No corrupt APC member'll escape justice - BUHARI

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62454

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

CDS unveils agenda to end insurgency

9

ANTI-GRAFT WAR:

No corrupt APC member'll escape justice — BUHARI zSays he is ready to negotiate with B'Haram over Chibok girls

z12 weeks too early to judge me zVows to fulfil his campaign promises SCARCITY: Oil marketers face sanction over product diversion

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AGOS — P R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said that no corrupt member of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), or associates will go scot-free in his antigraft war.

His critics have, however, expressed doubts over his anticorruption crusade, alleging that he is

I'M ALIVE 9

Why I visited CJN,

by Wike 14 FG treating PDP members as prisoners of war — METUH 8

Continues on Page 5

Imo workers battle govt over 50% slash in salaries See Inside

Mr & Mrs Chief Security Officer, CSO, to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Gordon Obua, addressing newsmen at the Department of State Service, DSS, office, in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. See story on page 9.

COLUMNISTS: Critical thinking, a means to defeat the untouchables •P.17 C M Y K

By Kingsley Adegboye, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

How do I get her back?

•P.36

EFCC, big man syndrome and anti-corruption fight •P.19

Broke states, broken Federation: Will Buhari restructure Nigeria?

•P.19

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

HANDOVER: Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex

Badeh (left), handing over to his successor, Maj.-Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

No corrupt APC member'll escape justice — BUHARI Continues from Page 1 surrounded by corrupt associates who are untouchable.

However, President Buhari said, yesterday, that no corrupt member of his party will escape justice. He spoke in a nine-minute CNN interview with Christine Amanpour.

Asked if he would sanction the guilty ones if they were members of his party or associates, he said: "I just have to.

There is not going to be any party member or personality that can escape justice."

In the interview, Buhari restated his promise to secure the release of the Chibok schoolgirls, who have spent more than 460 days in captivity even if it means negotiating with leaders of the Boko

Haram sect.

The President said he would deliver on his campaign promises, adding that 12 weeks is too early to judge whether or not he has performed.

He also promised to invite President Barack Obama of the United States of America to Nigeria.

The interview ran thus: You have asked the United States to help you in the fight against Boko Haram, what exactly did you ask in this regard and what answer did President Obama give you?

The United States is the one leading the G7 and they promised to do whatever they can to help Nigeria, so we have brought our requirements to them in

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophesy of what you shall at last unveil — James Allen

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HEN you dream big things, you open many doors. You’ll encounter a good amount of excitement as you go about life because you’ll be in adventurous and unpredictable situations. This is because big dreams can push your limits and keep your life fresh. Who wouldn’t want a life filled with excitement? When you dream big, you’ll achieve great things. You may even end up achieving more than you ever thought you could.

For example, you might be at a crossroads where you’re considering whether or not to get a job in a certain field or start a business in that same field.

The job is a safe bet with a likely limited salary.

The business is the “big dream” that can provide fulfillment and not just in the salary potential. You’ll be personally fulfilled and you’ll achieve more for your hard work.

When you really think about it, the ‘Right Thing to Do’ for the World and yourself is dream big, living beyond limits, dreams are the reasons why the world changes for the better. It’s the reason why there have been so many great inventions, and cures for diseases. Big dreams give you the opportunity to truly leave your mark on the world.

terms of equipment, training and intelligence gathering for Nigeria to be able to fight Boko Haram.

Nigeria is experiencing falling economy, especially falling oil prices. How are you going to deal with that?

My people want security in the country to be stabilized both in the South-South region where militants are still sabotaging oil installations, kidnapping our people and demanding ransom, and in the North-East of the country where Boko Haram is still active. This is the main preoccupation of Nigeria now and it seems nothing will work until Nigeria is secured.

Despite your vow that you will fight Boko Haram, over 400 people have been killed since you became President.

Added to that, the Amnesty International said your military has totally lost the confidence of the people because of the systematic human rights abuses in killing of some 8,000 people. How do you expect your military to be able to go against Boko Haram and also gain the trust of the people?

I have just mentioned that under Chad Basin Commission, we have agreed to hold a multinational joint task force. So, whatever happened before that decision was taken will help to allow further investigation to verify the question of human rights abuse. I am sure we must admit the decision taken by the Federal

Government of Nigeria in changing the military command.

What about the famous Chibok girls? It is being said that they might be traded for Boko Haram members that are in prison right now. Is your government willing to trade those girls in that regard?

We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leaderships coming up claiming that they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed and that is why we are taking our time because we want to bring them back safe to their families and schools.

So, are you in principle against or will you consider exchanging the Boko Haram members for the Chibok girls, if you can verify the credibility of those leaders of Boko Haram?

I cannot be against it. I told you that our main objective is how to secure the Chibok girls and bring them back to their schools and rehabilitate them to go back to their normal life.

If we are convinced that the leadership that presented itself can deliver those girls, we will be ready to negotiate with what they want.

You came on the platform that you will do better than the previous government. You said

you will fight corruption, insecurity and economy among others. There have been hundreds killed since you took over, how can you do any better?

I have said I can be held to my promises for the next three years plus I have ahead of me. I think its too early for anybody to pass judgement on my campaign promises.

Part of your campaign promises is to stamp out corruption. If the guilty ones are members of your party or your own associates, will you crack on them too?

I just have to. There is not going to be any party member or personality that can escape justice.

Are you disappointed that President Obama is yet to visit Nigeria?

I would not say I am disappointed but how I wish he will change his

mind and come to Nigeria.

Did you ask him when you met with him and did he say he would?

I asked him and I will send him a formal invitation.

A former dictator of Chad is being tried in Senegal. Do you support that process of trying an accused African leader in Africa than the International Criminal Court?

Whether he is tried in Africa or elsewhere in the world, the important thing is: let justice be done.

Whatever evidence the prosecution have in Senegal, I think they should proceed to make available to the world and prosecute him according to the international laws on human rights.

So you support that process?

I support any process that is based on justice.

Nigeria to export 348,000 bpd of Qua Iboe crude oil in Sept

By Michael Eboh with agency reports

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BUJA—Nigeria will export 348,000 barrels per day of Qua Iboe crude oil in September, lower than the 368,000 barrels per day (bpd) initially planned for August, according to a provisional loading programme obtained yesterday.

The exports will come in 11 cargoes, compared with the 12 planned for August. Qua Iboe has been in high demand over the past month, largely due to buying by Indian refiners.

Reuters shipping tracking data had a few days ago stated that Nigeria had upstaged Saudi Arabia as the highest crude oil supplier to India for the first time in at least four years.

This was even as oil

trading data showed that the country had planned to increase its crude export for August, despite the fact that around 20 cargoes of June and Julyloading of its crude oil were unsold in the last few days.

The unsold cargoes point to the fact that the country is experiencing difficulties in finding buyers for its crude oil, despite lowering the prices for the commodity.

Specifically, the shipping tracking data showed that Nigeria sold 745,200 barrels of crude oil per day to India in the month of May, compared to Saudi Arabia’s 732,400 barrels per day.

The report further stated that Nigeria and Angola accounted for 26 per cent of India’s total imports in May, up from around 15.5 per cent in April, the highest in more than four years, while the Middle

East share fell to 54 per cent in May from 61 per cent.

According to the report, the shift comes as the gap between the international benchmark Brent and the Middle East price marker narrows, adding that the premium for Nigerian crude over Brent has plummeted in recent months, making it more attractive.

Commenting on the development, a senior consultant at UK-based consultant, KBC Energy Economics, Ehsan Ul Haq, said: “This gives advantage to the complex refiners like Reliance to buy superior grades of oil like those from Nigeria at discounted rates.”

Haq had further projected that Nigeria and other West African countries’ oil’s share to India could average as much as 25 per cent this year.

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

3 acquitted of conspiracy charge

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—JUSTICE Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, discharged three persons accused of conspiring with a police sergeant, Onyeka Eboma, 38, to rob a bank at Akowonjo.

The trio, Ezekiel Omoloye, Sunday Gabriel and Gambo Freeman.

According to the charge, the trio, on April 4, 2010, while armed with guns, robbed the bank guarded by a security guard, Sunday Ogundipe, of N10.1 million.

The defendants were arraigned by the state on a three-count charge of murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

It would be recalled that the police sergeant, Eboma, who was accused of leading a robbery gang, of which the three defendants were alleged members, was arrested by policemen attached to Ipaja Police Division, while on stop-and-search duty.

However, police later granted him bail, after which he went for another robbery where he died in a crossfire.

Delivering her judgement, Justice Okunnu said there was no evidence that linked the defendants to the bank robbery that took place on April 4, 2010, noting that what was recounted to the Investigative Police Officer, could not be held as proof.

Police uncover baby mill in Abia, nab 14 pregnant teenagers

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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BA—POLICE in Abia State have arrested 14 pregnant teenagers at a maternity home allegedly used as baby factory at Umunkpeyi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state.

The pregnant girls, aged

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GHELLI—IN what seems to be a revenge mission on the attack of their gang member, a group of suspected cultists in Ughelli, Delta State, have trailed and shot down a suspected member of a rival cult.

The victim, identified as Kess Olotu, who was buried in his community at Otor-Iwhereko within Ughelli metropolis, was attacked by the rival gang around Ughelli Central Garage, popularly referred to as Ughelli Urban, and was said to have died from gunshot wounds.

Renewed cult activities recently rocked Ughelli, when suspected cultists attacked and

while others said they were brought to the maternity home by sympathisers.

Some of them said they were driven away from their homes because of the unwanted pregnancies.

“Twelve of the 14 suspects are confirmed to be at various stages of pregnancy, while two said they were there to check

if they were already pregnant,” the source added.

Spokesman of Abia State Police Command, Ezekiel Onyeke, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who confirmed the incident, urged the public to assist the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the proprietress of the home.

BULLION VAN ACCIDENT:

Police fail to arraign suspects

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

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Tombia Junction, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Man, 26, commits suicide in Bauchi

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—A 26-year-old civil servant from Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State has committed suicide.

The deceased, identified as Daniel Haruna, allegedly drank a poisonous chemical

One dead as cultists clash in Delta

By Perez Brisibe

between 14 and 25, were arrested at Nma Charity/ Maternity Rehabilitation Centre, while its proprietress, Nma David, escaped before police stormed the area.

A police source told Vanguard that some of the teenagers claimed to have come from Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Rivers states,

maimed a rival gang member within the same area in broad daylight.

According to a source in one of the groups, irked by the attack on their colleague who is currently receiving medical attention in an undisclosed private hospital within Ughelli, the gang mobilised and attacked the late Kess Olotu as a warning to rival gang members.

Speaking to Vanguard, a member of Ughelli local vigilante and senior executive of Otor-Iwhereko, said: “Immediately we got report of the incident, we mobilised and chased the boys leading to the shooting and arrest of one of them by the police.”

substance, known as Gamali 20, popularly used to kill rodents, last Sunday.

It was learned that Daniel was battling with alcohol and found it impossible to drop the habit, a development that put him in constant need of money.

According to a family member, who pleaded anonymity, Daniel who lived with his younger, brother, Musa, came home late last Saturday and asked his younger brother for food.

Musa was said to have asked the deceased what happened to the money he gave him to prepare the meal for that day, which he did not prepare.

Vanguard gathered that Musa was woken from sleep by sounds of groaning and that when he saw his brother writhing in pains and vomiting, he thought he was drunk as usual and went to look for milk to stop the vomiting.

It was also learned that it was so late that Musa could not get milk to buy and, therefore, went to sleep and woke up the next morning to see his brother still in pain.

Daniel was said to have told his younger brother to call

some family members that he actually took poison to kill himself.

When the relatives gathered, he asked them to forgive him for whatever wrong he might have done them.

He was taken to General Hospital, Dass, on Sunday morning where he died.

Doctors, according to a family source, said the deceased died of poisoning.

He said that the deceased had been buried at Dass.

The family source said that shortly after Daniel's death, many of his neighbours and friends started recalling some of the things he was saying.

The source said: “For instance, he was telling people that brought for food for Sallah to come and collect their plates because very soon they will not see him again and he will not be responsible for anything that happened to their plates.”

When contacted, spokesman of Bauchi State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Haruna Mohammed, said he was not aware of the incident, but promised to find out.

TOR-UDU—THE police, yesterday, at the Otor-Udu Magistrate's Court, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, failed to arraign the three suspects involved in the bullion van accident that resulted in the knocking down of a female by-stander, Mrs Onome Akporode, along Udu Road, due to the inability of police to complete investigation in the case.

Though the prosecutor refused giving details of the suspects, a senior official of Ovwian Police Station, who spoke on condition of anonymity, gave their names as Tare Onome Joseph, Edozie Gabriel and Godwin Odobare.

Speaking on their involvement in the accident, the source noted that upon completion of investigation, the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, would be in a better position to tell if the third accused, Godwin Odobare, was involved in the incident.

He said: “The VIO has not inspected the vehicles involved in the accident and the Ovwian Divisional Police Officer failed to do the needful which is a proper investigation process on the case before taking the suspects to court.

“When the state commissioner of police called him in this morning (yesterday), he said he was yet to do so and have been ordered to conclude investigation on the matter.”

Meanwhile the court has rescheduled the case for hearing to August 4.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—7

If only my father had listened to me —Survivor of Lagos gas explosion

By Evelyn Usman

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HE death toll of Monday's gas explosion in Ajegunle area of Lagos rose to three yesterday, following the death of two siblings.

Recall that father of the children, Charles Obianagor, 55, was burnt beyond recognition, while his wife, four children, sister in-law and six neighbours were rushed to the hospital.

Vanguard gathered that his two children, a male and a female, aged 12 and nine, respectively, died at about 10p.m. same day, in a hospital at Gbagada, where they were rushed to.

Yesterday, his wife, Mabel, and his two children, Issac and Amaka, were still at the intensive care units in separate hospitals at Tolu and Gbagada areas of the state, with doctors battling to save their lives.

‘My father ignored my warning’

One of the survivors, Isaac, whose legs, hands, part of his back and face were severely burnt, blamed his late father for the tragedy, unaware that the father was dead.

Narrating how the incident occurred, 16-year-old Isaac, who just concluded his secondary school education from Bola Ige Millennium Secondary School, Tolu, stated that his family was advised to change their burner owing to a technical fault.

He said he bought the burner and also refilled the gas cylinder, Monday, and was on the verge of fixing it when his father opted to assist him.

According to him: “My father brought the cylinder to the sitting room and opened it, with the intention of tightening the lock. I told him not to open it that it was dangerous but he ignored the advice, saying nothing would happen.

“I do not know what he pressed, but the next thing I heard was a deafening sound and the smell of gas everywhere. As I rushed to tighten the cylinder head, the impact of the fire flung me away.

“This was because the stove was lit and there was pepper soup and rice, which my mother was going to sell later that day.

z... as death toll rises to 3

By Anayo Okoli

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Isaac, a survivor (above) and the apartment (right). pouring water on me. I did not know how others escaped.”

At this point, he asked if his parents and siblings' condition were as serious as his, unknown to him that his father and two siblings were dead.

When Vanguard arrived the scene of the incident located at 7, Amore Street, it was observed that only the Obianagor ’s apartment was affected.

‘We broke through walls to rescue them’

A resident, who simply gave his name as Mukaila, explained that nobody could gain access into the affected apartment because of the burglary proof mounted on the balcony and entrance of the apartment.

Mukaila said: “When the incident occurred, we heard their desperate shout for help.

But nobody could go inside because of the burglary proof.

We tried to break it, but could not because it was locked from inside.

“Another cause for their inability to escape was because there was only one escape route which was through the kitchen, which was engulfed by fire.

“We had to break the wall by the balcony, from where the wife, four children and the wife’s niece, who came on holiday, were brought out.

“We were made to understand that they were using coal pot before but that other tenants kicked against it because of the smoke it generated.”

Hospitals rejected victims ‘I couldn't breathe’ “At this point, my whole body was on fire. I managed to rush to where we keep our clothes with the intention of using the clothes to put out the fire on my body, but I was still burning.

“At that time, I could not breathe again. I managed to open the burglary proof and went out before people started

Police rescue man from kidnappers in Abia

It was also gathered that two hospitals within the vicinity, where Mrs Obianagor and her four children were rushed, rejected them.

Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “They were rushed to Tolu Medical Centre, where only Isaac was admitted, as the hospital said they could not

admit the rest owing to the magnitude of burns.

“From there we rushed them to Femi and Zolingar hospitals, where they were also rejected and referred to Gbadaga General Hospital.”

Vanguard gathered that the charred remains of Charles Obianagor was also rejected at

the morgue.

Members of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, where late Charles worshipped, reportedly brought an ambulance, which conveyed the deceased to his home town in Anambra, Monday.

He was said to have been buried yesterday.

DARAMOLA MURDER: Police arrest two APC members

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS—TWO members of All Progressive Congress, APC, in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State have been arrested in connection with the murder of the party ’s Assistant Treasurer, Shalewa Daramola, last week in Festac, Lagos.

The suspects are, the party leader in Amuwo Odofin, Alhaji Waheed Adewunni and the Youth Leader, Mallam Abubarkar Mai. As at yesterday, the duo were still being interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba.

Police sources revealed that when the deceased’s telephone was checked, it was discovered that the party’s chairman was his last caller.

He was said to have sent a text message to late Daramola, informing him to come to the party’s secretariat located at ’K’ close, 3rd Avenue, to collect chicken and rice for the celebration of the just concluding Sallah.

Daramola was said to have gone to the secretariat in company of Mai. He reportedly told Mai that he suspected that someone was tampering with his car and went to check, only for a stranger to accost him, demanding for money.

Before he could reply, the

stranger reportedly shot him four times.

The gunman was said to have turned to Mai, demanded for money, but later left to join his partner, who was waiting on a motorcycle outside the gate.

M UA H I A — A B I A State Police Command has, in collaboration with its counterpart in Imo State, rescued one Ifeanyi John of Obigbo, River State, from his kidnappers.

Vanguard gathered that his rescue by police followed a tip-off by members of the public to Ubakala Police Station in Umuahia.

The victim was said to have had a vehicular break down at Usukpe village, along Port Harcourt-Enugu highway and was fixing it when two unidentified men suddenly abducted him.

Spokesman of the command, DSP Onyeke Ezekiel, who confirmed the development, said the abductors tied the hands and feet of their victim, locked him up in the boot of their Toyota Corolla and drove off towards Imo State.

He said a police rescue team from Ubakala Police Station was dispatched to rescue the victim, adding that the team intercepted the kidnappers at Obowo in Imo State.

One of the suspects, who gave his name as Ifeanyi Nwunni, 30, a native of Umafai, Imo State, was arrested, while the other suspect escaped.

Eight die in Ondo road accident

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—EIGHT persons reportedly died in an auto crash late yesterday along IlesaAkure Expressroad in Ondo State.

Eyewitness account informed Vanguard that the crash occurred at Igbara-Oke. It was gathered that the driver of a truck, loaded with cement, lost control and collided with a commercial vehicle, a Toyota Sienna.

The bus was said to be coming from Lagos when the incident occurred.

Eyewitness said that some passengers in the Sienna car, including the driver identified as Sunday Efo, died instantly.

It was gathered that a passenger, who sat beside the

driver of the commercial bus in front, did not die but only sustained serious injuries.

Vanguard was informed that the Toyota Sienna bus left Ojota in Lagos and was heading to Ikare-Akoko when the crash occurred around Igbara-Oke. Efforts by sympathisers to rescue the victims proved abortive as they died immediately the crash happened.

Their corpses have been deposited at the morgue of government hospital in Igbara-Oke. Officials of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, reportedly helped in evacuating the corpses to the government general hospital in Igbara-Oke late yesterday.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

States to clear salary arrears soon—YARI

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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B U J A — CHAIRMAN of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Yari, has assured that arrears owed workers across country would be cleared soon by the debtor states.

He stated that the National Economic Council, NEC, headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, had given directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to release funds under a special intervention scheme to enable states clear the arrears of workers.

Yari, who was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to follow up the release of the funds, told State House correspondents after his meeting with the Vice President that authorisation had been secured, adding that they were waiting for the CBN Governor, who is currently in Washington DC with President Muhammadu Buhari on official trip, to return.

He said: “We discussed about the issue of the special intervention funds.

“In our last meeting with the President, we agreed at the National Economic Council that there will be a special intervention from the Federal Government for the states that cannot pay salary arrears.”

FG treating PDP members as prisoners of war—METUH

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, has accused All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government of treating its members as prisoners of war.

Spokesman of the party, Olisa Metuh, who was addressing party stakeholders in Lokoja shortly before the commencement of the rescheduled ward congress of

the party in the state yesterday, said the party was also working hard to win the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship polls scheduled for November and December, respectively.

According to him, “we are being treated as if we are prisoners of war. We are being treated as if we are refugees.

We are not afraid, we have faith in our strength and unity; faith in the peace, unity and

AWARD: From left—Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director, PLAC; Professor Attahiru Jega, former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Mrs Amina Zakari, acting INEC Chairman, during the public presentation of Situation Room Reports on 2015 general elections and presentation of achievement award to Professor Jega in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Senate Minority Leader: Court rules on suit challenging Akpabio’s eligibility today

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court will, today, determine whether or not the

former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio is qualified to be appointed as the Minority Leader of the 8th Senate.

The suit, which was lodged

Tragedy averted as aircraft suffers burst tyre in Lagos

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

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AGOS—A major air tragedy was averted yesterday at the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, when an Aero flight NG127 from Lagos to Abuja with over 141 passengers on-board, suffered a burst tyre just as the plane was lifting off after “attaining V2”.

At this high velocity, aborting the take off will lead to immediate crash of the plane.

According to the airline, the pilot did the right thing by not aborting the take off, but controlled the plane into the air and brought it back for

progress of Nigeria.

“We (PDP) are not afraid of the intimidation, harassment and arrest of our members by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, if the arrest is done within the confines of the law.”

The Publicity Secretary said while the party ’s stand against corruption had remained unwavering, he lamented the alleged witch

hunt of its members by the Buhari-led administration under the pretext of a probe.

He said: “We condemn the uncivilised method of arrest, intimidation and the abuse of the fundamental human rights of members of the party, who served in the last administration, by the Buhari-led administration.”

Governor Idris Wada, in his welcome address, described Kogi State PDP as one big family, and appealed to members to abide by the congress rules to ensure a successful election.

emergency landing.

Reacting to the incidence, the spokesman of the airline, Mr. Sam Tumba, said: “Aero flight NG127 from Lagos to Abuja on this day made an air return as a result of a burst tyre, which occurred just as the airplane was lifting off.

“The pilot did the right thing by not trying to abort the take off. He controlled the airplane into the air and following all trained procedures, he brought the plane back to a safe landing.

“At no time, during all of these, were the passengers' lives at any risk.”

Also confirming the incidence, Nigerian Civil

Aviation Authority, NCAA, said the authority is already investigating the incidence and some of the passengers on-board the flight have already rescheduled their flight to today.

According to a statement from Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, the authority will further examine “what actually happened during the flight.”

This incidence is coming barely a month after another Aero Contractors Airline flight 180 from Lagos to Kaduna, with over 120 passengers onboard, developed technical fault mid-air.

before the court by two members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Rivers and Imo states, Alaye Pedro and Dr. Okechukwu Ibeh, respectively, has 18 Senators from the SouthSouth geo-political zone as defendants.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to restrain the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and members of PDP caucus from the South-South in the Senate from appointing the Senate Minority Leader outside the provision of Order 3(2) of Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended).

The aforementioned rule of the Senate prohibits the appointment of a first time Senator as a principal officer.

The plaintiffs maintained that whereas PDP is the leading minority party in the Senate and is entitled to produce the Minority Leader, they contended that in line with Order 3(2) of Senate

Standing Orders 2015, ranking must be the basis for appointment of such principal officer.

They averred before the court that “ ranking ensures that principal officers posses adequate experience and avoids promoting junior over senior,” adding that in zoning the position of the Minority Leader to South-South, PDP take into consideration the ranking of PDP senators from the zone.

The plaintiffs, however, decried that “a clique within the larger PDP caucus in the 8th National Assembly has concluded plans to subvert the mandatory provision of Order 3(20) of the Senate Standing Orders by selecting or appointing the Minority Leader by a procedure in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015.”

Consequently, they urged the court to intervene by ensuring that the proper procedure was adhered to by the leadership of the Senate with regards to the appointment of Minority Leader.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 9

CDS unveils agenda to end insurgency

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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N a day all the new service chiefs took over the reins of power, the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Abayomi Olonisakin, unveiled an agenda aimed at bringing to an end the lingering onslaught being unleashed on the nation by the Boko Haram sect.

Addressing officers and men after taking over from former CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Olonisakin, vowed that specific timelines would be set by the forces to be able cripple insurgency and give the nation a new lease of life.

Describing insurgency as one of the greatest challenges facing the nation, the new CDS vowed that no effort would be spared in confronting the monster and putting it into the dustbin of history.

Beyond the raging insurgency in the Northeast, Olonisakin drew attention to the spate of armed banditry, militancy, kidnapping and other vices that threaten Nigeria’s security and impinge negatively on the economy of the nation.

To defeat the enemy and put the nation at rest, the CDS revealed that Defence Headquarters would henceforth provide the needed leadership, direction and coordination of the military efforts.

He said: “We will therefore be proactive in providing the very necessary strategic direction and support for implementation by the Services in order to achieve the desired end-state in the counterinsurgency and other operations in the country.

“In furtherance of the successes so far achieved, we will look at ways to strengthen the existing arrangements as well as provide new strategic direction.

“We will set specific timelines and milestones to be achieved; look at gaps in the ongoing efforts and do all that are needful, with the support of government, to address these gaps especially in the areas of actionable intelligence, logistics, communication and other critical equipment.

“We also need to improve the existing collaboration with other

By Chris Ochayi

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LAUNCH: From left: The author of the book, "Consumer, Marketing and Advertising Psychology", Professor Benjamin Ehigie of University of Ibadan; his wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Rebecca Ehigie and Assistant Vice President & Group Head, Mass Market Banking of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Adetunji Lamidi, at the launch of the book at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. security agencies, especially in the areas of intelligence gathering. We must explore every available means to obtain realtime and actionable intelligence in all our operations.

“In line with Presidential directive, the recently established Military Command Control Centre (MC3) wiII be strengthened with necessary personnel and equipment for greater coordination of the Northeast operation.

“In a similar vein, we will strengthen; provide support and direction to achieve greater success in curbing oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in our waters.

Similar initiatives will be extended to deal with the spate of armed banditry and other criminal activities within the nation.

“Capacity development will be given its desired attention across the Services.’ In this regards, DHQ will continue to encourage the Services to modernize and

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BUJA—THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, threatened to revoke the lifting license of any marketer found to be involved in diversion of petroleum products.

The NNPC, in a statement signed by Ohi Alegbe, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, stated that this measure becomes necessary in a bid to sanitise the fuel distribution and supply

intensify training and manpower development efforts for enhanced operational efficiency while we seek the assistance and support of the leadership to continue to provide the requisite operational equipment.

“We will also reinvigorate joint training exercises to sharpen the skills of our officers and men for improved combat efficiency especially in joint operations.

Adequate attention will also be given to the welfare of troops.

World Bank to spend $2.1bn to rebuild North-east ...As WHO invests $300m on malaria immunization

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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ASHINGTON, DC— P R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Washington, D.C hailed the decision of the World Bank to spend $2.1 billion in rebuilding the devastated north east of Nigeria.

This came just as the World Health Organization, WHO has also indicated interest in investing $300 million on immunization against malaria

scourge in Nigeria.

The $2.1 billion Dollars would be spent through International Development Agency, IDA, an agency of the World Bank known for its low interest loan to government.

A statement by the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina said that the first 10 years of the loan will be interest free, while additional 30 years will be at lower than capital market rate.

SCARCITY: Oil marketers face sanction over product diversion

By Michael Eboh

I'm hale and hearty, says ex-President Jonathan's CSO, Obua

system and eliminate queues at filling stations across some cities in Nigeria.

To this end, Alegbe disclosed that its mid-stream subsidiary, the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), has revoked the lifting license, also called Bulk Purchase Agreement, of three independent marketers for engaging in products diversion and sundry infractions.

The affected marketers, according to him, are Funo Alfa, Organizer West Africa, and Rich Oil, adding that the sanction is

with immediate effect.

Alegbe blamed the current fuel scarcity across the country on the activities of some of the marketers who have resorted to the diversion of the product.

He said, “In a bid to sanitize the fuel distribution and supply system and eliminate the queues at filling stations across some cities in Nigeria, the NNPC has warned that henceforth, any oil marketer found to be involved in products diversion will have its Bulk Purchase Agreement with the PPMC revoked.

The statement added that the World Bank was eager to move in quickly to give out the loans and also give succour to the people of north east, who have been at the mercy of an insurgency that has claimed over 20,000 souls”.

President Buhari at a meeting with representatives of the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Health Organization (WHO), while expressing gratitude on the gesture, however stated that apart from rebuilding the zone “in terms of infrastructure, priority must also be given to the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), who now number over one million”.

He urged the World Bank to send a team to collaborate with a team from the Federal Government in order to prioritize the needs.

Meanwhile, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will collaborate with Dangote Foundation to ensure that the country maintains its zero polio case record of the past one year which if maintained for the next two years would make Nigeria fully polio free.

BUJA—DETAINED Chief Security Officer, CSO, to immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Gordon Obua, yesterday dispelled rumours of his death, declaring that he was hale and hearty.

Obua, while addressing journalists at the headquarters of the Department State Services, DSS, in Abuja, assured Nigerians and members of his family that ”nothing adverse will be done to my person if I have not done anything wrong.”

The detained officer explained that he was invited by DSS to come and give the account of his stewardship as the former Chief Security Office, CSO, to ex-President Jonathan.

His words, “Gentlemen of the press, let me use this opportunity to thank all Nigerians, members of my family, and concerned citizens who have expressed very serious concerns for the past six days, because of the prevailing situation between me and my office.

“This morning my attention was drawn to a report that I have died in detention. This has caused serious anxiety within the populace. I want to use this medium to tell Nigerians, members of my family and all concerned citizens that I am healthy.

“I am a staff of the Department of State Services, DSS, and having completed my tour of duties as Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the last President, the Service feels that I should give account of my tenure.

“So far, there is no adverse situation and I am optimistic that Nigerians will be informed about the outcome of this exercise. Once again, I thank you immensely and I want to use this opportunity to thank the Director General of DSS, Mr. Mohamed Daura, for the way he has treated me from the time I came in to this period.

“Nigerians should be assured that the Department of State Services is a very responsible organisation, and I believe that nothing adverse will be done to my person if I have not done anything wrong.”

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 221, 2015

Lagosians must speak out against domestic violence – AMBODE

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A G O S — GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday, urged residents in the state not to be afraid to speak out against sexual and domestic violence, saying that it was the first step to waging a war against perpetrators of the act.

The governor who spoke when he received the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, assured that the state government is ready to protect the identities of those who volunteer to report cases of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

“We just want to appeal to all Lagosians, they should not be afraid to speak out, we have our dedicated lines and we also know that we are going to give resources out, at any point in time they should be ready to speak freely to us. We would protect the identities of everyone and the fact is that we should be the first point of call before we know the particular police station that we want our cases to go to”, he said.

Ambode who expressed concern about the rampant cases of rape and domestic violence, also promised to put in place an institutional framework that will make the Lagos State Domestic Violence Law 2007 viable.

Lagos begins enforcement of okada restriction zImpounds 75 motorcycles

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—A civil society group, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to stop the ongoing dredging of the Atlantic Ocean and building construction on the Eko Atlantic City by the Lagos State Government and private investors because of the destructive impact of the project on the aquatic life in Nigerian territorial waters and that of the coastal communities.

The Eko Atlantic City, largely owned by a consortium of foreign companies, involved deep dredging of the Atlantic Ocean and construction of high-rising commercial and residential buildings on the recovered shores

the rule of law.

He explained that the enforcement was in compliance with the state governor ’s directive on implementation of the traffic rules “taking into consideration their (motorcyclists) human rights, dignity and respect.”

Earlier, the Secretary to the

AGOS—LAGOS State government, yesterday, commenced enforcement of the law against operators of commercial motorcycles popularly called “Okada” riders, who violate the restriction order from plying 475 roads as stipulated in 2012 Lagos Road Traffic Law. This followed the expiration of a 21-day grace granted by the state government late in June which elapsed last Thursday.

But the government delayed the enforcement to allow the commercial motorcyclists’ union a period to sensitize their members on the order.

The enforcement started in the early hours of yesterday, by men of the State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences unit.

It was gathered that 75 motorcycles were impounded immediately, forcing many to withdraw from the roads.

Confirming the commencement of the enforcement, Chairman of the Taskforce, Akeem Adedeji, PARLEY: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (middle); Perm Sec, Min of Justice, Mr. said that his men began to Lawal Pedro, SAN (left) and Director, Office of the Public Defender, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, during a implement the state meeting with Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team at Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday. government’s order, “to restore sanity to the roads.”

According to Adedeji, “This morning alone, (yesterday), we impounded no fewer than 75 motorcycles. But you’ll find that as we impound, they buy new ones to replace the seized

By Olasunkanmi Akoni were chased away by some government would not ones. That is how resilient land grabbers. condone illegal eviction of they are. One cannot but AGOS—DETERMINED to Chairman of the Taskforce, rightful landlords from their wonder where they get the tackle the nefarious money and the number plates activities of land grabbers, Mr Akeem Adedeji, while properties by some miscreants, confirming Governor ’s adding that the era of landfrom,” he said. popularly called “Omo’nile” in directive, said that the state grabing in Lagos was over.

The Chairman added that his the state, Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has directed the state Taskforce on Environment and Special Offence s to recover of Bar Beach, Kuramo beach and some lands forcefully acquired from original owners.

Victoria Island, Lagos.

In particular, he directed the In the suit, LEDAP, told the

By Innocent Anaba In his counter affidavit to the court that it was informed that the Taskforce to immediately, motion seeking to set aside the construction companies of the recover 250 acres of land in AGOS—A Federal High interim injunction, the plaintiff Eko Atlantic City did not Gberigbe, in Ikorodu area Court sitting in Lagos, argued that the motion ex-parte undertake any approved allegedly taken over by a will tomorrow rule on an was properly heard and granted Environmental Impact notorious land grabber .

It was learnt that the land was application by the Nigeria by the court because of its Assessment as required by law, Regulatory urgency. as there was no plan to ensure allocated to one Shoreman Agro Electricity According to Adebiyi, “The that the dredging of the ocean will for farming in the early 80’s by Commission, NERC, seeking to not over flood coastal environment the State Ministry of Agriculture discharge the ex-parte order matter was filed on May 25, and the rural communities along and Cooperatives in order to restraining the commission from heard and granted on May 28, encourage widespread farming implementing the new which was the last working day the banks of the ocean.

The Federal Ministry of as well as boost food production electricity tariff billed to have before the June 1, date of takebeen effective from June 1, 2015. off of the proposed electricity Environment, which is also joined in the state.

Justice Mohammed Idris tariff hike” According to claims by the as a defendant in the case, He that the restraining order according to LEDAP did not aggrieved farmer, the land was had earlier restrained the authorise the project because it violently taken from him, by NERC and the electricity should be sustained by the court had not issued the statutory someone who pulled down over distribution companies from in order to prevent the electricity Environmental Impact Statement 12,000 palm trees in the farm. effecting any increment in distribution companies(Discos) Narrating their ordeal, a electricity tariff pending the from effecting any price hike, approving the dredging and building construction as required representative of the Shoreman determination of the suit which adding that what the respondent by the Environmental Impact Agro, who did not want to be was filed by human rights was asking for is an encroachment mentioned, said staff of the farm activist, Toluwani Adebiyi. on the substantive suit.

Assessment Act 1992.

LEDAP wants court to halt dredging of Atlantic Ocean

By Innocent Anaba

men remain resolute to clear the roads of okada menace, adding that it might take about three months before sanity is finaly restored.

What is however, different from the past administration is the manner of the arrest.

Adedeji said the taskforce will be carrying out the enforcement mildly in line with

State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, said the measure became necessary following the return of okada riders going back to their old ways and the need to enforce the traffic rules.

According to Bello: “Some of them now even drive against the traffic, (one-way) on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

When you go to Apapa, LagosBadagry Expressway, Gbagada, and others, you will see them.

We have to call them to order. ”

Ambode orders recovery of 250 acres of land

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TARIFF HIKE: Court to rule on NERC application tomorrow

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 11

LADOJA’S PETITION: New panel chairman

appears, soothes frayed nerves

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—FRAYED nerves were calmed yesterday at the Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which is hearing a petition filed against Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s election in the April 11 poll as the Chairman of the three-man panel appeared formally after many adjournments.

Justice F. C Obieze announced his retirement shortly after the inauguration of the panel some weeks ago.

At least, four sittings of the panel had been stalled due to nonavailability of the chairman to preside.

This had compelled the tribunal to adjourn sittings to June 29, July 10 and yesterday when the new chairman, Justice Mohammed Aliu Mayaki formally took over.

There had been growing anxiety among Ladoja’s supporters when a new Chairman’s appointment was delayed.

At the sitting of the panel yesterday, there were heated arguments among counsels to all parties in the petition over whose motions to hear first.

Former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, had filed petition against Ajimobi, All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Rufus Akeju and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,

BRIEFING: From left; Professor of Mass Communication, North Dakota State University, United States, Prof. Charles Okigbo; Vice-Chancellor, Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah; and Provost, College of Information and Communication Technology, who is also the Head of Department, Mass Communication, KWASU, Prof. Innocent Okoye at a news conference. alleging that the election results declared were not in tandem with the votes cast in the election.

He prayed the tribunal to nullify Ajimobi’s election and declare him winner.

Counsel to Ladoja, Chief Richard Ogunwole (SAN) prayed the tribunal to let his own motion on pre-hearing formalities be heard before that of the lead defence counsel to Governor Ajimobi, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, counsel to APC, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, (SAN) and other defence counsel.

Ladoja’s motion, which hinged

AREGBESOLA: Osun civil society rejects secret probe

By Gbenga Olarinoye Salam should stand by his

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SOGBO—THE Civil Societies Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State CSCEO has kicked against plan by the ad-hoc committee set up by the State House of Assembly to carry out investigation of Justice Oloyede Folahanmi’s petition against Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs. Titilayo Grace Tomori in camera.

