NGF ELECTION: Amaechi, Yuguda,Shema in final battle

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61889

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

EMERGENCY RULE: Govs lose access to state funds •P.10

DANGOTE AGM From left: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President Dangote Group; Mr. DVG Edwin, Group Managing Director and Mr. Olakunle Alake, Director, at the 4th Annual General Meeting of Dangote Cement Plc in Abuja, yesterday.

NGF ELECTION:

Amaechi, Yuguda, Shema in final battle •Presidency jittery; adopts Plan B to woo Amaechi if...

•Northern govs weigh options; Amaechi calm, hopeful

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—UNCER TAINTY fired by a web of intrigues, last night, shadowed aspirations of three of the nation’s governors ahead Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

DONU KOGBARA •P.17

ADISA ADELEYE Why we're where we are today •P.55

Mr & Mrs

ACHEBE'S FUNERAL SERVICE—From left: Former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme; Representative of the President of Liberia, Prof. Al-Hassan Conteh; President of Ghana, Dr. John Dramani Mahama; President Goodluck Jonathan and Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State, at the funeral service for late Prof. Chinua Achebe at Ogidi, Anambra State, yesterday. More on Pages14-16.

Nigerian-born Adebolajo GROUNDED AIRCRAFT: .8 Pg • confirmed as London —P.6 House of Reps clears Amaechi; indicts NCAA, NAMA soldier attack suspect C M Y K

2— Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013—3

C M Y K

4 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Lafia Killings: Sen Ewuga pledges to submit report to the Senate soon

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—SENATOR So lomon Ewuga, representing Nasarawa North in Nasarawa State, yesterday, said he would soon present his report on the alleged massacre of over over 90 security operatives at Lakyo village, near Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State, to the Senate.

Ewuga told Vanguard on the telephone that he had visited the scene of the incident and carried out a research on the development, saying that the Upper Chamber would be informed about what actually transpired in the village.

Asked if he would broker peace talks between the Ombatse group which reportedly carried out the attack and the state government, Ewuga said he would not comment further on the matter.

The Ombatse cultists were said to have attacked policemen said to be on a mission to arrest their 76 year old leader, Baba

Lakyo, and recover arms said to be in his possession.

However, Senator Ewuga on Wednesday paid a visit to the spiritual head, Ala Agu at Lakyo Village in Nasarawa South Local Council, who denied responsibility for the killing of the security men in his village on May 7.

Ala Agu said that he was not on the run as being speculated, as he was yet to receive any police invitation.

He noted that information reaching him revealed that the policemen and other operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, were instructed to come and kill him, adding: “I am grateful for your coming, senator. I am very, very grateful for your coming. Even if the senator did not come here, I had intended to go and see him in his house but since he is here, I am very grateful.

“It is the state governor that asked the people (police officers) to come here and arrest me, cut my head and take my head

RECONCILIATION. From left: Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos State, Capt. Tunji Shelle; National PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George in handshake with former Minister for Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and Chief George Taylor during the reconciliation between Bode George and Senator Ogunlewe at the wake keep of late Mr. Tunde Savage at Bola Memorial Anglican Church, Abule in Lagos, yesterday.

to him. When they came, because they were themselves drunk, my god did not allow them to come to me and they died on the way. The question I ask is, has the governor ever invited me and I refused to go?

But he sent people to come and kill me and destroy Lakyo as a whole. That is just what it is.”

FG declares May 29 public holiday

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HE Federal Government declalred May 29, 2013 as public holiday to celebrate the 2013 Democracy Day. Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro who announced this urged Nigerians to deepen their participation in democratic governance to pass on the baton of credible and good governance to

upcoming generations.

In a statement signed by permanent secretary Mrs A. DanielNwaobia, Morro congratulated Nigerians on the attainment of yet another successful year of the president's transformation agenda,and urged them to support Mr. President to deepen democratic governance in the country.

Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

COMMISSIONING—From left: Dr. Yewande Adesina, Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Public Health; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Dr. Robin Sanders, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, during the Flag-off ceremony of Ajara Comprehensive Primary Health Care Flagship Centre, by Lagos State Governor at Ajara, Badagry, Lagos State,yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Amaechi, Yuguda, Shema battle for NGF chairmanship Continues from page 1 of today’s election of a new chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

Three governors- the incumbent, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State

were the three candidates listed by the secretariat of the NGF for the election.

However, the shape of the contest was, last night, still being framed by the determination of associates of the president to stave off

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them - Maya Angelou. How you react to something determines what the thing becomes.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come — Mack And Angel Hack

I

N your quiet moments, what do you think about?

How far you’ve come, or how far you have to go? Your strengths or your weaknesses? In your quiet moments, pay attention to your thoughts. Because maybe, just maybe, the only thing that needs to shift in order for you to experience more happiness, more love, and more vitality, is your way of thinking. Here are some thought-provoking quotes from Mack and Angel Hack about life lessons that may help you adjust your way of thinking.

You cannot change what you refuse to confront.

Sometimes good things fall apart, so better things can fall together. Don’t think of cost. Think of value.

Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly. Too many people buy things they don’t need with money they don’t have to impress people they don’t know. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying. If people want to be part of your life, they will make obvious effort to do so. Think twice before reserving a space in your heart for people who do not make an effort to stay. Saying someone is ugly doesn’t make you any prettier. The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well. Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.

Amaechi’s re-election by persuading his two rivals to join forces against him.

Northern govs weigh options Besides, many Northern governors are also afraid that electing one of their own as the NGF chairman could endanger their chance to produce the president in 2015.

The Northern governors could also play a decisive role at a meeting scheduled for this morning where they hope to take a decision on the chairmanship of the forum.

Following the NGSF meeting, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors Forum, PDPGF is also expected to hold consultations before the governors assemble at the Rivers State Governors Lodge for the decisive contest.

Findings by Vanguard showed that Amaechi submitted his form on Wednesday morning while Shema sent in his later that day.

Governor Yuguda on the other hand, filed his paper for the contest on Thursday afternoon after all efforts to persuade Shema to step down for him appeared to have failed.

Initial reports had indicated that the Presidency wanted Shema to take over from Amaechi so as to boost his profile and put him in a position to take over from the current Vice President, Namadi Sambo.

However, some analysts within the Presidency are said to have prevailed on the President to swing his support from Shema and give it to Yuguda, whom they consider to be more loyal and politically useful to the Jonathan camp.

Vanguard learnt that it was based on the advice of the strategists that Governor Yuguda, who was not in the picture of the NGF election, was drafted last week to begin preparations for the post.

The governor is said to have been persuaded to join the race based also on the refusal of many Northern governors to back the candidature of Shema.

Yuguda Vs Shema Vanguard’s investigations revealed that no fewer than eight of the 10 Northern governors said to be sympathetic to Jonathan, had thrown their weight behind Yuguda and asked Shema to perish the thought of running

against Amaechi, as he would not be able to dislodge the Rivers State Governor.

The decision to dump Shema for Yuguda is said to have jolted the Katsina Governor, who had, in anger, reportedly shunned all entreaties to step down for Yuguda.

Analysts fear that the presentation of two candidates by the Jonathan camp against Amaechi could weaken the President’s camp and give easy victory to the incumbent.

Worried by the development, top PDP chieftains, led by Governor Godswill Akpabio, who had been in Abuja for many days coordinating the pro-Jonathan’s camp, held series of fencemending meetings last night to put the camp in order so as to present a common front to challenge Amaechi, who appeared unperturbed by the deluge of political intrigues against him.

A source close to Governor Yuguda told Vanguard that the governor, who had since filed his nomination papers with the NGF Secretariat, was already in Abuja and was hopeful he would emerge as the next NGF chairman.

“Everything is okay.

The governor emailed his nomination form directly to the DG of the NGF. The DG received it and confirmed receipt and we are ready for the election,” the source said.

“Governor Yuguda is going to contest the NGF election basically because he believes in the peace and unity of the country and for the success of Mr. President. That is why he wants to contest so as to assist him,” the source added.

But a source close to Governor Amaechi told Vanguard in Abuja that the governor was the

candidate to beat, given his performance during his first term.

“I can tell you that Amaechi will be reelected to continue his good work as the NGF chairman,” the source said.

Amaechi calm, hopeful “As it is now, if the election is conducted under a free and fair atmosphere Amaechi is sure to carry the day irrespective of the lies being churned out against him by his detractors.

“But we are certain that truth is constant and cannot be hidden for too long. All those who are rising up against the governor for no just cause will soon see reason and retrace their steps,” an aide said.

But the Presidency might have devised a plan B to save itself in the event of Amaechi being re-elected by the governors in a secret ballot, which they hope to use.

The Presidency is said to be mulling the idea of dialoguing with the embattled governor and wooing him back to its fold as one of the loyal governors of the PDP. Already, some wellplaced PDP chieftains are said to have been despatched by the Presidency to make peace with Amaechi and to assure him that no harm would come his way despite the recent political disagreements.

Many of such emissaries met with Amaechi last night and tried to persuade him to support the President’s re-election in 2015, which appears to be the bone of contention between the two politicians from the Niger Delta.

The NGF, which started as a platform for governors to share ideas on national issues, gained more prominence under the Rotimi Amaechi leadership and forced the Presidency to abandon many arbitrary decisions.

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Renewed communal clash claims cop in Lagos

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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AGOS — RENEWED communal clash in Ikorodu area of Lagos State has reportedly claimed the life of a policeman and injured unspecified number of persons.

The Policeman (names withheld) was said to be one of the officers posted to Mowonla area of Ikorodu to prevent further crisis in the town.

Vanguard gathered that the issue degenerated, Tuesday night, when some members of Ifegunwa family were involved in a reprisal attack having outnumbered the policemen on patrol in the area. At the end of the day, one of the policemen died from gunshot wounds.

The hoodlums numbering up to 100 were said to have used dangerous weapons freely during the crisis that continued till the following morning leading to destruction of lives and property.

Some residents who spoke on condition of anonymity told Vanguard that they had relocated their families to other parts of Ikorodu as they did not know when the crisis would end.

"We have fled the town pending the time government will wade into the crisis which has claimed the lives of many,’’ said one of the residents.

Effort to reach Area 'N' Commandant, Mr. N. Marcus, on the issue proved abortive as he simply told Vanguard on phone: "Please, I am busy now, please."

Adebolajo confirmed as London soldier attack suspect

BY LEKE ADESERI, WITH AGENCY REPORT

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AGOS — ONE of the terror suspects accused of butchering a British soldier on a London street has been identified as Michael Adebolajo, said to have been raised in a devout Christian family but converted to Islam after college, reports said.

A Muslim cleric named the 28year-old, although authorities were yet to confirm his identity early yesterday.

“He converted around 2003 to Islam, before I met him and I knew him as his convert name Mujaheed when he used to attend our demonstration and lectures,” claimed London cleric Anjem Choudary, according to ‘Metro UK’.

Choudary, himself a controversial imam in Britain and outspoken critic of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, called Adebolajo a ‘quiet and pleasant lad.’

The self-proclaimed jihadi may have been a student at London’s University of Greenwich and lived in the area around 2004 and 2005. A spokeswoman for the school wouldn’t confirm, yesterday, whether he attended classes.

Adebolajo is allegedly seen in a cell phone video clutching a bloodied knife and ranting just moments after the soldier was viciously slaughtered and beheaded Wednesday afternoon “like a piece of meat,” witnesses said.

The other suspect, seen wearing a tan coat and shouting, “We want to start a war in London tonight!” has not been identified.

They were both shot after charging at police at the scene in London’s Woolwich neighbourhood. They remain in separate hospitals held by armed guards.

Government sources suggest both Adebolajo and his accom-

plice were known to the security services, MI5 and police, according to reports.

Adebolajo’s family house raided A home belonging to Adebolajo’s family was raided yesterday morning after authorities obtained a search warrant.

Other property in the London area were also being searched, according to reports.

“This is in connection with the ongoing investigation into the murder of a man in Woolwich.

