PDP senators grim as Amaechi is screened

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...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62611

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

FG to present PIB again in first quarter of 2016 6

SPECIAL REPORT

ISALE EKO: Landscape of old, distressed buildings

Thousands at risk from more imminent collapses P.43

•82 year old survivor dies •P.7 in hospital

PDP senators grim as Amaechi is screened •Refused to question Amaechi as bid to stop screening flopped •Report on petitions against Amaechi submitted, not debated

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA — The con troversy over the screening of erstwhile Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi as a minister, ended in an anticlimax yesterday, when seething senators of the

THOSE SCREENED YESTERDAY

Continues on Page 5

Maritime workers shut ports over unpaid wages 13 Mr & Mrs Amaechi

Ocholi

Mustapher

Daramola

 Lokpobiri

91 firms bid for NNPC's petroleum products transport contract COLUMNIST: EZE NDIGBO IN S-West: Unending controversy over Kerekou, remarkable African, moves on relevance See inside •P.19

Good grief!

•P.17

•P.8

EFCC tenders evidence against •P.9 Lamido, sons

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POCKET CARTOON world class primary schools, 140 model primary health care centres among others. He also took pride in his sponsorship of two bills while a lawmaker, the anti-kidnapping bill and a bill that defined the responsibilities of parents, teachers and children to guarantee children access to qualitative education.

PDP Senators fight back

MEETING: From left, Hon Ahmed Kaita, Hon Femi Gbajamila, Hon Sarkin Adar, and Hon Sani Zorro briefing Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.

PDP senators grim as Amaechi is screened Continues from Page 1 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP turned dumb to him.

The PDP caucus kept mum upon the determination of All Progressives Congress, APC Senate caucus for Amaechi, the director-general of the triumphant APC presidential campaign to be screened yesterday.

The path to his appearance which had in the past been laced with politics was agreed at a closed-door meeting of the Senate that preceded yesterday’s plenary.

At that session, the PDP senators it was gathered had again restated their opposition to the appearance of Amaechi, alleging that the issues of corruption raised against him had not been debated by the Senate.

That argument was, however, brushed aside by the APC senators most of who read politics into

the opposition by the PDP, who they claimed wanted to punish Amaechi for his role in the emergence of the new leadership of the country.

Faced with the determination of the APC Senate caucus to forge ahead with the screening of the former governor, the PDP members it was gathered, were persuaded to backtrack on their earlier pledge of walking out.

Rather, the PDP senators resolved not to ask Amaechi any question.

As the Senate resumed plenary, yesterday, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Senator Samuel Anyanwu laid the report of its investigations into the petition filed against Amaechi. The report was, however, not debated.

Following other preliminaries, the Senate upon a motion moved by the Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume and seconded by Senator Godswill

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO LWAYS measure your performance in life by the amout of results you generate rather than the activities you engage in. It doesn’t matter how many hours you spend working, but how productive those hours were. It's up to you

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Be yourself- not your idea of what you think somebody else’s idea of yourself should be —Henry David Thoreau

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LABEL good or bad only defines an aspect of you. Defining yourself with labels is a universal human behaviour because of something called the social self. On the other hand, your essential self, the set of qualities at your core, doesn’t define itself with labels at all, or bend or shift depending on whom it encounters. Respect others but never invalidate yourself.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

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N old woman who throws away an old basket with her left hand, on the day of her burial, it will be brought back with the right hand.

Akpabio, the Senate minority leader, resolved to move into the committee of the whole for the purpose of screening nominees of the president for ministerial positions.

Remarkably, Amaechi was the first on the list and he was followed into the chambers by a highprofile delegation of the APC including the party ’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former Speaker Ghali Na‘abba, former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Peterside Dakuku, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State among many others.

Asked for his opening comments, Amaechi started his greetings by acknowledging the three Rivers State senators, all of the PDP, who have been at the forefront of opposition to his ministerial nomination.

He greeted Senator Thompson Sekibo as the senator representing him, forcing laughter from Sekibo, Senator Olaka Nwogu as his long time friend and roommate at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. He also acknowledged Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu, who he said served under him as a commissioner.

Near-slip

Amaechi’s pace for peace with his senators from Rivers State almost caused a slip as he almost forgot to acknowledge other senators.

He subsequently enumerated his experience as a legislator having served as a two-term speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and then as a two-term governor of Rivers State.

He cited his accomplishments as governor to include among others, the building of more than 315

Following the greetings, the minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio stood up to make a personal explanation. He said that upon the fact that the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges had not been discussed that the PDP Senate Caucus had resolved not to ask the nominee any question.

Turning to face his colleagues on the PDP benches, Akpabio said, “Is that the decision of the PDP Caucus?” to which there was a thunderous response of "Yes!."

Senate leader, Ali Ndume apparently miffed by the action of the PDP senators responded that Amaechi as a former legislator should then be given the privilege to bow and go as is the practice of the Nigerian Senate.

“The gentleman you see here is a nominee, and it’s my responsibility to market him here before the Senate. If you people are given the privilege to ask questions and as you said, “You people decide not to ask questions...”

Ndume was immediately countered by roaring denunciation from the PDP benches as they objected to what they described as the condescending reference. Senator Akpabio immediately demanded a retraction.

Senate President Saraki rose to the aid of Ndume as he said that Ndume offered one, but which the PDP senators said they did not hear even as some of them demanded a formal apology.

Panel didn't indict me — Amaechi

Following Saraki’s intervention, Amaechi was then opened to questions from APC senators.

Among those who asked him questions were Senators Nazif Suleiman, APC, Bauchi North, Danjuma Goje, APC Gombe and Gbenga Ashafa, APC Lagos East.

Responding to Nazif ’s question on how he has managed to fight political battles, he said: “I was born to test my rights and fight for my rights, I was once a student union leader and believe me, if there is one man who does not like corruption, I am the one, I do not like corruption.

Noting why he aligned with Muhammadu Buhari against his former party man, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, he said: “We sold to the public the fact that there was massive corruption in the system. And there was the need to fight that corruption. And the only way to fight that corruption is to put a new government, and we had to get a signpost candidate.

“The signpost candidate is a man who the Nigerian public has seen as an incorruptible president. That was why the party had to put President Buhari forward. We thought that there was a need to do things differently. I thought that as good as the former President may have been, I don’t think he was suitable enough for the growth and development of Nigeria. So, we needed to offer an opportunity to somebody we believe is better than the former President.”

Responding to Senator Ashafa’s question on the allegations pertaining to his indictment over alleged corruption, Amaechi reiterated his earlier claim that the report did not indict him. Flaunting a copy of the report of the panel, he said he was ready to lay it on the table of the Senate for scrutiny as to his alleged indictment asserting that the indictment only flowed from the White Paper prepared by the PDP administration that succeeded him.

“There was nowhere I was indicted (in the judicial panel report). I came here with a copy of the so-called panel report, there is nowhere that panel indicted me, I am ready to tender this report before the Senate.

I was ready for the questions on it, and I brought the panel report so that the Senate can juxtapose it with the white paper.

Govs Forum checked presidential excesses

Asked to clear the confusion over his re-election as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, he said: “The Governors Forum started as a check to ex-

ecutive recklessness. The Senate President (Saraki) was the chairman with other governors who are here today as senators, including Senator Goje, “we checked the excesses, including the expenditure of the oil subsidy.

There is a case in court up till now stopping the federal government, stopping the government from drawing money from the account to fund oil subsidy because we believed that if we stop the Federal Government from drawing state and local governments’ money, federal government will not be able to bear the cost and will, therefore, remove oil subsidy which would reduce the level of corruption. Unfortunately, the case is yet to be heard.

“I think that the radical posture of the governors forum led to the former president asking me that I had turned the Governors’ Forum into a trade union.”

“I think the former president didn’t like it, and when my tenure expired as the chairman, I was requested not to run for a second term and I thought that as a Nigerian, I had the responsibility to exercise my right as a governor.

“So, I put myself forward for the election, and if you saw the forces against me, you would think that I would lose.

Let me quote my brother and friend, Senator Jang.

He said ‘but North East zone supported me, North West zone supported me, North Central zone supported me, and South-South supported me, how did you win?

You did not win, you did not win,’ and I said but I won, I have 19 votes and the rest, as they say, is history.

Following the screening, Amaechi was asked to bow and take his leave of the chamber allowing other nominees to appear for the screening.

Others who appeared yesterday were Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, (Bayelsa), Omoleye Daramola, (Ondo), Baba Shehuri Mustapha, (Borno) and Ocholi James, Kogi. Adewole Isaac Folorunso from Osun State who was earlier listed to be screened was left out.

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOMBER 23 , 2015

FG to represent PIB in 1st quarter of 2016 •As UK report takes a swipe on Buhari's slow pace

By Clara Nwachukwu & Ediri Ejoh with agency reports

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BUJA—THE Federal Government said it will represent the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, to the National Assembly in the first quarter of next year, as its delay deters investment in Africa’s largest crude producer.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who disclosed this also said that government plans to split the oilindustry bill, which has been stuck with the legislators since 2008, obviously succumbing to industry pressure that the scope of the current bill is too wide.

The disclosure comes as a recent UK report criticised the slow pace of decision making and policy formulation by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying it was frustrating fresh investments into Nigeria.

Breaking up the PIB, into smaller laws focused on fiscal and regulatory measures in Nigeria’s energy industry would make it easier to pass through parliament.

“Separating the PIB, breaking it up, obviously is the way I would think that we’ll proceed,” Osinbajo, 58, said in an interview on Tuesday in the Aso Rock Villa Presidential Residence in the capital, Abuja.

The proposed law has been held up largely by political wrangling and objections by international oil companies, which say the government is demanding too big an increase in its share of revenue.

The delays have caused uncertainty and are costing $15 billion a year in lost investments, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu, told the nation’s senate last week.

The Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Emerald Energy Resources, Dr. Jude Amaefule, had in June, said rather than delaying any further in view of the dire consequences on the economy, the PIB should be broken and passed into segments.

He suggested that since the contentious proposals make up only about 20 per cent of the entire bill, the bill can be segmented along the lines of fiscal management, host community benefits and general industry operations.

He said: “Let them pass the bill in segments since 80 per cent of the provisions are favourable.

Even the remaining 20 per cent were opposed because the people did not understand the provisions.”

He had also warned:t “The industry is high capital expenditure and we are losing

and falling levels of foreign direct investments, FDI. Nigeria depends on crude exports for about two-thirds of state revenue and more than 90 per cent of export earnings. A drop in crude prices in the past year has put pressure on public finances, while the naira has declined seven per cent against the dollar this year.

Retaining the refineries

RELIEF: Chief of Sum Pyem, Gindiri, Mangu LGA, Plateau State, Mr Charles Dakat (right), presenting relief materials to one of the victims of communal clash in Mangu, Mrs Hadijatu Ahmed in Jos, yesterday. With them are; representative of Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Plateau Command, Mr Lawrence Ndu (left), and Executive Secretary, Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Al-hassan Barde. Photo: NAN. money daily because no new investment is coming in and it will get worse if we don’t act fast.”

Delay in policy stalling investments

Similarly, a recent report by Global Risk Insight on the Business Insider UK, noted that the non-passage of the PIB and delay in policies by the Federal Government are major setbacks to attracting investments into the country.

It added that while President Muhammadu Buhari is implementing encouraging reforms in the oil sector at a time when the non-oil sectors are gaining ground, investor confidence may plummet further if the government continued to drag its feet.

The report said: “Pending the unveiling of a policy strategy by Buhari’s economic team, Nigeria’s ability to attract investment will continue to fall short of its potential.

“Tackling the prevalence of oil theft and insecurity in the Niger Delta, as well as the approval of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that has been stuck in parliament since 2009, will be crucial for the recovery of a sector that is proving to be a strain on the Nigerian economy.

“In the absence of an economic policy team, investors are becoming increasingly weary of Abuja’s ability to address downside risks.

“More than four months after his inauguration in late May 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari finally submitted his list of ministerial nominees on 30 September.

Currently undergoing a vetting process by the Senate, candidates are yet to be assigned their cabinet portfolios, but Buhari has already

appointed himself minister of the most lucrative, opaque, and corrupt ministry of all: petroleum resources.

“Granted Buhari’s good intentions to 'clean up' the administration before forming his own, the delays that this process has incurred have come at the cost of generating unsettling uncertainty for investors.

“For multinational oil corporations, MOCs, the precarious security environment and falling value of the Naira has caused many of them to halt future investments.

The report further said: “With prospects that the PIB will be revised and re-drafted, this will no doubt delay the implementation of a piece of legislation that seeks to establish a new legal framework and regulation mechanism for an industry that has been scarred by

commercial-scale theft, sabotage and corruption.

“In the absence of the PIB, MOCs will be reticent to bolster their investments while they continue to scale down their operations in an unsafe and uncertain environment.

“The recent NNPC announcement to renegotiate production-sharing contracts with MOCs is a reassuring initiative, but oil majors remain sceptical given the Nigerian government’s poor track record to commit to reforms in this sector.”

The report also noted that with the formation of the Nigerian government still underway, uncertainty over reforms in the oil industry and macroeconomic mismanagement are making investors increasingly weary amid significant capital outflows

While the government isn’t planning to sell its four refineries, which are running at a fraction of their capacity because of poor maintenance and aging equipment, Osinbajo said government wants to encourage private plants to cut Nigeria’s dependence on imports.

More than 30 licenses for refineries have been granted and private refineries will be allowed to build near the state-run units so they can “benefit from the available infrastructure,” he said.

Nigeria, which boasts of about 180 million people subsidizes fuel and relies on imports for more than 70 per cent of its supply. Of the four state-owned oil refineries, two units in the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt with a combined capacity of 210,000 barrels a day are currently producing at 67 per cent of capacity, while others in Warri and Kaduna have been shut.

“In the medium term we will be able to get cheaper pumpprice oil because we will be importing far less refined petroleum,” Osinbajo said.

Increased transparency

The NNPC has started publishing monthly accounts and is reviewing contracts with joint venture partners to improve transparency in the Corporation, which had the worst disclosure record of 44 energy companies analysed in a 2011 report by anticorruption nonprofit organisations, Transparency International, and the Revenue Watch Institute.

IMF urges Nigeria to devalue naira

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AGOS—THE IMF is pressing Nigeria to further devalue its currency amid uncertainty over the political and economic outlook for Africa’s biggest oil producer and economy a news agency has reported. The report quoted Antoinette Sayeh, the International Monetary Fund’s Africa Director who had alleged that restrictions placed on 41 items access to foreign exchange was “quite detrimental saying that in Nigerians they “are already making it harder for the average person to buy milk,” at the IMF annual meeting that ended in Peru two weeks ago.

But Mrs Antoinette Sayeh openly avoided Nigeria reporters who asked her to name one country in the world that export crude and import refined products. She was also not forth coming when asked

to name one country that would import anything that could be produced locally. Her assertion that it was becoming difficult for Nigerians to buy milk in the open market did not go down well with those who are familiar with the Nigerian situation at the Africa region press briefing.

She called for a review of the restrictions and for officials to “permit the exchange rate to continue to adjust.”

Nigeria’s Central Bank devalued the naira by 8 per cent in November and then fixed the official exchange rate at N198 to the dollar, though it sells at N222 at exchange bureaus. The Central Bank has defended the naira by restricting access to foreign currency for 41 items that could be produced locally.

The International Monetary

Fund IMF at the same annual meeting said that Exchange-rate devaluation which countries normally use during financial crisis could cause adverse effect on countries economy. In its World Economic Outlook released in Lima, Peru, it said: “Exchange-rate depreciation has generally been a useful buffer for countries experiencing growth slowdowns – and has already been substantial – but could cause adverse balance-sheet effects where there is foreign-currency borrowing”.

In his opening remark at the World Economic Outlook Press Conference Mr. Maurice Obstfeld IMF chief economist said “No single set of policy prescriptions is suitable for every country seeking to improve growth performance or build resilience."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—7

COLLAPSED LAGOS BUILDING: 82-year-old survivor

dies in hospital As Lagos govt seals 15 distressed buildings at Odunfa

By Monsur Olowoopejo, Lucky Nwanekwu & Ufuoma Tiveruahor

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AGOS—82-year-old Alhaja Misturat Amodu, one of the survivors of the three-storey building that collapsed at Odunfa, Lagos Island, early on Wednesday, died at about 5:00pm same day.

This came, as the emergency team intensified efforts to complete evacuation of rubble at the site.

When Vanguard visited the scene, the combined team of Police, Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA; National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA; federal and state fire service; Lagos State Building Control Agency, LSBCA, and Lagos Safety Commission were on ground to manage the situation.

The octogenarian died at the Lagos Island General Hospital a few hours after she was rescued from the collapsed building.

Efforts by doctors to save her life from the injury she sustained on her thigh and other parts of her body proved abortive as she reportedly died early yesterday.

Confirming her death, the daughter of the deceased, Alhaja Fatimah, and her husband, Alhaji Tajudeen Ishola, said the deceased died at about 5:00pm after regaining consciousness.

Tajudeen explained that the octogenarian regained consciousness, demanded for water and died some minutes later.

“She spoke with us around 4pm. She said she was thirsty and a doctor told us to go and buy lucozade boost which she drank. ‘’We were preparing to do the X-ray on her thigh when everything changed. She died at about 5pm. She was well taken care of at the hospital.

Mama hailed from Ilorin and she was 82 years old,” he said.

Daughter blames hospital

Daughter of the deceased, Fatimah Ishola, alleged that the late octogenarian would not have died had the hospital commenced treatment immediately she was rushed in.

She said: “They (medical officials) didn’t commence the treatment immediately Mama was rushed to the hospital by officials of Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS. ‘’It was when my husband arrived the hospital some hours

later that they commenced treatment.

“He (the husband) would have arrived early but he didn’t know the hospital she was transferred to. He located her hours later. It was when he arrived that the nurses gave him the list of drugs they will need for Mama’s treatment and collected some money. ‘’That was when they started the treatment. Some of the drugs were not administered on Mama. Over N20,000 was spent on drugs and none was administered on her.

“Mama wouldn’t have died if the medical officials had commenced the treatment earlier. Until her death, she was still talking. The LASAMBUS officials tried but the officials at

Lagos Island General Hospital didn’t.

We lost millions —Occupants

Many of the occupants lamented that the property loss was in millions, saying “ we couldn’t remove anything.”

Mrs. Fatimah Ishola, lamented that aside losing her mother, she also lost property worth millions of Naira.

“I have lost all I have. In fact, my friend gave me the cloth on me. My jewellery, international passports, several documents, including my daughters certificate.”

Another resident, Saidi Balogun, a dealer in clothes and wrist watches, also lamented that some miscreants cashed in on the

incident to steal at the scene, adding that he was able to recover a few of his belongings.

He said: “It is surprising that some people use a situation like this to steal. Out of the 40 wrist watches I kept at home, I was able to recover only six. The N480,000 I kept in my cupboard had also been stolen. I don’t even know where to head with my family members now.”

Lagos govt seals 15 distressed buildings at Odunfa

Worried by the state of the structures at Odunfa, Lagos State government has sealed 15 structures in the community.

The buildings were sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA and Lagos State

Safety Commission.

Mr. Fouad Oki, General Manager of Lagos State Safety Commission in an interview at the scene of the collapsed building, said the agency had so far sealed over 15 houses.

He said: “All we are saying is that we want to know the structural integrity of these buildings.

“If the material laboratory result shows that the buildings are okay, we will reopen the sealed buildings. If it states otherwise, we will direct the owners of the structures to pull them down and build a better house.

“We will do everything to ensure that residents live safe.

The action is not punitive but corrective.’’

Oki, however, warned the occupants of the sealed buildings not to break the deal.

“If they break the government seal, the law of the state will be applied. The test doesn’t take time before it is concluded,’’ he warned.

Police arrest woman for abandoning her 6-yearold baby in Bauchi

B The late Alhaja Misturat Amodu when she was rescued from the rubbles of the collapsed building at Odunfa Street, Lagos Island, Wednesday.

300 students hospitalised as cholera hits Ekiti college

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

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DO EKITI—PALPABLE fear has gripped the Federal Government Girls’ College, Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State, as no fewer than 300 students of the institution have been hospitalized due to outbreak of a disease suspected to be cholera.

The development has caused serious panic in the community and the surrounding towns as a large number of students are being moved in and out of the hospital in the hilly town where the school is located.

Also parents whose wards are in the school now rush to the school in droves to identify the victims.

Reliable sources told newsmen that signs of the disease became noticeable

sometime on October 10, when some students were vomiting and stooling uncontrollably, which sparked fear among staff and students.

The principal of the school, Mrs Grace Ogunyomi, was reported to have sent an ‘SOS’ message to the state government when the school could not manage the situation due to large number of students affected.

Though, it was confirmed that the students were not infected at the same time, they are, however, being taken to the hospital in batches for prompt medical attention.

But in a bid to stop the spread of the disease, Governor Ayodele Fayose has ordered the Commissioner for Health, Dr Olurotimi Ojo, to deploy professionals and drugs to help in preventing the disease from

festering.

The commissioner had also allayed the fears being exhibited by parents,saying it was a gastrointestinal infection, popularly called diarrhoea.

It was reliably confirmed that about 31 of the students are still being hospitalized at Efon General Hospital, while many had been treated and discharged, having responded to treatment on time.

It was gathered that what the teachers had earlier suspected was that their food and water must have been contaminated, leading to outbreak of the epidemic in the school.

But a teacher, who spoke with newsmen under anonymity, confirmed that medical examination of the samples of their water and food later confirmed that the infection did not emanate from those sources.

By Suzan Edeh

AU C H I — B AU C H I State police command has arrested a 30-year-old mother for allegedly abandoning her six days old baby at Gungura village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

According to a press release by the State Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed , the name of the suspect is Zainab Tukur from Kirfi Local Government Area of the state.

The statement said that on of October 19, 2015, at about 8.00 am, following intelligence report, police detectives attached to Soro Division discovered a six days old baby abandoned and covered with a wrapper inside a deep hole under a tree at Gungura Village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

He said the mother and child were taken to the General Hospital, Soro, for medical attention, adding that investigation was ongoing to ascertain the motive behind the act, after which she would be charged to court for prosecution.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

EFCC probes N600m immigration recruitment proceeds

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

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BUJA—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has intensified effort to trace and recover about N600 million said to have been realized from the proceeds of the online registration by job seekers, who enrolled for the ill-fated immigration recruitment last year.

Each of the candidates was made to part with N1,000 through a company allegedly engaged by top politicians and officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, which amounted to about N600 million, which, however, disappeared.

Neither the then Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, whose ministry supervised the agency, nor the then NIS boss, David Paraddang, who was initially suspended and eventually sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari for undisclosed reasons, had been able to give account of the said sum.

Among those who paid the money, were 15 Nigerians, who were crushed to death across rowdy stadia in the country, where the controversial job tests were to be carried out, but marred by stampede.

After the incident, the organizers of the recruitment exercise recorded N45 million in government coffers and closed the books.

AKINTOLA LECTURES:— From left— Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Chairman of the occasion, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; doyen of accountancy profession in Nigeria, Akintola Williams, and President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Olufemi Deru, at the 2015 edition of Akintola Williams Distinguished Lecture Series on Leadership Factor and Good Corporate Governance, Key to National Growth and Development, in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Boko Haram: 5 Abuja bombers docked, remanded in prison

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—Five alleged masterminds of the bomb blasts that rocked the Kuje and Nyanya axis of Abuja on October 2, 2015, were yesterday, arraigned before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

The accused persons who were docked on a five-count terrorism charge yesterday were Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru and Abdullahi Nasiru.

After they took turns and entered their plea to the charge which was preferred

against them by the federal government, trial Justice Abdul Kafarati ordered that they should be remanded in Kuje Prison.

Meanwhile, one of the accused persons, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, yesterday, pleaded guilty to count four of the charge, which indicated that it was in his house that items the alleged insurgents used in manufacturing the Improvised Explosive Device, IED, that was used for the bombings, were stored.

The FG Identified the items that were concealed in the accused person’s apartment

at Unguwar Ebira, Karmajiji Area, behind Military Commentary, off Airport Road, Abuja, as- 27 pieces of detonators, aluminum powder, Hexomine, Hydrogene Peroxide, Sulphur powder, Sodium Azide plus nitrate, Iron 11 Oxide, soldering wire; sugar and PH litimus paper.

Other IED materials that were stored by the 4th accused person also included Sodium carbonate, thermometer, chlorate, Filter paper, strings, Potacium Chlorate, 12 ready-made IED and a full bag of fertilizer.

91 firms bid for NNPC’s products transport contract

By Michael Eboh

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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, stated that 91 companies, consisting mainly of indigenous vessel owners, are vying to secure the contract for the provision of coastal and bunkering vessel services for the operations of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, a subsidiary of NNPC. The NNPC, in a statement after the public harvesting of technical bids submitted by the companies, stated that the ongoing bid exercise seeks to engage the services of reputable organizations with essentially three ranges of Deadweight Tonnage, DWT, 5, 000-8, 000 DWT, 10, 000- 20, 000 DWT and 25, 000-50, 000 DWT.

Scope

Under the scope of work,

according to NNPC, the coastal vessel is expected to provide the following services: evacuate petroleum products from NNPC coastal refineries to various discharge ports in Nigeria or outside Nigeria as may be designated by PPMC, delivery of petroleum products to water fed depots with restricted draft jetties of 6.0 to 11 metres as well as conduct ship-to-ship transfer of cargo from import tankers and discharge same at waters depots, among other functions.

NNPC stated: “The desired bunkering vessel services entails loading of Automated Gas Oil, AGO, and Low Pour Fuel Oil, LPFO, from water-fed refineries for bunkering purposes, supply bunkers to NNPC-owned and chartered vessels as required on a monthly basis, keeping accurate accounts for AGO and

LPFO loaded and supplied to NNPC vessels, forwarding records of the bunkering activities to Marine Transport department of PPMC on a monthly basis among other activities.”

Bid process

The exercise, conducted at the corporate headquarters of NNPC in Abuja in the full glare of representatives of the bidding companies, also had officials of Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, and Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, as independent assessors.

Declaring the exercise open, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, expressed delight in the massive turn out of indigenous Nigerian companies and vessel owners in the bid

process.

He said: “I am happy that there is much show of interest in this process. The process is going to be transparent from the beginning to the end and we want the best yield in terms of value addition, best services and, obviously, we are going to grow the Nigerian content.

“I am hoping that you are going to be part of the journey that we are taking NNPC through.”

Kachikwu pledged to sustain the ongoing reform process in the corporation, which had witnessed the monthly publication of NNPC financial and operational transactions for public scrutiny and the recent public harvesting of bids tendered for the new offshore processing contracts, among other initiatives.

Though Nasiru pleaded guilty to the charge, he however insisted that he was not the owner of the items, saying he never knew that they were going to be used for an act of terrorism.

He told the court that it was his friend that brought the items to his house.

“Walahi no be get am, na my friend get am,” he told the court.

All the accused persons who were said to hail from Kogi state, are within the age brackets of 20 and 30 years.

Before the charges were read to them yesterday, two of the accused persons told the court that they could only understand ‘pidgin English’.

Meanwhile, attached to the charge dated October 21 and signed by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, were the proof of evidence, brief summary of the case, list of witnesses, list of exhibits to be tendered in court and affidavit of completion of investigation by the Police.

Counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Nureni Sulyman did not oppose application for their remand in Prison custody, even as the court yesterday fixed November 17 and 24 to commence their trial.

Some of the charges against the accused persons read: “That you Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu and Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, Abdullahi Nasiru and others [now at large] on or about the 2nd October, 2015 at Kuje town and Jikoyi park, Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court conspired amongst yourselves to carry out a bomb attack by the use of Improvised Explosives Devices being an act punishable under section 17 of Terrorism [prevention] [Amendment] Act, 2013.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—9

EFCC tenders evidence against Lamido, 2 sons

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—DETERMINED to establish the money laundering charge it slammed against Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, tendered before the Federal High Court in Abuja, details of bank accounts it said were used by the accused persons to siphon public funds.

Though Lamido and his sons were initially docked in Kano on July 9 alongside their alleged accomplice, Wada Abubakar, on a 28-count charge, they were subsequently re-arraigned by the anti-graft agency in Abuja on September 22.

They are now answering to an

amended 27-count criminal charge bordering on corruption, money laundering, breach of trust and illegal diversion of public funds to the tune of N1.35 billion.

Lamido was alleged to have abused his position as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015, by awarding contracts to companies where he had interest, using his two sons as front.

He was equally alleged to have collected kickbacks from contractors in the state, with the funds allegedly paid into accounts that were managed by his sons.

Four companies that were allegedly involved in the fraud (Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria

Limited, Bamaina Aluminum Limited and Speeds International Limited), were also joined in the charge.

EFCC’s witnesses, adjourment

Meanwhile, opening its case against them on Wednesday, EFCC, called four witnesses who are all bank officials, to tender exhibits before the high court.

