Appeal court declines to stop Saraki's trial

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62498

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

N150

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ALLEGED FALSE DECLARATION OF ASSETS:

Appeal court declines to stop Saraki's trial

By Henry Umoru & Ikechukwu Nnochiri

•I'll be at Code of Conduct Tribunal today, says Senate President BUJA —THE Court A of Appeal and the •As Code of Conduct Tribunal chairman renews arrest warrant Federal High Court,

both sitting in Abuja, yesterday, refused to shield the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki from being arraigned at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on a 13-count criminal charge bordering on false declaration of assets preferred against him.

The Senate President had approached both courts

Continues on Page 5

Mama Awo's aide recounts her last moments SARAKI—The empty dock as the Senate President, Bukola Saraki was absent at

the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, where he is standing trial for alleged false declaration of assets in Abuja, yesterday. Inset: From left: Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Ali Mohammed; Mohammed Mustapher and Akanbi Makanju discussing with counsel to Saraki, Joseph Dauda. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan/NAN.

FG to exempt NNPC, 12 others from TSA

8

COLUMNISTS:

Arrest of monarch, 5 chiefs sparks anxiety in Rivers town See Inside

C M Y K

Letter to Kumalia: This march of folly!

•P.17

As Pope Francis visits the US

•P.50

16 Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

SWEARING IN—Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (R) in a handshake with the Chief Justice of The Federation, Mahmud Mohammed during the swearing-in of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), at the Supreme Court, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Appeal court declines to stop Saraki's trial Continues from page 1 to provide him shelter and save him from being docked.

Also, in a ruling, yesterday, the three-man panel of Justices of the appellate court, equally refused to stop the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase, from executing the warrant of arrest that was issued against Saraki, by the CCT. Saraki had through his team of lawyers led by Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, filed an ex-parte motion for an injunction, shortly after the Justice Danladi Umar-led panel of the CCT, yesterday, insisted that he must be arrested and produced in court today for arraignment.

He specifically begged the appellate court to not only set aside the warrant of arrest against him, but to also suspend the proceedings of the tribunal pending the

hearing and determination of the substantive appeal he lodged against the Justice Umar-led panel.

“We are humbly asking for stay of execution of the ruling and order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal for a bench warrant to be issued against the applicant. We also apply for stay of proceeding of the tribunal's order pending hearing and determination of our motion on notice pending before this court”, Saraki’s lawyer, Mr. Adebayo Adelodun, SAN, pleaded with the appellate court.

He stressed that the Senate President had raised 12 grounds of appeal against the decision of the tribunal, last Friday, saying the appeal was supported by a 16-paragraph affidavit and four exhibits. Besides, Saraki equally deposed to another 17-paragraph affidavit of urgency,

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO OUR enemy is not just the man that points a gun at you but a dear friend that adds no value.

Be not deceived, bad company corrupts good manners.

It’s up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human can alter his life by altering his attitude — William James HE most helpful thing that you can do in the face of challenges is to keep a positive attitude.

There’s always some blessing within all circumstances, even if you can’t immediately identify it. A positive mind-set keeps the body relaxed, which in turn helps you think clearly and creatively during intense situations. Your bright outlook inspires others and may avert a cycle of downward spiraling energy.

T

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

E

VERY fools knows that he cannot reach the stars, but what we must remember is, it never keeps a wise man from trying.

wherein he urged the higher court to intervene and protect him from what he described as “a politically motivated witch-hunt”.

However, instead of acceding to his prayers, the appellate court panel headed by Justice Moore Adumein directed the applicant to go and put all the parties to the matter on notice.

“We have read all the processes before this court and considered submissions by counsel to the applicant. Even though pursuant to section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act, 2004, this court has general power to grant or make an interim order of injunction.

“Ordinarily, this court does not grant ex-parte motions.

We are, therefore, of the view that the respondents shall be put on notice.

Consequently, the applicant’s motion exparte is refused and struck out”, the appellate court held.

It directed Saraki to go and serve all the parties to the suit with the relevant processes to enable them appear on September 29, the day the case was, yesterday, adjourned to.

Other members of the appeal court panel that gave the ruling were Justices Joseph Ekanem and Mustapha Mohammed.

Federal High Court to hear suit Sept 30 Meantime, Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, fixed September 30 to commence hearing on the fundamental rights enforcement suit that Saraki filed against the Federal Government.

Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter for hearing on a day all the defendants, including the Federal Ministry of Justice, chairmen of the CCT and Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, as well as a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M.S. Hassan, who signed the charge against Saraki, adduced reasons the Senate President should be compelled to face trial.

The defendants, through their lawyer Mr. Taiwo Abidogun, said their appearance before the Federal High Court, yesterday, was as a result of the summons that Justice Mohammed issued to them, last Thursday, which directed them to appear and show cause why Saraki should be prosecuted before the CCT. Aside filing their memorandum of conditional appearance, the defendants, filed a counter-affidavit to the suit seeking to stop Saraki’s trial, as well as a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to meddle in the affairs of the tribunal.

It was their argument that Justice Mohammed lacked the competent jurisdiction to in any way, obstruct proceedings before the CCT. They contended that both the FHC and the CCT have coordinate jurisdiction, stressing that the high court has no supervisory power over the tribunal.

Before okaying fullblown hearing on the matter, Justice Mohammed, in a ruling, noted that Saraki’s suit was ripe for hearing since all the parties have successfully joined issues.

“This court is of the view that considering the constitutional and radical nature of this matter, time should not be dissipated on the consideration of interlocutory matters”, Justice Mohammed ruled.

CCT reactivates bench warrant against Saraki Meanwhile, the CCT, yesterday, re-activated the bench warrant it issued against Saraki last Friday.

The tribunal, in a fresh ruling, maintained that the IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase, must arrest and produce the Senate President before it today.

The Justice Umar-led panel stressed that Saraki had no cogent reason for absenting himself from court yesterday despite an undertaking by his lead counsel that he would be available for trial.

Besides, the tribunal

said there was nothing prohibiting it from applying the newly enacted Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, in the trial of the Senate President.

It noted that contrary to the position of Saraki’s lawyers, Justice Mohammed of the FHC did not request the tribunal to suspend its sittings on the basis of the suit pending before him.

Therefore, the tribunal, yesterday, relied on the provisions of Sections 305 and 306 of the ACJA, 2015, and declined Saraki’s plea for his arraignment to be deferred until his substantive suit before the court of appeal is determined.

“The application to stay this proceeding is hereby refused. Accordingly, the Inspector-General of Police as we earlier ordered on Friday is still being ordered to arrest and produce the defendant by 10am tomorrow (today) to answer the charge against him”, the tribunal ruled.

Saraki challenges CCT’s composition

Earlier, Saraki had through his lawyer, Daudu, SAN, challenged the composition of the CCT panel, which he insisted was not properly constituted.

He contended that going by the provision of paragraph 15 of the Third Schedule to the CCB and Tribunal Act, the tribunal ought to have been made up of three justices.

He pointed out that presently, there are only two men on the tribunal’s panel. “We will not be party to illegality, this proceeding is a nullity”, Daudu, SAN, submitted.

Saraki’s argument was however punctured by the new prosecuting counsel in the matter, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, who argued that under section 28 of the Interpretation Act, once the Chairman of the tribunal and one member are present, the panel is deemed to have been legally constituted, a

quorum having been formed.

More so, Jacobs insisted that under Section 396 of the ACJA, Saraki must appear before the tribunal to enter his plea to the charge against him, before raising objections against the propriety or otherwise of the criminal proceeding against him.

While waving aside Saraki’s argument as an attempt to rely on technicalities to defeat the essence of justice, the tribunal chairman, said the panel was properly constituted.

“We are all ministers in the temple of justice. We must speak the truth at all times and never hide under technicalities to derail the course of justice. With a chairman and a member, this panel is properly constituted”, Justice Umar held.

I will be at the Tribunal today — Saraki

However, Dr Saraki said, yesterday, that he would appear at the CCT today to answer to issues raised by the CCB. Answering questions from journalists in Abuja, Senate President Saraki, who noted that he was prepared to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him said that he also believes that he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.

I have nothing to hide Asked if he would appear at the CCT, Senator Saraki said: “Well, with the ruling of the Appeal Court, I think based on legal advice we have exercised our right and being a law abiding citizen, the directive of the CCB is saying that one should be there tomorrow. I will be there.

I have nothing to hide.

One was exercising his own right both at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. So we will be there."

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

House maid re-arraigned for pouring hot water on employer

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By Onozure Dania

AGOS—A 17-year-old house maid, Esther Abiodun, who was alleged to have poured hot water on her employer, Alhaja Dupe Iba Agba, while she was asleep, was yesterday re-arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court.

The defendant is standing trial on a twocount charge bordering, on unlawful pouring of hot water on her employer ’s body and causing grievous bodily harm, preferred against her by the police.

The defendant, who was first arraigned on September 18, had pleaded guilty to the charges against her and Magistrate W. Balogun adjourned the matter to 21, for facts and sentence, but during the court proceedings yesterday, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Army officer shoots musician in Lagos L

By Lucky Nwanekwu

AGOS—DOCTORS in New Nigeria Hospital at Kirikiri area of Lagos State, are currently battling to save the life of a young artiste who was shot by a yet- to be-identified Army officer, last Wednesday morning.

It was learned that the victim was returning home from the studio with his friend when he was shot by the soldier. He was later rushed to a nearby hospital that same night for treatment.

When Vanguard visited the hospital, yesterday, the victim who was lying critically ill in one of the male wards, was barely able to speak. He narrated his ordeal: “I was coming back from the studio with my friend at about 2am when we noticed the presence of the Army officer. My friend attempted to run because he was afraid when the officer stopped us. He told me to run but I refused. While we were at the studio, my friend had smoked Indian hemp and was misbehaving, despite efforts made to stop him from smoking that night.

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By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—THE police in Bayelsa State on Saturday night repelled attempt by some gunmen to abduct His Royal Highness, G.G Igodo, the paramount ruler of Ogbogoro, on the outskirts of Yenagoa, the state capital.

It was gathered that the six gunmen stormed the residence of the royal father at about 10pm to carry out their sinister motive but were forced to beat a retreat, following the quick intervention of the police, which engaged them in shoot out.

Sources told Vanguard that members of the community on noticing the strange movement of the invaders, alerted the police and patrol teams were deployed promptly.

The hoodlums, in a bid to escapereportedly shot and injured one Alex ThankGod, 18, a member of the community.

on suspecting us. At this stage, my friend took to his heels and I followed him. The officer then ran after us and when I became tied,

The young artiste allegedly shot by Army officer in Lagos.

he shot at my leg four times. The pain was unbearable and I became unconscious. The next morning, I woke up only to see myself at the New Nigeria Hospital battling with pains.

Since then, I haven’t heard from my friend.”

The owner of the hospital, Dr Geoffrey Orajekwe, who spoke to Vanguard, said some policemen and other individuals brought the victim to the hospital around 3am.

He said when he was about closing for the night, the officers asked him to start administering treatment immediately without initial deposit.

"Up till now, nobody has paid for his medical bill. Though I heard some gunshots that night but I didn't know what was happening until I saw the victim.

Seeing the condition of the boy, I immediately picked up courage, took him to one of the wards and had to open the left and right legs of the boy to remove the bullets before it spreads to the joint. I finally found the bullets and I assure you that he would be fine very soon,” the doctor said.

Flood sacks Plateau community 10 houses lost to erosion in Abia

By Anayo Okoli & MarieTherese Nanlong

Police repel kidnap attempt on Bayelsa monarch

“I tried to explain our mission to the officer and why we were returning home at that particular time of the night, but he still kept

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OS—FLOOD has sacked residents of Doemak in Qua’an Pan Local Government Areas of Plateau State and stopped commuters from going in or out of the community as the link bridges to other communities were washed away by the flood.

This came at a time at least 10 houses were swept away by ravaging erosion menace at Ndi Uduma Awoke in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

The flood, which came as a result of heavy downpour, covered, dug deep pits and washed away the bridges, thereby making residents to swim across to and from nearby communities.

The District Head of Doemak, HRH Cosmos Dakyap, who lamented the plight of the people, expressed fears of more havoc as the community experiences rainfall almost on daily basis.

The monarch likened the flood to notorious flowers that took over water ways, especially the three rivers surrounding the town.

He said: “I believe that the sudden growth of this notorious flowers that fills up the major rivers linking the major town with other communities causes this. ‘’Community members had put manual labour during dry seasons when the flowers started expanding, but we are surprised by its consistent growth.”

A resident said those who admired the beauty of the said flowers were planting them along river banks to control erosion,

despite the fact that the rivers probably needed dredging to accommodate the volume of water.

However, the District Head has ordered the planted flowers to be removed as it had become a serious threat to the community and its environs.

He urged the state government to urgently come to the aid of his people and other areas affected by such a situation in state.

It will be recalled that the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, had urged all communities living within the identified flood areas to relocate to safer areas to avoid loss of lives in the state.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 10 houses have been swept away by ravaging erosion at Ndi Uduma Awoke in Ohafia Local

GovernmentaArea of Abia State.

The community has, therefore, sent a Save Our Soul message to both the federal and Abia State governments to rescue them from the threat of erosion.

President General of the community development union, Mr. Eme Uche, said the entire community now live in fear, lamenting that all efforts to draw the attention of governments to their plight had met with no response.

He said: “Already, our school has been cut off and children find it difficult to go to school. Some areas in the community have been cut off from the rest of the people such that they go to farm with great difficulty.

“We have reported this menace in writing to the ecological fund office at the Presidency in Abuja

and to the Abia State Government for years now but there has not been any action.

“For now, 10 families in the community have been sacked by the erosion and if nothing is done urgently the entire community will be swept away.”

According to him, the erosion menace has not only affected education and agriculture in the area but also the social life of the people as it has equally cut off Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal road at the precinct of the community.

“Ohafia people are noted for their self help effort but this erosion problem is well beyond self help and that is why we are crying to the State and Federal Governments to come to our aid.

We pay taxes to the Government and should be treated like patriotic citizens, the neglect is beyond imagination,” he added.

STOP JOURNEY: A cargo train from Lagos to Kaduna which derailed at Urgwan Bije, Gonin Gora, near Kaduna, yesterday morning. Photo:Olu Ajayi.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—7

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By Luka Binniyat

ADUNA—NO fewer than 12 persons are feared dead in the flooding that swept through Kaduna, following yesterday’s heavy downpour.

The flood also submerged thousands of homes, rendering thousands homeless.

At press time, scores of persons were still trapped in high rise apartments and trees which many climbed to escape the rampaging flood that clearly overwhelmed Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA. Meanwhile, the tragedy has become a veritable source of income for canoe men who once took N100 Naira to paddle passengers across river Kaduna, but charged as much as N20,000 per person to rescue anyone holed up in houses by the flood.

Kaduna SEMA D-G speaks

The Director-General, SEMA, Mr. Ezekiel Baba-Karik, told newsmen that the flood was of record high in the history of Kaduna State, saying he was going to issue a statement to that effect later today.

He said: “So far, 12 local government areas have been badly flooded. There has never been this type of flood in the state.

We shall issue a statement later.

Right now, we are inspecting the damage with the state governor,” he said.

In Kaduna metropolis, parts of Barnawa, Tudun-wada, Kigo Road, Gonin Gora, Karatudu and Rafinguza, among others, were submerged.

Densely populated areas as Ramat Road, in Haliru Dantoro, Kabala Costain, Kabala West, Unguwan Dosa, all in Kaduna metropolis were all almost submerged.

Parts of Lere, Kachia, Chikun, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi, Soba and Zaria council areas were said to be affected by the flood.

James Aboki, a resident of Kigo road in Kaduna metropolis, told Vanguard that when the rain started, some residents of the area called on emergency workers but lamented that nobody showed up.

“We made desperate calls around 7am this morning when it was obvious that there was disaster coming but SEMA never even picked our calls. We tried to remove what we can, before the entire place became like a sea,’’ he said.

The home of Vice Pesident Namadi Sambo at Ungwan-Rimi in Kaduna North Local Government Area and Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel in Kaduna South Local Government Area were also ravaged by flood.

But, the former VP’s home is not occupied by anyone since he lost the last general elections.

Robbers raid Catholic Church in Abuja

By Favour Nnabugwu

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RECORD FLOOD: Residents of a flooded street at Kigo New Extension in Kaduna, yesterday.

Photo: Luka Binniyat.

Flood kills 12 in Kaduna, houses submerged More people still trapped in high rise buildings, trees linked the area to the city centre, was completely submerged in the flood.

Some Kaduna residents who where affected, said canoe men who rescued them, charged exorbitant fees before taking them to safety.

Kabiru Audu, 56, a bank worker who lives at Unguwan Rimi, said: “I discovered I was trapped around 11:am when I dashed home to see what I could salvage from my house. ‘’Before I could get out, I discovered that the flood outside had reach close to my nostril level. I had no choice than to climb the upstairs where others had gathered.

we can not help it. We saw our houses taken over by water and we could not do anything.

“I was here at the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ secretariat, Kaduna, doing my story when I was called that flood is gradually taking over the area but by the time I left and got to the house, the damage had been done.

“Unconfirmed sources said that at least 12 people had been killed.

Some claimed to have seen corpses floating on the raging current.’’

Though it had stop raining, the water level from the banks of Kaduna river was still rising at the time of filing this report.

We sold bridge rails for N7,000 —ROBBERY SUSPECT

By Esther Onyegbula & Ebere Aham

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AGOS—OPERATIVES of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Lagos State Police Command have arrested a suspected member of a three-man syndicate which specialised in stealing bridge rails across the state.

The suspect, identified as Musa Inusa, was arrested on September 14, 2015 at about 2:30 am around Costain area of Lagos, while stealing rails with two other members of his gang who escaped.

Bridge submerged

A light bridge along Aliyu Makama Road, Barnawa, which

“The boatmen came and started collecting N8,000 per head. Some of us refused to pay.

But after an hour, with the situation getting worse, we started paying N20,000 per person. Even at that, there were not enough canoes to take everyone. Some people are still up there.”

Femi Adi of The News magazine, one of the victims of the flood at Kudenda area in Chikun Local Government Area of the state, said his house and other neighbours within the vicinity were submerged.

He said: “Over 50 houses located along the river side were gone. It’s quite unfortunate that

The suspect, Musa Inusa

According to the Commander of RRS, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Olatunji Disu, policemen on patrol intercepted the suspect and his gang members while carting away the stolen railings.

He noted that one of the suspects was pushing a cart with ten-cut-to-size aluminium bridge rails, while the other two, identified as Abdullahi and Ibrahim fled on sighting the police.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect and his

gang members were in the habit of cutting down the rails of highway bridges meant to save lives when eventualities occur on the highway within the metropolis,” he added.

Vanguard gathered that efforts are still on to apprehend the other two suspects who fled the dragnet of the police.

Suspect's account

“I am one of the three-man syndicate who are stealing the bridge rails across the state. We have our own market where we sell the stolen rails. I am a native of Pagee Local Government Area in Kano State where my parents live at the moment.

"When I got to Lagos in 2010 to search for means of livelihood, all my efforts to secure a job were fruitless. It was Ibrahim who introduced this robbery act to me.

The midnight I was arrested, Ibrahim, Abdullahi and I went to Costain by NationalArtsTheaterandstoletenpieces of aluminium bridge rails. On our way back, we were intercepted by the Police.

“We always sell one pole of bridge rail to one Alhaji Ibrahim at Ijora at the rate of seven thousand naira."

BUJA—BARELY three months after the Catholic Church of Annunciation, Kubwa, was upgraded as a Parish by the Archdiocese of Abuja, suspected armed robbers stormed it and carted away valuable equipment and a Toyota Camry.

The robbers, who have kept Kubwa residents in persistent fear, especially at Arab road, Omega Paints Street and Sunrise Street, forced their way into compounds to carry out their nefarious activities.

According to the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kwaggas, the robbers stormed the parish after Sunday ’s service and removed most of the things used for thanksgiving, including bags of rice and drinks.

He also told the congregation during Mass that about two weeks after the first raid of the church, the robbers again broke in through one of the windows and removed all the public address systems, a Toyota Camry and musical instruments.

Fire razes building in Ughelli

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By Perez Brisibe

GHELLI—GOODS worth millions of Naira were in the early hours of yesterday destroyed, following an inferno that razed an entire building, housing commercial and residential apartments along Adonovwe Street in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Though details of the fire was unknown at press time, the building is said to house six rooms and parlour apartments and six stores used as wine, rice and electronic shops.

Speaking to Vanguard at the scene of the incident, son to the owner of the building, Mr. Wilson Efevwera, said: “We can’t really tell the cause of the fire for now, but from information we have gathered so far, the cause of the fire could be likely traced to an electrical fault in one of the residential apartments.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

BUKOLA SARAKI: Senate President, Bukola Saraki's supporters at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja. PHOTOS: Gbemiga Olamikan.

CORRUPTION: Some stole enough to last generations —OYEGUN

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—NATIONAL Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, said, yesterday, that some Nigerians looted money that could last for generations and charged the judiciary to ensure that such persons were prosecuted.

Oyegun’s charge came as a personal appeal to APC’s National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, who was recently conferred with the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. Speaking at a postinvestiture reception for Banire, Oyegun said: “It is a real pleasure having you on the working committee of APC. It is a period of change and it is my hope that we will now get advice and proposals on how change would also permeates the judiciary.

“I have had cause to be in court once or twice and one of the greatest mysteries on earth is court processes. Before you know what is happening it is over and l did not think l was unintelligent, but I had to ask my lawyer what just happened.

“What is serious is that in a period like this, when we want to change society and change society quickly, it is important that it is in tandem with the judicial system.”

Soludo, Fayemi visit Buhari’s CoS ahead of ministerial appointments

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—FORMER Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Charles Soludo, and former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, were yesterday sighted at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, filling visitors' forms on their way to the office of Alhaji Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Soludo entered the Chief of Staff’s office around 5:30p.m., followed by Fayemi about 30 minutes later.

They were visiting the Villa when expectations were high that President Buhari would soon make his ministerial list public.

It will recalled that the President had repeatedly assured Nigerians that he will form his cabinet before the end of this month.

Soludo, who was the CBN governor during the administrations of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and late Umar Yar’Adua, was critical of the immediate past government of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, on the financial management and the handling of the economy, which he said was brutally raped.

Fayemi was the Director of Policy, Research and Strategy in All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign organization.

I'm not available for public service—SOLUDO

Many believed that Soludo’s critical outbursts on the eve of the presidential election in March helped to sway sympathy and votes for President Buhari even as the former CBN governor, in an interview with an online media, Premium Times, on

June 7, said he was not prepared to work for the government, saying he was preoccupied with other engagements He had said: “Nigerians and their rumours! I am glad you said they are rumours and such rumours are normal.

“For sure, I wish the new government success and for the sake of Nigeria, everyone must contribute to assist President Buhari succeed.

“I will contribute in whatever way I can. However, everyone cannot sit in government in order to serve: some will be there on full time basis, while others can contribute from outside.

“For me at this point in time,

I am not disposed or available for full time public service.

Perhaps in the future it could happen, but not now.

‘My hands are full’

“For now, my hands are full with several other experiments I am involved with (especially abroad) in the private sector, charity, think-tanks, and the international community.

“I am part of a major initiative in Africa’s mining and solid minerals sector, and this takes me through several African countries, among other engagements.

“I am having great fun exploring totally new vistas of opportunity that are central

to Africa’s great leap in the 21st century.

“I read that President Buhari will give priority to solid minerals. We can provide free advisory services and perhaps assist to mobilize investment in the sector or in any other areas if our advice is needed.

“In effect, there are several ways we can assist the government to succeed but not necessarily to take up full time appointment. No, not now,” he was quoted as saying in the interview.

Meanwhile, it was not known whether both men later met with President Buhari as they waited for the Chief of Staff, who was in the President’s office when they arrived the State House.

FG to exempt NNPC, others from TSA T

HERE were indications yesterday that the Federal Government may exempt Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and several other agencies from the Treasury Single Account, TSA, policy.

It was learned that the decision to exempt the agencies from TSA was reached after a meeting of officials of the affected agencies with the Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris and Directors in his office.

Sources told Vanguard that President Muhammadu Buhari had been fully briefed by the AGF on why some agencies had to be allowed to receive revenue into bank accounts other than the TSA. It was disclosed that the agencies’ operations would

be hampered if all their revenues were to be paid into the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, before they secure approvals through the bureaucracy to make withdrawals to finance such operations.

All affected agencies are commercial organizations.

Agencies affected

In addition to NNPC, it was learned that Bank of Industry, BOI, Federal Mortgage Bank, Bank of Agriculture, Urban Development Bank, Nigeria Export Import Bank, Nigeria Independent Power Project, NIPP, Galaxy Backbone and Nigeria Railways were equally exempted.

President Buhari's administration has been under tremendous pressure

over the TSA. Banks fear that it would adversely affect their operations should all Federal Government funds be pooled into the apex bank.

The quasi-commercial entities also mounted pressure on government as they argued that the TSA would not allow for the smooth operations of their organizations.

As learned, when the guidelines are announced by the AGF, there could be a long list of many departments and agencies of government that would be exempted from the policy.

However, the AGF had repeatedly said that there would be no going back on the implementation of the policy.

He told journalists last weekend that the detailed guidelines would be announced within a short time.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—9

EID-EL KABIR

FG declares Thursday, Friday public holidays Urges Nigerians to support nation building

By Jude Opara

A CELEBRATION: From left— Chairman, Heirs Holdings Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Chairman, Honeywell Plc, Oba Otudeko; Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje; Group Managing Director, United Capital Plc, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni, and her husband, Mr. Segun Sanni, during Oluwatoyin's 50th birthday celebration in Lagos.

Army approves promotion for 5,000 soldiers fighting Boko Haram

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BUJA—THE Nigeria Army has approved the promotion of 5,000 soldiers fighting insurgents in the North-East and others involved in other operations, as part of steps to boost their morale.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai, made the announcement yesterday in Abuja, at the opening of the 2015 Chief of Army Staff Third Quarter conference at Army Headquarters.

He said that the approval of the promotion of the soldiers was one of the many measures introduced by the Army under his command to boost troops’ morale and reposition its operations.

He added that it was also in line with the vision of the Army command to reward gallant troops in any way deemed fit to boost their combat readiness and willingness to serve fatherland.

He said that troops serving in the North-East and in other operations in the country would regularly receive rewards from the Army High Command for their selfless service to the nation.

Lt.-Gen. Buratai said: “Since we came on board, we have introduced several measures aimed at encouraging our troops to give their best in the service of their nation.

“The approval of the accelerated promotion of 5,000 soldiers was to redeem the promise made by my predecessor to the troops fighting insurgents in the North-East.

“It is my belief that this promotion, coupled with other incentives, will encourage our troops to fight for our country.”

The COAS charged the officers and all personnel of the Nigeria Army to constantly maintain the

required level of physical fitness.

He gave all Army officers and soldiers a December 15 deadline to shape up or face

the medical board for appropriate disciplinary actions.

Buratai said under his watch, the Army had recorded major successes in fighting insurgency, improving its human rights credentials and

troops' welfare.

He said that his vision of entrenching professionalism and bequeathing a combatready Army to the nation was on course as commanders and troops had been fully briefed to key into the vision.

How 20 Nigerians died in Mecca T

HE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, yesterday, confirmed the death of 20 Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during this year ’s Hajj.

Chairman of the commission, Abdullahi Mukhtar, disclosed this at a pre-Arafat meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

He said 14 pilgrims died from cardiac arrest and other ailments, while six lost their lives in the September 11 crane crash incident.

Mukhtar said three Nigerians were injured at the September 11 crane crash, as against the six earlier reported.

He said all the pilgrims that submitted valid documents to the commission for visa were airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.

He also said that the security situation in Saudi Arabia was tight and advised pilgrims to be orderly and to stay in Makkah.

Mr. Mukhtar also advised the pilgrims to drink more water due to the harsh weather, adding that they should only expose themselves to the sun when

necessary.

He said female pilgrims should move in groups and avoid construction sites within the Grand Mosque and outside.

On Arafat, he said the pilgrims would start moving to Mina at midnight and advised them against climbing the roof of the buses

conveying them.

“We have resolved at a meeting with clerics to abide by the time given to us by the Saudi authorities to start moving to Mina,” he said.

He warned clerics against inciting pilgrims against the resolution, adding that anyone found doing so would be sanctioned.

BUJA—THE Federal Government has declared Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25, public holiday for the celebration of the Muslim festival of Eid-el Kabir.

A statement in Abuja, yesterday, by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji, said the period is for the Muslim faithful and other Nigerians to reflect and work for national development.

The statement said: “This is a time for Muslim faithful and other Nigerians to reflect and work for peace, progress and tolerance, which is mostly needed for national development.”

The permanent secretary further urged Nigerians to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its quest to reposition the country for the benefit of every citizen.

He also admonished Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to use the period to contribute towards nation building by engaging in positive endeavours at all times.

CJN TO JUDGES: Be stringent with corruption cases

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday, tasked judges to be more stringent while presiding over corruption-related cases.

He said there was need for all judges to expedite the determination of corruption cases using the 2013 Practice Directions on Serious Crimes, which he said was specially enacted to address delays in the hearing and determination of such cases.

He said: “Where justice is

prompt, just and based on the law, there are fewer chances for the public to ascribe corruption to our courts.”

Justice Mohammed spoke at a special session of the Supreme Court to mark the commencement of the 2015/ 2016 legal year and swearing in of 21 senior lawyers, who were recently conferred with the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN. He said: “Permit me to reflect on the activity of the past one year as a necessary pathway into the policy of this court in the year to

come.

“I make bold to say that the 2014-2015 legal year was unique in the history and life of our nation’s judiciary as a whole, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria in particular.

“In my considered opinion, the judiciary was largely successful in effectively responding to the challenges it faced in arduously protecting its impartiality and independence.”

Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and President, Pan African Laywers Union, Mr. Elijah Banda were among dignitaries at the event.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

LCCI decries inconsistent policy on agriculture

By Naomi Uzor, with Agency Reports

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AGOS—MR Wale Oyekoya, the Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Agro and Non Oil Sector, has advised the Federal Government to stop inconsistent policies on agriculture.

He gave the advice yesterday in Lagos.

He was reacting to the likelihood of government reversing the restriction of buying foreign exchange to import certain food items like rice, fish and wheat, among others.

According to him, the restriction is already causing price hike on the affected food items. “This is one of the government policies that the organised private sector is talking about; some of the policies are not sustainable.

“Government formulate a policy and barely one year it is already contemplating to change it.

“I believe that government should carry stakeholders along when formulating agriculture and other policies that affect everybody, especially food security in the country.

“The right thing is for government to have given importers up to three years to bring in some critical food items and at the same time encourage the local production of such items,” he said.

PDP chieftain carpets Buhari over comment

By Dapo Akinrefon

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AGOS—SOUTH WEST Zonal Organizing Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Femi Careena, has said it was unfair for President Muhammadu Buhari to tag ministers as noise- makers.

The PDP chieftain also called on the president to hit the ground running now and talk less so as not to lose both local and international goodwill Careena said this shortly after receiving the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Award of Excellence on Youth Development presented to him at a brief ceremony by the NANS Vice President on National Affairs, Comrade Timileyin Ayenuro, in Lagos.

Ambode submits list of 23 commissioners, 14 advisers to Assembly

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, with Agency Reports

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday presented the list of would-be cabinet members to the House of Assembly for screening.

The Clerk of the House, Mr. Ganiyu Abiru read the names on the floor to members.

The governor is requesting for the screening and approval of 37 persons with 23 as Commissioners and 14 as Special Advisers.

Among the names are six

former cabinet members from the Babatunde Fashola administration, including former commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, former Special Adviser, Central Business District, Folarin Coker, former Special Adviser, Commerce and Industry, Seye Oladejo, former Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson and former Special Adviser, Rural Development, Babatunde Hunpe.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr

Habib Aruna said; ‘’Governor Ambode had made good his promise at the inaugural address to inject new blood on merit and professionalism as the list depicts.

It is made up of top technocrats, politicians and strategists. ‘’The governor named a relatively young cabinet with the likes of Mrs. Yetunde Onabolu, Fela Bank-Olemoh, Akinyemi Ashade, a partner in KPMG, former Managing Director, National Mirror, Steve Ayorinde, Alhaja Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, a pharmacist, Kehinde Joseph and Prof. Ademola Abass, a professor of Law, whose ages range VISIT: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (2nd left) with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Sadanobu Kusaoke (left) during his courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday. on the right is Perm Sec, Office of Overseas Affairs & Investment (Lagos Global), Mrs. Arinola Odulana.

between 39 and 47 years. ‘’Other names include Dr. Akintola Benson, former Special Adviser Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Dr. Mohammed Akinkunmi, former member, House of Representatives, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, Dr. Femi Onanuga, CEO of LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, Arch. Wasiu Anifowoshe, former member House of Assembly, Mrs. Lola Akande, Agboola Dabiri, Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, Anofi Elegushi, Rotimi Ogunleye, Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, Femi Odubiyi, Alhaji Musiliu Folami, Adeniji Kazeem, Adeyemi Labinjo, Toyin Suarau, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, Deji Tinubu, Mrs. Mudirat Giwanson and former Chairman, Ejigbo LCDA, Kehinde Bamigbetan and Wale Oluwo. ‘’The screening of the list is expected to commence immediately after the Sallah holidays while cleared cabinet members would likely be sworn in to resume by Monday, October 5, 2015.’’

Meanwhile, the governor has also submitted the names of Kabir Abdullah as the Executive Secretary of the Water Regulatory Commission and Fuad Alade Oki as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Safety Commission to the Assembly for confirmation.

Nonagenarian picket Ambode’s office over withheld schools •Family rancour stopped the return — GOVT

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—NINETY oneyear-old owner of Metropolitan School, Isolo, Madam Roseline Ololo, yesterday stormed the office of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode over continued withholding of her schools by the government.

Ololo, who defied the light morning shower, picketed the office of the governor to express her dissatisfaction over non-return of her schools 15 years after it handed over others to their owners.

But government promptly replied that the schools were not returned because of the rancour within the family as at the time other schools were returned.

In 1976, via the Education (Private Secondary Institutions Special Provisions) Law, the Military Government of Lagos State took over 48 Private Secondary Schools from their owners, including Metropolitan College. In the process, Isolo Secondary School was carved out of Metropolitan College on the same expanse of land hosting the college.

The nonagenarian, who was

accompanied by other sympathizers was armed with placards which read among others: “Your Excellency, please help me.

The Lagos State Government should obey the law and release the school. Ambode do justice; Bring Back our school.”

At the entrance of the Ministry of Education where the protesters commenced their protest, there was a mild drama between the government officials and the protesters who demanded that the issue be resolved immediately.

Speaking at the scene, Ololo lamented “I do not know why they have continued to withhold my school because I did not steal money. My late husband and I established the school with our legitimate money. If not tribalism, why are they yet to return my school.

“I wouldn’t be here today if the government had acted on my demands. At my age, I should not be passing through this stress.

'Why we didn’t return the school 15 years ago'

Addressing the protesters at the State House, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Olabisi Ariyo said;

“There was rancour within the family. They were fighting over the property. And that was why the school was not returned 15 years ago when others were. It was after they resolved the issue that government is now having issues with them. The delay in the

handling over the school to the Ololo was caused by them.''

The permanent secretary however assured the protesters that; “We will resolve the issue on Wednesday. We don’t want the issue of tribe to come into this issue. Irrespective of your tribe, we are all Nigerians. We will treat everyone fairly.”

Fire guts Lagos inland revenue hqtrs

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—FOR the second time in two days, fire yesterday gutted a major government office when section of the Lagos Inland Revenue Service, LIRS, headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja Secretariat was razed.

Similar incident occurred at the State Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Alausa secretariat when fire razed some parts of the office at the weekend.

The LIRS inferno, was said to have started about 8:30 am from the third floor of the building located in Good Shepherd Building.

Although the cause of the fire could not be ascertained at press time, eyewitness said it occurred due to power surge that affected

one of the air conditioners on the floor.

Sources said that the right wing of the third floor where the fire started was previously occupied by the secretary to the LIRS board.

But the secretary had vacated the office one month back.

A senior official of the agency, who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, said there was similar fire four years ago.

When Vanguard visited the scene, thick smoke was still oozing out of the building as members of the state Fire Service battled to put out the fire.

As a result, normal activities were temporarily paralysed as other agencies and private establishments occupying same building were forced to abandon their work.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 11

Ex-SGF, Falae abducted on birthday

By Dayo Johnson & Dapo Akinrefon

Kidnappers demand N100m ransom

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KURE—FORMER Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Samuel Oluyemisi Falae, yesterday received the shock of his life on his 77th birthday as gunmen numbering over 20 invaded his farm in Ilado village, Akure North area of Ondo State and abducted him.

He was picked at about 1pm and by 3.20pm, the abductors have demanded for N100m as ransom before the septuagenarian could be freed.

The police authourities however said it was a case of attack rather than kidnap.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wole Ogodo, said in Akure that Falae was attacked yesterday morning and taken away.

He said that contrary to earlier reports, “It wasn’t a case of kidnap but an attack by Fulani herdsmen.”

The police spokesman said Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was taken away while some of his workers were seriously wounded.

Ogodo said no fewer than 50 policemen had been deployed to the area to search for him.

However, a source in the family, who preferred anonymity, said that the kidnappers had called to ask for N100 million as ransom.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko was said to have summoned an emergency Security Council meeting on the matter.

Born on September 21, 1938, the former Finance minister, who is also national chairman, Social

O

SOGBO—STUDENTS of Osun State government-owned tertiary institutions, yesterday for over an hour, prevented the deputy governor, Mrs. Grace LaoyeTomori from entering the Abeere Government Secretariat while protesting the continued closure of their campuses.

The students, mainly from the

Chief Falae.

Democratic Party, SDP was kidnapped by over 20 Fulani herdsmen who invaded his farm, attacking his over 200 workers.

Many of his workers, including the farm manager simply identified as Bruno were matcheted while others were reportedly wounded and are on admission in different hospitals.

Reports from the family said that the herdsmen have been having issues with the workers in the farm over the grazing and destruction of the farmland by their cows.

The herdsmen reportedly came back yesterday in large numbers and attacked the farm before abducting the politician.

Vanguard was told that on arrival, the herdmen shot into the air, a situation which made the workers to flee.

four tertiary institutions, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun state College of Education, Ila and Ilesa, participated in the protest which lasted several hours.

The students demanded immediate re-opening of their schools shut nine months ago.

The students had, as early as 9.00 am, converged on the popular Olaiya junction and held

EKSIEC fixes council polls for Dec 19

By Rotimi Olaleye

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DO-EKITI—THE Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission, EKSIEC, yesterday announced that council elections will hold in the state on December 19, with a promise to create a level playing ground for all participants.

At a parley with representatives of various political parties at the commission’s office in Ado Ekiti,

By Daud Olatunji

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They reportedly beat up Chief Falae and dragged him on the ground when he refused to go with his abductors.

Police source however said that the herdsmen may have been used by other interested party who have requested for a ransom.