The Metropolitan Police are not prepared to discuss the matter further at this stage,” authorities

The suspect, Michael Adebolajo, with bloodied knife.

zAs 56-year-old man commits suicide

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NUGU— A 65-year-old man, Mr. Felix Atta, a native of Umuonu Umuida community, Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State has allegedly been killed by his son.

The alleged murderer identified as one Ejiofor Atta, according to the police, used a machete to slaughter his father for reasons yet to be known.

He was said to have gone into hiding after committing the crime and security men and family members have commenced manhunt for him.

According to report, Ejiofor, about six years ago murdered

his mother.

Vanguard gathered that the unfortunate incident took place at about 2 p.m on May 18 at Umuonu Umuida where the son of the deceased allegedly macheted his father who was believed to be about 65 years old to a state of unconsciousness.

The victim was, however, rushed to the General Hospital, Ogrute Enugu Ezike where he was confirmed dead while his corpse was deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, confirmed the incident, saying the command had already commenced investiga-

“There were lots of cars parked around here last night,” she added. “I thought there must have been a party. It is all quite disturbing.”

London authorities beef up security London authorities have beefed up security and deployed 1,200 extra officers on the streets as well as at houses of worship.

Although both of the suspects are believed to have converted to a radical form of Islam, they weren’t immediately linked to terror groups in Nigeria, such as the jihadist organization Boko Haram.

The soldier who was killed is believed to be about 20 and was not identified early yesterday.

Cameron speaks on the killing

Son machetes father to death in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE

said in a statement.

Neighbours of the family in Lincolnshire, about 150 miles north of the murder scene, said they had lived there for about a decade.

Adebolajo’s father, Anthony Adebolajo, is described as a 56year-old nurse of Nigerian descent, according to the website ‘This is Lincolnshire’. He also reportedly has a brother and a sister.

“They were very quiet people and kept to themselves,” said neighbour Marjorie Arnold.

“There always used to be three cars parked on their drive, but yesterday I noticed there was only one.

tion into the incident.

In a related development, the police said a 56-year-old-man had allegedly hung himself on a wall hanger in his room at Umuenachi Amalla Egazi in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Amaraizu said the victim who is said to be suffering from a partial stroke reportedly committed suicide in his room. He said the lifeless body was found hanging on the wall hanger at about 7.30a.m on May 21.

He said investigations had commenced into the incident while the body of the deceased had been deposited at Prince Eze Hospital Mortuary, Obollo Afor for post mortem examination.

British Prime Minister David Cameron cut short his visit to France to meet with his emergency crisis committee. He spoke publicly yesterday morning about the barbaric killing.

“The fault lies solely and purely with the sickening individuals who carried out this appalling attack,” Cameron said.

He added that Britain would not give in to terrorism, and “this was not just an attack on Britain and the British way of life - it was also a betrayal of Islam.”

The Prime Minister also praised Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, a 48-yearold Cub Scout leader and mom who was so outraged by the daytime attack that she confronted one of the suspects — even though he was brandishing a long butcher's knife.

“When told by an attacker that he wanted to start a war in London she replied, ‘You’re going to lose, it is only you versus many’ - she spoke for us all,” Cameron said.

...as Jonathan condemns killing

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the terrorist attack in the United Kingdom that led to the brutal murder of a British soldier, Drummer Lee Rigby of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in the Woolwich.

In a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, yesterday, President Jonathan said he was shocked at the terrorist attack and strongly condemned the unfortunate incident.

According to Abati, “President Jonathan conveys his sincere condolences to the British Prime Minister David Cameron and the British people over this senseless and barbaric act, and shares their

grief at this moment.

“President Jonathan notes that a terrorist attack anywhere is an attack on the way of life of all free nations and must be collectively condemned by all persons irrespective of race, ethnicity or religion.

“It is in this spirit that the Nigerian government is partnering with the British Government as well as all other stakeholder sovereigns to stand up to and fight terrorism and extremism in whatever guise or pretense it chooses to present itself.

“President Jonathan recognizes that each environment presents its own unique challenges and peculiarities and actions taken by affected nations may differ, yet the resolve to confront and defeat this threat should never be in doubt."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MaY 24, 2013 — 7

BY EVELYN USMAN & UJU MBANUSI

Police, NDLEA clash in court over power to prosecute

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AGOS — POLICEMEN at tached to Ilemba Hausa division in Lagos State have arrested a couple and two others who allegedly specialized in abducting children between ages one and four years and selling them to barren women and motherless homes in the eastern part of the country.

So far, about seven children reportedly stolen from their parents' homes in Lagos and other parts of the country have been recovered from their new homes in Imo, Anambra and Delta states.

One of the stolen children, Ezeaka Uchenna (4) was picked from his parents' home, Madu Street, Jakande Ojo, Ajagbadi area of Lagos by one of the suspects, Adaeze Mba, on March 18, 2013 .

Adaeze who packed into same compound with the Ezeakas in January 2013, was said to have gone to purchase tapioca from Uchenna’s mother that fateful day, only to abscond with the child. The couple immediately moved out of the area and allegedly sold the child to a couple in Obosi, Anambra State for N600,000.

However, during investigation, spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, while parading the suspects, yesterday, at the Command’s headquarters, Ikeja, said the policemen acting on a tip-off stormed Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State where the couple were arrested.

“They confessed to have sold the child to one Mrs Benedict at Asaba, Delta State. We proceeded to Asaba where Mrs Benedict was arrested. She made a confessional statement that she buys and sells children to barren women and that she had sold Uchenna to one Mrs Patricia at Obosi in Anambra State.

"Investigation revealed that the couple had earlier stolen Goodluck Amaechi (3) and Promise Amaechi of same parents in Imo State and sold to Mrs Benedict. Mrs Bendict confirmed their statements and we proceeded to Obosi where the children were recovered from one

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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The suspects

Police nab couple, two others over alleged babies' stealing, sale zMy husband lured me into it — Wife Church of Goodness Motherless Babies Home.”

Adaeze blames devil Pregnant Adaeze who hails from Mbatolu Local Government Area of Imo State blamed her indulgence on the devil and her husband, disclosing that they have been in the illicit act for five years.

“Please forgive me. I was talked into it by my husband. He asked me to get a child for him that he would pay me N400,000. When I asked what he wanted to do with the children, he assured me it was not for ritual purpose that his boss, Mrs Benedict takes them to motherless babies home.

Our Modus operandi "Our targets are usually couples with more than three children.

What we do is to move into an

area, stay for about two to three months to get quainted with the people and immediately we got any child, we would leave the vicinity for another area where we are not known. We usually rent single room apartments without furnishing them.”

Corroborating her claim, her husband, Mba, said he ventured into the act when his sand dredging business was no longer lucrative.

He said: “When I complained to a friend, he introduced me to Mrs Benedict and since I met her, my life never remained the same.”

He said a male child was more expensive than female, disclosing that Madam Benedict paid him her as much as N600,000 for a male child and four N400,000 for female. But for each child brought by his wife, he said he used to make N200,000 gain.

"What we do is immediately we

succeed in stealing a child, we send him/her to my boss who in turn sell to motherless babies home and to barren women. I was responsible for my landlord’s missing children. I sold them for N400,000 each in Mbatolu, Imo State.”

How we arrested Benedict —Police Vanguard gathered that Mrs Benedict was arrested after the policemen who posed as pregnant women called her on phone to inform her that they had a baby boy for sale. But on arriving the designated point in Asaba, Delta State, the suspect who sensed trouble was said to have zoomed off with one of the police women in her car, in a bid to escape but was overpowered.

The suspects, according to Braide, would be charged to court soon.

Police arrest fake bishop, prophet over foiled kidnap

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

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ARRI— TWO men, suspected to be fake pastors, have been arrested by the police in Warri, Delta State over a foiled kidnap attempt on the proprietress of Shammar Children's School, Udu Road, near Sedeco area in Udu, Mrs. Onyi Ikemefuna and a pupil.

One of them, Anslem, claimed to be the “Bishop” of a Pentecostal church in Warri, while the other, Joseph, purported to be a prophet.

The suspects were, yesterday taken to the church allegedly run by the “bishop” for a search of the premises.

A source told Vanguard: “Luck ran out of the duo when the pro-

prietress, who initially reported the kidnap attempt on her, petitioned the Area Commander, Warri, alleging that the police at Enerhen Division collected N2 million bribe to pervert justice.”

She said in the petition, dated May 20, 2013, by her lawyer, Mr A.E. Efole, that the fake prophet, who claimed to be working for the “bishop” was apprehended in her school when he came to kidnap a pupil in her school under the guise of coming to give prophecy to her.

“On May 15, 2013, at about 9.45 am, one of the suspects, Joseph, came to our client’s school and introduced himself to one of the administrative staff as a man of God from Voice of God Prayer Ministry, 40, Peter Odili Road, off Trans-Amadi Slaugh-

ter Abuluma, Port Harcourt and requested to see the victim. The administrative staff said the victim was not around.

“Consequent upon that, the suspect became agitated, which made the administrative staff to corner him into a privacy to know why he was in that mood and he confided in her that two of the victim’s staff are planning to kidnap her, which they attempted the day the victim travelled with all the school people, but that the plan was foiled due to God’s intervention.

“The supposed man of God also revealed to the administrative staff that the victim would find herself in a big predicament due to jealousy by others. He was entreated to wait, but he insisted he has to return to Port Harcourt that same

hour but that he could drop his phone number.

“When the victim returned at about 11.00am, the whole episode was narrated to her and she opted for the phone number and got in touch with Joseph who eventually agreed to return from PortHarcourt since he was already there with the understanding that the victim would foot the bill.

“To the consternation of the victim, within an hour after the last conversation with him, Joseph called to say he was already from Port-Harcourt and was at Enerhen Junction and that he wants to see the victim privately and when coming out from her office, she should be with a little child to make the prophecy more efficacious."

DO EKITI — THE Police and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, engaged in a battle of wit over who among them has statutory power to prosecute drug offences The face-off came to the fore at the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti when a case involving alleged possesion of narcotic drug (Indian hemp) by an accused person, Andrew Daniel, came up for hearing During the hearing, NDLEA’s Director of Prosecution, Mr. Femi Oloruntoba, argued based on the sixth paragraph ‘Preliminary Objection’ earlier filed against the statutory power of Inspector General of Police to prosecute matter relating to alleged possesion of Narcotics.

He clarified that the said section under which the accused person was charged clearly indicated that it was an NDLEA matter.

In his argument, Officer-inCharge of Legal Matters for the Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Femi Falade,told the court that Section 23 of the Police Act gave the sole power to police to initiate, institute and prosecute all criminal proceedings.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Adamu Hobon, ruled that by the NDLEA Act Promugation of 1989, that the power to prosecute drug related issues had being transfered to the agency, NDLEA.

22 arrested over N200m WAEC fee fraud in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — NO fewer than 22 persons have been arrested in Ogun State in connection with the N200 million West African Examinations Council fee fraud allegedly perpetrated by some officials of the ministry of Education in the state.

Vanguard checks revealed that some of the people arrested by the Police were Director, Assistant Director in the ministry and all Zonal Education Officers in the 20 local government areas of the state .

It was gathered that they were arrested, yesterday, by the Police and were taken to the state Police Headquarters, at Eleweran, Abeokuta for interrogation.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH, OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—THE House of Rep resentatives, yesterday, cleared Rivers State Governor, Chubuike Rotimi Amaechi, of any wrong doing over the incidents that culminated in the grounding of the state-owned Bombardier Aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. Besides, the House also said Rivers State is the bonafide owner of the B700 Global Express Aircraft with Registration Number N565RS with a valid insurance cover that will expire in 2015, contrary to claims by the aviation agencies that the aircraft belongs to a foreign country and has no valid papers.

The decisions were contained in the report of the committee empanelled by the House of Representatives, on April 30, 2013 to probe the circumstances relating to the grounding of the Rivers State aircraft by the NCAA. The Committee on Aviation and Justice sat on May 14, 2013 and took evidence from officials of the NCAA, NAMA, Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, officials of Caverton Helicopters and those of the Rivers State government.

The report of the committee, which Vanguard obtained yesterday, indicted NCAA and NAMA for displaying gross ineptitude in handling the issues that led to the grounding of the aircraft.