The group insisted that the Speaker, Hon. Najeem

Selfish interest killing Oodua Group – FAYOSE

earlier statement that the investigation would be conducted openly, saying refusal to do this is a betrayal of the people’s trust.

The group in a statement in Osogbo yesterday signed by its chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, rejected the 7-man panel comprising only members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in an assembly with two opposition members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

on consolidation of other motions was dated July 2 and filed on the following day.

But, Olanipekun objected urging the panel to entertain his own two motions first.

The two motions, according to him, were asking the tribunal to strike out the entire petition by Senator Ladoja and also strike out the entire reply filed by the petitioner.

Other defence counsel told the court that they were yet to be served with copies of Chief Ogunwole’s first motion filed on July 3 and that the motion was also not listed in the form TF08,

as demanded by the electoral Act. The panel had to invite the court bailiff to clarify whether Chief Ogunwole’s motion was served through the court on time as the legal practitioner claimed.

The tribunal Chairman then told Chief Ogunwole to serve all the defence counsel the application for the motion.

Justice Mayaki then adjourned further sitting to Tuesday, July 28, 2015, saying, “We have to be careful to avoid unnecessary delay. There should not be any technical approach to issues. We on our part will endeavour to provide substantial justice at the end of the day.”

KITI State governor, Ayodele Fayose has said the challenges crippling Oodua Investment Group dated back to several years ago.

The governor, who said this while receiving the top management of the organisation in his office last Thursday, noted that there was need for a change of attitudes on the part of stakeholders to re-energise the South Western states’ heritage.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, in AdoEkiti, Fayose noted that selfish interests among key players in the Oodua Group caused serious setback to the legacies of the founding fathers.

Fayose then called on the new leadership to make frantic efforts to re-position the group and ensure the problems bedevilling the conglomerate were addressed headlong.

The governor, who said the companies under the group had the potentials to generate wealth for the five owner-states if well managed, promised to render necessary support within his state's power to chart a better way forward for Oodua.

ATTA MILLS LECTURE: Fayemi seeks synergy

between politicians, intellectuals

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CCRA (GHANA)— FORMER Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said African nations must discard the false dichotomy between the intellectual and politician, but rather work out a blend of the two tendencies in order to rejuvenate public service and transformative governance that would lead to socio-political and economic advancement.

According to him, only when the two tendencies are approached as

complimentary rather than contradictory would the public good, which is the essence of democratic governance, be fully realised.

These formed part of Fayemi’s submission as Keynote Speaker at the 3rd edition of the President Atta Mills Memorial lecture held at the John Evans Atta Mills Centre for Law and Governance, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Achimota, Ghana yesterday.

Speaking on the topic: “Intellectuals in Politics and Governance in Africa: The lessons and legacies of John Evans Atta Mills”, Fayemi who noted the contributions of notable public intellectuals, including Nnamdi Azikwe, Kwame Nkruma; Julius Nyerere, Obafemi Awolowo and Leopold Senghor in the

liberation struggle and early democratic governments in Africa, said the idea of philosopher king in the contemporary African politics is to “advocate the marriage of politics and principle, and to yoke public policy to public intellection.

“The good politicians may not need to be brilliant intellectuals, but they also should not have contemptuous disdain for the life of the mind,” said Fayemi, who advocated a hybrid of the two.

“This is why perhaps the issue for us should not be one of transition from intellection to politics, but the extent to which we are able to achieve fundamental synergy between the two in the quest to add value to our society and our democracy”.

NSCDC redeploys 100 officers in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Ogun State has redeployed no fewer than 100 officers to various Divisions and area commands across the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Kareem Olanrewaju, in a statement said the redeployment followed a directive by the state commandant, Aboluwoye Akinwande to re position the command in its fight against vandalism and protection of government infrastructures located in various parts of the state.

With the redeployment, Olanrewaju said the command will renew its activities against vandalism and protection of government assets.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

UNIBEN students protest death of colleagues B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—STUDENTS of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, yesterday, blocked the Benin-Lagos Expressway for several hours, protesting the death of two students, allegedly knocked down by an Army patrol vehicle last Sunday.

Vanguard gathered that while the female student who was knocked down died Monday morning, the male student is in a critical situation at the hospital.

But reports reached the students yesterday morning that both of them may have died and the angry students embarked on a protest, demanding for a pedestrian bridge across the road, and a speed breaker on the eight-lane road to prevent a recurrence of the incident.

They insisted that compensation should be paid to the families of the victims within seven days, else they will embark on another protest.

The protest grounded activities on the busyBeninLagos Road for several hours, as motorists parked their vehicles waiting for the students

to disperse.

The Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Francis Osagiede, doused the tension, when he addressed the protesting

students, assuring that the university authority will look into their demands as soon as possible.

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ENAGOA—WOMEN from the Niger Delta, yesterday, protested the sack of 13 exmilitants youths undergoing training as pilots at Lufthansa Airline Training School in Frankfurt, Germany due to the refusal of the Federal Government to pay the training fees and scholarship grants.

The women, some from coastal communities, during the protest march to the office of the exmilitant leaders known as the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative, LPCDI, demanded that President, Muhammadu Buhari should be held responsible if there was resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta region.

“We are warning Buhari that, as mothers, we are already feeling the heat and the gathering of disgruntled youths in our communities. The refusal to pay the Amnesty training fees is causing problem in our homes and communities,” they said.

One of the women, Madam Ebiere Ankiomete, said though President Buhari's actions so far gives more hope to the people of the region, “his refusal to appoint a substantive Chairman for the Presidential Amnesty Committee to liaise with Federal Ministry of Finance to pay the Amnesty Training fund is worrisome. If the appointment is delayed till September, the Amnesty beneficiaries in institutions abroad would have been denied approved trainings.”

Addressing the aggrieved women, the President of LPCDI,

Okpamen sure of reclaiming mandate at tribunal

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BIRTHDAY: Mr Osakue Agbontaen, celebrant (3rd right), his wife, Lizzy (4th right) and his children, cutting the birthday cake to mark Agbontaen's 60th birthday in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele.

....As N-Delta women protest sack of 13 ex-militants training in Germany

By Samuel Oyadongha

ESAN NORTH:

ex-militant leader, Pastor Reuben Wilson, appealed for calm.

He called on President Buhari not to allow the Presidential Amnesty Programme to be disintegrated due to lack of funding to meet the aims and the objectives of the programme.

According to him, “The passionate appeal comes on the heels of avalanche of complaints

received by the indigent parents of the Amnesty beneficiaries home and abroad that their children and wards are currently experiencing hardship due to lack of funds for the programme.

“The peace we are enjoying in the Niger Delta area today is because of the Amnesty Programme initiated by your predecessor, President Umaru Ya’adua because he had the interest of the Niger Delta people

at heart.

“You will also recall that as a result of the Amnesty offer, the country went from producing 900 barrels to over two million barrels of crude oil per day. The truth is that anybody who means well for the people of Niger Delta will not delay the payment of the Federal Government Amnesty monthly stipends for a period going to three months now."

DESOPADEC BILL: Ndokwa youths demand upward

review of employment, project allocation

By Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH—YOUTH Wing of Ndokwa Neku Union, NNU, Delta State, yesterday, declared its support for the controversial Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC Amendment Bill, demanding for an upward review of employment and project allocation due to the Ndokwa nation.

It also canvassed the bill to

reflect the current oil production quantum of all ethnic nationalities in the state Reacting to the bill presently before the Delta State House of Assembly, Secretary of the Youth Wing of NNU, Presley Idi lamented that the Ndokwa nation had always been marginalized.

“When it comes to being given the fair share of what is due to us in the state.

“The current allocation which shows that Ndokwa nation is getting just nine percent of what

is coming to the commission is not only unfair but also a display of sheer wickedness against our people.

“As at today, we are contributing 118, 000 barrels of crude oil per day which is actually 17 percent of the total contribution of Delta State to the country. It is imperative that our allocation be increased to 20 percent, that is 20 percent of the total project allocation and 20 percent of the workforce of the commission.”

Ibaa indigenes task IG on community crisis

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BAA—SOME indigenes of Ibaa in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, have called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the ongoing crisis in the community.

The indigenes, under the aegis of Concerned Ibaa Indigenes, made the call when they addressed newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

A traditional ruler in the community, Chief Kingsley Nyenke, said such investigation would avail the police first-hand information on the crisis.

It will be recalled that Ibaa, an Ikwerre speaking community, was plunged into crisis following the tussle for the throne of the community’s paramount ruler, Nyenwe Uvuahu.

The crisis, which started in 2008

after the death of the paramount ruler, Chief James Ohaka, had polarized the community, leading to the death of several persons.

Nyenke, who blamed a contender in the chieftaincy dispute for the level of destruction and deaths, said only honest and sincere police investigation could unravel the truth.

By Simon Adewale

HE ALL Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Edo State House of Assembly, Esan North East Constituency 2 in the last general elections, Prince Henry Okpamen has expressed confidence that he will reclaim his stolen mandate at the tribunal.

Briefing newsmen in Benin City, Edo State, Prince Okpamen, who was the former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, said he was optimistic that he will reclaim his stolen mandate at the tribunal, adding that the people of Esan North East voted massively for him on the April 11 election in Uromi, alleging that the election was rigged and results manipulated by the Peoples Democracy Party, PDP. He also urged the people of Edo North East to remain steadfast and hopeful that the judiciary under President Muhammadu Buhari administration will certainly do justice and he will emerge victorious.

Ikimi slams Delta govt over DESOPADEC

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By Akpokona Omafuaire

A R R I — EXECUTIVE Director, Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged, Centrep, Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi has insisted that there was no problem with the extant law of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, but insincerity of its operators.

Ikimi stated that past government and board executives had used DESOPADEC as a conduit pipe.

Ikimi said: "Sincerely speaking, I still insist that there is no problem with the extant DESOPADEC Law, 2006. The problem with DESOPADEC is that of its insincere operators, that is the governor and board members under which the said Law has operated.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Why I visited CJN, by Wike

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has explained why Governor Nyesom Wike made efforts to meet with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, saying it was to brief him formally on the need to re-appoint the acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daisy Okocha and the acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Christy Nwankwo, whose tenures will expire by the end of August when the courts will be on vacation.

A statement by the media aide to the governor, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, said the governor came to see the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, since he was the Chairman of the National Judicial Council, NJC. The All Progressives Congress, APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Mr Chris Finebone, dismissed as untrue that the visit of the governor was in connection with issues relating to appointment of the two chief law officers in the state.

Meantime, the statement by the governor’s media aide said that the governor had to formally write the CJN on the issues that took him to the office when he could not see him physically, stressing that there was nothing wrong with a governor, who is also a member of the Body of Benchers to see the CJN on issues relating to administration of justice in his state.

“While it is true that the governor went to see the CJN on July 7 and 9, 2015, his mission was to brief the CJN in his capacity as the Chairman of NJC

on the need to renew the appointment of the acting Chief Judge of Rivers State and also the acting president of the Customary Court of Appeal.

He said: “It should be noted that the current tenure of the

incumbents will expire by the end of August 2015, by which time the courts will be on vacation and the NJC may not be in a position to consider any request for the renewal of their reappointments. There is

therefore, an urgent need to expeditiously secure the renewal of the appointments of acting Chief Judge of Rivers State and her counterpart of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal before the vacation begins."

Consider Rivers indigenes in divestment process, Wike tells Shell

By Jimitota Onoyume

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FORUM: From left, Mr Sam Akerele, Lead Discussant, Air Commodore Hycenth Eze of 401 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Ikeja, Mr Balami David, National President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers and Capt. Bayo Araba, Chairman of the occasion, during the NAAPE Aviation stakeholders forum in Lagos, yesterday. Photo Lamidi Bamidele.

Edo govt, consultant disagree on modalities for revenue collection

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By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—AKUGBE Ventures, the consultant hired by the Edo State Government to collect revenue in Edo South senatorial district of the state, yesterday, rejected the proposal of the state government, arguing that limiting their area of operation to Edo South without the other two senatorial districts will lead to double taxation.

Akugbe Ventures led by its chairman, Mr Tony Adun, also

argued that they lost three of their employees in the struggle to ensure that the people of the state pay their taxes to government, hence it would be unfair for government to recruit other consultants for the other two senatorial districts rather than allow them handle the entire state as they did few months ago.

Adun said that his company was rejecting the deal, adding “People have been crying about double taxation and the same double taxation has arisen again. By splitting revenue collection when tax is one, will still lead to double taxation because when you come from one local government to another, the people there will still

insist you pay your tax since it is a different consultant. So we are rejecting the deal.”

But the state government represented by the chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Oseni Elamah, who said that the names of the other consultants who will handle revenue in Edo North and Central senatorial districts will soon be announced by government, disagreed, noting that government reached its decision so as to ensure equity and fairness to all parties involved in the revenue collection, adding that the arrangement had been made in a manner that the issue of double taxation will not occur.

ORT HARCOURT — GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has enjoined Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to give special consideration to Rivers indigenes as they divest from their oil wells in the state.

The governor, who spoke yesterday at Government House, Port Harcourt, when management of SPDC paid him a courtesy visit, also urged staff of the oil company in Port Harcourt to pay their taxes to the state if they were not doing so already.

He charged multinational oil firms to affect their host communities positively, noting that it will give the areas the needed sense of belonging.

According to the governor, some oil firm had insensitive attitude to the plight of their areas of operation, noting that they should redress the issues confronting their host communities.

He said: “It is imperative for oil communities to contribute to the development of their respective communities.

Some people say these companies are not interested in their host communities but are only concerned about themselves."

Buhari should start probe from 1999 —PDP chieftain

B

By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Mr. M a t t h e w Iduoiriyekemwen, has

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insisted that if President Muhammadu Buhari must embark on probing the activities of past regimes in the country, he must not probe former President Goodluck Jonathan alone but start from it to 1999.

Iduoiriyekemwen who spoke with Vanguard,

yesterday in Benin, said that while he welcomed the decision of the Buhari administration to probe the Jonathan administration, it should not be a way to discredit the former President’s government.

“There is nothing wrong

in probing, what is wrong in probe is when it becomes witch –hunt. Yes, we are in a democratic regime, if Buhari wants to probe the activities of past regimes, he should look from 1999 what has been happening in the country."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 15

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16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

BUHARI HOSTED BY U.S. CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE & CORPORATE COUNCIL ON AFRICA TheUS Chamber of Commerce & the Corporate Council on Africa, yesterday, organized a dinner in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari in the United States.

At the dinner were: CEO, Symbion Power; Mr. Paul Hinks, President & CEO of Exxon Mobil, Mr. Rex Tillerson, Messrs Wale Tinubu, Tony Elumelu, among others.

ASAGBA OF ASABA'S 90TH BIRTHDAY, INDUCTION INTO HALL OF FAME

His Royal Majesty, Asagba of Asaba, Professor Chike Joseph Edozien, at Asagba's Chief Patrick Onyeobi, Iyase of Asaba (left), presenting plaque to the Asagba.

Palace, Asaba, during a World press conference by the Asagba, marking his 90th birthday, and induction into Asaba Hall of Fame, yesterday. Photos: Nath Onojake

From left, Chief Victor Nwosa, Anwulika Ahaba; chief Epiphany Azinge, Okilolo Ahaba, and Arc. Kester Ifeadi.

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From left, Chief Nwosa, Chief Azinge, and Enyi Adora Giwa-Amu

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 17

I

T defies the laws of history and karma to believe that evil can go on unchecked forever. Incidentally, this is typical Nigerian thinking: the privileged and politically connected in this country would have us believe that for all eternity, the same set of corrupt, selfish individuals will have their way, living large at the expense of the majority. I have bad news for them: things are about to change. However, there is one thing, which could accompany and enable speedy revolution in our mindsets and actions and that is for us to embrace critical thinking. It's never the easy path to follow, I can personally testify to this.

Daring to think differently, or to be open-minded, to question what one is told and not just accept it because it comes from a political or religious figure of authority, can bring about adversity.

Analyzing an issue in all its complexity without ethnic or religious bias is a skill not many of us have retained, if some of us ever possessed it at all. So our judgments, even of the most basic, elementary actions, become excuses based on benefits we hope to gain from defending the corrupt or simply, a bad habit. We have become a society that is so tolerant of corruption and misdeeds that we applaud guilty politicians, forgetting that fundamentally, they are the reason for our poverty and unhappiness. Nothing is more unfortunately misguided, gullible and confused than a human being as devoid of critical thinking as the average Nigerian.

Critical thinking in Nigeria is seen as a disturbance: why question the status quo even when it benefits only a minority? Those who dare criticise the crimes and offenses of the powerful and greedy are ignored whereas in other climes, they start debates amongst the citizenry and are applauded for their sharp, socially conscious and responsible

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Critical thinking, a means to defeat the untouchables minds. Freedom of speech, the protection of whistle blowers is a pillar of most democracies, except in Nigeria a country that is democratic only in name. We wait for others to authorise us to agree with would-be controversial ideas: only if a "big man" (even a corrupt one) hypocritically agrees with the writings of a social critic, therefore giving him a dishonest, tainted, stamp of approval, will the majority feel it is ok to agree with the writer who therefore joins the mainstream of seemingly analytical minds who simply state the obvious to the now rapturous applause of the unperceptive crowd.

Poverty has a way of desensitising us to everything, including our own suffering which becomes a second skin: so even those who are rich in monetary terms are poor in terms of critical, independent analysis and thought processes because everything about day to day life in Nigeria serves to dehumanise people, returning them to the brutish, instinct driven state of the animal kingdom. Indeed, it's kill or be killed for creatures devoid of critical thinking, unable to differentiate fact from opinion.

We are devoid of critical thinking, the ability to see things for what they are and

not be fooled by the twin distractions of religion and ethnicity: some of us do not recognise the social reformer in our President who is determined to rid us of a class of political "untouchables".

There's been a debate recently on how far back probes should extend and I'm of the opinion that starting from 1960 as the former President once asked President Buhari to do, will only lead to chaos and destruction, giving credence to the enemies within the

The Department of State Security Service

T

HE new DG of the DSS, Lawal Daura, reversed the promotions of hundreds of officers authorised by his predecessor and approved

This new administration must force all those in possession of government funds to invest them in social and infrastructural projects to develop Nigeria

HE era of impunity is over and it comes as a great shock to many. Obviously, everyone is innocent until proven guilty which is why those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear and should accept scrutiny. It is surprising that we who so love to invoke fancy terms such as the rule of law and constitutionality (even though in practice we know nothing of such ideas) would dare say that a search warrant obtained through the proper, legal channels, the courts, is in violation of Mr.Dasuki's human rights.

What about the human rights of the Chibok girls and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)? We collectively failed them. The untouchables did

by the former president. He says hereafter, only those who sat and passed promotion examinations can be promoted. Slowly but

Olisa Metuh

S

OMEWHERE in this world, perhaps Harvard, which has made so much off of Nigerian politicians seeking to gain a veneer of intelligent conversation, there must be a crash course on "how to be in opposition".

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, has asked that investigations relating to the Jonathan administration must be lawful

Sambo Dasuki

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Nigerian state who see the act of probing itself as an affront to their birthright, their imagined right to dominate and financially take over this country.

Nevertheless, it is impossible to ignore the very recent misappropriation of state funds, which presents us with one simple evidence: two wrongs do not make a right.

Members of the past administration might argue that they simply took their own "turn", doing nothing more or less than what was

previously done by other government officials before them. It is unfortunate for them that what they erroneously perceived as their "turn" to do wrong, comes just before the government of the first man willing to do right. An example must be made at this point, so that no future governments, or people from any part of the country should believe that the state coffers are anyone's birth right as past crimes are a flimsy, immoral excuse to justify one's own failings and wrong-doing. However, because probing from 1960 would mean sending the entire political class to jail and even digging up some coffins to house them in cells, this new administration must force all those in possession of government funds to invest them in social and infrastructural projects to develop Nigeria. It's the only plea bargain that can work in the common man's favour.

This, plus making an example of those who have defrauded us, will show that no one is allowed to get away with money they never worked for, so as not to reinforce the idea that crime pays in Nigeria whereas honesty and critical thinking don't.

not bother with their human rights because in Nigeria, we do not care about those who are perceived as weak, poor and unimportant. It will no longer do for dignity and honour to be the hallmark of those who are proven guilty of wronging Nigerians in any way.

and respectful of fundamental human rights. That is stating the obvious. It also makes one wonder if the "human rights" theme is a new discovery for some or why suddenly it is on everyone's lips.

Mr.Metuh also says government must plan for the future and not spend its energy probing the past. Tell that to the judge! Or rather, to Nigerians who have been unable to achieve their potential precisely because of the actions and thievery of some individuals within said past. There will be a reckoning.

surely, we will return to the grand old days of the civil service, where like in other climes, rather than a dumping ground for those with no other options or a cesspool of talentless, lackluster individuals, the civil service will again attract the best and the brightest who will compete for the top spots not based on recommendations of first ladies, as was previously done, but based on merit and performance.

We are on the path to rebuilding our offices and institutions so that the best, instead of hangers on and policy shy party members, can serve Nigerians. All this because critical thinking, the ability to see things for what they are rather than justify or excuse incompetence, is in power again.

*Lawal Daura

*Sambo Dasuki

*Olisa Metuh

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

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 MANY Nigerians once again demonstrated their usual disdain for deadline in respect of the ongoing Bank Verification Number,(BVN), registration.

During its launch on February 14, 2014 by the then Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the apex bank had fixed July 2014 as the commencement date for the BVN registration and December 31, 2014 as the deadline for all bank customers to have their BVNs. All banks were tasked to ensure that 40 per cent of their customers got registered before the end of the year and 70 per cent on or before March 31, 2015 and all of their customers by Tuesday June 30, 2015. The apex bank had also warned then that failure to comply before the deadline would lead to defaulters not being able to access their accounts from July 1, 2015.This warning was only heeded in the breach. As the July deadline approached, millions of Nigerians had besieged the nearest branches of their banks in a last minute, desperate rush to acquire their BVN’s. As

The BVN Deadline Stampede expected, the banks were overwhelmed by the long queues of BVN seeking customers such that they could not adequately attend to all before the closing date. Although the last minute rush for the BVN ensured that a total of 15 million bank customers got registered before the deadline, over 14 million others, including those living outside the country, could not do so, prompting strident demands that the deadline be extended. After much pressure, the CBN decided to reverse itself by announcing a new deadline of October 31, 2015.Time has come for Nigerians to discard this attitude of waiting until the

very last minute before obeying important instructions, especially when timely compliance will serve the good of all. The BVN is a policy introduced by the CBN to check all manners of fraud in the banking system by ensuring that every bank customer is given a unique identification number that can be verified by all banks in Nigeria. So, there is nothing to lose, but everything to gain by wholeheartedly identifying with it.Waiting only to stampede before deadline is a fault that is deeply etched in the psyche of our people and government as well.

It is complemented by the twin problem of poor attitude to punctuality, a negation of the saying: “Time is money”. Nigeria will never be a great and prosperous nation unless our people are reoriented to understand the importance of time management and do away with the so called “African time” syndrome. No great society jokes with time and deadline.

Government must lead the way in addressing this problem. Punctuality is still the soul of business.

OPINION Akume, Oritsejafor: Lessons from Catholic conspiracy (2) Continued from yesterday's pg 19

By Tony Nwaezeigwe

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NYE kpua afele a mkpokolo-ugba wa ewelea kpue ashisha, goes a popular saying among the West-Niger Igbo, meaning “If you call your plate a rubbishcan then people will use it to pack rubbish”.

This was what the Roman Catholic Church leadership tended to achieve by further engaging in weird coordinated effort to further transform the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the leadership of Pastor Oritsejafor into a political lame-duck.

There was the Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie not only urging President Jonathan to forget seeking a second term, went ahead to cast aspersions on the persons of Primate Sunday Mbang and Pastor Oritsejafor for supporting respectively Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan. There was an Episcopal Town Hall Meeting especially organised by Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama to mobilise support against President Jonathan. There was a Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka ravening unprintable insults on the person of President Jonathan. There was an incendiary Rotimi Amechi despoiling the political thoroughfares of Rivers State against President Jonathan and his wife. Then there was the mother of all Catholic assaults on Pastor Oritsejafor’s integrity, a George Akume pouring all manner of unprintable C M Y K

satanic and heinous invectives against the person of the CAN President, Pastor Oritsejafor.

For the purpose of the lessons of history, it is important to recast by way of quotation two excerpts from Akume’s mindless tirade against the CAN President using them to remind him of the consequences of the biblical injunction as stated in Psalm 105:15, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” Reacting to the trumped up allegation of laundering 93 million US dollars against the CAN President, Akume in the first paragraph of his statement wrote: “I wish to express my utmost dismay and anger over how hard Pastor Oritsejafor the President of CAN is working to destroy the little credibility that is left of this once glorious organisation. Still trending a clearly criminal, immoral and unethical act is being white washed with religious grandstanding,” Again, penultimate to his conclusion he wrote:”My appeal to my brothers in the north is that, what they see in CAN today has nothing to do with Christianity but everything to do with crass

Where is Akume in the APC political scheme of things after all his inglorious roles

materialism and self-seeking opportunism.

Thank God, not all hope is lost for Christendom. When Nigerian Christians expect a voice of reason from its leaders, such voice always comes assuredly from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)”.

One act which can be assertively stated here is that no Christian of Protestant extraction and claiming to thread on the path of God will ever address any Roman Catholic Bishop in the manner that George Akume did to the person of our CAN President, Pastor Oritsejafor. Was that not a contravention of the injunctions of Psalm 105:15?

The question raging in our political terrain today is where is Akume in the APC political scheme of things after all his inglorious roles of political Judas-Iscariot of the Nigerian Christendom? Yes, Jonathan is out and nobody, not even President Buhari will deny the fact that President Jonathan remains Nigeria’s number one man of political honour and valour. But could this be said of the person of Senator George Akume?

The Holy Bible in Acts of Apostles 1:20 emphatically stated the judgment the likes of Akume will expect in payment for their roles, “…and his bishoprick let another take.”

Arising from this biblical piece of judgment, it should be recalled that Senator Akume had penultimate to the election of Senate President stated ipso facto: “As a Minority Leader, automatically I should have become the presiding officer and it is important to take note of this…. and I believe that given my track record and the fact that I have been leading my caucus in the Senate, I should be considered the most worthy man

to preside over the affairs of the Senate.” Yes, Akume considered himself the most qualified and most worthy to occupy the position of Senate President. But did God consider him as such? From Minority Leader to what? Is this not the case of how the mighty has fallen?

This is the lesson we expect the Roman Catholic leadership to learn. They should accept the standing fact that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is not a platform for liturgical disputations, but a launching pad for addressing vexatious issues bordering on the discriminations, disenfranchisement and persecutions of the Nigerian Christendom hence the association is built on three fundamental factorial pillars: the long years of Muslim dominated military dictatorship that saw the progressive degeneration of the Nigerian Christian personality, the arising discrimination and persecution of Christians through the instrumentality of political power, and the clear-cut Muslim aspiration to impose an Islamic State on Nigeria.

Is it not imperative therefore that both CAN and its leadership cannot avoid being part of the political processes in Nigeria? So where then lie the sins of Pastor Oritsejafor who has variously been described in Arabic terms by the Muslims as the Saifudin of Christianity (Sword of the Christian Religion) for making the CAN for once in Nigeria’s political history politically relevant and a force within the political terrain of the Nigerian Federation?

Concluded *Dr. Nwaezeigwe, Ag /Director, Centre for Igbo Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

EFCC, big man syndrome and anti-corruption fight

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission appears reinvigorated and rejuvenated for its traditional role of fighting economic and financial crimes.

It seems to be experiencing a new lease of life in the manner it has been going after some former governors and other powerful untouchables in the expired dispensation of President Goodluck Jonathan. Even though the EFCC was never at any time scrapped, it went into a state of hibernation for several years under that administration. It was in fact comatose, merely waking up from its interminable slumber to roar at imaginary criminals accused of economic or financial crime. This, it seemed, was to tell Nigerians it was not altogether dead even if still gasping for breath on life support. When it appeared to do what it was established to do, it was careful to select its prey and wasted no time in muddling up its own evidence in a manner that made it easy for its case to be thrown out of the courts on some flimsy technicality.

Nigerians were neither blind nor deaf to what was happening.

They could both hear and see what was happening. They knew the EFCC wasn’t as ineffective as it was making out. The Commission, it can be said, had been able to read the writing on the wall in terms of the disposition of the Jonathan administration to fighting corruption. An administration that was headed by a man who didn’t mind splitting hair on the actual meaning of corruption, one who seemed to have handed the key of the national treasury to many of his key aides to do as they deemed fit, was not one that would fight corruption wholeheartedly or support anyone or organisation wanting to do that.

The EFCC therefore knew its limits and was not going to go beyond it. Its gradual fall into ineffectuality actually started under Farida Waziri, and came into full maturation during the tenure of Ibrahim Lamorde. This commission or the people that headed it at any point in time were only as effective as Abuja wanted them to be. Where they were allowed to do their job, they could be quite effective. They could also play the fool, where

and when they know they will not get the required support. In spite of all the accusations of selective prosecution of criminal cases against the EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu, hardly could Nigerians find anyone prosecuted at that time that did not have a case to answer. The point made against the EFCC was always that there were other people who were not prosecuted but could be prosecuted.

Nigerians who felt we must start the anti-corruption battle from somewhere had a simple response- whoever succeeded Obasanjo could make it their business to carry on from where Obasanjo stopped, by going after those whose criminal activities he (Obasanjo) chose to turn a blind eye to. But what could not and cannot now be denied is that the EFCC enjoyed the support of Obasanjo which made it possible for the Commission to register its presence among Nigerians. But under Jonathan (to skip the Umar Yar’Adua interregnum), the Commission was simply on its own, virtually disowned. Its existence was only on paper.

There were even reports that the Commission was being

What is also clear is that even the big men do not see why they should be made accountable

Broke states, broken Federation: Will Buhari restructure Nigeria?

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USTICE Oloyede Folahanmi must be relishing his starring role in Osun’s unpaid salaries saga even though his call for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s impeachment is unlikely to result in a special assizes to celebrate the victory of the judge as opposition politician. The learned judge’s 30-page petition— actually, a rant—was part Sunday sermon (“Neglecting the welfare of members of the community under the guise of wanting to provide infrastructure, runs contrary to the teachings of Christ, the son of God, Jesus of Nazareth”), part chic internationalism (“Instead of pursuing . . . the ideals of social order . . . ensur[ing] a just world economic order . . . and universal brotherhood Mr. Governor and his deputy are assiduously working against it”), and little to do with law (only perfunctory allusions to the constitution) or the adjudication of justice (his pronouncements were made not as intolerable but legitimate obiter dicta in the course of delivering judgement in a case before him but as an act of score settling [“I have firsthand experience which constitutes evidence of the unfortunate situation in which Osun currently finds herself”).

Consequently, Justice Folahanmi almost single-handedly deflected attention from an impecunious Federal Government that had to borrow N473 billion to pay its own workers and focussed it intensely on Osun State. Overnight, Aregbesola became the poster-boy of “mismanagement”—Folahanmi cleverly avoided accusing him of corruption. Such that while virtually all governors are broke, and had besieged President Buhari

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to bail them out, poor Aregbesola became the cynosure of all eyes. He may have introduced drastic austerity measures, cutting the salaries of political appointees by 50% and reducing their numbers, even cleared some of the backlog and managed to restore some sanity to the normally sober State of Osun, still the truth of his claim that his troubles were beyond his control remains.

In spite of himself, however, Folahanmi gestured towards the root cause of his unpaid salaries in his averred goal of averting “the reproach of our state as ‘[a] bankrupt’ and ‘[a] failed state.’” That the 36 states of the federation, with the possible exception of Lagos, are all economically unviable, and so bankrupt without monthly federal allocations financed almost wholly by earnings from oil and gas drawn exclusively from the Niger Delta, is literally a fact of nature.

With the steep fall in world oil prices that began last year, the states are now confronted with the stark reality of being no more than glorified administrative units. What self-sufficient economy, I ask, could be founded in Sokoto, Ondo, Edo, Jigawa, Taraba, Nassarawa, Kwara,

We live on borrowed time and history beckons on Buhari to effect one of the greatest transformation marvels of the world

strangulated financially, making it difficult to train its officers or execute its activities.

It simply went into a deep slumber at some point. When it stirred at all, it was without interest. Where it roared, it could not bite as it appeared to have its mouth in muzzles. But since Mohammadu Buhari took over, the body seems to be waking up to the call of duty. In a spate of just a few weeks it has arraigned no less than three exgovernors accused of either siphoning funds outside their states or running these states aground financially. From Ohakim Ikedi, Murtala Nyako to Sule Lamido and sons, it has been the same story. It could be argued, of course, that these governors had immunity while in office and so could not be prosecuted. But the reason they were not prosecuted went beyond that.

But now that the EFCC seems to be waking up again to its responsibilities, there is the concern that it might end up making a hash of the cases it has been prosecuting. From what is now happening with the spate of bails being granted these accused persons, especially former governors, it is possible none of the accused individuals and those that might be prosecuted after them would give up their alleged loot. They might end up not returning what they have been accused of looting from their states. As things seem to stand, these series of prosecutions could provide the accused persons the clean bill of health to feel they were wrongly accused, leading to their being rehabilitated into society to enjoy whatever they might have taken at the expense of their people.

The real reason for this shoddy handling of the cases, this clear

Yobe, Gombe, Benue, Bauchi, Ekiti, Ebonyi, for instance?

How much can these states ever hope to generate from taxes to pay the wages of the full blown bureaucracies of governor, d e p u t y governor, first lady’s office, commissioners, legislators, judges, advisers and assistants, teachers and other civil servants? I mentioned only one oil state, Edo, above but all of our 36 states are no less unviable measured by the strictest rules of state creation. Indeed, the very idea of a federal government creating states, where the reverse ought to be the case, perpetually mocks our monstrous federalism.

There is no dodging the question of restructuring Nigeria into a true and honest federation any longer. And there is no better time for it than under a change government headed by a president who for 12 years begged to be allowed to fix Nigeria until the country was persuaded and elected him. But the change needed is fundamental. It requires a return to the basics, to the first principles of nationbuilding that we have been content to skip these many years since independence because easy oil money fooled us into a false sense of nationhood and security. We could manufacture any number of states we wished, so Jonathan’s parting gift was yet another national conference that recommended more states—what matter, we have oil! Yet, the only time Nigeria has had viable states was during the preindependence period of 1957-1960, and the six years of continued regional government after nominal independence.

attempt to provide an escape route to the accused persons, is what I call the big man syndrome which seems to forbid the prosecution or jailing of certain categories of Nigerians such as ex-governors, ministers and such other persons considered too big to go to jail or be made to account for their activities while in office. There is a deep irony in the middle of this attitude. While Nigerians are quick to condemn corruption and call for the prosecution of corrupt persons, they are also too quick to question the basis for jailing an accused person once such is considered a big man or woman. After the initial euphoria that the law respects nobody- after this comes the sentimental considerations that the accused has learned their ‘lesson’ and should be set free even when the accused admitted to no crime to say nothing of making restitution.

When we call for the prosecution of corrupt public officers, our desire seems to be in proving that these criminallyminded big men and women could be held to account even if such a process does not lead to the recovery of what the accused took unlawfully. What is also clear is that even the big men do not see why they should be made accountable. Nigerians saw these with Sule Lamido who reportedly wondered aloud if he was now a prisoner after the order was issued that he be remanded in prison. In just a matter of days, Lamido, his sons and their associate, had been released like other ex-governors who had been granted bail, to go home and enjoy the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. This approach of the courts or the EFCC to criminal prosecution is not what Nigeria needs if we are to win the war against corruption.

First, three regions, and then four with the creation of the defunct Mid-West in 1963. Oil was not then the Manna from the Delta it would soon become once the military conversion of Nigeria into a unitary state began with General Aguiyi Ironsi’s abominable Decree 1 of 1966 in which he blithely declared the end of the “Federal” Republic of Nigeria. Every other head of state, military or civilian, has perpetuated that lamentable legacy.

Clearly, President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress’s change agenda would be radically shortchanged if it did not entail the restructuring of our warped, wasteful and withering Federation-inName-Only (FINO). To really save Nigeria, Buhari must begin to plan for a genuine Sovereign National Conference by the mid-point of his tenure. Two years to restore sanity to the nation, enthrone the requisite discipline and temperament for nation-building, after which he must convene an SNC. Nigeria needs no more than eight states, perhaps, and twice or thrice as many autonomous or provincial regions, but that is a question to be decided by “We the people.” We live on borrowed time and history beckons on Buhari to effect one of the greatest transformation marvels of the world: from military dictator to democratic founder of modern Nigeria and restoration of black pride.

Kemal Ataturk might even envy him if he accepts the challenge.

20—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

The world has gone crazy!

By Ebele Orakpo

•LASU students protesting the death of Naphisat(inset)

DEATH OF LASU STUDENT

Lagos abattoir faces relocation •Pays compensation to bereaved family

By Bose Adelaja

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F there was one dream Adebowale Naphisat cherished so much, it was that of completing her tertiary education. She believed in it and strived to actualise it. So, she certainly would not have taken kindly to any prophecy that this dream would be cut short or aborted by tragedy. Unfortunately, that has become the case as her journey to school on Monday July 6, 2015 ended in tragedy. She was crushed to death while on that trip.

Most painful is the fact that she died two weeks to her first semester examinations. Not only that, the expectant mother was said to be carrying a set of twins according to the result of the pelvic scan she did during one of her ante-natal visits to the hospital.

Naphisat was a final year student of Physical and Health Education, Lagos State University LASU, until that fateful Monday.

Before her untimely death, the mother of two lived in the Aga/ Harmony area of Ikorodu. But because of the distance, she usually would leave home on a Monday for school to meet up with her academic activities and returned to her family on Friday. She left home for school as usual on July 6 but never made it to her destination. According to her col-

leagues, Naphisat’s practice was to leave home around 4am in order to beat the traffic that usually starts building up from 6am on the route to her school. But that particular Monday, the traffic was rather light and so there was really nothing to hinder her from getting to school on time to attend her 8am lecture.