The herdsmen, according to police source may have been paid off and the victim handed over to those who made contact with the family after carrying out the hatchet job.

Spokesman of SDP in the state, Remi Olayiwola said the abductors have contacted the wife of the victim, Mrs Rachel Falae and requested for N100m ransom expected to be paid between yesterday and today.

Olayiwola said that the accent

Osun students protest 9-month closure of schools

By Gbenga Olarinoye

Obasanjo writes children story book on peace

the Chairman, Justice Kayode Bamisile (retd), assured that the Commission would give all the political parties a level-playing field to participate in the election.

The last election was held under the administration of Engr Segiun Oni in 2008, while efforts made by his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to conduct same on February 4, 2011 was aborted due to the Ado Ekiti High Court judgement, which voided the composition of the then SIEC.

up traffic for about an hour before moving to the state secretariat.

During the protest, the students blocked all roads leading to the secretariat and insisted that their campuses be immediately reopened.

Attempt by the permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Education Mr. Lawerence Oyeniran, to pacify the students failed as he was booed and later whiskered away by the police and men of the Directorate of State Services.

Leaders of the protesting students, Mr Adekunle Animasahun and Lukman Adekitan said their demands include immediate re-opening of their institutions, improvement of infrastructures in their institutions, recruitment of more lecturers and payment of salary arrears to workers.

The deputy Governor, Mrs Laoye Tomori, who was returning from vacation later arrived the scene and attempted to enter the Government Secretariat, but was prevented by the protesters.

of those who contacted the wife of their National chairman was that of a Fulani.

Newsmen were barred from his residence located along Oba-Ile in Akure metropolis while sympathizers and party members gained free access into the compound.

Spokesman for the state police command, Wole Ogodo said that until the search party led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Ishola Abdulahi, returns, the command would not be able to ascertain the whereabout of the politician.

He added that it was too hasty to conclude that the politician was kidnapped.

Information Commissioner, Kayode Akinmade, reacting on behalf of the state government condemned the abduction, saying that it was a sad development.

Akinmade however said all machinery have been put in place to secure the release of the politician.

He pointed out that an emergency state security Council meeting was on-going at the time of filling in this report.

The Commissioner promised that the state government would unravel the incident and secure the release of the former Minister.

Delta SDP condemns kidnapping

Meantime, the Delta State chairman of SDP, Mr Oke Idawene has condemned the abduction of Chief Olu Falae calling on security agencies to fish out perpetrators of the act.

Idawene said; “Baba Falae is a father to all. It is very sad that a man like that can experience such a dehumanizing trauma after all his good works for Nigeria. I passionately appeal to his abductors to set the old man free for he is a clean Nigerian. I urge the security agents too to go extra mile to secure his release.

Governor Mimiko should please swing into action like never before to get him back I plead.”

BEOKUTA— FORMER president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, launched a children’s story book on peace to celebrate the the 2015 International Day of Peace, The former president said he decided to launch the story book entitled, “Peace Story for Children” to ensure the entrenchment of sustainable peace in the country.

Obasanjo, while launching the 14-page booklet illustrated with various cartoons at an event held at the OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, attended by pupils from different secondary schools in the state, said that it had become imperative to sow the seeds of peace in the minds of children whose minds were more receptive to ideas.

Obasanjo, who was represented at the launch of the booklet by the Director of the OOPL Centre for Human Security, Prof.

Peter Okebukola, noted that since the youths were the leaders of tomorrow, imbibing the essence of peace when young should be vigorously pursued.

Addressing the pupils from the various schools who also participated in a debate with the theme, “Whose Responsibility Is It to ensure peace? Is it the people or the government?”, Okebukola disclosed that Obasanjo called him overnight to tell Nigerian children to imbibe the culture of peace while still young.

Osinbajo, Obasanjo, others for Adegbenro memorial lecture

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—VICE President Yemi Osinbajo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State are expected at the 40th anniversary of the death of former Premier of Western Region, Alhaji Dauda Adegbenro.

The Dauda Adegbenro Foundation said its 2nd annual lecture will include a series of events, which include a visit to an orphanage and special Jumat service scheduled at Abadiya Mosque at Moshood Abiola Way, Abeokuta on Friday 25th September, 2015 and a church service at Owu Baptist Church, Totoro, Abeokuta the following Sunday.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Commissioner–nominees, others to write aptitude test N

OMINEES for appointments as commissioners in Cross River State are to undergo mandatory integrity and aptitude test, even as the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has already set up a selection committee to oversee the process.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, said the nominees would have to undergo the aptitude test before their names would be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

The statement disclosed that appointment of chairmen and members of boards, agencies and parastatals and even special advisers would go through the same routine.

“Governor Ayade wants all nominees for appointments as commissioners to undergo integrity test. They will also write an aptitude test,” the statement said According to the statement, the governor believes that every would-be appointee in the state must be subjected to ethical measurement to ascertain whether or not they can function in the new order, where

accountability and transparency are the watchwords.

Consequently, the governor has set up a selection committee to oversee the process.

According to the statement “Renowned Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Paul Erokoro, is the chairman of the committee which has prominent woman leader and politician, Mrs. Grace

Ekanem and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Martin Orim as members.”

In another development, Governor Ayade has terminated the contract for the evacuation of refuse in Calabar.

This follows the inability of the contracted firms, PATSON and PACLISON to evacuate refuse from the streets of Calabar.

It will be recalled that during a tour of the metropolis shortly after assuming office, Governor Ayade had given the contractors a three-month ultimatum to improve on the sanitary condition of the metropolis with a view to restoring its rightful status as the cleanest and greenest state in the country.

INAUGURATION: From left, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel; his wife, Martha; Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo and wife of Senate Minority Leader, Mrs. Ekaette-Unoma Akpabio, during the inauguration of Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Programme, FEYREP, a pet-project of the governor's wife, in Uyo.

Bayelsa gives Agip Dec 31 deadline to clean up 1,000 spill sites

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N AG OA — B AY E L S A State Government has handed down a December 31, 2015, deadline to Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, to clean up over 1,000 spill sites in the state.

In a letter to the management of NAOC, the state government decried the poor spill response by the oil firm.

The letter dated September 18, 2015, and signed by Mr Iniruo Wills, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment, lamented that less than 20 sites of over 800 spills that occurred in 2014 had been remediated and cleaned.

Wills noted that the government was dismayed by the alarming frequency of spills from oil fields operated by Agip in the state without tangible efforts to mitigate the effects of the pollution on the environment.

The commissioner observed that of the over 200 spill incidents so far recorded in 2015, no effort was made to clean and remediate the sites as stipulated by existing environmental laws.

The letter read in part: “We have noted with dismay the

alarming number of oil spills in Bayelsa State, with no commensurate effort to clean them up and restore the affected environment and communities. In 2014 alone, well over 800 spills occurred in the land and swamp areas of your operations; yet a dismal figure of less than 20 sites were certified to have been cleaned, from our records. Over 200 spills have been recorded this year, just from your facilities in the

swamp area within the state.

"We, therefore, request your organization to immediately initiate action in ensuring that all oil impacted sites in Bayelsa State are satisfactorily cleaned up before the 31st of December, 2015.

“Again, there seems to be no commitment or systematic plan on your part to clean up these sites, thus worsening the dehumanizing environmental status that would not be tolerated anywhere else in the

world."

The government called on Agip to come up with a clean-up plan and submit same to the Environment Ministry before October 30, 2015.

“You are to please present to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment before the 30th of October, 2015 an initial work plan for this comprehensive cleanup programme," the government said.

Don flays hate campaigns by politicians, parties

By Emem Idio

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ENAGOA—THE Director, Centre for Niger Delta Studies in Niger Delta University, NDU, Bayelsa State, Professor Ibaba Samuel Ibaba, has condemned the spate of hate campaigns and speeches by politicians and political parties in the state ahead of the December 5 governorship elections.

Ibaba, who spoke as a guest lecturer at an event organized by the United NationsPOLAC, in partnership with Nengi James Foundation, to mark this year’s International

Peace Day, yesterday in Yenagoa, described as dangerous, the trend of hate speeches and insult on personalities by politicians and political parties in the state, and stressed the need for them to be tolerant and civil in their campaigns to avoid throwing the state into unnecessary chaos.

The don, who spoke on the topic, Peaceful Governorship Elections in Bayelsa State: Interrogating Stakeholders Responsibilities, said stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,

political parties, media, security agencies and the civil society, must play their roles effectively as contained in the electoral guidelines to ensure a peaceful election in the state.

“To achieve peaceful elections, INEC must ensure that all guidelines are followed and avoid all forms of compromises. Political parties must avoid hate speeches and address grievances through due process, while the media must avoid partisanship and announce only results published by INEC," he said.

UBEC to sanction non-performing contractors

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By Gabriel Enogholase

E N I N — T H E management of Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, has threatened to deal with nonperforming contractors handling its projects and has begun a nationwide UBEC project inspection to fish out defaulting contractors.

UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Dr. Sharon Oviemuno, while inspecting one of the UBEC projects at Enwhreni in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, decried the slow pace of work at Enwhreni Vocational School for boy child project, awarded to the contractors since 2013.

While ordering the contractors to report to UBEC headquarters in Abuja immediately, she said many other UBEC contractors that were awarded contracts at the same time had since completed their jobs and lamented that work at Enwhreni Vocational School for boys was still at 35 percent and was two years overdue for comletion.

Edo ASUSS wants FG to create Secondary Education Commission

By Simon Ebegbulem

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E N I N — T H E Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, in Edo State has called on the Federal Government to create a Secondary Education Commission to regulate the activities of secondary schools across the country, saying the absence of such commission was killing secondary education in the country.

The union also urged the Federal Government to include its members in the drafting of school curricula for better implementation of the programmes in schools.

President of ASUSS, Omaje Samuel, spoke at the ground breaking ceremony for the building of the union’s secretariat in Benin City yesterday.

He pointed out that universities and polytechnics were well managed in the country today due to the presence of a commission, contending that there was a constitutional provision for the establishment of same for secondary schools

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—13

Buhari commiserates with Itsekiri on passage of Olu of Warri A

B U J A — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, has commiserated with the Itsekiri people of Delta State on the passage of their revered monarch, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri.

In a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, by the Special Adviser to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari conveyed his personal condolences to the Olu’s immediate family and relations as well as friends and associates of the highly respected monarch.

He said the deceased, whose transition was formally announced at the weekend, would be greatly missed by the Itsekiris people of Delta and all Nigerians.

The President urged members of the late Olu’s family and the Itsekiris people, to be comforted by the knowledge that Ogiame Atuwatse II, would be remembered as a peace-loving monarch, who did his best to foster the harmonious coexistence of his people with other ethnic groups

in Nigeria.

Buhari noted that the late Olu would also be honoured by present and future generations as a most worthy custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the Itsekiris.

According to him, the

deceased would also be remembered for the commendable wisdom, sagacity and benevolence which he exhibited in his 28 years reign over the Itsekiri nation.

The statement added that as

they "begin the three-month mourning period for their departed traditional ruler, the president prayed that God Almighty would receive the late Olu’s soul and grant him eternal rest.”

PRESENTATION: From left; Mr Ochereome Nnanna, Chairman, Editorial Board, Vanguard; Evelyn Usman, winner of Crime Reporter of the Year Award, at the 9th Media Nite Out Awards; Mr Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor; Kehinde Ajose, winner of Entertainment Reporter of the Year, and Mr Onochie Anibeze, Saturday Editor, during the presentation of the awards to the Management of Vanguard Newspapers, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola.

Oshiomhole's 7-man electoral c'ttee meets with 19 Bayelsa APC gov aspirants

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By Samuel Oyadongha

A N A G O A — GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State led a seven-man Electoral Committee, yesterday to meet with the 19 governorship aspirants of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State, over the guidelines to be used for party ’s governorship primaries in the state holding today.

Besides the aspirants, other stakeholders of the APC in the state also attended the meeting.

Speaking, Oshiomhole told the aspirants that the primaries should be taken as a family affair stressing that the rules on the conduct of the primaries were not different from those used in Kogi State, and the national primaries of the party.

According to him, 1,508 delegates were expected to vote during the primaries including two Board of Trustee members of the party; former

Governor Timipre Sylva and the Deputy Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr. Timi Frank.

Oshiomhole also announced Samson Siasia Stadium, as venue of the primaries and that open ballot system of voting would be adopted while international passports and voter's cards will be used for identification

of delegates.

He, however, warned aspirants against involvement in issue of cloning of voter ’s cards.

He said: “The party will deploy card readers to authenticate the voter’s cards presented by delegates. If anyone is involved in the act, we will ensure he or she is arrested. Cloning of cards is

a criminal offence. The sponsor of such act and those caught with the cloned cards will be arrested.

“The election is a family affair. The family is meeting to deliberate on who can be entrusted with the party's flag to contest the December 5 election."

‘No firearm was recovered in A-Ibom Govt House by DSS operatives'

A

KWA Ibom State Government has again reiterated that no firearm or currency of any kind was recovered during the recent raid by some agents of the Directorate of State Services, DSS, on Government House, Uyo, as allegedly peddled by a section of the media.

A release issued yesterday in Uyo by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, recalled that Governor Udom

Emmanuel had variously cleared the air on the matter stressing that nothing was found or taken away from Government House, Uyo. ‘’Let it be stated for the umpteenth time that no such thing was found or taken from our Government House,” the Commissioner declared.

Umanah, who described such allegations by some alleged agents of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the misinformed public as unfounded and

spurious, noted that it was unfortunate that people were still peddling false rumours to the effect that security agents discovered firearms and foreign currencies in Akwa Ibom State Government House.

The commissioner advised members of the public to disregard concocted and self-serving stories by political jobbers whose stock in trade, he said, was spreading rumours to survive.

A-Ibom PDP to Lai Mohammed: Watch your utterances

A

KWA I b o m S t a t e chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has warned the National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to watch his utterances and desist from making unfounded comments on Akwa Ibom State governorship election petition matter before the tribunal.

In a statement by the state Chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo, the Party condemned the alleged outlandish statements credited to Alhaji Mohammed in his briefing in Abuja, where he faulted the recent solidarity visit to Akwa Ibom State by the national leadership of the PDP over the DSS raid on the state’s Government House.

Obong Ekpo berated the intrusion by Lai Mohammed into a matter he had no business in, as the visit of the PDP to one of the states it controls, was within the rights of the leaders and stakeholders of the party.

On the pending election dispute before the tribunal, PDP warned Lai Mohammed, to refrain from making perceived unguarded statements and claims over a matter which is subjudice and which he knew little or nothing about, noting that apportioning blame or indicting the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and its officials amounted to jumping the gun and engaging in unnecessary media trial.

Ekpo said: “Our people are still expecting the DSS to explain its mission to their seat of authority, and except Lai Mohammed wants to assume the role of the DSS spokesman, he should know when to mind his own business and stick to the role which his office permits him and desist from his rude intrusion into the affairs of Akwa Ibom State or the PDP. The PDP restated its implicit confidence in the integrity of the tribunal to deliver a fair verdict and not yield to alleged “subtle innuendoes, manipulations, propaganda and insinuations of the petitioners in the determination of the case. If there is a party that has lost faith in the judiciary, it is the APC.

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

DIGNIT ARIES CONDOLE WITH THE AAW WOL OWO FFAMIL AMIL TH OF CHIEF DIGNITARIES OLO AMILYY, AATT IKENNE, OVER THE DEA DEATH AY. PHOTOS BY BUNMI AZEEZ AND WUNMI AKINOLA H.I.D. AAW WOL OWO, WHO DIED ON SSA ATURD OLO TURDA

Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi signing condolence register.

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (3rd right); the Iyalode-General, Lagos State, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo; first daughter of the deceased, Rev. Tola Oyediran, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; daughter of the deceased, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; wife of the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Falilat Obasa and wife of the Lagos State SSG, Prof. Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello.

(RIGHT): S o m e pupils of Obafemi Aw o l o w o , Nursery and Primary School, Ikenne.

From left: Gen Theophilus Danjuma (retd); his wife, Daisy and Dr. Awolowo-Dosumu.

From left; Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun State, his wife and Rev. Tola Oyediran.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 15

C M Y K

16—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

ANTONIO DEHINDE FERNANDEZ'S BURIAL The remains of late Nigerian billionaire, Chief Antonio Dehinde Fernandez was laid to rest, Friday, September 18, 2015, in Brussels, Belgium. In attendance at the burial were the late billionaire’s children, family members and friends, including the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu and Founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

Chief Fernandez, 78, died in Belgium on September 1.

HID AWOLOWO: My love for Mama made me work with her for 11 years — Personal Sect ••as Deputy Speaker, Adebule, Danjuma, Oyinlola, others eulogise her

By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Daud Olatunji

A

Pastor Tunde Bakare (m) and some members of late Fernandez's family

Some members of Late Fernandez's family and other sympathisers at the church service

Employment letter

Some of the late Fernandez's family members at the burial

Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu (l) with another guest

Some of the Late Fernandez's family members at the church service

C M Y K

BEOKUTA—MRS. Chinwe EroPhillips, the Personal Assistant and Secretary to wife of late sage, Chief Mrs. Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, yesterday, narrated how her love for the late H.I.D made her to work for 11 years.

Mrs Ero-Phillips said she was initially unwilling to work for Mama, because of her age, but she soon fell in love with her and wished H.I.D had lived on and on.

The woman, who has spent 11 years working for Mama at close range, said the Yeye Oodua, detested lateness to work and carrying out ones’s task haphazardly.

Disclosing her last moment with Mrs. Awolowo before she passed on last Saturday afternoon by 3:15pm, the aide said: “I attend weekend lectures. So, on Friday I was around to see her. We exchanged pleasantries, I was commended for the preparations concerning the Centennary birthday and also prayed for her and she too enquired about my children. On Saturday, I Ieft for school and was shocked when I heard that Mama was having difficulty breathing and I called her and she did not respond. That was the time I knew Mama was gone. I will miss her greatly.”

While sharing how she became Mama’s PA, she said she saw a job vacancy seeking Personal Assistant to the Chairman of a national newspaper adding that she merely applied without knowing the person was the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty. She said: “I was first interviewed in Ibadan and later during the second leg of the interview, I was brought to Ikenne, Ogun State, where I saw Mama and concluded that there was no way I could work with an aged woman of 89 at the time.”

Ero-Phillips said “it was employment matter that brought me into the life of Mama. I was initially skeptical working for an aged woman because she was 89 then. I saw a vacancy for position of a secretary to the chairman of a national newspaper and I applied without knowing who the person could be. About three months after the interview, I received my employment letter to work with Mama Awolowo in Ikenne. I was quite skeptical and reluctantly accepted the offer, but momentarily kept consoling myself with the idea that I will be looking for jobs elsewhere.

“But as years went by, I discovered that Mama was a woman anybody would be privileged to work for. I didn’t have reason to change job even when opportunities came, I didn’t look in that direction to see whatever was in it.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf; former Minister of Defence, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma (retd); Lagos deputy governor, Dr Idiat Adebule; former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Mrs Bola Obasanjo, were part of those who paid tributes to the family of the Awolowo matriarch. Others who also visited the Ikenne home of Awolowo were; wife of

the Oyo State Governor, M r s .

Florence Ajimobi a n d Senator Olohunnimbe Mamora.

She left a good legacy— Deputy Speaker T h e Mrs. Chinwe Ero-Phillips Deputy Speaker, in his remarks said the late sage and his wife had left a good legacy for the Yoruba nation. Yusuf said, “If you look at the history of Nigeria very well, particularly the history of South-West, Chief Obafemi Awolowo united the Yoruba from two fronts: first, he was a politician and he was a Premier of the Western region. He did fantastically well and two he was the leading Yoruba leader. So after the death of Baba, Mama continued to unite the Yorubas and continued in the footsteps of Papa. The Awolowos, as a family have left a good legacy for us in Yorubaland and in Nigeria."

She was a strong pillar —Adebule In her remarks, Lagos deputy governor urged Nigerian women to emulate and adopt the virtues of womanhood which she said Mama represented. Adebule, who led a delegation of women from Lagos State which include wife of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Falilat Obasa, wife of the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Professor (Mrs) Yemi Tunji-Bello; the Iyaloja General of Lagos, Chief (Mrs) Folashade TinubuOjo, described HID Awolowo as a strong pill ar behind the success of Chief Awolowo in his political life. Adebule said, “We recognise the support she gave to her husband, our father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo while he was alive and not only did she give him all the support but she endured.

She departed with dignity, majesty— Danjuma On his part, former Minister of Defence, General Danjuma said “Mama was a remarkable lady who retained her faculty to the very end of her long life. She departed with dignity and majesty”.

Mama Awolowo was a unifying matriarch – Boroffice Also, the Senator representing Ondo North, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice described the demise of Mrs Awolowo as the glorious exit of a unifying matriarch. He said “in spite of her ripe age and wellaccomplished life, Mama’s death is shocking as arrangements are in top gear for her centenary celebration. Mama lived an eventful life as an exponent of peace and a model for national unity.

Undoubtedly, a jewel of inestimable value is gone. May her soul rest in the blossom of the lord.”

Labour, textile workers mourn Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, described the late matriarch as “the rallying point for the continued propagation and perpetuation of the Awolowo philosophy after the exit of Pa Awolowo.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 17

Letter To Kumalia:This March Of Folly!

contentious issues.

We also spent several nights together at the Consensus Building Group meetings hosted

by High Chief Raymond Dokpesi with Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as coconvener. We used that broad coalition to build understanding around major contentious issues which were bound to tear apart an assembly of a multi-ethnic country that had lived in denial for decades.

You were a member of virtually every committee put together by the Deputy Chairman of the

Negative triumphalism and myopia: Your call for the

D

EAR Alhaji Ibrahim Kumalia: I have watched with amazement your futile attempt to deny the communique of the summit of Northern Reawakening Forum read by you at the end of your recent summit declared open by the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN). I hope the VP would be available any day he is invited to a similar summit in the South!

Your communique called on President Muhammadu Buhari to discard the report of the 2014 National Conference because former President Goodluck Jonathan who convoked it had a hidden agenda which you did not state. You instead asked for another conference to address the problems confronting the North East. In your words: “The North has the highest number of people below $2.00 a day; 71.5 per cent of the population in the North-East live in poverty and more than half are malnourished. A 2013 World Bank Report showed that poverty in 16 out of the 19 Northern states have doubled since 1980.

Long term vision The North has the lowest literacy rate in the country. Lagos is at 92 percent, Kano 49 per cent and Borno less than 15 percent. Sixty five percent of Northern girls and 53 per cent of boys are not in school compared to only 20 percent for the South-East.

“We call on the Federal Government to convene a National Conference for the development of the North-East to put together a short, medium and long-term vision for the development of the zone. The last National Conference was convened by the Peoples Democratic Party government.

You do not expect this (All Progressives Congress) government to take hook, line and sinker what was put in place by the last government.

“What are the problems in the North-East? Has anybody tried to ascertain the problems in the North-East? The essence of the national conference is to analyse the extent of damage done to the North-East. The working document would be used to rebuild the region. There is no resemblance between the conference we are proposing and the 2014 National Conference.

Many things have been C M Y K

destroyed and we need people with experience to discuss how the area will be settled.”

Northeast development index: before i go to broader

issues,let me quickly address the issues you have raised about development index in the North East by saying that all what you highlighted are the creation of the elite of the north who held power for 38 out of 55 years of Nigeria's independence. It is surprising that you gave data in a way suggestive that the

You lost me though when you went into the nonsequitur of we need ourselves "because when we talk of commerce you give that to the Igbos, the knowledge industry is Yoruba's forte while governance and leadership is the competence of Hausa-Fulani"

underdevelopment of Borno is a function of the development of Lagos rather than posing the edge as a challenge to your elite to modernise. Did you miss former governor of Kano state gloating after the last elections that Almajiri is a thing of pride for you elite in the North because he was able to mobilise them to get 2 million votes? What conference do you need to know that it is your error that has produced the terror that has now destroyed the North East? I was in Alhaji Bamanga Tukur hometown in 2011 and saw his sprawling edifice which was only comparable to Aso Rock villa with every other house in the town in mud and thatch and you think that social system was sustainable? How many northerners who own nearly all the oil blocks in the creeks have instituted scholarships for the children of the north? Are the people burning down schools in the North East not your wards?

National resources How ironic is it that you now want the APC which said the money spent to look at the problems confronting the entire country was a "waste" now in government to use national resources to set up another National conference for North East to point out the failures of your elite to you. Haba!!!

Now to the real deal. I met you at the 2014 National Conference and worked closely with you at the Political Restructuring Committee which you co-chaired with General Ike Nwachukwu.

Your suaveness enamoured you to members of the committee from all divides though any keen watcher could easily see how your countenance swung during

with another 5% of Federal Government revenue to be set aside to take care of disasters in all parts of the country starting WITH the North East. You guys broke trust when Prof. Gambari was asked by Gen. Nwachukwu to present the decision to plenary and he unilaterally changed it to read that the funds should be for only North East and North West.

The uproar that followed that perfidy was doused by the conference decision to throw the issue to the President who should set up a technical committee on it.

conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi whose diplomatic background helped in no small measure in ensuring that frayed nerves were calmed at every juncture. In spite of attempts to blackmail him and Conference Chairman by some Northerner delegates, the conference owed much of its success to those diplomatic moves.

Thus, a conference that was to collapse over majority threshold at the onset was able to conclude without dividing the house once as attested to by Justice Idris Kutigi as he presented the conference report to then President Jonathan “Mr. President, we approved over 600 resolutions; some dealing with issues of law, issues of policy and issues of constitutional amendments.

Constitutional amendments These resolutions did not deal with frivolous or inconsequential issues. We showed courage in tackling substantial and fundamental issues.”

He added, “Not once did we have to vote or come to a division.

This is a message that we wish the world to hear loud and clear.

Nigerians are capable of not only discussing their differences but are also capable to coming up with solutions to these difficulties.”

North broke trust: Those resolutions are available at: 2014nationalconferencereports.com.

The only issue that hung at the end of the conference was the derivation formula. We already had a consensus that the 13% be increased to 18% while 5% of the Federation account should be devoted over a 10 year period to the exploration of mineral resources in all states of Nigeria

dumping of the reports of the last ditch effort to save Nigeria flows from the negative triumphalism and myopia some of you up North have exuded since March 28 when you achieved REGIME CHANGE("Bring Back Our Domination") which some folks down south who may have to ask the audience if asked to raise their left hands were hoodwinked and duped into believing was a CHANGE for the whole country.

How such people could believe that an elite that ran its own corner of the country to produce the statistics you reeled out in your communique as their harbingers of CHANGE should be the new definition of naivety.

A much sober reading of the country today should tell the enlightened of the north who should have a better appreciation than the Boko Haram that to put life back into the shell you are carrying requires implementing those decisions we collectively agreed to.

Arewa delegates I want you in the meantime to get copies of Babara Tuchman's " March of Folly" and Brian Hall's "The Impossible Country: A Journey Through The Last Days Of Yugoslavia". I promise you a good read.

Let me close by recalling the conversation you had with me the day the conference closed proceedings. You called me aside to complain about a mail Prof.

Chinweizu sent to me and copied others which was to later go viral especially in Arewa world. He sent the mail on the day Arewa delegates were poised to walk out of the conference at the beginning saying the rest of the conference should see such as a fulfillment of Orkar's vision.

You admonished that our generation have a greater stake in the unity of Nigeria and that was the reason your children are in schools in the south. You lost me though when you went into the non-sequitur of we need ourselves "because when we talk of commerce you give that to the Igbos, the knowledge industry is Yoruba's forte while governance and leadership is the competence of Hausa-Fulani".

Your latest endeavour now convinces me that the only thing you believed in all you said were your last words.

My last words on this? A constitution that does not bend will break!

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 THREE weeks ago we published an editorial reflecting on the current foreign exchange policy where the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has tried to arrest illicit foreign currency circulations within the economy as well as outflows from the economy. We have since been bombarded with outcries and more questions by concerned Nigerians adversely affected by the policy.

Our focus in the editorial then was restricted to the macro-economic impact and alternative policy options. But we are also aware that at the micro level many unintended side-effects have taken place and the citizens are still languishing in pain since the implementation of the policy.

For instance, some of our readers have complained that their wards in schools abroad have been subjected to untold hardships since the new policy was introduced, as the win-

Need to refine CBN’s forex policy dow allowed by CBN only addressed the school fees and limited allowances while other major needs, including accommodation costs, were shut out of the only foreign exchange window for students.

We have also learnt that those travelling for medical emergencies have been held back by the limitations of the new policy, a situation which may lead to avoidable deaths. It seems the apex bank did not think through some of these micro side effects of the macro-economic policy.

Now that the issues are coming up we urge the CBN to fine-tune and address

the weaknesses especially where lives are put at risk and the educational pursuits of our young people could be undermined.

The need to re-tune this policy has become obvious in view of the steps certain elements in our society have been taking to circumvent its implementation. Recently, security officials at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) nabbed a suspect trafficking USD 271.14 million (N54.35 billion) through the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Ikeja.

In another incident about the same time, the police in neighbouring Niger Republic arrested a Nigerian carrying 4.6m Eu-

ros (N1.05bn) in cash. The man was arrested at the Diori Hamani Airport in Niamey, travelling from Nigeria en route Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

These are just a few culprits caught and reported in the media out of many more that have resorted to smuggling large amounts of foreign exchange through our various porous borders. These developments have confirmed our fears that the illegal foreign exchange CBN hoped to trap by the policy would eventually escape through other means.

In view of the suffering that innocent citizens have be subjected to by this policy, we urge the CBN to evolve a refined strategy of achieving its noble objectives while at the same time making it possible for people to transact in smaller amounts of foreign exchange to keep things moving.

OPINION

Nigeria not yet out of the woods

By Lloyd Ukwu

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MERICAN and Western European experts predicted that Nigeria will disintegrate in 2015. With the political desperation and frenzy that marked the political campaigns of the 2015 presidential election, many thought that Nigeria was at the point of the predicted 2015 disintegration. Surprisingly, the election took place without the much anticipated violence. And following the election, the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, conceded defeat to the victorious opposition presidential candidate, Mohammudu Buhari. This forestalled the anticipated violence and predicted breakup. Refreshingly, the doomsayers were proved wrong.

Disturbingly, Nigeria is still not completely out of the woods; as it may still break up. The possibility of conflict and dissolution of the country continue to loom because Buhari is stoking trouble. He is actively stirring up issues that can lead to serious national conflicts. Nigeria is a very complex country, and its governance is complicated by tribal, religious and sectional rivalries. In my viewpoint, Buhari is insensitive to this complexity and lacks the finesse and dexterity needed to govern Nigeria. With a military background and orientation, and a total lack of a liberal education, he is ill-equipped to preside over a democratic Nigeria. He has no refinement, and as such, only

understands the language of force. He also does not understand the world order.

Recall that he once referred to Germany as Western Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel as President Michelle.

Those were just tip of the iceberg.

There is no doubt that corruption is killing Nigeria, and that something needs to be done urgently to deal with it. But you do not pull the entire house down simply to kill the rats in the ceiling. It demands that you methodically take out the rats one by one, so that, after the rats are gone, you still have a house to live in. He needs to respect the equality of all Nigerians under the law. His 95 percent formula is naive and counterproductive. A successful war on corruption is not necessarily a function of the number of people jailed. The emphasis should not be just on sending people to jail for corruption, but also, in deterring acts of corruption. In his fight against corruption, Buhari refuses to understand that Nigeria is a representative democracy, and not a military dictatorship or a neo-military dictatorship.

A democracy is guided by the rule of law and not the impulsiveness and arbitrariness of a retired army general.

The legal process is usually slow and

The emphasis should not be just on sending people to jail for corruption, but in deterring acts of corruption

painstaking. Buhari is impetuous; he does not have the patience and tolerance for the measured pace of the law. He wants, at his whims and caprices, to jail southern politicians and his enemies of northern extraction such as Col. Sambo Dasuki for corruption. He wants to rearrange the judiciary, and reconstruct and expand Kirikiri Prison. He will then fill the prison with his political enemies, as all those he fingered for corruption will automatically be arrested by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and jailed for one hundred years or more by a compliant judiciary, dominated by northern judges.

Is Buhari’s hypocrisy not conspicuously obvious? To tackle corruption, he must first purge himself of his excess baggage. He must approach equity with clean hands.

How on earth can he fight corruption when the likes of Tinubu, Okorocha and former governor, Amaechi are his political allies? Please explain it to me! Amaechi is the man that funded Buhari’s campaign with money from the coffers of the government of Rivers State. Buhari, of course, knew the source of the campaign funds. At the time he was spending money on the Buhari Presidential Campaign, he was a sitting governor. He was not a multibillionaire in the mold of Dangote. So, the source of the money was obvious to Buhari.

It is understandable that a president appoints people that he is comfortable with to work with him. But to appoint only his friends and relatives to pivotal positions

as the Director Generals of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), Customs and Immigrations and the Chairman of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) is nepotism. Nepotism is corruption. And he insulted the sensibilities of Nigerians by justifying the appointments on the grounds that the appointees are loyal to him as friends and relatives. It is wrong for him to give the impression that only his friends, relatives and others from the northern part of Nigeria are competent, and committed to his vision. In addition, his punishing of those regions of the country that did not vote for him in the presidential election is grossly unfair. It is not only setting a dangerous precedent but inflames ethnic fury.

My honest advice to Buhari is to first of all stabilise the economy and embark on institutional reforms that will strengthen the judiciary and the legislature before delving into other major divisive issues.

However, he is neither reforming nor strengthening our national institutions.

Actually, he is weakening them; he meddles in the judiciary and remotecontrols the Senate and the House; thus, undermining the separation of powers.

This is posing a serious problem for Nigerian democracy because these branches of government need to operate independently. What we are experiencing today is a military regime masquerading as a democracy.

•Mr. Ukwu, an international lawyer, wrote from Washington D.C., USA.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015— —19

Chibok girls, Boko haram and the wait

By Sunny Ikhioya

I

T is over five hundred days since the news of the abducted Chibok girls came to the spotlight. To some people then, it was unthinkable, even much so now. Imagine the scenario; over two hundred secondary school students, let us say at most twenty of them per truck, that will be over ten trucks. Then imagine their accommodation and feeding. How it is possible for the girls to remain out of the intelligence radar for so long or is it another case of Malaysian airline flight MH370 aircraft that is still a mystery till date?

A British diplomat once said that their satellite spotted a group of women at some point in the search for the girls. Could these be the wives and harems of the Boko Haram fighters? Of course, in any conquered territory, there are prisoners of war and these include women but some of these women choose to follow the fighters voluntarily and it is from this group, that women and child suicide bombers are produced.

Senator Shehu Sani again raised the hope of rescuing the Chibok girls alive in the interview he granted Sunday Vanguard in the edition of 13th September 2015. The question is, how would the rescue mission be made possible? Only last week,

the Nigerian military came out with a statement to the that they have flushed out Boko Haram insurgents from all of their known hide outs. With all of our neighbours now in full support of Buhari in the fight against Boko Haram, where will they be hiding the girls? If all known Boko Haram hide outs have been captured, where could these girls be? Unless they are getting the support of a foreign government that is in cahoot with the insurgents, which to me is a farfetched option? Or, is it that people like Shehu Sani and others who are so confident of finding these girls know something that the rest of us do not know? It is not a question of a southerner and Christian that is at the helm of the nation’s affairs now.

We have Muhammadu Buhari, a top notch Hausa fulani and one preferred by them to rule the country, so why is the information about the girls' whereabouts taking so long to be released? Why is information about the girls so difficult to obtain? We have over ran all of their strongholds and captured thousands of their soldiers, not one of them has volunteered information about the girls, or, is it that those in authority have more information than they ready to disclose to the public?

Some have posited that the girls could have been dispersed in different directions. But, how is

it possible for over two hundred persons to be distributed round, in different directions without a single trace of their movements.

Let us assume again that they are given out in marriage, out of two hundred girls, none is wise enough to reach out to their families? Or is there a possibility that they have all been killed and secretly buried without a trace?

This viewpoint again is doubtful because if it is true, of all of the hundreds of Boko Haram commanders that have been captured both in Nigeria and neighbouring countries, at least a few will be in position to volunteer information on the missing Chibok girls. It will be a big deal if the international community that includes the

People have used the Chibok girls issue to feather their nests and gain recognition

Amaechi's legacy remains indellible

By George Njoku

T

HE unfolding political drama in Rivers State is, no doubt, a worrisome distraction not only to the dramatis personae and their henchmen but also to the entire polity. Its festering dimension as we follow the intrigues and namecalling portrays us as an unserious lot who see politics and political power as avenues to lay claim to some fiendish acclaim. It is depressing as a recurring negative of our democracy and why the political system is fraught with many challenges, yearning for overhauling. But my greater worry is the implication of this unrestrained indulgence on the critical question of proper governance in the state and the basic interest of the people which should be the pre-occupation of the incumbent governor, Nyesom Wike.

Rather than the fixation on his predecessor with all sorts of recriminations, many believe the new government should be circumspect by focusing more on governance as a pressing factor of its responsibility.

From the look of things, it will appear to any objective observer that this is a dog fight which has a deeper, disguised essence other than the much publicised allegations against the immediate past governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

This is an important observation, reinforced by the sequence of events and indeed the feisty and bitter nature of public pronouncements of Governor Wike against Amaechi before and after the controversial election in the state. The persuasive deduction from this important observation as many are wont to believe is that the whole orchestration that is gradually but consciously executed by the new power block in the state is aimed at rubbishing the legacy of the former governor which is regrettable.

Now, the refrain in the government C M Y K

establishment in Port-Harcourt and those of associated political interest groups is the tendency to cast Amaechi in very dark stripes as a “demon” and in the new consciousness of betrayal and ardent provocation as a ‘fraud” barely six months after leaving office as a celebrated performer, a humanist and democracy hero, one who actually made a difference in the lives of his people.

So what really happened? Why the bizarre obsession to destroy a good man at all cost especially when we recollect his many firsts in leadership, effective governance and overall huge successes in policy and programmes and as affirmed in public opinion in no distant time? What could be the issue? Is it a manifestation of the evils of our crude politics or sheer banality? This should be a time for soulsearching as well as time for healing, I believe.

Lest we forget that our politics is still largely driven by opportunism: from that sunny day at the water front in Okirika, when Amaechi had a “confrontation” with the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, over policy (public good)rather than such mundane interest as she then postulated, the seed of discord was sown. As with all things Nigerian, our dear Nyesom Wike capitalised on the faceoff to feather his own nest. He became the willing tool, no matter the moral question, to persecute his benefactor.

From that moment till date, Wike had never hidden his disdain for Amaechi (the

Amaechi came into office well prepared and he delivered on his lofty promises to the huge excitement of his people

USA and Britain, is misled on the true position of the Chibok girls.

More disappointing is the fact that their intelligence network and sophisticated equipment could not find the girls. Has Nigeria become Afghanistan, of treacherous mountains and inhospitable climate conditions that make it possible for people to disappear without trace? Even in Afghanistan, with the number of people involved, they will find traces? So, who is fooling who in this instance?