The witnesses, who testified as PW-1 to PW-4, respectively, were a relationship Manager with United Bank of Africa, Mr. Longji Tupkop, regional manager of Unity Bank Plc, Kano North, Mr. Kabir Mashi, Mustapha Baba and Onyiche Agbaghara of Unity Bank Plc and Keystone Bank.

All the documents were

admitted in evidence by the court, even as the matter was adjourned till November 24 and 25 for further hearing.

It will be recalled that Lamido was granted bail by the high court on selfrecognition after he had spent five days in prison with his sons.

His sons were, however, released on bail after they deposited N25 million each.

All the accused persons were also directed to surrender their passports and other travelling documents to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the High Court.

Aside Lamido, all the other accused were asked to produce two persons to stand surety for them in the like sum they were granted bail.

PRESENTATION: From left— Representative of Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal U. A. Omeiza; Director General, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele; representative of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, and Director General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, IPCR, Professor Oshita Oshita, at the presentation of NOA National Mobilizer magazine in Abuja, yesterday.

800,000 commit suicide from depression annually—DON

By Oboh Agbonkhese

A

professor of psychiatry, Joseph Adeyemi, has said that no fewer than 800,000 people commit suicide yearly due to depression, yet policies on mental challenges remain archaic.

Professor Adeyemi, who spoke in Lagos at the presentation of the book Shadows in the Mirror: the Many Faces of Depression, written by Dr. Vivian Ikem, said the Mental Health Act, enacted in the 1900s, was last reviewed in 1959 despite medical improvements made over the years.

He said: “Our laws should keep up with current situations, but we have remained static; the way we were in 1959.”

Adeyemi described the book as “spectacular,” praising the

12% of 400m world sufferers ‘re Nigerians author for “coming to help” those in the field of psychiatry.

According to him, it was difficult to get depression patients to accept the fact of their illnesses.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, represented by General Manager, Lagos Television, Deji Balogun, said the issue of mental health had not received the attention it deserved.

He said that the symptoms of depression could easily be observed, yet people turn a blind eye to the plight of victims, with attendant costs on the economy.

“This publication by Dr Vivian Ikem is a timely wake-

up call to government and everybody in the society that a smile, a word of encouragement and understanding would go a long way in curtailing the destructive effect of depression in our society,” Ambode said.

All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, described the author as a woman of “excellent intellect” and “unmatchable lucidity.”

Represented by Mr. Sunday Dare, Tinubu said depression was a global problem, with 400 million people suffering from it, 12 percent (48 million) of which are Nigerians.

Calling the publication “a terrific book,” Tinubu said he

had a dream that someday, the author would be celebrated across the country.

The former Lagos State Governor said for the author, a Ph.D holder in Chemical Engineering, to write so convincingly about a field of medicine shows her “intellectual discipline, curiosity and intellectual responsibility.”

The author, in her remarks, said having suffered from depression, she felt she needed to help others.

“I am happy that life gave me lemons, but I am able to make lemonade out of it,” she said.

Fleeing terrorists kill 20 occupants of 4 vehicles in Maiduguri

B

ORNO—TWENTY people were shot dead by suspected Boko Haram gunmen, Wednesday, on a road outside a village in Borno State, local sources said.

A large group of Boko Haram gunmen fleeing a military offensive on their camp in Nganzai district opened fire on four cars just outside Jingalta village, 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Maiduguri, killing all 20 passengers inside, a vigilante and a villager said.

“We received information of an attack

by Boko Haram gunmen on four cars near Jingalta village, where they shot dead all 20 occupants of the vehicles before setting the cars ablaze,” Babakura Kolo, a member of a local vigilante group assisting the military in fighting the Islamist sect in Maiduguri, said.

“The gunmen were fleeing a military operation against one of their enclaves in the area around 9:30a.m., when they came across the vehicles on the highway and opened fire on them,” Kolo said.

The gunmen, who were driving pick-up trucks and motorcycles, then looted and burnt the entire village, whose residents had already fled following the attack, he added.

Jibir Hassan, a commercial bus driver who arrived at the scene after the gunmen had fled, confirmed the death toll.

He said: “When we arrived at Jingalta village, we found it smouldering, with everything completely burnt and just outside the village we saw bodies sprawled by the roadside, 20 of them in all.

“Near the bodies were charred remains of four cars, still smouldering,” said Hassan, who was travelling to the state capital, Maiduguri, from Monguno town, 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Jingalta.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

No more extension on BVN— CBN

Justice Olateru-Olagbegi heads inquest into killing of LFTZ boss

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN—AS the deadline for registration of bank verification number expires in six days, the Central Bank of Nigeria has said there will be no room for extension this time around.

As a result, the apex bank has made a fresh call on customers in the country to ensure they use the remaining days to register. When the initial extension of the deadline lapsed at the end of July, hundreds of thousands customers thronged various banks to get registered but it was later extended by another three months.

Speaking through its Deputy Director, Consumer Protection Department, Hajia Khadija Kasim, at a one-day CBN sensitisation fair at an event centre in Ibadan, yesterday, the apex bank said, “The initial deadline was June 30 before we extended it to end of October.”

Over N10bn worth of air tickets sold in 1st half of 2015 —Capt Usman

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

O

VER 10 Billion Naira worth of tickets was sold by the various airlines operating in Nigeria between January and July this year. The amount comprised 8,176,919,415.10 naira sold by international operators while 2,352,011,595.17 was generated from ticket sold on domestic flights.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman while presenting his key note address on the state of aviation in Nigeria during the 21st annual seminar of League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC).

According to him, a total of 6,061,740 passengers were airlifted from January – July 2015 by the domestic operators while their foreign counterpart freighted 2,341,748 in the same period.

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, inaugurated a fiveman Tribunal of Enquiry to investigate the civil unrest in Ibeju-Lekki area of the state on October 12, which led to the gruesome murder of the Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Limited, Alhaji Tajudeen Disu.

The Tribunal has retired Lagos State High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi as Chairman.

Disu was reportedly killed while resolving a land dispute between members of Okunraye Community and some private companies embarking on various projects within the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ. The Governor, while inaugurating the Tribunal, said as a responsive and responsible government, it had become necessary for his administration to set up a Tribunal to investigate the remote cause of the unrest with a view to forestalling future re-occurrence.

He said the unrest, if not properly managed and addressed, could lead to total breakdown of law and order, adding that the government was desirous of protecting the lives and property of the citizens.

Earlier, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said in exercise of the powers conferred on the Governor by Section 1 of the Tribunal of Inquiry Law, Laws of Lagos State, 2003, and considering the recent civil disturbances at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, it has become necessary to constitute a panel of enquiry to investigate the unrest.

The terms of reference of the Tribunal, according to Kazeem, include the following; “to find the remote causes of the disturbance; to inquire into all incidental matters that might have led to the event; to collect memoranda from individual stakeholders from various communities and all interested members of the public on the issue; to invite members of the public, stakeholders and all interested members of the public to give evidence leading to the disturbance; to proffer solutions to forestall the re-occurrence of such event in future; and finally, to make necessary recommendations to the government based on the findings of the Tribunal.”

Kazeem also disclosed that the Tribunal has 45 days to submit its report, and that further days might be added subject to the approval of the Governor.

The Tribunal, which is made up of distinguished Nigerians, has retired Lagos State High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi as Chairman, while members are Otunba Tunde Seriki, senior legal practitioner; Otunba Yemi Lawal, property developer; Surv. Fuad Kassim, former Surveyor General of the Federation; and Hon. (Mrs) Rafeequat Onabamiro, former member of House of Representatives representing Badagry.

A Chief State Counsel in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Adebayo Haroun is to serve as the Secretary of the Tribunal.

Responding on behalf of members of the Tribunal, Justice Olateru-Olagbegi thanked Governor Ambode for the opportunity given to

members of the Tribunal to serve the state.

He assured that the members would work diligently and conscientiously to justify the confidence reposed in them.

While congratulating the Governor for his victory at the Supreme Court which affirmed his election, Justice Olateru-Olagbegi said based on the antecedents of the Governor, he was sure that the state was in the best hands.

6 firms sealed over tax evasion

Meanwhile, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, also yesterday, sealed up six companies for non remittance of taxes due to the state government totalling over N50million.

The defaulting companies (Nicon Town Management Company with a tax liability of N36,053,652.89, Marketing Mix and Company Limited with a

liability of N10,712,914.15, Hope Valley International Clinic with a liability of 2,389,885.28, BEC Consultants Nigeria Limited with a tax liability of N792,563.47, Goldmine Global Services Limited owing N505,812.73 and Brown Brommel Limited with a liability of N368,159.63) owed the Lagos State Government money for periods ranging from one to five years (2007 to 2012).

A statement signed by the Executive Chairman of LIRS, Mr Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, said the companies were sealed pursuant to the provisions of Section 104 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 LFN (as amended in 2011) and will not be re-opened for business until all unremitted taxes are paid to the State Government.

He also warned defaulting companies, especially employers of labour, that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had zero tolerance for tax evasion and that LIRS was set to begin criminal prosecution of all tax defaulters to ensure that culprits are made to face the full wrath of the law.

OLOKUN: From left— Agoloto of Badagry, High Chief Owheton Ahungbe, representing Ankra of Badagry; Chief Promoter, Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams; DG, NTDC, Dr. Sally Mbanefo; Dean, Faculty of Art, UNILAG, and guest speaker, Professor Muyiwa Falaye, and HRM Oba Yisa Olanipekun, Zaki of Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, at the grand finale of Olokun Festival 2015 at Suntan Beach, Badagry..

Metropolitan College: Lagos Assembly probes handover delay

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS State House of Assembly yesterday said it would investigate the reasons for the continued delay in handing over of Mrs. Roseline Ololo’s withheld schools.

The schools are Metropolitan College and Isolo Secondary School. They were among the missionary and private schools taken over by the military administration in 1976.

The Speaker of the House,

Mr. Mudashiru Obasa disclosed this after the nonagenarian protested to the house over the continued withholding of her schools.

Obasa who was represented by Mr. Mojeed Alimi, representing IbejuLekki constituency 1, said that the house will ensure that the issue is addressed urgently.

Earlier, the counsel to the nonagenarian, Mr. Malcom Omirhobo lamented that the continued withholding of the

schools by the government was violating his client’s right to own property.

He urged the House to investigate the circumstances surrounding the refusal of government to return the schools after it had confirmed that the schools truly belonged to her, and after government had promised to return the schools on gradual disengagement.

He noted that in order not to release the schools, the government was demanding for unimaginable documents.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 , 2015—11

I served as minister without pay —Falae A

By Dayo Johnson

in reducing the menace of kidnapping in our society.

In his response, Falae thanked Shekarau for his visit and the brotherly gesture he extended to him through his visit despite the tight schedule.

He said when he was Finance Minister, he was never on salary, but he served in the interest of and for the progress of the nation.

Falae, however, lamented that

KURE—THE former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Minister of Finance, Chief Olu Falae, on Wednesday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said he served as a minister without collecting any salary.

He said this when former Governor of Kano State and immediate-past Minister of Education, Mallam lbrahim Shekarau, paid him a visit in his residence in Akure over his recent abduction by some gun men, known to be Fulani herdsmen in his farm.

Shekarau, who arrived Falae’s residence at exactly 4: 40 pm, thanked God for bringing him home safely, adding that it would have been dangerous to the unity of Nigeria, if something untoward had happened to him.

“Chief has served this country meritoriously; he did not deserve such treatment in whatever manner, he is a man that should always be celebrated,” he said.

Shekarau also spoke on the need to encourage community policing, saying this would help

he had been paying the price of being a nationalist since he joined politics.

He said that he survived the abduction through the grace of God as the abductors attempted to kill him.

According to him, “ God has a way of doing His things, I know God just decided to spare my life, God really saved my life, they tortured me, stripped me naked

and did a lot of things to me in their den, they even attempted to kill me but they did not succeed.

“I also thank God for making me to survive the ordeal because if they had killed me there, many lives wouldhavebeenlosttoo,itwouldhave become an ethnic war between the Yoruba and the Fulani. So I thank God that the matter did not get to that level.”

APC slams Fayose over attack on Judges A

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

DO-EKITI—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has expressed outrage over the attack on Nigerian judges by Governor Ayodele Fayose, saying the attack represented “a paradoxical assault by a man who holds the judiciary in contempt even though he is also the greatest beneficiary of the same purportedly corrupt judiciary in his political career.”

Fayose had early in the week

accused Nigerian judges of corruption, saying some of them were in the habit of begging to be appointed as election tribunals’ chairmen in order to extort money from politicians.

The governor spoke at the opening of the Nigeria Legal Year organised by the Ekiti State Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in Ado-Ekiti.

The party also expressed support for raising a Board of Inquiry, BOI, by the Nigerian Army to investigate the roles of its men during the June 21, 2014 elections which saw Fayose’s emergence as Ekiti State governor.

He said the initiative would reveal the travesty of justice championed by the Nigerian Army in cahoots with the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, leaders to commit treason in the illegal change of political leadership in Ekiti State.

The Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in statement in Ado-Ekiti that it was an irony that Fayose, “Who is a beneficiary of lawless and antidemocratic conduct and a principal participant in the ignoble plot to spit on the Nigerian Constitution.

Amosun sends 5 additional commissioner-nominees to Assembly

A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—OGUN S t a t e Governor,Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday sent five additional nominees to the State House of Assembly for confirmation as commissioners.

The governor ’s letter which contained the names of the nominees was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Mr Suraj Adekunbi on Thursday.

The nominees include Messers Adedayo Adeneye, Babajide Odubanjo, Adewale Osinowo, Mrs Adenrele

Adesina and Mrs Modupe Njota.

Adekunbi said the approval would enable the governor to appoint commissioners, who would help him in administering the state.

The speaker also said that a seven-man committee led by the

Deputy Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo had been inaugurated by the House to screen the new commissioner nominees on Friday.

Each of the nominees is expected to come to the House of Assembly with 30 copies of their resume and original certificates tomorrow for screening. The Assembly

had on October 8, screened and confirmed 18 commissioner-nominees sent by the governor.

Those confirmed as commissioners include Jide Ojuko, Sunday Bamiwola, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, Bolaji Oyeleye, Leke Adewolu, Afolabi Afuwape, Gbenga Ademosun, Kolawole Lawal, Segun Abiodun and

Olumide Ayeni.

Others are Bimbo Ashiru, Rotimi Durojaiye, Adebola Adeife , Adenike Osoba, Ronke Sokefun, Muyiwa Oladipo, Olamilekan Adegbite Andrew and Amusan.

About six of the commissioners, who worked with the governor in his first tenure, also made the list.

Armed policemen disrupt keke, okada riders workshop

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—THERE was a mild drama yesterday in Abeokuta when heavily armed policemen in Ogun State

disrupted an enlightenment workshop organised for commercial tricycle and motorcycle riders across the state on safety throughout this year’s ember months.

The workshop was organized by the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, NACTOMORAS, with the theme, “Road Accident

Prevention/Control and Drug Abuse.”

But as the event was about to commence, armed plainclothes policemen invaded the Adebisi Omoyinmi Hall venue of the workshop located along Ayetoro Road, Abeokuta and ordered the over 2,000 guests and participants already seated to immediately vacate the hall.

The Ogun State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Adegoke Adetunji and his other officers; the representatives of the state-owned Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, TRACE, the National Association of Seadogs, popular known as the Pyrates’ Confraternity, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and other agencies who were already seated on the high table, had to hurriedly leave the hall.

According to the programme of events for the workshop, the FRSC, NDLEA and others had been listed to deliver lectures on “Road Accident Prevention,” “Effects of Drug Abuse” and “Safety,” respectively to the okada riders at the workshop.

Ogun shuts illegal mortuary, evacuates corpses

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—OGUN State Government has sealed off an illegal morgue facility at No 6 Church Street, Orudu Road, Gbogbolowo Bus Stop, in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, alleging that its activities posed health hazard to the community and its environs.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Daisi Odeniyi, while sealing off the Morgue alongside security operatives said the step was to deter other members of the public engaging in such act to desist from such illegality and follow due process.

Dr. Odeniyi said the due process was for Private Hospitals, Maternity Homes, Laboratory Centres and other health facilities to register with the Ministry of Health.

He said three corpses were evacuated from the morgue, addingthatthestructurehousing the corpses did not have building planapprovalandwouldbeserved demolition notice by the relevant Government Agency.

Ekiti varsity gets new VC

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

DO-EKITI— PROFESSOR Samuel Oye Bandele has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the state owned University by Ekiti state Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

A press statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, said the governor acted on the recommendations of the Governing Council of the university which said that Professor Bandele came first out of the three candidates who were interviewed for the job.

The appointment of the new VC takes effect from December 2, 2015 as the tenure of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oladipo Aina expires on December 1, 2015.

While congratulating the new vice chancellor for coming first in the interview and for being appointed for the job, Governor Fayose urged him to improve on the good work of the outgoing VC and take the university to a lofty height.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

RIVERS GOV POLL: Tribunal reserves judgment on petition against Wike

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—RIVERS State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, yesterday, reserved judgement on the petition seeking to nullify the election of Governor Nyesom Wike.

The petition was lodged before the tribunal by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate in the April 11 governorship election in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

The Justice Suleiman Ambrosaled panel okayed the matter for judgment after all the parties, yesterday, adopted their final written addresses.

Whereas the petitioners, through their counsel, Chief Akinolu Olujimi, SAN, urged the tribunal to sack Governor Wike and order the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct fresh governorship poll in Rivers State, all the respondents, sought the dismissal of the petition for want of merit.

Cited as 1st to 3rd Respondents in the matter were INEC, Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. While adopting their final written argument dated October 19, counsel to the petitioners, Olujimi, SAN, urged the tribunal to hold that “no governorship election known to any law in Nigeria, took place in Rivers State on April 11, 2015. My lords, the central issue in this petition is about the pleadings of the parties.

It is the nature of the pleading that defines the issue in dispute between the parties. It is the case of the petitioners that there was no election conducted in Rivers State known to the law. The 2nd Respondent (Wike) has the burden to justify the over 1 million votes that were allotted to him by INEC. What we are simply asking for is the nullification of the election.”

On his part, Wike, through his lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, relied on the provision of section 85(1) of the Electoral Act to insist that Dr. Peterside was not validly nominated by the APC to contest the governorship election.

Wike contended that instead of the 21 days provided by the Electoral Act, APC, only gave INEC 16 days notice before it conducted the primary election that produced Peterside as its governorship flag-bearer in the state.

“My lords, this goes to the issue of qualification. The Appeal Court had in its decision in Labour Party vs. Wike, held that the 21 days notice is mandatory. There is, therefore, no locus standi in the petitioner before this court.”

On the issue of whether or not Wike secured the lawfully cast votes to warrant his declaration as winner of the April 11

governorship poll in the state, Ukala relied on the decided case-law in Buhari vs Obasanjo and contended that the petitioners failed to effectively discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law.

“What they were expected to do was to call all officers who conducted the election, as well as tender all the electoral forms that were used. So far, aside calling only 56 witnesses, the petitioners only tendered 3,157 copies of the Forms EC8A, whereas from their own calculation, there were supposed to have tendered 5,792 copies. It is, therefore, our position that the petitioners did not meet the standard of proof set by the law,” Ukala added.

Besides, Wike also relied on

the case of Ngige vs INEC, 2015, 1-NWLR, part 1440, and argued that the burden of establishing that the election was conducted in substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, rested on the petitioners.

Similarly, INEC, through its lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition and affirm the governorship election result it declared in Rivers State.

INEC relied on the case of Gundirin vs Nyako, and argued that APC and Peterside ought to have proved that the election was flawed, by calling witnesses from each of the polling units in the state.

“We pray this tribunal to dismiss the evidence of the

PW-40. Assuming that the issue of irregularity was brought to the attention of the INEC and it looked into it and took the decision to declare the result, it means that INEC did not accept the opinion expressed by the PW-40. It also means that INEC rejected those reports, it can therefore never amount to admission against the election,” INEC lawyer submitted.

Earlier, lead counsel to the PDP, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, also prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition and uphold governor Wike’s election.

After listening to all the parties the tribunal reserved its judgement on the matter.

COMMISSIONING: From left: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. John Chukwu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Dauda Kigbu; representative of the President, the SGF, Mr. Babacha David; Managing Director, S.C.C. Nigeria Limited, Engr. Yuval Levy and the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, during the commissioning of the ultra-mordern Steel Pipe Manufacturing Mill and inaugural rolling out ceremony of completed NNPC Gas Pipelines, at the SCC Pipe Factory, Ushafa, Abuja.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Bayelsa Independent Electoral Commission releases final timetable for LG poll

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State Independent Electoral Commission, yesterday, released the final timetable for the local government elections in the state for 2015.

Chairman of the commission, Chief Blessing Izagara, unveiled the new timetable during a stakeholders’ forum in Yenagoa.

The timetable contains the schedule of electoral activities for local government elections which span October 2015 through February 2016.

Izagara said the new timetable was the authentic one as the previous one published in some sections of

the media did not pass through the necessary approval of the commission.

He said the new timetable had been vetted and approved by the commission.

Izagara also stated that the timetable had taken into consideration the litigations that might occur after the elections as well as the handover date of the current government.

His words: “We called this meeting to carry everybody along on the issue of change in date of elections earlier published. It is important that we take cognisance of election litigations before the handover and that is what we have done.”

Izagara, who promised free, fair and better elections, explained February 10 to April 17, 2016 was sufficient period to conclude election litigations.

He, however, advised all political parties to ensure that their agents were well behaved during the elections.

He added: “While government has promised to provide security and an enabling environment to guarantee credible election, the political parties should prepare their agents well for the elections, because some agents involved in anti-party activities including selling out the party they claim to represent.”

Oshiomhole assures on religious harmony in Edo

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said his government will continue to promote religious harmony as a way of ensuring peaceful co-existence in all parts of the state.

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the Chairman of the state Musaabaqah organization, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, Otaru of Auchi, and other members of the committee, the governor said no faith promoted hatred and violence, maintaining that Islam was synonymous with peace.

He said: “I believe that in trying to understand the suspicion between Muslims and Christians from time to time, the misrepresentation of what the two religions represent can only be removed by educating our people about the true meaning of Islam and the true meaning of Christianity.

So, I believe that looking at the long term challenge of building inter-religious harmony in Nigeria, the Koranic Recitation Competition is something that should be supported and promoted. It encourages more people to get familiar with the doctrines of Islam, the injunctions in the Holy Koran and all the other revelations by Prophet Mohammed, I believe that a lot of the misconceptions will be addressed.

“I was in the US a year ago and I visited a Catholic school and the Principal told me, at the heart of peace study, that he takes time to study the Koran and the Bible and as a priest, he is very much at home with the Bible. But he said that many people, including Americans and Europeans have too little knowledge about Islam. According to him, if they truly understand what Islam represents, their views will change and the only way to promote understanding and deepen the knowledge of people about Islam is to include it in our school curriculum because you cannot talk about something you do not know about.

"So I believe that in Nigeria, it is something that has to be properly articulated and maybe taken over at some other level because the reality today is that we have two main religions in Nigeria. We have Islam and we have Christianity."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—13

From left: Mrs. Rita Amuka and Mr & Mrs Kelly Arawore, at the occasion.

Photos: Biodun Ogunleye .

BIRTHDAY: Mrs. Mabel Akpieyi and husband, Mr Joseph Akpieyi, cutting the birthday cake at her 75th birthday anniversary in Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday.

Maritime workers shut ports over 9 months unpaid wages

By Victor AhiumaYoung & Godwin Oritse

M

ARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, yesterday, shut the nation’s ports over alleged nine months unpaid wages to over 3,000 Tally Clerks and Onboard security men, members of the dockworkers, among others. They vowed not to resume work until the workers were paid and other pending issues addressed amicably.

This development has put the nation's ailing economy in jeopardy as the nation stands to lose N5 billions daily. The action, if allowed to linger, will result in demurrage, delayed delivery of raw materials from the ports and ports congestion, among others.

According to the union their other major grievance is the alleged midstream discharge of vessels in Bonny Rivers, Lagos and other port formations without using registered dockworkers as required by law.

MWUN, had on October 12, issued a 7-day ultimatum to the management of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, to stop all midstream discharge of vessels in Bonny Rivers, Lagos and other port formations without using registered dockworkers as required by law, failing which the nation’s ports would be shut.

Reacting to the strike, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs Department, NPA, Captain Ihenacho Ebubeogu, told Vanguard that some of the

agency’s management staff were at the moment in Abuja to get funds from the Treasury Single Account, TSA, domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to settle the wages.

Ebubeogu explained that NPA’s management had also spoken with the leadership of the MWUN seeking its understanding in this matter, saying, “The Executive Director, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Finance, are at the moment in Abuja to sort out the payment from the Treasury Single Account for the tally clerks .”

Explaining reasons for the union’s action, President-General of MWUN, Mr. Tony Emmanuel Nted, lamented that the issue of unpaid wages to dockworkers especially tally clerks and on board security gangway men, had dragged for too long despite several agreements.

Nted recalled that the last agreement reached with stakeholders including NPA, and Association of Stevedoring Companies, ASC, was on July 9, 2015, at a meeting called by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, which

resolved that the workers should be paid before July 30, saying that the deadline had since expired without any payment being made to the affected workers.

On the midstream discharge without using registered Dockworkers, Nted said: “This is illegal and against the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Act which stipulates that stevedoring services in our ports, jetties terminal- on and offshore operations must be handled exclusively by registered dockworkers only. This has been going on for a long time and we have brought the attention of NPA management to it to no avail. We believe that some officials of NPA are conniving with some operators to breach the law for personal gains.

Since then, two vessels berthed in Bonny and Lodol and refused to involve registered stevedoring and dockworkers in the stevedoring services.

“The vessels are MV Hwak, which berthed at Bony Midstream, Rivers State, with both Deep Sea and Gac, as shipping agents. Also, at Ladol,

Lagos, MV Panagia V, with Hullblyte as agent berthed since our ultimatum to NPA. In connivance with some NPA officials, the operators are using foreigners to load and offload the vessels. The implications are that all dues accruing to government are not paid.

Again, it means more dockworkers would be thrown out of jobs to compound the unemployment crisis in the country. We want to stress that until these issues are resolved, including the nine months unpaid wages, we will not call off the strike. This practice cannot continue in our ports in the midst of massive unemployment in the country.”

He claimed that since the July 9 agreement, several interventions had been made by Ministries of Labour, Transports and even the leadership of the union to NPA to pay the workers to no avail.

According to him, in July, “After an exhaustive deliberation on the demand for immediate payment of wage arrears to Tally Clerks and on board security gangway men and stoppage of use of cargo

surveyors in the nation’s seaports by MWUN, it was resolved that the Tally Clerks and On-Board security gangway men should be paid arrears of their salaries and wages, that the Federal Ministry of Transport should on or before July 13, 2015 direct in writing, in furtherance of the letter Reference No. T.160/S160/T.214 dated June 4, 2015; the Nigeria Ports Authority to pay the

arrears of salaries due the Tally Clerks and On-Board Security Gangway Men and that NPA, on receiving the letter should meet with the stevedores and the MWUN to work out modalities for the commencement of the payment before July 30, 2015. Until all these are addressed, the ports will remain shut."

14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 — 15

Dogara releases list of committee heads APC chairs 48, PDP 45 6 lawmakers retained as c’ttee heads



By Anayo Okoli

A

BUJA—THE Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday, announced the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 96 House Committees, but the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs was yet to get its chairman.

In the composition of the new committee heads, the Speaker’s key men clinched headship of juicy committees such as Appropriation which is chaired by Abdulmunin Jibrin, Rima Shawulu Kwewum heads Army, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Aviation, Zakari Mohammed, Basic Education, Chike Okafor, Healthcare Services and Aminu Shehu Shagari, Federal Judiciary.

Also not left out were the core supporters of the House Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila as they were also compensated with juicy committees such as Customs headed by James Faleke, and Rufa’i Chachangi as the Vice Chairman of the committee, Sani Zoro heads the newly created Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and Garba Muhammed as the committee chairman on Solid Minerals.

PRAYER: From left, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, ministerial nominee, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, and representative of Mr. President and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet office, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, singing during 6th National Prayer Breakfast, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan There was also a balance between the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the ruling party APC, heads 48 committees, PDP 45, while All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and the Social Democratic Party, SDP got one chairmanship slot each.

In the composition, the South

heads 46 committees while the North heads 50.

The House also compensated the South East APC members, who were completely sidelined in the composition of the principal officers in line with the spirit of federal character as the two members Chike Okafor and Austin Chukwukere were made chairman Healthcare Services and Vice Chairman, Finance

No empirical basis to raise electricity tariffs —NAEE …Says $30bn investments needed to guarantee energy access

By Michael Eboh

T

HE NIGERIAN Association for Energy Economics, NAEE, yesterday, condemned attempts by the electricity distribution companies, DISCOs and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to increase electricity tariffs, declaring that there is no valid and empirical basis for any sort of increase.

The Federal Government, through the NERC, had a few days ago given hints that Nigerians would be made to pay more for electricity, as it has concluded arrangements to undertake an upward review of the country’s electricity tariffs before the end of this month.