But sadly that was not to be as the 27year-old Naphisat, a Muslim by faith, was involved in an auto crash which claimed her life at Odo-Eran bus-stop, along the LASU/Isheri road.

Tragedy struck around 7am when a cow escaped from a nearby abattoir and strayed to the major road where it was hit by a fast-moving commercial bus. Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that on account of the impact, Naphisat, a passenger in the bus, who was sitting near the door fell and landed on the road and was hit by an oncoming vehicle. She died on the spot. She was later identified as a student of LASU and the news of her death spread to the main campus at Ojo, prompting her fellow students to take to the streets in protest.

The protesting students first stormed the abattoir located at the Isheri/Igando end of Governor Road. Their arrival brought all trading activities at the nearby market to a stop. It remained so for the rest of the day. The closure was later extended to seven days.

Naphisat was buried same day according to Muslim rites.

A second year student of Faculty of Ed-

ucation, Christian Elemilua, described the victim as a hard-working fellow who participated actively in sports.

The Public Relations Officer of LASU Students Union, Adebanjo Fatai, told VM that following the sad development, the Union had made representation to government to relocate the abattoir.

Adebanjo said the students were preparing for a press conference when they received news of Naphisat’s death, adding that they all rushed to the scene of the accident. ‘’It was so painful that the management of the abattoir did not contact the school authorities having discovered her identity. This is the reason why we closed down the place for seven days before it was reopened today (Monday July 13, 2015),’’ he said.

Also, the President of the Student Union, Adeyemi Wasiu Onikoro, said the union had entered into negotiations with the management of the abattoir to compensate the victim’s family. ‘’Initially her family did not support the idea, but when we went into action, they changed their mind and the husband has since expressed appreciation for our gesture. We want this to serve as a deterrence to others. An abattoir should not be sited very close to a major road to avoid a situation like this,’’ he said.

Management of the abattoir Adeyemi disclosed that at a closed door meeting held between the victim’s family, the students and management of the abattoir, an agreement was reached that the abattoir should pay at least N3 million to the family for the upkeep of the children of the deceased.

On its own part, the state government is understood to have agreed to relocate the abattoir to a yet to be disclosed location. This was confirmed by the Chairman of the abattoir, Alhaji Alabi Bamidele Kazeem, who told VM that: ‘’The place will remain a market while the abattoir will be relocated’’.

In a telephone conversation with this reporter, Naphisat’s widower, Mr Hassan Elemure, said his late wife who hailed from the Dosunmu area of Lagos, used her maiden name because he was yet to pay a dowry on her. ‘’We had just planned for our introduction before the tragic incident. I thank the students and government for their efforts so far.

I thank God that Naphisat’s case was well handled and this gives me the confidence that our government cares for the lessprivileged,’’ he said.

Naphisat’s four-year-old daughter, Arafat Elemure, said her late mother will be greatly missed.

we are in the last days the Bible talked about ‘ THAT is no longer in doubt. Everything is turning upside

down,” said Timi in the Lagos Island-bound commuter bus. “Oh sure, we are in the last days indeed! It’s like the Devil has taken over the world,” agreed John.

“My own be say make they no carry dat madness come Nigeria oo as our President don go meet Obama who has been campaigning for legalisation of gay marriage,” said Ayo. “They have taken this rights thing to the extreme. I am not against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, LGBT, community doing whatever they do; after all, they have been there since the creation of the world, but what is wrong is forcing people to recognise and embrace them,” said Timi.

“We like to pretend a lot. Many people do the same things or even worse in their closets and come out to condemn those who are doing theirs openly,” said Julie.

Continuing, she said: “Imagine Africans condemning the US, meanwhile, we have corruption, kidnappings, human trafficking, terrorism and all sorts of evil destroying us and we have not stood against such as we have done against same-sex marriage.”

“Please,I’dratherdealwiththievesandcorruptpoliticians than with unnatural people. Just look at this: Gay marriage legalised by the US Supreme Court; adultery legalised by Constitutional Court in South Africa; Germany’s National Ethics Council calling for an end to criminalisation of incest between siblings; and then Japanese court rules that adultery is okay if it’s for business purpose. So your son canhavebabieswithyourdaughter. It’s nolongeracriminal offence. So tell me where humanity is headed if not destruction?” asked Paul.

Insane judgment Narrated Ayo: “I heard a couple in the US was fined $135,000 by the state for refusing to make wedding cake for a lesbian couple. They were accused of discriminating against the couple. For God’s sake, she has a right to say no to a customer but according to Obama and his cohorts, the lady has no right to refuse them. I am happy sane people in the US have risen up against the insane judgement.”

Said John: “I think they were just looking for trouble. An Igbo adage says that when an old woman wants to pick a quarrel with another, she asks her for some palm oil to eat palm nut. Palm oil comes from palm nut so what is she actually looking for if not wahala?” “Na only the woman dey make cake? Why didn’t they go to other bakers?” asked Timi.

Replied Bob: “She is not the only baker but why discriminate against them because of their sexual orientation?

That is the issue.” “The lady said she could not make the cake because it was against her faith. She said God gave her the gift and Gay marriage is against God’s law, so she will be going against God, like biting the finger that feeds her. She has a right to accept or refuse any job. I hope the rights activists realise that also,” said Ayo. “What about the man who tied a crocodile at his back yard and was having sex with it until a neighbour called in the Police. He was arrested and he said he was on a revenge mission because the croc had wanted to kill him as he was fishing,” narrated John.

“They shouldn’t punish him because that is his ‘sexual orientation’. Armed robbers, terrorists, kidnappers, rapists, paedophiles, drunk drivers and the rest should not be punished because that is the way they were made. Shebi they want to stand logic on its head,we’ll help them talk about rights. Nonsense! Their perversion no get part two,” said John. “But wait oo, I get question: Now if two men get married, where will the children come from?” asked Paul.

“They are allowed to adopt and sometimes they go through surrogacy,” replied Bob. Said Paul: “This is so unfair to the child. A child with two men or two women as parents? They think they are wiser than the creator who made them and put things in place.

Anyway, we shall see. Even animals have not become so depraved. Like Robert Mugabe said, Devil did not descend so low as to ask for Adam. He went for Eve.” “I read a facebook post where someone said that one of North’s nine-point agenda for Buhari is that he should reject Gay agreement the APC reached with the US and Britain before he won the election,” said John. “That sounds more like it because the Nigerian government started having problems with the West after passing the law against gay practice in Nigeria,” said Timi.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Buhari urges American entrepreneurs to exploit liberal trade, investment climate in Nigeria

By Gabriel Omoh, with Agency report

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in Washington urged American entrepreneurs to use the opportunities offered by the liberal trade and investment climate in Nigeria to do profitable business.

Buhari, who gave the advice at a business forum organised by the United States Chamber of Commerce and The Corporate Council on Africa, said that his administration would continue with the Federal Government’s privatisation programme in various sectors of the economy.

According to him, the privatisation exercise will be expanded to include the nation’s aviation, telecommunication, energy, gas, solid minerals, health, and infrastructure development sectors. “It is my intention to create the necessary environment for future investment in Nigeria. We are the most populous nation and largest market in Africa with vast human and natural resources and blessed with abundant young skilled workforce. We are, therefore, proud candidates to become the destination of choice for United States investments in Africa.

“I will work assiduously to welcome new investors tour country. I would like to remain you all that we are continuing in major privatisation programme with sectors ranging from telecommunication energy, gas, solid minerals, aviation, health and infrastructural development, but with improved moral architecture. We will also simplify visa procedures based on the

$126.50

AGM: From left: Mr Adedokun Sulaiman, Group Chairman, Cornerstone Insurance Plc; Mr Ganiyu Musa, Managing Director and Mr Richard Ikiebe, Vice Chairman during the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. principle of reciprocity. May I, therefore, seize this opportunity to formally invite the American business community to take advantage of our liberate trade and investment climate to do profitable business in Nigeria.`` The President, therefore, called on the business communities in the United States and Nigeria to exploit the excellent political relations between the two countries to expand trade and investment as well as enter into joint venture projects in priority sectors of the Nigerian economy. He

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$11.53

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$57.81 0.76

50.57 CURRENCY

BUYING

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CENTRAL

DOLLAR

195.95 196.45 196.95 POUNDS 304.957 305.7351 306.5133 EURO 213.0564 213.6001 214.1437 FRANC 204.5407 205.0626 208.4789 YEN 1.5783 1.5824 1.5864 CFA 0.3097 0.3197 0.3297 WAUA 273.1683 274.8654 274.5624 RENMINBI 31.5581 31.6391 31.7201 RIYAL 52.2464 52.3797 52.513 SDR 272.6252 273.3209 274.061 KRONA 28.545 28.6178 28.6907

CBN Exchange Rate as at 16/ 07 /15

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identified the power generation, gas, agriculture value chain, mining, health, tourism, among others, as the sectors needing expansion.

He said: “While I recognise the pivotal role of government in facilitating and promoting economic growth, the private sector must assume an increasing role as part of the engine of growth.

“We will welcome genuine investors, who are willing to come to Nigeria for solid mineral exploitation.“ He

pledged that his administration would carry out its key campaign promises including the creation of employment opportunities for millions of Nigerian youths. Generating employment was one of my key campaign promises. I will do my best to keep this promise.

“There is no other way to expand economic opportunities and create employment opportunities for millions of our youths than boosting domestic manufacturing, undertaking infrastructural development

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and industrialisation. Let me repeat, Nigeria will partner with genuine investors who are willing to join us to achieve our economic objective and at the same time realize handsome returns to recoup their investments “There is more to Nigeria than oil. This is why I will continue to stress the need for increased United States investments in our non-oil sector.

In this respect the present administration will be attentive to the needs of the business community and pursue policy that will strengthen the sectors that drive the growth.“ Buhari reassured that his administration would reduce waste in the management of the Nigerian economy through prudence, accountability, and good governance as well as respect for the Rule of Law, strict compliance with and observance of contractual agreements.

According to him, Nigeria has huge economic potential that required heavy funding that cannot be sourced locally.

“In this regard, I want to use this platform to encourage United States foreign investment and funding agencies such as Overseas Investment Corporation and the United States Export–Import Bank to increase access to capital and funding of such businesses on favourable terms.

“Nigerian potentials are already being exploited,“ he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Corporate Council on Africa, Mr Paul Hinks, expressed the readiness of American investors to do business with the new government in Nigeria. He, therefore, invited Buhari to chair the council’s summit scheduled to hold in Ethiopia in November.

UNIDO, Volvo Group sign MoU on industrial skills for youths

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HE United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Volvo Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the industrial skills of youth in Africa.

The memorandum of understanding on this collaboration was signed by Philippe Scholtes, Managing Director of UNIDO, and Malin Ripa, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility Management, the Volvo Group.

The signing took place on the margins of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development held in Ethiopia.

“The joint efforts of UNIDO and the Volvo Group will address the gap between supply and demand of skilled labor resulting from skills

mismatches,” said Scholtes. “This will be done by establishing training academies in a selected number of

The joint efforts of UNIDO and the Volvo Group will address the gap between supply and demand of skilled labor resulting from skills mismatches

countries.”

The parties of the memorandum have currently joint projects in Ethiopia, Morocco and Zambia.

Volvo is also a partner of a UNIDO implemented Learning and Knowledge Development Facility project funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation. The Learning and Knowledge Development Facility aims at expanding access of youth to joboriented and demand-driven skills in the sectors of logistics and industrial maintenance of machinery, through the establishment of training academies for the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

A major objective of the MDRI is to ensure that insurance products and services reach every nook and cranny of Nigeria

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Cornerstone Insurance pays dividend, promises greater future for shareholders

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ORNERSTONE Insurance Group has recorded a 20 percent growth in profit before tax for the financial year ended December 31, 2014, moving from N870.2 million in 2013 to N1.04 billion. This is as profit after tax also grew by 11 percent to N946.48 million from N860.36 million the previous year.

The underwriting firm, which has embarked on transformation in the last few years building capacity and remodelling insurance practice in Nigeria, has also paid a 0.02 kobo dividend, promising its shareholders greater future and value creation.

Announcing the performance at Company’s 23rd Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, Adedotun Sulaiman, Group Chairman said despite the challenging business environment, Cornerstone experienced modest growth in 2014.

“The financial performance in 2014 is a reflection of our deliberate focus on profitable underwriting and investment performance, while cautiously pursuing top-line growth”.

Underwriting profit While the gross premium written stood at N5.21 billion, gross premium income inched 12 percent, moving from N4.62 billion in 2013 to N5.19 billion. Underwriting profit also rose by 60 percent from N939 million to N1.50 billion, even as the Company met claims obligations to the tune of N1.23 billion in the year under review.

Other highlights of the result include a 12 percent growth in investment income to N999 million from N890 million in 2013. Shareholders equity appreciated by 12 percent from N6.90 billion in the previous year to N7.76 billion, while retained earnings moved from a negative N555 million in 2013 to N99 million in the year under review.

Shareholders who were excited about the turnaround in the Company commended

the board and management, stating that the company after concluding its acquisition of Fin Insurance will be better positioned for increased shareholder value.

“We are happy that the board has kept its promise to reward shareholders, the future is bright for us and we will continue to encourage you, one of the shareholders said.

Sulaiman stated that going forward; the focus of the Company in 2015 will be on strategic priorities and delivering on growth targets. “We expect a more proactive stance from the Central Bank of Nigeria this year in ensuring currency stability, economic improvements and the continued development of growth sectors”.

For Cornerstone Insurance, following your approval of the acquisition of FIN Insurance, our focus is to complete the integration of the enlarged company to create complimentary values in such areas as distribution channels, geographical spread and product opportunities among others, he said.

According to him, Cornerstone has continued to make progress in one of its value-rich mass market insurance products in partnership with Airtel and Macroensure.

“We will continue to leverage on technology to transform the way we serve our customers, simplify transaction processing across our value chain and implement cost effective models to deliver the desired business growth”.

For continued support on sustenance of economic developments in Nigeria and increased penetration of insurance product and services, the Company would continue to partner with relevant organisations to design affordable products for low and irregular income groups, and all literacy levels, the Chairman said.

Send comments & enquiries to insuranceandyou@yahoo.com C M Y K

INSURAN Taking insurance to grassroots, the Mutual way Stories by Rosemary Onuoha

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HE Market Development and Restructuring Initiative, MDRI, was introduced into the insurance market in 2012 by the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, to deepen insurance penetration in the country.

A major objective of the MDRI is to ensure that insurance products and services reach every nook and cranny of Nigeria. In essence, insurance companies are expected to develop micro insurance products that will cater to the masses.

Unfortunately, so far, many

companies tend to be footdragging in meeting the expectation of NAICOM by creating the necessary micro insurance products and services for the grassroots.

However, one company that has made positive efforts in this direction is Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc. At the inception of the MDRI, Mutual Benefits introduced over 50 different types of micro insurance products to serve various segments of the Nigerian economy particularly the small and medium scale businesses. Only last week, the company introduced the Group Life cover for Ladipo International Auto Spare parts Market Traders.

While hosting the executives of Ladipo International Auto Spare parts Market in Lagos recently, Group Managing Director of Mutual Benefits, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi said there is a huge gap between the potential of insurance penetration in the country and what is on the ground in the insurance industry.

According to him, with 85 branch networks where 55 branches are based in the rural areas of the country, the company is poised to deepen insurance to the grassroots.

He said the collaboration with Ladipo Spare Part Market traders will enable Mutual Benefits carry the risks of the traders and empower the

PARTNERSHIP: From left, Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi; President of Ladipo International Auto Spare Parts Market, Mr. Ikechukwu Obiuno; Managing Director, Mutual Benefits General Insurance, Mr. Segun Omosehin and Head Strategy, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Babajide Oniwinde, during Mutual Benefits Assurance dinner with executives of Ladipo auto spare parts market.

Coscharis rewards major customers

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UTO Care & Consumer Division of Coscharis Group has rewarded its customers with over N121 million for their patronage in 2014 in keeping with its yearly tradition of supporting its customer’s business.

The forum witnessed award presentations to customers who had in the 2014 transacted businesses worth N3 million and above with the company and it includes number one, two, three, four and five customers of the year nationwide.

Others were customers who painstakingly displayed ABRO products without mixing them with other products; most promising customer of the year, customer with the greatest passion for ABRO and award for stocking wide range of

ABRO products, among others.

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.

Important visitors Speaking at the company’s 2015 Customers’ Forum in Lagos, President of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, stated that the forum was specifically designed to say thank you to the customers whose patronage made significant impact on the company during the course of the year.

In his words, “Our customers

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 accounts to purchase additional products from us.

“In other words, we support them and help them to build their businesses and be a formidable organization like Coscharis. We started with N200 and today, here is where we are and we are trying to help these customers grow and become even bigger than ourselves, and that is why we call this forum.”

While appreciating the customers for their support in

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

traders through its micro finance bank products.

President of the Traders, Mr. Ikechukwu Obiuno, applauded Mutual Benefits for the initiatives of collaborating with stakeholders aimed at increasing insurance awareness.

He said a lot of foreign companies are selling their products in Ladipo market but none have done what Mutual Benefits is doing, adding that Mutual Benefits brand is setting the pace for other insurance companies to follow.

He assured that the market will create the enabling environment for the initiatives of Mutual Benefits to succeed.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, said that the Small and Medium enterprise

The major focus of the company is to deepen insurance penetration in the country. One of the ways it can achieve this is by partnering with other sectors of the economy

(SMEs) contributes largely to the GDP of the Nigerian economy, adding that despite the challenges faced by these SMEs they still remain in business.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Head Strategy, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Babajide Oniwinde said that insurance is always ready to carry some of the risks faced by the traders at any point in time.

He said that NAICOM will continue to protect policyholders and ensure that claims are paid by insurance firms as at when due and will sanction any company found wanting in the area of claims payment.

Claims of payment He assured the traders that NAICOM is solidly behind all Mutual benefits initiatives aimed at deepening insurance awareness and penetration in the country.

In another move aimed at deepening insurance penetration as well, Mutual Benefits in partnership with Truckmasters-Hyundai Nigeria Limited launched “Easy Lease” vehicle financing facility.

Speaking at the unveiling, Managing Director of Truckmasters Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tony Arenyeka, said the initiative will enable Nigerian consumers to acquire brand new cars of full range of Hyundai and Nissan Vehicles within 48hours through the Easy lease.

According to him, Tuckmasters is an authorised dealer for HMNL for Hyundai

2014, the Coscharis boss said: “We are here to thank you and award those that have had remarkable sales in their business within the year. From the depth of our hearts, we appreciate you.

“We are introducing additional products in the market and if you stay with ABRO, the sky will be your limit and we are committed to serving you

vehicle. The unique features of the Easy Lease initiative is the speed of delivery, the shortened approval process from request time ownership, eliminating the bottlenecks that are usually associated with the traditional banking system.

He said, “Mutual Benefits and Tuckmasters strongly believe jointly in the ability of this well thought-out initiative to improve the wellbeing of Nigerians through a convenient acquisition of motor insurance policy and new vehicles.

“As a partner, Truckmasters will take extra steps in ensuring that Hyundai cars remain affordable while Mutual Benefits is offering an innovative comprehensive insurance cover on every car and ownership is a back-to-back process which will make claims administration easy for the customers. Through Easy Lease, Nigerians are encouraged to take up comprehensive motor insurance cover and patronage of brand new cars to reduce the premature maintenance burden associated with used vehicles.”

Omosehin, said that the major focus of the company is to deepen insurance penetration in the country, adding that one of the ways it can achieve this is by partnering with other sectors of the economy.

Omosehin said that the partnership will mutually benefit both companies in the long run, noting that Mutual Benefits is committed to the growth of the Nigerian economy. He said that the only way insurance can make an impact in the economy and the country is for insurance operators to begin to do things differently.

better,” he added.

He however, urged the customers to support the company in its fight against fake products in order to move the business forward, maintaining that there are a lot of government agencies that are doing their best to stop faking of products in Nigeria.

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CE & YOU

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Unfortunately, so far, many companies tend to be foot-dragging in meeting the expectation of NAICOM by creating the necessary micro insurance products and services for the grassroots.

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AXAmansard to provide cutting-edge solutions to Nigeria market

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XAmansard Insurance plc has promised to provide cutting-edge solutions to chosen market segments in Nigeria’s financial services industry following the upgrade of its brand from Mansard Insurance Plc. The brand upgrade is coming with access to an improved portfolio of products and services for all its customers across all service segments i.e. protection, health, pensions as well as savings & investments.

The company also launched its newly redesigned and upgraded website, www.axamansard.com

Customers services During the upgrade ceremony at the company’s head office in Lagos, Denis Duverne, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AXA Group said, “This brand upgrade further demonstrates AXA’s commitment to the largest African economy in particular and to Africa in general as this is consistent with our ambition. Leveraging on AXA’s global network of 59 countries on 5 continents, AXA Mansard now offers its customers services and products based on the global expertise of AXA complemented by Mansard’s

significant and proven local competence. This combination is expected to provide cuttingedge solutions to our chosen market segments in Nigeria’s financial services industry.”

He said, “Seven months ago in December 2014, we joined the AXA Group as a full member thereby bringing our customers into the world of AXA. AXA is the No. 1 Insurance brand in the world and a global leader in insurance and asset management.

Mansard Insurance over the years with the kind patronage and partnership of our customers and other stakeholders has grown rapidly, helping to shape Nigeria’s financial services industry largely within the insurance sector.

Chief Client Officer of AXA Mansard, Mr. Tosin Runsewe said, “The synergy between these great entities, AXA and Mansard, will offer our company infinite access to global resources, capacity development and broader product offering, both commercial and personal lines.

These factors will transcend into delivery of better service and improved products tailored to suit the needs of all our customers. AXA Mansard is thus positioned to offer the best in property, life & health protection, pension management as well as savings and investments.”

AGM: From left; Mr. K.Sanathkumar, Director, Prestige Assurance Plc; Dr. Balla Swamy, Managing Director and Mr. Gopalan Srinivasan, Chairman during the 45th Annual General Meeting of the company, in Lagos.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

SEC set to implement 10-year master plan Stories by Peter Egwuatu

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HE Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC has said that it is determined to implement the 10 year master plan for capital market development in Nigeria.

Consequently, the commission disclosed that it is prepared to host the Second Quarter 2015 Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting scheduled to hold in Lagos next Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

According to a statement from SEC, the meeting is scheduled to hold at the Federal Palace Hotel and top on the agenda would be the capital market master plan implementation.

The ten-year master plan for the Nigerian capital market which is expected to refocus the market and help double its size over time and grow the economy was unveiled last November.

DG of SEC, Mournir Gwarzo had recently assured that he is committed to ensuring the implementation of the 10-year Capital Market Master Plan.

According to him “I have only one agenda for the market, my agenda for the market is to faithfully and religiously implement the 10-year Capital Market Master Plan. It will be recalled last year SEC set up three committees to drive market growth and the best brains in the market participated in the three committees and they worked tirelessly and came up with an excellence report which was launched last year, what we lacked in the country is the faithful implementation of reports.

Those who have been invited to attend the expanded session are Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all registered capital market firms (i.e Broker Dealer, Capital Market Solicitors, Custodians, Fund Managers, Issu-

ing Houses, Rating Agencies, Registrars, Reporting Accountants, Trustees, and Consultants).

Others are Chief Executive Officers of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), The Financial Markets Dealers Quotations (FMDQ), Africa Exchange Holdings (AFEX), Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX), Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), and Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS); Also, a member from each observer group (i.e Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Central Bank of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission, Debt Management Office, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, Investment and Securities Tribunal, Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, amongst others.

UNVEILING: From left: Special Guest of Honour, Mr. Eugene Eze, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi and others at the unveiling of Vitafoam’s second Comfort Centre, in Warri.

Finance experts to be honoured at Nigeria CFO Awards

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n recognition of the immense contribution of finance experts to the nation’s financial sector, Instinct Business, Africa’s foremost business and financial magazine, has concluded plans to host the maiden edition of the Nigeria CFO Awards, scheduled to take place in September 2015, at The Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

The Nigeria CFO Awards is borne out of the need to recognise the achievements of financial executives who have been outstanding in their profession and have contributed in no small measure to the growth of their organisations and the economy at large.

“The award will honour top financial executives whose outstanding leadership practices have raised the standards of accountability within the profession, showcased brilliancy in

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managing their organisations wealth and supported the economic growth of the nation,” said Akin Naphtal, C E O / P u b l i s h e r, InstinctBusiness magazine.

The award ceremony will also provide a platform for top

The award will honour top financial executives whose outstanding leadership practices have raised the standards of accountability within the profession

CFOs, heads of finance, highlevel executive, analysts, academics and pundits in the business and financial sector to participate in conversations that will highlight shortfalls in the sector and shape future policy decisions.

Naphtal, said that aside from celebrating the achievements of financial leaders, the occasion will also serve as an avenue for networking among chief financial officers and finance executives at the highest levels, which will be beneficial to all parties.

InstinctBusiness is Africa’s foremost business and financial magazine with a reach that cuts across Africa and extends to the United Kingdom. It is behind the highly successful MarketingWorld Awards, Ghana Telecoms Awards & West Africa Telecom Summit and a host of other industry events which have attracted industry movers from around the globe.

How much saving is enough for retirement?(3)

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OR most people, home crash and this has affected the ownership is a desirable returns that would be availeconomic goal. One must thereable to holders of retirement fore save towards achieving savings accounts, RSAs, held this goal. If the deductions for by the Pension Fund Adminpension contributions at eight istrators, PFAs. Each PFA is per cent and income taxes at ten required to publish the rate of per cent are made from an return of RSA funds under its employee’s total emoluments, control so as to highlight the the employee’s take home pay accomplishments of the PFA would be eighty two per cent in managing the funds and and below of the total emoluhelp attract potential RSA ment. The employee should set holders to the PFA. Each PFA a target of saving twenty five per should indicate the net assets cent of this take home pay value per unit of the fund and which is about twenty per cent disclose the lowest and highof the total emolument. est rates of return for PFAs with The target may appear published audited financial high but the savings would be statements in the industry, as available if one wishes to purconfirmed by the Pension chase a plot of land on which to Commission, alongside its build one’s home and subseown rate of return. PFAs have quently for the construction of so far been publishing their the home. In Lagos State, the own financial statements as government has a home owncompanies reporting to their ership mortgage scheme in shareholders and persons which one can purchase a houswho wish to choose a PFA rely ing unit with an initial payment on the asof thirty per cent of sessments the designated of the variprice of the housing ous PFAs unit. Again, one’s by their PFA has about savings would be colleagues useful in making thirty per cent of who are the initial payment. its funds in- RSA holdFor this home ownvested in the ers. R e ership scheme, the balance of seventy stock market ports from per cent of the desAnwhile about sev- the ignated price nual Genwould be covered enty per cent is in eral Meetwith monthly mortof a one form or the ing gage payments P F A , over a period of ten other of money Trustfund years at nine and a market invest- Pe n s i o n half per cent interPlc, indiest per annum. The ment cate that implication of what this PFA is immediately has about above is that one thirty per should be able to cent of its funds invested in put together the cost of one’s the stock market while about home in a ten-year period. seventy per cent is in one We should understand form or the other of money that in countries where there is market investment. The PFA a comprehensive provision of was concerned that the instasocial infrastructure and social bility in the capital market and benefits, income taxes and sothe non-payment of salaries by cial security contributions are in state governments had an excess of thirty per cent of the adverse effect on the perforemployee’s total emoluments. mance of the PFA. The PenBesides owning a home, one sion Commission has issued should in our circumstances for comments draft regulations hold other assets as a precauon how pension fund assets tion against shocks and uncershould be invested. Each PFA tainties that may occur in the is expected to have four dislatter part of one’s life. These tinct funds with specified shocks could be a health probmaximum limits for each aslem that could take away all of set class. One of the funds has one’s savings or an economic a maximum limit of five per one as occurred with the 2008 cent for investment in ordifinancial and stock markets nary shares and I believe this crash.The Nigerian capital marmaximum limit should be ket has not recovered suffiused for the four funds. ciently following on the 2008

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—25

DIARY zICT

Africa Cape Town, South Africa July 15-16, 2015

•Mohammed Jameel, Globacom COO

•Michael Ikpoki, CEO MTN NIgeria

Preview Wrist-Worn Kingii to save swimmers from drowning •Mathew Wilsher, Etisalat CEO

•Segun Ogunsanya, CEO Airtel Nigeria

•Eugene Juwah, EVC NCC

NCC moves to adopt new regulatory guidelines •Stakeholders kick

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By Emmanuel Elebeke new

inflatable

wristband,

it’s

designed to keep you afloat with a single tug, giving you the benefits of a life vest without the drawbacks of wearing one. Whether you get leg cramps in the midst of a swim, fall off a jet ski, or experience an unfortunate accident in the middle of the ocean, this thing should help you float on top without any effort on your part.For a wristband, Kingii is anything but small.

I

N a bid to ensure a robust and efficient regulatory framework in the system, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has commenced the process of harmonizing new regulatory guidelines for the telecommunications industry.

At a stakeholders event to finalize the process in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah explained that the exercise was part of the Commission’s rulemaking process aimed at ensuring wide consultation in the development of regulatory instruments by the Commission in accordance with the Nigerian Communications Act.

The EVC said the new guideline had become an invaluable asset in ensuring that the opinions and inputs of stakeholders are considered in developing a sound regulatory framework for the Nigerian telecommunications industry.

Juwah noted that the draft enforcement regulations which formed the second segment of the public enquiry was an amendment of the previous regulations issued to the industry in 2005, adding that the regulation was amended to reflect best practices in the industry.

The regulation when finalized, the EVC said, will provide a more robust framework for efficient processes for carrying out enforcement in the industry.

According to the Commission, the regulations and guidelines will complement the Act and the respective Licenses

This effort by the commission will further ensure that the industry adopts international best practices while taking into consideration our peculiar operating environment

Still, it’s small enough that even children can wear it comfortably, apart from being unobtrusive, making it the most convenient option for an equipment that can genuinely keep you from drowning.

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I N S I D E

Innovation, challenges of Whatsapp voice call PAGE 26

How Nigeria, others can drive e-commerce for sustainable developmentUNCTAD PAGE 27

by the Commission in addition to providing guiding standards and principles for enforcement processes and Sim replacements in the industry.

“This effort by the commission will further ensure that the industry adopts international best practices while taking into consideration our peculiar operating environment,” said the EVC. Enforcement Process Under the amended Enforcement Processes Regulations, the new draft enforcement is of the Regulations issued in 2005. NCC said they provide a more robust framework for effective and efficient processes for carrying out enforcement in the industry.

According to the Commission, regulations under this process were amended to align with practice and trends in the industry.

Justifying the increase of most fines in the old draft, NCC explained that previous fines failed to serve the purpose of deterring repeated contraventions.

It added that principle of fairness and transparency were taken into consideration in the amendments, while submissions Continues on page 27

26 —VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

How Facebook’s virtual reality tech’ll radically change our lives S

By Agbolade Omowale (@iamagbolade) OCIAL media was a paradigm shift in the way

organizations communicate with their clients and consumers. This year, more than 88 percent all over the world will use social media to win and attract new customers and make huge sales.

One may be tempted to think that social media will continue with its current state of development in terms of mobile applications and speed optimization.

Don’t be surprised if your concept of social media changes less than a year from now, because there is another paradigm shift coming in the way we

communicate in business and with others. The new technology to watch out for is called virtual reality.

Oxford dictionary defines virtual reality as: ‘The computer-generated simulation of a threedimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a helmet with a screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors.’

With virtual reality, you can be with anybody whenever you like in a virtual environment.

Everything will look real. You will be able to see, feel and sense the other person as though you are meeting them

in real life.

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook announced on March 25, 2014 that his company has agreed to acquire Oculus VR, the leader in virtual reality technology.

Oculus VR build virtual reality technology, like the Oculus Rift headset. When you put it on, you enter a completely immersive computer-generated environment, like a game or a movie scene or a place far away. The incredible thing about the technology is that you feel like you’re actually present in another place with other people. People who try it say it’s different from anything they ’ve ever experienced in their lives.

Virtual reality will bridge the gap between space and time. In the future, one will be able to decide if he or she will attend your event physically or not. For instance, for the just concluded MTV Africa Music Awards, where D’Banj won the MAMA Evolution award in South Africa, with virtual reality, he can choose to go there virtually instead of travelling from a country like Nigeria to South Africa, thereby saving valuable time.

With the introduction of Virtual Reality in Facebook starting year 2016, you don’t need to go events physically. You can just be in your house, and with a device you will be there virtually.

How Nigerian vloggers share amazing experiences on YouTube

By Emeka Aginam

G

OOGLE West Africa, recently celebrated its 10 years of operation in Nigeria, bringing together popular video bloggers, sometimes shortened to vloggers who use their YouTube videos to share memorable moments with youths.

Tagged “YouTube & the Stars Event,” held in Lagos recently, the event saw the presence of Ariyike Akinbobola, with Youtube channel ariyikeweekly; Kunle Idowu popularly known as Frank Donga; Olisah Adibua, with YouTube channel Olisa.TV running a show, TheTruth ; Toke Makinwa with YouTube channel TokeMoments; TechCity NG, a group of youths with interest on new gadgets; Naijas Craziest , a group with interest on comedy skits,among others.

At the event it was revealed, the role YouTube is playing in the export of Nigerian content. Latest figure shows that in 2014, YouTube views in Nigeria increased by 78%, while views of Nigerian content increased by 95% .

Speaking at the event, Taiwo K o l a - O g u n l a d e , Communications & Public Affairs Manager for Google in

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West Africa , told the gathering that the programme was put up to showcase individuals who are behind the videos watched andshared on YouTube.

Ogunlade advised Nigerians to seize the free opportunity given by google for individuals to share their experience through videocontents on YouTube. He however, stated that “on YouTube, you don’t do it alone, you share advice with people who can help •Low battery contribute meaningfully to your cause. “ Sharing her experience on YouTube, Akinbobola, a lawyer and mother of two said with Youtube you can gather a lot of experience and be yourself, stating that on YouTube, I talk about relationship dynamics, She said: “I have in the past did videos on YouTube on how to spy on your nannies, I have also done videos on

parenting. But you know what, the views I get on my channel aren’t up to 5, 000. But when I don’t box myself, and do freestyle videos, amazingly, I get over 100,000 views.”

Speaking on some of her videos on sex and relationship, which had come with barrage of criticisms, she said: “Well, my channel is not for babies, but for adults. Most times when I talk about sex, people tend to look at me as if it’s a no-go-area, But as a married woman, this is something I do, even, people who are not married do this.

So, why do we shy away discussing it?”

Asked how she reacts to hate comments about her videos, particularly those on sex, Akinbobola said: “I pay attention to comments on my channel, including the hate comments. But what I do is reply with love because I think for somebody to visit my channel, they have a problem especially, relating to sex and marriage.”

Also speaking, Adibua said he got his inspiration while he was growing up in the United Kingdom, adding that when he got back to-Nigeria, he was employed at age 17 to work with the NTA 5 on contract.

Innovation, challenges of Whatsapp voice call

By Laju Iren

S

INCE the GSM revo lution, albeit amidst inflation rates, the cost of making calls within and outside the country has dropped significantly. In fact, while the price of everything else seems to be going up, the price of voice calls around the world is going in the opposite direction. In the fast changing world of communications technology, the enigma doesn’t end there. Innovations are making it easier, faster and in many cases, costless to make voice calls.

Whatsapp’s voice call comes to mind in this regard. When Facebook bought over whatsapp for $22 billion in February 2014, it was already a force to be reckoned with.

The company now has over 700 million users who, with access to a Windows, iOS, or Blackberry 10 device can make calls practically for free on the Whatsapp platform.

For many in today’s global village, this is an advantage with no strings attached. Broadband pen-

etration is at an all time high in the United States, United Kingdom, among others. So the new development might pose a challenge only to Telecom giants in such countries, who according the various international reports worry about losing their already declining revenue from voice calls.

Nigeria however, is still trying to rise above its 6% broadband penetration, hence the somewhat expensive price of data. Whatsapp calls are only free in a sense. Although users are not charged directly for the calls, data bills in Nigeria could sometimes be a real monster. So on the long run, many users in this part of the world might still opt for voice calls from the regular service providers.

Price aside, the quality of calls is sometimes a problem.

Between the caller and the recipient, there is an uncomfortable noise which distorts communication. Even the echo which returns back the callers voice before his recipient gives feedback to the communication only lays credence to the fact that a lot of improvement is needed before the Whatsapp free voice call becomes uhuru.

Lenovo unveils new logo

By Jane Dania

A

pparently trying to create a more lasting impression in the mind of its customers, particularly in the Nigerian market, computer, tablet and smartphone maker, Lenovo has unveiled a new logo.

According to the company, the new logo would sync with the changing world of technology.

The company’s Manager for West, East and Central Africa, WECA, re-

gion, Mr. David Caleb noted that the logo of the company was being rebranded as a result of the change in the ICT world. He added that “the launch today was done to reinforce our vision of being the number-one customer-friendly and quality giver of services in the ICT industry.

Being the world’s third largest personal computer (PC) producer, Lenovo has recorded $46 billion in sales of products across the world and 40 per cent of its smartphones are sold outside China.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—27

NCC moves to adopt new regulatory guidelines Continues from page 25 received from stakeholders were duly considered and where necessary incorporated.

General Process and Procedure for exercise of NCC’s Powers For instance, under the new enforcement framework, it is criminal for any operator to provide false subscriber information during registration; as condition for releasing seized items or sealed premises, it would require the licensee to either regularize its operations or comply with the prescribed sanctions. Also, operators are now allowed to retain Call Data records for a period of 12 months in their data bank.

Grounds for revocation of license These includes: failure to provide service for a continuous period of 30 days; inability of the licensee to pay any amount due under its license condition; failure to obtain type approval of equipment or facilities; failure to commence full licensed operations and providing misleading information in license application.