People have used the Chibok girls issue to feather their nests and gain recognition. They collected donations from concerned Nigerians and even get appointed to public offices but where are the girls? Let us all sit down and think and if we cannot think, as we say in Warri ‘let us leave everything to God’.

It is clear that even our military have not learnt any lesson in information disseminate with regards to the fight against the insurgents, because as it was under Goodluck Jonathan, so it is now. You do not speak with absolute certainty unless you are very sure about your facts on the position and condition of the opposition in all ramifications. The Boko Haram is a very mobile force, having been pushed to the wall; they have now resorted to suicide bombings and attacking soft targets in towns and cities. We are facing a very brutal, determined and demon possessed force. The only way to silence them is with a more equal and

Pull Him Down Syndrome) with his burning interest and target to become the next governor of Rivers State and a new power broker.

A lot had since happened but certainly the desire to rubbish Amaechi by Wike in any way possible remains a constant element in his agenda. From day one in office, this desire became a priority going by his numerous vindictive and selfish actions against Amaechi.

But beyond the maddening crowd of Amaechi crucifixion, can we really justifiably believe the new found corruption claim of the state government other than a deliberate plot to paint Amaechi so black with a possible damning verdict by a court so primed to deliver a hasty pronouncement on his tenure? A logical end in the on-going hot pursuit of a sworn enemy?

Of course, it is too clear to every discerning observer of the macabre dance in Port-Harcourt that the objective is to dent Amaechi’s hard earned reputation to possibly frustrate his higher elevation in leadership position and national service but this will fail so woefully. President Muhammadu Buhari, all conscientious leaders and the generality of patriotic Nigerians can see beyond Wike’s façade of hypocrisy. It won’t stop Amaechi from ascending to higher calling as a will of God. No matter what his political enemies may say, Amaechi is an uncommon leader who was conscious of his place in history and acted so pragmatically especially in the last presidential election.

His strategic roles in the election of President Buhari will continue to be of serious evaluation and analysis with a generous verdict by perceptive thinkers as a vote for national interest rather than tribe or ethnic leaning. He was simply a patriot whose activist and progressive th leadership in this 4 Republic raises hope for democratic consolidation and national renewal. Amaechi is a man of convictions, dogged, thorough and certainly a key architect of the democratic success we enjoy today. He deserves to be celebrated as a genuine national icon.

From that Okirika incident to the huge infraction of the Soku Oil Well to the ‘16

efficient brutality, you do not use the pacifist approach, otherwise they will remain cancerous, defying all cures. Saddam Hussein applied this method when he was in charge of Iraq but the whole world brought him to condemnation, look at Iraq today, are they better off? The ISIL of today is the product of the Iraq renegade forces and opposition groups.

We need new intelligence strategies, as well as of forces that will consist of bold and determined men, ever ready to stick out their necks on the line of duty, to infiltrate the enemy lines and give accurate feedbacks, not guess work. We must no longer underestimate the Boko Haram forces or fall into the fallacy of underestimating the opposition, many great generals have fallen in battle by not according respect to the opposition.

With the sophisticated weapons and superior intelligence available to the USA and its European allies, they have not won the battle in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, etc. The solution is to adapt to the changing times, of today’s war.

Meanwhile, we wait for the Chibok girls and we wait for the December deadline to rout the insurgents.

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

higher than 19 votes” at the Governors Forum election down to the orchestrated impeachment as we recollect those terrible occurrences in the state house of assembly, deprivation of Amaechi’s administration in legitimate constitutional entitlements and privileges to all manner of political intimidation and harassment (remember Mathew Mbu), the stage had since been set to bring down the Lion Heart. But in major considerations, we can only look back and reckon so proudly that Amaechi won the battle, notwithstanding the subsisting leftover as we are witnessing.

Amaechi came into office well prepared and he delivered on his lofty promises to the huge excitement of his people. His passion and determination were too visible to the end. First, he worked so hard to birth a lasting peace in a former enclave of street gangs and insecurity. He moved so fast to reposition education in a creative manner that has changed the lot of a generation. Making Port-Harcourt a UNESCO World Book Capital was not an accident.

Health, agriculture, entrepreneurship and empowerment, infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges got major attention as he provided a remarkable leadership which was duly recognised locally and abroad. He bonded freely with his people and they loved him for his forthrightness.

Like Rosa Park, Amaechi, however, insisted on being treated with dignity, decorum and equity. He refused to sacrifice his principles on the altar of convenience or compromise. It is a moral force shaped by his values and ethics which have also helped to build his enduring leadership of integrity and honour. He was courageous and he continues to inspire. This was the defining moment which Wike and his tribe of opportunists hated so much and exploited to become somebody today but I doubt if Amaechi is regretting his course of action.

Amaechi’s legacy remains indelible and no amount of human efforts can obliterate that important part of history.

•Mr. Njoku, a political analyst, wrote from Port-Harcourt, Rivers States.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Insurgents in IDPs camps:

Waiting for the next explosion

By Umar Yusuf, Yola

W

HEN President Muham madu Buhari assumed office about five months ago, security was top on the priority of his administration as he immediately gave assurance to tackle the lingering security challenges with all the seriousness they deserve.

And soon enough the new government was to take far-reaching decisions in this regard.

These included that the troops were re-mobilised as more sophisticated arms, ammunition and other military hardware were procured and other incentives given to them.

A positive fall-out of this is that the Military have been able to liberate most of the occupied areas in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. With the reclamation of these hitherto occupied territories, the inhabitants who fled in the face of invasion by terrorists, are now returning en masse to their communities, villages and hamlets to start a new lease of life.

Lease of life The happy re-union of these communities that were once scattered and shattered means a lot to the people, though many lost beloved ones to the rampaging terrorists.

But the most significant success of the prosecution of the war against terrorists is the current announcement that Sambisa forest, the operational base of the Boko Haram that was impenetrable for years, has been liberated.

According to sources, every type of military hardware obtainable in the Nigerian military set-up was found in the forest.

But the dislodging of the terrorists from the Sambisa forest was to give birth to an unforeseen negative development. Following the fall of their enclave, thousands of the terrorists have been escaping into the hinterland to seek refuge and plan more dastardly acts.

The popular belief at the moment is that they might have infiltrated the towns, villages and cities within the Boko Haramthreatened North East states of the country. It has also emerged that the most convincing way for these terrorists to mix with the general population is to disguise as internally displaced persons and joining any one of the IDPs camps spread across the country, C M Y K

especially in the North East subregion.

This new tactics by the fleeing insurgents is said to have only recently come to the attention of the military which appears to be more preoccupied with its offensives to completely flush out insurgents from the Sambisa forest. Consequently several insurgents are believed to be among the various IDPs in the country.

Sometime last month, over 12,000 indigenes of Borno State, who ran to the neighbouring Cameroun Republic when the terrorists came calling on the towns of Gamboru Ngala, Bama, Benisek, Konduga among others were evacuated to Mubi in Adamawa State. In the process of screening the returnees, no fewer than 80 of them were discovered to be members of the dreaded terrorists. More returnees have been trooping from their hideouts to take cover in the IDPs camps.

The infiltration of the IDPs camps by the fleeing insurgents have made them vulnerable to

*Some IDPs at their camp in Yola, Adamawa State attacks with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs. This has left the Military and other security agencies with the herculean task of fishing out these insurgents from villages, communities and cities, and more especially in the IDPs camps spread across the country. Failure to do this, it has been argued, could only mean that more explosions will take place in the IDPs camps in days to come. To buttress this fear, reference is being made of the explosion at the Malkohi IDPs camp in Yola, Adamawa State recently. A day before the explosion, according some camp offi-

cials, over 200 new IDPs were brought in from the Sambisa forest and other liberated areas of Borno State. This suggests that among the new arrivals, there are scores of the insurgents who might have escaped security checks that would have established their links to the Boko Haram.

The argument of many observers is that the Malkoi IDPs camp blast could have been avoided if the new arrivals were subjected to thorough security scrutiny or screening. For instance, it was said that at a point, the inmates went wild to protest the accommodation of the new arrivals from

Sambisa forest at the camp. Their grouse then was that those from the Sambisa axis have had a long stay with the insurgents who might have negatively influenced their ways of life. This, they added, might have negative influence on their children and other inmates in the camp. As if to give credence to their fear, a few days after the skirmishes, some women who arrived in the camp were caught communicating with insurgents elsewhere.

The discovery angered the Military top hierarchy and the new arrivals were hurriedly moved to an unknown destination.

For IDPs in Benin, a day of joy as First Lady comes visiting

M

UCH needed relief came the way of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Uhogua near Benin City, when the wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Iara Oshiomhole, visited their camp and donated the sum of N2 million on behalf of the state government for their upkeep.

Apart from the cash, Mrs Oshiomhole also presented clothes, footwear, books, toiletries and others materials running into millions of naira.

She said the state would do everything possible to make life as comfortable as possible for persons in the camp. She said the visit to the camp which was a follow-up to an earlier one was

an expression of the fact that “the government and people of Edo State are ready to make you as comfortable as possible”. She did not stop there.

“We are fully aware of the circumstances that made you to leave your homes and we are sure that in a very short time, peace will return to every part of Nigeria. Let me emphasise that you are at home anywhere in Nigeria. We are planning to come back so that we can have a party together and know more about each other.

“Edo State has promised to provide an enabling environment that will enhance your education

*Mrs. Oshiomhole presenting items to some IDPs at the camp

and general well-being. Towards that end, I am here today with some of the regular requirements for your well-being. While we understand that nothing can be provided as adequate replacement for the comfort of your homes, it is our resolve to ensure that you have all that can humanly be made available.

“Today, every person in this camp will have pairs of changeable clothes, foot wear, books and household basic toiletries such as soap.

Skills acquisition Let me use this opportunity to encourage you once again to take advantage of the warmth and facilities provided by the people and government of Edo State to enhance your opportunities in this great country. Prepare yourselves for the future through the skills acquisition and education.

“I promise to do everything possible to make your life easier here.

On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I will like to donate the sum of N2 milllion for the upkeep of the camp.

Please, let the children all habe the right sizes of clothes, so that

the next time we come here, they will all have the right clothes on and they will be like every other kid out there, so nobody will ever know that they are in a camp,” she said.

Wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Endurance Odubu, also had this to say: “We have come with our Mummy to show our love and concern. Her coming shows the extent to which she loves you. I want to encourage you not to see what has happened to you as a setback. Don’t fold your hands, you can still be what you want to be, only be focused, determined and work hard”.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Ovia North East Local Government Area, Mrs. Lucy Omagbon, thanked the wife of the Governor for her kind expression of love to the IDPs which she noted was a fulfillment of the promise she had earlier made to them few weeks back.

She said: “We are happy to have the First Lady, our Mummy in this place today. We are so glad for her show of love and mother hood. She did say the last time that these children are her own and she has demonstrated it by bringing succour to you today.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 21

Lazard hires ex-Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala

L

OJUDE-OBA - From left: Mrs. Bisi Oshibogun, a member of the Ojude Oba organising committee with Corporate Affairs Manager, West, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Tayo Adelaja, at a press conference in Ijebu Ode to announce Goldberg and Maltina as sponsors.

Money laundering: ABCON suspends BDC operator for swallowing $156,000

By Babajide Komolafe

T

HE Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) yesterday suspended Director of Amazon BDC, Mr. Nwokenta Kingsley, arrested last week by the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with five other persons for swallowing $156,000 Addreesing a presss conference at the National Secretariat of ABCON in Lagos, yesterday, ABCON Acting President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe said, “ABCON is shocked and highly embarrassed by this discovery and the involvement of a BDC operator in such an illegal act”

118.10

0.25

$3,3310

-1.00

$11.05

CURRENCY DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL SDR KRONA

48.34

-0.87

45.95

1.27

BUYING 196 302.6828 220.01 201.0256 1.6256 0.3187 275.8032 30.7567 52.243 275.6544 29.4834

0.09

CENTRAL 196.5 303.455 220.5713 201.5385 1.6298 0.3287 2765068 30.8357 52.3763 276.3576 29.5587

197 304.2271 221.1325 202.0513 1.6339 0.3387 277.2104 30.9146 52.5095 277.0608 29.6339

CBN Exchange Rate as at 21/ 09 /15 C M Y K

Mr. Nwokenta Kingsley, Onwuasoanya Augustine, Christian Okoli Ifor, Nwokenta Emmanuel Maduakolam, Ezenwa Ikenna, 28, a specialist in wrapping; and Ezenwa Uzoma, a 33-year-old hotel manager were arrested at the Excel Oriental Hotel Ikeja by the operatives of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for swallowing $156,000 intended for export to Brazil Announcing the supension of Nwokenta, and Amazon BDC, ABCON President, Aminu Gwadabe, said, “ We hereby condemn in its entirety the actions of the Director of Amazon BDC and hereby state that his actions are sharp contrast to ABCON’s principles and code of conduct for BDC operators.

Regulatory requirement I want to reiterate that ABCON has a zero tolerance for non-compliance with regulatory requirement and for unethical conduct amongst its members.

“It is for this purpose that the Association created the office of Compliance Officer in its National Secretariat and in all its zonal offices and also provided official vehicles for the compliance officers to regularly pay inspection visits to BDCs under their jurisdictions. Furthermore, the Association has a Disciplinary and Investigative Committee that handles all cases of unethical conducts by BDC operators.

“Consequently, and in line with the zero tolerance stance of the Association, the Disciplinary and Investigative Committee of ABCON has commenced comprehensive investigations of Amazon BDC and the actions of its directors and staff. Furthermore, the

Executive Council of ABCON hereby announces the indefinite suspension of the Amazon BDC, its directors and staff, pending the outcome of the investigations by the Committee, the NDLEA, EFCC, CBN.

azard Ltd hired former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi OkonjoIweala as a senior adviser after the government of Goodluck Jonathan was voted out of office in an election earlier this year. She who was minister for the economy and finance from 2011 to May 2015, will join as a senior advisor focusing on the bank’s sovereign advisory group, Lazard said in a statement yesterday.

“She will bring a unique international expertise and experience that will benefit both our sovereign and corporate clients,” Matthieu Pigasse, Lazard’s global head of mergers and acquisitions and sovereign advisory, said in the statement.

In an earlier stint as finance minister of Africa’s largest oil producer between 2003 and 2006, Okonjo-Iweala spearheaded talks that led the Paris Club group of creditors to write off $18 billion in debt. The Harvard Universityeducated economist resigned from the cabinet in August 2006 after a demotion by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In her more recent stint under Jonathan, she battled to cut government spending and bring order to an opaque fuel-subsidy payment system. Jonathan’s government lost the March election to former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, who has vowed to end corruption and crush a militant insurgency in the northeast.

Lafarge Africa targets 16m tonnes production capacity by 2020

By Princewill Ekwujuru

L

AFARGE Africa says it has a strctured plan to increase its cement production capacity to 16million tonnes by 2020.

The Out-going Group Managing Director of the company, Guillaume Roux who will be replaced by Peter Houdnut, who spoke on diverse issues in the cement and construction industry disclosed at the farewell party in his honour to Vanguard that the production capacity he is leaving behind for his predecessor is 8 ½ million tonnes, but was optimistic the company has laid down plans to expand it to 16million tonnes by 2020.

He noted that 2 ½ tonnes will be added to bring the capacity to 11million tonnes in 2016, and that the company will progressively by 2017 and 18 add another 2 ½ tonnes and continue to expand until it hits above the 16 million tonne mark by 2020.

“We will continiue our expansion, then by the end of 2020 we would have doulbled our capacity to more than 16 million tonnes.

We are major player in the industry, all over the country with presence in the South West, East, Ashaka, calabar and in the North.” Roux who said that during his tenure he was able to transform WAPCO Cement to Lafarge Africa , by putting together all its resources in two companies

which will enable us reach the 16 million tonne by 2020, which also combines South Africa. “This combination is transformation. It has been heard as one of the actions in the corporate world in 2015, in Africa.”

Building Collapse: Speaking on building collapse he said: “cement is not the cause of building collapse, the cause of building collapse is the bad practices in construction and this is why we are teaming up with all the engineers and all the actors in the construction sector to help them put in place proper concrete, design and supervision.

There’s need for much stronger supervision of the job cites in the country, so if engineers follow laid down procedure it will lead to stronger building.” He stressed.

Continuing, he stated; “so that is why we put that very high in our agenda as a company, to promote good building practices, to educate the public, the builders and also anybody on the street that wants to have a house, so that he will know he requires a proper engineer and contractors.”

New products: We have the widest product range in the country, much wider than our competition, we sell different kinds of cement for different applications, for store building, for high rise buildings and also for individual homes.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

The capacity building services would enhance the business capabilities of the SME customers thereby enabling them to better manage their businesses and mitigate risks

INVESTOR' ,

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

N the top 10 performing stocks last week were the shares of Aiico Insurance Plc, Continental Reinsurance Plc, E-Transact International Plc, Portland Paints and Products Plc, Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc and Eterna Plc. The rest were Conoil Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Learn Africa Plc. Aiico Insurance Plc led the pack with 16.05 per cent or N0.13 price appreciation, closing at N0.94 from N0.81 per share. Aiico recently secured N3.8 billion convertible loan from International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support its expansion drive.

According to the underwriting firm, the plan to expand its insurance services in the country will help to i n c r e a s e economic security, as well as create the development of new asset pools that can be invested in order to support economic development, including job creation. Available financial report of the underwriting firm for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed that it has returned to profitability. During the period, it posted a profit after tax (PAT) of N2.23 billion as against N759.23 million losses recorded in the corresponding period in 2013. However, its underwriting capacity was weak as gross premium income (GPI) went down by 12.40 percent to N20.42 billion in 2014 as against N23.31 billion in 2013, while net premium income fell by 10.97 percent to N16.22 billion as against N18.22 billion in 2013.

The underwriting firm has increased its assets base as total assets surged by 38.47 percent to N58.33 billion in 2014 from N42.10 billion as of December 2013. The impressive performance is not a reflection of the insurance industry. In 2013, AIICO won the marketing magazine and marketing world award as the Insurance Brand of the year due to its underwriting excellent in Nigeria.

Continental Re closed as the second top gainer in the week, rising by 15.29 per cent or N0.13 to close at n0.98 from N0.85 per share.

Having fallen short of its post-listing rule obligation to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, the company was slammed N900, 000 fines by the Exchange for defaulting in filling its year-end financial statement for the period ended December 2013. Its financial statement for period, which was later made public, indicated a mixed performance.

While its revenue rose for the period, the underwriting profit declined.

The company recorded gross earnings of N16.15 billion as against N15.04 billion in 2013. The underwriting profit fell to N1.3 billion in 2014 from N1.68 billion in 2013, while the profit after tax declined by 51.1 per cent to N856 million from N1.75 billion in the corresponding period in 2013. E-transact’s share rose by 15.17 per cent or N0.32 to close at N2.43 from N2.11 per share.

Just like Continental Re, the company got N2.7 million as fine for late filling of 2013 full year financial reports to the Exchange. The company recorded a profit after tax of N168.1 million and N328.2 million respectively for the first and second quarters of 2015. This took its half-year profit in 2015

to N496.3 million. E-transact had assured investors of its desire to consolidate on profitability with new relationships, enhancing and deepening existing ones and exploring new partnerships locally and internationally.

Portland Paints trailed behind with 15.13 per cent or N0.54 appreciation, closing at N4.11 from N3.57 per share. The company is presently planning Rights Issue to raise additional capital to pursue its plan of improving returns and addressing its high leverage position of the company and other business expansion plans. The company recorded an impressive performance in 2014 as its profit after tax rose by 159 per cent from N57.3 million in 2013 to N148.6 million in 2014. Its operational profit also grew from N174.3 million to N304.5 million during the period.

Caverton achieved 14.63 per cent or N0.43 increase, closing at N3.37 from N2.94 per share; Eterna Plc advanced by 11.43 per cent or N0.20 to N1.96 from N1.75; Conoil went up by 10.20 per cent or N2.63 to close at N28.41 from N25.78; FMN gained 10.12 per cent or N2.17 to close at N23.62 from N21.45; UBA advanced by 8.83 per cent or N0.34 to close at N4.19 from N3.85, while Learn Africa Plc rose by 7.95 per cent or N0.07 to close at N0.95 from N0.88 per share.

BoI secures AfDB’s $100m facility for SMEs T

O aid its development financing objectives, especially to Small and Medium

Enterprises (SMEs), the Bank of Industry (BoI), has secured a

$100 million line of credit from the African Development Bank

DINNER: From left: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni; former Commissioner for Finance, Lagos state, Mr. Wale Edun; Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Nigeria, Mr. Ade Ipaye; Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola DavidBorha; and Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc; Mr. Atedo Peterside; at the 2015 Standard Bank West Africa Investors Conference dinner in Lagos.

MARKET NEWS

‘Broker oversight’ll boost market integrity, investors’ confidence’ Stories by Nkiruka Nnorom

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has expressed optimism that its oversight function over the dealing member firms will lead to enhanced investors’ confidence and enhanced capabilities for market integrity.

Mr. Olufemi Shobanjo Head, Broker Dealer Regulation, NSE, made this known during his presentation of a paper titled ‘ ‘Broker Oversight & Supervision System’ saying that the system would offer investors as well as other market participants access to dealing members information on a near real time basis.

The ‘Broker Oversight & Supervision System’ is geared towards the enhancement and the automation of the regulatory and oversight

function of the exchange over its dealing members in the area of automated rendition of regulatory filings, analysis of various ratios of financial renditions, capital and liquidity monitoring and compliance monitoring.

The system concentrates on compliance reporting,

The application would support the exchange’s strategic objective of becoming Africa’s foremost securities exchange driven by regulation, efficiency, liquidity and innovation

maintenance and update of details of dealing member firms, including corporate profile, compliance history and records of approved persons, regulatory reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as complaints management and tracking resolution.

According to Shobanjo, the application would support the exchange’s strategic objective of becoming Africa’s foremost securities exchange driven by regulation, efficiency, liquidity and innovation.

He noted that the system would also allow the regulators to carry out effective regulation of the dealing member firms in line with global best practice.

Shobanjo further explained that using the application would allow the regulators to enjoy an enhanced visibility and first hand information on the regulation of dealing

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 23

(AfDB).

According to the bank, the line of credit, which is designed for onlending to SMEs engaged in exportoriented businesses, is the first of such foreign facility accessed by BoI after its reconstruction in 2001 out of the defunct Nigeria Industrial Development Bank (NIDB).

The bank, in a statement at the weekend, explained that already, the first tranche of $50 million was recently disbursed to BoI from AfDB for onlending to small businesses engaged in export-oriented businesses with capacity to generate foreign exchange.

BoI added that the credit approval was received as a result of the implementation of various strategies

In order to deepen the impact of the facility, BoI hired an international firm, Messrs. BDO/GBRW, based on African Development Bank’s quality selection procedure, to render capacity building services to BoI staff and the prospective SME customers

members, while the members of press would have quick feed to the website on current information including corporate

and plans which have enhanced its operations and repositioned it to better tackle the current challenges of Nigerian small businesses. “In order to deepen the impact of the facility, BoI hired an international firm, Messrs. BDO/GBRW, based on African Development Bank’s quality selection procedure, to render capacity building services to BoI staff and the prospective SME customers.

The capacity building services would enhance the business capabilities of the SME customers thereby enabling them to better manage their businesses and mitigate risks.

The capacity building would also strengthen the ability of staff members to manage small business loans and the related risk management issues. “BoI wishes to acknowledge the support of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office (DMO) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) among other stakeholders for facilitating access to the Line of Credit”, the statement read in part. The bank, however, urged prospective entrepreneurs engaged in export-oriented businesses with potential to earn foreign exchange to submit their applications to facilitate access to the facility. It could be recalled that the bank had within the last one year, embarked on various reforms while unveiling innovative products to address financing gaps in the real sector, with emphasis on small businesses.

profiles and regulatory breaches of the stock broking firms.

OLLOWING an order by the Federal High Court vacating an interim injunction barring the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from expelling BGL Group from capital market activities over alleged fraud and malpractices, SEC has said that BGL, its subsidiaries and sponsored individuals remain suspended from operating in the Nigerian capital market.

The commission in a notice posted on its website dated September 19, 2015 said: “This is to inform the general public that on September 17th, 2015, the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/767/15; BGL Plc & Ors Vs Securities and Exchange Commission, discharged the Ex-Parte order obtained by BGL Plc and its subsidiaries on the 27th of May 2015. “In view of the court’s ruling, BGL, its subsidiaries and sponsored individuals remain suspended from operating in the Nigerian capital market.”

The notice added that “the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Central Securities Clearing System, CSCS, Financial Market Dealers Quotation (FMDQ) Plc, Nigeria Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Plc and the general public should further note that the directives of the Commission in its public

notice dated the 21st of May 2015 still subsists.”

The commission noted that it is empowered under Sections 13(n), 45, 303 of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 and Rule 598 of its Rules and Regulation to protect the integrity of the capital market against all forms of abuses by investigating and sanctioning persons who violate the provisions of the Act and rules and regulation thereto.

It further assured that it is committed to protect investors and the capital market, saying “to this end, we will ensure that persons who violate the provisions of the Investment and Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations made pursuant thereto would be sanctioned appropriately.

SEC had suspended BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited whose particulars are contained in the commission’s record as at December 2014 over market infractions. The commission said it received over 40 letters of investor complaints against BGL Group Plc alleging indebtedness to the tune of about N5.8 billion. Investigations were conducted and allparties meetings were arranged by SEC during which repayment agreements were struck between BGL and some of the affected investors.

,

INVESTORS SPEAK

Q4: Shareholders predict drop in stock market performance

By Providence Obuh & Busayo Samuel

Capacity building

BGL, subsidiaries remain suspended — SEC

F

,

'S FORUM

Foreign investors who are scared before will now hold onto their money and watch Nigeria from a distance, it’s when all these fundamental are properly in place that foreign investors will start coming

Godwin Anono, President, Standard Shareholders Association Ahead of the last quarter of the year, investors have been advised to be careful of the stocks they buy from the stock market. Shareholders, who spoke with Investors Forum, said that there would be further drop on stock prices occasioned by festive period, just as they advised investors to be beware of their purchases.

policy direction for finance sector .Foreign investors who are scared before will now hold on to their money and watch Nigeria from a distance. It is when all these fundamentals are properly in place that foreign investors will start coming and then others will start moving on. Any company that wants to do a Rights Issue now or a public offer or private placement should beware.

Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo: The economy is going to have tough time but by the grace of God, things will stabilise in Nigeria. All economic analysts will fail in their predictions, text book economy won’t work this time around because Nigeria’s issue demand the local palace to solve it not text book economy.

International predictions won’t work, things will look as if the economy will almost crash, but at the end of the day, it will stabilise, that’s what I want to add The expectation of the people will be dashed, people will lose hope, but at the end of the day, we will then look at ourselves that how come we surpassed this.

Even all the economy analysts will rewrite their note because if things do not go the way it’s going now, we can never get it right. Ours is incomparable to all the other economies that we are comparing it with because things have really gone extremely bad. If there is another word to describe the state of the economy, I would have used it. I only read economics in the secondary school, for-instance,I am an Ijebu man and I’ve been practising economics since my secondary days.

Godwin Anono, President, Standard Shareholders Association: The foreign investors are still looking at Nigeria, they don’t know which way Nigeria is going as the Federal Government intensifies its drive to recover ill-gotten money. This is a step in the right direction and I believe it will have an aeffect on the market.

Practising of Investors is not sure of how the economics market would be in the fourth quarter whether it will pick up or not . This is I have been reading all sorts of books, because you know that it is Christmas I can tell you our own case will not be time and people will want to save for like the text book stories. The only Christmas and to pay school-fees. So, country we can link to our case is the I am not sure because this time around, case of China; before China emerged a the purchasing power of individuas in strong nation, they closed their door for Nigeria is very low. So, nobody wants over 25 years not dealing with the to buy shares, but this outside world and nobody is the time that is knew what was happening good for somebody in China. Our own 25 that has money years may be two years; it somewhere to buy may be less than that, we shares and make will convince the whole better returns in the world, they will see us as Once the future . For the last mad people, they will quarter of the year, I predict, but their Federal am not sure that the predictions will fail. At the Governement the market will pick end of the day, we’ll come up. Once the Federal out strong. If I talk about comes out Government the economy, it’s going to with its policy government has put affect everything, capital policy measure in market, name it, but if I say direction, place, then the it now at the At the Annual then the market will start General Meeting, AGM, moving forward but market will shareholders will lash me, for now, no way. The but they will live to witness start moving market cannot move it. Quote me, they will live forward when there are no to witness it.

24— Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Oil sector attracts N2.9bn foreign investment

By Michael Eboh, Abuja

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HE Nigerian oil and gas sector attracted $14.34 million, about N2.87 billion worth foreign investments in the first half, HY1, of 2015, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has revealed.

The NBS in its Nigerian Capital Importation report for Second Quarter, Q2, 2015, said this is an appreciation of 347.36 per cent or $11.133 million or N2.23 billion increase from the $3.205 million (N641 million) recorded in the sector in the second half, HY2, of 2014.

The amount is however 93 per cent lower than the $204.97 million (N40.99 billion) year on year in 2014, just as there was a sharp decline in Q2 2015.

According to the report, capital importation into the sector in Q2 2015 stood at $4.86 million, down 48.65 per cent or $4.609 million (N921.8 million) from the $9.473 million (N1.89 billion) realised in Q1 2015.

Economic predictions Recall that analysts at Cardinal Stone Partners, had in their

economic outlook for 2015, predicted that the Nigerian oil and gas sector will be constrained by under-investment and capital flight as a result of the declining oil prices.

The analysts noted that the low oil price brought about a number of negative consequences, putting the naira under pressure due to rapid capital flight, which triggered scepticism among foreign investors due to concerns about the implications of declining oil prices for Nigeria, an oil-dependent country.

Also, analysts at PriceWaterHouseCoopers in their economic analysis for Nigeria and Africa, declared that areas where limited infrastructure is currently in place are also likely to suffer due to the paucity of investment inflow into the sector.

The analysts said: “This is because external investment is needed to develop the requisite infrastructure – investment that will be difficult to procure to produce a commodity that is currently losing in value. In these

CONFERENCE: L-R: Group Managing Director, Power, Aiteo Group, Dr. Ransome Owan; Co-Founder/Executive Director, Falcon Petroleum, Mrs. Audrey Joe-Ezigbo; and Chief Executive Officer, Oando Gas & Power, and President, Nigerian Gas Association, Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya, during the Powering Nigeria conference on accelerating sustainable growth, capital access, and profitability in the power and gas sector held Abuja. areas, development of existing discoveries may end up on ice unless there is a domestic need for the resource.”

Economic uncertainty: Continuing, the NBS noted that at $2.666 billion, the value of capital imported into Nigeria in Q2 2015 is a marginal drop of $5.24 million or just 0.20 per cent quarter on quarter.

“Capital importation thus remained relatively unchanged from the $2.67 billion recorded in the opening quarter of 2015, suggesting that this new lower level will be maintained as long as an uncertain economic environment remains.“Year on year, second quarter capital imported was $3.137 billion or 54.06 per cent lower than the

$5.803 billion imported in quarter two of 2014,” the report said.

Broken further the NBS said portfolio investment remained the largest of all investment types, totaling $2.183 billion in Q2 2015 or 81.88 per cent of all capital imported. This is $322.50 million or 17.33 per cent higher than the $1.861 billion recorded in Q1 2015, which was 69.65 per cent of the total.

IFC, others advocate hike in electricity tariff •As Nnaji urges decentralisation of transmission

By Sebastine Obasi & Michael Eboh

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HE International Finance Corporation, IFC, and other stakeholders in the power sector have called for an increase in electricity tariffs, saying that investment in the sector is being hampered by low tariffs.

These views were expressed at the Powering Africa Nigeria Conference in Abuja, organised

by EnergyNet. Specifically, the IFC Country Manager, Nigeria, Ms. Eme Essien Lore, argued that the current tariff structure in the country is insufficient to cover costs in the sector.

She said: “What we need to see is a clear cut tariff reforms. If we do not have a cost-reflective tariff we cannot invest in the sector. If you do not have a path towards tariff reform we will not have investors.

“This needs to be cleared; if we do not have a clear path towards achieving a cost reflective tariff, we will not have investors in the sector. And if there is no understanding and appreciation

of that, there would be no investments in the sector. There must be a cost reflective tariff in other for the sector to be bankable.”

Continuing, she said: “What we need to see from the government now is a path, and what is the path towards achieving a cost-reflective tariff.

That is what we are looking for and we expect that with this new government and with the regulator in place that all of these things will come to pass. We are going to partner with the government to make that happen.”

The Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory

Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, had recently approved a new tariff from October for the Distribution Companies, DISCOS, for retail consumers.

He also said the Commission is considering the review of the ‘transmission use of the network charge’, saying that the present tariff structure is very low and

had served as a disincentive for investments in the sector over the years.

According to him, electricity transmission should be able to pay for itself, irrespective of whatever model the Federal Government adopts in its management going forward.

Incoherent policies stall gas development plans —NAPE

By Sebastine Obasi

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HE Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, said that incoherent policies on gas to power have hindered the much talked about gas development plan.

The President of NAPE, Mr. Chikwendu Edoziem, who said this at an interaction with journalists in Lagos last week, also attributed insecurity and pipeline vandalism to poor government policies and governance.

According to Edoziem, “Lack of coherent policies on gas to power have significantly hindered the

integration and long-term investments required to ensure the supply of gas to the power plants.

“This, together with pipeline vandalism, non-cost reflective tariff, lack of adequate capacity to process gas and transport to gas plants are directly responsible for the low power generation in the country.”

He blamed the government for the loss of more than N200 billion to vandalism, saying: “Insecurity and pipeline vandalism are due, in the main, to poor government policies and governance. It is estimated that N200 billion has been lost to this menace in

addition to loss of assets to fire outbreaks, impact on the environment, loss of lives and

Insecurity and pipeline vandalism are due, in the main, to poor government policies and governance

reputation of Nigeria as a mature oil and gas producing country.”

Edoziem urged government to accelerate the funding and completion of new gas projects in the Western axis of the Niger Delta, to add about 2000 million standard cubic feet per day, MMscf/d of gas production.

He attributed the lull in oil projects to rising costs of exploration, while advocating the provision of an enabling environment and incentives to increase exploration opportunities especially in highrisk frontier basins and underexplored deep high pressure high temperature plays.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 —25

Nigeria already had a realistic power generation plan since 2010!

NAPE Media Chat: L – R, President-elect, National Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, Mr. Nosa Omorodion, President, Chikwendu Edoziem and Publicity Secretary, Dr, Anthony Ofoma, at a media briefing on the activities of NAPE, in Lagos

I

By Jacob Ajayi

T will be considered unpatriotic on my part if I do not comment on the availability of a realistic Federal Government policy to bring sufficient and uninterrupted electric power supply to Nigeria.

My employers, Africa Mutual Funds Corporation, had been studying and making presentations to the Federal Ministry of Power since 2010 on the feasibility of realising 17,100

megawatts, MW, power to Nigeria in 2014, and thereby increase this to about 50,000MW. One of our principals who studied our proposal to generate 17,100MW told us that we should be looking further to 50,000 MW of which we thought it was achievable after we might have reached our portfolio of 17,100MW. We have also made it known to the authorities in 2012 that affordable electric power could be harnessed from existing

hydropower facilities in Nigeria without waiting seven years to develop Mambilla hydropower project. We also showed that gasbased electricity generation is not affordable to Nigerians coupled with the proclivity of such a gasbased model to vandalism, which will not only drive up the cost of power generation but also affect the availability of electricity on the national grid.

We have showed, and we still have the template that would produce over 70% of our national

FG canvases for efficient electricity market

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA— THE Federal Government has charged participants in the electricity market to imbibe best business practices in order to bequeath a well-established electricity market to the next generation.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali, gave the charge while speaking at the close of a 2-day interactive workshop on: ‘Interpreting and Understanding the Market Rules’ for the electricity market stakeholders in Abuja.

Igali, while highlighting the history and experiences leading to the power sector privatisation, called on the market participants to be open, willing to learn and become better operators as the sector was still going through a learning curve.

A statement from the System/ Market Operation, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, said Igali as expressed confidence and optimism that the current challenges would be surmounted over time, and the objectives of privatisation achieved to position Nigeria on the path to sustained industrial development.

He told market participants that the Ministry is discussing with relevant Federal agencies such as Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and Pension Commission C M Y K

with a view providing a pool of funds that can be accessed at single-digit interest rate to ramp up operations and service delivery.

He added that bilateral discussions were ongoing with several international agencies on how to build thermal (gas) power plants, micro-grids and other renewable energy plants in order to provide more power for the grid and for Nigerians.

Earlier, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, System Operation/Market Operation, Mrs. Ngozi Osuhor, explained that the workshop was organised to enhance the understanding of the market rules and grid codes among market players so that they can be more efficient and effective in delivering superior services.

Sustainable basis She said that the System/ Market Operation was through the workshop, performing one of its core responsibilities of providing education and capacity building for participants in order to grow the market on a sustainable basis.

She assured that similar workshops will be held on regular basis as a platform to continue the interaction and exchange of industry and

operational knowledge among market participants to bring them up-to speed with developments in the ever-changing world of electricity market.

She stated that decisions on the way forward reached at the end of the workshop deliberations would be sent to the regulators for necessary action.

The workshop which was organised by Infranet Energy Services, had many industry experts including Mr. Uzoma Achinanya, Mr. Musa Gummel, Mr. Chidi Ike, Mr. Abdulkadir Shettima, and Mr. Robert Grant, and a host of others delivering papers on various aspects of the Grid Codes and the Market Rule.

Bilateral discussions were ongoing with several international agencies on how to build thermal (gas) power plants, micro-grids and other renewable energy plants

power requirement from hydropower sources with the balance coming from the operating gas power plants that are located close to the source of gas in the Nigeria’s delta region.

Our plan also call for the reactivation of the Oji River coal fields to generate power with coal, which was our main source of electric power in Nigeria before the construction of Kainji Dam. Electricity costing more than 5cents (N11.00)/Kwh is seen as unaffordable in Nigeria given our per capita income. We have also alerted the authorities that only hydropower or coal-based power generation can be produced at less than 5cents/Kwh. There and then can we say that our source of electric power is definitely not gas!

Source of power I know our company (Africa Mutual Funds) spent more than $500,000 on the feasibility, technical audit and technical repair plan to bring adequate power to Nigeria. The $500,000 spent on our own of which $50,000 was paid to secure concession of the existing three hydropower plants in Nigeria!

We know that our plan, copies of which are at the Federal Ministry of Power is as feasible today as when we conducted those studies and technical audits in 2010-2011. I hope our President has the political will to pursue this acceptable proposal (see note below) for which the authors are very much around, and are ready to work for Nigeria to benefit from economic development. This will bring billions of US$(dollars) into the Nigerian economy, reduce cost of production, open up the country for investments and

reduce graduate unemployment.