Speaking at a forum to mark World Energy Day in Abuja, President of NAEE, Professor Wunmi Iledare, disclosed that the electricity distribution companies should instead focus on metering all electricity consumers and investing in facilities that would help them capture and determine the actual number of consumers.

Iledare, who was represented by Professor Adeola Adenikinju, the immediate past President of NAEE, maintained that apart from determining the actual number of electricity consumers, such investment should be geared towards establishing the true cost and revenue derivable from electricity distributed.

Iledare further stated that a minimum of $30 billion, about N6

trillion "is required in the next few months to promote energy access across the length and breadth of Nigeria and also grow the country’s power generating and supply capacity to a minimum of 30,000 megawatts."

He stated that promoting energy access would help the country save trillions of naira, as funds used in the purchase, maintenance of electricity generating sets by households and businesses would be saved.

Abeokuta, Egbeda welcome Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce, Laffta Fest

T

HIS WEEKEND, the twin Globacom entertainment shows, Slide ‘n’Bounce musical concert and Laffta Fest comedy show, will arrive the rock city of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and Egbeda in Lagos State respectively.

While Slide ‘n’ Bounce musical concert takes place at the OK Events Centre, Abeokuta tomorrow, Laffta Fest comedy show will hold at the Flora Hall, Santos Egbeda, on Sunday October 25, 2015.

The shows, which began on August 29 and 30 respectively had attracted thousands of Glo subscribers across nine locations namely, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Victoria Island, Surulere, Benin, Ikorodu, Ijebu Ode, Awka and Abeokuta.

At the Slide & Bounce concert in Abeokuta, award winning artistes, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly called D’banj, M.I, Marvin Records protégés, Korede Bello, and Reekado Banks will perform, while Nollywood actor and Glo ambassador, Odunlade Adekola

will make a guest appearance.

On the other hand, Glo Laffta Fest Egbeda edition will feature top comedians such as Basket Mouth, Okey Bakassi, Seyi Law, D-Don, Bash, Acapella, Funny Bone, Still Ringing and Princewill, while Korede Bello and M.I will perform their hit tracks.

A statement released from Globacom’s headquarters in Lagos said the shows will be held in other cities around the country.

respectively.

Despite the lobbying and bickering among members to head juicy committee, only six members retained the position they headed in the 7th Assembly.

Those, who retained the headships of their previous committees are: Jones Onyeriri, Banking and Currency, Nkeiruka Onyejiocha, Aviation, Nnenna Ukeje, Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Munguno, Agriculture, Shehu Shagari, Judiciary, Nicholas Mutu, NDDC, and Aminu Suleiman, Education.

It was also surprising that one of the key men of the Speaker Rep. Nnanna Igbokwe was neither considered for chairmanship position nor vice chairmanship.

The new committees announced by the Speaker were Agricultural Colleges and Institutions chaired

by Linus Okorie, Basic Education and Services, chaired by Muhammed Zakari, and Delegated Legislation, headed by Simeon Arabo, Others are: FCT Judiciary, Laori Kwamoti, Health Institutions,Betty Apiafi, IDPs Refugees and Initiatives on North East, headed by Sani Zoro, Insurance and Actuarial Matters, Olufemi Fakeye, and Tertiary Education and Services, which is chaired by Aminu Suleiman.

Because of the numerous institutions and parastatals in the health and education committees, the Speaker split them into two each for effective oversight.

Ugwuanyi extends housing scheme to workers

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has affirmed his readiness to engage the Federal Mortgage Bank in a strategic partnership to actualize his administration’s drive to provide houses to the state’s workers.

The governor disclosed that he had already approved extension of his housing scheme

programme for workers to local government council to enhance the living standard of workers in the area.

In a speech when the management of the bank paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Enugu, Governor Ugwuanyi assured that the strategic partnership with the bank would take the state to the next level in the housing sector.

Ogbuefi Odife goes home

O

GBUEFI DENNIS Odife, who died October 3, in Abuja, aged 68, will be buried on Friday, October 30, 2015, at his residence in Uruebo, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi LGA, Anambra State, after a Mass at St. Williams Catholic Church, Nkwelle-Ezunaka.

According to the family, funeral programme will begin with a requiem Mass at Catholic Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja, today, to be followed Sunday, October 25, by a Night of Tributes at MM Event Centre, beside Nicon Luxury Hotel, Garki, Abuja.

Wake-keep will hold on October 29 at PAGODA Resort and Conference Centre, Nkwelle-Ezunaka.

Ogbuefi Odife, a former university lecturer, served the Federal Government in many capacities.

He is survived by his wife, Stella Odife, former deputy governor of Anambra State. and three children.

Late Ogbuefi Odife

Igbo Heritage Talent Hunt to hold in Dec

I

GBO HERITAGE Talent Hunt harvest, organized to promote the Igbo culture among the youths, bringing together select students from both public and private Secondary Schools in Enugu state will hold in the coal city in December 2015.

Tagged “Igbo – Heritage Talent Harvest Competition” the project is the initiative of Magnus Media Nigeria, a multimedia organization with strong interest in capacity building for corporate organizations/institutions with the endorsement of the Enugu State Government.

While unfolding the project, Managing Director of Magnus Media Nigeria, Mr. Cyril Odenigbo said the essence of the project is to look inward towards developing and protecting Igbo language, morals, craft, creative art and early detection and development of student’s creative ingenuity for their selfdependency and productive growth of the state.

He said the project will draw participants from select 30 students from public and private schools in Enugu State.

16 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

Fire guts property worth over N200m in Aba

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—PROPERTY worth over N200 million were, on Wednesday, consumed in a fire incident which engulfed a building at Plot 212 Clifford Road, Aba, Abia State Vanguard gathered that the incident which occurred at noon, consumed the four apartments in the main building as most of the residents had left their homes for their businesses.

According to Mrs. Victor Aneke and Mr. Onyike Okpan, who lost property in the incident: “No life was lost, but we could not save any

property as all we have laboured for was consumed in the inferno.”

Aneke and Okpan told Vanguard that all the buildings in the compound and adjoining ones would have been consumed, but for the prompt response of men of the Fire Service. They appealed to the state government and public spirited individuals to come to their aid.

Okpan, a shoe maker in Ariaria International Market, said that the incident had inflicted more hardship on his family of three as it would not be easy for him to recover from the loss, having lost everything.

Vanguard learned that hoodlums, who pretended

to be sympathizing with the victims, took advantage of the incident to loot one of the apartments where they made away with cash worth N150, 000, laptops and phones and household equipment.

Contacted on telephone, the Head of the Abia State Fire Service, Mr. Victor Gbaruko, who estimated the loss to about N200 million and property saved to the tune of N500m, said they suspected power surge as the cause of the incident and advised residents to remove all electrical gadgets from power sources before leaving their homes to reduce the risk of fire outbreak.

Release Radio Biafra boss, IWA urges FG

By Emeka Aginam

I

GBO COMMUNITY in diaspora, the Igbo World Assembly, IWA, has called on the Federal Government to release immediately and unconditionally, the Director, of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who it described as the first political prisoner of the present government.

IWA is the Apex Global Umbrella Organization that represents the apex national Igbo organizations outside Nigeria in the various countries of the world.

In a statement jointly signed

by IWA Chairman, Dr

Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Oliver Nwankwo its Secretary General , the group said that Kanu is part of the Mass Media and should not be arrested or detained because of expressed opinions.

The group in the statement said that freedom of speech is guaranteed by Section 22 and Section 39 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended and such right is also enshrined in the Geneva Convention's Universal Human Right Declaration Article 19 when it stated that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression."

The detention and harassment of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, according to the group

Idisi empowers physically challenged constituents

By Tare Youdeowei

T

HE MEMBER representing Ethiope Federal Constituency, Chief Loveth Idisi has been urged to attract more dividends of democracy to the area, even as he has been lauded for the development strides he has achieved since becoming a Federal lawmaker representing the people of Ethiope Federal constituency in the National Assembly.

This call was made by the HRM Otateferua Edward, Erhiekevwe 1, the Ovie of Idjereh kingdom, when the monarch and people of the kingdom organized a civic reception for the lawmaker to honour him and appreciate his representation, which they described as very beneficial to the people.

The monarch of Idjereh kindom, while noting that Hon. Idisi had displayed a

true sense of leadership and democratic antecedents in the short period that he had been their representative, however, used the medium to highlight some of the welfare problems of the community, including access road, pipe-borne water, schools and healthcare centre, among others, which he urged the lawmaker to use his position to address in the course of his stay at the National Assembly.

Idisi, while responding, thanked the monarch and people of Idjereh kingdom for the reception and promised to attract more dividends of democracy to Ethiope East as their federal lawmaker in the House of Representatives.

The lawmaker, had earlier embarked on an empowerment programme for the physically challenged, where he gave out some tricycles and settled medical bills of some people.

is an affront to a free press and speech of all Nigerians.

“Radio Biafra of which Nnamdi Kanu serves as the Managing Editor is part of the mass media and they should not be arrested or detained because of their expressed opinions.

“The detention and harassment of Kanu, is an affront to a free press and speech of all Nigerians.

"Suppressing press freedom is something many Nigerians associated with the dictatorship of the military rule in the past. All Igbo and indeed all Nigerians should defend press freedom and the right of Radio Biafra to express its views on Nigeria publicly.

Igbo must not be subjected to a different treatment from other Nigerians.

“This incessant harassment and in some cases, killing of members of Igbo organizations must be put to an end. MASSOB or Radio Biafra has not picked up arms against or challenged the Nigerian government by force" “Arrests and harassment of Igbo leaders is sending a wrong signal and message to young and newer generation of Igbos under 45 who did not witness the genocide war against people in the east “Peaceful freedom movements are going on in Western Cameroon, Scotland; Quebec in Canada, or in Texas, in the United States and nobody has been arrested or detained by the governments of these countries,” IWA noted.

The group further stated that all Nigerians of goodwill should join in the campaign to restore freedom of speech and movement in Nigeria which has been abridged by the arrest and detention of Kanu, adding that Nigeria cannot go back to violations of freedom of speech and press as witnessed in the past under military regime

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 —17

*President Muhammadu Buhari

*Senator Ali Ndume

T

HE Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has said that the screening of ministerial nominees may not be concluded for another seven weeks.

Ndume pointed out that the nation had patiently waited while the President took his time to submit the ministerial list to the Senate…and wondered why Nigerians cannot also patiently wait for the Senate to vet the nominees at its own pace.

According to Ndume, “in America, they screen one minister in two weeks” and those who are grumbling because they feel that he and his colleagues should handle this task more speedily should concentrate on issues rather than on “trivialities”.

When I read Ndume’s comments in newspaper reports,

Good grief! my heart sank!

As far as I’m concerned, President Buhari took WAY too long – six whole months! - to compile his list. He knew, by the beginning of April, that he had won the election; and I’d have been much happier if he had decided whom he wanted in his cabinet before – or shortly after - he was sworn in on May 29.

When he failed to deliver a list during his early days in office, I swallowed my reservations about his slowness and allowed myself to be persuaded by APC supporters who were saying that it is extremely difficult to select a suitable team quickly…and that we should even be glad

that Buhari is super-meticulous by nature and is not the kind of man who makes important decisions in a hurry.

As the months rolled by, my impatience and irritation mounted; but I kept urging myself to resist the temptation to complain publicly because I believed that Mr President must be carefully searching for very special individuals to work with.

And then the list was finally published a couple of weeks ago; and, sure, it contained some decent choices, including (but not restricted to) Lai Mohammed, the APC’s highly articulate National Publicity Secretary; Kayode Fayemi, the erudite ex-Gov-

Worst Airports of 2015 1. Port Harcourt International Airport (Nigeria) 2. King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) 3. Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu, Nepal) 4. Tashkent International Airport (Uzbekistan) 5. Simon Bolivar International Airport (Caracas, Venezuela) 6. Toussaint Louverture International Airport (Port au Prince, Haiti)

7. Hamid Karzai International Airport (Kabul, Afghanistan) 8. Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) 9. Benazir Bhutto International Airport (Islamabad, Pakistan) 10. Beauvais-Tille International Airport (Paris) This list was compiled by CNN, the international TV channel, and is based on comments made by ordinary trav-

elers who have visited the above airports.

I hope that whoever winds up being Minister of Aviation will take note of the pressing need to provide my home city with a befitting airport that reflects the fact that Port Harcourt is our third most important city and the capital of the Niger Delta and the oil industry that pays most of our bills!

ernor of Ekiti; Tunde Fashola, the famously effective ex-Governor of Lagos; Udo Udoma, a onetime senator with a big brain, and Rotimi Amaechi, the charismatic and clever exGovernor of Rivers State who courageously broke away from the majority of fellow Niger Deltans (who allied with exPresident Goodluck Jonathan) and who, as Director-General of the APC’s campaign organisation, played a key role in terms of enabling Buhari to make history by unseating an incumbent.

However, I found the list pretty disappointing overall, not least because a) I abhor sexism - there are only six women on the list, b) I abhor ethnic chauvinism - there is only one Southern female on the list and c) I abhor nepotism - too many ministerial nominees are related by blood or marriage to senior APC personnel (for example, the wife of a former Yobe governor whose husband is now a serving senator and the Imo State nominee whose son is married to the Imo Governor’s daughter).

And it is not as if all of these beneficiaries of nepotism, sex-

Mr President will do much better when he has a full team in place and the distinguished senators can finish the screening by the end of next week if they want to *Port Harcourt International Airport C M Y K

ism or ethnic chauvinism are uniquely qualified to be ministers. Some, frankly, are no big deal.

Also please note that there is a shortage of people who actually participated in the election campaign and made personal sacrifices (and, in some cases, risked their lives) to actively back Buhari.

I have heard it said that groups – competent Southern women and folks who have no relatives in the corridors of power and APC card-carriers who worked tirelessly - that are under-represented within the context of this list will later be compensated with other appointments like Board memberships, DG positions, etc.

But the Cabinet is the visible face of any government.

Ministers are the stars of the show. And it’s a pity that Buhari’s Cabinet is not more balanced.

Focus on the future But let’s move on, accept what we cannot change and focus on the future.

OK, so the list is far from perfect overall. But I – and the many other Nigerians who are unimpressed by some of the names on the list - will have to live with it. And my main concern now revolves around the urgent need for good governance.

Mr President will do much better when he has a full team in place and the distinguished senators can finish the screening by the end of next week if they want to, so can they please not foot-drag and waste yet more time?

Even if it is true that Americans spend two weeks screening each presidential nominee, Nigeria is not America by any stretch of the imagination!

Screening here is notoriously un-rigorous and many people who would not stand a chance of getting government jobs in America wind up with big jobs in Nigeria. So let’s not pretend that the Senate needs several more weeks in which to round up.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 ON Friday October 16, 2015, leading members of corporate Nigeria, family members and well-wishers gathered in Lagos to bid farewell to a man who had variously been described as Mr Clean, Mr Integrity, Mr Straight and Mr Honesty. These descriptions underlined the fact that the late Mr Gamaliel Offoritsenere Onosode was indeed a rare breed who through his life time exhibited an upright disposition, a quality which is not common among many Nigerians of his generation.

Only few Nigerians have ventured as he did into the seemingly murky business and political terrains in Nigeria as active players and emerged untainted.

So his death on September 29, 2015, at the age of 82 years was the loss of an inspirational leader. Onosode epitomised those qualities that Nigerians often desire to see in their leaders but which have remained ever so elusive. He was a man of strong character and deep convictions

Gamaliel Onosode: The exit of Mister Integrity governed by decency; a man who proudly espoused an ennobling vision of life. He believed that morality is central in business and politics. This had nothing to do with the fact that he was a devout Christian and founder of Good News Baptist Church.

Born on May 22, 1933 in Sapele, Delta State, his journey through life was to become an interesting tale of enviable accomplishments in varying fields of human endeavour. He attended the Government College, Ughelli and the University of Ibadan.

Soon after, he ventured into the

corporate environment where he emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading chief executives and highly successful boardroom players.

He chaired several private and public sector businesses and initiatives. For instance he served as Chairman, Dunlop Nigeria Plc (1984–2007); Cadbury Nigeria Plc (1977–93); Zain Nigeria (a GSM telecommunications company now known as Airtel); the Presidential Commission on Parastatals (1981), the Nigeria LNG Working Committee and Nigeria LNG Limited (1985–90) and the Niger Delta

OPINION Power sector and locally-manufactured meters

By Bolaji Abimbola

O

N Wednesday, August 13, 2015, a significant milestone was achieved in the Nigerian power sector with the presentation of samples of locally manufactured meters to President Muhammadu Buhari by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Ighali.Technocrats in the power sector reckon that with this development of locallymade meters, there would be a significant growth in the Nigerian economy and also a reduction in the level of unemployment in the country.

The questions that currently linger in the minds of industry players are:now that the made in Nigeria meters have been presented to Mr. President what next? How would this presentation translate to patronage of the locally made meters?

The different players in the entire value chain of the power sector have a role to play to make this very critical sector of the economy work for the good of all.For instance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has a big role to play in the interest of the economy by helping to ensure that all electricity distribution companies patronise local meter manufacturers.

The CBN could contribute by limiting forex allocation to electricity distribution companies to import these prepaid electricity meters which our indigenous manufacturers are able to produce with a far better hybrid quality when compared to some of the imported ones that are usually C M Y K

dumped in our market.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) also owes the nation the crucial duty to ensure that made in Nigeria meters meet international standard by ensuring periodic random testing of meters produced by these indigenous manufacturers through its agency, Electricity Management Service (EMS). This role of EMS is so important and must be diligently carried out to put the indigenous manufacturers on their toes not to compromise on quality.

Going forward is the issue of ensuring that this bold step is encouraged in the sector to fully enjoy the holistic value chain and also tackle one of the administration’s core economic agenda,unemployment.

To this end, there is still a strong need for

It would also be necessary to take a second look at the entire privatisation process in the power sector

all stakeholders concerned especially the supervising ministry (Ministry of Power) to take a second look at the functions of the DISCOs because it appears that the DISCOs have been saddled with the responsibility of purchasing meters and also distribution of bills (including estimated bills) to power consumers whereas their primary function is to ensure that power gets to the transformer.

Perhaps, this is why they have not taken time to provide solutions to the issue of general bad shape of transformers in the country which is indeed a major factor affecting energy delivery to the end consumers. This is because the power transmission companies have enough electricity to supply to the consumers through the DISCOs but most transformers currently in place cannot withstand the amount of power or energy required by the consumers.

It would also be necessary to take a second look at the entire privatisation process in the power sector and limit the role of the DISCOs to the distribution and now allow for the emergence of electricity marketing companies.

By so doing, the DISCOs that are presently overwhelmed with combining the two responsibilities of distribution and marketing would now be more focused.

As a matter of fact, the proposed electricity marketing companies would be expected to be autonomous and a separate business entity not owned either in part or full by the DISCOs. It must be noted that combining the role of

Environmental Survey.

Onosode was the Presidential Adviser on Budget Affairs and Director of Budget (1983); the inaugural President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers; ProChancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Uyo and President and Chairman of Council of the Association of Pension Funds of Nigeria. He was also a fellow of several local and international professional bodies and institutes.

Onosode became particularly famous as chairman of a Nigerian Commission on Public Parastatals whose work became known as the Onosode Report. He was also a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), and his foray into politics was meant as an avenue to demonstrate the fact that good Christians should go into politics to practicalise what they preach.

We wish him eternal rest.

marketing and distribution for DISCOs as we currently have it is an anomaly that is limiting the benefits or the expected benefits of the privatisation process.

If the proposition of the creation of electricity marketing companies is implemented, it would result in efficient distribution of power by the DISCOs. The marketing company would then ensure consumers are properly metered, appropriately billed and the power sector the greater beneficiary.

However, one can only hope that these indigenous meter manufacturers would make this patronage count, especially in the area of job creation and employment opportunities for Nigerian youths. The manufacturers must be ready to show in tangible and clear terms how this move would increased the employment rate in the country.

It is also important to note that these local manufacturers would increase capacity through expansion drive. This is very crucial because it would be counterproductive to stop importation of meters if local manufacturers cannot meet the local needs.

Again, more investors should be encouraged to venture into electricity meter manufacturing to promote healthy competition which will be in the general interest of the country in terms of quality and product pricing.

Finally, it is necessary to open a window for the local manufacture of transformers.

This way we can proudly say the reforms in the power sector is complete. *Mr. Abimbola, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015— —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Kerekou, remarkable African, moves on

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ATHIEU Kerekou, a Major in the Benin Army on October 26, 1972, marched on the Presidency to seize power and save the country from anarchism and becoming a failed state. He then proceeded to clear the mines of ethnicity and political instability, mainly planted by France, the departed colonial master.

As independence approached, there were two main political tendencies, each floating away from the fading dreams of French ‘Assimilation’ policy. The Republican Party of Dahomey (PRD) led by accountant, SourouMigan Apithy and the Democratic Union of Dahomey (UDD) with Justin Ahomadegbe as leader.

France tried to maintain its hold on the country by sponsoring an ethnic and regional divide. It rallied some elite in the North to form a rival party based on a campaign of alleged marginalisation and domination by other parts of the country. This became the Democratic Movement of Dahomey (MDD) with Hubert Maga as leader.

Until Kerekou emerged twelve years after independence, the country was virtually on the boil with all sorts of political experiments including serial

coups, diarchy and rule by councils; in fact, he was the twelfth Benin Head of State in twelve years.

There was a political crisis within three months of independence with opposition ministers from the UDD resigning and the ruling coalition conspiring to proscribe the party.

In 1963, President Maga removed Vice President Apithty and sent him out of the country as Ambassador to France. Colonel Christophe Soglo who overthrew Maga on October 23, 1963, recalled Apithy as President with Justin Ahomadegbe as Vice President. When the latter tried to remove President Apithy, Soglo on April 29, 1963, staged another coup and appointed the National Assembly President, Tahirou Congacou acting Head of State.

Within four weeks, Colonel Soglo removed Congacou and imposed himself as new Head of State. Perhaps, the most dramatic period in Benin history was in the last two weeks of December 1967 when it had four Heads of State; the incumbent Colonel Soglo was overthrown on December 17, 1967 and replaced by Lt. Colonel Alphonse Alley who later handed over power to Dr. Zinsou.

The latter was then overthrown

and a three-man Military Directorate took over. Former President Maga was cruising to victory in the 1970 elections when it was annulled. As a political solution, a three-man Presidential Council made up of the three leading politicians; Maga, Ahomadegbe and Apithy was established with an understanding that they rotate the Presidency every two years. It was this contraption Kerekou cleared to give Benin political stability.

Kerekou was an accidental product of the French colonial army. He did not think much of French superiority, was radical, patriotic and Pan Africanist. His accent immediately raised the red flag when he not only announced a programme of unity , but also independence from France, and a rejection of all economic systems in favour of a Dahomey ‘system’ Benin is an amalgam of various pre-colonial kingdoms, the best known being Abomey (Dahomey)

Until Kerekou emerged twelve years after independence, the country was virtually on the boil with all sorts of political experiments including serial coups, diarchy and rule by councils; in fact, he was the twelfth Benin Head of State in twelve years

Killing Imo softly

By Clement Udegbe

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OST Nigerian leaders while in office, get afflicted by two common bugs, namely, the bug of attracting only grave and gold diggers as friends and associates, and the bug of regarding every critique as an enemy, even constructive critiques. Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo is not different, but fortunately, some of us,have resolved to continue to point the right ways to him, in his own interest and that of his people, even when he feels bad about such comments, because we are all involved. The hatred of constructive public opinion is the beginning of regrets for the leader, because as soon as he leaves office, the gold and grave diggers will flow to join his opponents in continuation of their business, leaving him in the cold, while the constructive stake holders continue with their good works, and life continues, with hard lessons learnt, by the leader. I pray that this will not be the case with “My Governor, my Governor”, but once a man begins to feel that he knows it all, he begins to fall.

A few developments in Imo since His Excellency entered into Douglas House, in 2011, must have to be addressed if the killing of Imo by these developments will have to be arrested.

First, is the continued creation of too many autonomous communities, for political power. In order to gain grassroots control, in 2011, the government invented the Community Government, which was used to divide communities with strong bonding, water down the influence of traditional rulers and create an appetite for autonomous communities.

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With an estimated population of 4.8 million, Imo has 670 autonomous communities, over three times that of Anambra State, twice those of Abia, Ebonyi ,and Enugu states respectively.

The result is that today, almost every community in Imo has Ezeship issues, which is tearing the people apart. There is hatred, greed, and tussles concerning who becomes the Eze over who, with some Ezes ruling over one tiny village as his community, to the extent that in Obibi Ochasi, there is an Eze, who has taken people from other non-contiguous villages to become members of his communities!

Ancient kingdoms are messed up, abused, and completely confused. IgboUkwu Ancient Kingdom in Anambra State,for example is more than trice the size of Obibi-Ochasi, with three communities.

The easiest way to kill the joy and peace of a people is to subject them to constant quarrels over power tussle, and that has happened in our beloved Imo! Crime rate is on the rise, and the poor traditional

Caught in its own web of extravagance, showmanship, and deception, government resorts to borrowing

which had an efficient administrative system, a thriving economy based on palm oil produce, and to a lesser extent, slave trade. It had the famous army of Amazons; some five thousand women soldiers. The Kerekou government thought it was better to adopt a more representative name, so in 1975, it renamed the country, Peoples Republic of Benin, presumably, taking the name from the Bight of Benin.

A year before, the regime had made a left turn, taking the road towards socialism and establishing a new party of the poor, workers and middle class peasants. He also changed the National Anthem and flag.

It was the Cold War era and Western powers were not about to lose one of their satellite countries.

So on January 16, 1977 a mercenary force made up of Europeans and Africans invaded the capital, Cotonou. Landing at the airport, they made a rapid advancement at the presidency, were repelled and a Guinean captured. After the aborted invasion, Guinea, Nigeria and Benin investigated the assault in which a number of people were killed.

The investigation claimed that the invaders were trained in Morocco and staged the attack from Gabon. In reaction, Gabon expelled Beninese and broke diplomatic relations in 1978 which were not restored until 1989. The same band of mercenaries, led by the notorious Colonel Bob Denard in May 1978 successfully invaded the Comoros and removed the government.

One of the biggest challenges Kerekou had was when its neighbouring Big Brother, Nigeria on whom Benin economy leans, decided in 1984 to shut their common border over complaints of smuggling.

rulers cannot cope or help, and our Governor is smiling all over the place!

Something must be done to reverse this ugly trend that is killing the joy of Imo. Second, is the bankruptcy of our state, which is among the 18 states in Nigeria that owe workers salaries. It was Governor Ohakim of the PDP, who began the trend of owing workers salaries and tried to justify it. It was one of the key reasons for rejecting him in 2011, and Governor Okorocha is in the same boat today. He thinks that he has time before 2019, to right the wrongs, but time runs, and the people cannot continue to wait under this heavy burden of lack of salaries for good workers. The internally generated revenue of the state is not enough to meet her obligations so she owes workers over six months of unpaid salaries, the people are dying in tens daily, leaving us to wonder what is wrong with our leaders, who still ride in very long convoys, engage in wasteful purposeless contracts like the cheap and poorly executed demarcation of roads along Owerri –Orlu Road, and phoney ill conceived, and poorly timed projects dotted all over the place. Non-payment of Imo workers should be regarded by the people as a crime against their collective will.

Caught in its own web of extravagance, showmanship, and deception, government resorts to borrowing which is my third concern here. Borrowing just to pay salaries is one sure way to mortgage the future of the people. It is another way of killing Imo softly, under a government that lack the vision and focus to create jobs. Imo state is estimated to be owing almost N100 Billion, inclusive of the latest N26 billion salary bail out money from President Muhammadu Buhari. Most APC States in the country are recipients of the Bail out money from FGN, an issue for another day, but while it is

It took two years to re-open, by then other economic challenges had compounded matters resulting in massive student demonstrations in 1985.

By 1990, Benin could no longer meet its basic responsibilities including salary payments. With the Socialist Bloc collapsing, internal dissent, exiles and the West tightening the screws, Kerekou agreed to calling a ‘Conference of the active forces of the country’ which began on February 19, 1990.

Curiously for a man who had been in power for eighteen years, he agreed to a conference composition in which his government and supporters were a minority, and his opponents had a stifling majority.

He had enough forces to stop the conference, or when within one week, it voted to reduce his powers and appoint a Prime Minister, to disband it. But he accepted all the decisions including a new constitution. With that, he became a lame duck president and was voted out of office the following year.

But within a few years, the populace realized that it had made a mistake. In comparison with Kerekou, the Nicephore Soglo administration was seen as a spend drift, lacking the commitment and patriotic zeal of its predecessor. Twenty four years after he first took power, and five years after being voted out of power, Kerekou galloped back to power in 1996, beating the incumbent by 52.49 to 47.51 percent in a run-off.