Some new fines N250,000 for unauthorized Sim Replacement; N200,000 for every individual contravention in failure to capture subscriber information; N100,000 for sale of pre-registered Sim card and N5,000,000 for each Sim Card order breached or other instruments issued by the Commission where a specific penalty is not specified in the Act. Guidelines on Sim Replacement The guidelines according to NCC were principally intended to prescribe a standard procedure for Sim Replacement to be used by network Service Providers.

Head of Legal services in the Commission, Mrs. Akintoye Yetunde, also at the Public Inquiries said the draft Sim Replacement Guidelines aimed at creating and providing a seamless, effective and efficient procedure for Sim replacement in Nigeria.

Also she said the intention was to ensure a secure process for Sim replacement and curtail the incidents of fraudulent replacements which have now become rampant in the industry.

Yetunde further explained that the OSR can only be carried out either through the National Service Providers’ (NSPs) website or selfservice terminal.

According to her, the NSPs are expected to create on their websites platforms where subscribers can login to carry out Sim Replacement using a unique identification and PIN issued by the NSP. The subscriber, she said would however, be required to purchase a new Sim card to which the information of the old Sim card would be transferred.

To activate the sim, the NCC’s head legal unit said, a replaced sim must be activated within two hours once the verification of subscriber information had been carried out.

She however warned that the

Technology players ditch competition for Tech+ conference

By Laju Iren

T

HE much advocated coopetition among Nigeria’s Technology industry players for the betterment of the sector, may not be farfetched anymore. Coopetition is a disruptive word which challenges operators to play less competition and encourage more cooperation among themselves for the good of the economy.

Although the call has permeated every sector of the economy due to the benefits experienced in convergence of ideas worldwide, it has never experienced a positive response in Nigeria.

However, things seem to be changing now with the coming of a technology event tagged Tech+ conference.

Perhaps, there may not have been too many events before now, that garnered as much support as this Technology Conference and Exhibitions billed to hold on July 2425 in Lagos.

MTN Nigeria, Huawei, Jumia, Google, Coscharis Motors, Samsung, Terragon Group, Enplug Africa, Atlantic Exhibition as well as the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency, LASAA, were all present at the media launch of the initiative held in Lagos recently. Their reason: they believe that Tech+ will showcasetechnology at its best with a view to helping people get the best out of life through optimizing the wide spectrum technological development.

Speaking in his address, Mr. Richard Iweanoge, the General Manger, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, said: “As we all know, technology is fast evolving and the world has become a global village where people from across the globe can communicate with one another with just a touch of a button. At times like these, it is important that we stay in touch with the world around us and keep track of the latest innovations that

impact our world and our current existence.

Also speaking in her brief remarks, Head of Communications, Jumia, Bertille Guitton said her company’s involvement in TECH+ stems from the important roles Technology has played in making life easier. She stated that the company has deployed technology to simplify commerce in the last three years of operations in the country.

Meanwhile, Coscharis Motors, has announced that the company will launch the Jaguar XE range at the Tech+ Conference and Exhibitions.

General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Services, Abiona

Babarinde said: “We operate a business that thrives on innovations. This is why we are the unique market leaders in the elite automobile sector. The Jaquar XE compact range is a statement on Technological advancement and TECH+ Conference and Exhibitions offer a unique platform to unveil it to the Nigerian public, “he said.

Mr. Tunji Adeyinka, whose company, Connect Marketing Services Limited, is organizing the conference said: “Tech+ is a “gathering of everything technology ” under one roof, and it promises real time experience of the world of technology as well as the offer of a rich window of opportunities that could be maximized to whatever benefit.”

GRADUATION: From left: Head Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Koye Sowemimo; Overall Best Graduating Student, Samsung Engineering Academy Class of 2014, Sunday Oyelami; Head, Lagos Eko Secondary School Education Project, Mrs Folasade Fasehun and Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim at the Samsung Engineering Academy graduation ceremony.

TD becomes sole distributor for Yezz Mobile

By Prince Osuagwu

T

ECHNOLOGY devices distributor, TD Mobile has been appointed sole distributor to American mobile phone brand Yezz mobile in Nigeria.

The mobile company established some five years ago in the United States of America said it has experienced tremendous success in the Latin American markets over

the last few years, prompting the hunger to expand footprint to Africa.

Managing Director of the Mobile Company, for Europe, Middle-East and Africa, Mr. Robert Schiano, said his company considers Africa, a

How Nigeria, others can drive e-commerce for sustainable development-UNCTAD

By Emmanuel Elebeke

N

IGERIA and other developing countries require only quality policies to harness e-commerce for sustainable development, the United Nations Conference on the Trade and Development, UNCTAD, has said.

In its 2015 Information Economy Report entitled: Unlocking the potential of eCommerce for Developing Countries, the UNCTAD said with the expansion of digital economy and more business activities affected, it is important for developing countries to consider policies that can help them harness e-commerce for sustainable development.

In this light, the world body reasoned that a national ecommerce strategy should be developed by all nations in collaboration with relevant stakeholders for a productive results.

It noted that special attention should be devoted to measure and facilitate the

effective involvement of micro and small enterprises.

The Secretary General, of the body Mukhisa Khituyi, said, assessing ecommerce readiness forms the first step towards formulating an affective national e-commerce strategy and to set priorities.

According to him, this involves developing understanding of national needs, characteristics, strengths and weakness using relevant tools.

Khituyi said, any assessment should include a comprehensive review of the evolution of e-commerce the particular environment, including e-commerce related initiatives, a stocking of the resources and capabilities that could contribute to the development of ecommerce. For UNCTAD, proper identification of the main challenges and barriers and uncovering the dynamics underpinning them will help in ensuring that policy measures adopted are effective.

key growth focus region, adding that “the African market offers considerable growth prospects because studies have shown that the number of smartphones sold by 2017 will double to 350 million units.

“With Yezz brand, we have the ambition, portfolio and capabilities to be a major player in Africa in the mobile phone sector. With Nigeria being one of the most significant markets in Africa as well as globally, we are highly motivated to showcase the Yezz brand offering to the discerning Nigerian consumer,” he said.

•Yezz mobile C M Y K

28— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Nigerian Football and the albatross of technical deficiency

By Paddy Ezeala

I

t is self evident that the game of football in Nigeria and as presented to the world has been largely a showcase of individual talent, brilliance and inner strength without much benefit of technicality. There also has been this argument about the desirability of a foreign coach or technical adviser for our national teams. The provenance or nationality of a coach is of little consequence in this matter. The issue is about technicality; in situ and ex situ appreciation of the game and the unpacking of gradual or instant result-laden responses. The issue of supporting the technical development of the game in the country is an entirely different matter.

In the 1970s and 1980s the then Green Eagles and in fact Nigerian club sides found it very difficult to scale through the hurdles posed by North African teams. While we mostly paraded natural skills and brawn, the North African teams most times had the upper hand unless we practically wrestled them to the ground to snatch victory. When we happen to encounter some African teams with greater physical disposition we also capitulated. I am not taking anything away from the 1980 set of Green Eagles that won the Nations Cup. The point is that Nigerian football has witnessed tremendous growth intermittently that has not been sustained or should I say sustainable. We have had good and not-so-good coaches come and go. A cursory look at the performance of the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations over the years reveals an unmatched above-average consistency. We were tagged Bronze specialists. This is not to say that it is a mean feat to win a bronze medal at the tournament. What gives it a pejorative note is that the country has always had good players and great potential.

What has been lacking has been the technical input required to move to the next level.

To be continued

•Oliseh

•Keshi

•Akinfenwa

Squashgivesmea kick — Akinfenwa F

or 11 unbroken years, Shina Akinfenwa’s Cargolux Merchant Express Ltd has bankrolled a national squash Tournament among all recreational clubs in Nigeria and has now included under aged male and female categories to deepen interest in the sport among younger folks. In this chat, the retired airline pilot reminisces on the growth of the Tournament from a 3-Club affair to its present 16-Club format and as well his aspirations for it to become a hunting ground for future stars.

For the purpose of the records, let’s get to know you.

My name is Shina Akinfenwa. I’m an airline pilot, a retired airline pilot,

Oliseh won’t clash with Amodu — Anyansi-Agwu

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have moved in to ensure that there would be no clash of roles between technical director Shaibu Amodu and Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh.

It is widely believed that the job description handed Amodu Shuaibu and that of Sunday Oliseh could see both men clash after the new Eagles coach was asked to also fashion out a developmental programme for the country.

“I want to assure you that we would not allow friction between Amodu and Oliseh,”

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declared NFF head of technical committee Ayansi Agwu “Both men know their job responsibilities and the good thing is that they have worked together before, so I don’t envisage any kind of friction.

“Amodu was part of the interview process that brought Oliseh, so I think if he had an issue, he would have stated it.”

Amodu, who is supposed to boss Oliseh, is on a monthly salary of 800,000 Naira, while Oliseh will take home five million Naira.

•Amodu

now managing director of Cargolux Merchant Express Ltd. I’m just one simple guy taking life easy. I have a passion for squash and for my friends.

What has been the motivation behind sponsoring the annual Cargolux Merchant Express Squash Tournament?

The main motivation is to give back to the society, to help and encourage young players to play squash. As a recreation, I have found a lot of reward playing the sport for upwards of three decades now and still playing very actively. And I am very fit. And that is the message. For folks to see active, regular engagement in squash as something to embrace in order to keep fit and healthy even as we grow old. And for the young ones to imbibe the habit, we have since included the U-15 and U-19 boys and girls categories. Last year, no less than 150 of them converged on the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja for five days playing squash. That is what we want and are ever happy to do. So, it’s more to do with giving back to the society, and encouraging the game of squash.

And for the 11th year running?

And why not? When you find joy in doing something, you just find yourself continuing like forever.

Sponsoring this Tournament has been one worthy venture we at Cargolux continue to

thank our stars. When we started 11 years ago, truly we didn’t know we would be here today as sponsors of clearly the most popular and prestigious squash Tournament in the land and our company is proud its name is associated with it.

Why squash, to start with?

Squash, is easily the most exciting sporting activity you can have. All the others are very dull.

I’m sure there are people who may not agree with that assertion.

Well… That is my personal opinion borne from my experience playing the game for such a long time.

After 10 years of organising this Tournament, what has been the challenges and the impact as well?

The organizers are usually the squash section of the Lagos Country Club headed by the chairman. They are the organizers, we are just sponsors. I cannot say much about the challenges because even if there were challenges, they did not make them known to me, which means that whatever challenges may have come up, were attended to them professionally but over the years, I found the organizers have made a lot of improvements evidenced by the massive enhancements in the Tournament’s equity that we have witnessed over the years. And this has rubbed off well on our company’s image as well.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 29

Utaka still scoring goals in Japan

Dazzling Iheanacho scores in Man City win

N

Ke le ch i er, ly in g Ea gl es St rik s impressive hi d Iheanacho continue City yesterday in run with Manchester and provided an ored Australia when he sc e defeated Roma 5-4 sid L EP assist as the e game ended 2-2 in on penalties after th regulation time. rld Cup MVP, who The 2013 FIFA U17 Wo me after a slight is ga was declared fit for th scored to give coach nt, lai mp co ng hamstri e side a 2-1 lead in th Manuel Pellegrini’s em he Ra had assisted 52nd minute after he s three minutes into jut er en op Sterling the his debut. superbly after he Iheanacho finished e error by the Italian cashed in on a defensiv r ajic’s free kick fou club, but Adem Lj to in me ga e th nt se minutes from time . es lti pena on Real Madrid on City are due to take n of the pre-season Friday in continuatio buildup.

igeria striker Peter Utaka has proved he can score anywhere in the world as he has now netted his seventh goal for his latest club Shimizu S-Pulse in the J1 League in Japan.

The 31-year-old Utaka has played and scored in Belgium, Denmark and China.

Utaka grabbed a brace for Shimizu S-Pulse as they drew 2-2 at home against Nagoya Grampus Eight.

The former OB Odense striker scored in the 47th minute to give his team a 1-0 lead after the first half ended goalless.

He went on to complete a brace in the 70th minute to give his team 2-1 lead.

Milivoje Novakovic equalised for Nagoya Grampus to deny Utaka and his teammates victory.

It was his 14th game for the Japanese team as the league in that country entered its second stage.

F

•Iheanacho

Draxler heads to Juventus in £25m deal

Vidal edges closer to Bayern Munich move

T

A

Arturo Vidal (right) and Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli go for a run while holidaying in Miami, USA

Real Madrid plot to snap up Arsenal’s Cagigao R AFA BENITEZ wants to bring Arsenal’s Francis Cagigao to Real Madrid.

The 45-year-old coach and scout is out of contract at the Emirates.

And with Arsene Wenger yet to offer him a new deal the new Madrid boss is lining up for his back-room team, according to the Sun. Cagigao’s current role is as assistant technical secretary and according to reports he played a key role in bringing Cesc Fabregas to Arsenal in 2004.

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he agent of Arsenal target Julian Draxler has met with Juventus to discuss an imminent move to the Serie A champions.

The Germany World Cupwinning schemer is set to leave Schalke this summer after Juve launched a bid of around £25m for his signature.

And now the deal looks to be progressing quickly as Juve directors arrived in Germany last night to meet with Draxler’s agent and thrash out the terms of a contract worth £4m per season more than double what the 21year-old is currently earning.

Arsene Wenger has been a longterm admirer of the player but is well served with attacking midfield talent at the Emirates.

Draxler, who still has three years left to run on his current Schalke contract, is apparently keen to move on from the Veltins-Arena.

rturo Vidal is enjoying his summer break after helping Chile win the Copa America but is making sure he stays in top condition after being pictured going for a run with national boss Jorge Sampaoli.

The Juventus star is currently in Miami as his future still remains unclear with Bayern Munich keen to take him to the Bundesliga.

But despite the speculation, Vidal seemed unfazed as he relaxed by the pool following his run with the Chile manager.

It’s been a summer of ups and downs for the 28-year-old after being arrested for crashing his Ferrari while under the influence of alcohol.

Vidal avoided trial and agreed to pay compensation to a other person involved in the crash, while he was ordered to deliver motivational speeches to inmates and was banned from driving for two years.

Despite this, he helped Copa America hosts Chile lift the trophy after they beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final on penalties.

Benitez took over from Carlo Ancelotti this summer following the club’s failure to win a trophy.

The former Liverpool man has overseen the exit of club legend Iker Casillas but is fighting to keep hold of Sergio Ramos with Manchester United desperate to land the defender.

Madrid last week snapped up Kiko Casilla from Espanyol.

Liverpool battle to sign Reus ffor or £4 1.9m £41

L

iverpool are battling Real Madrid to sign Marco Reus in a deal worth £41.9million, according to reports.

The Reds are believed to be looking for a marquee signing to top off a busy summer of business, and have been linked with Mario Gotze recently.

However, with the player looking unlikely to leave Bayern Munich, AS says attention has turned to Reus, and a battle is going on to sign him.

Borussia Dortmund are not willing to sell but the Spanish paper says Liverpool and Madrid hope to convince them.

The Liverpool Echo did say Madrid were the favourites, but this report says Brendan Rodgers’ men are refusing to give up on a deal.

30—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

UKODIE’S ICT MEDIA CAREER @30:

Juwah harps on media role in ICT development

By Laju Iren

A

LTHOUGH for some, the role of the media as the fourth estate of the realm is limited only to the political sphere, it is fast becoming obvious that the media pervades all sectors of society. Information and Communication Technology is not left out. At least Dr. Eugene Juwah the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, seems to think so.

So when, Veteran ICT reporter, Mr. Aaron Ukodie marked 30 years in ICT journalism in Lagos recently, Juwah was quick to hammer on the role of the media in the development of the telecoms sector, and ICT as a whole.

His words: “As the regulator on the telecom industry, we have never underrated the importance of the media in spreading the gospel of effective regulation and creating the awareness that equips the public to optimize the potentials of the industry.

UNVEILING: Former Minister of Communications, Olawale Ige( middle)recently led industry stakeholders, including Dr Emmanuel Ekuwen (right) and Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria CEO, Muhammed Rudman (2nd left) to unveil Mr Ukodie’s three books to mark his three decades in ICT media.

This is why the NCC has partnered, and will continue to partner with the media to achieve some of these objectives. We depend on the media to reach out to consumers of telecommunications services and other stakeholders to share in developments, applications, options, choices, innovations, and new services.”

Juwah, who referred to the publisher of e-World magazine as “one of the key professionals that have contributed immensely to

the advancement of the industry,” used the opportunity to call on other professionals in the media to rededicate themselves to the ideals of professionalism.

Continuing, he added: “We have seen a number of sensational, but unprofessional reports in the media, which tend to convey unpleasant image of an industry that has done so well for the benefit of the nation and its citizens.We therefore implore the media to join us in creating the neces-

sary awareness for the benefit of the industry and celebrate those individuals and institutions that have acquitted themselves creditably so as to further encourage them to excel.”Ukodie, a fore runner in ICT reporting in Nigeria, launched three books to mark his 30 year long career. They include: The Privatisation of NITEL: An Archetypal Government Agency, Path to ICT Development and The Lead Story.

Mobile retail chain, Yudala unveils offline div

By Prince Osuagwu

C

OMPOSITE mobile retail chain, Yudala, says it is set to unveil its offline division with mega deals, unprecedented discounts, loads of freebies including free phones for visitors as it launches four stores in Lagos on Saturday.

According to the Vice President, Yudala Offline, Mr. Stanley Uzoechina, the debut outlets which include two Experience Stores and two Smart Stores will offer visitors best deals and bargain sales on a wide range of quality, pocketfriendly products.

Uzoechina said: “We are offering Nigerians a revolutionary, platinum experience of offline retail with Yudala. Apart from the bargain sales and free phones on offer, shoppers can also enjoy up to a massive 75% discount on select products at any of our Experience and Smart Stores, four of which are being officially launched on the same day.

“Every Nigerian will have an opportunity to enjoy the unique experience Yudala offers as

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10 additional stores will be launched nationwide before the end of August 2015, 50 stores by the end of May 2016, 151 stores by June 2017 and 512 stores

by June 2019.

“With Yudala, you are assured peace of mind as we place a huge premium on making available only genuine, pocket-friendly products sourced directly from the Original Equipment Manu-

facturers (OEMs).Every item purchased from us comes with a certified guarantee. As a result, the Yudala Management will take responsibility for all products purchased from

New spectranet offer makes case for cheaper access

By Richard Udofia

I

NTERNET service r o v i d er, Spectranet 4G LTE, will give a bonus of 30 gigabytes to every customer who purchases a modem from the company. With this new development, existing subscribers will also enjoy rollover of unused data to the next month.

Head of Marketing at Spectranet, Mr. Mike Ogor said that the move is based on its aspiration to “bridge the communication gap as well as build and deepenrelationships and connectivity among families, businesses among others.”

Continuing, he said: “We have introduced this amazing offer to encourage Nigeria to access the internet at an amazing cost that will enable families and organisations be more active on p

With this offer, customers can own a high speed in-

ternet modem at a very affordable price. They can

Coollink backs data up at Rack centre

By Richard Udofia

O

NE of Nigeria’s lead ing Internet Service Providers, Coollink.ng, has decided to firm its data up with a data centre facility owned by Rack centre in Oregun, Lagos.

This means that Coollink will provide colocation and ISP services from Rack Centre’s carrier neutral, Tier III data centre and also connect directly to IXPN, Nigeria’s only Internet Exchange which is based at Rack Centre

According to the Chief operating officer of Coollink Nadim Chidiac, “Coollink have a long history of providing valued customers with high quality, reliable internet services. We chose Rack Centre to base our expansion as we needed a company that matches our level of customer service and understands the need for reliability. We investigated the market and Rack Centre has proven itself with nearly two years of uninterrupted service provision."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—31

Chinyere Asika: Demise of a matriarch TRIBUTE

T

Crisis action

By Nick Parker

I

WAS brought up in an Army that operated on battlefields where civilians were refugees and herded out of the way, a second priority to defeating the enemy. In Afghanistan and Iraq, this was overtaken by the development of CounterInsurgency doctrine. That approach is already looking dated. Experience over the past decade has taught me that our current mechanisms for the application of military force do not address the complex security challenges we face today.

Boko Haram have forced more than a million people from their homes and kidnapped thousands of women and girls. Some estimates suggest that more than 17,000 lives have been lost, including hundreds in the past weeks, as the insurgents force children to blow themselves up in busy mosques and market places.

Strong signal The conflict is destabilising a large part of Sub-Saharan Africa and threatens the integrity of the powerhouse of West Africa. President Muhammadu Buhari sent a strong signal on Monday in replacing the heads of all the Nigerian Armed Forces. He is setting out a new approach to defeating the Boko Haram insurgency - one that the international community should back.

President Buhari is looking beyond the use of force to defeat the insurgency: he is looking to the grievances that are driving it. Before the election, he committed to a ‘Marshall Plan’ for North East Nigeria: investing in the communities, first meeting their humanitarian needs, but also reconstruction and development for the region.

This rightly addresses the wider aspects of human security: jobs, food, health, political, community and personal security. There will still be a need for some very hard fighting against a determined enemy. But this must not be done at the expense of the support of the population whose aspirations are at the heart of success. Any military force, particularly one which may feel that it has been in a tough fight, will find it testing to adapt to a position where it has to put pure military objectives second to the need to protect civilians.

This is a challenge I have witnessed as part of a Western coalition. General Stan McChrystal’s main

emphasis, when he revised the International Security Assistance Force, I S A F , mission in Afghanistan in 2009, was to ‘protect the population’, not to ‘destroy the enemy’. This was met with nervousness in Western capitals; the idea that the military should put their own lives at extra risk in order to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties challenged an unstated priority to keep military casualties low, largely for domestic political reasons. And, even with McChrystal’s innovative direction, I question whether we were able to work sufficiently closely with the Afghan administration and the private sector. To do so would have meant placing the huge physical security mechanisms in a supporting role, relying on coordination procedures that do not appear to exist outside the military, and concentrating on developing a sustainable economic environment to generate jobs, and satisfy Afghan aspirations.

To realise his ambitions, the Nigerian President and his new military chiefs will need to show inspired leadership and strong nerve: they will need to ensure that the Armed Forces abide by the standards they are defending and prevent or investigate abuses that in turn drive grievance and further violence; President Buhari should indeed be praised for committing to investigate any abuses by his troops. And they will need to unite all the elements - international and Nigerian, public and private sector - needed to restore security for the

Nigeria’s international allies should support bold leadership from the new President of Africa’s largest democracy

people of Northern Nigeria.

Commanding the support of international partners, the new military chiefs can take the President’s commitments and design plans bringing all the relevant sectors together according to the wider aspects of human security and human rights, putting a greater emphasis on monitoring and investigating civilian casualties, and making better use of intelligence to reduce wrongful arrests. Nigeria’s international allies should support bold leadership from the new President of Africa’s largest democracy. The UK appears to be especially supportive of the new President, and the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, is right to be reinvigorating the country ’s support for Nigerian efforts, establishing a cross-government unit to coordinate support from different Government departments.

By Stanley Nkwazema

O many, the best way to die is to fulfil all your dreams, leaving this planet quietly without worrying those to be left behind from all walks of life to continue with the struggle of meaningful existence. For Dibueze Chinyere Asika the wife of late East Central State Administrator, Ajie Ukpabi Aska, there was no better way to say bye to the children, family and loved ones than dying in her sleep with smile on her face when she bade bye to this world on May 2, 2015 in her Lagos residence.

At the age of 75 years loved ones would have expected her to stay a little longer but Dibueze Chief Mrs Chinyere Asika, OFR, might have had a premonition of her death and decided not to give her children any worry that fateful day when she was called to great beyond; she was appointed vicechairman of the Eminent Persons Council. Ndaa Chinyere as she was fondly called was indeed excited about this new role which may have caused her smile even in death having returned from South Africa. She died as she had lived, peacefully, with dignity and with a smile on her face.

Born into the famous Nathan Okeoma Ejiogu family of Umuakpadike Kindred, Umuayalu Village in Egbu Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State as the

Measure of success Nigerian requirements should be primary; British national requirements subordinate whenever possible. And as part of this endeavour the UK Military have masses of expertise that could contribute to maintaining and developing the effectiveness of the security effort, and critically integrating it into a wider, long-term, human security plan.

The measure of success in Northern Nigeria is whether civilians feel free from fear.

Nigeria’s sovereign government, with international partners lending their expertise, should be able not simply to clear the battlefield, but to satisfy the reasonable aspirations of the people to a secure and prosperous future.

That could be a lesson for the rest of the world to learn.

•General Sir Nick Parker KCB CBE was advisor to the President of Sierra Leone in 2001, and held the position of Deputy Commander for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan between November 2009 and September 2010. He is a Senior Associate Fellow at Royal United Services Institute.

Dibueze Chinyere Asika first child and daughter of the family, early in life she faced the challenge of coordinating the young family of Papa Nathan Ejiogu when her father died in 1972. Most of us till date got to hear about the famous Peackock Dance Band who sang a special tribute for the late Nathan Ejiogu pleading that he should allow Asika marry the Ada of the family, Ndaa Chinyere Asika, and lamenting the demise when death should have spared him to finish training the children before joining his forefathers.

Unknown to many, Dibueze Asika began her diverse professional life after an outstanding academic career as one of only four females in Nigeria to win a scholarship from the African Scholarship Programme in American Universities (ASPAU) and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics and Government from the prestigious Mills College in Oakland, California and a Master’s in Information & Library Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. This academic stride made her one of the first African women to have studied and worked with computers. Asika started early in life and her professional life included positions as Assistant Librarian at University of Ibadan, Nigeria and later appointed as Research Assistant at the Institute of Development Studies,

Nairobi, Kenya.

When her late husband, Ajie Dr Ukpabi Asika was appointed Administrator of the war-torn East Central State of Nigeria in 1967, the Egbu woman, Chinyere Asika became First Lady of the region comprising now Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Abia states. She worked tirelessly after the war with her husband to rebuild and rehabilitate the State and its citizens. With her wealth of experience and quality educational background the first lady concentrated largely on development issues, specifically the mobilization and empowerment of rural womenfolk through the Popular Otu Olu Obodo. The programme which became a forerunner of latter day First Ladies pet projects involved mobilising the women to farm in the rural areas themselves. She mobilised the women and empowered them with farm implements where most of them had better harvests.

After the change of government in 1975, Ada Owerri as she was fondly referred to by admirers joined a socioeconomic consulting firm where she worked for the next five years. In the 2nd Republic, she was an active political strategist.

Political strategist She was appointed by then Governor of East Central State as his Special Adviser on Women Affairs which made her the first political appointee on gender issues in Nigeria. However, after the coup that ended the 2nd Republic, Chief Mrs Asika returned to private business and development issues. She was a director of several companies, and member of an NGO focused on Third World Development.

One of her major landmarks was also from 2002 – 2007 when she served former President Olusegun Obasanjo as his Senior Special Assistant on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

In 2007, she was appointed Chairman National Steering Committee, of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), leading the organization in its mission to evaluate the progress and challenges of governance in Nigeria. After leaving with Obasanjo when his Second Term in office ended in 2007, In April 2008, she was asked to join the National Steering Committee of the Vision 2020 group.

To give her the much deserved honour even in death, eminent Nigerians and statesmen led by former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhjai Ahmed Joda. General Theophilus Danjuma and several others have teamed up to give her a burial befitting of a pan Nigerian woman. Already Service of Songs’ have been held in the United States, United Kingdom and the International Conference Centre Abuja where glowing tributes were paid to the woman. In line with the request of her kinsmen Egbu Owerri in Imo State, her body will arrive Owerri on Wednesday July 22, where tributes will be paid to her at the Ejiogus country home in Umuayalu, Egbu. The body will be taken to Onitsha next day before interment on Friday, July 24 after Church Service at All Saints Anglican Church, Onitsha, the home of Late Chief Ukpabi Asika where she was inducted into the prestigious Otu Odu Society of Onitsha in 1994.

32—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

COMMISSIONERSHIP:

Return of Akpabio’s men tears Akwa Ibom apart

By Tom Moses

T

HE 20 commissioners and two special advisers recently appointed by Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel may be currently relishing their appointments, there is an uneasy calm over the appointment of 11 of them.

Reasons for the anger are not far-fetched. Most of the commissioners had served in the administration of the immediate past governor, Godswill Akpabio. Having been in government for a large part of Akpabio’s two terms, some party faithful said it is imperative to give others the opportunity of serving the state.

This thinking led to the description of the appointments as lopsided and perhaps deliberate perpetuation of Akpabio’s men in the governance of the state.

Others see the development as an attestation to allegations that the governor is a stooge of the former helmsman, who is assumed to be calling the shots.

The Ibom Mega Synergy Assembly (IMSA), a sociopolitical group based in Uyo, is one of the groups that are not comfortable with the situation.

Dictatorial proclivity Coordinator of IMSA, Mr. Ubong Sam in a chat with Vanguard described the reappointment of the commissioners as obvious display of high-handedness, impunity and dictatorial proclivity.

Sam argued that while it may be necessary for Governor Emmanuel to consult his former boss on certain policy issues, he should also be independent.

Culture of recycling: “When people talk about experience, I am often surprised at their thinking. This is not an era of stereotype activities because the society itself is dynamic. We should learn to try new hands and do things to see the difference. I am opposed to the tradition of imposition and totally against the culture of recycling in a system as if others do not exist,’’ he added.

Nduese Essien kicks: Surprisingly, the political leader of Eket Local Council, Chief Nduese Essien also shares similar view. In fact, he is sad that the appointments have provoked so much rage across the state. He said: ‘’Last week, C M Y K

after three appointments were made, there was anger everywhere.

This local government was not given any appointment. In appointing commissioners, if anybody had served for eight years, the person should give way for others to come.

“Even in the civil service, if a director serves for eight years, he cannot be allowed to continue in the same office because he will virtually not have much to offer again. Having served in a particular position for eight years, you have reached a point of declining productivity and should give way for somebody else to come in.

“So, I don’t expect any one who had served in a position either as a commissioner or director in the civil service or anywhere else to be recycled. Let me say this as an advice to those who had done eight years as commissioners, who now still want to serve in this government, that it will not be accepted. They can be given appointments elsewhere but not the same executive position.’’

Anietie Okon speaks: The political leader of Itu Local Council, Senator Anietie Okon also noted thus: ‘’ I endorse an eight-year tenure because beyond that point, what you have is diminishing returns. And it will become business as usual. So, we want to look at the possibility of engaging other talents that we have because there are talents which have not been tried and we have people who may rise up to challenge this situation.’’

Udom’s defence: However, Governor Emmanuel in his response, insisted that the former commissioners were appointed on merit. “On no

We have vowed to surround this government with the best people wherever they may come from. We shall always follow the stars wherever it takes us to

•Akpabio and Udom: Who is calling the shots?

ISSUES AT STAKE

•11 commissioners and two Special Advisers who served in Akpabio's govt were reappointed by Gov Udom •Udom justifies appointments •Akpabio accused of still calling the shots

account shall this administration sacrifice competence and earned gravitas on the altar of mediocrity or the narrow impulse of parochialism. We have vowed to surround this government with the best people wherever they may come from. We shall fish for the finest men even in the deepest waters.

“Today, China is on the wings of history through industrialization. The country leads the wave of emerging economies and is poised to recast the Western-dominated geographical balance and according to the Peterson Institute, China will soon displace the US as the dominant economic power in the world, wielding global influence and employing its power to shape the world according to its national interest.

“Nearly 360 million people have been lifted out of poverty in less than three decades and it took a visionary leader, Deng Xia-ping to engineer and engender this new thinking. He

succeeded in doing this because he surrounded himself with Chinese both from home and in the Diaspora who believed and internalized the ethos of his vision.

“This is the vision we want to replicate in Akwa-Ibom State.

China’s achievements provide an archetypal example for us. It shall be our paradigm of development that shall not only open up our land to endless possibilities but a development that is sustainable. If we seek to find and hold firmly the kingdom of industrialization, other challenges in our state shall naturally fall in place and a domino effect shall be engendered.”

The APC hypocrisy: One other reason, he retained the old commissioners and Special Advisers, the Governor explained, was to help fast-track the completion of ongoing projects without necessarily going back to the drawing board.

According to him, most of the projects initiated by the previous administration that are yet tobe completed needed to be handled by some of them.

The re-appointed Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah justified Governor Emmanuel’s action describing as erroneous, the thinking that political appointments were for wealthmaking. Political appointment is for you to work for the state.

“Take a look at Lagos, from

1999, there are people who served in Tinubu’s cabinet who are still in the cabinet of the Lagos State government today.

Then, ironically, the All Progressives Congress, APC issued a statement blaming the Governor of Akwa-Ibom State for bringing people from the last administration whereas they are still running with people who worked with Tinubu even in the same cabinet.

Consolidating process Some are serving as secretary to the state government, some are serving as commissioners even up till date, some have moved to become governors, some are in the National Assembly.’’

Continuing, Umanah said: ‘’It is a consolidating process that will facilitate further development of the state. Incidentally, government is very large and can accommodate so many people at different levels. I don’t think I want to see it from that point.”

The Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Ethics, Judiciary and Public Prosecution, Mr. Onofiok Luke whose committee handled the screening of the appointees also submitted that the commissioners were found to be competent to handle their assigned duties.

He therefore dismissed claims that the governor is tied to the apron strings of Akpabio.

NAOWA renovates, equips maternity, supermarket ...presents gifts to fallen soldiers' wives

VOL. 1 NO 42

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

PAGE 6

Cultism: Police take battle to schools, motor-parks

PAGE 8

Workers protesting non-payment of their entitlements.

Imo workers battle govt over 50% slash in salaries

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

T

HIS is not the best of times for Imo State and its people. Since the price of crude oil sharply dipped in the international market several months ago, federal allocations to the 36 states, including Imo State, have correspondingly reduced to an all time low.

Things have fallen apart in the state and people are no longer at ease.

Expendable income has become a mirage in the state.

Capital projects have been stalled or completely abandoned. Events have since C M Y K

shown that the state governments can no longer carry on with the execution of its capital projects.

Similarly, the state's recurrent expenditure has not fared better.

Workers' salaries with allowances became a serious issue, as payments are no longer regular.

Pensioners also have ugly tales to tell. Staff salaries and pensions have today run into many uncleared months! Workers started grumbling loudly and in response to the plight of civil servants, labour leaders started making strategies.

The labour leaders then planned to meet and critically analyse what they perceived as “the anti-labour policies” allegedly enunciated by

•Gov Okorocha at media briefing

The state’s recurrent expenditure has not fared better.

Workers salaries and allowances became a serious issue

the state government.

South East Voice was told that “the unionists would meet to take a definite stand on the recent proposal by Imo State government to reduce staff salaries by about 30 per cent”.

The civil servant, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, recalled that Governor Okorocha had, during his swearing-in, promised that “drastic measures would be adopted in the state to ward off the effects of the shortfall from the monthly federal allocation.

“The relative labour peace prevailing in the state may be heading for the rocks if government goes ahead to

implement any anti-labour policies, including salary cut,” the worker fumed.

Government got wind of the discontent among workers and was particularly moved by the threat of a seven-day warning strike by labour. The Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to Imo State Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, quickly issued a press statement, debunking the rumour that government was planning to reduce staff strength and workers' salaries.

“This is to inform the civil servants in the state in particular and Imo people in general that Governor Rochas Okorocha has never ordered that the salaries of the public servants be cut by 30 per cent, as being claimed in some quarters and does not have any plan to do that,” Onwuemeodo said The CPS also denied that the state government was conducting staff audit of the civil servants aimed at reducing the work force.

“We have only gathered that the office of the Head of Service, HoS, has embarked on the collection of data of individual civil servants for record purposes. The exercise is quite different from staff auditing,” the CPS said.

While saying that Governor Okorocha had been known for humanitarian gestures all his life and does not engage in any venture that would cost pain to individuals and groups in the state, Onwuemeodo also explained that for the first four years of his administration, “the Governor had tolerated street trading, illegal motor parks, rampant erection of kiosks and other illegal structures until now the situation has gone out of hand.”

Onwuemeodo also said that those who are not happy with the victory of Governor Okorocha in the April 2015 governorship election were behind these rumours and blackmail.

“They had before now said that the governor had scrapped free education, and banned Keke Napep. This time, they have come up with the falsehood of the government in cutting the salaries of civil Continues on Pg 2

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Continues from pg 1 servants by 30 per cent and working to reduce the state work force. All these are unintelligent lies. And we know why they are packaging and distributing these lies now.

"They have been told that the election petition tribunal will nullify the governorship election and call for a fresh one.

So, they are bent on poisoning the minds of those who have been seen as the arch supporters of the governor like the Keke people, students, civil servants and others,” Onwuemeodo reasoned.

The propaganda did not do the magic. The threat by Imo workers continued unabated and the governor opted to invite the leadership of the various labour organizations in the state led by the State Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Austin Chilakpu, to Government House, Owerri, to address the contentious issues.

The meeting, which lasted for hours, saw Governor Okorocha and the labour leaders,jointlyaddressing the media on the agreement reached at the pally, including the assurance of the governor to pay the civil servants in the state their outstanding two months salaries and one month to teachers, with the payment said to commence within that week.

Governor Okorocha, who first briefed the journalists commended workers of Imo State for being diligent in their duty posts and decried the rate at which bad eggs among them spoil the rest of the good ones.

“I want to appreciate workers in Imo State for showing understanding for nonpayment of few months salary,” pointing out that it was as a result of economic situation in the country and thanked the workers for their understanding.

The governor also said that they have resolved that there would be no room for ghost workers and anyone found culpable would be dealt with, as his administration will not condone any form of absenteeism.

Okorocha further decried the rate at which staff salaries and pensions bill of Imo State were rising daily, pointing out that there was noticeable corruption in the system and government had resolved to fight it to a stand-still.

He recalled that Imo State government was the first state in Nigeria to pay minimum wage of N20,000 to its workers as well as all health workers professional entitlements, adding that government expected justification by public servants in Imo State in terms of performance for the development of the state.

The workers’ position In their separate speeches, the NLC Chairman, Austin

Workers protesting non-payment of their entitlements.

Imo workers battle govt over 50% slash in salaries Chilakpu, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Chairman and Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Chairman, Dr. Hyacinth Emele, Paul Akalazu and the Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, Lady Ogini Augustina, made it clear that the union does not support absenteeism and nonchalant attitude of workers and stressed the need for labour to have regular meetings with the state government in order to bridge the communication gap.

