Buhari to Obama: Help recover looted $150bn

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62453

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

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Car bomb: 3 Policemen, 5 others die at checkpoint 7

Buhari to Obama: Help recover looted $150bn zSays US pressure ensured credible polls in Nigeria zPromises to appoint ministers September zHe has clear agenda on Nigeria’s problems — OBAMA

CJN denies having secret meetings with Wike 8

By Hugo Odiogor, Clifford Ndujihe & Levinus Nwabughiogu

W

ASHINGTON, DC — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, implored his United States counterpart, Barack Obama, to assist Nigeria in locating and returning about $150 billion looted by corrupt

government officials.

President Buhari made the appeal in an article he published in Washington Post, yesterday, shortly before he met with President Obama as part of his four-day working visit to the United States.

The appeal for assistance came as Obama expressed confidence in the ability of President Buhari to tackle the multiple challenges facing Nigeria through his clear agenda.

Buhari, who enumerated Continues on Page 5

Reps leadership crisis: Gbajabiamila tells Oyegun to ignore Dogara 9

Mr & Mrs VISIT: United States of America President Barack Obama (right) and President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, yesterday. PHOTO: State House.

COLUMNISTS:

Se eI ns ide

Anxiety, as gunmen lay siege to Akwa Ibom community C M Y K

As Buhari visits Obama •P.49

Na only Fulani waka come (2) •P.17

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

C M Y K

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C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

EID-EL-FITRI: From left: Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau; Emir of

Wase, Alhaji Mohammed Sambo and Deputy Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yusuf Gagdi, during the Eid-el-fitri traditional Sallah homage to the Governor, in Jos, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Buhari to Obama: Help recover government took place. looted $150bn Nevertheless, the people of Continues from page 1 what he has done so far to decimate the Boko Haram insurgents including replacing the service chiefs and how governance had been badly run in the country, stressed the need to recover the stolen funds. ‘’The fact that I now seek Obama’s assistance in locating and returning $150 billion in funds stolen in the past decade and held in foreign bank accounts on behalf of former, corrupt officials is a testament to how badly Nigeria has been run. This way of conducting our affairs cannot continue,’’ he said in the article.

We'll assist, we‘ve confidence in Buhari — Obama

Welcoming President Buhari, the US President said the Nigerian leader

had come with a clear agenda to tackle the problem of insecurity occasioned by activities of Boko Haram sect as well as other violent criminal activities.

Obama expressed appreciation over Buhari’s leadership style so far, saying that his administration would continue to assist and help Nigeria in overcoming her challenges.

He said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome President Buhari and his delegation here in the White House for his first visit since the historic election that took place.

Nigeria is obviously one of the most important countries in the world, one of the most important countries in the African continent.

“Recently, we saw an election in which a peaceful transition to a new

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail—Ralph Waldo Emerson

H

ENRY Thoreau, long ago, wrote a profound truth that impacts all of life today; it’s about moving confidently in the direction of your dreams. It’s about living the life you’ve imagined. How beautiful, if we follow and act on this advice, following your dreams actually connects you to your inner self.

If you want to be happy right down to the core of your being, you need to be a big dreamer. Big dreams can fulfill you right down to the soul because you’ve sought out your true purpose in life. It’s likely the biggest reason why you wouldn’t want to settle on small dreams. You should be a big dreamer because you do have a choice in the matter.

Sure, you might have a goal or dream that is very difficult to achieve. You might come face to face with failure, and that can be rather frightening. Many people are led down the path where they decide to never attempt their ultimate “big dreams.” You don’t have to be one of these people. You can choose to follow your biggest dreams.

There are not many feelings that could be considered better than knowing that you’ve found the meaning in your life. Perhaps you don’t know what your true calling in life is yet, and you won’t get to that point without dreaming big first. Some people might say that their true calling fell right into their lap, but this isn’t always the case. You need to do some deep thinking and take action in order to get there.

Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process that change can take place.

“President Buhari came into office with reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda that is to make sure that he has been bringing safely security and peace to his country. He is very concerned about the spread and the violence that is taking place there and the atrocities and has a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram and extremists.

“I want to emphasize how much I appreciate President Buhari’s work so far. I have seen him put together a team so that we can do everything that we can to help him succeed and help the people of Nigeria succeed.”

Obama also assured that the American government would continue to partner with Nigeria in ensuring political stability in Africa and around the world.He congratulated the country for conducting peaceful elections.

He also commended Nigeria for taking leadership position in the fight against the spread of diseases like Ebola and polio and pledged that his administration would continue to accord Nigeria the necessary recognition to bring peace to Africa and the world.

US pressure helped ensure credible polls —Buhari

In his remarks, President Buhari commended the American government under the leadership of President Obama for mounting pressure on former Jonathan’s administration to conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria.

Buhari said US and European pressures to ensure the election was “fair and credible led us to where we are now.”

According to him, Nigeria

will remain forever grateful to America for this singular act.

"The visit of the Secretary of State before the elections to see the former president, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission and the opposition was a positive trend that saw us through the elections.

“And the maintenance of pressure by United States mainly and Europe to make sure that the elections were free, fair and credible made us to be where we are now.

“It would have been almost impossible if the United States did not maintain the pressure on the former Nigerian Government.”

Buhari, therefore, thanked Obama for inviting him to visit his country as well as his administration’s support to Nigeria.

Governors of Nasarawa, Borno, Imo, Oyo and Edo states as well as some government officials accompanied the President on the visit.

Visit'll strengthen US, Nigeria’s bonds —Adefuye

Nigeria’s Ambassador and Head of Missions in the United States of America, Professor Ade Adefuye, has expressed optimism that President Buhari’s four-day visit to the United States would strengthen the ties between the two countries.

Speaking to Channels Television at the Embassy of Nigeria building shortly before the arrival of President Buhari, the envoy said the visit would also seek a renewed commitment towards solving the menace of Boko Haram in Nigeria.

According to the envoy, America was committed to the democratic process in Nigeria and the diversification of its economy to encourage a detour from oil to non-oil export.

He said: “Nigeria is the largest trading partner with America, and will want to maintain that. America would want to see a shift of the emphasis from oil to non-oil export, agriculture, power, infrastructure and solid materials and all the things that will help Nigeria to diversify.”

No rush to appoint ministers —Buhari

Buhari’s article in Washington Post read in part: ‘’This month, the world moved a step closer to the defeat of Boko Haram, the jihadist group that has terrorized hundreds of thousands in the northern states of Nigeria. In one of my first acts since taking office as President six weeks ago, I have replaced the heads of Nigeria’s Army, Navy and Air Force. Our new military leadership has not been chosen because of their familiarity with those in

government, as was too often the case in the past, but on their track records and qualifications alone.

"These new military leaders will be based in Borno State in northern Nigeria, where the headquarters of the armed services has been relocated.

This shift of resources and command directly to the frontline, in addition to the replacement of the head of the State Security Service, Nigeria’s intelligence organization, and a new emphasis on working in partnership with our neighbours, has equipped us to take the fight directly to Boko Haram.

"Already, we are beginning to see a degrading of Boko Haram’s capabilities as a fighting force. In recent weeks, it appears to have shifted away from confronting the military directly to an increase in attacks on civilian areas, as we saw only last week when an elderly woman and 10-year-old girl blew themselves up at a Muslim prayer gathering in northeastern Nigeria. We should not be confused by this change, hateful as it is: It does not mean that Boko Haram is succeeding in its aims — it shows that it is losing.

"While we work to defeat the terrorists, I ask the people of Nigeria and the world for resolve and fortitude. The campaign we will wage will not be easy; it may not be swift. We should expect stages of success and also moments when it may appear that our advances have been checked. But no one should have any doubt as to the strength of our collective will or my commitment to rid this nation of terror and bring back peace and normalcy to all affected areas.

"Similarly, my determination should not be underestimated in other matters. This includes instilling good governance and tackling the scourge of corruption that has held Nigeria back for too long.

"As I meet with President Obama today — the first time a president of the United States will encounter a Nigerian counterpart following the peaceful transfer of power in a

contested election in our history — I will be discussing my plans for critical reforms. So, too, will I discuss why the formation of my administration is taking time and, crucially, why it must. Already there are voices saying these changes are taking too long — even though only six weeks have passed since my inauguration. I hear such calls, but this task cannot and should not be rushed.

Ministers to be appointed in Sept

"When cabinet ministers are appointed in September, it will be some months after I took the oath of office. It is worth noting that Obama himself did not have his full Cabinet in place for several months after first taking office; the United States did not cease to function in the interim. In Nigeria’s case, it would neither be prudent nor serve the interests of sound government to have made these appointments immediately on my elevation to the presidency; instead, Nigeria must first put new rules of conduct and good governance in place.

Recovering looted funds

‘’There are too few examples in the history of Nigeria since independence where it can be said that good management and governance were instituted at a national level. This lack of a governance framework has allowed many of those in charge, devoid of any real checks and balances, to plunder.

The fact that I now seek Obama’s assistance in locating and returning $150 billion in funds stolen in the past decade and held in foreign bank accounts on behalf of former, corrupt officials is testament to how badly Nigeria has been run. This way of conducting our affairs cannot continue.

Indeed, the failure of governance, it can be argued, has been as much a factor in Nigeria’s inability thus far to defeat Boko Haram as have been issues with the military campaign itself."

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Man arrested in Enugu for attempting to arm masquerade

By Austin Ogwuda

E

N U G U — B A R E LY three weeks after a three-man masquerade gang was arrested for allegedly stabbing an Anglican priest in Enugu, police have again nabbed another suspect, who procured a gun for another masquerade parade in the state.

This came as two suspected cultists, described as deadly, were also arrested.

The suspect (names withheld) was arrested by police operatives attached to Udenu Police Division during their intensive stop and search operation.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who disclosed these, said the suspect was arrested for allegedly being in possession of a locallymade revolver pistol with two rounds of ammunition.

He said: “The suspect was nabbed by the eagleeyed operatives at IhakpuObollo in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and is helping the police operatives in their investigations as he has further revealed that one of his yet-to-be arrested associates asked him to procure the gun for him which is to be used for akatakpa masquerade festival.

“The suspect, who is currently regretting his action, has confessed that most of the akatakpa masquerades use guns. “‘Yes, akatakpa masquerade uses gun for protection recounts the sobered suspect’.”

On the arrest of the cultists, the PPRO said operatives of Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, nabbed two notorious suspected cultists, who are also artisans.

One of the suspects, according to the PPRO, was arrested at the premises of Maryland Boys Secondary School, Enugu, where fight broke out as he was to be installed as the current Capon, following the departure of the former capon, who had abandoned the confraternity and ran away.

SPILL: A resident fetching crude from a leakage at Adibawa Well 8, Edagberi Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area, Rivers State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

14 arrested over assassination of Benue PDP chieftain

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—FOURTEEN suspects have been arrested by Benue State Police Command for alleged involvement in last week’s assassination of Peoples

Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart and elder statesman, Chief Atoza Ihindan, in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

This was made known to reporters yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, by the state Police Public Relations Officer,

Assistant Superintendent Austin Ezeani.

Ezeani said among those apprehended by the Police was the suspect, who allegedly shot and killed Chief Ihindan, a woman and her baby, among others.

BOAT MISHAP: Bodies of two female victims yet to be recovered L AGOS—THE bodies of two female victims, who were involved in a boat mishap in the creeks in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, are yet to be recovered.

The incident occurred last Saturday evening at about 8p.m.

The motorised boat was reportedly carrying 10 passengers, including the ladies, whose remains were still being searched for.

When contacted on telephone, the Managing Director, Lagos Waterways Authority, L ASWA, Mr. Olayinka Marinho, confirmed the incident, adding that the bodies of the two ladies had not been recovered.

Marinho explained that soon after the incident, eight of the 10 passengers in the illfated boat were immediately rescued by passengers in an accompanying boat.

He added that the captain of the ill-fated boat would be prosecuted whenever he was arrested, saying he ran away after the incident.

Marinho said the boat had been recovered and impounded and is at the LASWA yard, adding that the

authority’s patrol team was still carrying out the search and rescue operation for the bodies of the two female passengers, who were still missing.

He warned boat operators to always abide by the rules governing maritime transportation.

Mr. Marinho said: “They should always ensure that their passengers wear life jackets before embarking on a journey on the waterways and there is no night travel or

boating under the influence of alcohol.”

A survivor's tale

A survivor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said all the passengers were returning from a birthday party at Happy Weekend Hotel on Ikare beach, before the incident.

He said the captain of the boat, simply identified as Oluwanisola, might have been under the influence of alcohol and drove recklessly.

He said: “The suspect was arrested with bullet wounds on his leg. An AK-47 rifle loaded with 128 live ammunition was also found on him at the time of his arrest.

“Those arrested are assisting the police with useful information to unravel the perpetrators of these dastardly killings in the area.

“We are also mopping up illegal arms from those who are not embracing the amnesty programme recently introduced by the state governor.”

Ezeani further said that the Commissioner of Police, Hyacinth Dagala, had detailed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit to move into the area to ensure that those behind the killings there were all apprehended.

Vanguard recalls that the late Chief Ihindan was assassinated last week at Katsina-Ala, while inspecting construction work on his piece of land.

Man falls from palm tree, breaks backbone

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—A middleaged man, Mr. Egede Nwofe, popularly known as Monkey, at Mkpuma Agbaja in Izzi Local Government of Ebonyi State, last weekend fell from a palm tree while trying to harvest palm fruits.

He was hired by a member of his community, Mr. Nwamimi Okwuta.

Vanguard learned that Nwofe fell from one of the palm trees and broke his backbone when he was attempting to climb the fourth one in a palm tree plantation in the area.

When Vanguard visited the home of the victim, it was revealed that Nwofe uses the money he gets from the business to feed his family.

He said: “For tall palm trees,

I collect N500, while short ones go for N300.

“On the day of the incident, I suddenly started shivering and became. Before I knew what was happening, I saw myself on the ground.”

Okwuta, who hired the victim, said Nwofe had been harvesting palm fruits for him for over five years and that such an incident had never happened before.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—7

Man, 55, burnt to death in Lagos gas fire zHis 4 children, 7 neighbours in critical condition

By Evelyn Usman

T

RAGEDY struck yesterday at the densely populated Ajegunle area of Lagos after a three storey building went up in flames, burning a 55-year-old man to death.

His four children and seven other neighbours were said to have sustained severe burns and were rushed to Tolu Medical

Centre where doctors battled as at 7pm last night to save their lives.

Vanguard gathered that the fire was caused by a gas explosion in one of the flats occupied by the Obianagors at 7 Amore street.

It was learned that the deceased, Charles Obianagor, was in the kitchen when the explosion occurred.

The fire was said to have spread to other flats ,where some occupants managed to escape. Residents battled in vain to prevent its spread until the arrival of men of Lagos State Fire Service.

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, who confirmed the incident, said the charred remains of Charles Obianagor was recovered in the

kitchen after the fire had been put out.

“The fire started at about 2pm.

By the time we arrived, those who suffered severe burns, among them, the Obianagors’ four children, had been rushed to Tolu Medical Centre,”, Fadipe said.

He disclosed that the incident was the 10th distress call his agency attended to in one week.

Boy, 3, dies in well; 4-yr-old brother stopped from rescue attempt Residents of the area claimed time Vanguard visited. But

By Bose Adelaja

L

AGOS—TRAGEDY struck last Sunday at Ita-Oluwo area of Lagos State as a threeyear-old boy, Samuel Emmanuel Oluwatunmise, fell into a deep well while playing with his mates.

His immediate elder brother was, however, prevented from falling into the same well.

The incident occurred at 3pm near Ayinla Avenue, off Gasline, when the infant in company of his four years old sibling and two other children went to a neighbouring house where the incident took place.

According to eye witnesses’ account, the abandoned well was dug for domestic purposes about a decade ago but was later abandoned when water was not forthcoming.

Ouwatunmise’s elder brother, Ayoola, told Vanguard the well in question had been in the vicinity for many years and that it was not the first time children had been playing near it.

He, however, lamented negligence on the part of the owner of the well who left it uncovered for years.

When Vanguard visited the area yesterday, the deceased had been buried while sympathisers were at the scene to condole the parents.

Vanguard also observed that the well in question was almost parallel to the earth surface and was uncovered at the time of the visit.

Mother, Kikelomo, 40, a native of Ondo State, wept profusely as she narrated her ordeal to Vanguard.

She said: “This is our eighth year in this community and I never knew such a well exists.

“My husband was at home for holidays and my baby was invited to a neighbouring house by his playmates but two hours after they left, I went in search of them only to find my

four years old boy pointing into the well in an attempt to follow his younger brother who had fallen inside but I stopped him and raised the alarm which attracted sympathisers.’’

the deceased was recovered dead around 8pm on Sunday by the joint effort of Lagos State Fire Services and local Police called ‘Onyabo’.

Owner of the building was said to be under interrogation at Ogijo Police Division at the

Chairman, Agodo/Alara Community Development Association, Mr. Jumah Quadri, said efforts were on to forestal a recurrence.

“The landlord will be summoned and the well will be blocked,” he said.

The well.

6 arrested for cultism by vigilance groups in Makurdi

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—SIX suspected cultists alleged to be involved in criminal activities in parts of Makurdi town were yesterday arrested by members of the vigilante groups operating in the town.

In an operation that lasted several hours, the Vigilant groups, assisted by youths in the town, combed the hide outs of the suspected cultists around Iniongul, Agbouhol, Demekpe, Wadata and North Bank areas of the state capital.

Vanguard learned that the action was prompted by the outcry of residents, following increasing cult activities in Makurdi metropolis which had left many dead and several others with life threatening injuries.

Speaking with reporters during the raid, Vigilante Chairman for Community Unit 2, Modern Market Ward, Mr. Stafanus Tor, explained that they were mandated by the 16 ward chiefs in the affected communities to chase away the cultists.

He said: “These boys have been killing people and giving our communities bad name and we don’t want that to continue, that is why the chiefs met and gave us the mandate to chase away the cultists from our communities. All we are saying is, enough is enough for cultists in this place.”

He explained further that following the mandate, the vigilante gave cultists an ultimatum to repent or leave the area for good, adding that the ultimatum expired yesterday, hence their action.

CAR BOMB: 3 policemen, 5 others die at checkpoint T HREE police officers were killed in a bomb blast during a vehicle search at a checkpoint outside the NorthEast Nigerian city of Damaturu yesterday, police and a witness said.

Yobe State police spokesman, Toyin Gbadegesin, told newsmen initially that two officers were among eight people who died, including two

bombers.

But he later said: “More investigations as to the circumstances of the incident have revealed that all the other five people, including a woman, were in the car that exploded.

“Three policemen were killed in the blast.”

The explosion happened at about 1p.m. to the north of the

city, which is the capital of Yobe State, on the main road to Maiduguri, in neighbouring Borno State.

“A police highway patrol team was searching vehicles just outside the city and an SUV with a foreign number (plate) arrived at the spot,” said witness Umar Goni.

“The police were uncomfortable, so they decided

to search the vehicle. While the search was going on, another SUV arrived. It was stopped for the same search.”

The second car exploded during the search, he added.

A reporter with state-run Yobe television said a handbag belonging to the woman in the car was found and some explosives also recovered and defused.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Uphold ethics of legal profession, Osinbajo tells lawyers

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has challenged members of the legal profession on the need to uphold the ethics of the profession.

Osinbajo, a professor of law, gave the charge in Lagos, Sunday, while commissioning the renovated dining hall of the Nigerian Law School.

The renovation was done by South Atlantic Petroleum, SAPETRO, owned by former Minister of Defence, General T. Y. Danjuma (retd).

The Vice President, who commended SAPETRO on its efforts in renovating the hall to the desired standard, also expressed displeasure at the current decline of respect for the legal profession, saying the practice had lost several of its values.

He said: “This is a challenge that we lawyers in this generation have; to make our profession a noble one as it was meant to be. To ensure that issues of justice and integrity are taken seriously to aid in the task of nation building.”

Osibanjo, however, stated that the event was also an opportunity for lawyers to examine ways of elevating the legal profession to enable it effectively entrench justice in the land.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Eunice Akro, stated that the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, represented by Badejo Okusanya, graced the occasion.

ENERGY OUTLOOK: From left— Oge Udeagha, Manager, Media and Communications, ExxonMobil Nigeria; Austin Avuru, Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc; Anibor Kragha, Upstream Treasurer, and Enyi Onokala, Executive Director/General Manager, Business Development, both of ExxonMobil Nigeria, during the 2015 Energy Outlook Series organised by ExxonMobil Nigeria.

CJN denies having secret meetings with Wike

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday, refuted reports that he had hosted Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State twice in his chamber at the Supreme Court.

The CJN, through a statement that was issued yesterday by his media aide, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, insisted that contrary to what was reported by a section of the media yesterday, he never at any time had an audience with Governor Wike in relation to any matter whatsoever.

He, however, acknowledged that Wike visited his office on July 6 and July 8.

According to the CJN, whereas he was not within the country the first time Wike visited his chamber, he was observing the interview of shortlisted applicants for the award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, on July 8 when the governor repeated his

visit, and was only informed about the development the next day.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to insinuations in some dailies that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, had met with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Honourable Justice Mahmud Mohammed, during one of his visits to the office of the CJN on July 6 and 8.

“However, we would not have ordinarily wished to react to such stories except for the misinformation and the erroneous impression it may cast in the mind of the public.

“We wish to state with all emphasis that the CJN at no time had an audience with Governor Wike. This include before, on and after the said date.

“For further clarification, during the week of the purported first visit by Governor Wike on July 6, his Lordship was away in Saudi Arabia performing Umrah.

“On the date of the alleged

second visit, which was on Wednesday July 8, the CJN was in Court observing the interview of shortlisted applicants for the award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

“A senior official in the CJN chamber intercepted Governor Wike and advised that it is a policy of the CJN not to entertain visits of politicians, especially those with cases in the courts.

Why Wike visited

“Consequently, Governor Wike left at that point, even though he tried to state reasons for his visit, which included the issue of the appointment of substantive Chief Judge for his state and to thank the CJN for sending the Bayelsa State Chief Judge to swear him into the office.

“In fact, his Lordship was not even aware of the visit until the next morning. The CJN, therefore, did not see the Governor as reported in the said dailies.

“I wish to assure the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria that the CJN and,

No secrecy in NASS budgets, salaries—MARK

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—IMMEDIATE past President of the Senate, David Mark, reiterated yesterday that the budgets and salaries of Senators and members of the House of Representatives were open, just as he stressed that there was no secrecy in the affairs of the National Assembly.

He said that the Senate was the first to cut its 2015 budget and asked Nigerians to appreciate what the lawmakers have been doing.

He said: “I can put my hand on my chest without fear of contradiction to say we make a lot of sacrifices in our budgetary systems.”

According to Senator Mark, parliamentary practices and

procedures dictate that all issues are carried out in the open, even as he described as sad and ridiculous, impression by people that the National Assembly budget had continued to increase annually, adding “this is not correct. It is unwarranted and needless accusation.”

Senator Mark boasted that in 2008, the National

Assembly, under his leadership, returned N7 billion unspent funds to the national treasury during late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration, which would have been stolen by some.

Senator Mark maintained that such allegation was borne out of deliberate mischief, blackmail or outright ignorance.

indeed, the entire Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria is veritably committed to upholding the integrity, neutrality and independence of our judiciary.

“This is a responsibility, which we hold dear and will not shirk.”

...as tribunal begins hearing

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal will tomorrow begin pre-hearing sessions on five separate petitions that were lodged against Wike before it.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate in the state, Chief Dakuku Peterside had on May 3, gone before the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that was declared in favour of Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Joined as respondents were INEC, Wike and the PDP. Aside APC and Peterside, four other governorship aspirants in the state also went before the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Governor Wike as the winner of the election are Mr. Charles Harry of All Progressives Grand Alliance, Tonye Princewill of the Labour Party, Kemka Elenwo of KOWA Party and Minaibim Harry of the Social Democratic Party.

They are separately praying the tribunal to nullify Wike’s victory on the premise that the election was not only fraught with manifest irregularities, but was conducted with total disregard to relevant provisions of the Electoral Act. The Justice Pindiga-led tribunal had on June 11 granted an ex parte order permitting the petitioners to personally or through their lawyers or forensic expert, inspect the electoral materials used for the poll.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—9

REPS LEADERSHIP CRISIS: Gbajabiamila camp

tells Oyegun to ignore Dogara zSays federal character doesn’t concern N/Assembly

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THERE appears to be no end to the leadership crisis in the House of Representatives, as the Femi Gbajabiamila group has faulted the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara over his claim that federal character involves selection of principal officers in the National Assembly.

The Gbajabiamila camp known as the Loyalists Group specifically told the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odegie-Oyegun to ignore the Speaker’s reply to the directives of the APC leadership where he (the Speaker) claimed that the House has the tradition of respecting the spirit of federal character in the distribution of principal officers positions.

The group in the letter to the APC Chairman, yesterday, signed by Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon-Daura, alleged that Dogara’s reply to Oyegun’s directives was fraught with fundamental flaws and that going by the House Standing Rules, the South East that had only two APC members who are first time members were not qualified to occupy any principal officers positions.

The letter read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the letter written to you by the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara in response to your letter to him almost a month prior. We find Hon. Dogara’s letter fraught with several fundamental flaws in his analysis and interpretation of the Constitution and House rules.

This is to set the records straight.

“We stand on our earlier position that whilst we accept and agree with the principle of Federal Character, the Constitutional provisions in that regard are strictly in reference to the appointment to the Federal Executive and its agencies.

“The principle of Federal Character is not intended to be given such elasticity to the extent that it would extend to the running and internal workings of the House which is not a government agency and whose members are not appointed but elected.

“Assuming Federal Character was meant to be applicable to the National Assembly, then certainly one of the Houses of the National Assembly must be headed by a Southerner.

“Remember, sir, that in the runup to the election of the Senate President and Speaker, our party made a deliberate choice, to apply this same principle of Federal Character such that all qualified zones will be represented in the spirit of national unity, which we embrace, but we all know how that ended.

“Furthermore to accept the Speaker’s arrangement would mean the two most powerful

positions in the Senate and House after the presiding officers would be occupied by the North.

“Whilst we maintain that our party’s mantra of ‘Change’ for the growth and development of our dear nation requires that merit should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning, we have painstakingly ensured that in the selection of our leaders in

the House, all zones are represented, except the South East, which unfortunately, are currently excluded from holding leadership positions because the House Rules disqualifies ‘inexperienced’ members from holding leadership position.

“Unfortunately, all our party members from the South East are first term legislators. The South East can be adequately

compensated through other means without violating our rule on appointment of principal officers.

“Hon. Dogara, in paragraph 7 of his letter quotes the provision of section 147 of the constitution which specifically requires that the President in appointing Ministers, shall observe the Federal Character principle as provided in section

14.

“He has inadvertently made our point that Federal Character is applicable only to the executive and its agencies. If the framers of our constitution had intended same to apply to the running of the legislature Houses, similar provisions which mandated the president specifically, would have been included in the case of the National Assembly."

Tension mounts over Ekweremadu as NASS awaits report …Revealed: The ‘forged’ 8th Senate voting rule

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ENSION IS building up at the National Assembly as the Nigeria Police Force gets set to make public the report of its findings on the alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules on the election of principal officers.

In the eye of the storm is the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is being accused by his colleagues of using his position to alter the rules to favorite him during the controversial election whose result has polarized the Senate

and caused acrimony of unimaginable dimension.

Although the politician is yet to be invited by the police in connection with the allegation, his supporters have already raised the alarm that he was being witch-hunted and

VISIT: Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar ibn Garbai (right), presenting a souvenir to the acting Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Tukur Buratai, who paid him a courtesy visit in Maiduguri, Sunday.

Photo: NAN

threatened to cause trouble if any harm comes his way.

Vanguard’s investigation however showed that the uproar being orchestrated by both Ekweremadu’s Peoples Democratic Party and his office, were aimed at pre-empting the anticipated criminal charges likely to be pressed against him by the security agencies over the alleged doctoring of the Senate’s rules.

Sources close to both Ekweremadu and that of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, confirmed that the DSP was never invited over any allegation regarding the altering of the Senate’s rules.

A top police officer confirmed that on Tuesday that the office of the IGP was shocked over the furore being orchestrated by politicians in the media regarding the purported move by the police to arrest and incriminate the DSP. The officer, who works closely with the IGP, but pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, made it clear that at no time did the police write any letter or intend to write to summon Ekweremadu over the issue at stake.

Investors earn N233bn in first half 2015

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

I

NVESTORS IN the Nigerian Stock Exchange have earned about N233.7 billion from dividend payments in the stock exchange during the first half of 2015.

Reports submitted to the NSE by 64 companies, however, also show that 117 or over 65 per cent of the quoted companies have either not submitted any report at all or did not declare dividend during the period.

The leading company in the dividend payout record was Dangote Cement Plc which paid a total of N102 billion to its

shareholders followed by Zenith Bank Plc which paid a total of N54.4 billion.

Also in the top five dividend pay-outs are GT Bank Plc, Transcorp Hotels Plc and Nestle Foods Plc which paid out N44.1 billion, N14.3billion and N13.9 billion respectively.

Though market analysts were of the view that the pay-outs represented a resilient position for investor-friendly companies at the backdrop of creeping macroeconomic challenges, the full impact of the difficult operating environment would be borne by 2015 full year performance reports.

The dividend pay-outs were for the financial year ended

December 2014 and just a few that either ended their full year in the first quarter 2015 or interim dividend from interim results of 2015 first quarter.

Stock market analysts also believe that trends in equity performance in the second half of the year would be driven majorly by half year financial statements of the companies even as hazy macroeconomic outlook persists.

The equity market continued its down trend in June into July 2015. The decrease in the market performance was due to the overwhelming influence of the difficult macroeconomic environment which dampened investors’ sentiments.

Last week the slide hit a high point leading to a loss of N271 billion in one week, wiping out the six months dividend.

The Nigeria Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSE ASI) depreciated by 2.49 per cent on a month-on-month basis to close at 33,456.83 points. The market capitalisation also fell by 2.04 per cent to close at N11.42trillion (USD57.99bn). Year-To-Date as at end-June the Index decreased by 3.46 per cent.

In the overall there has been a general weakness in investors’ sentiments arising from the general macroeconomic conditions that have worsened the profitability of quoted companies at the NSE

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

NSCDC warns illegal private guards companies

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KURE—THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ondo has warned operators of illegal private guards to desist from operations or face prosecution.

The NSCDC Head of Department of private guard company, Mr Micheal Arowolo, gave the warning in Akure yesterday.

He spoke at the batch ‘B’ passing-out parade for seven private guards firms out of 55 licensed to operate in the state.

He said NSCDC would not only prosecute such illegal guard companies, it would also prosecute their staff and the company that made use of their services.

“We are also going to pick them up for impersonation which carries a stronger penalty,” Arowolo added.

Arowolo admonished members of the public, corporate organisations and business establishments to patronise only the licensed companies so that they would not fall victims of quack private guards.

Mr Temitope Folagbade, who spoke on behalf of trainees, said the training had impacted a lot on them.

Lagos CJ approves vacation for judges

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS State Chief Judge, Justice Funmilayo Olajumoke Atilade, has approved that the long vacation for judges in the state will be from July 22 to September 17, 2015.

In a statement signed by the Chief Registrar, E.O. Ogundare, the vacation is in pursuant to Order 45 Rule 4 (D) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012.

“Notwithstanding the long vacation, the Criminal Division of the High Court of Lagos State may sit throughout the period of the vacation. Where a judge of a Criminal Division is on vacation, a vacation judge may be assigned to deal with all urgent pending criminal cases in the court,’’ the statement said.

APC govs oppose Fayose as NGF deputy chair T

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that it will oppose the choice of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti

Central States said the choice of Fayose by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was ill considered and State as deputy chairman of the unacceptable to the party.

Governors’ Forum.

The source said the APC was A source close to an APC wary of the controversial governor governor in one of the North and would not accept Fayose for

SUMMIT: From left: MD, TechImpact Ltd, Mr. Timmy Oluwunmi; Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability, First City Monument Bank, Mrs. Temitayo Ade-Peters; a winner of an FCMB gift at the Edge Series Student Summit, Miss. Olukanmi Olukomaya and one of the speakers at the summit, Gina London, during the event held in Lagos with the theme "Driving a Digital Economy".

such a sensitive position, asking the PDP to find a suitable replacement.

“I wonder why the PDP thinks the Ekiti State governor should be the choice for the deputy chairman of the forum when they could not accept him as the chairman of their PDP Governors’ Forum. The choice is unacceptable to us and we would oppose it when we meet on Wednesday,” the source confided.

He went on to say that Fayose has remained a divisive factor during the electioneering campaigns and has remained so after the polls and it would be an ill-informed decision to have him occupy such a position.

According to him, the APC was not averse to the PDP fielding a level headed governor to deputise for the chairman of the forum, but “certainly not Governor Fayose that is given to reckless and inciting statements and actions.”

Fayose was at the center of the anti-Buhari campaign during the electioneering process and once alleged that the then presidential candidate of the APC wears pampers like his aged mother.

The Governors’ Forum is scheduled to meet tomorrow to adopt deputy chairman among other things.

Osinbajo decries declining state of legal education

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AGOS—THE Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend urged legal professionals to reform the law profession in the country to meet international standards.

Osinbajo made the call at the inauguration ceremony of the Ultra Modern Sir Adetokunbo Ademola Dinning Hall of the Law School, Lagos.

The hall was remodeled and refurbished by the South Atlantic Petroleum Ltd. (SAPETRO), founded by a retired Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Theophillus Danjuma.

Osinbajo, a professor of law, said that the legal profession might continue to suffer serious decline and lose its pride of place in the affairs of the country, if fundamental reforms were not implemented. ‘’This is an institution where we teach the law, teach character and teach discipline. But the declining rate of law education in the country calls for concern. ‘’The Council of Legal Education is a statutory body charged with the responsibility of ensuring standards in the teaching and learning of legal education. ‘’I urge members of the Council to ensure that the necessary restructuring and reorganization of the legal education sector is put in place to promote the Nigeria legal system, until it is at par with international standard.

Also, Mr Olanrewaju Onadeko, Director-General of the Nigerian Law School (NLS), said that the

institution was special as it had trained many lawyers in the country.

Also speaking, Mr Onueze Okocha, Chairman, Council of Legal Education, thanked SAPETRO for the renovation of the hall.

Mr Babatunde Fashola, the immediate past governor of Lagos State, told the gathering that the institution had assisted in building capacity of qualified lawyers for better service delivery.

Fashola, a Senior Advocate of

Nigeria (SAN), who was represented by Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo- Okusanya, also commended the school for its efforts to further enhance the teaching of law, through its yet to be released TV drama series entitled “Eko Law”.

US VISIT: SERAP tasks Buhari on corruption, anti-gay agenda

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—AS President Muhammadu Buhari meets with President Barak Obama and officials of the United States of America, he has been asked to take steps on how Nigeria can recover stolen public assets stacked abroad.

The call was contained in a statement issued by SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, which urged the US President to “back up his expressed commitment on stolen assets by taking thoughtful and aggressive steps to deal with the problem with the seriousness and intensity that has been previously lacking.”

SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni said his organisation welcomed the commitment by President Obama to assist the Buhari government to track down billions of dollars in stolen assets from the country.

It said; ‘’However, greater efforts are required by the Obama government to follow through its commitment if it is to secure a measure of justice for Nigerian

victims of corruption and money laundering.”

SERAP’s call was coming just as another civil society group, Project for Human Development, PHD, urged President Mohammadu Buhari not to listen to the US government on issues of Gay

rights, so as to protect the laws and values of Nigeria.

At a rally organised in Lagos, PHD director general, Mr Jerry Okwuosa, said the statement was made to remind President Buhari that Obama might ask him to decriminalise “the Same Sex Prohibition Law of Nigeria”.

CSR: Airtel adopts 5 pry schools in Nigeria

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AGOS—AIRTEL Nigeria yesterday said it had adopted five public primary schools in the country under its “Adopt-a-School” Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, in Lagos.

The schools are Iyeru-Okin Primary School I, Offa, Kwara; Oremeji Primary School II, Ajegunle, Lagos; and St. John’s Primary School, OkeAgbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun.

Others are Community Primary

School, Amumara, Imo; and Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross River.

Ogunsanya said specifically that Airtel renovated the blocks of classrooms at Iyeru-Okin Primary School 1, Offa, donated toilet facilities as well as a borehole.

He said this was in addition to donation of 400 school bags, 1,400 note books, 400 uniforms and packs of pen among other items.

Ogunsanya said the company recognises the interest of the state government in uplifting the standard of education in Kwara and was pleased to partner with the government and people of the state.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 11

UNPAID SALARIES: Ondo workers to start indefinite strike

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—WORKERS in Ondo State have vowed to proceed on an indefinite strike tomorrow if the state government does not pay all outstanding salaries for May and June with the deductions.

The workers grouse include non-payment of the deductions for March and April this year.

Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, JNC, Comrade Sunday Adeleye said this in Akure, yesterday.

Adeleye noted that the planned indefinite strike became imperative after the workers issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government last week to commence the payment of owned salary without further delay.

The Chairman said “We have been meeting with the representatives of the state government since last week after issuing a seven-day ultimatum and it ended in a deadlock.

“But if by Tuesday, government failed to yield to our demand, the union will have no other option than to call a congress and an indefinite total strike declared tomorrow.”

Vanguard learnt that the workers last week issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government over nonpayment of all deductions in their salary and the salaries for May and June.

Adeleye said the nonremittance of workers deductions to their different cooperatives has stopped them from meeting their needs The seven-day ultimatum was also contained in a statement signed by the JNC State Chairman, Adeleye after a meeting with labour leaders in Akure, the state capital.

Adeleye noted in the statement that non-payment of all deductions in the salary of the workers’ shows government’s insensitivity to

the plight of civil servants in the state.

The statement on the ultimatum reads; “The unions in the Public Service of Ondo State under the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) rose from its meeting held on Monday, 13th July, 2015 where exhaustive deliberations on the welfare of workers in the public service of the state were discussed.

“The meeting however agreed that the untold hardship of the delay in the payment of salaries to workers and observed that, life is no

longer bearable and pride of being Civil Servants has become a thing of the past.”Your Excellency, it is quite imperative to inform you that, deductions for March, April and full salaries for May and June, 2015 are yet to be paid.

“Your Excellency, it is disheartening to note that Cooperative Societies for workers have died due to non-release of workers deductions to the societies and these are areas where workers look up to in time of need.

“The feeling of the entire workers is that of hopelessness, disenchantment, frustration and

SPONSORS DAY: From left; Naomi Saliu-Lawal, National Director, Special Olympics Nigeria; Ogunyemi Oladipo, Branch manager, Union Bank; Kemi Evbota, Head HR & Admin, SO&U; George Osadolor, Management Training, Coca Cola Nig ltd; and Biodun Adefila, Client Service Director, SO&U at the Special Olympics Nigeria Sponsors Day, at Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

Leave Jonathan alone, Fayose tells Obasanjo

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DO EKITI— GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop attacking the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, saying; “Dr Goodluck Jonathan is no longer the president of Nigeria, he should be allowed to live a private life devoid of mudslinging from elder statesmen like Chief Obasanjo.”

Governor Fayose said he was

miffed that former President Obasanjo could choose the 11th Convocation Lecture of Benson Idahosa University (BIU) Benin, Edo State to say that “performance of Jonathan while in office will haunt the people of the South-South region for a long time to come.”

In a statement issued in AdoEkiti yesterday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the

OSUN: Security agencies tasked over planned summit

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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S O G B O – T H E education and economic summit planned for Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Thursday continues to generate more controversies, as a political pressure group, the Committee for Issue-Based Politics and Good Governance, CIBPGG, has called on the security agencies in the state to forestall the possible breakdown of law and order by people suspected to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said to be planning to

economic enslavement of highest order since they could no longer meet their social and family responsibilities.