It also lambasted Caverton for feeding the aviation agencies with wrong information that led to the grounding of the aircraft without justification.

Grounded aircraft: House of Reps clears Amaechi; indicts NCAA, NAMA

COMMITTEE ON DIALOGUE—From left: Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi; Sheik Ahmed Lemu and Chief of Kagoro, Malam Ufai Bonet at the public sitting of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Asks AGF to prosecute Caverton for giving wrong information For that action, the committee has directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, to initiate criminal prosecution against Caverton to serve as deterrent to others in the country.

The 11-page report jointly endorsed by its chairman on Justice, Ali Ahmed and his Aviation counterpart, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, noted with dismay that “the level of ineptitude of NCAA is glaring in many respects: failure to appreciate from a trust agreement that an aircraft belongs to a trustor-beneficiary even after their attention is drawn to it and even as other aircraft are registered in the name of the same trustee; non-detection of an expired flight clearance 24 days

after the fact and the detection was triggered by an incident rather than as a matter of course; even if the fact of falsification of documents were true.

“It was unacceptable that NCAA did not detect this fact for over six months. Indeed NCAA boasted in a letter on April 29, 2013 that following the incident it undertook a due diligence of the status of the aircraft, but even then it failed to determine the issue of ownership and several others.

“Operational and other navigational charges were received

by NAMA and FAAN and other agencies while operating the aircraft and receipts issued without raising alarm as to ownership of the aircraft by Rivers State government “Perusal of the Trust Agreement between Rivers State Trustor and Bank of Utah Trustee would have shown this fact of ownership. It is distressing that NCAA and the Ministry still fail or refuse to appreciate this simple fact. But since the authorities did not raise ownership issue with several other aircraft having the name of Bank of Utah Trustees, this allegation is in bad faith and grossly unprofessional, as the owner, Rivers State government elected to register the aircraft in the U.S. to save money for the State and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.

Aircraft belongs to Rivers govt “Rivers State government, through Caverton, applied to the Minister of Aviation to import and operate the aircraft in Nigeria but the application was not consummated, and so it is being operated in Nigeria as a

foreign aircraft for private use.

“As from August 27, 2012 when it applied on behalf of Rivers State government to import the aircraft, Caverton maintained agency relationship with the government; although that relationship was abated shortly thereafter with regard to importation of the aircraft, other aspects of the agency relationship continued especially relating to applications for flight clearance. However, all relationships between the parties were brought to an end by Caverton’s letter of denunciated to NCAA dated April 26, 2013.

NCAA, NAMA culpable "As owner and operator of the aircraft, neither Rivers State government nor its officials forged or falsified any document toward securing flight clearances or any other licence.

“Should top management of Caverton deny transacting business with Rivers State government despite its acquiescence of transactions between its member of staff and the Government, then its behaviour smacks of administrative laxity or negligence; alternatively, its behaviour lends credence to the assertion that it was pressured to deny the relationship.

“Caverton should be held accountable for providing information that led NCAA to ground the aircraft, contrary to provision of the law.

“Rivers State government operated its aircraft with expired clearance between April 2 and 26, 2013; but several other aircraft are suspected to be in similar situation; isolation of Rivers State government for reprimand becomes difficult to deny,” the

report noted.

The report maintained “justifications for both the delayed startup in Akure and the continued grounding of the aircraft in Port Harcourt amounted to taking an action and later shopping for reasons: the faulty declaration of manifest and failure to file flight plan ceased to be a reason immediately the Director-General of NAMA waived the infringement and permitted the aircraft to depart Akure, otherwise continuous citing manifest and flight plan violations as additional reasons for grounding the aircraft has serious implication for the DirectorGeneral; alleged fabrication of documents by Rivers State government was unsubstantiated.

“Having overlooked the Akure violation, the only justification known to law to warrant regulatory action against the aircraft is its operation with expired clearance between April 2 and 26, 2013; however, NCAA botched the opportunity to legally impose the sanction as it failed to give a written notice to Rivers State government as required by Section 35(5) Civil Aviation Act, Cap. C13 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004;

Ministry of Aviation exerts undue influence on NCAA, NAMA “The handling by NAMA and NCAA of this violation and their response actions further confirm the previous findings of the Joint Senate and House Committee on Aviation on the crash of Dana Aircraft that the Ministry of Aviation exerts undue interference on routine operations of these agencies.

“That the House Committee on Aviation be mandated to scrutinize the reason for rampant foreign registration of aircraft by their owners and further investigate all private-use aircraft operating in the country with a view to sanitizing their operation and ensuring enforcement of the law in a society that is democratic.”

But satisfied that the aviation agencies had committed serious blunders in handling the Rivers aircraft issue, the committee recommended that the state government should be allowed to comply with the necessary conditions for granting of all required permits and licences of Rivers State Government-owned Bombardier B700 Global Express Registration Number N565RS. It warned the Ministry of Aviation to desist from undue interference in the day-to-day operations of the aviation regulatory authorities as envisaged by the law while urging the agencies to operate professionally and ensure compliance with international best practices in the industry.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 9

Low interest rates not feasible now — CBN

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

G

WOMEN ADVOCACY—From left: Chairperson, Women in Management Business and Public Service, WIMBIZ, Adeola Azeez; Chairman, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Adedotun Sulaiman; and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, at the Supporting Public Advocacy for Regional Competitiveness, SPARC, forum organised by Vital Voices Global Partnership in Lagos, yesterday.

Fuel subsidy still fraught with abuse — Aig Imoukhuede

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

M

ANAGING Director/ Chief Executive, Access Bank Plc, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, yesterday, said the fuel subsidy is still fraught with abuse.

Speaking at the Risk Management Conference organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, he said despite the reform of the fuel subsidy, the system still allow for abuse and banks need to be wary of such abuses and the risk it poses to their operations

He said: "It has been proved that subsidy creates incentives for abuse and Nigeria still allows the abuse. It is still fraught with abuse”.

Aig-Imoukhuede, who headed the Presidential Committee to Review the Fuel Subsidy Regime, said the work of the committee, among other things, revealed that while the major oil marketers behave themselves and complied with the procedure, the independent marketers, especially the portfolio marketers, see the fuel subsidy

as a game and opportunity to make money overnight.

This coupled with the thin margins, caused them to abuse the system to make money. He said these marketers exploited the ignorance of banks, and took advantage of loan generation process to abuse the system.

The work of our committee has reduced the abuse significantly but there is still abuse.

Consequently, he advised banks to be cautious when dealing with oil marketers.

Jonathan recovers Ajaokuta from Global Steel — Sen Adeyemi

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory Committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi (PDP, Kogi West), yesterday, said President Goodluck Jonathan has recovered the dead Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State from Global Steel Holdings Limited.

The move came six years after the company had remained non-functional.

Adeyemi noted that the development and bringing back the company to full operation will provide at least 10, 000 jobs, not only for Kogi State indigenes but also, neighbouring states.

Speaking to newsmen, the lawmaker, who said the Federal Government was in the process of negotiating the return of the Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, also in Kogi State,

said, “The Federal Government has recovered the Ajaokuta steel complex from Global Steel and with that more than 10,000 workers would be gainfully employed.

“I think the return of this complex is worth celebrating. The government of President Jonathan is worth celebrating. They should be commended for recovering the complex. They have succeeded in recovering Ajaokuta without any attendant financial obligation whatsoever.

“This is a great achievement that deserves commendation, irrespective of political affiliation. The return of Ajaokuta will reduce unemployment and crime.

By this singular achievement, it means this government has raised the hope for industrial development in Nigeria “We got to know that Glo-

bal Steel asked for $1 billion damages but the concession was illegal and unlawful. I want Nigerians to know that the Federal Government has been in arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce since the concession was terminated in 2007.

The case started in 2008.

“The two plants have not been functioning since they were privatized and I want to let you know that the meeting that resolved the issue was held in Dubai between April 29 to May 1.

“Ajaokuta is at the heart of technological development in Nigeria. If we can get the complex back, then, it means Nigeria’s march towards industrialization has started on a good path.

Return of Ajaokuta means that this will change the face of Kogi Stats and hopefully, the northern region".

OVERNOR, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, said a regime of low interest rate is not feasible at the moment in Nigeria.

Speaking at the Risk Management Conference organised by the apex bank in Lagos, Sanusi said the threat of inflation was still high in the economy, especially with government spending expected to increase in 2014 to 2015 due to elections.

He said “there is more risk of raising interest rate and cash reserve requirement of banks than reducing them”.

In assessing the risk confronting the economy in the near term, especially in the event of sharp fall in crude oil prices, and in terms of inflation, Sanusi said “Everywhere in the world, if you have an election, that is

when government spends more because at that time, you will have political office holders wanting to deliver dividends of democracy, they will want to show reasons why they should be re-elected.

"So Central Bank governors all over the world know that election cycles are very difficult for monetary policy. So the point I am making is that if there is increased spending, what is likely going to happen will be higher interest rate. So people should not look forward to low interest rate at a time of increased government spending.

“Despite the best intentions of the Finance Minister, I don’t see her stopping politicians from spending money in 2014. She has all the good intentions and all the commitments, but at the end of the day, she doesn’t approve the budget.

"So there is no way in an election year, when you are not going to have increased spending. There is higher

risk of raising interest rates and increasing the Cash Reserve Requirement than reducing it at this point in time. The Central Bank will have to respond in events of elevated spending.”

According to him despite concerns in some quarters, the Asset Management Company, AMCON, does not pose a major risk to inflation and macroeconomic stability.

He said, “today, AMCON is holding about N800 billion in treasury bills. So, we are not creating any new money. At the point it pays off over N800 billion bonds, it will simply hand over these treasury bills to the banks, take these bonds and cancel them all.

"All that is happening is that the balance sheet of AMCON is shrinking and that reduces its liabilities and assets holdings. We are not pumping cash into the system; we are not creating new securities and we are not going to have more liquidity."

10—Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Bola Ajibola, others warn of dangers of endemic corruption in Nigeria

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

F

ORMER ATTORNEY-GENERAL of the Federation and Justice of the International Court of Justice, The Hague, Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN, other prominent legal luminaries and technocrats, yesterday, warned of the dangers inherent in the endemic corruption and insecurity facing the nation.

Others at the 7th annual lecture organised by the Ikeja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in honour of its late chairman, Alao Aka-Bashorun, who spoke on the topic; “Law, Corruption and the Future of Nigeria”, included the former Attorney General of the Federation, Godwin Kanu Agabi, SAN, former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufia , Femi Falana, SAN, Dele Adesina SAN, octogenarian lawyer, Pa Tunji Gomez, among others.

Emergency rule: Borno, Adamawa, Yobe governors lose power —To receive monthly allocation “only for salaries,” as instructed by Jonathan

By OKEY NDIRIBE, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

ABUJA — THE Senate and the House of Representatives, yesterday, formally blocked the governors of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states from having complete access to their states' funds.

The action by the two chambers of the National Assembly was upon the adoption of the conference report of the two chambers of the details of the state of emergency proclamation announced

by President Goodlcuk Jonathan penultimate Tuesday.

Under the arrangement agreed by the two chambers, the governors and elected council chairmen will also not be entitled to the money for developments in their respective states and local governments except for payment of salaries to workers, as the money will be channeled towards the maintenance of security men deployed to restore peace in the troubled states.

The governors are also expected to receive instructions on the day to day running of their states from the President.

The conference report was adopted by the two houses yesterday without debate.

Senator Ita Enang, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, who presented the report in the Senate, said the joint conference committee of the two houses adopted the version of the House which gives the President out-right power to issue directives to the governors as he may desires.

The report was adopted in the House following the presentation of the same

In tomorrow's Saturday Vanguard

State of Emergency:

So far, so good? zBaby

Factory: Operators go into hiding

Our efforts to woo Mimiko back to PDP — Adegoke

zThe Agagu factor zPlus the scheming for 2015

Cynthia Agholor speaks on scandals trailing her career CONFUSION:

Irate youths shoot policemen ...as Delta Community razed Plus

z BizLawz z Aunty Julie Coker zMuyiwa Adetiba zRelationships zBunmi Sofola

report by Rep Aminu Shehu Shagari (PDP Sokoto) who stood in for the committee chairman, Sam Tsokwa.