He was re-elected in 2001. He retired from the Presidency on attaining the statutory age of 70, and passed away on October 14, 2015.He was a remarkable African of his day.

constitutional to borrow, Imo should have no business in such nonsense if our Leader focused on Job creation ab-initio, than in the razzmatazz projects that have consumed his capital funds.

His roads fail within six months, the free education which was the opium he fed the common man, is fraught with deception.

Imo is plunged into such a huge debt profile that may take successive administrations over 20 years to overcome. What better way is there to kill the economic development of our state, than to make her less attractive to investors, and lenders ?

Fourth, is the reported sale of the eleven specialist and general hospitals in the State to private interests, an action that will put medical services beyond the reach of the poor in the state, there by condemning thousands to imminent death, in addition to the mass sack and unemployment that will emanate from the health sector, with ominous implications for rise in crime rate in the state. This sale appears like a project of wealth transfer to cronies, business associates and family members, while Imo is being killed softly!

Fifth, is a report in one the local publications, that there is a government plan to offer employment to thousands of Imo youths, but each must first produce a Laboratory test report from one particular Laboratory, where the cost of the test is N8000. Is this not another wicked scheme, or racket to extort money from poor job seekers ? Imolites should only produce a medical report at a subsidised cost, after they are offered the employment, by their government, not before. If Okorocha must make his ambition of becoming President someday, he MUST first, stop killing Imo.

*Mr Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

SHOCKING!

NGOs expose ugly face of education in Bauchi State

By Suzan Edeh

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HAPTER 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, provides for free and compulsory education, adequate infrastructure and trained teachers.

Unfortunately, many children of school age in the country are denied these rights.

Investigations by Vanguard Metro, VM, confirm a recent report by the United Nations Educational Science and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, that 10.5 million Nigerian children are out of school. The case of Bauchi State is particularly pathetic. Indeed many children of school age in the state have little or no access to education due to factors ranging from corruption, poverty, inadequate budgetary allocation to the sector, ignorance on the rights to education and poor monitoring of educational projects by successive governments.

Neglect of the education sector The most worrisome aspect of the situation is the decay of educational infrastructures in most public schools located in different communities. The development has been attributed to poor budgetary allocation to the sector.

It is so disheartening that some of these schools are as old as the creation of the state, thus putting a question mark on claims of achievement by past governments in the sector.

The pathetic situation became more glaring when a nongovernmental organisation, the Action Aid Nigeria in partnership with the FAHIMTA women and Youth Development Association, recently organised a three-day training for education stakeholders comprising the media, NGOs, government officials, community leaders and students in Bauchi State.

The aim of the training was to educate stakeholders on the need to promote the rights of children to quality education in schools.

The training was facilitated by the Action Aid Deputy Country Director, Mrs Ifeoma Charles Monwuba; Executive Director FAHIMTA Women and Youth Development Initiative, Hajiya Maryam Garba; Programme C M Y K

Manager LRP, Nelson Kaure; Programme Officer, FAWOYDI, Tosin Suberu and Reproductive Health Manager FAWOYDI, Victoria Ayodele.

They identified three important rights which include right to free and compulsory education, right to adequate infrastructure and right to quality trained teachers.

The facilitators further reiterated their commitment to continue to support the attainment of educational goals through the building of education stakeholders capacity to promote rights in schools as well as monitor the reforms required in the sector.

Dilapidated school structure A vital part of the training by participants was a visit to Kwagal Primary School in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The school was established in 1976 and is 2.5km off Bauchi-Gombe Road, Gidan Waya. A team comprising of 11 members divided into four groups visited the school to find out whether or not the identified rights were being implemented in the school. After an intensive interaction with the community leaders, women’s groups, children and head teachers, each group came up with certain findings on the state of education in the primary school.

Some of the findings by the group members are that education was not entirely free and compulsory, the school lacked adequate and trained teachers, there is no sanitary and toilet facilities, there are dilapidated classroom structures, etc. Other findings by the group members are that the school lacked access roads, had non-functional boreholes, no fencing and lack of teaching

Bauchi State will be denying itself of the huge potential contribution of its female population which will affect the economy of the state

*Dilapidated structure....Face of many schools in Bauchi State

materials. These challenges, amongst, others represent a picture of the state of education in many schools in Bauchi State.

Attention to education A head teacher, who pleaded anonymity, told VM thus: “Since its inception(in 1976), no government official had visited this school. It is only officials of SUBEB that come around once in a while for monitoring. Due to dilapidated state of some of the classrooms, we have to combine primaries 2, 3 and 6 in one classroom”.

Recommendations by stakeholders After the visit to Kwagal Primary School, group members recommended, among others, that education should be made free and compulsory according to the Constitution, the need to encourage public-private partnership in funding basic education at all levels, government should increase budgetary allocation to education, parents should be sensitised on the importance of girl-child education to reduce girls dropping out of school, more trained teachers should be posted to schools in the state and a learning friendly environment should be provided.

Other recommendations are that government should control erosion on the road to Kwagal community, gender based toilets should be built in schools in the state, monitoring and evaluation should

*Primary school pupils crammed in a makeshift classroom

be conducted by the Ministry of Education and SUBEB. Stakeholders call for change Mrs Ifeoma Charles described statistics of school children enrollment in Bauchi State as disturbing, saying the state has one of the least net enrollment rates in the North East zone into Junior Secondary School. She said that the state has low literacy rate and most women in the state miss out on education because of early marriage, adding that the state has one of the highest percentages of unqualified teachers in primary and secondary schools.

She lamented the poor condition of school infrastructure in the state

which requires urgent attention because, according to her, Bauchi State recorded the highest number of poor classrooms, according to a Universal Basic Education study.

She said: “Bauchi State has witnessed a downward trend in budget allocation in the education sector. Education budget in the state in 2013 was 8.19%; in 2014 the budget decreased to 6.60% and in 2015, it further declined to 6.23%. Without adequate allocation to the education sector to address these challenges, Bauchi State will be denying itself of the huge potential contribution of its female population which will affect the economy of the state”.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

— 21

FDI capital in Nigeria highest in Sub-Sahara Africa, says Ernst & Young projects fell this year, the value of those projects increased sharply, as did the number of jobs they created. Indeed the capital value of FDI was, by far, the highest we have seen over the past five years.”

Commenting on the strong growth recorded by Nigeria, Sita said “Greenfield projects into the country have grown at a com-

By Peter Egwuatu

E

RNST & Young, EY has stated that Nigeria has recorded strong growth in Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, growing by 14 per cent since 2007.

Speaking to financial journalists in Lagos, Mr. Ajen Sita, Chief Executive Officer, EY Africa said “The recent release of the fifth edition of EY’s annual Africa attractiveness survey provided us with an opportunity to pause and reflect on how the continent’s attractiveness has evolved.”

According to him “Our very first edition was released after a decade of strong economic growth; a time of increasing optimism about Africa’s progress.

Over the past five years, we have helped tell new stories about Africa, stories of economic growth and opportunity, democratic progress and human development. However, this is not to say that there have not been challenges, facing the continent.

Africa has experienced stronger headwinds than in recent times.

Economic expansion this year is likely to be at its slowest in five years and this survey reveals that investor sentiment has softened somewhat , and that FDI projects are down for second consecutive year.

Continuing, he said “Economic growth across the continent remains resilient. Despite the headwinds, growth in SubSaharan Africa (SSA) will beat the emerging market average, and be outstripped only by developing Asia. Our data also shows that, although the number of FDI

pound rate of 14 per cent since 2007, while the capital values of that investment has grown at a rate of over 18 per cent. In fact, Nigeria has attracted the most FDI capital in Sub Saharan Africa over that period, making it one of the star performers in a period in which FDI flows into the region have been fairly robust.”

He further stated that like most

Cadbury’s parent company boosts investments with new, N10bn factory

M

120.45

-0.55

$3,138.00

-8.00

0.41

47.96

0.11

45.26

0.06

CURRENCY

BUYING

DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL SDR KRONA

195.98 302.8479 222.5157 204.6575 1.6322 0.3207 276.4944 30.8625 52.2599 276.7912 29.8218

CENTRAL 196.48 303.6205 223.0834 205.1796 1.6364 0.3307 277.1998 30.9418 52.3933 277.4973 29.8979

He advised Nigeria’s government to drive substantial reform, ongoing economic resilience, an improving business environment, a portfolio of active infrastructure projects with a value close to $100 billion, and of course a population of over 170 million people, Nigeria’s billing as a power house in a dynamic , high growth region is certainly justified.”

VISIT: Middle, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (1st right), President-elect, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists,NAPE, Nosa Omorodion, (1st left), Mr. Chikwendu Edoziem, and some NAPE executive committee members during a courtesy visit to introduce its 33rd yearly International Conference & Exhibition.

By Ebele Orakpo

$14.59

emerging markets, Nigeria will continue to face its fair share of challenges.

According to him “Corruption, threats to physical security, poor infrastructure are among those often cited as constraints to investment and doing business.

Despite these challenges, the Nigerian economy has remained remarkably robust.”

196.98 304. 3932 223.6511 205.7018 1. 6405 0.3407 277.9052 31.021 52.5266 278.2034 29.974

CBN Exchange Rate as at 22 /10 /15

ONDELEZ International, the parent company of Cadbury Nigeria Limited has constructed an ultra-modern manufacturing plant to boost Cadbury’s production capacity by about 37 per cent.

Speaking at the commissioning of the plant at its Ikeja site on Friday, October 16, Executive Vice-President, ISC Global, Mondelez International, Mr. Daniel Myers, said they embarked on the construction of the plant which resulted in direct foreign investment of over N10 billion (more than US$50 million) as a mark of Mondelez International’s confidence in the Nigerian economy.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mr. Roy Naaman described the event as a milestone in Cadbury’s pursuit to build a world-class supply chain. “The new plant will help bring to life our global strategy to protect the well-being of our planet through the design and operation of new growth facilities that minimize our environmental footprint. Our investment in this plant reflects the company’s confidence in the fundamentals of the Nigerian economy and commitment to the development of

Lagos State as our host community.”

While lauding Cadbury on their achievement, chairman of the occasion, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State represented by the Deputy governor, Dr (Mrs) Idiat Adebule noted that the keys to sustainable growth and economic development of a nation lies in manufacturing. “We must at least produce what we eat. We cannot afford to remain a briefcase economy. Trading makes other economies stronger while devaluing our currency. As a state, we will do everything to support your business and ensure

We must at least produce what we eat. We cannot afford to remain a briefcase economy.

Trading makes other economies stronger while devaluing our currency

your success.”

Myers said Cadbury Nigeria which has been in Nigeria since the 1950s, has been a publicly quoted company in Nigeria since 1976 - with shares traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

“Every year, Nigerians consume nine billion pieces of candy, three billion of which are produced by Cadbury Nigeria. This new best-in-class plant is highly automated, and replaces an older facility which cannot support our future expansion plans. We’re continuing to invest at this site because we want to keep pace with the latest technology in our business space, and we want to demonstrate our leadership position in our sub-sector of the Nigerian economy,” Myers said.

Fielding questions from journalists, Mr. Naaman said Cadbury gets all its cocoa beans locally. “All the cocoa used in this factory is Nigerian cocoa. We process the cocoa in our factory in Ondo and then use it to make Bournvita in our factory here.”

Asked if they are thinking of getting their own cocoa farm, he replied in the negative, saying however that Mondelez International runs a very interesting programme – Cocoa Life – that supports cocoa production globally.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

Asset management in global Islamic finance above $2trn – SEC Stories

By Nkiruka Nnorom

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HE Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has revealed that total assets under management in the global Islamic finance products stands above $2 trillion at the end of 2014.

This is coming as the Commission restates its commitment to increase the depth of noninterest capital market to allow more Nigerians invest ethically in that sphere of the market.

The Director-General, SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzio, made the disclosure at a regional roundtable on non-interest capital market products with the theme “Financing Development through Islamic Capital Market - A Viable Alternative.”

He assured that the Commission would focus on massive

public enlightenment and capacity building initiatives with a view to increase awareness on the existence of non-interest capital market products.

He said: “The global sukuk market continues to witness remarkable growth since the end of the 2008 global financial crisis as annual issuances have grown from $15 billion in 2008 to almost $120 billion in 2014.

“In fact, last year is widely considered a landmark year for Islamic finance, especially with landmark debut sukuk issuances by countries such as the UK, Hong Kong, Senegal, South Africa, and Luxemburg. Of course, the year witnessed continued strong interest from key markets of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and emerging markets like Turkey and Indonesia.

There is no doubt that the su-

kuk market is emerging on a global scale as a viable alternative source of funding”.

While describing Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar as the top five largest Islamic finance markets in the world, in that order, as they account for the highest sukuk issuances and contribute more than half of the total assets under management in the industry, Gwarzo said with Nigeria’s population, which is far more bigger than all five countries put together, the country should be a major market for global Islamic finance.

“With over 80 million Muslims, Nigeria is home to far more Muslims than all the five countries put together. Additionally, Nigeria has a larger economy than them, with the exception of Saudi Arabia.

From left: Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Gaduje; Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo, and Executive Commissioner, Corporate Service, SEC, Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, during the one day Regional Round-table on Non - interest Capital Market (Islamic Capital Market) organised by SEC

Stanbic IBTC underlines support for inclusive economic growth in Nigeria

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TANBIC IBTC Holdings Plc has reiterated its readiness to assist Nigeria attain economic inclusion and sustainable growth.

Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, while speaking on the sidelines of the 21st Nigerian Economic Summit, said the potential of Africa’s biggest economy is almost limitless, adding that concerted efforts are required to stimulate an all-inclusive development.

Underpinning this year ’s theme, “Tough Choices: Achieving Competitiveness, Inclusive Growth and Sustainability,” is a push for permanent structural changes that would enhance broader participation in the economy and build capabilities in developing appropriate policies and practices, a vision shared by the Stanbic IBTC Group, David-Borha stated.

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David-Borha, who is Vice President of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), noted that despite emerging Africa’s foremost economic power, Nigeria’s growth in the last decade has remained largely non-inclusive, with high youth unemployment, massive poverty and low developmental index rankings as major drawbacks.

...annual issuances have grown from $15 billion in 2008 to almost $120 billion in 2014

“The decline in price of commodities among other reasons has led to a challenging operating environment. This situation, nonetheless, presents a unique opportunity to deepen discourse on quickening the development of the country’s growth sectors and to further highlight the opportunities therein in order to sustain the attractiveness of Nigeria as a preferred investment destination in Africa, in addition to achieving competitiveness in a sustainable way,” David-Borha stated.

“Nigeria’s economic potential has reached the phase of actualization,” she added.

Rebuilding consumer and business confidence has become imperative in order to create the impetus for increased investments in critical sectors and place the economy on a much faster growth path, she said.

SMEs: Catalyst to diversifying Nigeria’s monolithic economy – Okonkwo

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MALL and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can play critical roles in diversifying Nigeria’s monolithic economy if properly positioned given the immense wealth potential inherent in the sector.

This was the submission of Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, in his remarks at the maiden edition of the South-East regional SME Conference in Enugu.

He noted that the conference was apt and at the heart of the bank’s commitment of building entrepreneurs in the SouthEast region of the country as well as provide a veritable platform for them to network amongst themselves.

“This conference could not have come at a better time than now when the South East/Nigeria is repositioning herself to contain the current economic downturn occasioned by the precipitous drop in global oil price,” he said, adding that “the free fall in global oil prices has constrained the resources available to the new administration”.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, ‘Positioning SMEs for Growth in the South-East Region’, he advised more financial institutions to deliver low cost banking transactions to small businesses, saying that the move would enable small businesses build up relevant activities/transaction history to put them in good position to access requisite funds from formal lenders.

He explained that the bank has realigned its resources and processes to assist SMEs raise their level of competitiveness in a highly volatile environment.

In his words: “we created a dedicated SME Banking Division (Fidelity Managed SMEs) which focuses on providing solutions to the challenges faced by SMEs through a multifaceted approach.” Earlier, Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, commended Fidelity Bank Plc for staging the regional SME conference for entrepreneurs in the South-East in Enugu State.

Ugwuanyi disclosed that his administration had already secured N280 billion MSME fund from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which has been disbursed to over 1,600 eligible MSME to expand their enterprises. He noted that the government has channelled significant resources into the MSME sector through the SME Centre in the state.

Ugwuanyi, who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, also disclosed that his administration, in strategic partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI), had waived all interests on its contributions to the fund.

CHI Limited wins 2015 Customer Excellence Award

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HI Limited, the makers of Chivita, Hollandia, CapriSonne and SuperBite range of products, has won the 2015 Nigeria Customer Service Excellence Award for being the best Customer Service Company in the Beverage sector.

CHI Ltd, always known for it’s quality products, loved brands, and excellent customer service, has received numerous awards over the years as recognition of these values, like the African Quality Achievement Awards in 2014 and the Generation Next Awards in 2013 to name a few.

The Nigeria Customer Service Awards (NCSA) is a prestigious annual award that celebrates service excellence in Nigeria by recognizing companies that deliver effective and exceptional customer services.

Speaking at the award ceremony in Lagos, Dr. Aliyu Ilias, Co-ordinator, NCSA, disclosed that the fruit juice market leader was adjudged as the winner of the award having fulfilled all the stipulated criteria and received the vast majority of nominations from customers on the various voting platforms.

According to Dr Aliyu, “CHI Limited emerged as the best Customer Service Company in the FMCG/Beverage sector through appreciable feedback from the following criteria: nominations from Nigerians; customer feedback, review of employee job satisfaction/performance standards; and mystery shopping services,” he stated.

Acknowledging the award, Managing Director, CHI Limited, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, said the company thrives on the support and patronage of its customers and would therefore stop at nothing in ensuring that customers get excellent product and quality services.

“This award is a testament to the hard work and strategy employed by the company to satisfy the needs of our esteemed customers and fulfil their expectations,” Deepanjan stated.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 —23

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24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—25

•Zakari: Acting tenure drawing to an end

•Yakubu: Waiting for Senate confirmation

•Nwuruku: The only remaining national commissioner

New broom at INEC: Challenges and threats The enthronement of a new chairman and national commissioners at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC may have saved the country the troubles of having an ill-constituted commission conducting the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa. But beyond that is the challenge of improving on the legacy of the Attahiru Jega led commission.

O

By Jude Opara, Abuja

N Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari finally decided to do the needful by reconstituting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when he presented to the National Council of States in their first meeting the names of a new chairman and five national commissioners for the electoral body.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, a former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) was named as the Chairman while the erstwhile acting Chairman, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as member representing North West, Dr. Antonia Taiye OkoosiSimbile as Commissioner North Central, Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo, from Borno as Commissioner representing North East, Dr, Mohammed Mustapha Lecky from Edo as Commissioner representing South South and Prince Soyebi Adedeji Solomon from Ogun representing South West zones as National Commissioners of INEC. Recall that Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku representing the South East zone still has about two more years to the end of his tenure; hence there was no other nominee from the zone.

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If the Senate confirms the list as presented by President Buhari, the first major task that will confront Yakubu and his team is the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States in November and December respectively.

By appointing this new set of commissioners, President Buhari has

If the Senate confirms the list as presented by President Buhari, the first major task that will confront Yakubu and his team is the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States

actually saved the country some impending stress because it is very clear that most politicians especially in Kogi and Bayelsa States would have resorted to the courts had the job of conducting the elections been left to Mrs. Zakari and Chief Nwurukwu.

Challenges: Conducting elections in a country like Nigeria where politicians see elections like a war is a daunting task for any electoral umpire, and for Yakubu, who may not have had any previous experience in conducting elections to assume such a responsibility just few weeks to the governorship elections is indeed significant.

Interestingly, the two states in question pose their own peculiar challenges given the fact that the two main political parties in the country, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are parading some of the biggest heavyweights as their candidates.

In Kogi State, the fight is a straight battle between the incumbent, Governor Idris Wada and the former governor, Prince Abubakar Audu. Wada is of the PDP while Audu is flying the flag of the APC. The same scenario also plays out

in Bayelsa where the incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson representing the PDP is facing a challenge from another former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva of the APC. In a situation like this where the contending candidates are more or less evenly matched, it is not always surprising to see losers claim that they were rigged out. Therefore, Prof. Yakubu and his team would be put to task to ensure that they pass the litmus test before them.

Litmus test Another problem the team will likely have is the fact that the apparent high achievement of the immediate past chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for which he was commended by the National Council of State on Wednesday, will surely be a yardstick to judge and measure their achievement. The various innovations introduced by that regime must be religiously followed to achieve the desired result, as anything contrary will not augur well.

One other issue that will likely need extra care and tact from the new INEC is the controversial issue of creation of new polling units. Recall that the former Chairman, Prof. Jega wanted to create some 30,000 more voting units but that was mired in controversies as many people especially from the southern part of the country kicked against the idea because of alleged plot to favour the northern part of the country.

There was also a huge outcry when the Commission created more polling units in the Boko Haram ravaged areas than some other zones of the South.

The delimitation of constituencies which has not been done since the

Continues on page 26

26—VANGUARD, FRIDAY,

OCTOBER 23, 2015

Edo 2016: How Buhari is altering Oshiomhole’s permutations

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Joseph Erunke

Buhari’s choice of a long loyal political associate as his minister from Edo State could alter permutations as regard the emergence of governorship candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

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HE body language of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his associates in the All Progressives Congress, APC had indicated that the battle for his succession would be narrowed down to the Edo South Senatorial district.

It was as such not surprising that Oshiomhole’s leading political traducer in the state, Chief Tony Anenih, the leader as he is called by his associates, moved with caution to nudge the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to narrow the party’s ticket to the dominant Edo South senatorial district.

The reason the two major parties in the state narrowed the choice to Edo South was because the district with more than 50% of the total voting population could easily determine the outcome of the main election in the event of

•Oshiomhole: Tenure draws to an end 2016 the election taking an ethnic divide.

The decision of the two major parties was not without consideration of the fact that the Edo Central Senatorial district it would have been the turn of Edo Central, the only zone that is yet to have a full four-year term at the governorship. The zone’s only hold on the governorship was the 17 months or so Senator Osehreinmen Osunbor from the zone was governor before he was removed by the courts.

Remarkably, Oshiomhole’s victory in the courts was believed to have been welcomed by the mainstream PDP led by Anenih before the two men fell apart setting the stage for the bitter recrimination between both men.

It was perhaps in his quest to get the better of Oshiomhole that Anenih was believed to have jettisoned the idea of getting the next governorship candidate of the PDP from Edo Central in favour of matching the candidate from the APC in Edo South.

The reason the two major parties in the state narrowed the choice to Edo South was because the district with more than 50% of the total voting population could determine the outcome

It is a matter of strategy —Urhoghide, Edo South Senator since 2015

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IRST of all, we must know that these offices are being thrown up by different parties who have different postures as concerning zoning of these offices are concerned.

For us looking at the exigencies that are on the ground in Edo State right now, there is no way that the ticket can go to Edo North.

We were being strategic in our planning (in choosing Edo South), otherwise, there is nothing wrong with our ticket going to Central. When you are looking at the history from 1999, it is very clear that Edo South having done eight years through Lucky Igbenedion with Edo North through ( M i c h a e l ) Oghiadhome being part of it as deputy, the Central

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was not part of it and coming again now with Edo North through Adams Oshiomhole and Edo South doing eight years through Dr. Pius Odibo meaning that the North and the South each have done eight years of governorship and eight years of combined. So if you look at the central, since the advent of the Fourth Republic. Central in the person of Prof.

Osunbor did one and a half years. So, it ought to have gone there, but I think that the exigencies of the moment that are on the ground and because (they are just about 17% of the population.) so, we are looking at the voting strength. So, it is just the voting strength. That is just it as far as the PDP is concerned.

It was as such not surprising that a number of candidates from Edo South surfaced in the two parties. Among the much speculated aspirants from the APC known to be quietly building up for the contest are Oshiomhole’s deputy, Dr Pius Odubu, Mr. Kenneth Imasuagbon popularly known as the rice man on account of his philanthropic gestures, the Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie, Mr. Godwin Obaseki chairman of the governor’s Economic Team and a former Minister of State (Works), Dr Chris Ogienwonyi. Former Governor Osunbor is also believed to be interested in having a second shot and so is the 2012 PDP candidate of the PDP, Gen.

Charles Airhiavbere (rtd.) who has since crossed over to the APC. On the side of the PDP, it has been relatively low but there are indications that Senator Ehigie Uzamere who became the first Edo South senator to serve two terms could soon jump into the fray upon increasing pressures on him from stakeholders. Also believed to be eyeing the ticket are Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former secretary to the state government and former representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.

Also waiting in the wings is the still undisclosed candidate of the Dr. Sam Ogbemudia led Edo Mass Movement, EMM. However, the nomination of Dr. Osagie Ehinare from Edo South may have altered the permutations as advocates of power shift are now pointing out that it could well put that senatorial zone to the disadvantage of all others. They point to the fact that the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is also from Edo South and that adding the governor from that region could be against the principle of federal character.

However, that lobby is yet to get full traction given the opinion by some of the leading stakeholders from the state.

Senators Matthew Urhoghide representing Edo South and Francis Alimikhena, Edo North spoke on the issue in phone interviews with Vanguard.

Repeated efforts to get Senator Clifford Ordia representing Edo Central, remarkably, the zone that stands to benefit in the event of a change in the permutation were not successful. He did not respond to text messages and calls to him on the issue.

We can't dictate for Buhari — Alimikhena, Edo North senator since 2015

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HE zoning of the positions came before the ministerial slot, governor was zoned to the South, speaker zoned to Edo Central, Deputy Governor to North, but now that they have brought the minister from Edo South...

The president said he chose somebody that he likes, and I am not even aware that the leadership of the party in Edo South were the ones that nominated the nominee. It is the president’s prerogative to nominate who he likes.

You should bear in mind that everyone is looking for how to win the poll, the south are saying that it is their turn to produce the governor even though they produced the minister while the Central

is saying that it has not finished its term. You see because of this even though the PDP was to choose somebody from the central before, they have now decided to choose somebody from the south and you know this is because of the politics of numbers and this could pay for the south.

Besides, before the emergence of the ministerial nominees, it had already been decided to move it to the south.

Was there a formal agreement to that?

It was a gentleman agreement, and zoning is not what you can put down. Really, before the emergence of the minister it had already been agreed to shift it to Edo South. If we win the election, and the governor is from the same zone as the minister, we can now tell the president to think about it.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—27

By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

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HE judgement delivered on We d n e s d a y by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja which nullified elections in eighteen (18) local government areas of Akwa Ibom state has been causing a lot of discussion and confusion in the different circles particularly among supporters of the two p a r t i e s - t h e Pe o p l e ’ s Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress APC. But the tribunal decision dashed the high hope of the APC and its supporters in the state who had expected the whole election would h a v e b e e n c a n c e l le d following their alleged election irregularities in all the local government areas of the state.

The state chairman, Dr. Amadu Atai, who expressed dissatisfaction over the tribunal decision was quick to state that the battle was not yet over as the party would go for appeal.

Some of the party members were optimistic that the APC had won in Mbo, Okobo, Urue Offong/ Oruko, and Oron local government areas and wondered why those areas were not among those that were cancelled.

Widespread speculation However, the PDP and its supporters in the state seem not to be worried over the judgement as they continue to boast that they will win even if the courts cancel the entire election. Vanguard reliably gathered that the jubilation in the PDP camp is not unconnected with the widespread speculation that what Udom Emmanuel needs to scale through the rerun would not exceed one hundred and fifty thousand votes (150,000) which the party believes would not be a problem.

The PDP believes it will be able to realise that figure without stress from the few local government areas that were cancelled, particularly in Onna where the sitting governor comes from. The party is also hopeful of clinching votes in Eket and Ibeno where the party is believed to be deeply entrenched.

The difficulties of the APC flow from the fact that the party must win in about 17 out of the 18 local government areas to add up to what it already had for it to stand a chance of winning

•Udom

•Umana

Akwa Ibom Governorship judgment: More confusion The judgment of Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Tribunal has not pleased anyone the rerun and hence the party ’s decision to appeal

However the PDP and its supporters in the state seem not to be worried over the judgement as they continue to boast that they will win even if the courts cancel the entire election

the judgment of the tribunal. But there are other

people who are of the opinion that the strength of

THE 18 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS AFFECTED Nsit Ubium, Nsit Ibom, Ibiono Ibom, Uyo, Etinan, Udung Uko, Oruk Anam, Etim Ekpo, Ikono, Ini, Ibesikpo-Asutan, Nsit Atai, Eket, Ikot Abasi, Ibeno, Uruan and Onna.

New broom at INEC: Challenges and threats Continues from page 25 advent of the Fourth Republic is another issue that is bound to confront the new commission given constitutional imperatives of redressing the districts.

The ploy to use it as a political tool should be avoided.

Opportunities: However, there are also some opportunities which are coming the way of the new commission. The first is that the National Commissioners are not entirely new. They have the privilege of having two former acting chairmen of the commission; Prince Adedeji Soyebi and Mrs. Amina Zakari as returning national commissioners. Also present is Amb.

Lawrence Nwuruku who still has his mandate of about two more years outstanding.