I am writing this and very sure of what I am saying because our President once said that "these generations of Nigerians have no other country to call their own.” I agree with General Buhari then, and I agree with him now, and I know that these generations of Nigerians are ready to roll up their sleeves and go to work to make Nigeria great!

NB: The proposals to revamp hydropower facilities in Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro and upgrade them to produce about 17,100MW by 2014, was adjudged bankable by many experts both in Nigeria’s Ministry of Power and by three other power generating companies in the United States and Canada. The Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity Workers saw the proposals as sure remedy to the electric power malaise in Nigeria.

I am writing this and very sure of what I am saying because our President once said that “these generations of Nigerians have no other country to call their own.” I agree with General Buhari then, and I agree with him now, and I know that these generations of Nigerians are ready to roll up their sleeves and go to work to make Nigeria great!

NB: The proposals to revamp hydropower facilities in Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro and upgrade them to produce about 17,100MW by 2014, was adjudged bankable by many experts both in Nigeria’s Ministry of Power and by three other power generating companies in the United States and Canada. The Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity Workers saw the proposals as sure remedy to the electric power malaise in Nigeria.

Army assures of safety of power infrastructure

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA: The Nigerian Army has assured investors and other stakeholders in the nation’s electricity sector of the provision of adequate security to ensure safety of critical infrastructure.

The Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Army, Major General Fatai Alli, gave the assurance at a meeting with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali,

representatives of Distribution companies, DISCOs, Generating Companies, GENCOs, and management of Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN. Alli said the Army will do everything possible to ensure a round the clock safety of the power infrastructure assets across the country, adding that it is the Army’s constitutional duty to provide security when national assets are under high level threat of attack.

26— Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

OPEC forecasts rise in oil price to $80 in 2020 •As Alakija complains of high onshore tax

By Sebastine Obasi, with agency report

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HE Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, said that oil price will rise gradually to $80 a barrel in 2020 as supply growth outside the group weakens, a slower recovery than several member nations have said they

need.

The average selling price of OPEC’s crude is expected to rise by about $5 annually to 2020 from $55 this year.

“It’s much harder for OPEC to lift prices” after the revolution of U.S. shale oil, said Bjarne Schieldrop, Oslo-based chief commodities analyst, which forecasts Brent crude at $73 by

the end of the decade. “Eighty dollars by 2020 is pretty close to consensus view.”

The price of crude has tumbled more than 50 percent in the past year as OPEC followed Saudi Arabia’s strategy of defending its share of the global market against competitors like U.S. shale oil.

While OPEC and the International Energy Agency,

UNVEILING: Eco-Marathon Car-2: The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom in Delta State, His Royal Majesty Emmanuel Sideso, unveiling Delta Cruz on Thursday. Delta Cruz is an energy-efficient car built by students of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, in readiness for the 2015 Shell Eco-marathon competition in South Africa, in October.

270 Nigerian experts, diaspora seek opportunities at SNEPCo summit

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than 270 Nigerians representing companies within and outside the country were among the participants at the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Ltd (SNEPCo) business summit in Aberdeen, Scotland,which explored opportunities aimed at repatriating skills and experience to the oil and gas industry back home.

Speaking at the event, SNEPCo Managing Director Tony Attah, said that the initiative was aimed at changing the way things were done in Nigeria.

“When, in 2013, we set out with the initiative for local companies to collaborate with Nigerian experts in Aberdeen on opportunities and challenges in the Nigeria oil and gas industry, we knew this would be a game changer. Today, we can say that the game changer is beginning to take shape as Nigerians have started returning home to set up businesses,” he said.

Also speaking, a representative of the Nigerian High Commission, Mr. Hassan Hassan said, “This is the right time for our experts based abroad to return home to make a contribution and be part of the success story.” The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), C M Y K

ORE

IEA, expect growth in global supply to slow as low prices bite, Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated predicts that a persistent glut will keep crude low for the next 15 years.

Production from nations outside OPEC is expected to be at 58.2 million barrels a day in 2017, 1 million lower than previously forecast by OPEC. “The impact low prices is most apparent on tight oil, which is more price reactive than other liquids

While demand from China, Russia and OPEC members will grow more slowly than forecast a year ago, developing nations with still account for the bulk of the expansion

Expert expresses confidence in economy diversification

By Gabriel Ewepu

Mr. Denzil Kentebe commended Shell on both The Global Nigerian and Partnership Facilitation Programme and confirmed the board’s continuing support for both initiatives.

In a presentation on procedures for potential contractors in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, the Deputy

Manager, Reservoir Management and Evaluation, JV oil operations, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Investment and Management Services (NAPIMS), Mrs. Martina Atuchi said, “We are inviting you to be part of the leading economy in Africa with a lot of untapped hydrocarbon resources.”

Chevron contractors defy court order, continue strike

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HEVRON Nigeria Limited, CNL, confirmed that at about 10 a.m last Wednesday, some employees of companies contracted by Chevron, operator of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, blocked access to CNL offices in Lekki, Warri and Port Harcourt.

The company in a statement signed by its General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said the development marked an escalation of a protest by these workers over grievances with their employers.

The workers had since August 7th been carrying out the protest under the auspices of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG. The statement read in part: “The action of these workers negates Nigerian labour laws and is contrary to the advice of the Federal

Ministry of Labour and the order of the National Industrial Court (NIC) for them to suspend the strike. In accordance with the statutory dispute resolution process, the matter was referred by the Federal Ministry of Labour to the National Industrial Court (NIC) since conciliation at the Federal Ministry of Labour did not resolve the issue.

“The National Industrial Court (NIC), by an order dated September 8, 2015, granted an interim injunction restraining NUPENG from striking, picketing, demonstrating or in any way disrupting the industrial harmony in the offices and facilities of CNL pending the determination of the matter.”

It also added that “CNL continues to honour the invitations of constituted authorities aimed at resolving the issues.

sources. Supply reductions in U.S. and Canada from 2014 to 2016 are clearly revealed,” Goldman Sachs said. While demand from China, Russia and OPEC members will grow more slowly than forecast a year ago, developing nations with still account for the bulk of the expansion.

High onshore tax: The predictions come as the Chairperson of Famfa Oil Limited, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, said that Nigeria’s 85 percent tax on onshore crude oil production is dissuading local investors from taking over assets from international oil companies, IOCs. Famfa had sought to acquire stakes in onshore oil fields, but was deterred by high tax regime.

Onshore producers pay 30 percent corporate tax and 55 percent tax on petroleum profit, while offshore producers who bought stakes in the 1990s are exempted from corporate tax and pay 50 percent profit tax.

“The 85 percent that those who are onshore have to pay is going to be too high for indigenous companies to be able to stand on their own two feet,” said Alakija, who has a fortune of $1.8 billion, according to an estimate by Forbes magazine.

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BUJA- A mining expert, Mr. Oluchi Nwoko, has expressed confidence in the capacity of the solid minerals sector to diversify the Nigerian economy if government demonstrates strong political will to harness its potential.

Nwoko, said this in Abuja at the weekend while speaking on the forthcoming 3rd SOMEX Nigeria Mining Quarry Expo to be held in Calabar, Cross River State, from November 26-28, 2015.

He said that in this edition, the Expo is partnering with the Miners Association of Nigeria, MAN, adding that investors are expected from Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and Nigeria, while state governments will also be showcasing their solid mineral potential and investment opportunities.

He also said that operators are ready to key into government’s declaration of developing the sector if it demonstrates strong political will in that direction.

Nwoko said: “Nigeria is a country blessed with as many as 44 solid minerals of which only limestone and granite is presently mined at an industrial scale, basically for the production of cement and aggregates for our local construction industry.

“The next mining phase in Nigeria will focus on iron, tin, lead and coal, which are driven by the need to locally produce iron

products for the construction sector and coal which is required in large quantity for the production of iron, power generation and export.

Other industrial and high value minerals which are of high local and international demand will also see a very sharp increase in mining investments.

“The government should not slow down on its declaration of developing the mining sector, and it is the political will demonstrated that could bring about the expected and much awaited diversification of the economy, and unlocking other sectors like the mining sector.

“We in the private sector are ready to key into this declaration but the government should provide the enabling environment in the mining sector for this to happen and we believe this administration is ready to rapidly develop the potentials of the sector.”

Nwoko, who is also the Managing Director, Seventy One Nigeria Limited, the organisers of the EXPO, said the mining stakeholders’ conference will focus on investment and business opportunities in the solid mineral sector. This will centre on high value in the areas of exploration, mining, mineral processing and trading services, heavy equipment, parts, consumables, tools and services provision, mineral transportation, export facilities and terminal, training, business and financial services.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—27

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28—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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HE 2015 Nissan Altima is a favourite choice among family sedans, delivering excellent fuel economy; a rare blend of comfort and exceptional capacity that compares to most premium sedans," says Edmunds.com, a foremost American online journal for automotive information.

The online resource further described Nissan Altima as stylish, bold and aggressive with long body lines that distinguishes the Japanese-engineered sedan from rivals like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima.

Emerging from a total model change, the new Altima offers exceptional premium experiences and high technologies that could give mid-size sedans better value proposition and keep it fresh against rivals.

Edmunds.com further added: “While many manufacturers are offering different 4-cylinder engines with hybrids and diesels, the Altima sedan goes the traditional route by offering a base 4-cylinder and a V6, reaffirming Altima’s innovative features to reposition the car way ahead of competition. The Nissan Altima is mated to a lighter weight 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine with improved efficiency, while the 3.5-litre V6 version delivers better fuel economy, placing the car way ahead of competitions.

Both engines however drive Altima’s front wheels through Nissan’s

Nissan Altima earns high rating

HE Economic Commu nity of West African States, ECOWAS, Commission is partnering with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) with a view to evolving a framework for the establishment of a regional automotive policy in West Africa.

Towards this end, a delegation from the ECOWAS Commission Secretariat led by the Commissioner for Industry and Private Sector Promotion, Dr. Kalilou Traore was hosted to a meeting in NADDC Headquarters Abuja by top management staff of the council. Dr. Traore remarked that the regional body acknowl-

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We can’t fail Nigerians — FRSC boss

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next generation Xtronic continuously variable transmission, CVT, that drives engine revs ahead of vehicle speed during strong acceleration and helps both specifications achieve tremendous fuel economy," the Japanese Automaker assured.

Popular Mechanics, a United States classic mag-

azine of popular technology affirmed this claim, stating in one of its recent publications that the new Altima remains one of the most engaging family sedans, and its fuel economy approaches 16 kilometres per litre of gasoline (pms) for the 2.5litre engine and 13 kilometres per litre of gasoline

(pms) for the 3.5 litre engine, on highway driving.”

If you think you’ve heard the most outstanding remarks ever, Kelley Blue Book, KBB, recent commentary would amaze you. Nissan Altima is no doubt a driver’s delight and should have no problem attracting the

most discerning familysedan buyers.” KBB recently inferred.

Also in its comments, a UK-based automotive classified website, Auto Trader described the Altima succinctly: “With its Maxima-like good looks, and unique features such as the NASA-inspired zero-gravity seats, the Altima really does give shoppers a viable alternative to the Camry and Accord.” ”Altima has a fantastic sporty handling, making it more fun to drive than most affordable mid size cars just as its standard four-cylinder engine provides plenty of power for passing and merging highway.”

On the other hand, the V6 engine delivers robust acceleration with a responsive automatic transmission (continuously variable transmission) that operates seamlessly, giving a smoother and

ECOWAS commission partners NADDC on regional auto policy

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Driver’s licence:

edged the successes recorded so far by Nigeria in its auto industry development, especially with the

Dr. Traore remarked that the regional body acknowledged the successes recorded so far by Nigeria in its auto industry development

establishment of numerous vehicle assembly plants; pointing out that such a laudable industrial policy should be adopted at the regional level so that its benefits could extend to other West African countries.

He noted that the ECOWAS Commission had adopted Nigeria’s automotive agenda at a meeting in Ghana early this year. This brought priority investment sector to four; the others are food, pharmaceuticals and building construction materials.

He said that as follow-up, the commission was planning to host a regional workshop of experts to discuss holistically matters relating to auto industry de-

velopment with a view to having a common regulated market in the region in order to facilitate increased flow of investments and trade transactions among the West African countries.

According to him, issues expected to be discussed at the proposed regional workshop include common regulation and standards, rule of origin, CET, components parts manufacturing, maintenance garages, vehicle credit financing, measures to curtail inflow of used vehicles into the region, etc; with all relevant stakeholders including manufacturers, dealers, finance institutions participating.

He was of the opinion that

governments in West Africa should consider the use of Made in Nigeria automobiles as official vehicles and also for mass transit services while the other countries in the region should also benefit from investments in components parts development and establishment of auto maintenance service garages.

Responding, NADDC Director General, Engr.

Aminu Jalal assured the ECOWAS Commission delegation of the Council’s support for the success of the proposed workshop and readiness to share Nigeria’s experience and expertise with other sister member states of ECOWAS.

HE Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi has charged staff, especially those responsible for processing the driver’s licences in the states, on improved service delivery, saying FRSC, cannot afford to fail Nigerians.

He stated this recently while declaring open a one day sensitization workshop organised for Sector Heads of Drivers’ Licence Centres from the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT. The Corps Marshal said FRSC placed much importance on staff capacity building in order to prepare them adequately for technical and administrative challenges in their work environment for enhancement of their productivity level, adding that the workshop was the fourth in the series of the training programme organized for the staff since the beginning of the year.

“It is gratifying to note that the workshops had impacted positively on the productivity of the staff,” he stated.

Oyeyemi further stressed the importance of the National Vehicle Identification Scheme and the National Driver’s Licence as platforms for collating the data, unifying the process of acquisition of the licenses and standardizing the procedures with a view to ensuring the integrity of the system.

He disclosed that in line with the peculiar federal system, which Nigeria operates, a tripartite arrangement between FRSC, the state Boards of Internal Revenue and Vehicle Inspection Officers were put in place to give the states full participation in the process leading to the issuance of the licences.

The Corps Marshal listed some of the challenges facing the scheme as non-committal attitudes of some state governments; location of the driver’s licence centres in areas with inadequate security provision for the equipment, leading to cases of theft and disruption of production as well as parallel production of the licences.

Delta lawmaker, Izeze laments shocking findings in constituency PAGE 2

UKPUM ETE: A’Ibom community where monarch forbids libation to ancestors PAGE 5 confided in Niger Delta Voice that a cult group suspected to be Icelanders, indeed, invaded the community.

His words: “The cult boys took over the community and started functioning as community leaders when the chiefs were arrested. And the chiefs the police took away are those protecting and defending the people.”

VOL. 1: No. 67

TUESD AY, SEPTEMBER 22, 20 15 TUESDA 201

ALLEGED CULTISM:

Arrest of monarch, 5 chiefs sparks anxiety in Rivers town *Royal father, chiefs released on bail after 5 weeks in detention *Villagers angry, tongue-lash police; I won’t speak now— HRH Gideon Nwokocha * Cultists overrun town, run away residents yet to return

By Davies Iheamnachor

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K P O S I COMMUNITY THERE is tension at Okposi community in Egbema Kingdom, Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area in Rivers State, following the arrest and detention of the paramount ruler, Ochioha Okposi, HRH, (Eze) Dr. Gideon Nwokocha and five of his chiefs by the police over purported involvement in cult activities.

Former Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, Chris Ezike, seized the monarch and his chiefs, more than a month ago, for supposedly aiding and abetting cultists.

Edgy tranquility

Uneasy calm pervaded the community when Niger Delta Voice visited Okposi, weekend, as the villagers were not happy with the treatment meted out to their monarch by the police. They have, however, been released on bail.

Most shops in the town remained shut and residents, who fled the town at the height of the offensive by cultists, have not returned.

However, a source said normalcy was gradually returning.

A deserted residence in Okposi community.

Community’s anger

Chika, nevertheless, hinted: “The community is peeved that our paramount ruler was arrested and detained for five weeks without any just course,” adding, “These days, policemen invade our community at random and arrest people.”

Workers of multinational oil companies and other people also relocated from the community to other parts of the state for fear of kidnappers when the situation degenerated.

‘Okposi people seriously affected’

Contacted, the paramount ruler of the community, HRH, (Eze) Dr. Gideon Nwokocha, who confirmed his release from detention, told Niger Delta Voice on phone that he was not disposed to talk to the press on any issue now because the matter is subjudice.

The Ochioha Okposi, a senior lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University, said he would speak only after the court has delivered its ruling on the case.

He admitted that his arrest affected the community heavily, saying, “The whole thing has affected the community seriously because where there is no peace, there is no development.”

“I do not want to talk about the issue because it is already

Contiunes on Page 7

Icelanders cult holds sway

A villager, who simply identified himself as Chika, ,

Eze Dr. Gideon Nwokocha, Ochioha Okposi's house

One of the cars damaged in Okposi cult activities

2 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Monkey Bridge route to Edjekwo community Hon. Izeze

Omosuomo Primary School.

Otutuama-Otitiri road.

DELTA... FINGER OF GOD

Delta lawmaker, Izeze laments shocking findings in constituency

Mr. Reuben Izeze on the road to Edjekwo.

*No healthcare, electricity, access roads to 17 riverside villages *Abandoned projects everywhere in 27 upland communities; Coastal erosion submerges settlement *Pupils sit on bare floor to learn at schools in riverine communities

By Emma Amaize

U

GHELLI — MEMBER of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Ughelli South Constituency, Hon Reuben Izeze, is bewildered that Primary School pupils at Omosuomo and Ekameta, two riverside communities in his area, still sit on bare floor to study without desks.

Hon Izeze, who undertook a tour of the communities to appraise their needs, said what he observed during the visit staggered him.

My devastating experience He said, “From what I saw in the course of my tour of the 69 communities that make up my constituency, I can confirm to you that Ughelli South is indeed one of the most backward local government areas in Delta state in terms of infrastructural

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Theresa Ugbobu Ochuko Akuopha Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

because of lack of roads and bridges. This is besides the decay in infrastructure and dearth of personnel in the basic education sector,” he further lamented.

Laughable facilities The lawmaker said there was lack of primary health providers in most of the communities he visited and inadequacy of equipment and staff in the few existing Primary Health Centres, PHCS, pointing out that only one inadequately equipped and staffed General Hospital cannot serve the entire constituency.

He said that practically all the existing water schemes in the local government were not functional, while government have not connected the riverside communities, also threatened by coastal erosion, to the national grid.

Compendium of findings The worried Hon Izeze, however, said, “We have been able to prepare a compendium of all our findings and gotten experts to cost the challenges we identified. It is our intention to present this to the present government of the state with a view to getting these issues addressed as the finances of the state improve.”

“Also we intend to reach out to other states and federal intervention agencies with some of these challenges in our bid to use a multi-dimensional approach to solving the developmental needs of our people. “Non-governmental Organizations, NGOS and private sector operators will also not be left out as we seek to address these litanies of challenges as we believe that government alone cannot do it all,” he asserted.

Premeditated goals He said that part of our strategic objectives is to effectively connect all communities in the local government to the national grid by 2019, provide 16 transformers for 13 communities, complete ongoing electricity projects in Gbaregolor and extension to five other communities, as well as provide approximately 350 solar streetlights in 23 communities.

development.”

His words, “My most traumatizing experience was when I saw kids learning in classrooms with no desks and sitting on bare floor at Omosuomo and Ekameta communities, I wept.”

“About 17 communities (Ewu) are riverine with no access roads, electricity or healthcare facilities. 27 other communities in the upland area (Ughievwen) are littered with abandoned/ uncompleted road projects and poor education facilities,” he asserted.

Hon Izeze added, “Also at Otitiri/Iwhre-Ogun, a part of the community had been completely submerged by coastal erosion and clearly, it has gone extinct.”

He bemoaned: “To get to some of the riverside Ewu communities in my constituency, which is Ughelli South, you have to pass other local government areas, Burutu and Bomadi, this is irritating as it is burdensome to my people.”

“I also found that there are major communities in the Jeremi area that are not accessible during the rains

RIVERS…

Rivers NSCDC takes against oil thieves to creeks

THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NA TION NATION

By Davies Iheamnachor

B

ONNY — THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Rivers State Command, last week, took the war against oil thieves and bunkerers to the creeks of the state.

A team led by the Assistant Commandant General, NSCDC, Zone E, Mr. Mohammed Lapai, stormed illegal refineries in the creeks, razing two in Bonny and AsariToru local government areas.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that the destruction brought to seven the number of illegal oil refining sites burnt by the corps in one month.

NSCDC officials destroyed three illegal refineries at Brekete Fishing Port in Bonny, last Tuesday. They also burnt about 14 tanks loaded with 10,000 litres of refined products and at Okpoma Kiri, back of Cotien Channel 2 in Asari-Toru local government, three fully

loaded tanks were confiscated.

In the operation, petroleum products worth over N50 million refined in the creeks were set ablaze. Lapai said the

command would no longer relent in the fight against activities of the criminalminded elements until illegal refineries in the creeks go into extinction.

He said the command would undertake regular visits to the

Ms Helen Amachree, Commander of NSCDC Rivers State at Brekete fishing port

Some of the impounded vehicles at Civil Defence's exhibit yard, Iriebe in Oyibo LGA

Part of Brekete Fishing Port set ablaze by NSCDC

Okpoma Kiri, Back of Cotien 2 in Asari-Toru LGA set ablaze

creeks to checkmate oil thieves, adding, “Since this year we have destroyed over 48 illegal refining sites. We are very grateful to the local communities and our sister agencies for their cooperation in this fight.

“With the help of the new government at the federal level, the challenges we are facing in this fight will be faced squarely. This fight is going to be consistent.

“We are ready to battle these menace to finish, we promise that we will surely stamp out oil bunkering from the creeks. We are out to tackle it head on. We have the courage and will to ensure that oil thieves, pipeline vandals and illegal refineries are completely wiped out.

Meanwhile, The Commander of NSCDC in Rivers State, Ms Helen Amachree said that the command had seized over 300 vehicles used for transporting stolen oil and bunkering products in the last six months.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 3

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

Gully erosion cuts off 8 Akwa Ibom communities *Threatening 3 others *House Committee visits erosion sites

council, Mr. Aniefiok Samuel, who complained bitterly about the untold sufferings the situation has subjected his people to said, “The road

N

DUETONG OKUGULLY erosion has split over eight communities, including Ikpa Uruan, Ibiaku Uruan and Ndueton Oku communities from Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State and also threatening to overrun Nduetong Oku in Uruan and Afaha Oku communities in Uyo Local Government Area.

It has also sacked residents from their homes, destroyed several houses and property belonging to inhabitants of the affected villages. Worried residents of Nduetong and Afaha Oku, who raised the alarm over the devastation, said that floods dug the 25feet deep ravine that is fast encroaching on them and called on the state government to come to their rescue before the unexpected happens.

Villagers, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, expressed fear that if government did not take urgent steps to rescue the situation; gully erosion would swallow their communities.

Chair, Ndueton Oku village

Erosion sites at Afaha Oku community

BUSINESS REVOLUTION:

leading to Ibiaku Uruan was motorable before it was cut-off by the gully erosion. It is sad because the erosion has affected so many houses within our vicinity, leading to the loss of properties.”

“Besides, the road leading to Le-Meridien and Golf Resort from Ikpa Uruan has been completely cut-off.

Before now, this area used to be a major player in the economic activities; it was noted for supplying agricultural products to the state capital. However, the gully erosion created by ravaging flooding has affected that badly.

“The erosion has cut off this area from other neighbouring communities; I want to use this opportunity to remind the current state gover nor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, of his campaign promise to construct the road. Therefore,

Ravine encroaching on a residence at Ikpa Road

Lilywhite spearheads plastics export, revitalizes Calabar jetty CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By Ike Uchechukwu

C

ALABAR- THERE is a boom in export of plastic products from Nigeria to nextdoor African countries in Calabar, Cross River State motivated by an indigenous maritime company, Lilywhite Nigeria Limited, which has provided employment opportunities for over 2,000 persons, mainly from Cross-River and other parts of Niger-Delta.

Niger Delta Voice learned that the company has also given the kiss of life to the previously moribund National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, jetty, Calabar, which collapsed in 2010.

Chief Executive Officer of Lilywhite, Mr. Martins Ogbonna said the company was also vested in the business of conveying people and goods from neighbouring African countries, including Cameroun, Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and so on.

The NIWA jetty managed by Lilywhite Nigeria Limited has also become a lifeline to the economy of Cross River state, Nigeria and other countries on

*Calabar jetty after rehabilitation by Lilywhite the West African coast.

Currently, it is the only indigenous maritime service company covering the WestAfrican coastline.

Mr. Ogbonna confirmed in an interview that the jetty currently provides jobs for about 2,000 Nigerians, adding, “This is my greatest joy ,I am happy when I see people, especially the youths engage themselves by doing something meaningful with their time.”

Our goal to promote made in Nigeria goods He said, “We have plastic that is manufactured in Nigeria, GP tanks, plastic of all kinds, our operation has kept the plastic

*Before rehabilitation industry afloat and this has boosted the export of made in Nigeria product to most African countries depend on us.”

His words, “We want ensure that made in Nigeria goods are exported to these countries, but our major goal is to promote made in Nigeria product by making sure they get to these places and by so doing, create jobs for teeming unemployed youths across the region and beyond.

“Made- in -Nigeria plastic materials like tanks, buckets and many others that are shipped through that platform on a weekly basis is worth

several millions of naira and is boosting our economy, especially now that the country needs to do more exporting than importing,” he asserted.

Ogbonna was, however, quick to add that the Nigeria plastic industry, worth billions of naira, was still growing and would expand faster when manufacturers export the products.

He said overtime, Lilywhite has been making this possible and brought a lot of direct foreign investment, as other investors now come to Nigeria to establish such companies because of the viability of the market.

Lilywhite breaks jinx When the NIWA jetty in Calabar warped in 2010, it was a complicated task getting a competent investor to revamp the company, but Lilywhite erased all doubts when it came on board to reconstruct the collapsed jetty. The Federal Ministry of Transport adopted a PPP arrangement in an MOU of Build, Operate and Transfer, BOT, which gave Lilywhite Nigeria Limited the opportunity to become the concessionaire of the platform.

The Lilywhite boss said it was a miracle of a sort to many

Continues on page 7

I urge him to put all the necessary things in place for the rehabilitation of this deplorable road and save our people from further hardship,” he said.

His Afaha Oku counterpart, Chief Oscar Ekpeanya, said, “On behalf of this community, I am appealing to the state government to urgently step in to rescue us from this encroaching gully before it consumes this entire community.”

Village head of Atai Ibiaku Itam and one- time transition chair of Itu Local Government Area, Eteidung Mkpong, said he had already relocated with his family to a rented apartment in town for some time now because of the effect of flooding on the entire community.

He stressed: “The people living around this area from the different villages of Atai Ibiaku, Ikot Obio Atai and Ikot Ekang have experienced hard times due to the ravaging flood. I have since relocated to a rented apartment elsewhere in town with my family when I saw that the flood was taking over the entire place”.

A resident of the area, Mr. Emmanuel Okon Abel said flood has not only caused many residents to relocate from the area, it has crumbled uncountable businesses. He suggested that government should construct a proper drainage system from Udo Usanga to Ikpa road before CCC junction to complement the tunnel constructed by previous government.

Reps react

In separate comments, the members representing Uyo and Uruan state constituencies, Hon Monday Eyo and Hon Okon Bassey respectively, expressed concern about the predicament of people of the areas, which they described as pathetic. Eyo said he had drawn attention of the House to the problem and that the House Committee on Works and Transport had already visited the erosion sites to ascertain the level of damage in order to report to the relevant authorities.

“We have visited the erosion sites and we saw that erosion has destroyed so many buildings, shops and sacked residents from their homes.

The people are actually living in fear of the fast expanding gully. “Construction of IkpaUruan road is critical to the development of so many communities in Uyo and Uruan local government areas. I want to assure the people that Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration is committed to addressing the needs and plight of Akwa Ibom people,” the lawmaker said.

4 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

*Additional Newly constructed Doctors Quarters by the Dickson administration.

*Front view of the 500 bed Hospital

BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

15 yrs after, Bayelsans worry over unfinished multi-billion hospital

*Newly constructed Diagnostic Centre by the Dickson administration.

*Project not jinxed, govt’ll complete it, says Kikile

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA — THOSE familiar with the expansive 500-bed multi-billion naira General Hospital project located on Imgbi Road, Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State unmistakably discern that it has outlasted three administrations, beginning from that of former governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who initiated it, and about to outlive the fourth, headed by the incumbent, Governor Seriake Dickson.

Commenced 15 years ago, precisely 2002, the bird legshaped structure is perhaps the oldest on-going project in the state, but what is imprecise is why as important as it is, the state government has not concluded the project.

Unsurprisingly, many Bayelsans are now asking questions if the multi-billion naira project, conceived by the state government after the Federal Government took over the General Hospital, Yenagoa, which it named Federal Medical Centre, is cursed.

The zeal with which government reclaimed the marshy land spanning about 32 hectares and prompt commencement of work, heightened hope then that it would be completed in record time and put to public use. In fact, residents of the Amarata suburb of Yenagoa, who used the nondescript swamp as a ‘shot pot’ zone, were somewhat downhearted that government tampered with their natural lavatory.

Jonathan, Sylva did little Reclamation of the hospital site alone handled by Landrop Dredging cost the Alamieyeseigha administration N500m. The 18- month reign of his successor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who took over from Alamiesyesigha before he

(Jonathan) emerged Vice President and later President of the country, witnessed nothing tangible done with the project.

Similarly, the Timipre Sylva administration, which lasted five years, changed the interior design in the mold of the Koki Diete Memorial Hospital; it did not complete the project, which was redesigned from 500-bed hospital to 300-bed.

Changes by Dickson Investigation by Niger Delta Voice, however, showed that the hospital landscape has undergone fundamental changes in the last three and half years of the Seriake Dickson administration with a magnificent ultra-modern state-

of –the- art diagnostic centre now dotting a section of the sprawling premises and a massive staff residential

There is reduction in the number of bed spaces from the original 500 to something lower.

Now as an administration, what we feel was that some facilities, which must support the hospital, were not included in the original design

quarters.

Though the old hospital structure appeared beaten by the elements, work is ongoing at the redesigned wards while installation of some equipment was going on when we visited.

Niger Delta Voice learned that the present administration envisioned the diagnostic centre, the first of its kind in the entire Niger Delta and the doctors’ quarters to serve the need of the Federal Medical Centre, the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri and the neighbouring states.

Project not jinxed—Bayelsa Govt

Contrary to the thinking that the project was jinxed, the state government through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Esueme Dan Kikile, allayed the fear of residents saying the project was not jinxed and would be put to public use in no distant time.

“The reality is that with what we inherited as government, if you look at structural work in the main hospital, we are possibly around 85 per cent done with interior work. There has been some changes going on inside they are working.

"There is reduction in the number of bed spaces from the original 500 to something lower.

Now as an administration, what we feel was that some facilities, which must support the hospital, were not included in the original design.

“If you have a hospital, you need some of these support services and as a government; we are now putting in place accommodation facilities for medical staff. As we know, some doctors and other medical personnel are likely to be on call duty and to be able to perform these duties, they need to be living within the proximity of the hospital,” he said.

Diagnostic Centre completed His words, “So we have done that by building the accommodation facilities for the support staff. The second thing we felt was important is the structure that must be put in place to service not just the hospital, but also other health facilities within Yenagoa like the Federal Medical Centre and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital which is the diagnostic centre. Diagnosis is a requirement for treatment. If you have wrong diagnosis, you will be treating the wrong ailment.”

BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

Disaster looms as oil firms, vandals continue polluting N-Delta— Bayelsa Commissioner

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA — BAYELSA State Government has raised fresh alarm over the magnitude of crude oil and gas spilled into the environment by oil companies and third parties, forewarning that the polluted land is huge series of fatal fires and explosions waiting to erupt.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Inuiro Wills, at a forum tagged “Environmental Parliament on Agip’s Azuzuama tragedy, organised by Environmental Rights Action, ERA, in Yenagoa, solicited the assistance of all stakeholders to stem the disaster.

His words, “As a result of the extremely reckless and callous way in which the Nigerian petroleum industry operates and the zero practical attention paid to environmental protection by Nigerian governments, Bayelsa State (indeed the oil polluted Niger Delta region) is a huge series of fatal fires and explosions waiting to erupt.”

Azuzuama explosion He also lamented that at the current

tempo of around 1,000 oil and gas spills yearly and continued flaring of gas, the environment and communities were already face-to-face with hydrocarbon pollution. Wills, whose ministry staff was among the 14 persons that died during the July 9 Azuzuama pipeline explosion, noted with sadness that the manner the victims met their untimely end was a confirmation of the fear constantly facing the troubled communities and the entire region.

Continuing, he said, “At the current rates hovering around 1,000 oil and gas spills a year, to say nothing of continual gas flaring, Bayelsa state environment and communities are practically immersed in hydrocarbon pollution.”

How oil firms, vandals cause problem “The causes range from operators’ direct equipment/operational failure to frequent pipeline vandalism and oil theft by third parties, which are indirectly the operational or system failure of oil producing corporations and the Nigerian state…

“Poorly resourced federal and state

government regulators have put themselves at risk daily to monitor the management of these odd thousand spill disasters a year, as Duabo and his federal/NOSDRA colleague (Osita Ugwu) did in that fateful Thursday July 9, 2015. “These combined monitoring teams have little or no fighting or rescue readiness at their disposal. Tragically, the Nigerian oil industry and Nigerian successive governments have cared too little to dedicate adequate executive attention and funding to environmental and safety management/capacity building,” he said.

NOSDRA incapacitated The commissioner asserted that nine years after the enactment of the NOSDRA Act, the National Oil Spill Control and Response Centre, which the Act expressly required to be established, is still a dream. He further lamented that NOSDRA, as an agency is suffering from derisory funding, while its head office remains in Abuja, thousands of kilometres away from the daily oil spills in Bayelsa or any other oil producing/polluted state.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 5

UKPUM ETE: A’Ibom community where monarch forbids libation to ancestors *God frustrated those who consulted deity to stop my installation — His Highness Clement Udo

By Tom Moses

U

KPUM ETE — CLAN HEAD of Ukpum Ete in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State, His Highness, Ete-Idung Clement Idem Udo, in this interview differs absolutely from other monarchs, who still subscribe to ancient practices and belief systems. He is opposed to offering of sacrifices and pouring of libation to deities, which to him, are useless, superstitions and fetish worshiping. The monarch warns those yet to turn away from such practices to return to God Almighty. Excerpt.

Libation is seen as a veritable medium deployed by royal fathers to appease their gods and communicate with their forebears. What is your view concerning libation?

Libation as it pertains to our society is archaic and is very ancient. What I mean is that it is not in keeping with the life that is operating today. People who have given themselves to idolatry, to deity and fetish worshipping will always like to make libation for the souls of their ancestors and the godless lives they think they are obeying.

However, somebody who has been open to receiving the word of God in the true sense of it will know that there is only one authority; one supreme authority, the Creator of Heaven and Earth and that is all. Whatever he does, will be to respect that Creator or has He not said that we should not worship or keep any other thing except Himself? Then, if I pour libation to an unknown personality or god, what am I in the realm of things, I am an idol worshiper, fetish, and therefore, I am stupid. God is unique and supreme and all glory must be given to God; not to deity. Hence, I do not support and I will never support any set, group, or individual that makes libation to any Godless entity; I will not.

Our God does not require libation. What our God requires is a contrite heart, heart that believes that God is. That is all and in fact, I have done much in my council to infuse into my chiefs that libation is not what we should practice at this time and we do not do it. We do not pour libation, if libation is to

usher in the spirit of the ancestors, I think prayer does more to bring in the spirit of God and that is what we do.

As one sitting on the throne of your forebears, how do you communicate with or consult them because traditionalists say libation is the medium of communication to their forebears?

I do not think I have to relate to dead bodies (ancestors), the Bible tells me that I do not have to and I believe it. When you are off, you are off, you do not have knowledge of this world again and I do not have to communicate with them, I do not know where they are, the legacies they left behind is what guide us.

Being the chief custodian of the norms, values and beliefs of Ukpum Ete, how do you sustain these values and all that your ancestors believed in?

I do not believe in any deity, I do not believe in making sacrifices of any kind. My ancient, great, great, great ancestors believed in those things, that was their god.

When Paul was walking through the streets of Athens,

he saw people burning incense and sacrificing, he told them, come, I am bringing you good news, not this. This is gone, it is archaic and is not acceptable

by God; the true God has come, worship Him. That is what we do. We try to worship our Creator by singing and praises, which is all, not by sacrificing.

In my kingdom, we do not sacrifice, we will not sacrifice, we do not pour libation and we will not pour. What we do is open our sessions with prayer and end it with prayer.

Do you truly believe in the doctrines of traditional institutions and how?

I think we are trying to confuse issues when we say tradition, tradition and tradition. Do you mean the way our people lived and believed in? That is the tradition; the way the people before us acted and their belief system, all these constitute tradition, but then, that tradition had some norms and if you inquest the norms they had with the doctrine of the church today, they tally. For instance, in our tradition, you will never wage war against your maternal side, you will never do injustice to your

friend, you will never take your friend’s wife, and you will never steal. The tradition forbids stealing, in fact, forbids fornication and these are all in line with the doctrine of Christianity. Therefore, our tradition in that way or the Christian tradition modifies the ancient tradition; that is to say that they are not in defiance to one another.

Are you satisfied with our modern ways of life now compared with the life yester years or do you think something is wrong somewhere?

Something is wrong and that is the imposition of a very strange culture and the intervention of the military era.

These two items have really gone in conflict with the ways of life of the people and have tended to divert us from the path of rectitude or righteousness. The ancient tradition apart from being fetish worshiping had a clear conscience of the superiority of the Being, which they did not know was God. They had the idea that there was something superior and they were sacrificing to this Superior Being even though they did not have a clear picture of what the Being was.

Christians interpret that Being to be God; the Creator, the Only Supremacy, so they were sacrificing in order to appease the Being but they adulterated it the way they did by making human structures and worshipping the structures. They had an idea that there is something greater and that greater power is God. Do you believe that royal fathers have any reason to preserve what their forebears believed in?

No, I am not opposing what they believe in but I think that most of the things they did, they did in ignorance because they had a belief that there was

That Being which they could not easily recognize is that Being that is today; that Being, by whatever they did through small concoctions and sacrifices to appease and to reach, is God. However, what they did was superstition.

some Being greater. That Being which they could not easily recognize is that Being that is today; that Being, by whatever they did through small concoctions and sacrifices to appease and to reach, is God. However, what they did was superstition.

By those practices, do you think they achieved any meaningful results or their aims?

I was not there but you know, when the mind accepts a thing, it acts based on the acceptance.

Do you have a deity in Ete clan?

Even if there is any, I do not believe in it because it does not have power. I do not believe in anything that does not have supreme power. When the pronounced me as clan head, people went to what they call Essien Obong’s shrine and performed some concoctions for me to die. They went there so that I will not ascend the throne but the good thing is that the black ant did not go there, the flying insect did not go there, the vulture, the scavenger did not go there, it was abandoned.