“The meeting therefore resolved to appeal to the state government to pay up all the outstanding salaries and deduction without further delay; within a stipulated period of seven days from the receipt of this letter.

“Failure, the leaders of the Unions in the Public Service of the State may not be able to guaranty an industrial peace in the state.”

Meantime, Vanguard gathered that the state government has again invited the labour leaders to another round of meeting to avert the strike action.

unleash mayhem on the state.

According to the group, the proposed summit by members of the PDP, who are using “Osun Stakeholders” as camouflage was to destabilize the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, having failed to incite the workers against the governor.

But the state chapter of the PDP described the All Progressives Congress, APC as a “bunch of disillusioned people who are on the verge of drowning in the pit of economic woe their party dug for the state,” calling on the ruling

party to face governance and stop pointing accusing fingers at others.

The chairman of PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa in a statement yesterday, while reacting to the claim by the APC that his party and its governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, were planning a summit that will cause chaos in Osun State.

Olaoluwa said it was unfortunate that the ruling APC could be raising a false alarm and accusing the PDP wrongly after it demonstrated that it is bereft of ideas on how to lead Osun State and has brought woes on the state.

governor said the people of the South-South have already demonstrated their approval of Jonathan’s performance while in office by voting overwhelmingly for him on March 28.

“Most importantly, Jonathan’s performance as a democrat has been widely acknowledged locally and internationally, particularly by President Muhammadu Buhari, who on many occasions acknowledged the role he (Jonathan) played in midwifing a peaceful and successful transition programme, thereby averting the feared crisis in the country.

“This is in contrast to Baba Obasanjo, who tried third term when he was about concluding his constitutional two terms. And who knows whether he would have tried fourth term if he had succeeded with his third term agenda?

“The reality is, assuming but not conceding that Jonathan performed below expectation, democratic governance that he established in Nigeria is more important than any other performance that Obasanjo alluded to,” the governor said.

Foremost poet, Niyi Ogundare rues quality of Nigerian graduates

By Ola Ajayi

I

B A D A N – RENOWNED Professor of English, Prof.

Niyi Osundare, who lectures at the University of New Orleans, USA, has expressed concern about the quality of graduates from the country ’s university system.

The don, who is one of the foremost poets in Africa said lack of mentor in the tertiary institutions was largely responsible for the fall in the quality of the students that are produced.

Osundare, who spoke at a luncheon organised in Ibadan by the Chairman of Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan, Dr Lekan Are, to honour the literary giant, added that he counted himself lucky to have graduated at a time when there were mentors that people like him could look up to.

Among those he listed as his mentors include; Prof. Wole Soyinka, Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo, Prof. Dapo Adelugba, Prof. Oyin Oguba among others.

“We liked what we saw in great mentors like Prof.

Wole Soyinka, Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo, Prof.

Dapo Adelugba, Prof.

Oyin Oguba and so on.

We wanted to be like them but such urge is lacking today because mentors are disappearing. It is what I gained from them that I emulate.”

According to him, “The system cheats the students. I am appealing to lecturers not to allow the system to cheat them any more by playing their roles properly. The standards have collapsed and there is proliferation of universities in our country today but the graduates’ quality is low.

'I once told a journalist that if I were to be a student in Nigeria of today with the fallen standard, I would not have achieved what I achieved today. Nigeria and the system in those days helped me to develop.

That was when the education structure recognised the best and encouraged others to move up the ladder” .

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Delta releases part of N70bn bailout fund to LGs

SALARY: A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA State Government’s financial burden has been reduced, following the bailout it got from the Federal Government last week.

A source, told Vanguard that the state government received about N70 billion from the bailout released to states to pay workers salaries.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the state government had released part of the fund to 21 out of the 25 local government areas in the state, whose workers went on strike due to the inability of the affected councils to pay their workers.

Saying that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had been worried with the closure of some of the councils due to the strike action embarked upon by the workers in protest over the non payment of their salaries, he said that the 21 councils had last week Wednesday suspended their strike upon receipt of the fund.

The state House of Assembly had last week approved the request for restructuring of the state government outstanding commercial bank loans of N69.8 billion into Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, bonds.

Governor Okowa had in a letter to the state Legislature, read by the Speaker, Mr Monday Igbuya at an emergency sitting of the House, requested the restructuring of the commercial banks loan facilities into FGN bond as approved by the Federal Government.

Okowa in the letter by his Deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, informed the House that

“Following the inability of many states in the country to meet their salaries obligations due to the continuous decline in revenue from Federal Allocation which is further worsened by the huge debt service burden occasioned by commercial bank loans, an approval was given by the Federal Government for the restructuring of outstanding states’ commercial bank loans into FGN bonds.”

He noted that “Arising from the above, the Debt Management Office, DMO, on June 30, 2015 requested the state government to apply to the Federal Ministry of Finance for a restructuring of its outstanding commercial bank loans into FGN bonds,” adding that the request was approved by the State Executive Council on July 13, 2015.

CONFERENCE: From left, South African Afro-pop artiste, Malaika Tshedi Mbolo, Director, Brand Communication and Sponsorship, AFRIMA, Matlou Tsotetsi, Assistant Communication Manager, ONE Campaign, Yannick Tshimanga, Chairman, International Media Committee of AFRIMA, Steve Ayorinde, and Brenda Mtambo, during the AFRIMA stakeholders' conference, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

.... As C-River awaits its share C

By Emmanuel Una

ALABAR—MR Henry Ojogwu, the Cross River State Accountant General, said, yesterday, that the state was yet to receive any money from the bailout fund though the state had made its submission as directed by the Federal Government.

“We have made our submission

to the Federal Government as requested but are yet to receive anything as bailout fund.”

He said that the state had received its share of the Nigeria Liquefied Gas dividend but didn’t disclose the amount the state got from the NLNG fund.

“I will not tell you how much the state got from the NLNG fund; it is not a matter for the

media.

“We are not aware of any plan by the Federal Government to give out lump sums to states, the understanding some of us have of the bailout is that the Federal Government will guarantee states that are owing arrears of salaries some long term bond so that they would leverage from it

and access funds to pay outstanding salaries.”

The state, Ojogwu said, does not owe salary of workers apart from the month of July which would be paid as promised by the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade on the 25th of the months as was the case with previous months.

BNC urges Buhari to probe NDDC board

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By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—FOLLOWING the dissolution of boards and parastalatals by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Benin National Congress, BNC, a Bini socio cultural organisation, has called on the presidency to probe the activities of all the agencies, particularly the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. It said that the called for the probe of the NDDC in particular was due to what it described as the alleged neglect of few projects sited in the state while those completed lack credibility and durability despite the fact that Edo State hosts the nation’s largest gas reservoir.

Commending President Buhari for the dissolution of the boards in a statement by the President of the BNC, Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, it said that the sack

became necessary since “It was an aberration to anchor an anticorruption regime on a questionable structure; as we appeal to Mr. President to ensure that men and women of integrity are not sacrificed at the

altar of expediency in the recruitment exercise.

“Nigerians expectations are so high in public service delivery and in a country with avalanche of superlative manpower, it was expedient to discern result

oriented minds from political jobbers. We call on investigative bodies to probe all the agencies especially the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs whose infinitesimal projects lacked credibility and durability."

Bayelsa not beneficiary of bailout fund —DICKSON

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, has said that the state did not benefit from the Federal Government bailout for states.

Dickson in Yenagoa, the state capital, said that the state was left out of the Federal Government largesse to states because it was not owing workers salaries.

He said, “The bailout that states are getting, Bayelsa is

not getting. Since Bayelsa is not indebted, Bayelsa was not given bailout because the bailout was for states that are indebted.”

On how his administration has been paying workers when most states in the federation were owing their workforce, he said, “It is a combination of prudence and the selfless dedication of my team.

“For us, the people’s interest comes first and that’s why even in my office in the last three month, there has been no

running cost paid. We don’t also have overhead paid in the last three months, all because we want to ensure that salaries of workers are paid.

“These are for us first line charges and every government needs to treat this as priority payments. And so, God has been helping and my team has been supporting and dedicated and that’s why we have been able to achieve, even though most states have not been able to achieve same for now.”

Asaba inducts Asagba into Hall of Fame

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SABA—PROFESSOR Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba will be inducted into the newly created Asaba Hall of Fame, today as part of the events lined up to immortalise him for his role in the development of the ancient and historic town which is the seat of Delta State Government.

The Asagba of Asaba, who marks his 90th birthday on July 28, is the 13th monarch of Asaba and a retired Dean of Dean from the University of North Carolina where he served for over 20 years.

The Asagba will be inducted into Asaba Hall of Fame in Asaba while the other programmes to immortalise him include the renaming of Direct Labour Road as Asagba Prof. Chike Ezodien Road and unveiling of a life-size statue of His Royal Majesty, Prof Edozien as the 13th monarch of Asaba.

Delta Central lauds Okowa on appointments

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CROSS section of Deltans from Delta Central senatorial district have hailed the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the appointments he has made so far with an appeal on him to reward others for their selfless service to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the state in general.

In their respective remarks, the spokespersons of Ekuigbo community, Stanley Clever, Innocent Edegware, William Eruemu, Michael Eboh and Ejiro Okoro while applauding the governor for the various appointments, appealed for the appointments of more Urhobo people in his cabinet.

While Edegware of Okpe lauded him on the appointment of more Okpe sons, Stanley of Ekuigbo harped on the need to appoint Chief Fred Majemite, who he described as the brain behind the success of the PDP in Ughelli North LGA in the last election into his goverment.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—13

Delta women protest alleged diversion of open varsity

By Akpokona Omafuaire & Ochuko Akuopha

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L O M O R O — PROTESTING Olomoro women in in Isoko Local Goverment Area of Delta State in their hundreds, yesterday, blocked all access roads leading to the oil rich community causing serious traffic jam.

The women with placards blocked and sat on the roads.

According to Chief Stella Ejeh, Woman Leader, “We are aggrieved hence we are protesting. Our open university that was approved two years ago has been diverted to another location with the connivance of some of our community leaders.

“When it was given to us, it was published in the papers, all of a sudden, we heard that it has been diverted to another place.

“We heard that some millions of Naira were paid as bribe to divert the school. Olomoro is an oil producing community which has been contributing to the

national wealth.

“But today, we don’t have anything to show for it, we don’t

have road, light or water. The only school that will hasten our development has been diverted.

We will not allow anyone use our roads until the school is returned.”

2016: Group backs Dickson's 2nd term bid

By Samuel Oyadongha

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BIRTHDAY: From left, Mr. Victor Edegbe; Brig-Gen Sam Oviawe (rtd), and Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, former Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, at the 60th birthday of Mr Osakue Agbontaen in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

E N A G O A — GRASSROOT Restoration Movement, GRM, has thrown its weight behind Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State's second term bid, citing his administration massive infrastructural and human capacity development strides across the state.

President of GRM, Chief Thompson Amule, in Yenagoa while inaugurating the group’s local chapter, stressed the need for Bayelsans to back the governor ’s reelection due to the numerous projects executed by his administration.

God chose me to be king over OkereUrhobo Kingdom —OKUMAGBA

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ARRI—THE Orosuen Orere of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom Warri, Delta State, His Royal Majesty, HRM, Kesiena Okumagba, the Unubororo, has said that he was chosen by God to be king over the people of Okere Urhobo Kingdom after due consultation as required by the tradition of the people.

HRM Okumagba in a chat with newsmen in Warri, said that since 2012 after the last monarch of the kingdom, they waited patiently for the gods to choose a monarch for the kingdom and after following due process, he

was chosen by the gods as he has started functioning as the new monarch, reigning over OkereUrhobo Kingdom, Warri.

He said that he took the necessary steps that led to his acceptance as he has been acting in that capacity until the gods gave their support and blessing, adding that they were moving to the next stage of the coronation process.

“For a new monarch to be installed, we have a process that must be followed.

Twenty-one days after the Okere festival, we have to count 21 market days, then, we move to the ‘Edion’ which is the shrine for the

necessary installation rituals before we go for general recognition of the title.”

He added that as soon as they finish with the swearing in ceremony at the Edion, they will settle the Otota crisis and ensure that both the Otota Orere and the Otota ro’ Ovie work together for the peace and progress of the kingdom.

He said that the monarchy was not ordinary matter, while in hereditary monarchy, it was from father to son but in rotational monarchy, it was the gods that choose from among the families and he was chosen as a king over Okere-Urhobo people of Warri.

NUPENG issues strike notice to NNPC, MOMAN, others

By Victor AhiumaYoung

B

ENIN—NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has threatened to shut petrol stations nationwide over alleged refusal of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria, MOMAN and other employers, to allow petrol station workers, PSW, to freely unionize in accordance with the extant labour laws of the country.

The other employers are Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, and Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria, PEDAN. NUPENG through its PSW, branch in a communiqué at the end of an executive meeting in Benin City, Edo State, gave a 21-day strike notice to the employers to meet with the officials of the union to commence unionization of the workers and negotiation of a collective bargaining

agreement for PSW. The communiqué by Roland Abu, Chairman of PSW branch of NUPENG, warned that failure to comply would result in withdrawal of all PSW from their duty posts nationwide without any further notice.

He said: “BEC in session notes with great consternation that the non existence of salary structure and collective bargaining agreement for petrol station workersinthedownstreamsector of the economy which had left the workers impoverished."

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

High unemployment rate, bane of Nigeria's economic growth — WORLD BANK

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—THE World Bank has attributed Nigeria’s stunt economic growth to the high rate of unemployment that has bedevilled the country.

World Bank Team Task Leader for Youth Employment and Social Support Operation, YESSO, Mr. Foluso Ogunmadewa stated this in Lokoja yesterday during the YESSO World Bank - NDE stakeholders forum for the implementation of Skill for Job, S4J, component in Kogi State.

Ogunmadewa said unless the States or the country tackle the high rate of unemployment in the society, crimes rate will continue unabated and the country ’s economy will continue to dwindle, “The high rate of unemployment is alarming and unless that is tackled there cannot be any meaningful economic growth in any state or country.

“Those who go to school and those who do not have

opportunity to go to school are almost the same in the country because there is a mismatch about the skill acquired in school for employment. Now we have youths who have left schools but not properly trained on businesses that abound.

“That is why we (World Bank) encourage the YESSO for the Skill for Job scheme to tackle unemployment with emphasis on the poor and vulnerable family. Those who are rich can support their children even when they are yet to get job, but the poor who are the most vulnerable trained their children in school with the hope that when they are through they will provide the financial commitment to the family; then they finished school but have no job to do.

“I enjoin the State and private sectors to take seriously the YESSO Skill for Job scheme.

If there is employment, crime will reduce; there will be a free society where people can sleep with their two eyes

closed and the economy of the country can equally experience accelerated growth. The Skill for Job required partnership with other stakeholders especially the private sector.”

The State Coordinator for YESSO, Mr. Noah Alilu, who eulogised the World Bank for bringing YESSO to Nigeria and the State said the agency has identified the private sector to partner with in carrying out the Skill for Job scheme.

“The identification of private sector organisations for the

internship/apprenticeship is to be carried out in collaboration with the private sector organisations by the National Directorate of Employment, NDE; Ministry of Youth and Sport Development, DSA; Kogi Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, KOCCIMA; Korea -Kogi International Cooperation Agency, KOICA; Central Bank of Nigeria Entrepreneurial Development Centre; Metallurgical Training Institute of Ajaokuta Steel Complex, amidst others.''

Senate impunity, threat to Buhari’s govt, democracy — SENATOR JIBRIN

S

ENATOR representing Kano North Senatorial District, Barau Jibrin has faulted Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu over his remark that the National Assembly was not a party secretariat when All Progressive Congress, APC insisted that its supremacy and wishes in the matter of who occupied leadership position must be respected.

In an open letter to both Senators Ekweremadu a n d Muhammed Danjuma Goje, in Kano y e s t e r d a y, Jibrin who is a f o r m e r Chairman, Appropriation Committee, House of Representatives accused the

group loyal to the senate president, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ekweremadu of allegedly turning upside down “the time-tested values of democracy and leadership they had professed publicly and privately”.

He recalled in the Open Letter, how Senator Ekweremadu in a paper titled “Leadership in the National Assembly” he presented in Abuja at the Induction Certificate Course on Legislative Studies for the 8th National Assembly held on April 27th 2015 had espoused party supremacy particularly as it affects the appointment of the principal officers of the senate.

According to the lawmaker, it is not only the flouting of the rules concerning the party’s latitude to present the leadership of its senate caucus that Senator Ekweremadu has provided support for but he has also provided support to Senator Saraki to flout the ranking rule in the legislature unlike what he explained at the same public gathering.

AREGBESOLA: CDHR seeks review of Assembly cttee

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—THE Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Osun State chapter has called for the review of the panel set up by the state House of Assembly to investigate the petition against Governor Rauf Aregbesola by Justice Folahanmi Oloyede.

CDHR said the fairness and transparency of the probe panel, as constituted, was doubtful going by the fact that the committee comprises of only members of the All Progressives Congress APC, who may be sympathetic to Aregbesola and their party.

The human rights group demanded for the review of the panel to include the state Head of Service, representative of the Judicial Service Commission, Trade Unions and minority members of the House of Assembly.

Lufthansa sacks 13 Nigerian Amnesty pilots

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

T

HE delay by President Muhamadu Buhari to appoint a new head to drive the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, has begun to take a toll on the beneficiaries of the scheme.

In far away Germany, no fewer than 13 Nigerians from the Niger Delta region undergoing commercial point training at the Lufthansa Flight Training School in Frankfurt, have been sent away for nonpayment of fees.

Vanguard learnt that the Nigerian pilots who would have graduated from the prestigious aviation training institution, were axed last Friday due to their inability to pay for sundry fees stipulated in their training manual.

The fees were for accommodation and training logistics.

Apart from that, six of the pilots who had already completed their training had their licenses withheld by the school.

Two of the students sent home for non-payment, had only one test to complete their Programme for Commercial Pilot Licence, one was in his final stage of the CPL test while four had just started their type rating test and would have completed next month.

A source at the PAP confirmed to Vanguard yesterday that there was money in the account of the agency with the Central Bank of Nigeria but that there was no signatory to authorize the payment to the beneficiaries since the exit of the former presidential aide, Kingsley Kuku.

President Buhari is yet to name a Special Adviser on Niger Delta, who doubles as the chairman of the PAP and is the chief executive of the agency.

Before leaving office in May this year, Kuku had written PMB to either allow him to pay the May financial obligations to avoid a breakdown of law and order or appoint a new signatory for the account.

However, no appointment has been made and the exmilitants who collect a monthly salary of N65,000 and the students who are spread around major universities around the world and Nigeria, are suffering, as a result.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—15

APPOINTMENTS: Halt this insensitivity,

South East urges Buhari T

HE SOUTH-EAST geopolitical zone, yesterday urged the All Progressives Congress, APC, to halt the ongoing piecemeal and extremely lopsided appointments of the President Muhammadu Buhariled Federal Government before it throws the nation into untold chaos.

The call which was made on behalf of the zone by the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prince Chukwuka Onyema noted that the principle of Federal Character as espoused in the nation’s Constitution was expressly aimed at avoiding such sectionally skewed appointments.

He noted that the subdivision of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones of South-East, NorthCentral, North-East, North-West, South-South and South-West by the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida(rtd)was for a better representation and participation in government at the Federal level and all its agencies.

According to the legislator, “history has shown that the South East zone, comprising Abia.

Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, is grossly marginalized and shortchanged in the recruitment for employment by Federal government ministries/ agencies and departments, including recruitment into law enforcement outfits, admission into educational institutions, appointments and promotions in FG offices.

Citizens from the South East zone, Prince Onyema disclosed have been acknowledged to be very industrious, enterprising and

have contributed immensely to preserve and protect the integrity and unity of this country more than any other zone in the country.

Adducing some examples, he noted that recently, some graduate doctors from the South Eastern states who attended

Housemanship employment interview in one of the Federal Government Hospitals complained bitterly that they were not taken despite performing far better than their counterparts from other zones of the country because of the consideration of Federal Character policy.

VISIT: Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi (left), with his Enugu State counterpart Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at the Government House, in Abakaliki, during the latter's visit to Ebonyi, yesterday.

Make Abia’s financial position public, APGA tells Ikpeazu

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—THE Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has called on Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to make public the

financial position of the state, accusing him and his party, the PDP of running a deceptive government.

The state chairman of the party, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere who made the demand said that

Trucking companies in haulage business must be certified —FRSC

By Chinenye Ozor

N

SUKKA—THE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has said that trucking companies operating haulage business will now require certificate to operate their fleet.

Disclosing this in Enugu, the

sector Commandant, Mr. David Mendie, explained that any transport operator with more than five vehicles should register for certification, warning that any organization that fell below standard would lose certification and should go off the road or face sanction or

Anambra residents trained on how to challenge rights abuses

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI—WORRIED by the harassment and intimidation by some security agencies and landlords who also use vigilante operatives and other security outfits to forcefully eject tenants from their houses on slightest provocation, disagreement and even without provocation at all, Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy, CHRPA, has embarked on para-legal training of the people and residents of Anambra State to be able to defend their rights.

Already, 30 men and women

Also, certain parents from the zone had to take their children to some other schools because they were rejected in the Unity schools for a simple reason that they exceeded the zone’s quota.

These were children who performed excellently better than those form other zones.

have graduated from the three months training and were awarded certificates.

They were asked to educate and help others that may be harassed and intimidated.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony and award of certificates to the first batch of the trained paralegal/human rights personnel at St Andrews Youth Hall, Onitsha, Executive Director of CHRPA, Mr. Peter Onyegiri, said they embarked on the training of the people of Anambra State on some of their rights, pointing out that people infringe on the right of others, who don’t know how to defend themselves.

prosecution.

Speaking in a similar vein, Deputy Corps Commander, A. Osuamkpe, representing the Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 9, Headquarters, Enugu, described certification as an annual event through which FRSC ensures that fleet operators conform with standards aimed at protecting travellers whose safety depend on drivers and their vehicles.

He appealed to operators to always strive to improve on their services, pointing out that the Federal Road Safety Corps was always at their service to advise them on how to improve their operations.

Certified fleet operators who received certificates included Innoson Technical Industrial Company LTD, Enugu, North Mass transit Company Ltd, Eastern Gateway Mass transit, Autostar Travel and Tourist Agency limited and Wilson Nigeria limited. Others were Royal Mass Transit Ltd and Enugu State Transport Company Ltd, ENTRACO.

disclosing the true financial state of Abia would enable the people to know the amount owed to banks and other financial institutions by the immediate past administration.

But in a swift reaction, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Gov Ikpeazu, Ugochukwu Emezue said the demand and accusation by APGA in the state were out of tune because the governor had at different fora said he inherited assets and liabilities.

Emezue who urged APGA to engage in constructive criticism and support the governor ’s efforts to develop the state, rather than playing to the gallery, added that all the issues raised by the party had no basis, citing the $200m ADB loan which he said was started by the previous administration and only concluded by the present government.

Ehiemere declared that the PDP-led government should as a matter of duty and responsibility; disclose the true financial state of the state,wondering why workers of the state are being owed arrears of salary if the state’s financial position is healthy.

Describing some of the roads awarded by the state government for rehabilitation as “administrative somersault and well packaged deception,” the APGA chairman added that what the government could have done was to carry out palliative measures on majority of the roads, pending the end of rainy season.

Afro Business Expo holds in UK

T

HE ANNUAL Afro Business Exposition, ABE, which is supported by United Kingdom Export Finance, British African Business Alliance, NANOVO group and MotherLand Connects, holds in Readings, United Kingdom from September 15 and 16, 2015.

The exposition is an annual event that brings African SMEs to the United Kingdom to expand their business frontiers and network with other investors across the globe,and at the same time explore a myriad of other business opportunities the Exposition offers.

Programme Director of ABE, Ngozi Fakeye, in a statement, said that “Africa has vast opportunities, from arable lands to the burgeoning well educated population. We are poised to shed the image of war and strife to shine as a beacon of economic renaissance."

On who should attend, she said that the exposition is open to established SMEs to engage with UK investors and partners who share in exhibiting at the expo.

The ABE is not a talkshop. It will showcase 30 exhibitors, over 450 delegates. The Expo 2014 resulted in over $500 million worth of investments in energy and agriculture.

Anambra PDP congresses expected to begin today

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THERE are doubts whether the planned ward, local government and state congresses of the Ppeoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Anambra State would begin today in all the 326 wards as announced by the national publicity secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh.

Some stakeholders of the party had, weekend, called on the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to postpone the congresses to make time for proper and effective planning and conduct.

Their argument was that following the public holiday from Friday to Monday, interested members of the party aspiring for the various positions were unable to obtain the forms and pleaded that the dates of the exercise be shifted in the

overall interest of all.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

PRESIDENT BUHARI MEETS PRESIDENT OBAMA IN THE U.S.

From left, Amb. Ade Adefuye, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, US Vice President, Joe Biden, President Muhammadu Buhari, President Barack Obama, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, and Amb. Bulus Lolo, shortly after a meeting with President Obama. Photos: State House

President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival at Washington DC via Andrew Airforce Base, Sunday.

President Muhammadu Buhari and President Barack Obama during a meeting

From left, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State, African Affairs; James F. Entwistle, US Ambassador to Nigeria, and a staff of the US State department, welcoming President Buhari to Washington DC.

President Buhari with Madeline Albright shortly after the dinner at Blair House, Sunday, in Washington DC. With them are, Governor Adams Oshihomhole of Edo (left), Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Governor Al Makura Tanko of Adamawa, and former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

President Muhammadu Buhari and some members of his entourage in a dinner with 11 American officials, at the Blair House.

President Buhari greets Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, and others, as he arrives Washington DC

Femi Adesina (left), Shehu Garba (right), and others on arrival at Washington DC via Andrew Airforce Base.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 17

Na only Fulani waka come (2) I

HAVE no issue with Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso keeping his Almajiris so he could mobilise millions of herded voters at will,all I insist is that he should not run education from Abuja and churn out policies that would almajarise my own toddlers.

Hillary, do you still remember our 1986 protest on the ABU crisis over the extra-judicial murder of Farida Mustapha and others? We emptied out of our campus and hit the streets of Ife in anger against the state that gave the guns to to the police who killed our schoolmates. We surmised that such a criminal state had no moral authority to accuse people of crimes and lock them away.

Thus, we went to the prison in the heart of Oduduwa city and amnestied the inmates. We were sent home for about five months.

When we returned to school,Yinka Tella wrote a poem titled "Zamaru:The Aftermath" which was published by "Democrat", the campus journal I edited at the time. About 30 years after, I still remember his last lines: "If by the year 2000, the unmarried maidens of Zamaru resolve to remain in purdah, Despite Farida Mustapha, who cares?

Certainly not Ife!" Tella was seeing far into the future and projected correctly that it would be futile seeking to unify civilisations. It is the template for a salad bowl country where all ingredients retain their identities and yet still collectively add up to one final product.

South Sea Company, which was established in the early 18th Century and granted a monopoly on trade in the South Seas in exchange for assuming England’s war debt.

Investors warmed to the appeal of this monopoly and the company’s shares began their rise. Britain’s most celebrated scientist was not immune to the monetary charms of the South Sea Company, and in early 1720 he profited handsomely from his stake. Having cashed in his chips, he then watched with some perturbation as stock in the company continued to rise.

In the words of Lord Overstone, no warning on earth can save people determined to grow suddenly rich. Newton went on to repurchase a good deal more South Sea Company shares at more than three times the price of his original stake, and then proceeded to lose £20,000 (which, in 1720, amounted to almost all his life savings).

His song after the crash was “I can calculate the movement of stars, but not the madness of men.”

It was that incalculable "madness of men" that made no one to listen when We warned a year ago that our "sharing" prosperity would end in calamity if the price of oil suddenly crash.

The statement as captured by Vanguard of 9th, July 2014 is worth recalling: "If price of oil crashes today, govs flying jets will look for okada

Living in illusion For decades, we have lived the illusion of a nation-state buoyed by the oil doom which we nicknamed "boom". We deluded ourselves that nationhood was settled with all the "no go areas" defined in our conversations . Yet, it is eternal truism that nothing is settled in the life of any country as it is a daily dialogue.

The rentier economy and its corruption bred an irresponsible elite that assumed that everyday was celebration as conspicuous consumption became a way of life.

They never bothered to internalise the law of motion that whatever goes up must come down.

By the way, Isaac Newton who taught the world that diid not find much use for it in his personal life and he wept for it. Newton got his fingers burnt with the C M Y K

Corruption itself is just a symptom of our worst disease: constitution. If Nigeria "dies" anytime the cause of its death would be printed boldly on its death certificate as the 1999 constitution

to ride – Delegate"

By Henry Umoru ABUJAA delegate representing the South West Geo- Political Zone of the country, Yinka Odunmakin told other delegates yesterday that if the price of oil crashes today, governors who he alleged to be going round the world with private jets, will look for motorcycles, known as Okada to ride.

Contributing to debate on report of the devolution of power Committee yesterday, Odumakin also said that if no oil, only Lagos state out of the 36 states of the country would be able to use its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR to pay workers’ salaries.

He said, “The recommendations of the Devolution Committee to use 4.5 % of our annual budget to develop other mineral resources outside oil is the most apt thing to do now to get out of the sharing culture that is holding Nigeria down. We are engaged in one of Ghandi’s identified 7 Social Deadly Sins-Wealth Without Work.If oil prices should crash today,all our states would collapse and the governors flying jets all over the place will look for okada to ride.

“The grim reality below shows that we must embrace wealth flowing from work by going under the soil in our various states to diversify the economy.”

Grim IGR reality On IGR and States’ wages, the delegate said, “Only one of the 36 states can afford to pay workers’ salaries with internally generated revenues, The remaining 35 states generate only a fraction of funds they require to settle their wage bills annually. This means that without federal funds, these states cannot even afford salaries payment, not to talk of executing any projects “Information on states’ wage bills comparisons with data on their internally generated revenues (IGR), published by the National Bureau of Statistics. The result showed that only Lagos State can pay salaries of its workers by solely relying on revenues generated internally.

“None of the 19 Northern states has this much financial muscle.

They all depend on federallyallocated subventions, mainly made up of funds generated from sales of crude oil that is extracted

down south.

“Other components of the federal allocation, shared between the three tiers of government on monthly basis, include taxes collected by the Nigerian Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

“Lagos generated N219 billion in 2012, three times its annual wage bill of N76.5 billion. States that generated more than N10 billion in 2012 are Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

Among states with fairly strong revenue bases are Rivers, which generates the second highest IGR of N66.2 billion in 2012, but has an annual wages bill of N96 billion.

“Edo made N18.9 billion revenue but is weighed down by a salaries bill of N28 billion yearly, while Cross River generated N12.7 billion though it pays N22 billion wages annually.

Even though Kano has the highest IGR in the North, the N24 billion it generated in 2012 is not enough to pay salaries of its workers, which is N36 billion yearly. Kaduna, the second internal revenue earner in the North, garnered N11.5 billion but which is less than half its N27.4 billion annual wage bill.

“The situation with the remaining states is worse, as their annual wage bills are several times larger than their internally generated revenues.

Internally generated revenues For instance, Zamfara’s internally generated revenue is N2.5 billion in 2012, while its annual wage bill is N13.2 billion; Yobe generated N1.7 billion, and has a yearly salaries bill of N18 billion; while Adamawa’s N23 billion wage bill is five times higher than its IGR of N4.6 billion.

Even oil-rich Bayelsa State generated only N3 billion in 2011, but pays N48 billion in salaries yearly.

“Nasarawa made N4.1 billion in 2012 but spends N24 billion yearly in salaries; Sokoto generated N3.8 billion in 2010 and spends N16.8 billion on annual wages; and Kogi got N3.1 billion in 2012 but it is workforce soaks up N44 billion yearly.

“Kwara (salaries, N11 billion; revenue, N7.2 billion), Benue (revenue, N8.4 billion; salaries, N34.8 billion), Katsina (salaries, N14.4 billion; revenue, N5 billion), Bauchi (salaries, 26 billion; revenue, N4.1 billion), Ondo (revenue, N10.1 billion; salaries, N48 billion), Plateau (revenue, N7 billion; salaries, N20.7 billion), Kebbi (revenue, N5.4 billion; salaries N12 billion), Niger (revenue, N3.7 billion; salaries N31.2 billion), and Gombe (salaries, N14.4; revenue, N3.7 billion).

“Others are Abia (salaries, N30 billion; revenue, N3 billion), Akwa Ibom (salaries, N33.2 billion; revenue, N13.5 billion), Anambra (revenue, N6.1 billion; salaries, N16.3 billion), Borno (salaries, N20.7 billion; revenue, N2.4 billion), Delta (revenue,

N45.5 billion; salaries, N85.2 billion) and Ebonyi (salaries, N16.8 billion; revenue, N14 billion).

“There are also Ekiti (salaries N24 billion, revenue N3.8 billion), Imo (revenue N6.8 billion, salaries N22.8 billion), Jigawa (salaries N33.5 billion, revenues N1.4 billion), Osun (salaries N22.8 billion, revenue N5 billion), Oyo (salaries N49 billion, revenue N14 billion), Taraba (revenue N3.4 billion, salaries N21.6 billion).”

Reason for solo 'waka' The figures above clearly show why any group that holds the lever of power and does not have broadness of mind would do solo "Waka" to the consternation of others.There is very little we are making from oil . Even if prudently managed, there still can't be national prosperity.

Nigeria's budget for 2015 is about $17b just about a little over one third of the $45b Walt Disney Company revenue in 2014. it is a recipe for poverty. A recent report

by Vanguard shows that we are losing $208b annually in untapped resources because we have a constitution that says all mines belong to the Federal Government while the states that should tap them and create wealth are going to Abuja looking for "bail outs" are under their feet.

That is going to Sokoto in search of what is tucked in your pocket!

It is being drummed into our ears that corruption is our greatest affliction and that it would kill us if we failed to kill it. That is half of the truth. Corruption itself is just a symptom of our worst disease: constitution. If Nigeria "dies" anytime the cause of its death would be printed boldly on its death certificate as the 1999 constitution.

Just one example in closing. It was profitable for a manager with NITEL to live on corruption when that body was the sole telephone provider with 400,000 lines to 100million people. He would make a fortune taking bribes from many people running after his few lines.If that manager were to be with one of the many GSM operators of today, he would wallow in penury if all he knows is shaking down those want lines as operators now beg people to take their lines.

What we have done in telecoms that we are able to communicate even with the demise of NITEL,we must do with our polity by reconstituting so we can create many corridors of prosperity with every federating unit pursuing their happiness according to their civilisation so we can all "Waka come" The existing paradigm can only be productive of marginalisation, exclusion and bickering because of limited opportunities which fuels nepotism and clannish inclinations.

Hillary, your friend Jebb Bush is throwing his hat in the ring as the third Bush to seek the presidency of America in our adult life and you won't hear "Na only Bush Family Waka Come?"Why?...May be I should let you chime in.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 ON Wednesday, 15 th July 2015, Nigeria hopefully took a major step towards the repair of its tattered football when Mr. Sunday Oliseh was unveiled as the new Chief Coach of the Super Eagles following the sack of former coach, Mr. Stephen Keshi. An excited President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, described him as the “Pep Guardiaola of Africa”. Also unveiled was his foreign technical assistant, Mr. Jean François Losciuto, a Belgian.

At the colourful but brief ceremony held at the Abuja National Stadium, Oliseh declared that though he was not “a messiah” he is ready “150 per cent” to serve his fatherland. An affirmation of Oliseh’s acceptability for the assignment manifested when Pinnick led the Board of the NFF and formally presented him to telecom giants, Globacom, the official sponsors of Nigeria’s national teams at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.

An official of the company, speaking on behalf of Dr. Mike Adenuga (GCON), applauded the NFF’s choice, and assured

Oliseh And FFuture uture Of Nigerian Football that Globacom remains irrevocably committed to its support of the nation’s football growth.

Oliseh is coming in at a time the nation’s football is at its nadir, with the latest FIFA/ Coca Cola ranking putting Nigeria at 57 (10 th in Africa). This was a country that ranked 12th in 1994 when Oliseh was one of the Eagles players that won the African nations cup and transformed into the Dream Team two years later to win the gold in the soccer event of the Atlanta Olympic Games.

The irony of the situation is that only in

2013, Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations in South Africa and qualified for the Brazil World Cup in 2014 where we got to the second round only to fail miserably in qualifying to defend our trophy. Nigeria now finds it difficult to beat even the meanest of opponents because it appears we lack the talented players which we used to have in such great abundance.

Watching the Eagles play these days is like going through a bout of malaria because of lackluster displays and terrible mediocrity, all of which are indicative of a deep problem that only a visionary coach can decipher and solve.

We throw our support behind Oliseh.

Right now, he is the most qualified coach both academically and by exposure, and as a former player who helped take Nigeria to the top in Africa, we expect a dramatic turnaround in our football fortunes.

Oliseh must be firm, matured and totally above board. He must be ready to work with players and well meaning officials. He must also be ready to scout for genuine new talents.

OPINION the expense of the collective scarce Anambra: The leeches are back resources of the state. Governor Obiano

By Chukwudi Enekwechi

A

N Igbo adage says that, “Onye amara ebe mmiri siri maba ya adi ama ebe onoro madobe ya”, meaning, he who does not know where rain started beating him, doesn’t know where it stopped. For a state like Anambra we had the misfortune of having people of questionable character dominated her affairs in the past.

But God intervened using Dr. Chris Ngige to rescue the state and subsequently Mr. Peter Obi who as governors ensured that the state’s resources were well managed and husbanded for the benefit of all.

In the present dispensation, news is beginning to filter out that perhaps a weak link already exists in the chain of influence and command, as some unscrupulous elements are now utilising their closeness to the wife of the governor or the governor himself to milk the state dry. This is a dangerous signal considering the dwindling resources at the federal and most states in Nigeria. A situation where individuals who can hardly add any value to the administration of the state are now nominating contractors or acting as proxies to those in power or close to power will ultimately do more harm than good.

It is expected that Governor Willie Obiano having returned from America on the eve of the election to assume office ought to have done a background check on people

C M Y K

he chooses to associate with in running the affairs of the state. Indeed, he ought to have understudied the modus operandi of his predecessor who discharged his duties creditably, by doing away with people who constituted liabilities and became waste pipes on the state. This approach enabled him to deliver on his election promises and resources were made available for the overall development of the state.

Governor Obiano has a historic opportunity to ensure that he leaves Anambra state better than he met it, and he cannot achieve this without plugging all the loopholes of wasteful spending. In doing this, he must bear in mind that he is in office based on trust for all indigenes and residents of Anambra state and should ensure that every kobo is well accounted for.

Anambra State should not be a safe haven for champagne drinkers, womanisers and luxury living individuals. While it is lawful for anyone to spend his or her money as he deems fit, but this should not be at

The responsibility of providing good, reliable, accountable and equitable leadership rests with the governor

himself having lived in the United States and an accomplished banker ought to know that every cent must count and avenues for free or easy money must be closed.

These are precarious times in the economic life of the country as many states are incapable of meeting their basic financial obligations, such as payment of salaries and pensions and Anambra State cannot afford to descend into abyss on account of the activities of cronies, influence peddlers, in-laws and close relatives. The business of governing a state like Anambra is a serious one and the trust which the people repose in their governor should not be lost on Obiano.

It will be lamentable if we continue to patronise individuals without conscience who parade themselves in the corridors of power just for their pecuniary interests.

The case of Abia State in recent past is still fresh in our minds where the former governors wasted the resources of the state on frivolities and a state which ordinarily should rank among A States in development became poverty stricken.