That was how the administration initially doused the brewing discontent among workers. This was not to last, as salaries remained unpaid.

Promises became a recurring decimal in the state, until July 3, 2015, when the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Paschal C. Obi, issued a circular, GH/PL/S.420/1/410, captioned “Monthly Comparative Analysis of Imo Salary Structure and Ministry of Justice Salary: Harmonized Salary Structure and Enugu/ Anambra States Equivalent”.

The three-paragraph circular read: “I am directed to refer to the above subject matter (copy attached) and convey the governor ’s approval for the adoption of Enugu State salary structure for the salary of Ministry of Justice, Imo State.

“This letter is endorsed to the Accountant General of Imo State and the Permanent Secretary/Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice, Owerri, for their information and necessary action. Take urgent steps to implement the governor’s directive.”

On receipt of this circular, the leadership of Imo State Branch of Law Officers Association of Nigeria, LOAN, sent a twopage letter to the governor, informing him that the matter he tried to resurrect had long been settled by previous administrations in the state.

“You may not have been properly briefed, which gave rise to the said letter. Be it as it may, it is worthy to note that

the Law Officers (Harmonization with Magistrates) Law No.5 of 1998, is still an extant Law in Imo State”, the labour leaders told Okorocha.

While recalling the content of the communique issued July 6, 2015, when the organized labour and the state government rose from a meeting in Owerri, the law officers, however, expressed doubt whether the governor’s letter can repeal an existing law and relevant establishment circulars on the subject matter.

“We do not need any harmonization with any other state Ministry of Justice salary.

What we need and had gotten, for over 15 years now, is the harmonization of salaries and allowances of the magistrates in Imo State and no other state.

To that extent, we vehemently reject the said letter of July 3, 2015, in its entirety, as it is prejudicial to the interest of law officers in Imo State, and contrary to the spirit of the communique issued by the organized labour, as well as the outcome of the meeting between the tripartite arms of government and we urge the governor to direct the appropriate office to withdraw the said letter,” the law officers

...the administration initially doused the brewing discontent among workers.

This was not to last, as salaries remained unpaid.

Promises became a recurring decimal in the state, until July 3, 2015...

told Okorocha.

South East Voice gathered that by virtue of the governor’s directive, the law officers have dramatically lost transport, utility, meal, medical, hazard, tools, uniform and furniture subsidies.

House of Assembly boils Uneasy calm equally reigns in Imo State House of Assembly, as the aggrieved workers in the establishment have continued to bare their fangs over the 50 per cent slash of their monthly emoluments by the state government.

The workers had, last Monday, rejected their salary cheques and embarked on a peaceful demonstration within the Assembly Complex in Owerri over the issue.

Apparently irked by the development, the Assembly staff approached the Speaker, Chief Iheanacho Ihim, and complained bitterly over the reduction of their monthly salaries by the state government.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, Maurice Amaechi disclosed that the Assembly workers had made budgets based on their actual salaries.

He pointed out that the workers had resolved not to collect their pay cheques until the state government paid their salaries in full.

Speaking also, the leader of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Imo State Chapter, Peter Ohaebosim, appealed to Chief Ihim to intervene on the matter.

Addressing the workers, Chief Ihim revealed that the salary slash was not peculiar to the Assembly staff alone, but that it cut across all the spectrum of state work force, including political appointees.

Both Governor Okorocha and the Speaker, failed to mention the political office holders, whose salaries and allowances had been slashed as a result of the declining economic

fortune in the state.

Ihim only attributed the salary slash to economic meltdown being experienced nationwide, and enjoined the workers to pray and be patient as the situation would get better soon.

14 days ultimatum The Imo State Branch of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, had not only joined in the clamour for better treatment, but had also given the state government 14 days ultimatum to pay pension arrears owed members of the union in the state or face the wrath of the senior citizens.

The State NUP Chairman, Chief Gideon Ezeji, who made the position of the union known during a media briefing in Owerri, also rejected the 36 months instalmental payment of five months pension proposed by the state government.

“Should Imo government fail to pay arrears of pension owed pensioners by July 27, the State Council of NUP would be summoned for their mandate to take further action,” Ezeji said.

He appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha to use part of the bailout it recently got from the Federal Government to settle the backlog of pension arrears owed members, noting that pension must be treated as first line charge as stated in the Nigerian Constitution.

According to Ezeji, “primary school teachers who retired from 1991 upwards are as at the end of June, 2015, owed 18 months and the retired local government pensioners six months.”

He recalled with grief that the payment of 73 months of harmonization, 180 per cent and 142 per cent arrears approved by former heads of state, Abdulsalam Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo respectively and benefits of Alvan Ikoku College of

Continues on Pg 3

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 3

Continues from pg 2 Education retirees were still outstanding.

While recalling that Imo NUP recently stated through its State Secretary, Mr. Livinus Asiegbu, that pensioners in the state were owed more than N17 billion by the state government, Ezeji also frowned at what he tagged “the lopsided agreement which the state government claimed it entered with Imo Labour Unions concerning pensioners without NUP officials in attendance.”

Imo PDP commiserates with workers Meanwhile, the Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has commiserated with Imo workers over the inability or unwillingness of the state government to pay their monthly wages as at when due.

The State PDP Chairman, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, who made the party ’s feelings known while briefing the press in Owerri, also described as “most uncharitable,” the glaring inability or unwillingness of the state government to clear the arrears of workers' salaries and allowances.

“Our party is sincerely sad about the plight of Imo workers and we challenge the APC government in the state to step up its policies in order to make the people happy,” Chief Anyaehie said.

Answering a question, the Imo PDP boss expressed doubts over the ability of the Rochas Okorocha administration to build factories, industries and give jobs, when it cannot pay existing staff on its payroll.

“It has now dawned on Imo people that the APC government cannot create jobs because it does no have the blue-print to achieve such empty campaign promise,” Anyaehie said.

While seeking to know how a state that cannot even pay salaries, will end up building industries and creating jobs, Chief Anyaehie, however, prayed that Okorocha should succeed for the benefit of the citizens.

“People were bamboozled by the fake mantra of free education, creation of jobs and building of industries. Our people are now wiser and have come to know that the APC government lacks the will to salvage the state,” Anyaehie said.

He was emphatic that he does not take delight in criticizing any government in power, but quickly observed that things are just fine in the state.

“The state economy and its general development have slowed down. The hospitals are not working. The health centres are abandoned and for four years, none of the touted 27 general hospitals has taken off in any of the 27 local

Workers protesting non-payment of their entitlements.

Imo workers battle govt over 50% slash in salaries government areas of the state,” Anyaehie said.

Tripartite meeting of July 6 Apparently unsettled about the nagging issue of nonpayment of salaries, Governor Okorocha called a meeting of the three arms of government.

The government rolled out announcements through the airwaves of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, inviting all the judges, the principal officers of the House of Assembly and that of the executive to a meeting at Sam Mbakwe Expanded Exco Chamber on July 6, 2015. This meeting was called by Governor Okorocha three days after he got his Principal Secretary to write about the Harmonized Salary Structure.

The Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, the Head of Service, Permanent Secretaries, the Chief of Staff, the Solicitor General, among others, were in attendance.

Okorocha asked heads of the other two arms to explain the difficulties they were experiencing. The Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Paschal Nnadi, spoke about the Judiciary, while the Speaker X-rayed that of the legislature.

The Chief Judge talked about the non-existence of infrastructure in the judiciary. He particularly mentioned old furniture, leaking court halls and non-existence of court halls for the customary courts and the Customary Court of Appeal, CCA. The governor raised the issue of staff salaries and said that he had agreed with the Speaker, Chief Acho Ihim, that the salaries of the workers and lawmakers in the House of Assembly should be reduced.

On the salaries of the judiciary, Okorocha said he would not touch the salaries of chairmen of customary courts, magistrates and inspectors of customary courts.

He, however, insisted that the salaries of lawyers (state

counsel) in the Ministry of Justice should be reduced, to bring it at par with that of other civil servants.

The Solicitor General spoke on behalf of the state counsel, pointing out that it was the allowances of the lawyers in the Ministry of Justice that marked the actual difference between the lawyers and other staff of the Ministry.

The Chief Judge informed the governor that there was a law harmonizing the salaries of the legal officers in the Ministry with those of the magistrates in the judiciary, pointing out that the governor cannot ordinarily reduce their salaries without infringing on the law.

Justice Nnadi also harped on the risk being encountered by the legal officers doing cases against kidnappers and armed robbers and even informed the governor that the bailiff of the Imo State Judiciary attached to the Election Petition Tribunal in the state, was recently called out in the middle of a church

The governor completely avoided making any statement about the independence of the Judiciary throughout the meeting. He harped on the federal allocation which he said was now lower than what he used to get, necessitating the cut in wage bill.

service, on July 5, 2015, by suspected assassins and shot point blank on the head and quickly escaped from the scene.

The Chief Judge also informed the governor that the bailiff was still alive at the time of the Tripartite Meeting and was receiving medical attention in an undisclosed hospital.

Some judges spoke on behalf of the legal officers as they were once former staff of the Ministry of Justice. A former Accountant General of the State, Mr. Eche, informed the governor that the prevailing salary structure of the judiciary was agreed to between the judiciary and the executive arm and signed by all parties.

The governor completely avoided making any statement about the independence of the Judiciary throughout the meeting. He harped on the federal allocation which he said was now lower than what he used to get, necessitating the cut in wage bill.

Strong feelers from the meeting revealed that the Speaker virtually, did not defend the legislature, since he had earlier agreed with the Governor on the salary cut.

TUC withdraws from agreement Irked by the sufferings of pensioners, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, said it has withdrawn its endorsement of the recent agreement labour entered into with the Okorocha administration.

Disclosing the Union’s stand during a briefing in Owerri, the TUC Chairman, Comrade P. C. Akalazu, said that after a careful thought of issues relating to Imo pensioners, he had no other option than to change his mind against the agreement.

Part of the agreement read that arrears of salaries owed civil servants, teachers, local government workers and health workers, would be paid up to June 2015, but the payment would be subject to

available bailout fund from the Federal Government.

Government was of the view that the parastatals should be self sustaining and should be fully commercialized to make them more productive.

On their outstanding salaries, government insisted that June salaries alone would be paid, while the outstanding balance of previous months will be spread over a period of six months.

Akalazu described bits in the government/labour agreement as anti-labour and most demeaning for the struggling Nigerian worker and ought to be resisted.

Salaries have remained unpaid and workers who were issued cheques, whose value was less than their expected wage, were rejected. The impasse was still on at the time of going to press.

THE TEAM Supervising Editor: Chioma Gabriel (08052201257; email, anyagafu@yahoo.com) Anayo Okoli, Umuahia Vincent Ujumadu, Awka Austin Ogwuda, Enugu Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri Peter Okutu , Abakaliki Chimaobi Nwaiwu Francis Igata Nwabueze Okonkwo Frank Igata Alaribe Ugochukwu Chinoso Alozie Emeka Odogwu Ugochukwu Alaribe Obialunamma Nwadiogbu

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

JULY 22, 2015

Fake drugs still a threat to health care delivery

By VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—DESPITE the consistent war mounted by the relevant bodies and regulatory authorities, fake, adulterated and unwholesome drugs are still a threat to the country’s health care delivery system. Also very worrisome are the illegal drug outlets in the major towns in the country which have continued to pose a threat to the health of Nigerians. Indeed, people in the illegal drug business have developed thick skin, thereby making the war against the sale of substandard, expired and adulterated drugs an uphill task.

Drug dealers in Onitsha have even confirmed that the Head Bridge Drug Market was returning to the infamous era when it was feared that over 60 per cent of drugs sold there were fake and adulterated.

Some of the drug dealers say it was for that reason that they formed a task force in the market to fish out fake drug manufacturers in the area because of the bad image it was bringing to the market.

According to a trader in the market, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the bad eggs among the traders have resorted to manufacturing the

fake products in their homes in various parts of Onitsha, adding that such people would later bring the fake drugs to the Head Bridge to mix them with genuine products.

He said: “Because of the bad name this issue of fake drugs had given Onitsha, we formed a task force in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to ensure that we eliminate fake drugs in the market. It actually worked for a long time, but we have discovered of late that some people have returned to the old bad habit.”

“It was for this reason that our task force decided to be going from shop to shop to ensure that no fake drug is sold at Head Bridge. In addition, we made it a point of duty to stop the habit of revalidation of products after they had expired and that was why we invited NAFDAC to visit the market to see our efforts.

“Sometime ago, we confiscated expired drugs and other products that filled about eight long trucks, which were publicly burnt at Awka by NAFDAC in the presence of its director general, Dr. Paul Orhii.”

Perhaps it was to sustain the war against fake and expired drugs in Onitsha that informed

•Fake drugs the recent decision of the Federal Ministry of Health to include the town as one of the areas to have Mega Drug Distribution Centre, as part of the implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, NDDG. Permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr. Linus Awute said recently that the Federal Government would not relent until the battle was won.

Specifically, he said the regulatory agencies have been mandated to begin full–scale

However, when it was observed that the deadline could not be met, it was extended to June 30, 2015 to allow the states and the private sector more time.

war against offenders.

“We are hopeful that the existence of open drug markets will be a thing of the past in the country very soon,” he said, regretting that over the years, drug distribution system had remained uncoordinated and chaotic, resulting in the circulation of fake, adulterated, substandard and counterfeit drugs.

Awute said it was to address the situation that informed the setting up of the presidential committee on the pharmaceutical sector reform, adding that the strategy would lead to the institutionalization of a well-ordered drug distribution system. One of the strategies adopted by the committee, he explained, include the development of NDDGs in 2010.

He added: “The launch of the document in 2012 signaled the take-off of its implementation, while the deadline for the establishment of State Drug Distribution Centres, SDDCs, by the state governments and

the Mega Drug Distribution Centres, MDDCs, by the private sector, was June 30, 2014.

“However, when it was observed that the deadline could not be met, it was extended to June 30, 2015 to allow the states and the private sector more time.”

Even with the extension, only few states have striven to adopt the policy.

For instance, before July 1, 2015, only Jigawa, Niger and Ekiti states had established their SDDCs and commenced implementation of the guidelines, while Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Anambra had their SDDCs inspected by the PCN and were ready to take off.

Akwa Ibom and Lagos states were said to be developing structures for their SDDCs as a sign of their willingness to comply. From the level of compliance, it could be discovered that most states were yet to take the new policy serious.

Ekpe masqurade dance: A festival where goat’s throat must be slit with a stroke of machete

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—EKPE Dance Festival is a common annual festival among some communities in Abia State, especially in Umuahia and Ikwuano areas. It is celebrated to mark the arrival of new yams, Iri Ji . Contrary to the belief in some quarters, there is nothing idolatrous about it as explained by His Royal Majesty, Eze G. C. Onwuka, of Umutowe Autonomous Community in Umuahia South Council, where the festival is famous and well celebrated.

According to Eze Onwuka, 90% of the people in the community, both Christians and nonChristians partake in the cultural event, an indication that it is not associated with idol worshiping. It is usually celebrated in the month of August. The hosting rotates among the villages that make up the community.

According to Eze Onwuka, who is the current Chairman of Umuahia South Council of Traditional Rulers, Ekpe

Festival is performed by the entire Olokoro community.

During the period, “we have a dance we perform called Ekpe.

On that day of Ekpe dance, we usually have many visitors from far and near. In fact, it at times attracts the return of some of our sons and daughters residing overseas. It draws huge crowd, people from far and near.

Highlight of the celebration “The day the Ekpe will perform, apart from the normal dance performance, going around the village square, the peak of the celebration is when a goat is killed in a special way.

The goat’s throat must be slit with a stroke of machete by Ekpe masquerade. The man to wear the Ekpe masquerade is carefully selected by the elders of the community that hosts the celebration. That goat is brought to the community square and tied at a particular point, with the huge crowd watching.

“As the Ekpe dances around the square, somebody will get fresh leaves to feed the goat.

As it stretches it neck to chew the leaves, the Ekpe masquerade aims and slits the throat with a stroke cut with well sharpened machete handed on to him by an elder of the village.

Implication “If for any reason, which is rare, he fails to slit the throat at once, it becomes a very big

•Eze G. C. Onwuka, of Umutowe Autonomous Community in Umuahia South Council

shame, in fact even a taboo for the whole community, to the extent that the traditional ruler may be derided by his colleagues who could make caricature of him at occasions.

For the Ekpe man himself, it becomes a bigger shame to him and his family, some of them may even weep openly. Such shame usually turns the entire community to mourning, as nobody will be happy for such failure.

“But if he succeeds to cut it once, it turns to a big celebration, a success story and everybody will be happy for a job well done, and it brings honour and respect for the Ekpe man, his family and the entire community, with people going home heads high. The people, men, women and youths, will erupt into jubilation, dancing to the beat of the drum which its beat will at this time increase. They will dance round the entire community; accompanying the Ekpe that performed the feat to celebrate. The wife of the Ekpe man will carry the head of the goat while the celebration dance goes on. The celebration train could go to the maternal

home of the man if it is near, who in turn will join in the celebration.

Significance of the festival “After everything, the neck of the goat belongs to the Ekpe

man, small as it may be; it is very significant in our culture.

And he, in turn with his close kinsmen, will cut part of it and take to his maternal home, accompanied by some people.

The implication is that their son has brought honour and respect to them by cutting the goat’s neck with a stroke of the machete. He is regarded and celebrated as a hero, with some showering him with praises and gifts, including cash, depending on the capacity of the people.

“So, Ekpe Masquerade festival is a very big ceremony in Olokoro in particular. It is a time Olokoro people thank God for giving us good harvest of yam, which we regard here as the king of crops. So we use the festival to thank God for a good harvest year and we use the Ekpe dance to back it up. It is just cultural celebration which also serves as a unifying forum”, Eze Onwuka explained.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 5

Erosion threatens Zik’s residence as flood takesover in Nsukka

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

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SUKKA: An uneasy calm pervades Onuiyi Haven residence of Nigeria’s first president, late Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe( Owelle of Onisha) as the road leading to his Nsukka settlement is being threatened by erosion which has wreaked havoc to the only road that linked Onuiyi Haven residence that linked Zik’s sanctuary together with other houses within the area and other parts of the university town.

Following the deplorable condition of the road abandoned for over three decades ago by the contractors handling construction of the road, gully erosion has been the greatest worry to residents of Onuiyi and its environs. The present governor of Enugu state Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi upon taking the mantle of leadership in the state promised to turn the university town into a mega city and invited Arab contractors to handle major roads in the area. The Arab contractors have since started surveying roads towards Total

Filling station round- about Nsukka.

South East Voice gathered that vehicles no longer ply the only road to Zik’s residence while motor cycles do not find it easy to pass whenever there is a down pour. The surviving wife of the late president, Prof Mrs. Uche Azikiwe, a retiree of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka who still resides at the Onuiyi Haven residence could not be reached to speak on the woes of the only entry and exit point to the Onuiyi Haven residence as she was said to have

travelled out of town when our reporter anchored.

South East Voice gathered that menace of erosion has taken so many lives from the university main gate to Onuiyi and down to Alor- Uno community where dead bodies of victims of the flood on the erosion gullies were usually discovered days after the flood have settled down. Both the federal, successive state governments before the present administration kept deaf ears to the erosion site while the country’s first president

residence is being threatened.

The erosion site was awarded by Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja to Messrs Eco Builders, Abuja as a project on erosion, flood control around university campus, Onuiyi, Nsukka but was abandoned by the said contractor and now poses a serious threat to the residence of the first president of the country who holed up in Nsukka after he founded the university of Nigeria which he bluntly refused to be named after him till Zik’s legacies in the university speak volumes

in the annals of history, yet erosion site near his residence poses a threat to his widow who still resides there till date.

As at the time of filing this report, Enugu state government sent a special committee on urban renewal with some members of the state House of Assembly to inspect erosion sites in Nsukka and its environs. Worst of it all was that other roads in Nsukka have been taken over by flood as the roads have no drainages, creating potholes at the university main gate, Ofuomu, Ogurugu, Aku road and OrbaEchera among others.

In the 17 local government areas in Enugu state, Nsukka local government council, one of the oldest LGA in the south east seems to be the least among equals in the state due to stakeholders tension of dearth of roads maintenance, no capital projects and unpaid arrears of salary by the incumbent council chairman Hon. Charles Kenechukwu Ugwu.

Contacted for comment, a PDP stalwart, Chief Ogbuefie Omeje frowned at the level of development in the locality, saying ‘’the incumbent council boss could not help matters, as roads were not maintained, salaries were not paid, capital projects are at zero level, drainages are not opened up and flood wreaking havoc at different areas and communities. It is a sorry situation in Nsukka.

“The adjoining compound to the Onuiyi Haven residence, Zik’s flat which the late Zik allegedly gave out to the university of Nigeria, Nsukka as students’ hostels has become home for rodents and Motor Park for the campus taxi shuttle, ” he exclaimed.

How 72-year-old academician is balancing modernity and tradition in Udi community •Crowned by a Catholic Priest

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA TO say that the 72-year- old traditional ruler of Nsude community in Udi local government area of Enugu State, Igwe Ken Amaechi Onyia is a man of many parts is stating the obvious.

The Igwe, who is a Professor of Physiology, an international scholar, has indeed, seen it all.

Call it western education and exposure, he got to the pinnacle.

He stands out and is noted for carving a niche for himself.

And to prove this, it was a Catholic priest that crowned him by placing the revered crown on his head to the admiration of all and sundry during his coronation.

What an admixture of traditional religion and Christian faith irrespective of whatever reservations some persons may have in such a ‘delicate’ romance.

During a visit to the community by South East Voice to find out the magic

wand the traditional ruler is using in such a combination, one of the prominent indigenes of the community, Mr. Sheddy Ozoene, a front line journalist told our reporter that “the ascension of the 72-year old professor could not have been any less controversial, considering his attainments and the traditional stature of the Agunecheibe.

He went further to say that since his installation as the Agunecheibe II of Nsude community over two years ago, the Igwe had been preoccupied with how to use his vast connections to attract develop-ment to his community.

According to Ozoene, “He faces the challenge that confronts most academics in positions of traditional rulers in Igboland today. That is, establishing a delicate balance between modernity and the age-long traditions of their communities.

“This becomes even more so in Nsude, which occupies a pride of place in Igbo cultural

history where tradition has in the recent past for instance, come in open confrontation with the Anglican Church.

“Last July”, he went on, “the Igwe shunned the annual Ofala to mark his anniversary; using the period to present a report card to leaders of the community. They also

brainstormed on issues of development and how the community can further its political relevance”.

Ozoene further told South East Voice that “the Igwe is concerned by political and economic development of the community and he is working hard to improve them. He said he is also reviving some cultural festivals for which the

*Caption: picture shows Catholic Reverend Ukwuani from Umualor village, performing the historic crowning of Igwe (Prof.) Ken Onyia, as the Agunecheibe II of Nsude. Before this act, Nze Reginald Ozoude had delivered a short eulogy on the Igwe, after which Anglican Venerable Nelson Eze had offered special prayers for the Igwe and presented him with a gift of the Holy Bible on behalf of the community.

community is known. Though a devout Catholic, Onyia is a traditionalist to the core and holds the Ozo title of Ebubeagu, and as Igwe of Nsude, he also doubles as the traditional head of Oshie clan, a cluster of six communities in Udi LGA of Enugu state.

“Among the cultural festivals the community is noted for”, he went on, “is the famous Nkwa, the historical ceremony performed in remembrance of Uto, one of the greatest war generals in Igbo history. Once every two years, Nsude and its brother communities that make up the Oshie clan of Enugu State, converge in the Eke-Uto square in Nsude, in celebration and remembrance of their glorious past. It has become a tradition that has survived and defied the vociferous onslaught of Christianity and modernity.

“Nsude is home to some prominent cultures associated with the Igbo race and their celebration usually attract interests from neighbouring communities as well as the government at both state and federal levels and the Nkwa festival for instance, has become one of the greatest celebrations of valour in lgboland”.

6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

THE Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, NAOWA, n a m b r a State has said that it will stop at nothing in ensuring that women in the Onitsha Military Cantonment, especially widows of fallen army officers and soldiers, pregnant and nursing mothers are given a new lease of life.

To that end, NAOWA has renovated and commissioned three structures in the barracks that are adding values to lives of the women and residents of the military cantonment, namely, Medical Reception Station, MRS; maternal health centre; the Nigerian Army Post Exchange, NAPEX and a super market.

Speaking with South East Voice during the commissioning of the projects and presentation of food items and maternal health care items to widows of fallen military officers and soldiers, pregnant women and nursing mothers, Coordinator of the Anambra State Chapter of NAOWA and wife of the Commander of the 302 Artillery Regiment Colonel Mohammed Bello, Mrs. Aisha Bello said that on assumption of duties in Onitsha, she went around the canton-ment and discovered that most of the structures where residents of the cantonment were supposed to be receiving services that add value to their lives were in a sorry state.

“And I had no option than to swing into action with the wife of the Commanding Officer, 14 Field Engineering Regiment, Lt. Col. Sherif Aremu, Mrs. Hashiya Aremu, Secretary of

BY CHIMAOBI NWAIWU NAOWA Barr. Mrs. Roxanna Ozoemena and other officers’ the introduction of these wives to source for funds with modern healthier equipments the assistance of our loving which is what we have put in husbands to renovate them. place today.

“I took over as the new “It is my fervent hope that NAOWA Co-odinator of the use of these modern Onitsha military barracks machines in our MRS from the outgoing CoMaternity section will prove a ordinator on 18th day of positive turning point in our December, 2014. I held a health regime. I must say a big meeting with the women to thank you to the Commander, find out the challenges they my loving husband, the man were facing and I also went that knows how to make a round the whole barracks to woman happy. He personally see things for myself. saw that most of the equip“I found out that there was ments were bought and fixed. need to really equip the “ I’m not forgetting the maternity section of the MRS. Commanding Officer, 14 Field The need for a healthy society Engineering Lt. Col. Aremu for cannot be over-emphasized. his financial and moral An old adage equates health support and I thank all the with wealth, so any measure officers and soldiers and also taken such as the one we are the hospital management, gathered here today ought to Captain Shittu, and Lt B. be applauded” she said.

Ahmed. I appreciate your She said that “based on the efforts, my lovely NAOWA love I and other NAOWA women, thanks for your members have for children support and encouragement and women, I sensed that the you people are giving me” she barracks community will be said. healthier by some level with Speaking during the A

Mrs Aisha Bello cutting the tape for commissioning of NAPEX super while her Husband Col. Mohammed Bello help her.

NAOWA renovates, equips maternity, supermarket ...presents gifts to fallen soldiers' wives

occasion which held at Bofors Hall, Col. Bello dedicated all the projects to the fallen of the army who lost their lives to the Boko Haram insurgent activities in the North especially Maiduguri, particu-larly those from the Onitsha unit of the Nigerian Army, who he said paid the supreme prize.

He commended the wives of the officers and soldiers for their steadfastness in accepting the pains of the loss of their husbands, the fallen heroes of the Nigerian Army and urged them to be prayerful and God in his infinite mercy will console and provide for them.

He said that in any gathering of men and women including the military barracks, there are bound to be quarrels and disagreement between people but expressed satisfaction that Onitsha military cantonment has been exceptionally peaceful and such disagreements and quarrels witnes-sed elsewhere in the military barracks do not exist in Onitsha and promised that as long as he is the commander of the cantonment, he will ensure that the

•Some of the soldiers wives.

MRS building where NAOWA renovated and equipped Maternity section put a fallen heroes plaque for peaceful atmosphere contithose who died in operation in nues to exit.

Maiduguri from this unit. I “One good thing about the hope that the relationship we military is that whatever have here will continue, I do disagreement we have, where not discrimi-nate between it exists , all our disagreeofficers and soldiers under my ments end up in agreement. command, we are one in the The first day I came here, I duty of serv-ing our father said that I will leave at my land,” he said. pace, when I came on board , He told the wives of the I noticed that families in the officers and soldiers that their barracks do not come togehusbands can be taken away ther and I started bring-ing for assign-ments at anytime them together. and any day. “I urge you to “When I served here as a pray for them, and if there is Major, these halls were in bad any husband that does not shape and I agreed with other cater for his family, do not officers when I came back hesitate to report to me or to here that we will renovate your pastors in the churches. them one after the other, we

NGO, Amachara community at war over use of town hall

BY ANAYO OKOLI U M U A H I A — A N indigenous nongovernmental organization [NGO], Chike and Chinyere Onyekwere Foundation (CCOF), is currently engaged in a dispute with the host community over office space from where it operates from.

The NGO and Amachara community, in Umuahia South Council Area of Abia, are currently at logger heads over the use of the Amachara Multipurpose Hall as its operational office.

The dispute has pitched the NGO operators, who are indigenes of the Amachara community against their traditional ruler, Eze Akpunku Iheuwa and the town union which asked the NGO to pay rent for the apartment it occupies in the Community Hall or vacate.

But the sponsors of the NGO, have refused to vacate , arguing that being indigenes and because they are using the NGO to render free health care service to the people, it should be allowed to operate from the Hall.

But the traditional ruler said that the community offered the foundation a two bedroom apartment located inside the hall premises on rent free basis on the condition that it fulfils a promise of providing a sound proof generator for use in the hall.

“All NGOs in Abia State are located in its proprietor’s property, or rented buildings.

Amachara free medical centre cannot be an exception. The two bedrooms were granted on rent free basis because Mr. Chikezie Onyekwere promised to buy a sound proof generator for use in the hall. If he fails to fulfill his promise, the two-bedroom flat would

attract rent to Amachara Welfare Association (AWA)”, Eze Iheuwa said.

Perhaps, not able to fulfill the said promise, the community decided to offer the NGO an alternative apartment of the two bedroom structure in the same premises but behind the hall, which the community said still meets the need of every sincere person who wants to

•Amachara civic hall

assist the aged and poor in Amachara community.

Insisting that the apartment behind the main hall was good for the NGO to operate from, Eze Iheuwa noted “the mansion is not the answer except if the proprietor has something to hide from the community”, Eze Iheuwa said.

He also contended that the community was magnanimous enough to release the hall to the NGO following its

appeal to use the hall premises for celebrating their Amachara free Medical Recognition Day on 29th December, 2013 and that it was not for permanent basis.

He accused the leadership of the town which he alleged was led by a relation of the owners of the NGO of tinkering the structure of the hall and making space for the NGO in the main hall and even inscribing the NGO’s name on the building.

“The NGO without approval from any authority tinkered with the face of the hall and inscribed on the wall, Free Medical Centre”, the monarch alleged.

To support the position of the traditional ruler, the new leadership of the town union has written to the proprietors of the NGO, Mr. and Mrs. Chikeziri Apugo Onyekwere, urging them to relocate the office.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 7

Ogidi people celebrate Nwafor festival without violence

BY CHIMAOBI NWAIWU

O

GIDI people in Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State have for the first time celebrated the dreaded week-long annual Nwafor Festival of Ogidi Community. This was made possible by the proactive measures put in place by security operatives and the leaders of the community.

The festival noted for its characteristic violence because of troublesome masquerades which normally provoke violence during the festival by flogging people especially women to the surprise many were not allowed to display their known violent behaviour.

Hence, the festival ended without any record of deaths which for about a decade has never ended without its

associated violence.

President General of the red-cap chiefs in the community, Chief Kingsley Anyaegbunam Ndilika told South East Voice that the community through its President General, Dr. Eric Obiakor, warned the dreaded and troublesome masquerades to steer clear of major roads, avoid harassing, assaulting women and strangers days before the commencement of the festival.

He said it was also agreed that visitors to the community would be barred from participating in the masquerade activities to help identify the troublesome people that have over the years been causing trouble during the festival.

“We have also our members on white attire who patrol the roads to find out masquerades

•Chief Priest of the Inwelle Shrine, (Ezechuamuagha) Chief Felix Agbata and persons who may flout the order so that such persons would face the wrath of the law”, he said.

Flanked by the Chairman of Tradition, Chief Emeka Nwobi and Financial Secretary of the Red Cap Chiefs, Chief Daniel Enendu, Chief Ndilika described Nwafor Ogidi festival as the highest of all celebrations in the area, stating that it is a period of cultivation and preparation for harvesting of farm products.

He commended Governor Willie Obiano, the Police in Ogidi and other security operatives for the proactive measures they put in place which resulted in the peaceful ceremony, adding that the

•Ndi ichie Ogidi: L-R Financial Secretary, President and Chairman of Tradition

Governor has been able to sack criminals out of the state.

“Another factor that helped in ensuring peace during the ceremony was the chief priest of the Inwelle Shrine, (Ezechuamuagha) Chief Felix Agbata and his legal adviser, Barr Pat Agbata who had earlier called for peaceful celebration of the festival and warned that troublemakers would be dealt with”, he said.

The community noted that the event is for reunion as it is a period of mass return. The Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Hassan Musa and the Commander, Idemili North and South Surveillance Vigilance Group, Mr. Arthur Ilongwu, told newsmen that their men were

sent to flashpoints and patrol vehicles worked round the clock, before, during and after the festival in concert with the community leaders which resulted in hitch-free Nwafor festival.

Chairman of Ofuobi age grade, Umuru Ogidi, and some elders of the community, namely,Chief Chris Onwudiwe, Dr. Peter Nwabueze and Mr. Eric Okafor, hinted that there was nothing fetish about Nwafor Festival as it is a period of reunion, interaction and merrymaking, adding that with the level of education and awareness now, people have come to realize that it is for interaction.

Uneasy calm in Enugu as lawyer wants EFCC to probe ex- Governor Chime for alleged corruption Professor Patrick Muboghare fight against his predecessors in that “we are yet to formally told our reporter that “the lawyer

By AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

LTHOUGH the incumbent governor of Enugu State, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has repeatedly said that he was not prepared to wreak the mud by probing his predecessors in office including the immediate past Governor Sullivan Chime, many people in the State were not persuaded by such a sweeping statement.

This group of individuals are of a contrary opinion with the governor insisting that there was need to subject ex governor Chime to probe, in view of the widespread allegations against him bothering on purported improprieties especially during the dying days of his administration, which incidentally brought him and the former members of the State House of Assembly at loggerheads.

The then executive led by Governor, Sullivan Chime and the 24-member lawmakers led by the then Speaker Eugene Odo were on war path that led to the botched impeachment plan.

Some of the grievances that brought the lawmakers and the former Governor Chime on collision course was the water concession plan for 25 years, land allocation at International Conference Centre; construction of Park and Shop mall adjacent the House of Assembly complex as well as land allocation at old Eastern Nigeria Industrial Centre at Zik, Avenue Enugu among others.

Having narrowly escaped the impeachment, an Enugu-based lawyer, Mr. Ray Nnaji sent a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,

EFCC calling on them to investigate alleged gross misconduct and financial recklessness by Chime’s administration.

Nnaji did not stop there but went ahead to file a suit before the Federal High holden in Enugu, seeking an order of mandamus on the EFCC to commence the probe, insisting that he has enough evidence that would nail the former governor.

The lawyer in the said petition to EFCC alleged that, “Chime misappropriated public funds worth N12.8 billion and forged the supplementary appropriation law 2012.

According to him, “Chime allocated the former Polo park in Enugu which is a public property to a South Africa company owned Shoprite and Games, a company, Chime has an interest through a proxy.

Chime using a proxy, owns substantial shares or equities in the said South African company.

“The old Trade Fair Complex in Enugu State was also partitioned and arbitrarily allocated to family members and cronies. In breach of his oath of office and in abuse of his office, Chime allocated the old Eastern Region Industrial Layout, Zik Avenue, property of Enugu State to a company fronted by his second son, Tochukwu Chime without public bidding.”

We are yet to receive the petition – EFCC Mr. Jide Ilupeju of the Public Affairs department of EFCC office in Enugu told South East Voice

briefed about the petition. When we receive it, we won’t hesitate to let you know”, he said.

It is a lie, you are foot-dragging - Nnaji Reacting, Nnaji took a swipe on EFCC saying, “I will be very happy to see Sullivan and Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo (ex-Chief of Staff) being prosecuted. If the two of them are prosecuted, other people in the leadership position will be very careful and know how to handle public funds. I don’t know why EFCC is lukewarm over this issue. They were making me to believe that they have started action but till now, nothing has been done about my petitions. That is why we must prosecute the matter in court”, he stated.

I am not ready for such probe - Ugwuanyi Incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had earlier on the second week of assuming office declared that he was not prepared to embark on any witch-hunting expedition by engaging in unnecessary

office.

“I am sure you listened to my inaugural address, all former governors were recognized. We are getting in touch with all of them to formally talk to each and every member of the council of elders we are reconstituting. We cannot in a State like this ignore the experience of these former leaders. Everybody is our friend. The era of politics is over. The peace we enjoy here (Enugu), we have to maintain that peace. It’s peace enmeshed in agape love, covered by the Holy Spirit. We have fully taken over, we are in charge. In the past, you find a situation where once there is change of baton, the new guy will start fighting the old guy.

“The experience of Boko Haram and experiences in the States where there is no peace is enough to teach us some lessons. It’s not worth it.

Instead, we will move from strength to strength”, he added.

He is an interloper – ex ASUU boss A public affairs analyst and former Chairman of the Academic Staff of Union of Universities, ASUU, in Delta State,

Uncompleted Conference Centre Enugu, subject of the probe saga

is idle. Probing past administrations including this Enugu you mentioned will be an exercise in futility. From my findings, Chime worked, the records are there. It is strange to hear from an incumbent that he met an empty treasury. Cash available should be deployed into use, project execution done for the interest of the people is okay provided it is judiciously utilized.

I am aware some of those projects are ongoing. Therefore, I see the probe as mere distraction, an exercise that will end in futility”.

The probe is in order – Enugu Speaker’s Press Secretary On his part, Mr. Emmanuel Nweze, the Press Secretary to the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr. Edward Ubosi told our reporter that “the lawyer has his constitutional power to ask that the former governor be probed. It is not the present governor that asked him to go to EFCC on his behalf. He is doing so on his own. I don’t see anything wrong in somebody, a citizen exercising his human right in a democracy”.

In general, the result of the opinion poll conducted on whether to embark upon the probe or not showed that the people are sharply divided.