What caused the abandonment? It was the supreme God. They did that for seven days, it was ineffective.

So, I do not believe in that.

People assume that every traditional African society has a deity and stuff like that, who is sustaining the deity in your traditional society?

I do not sustain any, so I do not know and I do not want to know. I will not know. I do not want to know of the existence of any because Paul told me in his first journey when he saw those people along the street sacrificing, that this thing you are worshipping is out of ignorance, come. Therefore, these things are just useless, how can I sustain such things, I do not. These are all what is called, mundane power.

Consequently, I do not have to subscribe to that.

Now, when you asked me who is sustaining them, how do you expect me to subscribe to the sustenance of something I say should not exist? I do not and it should not exist. We want humanity to return to God. Man must return to his Maker. You see now, you find it in young men and preachers and politicians wearing manmade rings, they wear and carry about manmade rings deceiving themselves.

There is no life in that thing; it is all deceit fabricated by man who is looking for life, it is only the words spoken into that thing that the devil carries about. Unfortunately, the devil will take bribe at any time and you will die with that ring in your hand, you will not find life.

It has happened in my lifetime, I have seen quite a number of them with that ring dying and looking for people to come and pull it off. Apart from the marriage rings, it is useless.

Even some Bishops, who were protection rings, preach about the power of God to protect.

6 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

PODIUM…

AGIP REFUSAL TO STEP DOWN ELECTRICITY:

Delta communities threaten to disrupt power supply to Aso Villa, 9 states

By Ochuko Akuopha

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KPAI — INDIGENES of Okpai and other communities in Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State are fuming with rage over an alleged refusal of the National Agip Oil Company, NAOC, to step down electricity to the communities a decade after former President Olusegun Obasanjo inaugurated an Independent Power Plant, IPP, operated by the company in the community.

Consequently, they have threatened to shut down the power plant, which provides electricity to nine states and Abuja with gas derived from their land.

Angry youths and women of Ndokwa ethnic nationality, operating under the aegis of Ndokwa Neku Union, NNU, Pages Group International, PGI, Ndokwa Ladies Positive Agenda, NLPA and Ndokwa Peace Initiative, NPI, accused the federal government and NAOC of reneging on their promise to step down the facility to boost electricity supply to Ndokwa people.

Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Enugu, Ebonyi states, some of the states in the Middle Belt and part of the Federal Capital Territory are reportedly enjoying light from the power plant, while Aboh, Okpai, Abalagada and Benekuku communities in the Ndokwa land that have access to the power plant, but electricity supply is irregular.

An Ndokwa youth leader told Niger Delta Voice, “The plant was completed in 2005 and when the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, said he was coming for the commissioning, one of our sons, Comrade Jude Dike, warned that he should not come until the plant is stepped down here in our place. Ndokwa people spread across Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani local government areas of the state.”

Obasanjo’s botched undertaking President of Pages Group International, Comrade Choky Chukwuma, told Niger Delta Voice, “The government then made a lot of promises that we should not worry about the plant being stepped down for us, that they will give us light.”

“But first of all, for the world to know that Obasanjo has done something here, we should allow him commission the plant, which as peace loving people, we all agreed that he should commission it and expect that it would be stepped

down. After commissioning the plant, he left with that promise given at the ceremonial ground where he commissioned the plant. Obasanjo gave us that promise.

Endless wait “Since 2005 till date, we have been expecting the plant to be stepped down for us to benefit from it, I have called most of our leaders and asked them what the problem was, they said they were still processing it and that they had written series of letters to federal government and all that.

“The last time discussed with the member representing us at the House of Representatives, Hon Ossai N. Ossai, he said they had processed almost everything, and that the matter is with Ministry of Power and Energy and that he will take care of that since he has won election again. We were expecting him to say something about it, but until this day that the Pages Group International took up the issue, he has not even called or made any move in respect of that,” he said.

We have alerted Buhari He asserted, “The Pages Group as an organization now came up to say that there is no need waiting for these honourable members. What the Pages Group wants to do is nothing other than taking the bull by the horn by telling the federal government that we need this electricity for our people.”

“We wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari that we need the electricity or the federal government will lose it. We gave them 14 days to get back to us; the 14 days elapsed, they did not call us and we gave one-week ultimatum that if it expires and they did not initiate the process of stepping down electricity from the plant to us, we will not take it lightly with whoever is in charge of the IPP. “We were told that Agip as a company and NNPC are the ones managing the IPP, we wrote to NNPC and Agip telling

If for any reason they find that certain actions they are taking are either misunderstood or not going down well with the people, it is their responsibility to engage with their host community

them to join hands together and make a case to the federal government if it is the one withholding light from us or we shut down the plant,” he said.

Chukwuma said they had never experienced 30 minutes continuous power supply from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, supposed to be supplying them electricity, saying, “Enough is enough of this neglect.

We’ll shut down power supply to Aso Villa He said, “The Pages Group has taken it upon itself to make it possible that light will shine in Ndokwa land. It is either they give us the light or lose it. What I mean by this is that that part of Aso Villa will not make use of light for the period of this negotiation.

We will make sure we shut it down, Aso Villa will also face what we have been experiencing here for more than 10 years now and they will know what we are feeling here.”

Also speaking, secretary general of the youth wing of NNU, Comrade Presley Idi, said, “We have given them a one week ultimatum but up till this moment as we are speaking, nothing concrete has been done about the issue. You cannot tell us that something will be located at our backyard, yet we cannot benefit from it; that is injustice of the highest order to those of us from the Ndokwa nation.”

What we want from Agip Idi said: “As we speak, this plant supplies 15 percent of the total output of energy in the country; so what is so difficult

that they cannot include us, just three local government areas to this grid for us to enjoy our Godgiven natural resources. If there were no abundance of gas deposit here, this plant would not have been located in our land. This resource belongs to us; it does not belong to Agip.

So we are telling them that what we want is for them to step the plant down here in Ndokwa nation.”

Speaking in the same vein, presidents of Ndokwa Ladies Positive Agenda and the Ndokwa Peace Initiative, Mrs. Josephine Ndubishi and Comrade Ameachi Ockiya respectively, lamented that the poor power supply to the Ndokwa nation was negatively impacting on the socioeconomic lives of the people.

They said the people live in perpetual darkness and spend huge amount of money to purchase diesel and petrol to power their businesses.

Demand is legitimate- Hon Isei Efforts to contact the member representing the Ndokwa/ Ukwuani federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ossai Ossai, for comments on the matter were abortive, but a former representative of the constituency, Hon. Mercy Alumona Isei, said the demand of the people was legitimate, adding that she was involved in the conception and commissioning of the project.

“Before I left office as chair, Committee on Gas and member representing the constituency, my engagement with Agip got to the point when they said

they were going to give light to the first nine contiguous communities to the IPP and that that is where they are going to start it.

Word of caution “Before I left, my attention was drawn to a Tender Advertisement for that particular action that was promised. But on the issue of taking it down to all the communities, I have told my people that apart from Agip, we should also beam our focus on the federal government through the Ministry of Power because this has to do with generation, transmission and distribution of power,” she said.

While noting that Agip had failed to engage properly with all concerned, she said, “I do not see why the company up till now should even keep quiet and pretend as if nothing is wrong. If for any reason they find that certain actions they are taking are either misunderstood or not going down well with the people, it is their responsibility to engage with their host community to explain what they are doing because this is supposed to be a continuous engagement process.”

“So I think the best thing will be for all parties concerned to come together and whoever that has responsibility should ensure that people who hosts this all important facility benefit from the things that they go through in order to give other people gains. That is how I see it. I believe that their demand is in order and Agip needs to respond appropriately and they have to do that as quickly as

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 7

Arrest of monarch, 5 chiefs sparks anxiety in Rivers town

BAD ROAD: Ndokwa farmers, anglers agonize as harvest rot away

By Ochuko Akuopha

A

BOH — INDIGENES of predominantly farming and fishing communities of Aboh, Akarai, Umuolu and Onya in Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, have decried the deplorable state of the major road linking their communities, bemoaning its adverse socioeconomic effects on their livelihood.

The residents, who spoke with Niger Delta Voice appealed to the state government to reconstruct the road, as they are unable to transport their products to the market because of the rickety road.

Our produces spoil at home One of them, Mr. Daniel Ogiriki, said, “The major occupation of our people is farming and most of our products like plantain, yam, potatoes, pepper and other crops cannot get to the market after harvest because of bad road. Most of them spoil at home and this makes our products to be of less economic value.”

“If that road is opened up, our people will be able to market their products at prevailing prices and this will in turn improve their economic lives.

Our people alone can provide food to most parts of the state; that is why we are appealing to the government to come to our aid. The road is a great challenge to us,” he said.

While noting that the people were living in a difficult terrain, he said, “We are close to River Niger and there are specific places where bridges and converts are supposed to be built in order for water to pass through. You know water always finds its feet and the water level in our terrain goes up and down. Between August and September, the River Niger always overflows its banks and when it does, the water level in the creeks increases.”

Govt should intervene “The government had done roads in other places like the East-West Road, if the government can do that with all the bridges, they can do similar thing here, it government has done bigger projects than this,” he said.

Also speaking, another indigene, Mr. Ifeanyichuku Idi, asserted, “One thing we have been complaining about overtime is that our people have always had issues when it comes to development. The most appreciable thing any government is supposed to do for its people is to provide good road and water and these have

One of the shops closed down in Okposi Contiunes from Page 1 in court. However, tr uly speaking, I was arrested and paraded without any cause, I did not do anything,” he said.

In the meantime, Eze Dr. Nwokocha has resumed his been nonexistent here.”

“We have tried as much as we can to draw government’s attention to this road but nobody has done anything about it. The road is so bad that even for a motorcycle to go through it is very difficult, let alone driving a car. It is more than deplorable.

“It is a road that is connecting so many communities. The negative impact on the socioeconomic lives of our people cannot be overemphasized.

There is no presence of any standard hospitals in any of the affected communities; they do not have access to medical services. Our people are

anglers and farmers and that is what they know how to do best. After harvest, the normal thing is to take your goods to the market, but this is very difficult for them due to the bad state of the road,” he said.

Economic activities stalled His words, “This has virtually crippled the economic activities of these communities because the time it will take them to bring them from their communities to the nearest market, the goods may have gotten spoilt and lost their value in the market. This has made them so economic redundant because all their

goods are perishable and these are some of the issues we really need to address.

On his part, former youth chair of Aboh community, Mr. Chukuka Obi said bicycles, motorcycles and wheelbarrows, which are the only means of transporting produce from the farm now, could not go through the road.

Similarly, Mr. Peter Ikechukwu said the road had been in a devastating condition for many decades, adding, “There is water and mud everywhere so you cannot access the road easily, government should listen to our plight because we are seeing hell here.”

lecturing institution.

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Cultists still hanging about

A community leader, Chief Oye, whom Niger Delta Voice met, going to the farm, said there was relative peace in the community currently.

He, however, said the cult boys that were terrorizing the community were still hanging around, but that they have stopped their random shootings.

Oye said many people, including community leaders, bolted away from the community because of the gunfire.

The chief insisted that Ochioha had never been a cultist and even the traditional stool, which he occupies, abhors such misconduct.

BUSINESS REVOLUTION:

Lilywhite spearheads plastics export, revitalizes Calabar jetty Continues from page 3 because no one ever knew or believed that an indigenous company had the capacity to carry out a project of that magnitude because the rehabilitation of the jetty carried out by his outfit with loans taken from bank.

“The mainstay of the jetty regulated by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is purely export of made in Nigeria products,” he added.

Clash of interests However, it seemed not to have gone down well with some stakeholders, as they have accused the concessionaire for encouraging illegal immigrants into the country through the platform.

Besides, revenue collection on goods and passengers passing through the jetty has raised some challenges between, NIWA, Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA and currently some local government areas, especially as the Cross River state government was working out modalities to pass a bill on maritime tax and revenues.

In fact, the NPA and NIWA are at daggers drawn over revenue collection from the jetty and it had created confusion

often times in the past.

Ogbonna clears the air Ogbonna, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving indigenous companies opportunity to render professional services, said that it would bring holistic and unprecedented growth as well as development to country’s economy.

He said the journey so far has not been an easy one because the company was thriving to pay back the banks and also working in a very “ hostile environment” with so much challenges, as people believe that a non indigene has no business running such a venture in their land. The entrepreneur asserted that contrary to allegation of illegal immigrants coming in through the jetty, a total of 522 deportees, which includes 71 Nigerians and 13 crew men from Gabon transited through Calabar seaport in that operation, entirely an arrangement between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Immigration Service, IMS. Ogbonna gave figures of other nationalities to include Mali: 128, Burkina Faso- 87, Senegal -57, Guinea - 41, Togo- 41, Benin-21, Ghana - 9 and

Gambia- 3. His words, “The operation had nothing to do with us, it was purely a Federal Government affair, it has nothing to do with our jetty or Lilywhite, apart from the fact that our platform was used.”

Witch-hunting “So all those people saying we were aiding and abating illegal immigrants and that illegal immigrants come in through this platform are just witchhunting us in a bid to give us a bad name and image,” he said.

He hinted that the issue of illegal immigrants or illegal items coming through the jetty was impossible because “we have upgraded our surveillance operations to make sure that only authorized persons and goods pass through the place.”

On the alleged revenue tussle between some government agencies, he said it was not the business of Lilywhite to make comments on it. According to him, “ Let the laws of the land be followed, whatever the government decides stands, we really do not have a hand in what happens between ,NIWA, NPA and the Cross River State government anywhere they lead, we shall follow.”

8 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

AGENDA

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY — IN Benin Kingdom, Edo State, nobody dares the Oba. In fact, for the Binis, the Oba is next to God, his words are laws and any attempt to question his authority is termed a taboo. What is more, whoever is the guilty party does not go scot-free.

However, there is tension in the ancient Kingdom currently following the pronouncement by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Rich Arisco Osemwingie, that he is now the Ogiamien of Benin Kingdom without the authority of the Oba. Osemwingie courted the wrath of the monarchy when he declared in a local tabloid, Ogiamien Trumpet, that members of the Ogiamien family cannot bow to the Oba of Benin and even arrogated the powers to install some chiefs in the suburbs of Benin to himself.

The pronouncement came as a shock to the palace of the Oba of Benin since Osemwingie is not even the current Ogiamien of Benin. Apart from the Oba, who approves chieftaincy titles in the Kingdom, nobody else is has the power to do so.

Adun takes self-proclaimed Ogiamien to the cleaners The first to react to the seeming rebellion in the kingdom was the Ayobahan of the kingdom, Chief John Osamede Adun, who described the action as an attempt to desecrate the stool of the Oba of Benin. Chief Adun declared that ab-initio the Ogiamien family has no blue blood (Princely lineage) and, therefore, “its palace is non existence and cannot stand as it is a mere ‘cave’.

He warned the Ogiamien family against attempts to drag the kingdom into a bloody war even as he called on all the market women, youths and elders to come out in their large numbers to challenge the action of the Ogiamien, a ‘slave’, who Oba conquered his forefather decades ago.

Chief Adun specifically lampooned Chief Osemwingie for “championing the cause to topple the Oba of Benin by carving out a separate palace for self when the throne of the Oba of Benin is not for sale.

He said, “Ogiamien family was perished in 19 AD by our forefather many years ago, he is not a chief; he is a (alleged) slave. He is not a prince; people who can bear prince in Benin are the children of Oba of Benin.

Today I call on all Edo people, it is an abomination, and it is a taboo to the Benin people for anybody to challenge the authority of the Oba.” “He is challenging the authority of the Benin, it is not

*Benin City

Rumble in Bini kingdom *Man proclaims self Ogiamien of Benin Kingdom *Iyase of Benin, Chief Adun, others spit fire *Edo govt arraigns Osemwingie, others in court for alleged “traditional coup” the Oba, our Oba is not for sale and Oba is an authority. After God, it is the Oba. If you go down the history of Benin kingdom there is only one Oba, nobody has the right to challenge the Oba. The Ogiamien family wants to cause war in the kingdom,” Adun added.

He maintained, “Nobody in the whole world can challenge the Oba of Benin,” adding,”

Anybody who aligns himself or herself with the Ogiamien’s

Government will not tolerate any act calculated to disturb the peace of the state or any part thereof

*Oba of Benin family is an enemy of Benin kingdom.”

Govt cautions, drags Osemwingie, others to court The Edo state Government in a statement signed by the Secretary to State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, threatened to invoke the relevant laws against anyone who proclaims

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

EMPOWERMENT: Ex-militants issue A’Ibom govt 7-day ultimatum

By Tom Moses

E

KET- EX-MILITANTS under the auspices of Bakassi Freedom Fighters at Akwa Ibom State have threatened to barge in activities by the state government to mark the 28th Anniversary celebration of the creation of the state if Governor Udom Emmanuel continues to vacillate on their empowerment programme.

The former agitators, who gave the state government a seven-day ultimatum to address their demands was specific that they would vandalize pipelines at Frontier Oil Limited, FOL, and interrupt events at the Ibom International Airport and ExxonMobil.

They decried the neglect by the government after officials persuaded them to drop arms and embrace the federal government’s amnesty programme. Spokesperson of the group, Commander Ebong Friday, who expressed anger with the Akwa-Ibom State Government during a chat with the Niger Delta Voice (NDV) in Eket, claimed that the state government has

defaulted on the agreement reached with exmilitants in 2011.

He asserted, “The Akwa-Ibom state government has neglected our members since we dropped our arms to embrace the Federal Government Amnesty Programme. We have waited this long to see whether the state government would see reasons to empower us to become independent so that we do not remember the past but government seems to have only deceived us.”

“So, the only way to remind the government of its promises to us is to disrupt activities in Akwa-Ibom Airport, ExxonMobil and vandalize pipelines at the FOL-Frontier Oil Limited.

“It is very unfortunate that the state government is taking us for granted, we dropped our arms at the course of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and embraced peace. “It was the Akwa-Ibom state government that pleaded with us to embrace the Amnesty Programme and we surrendered our arms with an agreement that they will train and integrate us in the society,” he said.

himself a chief or traditional ruler in the state.

The statement reads, “The attention of government has been drawn to a newspaper, OGIAMIEN TRUMPET, which came into circulation a few weeks ago. According to the publisher of the newspaper, it was established to be used as a medium for propagating the unity of the Ogiamien family members and to promote a renaissance of the family.”

“Government recognizes the right of every citizen to seek the advancement of his family members through legitimate and inoffensive manner.

But government cannot watch as a person or family maligns or assaults other citizens under the pretext that he wants to promote himself or his family.

“Government will take steps to prevent any act which is capable to cause a breach of the peace.

Government condemns in totality the abusive language used in the publication. The family says it has forwarded a petition on their grievances to the state government. The family is therefore advised to await government response to the petition. Government condemns in strong terms the disrespect the Ogiamien family has shown to HRM, Omo N’ Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin.

“The publishers are therefore admonished to desist forthwith, from showing such rudeness to a personage, the whole nation holds in very high esteem, our most revered monarch.

Government will invoke the relevant sections of the Traditional Rulers and Chieftaincy Law, 1979, which prohibit any person or group to proclaim self as a chief or traditional ruler, a breach of which is a criminal offence.

Government will not tolerate any act calculated to disturb the peace of the state or any part thereof.”

Tension as Iyase, palace chiefs and youths react Tension heightened, last Wednesday, when the entire palace chiefs, elders, youths led by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom (Prime Minister of Benin Kingdom), Chief Sam Igbe addressed the media to denounce the action of Arisco and members of the Ogiamien family.

They expressed shock over what they described as the rebellious act of Rich AriscoOsemwingie, who allegedly proclaimed himself as the Imperial Majesty, the Ogiamien of Utantan Benin nation. The Iyase declared that the action of Arisco-Osemwingie was a violation of some sections of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979.

He said, “The palace of the Oba of Benin, Benin chiefs wellmeaning Benin people and lovers of our culture and tradition, are appalled at the recent disrespect of one Rich Arisco Osewengie for the Benin culture and tradition.

We are sure that some of you must have read recent publications by a newspaper known as Ogiamien Trumpet, wherein the said Arisco and his cohorts cast aspersion and insult on our revered Benin monarch.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—29

By Theodore Opara

Kia joins big league with armoured Quoris

lag-free drive when viewed against competitions.

W

ITH a different beat and an enhanced armoured technology against munitions attacks, Kia Motors Nigeria has created a niche in the super-luxury market with the introduction of the shatterproof, grenade resistant, opaque anti-blast armour, and protective coated reinforced bulletproof Kia Quoris for high-net-worth individuals and government officials.

The bulletproof Kia Quoris, currently selling at N39.6m has enjoyed an impressive outing and gained momentum amongst top chief exec-

utives and government officials. Its armourplating is rated as one of the best bulletproof cars

in the country with a sniper resistant roof fitted with special steel and shatterproof glass,

according to Kia Motors.

“The armoured luxury sedan handily gets a turbo-charged 3.8-litre V6

and boasts enough protective capability to defend against rifle fire from military weapons,

hand grenades, explosive charges, amongst others.

High-tech fibres and enhanced materials are used to implement the armouring process with top notch installation techniques to provide greater protection and exhilarating experience for our well-heeled, security-conscious customers” said, Sandeep Malhotra, Chief Commercial Officer, Kia Motors Nigeria.

Kia Quoris armoured luxury sedan provides an exceptional level of protection from the impact of collisions for all occupants and is outfitted with highperformance run-flat-tire inserts.

The springs, shock absorbers, role and torsion bars and brake system are replaced with new uprated parts. The ratings of these components are measured to provide the optimum balance in handling so as not to affect the overhaul driving dynamics of the reinforced luxury sedan from the standard model.

The bulletproof Kia Quoris charts a new course of fortified sedan.

With pre-fabricated opaque armour components and elegant style, it’s everything you’ve ever wanted from a rearwheel drive rock-hard luxury sedan.

Admiralty, one-stop auto facility opens in Lekki T

HE Lekki-Epe axis of Lagos State now has a one-stop facility for purchase, servicing and repair of vehicles, with the establishment of Admiralty Motors Limited in June.

The huge development is spread on hectares of prime and firm land and has facilities to cater to the needs of prospective clients for stress-free experience.

Conducting a tour of the exquisite facility recently, Chief Executive Officer, Maryann Chukwueke, who has been in the auto business in the last 25 years, said systems in the workshop are highly automated and could cater to all vehicle types, including the Japanese, European, American and Korean brands.

According to the Admiralty Motors CEO, the company boasts the most modern equipment in its C M Y K

facility for air conditioner, panel beating, tyre maintenance etc.

Said she “Cars that are mangled from accidents can have their chassis stretched to the original position using Chassis Stretcher in our workshop. While this is going on, the main frame can be reworked at the body shop where ‘panel beating’ is done and then sprayed and oven baked

Cars that are mangled from accidents can have their chassis stretched to the original position using Chassis Stretcher in our workshop

at the paint shop after which it is taken to the car wash.

This, she said, brings the car back to its original shape.

“There is the tyre service section where wheel balancing and alignment is done with the use of a dedicated machine as well as tyre changers,” she said.

“Everything is automated because, as they say, with better tools you get better services; that is what is in here.

This is a 30-bay workshop. Actually, we were doing something medium size and it came out like this and all together we have 30 bays, meaning that 30 cars can be worked on simultaneously. We also have welltrained technicians with average of 10 years experience in the industry.

They also have quick service point and a cafe-

From left: Maryann Chukwueke, ECO, Admiralty Motors, Mr. Elie Kehdi, Regional Manager, Africa, Kehdi Equipment, suppliers of the workshop equipment, pose with some Admiralty technicians in Lekki workshop teria. There is a machine that extracts and refills oil and this keeps the workshop floor clean. They have machines for fixing the injector nozzles of a vehicle, air-conditioning and another that works on discs. For every defect in a vehicle, there is a machine in the workshop to handle the job.

"The automated machines in the workshop are from the United Kingdom and Italy, "she said,

adding that spare parts are from the original manufacturers and are delivered very early because of their special freight arrangements.

The cost of servicing and repairing cars at the workshop is very competitive, she said and those who buy cars from her showroom would be given three years warranty because of the confidence they have in their systems.

The Admiralty Motor boss showered praises on Mrs. Chinyere Dozie, who she described as her mentor and benefactor.

The dream of having the facility, “was made possible by my divinely gifted mentor and benefactor, Mrs. Chinyere Dozie, who always found a way to move the project despite all odds and by my family, the Chukwuekes.”

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Re: Salaries and primary school certificate saga RIGHT OF REPLY

By Semiu Okanlawon

T

HE editorial in Vanguard Newspaper of Thursday September 17, at page 18, is a belated remark on the latest development of the salary issue in Osun State.

Though, even if it had come out before now, the contents therein of the editorial would still not be fitting to the present situation. Recently (precisely Wednesday, September 16, 2015), the state government commenced the payment of outstanding salaries and pensions from N34.989bn

bailout loan received for the Federal Government for that particular purpose.

Evidently, it has clearly shown that Osun Government did not tie the payment of salary to the presentation of primary school leaving certificate as wildly claimed in the Vanguard editorial.

Backlog of salaries Before the payment of the backlog of salaries, the State Government had at different fora stated that the primary school certificate is not a prerequisite for payment of

salaries.

The insinuation is mischievous and incorrect as the circular and form sent out by government were not meant for the payment of salary but for the monitoring and control within the civil service.

Primary School Leaving Certificate in the scheme for public service workers is only applicable to those who are appointed or employed as cleaners, guards, messengers and others, who fall within this category of staff.

Therefore, in filling such forms, individuals are not compelled to fill everything

but those portions that are applicable to them. Hence, it will be incongruous to ask a medical doctor or an engineer,

Osun Government has no other plan for the bailout it received other than to deploy it to offsetting the salary backlog

who presented MBBS and B. Eng to present a Primary School leaving Certificate.

The conclusion by Vanguard that government wanted to hide under the presentation of primary school certificate to sidestep its statutory obligations to the workers, knowing fully well that majority of the civil servants would be unable to locate this foundational certificate, is at best drawn in error, at worst based on ignorance.

Granted that certificates such as that of primary, secondary or universities are issued to any recipient once in life time, the law allows a re-issue in case such certificate is destroyed, stolen or lost. This is why organisations, government or agencies would require a Certified True Copy (CTC) of such lost or destroyed certificate in lieu of original.

All the owners of missing certificates need to do is approach a court and swear to an affidavit that the certificate is missing or destroyed.

Destroyed certificate He or she then takes the affidavit to the school in question and a CTC will be issued to him or her, which is valid as the original.

Thus, it is pertinent to note that the commencement of salary payment was not done on discrimination of certificate – whether National Diploma (ND) Bachelor degree or School Certificate contrary to the deduction of Vanguard Newspaper that presentation of certificate is a ploy by government to avoid paying the workers.

All have been receiving payment alerts.

The essence of asking civil servants to produce certificate is predicated on staff auditing, which is very essential for any government to know the number of its work force; who does what in what capacity as well as to determine the capacity and output of any worker.

It is our considered opinion that a newspaper should be well informed on the issue it intends to write about, so as to avoid mis-informing the general public.

Osun Government has no other plan for the bailout it received other than to deploy it to offsetting the salary backlog. But it does not and shall not c o m p r o m i s e ‘judicious use’ of the bailout fund.

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—31

Like a comet, Engr. Somolu exits••• A tribute to late Engr. Foluseke Somolu, 21st president, NSE and former SSA to presidents Obasanjo and Yar’adua.

TRIBUTE

DAKKADA: Udom sets agenda for revival

A

By Ini Udoma

YOUNG Nigerian from Akwa Ibom State, Ufot Ekong, 24, addressed the last Nigerian Diaspora Day Conference. He was celebrated as the next Philip Emegwali to emerge from Nigeria. He had, during the year, won four awards including that of overall best graduating student at one of Japan’s most prestigious higher institutions, Tokai University. He also solved a 50 years old universal Mathematical problem. Beyond the invitation by President Muhammadu Buhari to address the Diaspora Conference, his State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, offered him a state government scholarship covering his Masters and Doctorate degree studies, which he has already commenced.

The story of Ufot Ekong, was not always rosy till he won the accolades. Ekong lost his father, a renowned former Nigeria Airways pilot, at 14. At 19, he left the shores of Nigeria for Japan. He enrolled for one year language course and today, he writes and speaks Japanese fluently. Hardwork, determination and dedication is his full story. Without a father, and a mother who had other children to support, Ekong took to working in between lectures. He did two jobs - one at McDonalds between 5p.m and 11p.m; another in a shipping company between 2a.m and 6a.m. He would get home by 7a.m., take a shower and a short nap with multiple alarm clocks so that he could wake up and make school by 9.30a.m. He went through this cycle all through his school years. Today, his adversity and consistency has brought him fame.

In contrast, another 24 year old Uduak Ekanem, from the same State, with a businessman father still alive, and a middle income earning mother who works in the Civil Service, started school at the University of Uyo same year with Ekong. He had no problem with money as his father supports him greatly. He even had a car at his disposal to take to school. Most times, he loiters in the company of other “cultist” friends, and spends free moments at drinking joints.

While Ekong was receiving his award in Japan, Ekanem was in front of the house of a politician, asking to be hired for “political” duties. He had since withdrawn from school.

It is for the sake of youths like Ufot and Ekanem that Governor Udom Emmanuel design the Dakkada campaign to revive the personality of the Akwa Ibom person – Ekong as a model of revival and Ekanem as a candidate for revival.

Dakkada, literally meaning arise is the high Dakkada point of this year’s 28th Anniversary Celebration is a of the State holding at the renowned Godswill campaign Akpabio International the Stadium on September governor 23, 2015.

Aniekan Umanah, is State Commissioner for Information and passionate Communications, said about.

“Dakkada is a campaign He comes the governor is passionate about. He across as a comes across as a prophet prophet kept for an a p p o i n t e d kept for an time. Governor Udom appointed Emmanuel is that prophet. And the time is time the time of economic down turn. A time for

By Uwem-obong Ankak

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•Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom creativity. A time for innovation. A time for ingenuity. Even within this time of adverse economic conditions, Governor Emmanuel has mapped out a five-point agenda and is poised to see them through. For these to happen, he needs the cooperation of his people and for them to have the same mindset. That, basically is the philosophy behind Dakkada. A clarion call for the people to rise up, motivate themselves and be all they never were.”

Umanah said it is about arising to greatness; having faith in God that all things are possible; exchewing cleavages like ethnicity, reliogion and gender; and bonding together in unity. “It is also about rising to chart a new course in development; rising to task our creativity; rising to dare so we can do anything we set our minds to do; rising to the faith that Akwa Ibom was created to be great and that greatness is in all of us” The campaign, according to the commissioner, is about the elevation of “the consciousness of every son and daughter of Akwa Ibom State, transforming same to think out of the box and recreate in themselves several Ufot Ekongs, several Vincent Enyemas, Ray Ekpus, several Paul Usoros, several Nsikak Eduoks et cetera”. The Commissioner further said the concept is deep and will totally change the psychic frame and mindset of Akwa Ibom people. Why? “It is a more than a mere affirmative declaration.

Dakkada is deeper because it is a call to action and is action itself”.

Affirmative declaration The anniversary will also see the commissioning of projects by the State governor. The projects include a newly constructed gynecological ward, male ward and children ward at the St. Luke Hospital; the rehabilitated potable water supply headwork’s for Uyo Urban at Ifa Atai and emergency intervention on gully erosion at the School of Nursing, Anua. The governor will also flag off the construction of three collapsed bridges and internal roads in Obot Akara; the dualization of Oron-Uyo Road, a federal road.

Umanah listed other achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel so far to include the installation of “dead bus” technology which allows Akwa Ibom to be an island of power supply during national grid outages; resuscitation of Peacock Paint; payment of 10 years arrears of pension and gratuity to retired teachers; payment of CONHES consolidated salary structure approved in August 2014, to Nurses, effective June 1, 2015; renovation of Cornelia Connelly College, Uyo; inauguration of several technical committees viz agricultural and food security, Ibaka Sea Port and Foreign Direct Investment.

HONE calls at 2 a.m are often ominous. And this was what I felt when Mr. Sadiq Ibrahim, Principal of Laureates College, Lagos called me in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, August 25, 2015.

After struggling to pick up the phone, wondering who the hell was disturbing my sleep at that unholy hour, the agitated voice and the message was terse. “Mr Uwem, have you heard already.” What is it Sadiq? I queried. Hmmm, the Chairman has gone o,” he dropped the bombshell.

For an indeterminable time, I was just starring at the phone, trying to make out what he was trying to say.

Of course, I knew it could only mean one chairman that we both knew. But gone? To where? How? The questions kept tumbling from my mind. I can’t remember if I said anything else after his message. All I remembered was that I called him again after about an hour seeking for details of what happened. Of course I knew that he was referring to Engr Foluseke Somolu, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Laureates College where, yours sincerely is a board member, but that he died was what I had all the questions tumbling from my mind,

National Sportslink Newspaper, he was my veritable critic. He read through every edition and compiled every error both factual and grammatical slips including printer’s error. He would call me and reel out his observations, and called for more thoroughness. Of course, I would often retort, “how can I allow an Engineer to correct a Mass Communicator” wherein, we would go for a bet if another slip occurs. He often won the bet. This is just one of the numerous interventions he had in my life. His imprints are very visible in my job movement, business endeavours and the numerous other pies I have my hands in.

Of course, I have also been his most virulent critic too. And he liked it.

As General Manager, Transmission in NEPA, I often teased him that he didn’t transfer his thoroughness in seeing the errors in my newspaper to getting electricity for Nigerians. He would often tell me that if I had worked for a behemoth, a Federal establishment like NEPA, I would have understood that an individual idea mean little or nothing if the head of the organisation or government does not have, the will power to make things work. This is true because when he was eventually appointed into the NEPA Technical Board by President Obasanjo in year 2000, he brought some ideas to bear on that committee and the result is the more than 11 integrated power stations we have across the country.

Integrated power stations

late Engr. Foluseke Somolu for. The last thing I was willing to hear at that point was what Mr. Sadiq told me. Yes, I knew Engr.

Somolu was struggling with some health issues but I had concluded, since the last time we met in June that the worst was over. He had brightened up and put on some weight, we even went out together to his barber’s shop for a haircut.

Over lunch that Sunday afternoon, we had teased and joked about everything. I remembered asking him what went on in his mind at the height of his sickness, he simply replied that he had expected the worst and that God just decided to extend his stay on earth. That was the quintessential engineer who had been my friend for over 18 years and represented everything that is decent, as far as I know. I glued to him like a leech and drank deep from his philosophical reflections and wisecracks. He showed me love and couldn’t be bothered about our age difference.

In all my endeavours since I met him, the former President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Senior Special Assistant to both President Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua, on Power Reforms, has had an imprint in my life endeavour. As Editor of the defunct

And, that also earned him the elevation to the office of Senior Special Assistant or Power Reform

by President Obasanjo and was rightly retained by Umaru Yar’Adua until the hawks in that government then played their usual game and he had to leave.

But, one thing you couldn’t take away from my late mentor was that he was very serious with whatever assignment he was saddled with or took upon himself to do. In all of the years I have known him, everything he did, including handling activities for his Alma Matter, Ibadan Grammar School, was always serious business for him. As Vince Lombardi observed, the quality of a person’s quality is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence.

His tenure as the President of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) saw landmarks. These include sending position paper to government for the use of Nigerian engineers for local engineering contracts instead of patronising foreign companies. He built, equipped and commissioned a modern Resource Centre for capacity building as well as instituting awards for outstanding Nigerian Engineers, among several other innovations.

And, to think that the man I met at Mr Alex Abu’s office, a friend and then Chairman of defunct NEPA football who served under him as Principal Manager at the Ijora transmission office, to become so close to me over the years, speaks.

•Uwem-Obong Ankak, a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst lives in Lagos

32 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

By Jude Njoku

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HE completion of the 10,000sqm Mountview Shopping Centre in the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja, .got a major boost last week with signing of a lease agreement for 3,000 square metre space between Topwide Ventures Limited and Artee Group, the operators of SPAR Hypermarket.

The transaction which is expected to increase Nigeria’s retail space with over 70,000 square metres by the end of 2015, will make SPAR the anchor tenant of the shopping mall, which is being jointly developed by Topwide Ventures and Richards Infrastructures Limited.

The world-class mall is being leased under the platform of PropertyBank, managed by Propertyvault Limited (a subsidiary of Richards Infrastructures). Those who appended their signature to the lease agreement at a ceremony in Lagos, included Danie Grove from the , Retail Development Team of Artee Group, the Managing Director of Richards Infrastructures Limited, Andy Morkah and Harris Okonkwo, a Director of Topwide Ventures.

Vanguard Homes & Property leant that the mall will attract shoppers from Gwarimpa, Jabi, Life Camp, Mabushi, Utako and other parts of the FCT. The mall would be concluded by the end of the first quarter of 2016.

SPAR, which operates stores in the hypermarket format in Nigeria has the largest number of hypermarket stores in the country.

Retail chain The Dutch multinational retail chain is believed to have global presence in 41 countries across four continents with over 12,500 stores. SPAR International has franchised the brand to Artee Group for Nigerian operations.

As SPAR operates in the hypermarket format, its product range cuts across a very wide spectrum of consumption needs & aspirations. SPAR product range in Mountview Shopping Centre will include Grocery, Bakery, Butchery, Fruits & Vegetables, Hot Meals, Wine & Spirits, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Consumer Electronics, Large & Small Home Appliances, Mobile Phones, Laptops & Tablets, and Lifestyle range consisting of Perfumes, Watches, Jewellery and Home & Office Furniture. As for product range, which SPAR carries, coupled with retail experience of over 27 years, it makes immense sense to have SPAR as the anchor tenant.

Nigeria’s retail space has spiked new interests in recent C M Y K

Model of Mountview Shopping Centre

SPAR is lead tenant in N3bn Abuja Mountview Shopping Centre SPAR, which operates stores in the hypermarket format in Nigeria has the largest number of hypermarket stores in the country

time with South African owned Shoprite, home grown hypermarket retail chain SPAR Park and Shop, Game, Mr. Price, Wrangler, Etam, Lacoste and Cold Stone showing huge commitment to further spread their footprints having occupied nearly all of the country’s retail space estimated to be a little above 100,000 square metres.

Vanguard Homes & Property learnt that the huge demand in

retail space was necessitated by a fast-growing population with considerable buying power, rapid urbanisation and improved infrastructure to invest in retail and mixed-use developments Mountview Shopping Centre which is a one-stop shop for things like fashion, electronics, ICT appliances and consumables, building materials, retail super mart and banking halls, .has Messrs SSL Project Limited as

FG charges quantity surveyors to expose corruption

By Chris Ochayi

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HE Federal Government, weekend, charged Quantity Surveyors’ Registration Board of Nigeria, (QSRBN), the regulatory body of quantity surveying profession, to embrace the ongoing fight against wastages and looting of public funds perpetrated through contract inflation, over invoicing and other acts of corruption that is bedevilling the country’s construction sector.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. George Ossi, who gave the charge at the opening of the just concluded 2015 Annual Conference of Registered Quantity Surveyors, in Abuja, noted that improved infrastructure which is a major component of the administration’s Change Agenda must be guided and sustained.