Obiano has a chance to retrace his steps by re-evaluating the activities of all emergency “contractors”, relations and friends who flock around him and sing unending praises. He should learn from the recent arraignment of former governors by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and bear in mind that the people of Anambra will

definitely demand accountability at the end his tenure. A stitch in time saves nine.

It is expected that in managing the affairs of the state, that global practices in terms of contract procurement must be adopted to avoid contractors with no pedigree and dubious backgrounds from using Anambra as a safe haven. The responsibility of providing good, reliable, accountable and equitable leadership rests with the governor and nobody else. As it is presently, some calling the shots in the state today are people allegedly without credibility and any iota of patriotic zeal to see to the overall development of the state.

Their past is well known to the people of the state, and time has come for the governor to immediately disband them.

No effort should be spared to discourage them from depending on the resources of the state for their luxury living and selfish predisposition.

We have to bear in mind that our people desire rapid development and their quest for good governance is unassailable and the governor owes it a duty to guarantee the realisation of their collective aspirations. The question is, can we realise this dream within the context of economic saboteurs who now flock around the governor with the hidden agenda to milk the state dry. Our hopes as a people must not again be dashed on the altar of cronyism, insensitivity, greed and unquenchable thirst for good things of life at the expense of the rest of the people.

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

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015— —19

Let us move on

By Sunny Ikhioya

T

HE situation of our country today, the condition of the president and the intervening variables in the form of our political actors demand that we help President Muhammadu Buhari, if he is to succeed.

Whatever we have done with our past are building blocks and serve as direction to the way forward.

The Holy book says that 'I have given you the path to life and the path to death; choose one'. That is the choice we are faced with as a nation. The path we have taken since the country attained independence in 1960 has led us to a dead end, it is time to chart a new course, the path to life.

At no time is the nation poised to do this than now. We lost the opportunity when President Olusegun Obasanjo came in 1999. The goodwill was enormous, the military had voluntarily agreed to go back to the barracks, with a president that has experienced the lowest and the highest points in life, having spent four good years in prison, a lot was expected but what did we get? Not quite one month in office, signs of manipulation, scheming and manoeuvres started manifesting. People were put into offices in undemocratic fashion and that highlighted the

beginning of corruption in the new republic; from the National Assembly to the ruling party, Peoples. Democratic Party, PDP, and this endemic corruption had remained in successive PDP governments until they were voted out in the elections of 2015.

Another opportunity has come through the election of President Buhari, he must not fall into the temptations of the past. Pastor Tunde Bakare in his 'Moment of Truth' television programme said that "every time there is a chance, an opportunity presents itself to make a choice, once that choice is made, consequences follow". Presidential power is a very powerful instrument. It can be used either for good or evil. It determines the direction the nation is heading to, whether it progresses or remains stagnated.

Therefore, the holder of that position must dispense it with a great sense of humility, knowing that any mistake can affect the lives of millions. Much as the direction to take is his, the president cannot succeed in any path he chooses to take without the support of the people.

As it is presently, the dynamics of our democracy is already taking shape, direction and range. So many circumstances have made change become inevitable; technology, education, religion and so on. The

foundation has been laid for change. It is now left for the leader to ride it. It must not be by force, but in partnership with the people, that is why we must move on.

How do we move on? We must allow the dynamics of the system to correct itself. The structures and institutions to run the system successfully are already in place. It only failed to work because the needed leadership to drive success was not given. Even without much prompting, the institutions are beginning to work again, mainly the EFCC and other security agencies.

High profile personalities - Sule Lamido and sons, Murtala Nyako, Timiipre Sylva and a host ofothers are now being docked and many more - Steve Oronsaye for instance is getting ready to join them. One has it under good authority that the engineers at the NNPC have resolved to make our refineries function and we are gradually seeing the restoration of

It is incumbent on Buhari to run a progressive and people friendly government

Akume, Oritsejafor: Lessons from Catholic conspiracy

By Tony Nwaezeigwe

T

HE election of Senator Busola Saraki as Senate President of the 8th Senate and Yakubu Dogara as Speaker Representatives with their respective deputies teaches memorable lessons. The first lesson teaches us the intricacies of change as a constant factor. Constancy as a factor of change demands that those who clamour for change are bound to the forces of change even within their chosen parameter of change and thus must accept any wind of change that trails their political thoroughfare.

What this means is that even those Nigerians who clamoured for change as defined by the present APC in power should not expect President Muhammadu Buhari to rest consistently on the oars of his promises of change. His inability to make his assets public before the same Nigerians he promised few months ago to herald an unflinching change and accountability is clearly a smack of this constancy of change. What it means today is, if President Buhari renegades in his promises, he is still within the political confines of change as so defined. It also means that even the APC leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should accept his waterloo experience at the National Assembly as part of the same progressive forces of change that saw APC in power today.

The second lesson teaches us again, against the background of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s waterloo experience at the National Assembly that a northern Christian is a better brother to the Caliphate than his Yoruba Muslim counterpart. Can this be questioned against the background of a Christian Yakubu Dogara expressing gratitude to His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto for helping him to emerge Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives against the resolute desire of a Muslim Bola Ahmed Tinubu to impose a Muslim Femi Gbajabiamila? Definitely, as the godfather of progressive change

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Asiwaju Tinubu has no choice than to accept the outcome as part of the same progress in the same change he preaches, just as in the case of Moshood Abiola’s June 12 experience.

But more striking is the third lesson which goes to sustain the commonplace argument that any political edifice built on a foundation of shifting sand of irreconcilable ideological blocs cannot withstand the constancy of change within the same orbit of shifting foundation. As the shifting political equation of this shifting edifice stands today, the CPC/ ANPP bloc controls the executive arm of the Federal Government; the PDP through her reneged sons controls the Federal Legislature, while the ACN controls the lame-duck APC party structure with the consolatory office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

But the most memorable lesson of this constancy of change as arising from the melodramatic election at the National Assembly is the striking change in the expected political fortune of a group that so much stuck out her neck in such a manner that tended to question the spiritual solemnity and credibility of her leadership. Under President Goodluck Jonathan, the Roman Catholic Church had the number three citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator David Mark, then the Senate President and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reprsentatives. Indeed from the emerging

The Catholics had believed that an Akume Senate presidency would be the better recipe for their perceived marginalisation from national political leadership

electricity supply here and there. It is our belief that President Buhari will give us that. The target of focus must now be directed at our civil service, if the corruption in the civil service is not adequately addressed, all efforts would have been wasted.

The picture that I am trying to paint here is that we allow president Buhari to concentrate on giving the nation a good direction without too much dislocation to the system through unnecessary political interference, as the politicians can really cause one to derail.

A major plank of governor Babatunde Fashola's success in governing Lagos was his ability to separate politics from governance. He allowed Sen. Ahmed Tinubu to do the political runs while he concentrated on governance. Other governors who tried to combine both did not achieve much as they were embroiled in endless controversies. Once a president has been elected, he becomes the leader of all - irrespective of party, ethnic, tribal, religion or indeed any other factor, his loyalty cuts far beyond party considerations. For Buhari to succeed therefore, the party should allow him to concentrate on governance and remove all trivial matters from his job schedule and appointments. The party must realise now that at his age, Buhari should not be jumping about on every issue but to concentrate on providing

political equation of the time, David Mark should have by now been the frontrunner for the coming 2019 presidential election, when the Christian Middle Belt should be expected to produce the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

But it appears all have become a subject of history against the background of Roman Catholic conspiracy against the common good and fundamental aspirations of the entire body of Nigerian Christians and its apex leadership the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) expressed through the enigmatic leadership of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

Against the background of a Christian President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of Protestant extraction and a Christian Senate President of Roman Catholic extraction, the Roman Catholic had in much a suicide fashion designed within the fulcrum of their myopic political ingenuity a plan to subtly root for a Rotimi Amaechi vice presidency under an Atiku Abubakar presidency, with a George Akume Senate presidency.

The Amaechi Vice Presidential project hastily evaporated as soon as the Atiku presidential project collapsed, but the Akume incendiary vision of unseating David Mark continued until the recent imbroglio which saw a change within a change.

Utilising the seed of Tiv-Idoma rivalry in Benue State, the Roman Catholics had believed that a George Akume Senate presidency would be the better recipe for their perceived marginalisation from national political leadership than a visionary David Mark under President Goodluck Jonathan’s mentorship.

If one may ask, at the end of counting, what political stock is now left for the Roman Catholics to gather?

Yes, Goodluck Jonathan lost the election in line with the aspirations of the Roman Caholic leadership, but how far did it change the political fortunes of the Roman Catholic leadership? We now have the missionary journeys of a Rotimi Amaechi vice presidency and a George Akume Senate presidency collapsing Jericho-wise.

Today, under the Presidency of a Muslim General Muhammadu Buhari the number two citizen is a Protestant, the

lasting projects. The activities of politicians can really make a government to lose focus and this we should not allow to happen with the Buhari's administration. That is why he must not be dragged into the National Assembly brouhaha. If the party cannot resolve it amicably, it should be left to the National Assembly. They all represent various competing and complementary interest, that is why whether by fact or law, they are not bound to agree on all matters that are brought before them, including the selection of their leaders. They should be left alone to make their choice.

Majority of law makers are from the ruling APC party and will not deliberately shoot down their party programme unless it is anti people or against their constituency interest. It is not compulsory that they agree, the APC's leadership must note this, sentiments are cast aside immediately elections are over and real governance begins.

It is incumbent on Buhari to run a progressive and people friendly government, so that his requests and bills go through the National Assembly without undue opposition, that is what we expect.

Meanwhile, the politicians must sheath their sword and allow the people elected to concentrate on their job. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Senate President a Muslim, Deputy Senate President a Protestant, Speaker of the House of Representatives a Protestant, and his Deputy a Muslim. Does it not prove that the God of the Nigerian Christians is a just God who is always rewarding his owns in accordance with the proportions of their faith and labour in Christ?

What is most striking about this weird Roman Catholic conspiracy in their pursuit for mundane vainglory is that in their inglorious bid to stop the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan they threw every caution of spiritual solemnity and customary integrity overboard. They began first by questioning the wisdom of overt support for a fellow Christian President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the apex Christian body, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and went further to announce their exit from the organization in the most despicable manner that tended to malign and question the integrity of President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, whose only sin was being a Protestant, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, whose only sin was to have challenged and defeated His Eminence Cardinal John Onaiyekan in the CAN presidential election.

For daring to challenge the Cardinal, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor must not rule over them and must be crucified, forgetting that it was the same Cardinal Onaiyekan who defeated the then Primate of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Peter Jasper Akinola. But the question here is, which Muslim group, in spite of the deep sectarian divide that pervades Islam today, will have the audacity to question His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto for any form of relationship he chooses to have with President Muhammadu Buhari today? We call on the Roman Catholic leadership to as well question the Sultan of Sokoto’s role in influencing the emergence of Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of House of Representatives.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Dr. Nwaezeigwe, Ag /Director, Centre for Igbo Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

At last, abducted housewife regains freedom, recounts ordeal

By Bose Adelaja

I

T was a moment to celebrate, of overwhelming joy expressed through praises. Indeed the people of Agodo community, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State had reason to celebrate this Monday July 13, 2015 the return of the kidnapped but now released Mrs Gbemisola Basorun.

Most of them had thought they would never set their eyes on her again, afraid that her abductors might have killed her.

Before Gbemisola regained her freedom, members of the Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, the Pentecostal Assembly, where she worships, had engaged in sustained prayers, while relations, friends and wellwishers also tried other means of ensuring her safe return from the den of her kidnappers. News of her kidnap on Tuesday July 7, 2015 triggered apprehension all over Agodo and environs with residents being haunted by both grief and panic.

Tension in the community Though Agodo community had been bedevilled by rape, robbery, cultism, assassinations and other forms of attack, Gbemisola’s kidnap further heightened the tension in the community.

So her release and safe return a week after her kidnap came as a welcome relief for residents.

The kidnappers opened negotiations with Gbemi’s family three days after demanding a ransom of N15 million which was reduced to N5 million and later to an undisclosed amount of money.

Gbemisola, 38 and a petty trader, hails from Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State. When Vanguard Metro, VM, visited her No 5, Basorun Abimbola Street, Agodo immediately after her release, she was said to be ill and yet to recover from her harrowing experience in the hands of her abductors.

Incidentally, she was also ill on the day of the incident and had gone for treatment after which she headed for the church. After the church programme, she left for home

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in the company of her children. But as she was driving, she noticed four men on a motorcycle who appeared to be trailing her.

She had then stopped by a pharmacy to allow them overtake her car. After waiting a few minutes, she had continued her journey.

But unknown to her, the men were lurking around and waited for the right moment to ambush her. This they did as she veered into the entrance of her compound.

Her daughter had alighted to open the gate when suddenly the four men emerged as if from nowhere and parked their bike in front of her car.

Three of them immediately flanked the vehicle; and as Gbemisola tried to disembark from the car, one of them ordered her back inside, but dragged her son out of the vehicle.

Gbemisola’s ordeal: Speaking with VM, Gbemisola said one of the men took the steering of the car, while two others flanked her at the back seat. She was blindfolded and threatened not to raise any alarm. ‘’Imagine my state of health before then; it was only God that saved me,” she said.

She further said the car was driven some considerable distance before it was stopped and she was ordered to come down. By this time, she had been dispossessed of all her valuables, except her Bible.

Still blindfolded, she was made to trek some distance

We were asked to crawl on our knees on grass-covered ground; I was burnt with a lighted cigarette while the MFM member and the free thinker were stabbed with broken bottles

to crawl on our knees on grass-covered ground. I was burnt with a lighted cigarette while the MFM member and the free thinker were stabbed with broken bottles”.

She also informed that though in solitary confinement, she was able “to differentiate the day from the night by the crow of the cock in the morning and sounds of animals at night”.

•Happy to be alive... Gbemisola to the kidnappers den, adding: ‘’I was taken to a forest where I was made to sit down.”

Gbemisola’s recollection of her one-week stay in the kidnappers den is as follows: Day 1- She was kept in solitary confinement. Day 2- Another captive was brought in to join her and on the third day, the number of captives rose to three as another unlucky fellow was brought in. Gbemisola drew comfort from the fact that the second captive brought in is a Christian, though a member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry.

The third victim was, however, a free thinker. The captives were duly informed why they were kidnapped, just as the kidnappers also exercised the liberty of communicating with immediate members of their victims families right in their presence.

Drama in the kidnappers court

“Ironically, the leader of the kidnap team, while interrogating the victims, introduced himself as a pastor,

trained in a Bible school and married with kids. ‘’Firstly, we told them our names; they said I and the MFM member told them the truth but the third person angered them as he was said to have given them wrong information about himself. They said they knew everything they had to know about us. And they had proved this by telling us about ourselves. They said the MFM member and I pray a lot but the other man was a free thinker and his hands are soiled and no amount of persuasion or pleas can save him. In the process, we were asked the phone numbers of our spouses. The kidnappers later claimed that the free thinker concealed information in that regard.

Identifying him as a land grabber who had wasted lives, they had there and then passed a death sentence on him; thereafter they phoned his relatives, telling them to forget about him,” she said.

When VM asked Gbemisola the cause of the bruises on her body, she had this to say: ‘’We were asked

Freedom at last: On Monday morning, one of the kidnapers told the captives that all demands contingent to their freedom had been met and they would regain their freedom that day. But the journey back home did not start until 4pm. ‘’The journey back home took us about 40 minutes walk across the river.

On crossing the river, we were placed on motorcycles and given N500 each for our fares for the next stage of our journey. They also did not forget to warn us about recounting our ordeals on getting to our respective homes. When the veils were removed, we discovered we were at Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State. I managed to find my way home at about 10.30pm.

I am happy to rejoin my family.”

CDA boss laments Mr Ogunleye Olusola, the Chairman of the Community Development Association, CDA, lamented that the community had recently been prone to sundry attacks, saying: ‘’Residents cannot sleep with their eyes closed in this community due to the fact that cultists have been having a field day. We want government to come to our aid; this is a border town and we have not been enjoying the dividends of democracy”.

Gbemisola’s younger brother, Osukoya Adewale, told VM the family was thrown into confusion when his sister was kidnapped. ‘’My elder brother died three weeks ago and my elder sister was kidnapped exactly two weeks after, but I thank God she was finally released,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 —

REHABILTATION: Ongoing rehabilitation of Abonema Wharf Road in Port Harcourt as part of the zero pothole campaign of the Rivers State Government yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

FAO seeks $20m to contain fresh bird flu outbreak in W-Africa

By Jimoh Babatunde

T

he Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO is calling for a $20 million intervention fund for prevention and response activities as it fears the highly virulent avian flu virus H5N1 could spread across West Africa and beyond.

In a release yesterday, FAO said the call follows outbreaks of the virus in poultry farms, markets and family holdings in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.

The outbreak comes as countries across West Africa are still

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recovering from, and in some cases still battling, Ebola. Avian flu could trigger a mass die-off of chicken – a nutritious and inexpensive source of food for many people– with detrimental impacts on diets and on the economy of the region, exacerbating an already difficult situation.

J

IGAWA state government as well as the host communities has thrown their weight behind the Dangote Rice project expected to be the largest in Africa and with prospects for creation of thousands of job opportunities.

+4.00

$11.53

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$57.81 0.76

50.57 CURRENCY DOLLAR

BUYING

195.95 POUNDS 304.957 EURO 213.0564 FRANC 204.5407 YEN 1.5783 CFA 0.3097 WAUA 273.1683 RENMINBI 31.5581 RIYAL 52.2464 SDR 272.6252 KRONA 28.545

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CENTRAL 196.45 305.7351 213.6001 205.0626 1.5824 0.3197 274.8654 31.6391 52.3797 273.3209 28.6178

196.95 306.5133 214.1437 208.4789 1.5864 0.3297 274.5624 31.7201 52.513 274.061 28.6907

CBN Exchange Rate as at 16/ 07 /15

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Prevention and response FAO’s appeal for $20 million for prevention and response foresees bolstering weak veterinary systems, improving the capabilities of local laboratories and putting FAO specialists on the ground in affected and atrisk countries.

In the countries that have experienced outbreaks, response interventions include destruction of infected and exposed poultry, disinfection of premises and markets and the safe disposal of dead birds.

Veterinary officers, meanwhile, are encouraged to use basic techniques like “trace-forward” – which looks at where infected animals have been sold or moved to – and “trace backward” – examining where infected animals were purchased or where they came from – to find sources with the ultimate goal of halting continuous virus introduction or further spread.

Although quality vaccines are available, the vaccination strategy to be implemented poses certain challenges in some countries and there is always a risk of creating a false sense of security by assuming that the administration of a dose of vaccine will resolve all threats. Instead, behavioral changes . – including enhanced hygiene routines, good poultry production, and safe transportation practices of healthy animals – ought to be at the heart of prevention plans, according to FAO.

Jigawa govt backs Dangote’s rice farm project

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Previous strains of the virus - known to be highly virulent to poultry and capable of causing illness and fatalities in humans – have been circulating in Asia since the early 2000s and in Egypt for almost 10 years.

The H5N1 strain has caused the death of tens of millions of

poultry and losses of tens of billions of dollars.

While the first incursion of the H5N1 in West Africa occurred in 2006 it was eliminated by 2008. In late 2014, however, the virus was re-introduced in Nigeria, where it spread rapidly in the following three months - to date more than 1.6 million birds have been culled or have died from the virus.

Because the disease can be transmitted to humans and is considered highly lethal, FAO is working closely with the World Health Organization on country assessments, contingency plans, offering technical assistance and investigating potential flu cases and the source of infection.

FAO assessment missions to Benin, Cameroon, Mali and Togo – undertaken in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health, the African Union, and in some cases with the World Bank – have not identified cases of H5N1 in poultry, but these countries and other countries in the Sub-Region need to ensure that prevention and preparedness measures are in place. “Based on what we do know, there is a real risk of further virus spread.

Urgent action is needed to strengthen veterinary investigation and reporting systems in the region and tackle the disease at the root, before there is a spillover to humans,” said Juan Lubroth, Chief of FAO’s Animal Health Service Division.

21

The government and members of the communities pledge their support and cooperation to the successful take off of the project and its safety during a series of town hall sensitisation meeting held with them by the management of the Dangote Rice Farming Limited and officials of the Jigawa state government.

In an ambitious move to dominate the world market in rice farming, President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has said that there was no going back in his plan to invest heavily in rice farming in five states of the federation The communities expressed satisfaction and delight at the choice of their area for the gargantuan project just preparations commenced in the state which is one of the states, where the company, for a start, is cultivating 600 hectares of land for commercial rice farming by November for a start. Jigawa state government was particularly excited at the Out-

Grower part of the plan that would see Dangote Rice helping farmers with implements to cultivate and grow rice which would also be bought from them by Dangote rice, a project, the state government would compliments its agenda of job creation and poverty reduction at the grassroots in the state.

Already, multi million dollars worth state of the arts equipment for the commencement of the rice project is expected in a location in Kaffin Hausa local government area of Jigawa state for the project with potentials of

The company is set to reduce importation of rice into Nigeria by investing to become the largest farming operations in the world by 2020 with excess of 150,000 hectares of land spread around three to five states

thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities.

According to the farming plan released during a sensitization town hall meetings with some host communities in the local government, the Dangote Rice farming Limited, the rice project at Kaffin Hausa has a five year plan to achieve between 175,000 and 200, 000, hectares of rice grown twice a year. The rice project has a plan to follow a due process for the development of the 20,000 hectares of land for rice farming in order to produce and sell high quality parboiled rice in the Nigerian market Management of the Company, led by Alhaji Mohammed Bello said the Dangote Rice project has the objectives of becoming the leaders in rice farming in the world and also boost the Nigerian economy, encourage self sustainability and import substitution in rice.

He said the company was set to reduce importation of rice into Nigeria by investing to become the largest farming operations in the world by 2020 with excess of 150,000 hectares of land spread around three to five states.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

,

Coming on the heels of a challenging business environment in 2014, the year 2015 is off to a slow start as the effect of the devaluation in the naira and elections dominated the industry during the first quarter

INVESTOR' ,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

BY PETER EGWUATU

C

AVERTON Offshore Support Group Plc led the cream of price gainers last week on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE with 7.89 per cent or N0.27 per share increase to close at N3.69 per share from N3.42 per share penultimate week. Thirteen equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than nineteen equities of the penultimate week, with Caverton leading the top ten chart.The other equities in the top ten chart include : Ecobaank Transnational Incorporated Plc, Forte Oil Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, UAC of Nigeria Plc, Associated Bus Company Plc, C & I Leasing Plc , and TotalFinaElf Plc. Analysis shows that Caverton Offshore Support Group unaudited first quarter, Q1 2015 financial result shows that revenue stood at N5.6 billion, a 6 per cent increase over Q1 2014. Operating profit was 9 per cent higher than previous period, an indication of improvedoperational efficiency.

Other performace indicators show that revenue went up 6 per cent to N5.9billion; Gross profit rose by 7 per cent over Q1, 2014, Earnings Before Interest, Tax and Depreciation Allowance, EBITDA went up 23 per cent to N1.2billion over Q1 2014; Net Profit up 3 per cent to N10 8million as against N104 million in Q1, 2014; Earnings Per Share , EPS was 3 kobo as against 3kbobo in Q1, 2014.

Commenting on the results, Caverton’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bode Makanjuola said “Coming on the heels of a challenging business environment in 2014, the year 2015 is off to a slow start as the effect of the devaluation in the naira and elections dominated the industry during the first quarter. Our net income was largely unchanged over the same period last year mainly due to higher finance cost. We continue to focus on reducing our operational costs to offer cost effective solutions to our clients without compromising safety and improving the efficiency of our operations. Our operating profit was 9 per cent higher compared to same period last year.”

Trailing behind Caverton on the gainers chart was Ecobank Transnational From left: Kayode Akinyemi, Executive Director, Powerlight Communication Limited; Tokunbo Incorporated, ETI which rose by 4.76 per cent or N1.00 per share to close at Modupe,Chairman, Tpt International and Seun Olukutuyi, CEO, Ultimate Communication during N22.00 from N21.00 per share penultimate week.ETI first quarter, Q1 2015 a Bloggers and Corporate Affairs Managers conference in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau. unaudited results ended March 31, shows that gross earnings rose by 23 per cent Year on Year, YoY to N134.6 billion, while Profit Before Tax, PBT and Profit After Tax, PAT rose 58 per cent and 65 per cent YoY to N30.5 billion and N24.7 billion respectively. Gross earnings inched up slightly by two (2) percent from N86.3 billion to N105 billion in the review period of 2015.

Albert Essien, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of ETI said “For the first three months of 2015, we grew profit for the period by US$34 million or 37 percent to $125 million from same period last year, while earningsper-share increased 13 percent to 0.50 cents. As expected, the quarter was characterised by macroeconomic headwinds including a strengthening US dollar, which significantly appreciated against our major functional currencies - Naira, Cedi, and XOF/XAF. while others are to the charge should please assist me

By Babajide Komolafe According to Essien, despite the headwinds, the bank’s diversified panbanks. Some of them are “ (Ayodele, Abuja).

African business model continued to serve as well, with encouraging presented hereby “I still submit that fixing HE two series article underlying performance in its line of businesses and geographies. “We presented. deadline for this exercise is not titled, BVN were pleased with our cost efficiency gains, which led to our cost-income Enrolment: Facts behind the “My name is Ayodele, right. One should be free to do ratio improving to 62.7 percent from 69.2 percent in 2014. Revenue growth extension of deadline, living in Abuja, I have done so when he or she comes to the was modest, given the seasonally low client-activity we see in the first quarter generated my own since last year. I bank.” (Peter Esinwoke several of the year and the currency translation impact we experienced” he added. comments and questions couldn’t get my BVN Omelazu)

Comments, queries for CBN and banks on BVN T

Dismal performance Forte Oil Plc occupied the third position as the share price rose by 4.50 per cent or N8.10 per share to close at N188.10 per share from N188.00 per share.Forte Oil had recorded dismal performance in the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 as revenue declined by 4.9 per cent to N3.062 billion as against N 3. 4780 billion in the corresponding period of 2014; Profit before tax down by 33 per cent to N842.4 million as against N 1.270 billion in 2014; Profit after tax dropped by 29.1 per cent to N782.3 million from N1.102 billion in 2014; Earnings per share equally dropped by 65.3 per cent to N0.26 from N0.75. Unity Bank Plc followed next on the gainers chart, rising by 3.83 per cent or N0.09 per share to close at N2.44 per share from N2.35 per share. The bank’s first quarter result ended March 31, 2015 shows that revenue went up by 10.2 per cent to N16.5 billion from N14.9 billion in the corresponding period of 2014; Profit after tax increased by 35.7 per cent to N3,6 billion from N2,6billion in 2014.

Meanwhile, Unity Bank audited annual report and accounts for 2014, shows that it recorded profit after tax of N10.692 billion. The results symbolised the bank’s return to profit annual profitability after declaring a loss after tax of N22.582 billion a year earlier. In the financial year ended December 31, 2014, Unity Bank made a profit before tax of N13.63 billion, compared to a loss before tax of N33.63 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013. The results also showed that the bank grew its interest and similar income from N52.195 billion in 2013 to N62.635 billion in the year under review, indicating a 20 per cent rise year-on-year. Its earnings per share now stand at N17.45 compared to a negative position of N58.75 in 2013. Also, the bank grew its total assets by 2.2 per cent from N403.629 billion to N413.305 billion. Diamond Bank Plc occupied the fifth position on the gainers’ chart, rising by N3.29 per cent or N0.13 per share to close at N2.44 per share from N2.35 per share. The bank’s profit before income tax for the first quarter ended March, 31, 2015 stood at N8.376 billion as against N9.240 billion in the corresponding period of 2014.

from readers, especially online readers. Some of the questions are directed to the Central Bank of Nigeria,

number. When I visit Access bank, they were told me they can’t find my BVN record. I don’t know what to do now. The authority in-

“No bank has any right to bar anyone from his or her account. A defaulting customer can only be barred from certain privileges but never from

MARKET NEWS

Bayelsa govt set to hold 2nd economic investment forum

By Naomi Uzor BAYELSA state said all is set to hold its 2nd economic investment forum in the state.

Speaking at the dinner held in Lagos to create awareness of the forthcoming event to the Lagos business communities, the Director General, Bayelsa state Development Promotion Agency, Mrs. Freda Ruth Bruce-Bennett, said the forum which will hold in Bayelsa state from 29th to 31st of July 2015, will showcase to Nigerians at large, the key areas of collaboration and partnership and the key areas of interest of investment.

This year, we are looking at where the state has comparative advantage, we are looking at the economic situation in Nigeria and the need to diversify the economy

“In the first investment forum, we had a very wonderful outcome, over 800 participants and alot of key conversation was heard. During last year’s investment forum, our focus was on showcasing and unveiling Bayelsa as a state, it was on identifying all our opportunities as a state across the board in every sector” “This year, we are looking at where the state has comparative advantage, we are looking at the economic situation in Nigeria and the need to diversify the economy” she said.

According to her, this year, the

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 —23

assessing his or her account entirely.” (Sunday 322) “What happens to customers in the Diaspora? Should a customer pay 300,000 for return ticket just to verify 150,000 in his account?

Should students in China come home to be verified for an account that has N50,000? What happens to customers who are bedridden and can’t make it? Will they be barred from accessing their account to pay for medication?

This whole thing is hogwash.

Customers should be allowed to enrol at their discretion or when they come to the bank. BVN should be a continuous process.

No time frame... Gbam!!!

(Whentong) “Why is nobody talking about Nigerians in the diaspora who have accounts in these banks?

You don’t expect them to come all the way because of this exercise.” (Unite 2013) “If you are in Diaspora, send someone to the bank to inform them. They will upgrade your account to a Diaspora account and it will not require BVN until

My problem with most policies enunciated is execution. One, there won’t be enough publicity.

Two, most Nigerian bankers lack customer service because they see themselves as bosses to those who own accounts in their banks

state will be looking at sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture and power.

“Bayelsa state has the largest deposit of natural gas in the country. The government is therefore facilitating investments into power generation to add 5,000-10,000mw of power to the national grid thereby transforming Nigeria’s economic landscape” “Historically, the state hosts some of the earliest oil palm estates established in Nigeria, prior to oil and gas, oil palm was the foundation of wealth in what is today Bayelsa state” she disclosed.

She said the state is committed to attracting investors to expand the cultivation, processing and marketing potential of rice and oil palm leveraging on the clear underlying economic potential, she added, the forum will bring

further instructions from CBN.” (Preye Kenneth) “Banks has no right to refuse me access to my bank account on this condition.

CBN should stop this military approach and the governor should respect the right of the citizen.” (Vision Time).

“Thanks a lot for your write up on the above subject matter. However, I missed the numerous benefits you pointed out the banks and the economy stand to gain from the BVN enrolment exercise.

May be the enlightenment on these benefits were made to those that work in the banks in Nigeria, because I cannot remember reading them in the paper. You may have assumed that everybody knows the benefits. I do not know the benefits and I will be happy to know them.

Could you, as a way to help me understand, send me those numerous benefits that banks and the economy will gain from the enrolment exercise?

Could you also send me what customers like you and I will benefit from this exercise.”(Charles Anowai) “Thank you for your writeup on the above subjectmatter. However, you did not mention how even the extension can affect Nigerians in Diaspora. More so, not every one of them who own accounts in Nigerian banks could be opportuned to come to Nigeria within the stipulated period.

My problem with most policies enunciated is execution. One, there won’t be enough publicity. Two, most Nigerian bankers lack customer service because they see themselves as bosses to those who own accounts in their banks. I'll be grateful, if you could please enlighten Nigerians in Diaspora on how it affects them.” (Akinola Alli, United Kingdom). Send comments and enquiries to vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com. together large-scale farmers and financiers to take advantage of the enormous agriculture potential of the state.

On power, she said, the Eco Industrial Park (EIP), will leverage current and future power generation potential to attract diverse manufacturing businesses to be sited at the EIP. “The unveiling of the EIP will showcase a world class ecoindustrial park designed to meet the manufacturing needs of the 21st century. We seek to attract chemical and pharmaceuticals, domestic and industrial plastics and rubber, wood and wood products, electrical and electronics, non metallic mineral products, pulp and paper products, and other manufacturing concerns to the EIP” she stated.

,

'S FORUM

A company that refuses to listen to shareholders opinion should be reported to the regulatory authorities who are supposed to be checkmating the companies who fail to meet expectations

,

INVESTORS SPEAK

•Adeleke

•Oguntoye

•Bakere

AGM: Are companies meeting shareholders' demand? (2)

By Providence Obuh

L

AST week ,we discussed the topic bothering on AGM and how companies have been able to utilise that platform to solving issues identified by the shareholders.

Contiuning,shareholders have said that companies don’t address some issues because sometimes the right steps are not taken by the them that are supposed to report such unaddressed issues to the regulatory authority.

raised by shareholders and find solution to it, although not all issues raised by shareholders can benefit them but they should look at those that will add value to the company and take action on it for the success of everybody, after all minority shareholders have less shares compared to the directors who have the larger shares. So even if any good thing comes out the majority shareholders will be at advantage than the minority shareholders

Unique Shareholders Association Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, Secretary of Nigeria, Comrade Lawrence Independent Shareholders Oguntoye: Association of Nigeria: If they find Most companies meet shareholders you have not done anything on the expectation and some fail due to self issues raised previously and they interest, mismanagement. The issues feel strongly about the issue, they being raised at AGMs keep repeating will reecho the issue, every year mind you, is not suppose because most of to be a cat and rat The platform has been them don’t have relationship, the directors reasonable judiciously used but we are Trustees on behalf of intention for the shareholders, so I can improve better on it if the company. One don’t have right to query major stand shareholders can get what they have done, shareholders they do whatever they do more enlightenment should take is that at the perimeter of a company that ensuring the continuity of refuses to listen to shareholders the business. So shareholders are opinion should be reported to the not supposed to criticise the regulatory authorities who are company to the marrow. Because as supposed to be checkmating the you keep doing that, you are companies who fail to meet their actually hurting your investment, expectations. We have done that to a but so far, so good, the platform has particular company. been judiciously used but we can improve better on it if shareholders Mrs. Bisi Bakere, Pragmatic can get more enlightenment as to Shareholders Association of Nigeria: what and what goes into the Quoted and unquoted companies are making and the administration of suppose to always go back to their companies to perform very well in a drawing boards and look at issues volatile environment

24— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Union Bank lends N194bn to energy firms zNon-performing loans stand at N16.9 billion

By Michael Eboh

U

NION Bank Nigeria Plc lent about N193.6 billion to energy firms in two years, 2013 and 2014, amid fears by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN that Nigerian banks are in danger of capital erosion due to falling oil price in the international market.

Union Bank, according to its Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the year ended, 31st December 2014, granted N116.562 billion loans to energy customers in 2014, compared to N77.037 billion in 2013.

Union Bank’s total loans to customers in 2014 stood at N312.797 billion compared to N229.542 billion in 2013. The loans granted to energy firms represent 37.26 per cent of the total loans in 2014, and 33.56 per cent of 2013.

Specifically, in 2014, oil and gas firms were granted N93.537 billion loans and power firms got N23.025 billion.

While in 2013, the Bank granted N63.380 billion loan to oil and gas customers, and N13.657 billion to power firms.

For the two years, oil and gas firms got N156.917 billion from Union Bank, while power firms got N36.682 billion.

Non-performing loans The bank’s total non-performing loans rose by 15.93 per cent to N16.934 billion as at the end of 2014 financial year, compared to N14.607 billion in

2013. According to the bank, its total non-performing loans to total gross loans stood at 5.03 per cent and 5.86 per cent in 2014 and 2013 respectively.

Analysis of it loans portfolio revealed that Notore Chemicals Industries’ term loan of N6.463 billion in 2013, compared to N7.352 billion in 2013 was classified as a non-performing loan.

Also, Union Bank classified Notore Chemicals’ N1.185 billion overdraft facility as nonperforming in the 2014, bringing total non-performing loans

and advances granted Notore at N7.648 billion.

The CBN had in its Financial Stability Report for December 2014, warned that financial institutions in Nigeria will be at grave risk in 2015 due to the low prices of crude oil in the international market and their huge exposure to oil and gas firms.

The CBN said that oil and gas firms owe financial institutions about N3.24 trillion, adding that low crude oil prices will pose a significant risk to Nigeria’s financial system and might

lead to an increase in NonPerforming Loans, NPLs. According to the CBN, anticipated sources of risk in the financial system in the first half of 2015 would include declining crude oil prices, due to US’ shale oil and gas production and the resultant pressure on the Naira exchange rate.

The CBN, however, advised banks to strengthen their contingency plans and conduct regular stress tests in order to mitigate the impact of oil prices crash on their balance sheets.

COMMISSIONING: From left, Chief Sales Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Godfrey Efeurhobo; the Ojomo of Offa, Chief Joseph Akinola; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Kwara State, Mr. Lamid Alabi representing Kwara State Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, with the Ass. Director, Kwara SUBEB, Mr. Yahaya Mohammed during the commissioning of Airtel-adopted IyeruOkin Primary School 1, Offa, Kwara State.

Oil price fluctuations unlikely to impact industry trajectory — Deloitte report

D

ESPITE price fluctua tions, the undulating nature of the oil and gas industry is not likely to impact the sector in the long term, though the fluctuations may accelerate emerging trends in the industry, according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited’s (Deloitte) Oil and Gas Reality Check 2015 report.

The Deloitte report lists six major issues currently impacting the oil and gas industry (and the upstream market in particular). These issues include an anticipated shift in supply-demand fundamentals, the emergence of new trading patterns, consideration of OPEC’s role in the market, falling LNG prices, the long-term costs of complex projects and evolving dynamics between integrated oil companies (IOCs) and national oil companies (NOCs).

According to Anton Botes, Global Oil & Gas Leader at Deloitte: “The oil and gas industry has been built on longterm investments and has successfully emerged from cyclical downturns in the past. As these trends play out, companies across the board need to adapt and remain agile to emerge a leaner, fitter business. At the same time, it’s worth remembering that weaker price signals spur innovation. With that in mind, it’s not unreasonable to expect that lagging oil prices will spur greater innovation.”

The report highlights the following key trends: zShift in supply-demand fundamentals: Fluctuating industry dynamics are fueling a power play between traditional and new oil suppliers.

The US continues to maintain its place as a major producer of both oil and gas, while historical energy trade patterns

are shifting. With the loss of the United States as an anchor market, the world’s major oil suppliers are searching for new buyers. z New trading patterns emerging: As oil and gas supply and demand fundamentals continue to evolve, new global trading patterns are emerging. As relations between emerging trading blocs strengthen, OPEC may look to expand its share of the Western European market.

This would not, however, be a self_sustaining strategy. zOPEC: under pressure: The OPEC organization currently supplies approximately 32% of the world’s crude oil.

However, OPEC’s oil market share will fall by 5% by 2018 as the supply of US tight oil picks up. zLNG prices: a buyer’s market: The price of LNG was once a model for stability, it is less so now. Until prices sta-

bilize, natural gas will trade in more geographically proximate regions. The most cost efficient producers are the ones most likely to win global market share, especially as supply-demand economics kick in. zInvesting in innovation: the cost of complexity: Capital spending is likely to fall off in the near term; however megaprojects will still be required to meet long_term global energy demand. To avoid the cost and time overruns that have typically characterized these projects, companies will likely want to explore a range of strategies, including pre-project planning, integrated project delivery, lean project management, modularization and talent management. They may also want to invest in advanced analytics to enable agile project monitoring and evaluation.