The success of the last dispensation cannot be talked about without the contribution of Zakari and Nwuruku just as it will be remembered that Soyebi held forth at the Commission at the end of the tenure of the Prof. Maurice Iwu. Also, the use of the Card Readers and the Permanent Voter Cards for the conduct of elections will be assets that the new commission would be bound to retain. The commission would, however, have to design strategies to perfect the system to the benefit of all.

the two political parties in the eighteen local government areas may affect the outcome of the rerun as most of the affected areas form the major bulk of the population of the state.

However, as at press time, yesterday, the number of votes the sitting governor needs to win the rerun could not be established. The two parties meanwhile have since the judgment been bandying different positions on the total figures they need to outclass one another in the final result.

The issue of Governor Emmanuel still remaining in office after the Wednesday verdict is also causing considerable argument in the state as many are of the opinion that there will never be a free and fair rerun without the governor vacating his position.

According to a politician who did not want to be mentioned “As long as a sitting governor remains in power while a rerun is conducted there will never be a free and fair contest.

What is the need of the rerun then? So the sitting governor and his deputy should be made to step aside for the speaker of the State House of Assembly to take over until after the rerun.”

He described the Akwa Ibom state Governorship Election Petition ruling as unfair stressing that canceling the election in only eighteen local government areas, and with the sitting governor having 13 local government areas in his bag, and still remining in office was an advantage for the governor.

Advantage for the governor But the leadership of the APC in the state seemed not to be unaware of this fact as t h e s t a t e C h a i r m a n D r.

Amadu Atai told Vanguard on Thursday morning that they were not going to leave any stone unturned in redressing the judgment as he said his party would have won the election but for but for the irregularities.

Atai said the party would also proceed to the Supreme Court after the appeal to pursue the issue of removing the governor before the rerun election.

Although the ruling appears to have calmed the heightened tension that surfaced in the state prior to the judgment, many are yet worried about what the outcome of the rerun would pose to the peace of the state.

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28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 — 29

*Tony Umez •Tony Umez

My pain, my joy as an actor — Tony Umez •Why I can’t star in Igbo film HE came to limelight in 1994, after featuring in the blockbuster movie, “Died Wretched: Buried in N2.3m Casket”, and since then Tony Umez has remained one of the most bankable actors in the Nigerian movie industry. However, following the role he played in the soft porn movie, 027,which was released in 2013,Umez incurred the wrath of his fans who were unhappy with his involvement in the movie. But in this engaging interview, the actor talks about the making of that movie, and why he doesn’t feature in an Igbo film.

By Benjamin Njoku

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Y face missing on screen in recent times!

I don’t know what you mean by missing on screen! But if I have to agree with your observation, I am back on track. The industry is evolving and younger actors are springing up everyday.

But that doesn’t mean, I haven’t done some jobs in recent times. It’s just that I haven’t been as prolific as I used to be in the past. I have been involved in other projects. Nonetheless, I am back in the industry.

Whether scripts no longer come my way For an A-list actor who used to feature in about thirteen to fourteen movies per year, if he starts C M Y K

featuring in about four to five movies, his face would cease to be regular on screen. That’s why you said, my face has been missing on screen. It wasn’t actually missing on screen.

Living my dream after debuting in Nollywood in 1994 “Died Wretched: Buried in N2.3m Casket, “ wasn’t my first movie. But it was the movie that brought me to limelight. As an actor, I am more focused and disciplined now than ever before. But contrary to what people believe, an actor is the most disciplined person on earth. It has also made me more rounded as I play different characters in movies. My world view has

changed too. I don’t see things from just one perspective. I used to read a lot and I’m still maintaining that culture of reading. The industry has also made me to understand that life itself is transient, and not all that glitters is gold.

Why I have not featured in any Igbo film I don’t speak nor understand Igbo. It’s a long story which I wouldn’t want to talk about now. It’s sad but there is nothing I can do about it. In fact, the little I understand is as a result of my wife. My wife is from Okija.

I am from Ogidi in Anambra State. I speak English and Efik fluently because my mum comes from Cross River State. I grew up in Lagos and as a result, I speak Yoruba too. I have done some Yoruba movies. I have also done an Efik movie. It is not as if I never had Igbo friends while growing up. But I thank God for His mercies. I have never for once run away from my roots.

My colleagues’ reaction over my inability to speak Igbo My Igbo brothers know that I don’t understand Igbo as much as I should. They are very accommodating and it doesn’t make me a worthless person or alienate me from them. They respect me for who I am, and I respect them for who they are. Basically, they don’t discriminate against me. That I don’t feature in Igbo films is because I am not very fluent in speaking the language.

What prepared me for what I am doing today Basically, nothing prepares you for anything. But education is very important. When you are educated, it means you are trainable. I read English as well as International Law and Diplomacy, as first and second

Continues on page 30

30— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

‘What starring in soft-porn movie ‘027’ taught me’ Continues from page 29 degrees respectively, at University of Lagos.I did some courses in drama and participated in command performances. So, I wasn’t new to production, but I was new to commercial production when I came into the industry. But at the time I graduated from the university, I wasn’t thinking of becoming an actor.

I wanted to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time. Then there was an embargo on employment. I embraced my first course of study- English and started doing private tutoring until 1994, when I featured in a church movie. The movie got me stagnated. But in 1995, I did my first major movie, “ Chief Ikenga” which was directed by Steve Aginoche.

I played the lead role in the movie. Interestingly, I met my wife while starring in that church movie. She played my wife in the movie, and to God be the glory, she is my wife today. We have been married for about 21 years now. We courted for five years, from 1994 to 1999, before we finally walk down the aisle. I am a one woman man.

To God be the glory, I don’t have any scandal in the industry at the moment. I love my wife and I love my family. I don’t want anything to interfere with the peace, joy and happiness that I share with my family.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t paid any fee after featuring in my first two movies. We negotiated but till date the producers did not pay

•Tony Umez me a dime. As a result, I left the industry because I felt it wasn’t a place I could survive in. I returned to the industry in 1997, featuring in a movie titled, “The Princess.” After which I starred in “Died Wretched: Buried in N2.3m Casket,” in 1998. I have been relevant in the industry ever since then.

The role I played in that softporn movie, 027 It is something I wouldn’t want to discuss now because there has been a lot of brouhaha about the film. So many misconceptions. I did a movie, and I didn’t see it as soft-porn. Those who are labelling the film as ‘x-rated movie’ have not watched, till the end. They only watched the

trailer and concluded that it is soft porn. I read the script, which was written by one of the very best in the industry Dami Joe Efe Young. It was a wonderful script.

The lady in question played the lead role in the movie.

It was a 2-hour movie, but people are focusing on that particular scene which just happened. And it wasn’t as if there was sex on set. Everything was basically make-believe. It was made to look real and people believed it too. I don’t blame them because they have their own opinions while I have mine.

It wasn’t as if there was sex all through the movie. It was just an aspect of the whole movie. The movie generated a lot of controversies when it was released. Some people commended it while many others were against it.

I received some foreign calls, commending the movie because they watched it till the end. But a lot of people who criticized it watched only the trailer online.

Like I always tell people, I have weathered the storm and I have moved on.

My wife’s reaction It wasn’t pleasant news for her because she is a woman. But like I said before, I have weathered the storm, and I have moved on as an individual, and my family has moved on too. May be, what it had taught me is to be more circumspect in the things I do. I should not just look at the creativity embodied in a script.

But I should also look at the societal reaction to it.

Diamond Platnumz, Yemi Alade, Sarkodie, others for AFRIMA

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EADING African music stars including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Diamond Platnumz, Casper Ynovest, Yemi Alade, Charlotte Dipanda, AKA, Olamide, Stanley Enow, Davido, Stonebwoy and 162 other African superstars confirmed attendance for AFRIMA 2015 in Lagos.

In celebration of African music and culture, the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in league with the Africa Union Commission (AUC) has announced AFRIMA 2015 nominees and the multiple awardwinning male choral group from South Africa, Ladysmith Black Mambazo to lead the invasion of over one hundred and sixty two (162) African superstars who have confirmed their attendance at the 2015 AFRIMA Awards slated for Sunday, November 15 at Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ladysmith is arguably the most decorated male group in Africa, having won multiple awards including four Grammys in 1988, 2004, 2009 and 2013 respectively. Formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960, the group had been singing together ever since. However, it was Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s collaboration with Paul Simon in 1986 for the Graceland album that brought it the much C M Y K

needed international acclaim.

Confirming their performance at AFRIMA Awards, band’s manager, Majozi Christopher Zolisile, stated: “AFRIMA 2015 will be staged in November which coincidentally is the month for Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s 55th anniversary. It will be amazing and electrifying to perform on a big stage like All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2015 in Nigeria. We are looking forward to it.”

Other artistes billed to perform at the award ceremony include Yemi Alade from Nigeria, who broke records with her hit single, ‘Johnny’ in 2013. Her counterpart from Cameroon, Charlotte Dipanda, an Afro pop singer, who has worked with Congolese singer, Papa Wemba and provided background vocals for Manu Dibango, Rokia Traore and Axelle Red will also grace

*Yemi Alade

the AFRIMA stage. The duo of Diamond Platnumz, a Bongo Flava recording artist and dancer from Tanzania and Olamide from Nigeria will set the stage on fire at the AFRIMA 2015. Both have won numerous awards.

Other artistes and nominees that that have confirmed attendance from Eastern Africa include Vanessa Mdee, Bebe Cool, Tsedenia, Alikiba,etc.

First evictees leave Glo’s Dance with Peter reality show

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HE first set of dancers to be evicted from the Globacomsponsored Dance with Peter reality TV show will leave the Academy on Saturday, tomorrow. After last week’s performance, the duo of Captain Z and Mannaseh, G-Stream and Ernest Smiley, Snipe and Tom Tom and Fearless and Ricky recorded the lowest score from the judges. Followers of the show will find out during last telecast which of the dancers have been saved by the voting public and which will exit the competition.

The theme of their performance was “Latin American Dances” and the 30 finalists danced in pairs. Since there were 17 men and 13 women, some of the boys ended up as pairs. Even this proved not to be a disadvantage as the male pairs waltzed and glided on the stage to the salsa beats just like the male and female partners. No matter who leaves the show Saturday Dance with Peter has not only offered a rare platform to budding dancers to pursue their dream but also provided entertainment lovers one super hot show to look forward to watching every weekend.

The judges, Peter Okoye, Kaffy and Don Flexx have also applauded the talent so far seen in the show. Peter told the eight dancers who are up for eviction that they had made him proud and that he was sad to see some of them go. He enjoined them to make use of everything they had been taught in the competition and use it to better their skills. “Even though you guys are going now, I don’t believe you’re losers. Ensure that you make use of everything we’ve taught you in here, and if you do that, you can even be better than those that are still in the competition,” Peter said.

Globacom urged viewers to tune in to Africa Magic Urban (Channel 153 on DSTV) at 7 p.m. on Saturday to find out the dancers that would leave the competition and also watch the remaining dancers entertain and fight to stay on in the academy.

Those who miss the action can look forward to watching it on African Independent Television (AIT) on Sunday and on MTV Base on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. It added that voters stand a chance of winning fantastic prizes including Iphone 5 handsets, Glo internet wifi and modems as well •Snipes and Tom Tom as Glo recharge cards.

I sing to give hope to the hopeless — Calebin

By Anozie Egole

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E may not be your everyday music star, but Calebin,as he is fondly called by his fans has come a long way in the Nigerian music scene. He debuted in the industry about 13 years ago, and has since carved out a niche for himself as a singer with a huge difference. In a recent chat with WG, Calebin took a swipe at what he calls ‘the discriminatory attitude of some established music stars and producers’ against the up and coming ones, pointing out that the ugly trend is affecting the growth of the industry.

He described the music industry as being ‘stereotyped,’adding that “If given a chance, he would change the mindset of renowned producers and artistes. According to him, “This is because of the fact that some of the ‘top musicians are making things difficult for the up and coming artistes. For instance, it’s difficult for an up and coming artiste to feature an A- list

star in his music video.”

Talking about his music, Calebin said, he sings to give hope to the hopeless in our society. “I have been in the music industry since 2002. It has been a long walk to finding my voice in the industry,” he added.

*Calebin

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 — 31

Technology meets Fashion:

Damaris Solaris bags come with charging unit

By Juliet Ebirim

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.

Naeto C thrills fans at the event

Fit for shopping: Yudala launches Gyming with the stars

By Laju Iren

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T’S very easy to be lazy in the twenty first century.

When you can perform practically every chore online, you have less reason to move about, and more reason to be sedentary. Everyone loves convenience, but there is a down side to it; less motion means less exercise, and with less exercise comes a variety of health challenges.

It is for this reason that online and offline retail chain, Yudala recently launched a new Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative to promote fitness, wellness and entrepreneurship among Nigerians.

Tagged ‘Gyming with the Stars, the event which held in Lagos also doubled as the unveiling of YUBOSS, an entrepreneurship scheme targeted at jobs and wealth creation for Nigerians in partnership with Access Bank Plc and Airtel. The well-attended

event which kicked off by 7am witnessed a work-out and light jogging sessions anchored by fitness instructors and ace comedian Ali Baba who doubled as compere and held the crowd spell-bound with his ribcracking jokes. In addition, popular artistes Iyanya and Naeto C were on hand to add to the excitement, thrilling the crowd to several with songs from their collections.

The event also featured a wellness talk by a healthy living expert Miss Julie Nwosu, inspirational tips on wealth creation in the 21st Century through YUBOSS and auction sales on a wide range of genuine products from the biggest brands: Smart phones, Computers, Laptops, IT equipment, Consumer Electronics and Lifestyle goods, with bidding starting from over 90% off actual product prices. Star products of the day were the Phillips Air Fryer and Smoothies, latest

healthy lifestyle products from the brand.

Expressing his delight at the unprecedented turn-out and instant acceptance of the YUBOSS scheme which had many participants signing up at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, Yudala Nigeria – Mr. Dave Ibelegbu noted that the company is committed to empowering Nigerian youths to become the masters of their own destinies, while setting new standards for the retail business in Nigeria.

“Going by our bold entry into the market and unique business model – a fusion of online and offline retail – Yudala has raised the bar in terms of service and product delivery today. It is important to state here that we are here to stay.

We are a corporate body with a conscience, a clear road-map and a mandate to contribute to the growth of the Nigerian economy. ‘

OLAPO Otunla’s statement in the fashion industry might seem conclusive with the three heeled and aluminum OYSBY Shoes; but, one must not underestimate the power of a fashionable, yet geeky, female engineer who has taken a bold step into the future of the fashion world by designing the Damaris Solaris.

A perfect fusion of technology and fashion; the Damaris Solaris bags offers the user room to look professional and be in tune with fashion trend.

The bag is built using only high quality materials and is properly handcrafted using fine stitching and a solid construction which enables the bag to endure high levels of daily use while maintaining its good looks.

The clipping mechanism which is made from a solid and durable metal enables the bag to withstand constant opening

‘Nigerian consumers are internet friendly’

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By Richard Udofia

HE President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, NIRA, Engr.

Sunday Folayan, claimed that the Internet of Things, IoT, has brought positive impact on the country as the economic pattern of consumers in the value chain is gradually embracing the use of technology in their daily transactions.

Speaking to Glamtech, Folayan said that both IoT and the next generation of technologies and solutions would continue to make positive impact on Nigerian businesses and economy in general.

“The country now attracts more foreign direct investment from global firms, infant industries are gradually developing to competitive firms, investors are also buying into the current policies by the new administration, it is worthy of note that the internet has brought numerous positive impact to the nation,” he noted.

C M Y K

He recalled that a Nigerian online store was reported last year to have made impressive sales on a boxing day alone, which was more than the annual sales of the average store for the entire year. This development, he claimed, is an example of the positive impact that the internet has brought to businesses in the country.

Although, he pointed out that IoT would allow Nigerian businesses do more, with less human errors and minimum manipulations.

Because of the revolution taking place in the pattern in which business and other economic transaction are being sourced, he predicted that in the future, “vechicles will report risky driving patterns to the insurance companies directly, so that good and decent drivers will get better premiums directly, without anyone assessing them.”

.

Damaris Solaris bag

and closing.

Measuring up at 28cm high, 50cm wide and 10cm deep; it’s the perfect size that suits many needs with two large zip pockets and three internal compartments, the bag provides ample space for individual use.

Every Solaris bag comes with a built in charger unit, which can be fully charged beforehand via a mains-socket in under 3hrs; hence, providing a full charge for up to two handheld devices. The charger unit can also be topped up by the integrated 13x12cm Solar Panel which can charge up to 2 phones (and a tablet) at once that allows the user to get the most out of their devices.

Inspired by the need to combine her skills as an engineer with her flair for fashion, Dolapo designed the leather solar bags to provide added functionality in bags, initiating a lifestyle concept in which people make purchase decisions based on both style and function.

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

Lagos First Lady advocates permanent residency programme for IDPs

By Dotun Ibiwoye

T

HE World Habitat Day should serve as a call to all Nigerians to commence the provision of a permanent home for Internally Displaced People, IDPs, the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Patience Ambode, has said.

The First Lady who argued that the camps, churches, mosques and other abandoned buildings presently accommodating the IDPs were only temporary structures, stressed that a permanent structure was essential because vulnerable women and children constituted over 1.5 million of Nigeria’s displaced persons.

Displaced persons Speaking at an event organised by Ecologistics Integrated Service Limited in conjunction with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, and SESOR Empowerment Foundation and Partnership For A New Nigeria, in commemoration of the World Habitat Day 2015, the First Lady, represented by L ASEPA’s Director, Mrs Onisarotu Adetola, said from the records, there were thousands of informal IDPs also in Lagos.

According to her, if issues pertaining to IDPs were not addressed adequately and timely, every Nigerian will be affected in the future.

“The issue of accommodation and food for the IDPs seem to be in the forefront but we must think of a permanent residency for them too.

As we celebrate this year ’s World Habitat Day with the chosen theme ‘Our Cities & the IDPs’ with focus on ‘Checking Nigeria’s Urban Habitat Vulnerability through Actionable Habitat Initiatives for the Nigerian IDP’, we are reminded that as a nation, we face huge challenges resulting from people who have been forcefully ejected from their homes,

The issue of accommodation and food for the IDPs seem to be in the forefront but we must think of a permanent residency for them too.

communities and states.

These people are mainly the vulnerable group children and women,” she said.

She went on: “IDPs are people who are forced to abandon their homes and move to other homes or locations due to acts of war, terrorism or extreme weather conditions. They are called internally displaced because although they have left their homes, they are within their home country. When such people cross the boarders of their country, they become refugees. So, because they are still within our borders, we must find a lasting solution to their major problemaccommodation.”

The First Lady also questioned the long term plans made for orphans among the IDPs, most of whom had lost their parents to the insurgency.

According to the President of Ecologistics Integrated Service, Dr Paul Abolo, the collective wellbeing of Nigerians needed adequate management and IDPs must be taken into cognizance to ensure that the camps did not translate into slums, thereby compounding population problems.

•The First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Patience Ambode

Summit recommends free, compulsory education for girl-child

By Funmi Olasupo

T

he just concluded summit on women and the girl-child has recommended free and compulsory education for girls in Nigeria as well as the domestication of the Child Rights Act to better defend and advance the interest of the girl child In a wide ranging communiqué issued at the end of the summit in Abuja which drew hundreds of participants from across the country, the summit underlined the urgency for the authorities to address issues of concern to women and the girl child including violence and rape.

The forum, organised by the National Centre for Women Development, NCWD, posited that there was need for government at all levels to ensure free, Onyeka Onwenu, NCWD boss C M Y K

compulsory and retentive education for the girl-child up to secondary level and the establishment of special schools for the girlchild with special needs in all the states of the federation.

The communiqué also advocated for the promotion of vocational skills as an add-on to formal educational and entrepreneurship programs for young girls/boys.

Entrepreneurship programme In line with the aforementioned, the communiqué also introduced the sustenance of the school feeding programme at the primary school level, changing and reviewing the school curriculum to reflect technological advancement, as well as providing laboratories

and adequate teaching facilities.

The forum also frowned at the current high rate of rape cases and called for the enforcement of relevant laws on rape to ensure that culprits are quickly brought to justice.

In another development, viewing the current security situation in the country, the summit also wants adequate provision of security in all schools in the country to protect the youth and the vulnerable.

The forum as a matter of deliberate policy urged federal government to ensure the establishment of Gender Units in all military and para-military formations and strengthening the capacities of officers through continuous training and retraining.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—33

Rape Alert!

By Itoro Eze-Anaba

H

I readers, this is hopefully going to be the beginning of a long relationship with you where I will tell you about one of the dangerous societal problems confronting us right now- rape and sexual violence of children, women and boys/men.

We have been reading about cases of children and women being raped but nothing about boys and men. Rape of boys and men is also on the increase in Lagos. Also on the increase is gang rape. These are societal problems that people are reluctant to discuss, but believe me is assuming epidemic proportions. Homes are being broken and relationships destroyed because of these issues.

What has my experience been? What is happening in other jurisdictions? How are we dealing with these issues here? What is the Lagos State government doing?

In the past 10 years or more, I have been working on the issue of rape and sexual violence, especially on providing a better legal framework for prosecution of these cases. Lately I have focused on working with the survivors, providing free counseling and medical services to hundreds of survivors, some as young as 10 months and as old as 70 years.

More than a decade of experience has provided me enough material which I hope to share with readers.

Insight and learning points Advocacy visits to schools where I talk to pupils and students have also provided me with more insight and learning points on this issue. Teachers, pastors, fathers, cousins, neighbours, drivers, security men, “uncles”, bosses are all potential abusers of children but more heartbreaking is the case of a father sexually abusing his own daughter. Where does the child go for protection?

Almost every one you talk to knows someone (or knows someone who knows someone) that was sexually abused as a child or as an adult.

Some live in denial, choosing to suffer in silence, maybe for their own protection. Others want justice for the pains they went through but do not want to be stigmatized. I expect feedback since these are issues destroying individuals and homes.

I hope together, sharing your experience with me, we will bring relief and peace to someone out there. In the coming weeks, you will read about heart rendering stories of children, babies too, girls, women and boys who have been raped and sexually molested by people they know and TRUST, people who should be showing them love.

If you have any story to share or know of anyone that needs help to deal with this trauma, please do not hesitate to get in touch no matter how long ago the incident had occurred.

C M Y K

Stars behind the Strong Girl remix brand

Strong Girl Remix: Artistes urge world leaders to focus on women empowerment A

By Juliet Ebirim

S new global goals are announced that could end extreme poverty within a generation, the cream of Africa’s music stars are proud to announce the release of a brand new remix of ‘Strong Girl’. This contagious anthem for women’s empowerment first got the world dancing in May this year.

The mix of 14 male and female stars, in partnership with ONE, recorded the new version to show that women’s empowerment is a song that everyone – men, boys, girls and women – must sing.

‘Strong Girl’ features vocalists Waje (Nigeria), D’Banj (Nigeria) Victoria Kimani (Kenya), Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania), Banky W (Nigeria), Arielle T (Gabon), Diamond (Tanzania) Gabriela (Mozambique), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Selmor Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe), Judith Sephuma (South Africa), new talent Blessing Nwafor (South Africa), and U2’s Bono. The video stars Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Nigeria).

The artistes called on all governments to place women and girls at the centre of global and national development commitments in 2015. This year, as the Millennium Development goals (MDGs) come to an end, and the new global goals for Sustainable Development come into force from September 2015, these new goals will set the agenda for development for a generation, and could see us be “the great generation to end extreme poverty” as Nelson Mandela once said.

There has been some signs of progress, with the African Union, AU, Heads of State Declaration

committing to address the fact that Poverty is Sexist earlier this year.

Now this remix has the 14 stars singing in chorus, asking world leaders to do the same – and pledge to tackle the poverty of sexism which affects the entire planet.

Actress Omotola, who supports the cause and features in the anthem said: “This remix shows Strong Girl is a song to be played on repeat, because the message of lifting up girls and women cannot be played enough and is relevant across the globe. We know that in 18 nations, men can legally stop wives working and in 46, there are no laws protecting women from domestic violence. To change this situation it is important to have men and women stand together to call for an end to the violations of women.”

Strong Girl was originally written and recorded by Arielle T,

...the message of lifting up girls and women cannot be played enough.... To change this situation it is important to have men and women stand together to call for an end to the violations of women

Blessing, Gabriela, Judith Sephuma, Selmor Mtukudzi, Vanessa Mdee, Victoria Kimani, Waje and Yemi Alade in April, and released on May 13th.

Strong Girl remix featuring top female and male artists not only amplifies the song’s powerful message that when you focus on women you help everyone – it shows that men and women must join forces to ensure that there are strong girls and women everywhere.

Women's empowerment The remix which features D’Banj, Diamond, Banky W, was produced

by Cobhams Asuquo, and retains many elements of the original song. Bono, lead singer of U2 and co-founder of ONE, also lends vocals to the track.

Speaking about the remix, Nigerian top music act D’Banj said: “Being a part of this new version is an honour. It is important for me to use my music to help change the world, especially for those who need our voice the most. This remix is amazing – I want every one of my fans to dance to this tune, and dance for women’s empowerment and call for gender justice too!”.

This effort is part of ONE’s Poverty is Sexist campaign, which calls on world leaders to implement smart policies and target investments in the health, education and economic empowerment of women and girls which will unleash their human, social, political and economic potential.

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

37 year old Female teacher wins Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year

By Esther Onyegbula

T

HE quest for the best teacher in public secondary schools in Nigeria came to a glorious end at a grand ceremony in Lagos on Monday as a 37 year-old teacher from Anambra State, Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi, emerged winner of the maiden edition of the Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year.

Obi, who is equally a daughter of a teacher, teaches Mathematics and Chemistry at the Federal Government Girls College, FGC Onitsha. The year 2000 graduate of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Anambra State, beat nine other finalists to the coveted prize. The ten finalists who slugged it out at the final lap, were winners from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Imo, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States.

The first runner-up was Mrs Binta Mohammed Lawan of Federal Government College Maiduguri, Borno State, in the war ravaged North East, while her counterpart from Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Daniel Sunday Udiong emerged as the second runner-up.

The award instituted by Maltina, the non-alcoholic malt brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, is courtesy of Nigerian BreweriesFelix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. It is aimed at restoring the pride of teachers and the dignity

Mr. Daniel Sunday Udiong, Second Runner-up, Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year Award; Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Nkemdili Obi, Winner, Maltina Teacher-of-theYear Award; Prof. Pat Utomi; one of the judges and Mrs Binta Mohammed Lawan of Federal Government College Maiduguri, Borno State, First Runner-Up, Maltina, Teacher-of-the-Year Award. of the teaching profession.

For their effort, the national winner got one million, and one

Obi will also be sent abroad for professional training on the bill of Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund

million naira will be paid into her account annually for five years.

Obi will also be sent abroad for professional training on the bill of Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, just as the Federal Government College Onitsha, Obi’s school, has also become an instant beneficiary of a block of six classrooms.

The first runner-up got one million naira plus another five hundred thousand naira finalists’ prize money, while the second runner-up took seven hundred and fifty naira and another five hundred thousand naira for getting to the finals.

Speaking after her declaration as winner, Obi, who spoke ex-

temporal for more than ten minutes, dedicated her victory to God and her fellow teachers. She also thanked Nigerian Breweries, for the great honour and motivation done to teachers and the teaching profession. “Teaching is a noble profession, it is a calling and it is a commitment to building the nation. I thank God today for my life, and I thank Nigerian Breweries for restoring the dignity and pride of teachers,” she said.

In his welcome remark, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde explained that the company operates with a philosophy of “winning with

Nigeria” and has championed causes that add value to the society since its inception in 1946. “In 1994, we raised the profile of our support of the education sector when we established the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund to enable us to contribute to the development of the sector.

Everywhere in the world, teachers play a vital role in sustainable national development by training, coaching and modeling which is critical to determining the quality of education, “he said.

He added that the valid entries received were subjected to an intensive selection and judging process by an independent, external panel of judges to ensure transparency, credibility and objectivity.

The Panel of Judges which comprised eminent Nigerian academics and professionals, was chaired

by Prof. Pat Utomi, Founder/ CEO, Centre for Values in Leadership. Others included: Mrs. Mopelola O. Omoegun, Professor of Education, University of Lagos; Prof. Thomas I. Ofuya, Vice Chancellor, Wellspring University and Member, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities; as well as Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman, Editorial Board, ThisDay Newspapers. Other members are: Dr. (Mrs.) Abdulrahman Binta Fatima, National President, All-Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools; and Professor Tijjani Abubakar, Dean, Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University.

Health workers, Nollywood actor create health awareness

By Anino Aganbi

H

EALTH, they say is wealth. For a lot of Nigerians, without wealth you cannot get sound health. The economical situation of the country has so dwindled that it has become a hardship for the average person to feed at all.

Eating a balanced diet has become a tall order. Do we have to go back to our villages to enable a typical Nigerian eat right?