The theme of two-day conference was “Strategic Options For the Nigerian

Quantity Surveyor in the Next Two Decades”.

Mr. Ossi who emphasised the need for building professionals to promote resource optimisation and value maximization in construction project implementation, added that the government will henceforth, assess their widely acclaimed expertise in cost management of projects to put the nation back on the track to sustainable development.

Sustainable development While welcoming participants to the event, the President, Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, Mallam Hussaini Dikko said QSRBN must be in the vanguard against the monster called corruption, and must hold integrity in high esteem.

Stressing the need for QSRBN to strive to remain at the cutting edge of development within the

profession in the country and global market place, Dikko advised his colleagues to update their knowledge since it remains the most important source of personal power.

The President who stated that quantity surveyors must not merely preach the eradication of corruption, but they must live by it. “We must use our profession as a standard. This is because corruption is pervasive in all sectors of our national life and you will be amazed that with the wealth of this country, corruption in form of bribery, looting, ghost workers and fraudulent procurement exercise has not allowed the country to develop well”, Dikko noted.

Describing the 2015 Conference as a gateway to reviewing developments of the past year, he said the theme of the two-day event was designed to provide a platform for registered quantity surveyors to take a strategic glance into the future and fathom what it holds in stock for them.

main the main contractor.

Prominent facilities being provided include paved parking spaces, CCTV on perimeter fence and inside the mall, restaurants, two cinema halls and lounges. Also provided are highly skilled man guards and Police presence, maintenance office and ready artisans.

Managing Director of Richards Infrastructures Limited, Andy Morkah said the “development has come timely to alleviate the shopping stress of the residents of the communities such as Godab, Brains and hammers, Monarch Garden, Canaan, and Palm city, who currently have to go to the central area to shop.”

He disclosed that the Mall was redesigned and upgraded to accommodate the cinema halls and lounges with better shopping facilities. This he said moved the construction cost to about N3 billion.

Value erosion The chairman of Topwide Ventures and chief promoter of the project, Senator Annie Okonkwo, he said, has pledged to construct a two- kilometre access road to link the shopping mall to existing community roads. Morkah promised that the mall would be properly managed to avoid value erosion and disorganised setting.

The management cost will be mutually determined between the occupants and the management company. The maintenance services will include general cleaning of the car parks, walk ways and internal common areas within the complex as well as maintenance of the lighting system around the perimeter fence, within the compound and all security lights.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—33

Architect builds eco-friendly prototype homes in Rivers State

By Jude Njoku HE construction of environmentally affordable housing in Nigeria got a major fillip recently. This followed the completion and occupation of the latest affordable green housing project in IgboEtche, Port Harcourt in Rivers state. The Passive House Prototype eco-village, built by Comprehensive Design Services and CAP Consultants, led by Chinwe Ohajuruka is now fully functioning.

These facts were disclosed in a press statement signed by the Programmes Director of Community Conservation Development Initiative, CCDI, MS Kofo Adeleke and made available to Vanguard Homes & Property.

She explained that “the selfcooling and solar-powered design uses bio-climatic features such as natural ventilation and shading, light coloured roofs,

T

courtyards, solar power for pumping water and lighting, waste recycling, compressed earth Hydraform blocks, as well as locally available materials for construction”. The new families, according to the statement, will be guided and assisted with the use of the green low technologies that the Passive House principles are based on.

Property ownership “Residents have already remarked that they do not need any fans or air-conditioners to live comfortably. A key factor in the design is its affordability for lowincome earners, as they find it very difficult to access funds for property ownership, and the next step is to provide more families with the opportunity to own this kind of home. This project addresses the low income housing shortage, environmental

Prototype of the Passive House. sustainability and Nigeria’s goal of achieving a low carbon green economy, and has managed to tackle all three at the same time,” Adeleke said.

According to her, CCDI has been looking at environmentally sustainable financing and green products and services that financial institutions can provide to developers for green housing projects and for families to obtain

green mortgages to buy them.

“Green mortgages with lower interest rates for clients who purchase energy efficient homes, solar energy financing, environmentally friendly technology leasing, carbon financing etc. are all part the solution to scale up green projects,” she said.

Chinwe Ohajuruka is a finalist

in the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards business plan competition where she is representing Nigeria as well as the West Africa sub region. The winner will be announced in midOctober at a joint Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards and Women’s Forum event in Deauville, France. Through this project, Ohajuruka has demonstrated that environmentally sustainable and affordable housing in Nigeria can be achieved through modular Passive Housing Prototypes and believes in leading by example to prove that such projects are doable, replicable, scalable and commercially viable in Nigeria.

The CCDI Programmes Director noted that the successful execution of this project provides evidence for developers, financial institutions, microfinance organisations, state and federal governments, foundations, NGOs and others on the opportunities for partnerships and collaboration on affordable green housing.

BCPG charges Buhari to sanitize construction industry

By Kingsley Adegboye

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S

the construction industry in Nigeria eagerly awaits the wind of change that is currently blowing across the energy, financial and civil service sectors of the nation, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), has charged the Buhari administration to direct its searchlight also to the construction sub-sector of the economy in order to sanitise it.

According to a statement signed by the president of the Guild, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, 2 nd Vice President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), and made available to Vanguard Homes & Property, “low staff strength, bureaucracy, experience, poor methodology, sentiments, cowardliness, compromise, corruption and lack of enforcement are the major bane of physical planning and building control operations across the nation. When the majority’s interest in a service is not determined by passion, flare but by immediate pecuniary gains in a deteriorating societal value, collective desire for an organised society will remain a mirage”.

Continuing, the president of the non-profit making BCPG added that if people entrusted with the

duty of implementing regulations and laws on physical planning and building control have been knowledgeable, sincere, steadfast and committed, the danger of slum growth and defective buildings would have been nipped in the bud from the outset, stressing that preventing haphazard development and substandard building construction is less expensive and more effective to demolition.

Building collapse Lamenting the frequency of building collapse in the country, Awobodu who is the former chairman, NIOB, Lagos state branch, said that the latest tragedy at Bukuru, Jos in the recurring decimal of building collapse in the Nigerian built environment is a grim evidence of an extremely slow progress in the revival of standard construction in Nigeria, disclosing that earlier in the month, the Mekaval Hotel at Effurun area of Warri collapsed, with many people sustaining injury.

“The collapse of the two-storey building of Abu Naib Islamic School in Bukuru near Jos, on Sunday, September 13, 2015, was

a painful reminder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations’ seven-storey building that collapsed at Ikotun, Lagos on Friday, September 12, 2014. In

The cause of building collapse in Nigeria is largely manmade. In those days when there was orderliness in the system, building collapse was a rare occurrence

Collapsed building

the collapse of these two religious buildings, lives were lost.

“Collapse of buildings in this peculiar month of September when Buhari’s government marked its 100 days is a wakeup call on the issue of substandard construction in the Nigerian built environment. The unfortunate incidents that coincided with this government’s preparation time for the greater activities ahead should arouse the interest of the president and governors in the prevention of building collapse in the country. The issue of safe built environment should be placed on their priority list.

“The cause of building collapse in Nigeria is largely man-made.

In those days when there was orderliness in the system, building collapse was a rare occurrence. As the system gradually collapsed, the nation descended to the era of impunity and lack of respect for rules and

regulations.

In this dire situation, professionals in the built environment rose to the challenge and buckled up to rescue their building profession from the ignoble state of dereliction.

Construction professionals and building artisans, who have passion for humanitarian service, formed a common front called Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG). They use their personal resources to embark on various activities to complement government’s efforts at promoting safe built environment.

“An issue that bothers the BCPG most today is that of the developers, collapse of stock market and acute shortage in the nation’s housing provision which is a reason for the bombardment of construction sector by investors, who are the untrained developers that dominate the housing business today.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

NEPAD Agency within the context of AHS to develop the continent's health research agenda at the AU Specialised Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control.

THIS WEEK September 21-25, 2015 National Work Life Week aims to highlight benefits of facilitating the well-being and work-life balance of employees to be engaged, motivated and productive at work.

Closing the science gap

September 21-27, 2015 Community and Primary Health Care Nursing Week, aims to raise awareness of current and potential contribution of community and primary health care nursing and its impact. It would inform the general to increase their health literacy on community based health care options, and inform nurses of community and primary health care nursing roles and career opportunities.

Science World Spiders help fight malaria

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OSQUITO -EATING spiders from East Africa and Malaysia could become a new weapon in fighting malaria, researchers have said.

A species of spiders found only around Lake Victoria in East Africa, called Evarcha culicivora, is adapted to hunt female Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria parasites.

No other animal targets its prey based on what that prey has eaten,except this spider that loves feeding on human blood as it gives it an odour that renders it sexually attractive to potential mates.

But the spiders pose no danger to humans, the researchers say.

Even though the spiders like human blood, they lack specialised mouth parts to pierce people's skin. Instead, to get the nutritious blood meal, the spiders feed on the female mosquitoes that carry blood they suck from humans.

The study, published in the current issue of Journal of Arachnology, says that the spiders identify female Anopheles mosquitoes through their up-tilted abdomens - a resting posture they adopt after feeding on human blood.

Another species, from Malaysia, P. wanlessi also specialises in eating mosquitoes, but it prefers to live in bamboo culms and likes to feed on mosquito larvae lurking in pools of water.

In contrast, E. culicivora spiders live on walls of homes.

Communities have been urged to embrace the spiders to harness their potential in malaria control.

CLOSING THE SCIENCE GAP:- Over half of African countries still invest less than 0.5 percent of their GDP on research

African leaders promote new initiatives on scientific research

By Sola Ogundipe

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S part of efforts to promote scientific research in Africa and also narrow the scientific development gap between Africa and the rest of the world, African and international partners have launched the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa, AESA, a new initiative that aims to help drive Africa's research agenda and build scientific capacity across the continent.

AESA was created by the African Academy of Sciences, AAS, and the New Partnership for Africa's Development,

NEPAD, Agency with US$5.5 million in initial seed funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust and the UK Department for International Development, DFID. At the AESA launch, an-

In addition to serving as a scientific think tank, AESA will manage more than US$70 million in Africafocused research programmes

nouncement was also made of two grant programmes intended to support Africa's future research leaders: the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science, DELTAS, Africa Awards and Grand Challenges Africa.

Endorsement

Endorsed by African Heads of State and Government, the Nairobi-based AESA aims to support the implementation of the African Union's Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy, STISA-2024, and the African Health Strategy, AHS, for 2015-2030.

In April 2015, African Ministers of Health tasked the

Currently, Africa accounts for 15 percent of the global population and 25 percent of the global disease burden, but only produces about 2 percent of the world's research output.

Although more than 60 percent of African countries have increased their recent investments in science, over half of African countries still invest less than 0.5 percent of their GDP on research - far less than the global target of 1 percent .

Increased domestic investment in research is needed to accelerate the long-term health and development progress required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

In a statement, Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Agency, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, said the launch of AESA is a significant milestone in driving investment in health research and lifting science across the continent.

In addition to serving as a scientific think tank, AESA will manage more than US$70 million in Africa-focused research programmes as part of its broader effort to build pan-African scientific capacity and leadership.

The initiatives are expected to help harness Africa's scientific potential to contribute to the wellbeing of Africans.

To this end, AESA will play a key role in the implementation of two grant programmes- DELTAS Africa and Grand Challenges Africa, while helping to provide researchers with the funding, training and resources they need to succeed and drive forward Africa's development.

Rafiu, 47, seeks N8m for kidney transplant

By Chioma Obinna

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NLESS there is divine intervention, 47 years old Rafiu Abdulkareem may not be around to watch his four little children grow. This is because cardiologists at the newly built Lagos State Cardiac and Renal Centre have concluded that Rafiu needs urgent kidney transplant to replace his diseased kidneys.

Painfully, Rafiu who hails from Kwara State cannot afford to pay the sum of N8, 268,000 demanded by the cardiac centre for the life-saving procedure.

Rafiu was okay until March this year when he developed a

strange cough middle of the night.

A medical report signed on behalf of the Medical Director, Renal Unit, by Dr. Bomi Omowo, said Rafiu was diagnosed of advanced Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD, secondary to undiagnosed hypertensive nephrosclerosis and being managed as a case of end stage renal disease. Rafiu is presently on thrice a week haemodialysis and has completed five sessions of salvage haemodialysis.

In another report signed by Dr. Ngozi Aikpokpo, the doctors recommended kidney transplant as the best option for him to ensure better quality of life.

ON LIFE SUPPORT: Rafiu undergoing dialysis.

According to Aikpokpo for a kidney transplant, he requires a donor which must be a first degree relative or his spouse

including a total of N8, 268,000.00. The total cost of his complete care is as follows: Continues on Page 35

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—35

Consume local foods, researchers urge Nigerians

By Chioma Obinna

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GROUP of researchers have urged Nigerians to consume made-in-Nigerian foods and fruits as most of them contain ingredients and nutrients that can serve as medicine in the body.

The call came as the organisers of the 2015 HERBFEST unveiled activities to mark this year’s herbs, health foods and Natural Products Expo billed to hold next month.

They also cautioned against consumption of imported food products as many may have been contaminated in the process of shipping the products into the country.

Speaking in Lagos to herald this year’s Herbfest with the theme: “Food as Medicine: Utilisation and sustainable Exploitation of African Medicinal Plants and Natural Products”, a professor of Pharmacognosy and CEO, Bioresources Development Group, BDG,Prof. Maurice Iwu, said foods like bitter kola, coconut oil, zobo, bitter leaf, Moringa oleifera, tomato, sour sop, African bush mango, among others are essential for the body.

Iwu who regretted that Nigerians do not eat enough of these foods, said his outfit developed dietary supplements based on these same local foods for managing chronic diseases like dia-

WORKSHOP: From left: Director General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, FIIRO, Dr. Gloria Elemo; Professor of Pharmacognosy and CEO, Bioresources Development Group, BDG, Prof. Maurice Iwu, and Director–General, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, NNMDA, Mr. Sam Oghenen, during a press conference to herald the 2015 HERB FEST last week in Lagos. betes, hypertension, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, HIV, etc.

“It is dangerous for you to eat any fruit not produced in Nigeria.

There is no way fruits from Ghana or any other country imported into Nigeria without being contaminated.

“Imported chicken is already preserved with chemicals, imported bananas, are not natural and not the best and that is why people

are coming down with cancers.”

Iwu who noted the need for Nigeria to tap into the many benefits of herbs disclosed that while Nigeria has no records, the US statistics show that the global market value for herbal medicine is about $200 billion annually.

Iwu said the HerbFest, billed to hold October 7 to 9, 2014, at the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency, NNMDA, in Lagos, is targeted at bringing dif-

ferent traditional medicine practitioners and the researchers together, would improve the herbal medicine sector.

“We will also see how much we can tap from the $200 billion global market value.

Speaking, Director General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, FIIRO, Dr. Gloria Elemo said the main goal of HERBFEST is to commercialised herbal products.

Family physicians will transform medicine in Nigeria

By Chioma Obinna

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RIVATE medical doctors under the auspices of Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, say family physicians regardless of background constitute the critical mass needed for turning around the practice of medicine in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, AGPMPN has urged all private practitioners to obtain a Diploma in Family Medicine, as it will soon become a prerequisite for private practice in Nigeria Making the assertion during the graduation ceremony of 360 Diplomates in the Faculty of Family Medicine Diploma, National Post Graduate Medical College, Lagos, President of the Association, Dr. Omo-Ehijiele Frank Odafen lamented that as at the time of the convocation, only about 400 fellows and 367 Diplomates have been produced to serve the population of over 180 million.

Noting that the National University Commission, NUC, recently directed that all universities with medical schools should start training in Family Medicine, he said implementation of the directive with help build a critical mass of FM practitioners. Odafen explained that a family physician is the most ideal specialist in

medicine and essential to man and the health field due to the specialty’s expanded knowledge of health issues.

He posited that training in Family Medicine is the only way to achieve a very robust health as it prepares medical doctors to deliver quality care in every aspect of medicines.

“Family medicine is the gateway of healthcare delivery and the role can only be ensured when medical doctors embrace new skills that are comparable with global standard in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare delivery system.

“Only a Family Physician can solve about 80 per cent of the issues of patients, which means someone who understands about 80 per cent of health issues and can directly solve them should be given the job because that specialty is most qualified for it,” he added. “Family Medicine is the gateway of healthcare delivery; hence this graduation is laudable to us. That is why, to show good example, I as the President, enrolled in the programme, and other members of the executives of AGPMPN.” On what the impact of family medicine training would have on Nigeria’s healthcare system, “In family medicine, out-patient treatment is holistic; we apply bio-social medical approach to our treatment. The illness of every patient has an impact on

somebody, family, neigbhours, workplace or the society, and by extension, every illness has one form of economic impact on the economy of a nation. So, we can therefore not undermine the importance of the specialty in building a very healthy and robust state.”

On his part, Secretary General, AGPMPN, Dr. Kay Adesola observed that “Family physician, regardless of the training background, constitutes the critical mass needed for turning around the practice of medicine.

As at the time of this convocation, only about 400 fellows and 367 Diplomates have been produced to serve the population of over 180million. No wonder, NUC announced about a week ago, the marching order requesting all universities with medical schools to ensure they start the training in Family Medicine.”

The specialty of Family Medicine has gradually gained acceptance since it got rooted in the health delivery programme in Nigeria since 1980.

Rafiu seeks N8m for kidney transplant

Continued from Page 34 Dialysis for the first three months, N9,000, 000, Erythropoietin N268, 800 for three months, Pretransplant screening N600, 000, trans-plantation N5, 000, 000 and post – transplantation drugs for a year N1, 500,000 for a year.

Rafiu’s wife, Sofiat, who is a teacher says they cannot afford the required amount.

Narrating her ordeal when she visited Vanguard Head office in Lagos, Sofiat tearfully recounted that they resorted to begging.

Sofiat said since March, her husband has known no peace as his swollen body and the consistent vomiting has continued to render him restless.

In the last six months, Rafiu has been undergoing treatment at the Gbagada General and the doctors are saying there is no solution apart from kidney transplant.

Every week we spend over N100, 000 on dialysis alone. Each session costs N37, 500. This morning, there was no money.

“I ran from one room to another begging for help. Till this moment, as I am speaking to you, we have not completed the money and this is why I decided to come to Nigerians. His condition is deteriorating. We have sold all our assets, this is September, I’m not sure if my four children will even go back to school, Sofiat said.

The Gbagada General Hospital will be starting transplant before the end of the year and the cost is over N8 million.

Sofiat is pleading with wellmeaning Nigerians to save his life. I am calling on Governor Akin Ambode of Lagos State to please come to my rescue.

If you are touched by Rafiu’s plight please send your donations to Account number: 0691835541, Kareem Rafiu, Acces Bank or Diamond Bank account: 0005616843, Kareem Rafiu. You can also call 08137682623 or 07019260145.

CME PROGRAMME: From left: General Manager, Marketing & Strategic Business, Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, India, Mr. Raj Kr Raina; MD, Niche Communications, Mr. Ola Awosemo; Senior Oncologist , Apollo Hospitals, ; MD, Diamond Helix Medical Assistance, Dr. Ufuoma Okotete- Awomosu; Consultant Neurologist, Dr. Pushpendra Renjen, Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Vijaya Rajakumari at a CME programme for doctors in Lagos.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Free screening, treatment for fertility challenged couples

By Gabriel Olawale

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S part of its commitment to mitigate the challenge of infertility in Nigeria, the Fertility Treatment Support Foundation, FTSF, is offering free fertility screening and full treatment to Nigerian couples looking for the fruit of the womb.

The initiative which is part of the organisation’s 2015 edition of the “Little Miracles” contest holds September 17 through October 18, 2015.

At a press conference in Lagos, the Lead Counsellor, FTSF, Mrs. Esther Adigwe said the number of couples confronting with fertility challenges is increasing and at the same time the need for assisted reproductive treatment was rising.

names and phone number to 09081190600 or 08080800156.

The draw event will hold on 25th October,” She added Adigwe, however, encouraged couples to speak out and seek better education on needed assistance, “It is the desire of the foundation to make available this free treatment on a quarterly basis as funds avail.

She craved support of the government, corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to ensure the cause remained sustainable in order to continually bring joy to families.

Sack LUTH, Psychiatric Hospital MDs now, NMA urges FG

By Chioma Obinna

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HE Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has called for the removal of the Chief Medical Directors of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Prof.

Chris Bode and his counterpart at the Federal Neuro- Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr. Raheem Lawal.

At a press briefing in Lagos, Chairman of the state NMA, Dr Tope Ojo called on the Federal government to institute an inquiry in LUTH while insisting that the duo should immediately step down for violation of civil service rules on retirement age among others.

Affordability

“However the affordability of the treatment is one of the most common causes for concern of the fertilitychallenged couples and in order to keep the dreams of the fertility-challenged couples alive FTSF decided to be of help since its inception in 2008.”

Adigwe disclosed that the programme has brought joy and happiness to a lot of couples in which not less than 126 less privileged couples had benefited from the programme.

“We also provide educative and enlightenment programmes to the public and the medical professionals.”

“This year edition will offer free screening to 15 couples while five couples will receive the full treatment.

Entries will be done via an electronic raffle draw. Simply text free IVF, your

BRIEFING: From left - Clinic Manager Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Mrs Tola Ajayi; Lead Counsellor, Fertility Treatment Support Foundation, FTSF, Mrs Esther Adigwe; FTSF Brand Shepherd, Mr. Dotun Adebowale; Counsellor Nordica Fertility Centre, Ms. Esther Odiete at the unveiling of the 2015 FTSF free fertility screening and treatment programme in Lagos recently.

“We asked that the present medical directors should step down immediately to make way for the process of appointing new ones. They have both attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years. It is important that they respect the civil service rule to prevent crisis in these hospitals.

“The ongoing strike by consultants and other health workers at the psychiatric hospital in Yaba is solely to ensure the termination of the tenure of the medical director and to put an end to flagrant disregard for rules at the hospital.

Attack

The Association condemned an attack on one of their colleagues, Dr.S.O. Okunade, by security operatives at LUTH and alleged that incidentsof harassment of health workers have increased under the LUTH CMDs’ leadership.

“The LUTH management, apart from non – payment of arrears of various emoluments of doctors, such as examination fee, update course fee, promotion arrears, etc has also being frustrating some associations, the recent being the stoppage of the legitimate deducted union dues payable to the doctor association by their members,” he added.

Confirming the situation at the Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, a Consultant Psychiatrist, in the hospital, Dr. T. G Ijarogbe said the workers were tired of condoning such irregularities and called on the presidency to direct the Federal Ministry of Health to effect the needed change the present administration represents.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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OMETIMES when we are having sex, my girlfriend urinates right in the middle of it. I have told her to always ease herself before sex and it still happens – Lekan Dear Lekan, your girlfriend does not urinate during sex. She has been having an orgasm all this while. It is called a Squirting Orgasm and it is the most satisfactory kind of orgasm known to womankind.

Everything is fine. Just ensure you use waterproof bed sheets during sex to make it easy to clean up afterwards – Uche I am 43 years old and each time I have sex, I will release quickly between 3 to 5 minutes. And it will take several hours before I get another erection.

Please I want to be able to last long, stay erect for a long time and have multiple rounds of sex with thicker sperm. Also my wife complains that each time we are having sex, the tip of her vagina will be painful and peppery – Mr. Badmus Dear Badmus, there are several ways you can achieve all the results you want. First of all, a delay cream can help you control the premature ejaculation you experience. You can achieve this with Forever Yours Delay Cream. And then for you to be able to have multiple rounds of sex and recover fast enough without having to wait for hours before you get an erection again, get Man Up Now or Magic Mike. They will also give you days of performance stamina. Either you combine all of these products to get what you want or you take just one enhancer that will handle everything such as the Boss Rhino Gold. Boss Rhino Gold will control your quick ejaculation, give you super hard erections, enlarge your penis, thicken your sperm and help you have multiple rounds of sex. One capsule of Boss Rhino Gold will last you for several days too. For your wife, she needs to see a doctor. It sounds like an infection – Uche I am a 34 year old woman and I have been married for three years now and I have never experienced

an orgasm in my life- Chioma Understanding the female body and knowing how to get the best out of it is the key to orgasmic sex. Of course many women depend on their men to give them orgasms too which can be problematic because a lot of men do not last long enough in bed to achieve that and many do not even know where and how to touch a woman.

I am going to recommend a movie, a vibrator and an orgasm gel for you. For the movie, get the Guide to Female Ejaculation DVD. It teaches you the step by step process of reaching orgasm. For the vibrator, what you need is the multiple function type like the Diamond Heart Rabbit vibrator. It stimulates you in many ways such that an orgasm is a sure thing. And finally get an orgasm gel.

Many women experience low genital arousal without being aware of this. A good orgasm gel like the Girlgasm Gel will make it easier for you to be aroused during stimulation – Uche Hello Sir. Weeks ago, I wrote you about wanting to enlarge my penis and you recommended VigRx supplement. I also forgot to tell you that my erection is weak sometimes but since I started taking VigRx, the erection problem has gone – David Most organ enlargers strengthen the erection of the user so I am not surprised that VigRx is doing that for you. It is the best – Uche My wife and I need some nice films we can watch on our honey moon in December. What should we get? Also do you have games for couples? Rotimi Feature films like Duality and Cockstar will be perfect for both of you. For the games, you will enjoy Love at First Bite and The Bedroom Game. Congratulations on your wedding - Uche.

And that is it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 , 2015—37

UNILAG accuses unions of breach of peace on campus L

AGOS—THE management of the University of Lagos has accused the leadership of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU, of deliberate falsehood and misinformation on some of the issues affecting the academic community.

The issues, according to a statement issued by the Registrar and Secretary to Governing Council of the University of Lagos, Dr. Taiwo Folasade Ipaye, are earned allowances, pension deduction, and 13th month salary.

On earned allowances, the university said following series of negotiations the Federal Government in 2013 released funds for the first tranche to all the universities for the partial implementation of the allowances that are to be earned by each cadre of personnel which was subsequently disbursed at the University of Lagos, by a committee comprising members of all the four unions, based on the agreed template.

The statement also explained that “pension is normally deducted from all Federal

Government workers salaries at source and the amount deducted reflected on payslips for individuals’ records while no deduction is effected in UNILAG in respect of the Contributory Pension other than the one deducted at source by the Office of the Accountant General of the

Federation, OAGF, in Abuja, before salary grant is released.

On the 13th month salary, it said request for the provision of a 13th month salary should be directed to the government as it was not provided for by the Federal Government in the personnel emolument disbursed to the University.

The university expressed dismay that despite the report of

the committee set up to resolve the issues following a meeting between the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the four unions in the university and management held on June 25, 2015, a 7-day ultimatum was given to the university to pay and implement the Earned Allowances as recommended and signed by Joint Action Committee on Revenue.”

CONFERENCE: From left: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Yinka Sanni; Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Nigeria, Mr. Ade Ipaye; CEO, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola David-Borha; and Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr. Atedo Peterside, at the 2015 Standard Bank West Africa Investors Conference dinner in Lagos.

NUPENG threatens nationwide strike over dispute with Chevron

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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ARRI—NIGERIAN Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday in Warri, Delta State, issued a 7- day ultimatum to the Federal Government on the unresolved issues affecting Chevron contract workers over anti-labour practices The union in a statement by its President, Igwe Achese, warned that if the Federal Government failed to intervene in the unresolved anti – labour practices of Chevron on the expiration of the ultimatum, it would commence a nationwide strike immediately.

The statement said it had watched with keen interest the resolution reached with Chevron and the Federal Ministry of Labour which unfortunately had not stopped was an ongoing termination of the jobs of its members.

According to the union, despite the intervention of the Federal Ministries of Labour and Petroleum Resources, Chevron and its labour contractors had not deemed it fit to honour the resolutions reached at all its meetings.

It lamented some of the unresolved issues included job categorization of members who have workers as contract staff for over 25 years.

The statement noted that C M Y K

"Chevron Nigeria Limited in their bid to deplete the numerical strength of NUPENG, introduced an obnoxious criteria of using remuneration to determine which union the contract workers should belong to in the company.

Other issues include the massive retirement of members by management of the various Chevron Labour Contractors without due process."

The union stated that some of the workers transited from the former six contractors to the new 16 were not paid their full entitlements as documented by

NAPIMS and were, therefore, short paid. NUPENG added that all agreements reached with the Federal MinistryofLabourwerereneged upon

by Chevron, noting it even refused to appear in a meeting convened by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC in Abuja last week.

MAGNUS ABE TO RIVERS GOVT: Pay up scholarship

of students studying abroad

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ORT HARCOURT— FORMER Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum Down Stream , Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has called on Rivers State government, to pay up the scholarship of students studying overseers and stop playing politics with their future.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, Senator Abe, warned that on no circumstance should politics becloud the sense of judgement of the state government and destroy the

future of Rivers children at a time billions of naira had been borrowed and reminded the administration in the state that former Governor Chibuike Amaechi inherited scholars from Dr. Peter Odili’s administration and did not frustrate them on the altar of politics.

The statement read in part, “today, those students are all graduates contributing in one area of development or the other to the society and the stability of their families. While we play politics at home,Rivers children

some of them in their final year in foreign universities are about to be thrown out of school for none payment of school fees in the mist of plenty.

The government of the day if they desire can choose to discontinue with the scheme but they cannot choose to frustrate the education of our children therefore, let me make it categorically clear that neither the Rivers state government nor any political party will gain anything from that kind of strategy."

Delta Speaker faults Akpeki on Sapele market project

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SABA—SPEAKER of Delta State House of Assembly, Ovwigho Igbuya, has dismissed as false, claims by former Commissioner for Housing in the state, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, that the Sapele Market project was awarded by the previous administration in the state.

The Speakers in a statement in Asaba, by Henry Ebireri, his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, said:

“We have a plaque showing the Sapele Stadium was commissioned by Uduaghan.

Chief Akpeki is castigating his master for commissioning uncompleted projects. The stadium and market were not awarded by his administration.

They were also not completed by his administration. I was council chairman when Chief James Ibori, awarded the market project. It was

inherited by Dr. Uduaghan who was unable to complete it.

Akpeki cannot point to any thing he did in Sapele, not even a ring well.”

Igbuya also commended the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for being above board in the discharge of his duties.

“Okowa wants to make Delta State stable and prosperous",

DELTA TRIBUNAL:

Lawmaker debunks bribery publication

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SABA—A Labour Party, LP, lawmaker in the Delta State House of Assembly, DTHA, who represents Udu constituency and Minority Whip of the House, Peter Uviejitobor, has denied being part of plans to bribe of election tribunal judges in order to get favourable judgement.

In a statement by his media aide, Gabriel Choba, the lawmaker said he never spoke with anyone on the issue of the tribunal cases, neither was he aware of any bribery attempt by lawmakers in Delta Assembly.

The statement read: “I am shocked at the online report that says among other things that; two members of the Delta State House of Assembly, under the platformoftheSocialDemocratic Party, SDP,and the Labour Party, LP, disclosed that 23 PDP members in the Delta State House of Assembly have already contributedN5 million each with which to compromise the threemember panel of judges towards a favourable judgement against opposition petitioners.”

Delta moves to boost farming with tractors

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By Festus Ahon

SABA—AS part of effort geared towards the realisation of its prosperity agenda for all Deltans, the state government, yesterday, entered into an agreement with 20 cooperative societies on the disbursement of 20 tractors for farmers use .

Speaking during the signing of the agreements in Asaba, the Chief Job Creation Officer of the state, Professor Eric Eboh, said the gesture was aimed at alleviating the sufferings of farmers in the state.

Noting that the tractors being issued through 20 selected cooperative societies in the first batch, were being given out at 40 percentofthecostpricepertractor.

Ebohdisclosedthatthetractors would be handed over to the beneficiariesbyGovernorIfeanyi Okowa on September 30, 2015, explaining that a total of 46 tractors were purchased by the state government for that purpose.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Tension trails council polls in Enugu

NATFORCE DG dispels claims of jumping bail

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—UNEASY calm pervades the firmament in Enugu State over the fate of 17 Local Government Area elections due next month.

Council elections ought to hold every two years as enshrined in the state’s laws following the expiration of the incumbent

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NUGU—THE Director General, National Taskforce to Combat Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition, and Light Weapons,NATFORCE, Emmanuel Okereke has described as unwarranted and cheep blackmail the report in some section of the media that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared him wanted for jumping bail.

In a statement, his Press Secretary, Chuks Ezenwome, issued, weekend, said the publications declaring NATFORCE DG wanted "is malicious and baseless," stressing that as a law abiding citizen and respecter of principles of the rule of law, Dr. Okereke never jumped bail that warranted declaring him wanted, even as he revealed that he was always in his office at Citi Plaza, Area II, Garki Abuja.

He said though the DG was not in court because of health challenges, medical report was tendered in court by his counsel, adding, “the court did not make any order as to bench warrant against Okereke or for the surety.

“Moreso, the said publication by EFCC declaring Okereke wanted in pages of newspapers is an affront to the order of an Abuja Federal High Court in suit No. FSHC/ABJ/CS/ 391/2015 dated June 29, 2015, which ordered, "that status quo must be maintained until the hearing and determination of the suit.”

chairmen’s tenure come December 2015.

Vanguard investigations showed that party primaries should have been conducted last month,while council polls slated for next month to enable the new chairmen takeover by January 2016.

However,no activity towards the actualization of the council polls have commenced forcing

expectant residents to resolve that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi may be thinking of appointing council administrators to man the 17 local government areas.

A dependable source told Vanguard that the governor’s decision to appoint council administrators may be connected with the colossal cost of conducting elections and the luxurious lifestyle of most council

S/East traders vow to resist power distribution take-over

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—SOUTH-EAST traders, yesterday, vowed to resist any plan by the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, to hand over Aba and Ariara power distribution unit to Afrigem.

President-General of the group, Ichie Okwudili Ezenwankwo, who addressed journalists after an enlarged meeting of the traders in Enugu, threatened that any move to take the power unit away from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, would be totally unacceptable.

He said if the alleged plan was allowed to stand, it would cripple businesses in the area.

According to him: “Geometric power company has always claimed that they will provide 24 hours power supply in Aba since 2005. That has not happened and

Aba was suffering until 2013, (November), when the EEDC took over.

“We all know that things have been improving and we are hopeful that it can only get better under the EEDC,” adding that, “recently, we read in the papers that the BPE is about to hand over Aba and Ariara distribution unit

to a company called Afrigem, which we understand has purchased Geometrics.

“We are very concerned that if this happens, our hope for reliable power supply will never be realized. This is why we shall resist such plot with every available effort.”

Obi mourns Awolowo, Ngige, Nnamani, Igbokwe

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HE FORMER Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has expressed shock over the news of the death of some Nigerians recently, citing those of the wife of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mrs. HID Awolowo; the father of Dr. Chris Ngige, Chief Pius Ngige; the wife of Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani , Mrs. Nnenna Nnamani, and that of the mother of Mr. Casmir Igbokwe

(the Managing Director of Union Newspaper), Mrs. Igbokwe.

Obi, who is in the Institute for Management and Development,IMD, Switzerland, undergoing a leadership programme, sympathized with the families of the deceased, reminding them that matters of life and death are the prerogatives of the Almighty.

araki has been governor and senator for the past 12 years. Since then CCB/CCT never deemed it fit to question his asset declaration until he emerged as Senate President against the permutations of the lords of APC? Mr. Emmanuel Chuddy, Self Employed C M Y K

Obi regretted that most of the deceased died in the amplitude of their time, when the country needed them most. He prayed to the Almighty to grant them eternal repose.

To the close family members of the deceased, Obi urged them to take heart and continue to propagate their positive legacies as the most potent way of perpetuating their contributions to the society.

Glo Slide & Bounce musical concert thrills Edo-based subscribers

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HE CITY of Benin, Edo State, was agog, Saturday night, when thousands of Glo subscribers converged to witness the wave-making musical concert, Slide & Bounce, sponsored by national telecoms operator, Globacom.

A combination of local Benin artistes and top rated Glo ambassadors guaranteed that the guests left the venue satisfied and fulfilled. They had more fun than they had expected as the artistes

performed one after the other.

Okey Bakassi set the ball rolling by unleashing rib cracking jokes that sent the audience reeling with laughter. Music oozed from the state of the art sound system manned by DJ XGee, reverberating within the auditorium The ‘I don get alert' crooner, Korede Bello was the first to perform, setting the pace for others. His sonorous voice filled the air as he sang to the delight

of his fans. Clad in sparkling white trouser, black t-shirt and jacket, reminiscent of an American hip-hop star, Korede performed his other hit tracks, including ‘Adaobi’ and ‘Na God Win.’ Burna Boy was next. His energetic and youthful body moved across the stage as he reenacted Fela Anikulapo’s stage stunts. Expectedly, he performed ‘Beast of No Nation’ and ‘ Run my race’ eliciting cheers from his

teeming fans.

The Ojuelegba exponent, Wiz Kid, performed with his band, giving originality to the song on stage.

Then came the Koko master, Dapo Oyebanji, popularly called D’Banj who took the concert a notch higher.

The local Benin artistes were sensational. R and A, Blue Ice and Smooth Flavour who is impaired visually thrilled the audience.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

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chairmen who own choice properties in Enugu metropolis at the expense of payment of workers salaries.

According to the source,”exgovernor Sullivan Chime started a tradition of buying brand new cars for each Councilor in 260 wards in the state. He did this for eight years in office. Now,there is economic meltdown. I do not think Ugwuanyi can afford to buy 260 brand new cars for the Councilors that will emerge at the council poll.

“I think the governor is battling with financial difficulty. That is equally the reason why he has ordered a biometric exercise to ascertain the actual number of local government staff in order to cut costs.

"He is miffed over the ostentatious lifestyle of most of these chairmen who have built estates for themselves with council funds."

On Senate President/CCB matter

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he fight against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki is not a true corruption fight, but a political hate fight. During campaign, APC said he is the best, but when he disobeyed them they are now saying he is corrupt, let’s prosecute him. -Miss Chika Dike, Graduate

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hy is the whole Saraki brouhaha fasttracked, just few weeks after he inaugurated NASS committee to probe power sector from 1999 till date?

This is the major sin Saraki has committed. He dared to expose the wicked. -Mr. Chinedu Chinweoda, Businessman

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ome people will just assume that they are better than others and always dictate for others.

Saraki, do not give in to dictators! Always pursue your ambitions! However, if you are finally guilty of any crime, also face the music. -Miss Anasithesia Ezeka, Worker

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nyone facing criminal charges should not remain in public office.

The least you get is suspension from office pending investigation.