Nigeria’s hope for oil price recovery dims as Iran returns

By Ediri Ejoh

N

IGERIA’S hope for an immediate recovery in the global price of crude oil may not be achievable in the foreseeable future, as a result of the return of Iran to oil export, after reaching a historic agreement with six global powers on its nuclear programme that would pave way for the lifting of the western sanction on its country.

This development would further negatively impact Nigeria’s revenue, which has been at its lowest ebb since global oil prices began to fall in July 2014.

Iran is expected to return to the global oil market at maximum capacity within a year.

Reacting to the development, Professor Tam David-West, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, said that the return of Iran into the global oil market will further decline the oil price.

According to him, successive administrations have refused to plan the economy as a measure to guard against possible negative impact.

He blamed the past leaders for not diversifying the economy to grow other non-oil sectors. He also noted that Nigeria can survive the price decline if the present administration continues to checkmate corruption and cut excesses.

Also speaking, Mr. Yusuf Muda, Director General, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, said that the likely lifting of sanction on Iran, would negatively impact the economy.

He noted that the situation would cause a decline in global oil price, which would also hurt the country’s economy against the backdrop of decline reserve, rising exchange rate, and dislocation of the economy. He added that the development will worsen the country’s economy. ‘‘The Federal Government needs to ensure quality control of resources management. If President Mohammadu Buhari, demonstrates prudent management, the negative impact on the supply glut on the economy would be reduced. He also needs to ensure better compliance by relevant agencies in the area of tax recovery.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 —25

Nigerians spent N1.7trn on petrol in 2014

By Grace Udofia

N

IGERIANS spent about N1.69 trillion on Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, in 2014, according to data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The NNPC, in its 2014 Annual Statistical Bulletin, disclosed that 17.4 billion litres of PMS was distributed in the period under review.

This translated to an average daily consumption of 47.67 million litres of PMS consumption.

Using the 2014 fuel price of N97 per litre, Nigerians would have spent N1.69 trillion on the consumption of 17.4 billion litres of PMS in the period under review.

The NNPC gave a monthly consumption breakdown as follows: • January - 1.5 billion litre - N145.5 billion, • February - 1.3 billion litres - N120.3 billion, • March - 1.5 billion litres - N137.7 billion, • April - 1.4 billion litres N136.77 billion, • May - 1.6 billion litres N154.23 billion, • June - 1.4 billion litres N137.7 billion, • July - 1.5 billion litres N145.5 billion, • August - 1.4 billion litres - N135.8 billion, • September - 1.4 billion

litres - N135.8 trillion, • October - 1.5 billion litres - N149.38 billion, • November - 1.3 billion litres - N125.13 billion, and, • December - 1.7 billion litres - N162.96 billion.

Apart from PMS, the Bulletin also indicated that the NNPC and oil marketers distributed a total of 23.503 billion litres of other petroleum products.

According to the report, 2.9 billion litres of Household Kerosene, HHK, and 3.2 billion litres of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO or diesel were distributed in 2014.

A similar breakdown by the NNPC on Household Kerosene and diesel respectively, is shown below: • January - 300.4 million litres, and 245.28 million litres; • February - 273.825 million litres, and 222.94 million litres; • March - 261.38 million litres, and 242.87 million litres; • April - 280.84 million litres, and 292.3 million litres; • May - 227.06 million litres, and 272.76 million litres; • June - 215.75 million li-

tres, and 272.7 million litres; • July - 226.52 million litres, and 304.77 million litres; • August - 234.127 million litres, and 277.985 million litres; • September - 199.41 million litres, and 275.74 million litres; • October - 202.89 million litres, and 260.7 million litres; • November 210.65 million litres, and 233.38 million litres; and, • December 251.26 million litres, and 317.738 million litres

Petrol pump

O

ANDO Energy Resources, OER, has called on governments at all levels to develop legislative and regulatory frameworks to drive renewable energy use.

Speaking at the LiveWell Initiative, LWI, 2015 Annual Multi-sectoral Grand Health Bazaar (GHB2015) in Lagos, Head, Operations Integrity, OER, Mr. Kayode Boladale, said that the use of renewable energy would help alleviate poverty. The use will also enhance technological capacity and economic development of developing countries.

According to him, environmentally sound technology may also prevent people in developing countries from destroying the basis of their life-support through over-exploitation of natural resources.

He explained that renewable energy provides an enormous opportunity to drastically reduce Green House Gas, GHG, emissions,

pursue economic growth and enhance energy security, thereby, advancing sustainable development.

He said, “It is necessary to develop a communication and awareness action plan to raise awareness on the benefits of using renewable energy and energy efficiency against other forms.

“Therefore, governments have a duty to create the enabling environment through a government– private collaboration in developing infrastructure required to drive renewable energy.”

He noted that renewable energy and energy efficiency are widely recognised as the most promising alternatives for reducing fossil energy consumption, mitigating climate change, and advancing the goal of energy sustainability.

According to Boladale, “renewable energy propels a green economy revolution and captures interrelationship between the environment, the economy, and human well-being in the

A

NEW hydrocarbons law awaiting presidential approval in Democratic Republic of Congo imposes a much-needed structure on a haphazardly regulated oil sector but critics say its vague provisions open the door to corruption and secrecy.

The 53-page bill, passed by parliament last month, includes steep new taxes on capital gains, increases the state’s role in exploration and production projects and clarifies the tendering process for new permits.

Congo pumps just 25,000 barrels of oil per day, but hydrocarbons already contribute nearly half a billion dollars in annual state revenues.

The new code, which would replace a 1981 law widely considered obsolete, is with President Joseph Kabila for his signature.

In remarks after its adoption on June 15, the president of the National Assembly, Aubin Minaku, said the bill would ensure transparency and protect investments in the sector as well as contribute to the fight against poverty.

Protection of investments

Oando seeks legislation on renewable energy use

By Michael Eboh

Congo's move to regulate oil sector seen as opening door to graft

effort to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

“It reduces drastically the consumption of resources like coal, fossil fuel and others that has many harmful environmental effects: devastating lands, causing air and water pollution that are toxic to

...renewable energy provides an enormous opportunity to drastically reduce Green House Gas, GHG, emissions, pursue economic growth and enhance energy security, thereby, advancing sustainable development.

human health and the environment.

“Use of Renewable energy sources enables people to cook without suffering from wood-smoke pollution. It also reduces CO2 emissions by removing the need for highly polluting diesel generators.”

Furthermore, Chief Executive Officer, LWI, Mrs. Bisi Bright, in a highlight of its activities, said that, “In the areas of executive health, work life balance and workplace wellness, LWI continues to lead the ‘pack.

“LWI works with several corporate organisations, providing key solutions to workplace health challenges.

We also provide community engagement services and corporate social investment solutions using our innovative tools and’ turnkey’ solutions to enhance organisational bottom lines.

“Our mainstay remains the people at the base of the pyramid; a population which we serve through our illness poverty alleviation programme.”

The vast central African country, Africa’s largest copper producer, has failed to reap significant benefits from its huge natural resource reserves, ranking 186 out 187 countries on the U.N. Human Development Index.

Experts agree new legislation is badly needed to bring order to a sector expected to grow considerably with the government expecting production to ramp up off the Atlantic coast and near its eastern border with Uganda.

Permits are currently granted through production sharing agreements with the government or special conventions, which analysts say lack meaningful oversight and have often helped line the pockets of corrupt officials.

Georges Bokundu, Congo coordinator for Southern Africa Resource Watch, said passage of a hydrocarbons code represented a first step towards regulating the sector, though the application of the law would need to be closely scrutinised.

“No law will be perfect,” said Bokundu. “We must first start with a law that can lead to the development of the country.”

26— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Power asset owners pledge to support Buhari

By Chris Ochayi

P

OWER asset owners have pledged their support for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to ensure it delivered on his campaign promises of stable electricity supply to Nigerians.

The Chairmen of Distribution Companies, Discos, across the country made the pledge at a crucial meeting held with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali.

The meeting was designed as a review platform on the activities of the distribution value chain of electricity.

Speaking on behalf the others, Mr. Ernest Orji of the EKO Disco, also urged the government to assist them in closing gaps that were not envisaged when they were acquiring these assets, so as to reduce the bashing on the Discos from the public.

He said the Discos are at the receiving end in the value chain: “We are the ones that have direct interaction with the public; hence everyone heaps the blame on us.”

He identified some of the gaps to include non-cost reflective tariff, losses at takeover, loss of power produced estimated in excess of 7,000 megawatts, MW, stressing that the expected lower energy cost cannot be achieved as generation is still a little above 4,000MW. Orji said that the huge investments in distribution networks have not yielded much dividend, “as the goalpost keeps moving; it is scary, as many of us cannot meet payment obligations to market operators.”

In his remarks, Igali said that the current electricity supply stands at 4,545MW, which is a marginal increase over the 4,517MW recorded on June 12, 2015, adding that no system collapse has been recorded.

The Permanent Secretary said that the feat was made possible because security agencies were able to reduce the menace of vandalism of pipe lines carrying gas to the various thermal plants.

He appealed to the owners to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge to improve power supply nationwide by massive investment in the upgrade of their systems and networks.

Fossil fuel’ll remain dominant till 2040 —ExxonMobil

By Clara Nwachukwu

D

ESPITE significant successes in alternative fuels, the use of fossil fuel or hydrocarbons will remain dominant until at least 2040, America’s oil giant, ExxonMobil has predicted.

ExxonMobil declared this at the presentation of its Outlook for Energy: A View to 2040, in Lagos last week, during which it assessed energy development in 100 countries of the world.

The Outlook presenter, Mr. Anibor Kraghar, said conclusions were arrived at based on studies of energy demand in 15 sectors of the global economy, across 20 fuel types, the technology and policy initiatives, and trade flows among the countries.

Using population, gross domestic product, GDP, and energy demand matrixes, Kragher argued that global progress will continue to drive demand, when viewed from 2000 to 2040.

He maintained that such growth will also lead to increases in standards of living, continued growth of the middle class, growth in electricity generation and rise in transportation demand and a host of others.

In his explanatory notes on the Energy Outlook, ExxonMobil’s Country Manager, Government & Public Affairs, Mr. Paul Arinze, noted that: “As global economic output more than doubles by 2040, energy demand will increase by about

.

Power station

35 percent even with significant efficiency gains.”

He added that energy demand in developing nonOECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries will rise about 65 percent, driving nearly all of the global increase.

He also estimated that Oil and natural gas will supply about 60 percent of global energy demand in 2040, while the use of nuclear power and renewable energy will also grow. Also, demand for coal will peak around 2025, and then gradually decline He added that “Eveolving demand and supply patterns will open the door for increased global trade opportunities.”

In terms of power, Arinze argued that electricity generation represents the largest driver of energy demand, adding that, “Transportation demand will rise about 40 percent driven by expanding commercial activity.”

He further noted that “Technology is enabling the safe development of once hard-to-produce energy resources, and significantly expanding available supplies.”

He explained that since the world runs on energy, “The Outlook reveals key findings about how people use energy, how much we will need in the future and what types of fuels will meet demand.”

According to him, energy is “fundamental to our way of life and growing our economy.

While people’s needs and modern technology continue to evolve, so too does the energy landscape.”

As a result, he said the annual Energy Outlook is shared with the general public to broaden understanding of the attendant challenges and opportunities faced with in the years ahead, both for the energy rich and energy dependent countries like Nigeria.

He concluded that the Outlook also provides a window to the future, and serves as a guide for ExxonMobil’s strategies and investments.

‘Nigeria has prospects of being a mining destination’

By Gabriel Ewepu

A

MINING expert, Prof.

Samuel Olobaniyi, has expressed optimism over Nigeria’s solid minerals potential, saying it could place her as a mining destination in Africa, if government projects the sector as a major source of revenue generation and job creation.

Olobaniyi made the assertion while speaking to journalists on the forthcoming annual lecture series billed to hold on July 23, 2015, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He said the over dependence on oil is fast becoming overshadowed by other minerals with high demand and foreign revenue generation.

He said: “It is no more visible for us as a country to depend on petroleum as a major

revenue earner for our national development. It is a commodity faced with high volatility in price and its operation can easily be disrupted by various elements.

“Solid minerals is not so, and it has high prospects to drive our economy to greater heights. When government actually focuses and get it right on the solid minerals sector, Nigeria will become a mining destination in Africa.

“The abundant mineral resources this country has cannot be over emphasised, because they are all in commercial quantities and are highly on demand in the international market.”

On the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society 2015 Distinguished Annual

Lecture, which Olubaniyi chairs, he said the lecture will focus on “Minerals, Challenges Mineral Resources and the Future

over dependence on oil is fast becoming overshadowed by other minerals with high demand and foreign revenue generation.

of the Nigerian Economy: Constraints and Prospects.”

He added that the lecture will address major issues affecting mineral resources exploration and exploitation in the country.

“It is a major event which will attract a team of distinguished lecturers to be led by a Professor of Mineral Economics from Louisiana State University.

We are all stakeholders of these minerals in Nigeria.

“And we cannot fold our arms and watch solid minerals untapped and under-explored and exploited for the development of this country.

After this lecture there will be appreciable change in the sector,” he stated.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 27

C M Y K

28— VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

2nd Niger Bridge designed by NSE PREMS

The old and dilapidated Niger Bridge

Whither 2nd Niger bridge …as contractors abandon site zAngry reactions trail abandonment on social media

I

By Jude Njoku

S the construction of a second bridge across the River Niger at Onitsha jinked? For how long will the Federal Government and other stakeholders continue to play politics with this allimportant bridge considering the fact that the old bridge built over 50 years ago is now in a distressed condition? These posers were raised by distraught Nigerians who reacted to the alleged abandonment of work on the bridge by the contractors.

Indeed, the River Niger Bridge has become a nightmare to commuters mainly due to poor maintenance, overuse, frequent subjection to overbearing deadweight and cannibalisation.

The dead weight is a product of the traffic snarl that has become a regular feature at the imposing bridge.

Building a second bridge across the River Niger has become an over-flogged issue since 1992 when former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida challenged. Nigerian engineers to come up with a design for the Bridge.

Successive governments Since then, successive governments have played politics with its construction thereby endangering the lives of millions of people who use the old and dilapidated bridge.

While the military rulers claimed that they could not construct the bridge because the engineers failed to incorporate an east-west rail line in the design prepared

by NSE PREMS, the Obasanjo regime at the twilight of that administration, ‘awarded’ the contract for its construction. Of course nothing was done until the

Goodluck Jonathan administration made it an electioneering promise to Ndigbo. Again, towards the end of his tenure, he awarded the contract and actually flagged off construction of the Bridge amidst pomp and fanfare But feelers coming from Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the South-East is that Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has abandoned the site and withdrawn its workforce.

Angry reactions trail abandonment A former Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State, Mr. Fred Chukwuelobe stirred the hornet’s nest when he posted the abandonment of the project on Facebook.

As expected, Chukwuelobe blamed the Jonathan’s administration for using the project to canvass for the votes of Ndigbo.

“All those who were 'certain' that the second Niger bridge was

All those who were 'certain' that the second Niger bridge was awarded by the Goodluck Jonathan Government and was on-going, and who posted pictures from the supposed on-going construction, owe all of us an apology

awarded by the Goodluck Jonathan Government and was on-going, and who posted pictures from the supposed ongoing construction, owe all of us an apology. Now that the contractors have pulled out from tipping of sands and deployment of few machines, it is obvious that we were fooled by the government in power then. Now that the South East rewarded GEJ with votes for this, what next?

Next time take promises from politicians with a pinch of salt and avoid sentiments,” he wrote.

This claim elicited various reactions with majority of them insisting that government is a continuum, hence Buhari is dutybound to complete the project, irrespective of the number of votes he got from the South-East.

A former Abuja Bureau Chief of the Sun Newspapers, Mr. Modestus Chukwulaka toed this line of reasoning. “And why should your Messianic Buhari administration allow the project to die?

Present administration Government is a continuum, isn’t it? Will the South - East and South - South be asking for a favour if they expect the present administration to continue with the project? Who knows what they told Julius Berger before they quit the site,” he asked.

Another journalist, Mr. Achileus-Chud Uchegbu referred to a statement credited to the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Works that work on the project is still on going. “The Perm Sec in the Federal Ministry of Works briefed President Muhammadu Buhari last week on projects the Ministry is handling. After the briefing, he addressed State House

Correspondents who specifically asked him about the Second Niger Bridge and he said it ..Second Niger Bridge is ongoing.

When told that there were insinuations that work had stopped on the project, he said it was not possible to stop work. His words:”It is a PPP project and work cannot stop,” Uchegbu observed.

Mr. Victor Okeke alleged that the APC government is trying to kill the project “ because the South East did not give them as much support as they did PDP”.

Probe 2nd Niger bridge A new dimension was introduced intothediscoursebyMr.Emmanuel MaduelosiwhocalledontheBuhari governmenttoempanelaprobeinto the construction of the Bridge.

“It baffles me how we react to issues. The Second Niger bridge is a Federal Government project and was awarded by the government of the day then. Why then are we

giving up hope as if the project was not awarded and recorded with a lavish ceremony of groundbreaking openly done by then President and government officials including traditional institutions... the impression you people are giving the head and government of the day that the project is a fluke. Let’s not deny ourselves the 2nd Niger Bridge completion by our unguarded utterances. If NNPC, Boko Haram, Pensions Board, fuel subsidy expenses will be probed, then why not 2nd Niger Bridge?

The project wasn’t a hidden one and must be brought to completion by the present government since government is a continuum or the contact award be probed,” he canvassed.

Mr. Obi Barth Ifediora who claims to be of Igbo National Congress, Anambra State chapter noted that the construction of the Bridge is supposed to last for 48 months and was not a scam.

“Government doesn’t end with Jonathan. We must tell ourselves the truth. He promised us the second River Niger Bridge and the job is on going." Skeletal works were going on at the site when Vanguard Homes & Property visited the site yesterday.

The workers confirmed that some workers were recently retrenched

by Julius Berger.

MoU SIGNING

R-L: Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el - Rufai; Managing Director UACN Property Development Company, UPDC, Mr Hakeem Ogunniran and the Business Development Director, UPDC, Mr Yemi Ejidiran at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU between UPDC and the Kaduna State Government for the development of a Shopping Mall in Kaduna State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 —29

By Jude Njoku

I

SEE Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence and commercial nerve centre of Nigeria as mostly a rural area”.

You may find it difficult to fathom this assertion, but it was made by a respected land professional – the new Chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Offiong Samuel Ukpong.

Ukpong who spoke in Lagos th at his inauguration as the 24 Chairman of Lagos branch of NIESV, painted an ugly picture of Lagos that informed the assertion. “Beyond the major highways that have decent buildings and well-maintained roads, what you have are neighbourhoods with rural characteristics and it should not be so. From Lekki express way, you have beautiful buildings along the roads, branch 100 metres from the main road, what do you see? Do the same on Agege Motor Road, do the same on Ikorodu Road. What do you see at Ketu Mile 12 and Ajegunle. Have we gone to Okokomaiko lately?” he asked.

Maintenance culture Ukpong who is also the General Manager, (Premises department) at Niger Insurance Plc, decried the rot in Nigeria’s urban centres, due mainly to lack of maintenance culture in the country. He noted that estate surveyors who are professionally equipped to manage land and anything on it, have been relegated to the background in the scheme of things.

“Let us look at our towns and cities, our neighbourhoods, our homes and infrastructures, our public utilities and facilities.

From our stadia to our roads, to our national assets, to our local investments. Let us ask ourselves whether we have used the gift of tending and keeping the garden God gave to man.

If the answer is yes, then why the decay? And why the blight?

I do not know when you visited Festac Town in Lagos State for example. Can you compare it now to when it was created?

Please do visit and see the decay and blight the town is experiencing,” he said.

The new Lagos NIESV boss who regretted that estate management is gradually becoming an all-comers affair, called for the appointment of estate surveyors as Ministers, Commissioners and Special Advisers on the Environment, National Assets and Investments.

He stated that if Nigeria will rank among the 10 most developed economies in the world by 2030, “we must begin now to be more pragmatic in handling issues of our country, C M Y K

HANDOVER: Immediate past Chairman of NIESV, Lagos branch, Pastor Stephen Jagun with the new chairman, Offiong Samuel Ukpong after the formal handover to him.

Lagos still predominantly rural — NIESV chairman zBaton change at Lagos NIESV

Valuer General in Nigeria. He also revealed plans by the branch to build a housing estate to be named ‘Nobility Estate’ and called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to provide land to enable them actualise the dream.

A former President of NIESV, Mr Bode Adediji regretted that estate surveyors are fast losing their areas of core competence to quacks and other professionals. According to him, estate surveyors have lost grip of estate agency to quacks and lawyers, Project Management to other professionals and Valuation to engineers.

Adediji also called for bigger practice firms instead of the one-man practices that are predominant in the profession.

Another past President of NIESV, Oghene Joe Idudu decried the influx of foreign property managers in the country. “Don’t tell me that if we are welcoming foreign investments, we must welcome what goes with it,” he said and advised the new Lagos NIESV executive to “ watch out and ensure that like estate agency, property management does not fly out of hands.”

Immediate past chairman of the chapter, Pastor Stephen Jagun charged the new exco to surpass the achievements recorded during his tenure.

towns, cities and villages”.

Ukpong said his executive council will focus on advocacy during its tenure in office. “We

shall tell the government and policy makers to respect the law that set up the profession of Estate Surveying and Valuation in Nigeria. We shall tell them what we can do, to appoint us

Beyond the major highways that have decent buildings and well-maintained roads, what you have are neighbourhoods with rural characteristics and it should not be so

NIQS holds cost management workshop

T

HE Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS will hold a National Workshop on Measurement and Cost Management of Engineering Infrastructure Projects at the Universal Hotel, Enugu next week.

The two-day workshop which begins on Thursday, July 30, according to the Institute’s Secretary for Marketing and

as commissioners and ministers, that Land economics is greater than money economics...” he said, and called for the creation of the Office of Estate Surveyor and

Corporate Affairs, Mr. Jide Oke, would dwell among others on the challenges of cost management of projects in a dynamic economic setting, Measurement and cost management of Railways, allied transportation networks, concrete bridges, box culverts, drains, kerbs and associated works.

It will also examine issues of

preliminaries, site clearance and earthworks and the cost management of these items of works in engineering projects The workshop is expected to be graced by construction industry professionals such as quantity surveyors, engineers, architects, builders and officials of government agencies (MDAs) and procurement officers.

Nigeria’s Oyelaran-Oyeyinka appointed UN — Habitat’s Director

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HE most senior Nigerian diplomat working at the United Nations headquarters in Nairobi, Prof. Banji OyelaranOyeyinka has been appointed as the Acting Director, Regional Office for Africa (ROAF), UNHabitat.

The RoAf/ UN-Habitat is currently working in 24 countries in the Africa region.

The countries include, Nigeria, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zambia . RoAf/UN Habitat focuses on urban land, legislation and governance, especially land management, urban basic services including water, sanitation and the energy sector, risk reduction and

rehabilitation, urban planning and design - especially preparation of national urban policies, housing and slum upgrading, urban economy and urban youth livelihoods.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka is the first Nigerian professor in the field of Economic Development, Industrial Policy and Technology Management. An erudite scholar and an intellectual who strives to translate ideas into practical action, he was first appointed a director at the UN-HABITAT in 2007. He has led several housing, infrastructure urban and social development initiatives at both states and federal levels in Nigeria including co-authoring Nigeria’s recently formulated: “Nigeria Land, Housing and Urban Development

Prof. Oyelaran-Oyeyinka Banji.

Roadmap” by the Federal Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development, Abuja. He led the design and implementation of “City Structure Plan Programmes” in Osun, Kogi, Ondo, and Zamfara states.

He has also served as Director Monitoring & Research Division in which capacity he provided intellectual leadership for the UN-HABITAT flagship reports: “State of the World Cities Report” and the “Global Report on Human Settlements”.

His other postings in the United Nations was as professor at the United Nations University – Institute for New technologies (UNU-INTECH).

He spent six years at this prestigious global citadel of research and training in the Netherlands.

Before then, he was Senior Economic Adviser, UN Centre on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva where he coordinated a ten-year review of performance of Least Developed Countries.

30— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Don tasks environment regulatory bodies on effective monitoring

By Funmi Olasupo University teacher, Professor Samuel Kakulu has called on the nation’s environmental p r o t e c t i o n regulation bodies to embark upon effective routine monitoring and auditing of stipulations to reduce the risk of metal poisoning on the environment.

Prof. Kakulu who

A

•World Trade Centre, Abuja

N157bn Abuja World Trade Centre on verge of completion — Developers

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE first phase of the N157 billion World Trade Centre project located on a 6.2 hectares of land in the Central Business District of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has reached the completion stage.

This was disclosed to Vanguard Homes& Property by the Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications, Media and Public Relations, Churchgate Group, Mr. Femi Awopetu. He explained that the 37-storey project which is a Public Private Partnership, PPP between the Federal Government and the Churchgate group, will be completed on schedule.

Landmark projects “All the projects of Churchgate Group reinforce the company ’s vision of building the future of Nigeria by developing landmark projects that address issues like work, living and leisure. The World Trade Centre is a demonstration of that vision,” he said.

“The 37 storey tower will be surrounded by six other towers comprising 22 storey buildings each. Three of the six 22 storey towers will be for commercial purposes while the other three will be for residential. The complex when completed will include a top hotel, shopping mall and top-rate office accommodation. It will have facilities like basement parking lots, swimming pools and other world class recreational facilities.

C M Y K

“The complex will also include residential apartments comprising one-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom duplexes, three-bedroom apartments, five-bedroom villa apartments and six-bedroom penthouse villas. The building is presently on its 22nd floor”, Awopetu noted.

He said the project which commenced in January 2011, has been described by tourists and analysts as a landmark

project that will put Abuja in the map of landmark destinations in Africa.

According to him, the multitower collection of luxury apartments, each uniquely designed to appeal to global businesses requiring premier services include formal meeting spaces, top-notch security and the highest standard of interior finishes.

The residential tower features elegant one to six bedroom floor plans, with spacious

balconies, concierge services, security, underground parking, tennis and squash courts, swimming pools, alluring penthouse and fitness centre.

On the other hand, the Commercial Tower features AAA offices designed to accommodate an industrially diverse work environment. With flexibility in mind, the offices can adjust to businesses of any size, ranging from 100 square meters to 1,440 square metres on a single floor plate.

London leads in corporate real estate sales

S

OME •14.6 billion in European corporate real estate assets were sold in Europe in 2014, the highest number for eight years, with London leading the growth, new research shows.

Over 350 deals were recorded thanks to a continued low interest rate environment and exceptional levels of equity pouring into real estate, according to the from JLL published by PROPERTYWIRE Since 2012 the number of companies raising capital from real estate assets in Europe has been on the increase, coinciding with a period of rising real estate values, the report points out.

Indeed, in a separate recent survey from JLL some 40 percent of respondents reported increasing demands from senior leadership to raise capital through the real estate portfolio.

JLL expects this market momentum to continue as businesses take advantage of opportunities to create a property portfolio that better meets their needs whether it’s reusing capital to support business growth,

obtaining greater flexibility to aid downsizing or removing unwanted surplus property.

‘Companies are now faced with a once in a cycle opportunity to exploit the best market conditions since 2007. Last year global real estate investment volumes stood at US$710 billion, a level only ever exceeded in the peak of 2007,’ said Michael Evans, head of Corporate Capital Markets at JLL. ‘This momentum has continued into 2015, with an abundance of equity targeting real estate. This presents opportunities for companies with owned real estate to raise capital via sale and leasebacks. Activity has been widespread across Europe involving a range of companies with appetite across a variety of sectors and asset types,’ he added.

The report has identified that traditional office and industrial occupiers across pharmaceuticals, energy, manufacturing, IT and telecoms dominated European corporate sales last year, accounting for 38% of activity.

Meanwhile hotel operators made up 27% of the sales market followed by retail at 16%. The most notable sales were seen in the media and telecoms sector which included the largest corporate property sale of 2014, sold for •680 million in Paris.

In terms of locations, the UK, Germany and France continued to govern the volume of corporate real estate sales, representing 60 percent of European activity in 2014. This was driven predominantly by the UK, with an 18 percent year on year increase and almost double the volume achieved in 2008. Spain and the Nordics also featured strongly with 18 percent of total corporate sales last year.

Companies are now faced with a once in a cycle opportunity to exploit the best market conditions since 2007

teaches Analytical Chemistry at the University of Abuja, made the call at the University ’s 15th Inaugural Lecture. He spoke on the theme: ‘Trace Metals: Agents of Industrial Growth or Poisons’.

Kakulu recommended that the agencies of the Federal Ministry of Environment should be strengthened to be able to carry out such stipulated regulations in order to bring metal poisoning to a bearable minimum as experienced in the developed countries.

He explained that the need to determine the levels of trace metals in the environment becames imperative in view of the fact that within an ecosystem, a food chain exists.

“This refers to the sequence of events in an ecosystem, where one organism eats another. “This results in bio accumulation and hence bio magnification from one level to the other, in most cease, man is at the top of the food chain, whether on land or aquatic and the pollutants get accumulated in different organs of the body thereby causing disease,” he said.

Metal poisoning Continuing, he explained that “he major rooters of entry of most trace metals into man is by ingestion through food and inhalation.

Generally, most incidents of metal poisoning have been through food.”

“The use of trace metals in promoting industrial growth of any country cannot be over emphasized because many industrial activities of man that generate high level revenue and help to create jobs for different high categories of people depend on trace metals. These industrial activities like the human digestive system which provides energy for man, also release wastes which need to be properly managed in order not to cause catastrophic consequences to man,” he said.

He called for the establishment of chemical industries in Nigeria.

“These industries will lead to solving the problems of unemployment as well as increasing the foreign exchange earnings as the West African sub-region and Africa at large will be the potential market,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—31

C M Y K

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

EROSION ALERT:

Ugborodo EPZ c’ttee disagree with PAGE 6 Ayiri, others

30 families flee Ikot Uduak community PAGES 3

VOL. 1: NO. 58

TUESD AY, JUL 1 , 20 15 TUESDA JULYY 221 201

By Tom Moses

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KOT—AKPAN UDOARMED youths suspected to be from Amazaba community in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area have laid siege to adjoining creeks in Ikot-Akpan Udo, Ukpum Ete clan, in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, both in Akwa Ibom State, from where they plan and launch sporadic attacks on the latter in the last few weeks.

The lie in wait has sparked fresh apprehension between the two warring communities, as IkotAkpan Udo villagers, predominantly anglers and farmers, could no longer venture to the river and forest for fishing and cultivation of their farms for fear of attack by the gunmen.

The powerlessness of the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Police to provide round-the-clock security for the people of IkotAkpan Udo and bring to book the invaders,who had killed 18 persons and razed more than 500 houses in the last eight years, has escalated tension in the locality.

The apprehension exacer-bated Sunday, July 12, when the supposed invaders from Amazaba gruesomely murder-ed 32-year-old Joel Sunday Jeremiah, native of Ikot-Akpan Udo.

Abduction and murder Indigenes of Ikot Akpan Udo claim that Amazaba people were settlers from Andoni, a part of the old South-Eastern State, which was merged with the Rivers State.

What is flagrantly conspicuous is that both communities have been at daggers drawn for a long time.

The assassins who kidnapped Jeremiah, a father of two children, who went to patch the leakages in his fishing boat, brazenly took him to Isotoyo hamlet, inhabited

by Amazaba people and butchered him.

Before the abduction and murder of Jeremiah, gunmen, who set the community ablaze on August 28, 2008, also killed two Ikot Akpan Udo villagers, Augustine Harrison and Friday Dickson. They took the corpses away and the police remained helpless on the situation till date.

C M Y K

•Destroyed buildings in Ikot Akpan Udo village . INSET: •Village head of Ikot Akpan Udo, Ete-idung Oscar Abel

Anxiety, as gunmen ambush Akwa-Ibom community •Kill 18 persons; raze 500 houses in Ikot Akpan Udo in 8 years •Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Peace/Reconciliation Committee fruitless •Commissioner dispatch mobile police officers The state government had in 2008 set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to address the cause of disagreement and proffer a panacea and in 2012, constituted a Peace and Reconciliation Committee, but nothing came out of the efforts, as those appointed allegedly compromised their assignment.

On its part, the state Police Command failed to rein in the attackers and protect the people, which emboldened the armed men to continue to strike with impunity.

How it started in 2008 Investigation by Niger Delta Voice showed that the dispute between Ikot Akpan Udo and

Amazaba reached its climax, August 28, 2008, when the Amazaba attackers with the aid of Andoni mercenaries from Rivers State, invaded Ikot Akpan Udo and allegedly murdered 13 persons, leaving many others injured.

A young man from Ikot Akpan Udo had reportedly parked his motor cycle in front of a compound owned by an Amazaba native, who in a moment of anger fought him and attempted to raze his motorcycle. Since then, there has been no love lost between indigenes of the two communities.

The head of Ikot Akpan Udo, EteIdung Oscar Abel and the chairman of Amazaba Council of

Chiefs, His Highness, James J. James, waded into the matter, but were reportedly rebuffed by the Amazaba natives.

Amazaba youths shunned a subsequent meeting convened by leaders of two communities at the God’s Church Mission in Ikot Akpan Udo, and instead, launched a fresh offensive with machetes and other weapons, in the process stabbing and wounding Mr. Akpan Ibe Adiante.

I reported to police - Ikot Akpan Udo village head Ikot Akpan Udo village head, Chief Oscar Abel, said, “I reported the matter to the police at Ikot Abasi Police Station. The

Divisional Crime Officer, DCO, at the time, Friday Etuk, led a team of policemen to Ikot Akpan Udo to address the matter while the Amazaba chiefs also mobilized the police from Okoroete to advise both communities to embrace peace.

“We had thought that with the police intervention, the matter would have been resolved but immediately the police left, the Amazaba people attacked us with guns and other weapons and set ablaze over 500 houses, killed 13 persons and injured many. We ran away and took refuge in neighbouring villages.

“As if that was not enough, they waylaid and killed one Augustine Continues on page 7

2 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

School cert holders in riverine areas can’t spell own names, Delta monarch screams •Says no teacher to teach them; suggests way out to Governor Okowa

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By EMMA AMAIZE

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OMADI— THE traditional ruler of Akugbene Mein Kingdom, Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM, Pere S.P Luke Kalanama VIII, has lamentably disclosed that many school certificate holders in the riverside communities of the state cannot spell their names properly because of the outrageous education they are given and refusal of teachers to stay in the areas and tutor them.

HRM Kalanama VIII, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said: “Lack of teachers is affecting growth of education in the waterside areas. Even those who claimed to have finished SSS 3, their handwriting is an apology.

“Some of them cannot even spell their names correctly.

Somebody, whose name is Joseph will omit the alphabet ’p’ when spelling his own name and he has done his school certificate.

“It pains our hearts here.

Schools in the riverine areas are dying; although the education system in the entire country is also down, sometimes you ask a graduate to speak and you wonder whether he passed through the walls of the university.

“Indeed, dearth of teachers is affecting riverine areas; you cannot bring students in riverine areas to compete in the upland areas, except one or two that are brilliant, because there are no teachers and quality education is not accessible.”

somebody in Primary one in the upland. It is seriously affecting the education system in the local government area.

“Take for instance, three years back; there was no WAEC and NECO registration in my area because there are no teachers to teach the students.”

The monarch, who is visibly concerned about the rot added, “All the communities in my area and other riverine communities, except for some few that are 80 or 90 percent upland, are having the same challenge.

“There are no teachers, in Akugbene, but sometimes, government tells us when we complain that our subjects refuse to stay there, even when they post them to the schools.

Incentives to riverine teachers

“This is because of the cost of staying in the riverine area is high and then there is no salary disparity between those in the upland and those in the riverine areas. I want to appeal to the present administration led by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to give incentives to teachers in the riverine areas.

“I know that in virtually all the communities, some well-todo indigenes task themselves to provide accommodation for the teachers to make life comfortable.

“In most cases, we provide bedding for them, but many of the people in the communities are poor people. They can hardly eat three square meals a day, so they cannot give incentives to the teachers. I,

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Theresa Ugbobu Ochuko Akuopha Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa C M Y K

therefore, appeal that government should give them incentives. For instance in salary, if a teacher in upland is being paid N20,000, the one in the riverine should get N30, 000 to motivate them.”

What I said about Supreme Court

Clarifying his statement in a recent interview in which he was reported to have said that his palace court was better that the Supreme Court, he said: “There is this report in which I was quoted as saying that my palace court is better than superior court: I want to say that I was misquoted.

“The same interview portrayed me as a controversial king. I want to say that I am not known for controversy. I

Why we stopped burying bearded women in evil forest

Until the eighties, any woman with beard in Akugbene community was termed as depraved and buried in the evil forest.

However, he said: “It was only in 1983 that the community said that the woman in question is not the originator of those beards on her; it is the creation of Almighty God.

“So why visit that crime on her because she has beards. We decided we had to change that culture and that was why that custom was changed.”

The monarch, however, pointed out that the people had generally done away with evil forest because of the advent of Christianity and modernity, as the areas designated as evil forests in the olden days where people are mad or had leprosy and small pox were buried, are now inhabited by villagers and the areas across the river used as farmlands.

Standard of living

On everyday life in the riverside communities, he said: “Life generally in the riverine areas is quite expensive, it is survival of the fittest, and we get everything at very high cost.

“The closest place you can get building material is Okwagbe in Ughelli South and Bomadi, the headquarters of Bomadi local government area and the cost of transportation is very high.

“Our rivers have been polluted; we also come to Warri, to Ughelli to buy ice fish, chicken, with which we cook. We cannot preserve our farm produce because we do not have what to use to preserve them or transport them to upland because the cost of transportation exceeds cost price.

“If you go fishing and make good harvest, you cannot preserve them because there is no electricity.

“In the city, it cost N1,000 units to recharge your electric metre and it can take you for a week or two weeks, but in the riverine area, fuel of N1,000 cannot take you for a night and for you to have comfort in your home, you need electricity.

“That is why we are crying to government to give us roads because road can attract investment.

“Even teachers posted to the riverine areas do not want to come; they complain about high cost of living and transportation.”

Delta group mobilises women for Okowa empowerment DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

Riverside vs. Upland pupils

His words: “In fact, somebody in Primary 6 in the riverine area cannot even compete with

•HRM, Pere S.P Luke Kalanama

received calls from all over the country that I said my palace court is superior and better than the Supreme Court.

“Now what I said is that we have different courts in the community setting. Take for instance, in my community, Akugbene, which is the seat of the throne; we have the family court, we have the community chairman’s court, we have the eldest man’s court and then the palace court in that ascending order.

“I said in that interview that the palace court can be likened to the Supreme Court. In the Nigerian judiciary system, you have the Magistrate Court, High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court.

“I said when you go through the ladder, from your family, you might not be satisfied with the judgment and might decide to take it to either community chairman’s court or the eldest man’s court.

“And where you also feel you are not given fair hearing, you come to the palace court, which is like the Supreme Court, which is where it ends because whatever decision is taken, that is the final of it.

“However, where you are not satisfied, you resort to the Nigerian judicial system, so there is no way I will say that my court is superior to a Supreme Court or better than the Supreme Court, no.

“I only tried to draw up an analogy that in the Nigerian judicial system, the Supreme Court is the highest, and then if you come to the rural setting, the palace court is the highest.”

B

URUTU—PRESIDENTGENERAL of Delta Women United, DEWOU, a non-governmental organisation in Delta State, Madam Precious Akparobi, has urged women in the three senatorial districts of the state to form co-operative groups to benefit from the empowerment programmes of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's administration.

Speaking at a human empowerment programme/ enlightenment by the group in Burutu, Burutu Local Government Area, she said government had released empowerment forms for microfinance loans, poultry farming and other related ventures.