While some persons would not want their names mentioned for fear of being haunted or otherwise voted for the probe commending the action of the lawyer as bold, some others either on a sympathetic ground would not want the probe at all as encapsulated by his successor in office, governor Ugwuanyi’s message of peace.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Cultism: Police take battle to schools, motor-parks

BY FRANCIS IGATA

E

NUGU—Perturbed by the increasing number of suspects arrested in Enugu State over cult related crimes,the Enugu Police command has taken the campaign against cultism to primary and secondary schools in the state.

This came as the command had apprehended some underaged suspects between the ages 12-18 years who are members of notorious secret cult operating in Enugu schools.

Police public relations dept to the rescue The command through its Public Relations Department had last week,quickly arranged sensitization and campaign workshops against cultism and other related vices in the society to create an atmosphere of safety and secured environment.

Police spokesperson, Ebere

Amaraizu,DSP, said,”cultism and other related vices have also been noticed to have penetrated to some town, villages and communities.

“Artisans were also noticed to be involved. This trend, portends great danger to security of lives and properties as well as socio-economic development. It has also been noticed that some drivers, conductors,traders double as cultists.

“This attitude must stop. I cannot see any gain associated with cultism. People who join cults lack self confidence. That is why they think they can get confidence through membership of secret cults.

“In cultism, you can get a lot of crime like kidnapping, murder, stealing, drug abuse, robbery among others. The Police campaign against cultism and other crime in communities,towns,villages and other areas will sensitize the people through the partnership of the media,

•Police spokesperson, Amaraizu addresses pupils at Government Secondary School, Abakaliki Road, Enugu members of the public and other relevant stake holders for a safe and secured society.

“Our message content is well packaged to reach out our target audience who think that cultism and other related vices are ways of life, customs and

By UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE

T

he Nigerian Police Protestant Church, Police Mobile Force, 55 Squadron, Osisioma Ngwa, Abia state has held a send forth service for the out gone Commander of the Squadron, CSP Wilson Dangana Dankwano.

In his homily at the occasion, Chaplain and Parish Priest of the Squadron, Rev. Ubi Bassey Okon, said they chose to honour Dankwano because he has been an instrument of God to propagate His work in the Squadron, stressing that the out gone Commander used his position to assist the Church as well as the less privileged around the Unity Garden Estate

By UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE

T

HE Old Bende Association, resident in Dublin, Ireland has donated food items and play kits to the

of the Church decided to celebrate and wish him well to his new place of assignment with today’s service.”

The Squadron Chaplain explained that Dankwano is a detribalized Nigerian whose humility and love for other people would continue to be remembered by the Squadron and residents of Unity Garden Estate.

Speaking at the occasion, Abia State Commissioner of Police, Habila Joshak and the Police Area Commander in Aba, Peter Wagbara, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, described the out gone MOPOL Commander as a brilliant and hard working Police officer and expressed gratitude to God for his efforts at the Squadron.

Methodist Motherless Babies Home, Uzuakoli in Bende council area of Abia state.

Speaking at the handing over of the items to the Home at Uzuakoli, National President of the Association, Sunday Obasi Kalu Nnanna, described the gesture as a token aimed at reassuring the children of the Home that the Association shares with them in whatever may be their circumstances in life.

Nnanna who was represented by James O. Anya, said charity has been the core objective of their mission and urged the government, corporate organizations and well meaning individuals to render assistance to the less privileged children in orphanages and motherless babies homes to give them life and hope to actualize their God given potentials.

He disclosed that the

...During the donation.

CSP Dankwano being presented with a plaque

through the involvement of traditional rulers,presidents of town unions,youth leaders, faith based organization, religious leaders, motor park leaders and other trade union leaders and associations.

Abia: Group donates items to motherless babies' home

Protestant Church holds send -forth service for ex-MOPOL 55 Commander where the Squadron is based.

According to him, “Wilson Dankwano has been a blessing not only to the Church, but the entire residents of this Unity Garden Estate. He was the person who laid the foundation stone of this Church, saw it completed and has been supporting over 7 pastors in training. He supported us to build a school for the Church and brought power supply to the Squadron. He also built a clinic for the Squadron where policemen and residents are treated free of charge. He has contributed a lot in wiping away the tears of widows in this area. Now that he is leaving to serve in another place, we deemed it fit to honour him.

God has used Wilson Dankwano to honour us in many ways. Indeed, the Parish Priest and the Board of Elders

tradition or acceptable in the society. It is also going to be a long term programme because we intend to embark on evaluation as well as review of the programme.

The programme will mostly take the shape of town hall meeting

CSP Dankwano, receiving a gift from women in the church while Rev Okon watches

association which is an umbrella body uniting Bende indigenes resident in Ireland and Europe was founded about ten years ago to foster brotherly relationship with one another as well as Ndigbo and Nigerians abroad.

Receiving the items, Matron of the Home, Mary Corput who was represented by one of the officials, Awa Kalu, expressed gratitude to the Association for the donation.

He described the Old Bende Association as a friend of the Home, adding that the donations came at the right time as the play kit facilities got damaged.

Kalu lamented that the Home is faced with baby food challenges which are not normally in the line of items being donated by people and appealed to the public to emulate the Association, adding that those who have been blessed, should bless others.

He appealed to hospitals and health centres in the state to assist the Home through subsidizing charges on medical treatment for sick children, stressing that the cost of seeking medicare has gone beyond the reach of the Home.

Children of the home with their guardians.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—33

OSUN: Gov Aregbesola not guilty of indebtedness — House Speaker,Salaam •Says our state is not bankrupt SPEAKER of Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Najeem Salaam, in this interview speaks on unpaid salaries in the state, Justice Oloyede’s petition against Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the proposed summit being championed by a group among other issues.

By Gbenga Olarinoye THE insolvent status of Osun appears to have grounded the business of governance. Are you not worried about this?

Bankruptcy is declared when a state or an institution has gone under. Osun has not gone under.

Yes, we have financial challenges but they are temporary. We are working around it. I must acknowledge the unalloyed support of the people and some section of workers who think beyond the box.

Osun is passing through a phase and it is so because Osun just like others is a constituent unit of a troubled nation, which was raped badly by the ousted Peoples Democratic Party,PDP.

Economic planning And if President Muhammadu Buhari could describe the country as an Augean stable that must be cleaned up, what do you expect Osun as an integral part to do? The predicament is not the making of the governor or as a result of poor economic planning. It is a structural problem and not until the top gets it right, the federating units would still be contending with epileptic economy. The kind of federalism we practise is what I call ‘feeding bottle’ federalism.

Osun is the least paid in terms of allocation and now that our allocation has fallen short of what we are used to, what can we do?

We are Strategizing on how to wriggle out. It will take time, but we have to do it.

Some believe the governor dragged the state into this condition of indebtedness. How do you react to this?

People are entitled to their opinions, but it would be unfair to hold the position of the opposition as statement of facts because their insinuations are full of fallacies and innuendoes.

Let it be known that the executive doesn’t do anything without the knowledge of the legislature. So, when some people say the governor has done this or that, the impression is that the governor has the power of life and death. Governor Rauf Aregbesola came to Osun and

was dissatisfied with the state of under-development he met on ground. He vowed to change the sedentary life of the people, reawaken its commerce and position the state among the comity of performing states. He began with infrastructure, education, agriculture and youth engagement. Look, we should be careful not to make crime out of the zeal to serve because it is convenient for Aregbesola to pay salaries and flashes some substandard projects. But he chose to work and the opposition are talking.

On debt profile: Tell me of any individual who intends to be great that would not incur debt.

When I wanted to build my house, I took loan from a bank and I suffered to pay back. When an industrialist wants to establish an industry, he approaches a bank or consortium for fund.

Then, what is the issue in approaching financial institutions to source for funds to finance public infrastructure? America with its might has a debt ceiling of over 17 trillion dollars. We have to be fair to ourselves when criticizing a government. Of course, it could have been a different ball game if the those

monies were borrowed to finance consumption.

It saddened me that we have to resort to borrowing to offset pension and salaries, but for the fact that the banks could not lend us for now as a result of vindictive directive given by the Jonathan administration, people are shouting that the state can not pay salaries.

A serving judge in the state judiciary recently petitioned the legislature to investigate Gov

We have more than one petition against the governor and we have inaugurated an investigative panel headed by my deputy, who is a lawyer, to work on the petitions

•Salaam Aregbesola for alleged financial recklessness. How do you see that?

We have more than one petition against the governor and we have inaugurated an investigative panel headed by my deputy, who is a lawyer, to work on the petitions.

But the minority leader opposed the composition of the committee, protesting the exclusion of opposition members...

Those who wrote the petitions knew that the House of Assembly under my watch is credible and they have faith in the process.

Besides, it is my prerogative to constitute the committee. As the Speaker, I see all members as honourable men, but all of them could not be appointed into the committee. Moreso, ranking and

Ashafa @ 60: A son's testimony

By Basheer Ashafa

I

CAN say without hesitation, that Allah has profoundly blessed me, so that I may have the privilege of calling the finest man I have ever known ‘father’.

I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that whoever I am or may yet become, by way of leading a meaningful existence, I owe to my parents. First and foremost to my father, as the leader of our family, who has inspired me alongside so many others to be the best that I can be.

My Father has always led by example, and proved to be the most tenacious human being I have ever met. Upholding that, no matter how challenging things get, or how overwhelmed we may feel, we must persevere, as giving up is never an option.

There are many things I could say to pay tribute to him, he is sixty after all, which is a whole lot of life lived! It is enough to

•Ashafa establish the character of a man, and to know who he truly is. I have had the honor to live over three decades of his life with him; therefore, I know my father. He is a man of many convictions, and

he is not a mere philosopher or theorist on how to build a better tomorrow. He walks his talk, and he walks it tall. I could write a novel in a bid to describe the tremendously impactful life he has led, and still not write enough.

Fist and foremost, he is one of the most compassionate people I know. Compassion, alongside his astounding generosity has enabled him to create platforms for others to succeed. Not only a few can attest to the fact that they have climbed on Gbenga Ashafa’s shoulders to greatness, or flown on his wings to prominence.

The most amazing thing of all, is that after all these years, BOA is still marching on. He is still building bridges and still holding on. His story is as old as his beginning and as timeless as the hopes for tomorrow.

Thank you for reminding us, your children, family, friends, and associates, that ordinary

experience count in legislative business. The chairman has been in the House for more than six years and he is very competent to head the committee. So, it is a committee that is carefully put together to serve the interest of the people. As for the minority leader, he is playing his role and does not have to agree with us on everything.

Meanwhile, the report would be submitted to the House for debate and the minority leader will have his say on it, but if he is part of the committee, he would be barred as a matter of rule, to speak on it when the report is presented. So, he should know that we have done him a favour by reserving a room for him on the floor when the report is ready.

I chose to toe that part to prevent tyranny of the majority. citizens can find the will and the strength within their hearts, to do extraordinary things. Reminding us, that in the face of opposition, we must be willing to stand up for what is right and condemn what is wrong.

As a student of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s political school, you helped us understand that change is never easy, but always possible. You always insisted that change does not come from violence, militancy or the kind of politics that pits us against each other; but from great discipline and strategic unification.

To us, you are a beacon of hope, and your birthday provides us the opportunity to celebrate you.

Hats off to your commitment to 35 years of marriage, to raising successful children, to your philanthropy, by way of the Gbenga Ashafa Trust Endowment (GATE) amongst others, and to a life of impacting our community and the nation. *Basheer Tosin Ashafa, the son of Senator Gbenga Ashafa, wrote from Lagos

34—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Women should invest in upgrading their managerial skills

By Anino Aganbi

I

N what capacities do you teach business women to grow in Nigeria?

I provide a platform for Nigerian Business women to demonstrate how competent, capable and successful they are on an international scale. With the support of eminent female professionals like Mrs Oluwatoyin Sanni, Group CEO of UBA Capital, women are supporting the Afro Business Exposition to ensure business growth. Furthermore, there is greater confidence in investing in female entrepreneurs because they have a strong desire to succeed and also have demonstrated a greater capacity to spread their wealth and uplift their communities from poverty. Female owned and managed SMEs are very attractive to ethical international investors.

What changes do you think should be made to Small scale businesses being run by women?

There is a perception that capital is the challenge to most SMEs, in my experience the easier thing to achieve is raising capital, but the greater challenge I find is managerial capital. Women run SMEs, like male run SMEs need to invest in developing their ability to manage their growth by investing in upgrading their managerial skill. This involves having a living business plan, a roadmap to growth and a vision for the future of your businesses. Sustainable and successful SME’s are characterized by a leadership team that has a vision and roadmap.

Vision and roadmap Once investors can see a clear line of sight for return on investment, getting money becomes the easy part to growth.

What is the exposition really about?

The Afro Business Exposition is an annual event that brings African business to the UK to meet with British investors and partners.

Our focus on the established SMEs mean that we have companies who want to grow and who are ready to expand their horizons with import, export and diversified investment. We know that SMEs are the foundation to sustainable economic development, therefore we are rightly driven by supporting this group.

Furthermore, we are trying to do a perception shift, that Nigeria is not a safe place to do business. That is why we are using this exposition as a platform to bring Nigeria businesses to the UK where there will be a good opportunity for the Nigerian businessmen to interact with their other counterparts and reassure them that everybody in that exposition is a genuine African business person who have gone through the necessary check. They are therefore confident that the people who participate in the Expo are businesses they can trust. Finally for the Nigerian business, we are not a talk-shop, we work with the C M Y K

ness s a good busi a h o h w n so Like every per and running a successful quired in the ing acumen, own a lot more skills than is re e ground th business takes . Pulling a business out of the shoulder d n o rl o d w ea s h es good busin than having a vest. As such, involves more e money in the world to in give their to th or having all t substance have come out Ngozi is a re ch g f su o g n o women n market, am siness consultant ia er ig N e th u al b best to . an internation mmunication Fakeye. She is ls in engagements and co the UK, she il with special sk anagement Practitioner in erland M th As the Project gramme Director for Mo e gap ro P th e es th g s d a ri s b that work rm fi g in lt su n interest in Connects, a co d African businesses with n between UK a trade. d investment an exhibitors to ensure they get value for their money. Our operation is simple and transparent.

How has your past expositions improved the Nigerian business especially where women are concerned?

TheAfroBusinessExpoin2014wastriumph forourfemaleparticipants.Itrealizedsuccesses for female entrepreneurs in Nigeria including EFB Industries in Abia State. Furthermore, we had a showcase of a Nigerian fashion house Kulture Klash who had a fantastic showcase of clothing and sold out on their outfits at the expo! Also, one of the exhibitors, BernardMichaelconsultants,aHRconsulting firm, realized a 7% growth in her business followingthenetworkingopportunitiesrealized since last year. Women bring color and are always the most interesting and visually expressive showcases at the expo.

What edition is this 2015 exposition and what should the participants expect?

This is the 2nd edition. The Afro Business Exposition was launched in 2014 and has seen over $500M in investment since.

Feedback has been about the quality of our speakers who share the vision and offer their time and knowledge to facilitate international trade. Last year, we had thirty one participants from 12 countries. This year we

The Afro Business Expo in 2014 was triumph for our female participants.

It realized successes for female entrepreneurs in Nigeria including EFB Industries in Abia State

expect a double attendance from last year.

The participants should also expect greater opportunities for trade and investment. SME in particular, with a line-up of fantastic speakers and big investment pot, participants will go away proud to be Africans and knowledgeable of what investment and support is available in the international scene. A hint is also that this year is focused on key sectors where UK investors are looking for investment and genuine partnerships opportunities in Africa businesses, in the following sectors renewable energy, agriculture and telecommunication. The challenge for Nigeria and Africa as a whole is that enterprise investors like Comic Relief and DFID are looking at programmes that will further inspire and facilitate sustainable socio economic development.

What are the benefits to the participants and how can they register?

Like I earlier said that, that this exposition is a good forum to network with the right audience, partner and investors. Participants are guaranteed of enhancing their businesses. We are selective and match the right businesses with the right partners and, or investors. You don’t just attend, you must have a plan and a schedule to follow.

Another interesting part of the exposition is the Venture Capitalist pitch panel, this is a group of investors that will listen to you present your proposal for investment funding, if you meet their demand you are good to go for investment partnership. We have specific registration packages for delegates, exhibitors and pitching to the VC panel. Interested participants should email us at info@afrobusinessexpo.com for a registration pack. We will need to ensure that the participants meet the criteria that will make the expo a valuable opportunity for all. Registrations will close on 30th July 2015.

What challenges do you think has become rampant with the Nigerian business?

As an international business consultant, I do see a few challenges that can be overcome

with the right steer. I will refer to my point on managerial capital. Nigerian business people needtoinvestmoreindevelopingtheirpeople.

It is no surprise that so called multinational companies spend a significant budget in training and development. Business growth is not just about buying and selling, it is about positioningyourselfforgrowth.Therefore,you have to stay abreast of international developmentsinyourfieldsoyoucanrespond to potential threats to your business. For example, the innovator who created bottled water introduced it at a premium,competition came and saturated a market including pure water in sachets.

Astute business As astute business person would evolve and offerflavoredwater,slimmingwaterandevery other variant that keeps them ahead of the competition. You can only be innovative if you understand that businesses cannot be still. In effect, the SME of today must become the multinationaloftomorrow,thatiswhatweoffer our clients. Start small, build a foundation and then go big. This ensures that you will not onlyunderstandyourbusinessbuthavealong term vision for its sustainability. That is an international rule to sustainable success. That is what responsible and ethical international funders look at in investment opportunities in Nigeria.

How do you think we can improve on businesses to make them better thereby improving the Nigerian economy?

Firstly, I would say invest in the youth. It is not just to go to school and getting a degree, apprenticeships and industrial attachments must be encouraged. This means that at an early stage you start to imbibe the youth with work ethic. During the long summer holidays, get young people into factories or office admin support roles that show them diligence and hard work are positive values. It keeps them busy and gives the practical experience a sense of purpose.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—35

Bobbi Christina Brown I

Amina Zakari

T

HE controversies thrown up by the appointment of a relative of the President, Amina Zakari, as INEC boss, has deepened, and dominated the Nigerian cyberspace in the last week. A statement is being circulated questioning the constitutionality of her whole appointment. According to it: INEC is established under section 153 of the constitution. And the mode of appointment of the chairman and members is constitutionally provided for under Section 154(1) and (2) of the constitution only. The duration of office of both National and Resident Commissioners is five years under Section 155(1)(c) of the constitution.

There is no provision for the position of INEC chairmanship in an “acting capacity ” under the Constitution. The letter written to the “acting chairman” requesting her to consider her term of office to have come to an end is written in violation of Sections 157(1) of the Constitution; There is no implied removal from or elongation of term of office under the Constitution.Therefore, when the term of office of the acting INEC chairman constitutionally lapses on July 21, 2015; she automatically ceases to be a member of the electoral body and as such, ceases

S Bobbi- Kris dead, is the question on the ‘lips’ of every tabloid on planet earth, both print and virtual, following indications that the funeral of Whitney Houston’s daughter has already been performed at the hospice where she’s been admitted.

Family friend, filmmaker Tyler Perry is pissed right off, and says so on his facebook page. The post has gone viral.

This morning I woke up with Whitney on my mind. I couldn’t help but think about all that she must have dreamed for her child. I know this was not her dream… And as difficult as this time is for the people that love both Whitney and Krissi, what makes it more egregious is the blatant disrespect, lies, and ignorance that are rapidly printed in this awful time. For some reason, it has become human nature in our society to look for, seek out, and celebrate darkness, glory in tragedy, and enjoy reading and reporting it.

It makes me sad to know that everybody wants to be the first to report something awful. So much so, that they find it OK to speak death onto those

who are still alive. May I ask you all to please show some decency and respect?

The whole of the virtual world is grieving at this time!

Aisha Buhari

course of the party, saying she needed to go home and prepare dinner for her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari.

I want to go back home to cook for my husband because my children are here playing with you. Nobody is at home, only my husband. So, I want to go back home to be with him and also cook dinner for him.

While some commentators hail her as being down to earth, others do not find her rhetoric too cute, accusing her of pandering to gender biases. No doubt, though, she made the children happy.

Addressing them she said, We celebrate with Nigerian children, especially the less privileged, including those in the various internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camp. We love, appreciate and share with their present situation. The future of this great country lies in your hands. You are to compliment the efforts of government by working very hard in school and be obedient to your parents.

Tomorrow you may become president, the president’s wife, Senator, honourable members, governors, medical doctors, teacher, journalist, engineer, nurse, lawyer and the rest of other honourable professions.

•Amina Zakari to occupy the hitherto unconstitutional office of “acting chairman” because she cannot be acting in that capacity from outside the body; the position of the government whereby the acting INEC chairman was asked to consider her tenure ended on June 30, 2015, and yet to hold office as the acting chairman of the body is utterly contradictory and unconstitutional.

This is because the “acting chairman” has not been re-appointed and she cannot be conducting the affairs of INEC as a non-member of the body. The situation is a legal anathema, which must be corrected urgently because every passing day that she sits on that remains a violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

W

IFE of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has been attracting a lot of notice this week on blogosphere after she hosted children in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to a party to mark the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at the Banquet Hall of the presidential villa, Abuja.

Mrs. Buhari had excused herself in

Titi Laoye Tomori O

SUN state governor Rauf Aregbesosola is in the doghouse of the Nigerian blogosphere; and while he has been for a long while now, little has been seen or heard of his supportive deputy, who used to be firmly by his side in times past.

Last week, questions were being asked regarding the whereabouts of the Osun number 2 person. So far it’s been all questions and no answers?

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala t’s not been raining but pouring for former Minister of Finance, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, who was rumoured to have sent a list of corrupt deals done during the past administration to President Buhari. Now, a statement by Dr OkonjoIweala, released through her media aide, Paul Nwabuikwu, discredits the reports.

The recent report by the integrity-challenged website, Saharareporters and some other media that former Minister of C M Y K

Opeyemi Olarinde S

•Titi Laoye Tomori

I

•Mrs. Buhari

•Bobbi- Kris

Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has handed over a “dossier of corrupt deals” perpetrated by the Jonathan administration to President Buhari is not true.This sponsored lie is part of the political attack against Dr Okonjo-Iweala.

These attacks will continue given that these individuals are bent on a political and personal vendetta against her.

Why are they angry? It is simply because she tried to bring integrity and transparency to the

•Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala management of Nigeria’s public finances which obviously did not suit their interests? As always, we are confident that the truth shall prevail.

As usual, blogosphere is not convinced.

mooth talking OAP best known as Freeze appeared to have kept his better half away from the public glare until recently, when his complaints on social media went viral about how the lady had been bashing him in secret. It made for comic relief on blogosphere in the last week as Ifedayo Olarinde had gone public with tales of how Opeyemi physically abused him more than once while their marriage lasted. He further accused her of other things.

In a counter statement, Opeyemi said Freeze is just out to tarnish her image.

The statement said, I have received calls and inquiries from friends and family who have drawn my attention to the recent posts emanating from the social media from my estranged and soon-to-be exhusband, Ifedayo Olarinde.

“Before now, he has tried ceaselessly and without any restraint to upset and assassinate my character but I have decided to keep my calm because it is not in my character to sensationalize issues. I would like to state here categorically that I AM NOT AND NEVER HAVE BEEN A VIOLENT ADULTERESS. I understand that he is desperately seeking attention and publicity to generate a livelihood, but it is unnecessary to peddle lies and traumatize both the children and I in the process.

•Opeyemi

36—V ANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, JUL Y 22, 2015 36—VANGU ANGUARD, WEDNESDA JULY

I want my daughter to dump this loser

How do I get her off my mind?

Dear Bunmi, My ex-girlfriend and I were together for almost six years when it dawned on me I wasn’t really ready to settle down. That was all she wanted and I had to be honest with her early last year, so she could look for a stable partner. She was really devastated and to show her I really meant what I said, I

quickly hooked up with another girl.

I was mildly surprised when I learnt she would be getting married very soon. If she were so heart-broken when we split up, she must have gotten over that pretty quickly. Or was this new man of hers around when we were dating?

I can’t seem to get her off my

Why did he marry someone else?

Dear Bunmi, I was in my early 20's when I met my boyfriend and we lived together for over two years. I assumed we would eventually get married, but he said he wasn’t interested in a permanent commitment, so we split up. That was barely six months ago.

I recently learned that he just got married and I am gutted. I still don’t know how I’ll come to terms with what I see as a rejection of my love for him.

I mean, what has this girl got that I haven’t?

Blessing, by e-mail.

Dear Blessing, People’s feelings do change and that’s what you have to come to terms with.

Your man must have realised you weren’t the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

It has nothing to do with what you did wrong or right and the earlier you accepted that you’ve lost him, the easier it would be to let him go and move on.

Rest assured that sooner or later, you’ll meet the man that’s right for you.

Daughter too young for a serious relationship Dear Bunmi, My 16-year-old daughter has been seeing an 18-year-old boy for close to a year now. My husband says he has nothing against the boy but he’s not for them seeing each other all the time. Even now that she’s finished her SS III (she’s resitting some papers), he insists that she comes home by 9p.m.

Unfortunately, my daughter and her boyfriend have just broken up. Her best friend told me she’s heart-broken though my daughter pretends she’s fine.

Her friend said they broke up because the boy couldn’t cope with the hassle he’s been getting from my husband.

That he found it difficult to carry on the relationship when he knows my husband will never accept him. Do you think we’ve been too strict with her? She never confides in me but I would love to help her patch things up with this boy if she’s hurting so much.

Desola, Bye-mail.

Dear Desola, I would leave them alone if I were you. Your daughter and her young boyfriend see you and your husband as figures of authority (that’s why your girl is being secretive.) Children assert independence from their parents by keeping secrets and often deliberately defying them.

At 16 your daughter’s emotional stability is evolving she’s in an experimental stage.

Your daughter and her boyfriend have now recognized that their

seven-nights- a week infatuation is inappropriate and suffocating, that’s why they broke up.

At last they have accepted what you and her dad knew all along, they need more freedom to see other young people. Don’t blame yourself for current feelings of loss. Young hearts heal surprisingly fast. By this time next month, your daughter will either be back with her boyfriend or more probably she’ll have her eye on someone new!

mind lately and really regret not making her mine when I had the chance. I can’t stand the thought of her with another man and I don’t think I’m going to get over my heartache.

Alan Bye-mail.

Dear AIan, Are you sure you’re really missing the relationship or are just unhappy that your girlfriend has found happiness with another man? You instigated the break-up last year and sometimes, this can make it harder to move on. Leaving a partner takes a lot of courage and determination. Any doubts you must have must be quashed if you’re going to make the break you feel you have to. Maybe these doubts are now floating to the surface, making you feel guilty. The way you forced the split won’t have helped either.

And running into the arms of another lover almost immediately is never a good way to end your relationship.

Your ex- has moved on with her life and now it’s time for you to do the same. Regret can be a terrible feeling as you torture yourself with thoughts of what could have been. Try to be happy for her. She’s found a man who can give her what she wants and you should wish her well.

Remember there was a reason you didn’t opt for marriage with her. Try to reconnect with those feelings you had a year ago when you split up. It’s easy to idealise a relationship once it’s over, but it obviously wasn’t perfect or it would be you walking down the aisle with her.

So, let her go.

Will I ever get married?

Dear Bunmi, I’m in my mid-30's, and just out of a relationship that I thought would have ended in marriage.

Now I’m convinced that I might never marry and start a family. A few of my friends are in the same boat and one or two have opted for having children out of wedlock. I find myself jealous of younger women who are married with children. Will my time ever come?

Irene Bye-mail.

Dear Irene, Following a major disappointment like you’ve currently experienced, you need to allow yourself time to feel sad, disillusioned and even angry.

Don’t rush through these emotions because you think you need to hurry up and find another partner.

Instead, use this post-break-up period to get your feelings in order. Reach out to your family

and friends. Make sure you’re taking good care of yourself, eating well, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep.

When you’re feeling reasonably stable and secure, sit down and re-examine your assumptions about marriage and its place in your life. Many women believe they’re not complete until they have that ring on their fmger. But experts also counsel that you should let the hard-earned wisdom of your life experiences, which younger women don’t possess yet, help you arrive at more realistic conclusions.

For instance, ask yourself, what will marriage really do for you, that you can’t do for yourself?

Many people marry, happily, for the first time, in their late 30's and 40's. When you’re ready, let your friends and acquaintances know that you are willing to give love another chance!

Dear Bunmi, My 28-yeay-old daughter has been with her boyfriend on and off for six years. She currently lives with me. He left her for another girl when she got pregnant, then came back when she had a son.

The problem is that tales abound of his constant philandering. My daughter’s friends have assured her that he’ll settle down once he’s sowed his wild oats.

But how much wild oats are you supposed to sow when you’re in your 30's and a father?

I worry that he can’t really love her if he keeps being unfaithful.

My daughter is not getting younger.

Funmi, by e-mail.

Dear Funmi, I agree with you on this.

Some men are just not husband materials and it is obvious that your daughter’s man is nowhere near ready for commitment. And if he’s not ready for commitment when he has a child to look after, when will he be?

The problem is that by the sound of it, your daughter doesn’t see it that way. She took him back when he betrayed her and is currently putting up with more betrayals.

So tell her what you think, but don’t expect her to dump him.

All you can do, I’m afraid, is support her now and be ready to pick up the pieces when things finally go wrong.

Some men are just not husband materials and it is obvious that your daughter’s man is nowhere near ready for commitment. And if he’s not ready for commitment when he has a child to look after, when will he be?

I can’t live without him Dear Bunmi, I met a charming Youth Corps member in my service year and we became an item.

Even though we live in different states, we make time to see each other. Most of the time, he comes to my state.

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen or heard from him for close to two months and I’m at my wits end. When I last saw him, he said he loved me and wanted to be with me. After he got back to his state, he phoned a few times but then stopped.

Calls to his cell-phone go straight to voice mail. I’m completely heart-broken as I write. I can’t live without him, and after all these weeks without a word from him, I feel suicidal. I’m in my 20's and have known him for 17 months. All I want is to show him how much I love and care for him and eventually be the mother of his children.

Agbeke, Bye-mail.

Dear Agbeke, You should never, ever use your unhappiness as a means of blackmail. To burden anyone else with

responsibility for your continued existence is a form of bullying. No suicide threat or attempt has ever brought a loved one back or made him stay around. On the contrary, any man or woman runs a mile at the very hint of such an ignoble tactic. So whenever you feel suicidal, ring or call your best friend or a relative you trust, but on no account must you think you can use your misery to get what you want from an unwilling partner.

I think this young man may have been put off by the degree of your intensity. You can then imagine how terrifying he’d find the idea that you can’t live without him.

It seems to me your best bet in terms of this relationship and, more important, your own well being, is to pull back a bit, let things cool down and give him a chance to come to you willingly. In the meantime, find a sort of distraction from love thoughts. Go to the gym for instance, learn something new or see more of your friends.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—37

Bayelsa elders decry spate of attacks on oil facilities Y

By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State communities’ elders and youth leaders have condemned the rising wave of attacks on crude oil bearing pipelines by suspected oil thieves operating in the creeks of the state.

Rising from a meeting, yesterday, in Yenagoa, tagged ‘CDC Chairmen Forum' with participant drawn from the Bayelsa Agip Swamp Area Oil Producing Communities, the elders and youth leaders, described as worrisome illegal bunkering activities, pipeline vandalism and the attendant loss of lives and despoliation of the environment and charged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

Among those present at the meeting were the community development committee chairman of Olugbo Kingdom, Sabi Morgan, CDC chairman of Akakimama community of Okoroma clan, Imiebi Martins and Jonathan Appah, CDC Chairman of Ogboinbiri community.

The meeting condemned the rising attacks on oil facilities and activities of illegal bunkerers, lamenting that the very existence of the people revolves around the already fragile environment.

“Attacks on pipelines are impacting negatively on the environment and the revenue profile of the state,” the forum said, noting with sadness the recent pipeline explosion along the Clough Creek-Tebidaba trunkline, operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company at Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw

Local Government Area of the state in which 13 persons lost their lives as work was ongoing to clamp a damaged section of the pipeline.

The forum called on all stakeholders to accord the oil bearing communities the deserved attention since they sustain the economy of the

country.

The forum said: “Cases of sabotage against the economic interest of the country abound in the Niger Delta and it is high time the Federal Government and security agencies move to stem the tide before criminal elements destroyed the country’s oil investment."

TRAINING: Participants at a training on cassava processing by West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, WAAPP, in Uyo, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

UPU exco moves to sack president general

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—SOME executives of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, have perfected plans to expel its President General, PG, Chief Joe Omene over alleged financial misappropriation.

The executives in a letter to Omene while demanding explanation from him over allegations bothering on items including cars and souvenirs meant for the union, accused him of abuse of office and using the youth wing of the union to organise protests without the knowledge of the executives.

The letter by Chief Austin Uloho, Deputy President General; Chief Albert Akpomudje, Secretary; Chief Mike Ederewhevbe, Treasurer; Chief R. Emecho, Financial Secretary; Chief Dafe Akpedeye, SAN, Legal Adviser and four others, also demanded that Chief Omene presents two of his bank accounts in the last one year to the executive.

But denying the allegations, President of the UPU Youth Wing, Mr. Igho Ovie, said: “The allegations by the executives are all false as they are the ones selling Urhobo. Omene had made his wealth years before he emerged as UPU chief and there is no way he would indulge in such financial recklessness they are accusing of.”

The executives in the letter said: “Having been inundated with C M Y K

several newspaper publications, alleging that the union executives were given huge sums of money for the election of President Goodluck Jonathan. Wild as the allegations are, it is robbing off on the good names of executive

members who were not privy to the alleged money given to the executive by the presidency.

“Executive members are however, on the know that all monetary transaction with the Presidency were exclusively

handled by the President General who reported to the executive that he was given the sum of N25 million to enable the union organise a rally for the president which he also personally disbursed.”

$180M HARLIBURTON BRIBE: Buhari on right track

—CENTREP

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI—THE Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, CENTREP, Warri, Delta State, has described the recent directives

by President Muhammadu Buhari, authorizing immediate prosecution of all culprits involved in the $180 million Halliburton bribe scandal, as a bold attempt to tackle official

corruption and greed in the polity.

National coordinator of the group, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, in a statement, yesterday, said “We are not oblivious of the fact that sometime in April, 2010, the United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Sanders released the much needed documents and evidence needed by the Nigerian Government to prosecute all the culprits involved in the

Halliburton bribe scandal case.”

He said that the culprits on the Nigeria side include two former Heads of State, a former Vice President and ex-Chief of Air Staff, but the ating President at the time, later President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, did nothing, while the United States decisively prosecuted those found culpable on its side and jailed them.

Engineers tasked on professionalism

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—NATIONAL Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, NIEEE, Engr. Gracious Omatseye, has stressed the need for his members to act professionally all the time.

Speaking at the inauguration and investiture of the first

executive of the Asaba chapter of the body led by Engr. Eric Emeyazia, he decried that over time, most people do not put in their best on what is expected of them but rather get themselves “busy criticizing others for one error or the other.”

Enjoining the new executive members to be ready to work and leave a good legacy as pioneer

leaders of the Asaba chapter whose effort should be a reference point for subsequent leaders, he charged them on the importance of collaborating with other bodies that are closely associated with body like the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE to which all of them belong and other chapters of NIEEE.

Let people decide Oshiomhole's successor —EDEBIRI

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By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—AHEAD of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, former governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in the 2012 governorship election in Edo State, Chief Solomon Edebiri, has appealed to political leaders and elders in the state to allow the people decide who would succeed Adams Oshiomhole.

Edebiri, who spoke with Vanguard, yesterday in Benin, while reacting to the state wide consultation embarked upon by the former governor of the defunct Mid West State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, said: “The people of the state have that answer to give. It is left for the people to decide who succeeds the incumbent.

To me, the people have the answer. The people of the state should be the decider."

LG boss lauds him on Itsekiri commissioners

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ARRI—WARRI North Local Government Chairman, Delta State, Mr. Francis Maku-Eyituoyor, has lauded Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the appointment of two Itsekiri commissioners in his cabinet.

The two appointees are, Mr. Vincent U d u a g h a n , Commissioner for Transport and Rev. Tsola Williams, Commissioner for Women Affairs.

Felicitating with the commissioners, the council chairman described them as faithful party members with unblemished integrity. He said the duo have genuine passion to serve the people.

Maku-Eyituoyor called on Deltans to continue to support Governor Okowa to enable him deliver the dividends of democracy to all the ethnic nationalities in the state.

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Otti’s claim on mandate scandalous —Onyechere

Relocation of Boko Haram inmates hatched during Jonathan’s govt —Ekwueme The President should reverse it to assuage the feelings of Ndigbo

By Tare Youdeowei

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U

ORMER VICE President of Nigeria in the Second Republic, Dr. Alex Ekwueme has said that the plan to bring Boko Haram detainees to Aguata Prisons in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, was hatched during the former President Jonathan’s administration, but was resisted and protested against by the people which made the past administration to drop the idea.

Speaking with newsmen at Aguluzigbo, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State during the end of tenure Thanksgiving Ceremony of Chief Victor Umeh as APGA Chairman, Chief Ekwueme said, “I am aware that the plan of bringing Boko Haram detainees to Aguata prisons in Ekwulobia came up a while ago and there was reasonable protest to the then President Jonathan against it and he dropped the plan.

“I was out of the country when I heard that Boko Haram detainees were brought to Aguata Prisons in Ekwulobia, Anambra State. I started

MUAHIA— Ben Onyechere, President, Igbo Question Movement, has said that the assertions of one of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA’s governorship candidates in the last general election, Mr. Alex Otti, that he had the capacity to claim a mandate from the elections tribunal is not only scandalous, but also an abuse of the sensibilities of the people of Abia, who came out en masse to vote.

Speaking in an interview, Onyechere said: “The insinuation of capacity by Otti is rife with indictment against the tribunal which is made up of respectable judicial experts. It is indeed bizarre that such an untoward and careless statement can be attributed to Otti, who is supposedly exposed by his profession as a banker.

"This same Otti came to PDP in a quest to purchase the party’s governorship ticket and when he could not succeed, got through in APGA, for which reason APGA of Abia has remained in fractious contention till today.

