C Stranded migrants showing their passports better share out the effort of assessing asylum claims after over 600,000 sought refuge in the EU last year. It proposed allocating them according to a complex formula.

In a statement issued after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Francois Hollande’s Socialist government confirmed that it backed

such a scheme, “built around criteria that need thorough discussion”, but insisted it could not accept “quotas”.

The term has been latched onto by antiimmigration groups as a sign that refugees are being imposed on France from outside.

It was then taken up last

weekend by Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who said in a speech that France could never accept migrant quotas.

Various French media took this to mean that Paris opposed the scheme outright, but a French diplomat who declined to be named said Paris was merely trying to avoid a loaded term.

HINESE Premier Li Keqiang lifted the wraps a multibilliondollar series of trade and investment deals with Brazil, as Beijing looks to invest $53 billion in South America’s largest economy.

The news unveiled at the start of Li’s first official visit to Latin America is a huge boon for Brazil as it endures a fifth straight year of low growth after a period of rapid expansion fueled by Asian demand for commodities that has since slowed.

Li’s host, President Dilma Rousseff, hopes Brazil can direct Chinese

cash to overhaul decaying infrastructure as the country’s tourist magnet Rio de Janeiro prepares to host South America’s first ever Olympics next year.

Headlining 35 deals on Li’s first official visit to Latin America were a pair of finance and cooperation agreements worth $7 billion for Brazil’s state-owned oil firm Petrobras.

Rousseff, who will make a state visit next year to China, spoke of a “new intensity in our relations.”

“China and Brazil are playing a leading role in the construction of a new global order,” she added.

It's real war with Russia, says Ukrainian Monday in clashes across president both renegade provinces.

UKRAINE's President, Petro Poroshenko said in an interview broadcast on Wednesday that his crisistorn country was fighting a “real war” with Russia that could escalate at any time.

The pro-Western leader said the weekend capture of two purported Russian special service soldiers proved that the separatist uprising in the industrial east of Ukraine was a guise for a Moscow-orchestrated campaign aimed at breaking up Ukraine.

“Can I be absolutely clear with you? This is not a fight with Russianbacked separatists, this is a real war with Russia,” the 49-year-old Ukrainian leader told the BBC. “The fact that we captured… Russian regular special forces soldiers (is) strong evidence of that.”

Ukraine’s military on Tuesday showed off two Russians taken prisoner during a firefight in Lugansk — a blue collar region that together with

•Putin neighbouring Donetsk revolted against Kiev’s shift towards the West 13 months.

The men testified during a taped interrogation that they were members of a 200-strong Russian reconnaissance unit that entered the warzone nearly two months ago.

The United Nations believes that the entire con-

•Poroshenko flict has claimed at least 6,250 lives and driven more than a million people from their homes.

A second truce agreement Poroshenko struck with Russian President Vladimir Putin with the help of the leaders of Germany and France in February has thus far failed to take complete hold.

Ukraine lost at least eight servicemen since

Kiev’s armed forces blame the violence on a new infusion of Russian troops.

“I believe they are preparing an offensive and I think we should be ready and… not give them any chance for a provocation.

That will totally be their responsibility,” the Ukrainian president said.

Poroshenko stressed that he did not necessarily “trust” Putin but had no choice but to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis with the Russian leader because the war could not be resolved with guns and tanks.

“I don’t have any option,” said Poroshenko, who conceded that Ukraine was not strong enough to push back Russian troops. “I doubt the release of my territory could happen by military means.”

There was no immediate response to Poroshenko’s comments from either the Kremlin or the Russian foreign ministry.

China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang (L) and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at a meeting in Brasilia yesterday.

Mother Teresa ‘to be canonised in 2016’

M

OTHER Teresa of Calcutta’s elevation to sainthood has been set for September 2016, according to a top Catholic cleric.

Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella was quoted by Italian media Tuesday as telling municipal officials in Rome that Pope Francis would canonise the nun celebrated for her work with the poor of Calcutta as part of the upcoming Jubilee Year declared by the pontiff.

A Vatican spokesman said however the

•Mother Teresa canonisation had not yet been approved and it was “premature to talk of this date having already been fixed.”

A celebration of the memory of Teresa has been scheduled for September 5, 2016 as part of the Jubilee programme of events.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 21 , 2015 — 57

220,000 Nigerians applied for US visa in 2014 —Embassy T

HE U.S. Mission in Nigeria says that no fewer than 220,000 Nigerians applied for non-immigrant visas in 2014. The Chief Consular Officer of the U.S. Embassy, Ms Stacie Hankins, made this known at a media tour in Abuja on Wednesday.

Hankins said its Consular Section approved 66 per cent of tourist visa applications.

She explained that two in every three applicants were successful, adding refusal of visa applications and failure to make use of visa had no disadvantage on the applicants.

She also said the U.S. Mission received more than 138,578 applications for non-immigrant travel to the U.S. for the 2015 fiscal year, which started in October, 2014. “Fiscal year 2014 ended Sept. 30, 2014 and Lagos and Abuja together processed about 220,000 non-immigrant visa applications.

“Fiscal year 2015 started Oct. 1, 2014 and from then till date, we’ve processed about 138,000 non-immigrant visa applications.

Hankins said the Abuja Consular Office pro-

cessed about 400 visa applications everyday from Monday to Friday, while the Lagos Consulate office processed about 900 applications daily.

She said that cases of visa racketeering had been received while cases of fraudulent activities had been reported to the police, which had made arrests and detained the suspects.

The consular chief warned Nigerians against patronising visa racketeers, advising them to always provide the required information correctly while applying online. According to her, those who are denied visas can re-apply after six months.

A successful visa applicant, Jennifer Odiogor said some Nigerians were denied visas because they could not provide enough reasons why they wanted to travel to the U.S. She said“You must show who you are, you must give reasons why you want to leave the country.

“Some people come to the embassy without having enough reasons to show why they want to travel to the U.S and you must identify your-

self. You must have a means of livelihood and you must show evidence that when you leave this country, you are going to come back to this country,” She said.

Another applicant, Mrs Eucharia Joseph, who also had a successful interview, said she was able to prove that she had a source of livelihood, is a mother and an author.

However, a student, Miss Jennifer Samson, who was not successful, said she did not understand why she was denied visa.

“I told them about the school that I wanted to go and study but at the end of the day, I was denied visa,” she said.

Burundi president shifts poll amid protests

B

URUNDI’s embattled president postponed parliamentary and local elections yesterday and a soldier was shot dead in the capital amid a power struggle that could unleash more ethnic bloodshed in Africa’s Great Lakes region.

More than 20 people have been killed in nearly a month of unrest, including during a botched military coup a week ago, but the demonstrators demanding President Pierre Nkurunziza end his bid for a third term appear determined as ever.

In one incident in the volatile Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura, a Reuters photographer monitoring protests heard a loud explosion in an area from which a slightly injured policeman walked away soon

afterwards.

“The protesters have thrown a grenade,” an officer at the scene shouted. A soldier was also shot dead, with witnesses saying he had been hit in the chest by a round fired by police, an incident that could inflame tensions between different wings of

G

*President Obama

Chad reels under Boko Haram T

HE Nigerian based Boko Haram insurgency has been plagueing the country since 2009, but last year the armed group dramatically stepped up its campaign of violence - capturing large areas of territory, displacing tens of thousands of people, and killing 4,000 more, the vast majority of them civilians. By the beginning of 2015, the group had seized and taken control of several major

the security forces in the ethnically divided nation of 10 million.

Army spokesman Gasper Baratuza could not confirm details of the soldier ’s death. Red Cross spokesman Alexis Manirakiza said another soldier and three protesters had also been wounded in clashes.