“Members of DEWOU, who are yet to get compulsory membership identity cards should hurry now and get theirs, open individual bank

accounts and register into various co-operative groups of 20 persons in number.

“So that as soon as the state governor starts to release funds to implement the ongoing empowerment programmes, it will be conveniently and evenly distributed to their door steps

since these are the basic requirements of the empowerment scheme.”

Madam Akparobi advised that any member of DEWOU, who is not interested in any of the empowerment programmes should make the form available to either her husband, child, brother and

sister, so as not to deprive another person of benefiting from the dividends of the Okowa government.

She assured DEWOU members in Burutu Local Government that the empowerment forms would be given to all those that have the basic requirement.

• Mrs Precious Akparobi, President-General, Delta Women United (middle) and other members at the human empowerment programme held in Burutu Town Hall Delta State recently

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 3

EROSION ALERT: 30 families flee Ikot Uduak community •More than 200 others at risk •Businesses fall apart, road out-of-the-way CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By IKE UCHECHUKWU

I

KOT UDUAK—MORE than 30 families have relocated from their homes at Ikot Uduak community, Calabar Municipality Local Government, Cross River State, because of the menace of erosion.

Erosion is also threatening the homes and property of more than 200 other families in the community.

Speaking with Niger Delta Voice, the village head-elect, Princess Efioanwan Asibong, said it has become a nightmare for her and the people, as they could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed for fear of erosion and landslide.

She said: “We now live in fear knowing the speed at which erosion is eating up our houses.

Many have been forced to abandon their houses while some have lost property worth millions of naira. We do not know what else to do, but to cry out to His Excellency, Professor Ben Ayade, to come to our rescue.”

Princess Asibong said growing up as a young girl in the community, she knew there was nothing like erosion swallowing up any portion of the town, wondering what went wrong.

Started 12 years ago

Her words: “What you are looking at started about 12 years

ago and the administration of former Governor Donald Duke tried so much to handle the situation by constructing a drainage, which helped to reduce the problem then. But they could not complete the project. It was stopped mid-way.

“I have also tried to stop people from excavating sand from the location, but my efforts seem not to be effective, which is why we are also calling on the Deputy Governor, Prof Ivara Esu, who has been going round some of these sites, to also visit the one at Ikot Uduak because we now live on the edge.

“We have written an appeal letter to His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Ministry of lands and the Mayor of Calabar Municipality, appealing to them to come to our aid before it is too late.

“We now sleep with only one eye closed; we need government intervention in this community and we have also concluded plans to submit letters to the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP.”

‘Senator Imoke didn’t help matters’

Community scribe, Ekpeyong Efiwatt, also appealed to the current administration to salvage what is left of the ancestral home before the unanticipated happens.

Efiwatt said the last administration did a lot in different rural areas, but totally left out the community for eight years, adding that if the immediate past governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, started from where

A house ravaged by erosion at Ikot Uduak

An affected house

•Village Head-elect, Princess Efioanwan Asibong Duke stopped, the problem would not have escalated.

He said that government should prosecute, henceforth, those excavating sand from the location.

A property owner in the area, Mr. Peter Ita, said: “When I came in here about 15 years ago, things were not like this at all. What you are looking at today started close to eight years ago, but they did not control it after Mr. Donald Duke left office.

“Ever since, it started expanding, it is high time the government took this matter as an emergency because that is exactly what it is.

“Many people that I came in with to build, some of them have parked out with their families for the fear of this problem which showed no sign at all because this

place was purely a plain land that was duly surveyed by qualified surveyor and building plans approved by the Ministry of Lands.”

Road no longer accessible

According Ita, “we park our vehicles on the main road or sometimes other places because the area is no longer accessible. We are calling on the government to help us because the suffering is too much.

“Business here has taken a nosedive, many people have closed shop because the place is no longer motorable; nobody can come into this area with a vehicle anymore.”

When Niger Delta Voice contacted NEW-MAP, a senior official, who preferred anonymity, said: “That agency currently has five project sites in the state and Ikot Uduak is not included.

Entrance to ikot uduak “We are aware of what is happening there, but there is nothing we can do for now until there is approval. It is not in our power here to grant approval, but the community must firstly write to inform us officially.”

Efforts by Niger Delta Voice to speak with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Calabar, were not successful.

Residents unyielding, turn Yenagoa streets to refuse dumps BAYELSA…

of Yenagoa.

GLORY OF ALL LANDS

Road users, visitors worried

By SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—LOCALS in the surroundings of Bayelsa State are daily facing environmental terrorism due to the activities of transnational oil

companies, crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals, while residents of Yenagoa, the state capital, are eyeball-to-eyeball with a parallel crisis springing from the blanket dumping of household waste on the streets.

Niger Delta Voice investigation revealed that most residents of the state capital have failed to comply with the directive of the state environmental sanitation authority to dispose their waste in black poly bags and dump them at designated places.

About five weeks ago, the state Ministry of Environment cleared the sea of refuse, along the Etelebou Flow Station Road at Gbarain Kingdom in the outskirts

C M Y K

However, most residents dump waste arbitrarily on roads at night. Consequently, the streets are littered with refuse oozing offensive smell before eventual evacuation by the refuse contractors.

The presence of the waste on the streets is now a concern to road

users and visitors.

A concerned resident, Ebiki Titus, condemned the dumping of household waste on the road, which is not only creating a bad image for those living in the affected areas, but also exposes them to danger of likely outbreak of epidemic.

He said: “My worry is the kids.

Look at the roads looking filthy with household waste and human

A typical scene on Yenagoa streets

faeces. If the trend is left unchecked, it could backfire on the populace, especially children whose immune system is not fully developed.”

It gives me nausea—Tarere

Another concerned resident of Biogbolo suburb of Yenagoa, who simply identified herself as Tarere, said she suffers nausea anytime she passes Ebi’s road, close to the

Sani Abacha Road.

“Passing through that road every morning is a terrible experience for me because the stench is just too horrible that sometimes I throw up,” she added.

According to her, it was wrong for people to dump household refuse indiscriminately on the road when there are designated places for such waste.

She said: “People are just being callous dumping refuse indiscriminately on the road and in residential areas, not minding the health implication.

“Some of these roads are host to both government and private schools with high population of children. They also link the residence of prominent citizens of the state and visitors.

“This does not speak well of us as a people, littering our roads with household wastes when there are designated places to dump them.”

She called on the authorities to clear the refuse and erect “no dumping of refuse” warning signs on the roads as well as the passage of a legislation imposing stiff penalties on defaulters to serve as deterrance.

4 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

AFTER EFFECTS OF 2012 FLOOD:

Delta community comes face-to-face with annihilation •Schools, health centre, road networks, market, jetty on their last legs •Royal father, subjects cry out

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

A

SE— FACED by looming extinction caused by the upsetting consequences of the 2012 flood, the people of riverside Ase community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, have sent an SOS to Delta State Government and other development partners to rescue them from the conspicuous threat.

At its 2015 annual conference where the development challenges facing the community dominated deliberations, His Royal Majesty Ifeanyichukwu Ogeh I, the Igwe of Ase, noted that the flood destroyed available public infrastructures and means of livelihood of the people.

The Igwe said: “Following the flood, Ase suffered incalculable losses of homes, arable land, farms, fish-ponds and capital resources.

“As they were predominantly crop growers and fishermen, these losses have had stifling economic effects on Ase people’s livelihood, creating a growing number of internal displaced persons.

Breakdown of public infrastructure

“It is disheartening that government or its agencies are yet to pay official visit to see things for themselves three years after, neither is there any record of government compensations to Ase community or her indigenes over the years.

“As we speak, all public infrastructures and basic amenities in the community are broken down. Ase Grammar School, Ase Primary School, Health-Centre, Town Hall, road networks and Ase Market, our jetty and others are begging for attention. Unless there is urgent intervention, we are heading for extinction.”

Former supervisory councillor in Ndokwa East council, Rupert Effi, said: “Apart from some relief materials, cassava stems and yams seedling, which never went round the internally displaced persons,

no infrastructures development, reconstruction or empowerment has been done.”

At the 2015 annual conference, the Ase Development Union of Nigeria, a coalition of Ase sons and daughters, in agreement with the Igwe of Ase, resolved to collectively channel resources and energies t o w a r d rehabilitation and reconstruction of the community.

Devt committee

Flood-ravaged Ase Grammar School

HRM, Ifeanyichukwu Ogeh I, Igwe of Ase

Ase River scenery, projected as tourist attraction

The community constituted a

planning committee headed by Dr. (Mrs.) Julie Umukoro, of the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Port Harcourt, to float/drive programmes and projects toward meeting the objectives of reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The committee is expected, among other terms of reference, to reach out to the Delta State Government, well meaning indigenes home and abroad, investors and other stakeholders on effective partnership to transform Ase. In addition, it set in motion a

Trust Fund, which will periodically hold fundraising for maintaining a communal purse for capacity building for the predominantly indigent residents, as well as for communal maintenance services.

Head of the think-tank, Dr. Mukoro, projected the rescue mission in poetic tones: “Ase perches on the crest of a highland and river running parallel to it and visible from any part of the community.

“With its idyllic countryside setting, a spectacular and breathtaking natural beach, evergreen rainforest vegetation,

which overhangs the Ase River, Ase is a serene natural tourist resort begging to be exploited.

“Delta State Government should see this as an opportunity to send experts to Ase community to explore its viability as a holiday resort in the immediate interest of the community and the larger interest of the state.”

President General, Ase Development Union, Mr. Anani Fidelis, said: “Working on this rescue template with buy-in by stakeholders, Ase could be transformed and rescued from the drift towards extinction.”

Police officers brutalised me, stole my N30, 000, I-phone — Jerry Guobadia, UNIBEN undergraduate

EDO… HEART BEAT OF THE NATION

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

E N I N — A N undergraduate of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Benin, Edo State, Jerry Guobadia, has narrated how some police officers, attached to the Airport Road Police Station, assaulted him, pilfered his N30,000 and I-phone in Benin.

Guobadia, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said the incident occurred at about 11a.m. at Capiona, Government Reservation Area, GRA, after he withdrew money from a Guaranty Trust Bank Automated Teller Machine, ATM. Residents, who knew him as a student and property owner in the area, and not a criminal that the policemen branded him, rushed to his assistance when the police officers were trying to force him into their van.

C M Y K

One of the police officers believed to be from the Northern part of the country sprayed tear gas on Jerry ’s eyes, while another rained blows on him, partially damaging one of his eyes.

When they suspected that some of the residents were not only recording the show of shame, but also rallying to attack them, they bolted with Guobadia’s wallet containing N30,000 and his phone.

How they attached me—Victim

The victim, who called on the Inspector General of Police to fish out the police officers and prosecute them, told Niger Delta Voice: “At about 9a.m., Thursday morning, I went to the ATM within the premises of Guaranty Trust Bank located at Capiona. I saw some

•I’ll investigate — Adegboye, Edo CP

police officers at the junction and they were working towards me, so I entered the bank to use the machine and they came into the premises. I stopped and counted the money.

“Since I know there was CCTV camera there, I stopped so that they can ask me whatever they want to.

“However, shortly after I left, they drove their vehicle and parked in front of me. They asked of my name and I told them; they asked me what I was doing for a living and I told them that I live on my late father ’s property, which I inherited.

“The next thing, they asked me to enter their vehicle and I refused. They said I will know why they are taking me away when I get to the police station.

“They started dragging and beating me with baton. One of the Hausa police officers with them went into their van to bring out tear gas, which he sprayed in my eyes, but I held the vehicle strongly.

“The people in the area came out shouting that I was not a criminal and that I am even a member of the vigilante group in the area, but they refused to heed to the plea of the

people. When they saw that they were being recorded, they ran away.

“They took my N30,000 and phone. We went to the Area Command to report the matter and they said I should go and treat my injury first. After that, I went to the state Police Command where I lodged complaint and I am waiting to see the action that the Commissioner of Police will take.”

I’ll investigate —Adegboye, CP

Contacted, Commissioner of Police, Edo state, Mr Samuel Adegboye, said: “We will not condone any form of police brutality.

“However, I have not received the petition. When I do, I will investigate it seriously, and you cannot use the force to intimidate innocent Nigerians.

But I am yet to know what transpired, we will look into the matter and deal with it appropriately.”

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 5

Challenge for Rivers govt: NYSC member executes community project

ultural team of CSS Rumuji displaying during the unveiling of the two classrooms block built by Ajuboye Peter

•Constructs two-classroom block neglected by govt in Rumuji •Villagers celebrate corps member, Peter Ajuboye

RIVERS...

THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NA TION NATION

By DAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

R

UMUJI— A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member serving at Rumuji community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, Peter Ajuboye, has constructed a two-classroom block for the Community Secondary School, Rumuji, which the state government failed to do despite several letters and appeal by the community.

The community, which built the school on self-help, rolled out the drums recently for the inauguration of the classroom block and celebration of the NYSC member.

Community Development Committee, CDC, chairman of the community, Mr. Uche Miniukwu, said: “Community Secondary School, Rumuji, started with community effort and as a matter of fact, several things are lacking in this school. Government has not done anything in this school.

‘Govt failed us’

“Apart from posting of teachers, government has not done anything in this school.

In terms of infrastructure, they have not done anything. NLNG provided the seats the school is using; we have tried several times to bring government to do something, but they have not responded.

“We are very much pleased with what this young man has done. What the government could not do, a single corps member has done it for Rumuji

community, which is why the whole community is celebrating.

“The community at this point cannot do this kind of thing at this time. Two classrooms block is not an easy thing.

“These classrooms will help to reduce congestion in the classes; the community is happy over the project.”

The two classrooms block and a podium constructed by corps member, Ajuboye Peter

Encomiums for Ajuboye

The principal of the school, Mr. Obinna Ebere, commended Ajuboye for meeting the need of the people of Primary Place of Assignment, PPA. Ebere said: “Ajuboye, as a corps member serving in this school, has done very well.

When he came here, he showed commitment to duty and humility.

“He saw what the students were facing when it come to classrooms. The school does not have enough classrooms.

He saw this plight and showed concern. As a copper, he embarked on a project that will impact the lives of the students and the entire community.

“The project is quite helpful.

We are having shortage of classrooms for the everincreasing number of students.

“We are having up to 100 students in one class. With this, it will reduce such congestion and help efficiency in the students and teachers. It will enhance students’ academic performance.

‘We’ll not allow him leave Rumuji after service’

“I have encouraged the chiefs of this community to see what they can do for this young man for the effort and they have promised that they will not allow him go.

•Mr. Ajuboye Peter “They have promised to ensure he does not go back to his state, but get a job here. I pray they fulfill their promises.

This project should be an eye opener to the government.”

NYSC excited

Mr. Okoye Ezeamaka, who represented the Rivers State NYSC coordinator, Mrs. Nwatarali, told Niger Delta Voice: “I am excited about the project because it shows that our corps members carry out directives as given to them.

“At the orientation camp, we told them of the need to impact positively in their PPAs.” “This corps member has just demonstrated that. He came to Rumuji, saw the need of the people, and addressed that need and we are celebrating his effort today.

“We are today admiring this magnificent building. It is indeed a great effort. He has left a good legacy. Other corps members should emulate from

The guests at the inauguration of the two classrooms block this to leave good legacies in the communities they are serving.”

We’re tickled—Monarch Chairman Rumuji council of chiefs, Eze Bob Okala, who represented the Paramount Ruler of the community, HRH, Eze Christianm said: “I am thrilled with what this young man singlehandedly did for the community.

“You can see that the school has just two blocks and it is even dilapidated, but this has added value to the school. If others will do same, our country will improve.

“The community will retain him. We do not want him to go.

We will try and arrange work for him; he deserves a national recognition and honour.”

was the challenges, which the students face in the course of learning.

He said: “I am very happy that God used me to do this great work. When I came to this community, I saw many challenges that pleaded for my help. And one of them is lack of classrooms in the CSS Rumuji.

“I had several challenges in the course of executing this project but because I was determined, I have to continue even when I had nothing because I know I was doing it to meet a pressing need.

“I spent almost N1.2 million to bring this and other of my projects to completion. I dedicate this project to my parents because they taught me how to make sacrifice.”

What propelled me— Ajuboye

The donor of the project, Ajuboye, said his motivation

Sickle cell patient appeals for N1.7m lifeline

By OCHUKO AKUOPHA

O

WHELOGBO— THIRTY-FIVE-yearold Delta State-born sickle cell anemia patient, Mr. Ununotovo Owhojofor, has appealed to the Delta State Government, Isoko North Local Government Council and public-spirited individuals to assist him to raise N1.7 million needed for his spleen operation and settlement outstanding debt.

Narrating his ordeal to Niger Delta Voice, Ununotovo, who resides at 44, OwhelogboOzoro Road, Owhelogbo community, Isoko North Local C M Y K

Government Area of the state, lamented that he had been going through the pains ever since he was born.

According to him, “when my father was alive, he always took me to hospital for treatment, but when I lost my daddy in 1997, I stopped going to school.

“I can no longer feed three times a day; my mother started owing debt here and there because of the sickness and her creditors have been on her neck.

“The year I lost my father was the year I was supposed to write my SSCE at Urhobo College,

Effurun.

“I was born on February 15, 1980 in the General Hospital in Warri, and we were staying in Warri; but my father’s death made our family to relocate to the village here (Owhelogbo).

“Some of my friends have been helping me. Sometimes I take four to five pints of blood and I used to go through stress because there is no money.

“If you look at my legs now, they have started swelling again and the doctors said I have to undergo a spleen operation at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH.

“I want government to help me with money so that I can treat myself and pay the N800,000 debts my mother owe because of me. My mummy was cow a dealer but now she owes so much.

“For the spleen operation the doctor said it will cost about N900,000 but we do not have the money because we can even barely feed.”

Also speaking with Niger Delta Voice, his mother, Elizabeth, said her son had been battling with the ailment from birth, saying they had been doing their best before and after her husband’s death.

•Ununotovo Owhojofor

6 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

PODIUM…

issue.

“We, Ijaw leaders, believe it is resolved and some Ugborodo leaders have told us that they not part of the case; the two ethnic groups will not fight over it.

“We are already aware of the bitter consequences of Warri crisis. Anybody who wants to resume the crisis is a troublemaker.”

Naming concluded — Bebenimibo

•Ayiri

•Bebenimibo

•Barr. Oboroegbeyi

•Plaque

DEEP SEA PORT, GBARAMATU CONTROVERSY:

Ugborodo EPZ c’ttee disagree with Ayiri, others •I told Jonathan I will go to court if… Emami •It is superfluous – EPZ chair; He's a troublemaker— Chief Gbenekame

By EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—WHEN the Ajuwaoyiboyami of Warri Kingdom, Delta State, Chief Ayirimi Emami, leading other Ugborodo figures, approached a Federal High Court sitting in Warri, early this month, seeking to restrain the Federal Government from naming the Deep Sea Port in Warri South-West Local Government Area after Gbaramatu, an Ijaw clan, the palpable thinking was that fresh cataclysm was brewing.

With him as plaintiffs in the case are Itse Elijah Wilkie, Mike Okoturo, Pastor Emiko Fregene and Samuel Pirah on behalf of the Itsekiri community, while the defendants are the Federal Government, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Delta State Government and Delta State Commissioner of Justice.

Trial judge, Justice Shittu Abubakar, overruled the objection by the Gbaramatu people challenging the suit and afterward ordered the parties to “maintain status quo antebellum and refrain from mentioning the Deep Sea Port after any community” pending the determination of the suit.

For Deltans, who knew that Ijaw and Itsekiri leaders, after a meeting at Government House, Asaba, March 4, excitedly announced that they had resolved the disagreement over the naming of the $16 billion Gas Revolution Industrial Park, GRIP, also known as Export Processing Zone, EPZ, and Deep Sea Port, the matter came as a bolt from the blues.

Former governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan facilitated the meeting.

What Itsekiri, Ijaw leaders said March 4

Chairman of the Ugborodo Export Processing Zone, EPZ, Interface Committee, Mr.

C M Y K

Austin Oboroegbeyi, who led the Ugborodo delegation to the tripartite meeting of his community, Gbaramatu and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, told reporters: “We agreed that the Gas Industrial City would be named after Ogidigben and the Deep Sea Port would be named after Gbaramatu.

“All parties agreed that because of the importance of the project the groundbreaking should be done as soon as the President and NNPC can work out a date. We also agreed to ensure peace within the area of the project so that the benefits can come to the communities.”

Gbaramatu team leader and spokesperson, Chief Godspower Gbenekame, also said: “We agreed that the Gas Industrial City would be at Ogidigben, while the Deep Sea Port would be at Gbaramatu.

When the President is ready for the ground breaking, we will be ready.”

The representative of the NNPC, Group Executive Director (Gas and Power), Dr. David Ige, added: “We had an amicable meeting; the two communities agreed to make peace as a condition for the project.”

Ige asserted that the naming of the project had not changed anything as it concerns the original concept, adding, “they are inter-dependent projects; everybody is ready for when Mr. President agrees to come for the ground-breaking ceremony.

“We also agreed to work together to make the project a huge success as its impact would not only be on Deltans but, on all Nigerians.”

It was after the meeting that the former president did the groundbreaking on March 26 from where he retired to Otuoke, Bayelsa State for the March 28 Presidential election, which he lost.

The Warri Ijaw Peace

Monitoring Group, WIPMG, in a statement carpeting Chief Emami and group for allegedly breaching the peace treaty, accused him of stoking fresh crisis in Warri.

Why I went to court—Emami

In an interview with Niger Delta Voice, Chief Emami, alias Akulagba, debunked the charge.

He said: “I take exception to that. When a supposed exmilitant ordered his boys to kidnap and molest 14 media practitioners, who I took to Ugborodo to carry out their legitimate duty so as to report the Itsekiri angle to genuine claim of the owner of the land, where the EPZ and Deep Seaport are situated, the Gbaramatu people did not see anything wrong with that.

“But when I chose the legitimate route by going to the court of law in line with the policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, I am being unjustly accused by a few.”

On the contention that that issues regarding the naming of the Gas City and Deep Seaport were resolved by Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders before the groundbreaking and if so why was he reverting to it, he asserted: “I do not know of any

Neither the Ugborodo community nor the Interface Committee for the GRIP/EPZ project has a hand in the said court case

such resolution.

“As a prominent Itsekiri leader, particularly in Ugborodo, it is only normal for me to be in the know of such agreement; maybe it is a figment of the imagination of persons I do not know.

“When the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, held a closed-door meeting with former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo and myself at Asaba and said the Deep Seaport will be named after Gbaramatu, I told him that if he did that, I will go to court, so nobody should be misled.”

Are you under pressure now by some Itsekiri leaders to back down on the case or you are pressing ahead, Niger Delta Voice probed further.

Emami declared: “I am not under any pressure. I do not think any right-thinking Itsekiri man would ask me to withdraw the suit. In fact, I have received commendations on the bold step I took by legally setting the record straight.”

It’s uncalled for —Ugborodo EPZ chair

However, Chairman of Ugborodo EPZ Interface Committee, Mr. Oboroegbeyi thinks otherwise.

He said: “In my opinion, the action is unnecessary. I stand by the understanding reached with our Ijaw brothers sometime in February 2015 in a meeting with the immediate past governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.”

His Gbaramatu counterpart, Chief Gbenekame said: “To us, despite the fact that the matter is in court, Ayiri is a troublemaker.

“He is the cause of the problem in Ugborodo. Other Itsekiri leaders have reached us and said they are not part of what he is doing. During the resolution, Ayiri was not even part of the discussions.

“We went to Abuja, we went to Asaba and we resolved this

Member of the Gbaramatu Deep Seaport Project Committee, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, said: “The place has been so named by the Federal Government, which even have a plaque there.

“Reference had been made to Gbaramatu as the location of the Deep Seaport and for somebody to be acting as if he does not know that it is already named is wrong.

“It is like medicine after death because they are challenging a naming process since concluded. The rationale does not hold water.”

He urged Chief Emami to withdraw the case from the court, saying “his action might lead the Ogulagha people to go to court over inclusion and the agitation may send a wrong signal to investors.

“I sincerely plead with him to allow peace reign in the Gbaramatu Deep Seaport project because there is no way the people can allow the EPZ project to go on if the Seaport in Gbaramatu is not allowed to go on.”

Bebenimibo, however, noted, “from interactions with Itsekiri leaders, they are okay with the settlement of NNPC/Delta State Government. It is one project but with two components, Industrial Gas City named after Ogidigben and Deep Seaport named after Gbaramatu.

“I also urged the Ugborodo Interface Committee to persuade their brother to drop the court case because it will affect the smooth operation of the project of which they are members of the Interface Committee.”

Out-of-the-way court action—Eyengho

A member of the committee, Mr. Alex Eyengho, said: “It is very important at this stage to make it manifestly clear to the public that it is Chief Ayiri Emami and few others that went to court over the naming of the proposed Deep Seaport arm of the Gas Revolution Industrial Park, GRIP, Ogidigben, Ugborodo.

“Neither the Ugborodo community nor the Interface Committee for the GRIP/EPZ project has a hand in the said court case.

“To that intent and purpose, I do not see how the isolated court action by these persons, no matter how supposedly well-intentioned in their view, can have any implication whatsoever on the settlement reached by Itsekiri and Ijaw Continues on page 8

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 7

Anxiety, as gunmen ambush Akwa Ibom community Continues from page 1 Harrison and one Friday Dickson and till date, we have not seen their corpses. Those cases were also reported to the police, but nothing has been done till date.”

Daring the police Chief Abel added, “Last year, on February 8, 2014 to be precise, the Amazaba people came again with a large crowd of heavilyarmed youths shooting at any object on sight such that even the mobile policemen, who were drafted to secure the village and protect the citizens from further attacks, were taken unawares. So much havoc was also done to us as a result of that attack except that lives were not lost.”

While the embattled people thought that the invasion had ended, especially with the mobile policemen stationed permanently in the community to check further incursions, the Amazaba youths struck again penultimate, Sunday, and in the process killed Jeremiah.

How they kidnapped, killed my brother Elder brother of the deceased, Jeremiah Sunday Jeremiah, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, lamented, “Since Sunday, July 12 that my brother, went to the waterside to mend the leakages in his fishing boat, we have not seen him again. We learnt that the abductors came in a speedboat and parked it at a corner unnoticed by my brother. They kidnapped him and took him away to Isotoyo where they slaughtered him like a fowl, according to witnesses.

“One of the kids who rushed to call him when a visitor came to look for him said, as he was calling him, he heard gun shots and then, a speedboat zoomed off.” Vexed by the abduction and killing of his brother, he gave an ultimatum to the Amazaba community suspected to have abducted and murdered his brother, to return him dead or alive to the family or face reprisal.

Youth leader blames government, police

Speaking, Ikot Akpan Udo Youths Leader, Mr. Abasi Okon, blamed the repeated attacks and invasion of his community by the Amazaba people on the lackadaisical attitude of the state government in handling the matter.

According to Okon, if the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government in 2008 had done a thorough job, the culprits apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law, the people would not have continued to take the government for granted and take the laws into their hands.

Aside from the Commission of Inquiry, he recalled with disappointment that government had in 2012, set-up a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to reconcile the two communities only for the committee to compromise its assignment and government failed to query the members.

Quit notice In view of the observed disappointing performance of the two committees, the youth leader said the only option left now was for the Amazaba people to vacate their land completely and return to Rivers State where they claimed to come from else, there would be no peace.

The village head of Ikot Akpan Udo, Ete-Idung Oscar Abel, shared the same opinion.

He said, “The only solution to the problem now is for the Amazaba people to relocate to Otunene so that government will not accuse us of being troublesome. Let them go and join their kith and kin at Otunene in Eastern Obolo local government of Akwa Ibom State for peace to reign because we do not want them to come and kill the remnants that we have.

“Besides, we want them to bring back our son, Joel Sunday Jeremiah, who they kidnapped on Sunday July 12, 2015 or we will no longer take things kindly,” he stressed.

Abandoned by govt, torn apart by war Niger Delta Voice discovered during a recent visit to Ikot Akpan

Udo that villagers affected by the crisis were only just returning to start life afresh by constructing shanty and thatch buildings when the latest incident occurred.

Government seems to have forsaken the people, as the entire village does not have electricity, health centre, pipe-borne water or borehole. The major sources of water supply in the community are the river tributaries and springs.

Also affected by the eight years of insurgence is the only primary school in the community, which roofs were shattered and blown off just as the teachers are no longer coming to teach for fear of falling prey to the assailants.

Pathetically too, the economic life of the people has been seriously hampered as they are predominantly anglers and farmers. The people lamented that they no longer go to the river to fish and farms to cultivate, as their aggressors lie in wait in the creeks to prey on those who stray into the river or farms.

Clan head opposes reprisal attack The clan head of Ukpum Ete in Ikot Abasi local government area, His Highness, Etebom Clement Idemudo, confirmed the incessant attacks on IkotAkpan Udo village

by Amazaba community.

However, the monarch opposed reprisal attack by the people of Ikot Akpan Udo village because according to him, the matter was still in the hands of the police and by extension, the government.

He described Ikot Akpan Udo community as peace loving and law-abiding as denoted by their persistent recourse to the police and government for intervention despite wanton killing of its people, arson and stifling of the people’s means of livelihood.

The worried monarch told Niger Delta Voice, “Tell the world that in the early hours of Sunday, July 12, 2015, a young man was whisked away from the waterside of Idung Okoki in Ukpum Ete clan and taken to Isotoyo community in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area. We have sent messages to that community to release him but they have not

•Destroyed buildings in Ikot Akpan Udo village

•Destroyed buildings in Ikot Akpan Udo village released him.

Produce Jeremiah dead or alive “The police have come and we have been pleading with the police to investigate the matter and go straight to Isotoyo and cause them to release the innocent young man and up till now, we have not had a feedback.

“The police know that we have nothing else to depend on than our river and farm where the people eke out a living. Now, we do not have anything to depend on again, we do not go to the sea again because of the depraved attitude of the occupants of Isotoyo. We no longer go to sea; we are staying just at the mercy of God. “We are appealing to the police to appeal to them to return the body of that young man, dead or alive. If dead, we will accord him a befitting burial and we will be satisfied that we have seen his corpse and we have buried him.

“We are not prepared for any reprisal attack because we want peace. We want the communities

Group floats centre for industrial revolution in N-Delta DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

W

ARRI – PARTNERS Initiatives for the Niger Delta, PIND, a foundation sponsored by Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, and other international bodies, have launched a multi-million dollar Appropriate Technology Enabled Development, ATED, Centre for C M Y K

technological revolution in the Niger Delta region at Ugbokodo-Itsekiri, Delta State.

The foundation, formed some years ago in Delta State, said the ATED Centre would take advantage of strong linkages between development of appropriate technologies with commercial potential and small and medium enterprise support programmes.

ATED manager, PIND, Nancy Gilbert, said, “The centre is about technologies, we have earmarked to develop the Niger Delta. The technologies are aimed at making life better for the people of the region; it

is the biggest revolution of our time.”

Gilbert said the centre would open to the public twice a week free learning and use and urged the people to avail themselves of the opportunities that abound in the centre.

In his opening speech, Executive Director, PIND, Sam Daibo, commended the people of Ugbokodo for their peaceful disposition to activities of the foundation.

He revealed that numerous training sessions have held since coming upstream and the launch would avail the demonstration of expertise for

the region’s development.

Executive Director, Niger Delta Partners Initiatives, Washington DC, Dennis Flemming, asserted, “The centre is a multi-million dollar investment, it is open to all with intent to develop the region.

“We are out for total development of the Niger Delta through improved technologies. With what we have, we will train people on agriculture, biotechnology, fisheries and palm plantation using modern techniques. The Niger Delta is blessed and we are here to improve on it.”

within our axis to be in peace even when our adversaries have provoked us. We still believe that peace can restore the broken images.

“We believe that we, who are those bearing the brunt of the brutal attacks and have remained all the time calm are very forgiving so that the world can see the wrong that is done to us consistently and on a permanent basis and to advise them to return from the evil track. That is what we want,” the clan head said.

We‘ve sent signals Speaking with the NDV on condition of anonymity, one of the mobile police officers drafted to the community to quell the crisis, absolved the people of Ikot Akpan Udo of culpability in the unwarranted attacks on them.

He said, “The people of this community, I can tell you, are very peaceful. Even in the face of all these attacks, killings and even the burning down of their houses, they have not retaliated; instead, they are always running to the government for protection.

“We have investigated the matter, including the recent incident of Sunday, July 12, 2015, where one Joel Jeremiah was ambushed, abducted and killed by armed-men suspected to be of Amazaba community at the waterside where he went to patch the leakages in his fishing boat.

“We have sent our signals to the state Police Headquarters at Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo and we believe that they are working on it so as to restore peace and normalcy to this community.”

Isotoyo deserted Reports from the area indicated that Amazaba people have fled Isotoyo, a hamlet occupied by them for fear of reprisal by IkotAkpan Udo. Ostensibly to forestall arrest, the armed youths Continues on page 8

8 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Ugborodo EPZ c’ttee disagree with Ayiri, others Continues from page 6 important for the purposes of refreshing our memories, putting the records straight and making us appreciate the issue better. The Ijaws were practically at war with their Itsekiri neighbors over the issue of naming of the EPZ project after Ogidigben, Ugborodo. The tensed situation led to the postponement of the scheduled groundbreaking ceremony on not less than two occasions. This frightening situation went on for months until the intervention of the Delta State and Federal Government.

“Through various consultative peace meetings with the Ijaw and Itsekiri on the issue, both at state and federal levels, a final resolution was arrived at shortly before former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan performed the groundbreaking ceremony at the project site in Ogidigben, Ugborodo.

Caveat

“The resolution was seemingly clear and simple. For peace to reign, the inseparable project was divided into two: the already functioning ‘Gas Revolution Industrial Park, Ogidigben’ which occupies not less than 2,600 hectares of land and the proposed 300 hectares NPA Deep Sea Port, which was agreed to be located in and named after Gbaramatu, but with a caveat,” he said.

Eyengho stated, “Recall that the Deep Sea Port had been located in Kpokpo community, which the Ugborodo and Gbaramatu people are laying claim to. This was indeed the genesis of the entire gamut of challenges posed to the

groundbreaking ceremony by the Ijaws.”

“Now, the caveat to locating and naming the proposed Deep Sea Port after Gbaramatu is that the Delta State Government, following all due process and due diligence known to the laws of Nigeria, will acquire from the Gbaramatu people land legally owned by them (Gbaramatu people). The due process and diligence must follow the same process that was followed in acquiring the about 3,000 hectares from the Ugborodo people for the entire project.

“All parties agreed to this. In fact, this was how the final peace was arrived at during the last meeting at the Government House, Asaba, which has representatives of the State, Federal, NNPC, Ijaw and Itsekiri in attendance. I was a member of the Itsekiri delegation, led by the Chairman of the EPZ Interface Committee OgidigbenUgborodo, Barr. Austin Oboroegbeyi. Shortly after this meeting, the groundbreaking ceremony took place peacefully,” he asserted.

Eyegho explained, “The implication of the peace pact is that while the GRIP, Ogidigben project is a reality and was already running, the Deep Sea Port was still a proposal that would and should be subjected to the litmus test of due process and due diligence akin to the one the GRIP, Ogidigben went through successfully before operation commenced. All parties to the matter know and have this mutual understanding and nothing, in my view has changed this.”

“This entire project is a

Federal Government–driven project. A new Sherriff is in town at the Federal level. This Sherriff respects due process and due diligence. Therefore, I see no reason for panic action by anybody; Itsekiri or Ijaw.

Ayiri, others jumped the gun

“So, inasmuch as I respect the rights of Chief Ayiri Emami and others to go to court over issues they feel strongly about, I do not see how that would impact negatively on the existing peace pact between the Itsekiri and Ijaw on this Deep Sea Port matter. It would have been a threat to the peace pact if the EPZ/GRIP Interface Committee or the Ugborodo community filed the suit in court. Since this isolated court action was not

•EPZ project done on behalf of the EPZ/GRIP Interface Committee or the entire Ugborodo community, I do not see how it will do any damage,” he said.

According to him, “Personally, I think the plaintiffs jumped the gun. They should have waited for the completion of due process and due diligence.

They should have waited for the Deep Sea Port to be named by the Federal Government after a particular community in

Gbaramatu before this action.”

“In fact, such action would have been collectively taken by Ugborodo community and not the current isolated action by Chief Ayiri and others.

However, as I said earlier, they have the inalienable right to take legal action on an issue they feel very strongly about. It is their call and they have taken responsibility for their action and the consequences that may follow.”

Anxiety, as gunmen ambush Akwa-Ibom community Continues from page 7 retreated deeper in the bordering creeks. From the position, they scare and attack any Ikot Akpan Udo villager that ventures to the river and forest.

Not commonplace quarrel — Chief Akpan A volunteer from Ete village, Chief Udofot Akpan, said the animosity between the two communities has been age-long because of claims and counterclaims of ownership of the community.

Chief Akpan explained: “The true story as told us by our parents is that the Amazaba people are settlers on the Ikot Akpan Udo land. Originally, they came from Ngo in Andoni, a part of Rivers State.

“But because they ran to live in Isotoyo, a part of Ikot Akpan Udo after the mayhem of 2008, and have increased in population, they started making incursions into the land, which was not originally given to them by Ikot Akpan Udo and the people resisted them vehemently.

“So, because of their quest and claims to some portions of land, they are often quarrelling with the people of Ikot Akpan Udo. Therefore, it would not have been the ordinary misunderstanding over the parking of a motorcycle in front of the compound of Amazaba person that a whole village would have been set ablaze.”

Akpan added, “I think they were simply looking for an avenue to vent their anger over land issues and possibly, erase the Ikot Akpan Udo people and take over the village.”

Police on top of the matter- PPRO Speaking with the NDV, the Akwa-Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, said the state Police Command was on top of the matter and was doing everything possible to restore peace to the area.

According to her, immediately the Commissioner received signals concerning the disturbing situation, he dispatched mobile police officers to be on ground and take care of the situation. “Beyond that, he has put up an Intervention and Quick Response Mobile Base at Ikot Akpan Udo to handle all incursions and infractions”, the PPRO said.

She, therefore, advised the people to live peacefully and go about their normal duties without fear, as the police were there to encourage and protect the lives and property of every law-abiding citizen.

Nwawe, however, could not disclose the number of persons so far arrested in connection with the crisis, saying that commissioner would speak elaborately on the issue later on.

Pandemonium, as cult group sends threat letter to community *It’s a diversionary ploy- Cult member RIVERS...

THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NA TION NATION

By DAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

I

BAA- A suspected cult group, Degbam, has dispatched a warning letter to some stakeholders at Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, threatening to invade the area.

There has been uneasy calm in the community since some selected leaders, including an aspiring chief, Dr. Sampson Ovuah, received the letter, last week. Ibaa community was a theatre of cult- violence following a chieftaincy tussle some months back and several people lost their lives.

Niger Delta Voice

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gathered that cultists sent the warning letter to the community through an unidentified source, threatening to cause mayhem.

The development caused tension in the community with the residents going to bed before 8.00 pm in spite of the fact that a police station is now located in the community.

However, the leadership of the cult group denied writing a threat to the community. A representative said it was mere fabrication by some people, who want to take advantage of the tension to loot the community.

Speaking in an interview with Niger Delta Voice , Moses Glory Amadi, popularly called Akintola, who claims to be a member of Degbam dismissed the allegation against his group as pointed out in the letter.

Akintola said the letter was a

diversion by the rival Island cult and those who enrich themselves through crisis.