How can a person who cannot afford to eat two meals a day think of two square meals? Can the mother of two who struggles to feed her children on a day to day basis afford to cook right when the prices of food stuff have gone right through the roof? How can diseases be combated when there is no food in the stomach?

These are issues that have warranted a close look even as the government makes budget for the senate or the house of representative. If the people die of starvation, who would they lord their offices over? Enabling C M Y K

people overcome or battle such life altering disease should be a top notch priority with the Nigerian government. It is not enough for a nation to battle corruption. Do you preach to a hungry man not to steal or be corrupt? A lot of issues have to be redressed to enable even the grass root people live a free and healthy life.

Awareness programme Health workers in Ajegunle, Lagos, while partnering an NGO headed by Nollywood actor popularly known as Polypompom, recently held an awareness program for diabetic men and women.

Relief materials and appropriate foods were given out

by Polypompom who ensured that while the medical teams were doing everything possible to save the lives of diabetic patients, patients had a role to play in knowing what to eat, drink and having the tools to enable them check their blood

sugar.

Polypompom stated that diabetes was not limited to women only.

“The major aim of this program is to create awareness on diabetes among people. There is an adage that says you discover to recover. At the grassroot level, you would discover that a lot of people believe diabetes is caused by sugar, not realizing that starchy food is the main cause of diabetes. In this part of the world, a lot of people do not know what they should eat as balanced diet. You would discover that people of old found it difficult to have such ailments because of what they ate. As a body, we are trying to sensitize people about what to do when in times of their crisis. It was discovered that 95% of Nigerians have diabetes. As an organization, we make provision for the availability of medical relief items so the patients who are a part of this body receive free medical test,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Mrs Oluyinka Sijuade said: “Our

association with an NGO prior to this showed us they were only interested in making profits and not caring for the sick. We discovered that while we were trying to find a solution for patients, others were using us to make money. It became obvious we were dealing with people who did not have the heart of charity. This pushed us from one level of strategy to another and we ended up where we are. We believe in finding solutions to problems. This project is not a

...a lot of people believe diabetes is caused by sugar, not realizing that starchy food is the main cause of diabetes

money-making project but a solution proffering one.”

She further lamented that a lot of people were guilty of being careless with their diet.

“Nobody will tell you to stop a bad diet because your body will resist you or it might put you in such a situation that you would have to find a solution to it on your own. This is why we encourage self participation. It is also why I involve my clients in programs planned for them. If as a woman you are a home builder, you must do things that will prolong your life and promote your health. You must make edible food available at home at all times. Because of time constraint, there is hardly enough time for any Nigerian woman to eat properly or indulge in cooking healthy so she falls back on junk food.

“The more you age, the more the system slows down its activities. The body no longer regenerates and the cells die every day. You must eat appropriate diets that are rich in vitamins, proteins and minerals.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—35

NIGERIA AT 55!

The making of a truly great black African nation-state

By Larry Koinyan

B

ACKGROUND: It seems it is axiomatic that the man of colour is destined to be perpetually “the fetcher of water and hewer of wood.” It also seems axiomatic that the man of colour seems to accept that that really is his pre-ordained, destiny. Some will even go so far to support this position by saying that most of the poorest nations in this world are in Africa.

This proves nothing. Besides the Almighty God created all men as equals and for some preordained purpose. It is left to each group of people to take their destiny in their hands, either in pursuit of their own self designed wayward ways or humbly along the path preordained by the Almighty God Himself to show forth His glory.

Thus there is a purpose for creation itself as well as a specific purpose for each created entity and person. Should the man of colour not then take a cue from the mind-boggling natural and mineral resources the continent of Africa is endowed with to know where his destiny lies? In our own specific case in Nigeria in our own self-designated wayward ways, after over 100 years of coming into being as a nation, we still do not seem to have a clear idea of what we want to be as a people and as a nation.

Major achievement We wake up every morning, surprised that we still exist as a nation. We even elevate survival as a major achievement. For the pleasure we seem to derive in taking active part in the national pastime of undercutting one another as a people and as a nation at every turn, should it be a surprise that we still exist as a nation?

As a people and as a nation who seemed not to have set any particularly high national purpose for us to aim at, should it be a surprise that we have elevated survival to the level of a major national achievement, in spite of our mind boggling human, natural and mineral resource base.

Our destiny is in our own hands. Let us from now on, with Nigeria at 55, make the right choices and take the right decisions and follow the right path to take our rightful place in the front seats in the comity of nations and association of societies and in any gathering of peoples and organizations anywhere in the world to make our country Nigeria and all men and women of colour proud, to

the glory of God. Vision: Against all conventional wisdom and in spite of ourselves, to see our dear country Nigeria being transformed and sustained as a truly great Black African Society and Nation-State.

Mission: To put in place, contextualize, give life to and make functional, effective and sustainable in our country Nigeria all the ingredients and positive characteristics of truly great nations, societies and institutions of the world.

Strategy: First, we go back to basics by seeking knowledge through: •Identifying the ingredients and characteristics of truly great nations, societies and institutions of the world in times past and as of now and as these are distributed according to the known groupings of the areas of development action whose combined sum transmutes to national power and prestige, e.g. nation building; state building; civil society evolution/ development; social development; economic development; political development; the prudent management of the physical environment; cultural evolution/ development; moral, ethical and spiritual development; defense, intelligence and security; national survival; diplomacy, foreign policy and international relations; grassroots communities and rural development; infrastructural provision and maintenance; maintenance of law and order; conflict management and resolution and peace building; science, engineering and technology, information and communication technology; research and development, indigenous technical knowledge; etc.

Technical knowledge •Identifying the detail components of each area, and for each area we further identify the actors and change agents as well as its major and minor stakeholders and strategic partners and well-wishers. For example, in nation building who are the actors and change agents, who are the stakeholders, who are the development partners, who are the well-wishers.

•Distilling this body of knowledge and extract, contextualize, adapt and adopt what we need, to produce a specific and unique Nigerian brand of African greatness in each area of development action and whose total sum will be comparable to other world

President Buhari

Map of Nigeria acclaimed brands of greatness in other continents. To keep it tight we also identify our indigenous actors and change agents who will help us produce this unique brand of our target African greatness, our Nigerian stakeholders that will keep our actors and change agents on their toes, and our strategic nonexploitative partners and wellwishers who will urge us on with their vital contributions as we strive towards our goal.

•Seeking knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment we identify the qualities and characteristics of the people, the societies and the institutions of great nations: their range and power of vision; their focus, patience, perseverance; their harmonious relationship; their coherence, tolerance, mutual respect; their understanding, spirit of forgiveness, compromise; their inspirations and aspirations; their worldview; their ideals and ideas, concepts, principles, value systems and attitudinal orientations; their work ethos and ethics; their unity of purpose and action; their national morale and political will; etc. that propel them to transform themselves and their nations, societies and institutions to greatness.

•Distilling, extracting, contextualizing, adapting and adopting, innovating and where possible improving on these personal/individual, societal/ group and national

Let us make the right choices, take the right decisions and follow the right path to take our rightful place in the front seats in the comity of nations

characteristics to help us build our society, institutions and nation to greatness.

To this we should add, giving of the best from our hearts, minds and spirit, the best qualities and characteristics that underpin, undergird, reinforce and motivate what we ourselves think, what we write, what we do, what we say as individuals, as groups of peoples, as associations, as institutions, as a nation, etc as we strive to build our truly great Nigerian Society and NationState, for indeed a very large number of Nigerians also hunger for a truly great Nigeria.

Mind boggling resources This is a hunger reinforced by the frustration of the paradox that our nation is still in a sorry state at 55 in spite of its mind boggling resources and the availability of all we need to know to make our country a truly great Black African Nation-State.

Stopping to ask why true greatness has continued to elude us. As a necessary condition for true and sustainable greatness we must now take remedial and corrective action on all already well known and identified shackles that have held us down, since the after effects from the days of slavery and colonialism, through the pre and postindependence and military governments eras, up through to this present democratic dispensation; not to forget the undermining reality of neocolonialism and the seductive trap of globalization as well as the fact that we are a people apart in a very divided and divisive nation.

Now we come to the crux of the matter. We ask: Do the majority of us in this country, not just those who hunger for it for patriotic reasons and not just those who thirst and salivate for it for their selfish reasons, really, really want to be citizens of this nation? ; Do we want to live in it in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign (Nigeria) Nation under God…” and not just because our Constitution (a man-made document) says so? If the majority of us really want to, will the majority also agree that we make this country a truly great Black African Nation-State,

comparable to any other great Nation-State in any other part of the world? It is very important that we resolve these two issues before we proceed any further because a lot of work will be involved.

If the majority resolve both issues in the affirmative, we then lay out a very detailed roadmap and decide in practical measurable terms, with milestones, how we should actually move from where we are now to where our agreed target Nigerian brand of greatness says we should be in each component of each area of development action that has been identified in and for each epoch.

From the above detailed roadmap of our commitment to achieve true greatness, we task all the already identified actors, change agents, social engineers, development activists, stakeholders, etc with what each should do, where, to what standard, with what resources, how, for what purpose, for whose benefit, within what time frame; etc to achieve the agreed desirable results for each component of each area of development action and coordinate them towards true national greatness and its continually increasing national power and national prestige.

National prestige We then get into the serious business of doing all that we need to do as a people and as a nation to strive towards achieving our target of greatness and when we get there to strive even harder to sustain and remain at that level to continue to be competitive at the world stage.

Apart from allowing ourselves to be led by the fear of God and putting all our heart and all our mind and all our strength and all our soul into this effort, from now on we should without fear or misgiving, judge all we do, say, think and write by the yardstick of whether we are moving towards target milestones or moving away from them or even worse, retrogressing.

The above requires the setting up of an efficient and effective performance monitoring, analysis and evaluation system as well as putting in place a near

Continues on page 36

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

The making of a truly great black African nation-state Continues from page 35 real time overview system to check/ ascertain progress, focus, sustainability and competitiveness. Now the big question; With whom do we domicile this potentially ground-breaking national effort? With the people? how? With civil society? how? With government? how?

Remember, government has led us since independence! We, the people, including civil society have as much a claim to our country, Nigeria, as those who are in government. It is everyone’s birthright.

Everyone's birthright In the interim, can the media organize itself and take temporary custody of this effort? Or do we set up a Board of Trustees, comprising a group of very knowledgeable, non-controversial, cool headed, highly respected, very broad minded, highly principled, very patriotic Nigerians to oversee this long overdue effort; overdue since our flag independence in 1960? This is without prejudice whatsoever to what this present Government has in stock for the nation.

This nation needs a lofty, all embracing long term positive target to strive towards, not the usual short term goals we pursue at the instance of government as well as Government’s knack for policy somersaults, directional change or even complete abandonment of strategies and goals for capricious reasons, laced with petulance and outright impunity from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, let the transforming of our country, Nigeria, into a truly great black African nation-state be this lofty, all embracing long term positive target, under which we should judge in terms of value addition, all we do, say, think or do not do, say or think as a people, as a society and as a nation.

Meanwhile a number of things we all know, need to be emphasized: • T h a t transforming our country Nigeria into a truly great Black African nation-state is not for us Nigerians alone. It will be a great boost for our immediate ECOWAS SubRegion, for our continent Africa, for all of the w o r l d ’ s demographic black race and for our children’s We need to children and g e n e r a t i o n s take this following them, huge and even for the national task whole world.

•That the away from majority of us, We the People, seem the to have forfeited stranglehold our birthright to be active of partisan participants in politics the development

of our country, the direction this development takes, including even decisions that directly affect our livelihoods and survival. There is just far too much dependence on government, including allowing government and its agencies to take us for a ride, times without number. We should reclaim our birthright for all of us to be active change agents in the development of our country.

•That the absence of an all embracing and ever inspiring yet attainable and sustainable national purpose has not helped matters, indeed rendering our ship of state virtually rudderless. It is hoped this effort contributes to fill this near tragic omission.

•That the absence of a clearly articulated national interest to reinforce the national purpose as well as the absence of nationally accepted strategic culture/core values to keep us on the proper track to pursue the objectives of our national purpose and national interest could easily be some of the underlining causes of the ever sorry perennial state of our national affairs.

Love of nation •That as a people and as a nation and at both the level of our leadership and followership we need to have and show far more love of nation. We also need to have far more confidence in ourselves and in our nation and learn to undermined and overwhelm ourselves and our nation far less.

•That as a people and as a nation we are very uncoordinated, everybody working in virtual isolation: government, the people; government at various levels, communities even in the same local government area or even of the same ethnic stock in the same neighborhood, not to talk about the major hegemons virtually ever at each other’s throat and at the jugular of the nation or the elite ever ready, it seems, to pauperize and traumatize the downtrodden masses and to subvert the nation, with the support of that part of the international system that thrives on exploitation. We also lack continuity and perseverance as a people, as a society and as a nation.

•That we need to do something very drastic to greatly improve our currently very low level of personal, group, institutional, societal, and national disciple.

•That we need to take this huge national task away from the stranglehold of partisan politics. We need to make it a truly national effort to which we can all contribute to the best of each individual’s ability, capacity, state in life, role, function: All Nigerians, with any drop of Nigerian blood, male, female, young, old, all tribes, all tongues, in whatever place of abode in Nigeria, in diaspora; civil society, all its components; Government, all its branches, tiers, all their components; the media, in all its configurations, electronic, print, social, secular, religious, any other; The organized private and informal sectors, the large army of the unemployed, the physically challenged; all professions, development activists, social engineers, Change Agents, etc.

To be concluded

Only Buhari can a avver ertt this crisis Dear sir HE Ndokwa nation is the second largest ethnic nationality in Delta State and home to the largest deposit of Non Associated Gas (NAG) in Nigeria and second largest in West Africa. It was this large gas deposit that led to the establishment of the Okpai IPP. The Independent Power Plant located at Okpai is a joint venture project between the Federal Government and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). The plant is the first of its kind on Nigeria. It generates 480MW of electricity of which 450MW is

T

Posers for ministerial appointees Dear sir

A

S Nigeria is poised to have a new set of ministers, it is imperative to have an agenda for these distinguished honourables, who would mann the ministries.

I will like to start with the Ministry of Health. The minister has to set a standard for the delivery of healthcare in the country. He should be responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social services.

The Ministry also has to formulate a good health policy as well as develop policies for the practice of Traditional and Alternate medicine in the country. This can only be attainable through positive thinking, good planning, and energetic vision.

Nigeria’s education sector has to be looked into, because the decline in this sector is alarming. The Ministry has to draw up strategies, policies and plans for reforms and development. It should also draft relevant rules and regulations and supervise their implementation.

It should take charge of the overall planning, coordination and management of all forms of education at various levels. With collaboration with relevant departments, the standards for establishing schools should be upgraded. The ministry should promote all-round development of compulsory education. There should also be macroguidance and coordination of compulsory education to direct the regular senior secondary education, preschool education and special education.

It has to provide the basic documents for teaching in +elementary education organise examinations and approve unified course materials for elementary education. I expect the ministry to be able to provide guidance for the development and reform of employment-oriented vocational education.

The Ministry of Power is saddled with the responsibility of implementing renewable energy programmes/ initiatives, conducting statutory tests and certification of electrical materials before they are used on grids and networks in Nigeria. The minister should also make sure there is constant power supply in the country. This would boost the productivity of SMEs, thereby reducing unemployment.

Lanre Akinbobola, Lagos.

plowed to the national grid.

The plant was commissioned in April 2005 by President Olusegun Obasanjo who on the agitation of the youths led by the national leadership of Federated Union of Ndokwa Students led by Jude Dike (National President) and Chimennma Okolo (Senate President) for the step down of electricity from the IPP for the Ndokwa people gave a Presidential Directive to Agip and NNPC to step down electricity for the host communities.

However, the NAOC has blatantly refused to obey the Presidential directive.

This led to a renewed agitation anchored by the Ndokwa Youth Congress led by its President Chimennma Okolo. The Ndokwa Youth Congress partnered with the Organisation of Ndokwa Leaders of Thought led by Prof. BIC Ijomah and the Abuja based Organised Ndokwa Effort led

by Ossai Udom. This led to series of correspondences with the relevant agencies such as NNPC, NAPIMS, the Senate President, the Speaker House of Representatives and the Late President Musa Yar’Adua and even NAOC. The youths under the Ndokwa Youth Congress had earlier issued an ultimatum to shut down the IPP but the elders led by Prof.

BIC Ijomah waded in and appealed to the youths for calm.

Environmental groups This led to the youths adopting a more peaceful protest approach. This approach attracted the interests of international environmental groups and NGOS who in August 2011 sent a high powered team to Ndokwa land and made a documentary of the sufferings going on amongst our people.

It is shameful that the Environmental impact Assessment Report commissioned

by NAOC had recommended after a thorough comparism of the thermal plants in Ekapremire and Ogorode that electricity be stepped down for the host communities within 50 km radius. According to the Report this will reduce community company conflicts. It therefore means that ` the NNPC knows the right the NAOC and steps to take but have deliberately refused to take because of the peaceful nature of the Ndokwa people. It must be stated that at any point of agitation for the step down of power from the IPP, the response has always been a high handed approach of using the security operatives to harass and intimidate the people.

It’s the height of injustice for the IPP generated in Ndokwa land in Delta State to be stepped down in Obosi, Anambra state with nothing for the host communities and host state. This IPP serves nine states and the FCT, yet the host communities whose lands were taken, environment destroyed and livelihood halted are left without benefitting therefrom. It’s even more painful that the Okpai community is been washed away as a result of the dredging carried out before the setting up of the IPP. This sad situation will no longer suffice. Given the recent 21 days ultimatum given to AGIP, The Ndokwa youths seem to be determined to end this era of injustice. That is why President Buhari should urgently intervene to save the nation from another crisis.

Edward Onyejuwe, Obiaruku, Delta State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOMBER 23 , 2015—37

Pension assets hit N5.03trn, says PenCom U

By Tom Moses

YO — N AT I O N A L Pension Commission, PenCom, yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said the pension assets had hit N5.03trillion, even as the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, described the diversion of pension fund or its misappropriation by public officials as the height of man’s inhumanity to man.

The governor who spoke at the South-South Stakeholders Sensitization Conference on Nigeria’s Pension Reforms Act 2014, held in Uyo, said misappropriation of pension funds by public officials was criminal, evil and should be treated as such.

Represented by his deputy, Obong Moses Ekpo, Governor Emmanuel contended that such act did not only deprive hardworking citizens from accessing their due benefits but further aggravated frustration among such individuals which could lead to their untimely deaths.

He said: “This is the height of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man even as it amounts to a crime against the state. This is more so because pension is a reward for all the toils and sacrifices of the working man and woman. Every worker builds great hope and

expectations on pension after retirement from active service but prior to the Pension Reform Act of 2014 in Nigeria, pensioners had faced hard times trying to access what was supposed to be their benefits.

Pension management was bedevilled with high rate of corrupt practices, lack of transparency due to nonreliable data base of pensioners and huge amount of money were expended on verification exercise

which further complicated the situation and made the scheme more cumbersome.”

Governor Emmanuel urged stakeholders at the conference to strategise and provide the needed template for a successful implementation of the new Act as well as new vistas that would be both enforceable and enduring in all ramifications.

Also speaking, the DirectorGeneral of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo

Anohu-Amazu, disclosed that the fund had generated over N5.03trillion worth of pension assets invested in various sectors of the Nigerian economy She however lamented the partial implementation of Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, by states in the SouthSouth geopolitical region of Nigeria, which she said had denied such states the obvious advantages of the scheme.

BIRTHDAY: From left: Engr. Musa Yinusah, Engr. Edwin Omoregbe (Benin Branch Chairman of NSE), Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Edoror and Engr. F. N.Ogbeide, at the birthday celebration of the Speaker, in Benin City.

Presidential panel on bailout for Federal MDAs submits report Workers to receive backlog of salaries and other benefits soon

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

I

NDICATIONS emerged yesterday that workers of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, would soon be paid their backlog of unpaid salaries and other benefits, as the Presidential Panel on Bailout for federal public servants has submitted its report.

Vanguard gathered that as news filtered into the Federal Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday that the panel had completed its assignment, there was jubilation round the secretariat complex.

According to sources, the outstanding benefits to thousands of public servants in MDAs included salary arrears, promotion arrears, from one to 28 days allowance on transfer from posts, repatriation allowance and allowance for mandatory training orgnaised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF, in 2010.

Already, expectations are now high that salary arrears and allowances will be paid in a matter of days to the affected workers who have been passing through difficult times

due to the unpaid benefits.

Confirming the development, Secretary-General of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, Alade Bashir Lawal, who is a member of the panel, commended the OHCSF for delivering the report on target.

He said: “We must also

express gratitude to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Cement Illoh, the Chairman of the panel, for the manner he steered the affairs of the committee. In particular, our special thanks also go to President Muhammadu Buhari for directing the compilation of

the arrears and allowances of the Federal workers. We urge him to continue to play his fatherly role by directing the release of needed funds so that these outstanding salaries and allowances can be paid in the next few weeks to put the entire sordid story behind us.”

Edo retreat for top officials prepared govt to finish strong —MAYAKI

By Amarachi Chukwudi

E

DO State Government has insisted that the recent retreat for its top officials has prepared participants and drivers of state policies with new strategies to deliver the desired objective to finishing strong.

Reacting to comments by an analyst on a television programme in Benin City faulting the retreat for Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries outside Edo State due to paucity of funds in the country, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. John Mayaki, said: “I think the commentator needs to be educated that the affairs of government are not conducted on the basis of public opinion.

We have had retreats organized within Edo State in the past, but let me quickly add that the term retreat on its own is enough to justify why it was not held within the precinct of Government House as critics would want to advise.

"For clear understanding, a retreat is a period of seclusion from family and work, solitude to a changed location and a period of group withdrawal for meditation to undergo change in thinking or in a position especially to restrategize, reassess and reposition. It must satisfy its condition of inviolable privacy.

“To suggest that the retreat was a waste of state resources in a financially precarious situation is to accept defeat in ability to generate fresh and novel ideas

which could lead to a second term fatigue. Certainly, this retreat was not worthless. The well-planned retreat has the potential to deliver a range of tangible and intangible benefits that will ultimately make this administration productive, better equipped to finishing well by reaching the strategic objectives of government. There is no doubt that the retreat has generated goodwill and a sense of community among the permanent secretaries and commissioners; this achievement is unquantifiable.

I also think that the retreat was worthwhile, especially so towards the end of the tenure and during tough economic times. It is never a bad idea."

Oil firms to partner Rivers in job creation

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— TWO oil firms have expressed willingness to partner with the Rivers State government to reduce unemployment in the state.

Speaking at a round table in Port Harcourt, Country Manager, All Land Offshore Services limited, Mr Wilfred Inobeme, said his firm and Avic International Offshore were set to create a robust economy in the state through job creation.

He lauded the federal government for steps taken to improve security in the country, noting that the effort would encourage investors to invest in the country.

He said: “We are all here to see possible ways to improve on the economy and to create employment in Nigeria at large. The reason for this strategic meeting is to improve the Oil and Gas industry as All Land Offshore Services has acquired new technology licenses in the area of Oil and natural gas exploration."

Oil theft'll cost Delta Ijaw zero% derivation — DESOPADEC commissioner

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—TRADITIONAL rulers in Ijaw communities in Delta state have been charged to exert their authority in eradicating oil theft in their domains as the trend, if not checked, would cost Delta Ijaw nation zero% derivation in spite of the vast oil resources in their communities.

The Commissioner representing Izon nation in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief Favour Izuokumor, gave the charge during consultation visits to Delta Ijaw royal fathers in Warri and environ.

Izuokumor, the Fiewei of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, told the monarchs that, "not only is pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering polluting our communities and endangering our lives, if the act is not stopped, Izon nation may end up getting zero allocation from the Federal Government’s derivation returns."

The commissioner, who donated two 18-seater buses to Gbaramatu and Ogulagha kingdoms during the visit, hinted that under his commissionership, nonperforming contractors will not be awarded contracts for DESOPADEC projecteds.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 , 2015

Tension as mobile policemen from Kogi State invade Enugu community

By Emeka Mamah

E

NUGU—THERE is tension in Etteh, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State following the invasion of the area by some mobile policemen from the neighbouring Kogi State.

Enugu State Police Spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the invasion to newsmen in Enugu, yesterday, saying however that they were on top of the situation.

According to the member representing Igboeze North 11 in the state House of Assembly, Tony Ogidi, trouble started in the area when about 120 policemen from MOPOL 37, Lokoja, led some hoodlums in six Toyota Hillux vehicles to Etteh and began to loot and burn houses.

Altogether, about seven persons including a woman were shot by the alleged invaders and were said to be receiving treatment at various hospitals at Enugu Ezike.

Ogidi, who was accompanied by the Administrator of Igboeze Northwest Development Centre, Chief Emmanuel Alachi stressed that the policemen also shot some people even as the hoodlums raped young girls and married women.

“I am from Etteh and I represent my people at the Enugu State House of Assembly. We are from Enugu and not Kogi State. There is no reason why policemen would invade an area which is outside their jurisdiction to foment trouble.

“There are 25 primary schools, two customary

courts, seven secondary schools, five autonomous communities with their traditional rulers in Etteh, and the area had always been in Enugu State.

“We appeal to the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to intervene in this matter and find out how policemen would leave Lokoja, the Kogi State capital to destroy properties and burn houses

in Enugu.

“As we speak to you, all the schools and government offices in Etteh are closed as people now sleep in the bush to evade torture and arrest by the invaders.

However, reacting to the development, the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Amaraizu said, “We have received the report and we have intervened."

Contractors plead with Buhari over non-payment

By Bashir Adefaka

S

OME OF the construction companies that handled various road works in the country, particularly in the South East, under the immediate past government have again cried out to President Muhammadu Buhari, begging for intervention in their nonpayment matters.

They said the nonpayment for works done three years has not only led to downsizing of the workforce but also that the companies themselves are now on the verge of being closed down.

Mid September, these contractors, in a report published by Vanguard, had cried out over the same issue. That came following complaint by the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers, NUCECFWW, in which the union raised an alarm over the looming consequences of persistent downsizing of workers by the contruction companies. At that time, the number of workers laid off was already, according to the union, 60,000.

A director at one the

construction companies, defended the lay-off of workers, blaming it on the the companies’ inability to continue to pay workers' salaries in a situation where works done were not paid for close to three years.

Speaking afresh in a message to Vanguard yesterday, he begged the four-month-old administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to “kindly come to our aid with a view to saving us from ruin, even if it will mean that bailout be extended to the sector so that all monies due to us will be paid and our retrenched workers will be recalled.

"These workers were retrenched not because they committed any offence but because the companies where they earned their living were being incapacitated by financial crisis resulting from nonpayment of works done for both federal and state governments. "Our fear is more in the sense that joblessness may increase insecurity and we want the President to look into our plight and the plight of our workers and their dependants,” he said.

ITDA sees potential in Nigeria's tech startups embrace opportunities in Nigerian economy.

…woos int'l investors

By Emeka Aginam

T

HE DIRECTOR General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Peter Jack has said there is growth in Nigerian technology startups, and called on foreign and local investors to invest in technology solutions developed by the startups.

While encouraging international investors to

Nigeria's Information Technology, IT, Jack insisted that such investment, would not only boost national development, but would also guarantee fast return on investment.

Jack who spoke with ‘Nigeria Day ’ at the ongoing 35th GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, explained that IT contribution to Nigeria GDP has doubled in the last five years from 4.5 per cent to 10 per cent, with signs of contributing more to the

This is even as the Chief Executive Officer of Teledom Group, Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, while addressing foreign investors, assured them of safety of their investments as well as quick return, should they increase efforts to tap from the investment opportunities that abound in Nigeria.

Jack explained the need to invest in technology startups in Nigeria, adding that young technology startups from Nigeria were capable to disrupting the global technology space.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—39

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40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

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2FACE'S BIOGRAPHY: From left—Renowned actor and former Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Richard Mofe-Damijo, RMD; 2Face's wife, Annie; pop icon, Innocent 2face Idibia; Publisher, NET and Editor of 2Face's biography, A Very Good Bad Guy, Ayeni Adekunle; ace comedian and book reviewer, Alibaba Akporobome, during the book launch in Lagos.

GLO FEST: From left—Comedian, Okey Bakassi; a guest and Glo Business Director, Mr. Dare Oyewole, during the Glo Laffta Fest in Ikorodu, Lagos.

FACE OF NIGERIA: From left— CEO, Angeleyez Media, Ozoya Salami; new Miss Face of Nigeria Angels/Miss Heritage, Blessing Eze Gold, and compere, Desmond Hans, during the presentation of prize to winner of Face of Nigeria Angels Beauty Pageant in Lagos.

VISIT: Ovie of Mosogar, HRM Samson Omene (middle); Flag Officer Commanding, Nigerian Naval Logistics Command, Oghara, Delta State, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (3rd left); and members of the first naval detachment (platoon) to the area, during the monarch's visit.