According to the report, the President also reserved right to “take possession of any property or undertaking in the emergency area, provide for application of any law in relation to that area as well as detention, removal or exclusion of any person from the emergency area.”

The Federal Government, through the President, according to the report, can also order the arrest and trial of anyone who contradicts its order and also make provision for the utilisation of any state or local government in emergency area just as he can order any premises to be

searched as he deems necessary.

The report added that: “The President may give directions to a state governor or local government chairman directly or through his designate or a duly authorised person with respect to the administration of the emergency area in matters of public order, peace and security only and it shall be the duty of the state governor or local government chairman to comply with the directive.

"The President may make such orders as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of maintaining and securing peace, public order and public safety in the emergency area”.

Arc Mike Onolememen, Works Minister (middle), listening to explanation by one of the officials of RCC, during the Minister's inspection of Loko-Oweto bridge project across River Benue, between Nasarawa and Benue State.

We don't know how to meet Boko Haram leadership —Minister

BY LUKA BINNIAYT

K

ADUNA — THE Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in Northern Nigeria had no clue on how to meet the leadership of the Boko Haram insurgents, the Chairman of the Committee and Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru

Tanimu Turaki, SAN, said yesterday.

Turaki pleaded for help in this regards from willing members of the public or anyone with links to the terrorists to initiate the dialogue process.

He spoke when he led members of his committee on a courtesy visit to Governor, Alhaji

Akuyoma passes on

M

R. RICHMOND Akuyoma, of the Akuyoma families of Obitugbo/Abiugborodo/Koko in Warri North LGA and Gegenu/Egbejule in Warri South West LGA, Delta State, is dead, aged 79.

He died, March 17. Oratory service holds May 31 at Sapele Athletics Club, while lying in state is at his residence in Ajagbodudu.

Interment is 1pm at Obitugbo village in Warri North.

He is survived by a widow, children, grandchildren and other relaLate Akuyoma tives.

Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State at Government House, yesterday.

According to him: “We want anybody that may have link with some of these people to direct us to ease the process of dialogue in such a way that will ensure transparency and honesty

which are the hall mark of this committee. We on our own have no clue on how to meet any of their leaders.

“The committee is in Kaduna State as part of its nationwide tour; particularly in the affected areas for the purpose of enhancing consultation."

Pan African University Alumni trains students

T

HE FIFTH set Alumni of Certificate Course in Media Enterprise, CME5, Pan African University, will Monday train over 300 secondary school students on basic skills and enterprise opportunities in media and communication.

The training which marks part of the Children Day celebration, will take place at St. Jude Secondary, School, Festac, Lagos, while participants will be drawn

from the school and its environs.

According to the president of the alumni association, Mr. Bolaji Fati: “Students will be introduced to various career and enterprise opportunities open to them, both in the print and broadcast media."

"Seasoned media and communication experts and professionals have been invited to provide their expertise during the seminar ."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 11

We’ll wrest power from ACN in S-West — PDP

Customs destroys N13m contaminated rice, drugs

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN —PEOPLES Democratic Party in the South West has said it was battle ready to wrestle the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria for the control of the zone in the 2015 elections.

As a result, it called on the national secretariat of the party to ensure that governorship candidates for the 2015 elections emerge within the next six months to enable the party unseat the ruling ACN in all the South West states through democratic means.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Caretaker Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee in the zone, Chief Ishola Filani at the presentation of reports by six committee chairmen in the zone yesterday.

The event which took place at the party’s zonal secretariat, Ibadan was attended by representatives from the six states in the zone.

BY GODWIN ORITSE

T

Rev. Felix Omobude, National President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), chating with Pastor Akinwale Akinola, National Administrative Secretary and Pastor Paul Adefarasin, National Deputy President, at a press conference on the 'State of the Nation' organised

by PFN, in Lagos ,yesterday. Photo: Chinyere Ikeanyi.

Ondo guber: PDP files appeal against tribunal ruling .It’s a voyage of fantasy — Govt

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — THE Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the governorship election in Ondo State Chief Olusola Oke, yesterday, filed an appeal against the judgement of he Election Pe-

tition Tribunal led by Justice Andovar Kaka’an which dismissed his petition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate in the same election had also filed an appeal on 45 grounds.

The Special Adviser to Oke, Kunle Adebayo said in a statement in Akure that Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Patrick Ikweto, SAN, 23 lawyers on behalf of the candidate have filed a 32-page notice with 37 grounds of appeal.

But in a swift reaction, the state government through the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Eni Akinsola said: "We are not surprised at the voyage of fantasy embarked upon by the opposition in Ondo State.

“We are convinced that the facts distilled and adjudicated upon by the tribunal were

clear and unambiguous." petitioners failed woefully to prove any illegal injection, which was obviously an after thought. At the end of it all, all they advanced were tissues of what the tribunal rightly called “primary and secondary hearsays.”

“Perhaps the person to direct the issue of injection at is the ACN candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN whose name was not in the 2011 register but was in the 2012 register!

HE SEME border Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, yesterday, confiscated and destroyed 680 bags of contaminated rice and medicament with Duty Paid Value(DPV) of N13 million.

The bags of rice and fake drugs were being smuggled into the country when men and officers of the Command swooped on the smugglers following a tip-off.

Speaking to newsmen, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Othman Abdul Saleh said that about three suspects were also arrested in connection with the smuggled items.

Lagosians shun blood donation

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

LAGOS LIKE other parts of the nation is witnessing an abysmally low number of blood donors which are fewer than one per cent of the population.

This was revealed by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee during the donor drive held at skill acquisition and vocational centre, Iyun Road, Surulere, Lagos, yesterday.

Anglican Communion frowns at same sex marriage

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

D

IOCESE OF Ijebu South/West, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion has frowned at calls for the recognition of same sex marriage, saying that there should be no compromise with same sex community.

It also called on Christians to go into politics and show themselves as the salt and light of Nigeria.

Disclosing this in a communique issued at the end of its synod, the Diocese condemned the Federal Government’s decision to celebrate Nigeria’s centenary, adding that the country should be reflecting on the current challenges in the land rather than celebrating.

The communique reads: ‘’All Nigerian Christians are encouraged to go into politics and show themselves as the salt and light of Nigeria.

"The synod charged Christians all over the world to show commitment to

their marriage vows as well as the institution of marriage as God hates divorce.

"The synod considered same sex marriage as a sin and therefore a detestable act. The synod reaffirmed the belief that those who indulge in the practice will not inherit the kingdom of God.’’ It further said: ‘’Since same sex marriage is contradictory to Christianity, we as Christians must stand for the truth regardless of the cost to us. The synod affirms that there should be no compromise with same sex community. ‘’The synod vehemently frowns at the Federal Government of Nigeria’s intention to celebrate the centenary of amalgamated Nigeria.

"The synod believes strongly that with myriads of problems facing our country today, Nigeria should be reflecting rather than celebrating, there is nothing to celebrate other than mediocrity, hypocrisy and underdevelopment.’’

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Ijaw, Itsekiri relations get boost

W

ARRI—THE growing peaceful relationship between Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, under the auspices of Joint Communities’ Sport Development, Ugbomefa, and Ijaw of Warri South-West Local Government Area, received a major boost, yesterday, when Julius Berger Services Nigeria Limited, JBSN, presented cheques and footballs to two football clubs from the two ethnic nationalities.

Terminal Manager, JBSN, Mr. Sascha Gattschau, at the presentation in Warri, said that the donations to the two football clubs, Net Breakers FC from Itsekiri host communities and OgbeIjoh United FC, representing Ijaw host communities, was to foster the existing peace between the ethnic nationalities and promote football in the area with a view to creating employment opportunities for the youths.

Coaches of both clubs, Prophet Ogbe and Payebo Koremene, thanked Julius Berger for its continuous support of sports in the area and promised to make judicious use of the footballs and finan

Adeboye holds prayer session with CEOs

Obio/Akpor: NLC, TUC threaten strike over sealing of secretariat by Police P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has threatened to embark on a two-day warning strike from Monday next week, if the Police failed to allow workers of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area resume duties at the council's secretariat.

It will be recalled that despite a court order asking the Police to allow the workers resume at the secretariat, which they (Police) sealed off over allegations of plot by hoodlums to wreak havoc on the place, the police were yet to vacate the secretariat.

Briefing newsmen, yesterday, the NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, said labour was not an interested party in the crisis rocking Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, adding that workers should not be made to suffer over the political crisis.

State NLC Chairman, Mr. Chris Oruge, said: “We wrote to the Police to obey the court order and we also wrote to the

ENERAL Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye will, June 2, hold a special prayer session with business executives.

Briefing newsmen at the National Headquarters of the Church in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Pastor Adeboye, who was represented by the Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Special Duties, Pastor Goke Aniyeloye, said the programme will serve as a platform for various executives to pray for divine turn around in the country as well as in their businesses.

The theme of the programme is “Rehoboth.”

state government to pay our workers their salaries. We gave them seven days ultimatum, which expires Friday. We will embark on a two-day warning strike on Monday and Tuesday, if nothing is done, and thereafter, we will carry out an indefinite strike action.”

He said that staff of Obio/Akpor council had not been paid

their salaries for April and May, adding that the Police should allow workers resume at the secretariat while they continue to mount security around the council's property.

Oruge said it was not the responsibility of his union to decide who runs the council, between the Caretaker Commit-

tee and the local government officials suspended by the state House of Assembly, but that the Police should allow workers resume at their duty posts. “If the Caretaker Committee members are not allowed to go in and the suspended elected officials are also not allowed to go in, they should allow our workers in.

VISIT: From left: President of Abuja chapter of Alumni Association of the University of Ibadan, Mr. Ismaila Alasa; Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Engr. Peter Igoh, and Director, Public Affairs of NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, when the chapter paid a courtesy call on the Chairman at NCC Headquarters, in Abuja.

Gas turbines, accessories for Oghara IPP awaiting installation —Project MD

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—THE two gas turbines and accessories, manufactured by Rolls Royce, United States of America, USA, for the controversial N23.2 billion Delta State In-

dependent Power Project, IPP, Oghara, Ethiope-West Local Government Area, have been in Oghara for more than one year, awaiting installation.

South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who spoke to reporters in Warri on the project, recent-

ly, alleged that the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, who divested his 14-year interest in the company, June, 2011, “has collected N18 billion from the Delta State Government, but nothing has

I've no plan to contest Bayelsa guber race in 2016 —PDP chair

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

G

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), has denied claims that he had concluded plans to contest the state governorship election, come 2016.

Inokoba, at the monthly interactive session between Governor Seriake Dickson and members of PDP, dismissed rumours of his alleged plan to run against the incumbent governor, saying it was the handiwork of his detractors.

He described the claim as wicked and dangerous aimed at creating cleavages and eroding the party's cohesion.

The state party chairman argued that his antecedent has never shown him as a disloyal individual or disloyal party member.

He said: “I have never had any ambition and the ambition I have is to deliver the President in 2015 and deliver the governor in 2016.

I don’t rock the boat. If I stay with you, I remain with you. The ru-

mour started during my trip abroad for medical check-up.

I came back and was told some persons claim I have ambition to contest against the governor in 2016.

Reuben Abati loses mum

T

HE Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati yesterday lost his mother at the age of 81.

A statement by Dr Abati said “With a heavy heart and gratitude to God Almighty, the Abati family of Kemta-Okebode, Abeokuta announces the passing away of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Madam Maria Taiwo Abati who passed into glory today, (yesterday) aged 81.

The statement said “Mama Abati, a devout Christian, a very

kind and loving person was born on 7th August 1931.

She was born into the family of late Pa Samuel Jobo Arowotadina and Late Madam Elizabeth Efundunke Arowotadina of Ijemo, Abeokuta. She is survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren including Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Robert Abati, a Geologist with Dangote Cement, Mr Ralph Abati, a banker with Fideli-

happened on the site.”