“The people of Abia simply decided for the first time to rotate power to Abia South for which reason they massively voted for one of their own they considered as a bridge of sort across all social and political segments of their society. It is, therefore, self delusion for him to expect Abians to have taken him serious."

wondering how the idea of bringing them to the South East and my local government area came up again after the people thought the matter has been rested.

“I am sure the new President must have seen the records and proposal and decided to implement it, but since there was initial protest against the relocation of the detainees to the South East, I’m sure President

Buhari will do something to assuage the feelings of the people of the South East,” he said.

On the alleged delay in appointing ministers, Chief Ekwueme said he cannot start passing judgment now on the President because "every leader has his leadership style, everybody will not approach that exalted office with the same style. You have to watch and assess each person based on his style.

I’ll abide by decision of c'ttee on workers’ salaries

By Peter Okutu

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B A K A L I K I — GOVERNOR Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Tuesday, declared that he would abide by the decision of the committee set up to look into the payment of workers’ salaries in the state.

Governor Umahi gave the assurance during a key stakeholders' meeting at the International Conference Centre,

ICC, Abakaliki, even as former Governor Sam Egwu was appointed the head of the committee.

Other committee members include the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Kelechi Igwe as Vice Chairman and Reverend Father Abraham Nwali as Secretary. The Committee also has representations from the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, traditional rulers, Divine Mandate Campaign

Ugwuanyi assigns portfolios to commissioners

By Austin Ogwuda & Francis Igata

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NUGU—THE 24 civil commissioners and 12 Special Advisers in Enugu State, who were sworn in recently, were yesterday formally assigned portfolios, which takes effect from 16th of this month.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Uwakwe Agbugu.

The commissioners and assigned ministries are: Engr.

Patrick Ezebuiro Ikpenwa –

The important thing is that we get the right result.

“Another important thing is that we have peace, prosperity and unity, and better quality of life as Nigeria attains her God given-position as a great nation and leader in the comity of nations.

"So, I wish the President well in running the affairs of Nigeria.

I cannot start assessing his performance now, it is too early," he said.

Works & Infrastructure; Dr. Udeuhele Ikpechukwu – Information; Mabeke Benjamin – Human Development and Poverty Eradication; Engr. Greg Nnaji – Science and Technology; Dr. Samuel Ngwu – Health; Mr. Chika Ogbe – Culture and Tourism; Mr. Ndukwe Chuka – Youth and Sports; Mr. Chidi Aroh – Enugu Capital Development Authority and Ambassador Fidel Ayogu – Environment.

Others are: Chijioke Edeoga – Local Government Matters; Mrs. Rita Mbah – Special Duties & Inter-governmental Affairs; Princess Peace Nnaji – Gender Affair & Social Development; Mr.

Sam Nwobodo – Commerce & Industry; Mr. Emeka Okeke – Labour & Productivity; Chief Miletus Eze – Attorney General & Justice; Prof. Uchenna Eze – Education; Engr. Charles Asogwa – Housing and Ozo Gab Azubuike Onuzuilike – Rural Development.

Mr. Solomon Izuchukwu Onah takes charge of Land & Urban Development; Mr. Vitus Okechi – Transport ; Engr. Mike C. Eneh – Agriculture; Mr. Charles Egumgbe – Water Resources; Mr. Fide Ani – Chieftaincy Matters, while Mrs. Eucharia Offor is in charge of Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning.

Organization, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, among others.

The committee’s terms of reference include, to fish out all the ghost workers in the state, block all financial leakages and to sit together and see the areas of engagement based on the economic realities in the country.

In his remarks, Governor Umahi who emphasized that the present administration was not at war with workers in the state, noted that he would ensure that all the promises he made to workers during his electioneering campaigns were fulfilled in no distant time.

According to him, the state government had identified over 600 ghost workers and 20 nonexistent schools in the state.

Umahi, who disagreed with Labour ’s demand for the implementation of the new salary structure for workers in the state, argued that its implementation would hamper the smooth running of government activities.

The committee, which had already commenced work was constituted to reconcile the state government and Labour as it concerned the most appropriate wage structure needed for the payment of workers' salaries in the state.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What would you say about President Buhari’s fight against corruption?

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n the issue of corruption in the country, Nigerians should please cooperate to get it out of the system. If President Buhari starts to deal with corrupt public officials, people will say his government is too harsh. -Mr. Adewole Taiwo, Technical Officer

B

uhari said in his government he won’t tolerate corruption, he did not say he would go hunting for them. And for those who think that he will allow Tinubu to interfere in his decisions, definitely they will end up being disappointed. -Mr. Frank Udeme, Student

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hat I have to say about President Buhari’s fight against corruption is that when his policies are implemented, the citizens of Nigeria would like to see those who took advantage of the system to be brought to justice. -Mr. Emmanuel Ajayi, Solution Specialist

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think he is self-centred about fighting corruption; that is the only problem he thinks is facing Nigeria.

What about education, health, road, agriculture, and others. I think Nigeria’s biggest problem now is insecurity -Boko Haram. -Mr. Emmanuel Iyoke, Worker

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uhari will fight corruption, Buhari will fight corruption, please enough of this madness because Nigerians will judge him according to his performance generally. It is not only fighting corruption, so he should go and work. Mr. Bosco Wilrita, SelfEmployed

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here are more corrupt people in government. Therefore, President Buhari should start the fight right from those in government, starting from himself to the local government chairmen. Mrs Morayo Simeon, Businesswoman

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 39

‘APC has no hands in Lamido, sons' arrest'

By Tina Akannam

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UTSE—JIGAWA State chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Ado Sani Kiri, has debunked the allegations that the state government masterminded the arrest of former Governor Sule Lamido and his sons by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, describing it as a callous and unfounded allegation.

Kiri, who reacted against the allegation while interacting with journalists in Babura, the hometown of Governor Badaru Abubakar, said his party had no hand whatsoever in the arrest of the former governor.

According to him, APC has not even filed any petition against the embattled former governor.

He said Lamido’s travail began in 2012 when he led some governors to form new PDP and betrayed former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said since that time, the PDP-led Federal government started witchhunting him to the extent that two of his sons were arrested and charged with money laundering by a Federal High Court sitting in Kano where the first son, Aminu Sule Lamido, was convicted, having been found guilty of money laundering. ‘’To say APC has hands in the arrest of Alhaji Lamido by some disgruntled elements is mere daydreaming.

What connects APC with that case?”, he queried.

Be patient with Ortom, Akume pleads with Benue people

By Peter Duru

urged people of the state to exercise patience with AKURDI—FORMER Governor Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue State, stressing that the rot in the state Senator George Akume, has could not be cleaned overnight.

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TRAINING SEMINAR: Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Enugu State Sector Commander, Mr David Mendie (left) with Crown Mayor of Nike Clan of Enugu State, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu during FRSC training seminar for community members at Ibeagwa Nike, Enugu State on Monday.

Buhari’s US visit portends brighter future for Nigeria, Africa – PROF NAÁLLAH Communication Audits organised stressed must always be upgraded

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—THE Vicechancellor of Kwara State University, Malete, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, has assured that the official visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United States of America would greatly assist the developmental efforts of his government to recover and strengthen the nation’s ailing economy.

Na’Allah, who spoke with journalists during the International Research Workshop on Content Analysis &

EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING: NHRC team visits UNTH He said: “There are some

By Innocent Anaba

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XECUTIVE Secretary of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, and directors in the commission have visited the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital UNTH, Ituku Ozala, in Enugu State, on a fact-finding mission over corpses of victims of extra-judicial killing by the police dumped in the facility.

Angwe said the commission had received numerous petitions from hospitals across the country on the indiscriminate dumping of corpses in various hospital morgues across the country by the police.

C M Y K

Akume, who represents Benue North West senatorial district, stated that the governor had started ruling the state on a sound footing and urged political leaders of the state to rally support for him to move the state forward.

The former governor spoke

Nigerians who have died and have remained unclaimed and are still in hospital morgues , so we are here to unravel the circumstances of their deaths and why they have remained unclaimed in hospital morgues. ‘’We hope to recommend that government plays some roles in the disposal of these bodies, government must begin to respond to the challenges being faced by the citizens either by not being able to pay for the hospital bills and being abandoned to die and when dead are still left in the morgues.”

The Commission chief called for creation of a data base that would identify corpses as they were brought in and by who.

by the Mass communication Department of the university in Ilorin yesterday, said the visit was prompted by the strong belief of President Obama that President Buhari wouldsuccessfully fight corruption and insecurity among other problems he inherited.

He further said that the interest of Obama in restoring Nigeria on the path of greatness was informed by Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa and, indeed, the world at large. ‘’’The visit is because President Barrack Obama believes that with the support of United States of America,President Muhammadu Buhari, with his pedigree and steps taken so far, could restore Nigeria and, indeed, Africa on the path of expected greatness,” he said.

He also expressed concern that many states of the federation, despite the nation’s abundant resources could not pay workers salaries, describing the development as a big shame.

Speaking on the theme of the seminar, Professor Na’Allah harped on the need for effective communication as a necessity for national development.

Na’Allah emphasised that many developing countries of the world failed because of lack of effective communication among the stakeholders, adding that through effective communications, many problems would be solved.

The guest lecturer, Professor Charles Okigbo said no nation, society or institution could survive without good research which he

in line with the reality of the time.

Okigbo said as long as anyone was alive, research was inevitable to survive in life.

when he paid a private visited to the governor at his Gbajimba home in Guma local government area, in company of Chief Steven Lawani, the immediate past deputy governor of the state and other APC leaders.

Governor Ortom, in his response, expressed gratitude to God, Senator Akume and the people of the state for electing him governor and promised to give them quality leadership.

Speaking further on the lingering Benue farmers/Fulani herdsmen crisis, the governor enjoined the people of the state to shun crime and evolve peaceful ways of coexisting with Fulani herdsmen pending the time a permanent solution would be found for the perennial conflict.

According to him, the lasting solution to the crisis revolves around establishment of ranches.

He also advocated increased enrolment of pupils into primary and secondary schools in the state, stressing that in modern day society, education played a fundamental role in enhancing the fortunes of the people.

In their remarks, Tor Uja, a former commissioner and state chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, lauded both Governor Ortom and Senator Akume, while state APC chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro, and member of the House of Representatives, Dickson Tarkighir, expressed hope that the administration would deliver on its promises.

CYNTHIA OSOKOGU: Judge threatens to withdraw defendant's bail

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—JUSTICE Olabisi Akinlade of a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere yesterday threatened to revoke the bail granted to the fourth defendant, Nonso Ezike in the on going murder trial of Cynthia Osokogu over delay tactics by his counsel, C. J Ajakona.

The judge, who was very furious with the defendant’s lawyer, said she would send the defendant back to prison if at the next adjourned date nothing was filed before the court.

She said: “I tell you at the next adjourned date if nothing is filed I will revoke your bail and send you back to prison by then your lawyer will know what to do.

“It is because you have been on bail that is why your lawyer is wasting the time of the court.

It is a delibrate act, the court is already on vacation and I left my comfort home thinking that the case will go on today, only for my time to be wasted.”

At the resuming hearing of the matter yesterday, which was slated for the adoption of no case submission of the third and fourth defendants the matter suffered a set back because of

the absence of the fourth defendant‘s counsel.

Obsequies for Madam Ogbonna

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ATE Mrs Ezioma Comfort Ogbonna, aged 74, will be buried Friday, at UmuoriehiIsingwu, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.

Funeral rites for Mrs Ogbonna, who died on April 10, 2015 after a brief illness, will commence tomorrow with a service of songs at the family house, UmuoriehiIsingwu.

A programme released by Engr.

Chidoziem Ogbonna on behalf of the family, said she is survived by children and grand children.

Late Mrs Ogbonna

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

C M Y K

DIRECTORS' INSTITUTE: From left— Mr. Yemi Akeju, President/ Chairman, Governing Council, Institute of Directors Nigeria, IoD; Professor Deon Rossouw, CEO, Ethic Institute of South Africa/guest speaker; Chief Eniola Fadayomi, immediate past President, IoD, and Victor Banjo, Director General/ CEO, IoD, at the institute's quarterly business forum on Governing the Ethics Performance of Organisation in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

SKYE PROMO: From left— Nkolika Okoli, Head, Retail Banking Group, Skye Bank Plc; Mr. Adebowale Sulaiman, winner, Reach for the Skye promo draw; Mr. Tayo Fasuhanmi, Area Manager, National Lottery Commission, Ibadan, and Mr. Olaniyi Afonja, an actor, during the draws in Ibadan.

PARTNERSHIP: Jane Valls, Chairman, Africa Corporate Governance Network, ACGN (left) and Oscar Onyema, President, Africa Securities Exchange Associations, ASEA, at a partnership signing ceremony between ACGN and ASEA in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

BIRTHDAY: From left—Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise and Campaign for Democracy; Dr. Abiola Akiode, ED, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC; Ms Ada Ude, Executive Director, Gender and Development Action, Gada; Dr. Joy Ezeilo, activist; Dr. Erelu Fayemi, wife of former Ekiti State governor, and others at Ms Ude's 70th birthday celebration, in Lagos.

DONATION: From left— Dr. Wale Akeredolu, Local Government Health Officer, Iru/Victoria Island; Dr. Effiem Abbah, Medical Advisory and Occupational Health, Mobil Producing Nigeria Ltd; Ms. Sorochi Ugorji, acting Programme Manager, Daniel Ogechi Ajukobi Memorial Foundation, DOAMF, and Mr. Taiwo Lukeman, Local Government Education Secretary, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, at the donation of a sickbay to Victoria Island Public Primary school.

DIADEM: From left— Pastor Tayo Ogunbekuna, Chairman, Virtous World School Gbagada; Mr. Poju Oladinni, Chairman; Mrs. Abimbola Oladinni, Proprietress, and Mr. Olanrewaju Oladinni, Executive Director, all of Diadem College, Gbagada, at the 3rd graduation ceremony of the college in Lagos.

SUPPORT: From left— Bro. Emmanuel Fregene of GKS, Mr. Austin Desi, Dr. U. C. Ugoji, and Sister Rhoda Otomewo, at the Respite and Support for Diabetics and Hypertensive initiative in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.

THANKSGIVING: Mr. and Mrs Anthony Fajobi, during Mr. Fajobi's 60th birthday thanksgiving service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Israel Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Shola Oyelese.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—41

Austrian-Nigeria bi-trade receives significant boost

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

A

S part of efforts to m a i n t a i n fruitful bi-lateral relationship with Nigeria, especially in areas most beneficial to both Austrian and Nigerian economies, the Austrian embassy’s commercial section in Lagos has introduced new platforms to ensure substantial economic growth between the two countries.

The main goal is to strengthen business relations as well as accommodate friendly business

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climate. The embassy ’s commercial section brought a trade delegation of about 10 Austrian exporters who met with a good number of potential clients and distributors in Nigeria to discuss areas that both countries can benefit from to grow their economies.

In her key note address, the Austrian embassys commercial counsellor, Ms. Nella Hengstler, who intimated that the Nigerian market is most important market for Austrian companies in both the West and Central Africa, said that the trade delegation is

committed to ensuring rewarding partnership with both existing and prospective Nigerian businessmen and women.

“Austrian companies have been increasingly looking at the Nigerian market owing to its huge potential and economic importance on the continent,” Nella said, adding that, “both countries delegates are expected to introduce their services and products to potential distributors and partners.”

The business networking which was solely organized by the Austrian embassy’s commercial department, welcome more than 160 guests from business, politics, media and the arts world, including the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria and his

counterpart.

Austrian companies representatives’ unveiled varieties of the products, which included energy technology, software solution, track lying machinery for railways, among other products and services to Nigerian participants.

It is worthy of note also that Austria has had long-standing trade relations with Nigeria and is best known in the country for its textiles, popularly called “Austrian lace” and as the home of classical music and great

skiing and hiking.

Austria which is situated in the heart of Europe, thrives in the manufacturing sector and enjoys a global reputation for its high quality machinery and equipment solutions.

Although Austrian machines and plants for industrial production are used in most industry sectors, ranging from the plastics industry to metallurgy, Austria is also renowned for its know-how in the fields of renewable energy and environmental technology.

USAID, UNFPA facilitate funds for displaced Nigerians

I

N the bid to further strengthen its commitment in the Nigerian health sector, the US Agency for International Development, USAID, has collaborated with the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, to facilitate the transfer

of the birth kits to the displaced in Borno State, Nigeria..

The donation of the 400 birth kits from Deluxe Childbirth Services (DSC), a medical services firm, came as part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility programme towards redeeming displaced Nigerians in the northern part of the country.

As part of the plan, the kits will support pregnant women in internally displaced persons settlements in Boko Haram-affected communities in Borno state.

According to USAID Deputy Director, Julie Koenen, “The U.S. Government will continue to support further collaboration between the private sector and the development community in Nigeria”, adding that, “All products will be distributed in 3 settlements for internally displaced persons in Maiduguri, and UNFPA will train skilled birth attendants on their use.”

Also, two USAID projects in Nigeria, namely, Expanded Social Marketing Project, which transported the birth kits free of charge to the UNFPA warehouse in Kaduna, and Targeted States High Impact Project, which provided 400 doses of Chlorhexidine, an antibiotic gel that prevents cord infection in newborns, played a major role in the handover.

The UNFPA Country Representative Ratidzai Ndhlovu, who stated that, by 2015, 60,000 births are expected in IDP camps, also told pressmen that, “UNFPA anticipates that the donation of these 400 birth kits will be an additional tool for improving the health of newborn babies in the camps.”

However, each birth kit contains an absorbent delivery mat, three infant diapers, one bar of antibacterial soap, one scalpel, one bottle of methylated spirit, 10 sanitary pads, 5 pieces of gauze, a pack of cotton wool, two sterilized gloves, infant cord clamps and one mucus extractor.

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22,

Alleged ethnic agenda by Okowa, false alarm—TIDI

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VALEDICTORY SERVICE: From left: Chairman, Parents Teacher Association, PTA, Belina College, Mr. Griffin Juwon, Proprietress, Mrs Nadia Bello, Mr. C.O.I Joseph, SAN, and guest speaker, Dr. Rotimi Coker, at the valedictory service/prize giving ceremony of Belina College Class of 2014/ 2015, in Lagos.

ARRI—SPECIAL Assistant on News Media to the Delta State Governor, Mr Michael Tidi, has said that those perceiving Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running a government of ethnic agenda were raising false alarm.

Tidi in a chat with Vanguard in Warri, yesterday, said that those involved in the campaign against Okowa were

KOGI GOV: Okun youths drum support for Audu

By Chris Ochayi

A

BUJA—AHEAD of the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State, a pressure group, the Okun Youth Conscience Mandate, OYCM, from Kogi West Senatorial district has endorsed the aspiration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, leader in the state, ex-Governor Abubakar Audu to fly the party’s ticket.

The coordinator of OYCM, Mr.Samuel Oriyomi, who led the members of the group on a solidarity visit to Prince Audu in Abuja, called on Kogi people to put aside sentiment and present the ex-governor as a solution to battered economy, unemployment and the decaying infrastructure confronting the state.

Speaking with journalists, Mr. Oriyomi, however,

advised the people of Kogi West and Central senatorial districts to discountenance recent purported outing of few self-serving and political opportunists clamouring for division of the state along ethnic and senatorial lines.

He noted that the move by some politicians hiding under the West and Central Forum for Equity and Justice aimed at fielding a single governorship

candidate of the two senatorial districts to confront an Igala candidate from Kogi East senatorial district negates the principle of democracy.

The coordinator reasoned that although Igala dominated Kogi East senatorial district has producedsuccessivegovernorsof the state since its creation but it doesn’t require any gangsterism to resolve power sharing and rotation in the state.

politicians uncomfortable with the governor ’s determination to reposition the state for rapid development through good governance.

“Okowa’s insistence on accountability, prudence, reforms and restructuring has won his young government many enemies who are used to benefitting from government at the detriment of the masses.

“The governor ’s S.M.A.R.T. agenda is gaining grounds. Those claiming there is an Ika or Anioma agenda make discerning Deltans laugh.

How many Ikas has the governor given appointments? Ikas make up only a handful of his political appointments,” he said.

Describing the governor as one of the most detribalised Deltans, Tidi recalled that Okowa came to power on “the deepest pan-Deltan platform,” adding that what his

administration deserves was the support of all Deltans and not a campaign of calumny.

Fidau prayer

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HE EIGHT-DAY Fidau prayer for late Alhaja Idiat Alobo-Bakare, will take place on Thursday, July 23.

The late community leader died on Thursday, July 15 and was buried on Friday, July 16, at Abari cemetery, Lagos Island. She was 83 years old.

In a statement, Chief Alobo-Bakare, said the Fidau prayer will take place by 2pm at Akintan Grammar School, off Clegg Street, Surulere, Lagos.

Late Alhaja Alobo-Bakare

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015—43

ALLEGED N1.9 FRAUD:

Oronsaye secures bail on self recognition zCo-accused to pay N50 million with two sureties

A

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA—FORMER Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, who is facing a 24-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was yesterday, granted bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on self recognizance.

In a ruling yesterday, trial Justice Gabriel Kolawole said he was minded to exercise his discretion in favour of Oronsaye in view of the position he formerly occupied in the Nigerian Federal Civil Service, noting that documents before the court showed that even a former Senate President, Mr. Ken Nnamani had volunteered to stand as a surety for the accused person.

It will be recalled that Justice Kolawole had shortly after Oronsaye was docked on July 13, allowed him to go home on the strength of an undertaking that was signed by his team of 20 lawyers led by a former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN. Despite a stiff opposition from the EFCC which requested that the erstwhile

head of service and his alleged accomplice, Mr. Osarenkhoe Afe be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of their separate bail application, the trial Judge released the accused person, saying he was convinced that they would make themselves available for trial.

Nevertheless, the court adjourned hearing on their formal bail applications till yesterday.

At the resumed sitting on the matter yesterday, the EFCC through its lawyer Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, expressed its displeasure with the action of the judge in releasing the accused persons even before their bail requests were heard.

Rotimi maintained that there was no need for him to go ahead and argue the counter-affidavit that the commission filed against Oronsaye’s bail application.

“My lord we are handicapped to object to the bail application today since it was already granted by this court on the last adjourned date”, he contended.

On their part, the defence lawyers pleaded the court to in line with the confidence it reposed on

their clients on the last adjourned date, okay their bail requests.

Specifically, Oronsaye’s lawyer, Agabi, SAN, prayed that his client should be released on self recognizance, an application that was accordingly granted by the court yesterday.

While granting the bail applications, Justice Kolawole stressed that the offences contained in the charge against the accused persons were prima-facie bailable.

According to him, “It does not matter as to the amount of public funds purportedly stolen, misapplied or mismanaged. The 1st defendant in my view does not pose a flight risk."

Even though Oronsaye was granted bail in self recognizance, he was however ordered to surrender both his diplomatic and international passports to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the High Court.

The court further ordered the 2nd accused person, Afe to pay the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties according to the court must be a civil or public servant who is still in service or retired at grade level 16.

Why Zakari must continue as acting chairman —INEC END OF TENURE:

A

By Jude Opara

BUJA—DESPITE the end of her tenure as a National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Amina Zakari will not leave the job because of her recent appointment as the acting chairman of the electoral commission, INEC has said.

Zakari is among the National commissioners, whose tenure effectively ended on Tuesday but she nonetheless reported at her duty post as usual showing no signs to pulling out of the top job.

In justifying her continued stay in office, the INEC explained on Tuesday that the letter

appointing her as an acting chairman of the commission by President Muhammadu Buhari last month supersedes her exit date as a national commissioner in the agency.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard, INEC’s Deputy Director of Publicity, Nick Dazang said that there was no confusion over the position of Zakari in INEC having been named the acting chairman of the commission by the President.

Dazang said that with the appointment Zakari did not need to leave at the end of her tenure as a national chairman but would continue to

oversee the affairs of the agency pending the appointment of a substantive chairman by the Federal Government.

Dazang said: “There should be no controversy over the appointment of the Acting Chairman by the President because in Section 153 to 159 of the Nigerian Constitution, the President has the power to appoint the INEC Chairman subject to ratification by the Senate.

“There is a letter by the Head of Service appointing Zakari as the Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive chairman and this is already in the public domain."

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY 5 WEDNESDAY,, JULY 22, 201 2015

ARRIVAL OF BOKO HARAM DETAINEES:

Aguata Prisons threatened by over-congestion

•As two communities lay claim to ownership of prison site

By Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

IT does appear that all the protests and criticisms brought about by the relocation of about 47 Boko Haram detainees from the Northern part of Nigeria to the Aguata Prisons in Anambra State have fallen on deaf ears. During a recent visit by Vanguard Features, VF, to the prison, the presence of heavily armed soldiers and prisons officials around the premises clearly suggested that the Boko Haram prisoners were very much in residence there.

Apart from the disquiet this has engendered, many other contentious issues pertaining to the relocation saga have begun to unfold. For instance, two sister communities of Ekwulobia and Ezinifite are now laying claim to the the ownership of the 11.5 acres of land where the prison yard and warders’ quarters are situated.

Then there is the issue of capacity. The prison was originally designed to accommodate 85 inmates but as at the time the 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought there, it already had 135 inmates.

With the addition of the 47 insurgents, the prison is currently harbouring no fewer than 182 inmates, 100 percent more than its original capacity.

Also in a reaction, the South East Zonal Chairman of the Campaign for Democracy, CD, Uzor A. Uzor gave the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum within which to return the 47 insurgents to the North or else they would mobilise C M Y K

all the human rights groups in the zone to occupy Aguata Prison environment until their demand is met.

Uzor noted that the implication of relocating the insurgents to South East zone is that it would constitute a security threat to the people in the zone. He noted that a situation where the Aguata prison which was originally designed to accommodate 85 inmates, already had 135 inmates before the 47 insurgents were relocated there, bringing the total number now to 182, does not augur well for the security of the zone.

South-East traders protest Although Governor Willie Obiano, shortly after a meeting with a representative of the National Security Adviser, NSA and prisons officials, told Anambra people that the Federal Government might consider taking the prisoners back to the North, stakeholders are waiting to see the end of the matter, having staged several protests to that effect.

The latest protest staged by the stakeholders took place on Thursday, July 9 when all the markets in the South East zone were shut down all through that day on the orders of the South East Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, SEAMATA. During the protests, the President of SEAMATA, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo who is also the President of Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association,

AMATAS, addressed the traders at Ekwulobia market square. He alleged that there were strong indications that the Boko Haram prisoners who were relocated to Aguata Prison, were not even Nigerian citizens but citizens and prisoners from the Republic of Chad, who, he said, are more dangerous to deal with than their Nigerian counterparts. He therefore urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, send back the insurgents to the North or better still to Chad where they belong to.

Red Cross provides first aid services: While the exercise lasted, authorities of the Nigerian Red

The prison was originally designed to accommodate 85 inmates but already had 135 inmates; with the addition of the 47 insurgents, the prison is currently harbouring no fewer than 182 inmates, 100 percent more than its original capacity

Cross Society, NRCS, Anambra State chapter, directed all their members to embark on motorised patrol of all the nooks and crannies of the state with first aid kits in anticipation of emergencies.

Vice Chairman of the chapter, Prof. Peter Emeka Katchy, told newsmen in Onitsha that he deployed many Red Cross volunteers to the field and made them to prepare as if they were going to a battle field because although he was not praying for a calamity, a protest of such magnitude could turn out to be bloody.

Aguata psison As the markets remained closed for the day, the Red Cross personnel were seen around Fegge, Odoakpu, Woliwo and others parts of the commercial city of Onitsha.

NBA’s position: In his own reaction, the Chairman of Anaocha branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, one of the six branches in Anambra state, Mr. Chris Adimora explained that the position of his branch NBA is that the insurgents should be taken back to the North from where they were relocated to Aguata prison.

Adimora who spoke on phone, noted that government should do this as quickly as possible or else the NBA in the area would mobilise all the lawyers there to drag the authorities concerned to the court to compel them to do so.

He stated that although convicts could be relocated to any part of

*Traders protesting against the relocation

the country to serve a jail term, but the issue of Boko Haram insurgency which is peculiar to the North should not be extended to the East where the Igbos who are predominantly Christians, abhor blood shedding in all its ramifications.

Conflict brews between Ezinifite and Ekwulobia over prison: Ironically, the people of Ezinifite community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State have come up to lay claim to the ownership of the land where the Aguata prisons is sited. According to them, the prison is situated at Ezinifite community and not Ekwulobia, their neighboring community, as erroneously believed.

The people said that they are surprised that after donating the land to the Federal Government in 1983, without demanding for any compensation, the media have been referring to the place as Ekwulobia prison since the relocation saga, instead of Ezinifite prison.

President-General of Ezinifite Improvement Union, EIU, Nze Eloka Maduka who spoke on the matter, at the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Chukwuma Bob Orji said ownership of the land has never being in contention as it exclusively belongs to Ezinifite.

According to Maduka who was assisted by a prominent indigene of the community, Chief Moses Ekwuilo: “We are surprised to hear that since this relocation saga started, the people of Ekwulobia Continues on page 45

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY 5 —45 WEDNESDAY,, JULY 22, 201 2015

ARRIVAL OF BOKO HARAM DETAINEES: Aguata Prisons threatened by over-congestion Continues from page 44 are claiming the ownership of the land. The public should disregard the claim by Ekwulobia or any other community that the land belongs to them.

“Since 1983 when we freely gave out the land to the Federal Government, we have not got any benefit from the government in terms of employment of our sons and daughters or monetary compensation. The land in question is measuring 11.5 acres and it is located at Umuagu village, Ezinifite,” Maduka and Ekwuilo stated.

Buttressing its ownership of the land, the Ezinifite leaders brandished a letter purportedly written to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs. The letter dated September 6, 1983, was titled, “Donation of land for construction of federal prisons in Aguata LGA” and read in part: “We refer to the recent request for the donation of land for the construction of Federal prisons in Aguata LGA of Anambra state.

“Our parcel of land which is known as or called AGU OKA which situates within Umuagu quarter of Aku Village, Ezinifite town and which is particularly delineated and verged pink in the licensed survey plan No. PO/E136/ 83 made by Pius Ndanu, licensed surveyor on August 26, 1983 and hereto annexed.

Licensed surveyor “We have the pleasure to inform the Federal Government that the community has unanimously and wholeheartedly decided to donate the land free-of-charge to the government for that purpose.”

The letter was jointly signed on their behalf by the then Chairman and Secretary of EIU, Samuel Imeakuka and Dr. Simon Umeonyedum and two others.

Resistance grows thicker: On the relocation saga, Maduka and Ekwuilo noted that the situation is already causing panic among the people in the area. They noted that although they cannot dictate to the government on how to use its facility, the action has brought about restiveness in Ezinifite.

“Out of fear, our people no longer go to churches, markets or even farms, just as our children no longer go to schools. It is better to take the prisoners back to the North where they will be tried because there is no appropriate court to try them here in Ezinifite and there is no need keeping them here.

“Our lives are in danger and we don’t move about freely again.

These insurgents attacked a military camp and there was little or no resistance. Who are we to face them if they decide to attack our community and break this jail like they did to the military camp?

What if they kidnap us like they

*Some of the Boko Haram detainees did to the Chibok girls, what do we do”? Mallam Nasir El Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State had instructed his people not to go out for fear of Boko Haram and in the same vein, our people are no longer going to churches for fear of their presence here in our community. We freely gave the land to government and the same government is paying us back for our good gesture with the relocation of the dreaded insurgents,” they stated.

The community leaders declared:”Boko Haram insurgents killed many of our brothers and sisters up North and destroyed their properties. Instead of governmenttocompensateus, they now bring the insurgents very close to us. We had thought that the Maiduguri, Mubi and Gombe massacres of Ndigbo would have been enough punishment to us.

Why bring the insurgents down to us again. Is that a democracy dividend?”.

An indigene of the area who

Out of fear, our people no longer go to churches, markets or even farms, just as our children no longer go to schools; it is better to take the prisoners back to the North where they will be tried because there is no appropriate court to try them here in Ezinifite

*Outside Aguata prisons craved anonymity regretted that the only “federal presence” Dr Alex Ekwueme attracted to the community during his tenure as Vice President, is now being used to to inflict punishment on the people.

Security expert justifies relocation: Meanwhile, a security expert in Anambra State, Dr Jeff Okeke, has justified the action of the Federal Government in relocating the Boko Haram detainees to Anambra State. Okeke who is the Head, Operations, Always Global Digital Security Services Limited, Nnewi, argued that prisons were made for lawless people and that the Federal Government has the right to keep detainees anywhere in the country.

He, however, posited that former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme should have been notified before the relocation of the Boko Haram detainees from the North took place. According to him, the detainees were not only being relocated to the home State of Dr Ekwueme but also to a town very close to his own home town.

Okeke who recently survived attack from unknown gun men, also faulted security operatives for leaking information about the relocation which he said should have been done secretly.

“Again there is wrong information management in this matter.

Relocation of these detainees should not have been made pub-

lic. It is the leakage of the information that heats up the polity and instills fears in the minds of people of the South East, especially Anambra people. Nobody should have been told about the relocation. Whoever leaked the information got it wrong. But I must assure you that the Boko Haram detainees do not pose any danger in Anambra.

Security network If you ask me I would say that Anambra State is the safest place to keep them of all the 36 States of the federation and Abuja, and the fact that their members will come looking for them to rescue them in Anambra State will not work.

Anambra is quite a different environment from the North. And our Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has put adequate security network in place which can easily ward off any such an attempt,” Dr Okeke submitted.

In the same vein, a member of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Anambra State in the last elections, Mr Dozie Ikedife (Jnr), has countered the allegation that Boko Haram detaineeswererelocatedtoAnambrafrom the North. He described it as an effort by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA government in the

State to smear APC’s image “for cheap political gains.”

Mr Ikedife who is the first son of Dr. Dozie Ikedife, former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, alleged that the protests that lasted for two days, were sponsored by those he said merely wanted to put President Muhammed Buhari’s new administration in a bad light.

“We know their antics. Some executive members of the market associations in the State were allegedly sponsored to close markets in protest against relocation of Boko Haram detainees to Anambra which is a baseless speculation by the traders. I don’t know why this should generate controversy when it is obvious that the Chief Warder of the Prisons has the right to relocate prison inmates anywhere in Nigeria. It has nothing to do with any state government, it has nothing to do with the Presidency,” Ikedife (Jnr), said.

He noted that the alarm raised by the traders in Anambra had political undertone, alleging that the traders were paid by unseen hands to organise the protest.

“No one can say for sure that the inmates are here with us. How can traders close markets for two days.

Do you know the economic loss for those two days? It is a smear campaign to make APC look bad.

Our prisons are very secure. And dangerous criminals are kept at maximum prisons in the country.

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Large turn-out as Anambra PDP holds ward congress ...as Nwoye group boycotts exercise

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THERE was large turnout of people in most wards in Anambra State yesterday as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, held the ward congress in the 326 wards of the state, the first in the series that would lead to the state congress on Saturday.

This however came as a group of PDP members led by the governorship candidate of the party in the 2013 election in the state, Chief Tony Nwoye boycotted the exercise for allegedly not conforming with the guidelines of the party.

The five –man congress committee led by Mr. Ike Abonyi visited many venues of the ward congress, including Ward 7 Awka South, Ward 1 Dunukofia and Ward 1 Otolo Nnewi, where the participants adopted Option A4 in electing their new leaders.

Addressing reporters at Nnewi, Abonyi said the congress was approved by the National Working Committee, NWC, of PDP, adding that there was also a three –man appeal panel on ground to entertain complaints from party members who might not be satisfied with the conduct of the exercise.

He explained that the decision to conduct the congresses was to put PDP in good standing since all the structures of the party in Anambra State had been dissolved, making Anambra not to be represented at meetings of the party.

Abonyi advised those who were aggrieved about the conduct of the exercise to avail themselves of the avenues for appeal, adding that the leadership of the party would look into such complaints

dispassionately.

However, a group of PDP stakeholders from the 21 local government areas of the state met in Awka the same yesterday, saying there was nothing on ground for the congress to take place.

Nwoye, who addressed them said the stakeholders of PDP had earlier met with the national publicity secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh at his Abuja home where it was agreed that

the congress should be held in September this year to make room for adequate preparation and wondered why he was in a hurry to put up an advertisement directing the conduct of the exercise immediately.

He added that as at yesterday, 98 percent of those interested in vying for offices had not collected the forms and wondered who would be voted for during the congress called by Metuh.

According to him, the NWC

VISIT: Governor Rochas Okorocha, U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, President Muhammadu Buhari and U.S. President, Mr. Barack Obama, after a meeting with the U.S. President, Monday, in the United States, during President Buhari's ongoing visit.

Community declares war cultists, armed robbers, kidnappers

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—EGBU a u t o n o m o u s community in Owerri North

local council area of Imo State, has declared total war on criminals operating in the area.

The people have also warned

Protagonists of Biafra not invited to UN or AU meetings —Uwazurike

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, said that neither the United Nations nor

the African Union, has invited the protagonists of Biafra to any of their meetings.

Chief Uwazuruike, who debunked the rumour making the rounds in Igboland while fielding questions from newsmen in Owerri, also revealed that the two bodies said they only invite

Proprietor lauds parents, guardians

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HE PROPRIETOR of Victory Group of Schools, Chief Christian Ipoola Olaniyan has praised the gallant efforts of parents and guardians on their children's education.

He said this during the 40th anniversary and the 14th graduation prize giving day and award ceremony of Victory Home School, Ikeja, last week.

The proprietor, who traced the history of the school, since 1975 when it was established, said with the cooperation of parents, guardians and particularly the PTA, the School has made positive

should give at least five working days for aspirants to collect and complete the forms if their intention was to ensure a credible congress.

He said: “We need to inform our members of the imbroglio that is about to happen in PDP in Anambra State. We had agreed with Olisa Metuh that aspirants should be given enough time to purchase forms and he was mandated to inform NWC of the plan."

landmarks in term of moral up bringing and educational advancement of their wards.

He also added that the school had witnessed a rapid development as a result of quality teachers and facilities put in place for the children.