That is the standard practice in all civilised countries. -Miss Okoye Precious, Graduate

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he Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki should not face charges and should continue in office. I do not see any cleaner senator that will replace him. This is a typical case of a pot calling kettle black. -Miss Sophia Osuji, NYSC Member

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 39

54 killed, 95 injured in Maiduguri blasts

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI—THE Borno State police command yesterday confirmed that 54 people were killed and 95 critically injured in multiple explosions that rocked the suburb of Maiduguri, around Ajilari, Bintu sugar and Gomari Airport general areas by suspected terrorists.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Isuku Emmanuel, made the revelation in an interview with journalists in Maiduguri, the state capital.

But sources put the figure of the death toll at over 60 as many of the of 95 critically injured ones could not survive, even after receiving treatment at hospitals in the state.

Ajilari cross and Bintu Sugar are located on the outskirt of Maiduguri which had witnessed series of Boko Haram attacks, including bombings of football viewing centres in recent past.

The explosions, which were suspected to have been masterminded by suicide bombers, occurred simultaneously at about 7:38pm, while the last four took place at about 8pm and these forced many residents to flee into main city for safety.

A lucky survivor based at Alilari, who also works with one of the nation’s humanitarian agency, told

Vanguard on phone that the first incident occurred at a local Ram Market, near Ajilari Railway Crossing, while others took place at a telecommunication service point where many people gathered to buy and sale GSM recharge cards and transact other petty businesses.

But another eyewitness said the first blast, which occurred at Ajilari Railway crossing, claimed seven lives, including some members of the Civilian JTF. Vanguard observed that besides the Ajilari Railway crossing blast, 18 people, mostly worshippers,

were killed at a mosque where some of the insurgents driving in a Volkswagen Golf saloon, threw an Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, while Muslim faithful were about to round off their Magrib prayers.

Another blasts, according to Vanguard findings, took place at about 8pm, targeting football fans who gathered to watch a match, while at the popular telecommunication service point, 15 people were killed, including others that also lost their lives at a public gathering in Hausa (Majalisa), with 95

others sustaining severe injuries in the four blasts.

The Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, in an interview with journalists, confirmed the blasts but insisted that the number of casualties was yet to be ascertained.

He, however, cautioned residents of Maiduguri and its environs to be vigilante and report any suspicious movement to security operatives, adding that the military was doing its best to restore normalcy in the troubled state before and after the Sallah celebrations in the state.

FLOOD: Kigo Road Extension flooded by the Kaduna River, yesterday morning. Photo by Olu Ajayi.

Benue Petition Tribunal upholds Ortom’s election

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—BENUE State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, the state capital, has upheld the election of Governor Samuel Ortom.

In a three-hour judgement delivered yesterday by Justice Elizabeth Karatu, the Tribunal dismissed the petition of Terhemen Tarzoor, the Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP, governorship candidate at the last general elections for lack of diligent prosecution.

After assuming jurisdiction to entertain the matter and recognizing Tarzoor’s locus standi to challenge the emergence of the APC candidate, Justice Karatu anchored her judgement on the provisions of Section 177 and 138(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and held that

Succour for widows, orphans of Boko Haram's victims sewing machines and

accessories, computers and accessories, bags of beans, groundnut oil and poultry OS—WIDOWS and products for poultry farmers. orphans, whose husbands and parents were killed by the insurgents in the North East of Nigeria, have been urged not to lose hope in life but have faith in God By Victor Ahiuma-Young and summon courage to make something useful out of their lives.

SSOCIATION of They were also charged not to Senior Civil Servants of harbour hatred against those who Nigeria, ASCSN, has advised murdered their loved ones but President Muhammadu Buhari to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, distance himself from alleged knowing that “all is well when one campaign by Governor Nasir Eltrusts God.” Rufai of Kaduna State to auction The charge was given by Mrs. the 104 Federal Unity Colleges, Rebecca Dali of the Church of the FUCs, to private enterprises and Brethren in Nigeria, EYN while state governments. empowering the women in Jos, the Governor El-Rufai had made Plateau State capital with items the call the Founders Day donated to them by the Centre for programme organized by the Caring, Empowerment and Peace King’s College Old Boys Initiatives, CCEPI. Association in Lagos.

Among items distributed were But ASCSN in a statement

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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Governor Ortom met all the criteria for being recognized as the validly elected candidate of the APC. She went further to point out that the petitioner failed to provide valid evidences to show that the APC did not hold its primaries as required by law.

According to her, the petitioners witness (one) made mockery of the Tribunal by presenting to it a report of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the APC primaries which was not written on an INEC letter headed paper nor signed by the relevant persons.

Justice Karatu further pointed out the failure of the petitioner to spell out the relief being

sought in the matter.

She held that “by the provisions of Section 140(2) of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended, in the face of the paucity of facts presented before the Tribunal, the petitioner has to succeed on the strength of his own case.”

She stated that this principle was discountenanced by the petitioner in the course of the trial thereby dealing a blow to his petition.

Justice Karatu added: “The petitioner did not ask for the conduct of fresh elections, the court therefore cannot grant a relief that was not pleaded. The petition is therefore dismissed and the return of the First Respondent (Governor Ortom) is thereby upheld.”

Labour tackles El-Rufai over call for sale of Unity Schools

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signed yesterday by SecretaryGeneral, Alade Bashir Lawal, insisted that besides the fact the campaign was ill-motivated and designed for personal aggrandizement, it was also an

anti-people education policy pursued by People’s Democratic Party, PDP, during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration but was resisted by millions of Nigerians.

We’re yet to receive bailout fund, Kogi tells workers

By Charles Kumolu

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OGI State Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Alfa Zakari, has dismissed claims of receiving its share of the bail out fund for the payment of salaries to state civil servants.

He also pleaded with workers in the state to be patient, noting that their salaries would be paid as soon as the state received the fund.

Zakari in a statement, sympathized with the workers, particularly local government members of staff, adding that Kogi and three other states were yet to access the loans.

His words: “As at Thursday, September 17, 2015, what the CBN Governor said was that 18 states have accessed the money. Four other states are being processed. And these states are Oyo, Delta, Kogi and Benue. So, as it is now, we have not been paid. ''The Honourable Commissioner for Finance and the state deputy governor are in Abuja permanently, more or less. They are in Abuja for the monthly NEC meeting for the Federal Allocations Committee meeting but simultaneously, they are linking up with the CBN to facilitate the release of the workers’ salaries assistance bailout loan. ''The government appreciates the patience of the workers but reassures that on receipt of the money, no delay whatsoever will occur in making sure that all the outstanding are paid according to the loan accessed from the CBN. “The whole process will be transparent; notices will be published, Kogi people will see clearly what is being paid and to whom, across the entire state. We sympathize with the protesting workers because workers in Kogi State have been very, very understanding on the salary issues. However, on this account, they have been misinformed that the bail out fund has been released.

It has not. We appeal to them to be patient. They have been patient for a long time. The solution is just around the corner now.''

Residents lament Lagos task force's inhuman treatment

By Elizabeth Uwandu

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ESIDENTS and traders at Orile Iganmu in Lagos are lamenting alleged inhuman treatment in the hands of officials of the State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences Unit

when the latter stormed the vicinity to clear the area of road side trading.

The raid, according to eyewitnesses, saw the Task force, working in collaboration with men of Keep Against Indiscipline, KIA, destroying stands of goods and loading some wares in its

truck, which resulted in outcry and lamentation by the traders and passers by.

A witness, Mr Mark Iloba, told Vanguard that the move by the task force was good but regretted the manner it was carried out, especially as there was no prior notice of the raid.

40 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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POWA: From left— Mrs. Fatima Argungu; Mrs. Felicia Doma; Mrs. Jerusha Katso; President, Police Officers Wives Association, POWA, Mrs. Agharese Arase; Guest Speaker, Chief Executive Officer/MD, New Horizons, Mr. Tim Akano and Mrs. Afolajoke Wakama, at the 2015 POWA convention in Abuja

ASCON TRAINING: From left— Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, ASCON, Mr. Ajibade Peters; Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Office, Mr. Babatope Ajakaiye; Permanent Secretary, Career Management, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni; Administrator, Public Service Institute of Nigeria, PSIN, Mr. Shehu Abubakar Misau, and Head of Civil Service of the Federation, HOCSF, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, at the closing ceremonies of a two-week training programme for civil servants in Abuja.

VIVIAN FOWLER: Director, Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Mrs Olufunke Fowler-Amba, and Director, Education, United Kingdom, UK, Mr Mark Brooks, at a seminar on Transforming Middle Managers into Reflective Practitioners and Schools into Professional Learning Communities, organized by the college and Mark Brooks of UK, in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: From left— Former Chairman, Faculty of Family Medicine, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Dr. Steve Yohanna; Corporate Services Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Oladimeji Oduyebo; Best Graduating Fellow, Faculty of Family Medicine, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman; Chairman of the Faculty, Dr. Emmanuel Amao, and Faculty Secretary, Dr. Abraham Gyuse, during the presentation of Fidson Prize for best graduating fellow at the convocation of the postgraduate college in Lagos.

CLASSROOM DIGITIZATION: From left— Chairman, E-learning Committee, Dr. Adewale Ogunde; MD, Beecit Solutions, Mrs. Bukola Ajala; Vice Chancellor, Redeemer's University, Professor Debo Adeyewa; Director, Enterprise Business, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Charles Ojei, and Head, Enterprise Display Solutions, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. AnuRotimi Agboola, at the classroom digitization launch in Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State.

BRIEFING: From left— Pastor Yinka Oduleye; Pastor Ogbole Oghedegbe; Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly, FOTA, Rev. Yomi Kasali and Pastor Pedro Omontuemhen, all of FOTA, during a briefing on the 10th anniversary of the Church, tagged Giant Killers Conference 2015, in Lagos.

INDOMIE FLASH: From left—Head, Lagos Office, Consumer Protection Council, Mr. Joshua Nggada; Brand Manager, Indomie, Zara Khan; winner one million naira Indomie Flash & Win promo, Fatimah Hamzat, and Public Relations/Events Manager, Dufil Prima, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, at the cheque presentation ceremony at Dufil headquarters, Surulere, Lagos.

COMMISSIONING: From left— Mr. Goodie Ibru; Mrs Emobo Ibru; CEO, Jacaranda Casino Nigeria, Mr. John Storey; Olorogun Felix Ibru, and CEO, Lagos State Lottery Board, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, during the commissioning of Jacaranda Casino at Sheraton Hotel in Lagos. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 41

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42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—43

SENATORIAL CONTEST:

Akpabio couldn’t have lost to Okorie —Witness A

disenfranchised.

Ekpenyong from Ukanafun made the assertion when he testified as a witness of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the Akwa Ibom State National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal sitting at the Customary Court, Dutse Alhaji.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Inibehe Okorie had approached the tribunal to challenge the election of Chief Akpabio on the grounds that elections were not held across the senatorial district.

He also harped on a clerical error to claim that Chief Akpabio was not the PDP candidate for Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district.

But taking the witness box during cross examination by counsel to the APC candidate, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, Hon. Ekpenyong insisted that the victory of Chief Akpabio was guaranteed because

By Ugochukwu Alaribe surprised today that he had performed well as some people were a governor, a feat which was BA—BARELY five working on our appreciated by the people. days after mem- secretariat without Responding to a question bers of the Academic letting us know. When by the APC counsel on Staff Union of Polytech- we made enquiries, we whether he had known nic, Abia State Polytech- were told that Akpabio before the election, nic chapter, Aba, did not management is behind the former Political Adviser allow examinations to the illegal construction said: “Yes, he is a grassroots hold over non-payment work. This is a building man. As a governor he did of their five months sala- being built from the a lot for the people. He ries, and 14 months salaries of lecturers provided free medical check-off dues, crisis is without the management treatment for children, the brewing in the institu- contributing anything. aged and pregnant tion as the relationship So, we are surprised that women. between the manage- they will go ahead to He empowered the ment and the lecturers order construction work youths and assisted people seem to be worsening. on a building belonging to become ministers and Vanguard gathered the union without letting ambassadors,” he said. that tragedy was us know. This is why we Ekpenyong also yesterday averted at the had to demolish the dispelled the insinuations institution as members of works they did.” that the number of votes the ASUP stopped Uma added that he announced for Akpabio did ongoing construction could not understand not tally with the number works on their secretariat where the management of voters accredited to alleged ordered by the got the funds to engage participate in the election, management. in construction works at saying that in his unit and According to the the ongoing secretariat many others across his local Chairman of Abia Poly when it could not pay government area, the card ASUP, Engr. God’swill salaries. reader technology had Uma said, “We were packed up, prompting the INEC officials to resort to manual accreditation which was not captured by the document the APC lawyer

By Tare Youdeowei 500 to N20, 000 without had relied upon. prior notification and Narrating his ordeal, he CCUPANTS OF Otto occupants were said: “I was on the queue Police Barracks, disconnected from power on the election day waiting Ebutte Meta, Lagos, are supply. for accreditation. But before protesting incessant power “We were paying N2, 500 it got to my turn, the card outage, outrageous bills per flat monthly. Each block reader had stopped and disconnection of power contains 72 flats, invariably working. supply irrespective of their a block paid N187, 500 "I was told by the efforts to make equipment monthly. Even at this, presiding officer that the available. power supply has not been battery had gone down. He According to the constant,” one of the changed the battery but the residents, after paying for occupants said. replacement was still bad a transformer to feed the 72 The occupants are, and so I and many others contributing houses in the therefore, appealing to who had queued behind barracks sometime this DISCO officials and other me were referred to the month, power supply to the relevant stakeholders to next polling assistant, who barracks remained reconnect them, describing checked our names and irregular. their disconnection as the accredited us accordingly to They also alleged that the height of injustice. vote,” he said. bill was increased from N2, FORMER political adviser to Akwa Ibom State government, Hon. Udo Ekpenyong has said that the election of Chief Godswill Akpabio as the senator representing Akwa Ibom North West was a reward for his sterling performance while he served as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

This is as he dispelled the insinuation that votes recorded during the senatorial election were more than the accredited voters.

He maintained that this was due to the non-workability of the card reader technology which prompted the Presiding Officers to resort to manual accreditation, so that eligible voters would not be

Crisis looms in Abia Poly over non-payment of salaries

A

Otto Police Barracks residents flay power firm over blackout

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Okonjo-Iweala appointed as Gavi’s Chair-elect, Lazard’s Snr adviser

By Favour Nnabugwu

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IGERIA’S former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was yesterday appointed the new chair-elect of Gavi Alliance, an international vaccine agency less than 48 hours after she was appointed a Senior Adviser at Lazard, a financial advisory and asset management firm.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala, who is the first African to head the GAVI board expressed her excitement on her new appointments saying, “I am excited to be joining GAVI during this crucial time.

GAVI has a well-earned reputation as one of the leading players in global health, providing services that underpin human and economic development.”

GAVI is a public-private global health alliance that is committed to increasing access to immunisation in poor countries. The alliance currently supports over 310 immunisation programmes in 73 of the world’s poorest countries and thus far has committed billions of dollars to help these countries strengthen their health systems.

Gavi currently supports more than 310 immunisation programmes in 73 of the world’s poorest countries and has so far committed US$ 1.2 billion towards helping them to strengthen their health systems. Since 2000, Gavi has supported the immunisation of more than half a billion additional children, leading to seven million future deaths being averted.

Over the next five years,

Gavi aims to support countries to immunise an additional 300 million children, leading to a further five to six million lives being saved. Vaccine Alliance support will also

see a 10-fold increase in the proportion of children in Gavi-supported countries receiving all 11 vaccines recommended by WHO rising from 5% today to 50% by 2020.

Nigeria losing money from expor tation of non-tested commodities — Odumodu

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HE Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, has said that Nigeria loses huge sums from the exportation of untested agricultural products. Odumodu made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

He said if the country wanted to promote non-oil export, it could not achieve the target by selling substandard commodities.

Odumodu said while Nigeria like other countries was focusing on agro business to earn revenue, its main challenge in the exportation of produce was that exporters never followed the law on standardisation.

“Lots of Nigerians are now exporting agricultural products but one of the challenges we have seen is that most of our commodities are not easily accepted in Europe. The challenge we have is that people try not to do what the law says. Exporters send goods without testing them and once they get there and are tested, if the goods do not comply with the standard, it will be destroyed or sent back to Nigeria.

“So such act gives the country bad image because it is negative news yet it is one person who tries to smuggle the product into that country,” he said.

Odumodu said Nigeria must clearly define the process for exporting agricultural products and put sanctions in place for defaulters.

“I think what we need to do going forward is to create sanctions, there must be a clearly defined process for export of agricultural products.

“Once those processes are defined, then the onus will now be on us to ensure that before you send any procedure out of Nigeria, it must be tested and certified by an accredited lab. It doesn’t have to be owned

by SON. There is no other agency or any lab that has that level of scope for agricultural products and we test something as complex as metal in food up to fungi contamination,” Odumodu said. He said Nigeria is a member of CODEX Allimentarius Committee, a standardisation body affiliated to World Health Organisation, and responsible for determining standards for food products.

NMA calls for sack of LUTH, Psychiatric Hospital medical directors

By Chioma Obinna

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HE Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, yesterday called for the removal of the Chief Medical Directors of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi- Araba, Prof.

Chris Bode and the Federal NeuroPsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, (FNPHY), Dr. Raheem Lawal, over allegations of insecurity, poor welfare and their eligibility to continue in same office after attaining the mandatory exit age of 60 years.

Briefing journalists in Lagos, Chairman of the

Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr Tope Ojo who demanded for immediate step down of the medical directors also accused the medical directors of violating civil service rules on retirement among others.

Ojo noted that the medical directors have passed the stipulated age of retirement and have refused to relinquish their respective positions, a decision they claimed had led to an indefinite strike action by health workers at the Federal NeuroPsychiatric hospital in Yaba.

“We asked that the

present medical directors step down immediately to make way for the process of appointing new ones.

They have both attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years. It is important that they respect the civil service rule to prevent crisis in these hospitals.

“The ongoing strike by consultants and other health workers at the psychiatric hospital in Yaba is solely to ensure the termination of the tenure of the medical director and to put an end to flagrant disregard for rules at the hospital.

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—45

Jigawa to secure N10bn CBN loan

By Aliyu Dangida

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MEETING: From left—Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang; SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Reps), Mr. Suleiman Kawu; and SSA to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Shehu Garba, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

Kwara police parade suspected kidnappers, robbers, cultists

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—KWARA State Police Command, yesterday, paraded five persons, who attempted to abduct a wealthy Fulani cattle rearer and other innocent citizens .

The command also paraded four suspected members of Eiye confraternity, while initiating three secondary school students into their cult group.

It also paraded three suspected highway robbers and a suspected admission racketeer, who duped parents of N450,000 to secure admission for their children into the University of Ilorin and Kwara State Polytechnic as well as a cybercafe operator, who sold fake police recruitment forms.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Esosa Adamasu, while parading the suspects during a briefing at police headquarters in Ilorin, also assured residents of a peaceful Ileya festival, saying 2,000 fully-armed officers had been deployed to strategic parts of the state.

He said this against the backdrop of rumours that civil servants in the state were planning to embarrass government officials at Eid praying grounds over non-payments of three months salaries.

Retrenchment looms in Niger State's civil service

By Wole Mosadomi

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INNA—NIGER State government will soon downsize its civil service.

Already, it had pruned the 23 ministries it inherited from its predecessor to 14, while the number of permanent secretaries had been reduced to 25 from 54.

The state Head of Service, Alhaji Mohammed Lapai, while addressing journalists in Minna yesterday, said the exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting any individual but to review the structure and

size of the state civil service for effective service delivery.

Alhaji Lapai said: “The government inherited an overbloated civil service and this exercise is very important to correct that. For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state that the exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting any individual or short-changing any local government area in the state.”

According to him, the government is determined to cut off all areas of leakages and excesses in the civil service, such as indolence,

late coming and engagement in fraudulent acts.

Lapai explained that of the 29 permanent secretaries that lost their status, 10 were advised to go on retirement, while 12 were reverted to the positions they occupied before they were upgraded as permanent secretaries.

The remaining seven, with more years in service, will be posted to head certain parastatals as they have more years in service, with a view to tapping from their experience.

Borno spends N1bn on scholarships for 373 students interdependent components awarding scholarships across

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI—THE Commissioner for Higher Education in Borno State, Alhaji Ahmed Jaha, has said that government had not lost sight of “human and manpower development, despite the security challenges facing the government of Governor Shettima in the past four years, saying the administration had invested over N1 billion on scholarship for 373 students.

He said the manpower development cuts across various disciplines and professions, including the health and agricultural sectors that could raise the living standards of people in rural and urban centres of the state.

Jaha, who disclosed these in Maiduguri, yesterday, said Borno State government was conscious of the fact that development encompassed

and variables of tangible and non-tangible requirements by

all facets of resource and manpower developments.

Kwara govt makes N150m available to entrepreneurs

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—KWARA State government has put up N150 million for grabs for interested small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the state in a bid to stimulate its business and economic environment and also generate employment for the people.

The scheme, tagged Kwara’s Next Entrepreneur, allows existing and new medium scale enterprises to bid for funds from the N150 million, which has been deposited with the Bank of Industry, BoI, to establish or expand existing businesses in the state.

Technical Adviser to the

State Governor on Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mr. Olusegun Soewu, said in Ilorin yesterday that successful businessmen had been engaged to scrutinize business plans of interested individuals.

Soewu said the panel include Mr. Kunle Oyinloye, Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Esuwoye II, Mr. Shuaib Ottan, Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan(retd), Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Alli and Engineer Lanre Sagaya.

Others are Mr. Waheed Olagunju, Chief Tajudeen Owoyemi, and Mr. Gabriel Adewumi.

UTSE— JIG AWA State government has concluded arrangement to secure N10 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The state Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Alhaji Bala Mamser, dropped the hint in Dutse, adding that the loan, which would attract two percent interest, would be paid in eight years.

He said: “I wish to inform you that Jigawa State held its first executive council meeting today (yesterday), where it discussed and considered a memo from the commissioner of finance on a CBN loan and approved it.”

He said the memo contained a proposal to access a loan of N10 billion from CBN and was approved for the state Ministry of Finance to access the excess crude account funds at CBN.

Paediatricians advocate specialized hospital for children

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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SSOCIATION of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria, APSON, has called for establishment of specialized hospitals for children across Nigeria, even as it called for the adoption of free medical care for children from age 0 to 14 as it is done in advanced nations.

National President of the A s s o c i a t i o n , Professor James Adeniran, who made the call in Abuja during its 14th annual general meeting and scientific conference, said such hospitals would help specialists in the field to address the increasing cases of trauma in children and also tackle the high mortality and morbidity rate.

He also urged hospital operators in the country to focus more on building more capacities and improving their services on paediatric cases.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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HERE was a growing con cern recently among Lagos residents over perceived ineffectiveness of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, in enforcing various sections of the 2012 Road Traffic Law. The concern became worrisome following Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s directive to the agency to adopt new strategy in booking traffic offenders rather than the old method of seizing their vehicles.

To ensure the safety of lives and free flow of traffic on Lagos roads, LASTMA renewed the enforcement of the road traffic law across the state using an holistic method of booking offenders on spot and allowing the driver continue with his journey without impounding vehicles.

The exercise which kicked off at Ojota area, witnessed the booking of four drivers violating the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, Law. The Vehicles included two commercial buses with plate registration numbers AGL 109 XA, JJJ 7775 XJ, also booked was a black Honda FST 914AX belonging to Nike Elegbede and a blue Toyota Camry car with registration number EJ 54 KIJ driven by one Adamu Danladi.

The drivers were booked accordingly, while the two private owners were able to provide valid vehicle documents on the spot, the two commercial bus drivers could not but were all allowed to go with the their vehicles in line with the new policy of the Lagos State government.

Monitoring of enforcement The General Manager of the agency, Bashir Braimah, who led the officials to monitor enforcement explained that the exercise was the first after the governor’s directive He re affirmed that the enforcement was a signal to recalcitrant drivers and those who engage in transportation business in the state that it’s no longer business as usual as the Road Traffic Law is still valid and must be obeyed at all times. He stated further that only the method of implementation has changed.

On the workability of the new approach, the LASTMA boss explained that; “There would be no hidden place for traffic violators as the offenders are expected to make payment of their various fines within the docket of seven days and present their tickets at LASTMA offices and failure to comply, offenders will be arrested at home after the expiration of the grace.

“To those without valid documents or not registered in the state, there is a working synergy between the agency and other

•Booked driver on BRT lane

LASTMA renews enforcement of road traffic law •Now books BRT violators, others sister agencies across the federation, therefore no traffic offender will go unpunished. It’s in their own interest to either fall in or fall out with this new method” Braimah charged.

Last week, as part of efforts to ensure seamless traffic and residents have smooth ride travelling within the state metropolis, LASTMA boss met with various leaders of transport unions where he unveiled its plan to meet and engage all stakeholders in the management and control of traffic in order to ameliorate daily hardship experience on the road and also deploy more officers to traffic prone areas in the state with the determination of increasing general road safety.

blockage of other road users’ access to the road. The LASTMA chief condemned the act of impunity and charged the Petroleum Union Drivers (PTD) to key into the vision of the government and reciprocate the kind gesture of the government on enforcement policy by obeying road traffic laws willingly.

He observed further that, the state usually witness gridlocks due to the excesses of motorists particularly commercial and truck drivers who are fond of flouting traffic rules and regulations, driving in direction prohibited by law, turning all the nooks and crannies of the state into parks

Regard for road traffic law Braimah lamented the nonchalant attitude of truck and commercial drivers plying Apapa Oshodi Expressway who are indifferent to the plight of other road users with little or no regard for the road traffic law.

At The MRS Truck Staging Area along Oshodi Apapa Expressway, trucks park indiscriminately on the dual carriage with the excuse of awaiting fuel loading teller leading to the total

The drivers were booked accordingly but were all allowed to go with the their vehicles

rather than using the dedicated bus tops or parks and therefore narrowing the roads.

According to him the agency had been magnanimous enough to have called the unions to a meeting towards the restoration of sanity to no avail and as a responsible government, the agency can’t fold its hands and allow the impunity to continue on Lagos roads hence the reason for enforcement.

In his reaction, Joseph Okpara, an executive of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) expressed displeasure on the conduct of his members saying his union is ready to partner with LASTMA in finding a lasting solution to the perennial traffic situation associated on the axis.

One of the offenders revealed that the enforcement came as a shock to him as he thought LASTMA had been restricted to the control and management of traffic on Lagos roads while Adamu admitted to the offence.

The enforcement was applauded by some motorists who lamented the increase in traffic violations by drivers.

Clampsdown on Okada riders, street traders: Also, Lagos State Task Force has warned commercial motorcycle operators popularly called, “okada riders” operating on all restricted routes

and street traders to comply with the State Road Traffic Law 2012 or risk arrest and prosecution.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, a Superintendent of Police, Olubukola Abe, who gave the warning, disclosed that since he assumed office in August, 2015, till date, over 1000 motorcycles have been impounded and their riders prosecuted, including street traders/hawkers with their wares confiscated by the courts of law.

Enforcement officers He stated that the taskforce was ready to strictly, implement the Section 3 of the traffic law and others to the latter. He said out of 9100 roads in the state motorcycle operators were restricted to only 475 roads including highways and bridges according to the law.

Abe said that enforcement by law enforcement officers would be intensified, assuring that they would not relent in their efforts to restore sanity on roads while curbing the excesses of okada riders and street traders.

He however, appealed to his officers and other law enforcement agents to carry out their duties diligently while enforcing the Law.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 47

Nonagenarian battles Ambode over withheld schools

By Innocent Anaba

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IQUED by the continued retention of her schools by the Lagos State Government, Madam Roseline Ololo has decided to fight the state government for its refusal to return her schools 39 years after.

The battle to ensure the return of her schools commenced yesterday, picketing the office of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with other civil society groups. And they vowed not to retreat until the governor meets their demands.

Ololo and her late husband, Chief Michael Ololo, had through their company, Akaix West Africa Limited, established Metropolitan College in 1955 with the first batch of 19 students in Surulere area of Lagos.

After 10 years of existence, the plans to expand the school arose.

And rather than site it within the neighborhood where the school started, they decided to move away from the thickly populated residential area of Surulere.

The owners acquired the present site at Ire-Akari, Isolo in 1966 and eventually moved there in 1974.

Two years after, in 1976, through the Education (Private Secondary Institutions Special Provisions) Law, the Military Government of Lagos State took over 48 Private Secondary Schools from their owners, including Metropolitan College. In the process, Isolo Secondary School was carved out of Metropolitan College on the same expanse of land hosting the college.

Private participation Twenty-five years after, former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu repealed the law in a bid to encourage private participation in the education sector of the state.

Tinubu returned the said 48 private schools seized by the military administration to their owners. But Ololo was surprised that her Metropolitan College was curiously not returned, a development that brought about a law suit filed by Akaix West Africa.

Akaix West Africa had contended that the retention of part of the school was against government’s restructuring of the educational system of divesting and allowing the private sector to invest in the educational system so as to provide the conditions in which students can learn to the highest standard and prepare themselves to meet their future needs.

Before yesterday’s protest, the 91-year-old woman had earlier concluded plans to challenge the

•Nonagenarian protesting at Ambode’s office state government during the administration of ex-governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. But she was pacified by the governor to sheath her sword, promising that the issue would be resolved immediately.

In a bid to resolve the protracted issue, the state government referred the case to the Lagos

Multi-Door Courthouse, LMDC, for arbitration. But at the arbitral sitting, another trouble emanated. And the Lagos State Ministry of Education insisted in retaining the Isolo Secondary School.

Frustrated by the demands of the State Ministry of Education, her counsel, Mr. Malcolm Omirhobo wrote a letter to

Fashola urging him to put on his wig and gown as a seasoned and erudite Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN to call for the file, study it and advise the Lagos State Ministry of Education on the need to return the whole school and not part to the owners.

The lawyer specially urged the governor to frog leap the exercise of the return of the school by ensuring that the case was presented and deliberated at the next Lagos State Executive Council Meeting so that the matter could be put to an end on or before May 29, 2015. Omirhobo and his client were however shock to discover that the former governor until his final day in office, failed to ensure the return of the schools to its original owner.

The lawyer explained that since the ex-governor has failed to speedily act on the letter, his client (Mama Ololo) decided to take her destiny in her own hands by lawfully occupying the governor’s office in protest against the undue delay in the return of her school.

To ensure that her actions falls within the legal framework, the nonagenarian notified the State

Mama and her late husband worked hard to build the school and they cannot sit back and watch when the other schools have since been returned to their owners

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni of her intention to picket the office of the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode alongside members of the civil society movement in the state.

Ololo stated this in two separate letters to the governor and the Commissioner of police through her lawyer.

According to the letters, copies of which were made available to reporters, Omirhobo said he had no choice than to embark on another peaceful protest starting from September 21, 2015 owing to the failure of the state government to honour its agreement to return the schools.

World press conference In the letter to Ambode, Omirhobo had stated that: “As a result of the foregoing, our client is embarking on a massive rally/ protest at the Lagos State Government House and environs on Monday, the 21st day of September, 2015.

“Our client shall* also sieze the opportunity to address a world press conference on her 39 years of agony as a result of the Lagos State Government refusal to return her schools to her contrary to the provisions of the law of the land.”

“My client desperately wants her school to be given to her in her lifetime because the school is the family legacy. Mama and her late husband worked hard to build the school and they cannot sit back and watch when the other schools have since been returned to their owners.

“We don’t have any problem in terms of running the school effectively and efficiently. We are capable and we have agreed that we should be sanctioned if we don’t run the school properly. So, there is really no reason for the delay in returning everything to us,” the lawyer said.

Ayinke House renovation: Lagos sacks contractor

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AGOS state government has terminated the contract awarded to Marlum Nigeria Limited, for the renovation and expansion of the main structure at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, the Ayinke House.

Former governor, Babatunde Fashola had in March 2010 shut down Ayinke House, the major maternal and child care centre in the state, after it became clear that the structure and facilities there could not withstand public demand. The previous administration awarded the contract to rebuild the facility to Marlum Nigeria Limited, in November 2010.

According to the State Tender’s Board, STB, the government issued a mandate to the contractor to complete the project in 18 months.

Vanguard learnt that the contractor commenced work on the project in 2011; an action which made many women in the state heave a sigh of relief.

The previous administration awarded the construction work in fulfilment of promise made to the residents to tackle high rate of maternal and child mortality in the state.

Child mortality Also, in a bid to ensure prompt completion of the project, the state government on November 27, 2013 raised a N87 billion bonds under the Lagos State fixed rate bond (series 2), to execute the ongoing strategic projects in the state. But four years after, the contractor was still battling with the construction

work; forcing many women to raise concerns over the commitment of the state government to complete the project. The slow pace of work compelled the state government to announce different handing over dates for the project.

Piqued by the continued delay in the completion of the project, Assistant Director, Nursing Services, Mrs. Modupe Shode in an interview recently, urged the state government to fast-track the completion of the project, lamenting “The renovation has taken more time than we had anticipated. Mothers in Lagos are waiting anxiously for the reopening of Ayinke House, which is known to be one of the major birthing facilities in the state.

She added “Its reopening will help to de-congest other maternal

and child care centres, as well as other birthing centres. In addition, we will have more skilled nurses, midwives and birth attendants to attend to pregnant women and nursing mothers. This will go a long way to further reduce maternal and child mortality.”

Why we sacked former contractor-Perm Sec: While inspecting the Ayinke House project still being upgraded to a Specialist Paediatric Hospital, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Ajibade Bade-Adebowale disclosed government’s plan for the project.

Bade-Adebowale in a statement said a new contractor will soon be appointed for the project after the termination of the old contract due to the contractor’s inability to deliver the project.

48—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

We must shun ethnicity, go for the best — Salawu DR. Philip Salawu, a chartered accountant, entrepreneur and politician, was two-time deputy governor of Kogi State under former Governor Ibrahim Idris. In this interview, Salawu shared his views on burning national issues and why he defected to the Labour Party to actualize his governorship ambition.

2015: KOGI DECIDES

By Kingsley Fanwo

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S deputy governor to Idris for eight years, one would have thought you would emerge the next governor of the state. What went wrong in the 2011 succession struggle?

A lot of things were wrong. In fairness to my boss, the former governor, he wouldn’t have minded handing over to any competent hand. But along the line, some people within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believed the governorship of the state was an exclusive right of a particular senatorial district and others, including myself were shut out of the race. The array of people with intellectual depth who participated in that process was unprecedented in the annals of the state’s political history. But for reasons best known to them, they left the willing and able to get the unwilling. The result is what we are facing today.

On insinuations that he is banking on power rotation to actualize his ambition In my speech during the 2011 governorship primaries of the PDP, I told the delegates to shun ethnic jingoists and go for the best and most experienced for the job. I am not an ethnic champion.

Political determination I am in this race because I believe I possess what is required to turn the fortunes of the state around. With my vision for Kogi State, coupled with my experience as deputy governor for eight years, I am the best for the job. Having said that, I want to appeal to Kogites to down play ethnic factors in political determination.

Kogi State belongs to all of us and we must come together to salvage it. This is the first time the state is having a realistic chance of electing a governor, who will be all out to make the state proud.

With Labour Party relatively unknown in the state, don’t you see your ambition of using it as your vehicle to Lugard House is a tall dream?

It is not true that Labour Party is unknown to the people of Kogi State. People have been contesting elections on the platform of Labour Party in the past and I want to say the awareness is quite high.

Also, it is the party of workers

•Salawu and in every election, workers constitute a critical segment that determines how the election would be won or lost. People know me to be a pragmatic

leader, a seasoned administrator and a man of integrity. The November 21 election is not going to be about party, but personality. Kogi deserves fresh

ideas.

How do you hope to upstage the established forces in the race such as Gov. Idris Wada and Prince Abubakar Audu?

You didn’t mention Dr. Philip Salawu and I am surely one of the established forces. Prince Abubakar Audu has won elections as governor of this state twice but went ahead to lose in four consecutive elections.

That shows his establishment is fast fading away. The people know why they have been rejecting him since 2003. Capt.

Idris Wada has not done much for the state and that is giving him bad publicity among prospective voters. A sitting governor is supposed to have a lot of political capital to win elections. Unfortunately for the incumbent, such political capital is missing. What is the situation of our roads in Lokoja? Are workers being paid regularly?

What is the condition of our infrastructure in the state? These are the issues that will shape the

next election. With card readers and better awareness among the people, incumbency without performance is a political curse.

What will you do differently as governor of Kogi State?

I will work with Kogi workers to fix the state. For any government to succeed, workers must be highly motivated to contribute to development.

The man at the Water Board won’t be enthusiastic to give water to the people if he has not received salaries for five months and his family is in excruciating starvation. My priority is to have a highly motivated workforce that will support my government to succeed. My government will pay salaries and pensions promptly.

There won’t be delay in the payment of gratuities. Promotion of deserving workers would be regular and my government will ensure capacity building through training, seminars and clinics to boost efficiency. From there, we will look at our infrastructure.

Era of money politics is gone — Ozigi, PPA gov candidate MR. Emmanuel Ozigi is the governorship candidate of the Progressives People’s Alliance, PPA, in Kogi State. A financial consultant and real estate developer, Ozigi was a member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP but had to move to another platform at the instance of his people to heed the call of rescuing the state from economic strangulations. In this interview, Ozigi said that the people not money will be the ultimate decider of the polls.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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OU were in PDP. Why did you move to another platform?

Moving away is not the issue.

The issue is the platform that is convenient for you to run the election. I look at the election not on the party but on the candidacy of individual. That is what matters not the platform. Actually I used to be a card carrying member of PDP in Kogi state specifically from Okene and because of the call for change in the governance system of my state, it was highly impossible for me to get a ticket under PDP. You will contest with two heavyweights, Abubakar Audu of APC and Idris Wada of PDP, who is currently the incumbent governor. Both of them are from Kogi East, which has the numerical strength. In the light of these two factors: incumbency and ethnicity, what are your chances?

There is yearning for change even in the eastern part of Kogi state. There is a desire for change in governance and the way things are being done. The fact that both flag bearers are from

that particular area doesn’t give the platform for a success. Like I said, it is the desire of the whole state not just because I am from Kogi Central. My ticket is not a singular desire but a collective desire.

On his plans for the state especially Lokoja, the state capital Kogi is a central point like a convergence point either to the South, East, North even to the western part. It is obvious that there are governance issues in the state. With my experience, there are things that I can bring to bear that will elevate the state.

First, the poverty level of the

It is now politics of ideology, your plan, what exactly are you bringing to the table, the credibility and the integrity at stake

•Ozigi state. Second, the decay in infrastructure. Third, you look at the potentials Kogi has which have not been tapped, not only in terms of human resource but also in terms of natural resources, tourism, education and all other sectors that we can galvanize to turn around the economy of the state.

Have you considered the issue of money in realising your ambition?

We are going away from the politics of money gradually. I am not saying that you are not going to spend but it is not like before.

It is now politics of ideology, your plan, what exactly are you bringing to the table, the credibility and the integrity at stake.

These are what actually matter now and in my acceptance speech in Lokoja after winning the primaries, I told them that I will be held accountable for every penny of the state. The reason being that we are going to use a bottom-up approach. If you are

going to have that as part of your campaign plan, that the decision to govern the state must lie in the citizens, which means you are citizen friendly with your programme then the citizens that have been yearning for change from poverty, lack of opportunity, unemployment, lack of basic infrastructure and amenities that make life meaningful, will have a rethink whether to risk their votes again.