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of DavNotch, the contractor handling the project, Mr. Norbert Osodi, told Vanguard, in Asaba that “The turbines and accessories for the IPP are all in Oghara. They are all in our warehouse in Oghara and as we speak, work at the site is 60 per cent completed.”

He admitted that there was delay in the release of funds to the company and problem of motorable road, which construction was completed, last month, by government, noting that the company will return to site, during the week. ty Bank Plc and Mr Lanre Abati, an Economist & Chartered Accountant. She is also survived by her twin sister, Madam Victoria Kehinde Olude.

Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013—13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

FUNERAL FOR LATE PROF CHINUA ACHEBE

Funeral service for late Prof. Chinua Achebe held at St. Philips Anglican Church, Ogidi, Anambra State, yesterday. PHOTOS: Hill Ezeugwu, Chijioke Nwakpa & Henry Unini.

From left— Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Engr. Dave Umahin, Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.

From left— President John Mahama of Ghana, President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.

Bishop Obi Udezue Onubogu (left) and Most Rev. S. C. K. Uche, Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese.

From left— Chief Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President of Nigeria; his wife, Beatrice; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General; Senator Chris Ngige and Dr. Okonjo Iweala, Minister for Finance.

From left— Mrs Chinwe Ngonadi; Mrs Margaret Obi, Anambra State First Lady and Miss Amaka Obi.

Crowd at the event.

C M Y K

Mr. Scott Myers (left) and Dr. Alastair Niven.

Crowd at the event.

Sen Joy Emordi, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly (right) and Sen Andy Uba.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013—15

FUNERAL FOR LATE PROF CHINUA ACHEBE

Sir Obi Achebe (right) and Lady Nonyelum Achebe.

Clergymen.

Prof Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power (left) and Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour.

Zainobia Ikpeze, late Achebe's elder sister.

From left— Governor Uduaghan, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Mrs. Virgy Etiaba, former Governor of Anambra State.

C M Y K

From right— Mr. Klemmens Momkes, German Embassy; Dr and Mrs Emmanuel Egbogah, former Presidential Adviser on Petroleum.

From left— Mr. Afam Ilounoh, Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, Prince Emeka Eze and HRH Igwe Bernard Okoafor.

Ndichie Ogidi.

16 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Jonathan, Mahama, Ekwueme, Anyaoku, Govs, others bid Achebe farewell WU, VINCENT UJUMADU &UDUMA KALU

A

WKA—THE burial in Ogi di, Anambra State yesterday of the literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe, was literally turned to a political gathering given the caliber of political figures and political insignias that coloured the fivestar burial.

Achebe’s burial attracted President Goodluck Jonathan, Ghanaian counterpart, John Mahama, former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, Governors Roachas Okorocha of Imo, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta and the host, Peter Obi of Anambra State Other prominent Nigerians present include labour minister, Emeka Wogu, Minister of state for foreign affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Power minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Senator Chris Ngige representing Anambra Centsral, Senator Andy Uba representing Anambra South, former governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former MAMSER Director General, Prof Elochukwu Amaucheazi, Prof Laz Ekwueme, among others.

All through his very eventful life, Achebe lived the life of a writer and scholar.

Though not overtly stated, however, the parading of some uniform-wearing political party members became something of concern that the burial of such an intellectual has been politicized.

With the presence of many governorship aspirants, including Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, Uche Ekwunife, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Chris Ngige, among others, the atmosphere of St. Philip’s Church was politically charged as their supporters danced round the area in various uniforms with photographs of their candidates.

Notable Absence Achebe’s burial also attracted members of the clergy, the diplomatic corps from Canada, Germany, America and Ghana.

It was also noticed that Professor Wole Soyinka and Prof John Pepper Clark did not attend C M Y

the burial.

The absence of Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka and Prof John Pepper Clark at the occasion, to many was worrisome. The quartet of Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Clark and Chris Okigbo shaped the character and direction of modern African literature.

While Achebe and Okigbo are now late, Soyinka and Clark were the faces highly sought after by many at the event.

Death and Forgiveness In his sermon, Most Reverend Dr. Ikechi Nwosu, the Archbishop of Aba Diocese, who represented the Primate of Anglican Church in Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, commended President Jonathan for what he described as his large heartedness bothering on spirit of forgiveness.

Apparently referring to the late Achebe’s rejection of the national honours, Okoh noted that it showed forgiveness of heart that the President would still be present to honour the burial of the late icon.

While thanking the number one citizen for his unmatched gesture, the bishop also enjoined other Nigerians to show love and emulate the spirit of forgiveness as a way of moving the country foreword.

Nwosu said Igbo must give special thanks to God for making Achebe come from this part of the world.

He said: “Many of us gained so much from his knowledge.

He was a Christian to the core and a man of great social standing.

Dwelling on the theme, “Chinua Achebe, a parable to

’

By MCPHILIPS NWACHUK-

BURIAL: Cross section of Achebe’s immediate family, including his wife Christie (2nd left), during the funeral ceremony of late Prof. Chinua Achebe, at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Ogidi, Anambra State, yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini. had a foundation of the Bible flowing in him which was why he was actually inspired in his writings.

He said further: “We may narrate all our woes as a nation, but with determination, we will excel. Achebe was determined and that was why he excelled and so shall it be for Nigeria .

“He also proved that there is no end to one’s exploits in life. Whatever God has designed that we will be in life, that we will surely become.

Achebe worked so hard to encourage so many people.

He was a husband, a father and above all, a practical man.

He said further: “Achebe loved Nigeria so much and wanted things to works well.

Please do not count anything against him. He meant well for our country.”

The cleric said though Achebe was not a politician and did not aspire for anything, he was appreciated more than most political leaders.

Jonathan speaks In his speech, President Jonathan said the late liter-

Achebe loved Nigeria so much and wanted things to work well.

Please do not count anything against him.

He meant well for our country.

’

the Nigerian nation,” Archbishop Nwosu observed that the late writer used so many parables in his books and could have fitted properly as a pastor.

According to him, Achebe

ary icon, abhorred bad leadership and observed that the greatest honour Nigerians could do for him was to change from their bad behaviour.

The president said though

there had been so much comment on Achebe’s last book, ‘There was a country’, part of which he read at the church, he asked, Have we changed from what Achebe complained about?

He said: ”Those of us who are political, business and religious leaders must work hard to change our behavious. Our 2011 elections showed that we can change. If we can conduct free and fair election and change politicians for the better, our country will be better.

The president, who said he read Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ as a secondary school student in 1972, described him as a great philosopher who used his books to tell stories that make great impact on the lives of the people.

To the Ghanaian president, John Mahama who also attended the burial ceremony, Achebe was a great inspiration to him.

He said: “Though we never met physically, we were speaking on phone. Achebe was to deliver a lecture in Ghana, but could not do it before his death.

“I am grateful to God for the life of Achebe and the way he chose to live his life. He was much more than a writer and we thank Achebe for showing us that we can be ourselves.”

Both President Jonathan and President Mahama of Ghana, promised to rebuild the Akpakaogwe Primary School, Ogidi which Achebe attended.

Obi commends Jonathan Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, said by personally attending the burial and attracting another president, Jonathan had shown a rare sense of leadership, which no other president would have done.

Obi said: “The love you are showing to Igbo is a life line which we will never forget. For what you are doing for us, we will continue to be behind you.”

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, presented all the condolence registers signed for Achebe in all the Nigerian missions abroad to the eldest son of Achebe, Dr. Ikechukwu Achebe.

There was, however, an uproar when the minister, apparently out of excitement, said the registers were so many that they could not even be contained in a ‘Ghana Must Go’, which sent the whole congregation, into laughter including the Ghanaian President, John Mahama, who was in the church with his aides from his country.

Realizing the slip, Mrs. Onwuliri quickly apologized, saying she did not mean to be disrespectful to the president of Ghana.

The President’s aircraft touched down at 11.05am, heralding the ringing of the church bell for the commencement of the church service.

The brown casket bearing the body of Achebe was carried by eight young men in suits with purple shirts to match.

The service started at 11.30am with Achebe’s elder sister, Ezinne Zinobia Ikpeze on wheel chair leading other members of the family. Their dress was different from what they wore at the Ekwueme square in Awka, when the body arrived from Enugu on Wednesday.

Achebe’s eldest son, Ikechukwu, read the only lesson at the church service taken from the Book of Revelation, Chapter 7 Verse 9 –end.

Achebe’s widow, Christy rendered a special song in honour of her husband which according to her she sang last when she renewed her marriage vow with Chinua Achebe.

His remains were later buried after the Church service at the Mousoleum built in his compound.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 17

Following up on last week’s topics

reflection, see why so many foreign diplomats view so many Nigerian visa applicants with intense suspicion.

The truth is that too many Nigerians, including some who look and sound very respectable, enter other countries with tourist visas and then stay on illegally.

Our government should take note of the fact that this kind of misbehaviour, which tarnishes Nigeria’s image internationally, would occur much less often if this was a better place to live in.

Readers comments +234807137310 Ekenwan Akwagbe Dear Donu, l appreciate your concerns about President Jonathan’s style of leadership. It shows your genuine desire to have his name written in gold. Those who have criticized him for declaring a state of emergency are hypocrites.

Most Nigerians hailed the emergency declarations but political merchants like Tinubu and his cohorts see nothing good. They are

•President Goodluck Jonathan

Agbaje Without any fear of contradiction, l make bold to say that Jonathan is the worst President in the history of this country and that, come 2015, we will vote Jonathan out and nothing will happen.

L

C M Y K

ast week, I expressed reservations about President Jonathan’s overall performance to date…but praised him wholeheartedly for courageously declaring a state of emergency in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states.

I also complained about the fact that the American Embassy in Abuja recently rejected my assistant Mavis’s visa application…on the grounds that she (allegedly) doesn’t have sufficiently strong ties outside the United States (the implication being that she cannot be trusted to go home when the visa expires).

Knowing that Mavis is not the kind of person who would dream of violating the terms of any agreement and has no interest in becoming a fugitive and disappearing into the black economy of some American city to do menial work clandestinely - I continue to insist that she was treated unfairly…especially since she went to her embassy appointment with very strong supporting documents (which the official who interviewed her did not feel like reading).

The American visaawarding system is too whimsical and arbitrary, if you ask me. But I always try to be objective and can, on

+2347063678793 Anonymous Don’t mind the Americans.

Their assumption is that the average Nigerian is a golddigger and may never return if issued visa. A very wrong perception.

•Gov. Nyako of Adamawa State

•Gov. Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe state

People generally only run away and take risks in alien territories on the other side of the world when they are desperate.

When graduates yearn to clean toilets in Europe or to stack shelves in dingy American supermarkets, something is VERY wrong with their home turfs.

Anyway, here are some of the comments that Vanguard readers sent me about the above issues.

desperate for political power for selfish reasons and not because the PDP or Jonathan is not doing well. +2348023102847 Mrs L Finnih I have always known that Jonathan will act at the appropriate time. Those who are opposing him will all fail. The state of emergency declaration is the beginning of good things to come by God’s grace. +2347012643915 Tayo Tola

From Funmi (she asked me to withhold her number) I work for a multinational in Nigeria and have travelled extensively abroad but the Americans have denied me a visa more than once, giving the “not enough ties” excuse. I wonder why they think I would leave my good job to go and do lesser jobs in their so-called Gods Own Country! However, l put the blame squarely on the Nigerian government that allows her citizens to be treated like lepers in their own country and to be milked via non-refundable visa fees. +2348033140952 Anonymous The American guy who interviewed and disappointed Mavis most likely woke up on the wrong side of his bed that day!

Give him a national honour!

Mr Obafaiye Shem attracted widespread ridicule earlier on this year because he couldn’t answer a simple question about his organisation’s website during a TV interview and said that his boss - “My Oga At The Top” – would know the answer.

Rumour has it that he was recently relieved of his job as a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant for making a fool of himself. And I can see why he was removed from such a high-profile post, but I think that he deserves a consolation prize because he has had a HUGE cultural impact.

Everywhere I go, I hear people saying (seriously or humourously) “Oga At The Top” or “Madame At The Top” when they are referring to people – parents, spouses, employers, politicians - in different leadership positions.