AMVCA: From left—Channel Head, Maisha Magic East, Margaret Mathore; Head Judge, 2016 AMVCAs, Njoki Muhoho; Regional Director, MNeT West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu and PR Manager, MultiChoice Tanzania, Barbara Kambogii, at the 2016 AMVCAs briefing in Kenya.

SYMPOSIUM: From left—Chief Executive Officer, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Dr. Stella Okoli; Chairman, Aart of Life Foundation, Chief Taiwo Taiwo and Professor of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. David Ndetei, at a symposium organized by the foundation in Abuja.

RESOURCERY/CISCO WORKSHOP: From left— Cisco Collaboration Team Lead, Africa, Bola Adegbonmire; Executive Director, Business Development, Resourcery, Andrew Ejoh; Marketing Manager, Cisco West Africa, Morenike Alder; Head IT, Capital Alliance, Kola Asa, and Solutions Manager, Business Collaboration, Resourcery, Olugbenga Adanlanwo, during the Resourcery/Cisco workshop in Lagos.

WORLD CHEF'S DAY: From left—Executive Chef, 3-Azeez Restaurants and Lounge, Chef Habibla Iddo; Executive Chef, Nestle Foods, Chef Maric Punshanic; Executive Chef, Chef Me Consult, Chef Usman Bello, teaching pupils of Ilupeju Primary School how to cook, during the Nestle Healthy Kids programme in commemoration of World Chef's Day in Lagos.

PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—41

A SPECIAL PROJECTS UNIT PUBLICATION TRIBUTE TO MR INTEGRITY

The life and time of late Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode, OFR, D.LITT The remains of Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, OFR a distinguished administrator, a motivativational speaker, Chairman of Nigerian Stockbrokers Limited, Pillar Oil Limited and Director of many Blue Chip Companies will be committed to mother earth today.

The measure of a life well lived is not in how much money one had or possessions one accumulated but rather the lives you touched with love, affection and understanding. We can proudly say that Deacon Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode lived a good life full of inspiration. Onosode whose sterlig qualitues earned him Mr. Intergrity gave his all to the service of humanity and contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. A role model of no mean status, Onosode has no doubt, created a unique foundation for future generationsto emulate.

By Adebayo Daniel

G

amaliel Offoritsenere Onosode, born on May 22, 1933 to Reverend Pinonock Eyekuonire and Mrs. EhierhebrayeOnosode in Ughelli, Delta State.He had his primary education in Ughelli after which he proceeded to Government College, Ughelli and then University of Ibadan. He emerged in the 1970s, as one of Nigeria’s most educated chief executives, at the helms of affairs at NAL merchant bank of Nigeria.

Over the years, he rose to become a leading boardroom player in Nigeria’s corporate environment.

A former President of the Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM (1979-82).

An Urhobo man, raised in Sapele a suburban city in Delta State by a disciplined father. Onosode while alive attributed his success to his strict family background as being a complementary factor to his success as a disciplined civil servant and corporate administrator.

Throughout his career, Deacon G. O. Onosode has chaired several private and public sector businesses and initiatives, in which he acted as directors in to almost 40 companies.

He was a Chairman of Dunlop Nigeria Plc (1984-2007), a former Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc (1977-93), the Presidential Commission on Prostates (1981), Nigeria LNG Working Committee and Nigeria LNG Limited (1985-90) and Niger Delta Environmental Survey (since 1995) etc.

Deacon Onosode was Presidential Adviser on Budget Affairs and Director of Budget in (1983). He was a Fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank He was also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and was elected to membership of its Board of C M Y K

the federal Mortgage Bank solely on its share capital.

He prided in his sojourn and experience at CDC which molded him. ‘Every other work he did on experience acquired was not dramatically new at the CDC. Onosode has a strong character and was a man of deep convictions.

He's believed to have picked these traits from proper upbringing by his parents and God’s interference in ensuring that he did not only get good training but also good examples to follow from his Baptist Minister father and mother.

He was Presidential Adviser on Budget Affairs during President Shehu Shagari’s second term in office, and blamed the country’s problem on corruption and lack of integrity including distress in the banking industry. There was widespread corruption, in the entire system. "And if there is widespread corruption you can never get anything right.

No policy can come up right", he had said.

He was the chairman of the Niger Delta Environment Studies project. He was the first indigenous Chairman/ CEO of Nal Merchant Bank and Chairman/CEO, Intercommerce and Consulting Associates Limited.

Primarily a business personality, whose career spanned different sectors of the Nigerian economic environment. Though, he was

•Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, OFR

Fellows in 1998.

In addition, Onosode was a past and inaugural member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, past ProChancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Uyo, past and inaugural President and Chairman of Council of the Association of Pension Funds of Nigeria. He is an honorary Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and holds an Honorary D. Sc. Degree of Obafemi Awolowo University (1990), the University of Benin (1995), and the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (2003) as well as Honorary D.D degree of the Nigerian Baptist Theological

Seminary, Ogbomoso (2002).

A man of integrity in all aspects of life, especially business and religious matters, Onosode commands high demand in corporate boardrooms and at public functions. At one point, Onosode was on the board of over 40 companies.

He attended the university of Ibadan and thereafter joined the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) through a highly competitive interview process.

He rose to executive assistant controller of the organization. But he quit on grounds of principles in 1965 when he disagreed with his employer’s decision to finance

A man of integrity in all aspects of life, especially business and religious matters, Onosode commands high demand in corporate boardrooms and at public functions. At one point, Onosode was on the board of over 40 companies

a part of a profligate democratic experiment which was the Nigerian Second Republic, Gamaliel Onosode tried to bring a disciplined approach to public finance.

Toward the end of 1983, when public confidence in the economic direction of the country was eroded and accountability was lacking in government subsidiaries and public enterprises, he was brought in to find solution to the lackluster performance of public enterprises, as the head of a Nigerian commission on public parastatals and to bring in a disciplined approach to government subsidiaries. · The offshoot of his honest and disciplined approach earned him respect from subsequent administrations. A report which was later tagged the Onosode report, an outgrowth of his role as the commission to review Nigerian parastatals was the first in the nation to tackle corruption comprehensively.

The industrialization drive and capital spending which dominated the oil boom of the 1970s and the early 1980 were adequately addressed by his report.

In 1995, he became the chairman of the Niger Delta Environment Survey, a non governmental organization that conducted scientific studies on environmental and social hazards by shell. The survey reports which apportioned responsibilities and blame for much of the environmental degradation in the region on oil operators, the federal government and communities has not been made public.

Deacon Onosode is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, and had contributed immensely to philanthropic and governing matters concerning the university. He is the former pro-chancellor of the University and chairman of its governing council.

He is a devout Christian who started Good News Baptist Church had in his sitting room on 1st Feb., 1984.

The Good News Baptist Church of over 3000 members and become a force to reckon with in the Nigerian Baptist Convention in terms of missionary and evangelism crusades.

Deacon Gamaliel Onosode was appropriately the inaugural Chairman of the Global Mission Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

In addition, Onosode has chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Nigeria’s oldest degree awarding theological institution, He slept in the bosom of the lord on the 29th of September, 2015, Adieu Mr Integrity! Adieu Gamaliel Onosode !!

42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—43

By Jude Njoku & Kingsley Adegboye

A

S relatives of the old woman who lost her life in the three-storey building which collapsed at Odunfa Street in Lagos Island mourn the demise of their loved one, fears are rife that more rickety houses in the traditional Isale-Eko neighbourhood would take their turn sooner or later. This is because the Isale-Eko landscape and other high density squalid neighbourhoods are littered with “coffins” which people live in as houses. Although the frequency of building collapse in the nation’s “centre of excellence” reduced in the dry season, Wednesday’s collapse raised fears that more rickety buildings may collapse in the area.

Isale-Eko, the traditional home of the Aworis in Lagos-Island, is well-known as the commercial nerve centre of Lagos. The vast area starts from Eko Bridge to Apongbon, Ebute Ero, Idumota, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Dosunmu Street, Idumagbo to Adeniji Adele Road. The area also includes Martins Street, Broad Street, Balogun Street, Oluwole, Mandilas and Tinubu Square.

Buildings in this sprawling neighbourhood are old and distressed.

Apart from cramped buildings which adorn the landscape, making accessibility to the area very cumbersome, Isale-Eko is notorious for its high crime rate.

In fact, it is the home of miscreants popularly called “Area Boys or Alaye” by Lagosians. Despite these ugly sides of Isale-Eko, the area retains its position as the commercial hub of Lagos.

Shylock developers Although a few new developments by Shylock developers are springing in the area, Vanguard checks reveal that most of these new buildings may not stand the test of time because of the substandard materials used.

1,104 buildings sealed in four months - LASBCA Responding to enquiries on how the state monitors distressed buildings, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LSBCA, Mr Shola Aderibigbe, an engineer, said the agency had sealed 1,104 buildings in the last four months.

One of such houses, particularly those at Isale Eko could house up to a hundred occupants.

Aderibigbe said, ”The structure that collapsed on Wednesday at Odunfa Street was already marked for integrity test with 14day ultimatum served on the owner.

“However, the residents usually refuse to comply with safety directives. The ultimatum had expired before the collapse. We asked them to conduct Structural Stability Test, SST, on the C M Y K

•Isale Eko in Lagos...begging for renewal

Isale Eko landscape of rickety buildings •One down, many others may soon follow •Scores still at risk building and they agreed. We were still waiting for them to conduct the test before the building collapsed. The test would have helped us ascertain if the building was distressed or not. Some buildings can be defective but it is only when the test is conducted that we are able to know if the building can be renovated or demolished.

“We had opened a file for that particular building. Marking a building does not mean we are demolishing because no building can be demolished until a test has been conducted or its stability ascertained. In the last four months, we have sealed 1104 buildings for lack of compliance. Some are illegal structures, while some are distressed.”

Residents recount ordeal: A young man who simply identified himself as “God is good,” said he lived in a dilapidated building at Odunfa Street in the heart of Isale Eko where the three-storey building caved in on Wednesday.

God is good who now resides in Eputu in the Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area, recalled his sojourn in Isale Eko, first as an apprentice trader and as a young man who was working hard to make both ends meet. According to him, the collapsed building at Odunfa Street was marked for demolition by the Lagos State Government several years ago but the owner of the property

would always “settle” the planning authority. He stated that although many houses in the neighbourhood are distressed, the residents have continued to live in them because they do not have the money to rent better accommodation.

LASURA’s efforts: Although the Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority, LASURA which was carved out as a parastatal in the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning in 1991, to facilitate the process of improving the living conditions in blighted areas through upgrading and empowerment of the communities, is trying to give Isale-Eko a facelift, their activities have often being misconstrued

If people discover certain signs like cracks, they should quickly call a structural engineer to inspect the building.

It is important to do this so that people can rest

One of the streets in Isale Eko by the residents.

Mrs Mary Ogele, a resident told Vanguard how LASURA took over the property where she lived. According to her, she and other tenants were paid N50,000 each by LASURA to look for alternative accommodation while the landlords were resettled in an an unidentified place. Many landlords, Vanguard gathered, were not favourably disposed to this arrangement. They allegedly hinged their fears on what transpired when the state government forcibly evicted occupants of Maroko in Victoria Island. Property owners in Maroko were relocated to Jakande Housing Estate, Ikota, which has today become a massive slum while Maroko was developed into a haven for the affluent. When Vanguard contacted the spokesman of LASURA, he declined to speak because he is on vacation. The General Manager of the Authority retired recently and the acting General Manager could not be reached for his comments.

Experts seek structural audit of properties: A former President of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, NIStructE, Mr. Kunle Adebajo, explained that most of the houses in Isale Eko were built several years ago hence they are now showing visible signs of structural weakness. He noted that even those buildings which were put up for residential purposes have been converted into storage and

other commercial uses, thereby weakening them. Adebajo advised property owners and residents of the houses to be wary of danger signs like cracks. “For anyone with property in that area, the best thing to do is to get a structural engineer to assess the building.

Structural engineer “If people discover certain signs like cracks, they should quickly call a structural engineer to inspect the building. It is important to do this so that people can rest. Ignoring signs such as cracks on the walls can be very dangerous. It could be likened to somebody having headache and ignoring it or just taking panadol without consulting a medical doctor,” he said.

The President of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, ATOPCOM, Mr. Moses Ogunleye, called for the implementation of the report of the Collapsed Building Tribunal which was set up by the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola. The tribunal submitted its report which was very detailed in 2013 but uptil date, the government has not come up with a white paper or implemented the recommendations of the Tribunal. He enjoined Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to dust the report of the tribunal, study it and implement its recommendations.

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23,

2015

Lagos traffic: When corruption fights back

By Emmanuel Abe

N

OW that the traffic situation in Lagos is improving gradually and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is fairly demonstrating his resolve to be his own man and lead the state of aquatic splendor with steady hands, it is important to revisit a few salient points that should put the knotty issue of traffic congestion in perspective and offer guidance on how to proceed.

In the heat of what would appear to be an orchestrated campaign against the Lagos State government, I had stumbled on one logical argument on social media, in which one Ifeanyi Ogbu had written a submission to argue that what was happening in Lagos and the sustained noise around it could only point in the direction of one thing – entrenched corruption within the system revolting against an attempt to sanitise the polity and give commuters some form of civilized treatment.

Mr. Ogbu titled his submission: Corruption fights back. I thought that was as apt as it was instructive. He first gave an insightful background to the issue: “For two weeks now, Lagos has been on lockdown due to the severe traffic jam that has enveloped the city. Unpredictable.

Undeniable. Unimaginable.

These are the words that have failed to totally describe the traffic situation in the Center of Excellence.

Traffic situation “Coincidentally, at about the same two weeks ago, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Monitoring Agency (LASTMA), was ordered to stop jumping into cars of traffic offenders or impounding their cars. They were instructed to book the offenders and let them go. This is what obtains in developed societies and is a conscious effort to remove human intervention from the process or, at least, reduce it to the barest minimum. It is not news that on the road, the LASTMA official is prosecutor, judge and jury. Meaning that “discussions” can be started and completed right there on the road in the comfort of the offender’s car. There have been cases of some unscrupulous officials following offenders to ATM’s in order to “collect the fine” for offenses committed.

“The interesting thing now is that since this order was given, LASTMA officials seem to have abandoned their posts. A few days ago I saw commercial buses “danfo” boldly parked at Lekki roundabout hustling for

•Traffic gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa expressway in Lagos

•Lagos governor, Ambode passengers to the detriment of other motorists. LASTMA officials were nowhere to be found. Only three weeks ago, No Danfo Driver would have attempted this.”

Mr. Ogbu then asked the million-dollar question: “Is There A Silent Protest By Aggrieved Lastma Officials? (emphasis his) Are they protesting an order that appears to have taken food from their table? If YES, then it’s working as Lagosians are already calling Governor Ambode all manner of names over the traffic situation. It appears Lagosians just want things to work irrespective of how it is done.”

This writer/commentator was right when he said “Under the former able Governor Fashola, everyone complained about LASTMA and the ways of some of its officials. Now Ambode is doing something about it and we all are shouting. I’ve listened to people say he should leave everything the way he met it and provide continuity.

Some even said he should go for tutelage under BRF.” But this writer saw the issue differently, saying his advice to Ambode is to insist on what he believes is best for Lagos. “He was voted

in to take decisions on our behalf and that, he must do.”

He then threw in the clincher, saying: “If this is a war between Ambode and LASTMA officials, then it is a war in which corruption is fighting back and Lagosians must choose which side they will fight on. I pray we don’t fight alongside corruption instead of fighting against it.”

As a Benin Cityborn Lagosian who has a fair idea of the history of traffic situation in Lagos, I thought Mr. Ogbu’s submission deserved more than a cursory look. Without a doubt, one could build a robust argument around the fact that Lagos is always a traffic mess during the raining season. This

is an incontrovertible fact, as a coastline city below the sea level, it should be expected.

Anybody who is familiar with big cities in China where traffic sometimes run bumper-tobumper for 48 hours, or in Mumbai and Bangkok would know that this is a mega-city feature that is not peculiar to Lagos. Fridays are even worse, with their inexplicable traffic complexities, especially on those days when the two big churches along the LagosIbadan expressway have their special retreats.

Needless to say that because this year was an election year, attention and perhaps funding for roads by the immediate past administration somewhat seized early, leaving many gaping holes and various degrees of decay on many roads. But then all these could have been gradually fixed as I believe they are being fixed without the orchestrated attacks on the governor if LASTMA officials had not been perceived to be complicit in their actions.

Apapa traffic debacle

When Vanguard newspapers in 2012/2013 decided to devote a full week to putting the madness on Apapa road on its frontpage, it was simply calling for a national attention to a federal road for which both the former governor and LASTMA were clearly helpless

And this is where the attention of the new Transport Commissioner must be: get LASTMA to work according to the vision of their employer or replace them with those who have the interest of Lagos state at heart!

Ambode has given an indication of how he wants citizens whose votes gave him the job to be treated without breeding an irresponsible citizenry; it is left for LASTMA to carry out the correct manner of enforcement. And by this, I do not think one is asking for a miracle. The Apapa traffic debacle was always there even when LASTMA was at its peak and it has always been an unwritten rule for people who

work on Lagos Island but live on the mainland to stay till 9 or 10pm once it is after 5pm due to heavy vehicular movement.

When Vanguard newspapers in 2012/2013 decided to devote a full week to putting the madness on Apapa road on its front-page, it was simply calling for national attention to a federal road for which both the former governor and LASTMA were clearly helpless.

All that Lagosians seek now is for those officials to be alive to their duties and earn their pay particularly during rush hours on the few notorious routes linking mainland Lagos to the affluent Island. Anything short of this would amount to sabotage for which the Governor must wield the big stick.

Economic realities It is gladdening that many roads projects are now being commissioned and palliative works are being done as a response to the cries of commuters. These will even improve further as the rains subside in few months. But a far greater challenge still looms: the influx of people into Lagos as economic realities bite harder in many other states that are unable to pay salaries. Lagos will become the Mecca of those looking for escape and this will further put pressure on security, road infrastructure and the limited purse of the state.

Only dutiful and incorrigible traffic management officers would be needed at that point to rescue the roads and commuters. Therefore, Ambode must either make an ideal lot out of the present crop of officers or find his reliable traffic lieutenants elsewhere. *Abe, a security and human behavior analyst, lives in Lagos

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 — 45

C M Y K

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 15 23,, 20 2015

Vanguard CLASSIFIED EKPO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Agezichi Ekpo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Agezichi Agada. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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Confirmation of name UCHE—This is to confirm that my name was wrongly spelt as Mr. Wilson Colony Uche, instead of Mr. Wilson Colony Ughe. I now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Wilson Colony Ughe.

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Correction of name EGERHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Egerhe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Egere. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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ABIA—I, formerly

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A G H A H O WA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Aghahowa Noghayin Maryjane, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okon Noghayin Maryjane.

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known and addressed as Miss Janet Abia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Janet Elegbede. All former documents remain valid. General

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 15 — 47 23,, 20 2015

Vanguard CLASSIFIED KOLAWOLE—I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Kolawole Olubukola Tayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyelola Olubukola Tayo. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Hospital Management Board and general public take note.

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BAKARE—I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Bakare Oluwatobi Mujidat Aina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oru Theresa Oluwatobi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to certify that Umukoro Juliana and Umukoro Favour is the same and one person but now wish to be known and addressed as Umukoro Juliana.

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EMEBU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliet Omoefe Emebu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Juliet Omoefe Icheghe. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Bar Association and general public please take note.

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ORIEME—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Orieme Clementina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogbogbo Clementina.

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OKPE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tessy Okpe, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Tessy Ochuko. All former documents remain valid. Police, Delta State University Abraka and general public please take note.

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Correction of name This is to notify the public that my name Eruieri Vero was wrongly written as Emuerhi Vero instead of Miss Eruieri Vero.

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IGBOERIKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Igboerika Cynthia Amarachi, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Agbaneje Cynthia Amarachi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Reconciliation of name This is to certify that the name(s) Oluchukwu Hope Okoye, Oluchukwu Hope Nwachukwu and Oluchukwu Hope Mbagwu refer to one and the same person, that I now wish to be known and addressed as Oluchukwu Hope Obinna-Eze. All former documents remain valid. Anambra State Court of Appeal and general public please take note.

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OGHAE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Evelyn Oghae, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jatto Evelyn.

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EKEMENEM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekemenem Obianauju Peace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Peace Gad Oyela. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

TOINPRE—I, formerly known and addressed as Jeremiah Toinpre, now wish to be known and addressed as Jeremiah Veronica. All former documents remain valid. Brass Local Government Council and general public please take note.

UMORU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rosaline Anidu Umoru, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rosaline Oscar Eme. All former documents remain valid. Health and Human Services Secretariat Nursing Division, Nyanya, FCT Abuja and general public please take note.

IGBEDION—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Igbedion Grace Amarachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Egheonyeha Ubaka Grace Amarachi. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and general public please take note.

EBUKAM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adaeze Yvonne Ebukam, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adaeze Yvonne Ojukwu. All former documents remain valid.

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EKWONYEABA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chikaodi Ekwonyeaba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chikaobi F. GaiusAhuekwe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADEYERA—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Adeyera Adedapo Adedeji Samuel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Okanla Adedapo Adedeji Samuel. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MARTINS—I, formerly known and addressed as Aibangba Efe, now wish to be known and addressed as Aibangbee Efe Martins. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BELLO—I, formerly known and addressed as Rasheedat Oluwakemi Bamidele Bello, now wish to be known and addressed as Rasheedat Oluwakemi Bamidele Lawal. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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EGBEJULE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Egbejule Gift Otsemaye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dikoru Gift Otsemaye.

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OODEE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eunice Bariwere Oodee, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eunice Freddie Idamkue. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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NWUMEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwumeh Patience Nchekwube, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwumeh-Chima Nchekwube Patience.

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48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OBIANERI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Obianeri Emmanuella Uchenna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okoro Emmanuella Uchenna. All former documents remain valid. Intercontinental, Lagos and general public please take note.

DIKORU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliet Dikoru, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Juliet Ayoyibo Iteku.

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OKPALANEDU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okpalanedu Chioma Maryjane, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okafor Chioma Maryjane. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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OGUBIO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogubio Oluchi Levi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluchi Ajie Onyekachi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONYEMAKONOR— I, formerly known and addressed as Onyemakonor Victor, now wish to be known and addressed as Onyeghaihu Victor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Reconciliation of Name This is to confirm that the names Mrs. Uzoma Helen Ogochukwu and Mrs. Okoye-Uzoma Helen Ogochukwu refer to one and same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okoye-Uzoma Helen Ogochukwu. All former documents remain valid.

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Reconciliation of Name My name is Egede Sunday, but during the 2012 Military Pension Verification Exercise, the Military Pension Board mistakenly inputted Ehiwogwu Sunday. This is to confirm that Ehiwogwu Sunday and Egede Sunday refer to one and same person. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and general public please take note.

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ADEDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sarah Eseoghene Adede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sarah Eseoghene Owhewhe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NOAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Noah Chioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chioma Ebisendor Olele Jones. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IPATOLO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Minnah Itoloumoere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Minnah Itolumoere Michael Akah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name These names Emmanuel Favour, Anuta Samson Efemena Iroro belong to the same person but now wish to be known and addressed as Emmanuel Favour. All former documents remain valid.

Convenant University Lagos, Living Faith Church, any authority it may concern and general public to take note.

Confirmation of Name These names Gbafade Doutimiareye, Eneye Ozeke belong to the same person but now wish to be known and addressed as Gbafade Doutimiareye. All former documents remain valid. United Bank for Africa, any authority it may concern and general public to take note.

SOLIU —I, formerly called and known as Miss Soliu Rashidah Temitope, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Rashidah Soliu Abeeb.

All former documents remain valid. Yaba College of Technology, Yaba Lagos , NYSC and general public take note.

OKEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluchi Olivia Okeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluchi Olivia Akor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGBAJE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Charity Nkeonye Agbaje, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Charity Nkeonye Asoegwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IFEBIGH—I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ifebigh Chiemelie Anulika, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. O n y e w u e n y i Chiemelie Anulika. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AZODO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Azodo Ngozi Anthonia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ray-Nebo Ngozi Anthonia. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IKEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Glory Adakole Owofu Ikeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Glory Adakole Owofu Tongha. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWACHUKWU—I,, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwachukwu Florence Chinyinwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aliliahuchaogu Charity. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABDULSALAM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abdulsalam Maureen Ahuoiza, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Atobotele Maureen Ahuoiza. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

A N E K W E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Anekwe Onyinye Adaorah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oladipo Onyinye Adaorah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MOJEKWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyinye Vivian Mojekwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyinye Vivian Nnaji. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGUBOSIM—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Agubosim Ogeechi Justina and Mrs. Aguson Ogeechi Justina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dimji Ogechi Justina.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

YOU CAN BOOK YOUR ADVERT AT: TRINITY MALL, 79/81 OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA. CALL: 08028289689, 08035449960, MURPHÝ'S PLAZA, 27, SANUSI FAFUNWA STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND. CALL: 08038092373, 08033163424

Commissioner urges Lagos pilgrim board to promote tolerance

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AGOS State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem Abdul-Lateef, has urged the state Christian and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to promote peaceful coexistence among Lagosians, irrespective of religion and social status.

Dr. Abdul Lateef, who made the call during a familiarization visit to agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs, urged the board's staff to be proactive by adopting a more friendly approach in their interactions with intending pilgrims and members of the public.

According to a statement by Mr. Kayode Oyekanmi, the ministry’s Assistant Director, Information, the commissioner said: “The era of doing business as usual is no longer in line with the vision of Governor Ambode’s administration in Lagos State.”

On her part, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Grace Oladimeji, who led other directors as part of the Commissioner ’s entourage, pledged the support and cooperation of staff towards ensuring the realization of the ministry ’s mandate.

3ra’fique partners Ali Baba in malaria campaign

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ORPORATE communications and public relations giant, 3ra’fique Communications, in partnership with ace comedian, Ali Baba, is set for the third edition of its Join the Cast Malaria Football Initiative holding Sunday, October 25 at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island, by 2p.m.

The event will have comedians such as Chigurl, Basorge Tariah Jr., Tee A, AY, Owen Gee, Omobaba, and many more battle a team of media personalities, including Frank Edoho, Yaw, Mannie, Oscar Oyinsan, Femi and the Gang, Jimmie, Patrick Doyle and others.

The CEO of 3ra’fique Communications, Mr. Irabor Okosun, said the project, which is carried out through its corporate social responsibility arm, Join the Cast, is part of their contribution to the United Nations campaign against the malaria scourge, adding “ we will keep creating, exploring and employing effective platforms to help us achieve this as well as the other S u s t a i n a b l e Development Goals, SDGs.” He said there would be free rapid diagnostic testing, RDT, Artemisilinbased combination therapy, ACT, treatments and distribution of long-

lasting insecticide-treated bed nets and insecticides.

Prof Uche is dead

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ROFESSOR of Mass Communication, Luke Uche, is dead. He died in Illinois, Chicago, USA, on October 6, after a long battle with cancer.

He is survived a widow, Joyce, four children and five grandchildren.

He will be buried in his country home Abayi, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State, Friday, November 6.

Burial

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HE final burial of Madam Nusirat Lawal (nee Bello), aged 78, who died May 18, comes up October 29, at 8, Oguntoyinbo Crescent, Hostel Bus Stop, Egbe, Lagos, by 10a.m.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—49

Banire charges Muslims on good neighborliness

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE

Muharram 10, 1437 A.H.

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Wisdom of Lukman for the Ministers

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VERY literate Muslim knows the wisdom and advice of Prophet Lukman to his son, as espoused by the Holy Qur’an in Chapter 31, verses 12 19. Allah intended it not just to be a mere piece of allegory, but to be a template for success in all areas of our endeavour. It is a guideline for better upbringing and especially for anybody saddled with the responsibilityofservicetohumanity.

This is because service to God and humanity require knowledge, advice, understanding and great insight and again, generic and spiritual advice will always offer the best solutions for man.

But we agree that the nature of human being remains unchanged.

And that was why Allah shows clearly the path of success and that of perdition. So, by following the footsteps of those who were successful is one great wisdom.

Thus, in the context of the new ministers waiting to be sworn-in, it is necessary to consider the wisdom of Lukman of the old to his son. President Buhari needs to sound it heavily to his Ministers already designated to follow the path of ritheousness, do what is right, and learn from the wisdom of Prophet Lukman.

Noble qualities Lukman, a wise man according to some traditions and Ibn Kathir said he maintained his honourable and noble qualities by, “Lowering my gaze, watching my tongue, eating what is lawful, keeping my chastity, undertaking my promises, fulfilling my commitments, being hospitable to guests, respecting my neighbours, and discarding what does not concern me. All these made me the one you are looking at.”

Respect is important between all classes of people. Nobody likes to be treated with disdain. If you show respect to people, you will be exalted. The mere fact that you have taken an exalted position does not necessarily confer exaltation if you lack it. God gives power and He withdraws power from whomever He wills.

The lesson of faith and loyalty is the first and that needs not be reiterated. The foundation of faith is an essential value we must strive to acquire as a believer. It also has a connotation of loyalty in this context.