He called on the security agencies to stop what he described as unnecessary

•Suspected cultists paraded by police in Rivers state

arrest of innocent persons, but investigate all chiefs and elders, who usually call for arrest of purported offenders.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—33

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

FRSC to impound trucks, prosecute drivers over unlatched containers

T

Jaguar Land Rover customers to enjoy five-year warranty J

AGUAR Land Rover in partnership with Coscharis Motors have announced a five-year warranty or 150,000km, whichever comes first on all Jaguar Land Rover customers for any purchases from July 1, 2015. The objective of this new package according to Coscharis Motors is to provide their valued customers with additional peace of mind motoring for up to five years.

According to the Group Managing Director, Josiah Samuel, “ we are continuing with our commitment to ensuring that our customers enjoy fantastic opportunity for our Jaguar Landrover brands through ease ownership”.

The five year/ 150,000km new vehicle warranty is an extension of the previous three year/ 100,00km warranty and avail customers a marginal reduction in the cost of their vehicle maintenance for the period. By implication retail and fleet owners can decide to retain their vehicles for longer periods while Coscharis will take respon-

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sibility for the maintenance.

The 5 year warranty is transferable to the new owner should the car be sold before it expires, given it added resale value. The owners of three years or less aged Jaguar Landrover vehicles can also subscribe to two more years warranty.

He explained for customers to keep their Extended Warranty valid, they must keep their vehicle maintained in line with the manufacturers servicing schedule. If the

Service History is not complete, the Extended Warranty coverage may be reinstated through the completion of the necessary Technical Inspection, which may involve certain fees.

This condition means that: •If one service is missed the coverage level drops to only cover Non-Service Related claims, but can be reinstated to full coverage.

•If two consecutive services are missed the Warranty is invalidated, but can be reinstated to full

coverage.

• If More than two consecutive Services are missed the Warranty is invalidated and cannot be reinstated.

Similarly, warranty provision has been made for the approved used vehicles. The Approved Used Warranty will ensure all Approved Used vehicles are sold with 24 months /50,000km warranty coverage. This warranty covers used vehicles within 3 years or 100,000km mileage.

HE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has warned that it will soon start impounding articulated vehicles and prosecuting truck drives over improper containerladen articulated vehicles on Nigerian roads.

FRSC Zonal Commander, Zone Two, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, Mr. Eseobung Akpabio, stated this at a meeting with members of Association of Maritime Truck Ownmers, AMARTO at his Ojodu office recently.

According to the zonal commander, the Corps is worried over the high incidents of deaths resulting from felled trucks and container and has decided to meet with members of AMARTO, to find lasting solution to the problem.

He said: "The purpose of the roundtable is to discuss the growing concern over container-laden articulated vehicles”.

“From Lagos to Ogun and other roads across the nation, containers fall off from articulated vehicles killing innocent road users and this must be checked before it gets out of hands”, he said.

He recalled many incidents where entire families have been wiped out by containers which fell off

Adventure of a lifetime begins for 20 Ranger Odyssey contestants

I

T’S billed as the adven ture of a lifetime, a true life-changing experience.

For 20 contestants from South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, it’s Ranger Odyssey 2015 - 12 days of simply amazing 4x4 endurance and action through north-western Namibia’s most spectacular and rugged regions, which kicks off on 23 July

in Windhoek.

It’s an opportunity to experience the splendour of some of Africa’s most remote and challenging destinations in the ‘Built Ford Tough’ Ranger - and with the allure of potentially winning an Odyssey Ranger for a year, plus an equivalent in local currency of ZAR5 000 worth of fuel per month.

This is the 2015 edition of the Ranger Odyssey which features 20 contestants, including 14 from South Africa, two each from Nigeria and Ivory Coast, and one each from Angola and Mozambique.

As the top contestants chosen from thousands of entries - and narrowed down to the final 20 at

Boot Camp in June - the finalists will experience some of the Namib Desert’s most remarkable destinations over the ensuing 12 days.

The challenging route includes extreme off-road driving through the mountainous Khuwarib region, experiencing the breathtaking Purros canyons, tackling the desolate Gainas Plains, visiting the UNESCO heritage site at Palmwag, travelling through the aptly named Desolation Valley and traversing the steep 2 500-m high Brandberg by foot.

While many of the challenges will be taken on behind the wheel of the mighty Ford Ranger, the adventure is a test of brains and brawn. Aside from testing each contes-

tant’s driving and vehicle-related skills, every individual will have to prove that they are tough enough to be crowned the winner.

They will be assessed by a panel of judges on their mental and physical endurance, as well as on a variety of other aspects such as communication skills, leadership abilities, camp craft and overall demeanour.

In a new twist for this year’s event, the trip will end prematurely for the lowest-scoring contestants, as two people will be eliminated from the competition at the end of day four (26 July), and a further four contestants will leave after day eight (30 July).

from articulated truck and the recent incident where 12 students were killed in similar situation. He however, warned that the Federal Road Safety Corps will not like to commence impounding of these vehicles and prosecution of their drivers without first meeting with their association, which it hope would play a major role in curtailing the excesses of its members..

To this end, he said the Corps will commence operation this month after meeting with the container driver to educate them on the danger of not latching their containers properly before leaving seaports.

The Assistant Corps Commander agreed with the leaders of the association that an awareness campaign will be carried out after which total enforcement shall be applied. He asked the association to provide the list of all their drivers to the FRSC for scrutiny.

“We want to have the list of all drivers in your association to find out if they are properly licenced to drive,” he said. He also noted that FRSC will bring their doctors to check the state of health of the truck drivers.

...Redeploys 40 senior officers

F

URTHER to its repositioning process for effective service delivery, the management of the Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC has approved the redeployment of 40 senior officers, among whom is Ahmed Hassan, who is now the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Special Marshals and Partnership Department at the National Headquarters, Abuja.

Details of the recent appointments indicate that SIX Assistant Corps Marshals and 33 Corps Commanders were affected in the exercise which witnessed the redeployment of new Zonal Commanding Officers and Sector Commanders across the various formations of the Corps.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—35

By Theodore Opara

We’re automobile dealership of choice, says Admiralty Motors boss T

HE Managing Director of Admiralty Motors Ltd, an upcoming automobile marketing company with head office in Lekki, Lagos, Mary-Ann Chukwueke, has described the company as an automobile dealership of choice for many Nigerians, given their quality of service and products.

The Admiralty Motors’ Chief Executive Officer, who spoke to Vanguard Motoring at her Lekki office, explained that Nigerians, who patronise the company, would enjoy world class service comparable to what is obtained in Europe and America.

“Our dream is to become the automobile dealership company of choice to many Nigerians because we are offering super quality and honest service to our customers,” she said.

The Managing Director, who described their location in Lekki as the new Lagos, said it was a new frontier in Lagos for commerce and that they were fortunate enough to be one of the first car companies to be established in the location.

To this end, she disclosed that their family of happy customers are growing by the day due to their transparent service.

According to her, they were pursuing their vision with integrity and more importantly offer super quality service, as quality service delivery is a standard – not at any premium charge at Admiralty.

“At Admiralty,” she said, “quality service is seen as part of life and this place is a natural setting for quality, transparency and tranquillity.”

This is why we are calling on Nigerians to come for a taste of what we are offering in a happy and relax atmosphere at Admiralty.

Scope Admiralty Motors specialises in sales and services of Japanese brands like Toyota, Honda and Nissan as well as premium European models like Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover and Peugeot.

Other brands being handle by Admiralty Motors include Ford, Jeep and General Motors products.

To maintain these wide range of brands, the Admiralty boss stated that they equipped their workshop with full range of latest auto diagnostic equipment and special tools that are very

exclusive to them, such as full injector nozzle machine, air recycling machine, and brake disc resurfacing machine.

Another specialised tool in Admiralty workshop is the cellette body machine that can restore accidented cars, whose chassis have been affected, to normalcy

while its spray booth is the most modern and biggest in the country.

Admiralty Motors opened its permanent site in Lekki barely three months ago, having been in auto business since 2009. The Managing Director of the company, who was once a Deputy Managing Director of a

Kia siblings sweep autopacific awards F

OUR models from Kia Motors America (KMA) were recognized as segment winners of the 2015 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA), including the Quoris luxury sedan, which ranked at the top of the Luxury Car category and won AutoPacific’s coveted President’s Award, given to the vehicle that achieves the highest-ever overall VSA score. This is only the third time this award has been given in the 19-year history of the VSAs. The other three Kia winners included the 2015 Cadenza, 2015 Soul (tie) and 2015 Sportage in the Large Car, Compact Car and Compact Crossover SUV categories, respectively, with the Soul scoring its second

consecutive win. Kia had more category winners than any other brand and ranked third (tie) among all Popular non-premium automakers for overall

brand score.

“We are honored that four of our world-class vehicles have earned AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards,

Honda sets new Guinness world records for fuel efficiency

H

ONDA has set a new Guinness world records title for ‘Lowest fuel consumption – all 24 contiguous EU countries (all cars),’ recording an average 2.82 liters per 100km (100.31mpg) over 13,498km (8,387 miles), in a 25 day drive across all 24 EU contiguous countries.

Behind the wheel of

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Toyota Nigeria accredited dealer before setting up the company, said they were expecting business to pick up with time as the new government brings hope.

She told Vanguard that she was bringing her wealth of experience to bear in the new company, having been trained at

University of Nigeria, Nsuka as a teacher and with a master in Industrial Relations, from University of Ibadan.

She said: “My training as a teacher has impacted my success in training and motivating people, which informed the courteous team of staff we have in Admiralty.”

Also speaking on her foray into the automobile industry, she explained “My coming into the automobile business was purely accidental. I visited my brother in the United States who had a Ford dealership in Maryland, USA, and started helping out in the office while on vacation.

Before I knew it, I fell in love with the way the business was being done and the marketing team as well as the trainers with their motivational speeches.”

On car rental, Mary-Ann noted: “That apart from selling and maintaining cars, “we also... rent cars ranging from small to high end premium cars.

We have some individual and corporate bodies as customers.”

a Honda Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC for the entire journey were two members of Honda’s European Research & Development (R&D) team, Fergal McGrath and Julian Warren, who took on the challenge to further demonstrate the impressive real-world fuel economy of the Tourer. The remarkable

distance travelled is similar to the team driving to Australia from their home in the UK, stopping just nine times to refuel. The car achieved an incredible average 1500km (932 miles) on each tank of fuel, at a total fuel cost for the whole journey of just 645 Euros* (£459).

The team set out on

their epic road trip from Aalst, Belgium, on Monday June 1st, navigating the continent in a clockwise direction.

They returned to their start point on Thursday June 25th, recording the incredible fuel economy figures which exceed the Tourer ’s quoted efficiency of 3.8 liters per 100km (74.3mpg), by more than 25%.

This is only the third time this award has been given in the 19year history of the VSAs affirming Kia’s on-going commitment to design, craftsmanship and the ownership experience,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, KMA. “While Cadenza, Quoris, Soul and Sportage each have their own personalities, together they represent the collective strength of the entire Kia model line. We’re especially proud of Quoris’ recognition

as Kia continues to move upmarket and compete with long-standing luxury brands.”

AutoPacific’s VSAs identify the most satisfying vehicles for sale in the U.S. market and assist new car buyers in making informed vehicle purchase decisions.

The results are based on responses to over 66,000 surveys completed by owners of new, model year 2015 vehicles. The survey measures owner satisfaction through 50 separate attributes ranging from interior comfort and convenience to fuel economy and performance.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

By Theodore Opara

Truckmasters-Hyundai launches ‘Easy Lease Auto Finance’ with Mutual Benefits Assurance

P

ROSPECTIVE car buyers in Nigeria can now acquire their new Hyundai and Nissan cars in 48 hours through the EASY LEASE vehicle financing facility put together through a partnership between Truckmasters Nigeria Limited and Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc. Truckmasters is an authorized dealer to

Hyunadi Motors Nigeria Ltd. The unique feature of the Easy Lease programme is the speed of delivery, 48 hours the shortened approval process from request time to ownership, eliminating the bottlenecks that are usually associated with the traditional banking system.

Truckmasters and

Mutual Benefits strongly believe jointly in the ability of this well thought-out programme to improve the wellbeing of Nigerians through a convenient acquisition of new vehicles.

According to the Managing Director of Truckmasters, Mr. Tony Areyeka, “Basic features of the Easy Lease vehicle finance facility include phased

From left: Femi Atsenuga, MD, Life Mutual, Munish Sharma, Head, AfterSales – Hyundai Motors, Tony Arenyeka, MD, Truckmasters, Oniwinde, representing the Commissioner for Insurance – NAICOM, Akin Ogunbiyi, Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Limited, Segun Omoseyin, MD, Mutual Benefits during the Easy Lease Finance launch

payment with better cash planning, allowing between 25-30% downpayment, professionally

p a c k a g e d comprehensive insurance with free tracking device, flexible

payment tenures of up to 36 months, and vehicle price discount. The Customer is assured of taking delivery of the car within 48 hours, subject to meeting and completing the documentation requirements.

Kia engages fifth gear in Europe

K

IA Motors recorded its best ever quarterly and half-year sales in the company’s history, as the brand’s year-on-year growth accelerated to 7.6%, according to the latest data from ACEA (European Automobile Manufactures’ Association).

During the first half of 2015, Kia posted sales of 200,038*, representing the best-ever six month period recorded by the Korean brand in Europe.

Compared to the first half of 2014, this represents growth of 7.6%. At the same time, the second quarter of 2015 was the brand’s best-ever quarterly sales total, with 103,946 units registered – the first time Kia has broken through the 100,000 barrier in any one quarter.

Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe, commented: “2015 to date has been a great period for Kia in Europe, with sales records tumbling and new highs reached. We’re delighted that Kia continues to grow, consistently and sustainably, and that an increasing number of motorists are drawn to our range of high quality, high value cars.”

Cole added: “Kia is focused on developing an unrivalled level of quality in its products, and an industry-leading level of service at every customer touchpoint. We want customers to enjoy buying and owning their Kia cars, and our record sales demonstrate that our approach is working.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 37

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38—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

By Jude Opara

W

HEN President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as the acting chairman of the Independent National Commission (INEC), he may have had a number of reasons that prompted that choice including the fact that as one of the National Commissioners of the commission, Mrs. Zakari must have acquired some experience from working closely with the immediate past chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Zakari, if confirmed as a substantive INEC chairperson will make history as the first woman to occupy the hot seat which certainly needs an individual with the zeal and character to discharge the task which is often very contentious because of the high interest elections generate in Nigeria.

That President Buhari decided to name her as the Acting Chairman of INEC points to the fact that she may be presented to the National Assembly for screening for the plum and contentious job despite the fact that her tenure as a National Commissioner will end today, July 21.

PDP kicks against Zakari's appointment But just few hours after that appointment, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) openly called for the removal of Mrs. Zakari because of alleged closeness to some egg heads of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) including President Buhari himself.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metu had claimed that Mrs. Zakari is not fit for the job because she was said to have worked with the President at the defunct Petroleum Task Force (PTF) as well as having worked as a secretary at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration when the present governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was the minister.

Granted that the PDP as an opposition party is poised to give the nation a virile opposition, many analysts are of the view that they should not and must not criticize every move of the Federal Government without first analyzing the situation properly.

Support from other parties: However, some other political parties have waded into the matter criticizing the PDP for its outburst over the appointment insisting that President Buhari did not err in his choice of Zakari to man the electoral commission at this period.

Recently, the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties (CPPP), an umbrella organization of 13 registered political parties in the country described as dangerous, irresponsible and inciting the statement issued by the PDP on

•Buhari: President of Nigeria

•Zakari: INEC interim boss

INEC: Zakari on the scale of history the appointment of the acting chairman of INEC. Chairman of the Coalition and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, said; “The dangerous precedent whereby a political party is trying to decide for the country who becomes the INEC chairman is dangerous and calls for concern.”

He reminded the PDP that the

The position of Women in Politics Forum is that the appointment of Mrs. Zakari is in line with the national gender policy and procedure for appointment in INEC

task of appointing the INEC chairman is constitutionally reserved for the President and Commander-in-Chief and the National Assembly.

Women groups laud appointment But as if they were waiting for it, women groups from all strata of the society immediately rose in support of one of their own insisting that the appointment was well carried and from the manner they responded, it is given that they will vehemently resist any attempt to reverse it.

For instance, the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) endorsed the appointment which they say is a clear indication that President Buhari may have harkened to their voice over the realization of the affirmative action of giving women some sensitive positions in government.

WIPF, which had earlier criticized President Buhari for the low number of women in his Transition Committee, had at a forum in Abuja applauded the government for the appointment of Zakari describing it as a right step in the right direction. They spoke through their president, Mrs. Ebere Ifendu.

“The position of Women in Politics Forum is that the appointment of Mrs. Zakari is in

line with the national gender policy and procedure for appointment in INEC. The time has come for Nigeria to realize that appointment of women into executive and other positions is not a favour as has been mooted in some quarters.”

As at the last count, there have been positive comments for Zakari from the Protective Gender Initiative (PGI), Women Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN) and Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), 100 Women Lobby Group, Equity Advocates (EA).

Critical assessment But a simple analysis shows that during the reign of the PDP when the new INEC boss was the Secretary of Social Department amongs others at the FCT, she must have been appointed by the ruling party then. Some salient questions are; was she a member of the PDP at

that time? Was she able to discharge her duties diligently?

And if the answer to the second question is yes then there is nothing wrong for the APC administration to appoint any Nigerian who is competent into any office.

Another fact is that it was also the government of the PDP under former President Goodluck Jonathan that appointed Mrs. Zakari as a National Commissioner representing the North West.

It is also on record that in the past the ruling PDP through the President had appointed the electoral umpires who have served the Commission before Zakari.

As for her perceived closeness to President Buhari, it could be argued that probably the President who has shown the intention to really rebuild the country may have seen some sterling qualities in her that encouraged him to go outside the box to appoint her into that highly sensitive office.

What should be of concern, according to some observers is how to encourage the woman to sustain and improve on the successes recorded under Prof.

Jega and not to play politics of

Continues on page 39

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—39

KNOW YOUR SENATORS

Why PDP senators allowed APC to produce senate president — Olujimi

By Joseph Erunke

O

LUJIMI said but for the intervention of the PDP leadership, the position of senate president would have gone to the PDP because senators of the party were in clear majority on the day of Senate inauguration and could have elected one of their own for the position.

According to Olujimi, the PDP advised its senators to play the second fiddle it is no longer a ruling party and has no majority in the Senate.

She said that some members of her party had reasoned that since APC senators were sharply divided between senators Bukola Saraki and Ahmad Lawan, the contenders on the APC platform, it was good for them to seize the opportunity to produce the senate president. However, she disclosed that a second thought to adhere to earlier advice from the party saved the day.

“Somebody would definitely have that mindset but what really happened was that we felt we are in opposition and the ruling party must take its rightful place—the larger chunk as the PDP had instructed.

Her words: "The party was very clear that ‘you are in opposition, you are no longer the ruling party’. And so, we were willing to allow the majority party take the lead and immediately after taking the lead, we thought we were strong enough to follow and that is what we did and that is what is here now.

The dynamics: “It was the dynamics that came to play in the election of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate

President. In that hall on the day of inauguration of new Senate, all the 49 senators of the PDP were present and the APC were not. There were very few APCs. In all, we were 76 senators present and when you take 49 out of 76, you would know what was left. And so, whether you like it or not, he would win because it was a game of number. And that was what came to play and that was why he won.’’

Strengthening democracy Senator Olujimi said the emergence of PDP’s Ekweremadu in an APCdominated Senate would strengthen the nation’s democracy, asking those complaining to rethink.

She said: “Whether you like it or not, that will be responsible for the stability of this Senate, if

It was the dynamics that came to play in the election of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President. In that hall on the day of inauguration of new Senate, all the 49 senators of the PDP were present and the APC were not

SENATOR Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South) wants those who are accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to look elsewhere.

Olujimi, who until her recent election into the Senate was deputy governor and later acting governor of Ekiti State, told Vanguard in an interview that PDP senators allowed their counterparts in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to produce th Senate President in the 8 Senate, because the national leadership of the PDP warned them to steer clear of the position.

this Senate is going to be stable.

This is because now, nobody can grumble, nobody can complain.”

The senator said those contemplating of impeaching Ekweremadu were getting it wrong, as according to her, the processes were difficult to achieve.

“That slight majority is not workable because you need twothirds majority and if you have 109 senators and the PDP, as a minority party has 49 senators to its fold, you should know that it is not easy to get that two-thirds majority, “she said.

No division in PDP: She debunked insinuations that PDP senators were divided on their choice of those to be picked to fill the four principal offices among which are the positions of Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader, saying they will present four of their members for the positions as soon as the National Assembly resumes from its ongoing recess.

“For now, we are working with the party to ensure that the list comes as soon as we resume. As we are preparing to resume, we will meet to ensure that we adopt all the four officials expected to fill the various positions that belong to us as a minority party in the Senate. But I know that we have not adopted anybody yet.

“It is not as if the party is giving

•Olujimi: I am going to work with the set of rules before me us directives but they are working with us. They sit with us almost every week to ask us what the problems are and how they can come in. That should be the role of a party. They just ask us what we want and help us just to navigate through,”she added.

Forgery of Senate rules: Commenting on the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rule by some principal officers of the legislature, Senator Olujimi said she really did not know whether the document was altered.

Hear her: “As a new senator, I was given a set of rules, if it was like that before, I don’t know, if it wasn’t like that before, I don’t know. My idea is that I was given a set of rules and I am going to work with that set of rules before me. So, where did the forgery come from? For me, I don’t know anything about forgery because when you resume as a member of the House, you are always given a document, a set of rules of the assembly of that time. th “When the 8 Assembly

INEC: Zakari on the scale of history Continues from page 38 who the person occupying the office is or whom she is close to.

After all it was former President Jonathan that appointed Prof. Jega but when the 2015 elections were conducted and he lost Jega did not announce him the winner because he appointed him into office. I don’ want to believe that the PDP is jittery and afraid of being paid with its own coin by teaming up with the electoral umpires to subvert the wishes of the people.

One other argument of the anti-Zakari campaigners is the fact that she hails from Jigawa State, North West Nigeria while President Buhari hails from Katsina State also in the same geo-political zone.

The Nigerian Constitution which is the

grand norm for every official action in the country did not say that a sitting president and the chairman of the electoral body should not come from the same zone.

Politicians across board have been contesting elections whether the chief electoral umpire was from his zone or not.

From the way the 2015 general elections went, it is very clear that Nigerians are maturing and have started looking at the performance of public officials when it comes to elections. A smart politician should ensure that most of his campaign promises were kept before the next election because if not he will be punished at the polls.

To bounce back in 2019, the PDP may have to keep a close tab on its governors

to ensure that they deliver on the promises they made to the electorates during campaigns while hoping that the APC could derail.

It is true that Mrs. Zakari was in charge of Political Parties’ Affairs, a position that must have given her an ample opportunity to have interacted with the parties, to know how they behave, which is also one important qualification that somebody that should lead INEC must possess.

In spite of her qualifications, Zakari's temporary appointment will end today.

Unfortunately, the Senate is on recess while President Buhari is in the United States for a three-day working visit. Who heads INEC from tomorrow? This is a legal question waiting for an answer.

resumed, the Senate was given a set of rules and that is what is expected to guide us in the next four years. Whether it was amended or not, I do not know, that is what I was given and that is what I intend to work with and I know all my colleagues too, are going to do the same.’’

Zonal, party balance She confirmed that the upper chamber has resolved not to short-change any zone or political party in terms of allocation of committees, as the Senate prepares to constitute the various committees and membership.

“What we have done is to put them in zones because we don’t want any zone short-changed.

And so, we are looking at the six zones. Let me tell you something that you have not taken cognizance of. Before now, there was a very slim opposition, it was always PDP 79, and the others 24 and these others were not in one party. It was always three or four parties maybe sharing 20 positions with one taking over 11 and others taking maybe one or two. But it is a departure from what we have today. ‘’Now, we have a very strong opposition. The only two strong parties we have in the Senate today stand neck and neck and that is it. So, it’s a different ball game and so naturally, the dynamics must change. I don’t know how they came about the set of rules but I believe that whoever did that saw that the dynamics must change. If the dynamics don’t change from when it was just a very weak opposition to very strong opposition, we wouldn’t have the peace we require in that Senate,’’ she quipped.

40—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

kilometre Nike Lake Road; five kilometre Airport Roundabout/ Orie Emene/Eke Obinagu Road; two kilometre Okutu/ Odoru Road; 1.5 kilometre 9th Mile/Nsukka Road and 9th Mile/Onitsha Road By-pass; 10.8 kilometre m Opi/Nsukka Road; Installation of Street lights along Opi-Nsukka Road and construction/Rehabilitation of Nsukka Urban roads.

•Ugwuanyi: Governor of Enugu State

ENUGU URBAN RENEWAL:

Is Ugwuanyi walking the talk?

By Francis Igata

D

URING his inaugural speech, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State listed urban renewal as one of his major programmes. Top on the priority list was opening up semi-rural towns of Nsukka,9th Mile Corner and Abakpa-Nike among others, to trigger socioeconomic growth in the state.

To deliver on his promises, Ugwuanyi had to get the 2015 Appropriation Bill amended.

The Enugu State House of Assembly, last Tuesday, passed into law, the amended and revised appropriation bill of N9.878 billion presented to it by the governor.

The bill tagged: “Enugu State of Nigeria Amendment (revised) Appropriation Bill, 2015” as moved by the leader of the House, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, is to make way for internal re-allocation of resources in the existing budget of over N96.735 billion as passed by the previous administration of former Governor Sullivan Chime to enable the government embark

on important development projects in the state.

Ugwuanyi, imbued with legislative trappings having served as a House of Representatives member representing Udenu/Igbo-Eze North Federal Constituency for 12 straight years, navigated through the murky waters of re-allocation of funds in the approved state budget which was the thrust of the moves to impeach Chime for alleged reallocation of 2012 budget without House approval at the twilight of his tenure.

The need for the amendment arose following Ugwuanyi’s resolve to walk the talk by enunciating eight new projects that would have direct impact on the welfare of the people of Enugu State According to the amended budget, allocations were adjusted to accommodate the eight new projects that were hitherto not included earlier.

New projects The new projects are the construction of two kilometre Nike Road; construction of 3.6

Amendment bill Moving the motion for the adoption of the Bill for Amendment, House Leader, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, urged his colleagues to support the bill. He said that Governor Ugwuanyi had had an expanded meeting intimated stakeholders that there was need to make changes to the budget to reflect the present reality of the changing times.

Contributing to the debate on the bill, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Dons Uzogbado said the bill was timely and appropriate because the importance of embarking on the construction of the roads will engender even development in the state.

Uzogbado opined that when the 9th Mile bypass is completed, it would reduce the chaotic traffic witnessed at 9th Mile, Ngwo.

Elated residents Part of the roads to be constructed include the 2-3 kilometre Penoks-NOWASTimbershed-Abakpa-NikeUgwuogo road and the 2-3 kilometre Abakpa Junction-TJunction road which are major arteries to the metropolis.

Residents and motorists plying road get stuck in traffic for hours following the yawning craters dotting the road especially at the Abakpa, Liberty bus-stop,Texaco, Corner-stone and Timber shed sections of road all in Enugu-

If dualized, the road will enhance access to rural communities on the corridors of the road, which will stimulate economic activities and the man hours expended by motorists will be channelled into productive venture

East Local Council.

If dualized, the road will enhance access to rural communities on the corridors of the road, which will stimulate economic activities and the man hours expended by motorists will be channelled into productive venture.

Work begins Currently, work has started on Penoks-NowasTimbershed-T-junction axis of the road. Officials of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority,ECTDA,have pasted notices on walls and properties with a one-week ultimatum to the owners to remove such obstructions, preparatory for the commencement of construction work.

Mr. Amaechi Ukwuani, a resident in the area said:”This roads are at the heart of our existence. If the governor constructs these road, he has done everything for Enugu people. Plying the road during traffic hours is horrendous.

“There is part of Enugu metropolis that witnesses the type of traffic gridlock that we pass through here. The value of properties in this area has shrunk because developers do not have easy access to the area.

“Once constructed, rural communities will easily be accessed because the AbakpaNike-Ugwuogu-Opi-Nsukka road has made movement to and fro Nsukka easy. The people cannot wait to see the construction commence."

Investment opportunities abound in Akwa Ibom — BASSEY BASSEY James is the Chancellor, Akpabiosm Centre for Leadership. He is also the founder of Southern Youths Development Forum and was a member of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign committee. In this chat he speaks on the industrialisation project of incumbent governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Udom Emmanuel among others

Y

OU have always called on investors to come to AkwaIbom state and take advantage of investment opportunities.

What incentives are there for investors?

We started this journey several years ago by inviting investors to come to Akwa Ibom. We have clearly stated that Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria is the best place to invest because we have stability in terms of economic development, stability in terms of politics, stability in security and we have a willing government that listens and the people there are ready to work. So, everything that an investor needs is already in Akwa Ibom State because the state is strategically positioned by God to service the needs of the entire South-South, South East and the Gulf of Guinea. We have done several seminars in Lagos, Abuja and some other parts of Nigeria. Under Akpabiosm, we had the opportunity of having the present governor, Udom Emmanuel, speak on the investment opportunities in Akwa Ibom, in Lagos and in Abuja, even when he was not the governor. So having becoming the governor of Akwa Ibom State, he behoves us to go to the streets, to the markets, to the entire world to announce the Akwa Ibom project to everybody.

Today, if you talk about the most stable state in Nigeria, it is Akwa Ibom State. If you talk about hospitality, you can find it in abundance. If you talk about a conducive atmosphere for investors, the place is Akwa Ibom.

I think with the infrastructure that we have on ground, with the level of development that my governor has done across the

state, there is need for people to tap the untapped resources in terms of agricultural development, the land is wonderful. In terms of human capital development, the people are ready. In terms of sustainability, it is perfect.

On Udom’s industrialisation project Two weeks ago, Governor Udom Emmanuel went to Pickup Paints. It was one of the best paints manufacturers in Africa, not just in Nigeria but unfortunately that industry was allowed to die. For Udom Emmanuel to have come to visit that factory gave a lot of us hope that he is coming with a basket of industries in the state.

So with Udom, I think that the Pickup Paints will hit the market and the ceramics industry may be coming back. Independent Power Plant has already started working. So, cottage industry, small and medium scale enterprises is the way out. I challenge the Bank of Industry to come to Akwa Ibom State.

•James

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—41

polio vaccination in northern states because of suspected contamination of the polio vaccine with anti-fertility steroids.

The call was made by a front line medical practitioner and a prominent member of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN).

The resulting boycott brought a wobbling national polio eradication programme to a total collapse as the average annual number of reported polio cases increased from 400 (between 1998 and 2002) to 750 cases after the call.

Frantic national and international efforts were made to end the boycott. This included the adoption of a resolution in 2008 at the 61st WHA, calling on Nigeria to reduce the risk of international spread of poliovirus by ensuring that all children in the north of the country are vaccinated against polio.

THIS WEEK July 22-23, 2015

2015 Cardiovascular Summit with theme "All about stroke'' organised by Pfizer, will be held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel V/I and on July 23rd at Alisa Hotel Accra, Ghana to offer an educational platform for healthcare practitioners to engage in a robust discussion on latest trends in CVD and its management.

July 23, 2015

Inaugural Annual Lecture of the Nwuga Physiotherapy Foundation (NPF) Topic: "Quantum Medicine: The Promise of Light As a Clinical Armamentarium" Speaker: Prof Chukuka S. Enwemeka, Provost/Senior Vice President, San Diego State University, USA. Venue: Conference Centre, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State

Science World Early HIV treatment improves TB diagnosis

S

TARTING anti-HIV treat ment within two weeks of the diagnosis of tuberculosis, or TB, improved survival among patients with both infections who had very low immune-cell counts, according to an analysis by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Health. Those with strong immune systems, however, might benefit from waiting until after the end of the six-month TB treatment before initiating anti-HIV therapy, they found.

In a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the team recommended updating physician guidelines to take the findings into account.

Infection with HIV can promote progression and re-infection to active TB after initial exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the organism that causes TB. The team systematically reviewed data from more than 4,500 people participating in eight randomized clinical trials of early initiation of HIV anti-retroviral therapy (ART) conducted in Asia, Africa and the US. They found that survival rates were better among patients who started ART within two weeks of the initiation of TB treatment and who also had very low CD4 T-cell counts of less than 0.050 x 109cells/liter, as measured by a blood test which reflects severe immune system suppression due to HIV infection.

•Last days of polio imminent.

After Ebola, Nigeria can defeat polio

By Oyewale Tomori

T

HIS month – July – was a very auspicious month for Nigeria in 2014. Two health related occurrences took place in that month.

On Sunday July 20 2014, Patrick Sawyer flew into Lagos airport, a sick man with Ebola Virus Disease. He died five days later, but not before infecting other people – his primary contacts -health workers who took care of him and who subsequently infected other people.

By the time Nigeria was finally declared free of the disease, 20 people had been infected with eight of them dying from the disease, and spent three months tracing nearly 900 contacts.

The second health issue occurred far away from Lagos. On July 24, 2014, a day before Patrick Sawyer died, a one year old child in Sumaila LGA of Kano State had an onset of a disease later confirmed to be polio.

Last case of polio This has been the last polio case confirmed in Nigeria for the past one year. Never has Nigeria gone on for so many months (12 months) without reporting at least one case of polio. The last time we went free of polio was for only 3 months between May and July 2014.

If we get our acts together and maintain zero polio case until the end of July 2015, the Nigeria will be removed from the list of polio endemic countries, that is, countries that have never interrupted

polio transmission.

Do not expect WHO to remove out country from the ignoble list of polio endemic countries, until another late August or early September 2015, by which time all of the samples collected on or before 24 July this year, would have been tested and found negative for polio.

Delisting from polio endemic countries is only a step towards Nigeria being declared a polio free nation. This will only happen if we report no polio case for another two years, that is, after July 2017. So let us not bring out the drums and the palm wine tumblers in premature celebrations.

Questions: This leads us to three questions. First, why did it take us so long to get to this stage, making us one of the last three polio endemic countries in the world? Second, what did we suddenly do to achieve the current status, and third and more important, what must we continue to do to ensure that we finally reach polio free status in 2017 and forever?

During the five-year period between 2005 and 2009, the total number of reported polio cases in Africa was 4,039 and Nigeria

alone accounted for 3,729 (92 percent) of the African cases. This number is far above our contribution to Africa’s population- I think we boast that there is a Nigerian for every five Africans; this time Nigeria was contributing more than nine out of every 10 polio cases in Africa.

In addition to the sub-optimal performance of the national immunisation programme and the poor routine immunisation coverage, the main stimulus for our poor performance was the call in 2003, for the boycott of anti-

Why did it take us so long to get to this stage, what did we suddenly do to achieve the current status, and more important, what must we continue to do to ensure that we finally reach polio free status in 2017 and forever?

ORAL HEALTHCARE

10m children to benefit -- P 42

Polio eradication This special mention of Nigeria – a naming and shaming- at a global level, appears to have moved Nigeria in the right direction for achieving polio eradication. A series of activities, including a change in the leadership of the agency charged with polio eradication in Nigeria, engagement of traditional and community leaders, civil society organisations, women groups, and encouraging the community to “own” the eradication initiative began to yield positive results.

These activities were further strengthened by ensuring adequate and efficient implementation of detailed immunisation micro plans, improved monitoring of staff and their activities through the use of modern communication gadgets and systems.

Input: Another input that enhanced the performance on the field included the institution of an accountability frame work for all stakeholders and partners (Federal and state governments, LGAs, international development partners, NGOs, and members of the community).

Individuals, not the system or the organisation were held responsible and accountable for their performance – commending good performance and sanctioning poor performance at each and every level. Of note was the intervention of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Continues on Page 34

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Oral health programme targets 10m school children

By Chioma Obinna

W

ORRIED about the prevalence cavities of among Nigerian children, dental health experts have kicked off a behavioural change programme for students to achieve better oral health.

The newly launched campaign, from the stable of Unilever Nigeria, makers of Pepsodent Toothpaste, is also aimed at reducing the impact of dental cavities.

Data reveals that almost 100 per cent of adults globally suffer from dental cavities and 60 to 90 per cent of school children have cavities even as toothache is the number one reason for absenteeism in school globally.

Speaking at the Oral Health Schools’ Programme in Lagos, Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria, Mr. David Okeme said that the 21 days behavioural change campaign was to prevent the causes of ill oral health that affect children’s ability to learn.

Okeme explained that it was part of Unilever’s global oral care social missions agenda to improve the oral health of 100 million people by 2020 by convincing them to brush day and night to stay healthy, happy and live a more enjoyable and fulfilled life.

LAUNCH: Dr Kolawole Obagbemiro, Secretary-General, Nigerian Dental Association demonstrating how best to take care of the teeth, to pupils of Central Primary School, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, during the launch of Pepsodent School's programmme organised by Unilever Nig Plc. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

“In partnership with the Nigerian Dental Association, Universal Basic Education Board and the Federal Ministry of Health, Pepsodent is committed to improving the oral health of 10 million children in Nigeria by 2020 through the Brush Day & Night schools’ programme, and

one million school children will be reached directly in 2015.

“We believe children can change the world by adopting healthy oral habits and they can convince their parents to do same,” he said.

President Nigerian Dental Association,NDA, Dr. Bode

Ijarogbe said children are more vulnerable to dental cavities because they consume more of sweetened food.

“Normally, everyone has bacterial in the mouth and other parts of the body. But as regards formation of cavity, the bacterial in the mouth only becomes very

dangerous in the presence of fermentable sugar-based diet.

The sugar acts as diet for the bacteria and produces a byproduct of dilute acid which eventually results in cavity formation, resulting in holes which gradually becomes larger and eventually into tooth ache.

“And if this is not quickly addressed, it results to severe pain which could lead to loss of manpower at work for adults and school absenteeism for the child.

The kids are the major target in this programme because they have more cravings for sweet foods. And when these children adopt the habit of a healthy oral lifestyle, they can then spread the message to their parents.

Ijarogbe advised Nigerians to brush twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste in accordance with NDA recommendations.

“As such, we have subjected Pepsodent toothpaste to test before we endorsed it. And we are rest assured that it contains fluoride, an active ingredient that helps prevent tooth decay,” he said.

Also speaking, Bunmi Adeniba, Category Manager, Oral Care, Unilever Nigeria, said the Pepsodent Triple Protection is one big breakthrough.

“Pepsodent gives you three benefits in one brush. The unique formulation of Pepsodent Triple Protection guarantees protection against cavities, stains and bad breath and these are the most prevalent oral care needs in most homes,” she said.

After Ebola, Nigeria can defeat polio Continued from Page 41 (BMGF) which sponsored a leadership challenge for State Governors to encourage, assure and improve their leadership and “ownership” of, as well as commitment to eradicating polio and improving routine immunization services at State and LGA levels. The initiative was supported by the NPHCDA, Federal Ministry of Health, and the WHO, and managed by the Secretariat of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). The establishment of Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) at Abuja and in six Northern states contributed significantly to the success recorded in the last 2-3 years.

The EOCs were designed to serve as central command and control facilities for government and non-governmental agencies to be able to respond in real-time to a polio outbreak in key endemic states and coordinate prevention activities, provide modern technology to health workers, and offer a common place for agencies and organizations to pool resources and participate on projects together.

Deployment of EOC system

One positive outcome of the establishment of the EOC was the deployment and use of the EOC system to control the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Funding for the EOCs were provided by the BMGF and supported by the Dangote Foundation Apart from the 2003 setback arising from the boycott call, Nigeria was never really serious about polio eradication. Until we had special “negative” mention at the WHA, polio eradication was conducted in typical laissez affaire fashion. The attitude of the government was at best nonchalant,

often taking external stimulus and “push” from external agencies -, WHA, BMGF, UN Rotary for our government to act. It is inconceivable to think that State governors needed a BMGF sponsored initiative to challenge them to politically commit to, and provide necessary funds for eradicating polio and improving immunisation services in their states.