The reason these words have become so popular is that they are so perfect a way of describing those who are perched on various pinnacles. And Shem should definitely be honoured for adding a colourful new phrase to the nation’s lexicon.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (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,MAY 24, 2013 WHAT does the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trades and Investments do? How can Nigerians assess the importance of its work to tackling the various challenges the country faces as it grapples with industrialisation?

Global rankings of Nigeria as an investment destination of choice have risen following improvements the Ministry has made in marketing the country. KPMG, a leading consultancy said Nigeria gained from disappointing returns recorded by the BRICS, with the exception of China.

UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2012, “Towards a New Generation of Investment Policies”, rated Nigeria as Africa’s biggest destination for Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, in 2011, with FDI inflows of $8.92bn, ahead of South Africa with $5.81bn.

Changes at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, have resulted in a 48-hour response target for all enquiries while registering new businesses is possible in Abuja and Lagos in less than 24 hours.

These, and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2012 that indicate, “Nigeria’s trade balance improved significantly from US$8.62 billion in Q2, 2012 and $1.60 billion in Q3, 2011, respectively, to US$12.37 billion in Q3, 2012.

Aggregate exports rose by 8.2 per cent, from

AF uture On Future Indus tr rades, Industr tryy, TTrades, Investments US$22.53 billion in Q3, 2011 to US$24.37 billion in Q3, 2012 while aggregate imports (CIF) declined by 42.7 per cent to US$11.99 billion in the review period,” are some of the credits the Ministry claims.

Increase in exports, a 43 per cent drop in imports in 2012 (significantly in vegetable oil, textiles and cement), resulting in savings of more than N4.2 trillion, the equivalent of the 2013 federal budget, are signs that manufacturing is improving and the interventions in textile manufacturing are yielding results. In 2012, the non-oil sector’s 30 per cent contribution to revenue was

significant.

Minister of Industry, Trades and Investments Mr. Segun Aganga discusses these developments with enthusiasm. Are they results of experience he brought to the job from exposure to international trade and investments or is Nigeria benefitting from the misfortune of other investment destinations?

Whatever it is, Nigeria’s industrialisation map is being drawn, and the Bank of Industry is developing key partnerships with micro, small and medium enterprises, efforts that can become more profitable if governments and industrialists work together to dismantle the formidable obstacles infrastructure presents.

The Ministry cannot realise its industrialisation, trades and investment targets - which would create more jobs and generally improve the welfare of Nigerians – in isolation. As it promotes Nigeria as an investment destination, all the other factors that would make Nigeria fit the bill should be tackled with more seriousness.

Perhaps, we should be wondering what other government agencies are doing in ensuring that these gains are not lost to challenges of sustaining them.

OPINION

BY OBASOGIE EDORODION

F

RANTZ FANON is reputed for his unassailable postulation that:“History will not forgive those men who have the exceptional privilege of speaking the words of truth, but have decided to take refuge in an attitude of captivity, mute indifference and sometime cold complicity”.

History will not forgive us if we fail to correct the wrong information encapsulated in pages 1 and 2 of a national newspaper of Friday, April 26, 2013 with the title, 'How ethnicity, religion influence appointments of varsities officials'.

“The eventual emergence of Prof.

Osayuki Oshodin in November2009 as Vice-Chancellor, even when he came third among the contestants in the order of merit…”.

It is pertinent to state that the above statement is not only untrue, but also an attempt to re-write the history of Professor Osayuki Godwin Oshodin’s meritorious appointment as ViceChancelor of the University of Benin.

It is worthy of note that whereas it was the law before Professor Oshodin’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor that the university Council would select three qualified persons for the office of Vice-Chancellor and send the list to C M Y K

Oshodin and the UNIBEN VC appointment the Federal Government (Presidency) which, in the exercise of its statutory power, appoints one of the three as Vice-Chancellor. The newspaper allowed itself to be misled as the extant law that governed the appointment of Prof Oshodin (JP) as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin did not permit the submission of three names to the government. So the issue of who was first, second or third on list does not arise. Rather, the university Council was conferred truly with autonomy by the extant law to appoint the best person in all ramifications as Vice-Chancellor. Prof Oshodin was meritoriously adjudged the best and was so appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin by the Governing Council of the University.

So where did the newspaper get the story of Prof Oshodin coming third from? Is it pure mischief or absolute ignorance? Unfortunately, the newspaper story did not state the last time a non-Yoruba person was ViceChancellor in the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,

and the University of Lagos.The attempt to draw a correlation between the agitation by a Benin Group and the appointment of Prof Oshodin as ViceChancellor is untenable. It failed, refused, and neglected to state that no Benin man was appointed ViceChancellor for the 40 years of the existence of the University of Benin until the meritorious appointment of Prof Oshodin as Vice-Chancellor.

T

he point that was unambiguously made at that time was there was a cabal entrenched in the university to frustrate the appointment of qualified Benin Professors as Vice-Chancellor in the University of Benin. It is the height of injustice, discrimination, marginalization and deprivation that prevailed for about 40 years in the university. No wonder the university had its attendant problems at the time.

It is on record that it is not only the Benin people that agitate for justice, fairness and equity which the human race always agitate for. I want to refer the writer of that article to the Vanguard Newspaper of Tuesday, April 10, 2013,

at page 36, where it is reported that the Urhobos are advocating for an indigenous Vice-Chancellor for the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE. The writer may have forgotten that since the inception of the Delta State University, Abraka, ONLY Professors of the Urhobo stock have occupied the seat of Vice-Chancellor in the institution for obvious reasons. So will the writer hit the roof for what the indigenes perceive as their legitimate demand? So, why the hullabaloos about the agitation of Binis in 2009 for one of their own to occupy the seat of Vice-Chancellor of the University if Benin after 40 years of the existence of the university in Benin City, even when they have lots of eminently qualified Professors, many of them also seasoned administrators, to occupy the position? Please people should leave the Binis alone!

*Mr. Edorodion, a social critic, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 19

T

HE massacre this month of over 40 police officers and 10 Department of State Services, DSS, men by the Ombatse cult in Eggon area of Nasarawa State woke Nigeria to the reality of the danger of increased violence against our law enforcement agents, especially the Police. It brought home the determination of Boko Haram to destabilise this country, and that any evil we tolerate will turn round to haunt us in the end. Boko Haram, by whatever means it emerged in our country, had become a big threat to our corporate existence as one nation. The politicians that may have started or engineered it from the North of Nigeria lost control of it. Those who called for blood to flow in the wake of the 2011 election results, lost face, became embarrassed and confused about the purpose, because what they had intended was not what was playing out. What started as a small group with few guns, knives, and clubs, killing mostly non-Muslims, have become a big terrorist organisation with international connections and inputs. The Northern politicians themselves were fast becoming targets and victims of attacks. It is now an almost settled matter, that those who may have thought that they would use Boko Haram to make their way into Aso Rock, will surely be prevented from controlling Aso Rock by the activities of the same sect.No sound Nigerian, Christian or Muslim, will vote for any person who saw no evil in the activities of Boko Haram or had threatened violence for whatever reasons.

Boko Haram today protects and

respects no one, Northerner, Southerner, Christian or Muslim because they have fully grown into terrorists, although they started as a sectarian violent group.

The strong response of the Federal Government to the killings in Nasarawa State, by declaring state of emergency in three of the Boko Haram bedrock states of Northern Nigeria was, therefore, welcome and overdue.

What should be done now also is for the government to keep watchful eyes on those states in the North that are most vulnerable, namely Bauchi, Plateau, and Kaduna states. The price of liberty, they say, is eternal vigilance.

The strong action by the Federal Government was needed at this stage.It was welcome because first, it brought peace to the peace loving citizens of those states, and by extension the country. Second, it sent a strong message to all Nigerians that the killing of any uniformed personnel is sacrilegious and should never be contemplated by any. Third, it woke the nation up from getting used to killing our police men, no matter their weaknesses. After all, you do not cut off your head because it is over grown with hairs.

The first major outing of the Boko Haram group was to attack our Police headquarters. It was their strong message to the Police, that they were a key target; then they hit the UN Office in Abuja to tell us that they had gone international; then the news media houses to tell us how important publicity was to their course. Soon after we lost DIG John Haruna under circumstances that pointed at terrorism, though not confirmed by police. Boko Haram burnt police stations, attacked prison

The growing trend of attacking police officers on duty, and killing them on flimsy reasons must stop and be completely eliminated from the psyche of all Nigerians

,

yards at every opportunity. In all these, the police did not seem to have read the real messages from the sect because of the supervening influence and opinion of some Northern leaders.The phenomenon of increasing hatred and killing of police officers was almost becoming politicised. The Niger Delta aggression against the police was already building up.My unaided count is that over 200 police officers have been killed since Boko Haram started in 2011, and it should not be so.

I

f the President of America mourned the Connecticut school shooting of 20 American kids like we saw recently, what should our President do with losing over 50 police and DSS officers in one fell swoop in Nassarawa State? What will the President do in superintending over a Force endangered by ethnic and religious politics and sentiments like the Nigeria Police? Assuming that we have a police with a bad public image,and indeed weak, should the President stand and watch while we kill all of them?If our argument is that we don’t want Christians and Western education,

Appreciating road and transport revolution in Abia

BY ROMANUS UWA

W

HAT is truly lacking in many parts of the country today and has continued to inhibit development is lack of access roads and adequate transportation system. Successive governments at all levels, especially during the long years of military regime, did not help matters at all.

Several efforts and inputs by private individuals and organisations in the transportation sector has not been enough because majority of Nigerians rely on land transportation to move around. Besides, the cost of such transport scheme is always unaffordable by some Nigerians, especially in the rural areas.

But in Abia State today, unlike in the past, the situation has changed and is still changing for good with the present administration’s policy on massive road construction and rehabilitation across the senatorial zones in the state.

The policy has brought about the opening up of access roads in several parts of the state, especially in the agrarian communities in the hinterlands where farmers reside.

Before now, some of the people in the rural communities in the state have not seen caterpillars not to talk of using tarred roads. The state government under the leadership of Governor Theodore Orji has remained consistent in pursuing the policy which is one of the cardinal programmes of his government from inception.

Apart from the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of roads across the state, the

C M Y K

government has completed the following roads since the assumption of office. They include Abia Tower (Ossah) dualised road, Okpara Square dualized road; the Uwalaka Ahia-Orie Ugba road; Ibeku Road extension, Ozuitem Street, Abam-Orie Ugba Street, Umuovom Nkatta Road (Ochendo Bye-Pass), Ahieke-Okwuta-Isieke Road with spur to the Cenotaph, Uyo Street, Okwulaga-Afaraukwu Road, UmuafaiLodu-Ahieke Road, Link Road between Aba Road and Timber Market, Nkata Ameke Road, Nkata-Alike Ring Road, New Secretariat By-pass, Ubakala-Old Umuahia dualised Highway, internal Roads in Abia State House of Assembly, Abia Transport Road, Enyiukwu Road, Okigwe Park Byepass and the asphalt overlay of over 25 streets within Umuahia the state capital and these roads were also beautified with streetlights and pedestrian walkways on both sides. The development has restored nightlife in the state capital amidst secured atmosphere devoid of crime of any sort.

In the commercial city of Aba alone, the state government has completed the Okwu Street, Ezeogo Road (Opposite Ngwa High School), Nwala Street, Mount Zion Street, Ikonne Street, A-line and F-line, Ariaria Market. Other roads include Umule Road, Umuocham Azikiwe, Okigwe, Faulks Road, Orieohazu Street, Unity Garden/Osisioma Ring Road, Timber and Allied Products Market internal roads, Uratta Road, dualization of Aba-Owerri Road with the spur at the Osisioma Ngwa end of the Enugu-Port-Harcourt expressway, dualization of Aba-Port Harcourt Road,

,

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

,

Beyond the Nasarawa massacre of Police

and all that in the North, should that constitute reasons to be allowed to kill our police men like this? The growing trend of attacking police officers on duty, and killing them on flimsy reasons must stop and be completely eliminated from the psyche of all Nigerians of all walks of life. We must be made to realise that the Police officer is a special agent of the President and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is not standing at that duty post or in that assignment on his own. If you touch a police officer, you have touched the apple of the eye of Mr. President!