Guinea, S/Leone report new Ebola cases

towns in northern Nigeria and were seeking to extend their influence across West Africa by launching further attacks in neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and in and around Lake Chad, which adjoins the borders of the four nations.

In February, the governments of those four countries - Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon - responded by forming a military coalition to take on the insurgents. The charge would be led by Chad; its troops among Africa’s most battle hardened and feared. The central African nation committed 2,000 men to a proposed African Union force of around 8,000.

Its aim: to smash Boko Haram and end a conflict that has caused the death of 13,000 people and made refugees out of 1.5 million more.

*Demonstrators rally past a barricade in Bujumbura yesterday.

In March 2015, two French filmmakers, Charles Emptaz and Marine Courtade, joined a unit of Chadian troops as they flew into Boko Haram’s northern Nigerian heartland, where some of the fiercest fighting had been taking place.

In the preceding weeks, the Chadian army had enjoyed a string of successes and had managed to push the rebels back, liberating key Nigerian towns in the process. In the face of this unexpected onslaught, Boko Haram’s response had been typically defiant.

UINEA and Sierra Leone reported 35 new Ebola cases in the past week, four times as many as the week before, in a reminder that the virus “ will not go quietly ”, a top World Health Organization official said.

“It will take an extraordinary effort to finish the job,” the WHO’s special representative for Ebola, Bruce Aylward, told a briefing attended by health ministers.

“With the start of the rainy season today, the doubling of effort will be that much more difficult, that much more important,” he added, referring to increased logistical challenges for health workers.

The 35 new cases in the week to May 17 were in six districts of Guinea and Sierra Leone, with most infections in Guinea, Aylward said, giving no breakdown of the preliminary figures. A total of nine were confirmed the previous week.

Meanwhile, Liberia, the other worsthit country, was declared Ebola-free earlier this month. Work on a hydropower project in Liberia is about to resume, the chief executive of Germany’s Voith Hydro Heidenheim said, as the country seeks to rebuild its economy after a devastating Ebola epidemic.

France kills tw o tterr err or two error chiefs in the Sahel

F

RENCH special forces operating in Africa’s Sahel region have killed two key members of the Islamist militant group, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a defense ministry statement said on Wednesday.

The statement described the two as “important terrorist chiefs” and named them as Amada Ag Hama, also known as “Abdelkrim the Touareg” and Ibrahim Ag Inawalen, alias “Bana”. It said they were among four killed during an operation in the night of May 17 and 18.

France’s intervention against Islamists in Mali in 2013 has mutated

into a broader, regional mission to hunt down Islamists across the Sahel.

Algerian troops ambushed and killed at least 22 militants allied to Islamic State as they held a meeting east of the capital yesterday in one of country’s largest military operations in recent years, the defense ministry and a security source said.

Fighters allied with both al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Islamic State operate in Algeria, mostly in mountainous northern areas, but militant attacks have been rare since a 1990s war with Islamist insurgents.

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

PISCES; Emphasis will continue to be on career related issues. However you will not be wrong if you take matters-of-the-heart more seriously now. Be more loving.

ARIES; Mid-morning till early afternoon period may bring more promises than it can actually deliver; your being clever will see you through. Be very practical.

TAURUS; Continue to attach necessary importance to your family values. Here is a day when joint ventures can bring you under pressure between 9.46am and 12.43pm.

GEMINI; Other people will continue to feature in your activities; that is to say you will need to be as co-operative as reason permits. Watch it between 9.46am&12.43pm

By Richard Eromosele

T

HE inner cup and the outside, which is more important? I mean the contest of the cup and the cup itself, which is more important?

This question becomes pertinent be-

The Beauty Without cause of the way we are going about our re-branding project.

Can you reform evil?