And as a Minister designate from Lagos said: May your loyalty never be tested. "A believer as Minister must shun pride and arrogance.

He must remember that might and power belongs to God. God’s knowledge about the begining and the ending of any situation

is perfect. Anything that happens or will happen in this world is already known by God. God’s might is absolute and should not be questioned, challenged or ignored by anyone.

Enjoining good and forbidding evil is a responsibility on every believing Minister; rulers and subjects, men and women, each according to his or her ability.

Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand (by taking action); and if he cannot, then with his tongue (by speakingout);andifhecannot,then with his heart (by feeling that it is wrong), and that is the weakest of

Humility is a much desirable quality for any believer who is desirous of the mercy and compassion of Allah. Humility can guide one to Paradise, just as arrogance, can lead to Hell

faith.” Even the subjects must not run down their leaders. We must not shirk in our own responsibilities.

Lukman did recommend patience when dealing with people for this purpose and in all matters.

Prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib defined patience as “seeking God’s help”.

Remembering God and contemplating His greatness is the key to patience, and patience is a keytoParadiseeverlasting,therefore this was a wise advice indeed.

Do not act as if you are better than everybody else. Humility is a much desirable quality for any believer who is desirous of the mercy and compassion of Allah.Humilitycan guide one to Paradise, just as arrogance, can lead to Hell.

Satan’s arrogance or lack of humility caused not only his expulsion from Paradise but condemned him and his followers to Hell. Prophet Muhammad did not behave towards others as if he was better than they, nor did he spurn manual work. One of his companions reported that Prophet Muhammad worked happily with servants or workers.

Leaders will be known by the tracks they leave behind, no matter how short their stay in power.

Lukman advised his son to be humbly and not to crash into situations with heavy boots. Do not go about by blaring the sirens to intimidate and push others out of the road. Humility is the pathway to success.

We hope they will show humility, patience, righteousness and mercy in their actions.

LL Progressives Congress (APC) National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire, SAN has charged Muslims to uphold good neighborliness as a panacea for the evil plaguing the country, just as he commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the team he has put together as ministers.

He gave the charge in Lagos at a reception held in his honour for attaining the SAN rank by Muslim groups in state.

Banire said if all Muslims care about their neighbours that there will be lesser evil in the society,” It is the neglect of that divine responsibility that is part of the problems we are witnessing today, because if I care about my neighbor and he cares about his at the end of the day some of the ills of the society will also disappear.”

The Senior Advocate said through good neighborliness, Muslims will be able to also uphold truth and so, justice will continue to prevail in the society.

While thanking the organizers of the reception, Muiz Banire promised to continue to assist the less privileged in the society , adding that attaining the rank of SAN is not all about intelligence or brilliance but by the mercy of Allah.

Dr. Banire said the attainment of the SAN will spur him to do more in contributing his quota to

quick dispensation of justice in the country.

Muiz Banire while congratulating President Buhari for the team he has selected as Ministers urged the ministersdesignate to hit the ground running when they are sworn in because of Nigerians’ high expectations.

“I want to congratulate the President; I must commend him and thank God on his behalf as he has guided him as far as I am concerned, he has chosen great people and for us in the South west, I believe all those chosen are members of the first eleven.

“My advice for them is to continue to put in their best towards ensuring that the change that the people desire comes to fruition.”

The former Lagos state Commissioner for Environment said he does not see anything wrong with the selections of those picked by President Buhari, “there is nothing bad in recycling good materials, if it is a good product, I don’t see any problem with that.

“Mores, how many of those selected you can do away with?

Take the South West , is it Babatunde Fashola, Fayemi or even Shittu or the two professors or the former commissioner from Ogun state. These are good characters that are fit for those positions and these have been confirmed by the senate anyway.”

Ahmadiyya visits Sultan of Sokoto

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S part of its brotherhood initiative, members of the National Executive Council, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria, led by Dr Mashuud Fashola paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, His Eminence Alhaji Saad Abubakar in his palace recently.

The visit is coming as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria is set to celebrate 100 years in the country.

Dr Fashola used the occasion to brief the head of the Muslim community on the numerous achievements of the Islamic organisation in the areas of preaching true Islamic teachings, educational, health services and other humanitarian gestures among others.

This is the second visit of the Ahmadiyya leadership to the Sultan.

His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar in his response appreciated the uniqueness of the visit and stressed the need for unity among Muslims in Nigeria in the quest for propagating the true teachings of Islam.

He equally praised the remarkable efforts of the Jamaat in the propagation of Islam.

It will be recalled that the Ahmadiyya leadership had earlier visited the Secretary General of the apex Islamic body, Professor Ishaq Oloyede and other principal The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar (middle), Amir Ahmadiyya, Nigeria, Dr. Mashuud staff where Islamic issues in Fashola (3rd left) Maulavi Khalique Nayyar, Missionary-in-charge of the Jamaat (3rd right) and the country were discussed. others during Ahmadiyya's visit to the Sultan in Sokoto.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015—50

Clinton takes responsibility for T Benghazi *As Democrats describe probe as witch-hunt H ILLARY Clinton has said she took responsibility after an attack on a US consulate in Libya in 2012 that killed four Americans.

She told a Congressional committee that as secretary of state she introduced reforms to protect diplomatic staff after the attack.

Committee chairman Trey Gowdy said: “We owe them [the victims] the truth.” Mrs Clinton’s party says the Republican-led panel is a witchhunt trying to harm her presidential bid.

In her opening statement she said she had asked Chris Stevens, one of the four killed, to go to Libya as US envoy.

“After the attacks I stood next to President Obama as Marines carried his casket,” she said.

“I took responsibility, and as part of that before I left office I launched reforms to better protect our people in the field and help reduce the chance of another trage-

Hillary Clinton reacts to reporters’ questions as she exits the hearing room for a lunch break from testimony before the House Select Committee on Benghazi in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015. (REUTERS

dy happening in the future.” Mrs Clinton said her appearance was her way of honouring the

US raids ISIS stronghold in Iraq to free hostages

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NE member of a U.S. special operations team was killed during a joint U.S.-Kurdish operation to rescue hostages held by the ISIL

SWEDEN: Masked man kills two at school around 10:10 local time

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masked man armed with a sword has killed a pupil and a teacher at a school in Sweden.

The suspect, clad in black, apparently posed for photos with students ahead of the attack, in the western town of Trollhattan.

Two further victims, a pupil and a teacher, are seriously injured. The attacker was shot by police and has died of his injuries. He was 21 and resident in Trollhattan, police said.

The king has said Sweden “is in shock”.

Eyewitnesses described chaos at the school, with hundreds of students fleeing from the building screaming.

Police responded to an emergency call reporting an attack in the cafe area of the Kronan school, at

(08:10 GMT) on Thursday.

Arriving at the scene, they found a dead man - a teacher - near the entrance.

Two male students and another teacher were rushed to hospital. One of the boys has since died of his injuries.

The pupils’ ages were initially given as 11 and 15, but the hospital has now clarified that they are 17 and 15. It is not clear how old the pupil who has died was.

banned right-wing group in Bangladesh has issued a threat to media companies asking them to sack female employees, claiming it is against Islamic law for women to work in the media.

In its latest threat letter, Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), which has claimed the killings of four bloggers earlier this year, “urged the media to release their women from their jobs”.

Dhaka Tribune newspa-

fighters in northern Iraq, the first American known to have been killed in ground combat against the armed group, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said that U.S. special operations forces launched the operation at the behest of the Kurdistan Regional Government in support of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in Iraq.

“The U.S. provided helicopter lift and accompanied Iraqi Peshmerga forces to the compound.

Approximately 70 hostages were rescued including more than 20 members of the Iraqi Security Forces,” Cook said. He added that five ISIL fighters were detained and many more killed in the operation.

S/African university students charged with violence The demonstrations began last week at Johannesburg’s prestigious University of the Witwatersrand, and have since spread to at least 10 universities, forcing the closure of many of them.

On at least two occasions, police foiled attempts by the protesters to reach the headquarters of the governing African National Congress (ANC), pushing them

back to their campuses.

But the students regrouped and finally reached the building, named Luthuli House after South Africa’s first Nobel Peace Prize laureate Albert Luthuli.

The students sang and chanted anti-apartheid songs, invoking memories of the decades-long campaign which led to the overthrow of the apartheid regime in 1994.

Tur key tto o increase economic ties urk nesses in both countries with Nigeria successfully. “This new •Opens office in Lagos

By Chioma Obinna

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HE government of the Republic of Turkey has pledged to increase business ties with Nigeria.

Speaking during the formal inauguration of Turkish Honorary Consulate in Lagos, the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, noted that its new office in Lagos would serve as an opportunity for business promotion between Nigeria and Turkey.

Cakil, who noted that Nigeria is Turkey’s number one trading partner in Sub-Sahara Africa, added that the government of Turkey considers Nigeria a strategic partner in the area of business and economic de-

velopment, hence the decision to increase consular offices in the country from two to three.

The other consular offices are the Turkish Embassy, Abuja and the consular office in Kano.

Speaking at the event Cacil, said :”I have a positive agenda for opening an office in Lagos.

This office would be a target for us to exchange values and build adequate business partnership between Nigeria and Turkey in more years to come. Development of economic relations is one of the most important topics in my agenda as Turkish ambassador to Nigeria. I will ensure both Nigerian and Turkish citizens transact busi-

consulate will support Nigerians with all the necessary information and any other help needed to smoothly transact businesses in Turkey. We are also working on encouraging our business men and women to invest in Nigeria.”

“We believe opening an honorary consulate office in Lagos would help to promote Turkish culture in Nigeria as well. We wish to open more consulates in other parts of Nigeria in months to come in other to promote Turkish products in those areas. We also want to bring Turkish industries to Nigeria. The embassy is working on setting up delegations, which would work with Nigeria Chambers of Commerce to promote business trade.”

Saudi likely to become bankrupt in five years — IMF

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AUDI Arabia could burn through its financial assets within five years, as the country grapples with slumping oil prices.

Bangladeshi group orders firing of female journalists

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lives lost, and she called on those present to put national security above partisan politics.

WENTY-NINE South Africans have been charged with public violence amid the biggest student protests to hit the country since apartheid ended in 1994.

Police again fired stun grenades to disperse students in Cape Town, a day after protesters stormed the parliamentary complex. Thousands also descended on the governing party’s headquarters in the main city, Johannesburg.

The students are angry with a proposed increase in tuition fees

per reported on Thursday that the letter in the local Bengali language originated in southern port city of Chittagong, and was apparently sent by the publicity coordinator of the banned group.

The group, which last month issued a global hitlist of bloggers and writers, reiterated its death threat against 15 bloggers – nine of them living abroad – accusing them of participating in anti-Islam campaigns.

The Middle East’s biggest economy is expected to run budget deficits of 21.6 percent in 2015 and 19.4 percent in 2016, according the IMF’s latest regional outlook.

That means Riyadh needs to find money to meet its spending plans.

Just like its oil exporting neighbours, it plans to make substantial cuts to its budgets.

“For the region’s oil exporters, the fall in prices has led to large export revenue losses, amounting to a staggering $360bn this year alone,” Masood Ahmed, the IMF’s Middle East director, told reporters in Dubai.

There has been a trickle of evidence over the last few months that not all is well inside the kingdom.

L-R: Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, Commercial Counsellor, Turkish Embassy, Abuja, Dr. Ahmet Zafer Gulsen and Honorary Consular, Lagos Honorary Consulate of Turkey, Mr. Omer Curebal at the official commissioning of Lagos Honorary Consulate of Turkey recently.

Wife of S/Africa’s ‘genitals in freezer’ man shot dead the South African city of

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HE wife of a Dan ish man who is accused by South African police of mutilating women and keeping genitalia parts in a freezer has been shot dead in Lesotho. Anna Matseliso Molise, a key witness in the case, was due to testify against her 63-yearold husband at his trial.

She was shot four times outside her home in Maseru on Tuesday evening, and later died from her wounds in hospital. Police say investigations are under way over whether Mrs Molise’s killing was targeted or not.

Peter Frederiksen, who owns two gun shops in

Bloemfontein, is facing charges of sexual assault, intimidation, domestic violence and contravention of the Medicines Control Act. Last month, police found 21 packages containing parts of women’s clitorises, as well as surgical equipment, in his freezer following a tipoff.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 — 51

It’s payback time against Croatia •Eaglets vow to destroy Croatia

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HE Secretariat of the Nigeria Women Football League has pointed out that Inneh Queens is not involved in the current NWFL season.

This is sequel to a recent statement by sportscaster, Aisha Falode, where she was addressed as the Chairman of Inneh Queens.

But according to NWFL scribe, Emmanuel Adesanya, “I think it is right for us to put the records straight by informing Nigerians that the purported Inneh Queens was

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HOUGH already through to the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015, Golden Eaglets have predicted a tough match between Nigeria and Croatia at the Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso in Coquimbo.

As recent as September 6, Croatia beat Nigeria 3-2 in an acrimonious encounter at the 2015 Suwon U-17 Invitational Tournament in Korea but the Golden Eaglets reckoned it would be payback time on Friday.

“We were unlucky against Croatia in Suwon because we were leading them 2-1 until few minutes to the end of the match,” recalled defender John Lazarus.”They got a penalty to equalize and the winning goal later and that stopped us from winning the tournament.

“We won’t allow that to happen against us on Friday and we will work harder to win,” added the diminutive defender who was in the U-13 National Team that won the London International Youth Tournament in 2010.

Midfielder David Enogela who made his international bow at the youth level against Croatia in Suwon after coming on as a second

disbanded over four seasons ago and has not played in any of the Leagues, and was surprised that someone is still claiming to be Chairman of such a club.

Adesanya picked holes in Falode’s recent criticism of the league body.

He continued; “All the players that form the bulk of the Falconets team that she is commending are from the League. I also feel that the League has not rested in its quest to get credible sponsors that would be beneficial to all the clubs”.

Ideye named Player-of-the-Week in Greece

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Golden Eaglets dangerman, Victor Osimben gets a handshake from coach Amuneke. half substitute for captain Kelechi Nwakali, said the Golden Eaglets must be at their best against the combative Europeans.

“We saw in Suwon how physical they (Croatia) can play and I agree with Lazarus that they were unlucky to have beaten us ,” he said.

“We are going to ensure that they don’t beat us on Friday and that means we have to be at our best, because they need the result more

Linesman Continues from BP Barcelona.

The linesman said that he did not want to be identified because of concerns over “possible reprisals” but he made a formal complaint through a lawyer to the anti-corruption investigating magistrate in Barcelona in which he claimed to have been told to favour Madrid – first by another official and then, over the phone, by a member of the Spanish Football Federation’s referees’ committee.

The linesman alleged that he was told that officials had already acted to influence the outcome of games and that another linesman has been subjected to similar pressures. According to his lawyer, Jacinto Vicente Hernández, an expert in sports law based in Barcelona, the linesman

Inneh Queens do not exist, Women’s League tells Falode

wanted to go public with the allegations but he persuaded his client to make a formal, legal statement to the anti-corruption investigating magistrate instead. The Guardia Civil has also been informed.

Oliseh

Continues from BP himself and after being examined by the Eagles’ Doctor, he was advised to return to Belgium to complete his treatment. ‘Yes, he’ll not travel with the team to Ouagadogou. He’s off to Belgium on medical grounds’’, the source said. The coach joined his assitants after undergoing treatment in Belgium and was on the bench when the Eagles whipped the Etalons of Burkina Faso 2-0 in Port Harcourt last week.

than us. “ The two matches in Group A would be played simultaneously on Friday at 12:00 midnight Nigerian time( 8:00pm local Chilean time) with the three other teams needing a win to have a realistic chance of progressing to the Round of 16 along with Nigeria. Host Chile who have one point along with USA would slug it out at Estadio Sausalito while Croatia with two points from two matches confront the Golden Eaglets in Coquimbo.

The Golden Eaglets would be without

defensive midfielder Udochukwu Anumudu who was booked against USA and Chile as well as striker Funsho Bamgboye who saw red against Chile on Tuesday.

Anthony Le Tallec (Atromitos) and Dušan Perniš (Iraklis 1908) complete the top five positions in that order.

Brown Ideye scooped the award after scoring a goal and notching an assist in The Reds 4 - 0 thrashing of AEK Athens on Saturday in the derby.

In recent matches, the 27 - year - old has been back to his best after scoring in three consecutive games in all competitions.

Cruyff diagnosed with lung cancer

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HE Dutch legend Johan Cruyff has lung cancer, his spokeswoman has confirmed.

“He has been in hospital this week for tests and lung cancer has been confirmed,” said Carole Thate.

The 68-year-old, who

Okugbe Continues from BP Mallam Alhassan Yakmut has said that late sports reporter of the AIT, Felix Okugbe, was a robust sports journalist.

Yakmut, reeling out an elegy on the late Felix in his office yesterday mentioned that Okugbe was one of the very few sports journalists who were very supportive when he, Yakmut, was active in sports. He claimed that Okugbe was clearly a detribalized fellow and was always on the look-out for excellence in every sport.

“Felix was like a brother to me”, Yakmut said. “ His death was as painful as that of my uncle who passed on at the recent

LY M P I A K O S striker Brown Ideye has been named the Player of the Week in the Greek Super League for week seven.

Eight players, including the Nigeria international, were in the running for the accolade but the former Sochaux ace picked up the award after securing 29.31 percent of the votes cast.

Anastasios Bakasetas (Panionios), Luka Milunoviä† (Platanias),

Mecca stampede. When Felix was to undergo surgery abroad, I did try to reach out and contribute my own widows mite. But I travelled at the time.

“I must mention that Felix did so much to assist in developing sports in Nigeria through the robust manner he went about his reporting.

“The NSC shall miss him and we shall do everything within our reach to support the family he left behind” Okugbe died in Lagos after a complicated illness that required surgery in Indian. His remains will be buried today in his home at Sango-Ota in Lagos.

won three successive European Cups with Ajax before going on to play for and manage Barcelona, was diagnosed on Tuesday, it was reported on the Spanish radio station RAC1 and the Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

Cruyff is said to be currently undergoing tests to try to discover the extent of the disease.

Formerly a heavy smoker, he had double heart bypass surgery in 1991 while he was still

in charge of Barcelona, a role he eventually left in 1996.

Barça’s vice-president Susana Monje, who was giving a financial presentation on Thursday, sent a message of support from the club.

“We have had contact with his manager Carole Thate and she confirmed to us that Johan indeed has lung cancer,” read a statement from Ajax director and former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Colombian officials for Eaglets, Croatia cracker

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OOTBALL’s world governing body, FIFA has appointed Wilson Lamouroux as the centre referee for the match between Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets and Croatia tonight. The 36-year-old Colombian has been an international referee since 2013 and he would be assisted by compatriots, Alexander Guzman and Wilmar Navarro. The fourth of official is Reyna Oscar from Guatemala.

FIFA also affirmed that

Nigeria’s Eaglets will don their traditional home colour with players in green jersey, short and socks while the goalkeepers would be in purple attire. Croatia will be in red attire.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets have yet been told that Friday’s FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 match against Croatia at Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso in Coquimbo is a must win.

52 – Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

Arsenal full of confidence—Walcott A

RSENAL forward Theo Walcott believes his team sent a message to rivals with their win over Bayern Munich.

Arsene Wenger’s men claimed a crucial 2-0 victory against Bayern last Tuesday to boost their Champions League hopes.

Walcott said the victory was a huge confidence boost to Arsenal, who sit second in the Premier League ahead of Saturday’s clash against Everton.

“Everyone did their jobs really well and I have to say Petr [Cech] in goal was fantastic and made a number of very, very important saves,” he told arsenal.com.

“Everyone worked really hard and deserved it.

“There was a lot of pressure on us, we knew we couldn’t lose but a win was a massive ask. The confidence is just flowing through the team at the moment, you can see that.

“Results show that and if we continue this you never now where it is going to take us - we are looking really strong.”

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•MIDFIELD TUSSLE . . . Bayern Munich’s midfielder Xabi Alonso (2R) vies against Arsenal’s midfielder Theo Walcott (2L) during their UEFA Champions League match at the Emirates Stadium in London. Photo: AFP

EVIN De Bruyne has stressed that Manchester City will not change their style of play in this weekend’s derby against Manchester United and will look to attack Louis van Gaal’s side at Old Trafford.

City sit top of the Premier League with 21 points from nine game heading into Sunday’s encounter, holding a two-point lead over United, and De Bruyne is keen to widen the gap.

“We shouldn’t play defensive because our main strength lies going forward, though we need to stay disciplined. We know it will be difficult,” De Bruyne told the official Manchester City website.

“Manchester United have been a top team for a long

•De Bruyne

EFA has charged Dynamo Kiev after alleged racist behaviour of the club’s supporters during the Champions League meeting with Chelsea in Ukraine last Tuesday.

The game at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev finished goalless, leaving Dynamo second in Group G on five points with Chelsea one behind in third.

A statement from UEFA read: “Disciplinary proceedings have been opened following the UEFA Champions League group stage match between FC Dynamo Kyiv and Chelsea FC (0-0) played on 20 October in Ukraine.

Vardy, Neymar comparisons premature —Ranieri

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AMIE Vardy has earned plenty of plaudits for his red-hot form in the Premier League, but Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri insists it is premature to compare him to Barcelona

De Bruyne: Man City will not play defensive against United

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UEFA charges Dynamo Kiev over alleged racism

time and the rivalry between us and them obviously runs deep, but the season is very long. “That said, we know what it means to our supporters and it would be nice if we could go there and get three points. "

superstar Neymar.

It has been a season to remember so far for England striker Vardy, who scored twice in last weekend’s come-from-behind 2-2 draw at Southampton.

That brace took him to nine in nine in the league in 2015-16 and Vardy is top of the Premier League goalscoring charts, three clear of his nearest rivals.

In comparison, Brazil captain Neymar has eight in seven La Liga appearances, but Ranieri believes Vardy is not in the same class as the Barca star.

“It is too early to talk about Vardy along with Neymar,” Ranieri said. “I hope can improve, if he can continue

•Vardy it will be fantastic.”

Vardy, who has scored in six consecutive league matches, has been linked

•Neymar with a move away from the King Power Stadium in January due to his fantastic form.

Smokin Hills agog for Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo memorial Golf tourney Shot Gun System would be

By Solomon Nwoke

S

PONSORS of the an nual Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Memorial Golf Invitational tournament, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) have staked a brand new Toyota Fortuner 2.7litre leather seat as the prize for the winner of Hole – in – one.

The newest and largest privately owned Golf Club in Nigeria, the Smokin Hills Golf Club Ilara Mokin owned by Chief Michael Ade. Ojo OON will for the third time host this year’s tournament making its 12th edition to commemorate the passing on of his late wife, Mrs E. W Ojo. According to the Public Relations Manager Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mrs Bukunola Ogunnusi this year’s edition promises a mouth watering bumper package that will leave an enduring golfing experience to the participants.

She said as usual, the

adopted for the tournament as it was in the previous two editions. Tournament tees off by 7am on the 6th of November, 2015 by professionals taking to the course while the amateur men and ladies would take to the endearing topography of the Smokin Hills on the 7th of November. “ It is worth noting that Toyota (Nigeria) Limited in its characteristic manner will be sponsoring the hole

13 with a Toyota Fortuner 2.7 litre leather seat as the Hole – in – one prize this year while some of the latest models from the stables of Toyota will also be on display during the tournament “The tournament will hit a crescendo with a gala night of pomp and pageantry as golfers who distinguished themselves in the competition will receive their prizes and trophies.

One of the prizes to be won

at the gala night is the Amiable Woman Of The Tournament prize. This is a platform created by Toyota (Nigeria) limited to further keep the vision of the deceased for the game of golf alive. It also aimed at continually nurturing the legacy and virtue of industry amongst women golfers. Indeed, the prize is symbolic of the amiable nature of the departed woman of substance”, Mrs Ogunnusi said.

“Charges against FC Dynamo Kyiv: - Racist behaviour - Art. 14 of the UEFA disciplinary regulations (DR) - Crowd disturbances Art. 16 (2) DR - Stairways blocked - Art. 38 of the UEFA safety & security regulations “The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will deal with this case on 27 October.”

Newcastle´s losing streak means nothing —McClaren

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EWCASTLE United head coach Steve McClaren insists his side’s five-game losing streak to Sunderland in derby matches will mean nothing when the two teams lock horns on Sunday.

Fresh from a stunning 6-2 win over Norwich City in their last outing, Newcastle are desperate to end a dreadfulrunofperformances against their local rivals, an unwanted streak which has seen them lose five in succession and fail to win any of the last seven derbies.

Sunderland are the only side in the Premier League whoareyettowinanyoftheir opening nine matches, but will be hoping to draw upon their past successes in new manager Sam Allardyce’s second game in charge.

McClaren, though, has described the clash as a “great opportunity” to end Newcastle’s losing derby run, which he thinks will meannothingwhenitcomes to kick-off time.

“We don’t know anything about the five previous games and neither do half the team,” he said.

•McClaren

NCC Tennis: “I’ll beat Clifford again”— Imeh

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OSEPH Imeh, the19 year old lead player of Team Ogun, said he would try and win his two singles matches in the semifinal tie against Team Civil Defence coming up on Saturday and Sunday.at the Enugu Sports Club Imeh, ranked No. 6 in Nigeria said: “Clifford (Enosoregbe) is the ‘main man’ for the Civil Defence

team and the No.1 player in Nigeria but I beat him in three sets at the Ikoyi Club Masters last December and I am sure I can do it again. I hope to win my two singles matches and I think Monday Igbinovia and I can surprise Shehu Lawal and Babalola Abdulmumuni in the doubles.”

Continuing his permutations he said, “after that we

(Team Ogun) will be looking for only one point which Ronke Akingbade can get from the ladies singles against Christie Agugbom or Igbinovia from his two singles matches.”

The Civil Defence which has four national champions in their ranks is also not underestimating their opponents.

“This is my life!” Agugbom, the deputy captain of Team Civil defence and current national ladies champion, screamed from her base in Owerri.

“Apart from the N5 million prize money for the winning team, people are expecting us (Civil Defence) to win the trophy and we cannot afford to disappoint.” she added.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 — 53

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54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 — 55

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

FIFA U-17 World Cup

Inside Cruyff Cruyff diagnosed diagnosed with lung with lung cancer cancer

Guinea

v

Brazil

9.00 pm

Korea Rep

v

England

9.00 pm

USA

v

Chile

Midnight

Croatia

v

Nigeria

Midnight

Linesman ‘told to favour Real Madrid’ in next month’s clásico against Kick-off: Barcelona 12 a.m.

PANISH football

It’s payback time against Croatia •Eaglets vow to destroy Croatia

•Cruyff

Ideye named Player-of-theWeek in Greece

•Ideye

•Ronaldo

Oliseh off to Belgium for treatment

Yakmut: Okugbe, a robust journalist

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HE Super Eagles would be without coach Sunday Oliseh when they travel later today to Burkina Faso for the second leg CHAN qualifier in Ouagadogou.

Oliseh we gathered was flown out to Belgium for treatment for a recurring illness.

Very reliable sources informed Sports Vanguard that the Coach ‘’was not Continues on Page 51

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faces a potentially huge match-fixing scandal after an unnamed linesman alleged that he had been told to favour Real Madrid in next month’s clásico against Continues on Page 51

•Late Okugbe

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Floyd Mayweather poses with his belts alongside the caption ‘It took 19 years but they’ll talk about it forever’

HE Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Continues on Page 51

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Skill (3) 6 Box (4) 8 Erase (6) 9 Information (6) 10 Fighting (3) 12 Custom (5) 14 Huge (5) 15 Imprisoned (5) 18 Strict (6) 20 Foolishness (6) 24 Lukewarm (5) 26 Endure (5) 28 Species (5) 30 Poem (3) 32 Elder (6) 33 Greet (6) 34 Present (4) 35 Ballad (3) 36 Shout (4)

DOWN 2 Animal (5) 3 Rift (7) 4 Afresh (4) 5 Rip (4) 6 Cut (5) 7 Ancient (7) 11 Imitate (3) 12 Owns (3) 13 Sailor (3) 16 Obtain (3) 17 Immerse (3) 19 Intense (7) 21 Delve (3) 22 Perfectly (7) 23 Aye (3) 25 Finish (3) 27 Dim (5) 29 Before (5) 30 Spoken (4) 31 Notice (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Grip 4, Dim 6, Care 9, Lie 10, Encircle 11, Alas 14, Ban 16, Shame 19, Confused 21, Sever 23, Deceived 24, Needy 27, Rip 31, Purr 33, Imitated 34, Due 35, Heed 36, Tan 37, Yarn.

DOWN: 2, Rank 3, Pail 4, Deceased 5, Meet 6, Clash 7, Ail 8, Realm 12, Scorn 13, Angle 14, Bus 15, Never 17, Alive 18, Evade 20, Decision 22, Rep 25, Exude 26, Dared 28, Wilt 29, Lady 30, Bear 32, Rue.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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