The Police on their part must come to terms with the realities of policing our societies at a time like this. They must work together with all other law enforcement sections of this nation. They need to grow above bickering and cheap competition with the NSCDC over pipeline vandalisation,to the extent that lives were lost as we had in Ikorodu, Lagos recently. Police as the bigger brother to all law enforcement organisations in Nigeria should take the lead in building friendly and cordial relationships with the others like the DSS, Customs and Immigration, and the baby of the family, the NSCDC.That is why the loss of DSS officers in Nassarawa became so painful, and we hope that their cooperation with the Police will continue to grow in spite of the mishap.

The Police will also do some conscience searching to meet the demands of policing Nigeria in this modern world .A friendly Police is imperative. First,the AGF in 2012 announced that over 3000 persons have been killed extra-judicially by the police in four years. No one likes a killer, and if Nigerians perceive the police as killers, support will drop.The rate of extrajudicial killing should be reduced, and only officers with stable mental conditions should be

The policy has brought about the opening up of access roads in several parts of the state, especially in the agrarian communities in the hinterlands where farmers reside

,

Udu Street, Umugo-Ugwunagbo Road, Uratta, Ngozi Avenue, Omenazu, Okigwe Road, East Street and the recently commissioned Brass street, Milverton Avenue, Azikiwe Road, George Street and Constitution Crescent.

K

nowing that lack of adequate drainage channels has always been the bane of road durability in Aba, the present government had demolished all illegal structures in the city which made it possible for the construction of giant drainage channels at Ama-Ogbonna and Ngwa Road by East to control flooding in the city. Apart from the completed roads in the city, the perennial flooding at Binez junction of Aba-Owerri Road where motorists spent hours before crossing over has been tackled. Beside, work is ongoing in other roads in the city and will soon be completed before the rainy season gathers momentum.

Also not left out in the roads revolution by the state government is the rural communities where majority of the people

allowed to carry guns.

Second,the general Police image among the people is less than is desired. Many Nigerians believe that the police station is simply trouble,but that is not so. The police gives peace and helps maintain law and order in society.I often get surprised when a police officer flares up over a simple civil matter of debt recovery. What is his interest, why should a police officer be more angry than the complainant, in a purely civil matter? It boils down to compromised interest and corruption.

The appearance in public of some of officers is becoming so appalling as it is common to see a police officer in bath room slippers on duty. In this regard, one cannot help but appreciate the neat appearance of the average NSCDC officer, while hoping that they keep it up.

The morale and self-image of police officers, therefore, must receive a boost. Nigeria stands to gain more if the monthly wage of the lowest law enforcement officer, especially in the Police is pegged at N80,000, while the condition of police barracks will be a matter for another day. Police deployment policy across the nation should be reviewed such that officers will be close to their home LGAs.I do not see how effective an Igbo police officer, for example, will be in an Efik, Hausa, or Edo community or vice versa.

The difference in culture, mentality, religion and other ethnic differences will affect his effectiveness and could even cause disaffection between him and his host community. A percentage of officers therefore from the rank of Inspector and above, should be deployed in their home LGAs for effective policing.

*Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

of the state are residing. Some of the rural roads that have been constructed include Ozu-Abam Ndi-Okereke Road, AmaekpuOkagwe-Ohafia Road, Amankalu-AlayiAkoli-Imenyi Road, Ariam- Usaka-Ikwuano Road, Nunya-Eluama-isuikwuato Road, Ovim-Isuikwuato Road, Aba-Obikabia Road, Umugo-Alaoji-Umunka-UmuodoUgwunagbo Road, the Ntigha-Mbawsi Road, Iyienyi-Okwoi-Ozuitem Road, Umueze-Agbo-Ubani Ibeku Road, Nkata Mbom Road, some internal roads in Ossah and the Achara-Ihechiowa Road.

Being mindful of the popular saying that vehicles have become... an article of dress without which we feel uncertain, unclad, and incomplete, Governor Orji had in 2009 rolled out the Abia City Transport Scheme which, aside creating employment for the people, had equally resolved the perennial problem of lack of adequate and befitting intra-city transportation in the state. Since then, more than 1000 vehicles have been given out by the state government under the Transport Loan Scheme and the beneficiaries are always ready to testify to this. That is why it has always been possible for the state government to able to provide free transportation for indigenes of the state living in different parts of the country during yuletide celebration.

With the ongoing revolution in the roads construction and transportation by the present administration, which are two key factors in industrial growth, the state is now on the verge of reclaiming its past glory as the industrial giant of the country. This is more so that the commercial city of Aba is getting adequate attention from the state government in the area of massive infrastructure development.

*Dr. Uwa, a medical practitioner, wrote from Aba, Abia State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

ing and lamentations the scene of the tragedy. This was while joint rescue operation from patriotic and sympathetic Umudagu youths, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Fire Service, policemen and men of the State Emergency Management Agency led by the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Uche Ezeonyeasi was on to evacuate the dead and the injured, and restore a semblance of order at the place.

A lot of credit must be given to Mbieri youths who came out in their numbers, defying the uncertainties of the dark night, the devastating torrential rain, lightening and thunder, to assist their dying relations and friends.

Determination and patriotism

*A section of the tree that fell, smashed buildings and killed many people

ANCIENT TREE TRAGEDY:

Tears, condemnations trail multiple deaths T

HIS is not the best of times for Imo State and its people given the harvest of tragedies recorded in the state recently. The most recent is the ancient ancestral tree that fell in Umudagu, Ihitte Isi Mbieri community, Mbaitoli local council area of the State late Thursday night of May 16, killing no fewer than 50 people, with a yet to be ascertained number critically injured. The tall tree known as Osisi Ukwu Uko, collapsed on buildings as well as those transacting their businesses in a market located under the tree.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the collapse of the tree followed a heavy torrential rain that was accompanied by a ferocious windstorm and thunder. The devastating rainstorm, which started at about 6pm on the fateful day, continued throughout the night and spilled over to the morning hours of Friday. It was also gathered that most of the victims were either traders, who were selling their wares in the market, their customers, some passers-by and others who C M Y K

were taking shelter in the town hall building and the surrounding houses.

Lamenting over the ugly incident, the former state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo, whose ancestral home is a shouting distance away from the tragic scene said “the incident is most devastating and has thrown the entire community into deep mourning”.

Continuing, Nlemigbo said: “The tree was a symbol of the

er, expressed unhappiness that some el*Part of the trunk of the fallen tree ders in the community had severally rerachi Obumunonye said that sisted earlier arrangements to this disaster could have been fell the tree. He said he was averted and blamed the comnot at home when the incident munity’s elders for bluntly reoccurred and was only told fusing initial plans to cut about it through the telephone down the aged tree. and had to rush home to asHe, however, recalled with sist in evacuating the casualgrief that when some parts of ties. the tree were trimmed about “I am aware that the tree 20 years ago, the two individprovided a natural canopy for uals, who were engaged to people. There is also a marexecute the job, died unexket set up by our ancestors in pectedly after about a week, adding that this lent credence The tree was a symbol of the commu- to the belief that the gods residing in the tree had been nity and no living person in our comangered.

Some villagers around the munity can fully narrate the history scene confirmed to VM that a attached to the tree. The tree had almiddle aged mad woman had May 14, 2013, warned the ways been there until yesterday traders, who usually sold their wares close to and under the community and no living per- the place, which was sus- tree, to relocate from the place son in our community can ful- tained till date. There is also soonest or be prepared to face ly narrate the history attached the likelihood that some peo- the looming but unpleasant to the tree. The tree had al- ple must have run into the consequences.

Obviously, the villagers igways been there until yester- town hall building to take nored the advice, especially as day (Friday night)”. shelter. So, the casualty figure While debunking the rumour can be any person’s guess,” it came from a mental patient!

Most sympathisers could not now making the rounds that Chief Nlemigbo said. the tree had fetish attachments An obviously angry villager help but join close relations of to it, Chief Nlemigbo, howev- who gave his name as Ama- the dead in a chorus of wail-

,

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri

,

But for the determination and patriotism of these youths, more people would have died, even as it is being speculated that the death toll may have increased in view of the severity of the injuries and the distance from the scene of the incident to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.

S o m e p e o p l e willingly made their private cars available for the evacuation of the dead and injured. Some were seen giving first aid to the victims of the tragedy before they were taken to the hospital. The eventual arrival of government’s emergency team added some fillip to the efforts of the youths.

Meanwhile, the lifeless bodies of the victims, most of which are yet to be identified, were deposited in morgues, including the Federal Medical Centre, the State Specialist Hospital and Aladinma Hospital, all in Owerri.

But the tragedy is one that will haunt the villagers for a long time. The picture was gory. Human limbs scattered all over the place. Although rain water washed away the blood coming from the dying people, traces of human blood and stench can still clung to the scene.

For the people, it was a colossal loss of life and property. Their prayer is that such should never come the way Umudagu, Ihitte Isi Mbieri.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 21

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) industry have opposed the establishment of a commission to regulate ADR practices in the country.

Recently, the House of Representatives passed a Bill titled, ‘National Alternative Dispute Regulatory Commission Bill, 2011. The Bill which has also passed the second reading at the Senate, seeks to establish National Alternative Dispute Resolution Regulatory Commission (NADRRC). The functions of the commission, according to the Bill is to: regulate, through the process of accreditation, all Alternative Dispute bodies and institutions engaged in practice training, education or skills acquisition in alternative dispute resolution mechanism; advise the federal and state governments on the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms; develop an alternative dispute resolution policy for Nigeria; maintain a register of Alternative Dispute Resolution bodies and Institutions in Nigeria; set and maintain standards in the training curriculum of the Alternative Dispute Resolution bodies in Nigeria; undertake public enlightenment programmes on the benefits of Alternative Dispute Resolution as effective means of settlement of disputes; develop and maintain relations with international Alternative Dispute Resolution bodies and organisations with a view to attaining best international standards and practices in the

From left: Otunba ‘Debola Osibogun, First Vice President/Chairman, Organising Committee of 50th Anniversary, Chatered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN; Mr. Segun Aina, President/Chairman of Council and Mr. Femi Ekundayo, Past President, at a press conference to announce the activities making the 50th anniversary of the institute in Lagos.

Stakeholders oppose regulation of alternative dispute resolutions field of Alternative Dispute Resolution; organisee local and international seminars, workshops and conferences for users and practitioners; develop and constantly review, rules and regulations for the practice of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Nigeria; carry out such other activities as the Commission may consider necessary to raise awareness and maintain standards in the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Nigeria.”

Stakeholders, however, criticised the Bill, saying that ADR by its nature does not require regulation. They said that the Bill, if passed into law, will impinge on the right of private individuals to choose alternative dispute resolution method. They also noted that the Bill is against international best practices, as nowhere in the world, except for pariah states, is ADR regulated by government.

The stakeholders meeting

NRC shops for private investors to drive rail transportation

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

N

IGERIAN Railway Corporation (NRC) is shopping for investors under a Public-Private Partnership initiative to drive railway operations in the country.

Managing Director, NRC, Engr. Adeseyi Sijuade, who disclosed this in Lagos, said that the government has reached a conclusion that the corporation cannot be totally transformed without the participation of the private sector.

“In this regard, the federal government, through the Ministry of Transport, recently prepared a draft bill to amend the 1957 Railway Act and allow for private sector participation. This bill has been approved by the National Council on Privatization and will soon be submitted to the National Assembly. While awaiting this bill to be C M Y K

passed into law, the NRC has begun a move to pave way for the privatization process. It has dawned on us that NRC alone can no longer handle the enormous challenges of revolutionizing the sector, having suffered long years of neglect. So it has become expedient to involve the private sector by this time if we ever intend to meet our objective of attaining world class rail service,” he added.