Can you start the process of reformation without? Can the body be well when

TERROR MUDA

the head is sick? Look at the motor vehicle truck/trailer, when on the reverse, the other body stands still. This is so because the head give direction to

in “Never say goodbye”

the body. Nigeria is like a trailer.

We don’t need to waste billions on rebranding. All we need is the right leadership. When the leader does the right thing, Nigerians will do the right thing too.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

CANCER; You will be in good position to consolidate on progress made yesterday. However you will need to watch your mood from 9.46am to 12.43pm.

LEO; It is important you don’t take things for granted around mid-morning and early afternoon period so that you will not run into avoidable disappointments.

VIRGO; If you are in position to control your actions you would fare better if you can wait till after 12,43pm before you make an important move. Be family minded.

LIBRA; Your being receptive can enhance your prospects but that is not to say you have to be naïve, especially during mid-morning and early afternoon periods.

SCORPIO; Success is boldly printed on your cards and like yesterday if priority attention is given to money the scope of your success will be wider.

SGITTARIUS; Although things may be happening around you, you are the right person to make things happen and give others opportunities.. Be wise.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN; Take note that others may break promises made before early afternoon period; that is to say you should not take anybody for granted before 12.43pm.

AQUARIUS; Although friends are willing to assist you circumstances may not allow complete help as expected. 9.46am to 12.43pm can be a bit sensitive.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Who is in me?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I don’t want my data published but tell me everything I should know about myself. Sometimes I am confused the type of a person I am, especially when others misunderstand me. Thus I am asking you who is actually in me- Astrologically.

Remi, Abuja.

Dear Remi, At face value one may be tempted to wrongly take you for a very soft person but, with the preponderance of fixed quality and fire element in your Astrological make ups here is a determined and ambitious Soul with stronger will-power (actually once your mind is made up on any important issue you rarely change).

Saturn as the only planet at home when you were born pointed to a person who will always take important decision when and if his career will not be put in danger; meaning my career first.

Although, the Sun is the Centre of the Solar system and wherever is placed in any given horoscope is the heart of that horoscope, by implication placement of the mighty Sun in Cancer here means that you are mainly a Cancer born person, with more than two (there were actually four) heavenly bodies placed in Kingly Leo when you were born, you are equally a Leo born person as Leo was serving as the stellium during your birth hour.

Equally it is important to point out prominence of bold Aries in your chart as it hosted your natal Moon.

Anyway equal distribution of planetary placement in push-full and non-push-full positions will ensure balanced personality with powerful LEADERSHIP skill in you. Your natal Sun, Moon and Stellium in Cancer, Aries and Leo respectively are indications of your being mainly a Cancer born person and partly Aries/Leo; meaning that basic characteristics of the three Star signs mentioned (namely Cancer, Aries and Leo) are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 59

We’ve a deadly attack — Oshoala S

UPER Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has argued that if they can blend enough as a team, they will have the best attack at the tournament.

The 20-year-old Liverpool Ladies forward is in the team, alongside Desire Oparanozie, Iniabasi Umotong, Courtney Dike and Francesca Ordega, and believes they will potentially have the deadliest frontline in Canada.

“We have a very good attack and I think that is one thing that will work for us if we blend properly as a team,” she said.

“The most important thing is just for us to get a better understanding of one another, understand each person’s strengths and that will give us an advantage.”

2015 GTBank/Lagos Principals Cup: Birrel, Ikotun Snr College are champs

B

CELEBRATION: Super Falcons players celebrate victory.

The Falcons will play Sweden in their opening fixture and Oshoala is expected to lead

Nigeria’s forward line but she says it will be a team effort and not just her.

“I’m not the only one on the team, I have teammates and it’s going to be a collective effort,” she stated.

IRREL Avenue S e n i o r Secondary School, Sabo yesterday won the male category of the 2015 GTBank Lagos Principals Cup after piping arch rivals, Keke High School, Ijaye on penalties.

The entertaining final had ended one goal apiece but the ensuing penalty shootout saw the hugely talented Birrel boys overcome their rivals.