He stressed that the school would continue to maintain its leadership in education as one of the pioneer private primary schools in Ikeja.

He charged the Children to be a good ambassador of their School and to maintain the standard left behind by their predecessors.

member nations.

“I sent the Bill of Rights to the United Nations in 1999, when I started the struggle. Up till now, the United Nations, UN, and African Union, AU, have not invited Biafra as erroneously peddled by interest groups”, Uwazuruike said.

The MASSOB leader advised Ndigbo to stop begging for survival in the Nigerian project, stressing that the Igbo fought the bitter war in self defence, when the decimation of their numbers reached alarming proportion.

“Events have continued to show that Ndigbo are not wanted in Nigeria. Igbo should desist from being selfish and sycophants. We should think of the way forward for Ndigbo before personal interests”, Chief Uwazurike pleaded.

Answering a question, the MASSOB leader said that the actualization of Biafra was certain, pointing out that revolutions take time but never fails.

that henceforth, any indigene or settler, found to be involved in criminal activities, would face commensurate sanction.

Reading the riot act in the royal father ’s palace, the President General, PG, of the community, Sir Simon Nkwazema, also said that they have decided not to watch helplessly while the town is overrun by cultists, armed robbers or kidnappers.

“It is a matter of regret that our peaceful community has suddenly turned into a den of cultists, robbers and rapists. Egbu Town General Assembly will go to war with any person who disturbs the peace of the community”, Nkwazema said.

While saying that the community has mapped out strategies to fight crime and criminals in the area, the PG however pointed out that parents and guardians had a lot of role to play in the current crusade against hoodlums.

He commended the State Police Command for the gallantry of its personnel in recent time and urged them not to relent in the fight against hoodlums.

Obi takes over as acting DG of NIMASA

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R. CALISTUS Nwabueze Obi has taken over as the Acting Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, following the handing over

by Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi as directed by the Federal Government.

Obi, who until this appointment, was the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services in the Agency, brings over two decades' of experience in the public sector, law practice and the maritime industry to this new responsibility.

Born on May 1, 1964, Mr. Obi, who hails from Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, studied Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991.

He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

The Acting DG is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, member of the International Bar Association (IBA), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators, among others.

WHO worries overcarnage on roads

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—AN appeal has gone to the Federal Government to rehabilitate the nation’s dilapidated highways, especially as the World Health Organization, WHO report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention has disclosed that the country records 33.7 per cent deaths per 100,000 people every year.

The Managing Director of ABC Transport, Mr. Frank Nneji made the passionate appeal in Owerri, at a function to reward the company drivers that did not record any accident in 2014.

“Road accidents are by far the main cause of violent death in Nigeria. It is even more saddening that Nigerian roads are still regarded as the most dangerous in Africa,” Nneji lamented.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 47

Maku wants tribunal to declare him winner of April gov poll L

By Abel Daniel

AFIA—THE Nasarawa State governorship candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in the last general elections, Labaran Maku, yesterday asked the Nasarawa State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia to declare him winner of the election.

Maku, who appeared before the tribunal in person as the first witness, presented certified true copies of result forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C,EC8D, EC8E and VP forms from the 11 of the 13 local governments areas of the state.

He said in the exhibit presented that here were proofs that there were over voting in

most of the polling units in the state.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the hearing, counsel to Maku, Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN), expressed hope that they were going to win the petition, adding that his client won the election with over 17,000 votes.

Gadzama also hailed counsels at the tribunal for their maturity and expressed optimism that his

client would be declared winner, having gathered evidences for the tribunal.

Also speaking to newsmen, the counsel representing Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura expressed satisfaction with the hearing, adding that there was no over voting since the Independent National Election Commission, INEC, guidelines allowed for additional votes right.

Police deny barring councils’ gate to stop chairmen in Plateau

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—PL ATEAU State Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki, has denied allegations that the Police were being used as a tool by Governor Simon Lalong to stop council chairmen and their councillors from returning to office, despite a subsisting court order.

The commissioner said yesterday in Jos: “We are not preventing anybody from performing his or her legal duty. As an officer of the law, I can’t do otherwise but to obey the laws of the land.

“I will investigate the incidences where the Police were said to have denied some councillors and other elected officials of Jos South and Riyom local governments from gaining access into the councils’ secretariats.”

Vanguard gathered that Police in some local government areas had barred some local government chairmen from returning to their offices last Tuesday, days after Governor Simon Lalong announced their sack.

In Jos South Local Government Council yesterday, armed policemen were seen at

the secretariat barricading the gate to prevent the chairman, Peter Vwang, from entering his office.

A similar incident occurred in most local council secretariats but a police officer at Jos South local government council secretariat who did not

want to be named, said their action was a directive to prevent a break down of law and order at government establishments.

Reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, party of the embattled chairmen and councillors reiterated its stance

that their members must return to office.

Vice Chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Yusuf Ishaya, said: “The governor who is a lawyer, must obey the court orders and allow the elected chairmen perform their

C

HAIRMEN OF Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 25 local government areas of Jigawa State have debunked the rumour that they are making arrangements to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in order to protect their seats.

State chapter chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, who is also the chairman of Birnin Kudu local government councils, Khsalid Ibrahim, who denied that rumour, said there was no such plan, stressing that it was a machination initiated by the enemies of peace.

By Jane Echewodo

L

DINNER: From left, Mrs. Ajiboye Adenike, National Vice President, Law Students Association of Nigeria, National Open University; Paul Oyemike,n President; Bassey Nwibani, National Vice President, and Mr. Eugene Ogbonna, National Director of Programmes, at the first National Ggrand Dinner in honour of law graduates of National Open University in Abuja, Monday. Photo: NAN

passengers AGOS STATE Waterways Authority, LASWA, yesterday said it had recovered the bodies of two female victims involved in a boat mishap on Saturday at Ojo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred on Saturday in the creeks in Ojo Local Government Area of the state.

The motorised boat was reported to have been conveying 10 passengers who were said to be returning from a party.

Mr Yinka Marinho, the Managing Director of LASWA, identified the victims as Temitope Bolarin-Ajayi and Princess Cythia John.

Marinho said that the two ladies were the only causalities.

“On July 20, 2015 about 0830hrs, LASWA patrol team resumed to

By Tina Akannam, Dutse.

Court jails police corporal 6yrs for manslaughter

BOAT MISHAP: LASWA recovers bodies of two female

L

We've no plans to dump PDP, say 25 Jigawa LG chairmen

the point of incident. The dead bodies of the two missing ladies were found floating and pulled out of the water.

“The family members of the deceased were on ground with Mr Olukayode Are, Investigating Police Officer, of Irewe Police Command, to

identify the bodies,” Marinho said.

He further said that the police command informed the agency that the case had been transferred to the Marine Police at Onikan.

Marinho disclosed that the mishap was caused by “reckless driving, lack of life jackets, night

travel, coupled with the fact that the captain of the motorized boat was under the influence of alcohol.

“The captain of the boat, Ola Ayodele, the celebrant, Temitope Omidele, and an invitee/ survivor, Grace Bidoye, are currently in the custody of the Marine Police Head Office Onikan,” he said.

Gov Ortom presents N12bn supplementary budget to Assembly

By Peter Duru

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A K U R D I — GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has presented a supplementary budget of N12 billion to the state House of Assembly for passage.

The fiscal estimate was presented to the Assembly yesterday in Makurdi, on behalf of the governor by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Ruth Ijir.Leading debate on the Supplementary Finance and Appropriation bill, 2015, the

Majority Leader, Mr. Benjamin Adanyi, who was represented by the member for Katsina Ala East Constituency, Mr. Iiana Jato, explained that Benue State government proposed a supplementary budget of N12,940,350,511.50.

AGOS—A Police Corporal, Abang Okon, was, yesterday, sentenced to six years imprisonment for the unlawful killing of one Olalekan Ajayi by a Lagos High court sitting in Ikeja .

The convict, who was charged on a count charge of manslaughter, was sentenced by Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya after he pleaded guilty to the offence.

Okon was arraigned on 1 April, for firing a gun-shot that killed Olalekan in the incident at Ladeja area of Ikorodu in Lagos State.

Restructure DESOPADEC —Okowa's SA

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PECIAL ADVISER to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Rural Development and Peace Building, Mr. Emma Ogidi, has thrown his weight behind the restructuring of DESOPADEC law in Delta State, saying apart from giving specific and strong committed duties to officials of the commission, the restructuring will make the officials of the commission accountable to their constituents.

Ogidi who made these remarks at Ellu, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state advised Deltans to embrace the restructuring of the bill to enable the governor speedily embark on the development of the state.

48 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 , 2015

German spy chief sees reason to thank Snowden

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Greece looks to seal bailout deal in weeks G

REECE should wrap up bailout talks with international lenders by August 20, once parliament approves the second package of measures demanded by creditors on Wednesday, the g o v e r n m e n t ’ s spokeswoman said.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has faced a revolt in the ruling Syriza party over the mix of tax hikes and spending cuts demanded by lenders but is expected to get the package through parliament with the support of pro-European opposition parties.

But he said last week he aimed to seal the bailout accord, which could offer

•Alexis Tsipras Greece up to 86 billion euros ($93 billion) in new loans to bolster its tottering finances and ward off the threat of being forced out of the euro.

“Immediately after the vote of the prior actions,

negotiations with the lenders will start, with August 20th being the final date,” government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said in a statement.

Officials from the creditor

institutions, the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund are due in Athens on Friday for meetings with the government, Deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas said.

Wednesday’s vote in parliament follows a first vote last week on the socalled “prior actions” demanded of Greece as a pre-condition before the start of full bailout talks.

The bill was passed but a revolt by 39 Syriza lawmakers who refused to back the measures raised questions over the stability of the government, which came to power in January on an explicit anti-austerity platform.

Kerry says Iran vow to defy U.S. is ‘very disturbing’ T HE United States said yesterday it was disturbed by anti-U.S. hostility voiced by Iran’s top leader after a nuclear deal, as both countries’ top diplomats sought to calm opposition to the accord from hardliners at home.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said a speech

by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday vowing to defy American policies in the region despite a deal with world powers over Tehran’s nuclear program was “very troubling”.

“I don’t know how to interpret it at this point in time, except to take it at face value, that that’s his policy,” he said in the interview with Saudiowned Al Arabiya television.

“But I do know that often comments are made publicly and things can evolve that are different.

If it is the policy, it’s very disturbing, it’s very troubling,” he added.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, told supporters on Saturday that U.S. policies

•Ali Khamenei in the region were “180 degrees” opposed to Iran’s, in a Tehran speech punctuated by chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.

Under the accord reached in Vienna last week, Iran will be subjected to long-term curbs on its nuclear

program in return for the lifting of U.S., European Union and U.N. sanctions. The deal was signed by the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

It was a major policy achievement for both U.S. President Barack Obama and Iran’s pragmatic elected President Hassan Rouhani. But both leaders have to sell it at home to powerful hardliners in countries that have been enemies for decades, referring to each other as the “Great Satan” and a member of the “Axis of Evil”.

Catalan separatists ready to declare independence

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ATALAN separatists said they were ready to declare unilateral independence if Madrid attempted to block a separation process they

hope to launch if successful in September’s regional elections.

Spain’s conservative national government fiercely opposes

independence for the rich northeastern region of Catalonia, which wants to follow Scotland’s example by voting on its political future.

Pro-independence protesters in Cataland yesterday

An alliance of proseparatist parties want the regional vote to serve as a de facto referendum by running on a joint ticket, campaigning on the single issue of independence.

“If in this process, the Spanish state, through its political or legal decisions, blocks the autonomous government of Catalonia or the Catalan parliament, we will move forward with a declaration of independence,” said Raul Romeva, a former MEP and key figure in the coalition, which brings together the centre-right CDC party and left-wing ERC.

ERMANY’s d o m e s t i c intelligence chief said yesterday that the revelations by Edward Snowden have had at least one positive effect, by raising awareness about the importance of counter-espionage.

Hans-Georg Maassen told a gathering of business leaders in the southwestern city of Stuttgart that after the Cold War ended, the issue of counter-espionage was seen as unimportant, German news agency dpa reported.

“So maybe one can be grateful to Snowden that

he has put a spotlight on the issue of counterespionage in Germany,” dpa quoted Maassen as saying.

Germany’s government reacted angrily two years ago to reports that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone had been monitored by the U.S. National Security Agency. Although the reports didn’t explicitly cite documents leaked to the media by Snowden, they came amid a flurry of similar claims about alleged U.S. surveillance in Germany that were linked to the former NSA contractor.

French prosecutor demand end to Arafat death Inquiry

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French prosecutor recommended on Tuesday the closing of an investigation into the death in France of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whose widow alleged he was poisoned.

Arafat, who signed the 1993 Oslo interim peace accord with Israel but led an uprising after subsequent talks broke down in 2000, died aged 75 in a French hospital in 2004. The official cause of death was a massive stroke, but French doctors said at the time they were unable to determine the

origin of his illness. No autopsy was carried out.

His widow, Suha Arafat, has argued the death was a political assassination by someone close to her husband. But French forensic scientists concluded in 2013 that Arafat had not been the victim of poisoning.

“We have requested that the case be dismissed,” the prosecutor ’s office told Reuters.

French magistrates must now decide on whether to follow the prosecutor ’s advice on the probe opened in August 2012.

Obama thanks China for Iran deal

U

S President Barack Obama spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to thank him for Beijing’s work on the deal to curtail Iran’s nuclear program, the White House said yesterday.

In a conversation Monday, the two leaders also agreed it was important to keep working together to ensure implementation of the historic accord reached last week in Vienna, the White House said in a statement. Obama also reiterated he was looking forward to welcoming Xi to Washington for a state visit in

•Xi Jinping September. China was one of the so-called P5+1 countries — along with Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — that spent nearly two years negotiating with Iran in a grueling process that finally yielded the agreement.

Israeli PM under probe

I

SRAEL’s attorney general has ordered an inquiry into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spending, a justice ministry official saidhyesterday, amid reports of alleged misuse of public funds.

Netanyahu and his wife Sara came under the spotlight ahead of his reelection in March over her alleged pocketing of

public cash by collecting deposits on empty bottles, and payment for maintenance at their private residence.

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein ordered the inquiry on Monday, the justice ministry official told AFP on condition of anonymity, following a preliminary probe launched in February.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 49

group accuses Egypt Kenya declares Gay rights as ‘non issue’, Rights of ‘disappearing’ dozens of ahead of Obama visit people A K

ENYAN President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday dismissed gay rights as a “non-issue” ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit later this week.

Kenyatta also said Deputy President William Ruto, who is still on trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague accused of crimes against humanity, would also meet the US leader.

“That is a non-issue to the people of this country, and it is definitely not on our agenda at all,” Kenyatta said in response to a question about gay rights.

“We as a country, as a continent, are faced with much more serious issues which we would want to engage the US and all our partners with.”

•President Uhuru Kenyatta Obama’s planned Kenya visit was itself long delayed by Kenyatta’s indictment by the ICC.

Those charges, linked to post-election ethnic violence in 2007-08, were suspended last year — in part, prosecutors say, be-

cause the Kenyan government thwarted the investigation by intimidating or paying off witnesses.

Kenyatta said Obama would meet all members of the government.

“Without a doubt, he is coming to meet the government that is in place, that includes all of us,” Kenyatta told reporters, standing alongside Ruto.

“We shall all be meeting.”

Ruto has spoken out against homosexuality, telling worshippers in church early this month it was “against the plan” of God. “We have heard that in the US they have allowed gay relations and other dirty things,” Ruto said, according to the Daily Nation newspaper

Boko Haram victims flee deep into Cameroon — UN

A

refugee camp deep inside Cameroon is receiving around a hundred people each day who are fleeing Islamist violence in Nigeria, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported Tuesday.

Families are leaving unstable and dangerous zones on the NigeriaCameroon border “and seeking shelter some 100 kilometres (62 miles) inland at the Minawao camp,” run by UNHCR and its partners, spokesman Leo Dobbs said.

Most of the new arrivals had initially stayed close to the border after fleeing clashes between Boko Haram jihadists and Nigerian troops in the hope they could return home quickly, Dobbs added.

Refugees said they had run from militant attacks in Nigeria’s Borno state.

The Boko Haram insurgency has killed more than 15,000 people in Nigeria since 2009.

The population of the Minawao camp has risen to roughly 44,000 from 30,000 at the same time last year.

The UNHCR and Cameroon’s government are trying to contact refugees remaining in border ter-

ritory to see whether they would prefer to come to Minawao or be taken to secure zones inside Nigeria, Dobbs said.

The UN agency estimates that nearly 12,000 unregistered refugees are in northern Cameroon, while Camerooonian authorities put the figure at 17,000.

Boko Haram, which

has extended its campaign across Nigeria’s borders and prompted a regional military response, carried out its first suicide bombing in Cameroon last Sunday.

Two women wearing the full Islamic veil blew themselves up in the far northern border town of Fotokol, killing 11 people.

Violence mars Burundi’s presidential vote Burundians voted yesterday amid gunfire and grenade blasts, with President Pierre Nkurunziza widely expected to win a third term despite international condemnation and thousands of people fleeing feared violence.

The United States said the government’s dismissal of calls to delay the poll “risks its legitimacy” and risked “unravelling the fragile progress” made by the peace deal that ended more than a dozen years of civil

policeman and a civilian — were killed in a string of explosions and gunfire overnight. Blasts and shootings were also heard as polls opened shortly after dawn in the capital Bujumbura, the epicentre of three months of anti-government protests.

Willy Nyamitwe, Nkurunziza’s chief communi•President Pierre Nkurun- cations advisor, conziza demned the attacks as “terwar and ethnic massacres rorist acts” aimed at “intimin 2006. idating voters”.

At least two people — a

Zimbabwean women risk cross-border trade

A

FTER her husband died in 2011, Theresa Matanda looked for a job in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, but with no success despite being a qualified accountant.

With two young children to support, Matanda, 36, was pushed to

join the swelling ranks of Zimbabwean women risking rape, robbery and death as cross-border traders.

“I need money to pay rent for the house, electricity bills, water bills and school fees, and to buy food,” Matanda told the Thomson Reuters Foun-

dation. “Cross-border trading is my only option.”Zimbabwe’s job market has shrunk on the back of an economy that analysts say will stagnate or fall into recession this year. The economy slumped by 45 percent during 1998-2008 at the height of an economic

crisis, prompting factory closures, huge unemployment and growing food shortages.

Some 65 percent of Zimbabwe’s 14 million people now rely on the informal sector to survive, according to the African Development Bank.

REPORT from Human Rights Watch accuses Egyptian security forces of forcibly disappearing dozens of people, and asks authorities “to immediately disclose their whereabouts and hold those responsible to account.”

International law forbids enforced disappearances, which the UN defines as “the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of the State, fol-

•Al-Sisi lowed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which place such a person outside the protection of the law.”

Desmond Tutu leaves hospital

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ETIRED archbishop Desmond Tutu returned home yesterday after a weeklong hospital stay to treat a “stubborn infection” and is under doctors’ orders to rest, his South African foundation said.

Tutu returned home wearing a dressing gown embroidered with the words “Feet Up Arch,” a statement from the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation said.

Tutu and his family

thanked doctors at a Cape Town hospital for “their expertise and generosity,” it added.

“They have been fantastic and we’ll be doing our best not to disappoint them,” Tutu’s daughter Mpho said. The family also thanked the public in South Africa and abroad for their messages of support.

The 83-year-old Nobel laureate was admitted to hospital last week where he received treatment for a “stubborn infection.”

Habre trial adjourned to September

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ORMER Chadian dic tator Hissene Habre was forcibly brought to court yesterday for the second day of his trial in Senegal but judges adjourned the case until September to enable appointed lawyers to prepare his defence.

Habre, once dubbed “Africa’s Pinochet”, is accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture during his blood-soaked reign, but has refused recognise what he brands an illegitimate tribunal.

The trial, seen as a test case for African justice, opened on Monday, a quarter of a century after his 1982-1990 rule came to an end.

Prison guards brought Habre, dressed in a white robe and turban, into the special court in the Senegalese capital Dakar for the second day.

But the 72-year-old refused to speak, and the court appointed three attorneys to defend him af-

ter Habre refused legal representation.

The court known as the Extraordinary African Chambers then adjourned the trial until September 7 to give the lawyers time to prepare their defence.

At the news, Habre rose and gave a clenched-fist salute and V-for-victory sign to his supporters, who shouted “Allah Akbar” (God is greatest).

Habre — backed during his presidency by France and the United States as a bulwark against Libya’s Moamer Kadhafi — is on trial over actions under his regime from 1982 until he was ousted in 1990.

Rights groups say 40,000 Chadians were killed under a regime of brutal repression of opponents and rival ethnic groups Habre perceived as a threat to his grip on the Sahel nation.

He risks a sentence of at least 30 years in prison.

50—WEDNESDAY

Vanguard, JULY 22, 2015

Housewife raises alarm over release of alleged killer of husband from Delta Prison BY ONYEGBULA

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ESTHER

he wife of a politician in Ibusa, Delta State, who was allegedly murdered during the last House of Assembly elections, Mrs. Maria Onianwa, has raised alarm over the release from prison custody of one of the suspected killers of her husband by political hirelings in the state.

Mrs. Onianwa, who made a clarion call to the powers-thatbe to bring killers of her husband to book, lamented that the lives of members of her family and her blind, old father-in-law were in danger following the release of the suspect.

She stated that her husband, Emeka Onianwa, died on April 13 as a result of wounds allegedly inflicted on him by a popular socialite in the community (names withheld), his wife and other prominent indigenes of the town during the election. According to the distraught housewife: “It is true that the election petition tribunal has been established for all matters affecting that election but my case is wholly on the gruesome murder of my beloved husband by some politicians in our area.

“My husband died as a result of wounds allegedly inflicted on him by those PDP members. As a law- abiding citizen, I and members of my family reported the incident to the Police who on their own, carried out an extensive investigation, but sensing that some of those fingered in the brutal killing of my husband were doing everything possible to deny us justice by collaborating with the state Police Command including some top politicians, we petitioned the InspectorGeneral of Police and he ordered the immediate transfer of the case to his office in Abuja.

“It is pertinent to mention here that all invitations made by the Police in Abuja to all those fingered in the case on several occasions yielded no

result as the suspects never honoured the invitations.

We honoured the invitations but they did not. Instead, they were going about, boasting that they will use t h e i r connections to ensure that the matter is swept under the carpet using names of the state governor and other top politicians as cover-up.

“God being our only Helper, we continued to plead that the law takes it course hence, through God’s intervention and the qualitative dispensation of justice by the new Inspector- General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, having looked at the case file, gave directives that all those mentioned or alleged to have been involved in the murder be arrested and charged to a court of competent jurisdiction.

Police officers from the Homicide Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, swung into action and made its first arrest of one of the suspects (names withheld) on June 30, 2015. They subsequently arraigned him at the chief magistrate's court where the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr. Ferdinand Dike remanded him in Ogwashi-Ukwu prisons until 29th July 2015 pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

“This development was greeted with wild jubilation by both the family members of the murdered youth and a cross section of the people of Ibusa community with praises that

•Mrs. Maria Onianwa, the

distraught house wife.

the common man can now get justice. While the other politician was arraigned and

remanded in Prison custody awaiting the 29th July day for the DPP’s advice, with others still on the run, surprisingly, we were informed some days ago that there were moves by top government functionaries to effect his release. Behold, on the 8th day of July the suspect was released from prison custody at Ogwashi-Ukwu following an alleged directive from the state governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, without recourse to the order given by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Worse is the present pitiable condition I find myself. The children including my two -month- old baby, delivered after the brutal killing of Emeka Onianwa, are now left in abject poverty, while the children have been sent out of school

“My worry now and that of my family members including my blind father-in-law is the fact that the corpse of my murdered husband is still lying in the mortuary. Worse is the present pitiable condition I find myself. The children including my two month-old baby, delivered after the brutal killing of Emeka Onianwa, are now left in abject poverty, while the

children have been sent out of school. We are using this medium to call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJF) and other relevant authorities, to come to our aid and ensure that all those involved in the murder of our son, father and husband, Mr. Emeka Onianwa, are made to face the wrath of the law.

“We also use this medium to call on all politicians especially, those of Oshimili-North LGA, to see elective positions not as a do-or-die affair, as it is a thing of regret that since the inception of the incumbent House of Assembly member, including the last April elections, the area has noticed and witnessed murder of some persons. For record purposes, one Mr Livy Ajufoh, a vibrant politician was killed, also a cousin to Emeka Onianwa and others died in the same circumstance,” she stated.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 51

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 53

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54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

hands N10m to Federation Cup: Abuja, Minna, Wike Dream Team Oshogbo, Oleh on fire G

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HE Round of 16 matches of this year’s men’s Federation Cup competition will take place across the country on Wednesday, with only one match on Thursday.

On Wednesday, FC IfeanyiUbah, victors over fellow Glo Premier League side, Bayelsa United in the Round of 32, will be up against FC Taraba, winners against Papilo FC, at the Area 3 Playground in Abuja.

The same venue will 24 hours later, welcome two other Glo Premier League clubs, Kwara United and Enugu Rangers, in what is perhaps the most anticipated game of the Round of 16.

The other all –top division clash, between Nasarawa United and Abia Warriors, is scheduled for the Oshogbo Township Stadium on Wednesday.

The Rojenny Stadium,

League action involving Rangers International of Enugu (in white).

Oba will play host to the clash between Remo Stars of Ogun State, who eliminated champions Enyimba FC and Glo NPFL side, Lobi Stars.

In Makurdi, Heartland FC will battle BJ Foundation from Edo State, which eliminated Sportlight FC of Kaduna in the Round of 32.

NFF Continues from B/P approach to both teams’ Olympic Games qualifying matches away in Bata and Pointe Noire respectively.

The Super Falcons could only draw 1-1 with their counterparts from Equatorial Guinea in their third round, first leg clash in Abuja on Saturday, making the second leg in Bata on Sunday, 2nd August a potentially gritty affair.

Siasia’s U-23 wards looked to be cruising to a comfortable win over Congo in their African Championship final round, first leg qualifier in Port Harcourt on Sunday, but then took their feet off the medal to finish with a slim 2-1 win, meaning the return leg away in Congo in two weeks will also be explosive. Both teams are looking for a spot at the year –end African U-23 Championship, where Africa’s flagbearers at next year ’s Olympics will emerge.

“We are adopting a mustwin approach to both matches. The NFF is taking these two matches as very serious business.

You would understand our position if you remember that both teams failed to

qualify for the last Olympics in London.

“The NFF will do everything within its power to ensure this does not happen this time. We will put everything into this. We are meeting Chris Danjuma and Samson Siasia for them to tell us what precise support they require to win their matches away from home.”

Anyansi-Agwu confirmed that his deputy, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh and National Technical Director, Shaibu Amodu will also be at the meeting.

It is understood that Siasia, whose team is training for the return leg match in Port Harcourt, will fly into Abuja on Wednesday and return same day.

It can be recalled that the Super Falcons and the U23 boys failed to qualify for the football tournaments of the London 2012 Olympics, with the Falcons failing at the last hurdle against Cameroon, losing on penalties in Yaounde.

The U-23 boys reached the finals of the African Championship in Morocco, but crashed out at the group stage of the competition.

Sharks secure Eunisell that will develop football in deal the country. My eight year

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

N

IGERIA Premier League side, Sharks of Port Harcourt yesterday joined the league of clubs with private shirt sponsorship deals after reaching a deal with Eunisel, a Nigerian company that specialises in chemical production.

The deal lasts for a season and is renewable at the expiration of the current contract.

Speaking during a ceremony in Lagos, the Group Managing Director of Eunisel, Chika Ikenga said that the firm decided to sponsor Sharks because of the need to contribute to the progress of Nigerian football.

“Today belongs to the progress of Nigerian football. We want to be involved in any process

old son watches Nigerian football on cable television.

That is what he is passionate about and if I can have such a young boy having such passion for our league, then why should our company shy away from investing in this league”, Ikenga asked rhetorically.

Continuing, Ikenga said “Some people are asking why Sharks? There has to be a starting point and we have some relationship with Port Harcourt and therefore feel that we can give back something to that state because of the football potentials there”.

In his remarks, the General Manager of Sharks, Okey Paul Oku thanked Eunisell for deeming it fit to invest in them and promised that his team would do their best to ensure that the firm benefits from its investment.

Oliseh recalls Mikel for Tanzania

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H E L S E A midfielder Mikel Obi will be recalled by new Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh for next month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania and played as a defensive midfielder.

Mikel last played for the Super Eagles in November 2014 when Nigeria drew 2-2 with South Africa in a 2015 AFCON qualifier in Uyo. “Mikel still remains one of Nigeria’s top stars in Europe even he is no longer playing regularly for Chelsea these days and that is why he will be part of Oliseh’s immediate

•Mikel plans, beginning with the AFCON qualifier in Tanzania next month,” a top official informed AfricanFootball.com “But instead of giving him a free role as he has been given in the Eagles in the past, he will play as a defensive midfielder, like he does for his club.”

OVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Monday redeemed his pledge to players of the Dream Team, following the team’s 2-1 victory over Congo in an African U23 Championship qualifying game played on Sunday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

The Governor, who had promised the players the sum of $30,000 for every goal and $100,000 for a 3-0 win, addressed the players and officials at a reception hosted for the team, handed over the sum of $60,000 (about

N10m) and expressed joy that the Dream Team played one of the best football he has seen in years.

“You guys made Nigerians proud with the way you played against the Congolese; you showed that the future of Nigeria football is bright and that the NFF is on the right path in putting the country’s football on the world map. All I can tell you guys is that if the Congolese can score a goal here, you can do more than that in Congo in the return leg. I am proud of you and so is the generality of Nigerians.”

Oliseh Continues from B/P Coach is one many love to hate but as a Nigerian Ex international and patriot it definitely does not leave you indifferent.”

The Nigerian is so passionate about soccer that in a nation of 170,000,000 people we have 170 Million coaches who are impatient, demanding and quick to dismiss any coach as a failure if he wins unconvincingly. ‘’When I was proposed the job,my first thought and reply was; “no I am not interested” but after a second thought and discussions with Family and close confidants, I could not help but go back on my decision as I decided to borrow a leaf from the new president of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari who at over 70 is bent on trying to bring about change and better the lives of his compatriots. ‘’The most difficult task facing us is that Nigerians want the super eagles to not only win matches, but win them playing in a flamboyant manner immediately?.

This particular problem is further compounded with the fact that we get only by FIFA rules players from their clubs 4 days to the National team games.

Time is needed to work on the players!

We could go on and on but we are here to share why we feel it is worth giving it a try to make a

difference and how we intend to try!

“Many have asked or insinuated that they need me to miraculously repair our football in a flash! Though super motivated, I am not a Messiah and will need desperately the help of the Nigerian Football Federation, the Nigerian people and most importantly God’s help and Guidance.”

Contrary to what some have said,we never discussed money and financial details as all we get is what our predecessor was paid and not more.

It is an uphill task that could blow away the good name that God blessed one with but If there is one thing everyone can be rest assured coming from me will be the input of 150% of my efforts to improve what we have.

Nigeria is ours to make or break and we, and only we can make it better by trying and not just sit on the fence.

This is an uphill task worth more than taking on as it is for my people: my fellow countrymen, family, friends, and Continent!

The journey has started and we invite you to please join us in trying to improve the fortune of the super Eagles, we can be catalysts to change, but we need you to bring about and effect that change. God bless Nigeria.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 — 55

TRANSFER, TRANSFER, TRANSFER

Mourinho prepares £26m Stones bid J OHN Stones would like to move to Chelsea to further his career and hopes Everton will consider selling him this summer.

It is understood the 21year-old is excited at the prospect of playing for last season’s title winners, as well as participating in the Champions League next term.

Chelsea are on the verge of returning to Everton with a higher sum of £26m and the latter are facing a struggle to keep their

Osaze sets out goals for Stoke

prize asset.

The champions are prepared to send a player on loan the other way to tempt Everton to compromise.

While Stones will not try to force a move through to the capital and is unlikely to hand in a transfer request, he is hopeful the two clubs can come to an agreement.

But Chelsea are prepared to treble his wages and give him the opportunity to learn off veteran captain John Terry.

Osaze Odemwingie says he has needed to learn to be patient as he returns from a serious knee injury – but believes he will soon be back among the goals for Stoke.

He explained: “I forced it a little to make it in time to play a little at the end of last season because I felt I needed to. It would have been very sad to go into the summer having missed the whole season after my injury.

“The summer has made me even better because the rest has done me good. You can get back but still need a few months to be at your best.

“These injuries take longer than you think.

You can be playing, but you are not 100 per cent yet. However, I feel better and better.

“Our medical department make sure I’m right every day and I’m doing the right preparation. I do everything right – and I do extra.

•Ozaze

Lahm: No guarantee Muller will stay •Muller

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AYERN Munich captain Philipp Lahm says there are no guarantees that Thomas Muller will stay at the club amid links to Manchester United.

“It’s not my decision.

“Things can happen very quickly in football.

“I certainly can’t provide any guarantee for Thomas [not leaving].”

“There is a lot of competition, but that only excites me. It means we are going to do well as a group.

“In my situation there is a lot of expectation about coming back from injury. That’s probably not what I really need, but I am going to give my best.

“Knowing there are people who will do well means we are going to have a good season, secure our Premier League status again... and then go for the extras.

“We will all get game time. It’s rare for one player to be in top form all season. Some were good at the end, some were good at the beginning but everyone has his time to stake his claim and everyone has a part to play.

“There will be spells when I will be scoring goals and there will be spells when it will be someone else. It is all that joined together that will hopefully make us a top 10 team again."

Fans attack Balotelli for hailing Sterling

Ramos in process of joining Man U

L

L

IVERPOOL striker Mario Balotelli has congratulated former team-mate Raheem Sterling after the England international scored on his Manchester City debut.

He added: “Liverpool fans are amazing but iI hope Sterling will play at his best because he deserves it. He is a good guy young and talented.

Support him Like you always did. He gave everything to this club and respect it so I’m sad to see this. YNWA ,Liverpool is a family ALWAYS.” But Reds fans were unimpressed with the Italy international as he threw his support behind the former Liverpol man onsocial Liverpool fan Jake Sorkin called the forward a ‘snake’, while @Bishop_Yayo urged him to focus more on his own career after a disappointing first season with the Merseysiders.

Sterling and Balotelli

Juve jostle for Donsah

J

•Donsah

UVENTUS are reportedly in talks with Cagliari for impressive 19-year-old midfielder Godfred Donsah.

According to Sky Sport Italia, Juve could complete this swoop by the weekend.

They aim to secure Donsah on loan with option to buy at the end of the season.

In exchange, Cagliari would receive several youth team players on loan, including Alberto Cerri, Andres Tello and Davide Arras.

..Van Gaal teases fans over star signing OUIS van Gaal has refused to rule out signing Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.

Asked whether the club were any closer to signing the Spain international, Van Gaal told reporters.“I cannot talk about these rumours. I have said already in a lot of press conferences, it is a process. Maybe Mr Ramos is in the process.

You never know.”

•Ramos

Lambert backs Benteke to shine

F

•Benteke

ORMER Aston Vil la manager Paul Lambert has backed Christian Benteke to score goals for Liverpool.

The towering Belgium international reportedly underwent a medical on Monday ahead of his proposed £32.5million moveto Anfield.

“I think he is going to do great,” said Lambert

in an interview with Sky Sports.

“Christian phoned me yesterday and I had a good chat with him. I am delighted for him, he has got a move to a really big, big club.

“I hear reports that he can only score from cross balls. Well, Christian Benteke will score for Liverpool.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

NFF panics over 2016 Olympic qualifiers •Summons Danjuma, Siasia

Eagles job: Risk worth taking – Oliseh N

EW Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has revealed that he rejected the offer to handle the Super Eagles when he

was first contacted by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Writing on his website Oliseh said, ‘’It is definitely the most

C

HAIRMAN of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, will today meet with Head Coaches of the Senior Women and the U-23 National Teams, as the NFF adopts a must-win Continues on Page 54

•Siasia

delicate job in the African Football continent and definitely the most demanding.

The Job of super Eagles

Continues on Page 54

UNVEILING: From left, Mr. Nduka Irabor; CEO,League Management Company; Shehu Dikko, Chairman LMC with Mr Chika Ikenga,GMD, Eunisell Ltd and Odinga Odinga, Captain Sharks FC, during the official unveiling of the new Eunisell Jersey for Sharks Football Club in Lagos.

PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

CELEBRATION: Man City players mob Kelechi Iheanacho (m) after he netted the club's second goal against Roma yesterday. Story on page 29.

QUICK CROSSWOR

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Dirty (4) 4 Epoch (3) 6 Cut (4) 9 Tune (3) 10 Height (8) 11 Close (4) 14 Counter (3) 16 Slumber (5) 19 Vied (8) 21 Principle (5) 23 Held (8) 24 Observe (5) 27 Gained (3) 31 Silent (4) 33 Tester (8) 34 Observe (3) 35 Dread (4) 36 Owing (3) 37 Whirlpool (4)

DOWN 2 Greasy (4) 3 Den (4) 4 Taught (8) 5 Top (4) 6 Waterway (5) 7 Untruth (3) 8 Angry (5) 12 Twist (5) 13 Sting (5) 14 Wager (3) 15 Renovate (5) 17 Happening (5) 18 Conceit (5) 20 Explode (8) 22 Brown (3) 25 Entertain (5) 26 Hearten (5) 28 Repair (4) 29 Blaze (4) 30 Nurse (4) 32 Beverage (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Sprout 5, Battle 8, Flotilla 9, Lost 10, Axe 12, Angle 15, Sob 17, Ban 18, Low 19, Hub 20, Grave 21, Eel 22, Eke 23, Gel 24, Nod 26, Rusty 29, Law 33, Isle 34, Terminal 35, Stupor 36, Berate.

DOWN: 2, PHLox 3, Oath 4, Talon 5, Brawl 6, Tale 7, Lasso 10, Ashen 11, Ebbed 12, Anger 13, Glass 14, Elergy 15, Swell 16, Below 25, Onset 27, Utter 28, Throb 30, Apart 31, Keep 32, Pier.

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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C M Y K