So, that is our strong point. If you notice, the Western part of the state and Centre have been yearning for change and there have been alliances, independent assessment of who and who should come up and who should run first and even within the eastern part that has been ruling the state, they want a change because they have been asking themselves ‘we have been having our people rule for the last 16 years and we can’t see any meaningful change, let’s try other areas and see whether we will benefit from this’.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015—49

APPOINTMENTS: Buhari doesn’t want to be stabbed like Jonathan — EBIGWEI Dr. Sylvan Olisanye Ebigwei (MON), consultant dental surgeon, is President-Emeritus, Aka Ikenga, the Igbo sociopolitical organisation. In this interview, he says the Igbo’s vote for former President Goodluck Jonathan was calculated to unite the former Eastern Region. He wants MASSOB to change its name to be relevant. He also spoke on other national issues. Excerpts:

By Tony Nwankwo

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HE North wanted power and they now have it. What is your take on that?

Nigeria is too complex for one section to usurp all that the country has without reaction.

Nigeria today is not the Nigeria of yesterday. There is a level you can pursue a man, the man will stop and start pursuing you. So, whatever the North wants today, if they want Nigeria to be one, they must make sure that there is equilibrium in governance and appointments in critical areas.

Already, there is disequilibrium in what is happening today and we cannot hide the fact. And that was why the South-South met last week. The President is from the North, the Chief Judge is from the North, the Senate President is from the North, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is from the North. This cannot go on because people will react. So, if the Northerners think they can do this and get away with it, Nigerians will react.

Period of honeymoon Right now, I can say the period we are in now is a period of honeymoon for Buhari. By the time he sets up his government, people will start looking into critical areas.

Buhari government has been described as government of probes. How far can be go?

If you want to probe, probe everybody, because Jonathan merely ruled this country for five years or thereabout. By the time he came in, Nigeria was in tatters Nothing was functioning. The roads were not there, power was not there, people were just stealing money anyhow. All these stealing did not start during the Jonathan era. Jonathan came in and met a rotten Nigeria.

Where was he to start from? It was the people, who destroyed this country that surrounded him.

Cleaning up Nigeria was an enormous task. Even those arrested for corruption, how many were jailed? EFCC will make a lot of noise, take suspects to court and that’s the last we hear because the judiciary itself was not helping matters. Had it been we had a strong judiciary, people would sit up. But when people steal, they say, okay, this is my own, this is for law enforcement, the other one is for the judiciary.

With that mindset, people started acting with impunity because they know that criminals are not being visited with adequate punishment. That was the reason Jonathan did not succeed.

A cursory look around shows some parastatals like NEPA suddenly come to life. We know Buhari government has not awarded any contract yet. What happened?

People are wondering what is happening. It shows how evil and how rotten people have gotten in this country. Buhari government is not in place, it has not run any budget, he has not spent a dime in re-positioning PHCN, but look at us today. In my office, I have been enjoying uninterrupted power supply for nearly three weeks now, thereby saving money to feed my family.

What it portrays is that during Jonathan’s administration, no matter how Jonathan tried, he was being sabotaged.

Power generation Men of evil abound in this country. And because of this sabotage, despite all the billions of dollars poured into power generation, the power is there, gas is there, but evil people refused that the country should work. But they know what they are gaining. It shows complete sabotage. And these are the people, the present administration should fish out. If they did it to sabotage Jonathan, they can still do it to sabotage the government of Buhari.

OUR ERROR

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N page 46 of our edition, yesterday, we featured an interview with Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma Egba with the headline, Corruption: Nigeria is returning to sacred cow era, by Ndoma Egba. It came with a rider, •Says Ndoma Egba has kept campaign promises.

The headline should have read, Corruption: Nigeria is returning to no sacred cow era, by Ndoma Egba, while the rider should have been, •Says Buhari has kept campaign promises.

We reget these errors—Editor

•Ebigwei: Igbo have no regrets voting Jonathan Looking critically at Buhari’s appointments so far, people say he is side-tracking the Igbo.

How do you view this?

Buhari is being afraid of what happened to Jonathan. If I am in Buhari’s shoes, I will not appoint people who will betray me. Because Nigeria today is not like Nigeria of yesterday. People are no more honest. The value system of the average Nigerian is poor. We don’t trust people.

Critical appointments have not been made. The appointments he is making are of domestic issues, people who will surround him. You don’t get people who will stab you at the back and put them to follow you. No. Jonathan did that and they stabbed him.

That was why he got angry and told them he had had enough.

That was why he threw in the towel even before they finished counting the votes. Because he discovered that he was totally betrayed. So, Buhari knew what happened to Jonathan, he would not want it to happen to him.

MASSOB is being threatened everywhere. What is their undoing?

As President of Aka Ikenga, I told MASSOB that there is no need for a man to run a good race but outside the track. Igbo man is being marginalised, we know that. But when you want to fight for your rights, you must find a decent way to do it, so that you can have the sympathy of all.

Many of us do not believe in the disintegration of this country.

I told them then that there is no

other country they can fit in except in Nigeria. I told them, this agitation you are doing, find another name and put on it. You will have the sympathy of everyone in Igbo land because without pressure we cannot get what we want in this country.

Change the name MASSOB. What is in a name? Find another name, continue with your agitation, so that you can have followership among Ndigbo. No Igbo man wants to get separated from this country.

You are President Emeritus of Aka Ikenga. We hear there is an agenda to unite the Igbo from all the Igbo speaking South. What impact can this have?

As President of Aka Ikenga,

Buhari is afraid of what happened to Jonathan. If I am in Buhari’s shoes, I will not appoint people who will betray me, because Nigeria today is not like Nigeria of yesterday

our mind set then for supporting Jonathan was to use his platform to extend true hands of fellowship towards the old constituents of the old Eastern Region. Aftermath of the civil war, the core Igbo became almost a pariah to their brothers and sisters of old Eastern Nigeria, as well as the Ikweres in Rivers and the Anioma people in Delta State.

What we did was to show solidarity with the Ijaws so that in future the Ijaw man will know that when they had a problem, in their hour of need, the core Igbo man came to his aid. That was our mindset.

So whatever transpired, whether he ruled well or did not rule well it has worked, because you can now hear the SouthSouth are meeting with the South East, etc. As recent as last week, there was a meeting of the whole of Southern Region of Nigeria to look into their common interest in the present dispensation.

And they came out with a communiqué, advising the President what to do and the negative aspect of his administration so far. So that solidarity is working, that unity is working, that brotherhood is working.

Are you saying the Igbo have no regret over how they voted at the last elections?

Yes, the Igbo have no regrets.

Some people are saying the Igbo lost, No. To us, the Igbo didn’t lose because the mindset of supporting Jonathan is different from the mindset of quite a lot of people. Igbo didn’t lose under Jonathan, they had a fair share of governance.

Fair share of governance The only problem was that many government appointees of Igbo extraction were selfish. They did not empower their own people. Look at the North, the express rail between Kaduna and Abuja, that will open up the whole area and bring Kaduna and adjoining states nearer to the seat of power. Roads were constructed in the North. Look at the Almajiri schools. Nobody ever thought the almajiris should go to school. These are all the handiwork of Jonathan. Look at the Abuja Airport, Kaduna Airport, not to talk of Murtala Mohammed Airport. They have all been elevated and modernized. A lot was achieved.

Anyim Pius Anyim was SGF, and that was a powerful position. You can use the position to build up capacity for your own people. So, you cannot blame Jonathan if those he put in power could not use such positions to better their own people.

I passed through Asaba bridge, I see that work is going on at the second Niger Bridge. Before now, it was all rhetoric. During the Obasanjo era, it was all rhetoric, but now you can see that something is being done.

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

The analyst on a free fall •A response to Adekoya Boladale’ Lagos: Governance on a Free Fall buses, which Governor Fashola launched

By Kehinde Bamigbetan with fanfare in his first 100 days had its HE fact is that the Lagos Traffic Law beginning in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s has been defied since it was enacted. administration in 2004 when Lagos In spite of heavy investment in enforcement dispatched a delegation to Brazil to which led to the seizure of thousands of understudy the BRT system. The problem: motorcycles, the recrudescent return of with the length of vehicles bought in Lagos commercial motorcyclists to restricted measuring four times its road network, only routes had become a nightmare that the a mass transit system could ensure that previous administration battled with workers commute from home to work in minimal results, particularly in semi-urban time. Implementing this solution led to the areas. For instance, the Task Force was widening of the roads, creation of huge once shocked to arrest the same okada specialized bus stops, the construction of rider on the Third Mainland four times in BRT bus only routes, the structuring of the one day each with a different motorcycle! loan to purchase LAGBUS buses and This notorious fact informed the decision ensure repayment under a novel of Ambode’s campaign managers to re-set ownership scheme and the yellow marking the compliance mode from negative to of express routes to ease turn-around. positive by emphasizing the over 1, 700 These were executed up till May 2007 and streets that the traffic law allows made it easy for the new administration to commercial motorcyclists to ply rather than the 475 restricted routes that they were raising so much hell about. The 475 routes bore the brunt of the state’s mass transit strategy enabling commercial and private motorists to commute to and from work daily without having to struggle with the okada riders, who defy safety measures such as the compulsory use of helmets and maintenance of side mirrors, for road use.

The order to release impounded vehicles and motorcycles by Governor Ambode must be seen to be what it is: a reprieve to go and sin no more. This gives the new administration the moral advantage to penalize those who still violate Lagos State governor, Ambode traffic laws after such a generous handshake. Boladale is on a free fall from hit the ground and run. facts when he invents the lie that the truck Similarly, as part of the 25 year Lagos drivers are flouting the governor’s directive Development Strategy, Governor Fashola to restrict the time they can ply the road initiated the implementation of both the from 9pm to 9am. rail and water elements of this strategy with the construction of the Orile-CMS light Truck rail route and jetties. Governor Fashola owners bequeathed to his worthy successor the gigantic rail construction nearing The fact is that the registered association completion and it will be Governor of truck owners and drivers have engaged Ambode’s task, having taken the baton, to the administration in negotiation with a take it to the finishing line by view to softening the law since it was re- commissioning it and inaugurating the affirmed but the administration has not operations. budged. This public analyst is also on a Security records a similar continuity. Note free fall from history. Advertising palpable that hoodlums had taken over the state as ignorance, he attempts to compare the first at 1999 and communities engaged in self100 days of the Fashola administration with protective vigilante shifts. The Rapid Response Force, as a Lagos State funded the current unit of the Nigeria Police was the administration innovative response of the Asiwaju and predictably, administration which extracted from the ends up making Nigeria Police the concession to allow a fool of himself. policemen trained by. Lagos taxpayers The fact is that funds to stay longer in the state. The Tinubu, Fashola Fashola administration built on this by and Ambode widening its funding source through the regimes occupy Lagos Security Trust Fund and its tactical phases in command network through the Control a continuum of The order to Centre. This increased the capacity of the s t r a t e g y release state to combat insecurity but it is structured to last misleading to give the impression that it 25 years, from impounded brought crime to zero.

1999 to 2024 vehicles and Anyone who is conversant with the State during which the Development Plan which was reviewed motorcycles by modern Lagos under the Fashola administration for the g r a d u a l l y Governor period 2012 to 2015, will not be looking for overcomes its Ambode’s blueprint. This is the only state weaknesses by Ambode must in the federation that developed 25 year developing new be seen to be long term development plan and has strengths. ensured that successive administrations For instance, what it is: a executed the elements to the letter. the introduction reprieve to go •Bamigbetan, former chairman of Ejigbo. of Bus Rapid LCDA and Director, Media of the Support Transit system and sin no Group for Ambode, SGFA, wrote from including the more Lagos. purchase of 100

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As Pope Francis visits the US

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T is an unwritten expectation that whoever becomes pope includes the U.S. in his foreign trips early in his papacy. Pope Francis, the Argentine native, will uphold that tradition when he lands in the U.S. today. While here, he will address the United Nations General Assembly and a joint session of the United States Congress, and make other visits to Catholic schools in New York and attend public functions in Philadelphia.

Pope Francis is popular among Catholics worldwide. Unlike a number of previous popes, he does not flaunt the trappings of his exalted position.

Oftentimes, he casts aside his scripted speeches and talks to his audiences from his heart. Being an outsider before he was elevated to the papacy, Pope Francis often ignores long-standing protocols that shield him from the faithful and interacts with his flock. It is obvious that he is set to modernize the church, without necessarily doing away with the core beliefs of his apostolic mission.

But, as the pope visits the U.S. he will be confronted with a great deal of issues, some of which might just be unanticipated; others, long standing issues that have been crippling the Catholic Church in America. No one needs to tell the pope that among Americans, Catholicism is gradually becoming a fading religion. A Pew Centre research published this year shows that the percentage of adults (18 and older) who say they are Christians declined from 78.4 percent in 2007 to 70.6 percent in 2014. Among them are Catholics. Indeed, another Pew research shows that up to 22 per cent of Catholics in the U.S. are immigrants, especially from Latin American.

The dwindling fortunes of the Catholic Church is reflected in the increasing acute shortage of priests. A report from catholic-hierarchy.org shows that in the Bellville diocese where I reside, the number of priests in 1950 was 180, with a ratio of 1 priest per 460 Catholics. In 2012, the number priests had declined to 151, with the ratio of 1 priest per 787 Catholics. What The the statistics did not quite reveal is that a pope’s sizeable number of recent these priests in the diocese are from ideas Africa, especially about local Nigeria and Kenya.

The shortage of bishops priests in the U.S. handling may not be such a huge problem to Pope issues Francis as the issue of related to alleged child abuse by divorce, catholic priests. To show the enormity of will no the problem, doubt help BishopAccountability, an organization that to assuage tracks cases of child the abuse by U.S. catholic clergy, claims that as agitated at 2012, the U.S. nuns Catholic Church had

paid out an estimated $3 billion in settlement in cases related to the abuses. The issue remains on the frontburner till date, as reports still emerge that some of the priests who were said to have committed sexual crimes with children in their care were systematically protected and shielded from the law by their bishops. Pope Francis will have to address this thorny issue in the body of the U.S. Catholic Church.

Pope Francis will also have to address the increasing voices of feminist groups in the church who are agitating for women to be ordained priests, an issue that is also made more complex by the voices of renegade nuns against Rome. During the reign of Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican had appointed a panel of bishops to oversee and overhaul the Leadership Conference of Women Religious because it was felt that the organization was making proclamations that went contrary to Catholic doctrine on a number of issues, including calling for more role for women in the church, up to being ordained priests. The group also challenged the church’s position on birth control.

To Pope Francis’ credit, he has since moved quickly to placate the irate ladies. But, the issues they raised remain burning beneath the surface.

The pope’s recent ideas about local bishops handling issues related to divorce, although limited to a timeframe, will no doubt help to assuage the agitated nuns in a country with a high divorce rate.

Agitated nurses When the pope addresses the United Nations General Assembly and the joint session of the U.S. Congress, he will most likely touch on raw-nerve issues of poverty and capitalism, and climate change, both of which will not sound like soothing music to the ears of U.S. Republicans. Any statement that challenges the excesses of the capitalist creed will not go down well in capitalist America, even if the pope is behind it. The Republicans who take every opportunity that comes their way to reiterate their resolve to do away with Obamacare which provides health care to middle to low income Americans, are in no mood to be lectured on the need to be their brothers’ keeper by maintaining an economic system that devalues capitalism.

On climate change, the Republicans are equally unmovable. They do not believe it is real or largely man-made.

Pope Francis is on record to be against further damage to our environment.

He will find the anti-climate change conservatives a hard rock to push over.

As he addresses Congress, he will find among his listeners Jim Inhofe, a Republican senator from Oklahoma.

Senator Inhofe is the flag-bearer of the Republican legion against climate change. Ironically, he is also the chairman of the Senate committee on the environment.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 51

Europe borders threatened by Protests in Burkina Faso, as army migrants — Hungarian PM *As parliament empowers Army to use force against migrants *US to accept more refugees

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UNGARY’s PM has said Europe’s borders are threatened by migration, at the start of a week of intense diplomatic activity on the crisis.

Viktor Orban said migrants were “breaking the doors” and that a united stance was required.

Ministers from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia met to discuss an EU proposal for quotas, which they oppose.

Some EU countries want migrants shared out more evenly across the EU. Germany and France are among those who back plans to share the burden of relocating 120,000 migrants from Greece, Italy and Hungary.

“They are over-running us,” said Mr Orban, shortly before Hungary’s parliament agreed to hand more powers to the army.

“They’re not just banging on the door, they’re breaking the doors down on top of us. Our borders are under threat. Hungary is

Hundreds of people making their way across the border from Croatia to Hungary

under threat and so is the whole of Europe.”

The new law allows Hungary’s army to use rubber bullets, tear gas and net guns to control migrants

at its border. The police would also now be allowed to enter private homes to carry out search for people they believed had entered the country illegally.

David Cameron’s youthful debauchery laid bare in new book

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new biography of David Cameron by a former ally turned political enemy contains claims of youthful debauchery by the future British leader, according to extracts published by the

Daily Mail on Monday.

Reactions on social media focused on the description of a bizarre initiation ritual for an Oxford University club made by an unnamed contemporary of

Cameron’s who is himself a member of parliament.

The lawmaker claimed that the initiation ceremony involved a dead pig and that Cameron “inserted a private part of his anatomy into the animal’s mouth”.

PAPAL VISIT: Republicans worry about ‘extreme’ Pope

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ONGRESSIONAL Republicans hope Pope Francis leaves his liberal-leaning views at the Vatican.

When he addresses a joint session of Congress Thursday during an event that will be broadcast

around the world, a large number of House and Senate Republicans want the leader of the Catholic Church to keep a lid on his progressive attitudes on climate change, immigration, guns and capitalism.

In interviews with CNN,

a wide array of GOP lawmakers argued that the Pope’s message should stay away from the political fights consuming Washington, and many expressed strong disapproval of the fiery views he’s espoused since taking over the papacy in 2013.

ALLS are growing for Republican Ben Carson to quit the 2016 race after he said a Muslim should not be president.

Muslim-American groups, among others, have said these views make him unqualified to run himself.

Mr Carson, a Christian, made the comments

New Greek leader pledges to focus on debt relief

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LEXIS Tspiras, the victor of Greece’s snap elections, has said that the new government to be led by his left-wing

D

EMONSTRATORS have taken to the streets of Burkina Faso’s capital, burning tires to protest a proposed compromise solution to the country’s deepening political crisis following a coup last week.

The protesters, who think the plan is too lenient on the military government, come as Burkina Faso’s army chiefs issued a statement ordering coup soldiers to lay down their arms.

The statement signed by several military chiefs called on members of the presidential guard, who staged the coup against the country’s interim government ahead of October 11 polls, to hand in their arms to barracks in exchange for

People protesting yesterday in Burkina Faso safety guarantees.

“All the national armed forces are converging on [capital] Ouagadougou with the sole aim of disarming the presidential guard without any bloodshed,” it said.

“The army say their goal is to protect the public from the presidential guard. The

presidential guard last week shot at the population injuring dozens,” Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque, reporting from Ouagadougou, said.

Several people have been killed and dozens others injured during the subsequent demonstrations against the coup.

Mandela Prison evacuated over rats

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South African pris on where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated is being evacuated after two people died from a disease caused by exposure to rat urine.

Over 4,000 inmates are in the process of being moved from Pollsmoor to nearby prisons to avoid more infections.

The two inmates of the Cape Town prison died in August, reports

SABC News.

The leptospirosis bacteria is spread from urine from rats or dogs and symptoms include fever and jaundice.

An inspection by the the National Institute For Communicable Diseases showed overcrowding and blocked drains meant inmates were exposed to infected rat urine.

The Police and Prisons

Civil Rights Union expressed their concern on Sundaythat the prison appeared to be at 300% capacity.

It is extremely rare for a South African prison to be evacuated, reports the BBC’s Milton Nkosi from Johannesburg.

Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in 1982, after spending 18 years on Robben Island.

Public schools shut in Kenya over teachers’ pay dispute

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UBLIC schools in Kenya have been shut by the government in response to a threeweek teachers’ strike.

A Kenyan court has ordered a pay rise of at least 50%, but the government is challenging this.

President Uhuru Ken-

yatta said that teachers are well paid already and a salary increase would damage government finances.

Teachers argue that a pay deal struck in 1997 has only been partially fulfilled.

Deadly car blast targets Somalia presidential palace

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car bomb has exploded at the gate of the compound of the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital on Sunday, adding that Mogadishu, killing at least Islam was inconsistent four people, police said.

Ali Hussein, a police officer, told the Reuters news agency that more than a dozen were also wounded after the asSyriza party would focus sailant rammed the vehicle on discussions with lend- near soldiers guarding the ers for debt relief, as the official residence of the presiEU and Germany urged Athens to stick to eco- dent, prime minister and the speaker of parliament. nomic reforms.

ISLAM REMARKS: Muslim groups want Ben Carson to quit 2016 race

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moves to disarm junta

Hussein added that the attack may have been aimed at a United Nations convoy that left the palace just before the blast.

Mohamed Hussein, another officer, told the Associated Press news agency that the bomber appeared to target foreign officials who were leaving the building, killing two of them.

At least two soldiers were also killed in the blast, he added.

But President Kenyatta disputed this, insisting that “the award has been settled in full”.

There has been no teaching in public schools since the beginning of the month, as the teachers say the government should abide by the court’s decision.

The government said last week that the move to close the schools was about protecting “children, staff, and... property” and to “allay the worries of parents”.

There had been concerns that children were attending school without supervision.

The more than one million pupils who will sit public exams next month are allowed to go to school, but it is not clear if there will be staff available to teach them.

52—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 , 2015

CHIBOK GIRLS: We're not sure where they are —ARMY CHIEF •Says ‘If they are alive, we will bring them back safely'

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—“WE know that the Chibok Girls are somewhere, we are not yet sure where they are but we are suspecting they are somewhere.

As soon as we are sure, we will bring them back safely and in peace.”

With these words, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai yesterday assured the nation that if indeed the Chibok girls are still alive, the Army in conjunction with other security agencies will locate them and rescue them in peace.

Speaking at the 3rd Quarterly COAS Conference in Abuja, Buratai declared, “The issue of the Chibok girls is very crucial to us and the nation. We are making all efforts to see that we rescue the Chibok girls in peace. We believe that the Chibok girls will be somewhere within the general area of the North East.”

“But mind you, the Chibok

girls issue is not an Army issue alone, the Nigerian Airforce, the DSS and other agencies are also working hard on the issue. It is not only the Chibok girls. There were others that were abducted too, but as you can see, we are bringing them

out from captivity.

“As the operation goes on and we continue to achieve victory by clearing the terrorists, if the Chibok girls are still alive, we will definitely get them out and in peace.”

On the ‘Operation Lafiya

Dole’ proper, the army chief disclosed that he has approved the special promotion of 5,000 gallant soldiers in the North East noting, “This is to boost the morale of the fighting troops.

Beneficiaries will start enjoying the new ranks by October this year when the signal is promulgated.”

MEETING: From left: Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oto-Awori LCDA, Chief Kamal Azeez; Secretary, Ojo PDP, Alhaji Saka Olarewaju; House of Representatives member representing Ojo Federal Constituency, Mr. Tajudeen Obasa; Chairman, Ojo PDP, Alhaji Adio Salami, and Treasurer, Mrs Nike Akibu, at the town hall meeting organized by PDP in Lagos.

World Bank should disclose documents on spending of Abacha loot —SERAP

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By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

AGOS—SOCIOEconomic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sent an access to information request to the Jim Yong Kim, President, World Bank Group urging him to “exercise the Bank’s prerogative to release documents relating to spending of recovered assets stolen by Late General Sani Abacha”.

The group in a statement by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, also asked Mr Yong Kim to “disclose information about the Bank’s role in the implementation of any projects funded by the recovered assets and any other on-going repatriation initiatives on Nigeria with which the Bank is engaged.”

The group said that “should the Bank fail or refuse to release the documents as requested, SERAP would file an appeal to the Secretariat of the Bank’s Access to Information Committee to challenge any such decision, and if it

becomes necessary, to the Access to Information Appeals Board.”

The request dated 21 September 2015 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni reads in part: “this application is brought pursuant to the World Bank’s Access to Information Policy (The Policy), approved by the Board on June 30 2015.

SERAP notes that one of the Policy ’s guiding principles is to maximize access to information.

“There is also clear public interest in Nigerians knowing about the Bank’s supervisory role and specifically its involvement in the implementation of projects on which repatriated funds were spent.

“The World Bank has been involved in overseeing the transfer, disbursement, spending of recovered funds from General Abacha, and other similar initiatives to repatriate stolen funds to Nigeria. As such, the World Bank is not a neutral party in this matter.”

Engine failure responsible for Bristow crash —AIB

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

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AGOS—THE Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, yesterday, said that engine failure was responsible for the Bristow Helicopter crash on August 12 this year at the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.

This was contained in an interim report released on the incident.

The helicopter had twelve (12) people aboard including the two crew members. Six persons died, including the two crew members while there were six (6) survivors.

AIB said that it discovered that the “Forward Main Servo Input Control Pushrod Assembly had failed.”

Briefing aviation reporters yesterday, the Commissioner and CEO of AIB, Dr. Felix Abali said: “The preliminary flight recorder data indicated that at 1000ft and 120kts, the helicopter experienced sudden pitch up, and left roll with varying attitude of yaw, roll and pitch for 12 seconds until it impacted water at about 1531hrs.

“Neither the crew nor the passengers had the opportunity to either inflate their respective life jackets or deploy the raft. The crew did not make a MAY DAY distress call, before the helicopter crashed into the Lagos Lagoon around Oworonshoki area at about 1531hrs.”

Meanwhile, interim safety actions have been taken by Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, and Sikorsky by the issuing of E m e r g e n c y Airworthiness Directives, EAD, and Alert Service Bulletin, ASB, respectively on the Main and Tail Rotor Servo Input Rod assembly. This is to ensure the continued airworthiness and security of the assemblies.

Bristow Helicopters Nig. Ltd. had earlier issued 2 Technical Directives as a safety action.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 53

Adepoju tips Dream Team T to qualify for Olympics

BY JACOB AJOM

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ORMER Nigeria international, Mutiu Adepoju has tipped the African U-23 Championship-bound Dream Team to pick a ticket for the Rio Olympics.

Speaking with Sports Vanguard at the weekend, Adepoju said that he was sure the team would put behind them their not too impressive showing at the African Games, where they picked a bronze to compensate Nigerians with an Olympic ticket.

“I know Nigerians were disappointed with their not winning the gold medal in Congo. It is however up to them to prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with in Africa. I believe they will emerge tops in their group and qualify for the Olympics,”Adepoju said.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the Samson Siasia led technical crew, adding that they would have learned a lot from their Congo experience.

“The African Games was a good platform for them to identify where

the problem of the team lies, particularly in the attack where they create so many chances but

Championship (AYC) to be hosted by Senegal in November is very crucial because it will also serve as a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games.

According to the coach, what affected his team adversely at the just ended African Games where the team managed a bronze medal was the inability of the strikers to score goals.

“Talking about our outing in Congo, I will say that the team didn’t play badly but the only problem we had was the inability of the strikers to convert our chances, I hope to bring in Iheanacho and Awoniyi but the only problem is if their clubs will release them. We hope they will but in the interim we will continue to work with the boys in camp, we will continue to work on their goal scoring ability.

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Spurs plan Iheanacho swoop in 2018.

According to the Sun of England, Spurs have been alerted to the contract situation of Iheanacho and would very much want to add to their growing pool of exciting youngsters led by another Nigerianborn ace Dele Alli.

Spurs hope that the lure of regular firstteam football will be too tempting for Iheanacho to turn down.

But it was further gathered that City have

now moved swiftly to fend off these interests by opening new contract talks with the representatives of the emerging Nigeria star.

Iheanacho, 18, hogged the headlines after his match-winning heroics at Crystal Palace recently and reports suggest Spurs and several clubs from abroad are interested in the forward, who is behind Sergio Aguero and Wilfried Bony in the pecking order at the Ittihad.

Abdulkaree promises a lift for NDA Golf

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HE brand new Captain of the Nigeria Defence Academy NDA} Golf Club , Lt Col !B Abdulkareem has promised an

•Iheanacho

South Africa opposition seeks 2010 World spokesman Solly Malatsi Cup bribe probe said the papers were filed

S

OUTH Africa’s main opposition party has filed papers seeking a police investigation into bribery allegations against two chief

Siasia Continues from BP

failed to convert them. It is important to use chances created. That is the only way a team win matches.”

OTTENHAM Hotspur are planning an audacious bid for Kelechi Iheanacho, but Manchester City are also fighting to keep the highly-rated Nigeria starlet and have opened talks to extend his contract, which runs out

“For now we are going on a one week break and when we return we will begin to prepare for a possible international friendly with Brazil in London in the next few weeks. This is to further expose these boys and we hope they will continue to improve.

On expectations in Senegal, the former international said the aim of the team is not just to qualify for the Olympics but also to win the AYC to make up for the poor outing at the African Games.

Siasia equally revealed that he was still open to welcoming new players to the team, provided such players are smart and gifted to the extent that they can catch up with the rest of the players that have been in camp for nine months.

Nigeria will play Mali, Algeria and host nation,Senegal

organisers of the 2010 football World Cup. The Democratic Alliance (DA) complaint was against Danny Jordaan and Molefi Oliphant, who led the successful bid.

It is alleged $10m (£6.4) was paid in exchange for winning the right to host the tournament - the first in Africa.

The South African government and football officials deny the accusation.

Cape Town police is now obliged to investigate the complaint, and this could lead to a court case, the BBC’s Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says.

On Monday, DA

at a police station in Cape Town to “initiate a criminal investigation into the allegation”.

“The charges laid against Jordaan and Oliphant include fraud as well as corruption under Section 3 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act,” he said.

He alleged that Mr Jordaan, the head of South Africa’s bidding committee in 2007, and Mr Oliphant, the president of the South African Football Association (Safa) at the time, instructed officials from world football governing body Fifa to authorise the payment of $10m to Concacaf (North‚ Central American and

•Jordaan Caribbean Association Football).

Mr Malatsi said the party decided to act after Sports Minister Fikile Mbabula said an official investigation into the allegations had not been opened because there had been no such request.

unprecedented and steady growth for the NDA Golf Club.

Abdulkareem made his vow when last Sunday saw off the Heinenken Golf Tournament which would be the first real big tourney of its Executive Committee since he assumed office some months back. The tourney which played on the vast course of the NDA featured over 200 golfers from across the nation including eminent Military bigwigs and indeed the Commandant of the NDA, Major General MT Ibrahim.

Pleased with good things that played out at the Heineken event, the new Captain, Abdulkareem stated that two more major tourneys, that will definitely involve professional players will come into play before the year runs. This could cost huge sum but Abdulkareem is not bothered one bit.

Ex-internationals tame journalists at Guinness media launch

BY JACOB AJOM

I

T was thrills and frills in Lagos at the weekend, when Guinness Nigeria organised a media launch of its new marketing campaign tagged “Every Minute Made of Black” as Nigeria’s exinternationals handed a heart-wrenching 3-2 defeat to a team of journalists from the print media.

The exciting encounter

was one-sided in the opening half as the exinternationals inspired by former 3SC play maker, Mutiu Adepoju posted a flawless performance to the delight of hundreds of football fans. First half ended 2-0 in favour of the ex-internationals that made up former Super Falcons goalkeeper, Ann Chiejine, Emeka Ezeugo, Jonathan Akpoborie and Tjudeen Disu.

The second half produced a more

d e t e r m i n e d performance from the journalists even as the ex-internationals added one in the opening minutes, Jonny Edwards of Complete Sports was on song as he recorded a brace that reduced the tally to 32.

At the launch of the campaign, Guinness Senior Brand Manager, Kunle Faloye said the Every Minute Made of Black campaign was in

fulfilment of the brand’s promise to provide more exciting times to football fans.

Fans are required to enter for the competition by predicting what minute a goal would be scored in any particular match of the English Premier League.

The first 2,500 entries automatically get N250 airtime, for just participating. N2million is set aside for 200 correct entries as cash prizes every week.

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Costa risks three-match ban for violent conduct D

IEGO Costa is fac ing a potential three-match ban after being charged with “an alleged act of violent conduct” by the Football Association in the wake ofChelsea’s fractious derby victory over Arsenal on Saturday.

The governing body confirmed in a statement yesterday that the referee, Mike Dean, had not witnessed Costa’s clash with Laurent Koscielny two minutes before the interval. The Spain forward put his hands in the defender’s face, and then swung his left arm round and made further contact with Koscielny, who he then chest-bumped to the turf when the centrehalf reacted to the contact.

As the incident was not seen by Dean, the FA has the power to refer the case to a panel of three former elite referees who will review the video footage to determine whether an offence worthy of a red card had taken place.

Costa has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge. “Each referee panel member will review the video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it a sending off offence,” said the FA in a statement. “For retrospective action to be taken, and an FA charge to follow, the decision by the panel must be unanimous.”

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URT Zouma has moved to clarify comments made in a television interview immediately after Chelsea’s fractious victory over Arsenal on Saturday, in which he claimed Diego Costa “cheats”, by suggesting his team-mate C M Y K

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EST Ham be came the first Premier League club in 10 years to win at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in the same season but Diafra Sakho is still not satisfied.

The Hammers striker scored his second League goal of the seasonas West Ham continued their excellent run of away form to win 2-1 at the Etihad and move up to third place in the table.

•Costa(r) charges into Koscielny.

Klopp favourite to replace Rodgers

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HE odds on Brendan Rodgers becoming the next Premier League manager to lose his job have been cut after the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by newly promoted Norwich City on Sunday afternoon.

A surge of supporters have backed the Northern Irishman to leave Anfield and he is now in from 7/4 to 6/4 after bets of up to £40 were placed on his potential departure.

Rodgers is 11/10 to fail to last until the end of the year and priced at 4/ 6 to leave the club by the end of the Premier League season.

“Klopp is the favourite to take over at Anfield and certainly has the high profile to fit the role, ” said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly.

Zouma: Costa’s ‘cheat’ comment misunderstood

•Zouma

Sakho eyes win at Man U, Chelsea

merely likes to “put pressure on his opponents. Everyone knows Diego and this guy likes to cheat a lot and put the opponents out of his game, and that happened in the game,” said Zouma.

Zouma took to Twitter to explain the comments. “Sorry for any confusion,” he wrote.

“English is not my first language and I did not mean to accuse anyone of cheating. Simply to say Diego is a player who puts pressure on his opponents and who I have huge respect for.”

•Sakho

“These are amazing results for us,” said the Senegalese. “I am very happy for the team that we have been able to win at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. They were all great performances.

“This is a very long season, though, and now we want victories at Manchester United and Chelsea!

“Every player has worked so hard for the team and had a big motivation to win the game. The manager spoke to every player and we knew that we had to give 100 per cent.”

•Rodgers and Klopp

Ronaldo gives fans chance to attend ‘El Clasico’

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EAL Madrid for ward Cristiano Ronaldo is giving a lucky fan a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the day with him as he prepares for El Clasico in November.

The clash between Spain’s two biggest sides is an unmissable fixture on anybody’s football calendar and Ronaldo has teamed up with online marketplace Omaze to of-

fer one supporter a chance to watch the game as his personal guest.

The trip, for two people, will include a pre-match meal with the man himself, plus a haircut alongside the Ballon d’Or winner.

Fans can make sure they are in with a chance to win by making a donation to Artists for Peace and Justice, who support communities Haiti with education and healthcare.

•Ronaldo

Matic predicts Hazard goal rush

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•Hazard

EMANJA Matic has warned Chelsea’s rivals that Eden Hazard will now get back to his best after scoring his first goal of the season.

Hazard, who had been struggling in this campaign, scored with a deflected effort late on to secure a 2-0 win against Arsenal on Saturday.

“It’s a big goal for Eden. He needs to score

goals for his confidence and to be on his top level. He is very important for our team. I am very happy he scored his first goal and I hope it gives him more self-belief. He needs to know that he is the best player in the Premier League and use his qualities. When he scored it was an important moment in the season for him.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 — 55

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Eaglets depart for Argentina F

IFA U-17 World Cup champions, the Golden Eaglets, will depart for a training camp in Argentina

Olympic qualifier:

Siasia banks on Iheanacho, Awoniyi

today ahead of the World Cup in Chile, officials have informed. Nigeria won a record fourth title in United Arab Emirates in 2013.

The Eaglets only recently returned from an invitational tournament in South Korea, where they placed third behind winners Brazil and runners-up Croatia.

Incidentally, they will battle Croatia at the World Cup in Chile after they lost to the same team 3-2 at the invitational tourney.

•Amuneke The Eaglets will open their title defence against USA next month.

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

I

N a bid to ensure automatic qualification for the 2016 Olympics, Chief Coach of the national U-23 team, the Dream Team IV, Samson Siasia has began moves to have Manchester City of England young prodigy, Kelechi Iheanacho and new Liverpool signing, Taiwo Awoniyi join his team.

Siasia told Sports Vanguard yesterday in Abuja that the forthcoming Africa Youth

Continues on Page 52

•Awoniyi

FA charges Costa — Pg.54

ARRIVAL: Nigerian athletes at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Int'l Airport, Abuja on arrival from Congo. Photo: Gbenga Olamikan

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Conquer (6) 5 Bough (6) 8 Fiesta (8) 9 Talon (4) 10 Girl’s (3) 12 Crawl (5) 15 Tree (3) 17 Stray (3) 18 Finish (3) 19 Spring (3 20 Correct (5) 21 Immerse (3) 22 Lattuce (3) 23 Expert (3) 24 Consume (3) 26 Inn (5) 29 Colour (3) 33 Blaze (4) 34 Incurable (8) 35 Decay (6) 36 Rubbish (6)

DOWN 2 Astound (5) 3 Flavour (4) 4 Wanderer (5) 5 Protrude (5) 6 Cunning (4) 7 Grade (5) 10 Hurry (5) 11 Respond (5) 12 Accident (5) 13 Happening (5) 14 Foot-lever (5) 15 Viper (5) 16 Trusted (5) 25 Living (5) 27 Alternative (5) 28 Eject (5) 30 Follow (5) 31 Skin (4) 32 Even (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Taxi 4, Peg 6, Deep 8, Ignite 9, Outlet 10, Row 12, Bread 14, Whine 15, Tower 18, Serene 20, Untold 24, Deter 26, Agree 28, Wagon 30, Get 32, Ignore 33, Office 34, Idle 35, Run 36, Cord.

DOWN: 2, Anger 3, Imitate 4, Peer 5, Grow 6, Ditch 7, Eternal 11, Ode 12, Bus 13, Don 16, Wed 17, Rut 19, Engaged 21, New 22, Traffic 23, Din 25, Ewe 27,

How to Play Sudoku

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lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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C M Y K