In the female category, Ikotun Senior College, parading some of the best women footballers seen in the competition walloped Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu 3-1 in a thrilling final.

The match kicked off before a capacity crowd which included the Managing Director of

GT Bank, Segun Agbaje.

It lived up to its billing as the initial exchanges between two teams were even.

It took the skills and wizardry of 15-year old Salisu Anuoluwapo to break the deadlock in th the 28 for Ikotun’s opening goal.

Oriwu girls replied almost immediately when skilful Ubani latched unto a pass from the midfield, meandered through the defence and beat the goalkeeper for the equaliser.

Ikotun replied with another goal just before the break.

The second half resumed with the Ikotun girls taking command of affairs. Salisu added another goal to seal victory for her school.

AFN celebrates Anugweje’s professorial promotion

T

•Anugweje

HE Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN) has congratulated Ken Anugweje, on his uplifting to professor of sports science by the University of Port Harcourt.

Anugueje is the director of the AFN medical and

doping committee and the immediate past president of NUGA. He was an ace footballer in his hey days.

A message signed by AFN president, Solomon Ogba described Anugweje’s promotion as reward for hard work,

dedication and diligence.

“Dr. Anugweje is highly dedicated to sports science and sports medicine, so his promotion to the zenith of his calling, being promoted to the position of professor, is the reward for his dedication and

commitment to sports science. “ Anugweje has gone ahead to excel in another field outside football. If he had not taken his education seriously then, only God know where he will be now, I urge our young athletes to emulate him” concluded Ogba.

•Anuoluwapo

Adebayor accuses brothers of holding knife to his throat Continues from Page 61 money’.

It’s only at that moment that he put the knife down. After all this, I found a way out of my own apartment and I called my parents. My mom suggested that I call the police. That was the only way for me to get back into my house safely… I had training the next day, by the way. So I did what my mom said. Police came and they settled down.

Again, ‘blood is thicker than water’, so I let it go.

A few days after, Peter went to visit one of Kola’s friends in Paris. That means I was left in the house with Kola; for my own safety, I found a way to get him the money as soon as I could. Only God knows how much I gave him that day.

A few months after all this, I went back to Togo and I was surprised when my mom started to ask me why I called the police on my brothers, she continued and said I am

the bad person in the family. That is another story I will leave for later…

Every time I went back home, everyone kept asking me why my brother never visited after all these years. Immediately, I organized a flight for him and he came back to visit the family, at my own expenses.

On April 22nd 2005, we received some bad news.

I received a call and they announced that my father passed away. I was devastated. I called my big brother and told him that we all have to be there.

Again I made sure there was a flight ticket ready for him. We all went back home and I took care of everything. A long time before my dad died, he was in the hospital one day and he asked me to make sure his funeral is not a moment of sadness.

He wanted us to celebrate his life. I leave it to God to decide if the funeral I organized for my dad was

what he wanted. The man who calls himself the ‘big man’ in the family did not contribute to anything. But he still has the boldness to say I do not take care of this family.

In 2006, I had another big opportunity to go play for Arsenal. Since then, my brother has started to come up with series of false accusations against me.

On July 22nd, 2013 sad news hit us in the family.

My brother Peter Adebayor passed away.

His death was sad and I was affected by it. One thing I find difficult to swallow today is that Kola was accusing me of Peter’s death. He is saying that the shop I opened for Peter was not good enough. He kept texting saying that my career would be destroyed. I did everything for Peter when he was alive, I brought him to Metz, and Monaco with me. What can Kola say that he has done for Peter? Nothing. The man

did not even show up at the funeral even after all the money I sent for the trip back home.

He is saying that I also made my mom suffer, but he forgot that when he was in Germany, at some point I was the one always by my mom’s side. As soon as I started to make a living with football, I did everything you could imagine for our mom.

That is normal. But my brother is never satisfied.