The BMGF Governors leadership challenge ran for two years from 2013 and 2014.

While it lasted polio eradication and routine immunization featured prominently in the discussion of the Governors’ Forum.

The fracture in the Forum led to a drop in political and financial commitment to polio and a premature declaration of Nigeria’s polio free status at election campaign rallies.

in sight, and at the end of a two year tunnel. Twice in 2007 and 2011 when we shifted our focus from polio eradication to eradication our political opponents during electioneering campaigns, polio resurged. Insecurity in the northeast part of the country has left many settlements in the area inaccessible to health workers.

A recent case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) – a very rare form of the virus mutated from the vaccine that emerges in under-immunized populations – shows that polio vaccination rates in Nigeria are still not high enough.

Therefore we cannot afford to be complacent. We must build on the achievement of the past government, so that Nigerian can be declared polio free during the watch of the current government. Therefore the

Sustained commitment Unless we get sustained and real commitment for polio eradication and routine immunization at all levels of government, there is no guaranteed that we can keep polio out of Nigeria in the next 2 years to attain the polio free status. Stopping polio is a massive operation that requires meticulous coordination from top to bottom to succeed. Our progress against polio over the last few years has been a combination of this grand coordination and small-scale detail. Achieving polio free status in 2017 and maintaining the status require more massive efforts. We still have some distance to go to polio frees status. How far depends on what we do from now on. We must continue to stress that the end of polio is only

• Prof. Oyewale Tomori.

Buhari government must sustain political commitment to eradicating not only polio, but also controlling other infectious diseases that still plague our country- Lassa fever, Yellow Fever, Avian flu and many other yet unknown diseases. Adequate funding must be provided to sustain and expand the operations of Emergency Operations Centres currently functioning in seven locations in Nigeria. Every state must have such an EOC adequately funded and managed by qualified staff.

We must provide adequate support for state epidemiology divisions for efficient disease surveillance and response.

Laboratory confirmation

One major contribution to the rapid control of Ebola in Nigeria in 2014 was the ability of the two labs in LUTH and the Redeemer’s University to provide laboratory confirmation of the cases. However these laboratories, including the Irrua Lassa Fever Institute continue to function only because they receive external support and funding. None of the other nationally supported laboratories is able to provide confirmed diagnosis for any of the currently existing viral hemorrhagic pathogens. Nigeria cannot successfully control disease outbreaks, until it commits to funding and supporting her laboratories.

We have learnt of the positive contribution of traditional, religious and community leaders to the success recorded by Nigeria in polio eradication. We must continue to involve and actively engage them until we are finally declared polio free, and ensure their support for other healthy intervention initiatives. Health workers must take responsibility of their action and strive Continues on Page 43

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—43

Bridge Clinic is ‘IVF Service Provider of the Year’

By Chioma Obinna

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N recognition of its role and contributions to the development of healthcare sector in Nigeria, one of Nigeria's foremost Health Fertility Clinic, The Bridge Clinic has won the best "IVF Service Provider "award in the Nigerian Health Excellence awards, NHEA, held recently in Lagos.

The Nigerian Health Excellence award considered as one of the most prestigious and highly respected awards in the healthcare industry is an initiative of Global Health Project and Resources in Partnership with Anadach group. Also nominated in the 'Best IVF Service Provider' category were Nordica, St Ives

and Nisa Premier but The Bridge Clinic emerged winner of the coveted prize.

The award was designed to celebrate and recognise the best individuals and organisations that have contributed in a remarkable manner to the improvement of the Nigerian healthcare sector while the focus was to elevate performance; creation of new business models; market leadership and inspirational performance.

In a statement, Commercial Manager of The Bridge Clinic, Dr. Dayo Omogbehin stated:"We are indeed glad that the

stringent measures we have imposed on ourselves in terms of quality management of our processes and procedures plus our commitment to deliver excellent and professional customer service paid off and we shall continue to raise the bar in this field of medicine".

Further, Omogbehin disclosed: "We have been at this for 16 years, and have 1873 live births as at May 2015. Our pregnancy rates are close to 50 percent in females under 35 years of age which puts us at par with some of the best clinics in Europe."

After Ebola Continued from Page 42 to build the trust of the community, especially the parents, through education and provision of appropriate information which will enable them accept government health interventions and understand why it is so important for them and their children to enjoy good health.

Our new government has the chance to end polio forever, but only if it remains focused on eradication and dedicates the necessary resources to improve campaign quality, intensify surveillance measures.

We must do all we can to make sure that the last polio case with onset on July 24 2014 in Sumaila LGA of Kano State is the last polio case in Nigeria forever.

Prof. Oyewale Tomori is President, Nigerian Academy of Science and Chairman Expert Review Committee on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunisation.

AWARD: From left: Fertility Nurse, Mrs. Jane Chukwuma; Consultant Gynecologist, Dr. Tayo Abiara and Commercial Manager, Dr. Dayo Omogbehin, all of The Bridge Clinic receiving the 2015 Best IVF Service Provider Award at the Nigerian Health Excellence Award, NHEA, in Lagos.

CVD summit opens in Lagos July 23

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HE 2015 Cardiovascular Summit with the theme "All about stroke'' opens tomorrow at the Lagos Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island and holds the next day at Alisa Hotel, Accra, Ghana.

Accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the CV Summit is part of Pfizer's contribution to advanceing medical knowledge and patient care in Nigeria by keeping healthcare professionals aware of new trends in medicine.

In a statement, Media & Public Relations Manager, Pfizer Nigeria and East Africa Region, Ngozi Ushedo, said Pfizer‘s responsibility to patients goes beyond the medicine itself. “We support healthcare professionals with innovative and enhanced ways to empower patients to be partners in their care.”

Ushedo said a Scientific Advisory Board inaugurated with key experts in the disease area, to offer guidance on relevant topics to be discussed at the event will offer advice on improvement modalities for the summit.

“The Summit has been designed to offer an educational platform for healthcare practitioners to engage in a robust discussion on latest trends in cardiovascular disease and its management.

“Pfizer recognises the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria and Ghana and is consistently working with key stakeholders through public enlightenment activities, free screenings, medical education and trainings for HCPs. “It provides a forum to highlight, discuss and recommend policies that will enhance better health care delivery to policy makers at all levels,” she stated.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—45

Host community shuts Shell's facility, demands power supply

By Samual Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—KOROAMA, one of the host communities to Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC’s Gbarain-Ubie Integrated Gas Plant has shut down operations at the gas field in protest, demanding power supply from the power plant.

Chief Sabu Martins, Paramount Ruler of Koroama in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, who addressed the aggrieved members of his community, urged them to remain resolute until their demand was achieved.

According to him, the oil and gas endowed community suffers the adverse impact of gas flares and deserves supply of electricity generated with gas from the area to ameliorate their sufferings.

He noted that the protest had been ongoing in the last three weeks and resulted to their forcing contractors to vacate the community until the oil firm gives a commitment to provide electricity to them.

“Today, we are protesting to SPDC and to the Federal Government as well.

"Koroama is a host community and has the largest proven gas and oil reserve in the entire Shell operations in this area.

“We have agreed that we could die here if light, the only demand we have is not given to us, then Shell will never operate in our land, we have given them time to remove their things, we want government to intervene,” he said.

Also addressing the protesting members of Koroama community, Miss Ankio Briggs, a community rights activist noted that the demands of the people who host

the gas plant is modest.

“What I have heard them say today is not different from what has been said for a very long time, what they are demanding is in line with what Adaka Boro demanded. This story about host communities who I call the owners of the resources, be is about self determination, be it about corporate social responsibility, the demand is just

and right.

“I call on the government of Bayelsa State, Federal Government and Shell to look at the demand although it is not the duty of Shell to provide electricity to Nigerians but it is a social and moral obligation to their hosts,” Briggs said.

Mr Joseph Obari, spokesman for SPDC in reaction said the oil firm had difficulties meeting the demand of electricity to its gas plant host communities due to limited capacity.

ANNIVERSARY: From left; Former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, Senior Pastor, Trinity House, Ituah Ighodalo, his wife, Ibidun, with Dr and Mrs. Ron Kenoly, cutting a cake to mark the 5th anniversary of Trinity House Church in Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Delta plans relocation of oil firms' headquarters to host communities B

By Perez Brisibe

OMADI—THE Delta State Government says it was putting measures in place to ensure that all multinational companies especially oil firms operating in the state, relocate their headquarters to the state.

Speaking, yesterday at a town hall meeting with youths at Bomadi, Bomadi Local Government Area of the state, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youths and Community Development, Mr. Eric Omare, noted that it would no longer be business as usual for companies whose headquarters were outside their areas of operation.

Omare explained that the policy of the state government was that multinational companies operating in the state, must have their headquarters sited in the state as against the case were the headquarters of such companies are located outside the state, stressing that the policy is aimed at fostering a bond between such companies and their host communities.

Earlier, Omare who is also the spokesperson for the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, while seeking the cooperation of youth leaders of the community, urged them to key

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into the empowerment programmes of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led administration.

He said: “The state government

is embarking on raising entrepreneurs and ensuring conducive environment for companies to operate. I urge you

to key into the empowerment programmes of the state government.”

UN, Obama urged to support N-Delta's quest for self determination

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— PEOPLE of Niger Delta have enjoined the United Nations, President of United States of America, Barack Obama to support the region in her quest for self determination within Nigeria’s federalism.

Speaking, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the unveiling of

a magazine Drums of Justice: The clarion call, a publication of Niger Delta Self Determination Movement, Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann Kio said that with the slogan of change all over Nigeria, it was time to implement the principles of true federalism and resource control.

“President Obama must support the Niger Delta people to fight for their rights. Things are

changing all over the world, people of the region can’t continue to live under the deplorable standard we live in the region when we are the economic strength of the nation,” she said.

Kio said true federalism will help every section of the country contribute to the economy of the nation particularly with the drop in the price of crude oil.

PMAN marks Okowa's birthday with visit to orphanage Okowa’s 56th birthday with him should go to orphanage

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA State chapter of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, yesterday, donated food items and toiletries worth thousands of naira to the Orem Orphanage Home in Ughelli area of the state in celebration of Governor Ifeanyi

anniversary.

Presenting the items to the home, PMAN Governor in the state, Mr Quincy Tebite, said that the donation was their contribution to the 56th birthday of Governor Okowa, whom he described as a charismatic leader.

Noting that the donation was in line with Okowa’s directive that those who wished to associate

homes to celebrate it with the less privilege, Tebite said that the decision of the governor was a testimony of his love for the people.

Receiving the items, proprietor of the home, Revd Anthony Ezemor thanked PMAN for the gesture and promised that the items would be put to judicious use for the benefit of the inmates.

A'Ibom not owing salaries, not expecting bailout —UMANAH

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By Tom Moses

YO—AKWA-Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, has denied the allegations that the state government was owing workers arrears of salaries, including that of teachers dating back to 2012.

Umanah said that since the state government was not indebted to its workforce, the state was not a beneficiary of thebail out and was not expecting any intervention by the Federal Government.

The commissioner who made the clarification, yesterday, in Uyo during a chat with Vanguard. He said: “For the umpteenth time, I want to state categorically that the AkwaIbom State Government is not owing any worker any salary, not even teachers’ salaries as wrongly peddled by enemies of the government.

“The only outstanding salary is that of July, 2015 which is not yet due and is pending the receipt of the July allocations from the Federation Account.”

I'm not afraid of probe —OMENE

By Godwin Oghre

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G H E L L I — PRESIDENT General of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Chief Joe Omene, has said that he was ready to engage any member of his executive committee in public debate of any manner over allegation of financial mismanagement they wish to level against him.

He said: “If they want it, I can make public the financial position of UPU since I resume office as President General. I challenge my exco to come forward with proof of financial recklessness against me.

"I can make the accounts public if they want it. Many of them come to me to ask for cows, goats and rice given to UPU, and not how Urhobo nation can move forward."

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Succour comes to indigent patients in Abia

Umeh pledges to defend Ndigbo, APGA

By Anayo Okoli

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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MUAHIA— SUCCOUR came the way of some indigent patients stranded at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia, Abia State, who could not pay their medical bills, when a philanthropist came to their rescue.

The philanthropist, Mr. Chukwunazom Obi, touched by the plight of these patients, paid off their medical bills to the hospital, thereby making it possible for them to leave the hospital.

Obi, the founder of Good Development and Accountability Advocacy, GDAA, said he was moved by the plight of some identified indigent patients, who had long been discharged, but were unable to go home because of their inability to pay their medical bills.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Medical Director, Dr. Abali Chuku, Mrs. Orieji Uka thanked Mr. Obi and his NGO for the gesture and called on other good spirited Nigerians to emulate the kind gesture of GDAA.

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NEWI—THE former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh has vowed to continue to defend the

interest of Ndigbo and APGA with his last breath.

Addressing newsmen, yesterday in his country home Aguluzigbo, after his end of tenure Thanksgiving Mass as APGA National Chairman, 25th wedding anniversary, and 53

birthday, at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Aguluzigbo, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Umeh said that Ndigbo will not be taken for granted in the country.

“I am resting for two weeks and I will come back to tell Nigerians

Ebonyi hands over dualized section of Abakaliki-Enugu expressway to Setraco

By Peter Okutu

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BAKALIKI—EBONYI State Government, weekend, handed over the dualised section of the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway to the original contractor, SETRACO, for completion.

The state governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe

and some top government functionaries witnessed the handing over to the Area Manager of SETRACO, Fouad Sarraf, in Abakaliki.

The aim is to enable the contractor re-mobilization to site without any further delay.

Governor Umahi said: “We are here to perform the short ceremony of handing over

formally on behalf of the Federal Government, the road which SETRACO was doing before which our then government stopped; and because we no longer have funds to continue, we discussed with the Federal Government and SETRACO and the consultants. "Graciously, the contractor has agreed to mobilize to site."

NAHCO commences cargo operations at Enugu Airport

By Lawani Mikairu

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AHCO AVIANCE, a ground handling operator, has commenced full cargo operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Disclosing this development, Chief Financial Officer of the

Company, Mrs. Chinwe ChijiNnorom, who reresented the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, said the opening of the two warehouses, one within the airport, and the other a few metres from the airport, would further enhance the development of the air cargo business in the South-East and the country as a whole.

My position is quite challenging —Enugu Speaker ...says he never contended for the seat

By Austin Ogwuda

Receiving Igwe Julius Nnaji, Odezuligbo II of Nike cabinet members who paid him a courtesy visit, weekend, the Speaker expressed gratitude to the Igwe, saying that he was humbled by the visit. He said that he was full of joy for being honoured with such a visit and asked them (his kinsmen) for their continued prayers to enable him succeed.

“My position is a challenging

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NUGU—SPEAKER of Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr. Edward Ubosi has confessed that he never contended for the position of the Speaker and attributed his emergence as a divine arrangement.

He therefore vowed to ensure that he performed creditably by leaving a legacy behind.

one, but with God, I shall perform.

It is God that gave me the position. I did not contend for it,” he said.

Earlier, the Igwe 's cabinet led by the Traditional Prime Minister of Nike, Chief Dennis Mba, said they were glad that one of their sons, Hon. Ubosi was chosen for the exalted office of Speaker, a position that no Nike man had ever held before.

Bielderman, who is currently on vacation had only few weeks ago inspected the warehouses where he directed that they must start full operation before he embarked on his vacation.

Bielderman also used the visit to meet with the Customs hierarchy at the Enugu Area Command where the modalities for effective cargo operations were agreed.

Speaking in Lagos, Mrs. ChijiNnorom, said the opening of the Enugu warehouses was a major milestone for the company in its determination to ensure that "the economy of Nigeria is further developed through the development of other airports in the country outside of Lagos Airport."

Chiji-Nnorom assured that the same NAHCO Aviance's excellent services, known widely in Lagos, would be available for all users of the company’s services at the Enugu airport.

that the Igbo cannot be taken for a ride. Even as I have handed over to a new Chairman, I will still work for APGA as a Board of Trustee member of the party.

"We cannot rest on our oars until our people get their dignity and respect restored in the Nigerian nation. We are watching the things happening in Nigeria and I said, 'God, keep us alive, this struggle will continue.

“The Igbo are an important people in Nigeria, not only because of their industry, hard work, resourcefulness, but they are also a legendry group in Nigeria. No matter the circumstances, no matter the situation, nobody in Nigeria can take the Igbo for a ride. It will not happen. We will continue the struggle even with our last breath.

"God decided to create me an Igbo man and we can never rest until our people get their respect, dignity and rights restored fully in Nigeria,” he said.

He expressed dissatisfaction that Ndigbo are obviously not being considered in the scheme of things in today’s Nigeria as they ought to be considered, especially, in decision making, pointing out that it was only in the South East and perhaps South-South that election did not take place according to the rule of law, and electoral guidelines.

"To aggravate our anger, those of us who won the elections were denied our victories and those who have stolen our victories are not representing us well.

“Leadership requires courage, forthrightness, vision and fearlessness. So, I envisage Ndigbo to be part of decision making in Nigeria, so that if they do not involve us in what they are doing they will not succeed..

"I am not blaming our new President Buhari, but I want him to know that the Igbo are important people in Nigeria,” he said.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What is your view on Buhari’s fight against corruption?

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hange must be allowed at all levels. we cannot watch these senators go home everyday with billions for making laws on rape, homosexual and child marriages when nothing and no law is made against stealing of public funds. Mr. Chris Chidi, Self Employed

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hat is good because there are many issues of corruption in almost all sectors. For instance, there is NEPA corruption, road corruption, among others.

He should just pass death sentence to anybody found guilty of corruption and the problems will be solved. Miss Okereke Bukola, Student

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think President Buhari should start the fight against corruption from the high ranking officers, I mean the uniformed personnel. He should go by asking some questions from their lower ranks on how their big officers stole their allowances. -Miss Lizzy Popson, Self Employed

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hen will President Buhari fight corruption? We are tired of talk everyday, let his actions speak for him. Now we know that our politicians are after their own personal good, and do not have any good plan for our great country, Nigeria. -Mr. Timothy Afolabi, Businessman

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e need the fear of God and a divine understanding to depart from evil to eradicate corrupt practices. We can begin by re-introducing moral instruction as the foundation of education in our homes and schools. -Pastor Nelson Azubuike, Clergyman

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am personally happy with President Buhari going back to the Halliburton bribery scam because it is among the corruption issues that had really affected the progress of Nigeria as a nation. -Miss Ebereke Kelechi, Worker

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 47

Mobil boosts anti-malaria war with N3bn

SAN tasks EFCC on fight against financial crimes

By Onozure Dania

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By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—THE Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC has been urged to step up its acts in curbing financial crimes among public officers to stem the tide of corruption in the country.

The charge was given yesterday by a Jos-based legal practitioner, Mr. Garba Pwul, SAN, while speaking with journalists in Jos. He lamented the manner with which public officers abused their offices and betrayed the peoples’ trust, stressing that stringent measures needed to be adopted to address the situation.

Pwul tasked the commission to take up cases against serving and past public officers who had cases to answer and desist from handling with kids gloves, cases of those who looted public treasury.

He said: “I think the recent trial of some past state governors by EFCC is a step in the right direction but the agency does not appear to be achieving the goals set for it.

“EFCC was meant to be an agency expected to try financial offenders, but to the best of my knowledge, such has not been achieved. ‘’Nigerians are waiting to see the trial and conviction of corrupt public officers, such as governors, ministers, judges and other top public officers.”

He also tasks citizens to ask questions when a public servant was seen living beyond his or her earnings as, according to him, until the security agents begin to beam their search lights on perceived corrupt people in the society and prosecute theml, the rot will continue.

FORUM: From left; Dr Olusanya Olawale, Consultant Pathologist, Pathcare Nigeria and speaker; Professor Abiodun Adewuya, Speaker; Dr Omololu Osinowo, speaker; Dr Afolabi Bosede, speaker; and Dr Babaseyi Oyesola, speaker, during Pathcare's Doctors' Forum, in Lagos.

Kwara PDP accuses Ahmed of diverting N3bn bailout fund

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, in Kwara State has accused Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of diverting the over N3 billion bailout fund from the Federal Government meant to pay the five months salary arrears of workers and pensioners in the state into private uses.

The party described the diversion as criminal, insensitive and a total negation of the spirit behind the release of the fund by the federal government.

This is contained in an “Alert” sent yesterday to all the labour unions in the state, including the media, which demanded that the state government be made to account for the amount which it claimed had been paid into the account of the state government since July 8, 2015.

The statement read: “The general public is hereby, alerted that Kwara State government has diverted over N3 billion received to pay the salaries and pensions of Kwara workers and retirees.

“Our party is alarmed by this conduct and we dare say that the diversion is criminal, insensitive and a total negation of the spirit

behind the funds’ release.

“Our party reliably learned that Kwara State share of the bailout funds was paid on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. But till this very moment, over five months salaries being owed some categories of workers in the state are yet to be paid.

“Even more curious is the fact that Kwara State government has kept mute about the exact amount it got from the Consolidated Revenue Account in bailout.

“Whereas, virtually all states of the federation, particularly Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Kano, Kastina and Kaduna states, have publicly declared how much they got in bailout from the Federal Government, the APC-led government of Kwara State has kept a dangerous silence over the funds.”

The PDP call on the national leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress, Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union of Nigeria, RATAWU, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, ASUP whose members are the worst hit in Kwara State to prevail over the Kwara State government to

Coscharis rewards loyal customers with N121m

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OSCHARIS Group has, in line with its tradition of supporting customers’ businesses, rewarded them with over N121 million for their patronage in 2014 in a forum held in Lagos.

The reward was accorded customers nationwide who, in the course of 2014, transacted with the company businesses worth N3 million and above, and those who displayed its ABRO products without mixing them with other products.

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While the number one customer went home with goods worth over N9 million, the number two and three customers enjoyed gifts worth over N6 million and N4 million respectively.

Speaking at the forum, President of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, stated that the forum was specifically designed to thank customers whose patronage made significant impact on the company during

the course of the year.

He said: “These our customers here are the most important visitors we expect in our premises because they are people that keep us in business. ‘’This is a little unique thing we do that most of our competitors, may be, don’t see value in. We don’t give them cars because they can buy the cars they like but we put the money back into their account to purchase additional products from us.

immediately commence the payment of arrears of salaries, allowances and pensions of workers without further delay to ameliorate the suffering of the civil servants in the state.’’

When contacted, Governor Ahmed’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications,Dr Muideen Akorede, said the state had not received the bailout from the federal government, adding that what was received was the arrears accrued to Kwara State from the money shared from the NLNG, an amount he did not confirm.

He said: “What we received so far was the arrears of NLNG shared to all the states; we have not received bailout from the Federal Government.”

AGOS—MOBIL Producing Nigeria has donated over N3 billion for the fight against malaria in Nigeria.

This was disclosed during a donation of sickbay for Victoria Island Primary School in Lagos.

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility, the Group Medical Director of Mobil Producing Nigeria, Dr Mohammad BelloAliyu, who was represented by Dr Effiem Abbah, said since 2000, Mobil had contributed more than N19 billion globally to NGOs, non-NGOs, such as USAID and roll back malaria, which made Mobil the largest corporate donor to the fight against malaria in Nigeria with over N3 billion “We are involved in all aspects of the fight against malaria advocacy, research, development, control, treatment, prevention and education programmes. ‘’Our programmes have reached almost 105 billion people, provided over 13 million insecticide treated nets, over two million treatments and over 1.1 million rapid diagnostic tests and has also reached out to over 30,000 pregnant women in our operating communities with services and commodities to prevent and control malaria in pregnancy to ensure the health of mothers and safety of the unborn child, amongst others,’’ he said.

Aliyu said the donation of the sickbay was a clear demonstration of the company ’s willingness to invest in the health, safety and well being of the children.

‘Jigawa contributory pension scheme, first and best'

By Aliyu Dangida

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UTSE—THE Executive Secretary of Jigawa State and Local Governments Contributory Pension Scheme, Comrade Suleiman Kiyawa, has described the scheme as the first and the best that should be emulated by other states.

Speaking with Vanguard in his office, Kiyawa said the scheme, which started in February, 2001 with the legal backing of Law No. 1 of 2004 and had reached high stage with Gombe, Katsina, Niger and some southern states emulating the policy, said the scheme had appointed six pension fund administrators with “Penman Pension” leading in the PFA as contained in PENCOM’S guidelines.

Suleiman explained that Jigawa State adopted the use of Defined Benefit Scheme instead of RSA,

which he described as easy and simple for any retired or family of deceased workers to have access their benefit without any hitch, saying remittances fluctuated based on the number of retirement and death recorded in the work force.

Kiyawa pointed out that according to the scheme, the remittance portion of workers stood at 8% and 17% basic monthly salary from the government, stressing that all staff of state and local governments were captured before their retirement period through directorate for salary and pension administration.

The Directorate for Salary and Pension Administration is one of Jigawa State government’s agencies responsible for the preparation of payroll, screening, and authentication of retirees and death benefit of workers through the use of electronic system.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Alhaji Rasheed Adeyemo, Chairman, Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society, NASFAT, Osogbo branch; Alhaji Biliaminu Ishola, former Chairman, and Alhaji Aliu Afolabi, during the post-2015 Ramadan prayers/lecture organised by NASFAT in Osogbo.

RCCG DONATES: From left— Mrs. Carol Nwankwo, Chief Matron, Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos; Kehinde Buraimoh, Assistant Pastor, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Lord’s Chapel, Gbagada; Pastor Ade Omokorede; Dr. Tayo Lawal, Chief Medical Director, and Pastor Sola Agunbiade, at the donation of equipment to the hospital by the church.

NAFDAC'S STAFF UNION: From left— Mr. Anzaku Joseph, Secretary; Mr. Attah Isah, Chairman, and Mr. Albert Udeme, Public Relations Officer, all of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Staff Union, at a briefing the union's clash with the agency's Director of Finance and Account, in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

SOUTHERN SUN'S CHARITY: Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, donating gift items to the Arrows of God Orphanage, Ajah, in commemoration of the annual International Day in honour of Nelson Mandela.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS: From left— Foluso Phillips, member, Board of Directors, Special Olympics Nigeria; Clem Ugorji, Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd; Naomi Saliu-Lawal, National Director; Victor Osibodu, Chairman, Board of Directors, both of Special Olympics Nigeria; Sewndo Whenu, Permanent Secretary, Sports, Lagos State Government; and Oge Udeagha, Manager, Media Communication, ExxonMobil, at the sendforth reception for Special Olympics Nigeria althletes to Los Angeles, in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

VISIT: From left— Mr. Tajudeen Obasa, lawmaker representing Ojo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; Miss Shukurat Alli, one of the survivors of the Ojo boat mishap; the lawmaker's wife, Aishat; and Alhaji Adio Salami, Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos State, during the lawmaker's visit to affected families of his constituents.

DOREGOS: From left— Miss Praise Davies, incoming Head Girl; Bello Opeyemi, outgoing Head Boy; Mrs Clementina Doregos, Founder; Miss Tosin Ojutalayo, outgoing Head Girl, and Gbolahan Bruce, incoming incoming Head Boy, all of Doregos Private Academy, during the academy's 21st valedictory service and graduation ceremony in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

GEMSVILLE: From left— Mrs. Igmat Mogaji; Alhaja Agbeke Bilesanmi; Mrs. Liz Emmanuel, Proprietress, and Rev. Emmanuel Adebola, Chairman, Gemsville International School, during third graduation ceremony of the school at Ogba.

NASFAT: From left—

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As Buhari visits Obama

A

DECADES-long friend in Lagos was furious when President Buhari’s visit to the United States popped up in our discussion. She was too peeved to see any positive thing about the state visit. To her, it is rather a meaningless jamboree when there is work to do at home. While there is merit in the argument that President Buhari should stay home and address the fundamental national issues he ought to have anticipated when he was campaigning for office, I endorse his trip to the extent that it might help him steady the zigging and zagging approach his administration appears to have adopted on matters of state since he was sworn into office.

A number of lessons come to mind.

President Buhari must have noticed that upon arrival in the United States, very few people appeared to care about the fact that he was in town. There were no school children and indolent state officials to line his route to the White House, waving at him in an exhibition of those ceremonial bunkum he was used to in his first life as Nigeria’s military leader, and now that he wears the civilian presidential paraphernalia. Americans are too busy organizing their lives to spare some time to engage in such spectacle. Such enthusiastic welcome are spared for sportsmen and women, film stars, artistes and people like Pope Francis whose presence and speeches touch hearts across national boundaries. Not even the media in the US will celebrate Buhari’s presence in their country in any substantial manner.

A mention here, and an acknowledgment there, is all Buhari will get from the likes of the New York Times and CNN. Most certainly, his departure will be unsung.

Lesson? If you want to excite Americans, prove and establish yourself first at home.

That is how you will earn their accolade and endorsement. If your trip is to embellish your emptiness, then try another country.

Americans have little The enthusiasm for nonachievers. If you visit media’s without solid role is not credentials, some of them might even to praise translate such visit as whoever another form of that is in attempting to sponge off the largesse of the power.

American people and And, their government.

And, many don’t like whoever that impression. That that is in partly explains why a political nonentity like power Donald Trump is should not riding the waves in popularity by expect pretending to be the journalists man to cleanse the country of immigrants to become who come to feed fat cheerleaders

on Americans’ toil and sweat.

Although President Buhari is relatively new in office, I believe his handlers (aides) are already seeing Nigerian media professionals as terrible irritants.

Unfortunately, his government no longer has the magic wand to introduce another form of Decree Number 4 of 1984 which his administration used in his previous life to silence any journalist who published or broadcast anything that ridiculed a public officer. If Buhari should take a few minutes to watch channels like Fox News and other conservative-leaning media outlets, he might count himself blessed and lucky that Nigerian journalists treat him with kids’ gloves.

At a news conference addressed by President Obama last week, a Fox News White House reporter blatantly ignored the unprecedented an immensely important nuclear deal reached by the Obama administration and other countries with the Iranian government. The reporter ’s question was why President Obama felt contented about the deal while four Americans languished in Iranian jails. A manifestly frustrated Obama dismissed such characterization as “nonsense.” I wonder how Buhari might have handled that ignorant and insulting innuendo that was packaged as a question.

Insulting innuendo Lesson? The media’s role is not to praise whoever that is in power. And, whoever that is in power should not expect journalists to become cheerleaders. Indeed as a student, we were taught that journalists should strive to comfort the afflicted and justifiably afflict the comfortable. Hopefully, part of the briefings President Buhari should have obtained before embarking on this trip to the White House should be about expectations from the populace about people in power. Here, people expect performance from their leaders.

Lesson? The expectation in a good democracy is that people aspiring for leadership ought to know what problems their constituencies face and how to deal with them before assumption of office. The presidency is not a technical school where you go to learn the knots and bolts of say, carpentry or bricklaying.

Today, the US invests huge resources in keeping its citizens from harm. It is obvious to everyone that the US intelligence agencies are at the top of their game in trying to prevent acts of terror on their homeland. President Buhari should use his trip to learn that as long as Boko Haram militants keep killing people with brazen recklessness, platitudes and sacking military officers will not be enough to assuage Nigerians.

There are other lessons President Buhari could learn from his hosts, such as working to make Nigerians feel proud of their country, the way Americans take pride in their country. If after his visit, President Buhari retires to his Aso Rock enclave and continues to fan the impression that he is a “sidon-look” or “baba go-slow” leader, then Nigerians should truly lament because wota don pass garri.

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54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

APC group lauds Emerhor on reconciliation

A

SABA—THE Delta State APC Professionals, weekend, commended the recent publication by Olorogun Otega Emerhor, its governorship candidate in the last election, geared towards reconciliation.

Chairman of the group, Dr. Ken Mordi, who spoke to journalists in Asaba said the publication was viewed with suspicion by many leaders and stakeholders of the party across the state who strongly believe that genuine reconciliatory efforts require more visible action, other than mere lip service.

Mordi, however, urged the state government to justify its indebtedness with many key projects like the Asaba-Kwale -Ughelli road dualisation project and others remaining uncompleted.

He said the administration should own up to the ugly realities of the state’s indebtedness which he alleged was largely due to the wanton mismanagement of public funds by the government.

Mordi noted that the PDP administration cannot be any different from the past regimes, and that only an APC-led government can deliver the true dividends of democracy to meet the yearnings of the good people of Delta State.

CAMPAIGN: Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, presidential candidate, Alhaji Mustapha Lamidi, addressing journalists, during his campagn visit to Oyo State NUJ in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Army chief in Maiduguri; changes code to Operation Lafiya Dole zWarns against cowardice, indiscipline

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AIDUGURI— FOLLOWING his declaration last week that his command of the Nigerian Army and strategy to deal with the Boko Haram terrorism menace will be pursued by action rather than talking, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai has renamed the code name for the war on terror from "Operation Zaman Lafiya" to "Operation Lafiya Dole" signaling his determination to attain peace by force in the North East.

General Buratai who was addressing troops at the 103 Battalion headquarters located in Konduga, Borno State, warned that he would not tolerate any act of indiscipline or cowardice from any soldier. He also exhorted Commanders to be more proactive and respond promptly to distress calls.

COAS's vision

Towards this end, the COAS informed the troops of his vision and the resolve to end the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and assured them of the Federal Government’s support, adding that all necessary equipment and facilities would be provided to actualize the defeat of the insurgency.

A statement in this regard signed by Colonel Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, read; “As part of the efforts to rejig and add renewed vigour to the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country especially in the North East, the Nigerian Army has decided to rename the

Operation Zaman Lafiya” to “Operation Lafiya Dole” which mean “Peace by Force.”

“The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major General Tukur Yusufu Buratai made this known at 103 Battalion of Nigerian Army based in Konduga, Borno State at the weekend.

“The COAS had hit the ground running shortly after taking over the command of the Army by travelling to the northeast to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Fitr prayers with troops in the frontlines.

“During the Sallah period he visited quite a number of units and troops, interacted with them and personally assessed the operations himself.

“The COAS also used the occasions to inform the troops of his vision and the resolve to end the activities of Boko Haram terrorists.

“He also assured them of the Federal Government’s support and that all necessary equipment and facilities would be provided to actualize the defeat of the insurgency.

“He commended them for their resilience, bravery and dedication and enjoined them to take the initiative and be more proactive.

“He charged that troops should do more by pursuing and destroying Boko Haram terrorists within the bound of Rules of Engagement.

“In line with his vision, some of the identified challenges in the frontline were proactively addressed through specific directives.

“During the visit he also took meals with the troops and paid courtesy calls on the Executive Governor of Yobe

State, Shehu of Borno and the Deputy Governor of Borno State during which he stated his mission and also thanked them for their support to the troops."

Continuing, Usman said: “Based on the new thinking, the code name “Operation Lafiya Dole” which means “Peace by Force” is to send a strong and final warning signal to the terrorists that they cannot derail the wheel of peace in the north east or any part of Nigeria.

"He assured people of Yobe, entire northeast and Nigeria of the determination of the Nigerian army to successfully

end the Boko Haram terrorists’ activities.

Fraudsters using COAS's name on Facebook

Meanwhile the Army authorities have disclosed that fraudsters are using the Chief of Army Staff ’s name on Facebook.

In a statement, the army said: “It has come to our knowledge that some unscrupulous and criminal elements have started using the name of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major General T.Y. Buratai through Facebook platform requesting for friendship, extort and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.”

EBOLA: AU describes outbreak as most

complex in disease's history

By Chioma Obinna and Agency reports

L

AGOS—AS Nigeria yesterday marked one year after late Patrick Sawyer imported Ebola Virus Diseases, EVD, into the country, the African Union, AU, has described its outbreak in parts of West Africa as the largest, longest and most complex in the disease’s history.

The AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Mustapha Kaloko, stated this at the opening ceremony of the AU’s international conference on Ebola which kicked off Monday, in Malabo to share experiences in Africa’s fight against Ebola and discuss post-epidemic recovery and reconstruction for Ebolaaffected countries.

The conference is being held under the theme: “Africa helping Africans in the Ebola Recovery and Reconstruction.”

The two-day event brings together government officials, UN and regional agencies and private sectors to share experiences on lessons learned in the fight against Ebola.

Special focus would be given to the commitment to assisting Ebola-affected countries, especially Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, in their recovery and reconstruction efforts.

It is also expected to feature plans to prevent future public health-threatening outbreaks on the continent.

Kaloko, further recalled that the uniqueness of the outbreak has

highlighted the fragile health systems in the affected countries.

According to Kaloko, “It also highlighted the significant deficits in the human, financial and material resources needed for an effective and timely response to outbreaks.

“In addition to the death and illness caused by Ebola, there has been an upsurge in mortality and morbidity from other diseases and conditions.

“This is linked to the collapse of health systems, which significantly erode local capacities in critical areas,” Kaloko said He stressed the need for health funding in most African countries which is currently below the required level to achieve a functional, basic health system and called for new initiatives to diversify funding resources.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015—55

Refusal to educate children now criminal offence in Sokoto—TAMBUWAL A

NY parent, who refuses to educate his children will now be liable to criminal charges, if a bill before Sokoto State House of Assembly is passed into law, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, has warned.

The move, which is considered both radical and revolutionary, is aimed at boosting school enrolment and providing quality education to every child as required by local and international laws.

Consequently, the state government plans to build and equip 240 primary and tertiary healthcare centres in the three senatorial zones of the state, as part of measures to enhance implementation of the policy.

Making this known while addressing religious, traditional and political leaders from 11 local government areas of the state, who paid him a Sallah visit in Sokoto yesterday, Tambuwal said the policy became necessary in view of the high percentage of parents, who deliberately frustrated government’s efforts to educate children.

He said the state government had already made adequate arrangement to cater for the educational needs of its citizens, adding that anyone caught flouting the new regulation would not be spared.

The governor noted that the founders of Sokoto Caliphate made their marks in areas of education and scholarship, adding that there was no excuse if their successors failed to provide, at least, basic education to the future generation.

According to him, if the state

gets its education priorities right, many ills of the society would have been addressed.

While appealing to his

visitors to support the new initiative, Tambuwal said vocational training centres and employment

VISIT: Mr. Ovie Agasa (middle, front row), flanked by Bashorun Askia Ogeah (3rd left); Mr. Olisa Imegwu (3rd right); Mr. Christian Ededhor (3rd left); LAWSAN President, Mr. Dan Daniel and others during LAWSAN members' visit to Delta State's Secretary to the State Goverment in Asaba. PHOTO: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Election of Dogara as Speaker irreversible—REP

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—AS members of the National Assembly reconvene from their prolonged break, member representing Vandeikya/ Konshisha federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Herman Hembe, has stated that the election of Yakubu Dogara as Speaker was a popular choice

that would not be reversed.

He said majority of the lawmakers in the House supported his emergence as Speaker because of his pedigree and experience, which stood him out and also gave him the requisite edge against the choice of Femi Gbajabiamila by All Progressives Congress, APC. Hembe, who spoke to reporters yesterday in

Arewa community restates support for Gov Okowa, Uvwie monarch

T

HE Arewa community in Uvwie in Delta State, under the leadership of Alhaji Suleiman Jauru, Sariki Arewa community in Uvwie, has pledged their loyalty Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and support for HRM Emmanuel Ekemejewan Sideso, Abe 1, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom.

The community said both leaders were men who had impacted positively on the Arewa community in the area.

Jauru, who spoke to newsmen at his Effurun residence during the Muslim festival of Eidel-Fitri, expressed appreciation to the Uvwie monarch for carrying the Arewa people along, saying “ we have never had it so good.”