He said I bought a s***ty car for my mom. Why can’t he buy a better one? All I want from him is to take his responsibilities. Since I am not doing it right, he should show the example as a big brother. He has been in Germany for more than 20 years, but he never brought our mother there to visit. Even to go back home for a visit is another struggle. All he keeps saying is that my father said I should build a house for each one of them. I don’t think my father said that. Does that

even make sense for him or anyone? As a big brother, he is supposed to be doing all that I am doing for the family. He should stop hiding and take his responsibilities.

When he came to Europe, he was young enough to become a football player too. Anyways, some people are drivers here but they are able to take care of their families. They even bring their parents and other family members.

Why has he not done anything like that but he keeps talking? As a matter fact, he should at least bring Rotimi, Bidemi or his own son Aziz here before talking about ‘taking care of the family’.

Actions are louder than speeches.

A lot of people are saying that I never went to school, but they forget that it is because we could not afford it. I never blamed my parents for that. But thank God, today I am able to speak more than 3 languages and I

can send my daughter to school. I am proud of that.

People can accuse me for not going to school, but in the end it is all about who you become and what you teach yourself. It is also about what life teaches you and what you learn from it.

Many times I wanted to give up. Ask my sister Iyabo Adebayor how many times I have called and was ready to commit suicide? I kept these stories for years… But If I die, no one would know my story, no one would learn from it…

Some people say I should keep these stories private, but someone has to sacrifice himself; someone has to talk about it. I know people would relate to my story and others would learn from it. For every one who knows me, I’d do anything for my country and my people.

Final message from the younger brother to the older brother: Quit Smoking and Quit Drinking. That was my story.

60- — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Hungary plan F/Eagles fall H

UNGARY have ad mitted they are working on having more power by the time they face the likes of African champions Nigeria at the U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Hungary and Nigeria will clash in a Group E on June 7.

The Hungary U20 squad and staff departed for New Zealand on Tuesday and are due to arrive early Thursday at their final destination of the town of New Plymouth, the scene of their three group matches.

“We travel to New Zealand with the team of the future, with players who have been able to play in the national teams at various age groups for several years”, said Storck, who has announced a final squad for the World Cup. “The squad members have displayed only

good form in training sessions and matches and have been selected on the basis of these performances. I have not paid attention to which leagues or clubs they play in.

He added: “We stand ready for our task having been successful in training and in our warm-up matches but at the same time I wouldn’t say the condition of our team is yet 100%.

“We would still like to improve their strength and, as well as this, there is a need to fine tune our tactics and specific training routines if we are to reach our target.”

READY TO GO ... Flying Eagles players celebrate in one of their matches at the last African Youth Championship. Flying Eagles are set to take on the World at the FIFA U-20 Championship in New Zealand.

PSG become world’s best-paid sports team!

Saintfiet set to coach Hawks Saintfiet

P

B

ELGIAN coach Tom Saintfiet is set to take charge of the Togo national team on a twoyear contract.

He is due to sign on 1 June, just a week before the Hawks take on Ghana in an international friendly.

Togo then begin their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign at home to Liberia on 13 June.

Saintfiet has already named a provisional 30man squad, including striker Emmanuel Adebayor, for the upcoming matches.

CELEBRATION ... FC Barcelona's striker Lionel Messi celebrates in goal against Atletico Madrid.

Melissa creates upset at CBN Open •As Agugbom, others cruise into quarter-final

R

USSIAN-BORN Nigerian Tennis player, Melissa Ifidzhen yesterday created a major upset at the on-going 37th Central Bank of Nigeria Open Men and Women Senior Tennis Tournament when she defeated women number two seed , Sarah Adegoke 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 in the second round and qualified for the quarter-finals which comes up today.

Speaking after the game, Melissa Ifidzhen who had earlier beaten Ebere Fortune on Tuesday, said she was indeed happy to have sent out the second seed from the competition.

She equally commended the standard

of the championship which she said is comparable to those played elsewhere and

gave kudos to the management of Central Bank of Nigeria for the sponsorship.

ARIS Saint-Germain are paying a higher average wage than any other club in any sport worldwide – with football clubs making up four of the top five positions in the salary table.

The Qatari-owned PSG’s average weekly wage – £101,898 – makes them sport’s biggest spenders, ranking them above Real Madrid (£96,933), last year ’s top-ranked Manchester City (£96,445) and Barcelona (£90,675). Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers (£89,999) complete the top five.

The annual ESPN/

SportingIntelligence Global Salary Survey, now covering 333 teams from 17 leagues in 13 countries, was first produced in 2010, at which point the New York Yankees topped the rankings.

Now, eight of the top 12 in the list are football teams, three come from baseball and one from basketball – though the NBA remains the top paying league as a whole, with players averaging £2.67m annually. The average per player in England’s Premier League was £2.23m during the period under review.

Shell Cup: Semifinal draw takes centre stage *Feyenoord team hails sponsors

T

HE semifinal draw of this year’s Shell Cup football competition takes place today in Lagos.

Four teams emerged out of 10 from the two-day quarterfinal matches held in Ibadan at the weekend.

The four schools that booked a ticket to the last four stage are Rezheight High School, Benin, Government Secondary School, Gwale, Rochas Foundation College,

Ogboko and Government Day Secondary School, Kofar Yandaka.

The semifinal matches will be played on Friday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Meanwhile, the visiting Feyenoord team has continued its coaching clinic at the National Stadium, Surulere.

Nigerian former international, Mike Obiku, is in the Feyenoord technical team

Mike Obiku of the Feyenoord technical team during a training session with shell cup players that also has Melvin Boel and Gido Vader “The exercise has been very good and we expect

that part of what we are teaching will manifest in the semifinal and final games."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 — 61

I’ve contemplated suicide several times — Adebayor •Accuses brothers of holding knife to his throat

E

MMANUEL Adebayor has claimed his brothers held a knife to his throat when he played for Monaco because they wanted money.

Adebayor describes how he woke up to find his siblings, Kola and Peter, standing over him at his apartment in the French Riviera. Peter passed away in July 2013 and Adebayor claims Kola accuses him of his death.

In an astonishing 1,649word post on Facebook, Adebayor also revealed he has contemplated suicide ‘many times’ and that his sister Iyabo would often have to convince him not to kill himself.

THE FULL TRANSCRIPT FROM A D E B AY O R ’ S FACEBOOK IN ‘PART THREE’ If I decide to bring out the Part 3 today, it is because my brother @Kola Adebayor and my other siblings have

C M Y K

decided to talk about our family issues on social medias, through letters to my club, radios…I could write an autobiography and sell it but I decided to share with you here.

25 years ago, my big older brother Kola went to Germany and he became the hope of our family. We all thought he could change the way we were living. Years after he left Togo, we still had no electricity and no phones.

If he wanted to talk to us, he would call the Atlantic Hotel that was very close to our house. We would then run to the hotel reception and talk to him.

When I got the opportunity to go play football in France for the first time, we needed money for the flight tickets and other expenses. My brother was nowhere to be found. Only God knows what he was doing in Germany.

When I arrived in France, I did all the

paperwork with my team and they allowed me to stay in the academy. A few months later, my brother wanted to come visit me. I was running out of money and I was living at the academy.

Therefore, I had to borrow money so I could pay for his hotel. At that time, my teammate Sega N’diaye from Cameroon was kind enough to lend me some money. I also had to borrow some more money because I had to give my brother some money for his trip back to Germany.

Keep in mind he is my older brother.

A couple years later, things started to get better.

Thank God, I signed a contract with Metz. Since then, my brother would contact me whenever it was time to pay his bills.

Sometimes, he would say his son is sick… I had to get used to all this.