He also scored Senator Okowa high, expressing

opportunities would be created to cater for the youths and other vulnerable members of the society.

confidence that non-Deltans, particularly the Arewa people, under the

administration of governor Okowa will reap the dividends of democracy.

NIM makes case for women

N

IGERIAN Institute of Management, NIM, yesterday emphasised the need for efforts aimed at unleashing the power of women in leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, as this is key to breaking the ceiling for women to aspire to become achievers.

NIM, in a statement announcing its annual conference for women in management and leadership, scheduled to hold July 22 and 23, at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, noted,

however, that there has been a surge of assertive, innovative and enterprising women leaders, entrepreneurs and pioneers in Nigeria who have distinguished themselves over the years.

President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Nelson Uwaga, who issued the statement, noted that in today’s evolving business environment, every female manager or leader must be prepared to explore her leadership and innovative potentials needed to take her and the organisation to the next level.

Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said majority of the members were resolute in their choice and would not yield to any external influence on the matter.

He said: “We, the lawmakers, went for experience and competence that is why we insisted on Yakubu Dogara, who we all felt had the pedigree and comportment to lead us.

“So his election as Speaker cannot be reversed in the present circumstance because he was not imposed on us, we freely without any form of external influence, elected him considering also that he is one of the top ranking members, who is generally acceptable by majority of the members.

“Besides, the man also possesses the mental and moral qualities as well as the good reputation that we craved in a leader.

“As for Femi Gbajabiamila, we do not see him as a man that possesses the required experience and pedigree to lead and hold the House together.

“What we did in that election that produced the present Speaker was totally in consonance with the wishes and aspirations of our constituents, which is the more reason why everyone should rally round him and support him to succeed.”

Expert cautions against skin cancer

By Bartholomew Madukwe

F

OUNDER of Mintus Creations Inc., a medical firm in Canada, Dr. Amina Babakura, has said that women in Nigeria absorbed about two kilogrammes of chemicals through toiletries and cosmetics yearly, noting this could cause cancer.

Babakura, who is an expert in making natural and organic products that helps to heal damaged skin and hair, noted that the rise in the use of harsh chemicals contained in some creams that tended to lighten skin or clear acne was a boost to cancer.

According to her, a survey carried out by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Studies found that over 884 chemicals used in personal care products and cosmetics were toxic.

Lalong reiterates commitment to peace

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—PLATEAU State governor, Simon Lalong, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensure that lasting peace was restored in the state.

According to him, credible suggestions from religious and community leaders in achieving the goal will be appreciated.

The governor noted that collective efforts in ensuring community vigilance, public order and the sustenance of religious teachings that engendered peace and harmony were the necessary ingredients that would enhance peace building efforts in the state.

Lalong, who spoke yesterday while receiving the delegation of the Muslim community on Sallah homage, said despite the challenges confronting the state, the support received from every citizen was reflective of the fact that everyone was committed to having a united people on the Plateau, living together in peace and harmony.

56 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 21 , 2015

United Arab Emirates issues anti-intolerance law

T

UN Security Council backs Iran’s nuclear deal T

HE U.N. Security Council yesterday backed Iran’s nuclear agreement with world powers but the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guards attacked the resolution, underlining powerful opposition to the deal.

U.S. President Barack Obama hailed the United Nations endorsement, saying it showed last week’s accord commanded broad international support as the best way of ensuring Iran never gets nuclear weapons.

The European Union also approved the deal, which curbs Iran’s nuclear program in return for easing economic sanctions, while Germany rapidly moved to revive its once close trading relationship with Tehran.

At the United Nations, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that was negotiated as part of the agreement reached in Vienna between Iran and the six powers.

In return for lifting the U.S., EU and U.N. sanctions that have crippled its economy, Iran must accept long-term limits on the nuclear program that the West suspected was aimed at creating an atomic bomb, but which Tehran says is peaceful.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said the deal would make the world “safer and more secure”.

•UN Security in session yesterday.

However, the agreement still faces opposition in the U.S. Congress and some Middle East states, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as from the Revolutionary Guards and other Iranian hardliners.

Even before the Council passed the resolution in New York, top Guards commander Mohammed Ali Jafari denounced it for interfering

with Iran’s military operations and crossing “red lines” set

by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“We will never accept it,” he was quoted as saying by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Iranian hardliners are worried that U.N. inspectors may gain some access to sensitive military sites under the resolution, which becomes

RAN’S foreign minister yesterday criticized the United States and Israel for not taking the threat of military action against Tehran off the table following the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

The official IRNA news

agency quoted Iran’s top diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, as saying the military option remains a very hazardous idea.

“Applying force ... is not an option but an unwise and dangerous temptation,” he said. Yet, Zarif added, “there are people who talk about

HE Cuban flag was raised over Havana’s embassy in Washington yesterday for the first time in 54 years as the United States and Cuba formally restored relations, opening a new chapter of engagement between the former Cold War foes.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodrig-uez presided

over the reinauguration of the embassy, a milestone in the diplomatic thaw that began with a breakthrough announc-ement by U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro on Dec. 17.

The U.S. Embassy in Havana was also officially reopened for business. But the Stars and Stripes will not

•Castro (Left) and Obama (Right).

be hoisted there until a visit

by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expected next month.

Without fanfare in the predawn hours, maintenance workers also hung the Cuban flag in the lobby of the U.S. State Department, where it joined the banners of other countries with which the United States has diplomatic relations.

Serious differences remain between the United States and Communist-ruled Cuba, and efforts toward full normalization of ties are expected to proceed slowly for now. But the steps that officially took effect on Monday carried enormous symbolism after more than two years of initially secret negotiations between governments that had long shunned each other.

illegal and illegitimate application of force” for their own purposes.

He called the nuclear deal reached last week a “victory of diplomacy over war and violence.”

Zarif did not single out any specific country but his remarks came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said during a visit to Israel that the accord imposes no limits on what Washington can do to ensure the security of Israel

the report said.

The law was decreed by the president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Among other things, it targets actions that are considered hate speech or promote discrimination or violence in all forms of media.

Penalties include six months to more than 10 years in prison and fines up to 2 million dirhams ($545,000). Authorities held out the possibility of amnesty for those who proactively turn themselves in.

The Emirates is a Western-allied, seven-state federation that includes oilrich Abu Dhabi and the Mideast commercial hub of Dubai.

Home to the second largest Arab economy, it has emerged as a multicultural trade and tourism center. Its native population is overwhelmingly Muslim, though foreign residents of many faiths far outnumber locals.

...Europe joins

T

HE European Union approved the Iran nuclear deal with world powers yesterday, a first

Iran criticizes US, Israel over threat of military action I

Cuban, US restore diplomatic ties

T

international law.

The country’s senior nuclear negotiator, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, dismissed critics’ concerns and called the resolution an “unprecedented achievement in Iran’s history”. The deal must be approved by Iran’s National SecurityCouncilandlaterby Khamenei. Parliament’s role is not clear.

HE United Arab Emirates issued new legislation aimed at combatting intolerance on Monday, outlawing actions that stoke religious hatred and discriminate based on religious or ethnic background.

The law’s introduction comes amid growing alarm in the Emirates and other oil-rich Gulf Arab states over the rise of militant extremists, particularly the Islamic State group.

The legislation bars discrimination based on “ religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race, color or ethnic origin,” according to official state news agency WAM. It also criminalizes any action that encourages religious hatred or insults religion, and calls for punishing those who label other religious groups as infidels or unbelievers.

“The law is intended to provide a sound foundation for the environment of tolerance, broadmin-dedness and acceptance in the UAE,”

and U.S. Arab allies.

Carter also said the deal “does nothing to prevent ... the U.S. military option.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been harshly critical of the deal, asserting that it clears the way for Iran to build nuclear weapons that would threaten Israel’s existence and ultimately diminish U.S. and global security. He has also strongly hinted that military action remains an option.

•Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif and members of his team to the Nuke talks.

step toward lifting Europe’s economic sanctions against Tehran that the bloc hopes will send a signal that the U.S. Congress will follow.

In a message mainly aimed at skeptical voices in the U.S. Congress and strong resistance from Israel, EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels stressed that there was no better option available.

“It is a balanced deal that means Iran won’t get an atomic bomb,” said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. “It is a major political deal.”

Ministers left the details of their endorsement until after a U.N. Security Council vote scheduled but have formally committed to a gradual lifting of sanctions along with the United States and the United Nations.

Following the deal in Vienna, Iran has agreed to long-term curbs on a nuclear program that the West suspected was aimed at creating an atomic bomb, but which Tehran says is peaceful.

The European Union will retain its ban on the supply of ballistic missile technology and sanctions related to human rights, EU diplomats said.

Cameron announces anti-militancy plan

P

RIME Minister David Cameron said yesterday that moderate Muslims in Britain should speak out against Islamist militants, saying it was wrong to deny any connection between their

religion and acts of violence.

Cameron outlined a counter-extremism strategy designed to halt the spread in Britain of the radical ideology promoted

by Islamic State militants

(IS or ISIL) in Syria and Iraq - what he called the “struggle of our generation”.

He also demanded that internet companies do more to help fight the spread of radical ideologies.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 57

planes sink ship, UN needs $20 million to battle bird Libyan attack another near Benghazi flu in West Africa L

T

HE UN appealed yesterday for $20 million to stem outbreaks of bird flu in West Africa, a region still weakened by the Ebola crisis.

The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) said it needed the funds (18.45 million euros) to respond swiftly to outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu, without which the poultry virus would spread beyond the region.

Because the highly virulent disease can be transmitted to humans, the FAO said it was working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) on contingency plans and probing suspected flu cases.

The call follows outbreaks in poultry farms, markets and family holdings in Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria and Ghana.

“The outbreak comes as countries across West Africa are still recovering from, and in some cases still battling, Ebola,” the FAO said, referring an epidemic that was centered in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra

Leone.

“Avian flu could trigger a mass die-off of chicken — a nutritious and inexpensive source of food for many people — with detrimental impacts on diets and on the economy of the region, exacerbating an already difficult situation,” it added.

Juan Lubroth, head of FAO’s animal health division, warned of “a real risk of further virus spread.”

More must be done to “strengthen veterinary investigation and reporting systems in the region and tackle the disease at the root, before there is a spillover to humans,” said Lubroth.

The $20 million will go towards bolstering weak veterinary systems, upgrading laboratories and putting FAO specialists on the ground in affected and at-risk countries.

E

Responses include destruction of infected and exposed poultry,

disinfection of premises and markets and the safe disposal of dead birds.

Rwanda Lawmakers approves third term for Kagame

R

WANDAN lawmakers began a national tour Monday consulting people on possible constitutional changes to allow strongman Paul Kagame a third term

France delivers fighter jets to Egypt GYPT yesterday took delivery of three Rafale fighter jets from France, the first of 24 warplanes sold in a 5.2 billion euro ($5.6 billion) deal earlier this year.

Egyptian authorities took charge of the planes at an air base in southern France, and they will be flown to Cairo by specially trained pilots on Tuesday.

Cairo is hoping to boost its military presence as it faces an unstable Libya to the west and threats from militants linked to the Islamic State group in its Sinai Peninsula to the east.

For Egypt, the agreement is also a show of support for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who overthrew his Islamist predecessor in 2013 and wants to break a US monopoly over arms sales to Cairo.

The overall deal with Egypt also includes contracts for missiles and for an FREMM multimission frigate from naval group DCNS. However, the deal has sparked concern from campaign groups worried about Cairo’s human rights

•UN Sec. Gen. BanKi Moon

record.

Some have accused Paris of double standards for freezing its delivery of two Mistral-class warships to Russia over the Ukraine crisis but going ahead with the Egypt deal.

The deal is a muchneeded boon to cashstrapped France and Paris hopes that by showcasing French military technology it will prompt more orders for its premier combat jet, which it struggled for years to sell.

in power, parliament speaker Donatilla Mukabalisa said.

Last week both houses in parliament voted in support of a constitutional change, backing a petition signed by millions of citizens.

“All lawmakers will go to consult with the population... to ask them their opinion about the amendment - what they expect from this reform,” Mukabalisa told AFP. Over 3.7 million people — well over half of the voters — signed a petition calling for a change to Article 101 of the constitution, which limits the president to two terms, according to Rwandan media.

The consultations, which end on August 11, will guide lawmakers as they draft proposed changes.

Any change to the

N Kenya, they’ve dubbed it ‘Obamacare’: potholes filled, new pavements and overnight flower beds, as Nairobi is spruced up for the capital’s most awaited visitor, US President Barack Obama.

For the past month, hundreds of people have been employed to tidy the main highway from the airport to the city centre, often resulting in major traffic jams due to the road repairs. “If traffic is bad now with this

‘Obamacare’, imagine what it will be when he actually comes,” said taxi driver John Kemboi, his engine switched off as he waited in stationary traffic, bad even for the notoriously slow roads of the capital Nairobi.

“And won’t Obama simply take a helicopter anyway?” he added, laughing at workers repainting faded road markings and laying new pavements on once muddy sidewalks.

Those working —

carrying weapons in the same area.

OIL TANKERS A military official in Mareesa said the vessels were only small ships like fishing boats coming from western Libya, which is controlled by a rival government challenging the official administration based in the east since losing Tripoli a year ago.

“One boat was sunk, the other is burning,” the official said, asking not to be named.

A Reuters reporter had heard planes on Sunday circling above Benghazi, which is about 20 km (12 miles) from Mareesa.

Tripoli-based state oil firm NOC has accused the eastern government of having three times bombed oil tankers that the eastern forces had said carried weapons and ammunition.

The official government is based in the east since losing the capital a year ago to a rival group, which set up its own administration.

Both have attacked each other with aircraft.

Senegal begins trial of former Chadian dictator

•Paul Kagamme constitution would require a vote in support by at least three-quarters of both parliamentary houses, followed by a national referendum.

Kagame, 57, has been at the helm of Rwandan politics since 1994, when an offensive by his Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebels put an end to a genocide

by Hutu extremists that left an estimated 800,000 people dead, most of whom were Tutsis.

Nairobi gets ‘Obamacare’ ahead US president’s visit

I

IBYAN war planes sank one ship and attacked a second vessel on Sunday near the eastern city of Benghazi, military spokesmen for the country’s internationally recognized government said on Monday.

There was no independent confirmation for the strike near the town of Mareesa, the latest attack on ships in Libya where two governments and parliaments are fighting for control years after the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi.

“The vessel was sunk because it had loaded fighters, weapons and ammunition to support terrorism in the eastern region,” air force spokesman Nasser al-Hassi said early on Monday.

Mohamed El Hejazi, a spokesman for Khalifa Haftar, top army commander of the internationally recognized government based in eastern Libya, said the strike had also targeted a second vessel which had been

sweeping the streets, cleaning the litter — are paid 400 shillings (around four dollars, 3.5 euros) a day.

“They are doing maintenance works like weeding, grass cutting,” said city council official Leah Oyake.

“It is not enough, but we have nothing else to do,” said 19-year old Jeremiah Wekesa, grumbling at his salary, but adding he is excited at the visit.

•Hissene Habre

C

HADIAN dictator Hissene Habre went on trial yesterday in Senegal, a quarter of a century after his bloodsoaked reign came to an end, in a prosecution seen as a test case for African justice.

Once dubbed “Africa’s Pinochet”, the 72-year-old has been in custody in Senegal since his arrest in June 2013 at the home he shared in an affluent Dakar suburb with his wife and children.

Dressed in white robes and a turban, Habre pumped a fist in the air and cried “God is greatest” as he was escorted by prison guards into the Extraordinary African Chambers in the Senegalese capital.

He refused legal

representation, having consistently said he did not recognise the court’s jurisdiction and vowing not to cooperate with the trial.

The courthouse, packed with around 1,000 participants, spectators and local and international media, heard a number of introductory speeches before it emerged the defendant was refusing to enter the dock.

“These chambers that I call an ‘extraordinary administrative committee’ are illegitimate and illegal.

Those who preside here are not judges but simple functionaries,” Habre said in a statement read out by the chief judge.

He said he had been “kidnapped” and “illegally detained” and therefore had no case to answer.

58 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

• Section of the failed Ikotun- Ejigbo road

Govt mobilises for IkotunEjigbo road re-construction

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode last Tuesday paid an unscheduled visit to the Ikotun-Ejigbo road, assuring the residents that work on the road will commence today.

In obedience to the governor ’s directive, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, has started recruiting the locals that will work towards providing palliative measures to ease the traffic gridlock often experienced as a result of the poor condition of the road.

According to reliable sources, officials of the state Ministry of Works and LSPWC have concluded plans to commence work on schedule.

It was learned that the governor directed the officials to employ residents who are willing to work as labourers in the execution of the project.

The move it was gathered

was part of the employment drive for the youths by the present administration as well as the promise to run an all inclusive government.

There had been public outcry by residents in the axis over the poor state of the road, neglected by both the state and local governments in the past.

By the gover nor ’s pronouncement, relief is on the way for the people of the area.

several local governments, hence it could not be left at the state which it was.

The governor promptly, directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Mr. Paul BamgboyeMartins and the General Manager, Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC,

Tree planting programme Ambode, who went on tour of the area after planting a tree at Government Technical College, Ikotun, to commemorate the state annual tree planting programme, described the state of the road as “unacceptable”, and assured residents who trooped out to hear from him that the road will get a face lift.

He said the road was too strategic as it serves as a major link road connecting

Officials of the state Ministry of Works and LSPWC have concluded plans to commence work on schedule

Mr Ayotunde Sodeinde to move immediately to the area to commence work within two days of his visit.

Ambode said, “I have come personally to see for myself the state of Ejigbo road and it is very clear that this is totally unacceptable and there is no other remedy than to let our officials come to site within the next one week and the people of this neighbourhood should be guaranteed that work will start on Ikotun-Ejigbo Isolo axis within the next seven days.”

The governor who appealed to residents for understanding when the construction commences, said efforts would be made towards providing relief.

According to him, “We will make sure that you have immediate relief and that in the course of the rehabilitation, the people in the neighbourhood should just bear with us but work will commence immediately after Ramadan.”

The road rehabilitation when

completed is expected to bring huge relief to residents and motorists especially those who live in I k o t u n , Jakande Estate in Oke Afa and others, who rely on the road to connect their respective destinations.

Also man-hour loss to gridlock will be reduced drastically.

But as they hope to spend less time on the revamped road, some residents have appealed to the state government to introduce strategies that will ensure safety.

Speaking in Y o r u b a language to Vanguard, Mr. K a z e e m Alebiosu, a t r a n s p o r t e r, who plies Ikotun –Cele axis, could not hide his joy saying, “I am really excited when I heard the news from the governor. We have been going through a lot due to the bad road. I visit vulcanizers and mechanics on a daily basis. Driving on this road is like driving through hell. And when it rains, it is a total shut down.

Huge expenses on maintenance “We (transporters) have to charge exorbitant transport fares in order to meet up with huge expenses on maintenance.

This development is a big relief on us. Our turn around on the job will be enhanced.”

For Mrs. Remi Adesanya, a resident of Orilowo Ejigbo, “It is a dream come true. We never thought any intervention could come our way this year but with the directive from the governor, we say Kudos. May God continue to lift him up higher.

“Ejigbo has been neglected for eight years, we do not know our offence before the previous government. But what we are appealing to the new government is to ensure speedy completion of the work so that it would not go the way of other snail-speed projects.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 59

Badagr Badagryy deep sea por portt ttoo driv drivee huge in invvestment

By Dotun Ibiwoye

T

HE construction of the p l a n n e d $1.5 billion Badagry Deep Seaport will commence in two months from now and it will be the biggest deep sea port in Africa.

The seaport will be situated on over 1,000 hectares of land with the capacity to create thousands of employment opportunities.

During a visit to the site of the project in Badagry, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos said that a good number of foreign and domestic investors including Maersk Group “have already signed on to the project,” thereby suggesting that the state would have largest cargo container port in Africa.

According to the governor: “We hope that in the next two months, we would commence construction work on this project. This is my reason for coming here personally to see things for myself. We know that they (investors) have done their best to ensure the project comes to fruition. “We will also do our best to see the project commence operation within the shortest possible time.

The project means a lot to us in terms of employment and establishment of new settlements.

Ambode stated that his administration would work effectively to bring development to the communities in the state.

He, therefore appealed to the warring communities to embrace peace.

Warring communities There are 12 communities here; we will ensure that they are all compensated. But in a situation where we have one or two communities still at the negotiation stage, we will ensure that we reach necessary conclusion, he said “I just want to appeal to one of the warring communities -Aivoji, that they are safe. We are going to mobilise immediately to see that what has been done from Mile 2 to National Theatre (end of the Blue line of the Lagos lite rail) continue to Marina within the next 12 months.

“We should be able to put to use whatever has been done from Mile 2 to Marina. We will protect the interest of every community by supporting them. We will be working with them to ensure that all issues are sorted out soon.

Even as we ensure that the project is long lasting for generation yet unborn.

He affirmed that the commencement of the project would not halt the ongoing LagosBadagy Express road project, saying “the project would be constructed simultaneously with the ongoing expansion of the Lagos-Badagry expressway into 10 lanes.

“And immediately they

•Life in Makoko community....

(CCECC) commence work on the road project from Mile 2 towards Badagry, once we pass the aspect of Okokomaiko, we should be able to do the Blue Rail from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko.

“The Mile 2 Badagry Expressway is very important to all of us and like we said, it’s a project that we must finish. It’s a project that I would like to be completed within the shortest possible time, so I’ll like to see greater work done on the road project itself.”

According to Sonayon Agbetan who lives in Topo, Badagry: “This

project will definitely turn Badagry to a business hub. It will be very good for the state and the federation as a whole. But my question to Lagos State government is that will this project take eternity like the expansion of the Lagos -Badagry road?

For Ekene Uzombah who lives in Agbara Lagos: “It will be winwin for both the people and the government. We cannot even quantify the amount of jobs that will b created. I really appreciate a government who is thinking ahead. Apapa and Tincan Island ports will be deconjested.

Ishaya Bulus: “I will be happy

to see Africa’s deepest seaport in Lagos. If this seaport is well managed I can assure you that

Warning residents against illegal sand filling, Adenekan said that the act does not help to improve free flow of water rather it had increased flooding in the state

the dollar will come down against the naira drastically. Our neighbour Benin Republic will have to find another source of income because the merger of a free trade zone in such a massive seaport means millions of dollars per day.

Rilwan Balogun: “Until completion of a project, we cannot assess and project. Nigeria has myriads of problems. This opportunities will make some people millionaires overnight while millions will become poorer.

The leadership and corruption issue will be the major factor for the Deep Seaport’s success”.

Delight as Lagos Light Rail dream near ilment nearss fulf fulfilment

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

W

ORRIED by the public outcry over the pace of work on the ongoing construction of the Lagos light rail project, the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has pledged to complete the Orile to Marina section of the light rail (blue line) in 12 months.

The Blue Line is a 27 km rail road with thirteen stations from Okokomaiko to Marina. The Blue Line is undergoing construction at the middle of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway which the government is currently expanding into a 10lane highway.

Vanguard gathered that the exgovernor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola had committed about N99 billion to completion of this section of the blue line; considering the level of construction needed to be done by the contractor-Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC. Sources said that this section of the 27 kilometre of the Blue line would include construction of Flyover Bridge and huge number of piles in swampy terrain.

Ambode who disclosed this during inspection of the light rail project at Mile 2 alongside the Managing Director of Lagos Area

Throughout the exercise, the association also carried out health safety measures for the residents of Makoko, the major beneficiary

Metropolitan Transport Authority, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said that the completion of the entire project is his priority.

The governor stressed that his decision to inspect the project was to quickly mobilise the contractor in order to expedite action on the rail project and the Lagos-Badagry expressway so that the project could be completed on time due to its importance.

According to him, “On the rail project, we are going to mobilise (contractor) immediately to ensure that what has been done from Mile 2 to National Theatre is continued

to Marina within the next 12 months. We should be able to put to use whatever has been done from Mile 2 to Marina.

“Immediately they commence work on the road project from Mile 2 towards Badagry, once we pass the aspect of Okokomaiko, we should be able to do the Blue Rail from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko.

“What we have come here to do is to specifically ensure that the contractor of the project is mobilised.

It’s also important to us that the contractor takes it as a major priority.

“It is a project that I would like to complete within the shortest possible time. So, I will like to see greater work done on the road project itself.

He said what his administration expected was that, notwithstanding the rain or other constraints, the immediate mobilisation of the contractor should be done “and then the contractor should also increase the pace of work, that’s what we want to see.”

Ambode added that whatever was the hindrance to completing the project, government officials would sit down with the contractor to see how it could be resolved to reduce the people’s suffering.

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CANCER: Mercury has started going on backward motion in your Star sign, therefore you will need to re-examine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by others.

Be family minded.

LEO: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

VIRGO: Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

LIBRA: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better.

SCORPIO: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful ones.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Limiting Your Expectation — 1

R

ECENTLY, a journalist accosted me and wanted to know from me what my expectation is concerning the new government. My answer simply is: I

expect nothing special. Before you crucify me, let me ask you. Haven’t we been having new governments in

TERROR MUDA

N i g e r i a ?

Government come and go but our problems don’t just remain, they get bigger and bigger.

in “Never say goodbye”

Over the years, I have learned not to expect much from government as well as individuals. My policy is: blessed is he that expects nothing for he shall not be disappointed.

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine for you. Be more loving.

CAPRICORN: Success is boldly printed on your cards today.

Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature.

AQUARIUS: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

PISCES: Your creativity quotient is enhanced today and if you demonstrate this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

ARIES: As mercury prepares to go on backward motion it is important you don’t take things for granted. Watch carefully what you agree to do.

TAURUS: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative you. Don’t neglect love.

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,

What does future have for me Dear Joshua, I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know how the planets lined up when I was born.

And which day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my success come?

Jimoh ,Ibadan Dear Jimoh, You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday. You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.

Your Horoscope Data DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PISCES MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person who must have a well developed career. You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself.

Although, you can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an indication of your being an amiable person. Both your natal sun/moon in Pisces and Aquarius are indications of characteristic of star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self Having your hands on public pulse will always bring you unexpected success and fulfilment.

FUTURE TRENDS Around your 30th birthday an endless cycle of great success and achievements will start for you.

Oil-petrol chemicals will feature in your life when the predicted great cycle gets started for you.

Congratulation.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 61

Siasia sure of beating Congo in 2nd leg N ATIONAL U-23 team coach, Samson Siasia has expressed confidence that his team will complete their mission of beating Congo in front of their fans in the return leg at the Pointe Noire.

Junior Ajayi struck twice in the second half to put the Samson Siasia-led side in front before letting their guards down to allow an away goal for the Congolese side which will make the return leg in Pointe Noire more competitive.

The former Flying Eagles coach admitted that the game is still open but he will push his players to the limit to achieve the needed victory and ensure they are one step closer to the African U23 Championship and the 2016 Olympics.

“We know the Congo team now unlike before.

They came to defend. So when we play in Congo we will defend too and wait for our chances to score because we are a side that creates lots of chances in every match,” he said.

“We will go there create these chances and try to convert them too. You know that they need to score so it won’t be the

same way they played here that they will play at their home.

“Since they will come out to attack, we will attack as well as defend. I am confident of getting the needed result to move ahead and qualify,” Siasia assured.

“My boys worked hard on the pitch and every one played very well. But sincerely speaking I think the game is still open. So we need to work harder before the second leg and go to Congo in search of victory,” Siasia said.

C M Y K

XCITEMENT beckons as football fans are set for another preseason thrill with Brila FM’s Wave Ur Banner , holding August 7, 2015 at Blue Roof event centre, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

Held annually at the start of the European football season, the event, in its seventh edition is also billed to hold in Onitsha, July 31st and Abuja, August 7th. And in

•Siasia

Wike assures Rivers govt’s readiness to host more matches R

IVERS state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared the readiness of his administration to host more international football matches as part of efforts

•Gov. Wike

Buhari

Continues from BP An excited Yakmut promised to release the approved figure to the public in line with ‘Change Agenda’ which promotes transparency in governance.

“Mr. President has just approved the funds for the All African Games and I understand we shall be formally informed on Tuesday.

“So, as soon as we get the information about the exact figure approved from the budget we submitted, we will make it open to the public because we intend to run a very t r a n s p a r e n t administration. “ And I think by the time we finish computing all what we have done in the last three months, we are going to say how much has been spent on each item of the projects that we have executed including the Federations.

“And I am sure that you have noticed that the Federations are

Brila FM thrills fans with wave ur banner season 7 E

beginning to feel the public funding scheme especially the ones regarding the All African Games,” Yakmut added.

According to him, apart from the 19 sports that Nigeria will participate in, two other sports namely swimming and gymnastics have been placed on standby in the event that there would be athletes that are exceptionally good to represent the country in the two sports.

To ensure that athletes have the best preparations, Yakmut said that the Federations that have requested for foreign technical support would have them.

The Director General spoke further on this, “We are taking part in 19 events and two other events that are actually on standby. If we have pockets of athletes that are exceptionally good like gymnastic and

to promote sports and also to prove that the state is safe for everybody.

The governor, who stated this while receiving the national executive of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) at Government House, Port Harcourt at the weekend stressed that “the state has the capacity to host FIFA and other international matches.”

“We decided to host the match as part of our contributions to sports development and also to swimming, we will carry them on their merit.

“Regarding technical aid, in fact we are in global technical business and we cannot reduce ourselves to a situation that no matter how bad our coaches are, we must sustain and retain them.

“What we have done is to support the four federations that have requested that they will need technical back-ups from foreign countries.

“So, wrestling has requested for two backups either from Europe, the United States or Canada. Table tennis has also requested fat technical support from Sweden, China or Japan.

“Already, South Korea is supporting us on taekwondo and basketball has already recruited transparently.

“All these we are doing to make sure that we don’t leave technical opportunities unattended to,” Yakmut assured.

prove that Rivers state is safe for everybody.

“I also was to commend the Nigeria Football Federation for giving us this opportunity to prove to everybody that we have the capacity and the right atmosphere to host all manner of matches,” he stressed further.

On the promise of $30,000 for every goal scored by the U-23 team against their Congolese counterpart, the governor said the gesture was aimed at motivating the players and doing the

nation proud.

“I feel we should motivate the boys to give their best. I believe when you motivate them, they will put in extra efforts to perform well.”

The governor, while thanking the national executive of SWAN for the visit and for appreciating his administration’s commitment to sports development and promotion, said his government would not lose focus in its determination.

response to the clamour by fans for more, the station has now expanded the event into a four-times-ayear affair, giving fans the opportunity to come together at strategic periods of the season as the organisation now holds the Boxing Day Edition on December 26, and the Clasico and Victory Party editions in 2016.

Boasting a glamorous history that had A-list artistes like Omawunmi, Wande Coal, Olamide perform at different times, the show will this year be headlined by superstars like Davido, a staunch Chelsea fan, Pasuma and Timi Dakolo, both Arsenal supporters.

•Izamoze

T/Tennis: Union Bank set to battle Africa

N

I G E R I A’ S representatives in the men’s team event of the international Table-Tennis Federation Sanctioned African Club Championship holding in Younde, Cameroon from July22-26, Union Bank Table Tennis Club of Lagos, will depart the country tomorrow with on an Arik Air flight.

Coach of Union Bank team, Samson Ajayi who disclosed this in Lagos , said the team is made up of five players and a coach. They include David Faleye, Ahmed

Bello, Wale Olaniyi , Ogunalade Azeez and junior sensation, Nurudeen Hassan with Samson Ajayi leading the team as the coach.

According to the

Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, the choice of Union Bank was based on their excellent performance at the 2014 Nigerian Table Tennis Championship.

Zenith Bank B/Ball League: IGP Queens cruise to semis

W

ITH two straight wins against the Nigeria Customs which they defeated 60 – 55 on Sunday, and yesterday’s 71 – 51 victory over Benue Princess the inspector General of police Queens, yesterday emerge as the first team to book a semi final ticket at the on-going finals of the 11th edition of the annual Zenith Bank women Basketball league holding at the Indoor Sports hall of the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

FIFA

Continues from BP

president, Michel Platini, would stand for the role.

Following the first executive committee meeting since Blatter promised to lay down his mandate, four days after winning re-election in the wake of the dramatic

indictment of 18 officials in the US, Fifa announced the new election would take place next year.

That means it will be almost nine months between Blatter ’ s promise to step downand the election to decide on

his successor. Candidates will have until 26 October to announce whether they plan to stand under Fifa election rules.

Platini is seriously considering standing for the Fifa presidency after receiving backing from four out of the six confederations.

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 — 63

TRANSFER, TRANSFER, TRANSFER Newcastle to pip Man U to Mitrovic

Man U to break record in £69m Muller bid

M

N

EWCASTLE are on the verge of signing Anderlecht hitman Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Magpies, who beat the drop on the final day of the season with a 2-0 victory over West Ham, have been negotiating a deal for the 20-year-old for the last few weeks.

Earlier this month, Mitrovic’s agent Pini Zahavi claimed that a deal to take the striker - who scored 20 goals in 37 appearances last season - to St James’ Park was close to being completed.

And according to new Toon boss Steve McClaren, the Serbian international - who has allegedly caught the eyes of Premier League big boys Manchester United - is close to sealing a move to Tyneside.

“We are very close to something,” McClaren said when asked about Mitrovic.

“There is a lot of speculation and preempting of decisions.

“But certainly from the feedback back home they are working very hard to bring one or two players back in.”

•Mitrovic

•Victor Moses in action during Chelsea's pre-season camping yesterday

Mourinho: Moses likely to stay C

HELSEA boss Jose Mourinho has hinted that Victor Moses could stay at Stamford Bridge for the forthcoming season despite reports the Nigerian could be included in a deal to land Everton defender John Stones.

Mourinho took the 24year-old to Chelsea’s pre-season tour and told the media at Chelsea’s training base counted Moses as one of the five players in the wing positions for the Blues’ title defence.

“At the moment, with Hazard and Willian, Traoré, Moses and Cuadrado, we have five players for these positions. It is better not to have so many,” Mourinho said on Monday.

The comments suggest that there is likely to be a place in the first-team squad next season for the Super Eagles winger.

Moses and his compatriot Mikel Obi are expected to feature in Chelsea’s first friendly against New York Red Bulls on Wednesday.

HE Management of Kano Pillars FC on Monday announced the sack of the club’s technical adviser, Okey Emordi, with immediate effect.

In a statement by Malam Kabiru Baita, the Chairman of the club, said the sack of the technical adviser was as a result of the club’s poor performance in the ongoing Nigeria C M Y K

Professional Football League season.

“Following the poor performance of the team, the club’s management, after deliberation on the matter decided to relieve the coach of his appointment with immediate effect,” the statement stated.

Kano Pillars have 27 points and occupy ninth position in the table after week 19 match.

And German publication Now Sport1 say United are close to a deal for Muller.

•Muller

Chelsea to wrap up £14m Rahman deal C

•Rahman

Juve fly out for Draxler

J

UVENTUS sporting director Fabio Paratici has reportedly flew to Germany, with Julian Draxler his main objective.

According to Sky, Paratici headed to Germany yesterday, with the objective of securing one of the Old Lady’s targets.

•Draxler

HELSEA are pushing to conclude a £14m deal with Augsburg for left back Abdul Baba Rahman He was rated the best left-back in the Bundesliga last season and has also attracted an offer from Roma.

Manager Jose Mourinho is believed to be a huge admirer of the 21-year-old and is confident he can be

N

•Oliseh

EW Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has already swung into action to draft quality players to the Super Eagles by setting up a meeting with Liverpool striker Jordan Ibe, AfricanFootball.com reveal.

Ibe’s father is Nigerian even though he has represented England at various age-group levels and Oliseh now

persuaded to move to Stamford Bridge.

The Ghana international will face the same problem Luis had in trying to displace Cesar Azpilicueta as first choice left back.

Rahman wants reassurances that he will get to play regularly before committing his future, however it is thought he favours a move to the English champions over Roma.

‘Ronaldo ready to leave Real’

T

HE agent of Iker Casillas has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo “is preparing for his departure from Real Madrid”.

The Portuguese recently sold his image rights to Valencia owner Peter Lim in an unsolicited move, and Santos Marquez believes the deal is a definite sign that the player is looking to leave Santiago Bernabeu in the near future.

“One day, [Perez] will have to explain why

Oliseh to talk to Ibe

Pillars sack Emordi

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ANCHESTER UNITED are ready to break their transfer record and spend £69million on bringing Thomas Muller to Old Trafford, according to reports in Germany.

The Bayern Munich forward will also been offered a five-year deal

by Louis van Gaal.

The Dutchman hinted last week that one more big deal could still happen by saying a surprise could be on the cards.

wants to convince him his future lies with the Eagles and not England.

Earlier this year, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) hinted they were making efforts to get Ibe to commit to Nigeria.

And last week, Oliseh said during his media presentation in Abuja Nigeria no longer have top-class performers who could on their own

•Ronaldo Cristiano works for another company other than Madrid,” he told AS. win matches for the country, like was the case in his playing days.

Oliseh has had to wait for Ibe to return to England with Liverpool from their training tour of Asia before he could meet with the versatile forward.

“Oliseh, who has returned to Europe, will meet with Jordan Ibe to convince him he has a brighter future with Nigeria than England,” an official told AfricanFootball.com

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Fake Dollar rain on Blatter

Oliseh wants Jordan Ibe in Eagles — Pg.63 Blatter calls for security as Brodkin addresses those in attendance

Fifa announce presidential election date

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IFA has fired the starting gun on the race to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of the scandal hit organisation, setting the election for 26 February next year.

The announcement came as it emerged that it was increasingly likely that Uefa’s Continues on Page 61 •Ibe

Blatter looks on bemused as fake bills land around the FIFA president who has held his position in the governing body since June 1998

Buhari approves funds for All African Games P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has surprised those who think his administration will not accord sports priority by approving funds to ensure preparations ahead of the 2015 All African Games.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Alhassan

Yakmut confirmed yesterday after addressing the athletes undergoing training.

The All African Games is holding in Congo Brazzaville from September 4 to 19, 2015.

This is a clear departure from the usual practice of releasing funds two weeks to a major international event.

Continues on Page 61

Glo Premier League Results

Pillars sack Emordi — Page 63

•Buhari

•Yakmut

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S PUZZLE

FRIDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Shoot (6) 5 Fight (6) 8 Fleet (8) 9 Mislaid (4) 10 Hatchet (3) 12 Fish (5) 15 Weep (3) 17 Prohibit (3) 18 Moo (3) 19 Centre (3) 20 Solemn (5) 21 Fish (3) 22 Stretch (3) 23 Solidify (3) 24 Bow (3) 26 Corroded (5) 29 Statute (3) 33 Island (4) 34 Final (8) 35 Coma (6) 36 Scold (6)

DOWN 2 Flowers (5) 3 Curse (4) 4 Claw (5) 5 Quarrel (5) 6 Story (4) 7 Lariat (5) 10 Pale (5) 11 Receded (5) 12 Wrath (5) 13 Mirror (5) 14 Dirge (5) 15 Dilate (5) 16 Under (5) 25 Start (5) 27 Complete (5) 28 Pulsate (5) 30 Asunder (5) 31 Retain (4) 32 Jetty (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Chic 4, Sip 4, Lack 8, Prison 9, Nature 10, Dog 12, Shrub 14, Broom 15, Miser 18, Accede 20, United 24, Total 26 Snout 28, Glade 30, Ale 32, Proper 33, Dreamt 34, Slur 35, Dim 36, Sure.

DOWN: 2, Harsh 3, Costume 4, Send 5, Pang 6, Later 7, Corrode 11, Ore 12, Sea 13, Bid 16, Set 17, Rut 19, Control 21, Nag 22, Illness 23, Die 25, Owl 27, Upper 29, Demur 30, Arid 31, Edam.

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.

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