Again, I was lucky enough to get an offer from Monaco and I

signed for the football club. One day, Kola and the late Peter Adebayor came to visit me in Monaco. My two brothers did not let me know they were coming. Someone said ‘blood is thicker than water’ so I took them in.

They arrived early in the morning and I was on my way to training. When I came back home, we had a discussion and they wanted to start a car business. Obviously, it involves a lot of money. I told them that I could help them out as soon as I get paid next. At that time, Thierry Mangwa was staying in my apartment because he was struggling with some personal issues and needed a place to stay.

One day, I came back from training and he was crying. He never told me why. My brothers could also not explain. Another day, one of my friends Padjoe came to visit me and as he was leaving the

•Adebayor house, I believe I offered him about •500. My brother Kola noticed that and was very upset. He was trying to understand why I gave my friend some money right away but not him. My reason was very simple; the money he (Kola) needed was a huge amount of money that I did not carry in my house.

We went on and had an argument about it.

Another day, after

training…I was very tired and decided to go take a nap. I woke up and a knife was held to my throat. As I opened my eyes, both of my brothers were there.

They were shouting and they claimed that I was wasting their time. Peter was going mad and Kola was supporting. I asked them: ‘Is this the only way to solve this issue? I yes, then kill me and take the

Continues on Page 59

62

C M Y K

—

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21 21,, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21 21,, 2015 — 63

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Hungary hungry for F/Eagles fall PSG become world’s best-paid sports team!

Saintfiet to coach Hawks — Pg.60

DASHING: Flying Eagles star, Taiwo Awoniyi is sandwiched by two defenders during the Glo-Super 6 mini League in Abuja.

Glo League Results

Adebayor accuses brothers of holding knife to his throat— Pg. 61 •Ibrahimovic

Enyimba Kano Pillars Akwa United Lobi Stars Sunshine Stars FC Taraba Sharks Rangers Bayelsa United

3 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 1

El-Kanemi Gabros Shooting Stars Heartland Kwara United Dolphins Giwa FC Nasarawa Utd Wikki Tourists

1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Reiterate (6) 5 Lea (6) 9 Heaped (5) 10 Vibrate (6) 11 Ceremonial (6) 12 Liability (5) 14 Cudgel (4) 17 Spot (3) 18 Lake (4) 20 Domesticated (5) 22 Paddled (5) 23 Doorkeeper (7) 24 Reimburse (5) 26 Plunged (5) 29 Paradise (4) 30 Morass (3) 32 Trouble (4) 33 Star (5) 35 Choice (6) 36 Perceive (6) 37 Reappear (5) 38 Divided (6) 39 Sown (6)

DOWN 1 Spurn (6) 2 Platform (6) 3 Imitated (4) 4 Weary (5) 5 Deserve (5) 6 Revise (4) 7 Plastered (6) 8 United (6) 13 Tedium (7) 15 Idled (5) 16 Started (5) 18 Frenzied (5) 19 Allude (5) 21 Age (3) 22 Lump (3) 24 Recover (6) 25 Plague (6) 27 Diverse (6) 28 Guard (6) 30 Filleted (5) 31 Class (5) 33 Centre (4) 34 Ripped (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Watch 7, Tenant 9, Cab 10, Dud 12, Short 13, Bulb 15, Tempo 17, Allude 19, Role 20, Endue 22, Ill 24, Reactor 27, Spa 28, Cease 31, Area 33, Etched 35, Boxer 37, Lost 38, Strip 39, Dam 41, Den 42, Green.

DOWN: 1, Stable 2, Unclad 3, End 4, Wasp 5, Abhor 6, Careless 8, Tutu 11, Dedicated 14, Blur 16, Melt 18, Lees 21, Narrator 23, Loch 25, Apex 26, Reel 29, Adored 30, Estate 32, Abide 34, Cram 36, Open 40, Mob.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K