According to Sijuade, under the new arrangement, private individuals will be granted access to run some of the vital aspects of the railway operation while the corporation retains its regulatory power over the rail facilities and the activities of the private operators. He said the PPP initiative include outsourcing, supply

was convened by the leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) Arbitration and ADR Committee led by Olasupo Shasore, SAN and Mrs Funmi Roberts Briefing journalists on the outcome of the stakeholders meeting, Sasore said that before the Bill was passed by the House of Representatives, stakeholders had expressed their opposition to it, but they were ignored. He said it would

chain and concessioning.

He said the corporation is already outsourcing some services to enhance operational efficiency, such as onboard cleaning of passenger trains, cleaning of major train stations and on-board catering.

Sijuade further said that NRC has commenced the procurement process for selecting potential logistics service providers in the following areas: design, building, operation and transfer (DBMOT) of warehousing to provide suitable, safe and secure storage space for goods; finance, supply and operation of modern facilities and provision of services for loading and offloading of goods; finance, supply in joint management with NRC, railway coaches to enhance passenger carriage capacity and finance, supply in joint management with NRC, and railway wagons to enhance freight haulage capacity.

take more concerted efforts on the part of stakeholders to stop the passage of the Bill by the Senate, and that is the basis for the stakeholders meeting. He said there are three categories of objection to the Bill, which were adopted by participants at the meeting, namely, Constitutional, Budgetary and International best practice. He noted that ADR is not in the exclusive list of the constitution; hence the National Assembly lacks the power to legislate on ADR.

132.7

-2.45

2,344.00

+43.00

16.88

0.07

103.90

-0.90

95.98

-0.73

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.74 POUNDS 233.7193 EURO 200.1407 FRANC 158.8543 YEN 1.5029 CFA 0.2845 WAUA 229.8532 RENMINBI 25.2368 RIYA 41.2607 KRONA 226.8487 SDR 230.5935

155.24 234.4745 200.7874 159.3676 1.5078 0.2945 230.5959 25.3188 41.394 26.9355 231.3386

SELLING 155.74 235.2297 201.4341 159.8809 1.5126 0.3045 231.3386 25.4008 41.5273 27.0222 232.0837

CBN Exchange rate as at 23/05/2013

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 201 3

BY CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

BRIEFS

FG L inaugurates FRC Board

T

HE Federal Government has inaugurated the governing board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. The board was inaugurated by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga inaugurates the Governing Board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) in Abuja,the Federal Capital Territory.

Headed by the immediate past/ President of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), H ajar Mariam Ladi Ibrahim, the board is the first since the establishment of the FRC following the enactment of the enabling act in 2011.

Apart from Ibrahim, the statement added, other members of the Board are the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive of the FRC, Mr Jim Obazee, two representatives each of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and ANAN. Also included are one representative each of the following: Office of the Accountant General of the Federation; Office of the auditor General for the Federation; Central Bank of Nigeria; Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers; Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; Corporate Affairs Commission; Federal Inland Revenue Service; Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Federal Ministry of Finance; Nigerian Accounting Association; Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.

Others are Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation; Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers; Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Insurance Commission; Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Pension Commission.

The FRC is the body charged with regulating accounting, auditing, valuation and actuarial standards, registration of professionals as well as harmonisation of corporate governance rules in the country.

EARN Africa Plc and DN Tyre Plc reported losses in their quarterly results due to growing cost of sales and administrative/distribution cost. This also led RT Briscoe Plc’s profit to fall by 87.7 per cent.

The poor results prompted a negative return on their share prices within the week.

In its 2013 first quarter result filed at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Learn Africa Plc recorded a significant loss after tax, depreciating by 994 per cent, with a N64.44 million loss as against a profit after tax of N7.32 million recorded in the same period of 2012. It revenue dropped by 78.6 per cent in the period under review, with N149.85 million as against N700.53 million recorded in Q1 2012.

The significant loss recorded was occasioned by its inability to manage its cost of sales effectively which rose by

Rising cost deflates Learn Africa’s profit, two others 81.11 per cent quarter to quarter and its distribution/ administrative and cost other expenses which rose by 38.57 per cent.

The poor result declared by the company impacted negatively on its share price which fell to N1.65 per share on Wednesday from N2.00 per share recorded on Monday when it released its Q1 result to the investing public.

DN Tyre Plc 2nd quarter loss after tax slumped further by 5.6 per cent, recording a loss of N437.43 million as against a loss of N463.21 million in the same quarter of 2012. Its revenue also dropped to N81.81 million from N99.1 million recorded in its corresponding period of 2012.

Huge administrative and

marketing expenses, as well as interest expenses and similar charges impacted negatively on the company’s bottom line. Its share price has remained at it nominal value of N0.50 year to date.

The company has been having a tough time in breaking through in its operations as it declared N826.864 million loss in its 2012 audited profit/loss after tax ended September 30 2012.

The company increased its loss from N615.823 million recorded in the same period of 2011.

R T Briscoe Nigeria Plc profit after tax depreciated by 87.7 per cent, recording N8.4 million in first quarter of 2013 as against N68.17 million in corresponding period of 2012.

Its revenue also fell to N5.24

billion from N5.46 billion in the previous period.

The company’s profitability margin witnessed a significant drop as a result of its financial cost depleting its operating profit by 96.3 per cent. It expended N355.7 million as its financial cost out of N368.1 million realised as operating profit in Q1 2013.

Its unimpressive result drove its share price to fall by 10 per cent between Wednesday and Monday this week that the company released its Q1 result to the investing public.

However, Fidson Healthcare Plc grew its first quarter revenue by N2.62 billion, rising by 55 per cent, as against N1.7 billion recorded in the same quarter of 2012.

Its profit after tax rose by 60 per cent, recording N194.5 million in contrast to N121.4 million in 2012.

The company’s share rose by 14.1 per cent to close at N1.78 per share on Wednesday from N1.56 per share last Friday when it released its Q1 result to the investing public. The company recently releasing an impressive 2012 full year result, showing a profit after tax growth of 272 and proposed a dividend of N180 million, which translates to 12 kobo dividend payout to shareholders.

Commenting on the results, the Finance Director, Fidson Healthcare, Mr. Olatunde Olanipekun, said the improvements recorded resulted from concerted efforts to raise performance and productivity.

Effective e-payment system critical to banking services — Sanusi

BY BABAJIDE

KOMOLAFE

G

OVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, CON, Speaking in Lagos during the keynote address at the CBN/Gartner event, Sanusi said that the CBN remains committed to realizing the vision of providing Nigeria with a secure, robust and accessible payment infrastructure.

Describing the payments system as an important component of services that banks render to Nigerians, Sanusi

emphasized the importance of effective, efficient and safe service delivery to the Nigerian banking populace.

Speaking on the theme: “Secure, robust & accessible payments infrastructure,” the CBN Governor disclosed that the Bank had taken deliberate actions in recent times to focus attention towards electronic payments as a veritable option for efficient payments service towards the promotion of rapid financial inclusion and increased economic activities.

According to him, “the success of a country ’s payments system is evinced by perceptions of its security, robustness –that is, the ability

to cater for a wider range of preferences –and its ready access to the end –user.”

Speaking further, Sanusi said that the Cash-lite policy was introduced to, among other things, meet FSS2020/ Vision 2020 requirements for regional and international integration and modernize the payments system in Nigeria. “This is just one step towards the credible, reliable, & efficient payments system that is CBN’s dream,” he added. .

Reviewing the previous payments system, the CBN Governor recalled that the financial system in Nigeria was largely characterized by a cash dominant and weak

electronic payments platform.

He, however, expressed satisfaction that there is now greater speed in financial transactions, hugely attributable to the evolution of Information Technology, which he described as being key to the transformation in payments System “That information technology is a key part of this transformation is almost a misnomer – IT is the very fabric of such transformation.

Far from being merely a support function to operations, IT has evolved as a key enabler of competitive advantage, innovation and security,” Sanusi declared.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 —23

FG to remove barrier on food export to EU

T

HE Federal Government has said it has plans to assist exporters of non oil products to address the bottlenecks connected with exports of food produce to European countries.

The plans, according to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Segun Aganga, would help to facilitate trade to the United Kingdom and countries in the European Union.

Aganga stated this at a workshop and exhibition on export of Nigerian food produce to the UK. The workshop, with theme: 'Export of food produce to the United Kingdom' was organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Dauda Kigbu, said the capacity building workshop would also help to reduce complaints by exporters regarding the rejection of traditional food exports by the UK Border Agency.

He said: "In view of the strict importance attached to internationally accepted procedures and documentation, especially where food consumables are concerned, this workshop could not have come at a better period-more so, as the nation looks to diversifying its economic base from oil to non oil.

Also speaking at the event, the EU Head, Import Control Agency, UK, Mr. Michael Glavin, said for the country to fully harness the potential of non oil export, challenges such as compliance with EU laws and agriculture processing needed to be addressed.

The NEPC Executive Secretary, Mr. David Adulugba, who also spoke at the event, said with the workshop, the country would begin to witness a quantum leap in the volume of non-oil export.

"The British market consistently tops the first 10 chart list of importers of Nigerian goods, and in any case, they have been our traditional trading partner of old. We are looking at it from superlative terms now. Whatever it is now we want to make it 100 per cent higher.

USAID-NETT-NiRA — From left: Prof. Akin Aluko, Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport programme, NEXTT; Mrs. Isioma Fidel-Ewekem, Managing Director, Nesta Sukie Limited; Prince Wale Oyekola, Chairman, Agric and Non-Oil Export Group, LCCI, and Open Odunsan, of NiRA. at a discussion on foreign aids for farmers and exporters in Lagos, yesterday.

Mass importation of CPO threat to FG’s ATA — POFON STORIES

BY DANIEL GUMM

T

HE Plantation Owners Fo- rum of Nigeria, POFON has cautioned the Federal Government to be wary of some companies in Nigeria, which have begun trading in imported Crude Palm Oil, CPO, explaining that it had informed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development about the threat that mass importation and dumping of CPO poses to the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA of government.

POFON also warned that any attempt to make the oil palm upstream value chain vulnerable would jeopardise the ATA, pointing out that there should be urgent government intervention, else, the country would stand to lose, when “CPO cabals emerge to take control and perpetuate the importation of palm oil in Nigeria.”

POFON in a communque, signed by its Executive Secretary, Fatai A. Afolabi, siad that after an extra-ordinary meeting at Presco Plc, Obaretin Estate, Edo State to deliberate on critical national issues relating to the oil palm industry, namely: Collapse of the domestic palm oil market and suurvival options; and the way forward, noted that from the January 2013 level, the local CPO prices have dropped by 25-30 per cent in May 2013.

“Presently, prices are at incredibly low levels, thus threatening the profitability of oil palm businesses at both large scale and small-holder levels.”

The highlights of the Edo State meeting were: Downward slide in CPO prices, rising importation of CPO, concession and waivers, tariff reduction, as well as abuse of ETLS.

The plantation ownwers noted that they are disturbed by reports of concession and waivers being granted to traders to import CPO and refined products in spite of the 35 per cent tariff and the ban on respective commodities and in flagrant disregards to the assurances given by Mr. President in his budget speech not to grant concession and waivers to import commodities that we have the capacity to produce in Nigeria.

But some government agencies have been implicated in granting concession and waivers to CPO importers. This practice, according to POFON, undermines the ATA of

this administration. POFON demands that it be stopped forthwith.

POFON has also noted with concern the purported rising imports of CPO from neighboring West African countries under ETLS. “Verifiable statistics have shown that our sub-regional neighbors including Ghana, Republic of Benin, Togo and Cote D’Ivoire are net importers of CPO. The rising importation of CPO from these countries into Nigeria under ETLS is therefore questionable.” POFON therefore calls on government to investigate purported ETLS imports with a view to identifying the abuses that are associated

with ETLS. POFON said that it has being following the recent argument and clamour, from manufacturers to reduce CPO tariff from 35 per cent to 5%. “We have also found most absurd the proposal made to government to give concession to companies, which can show evidence of owning minimum 2,000 hectares oil palm plantation to import CPO.” “There is substantial evidence to show that this kind of proposal was made out of confusion and desperation to clear the way for dumping cheap and low quality CPO into the country. POFON indisputably declares that no genuine plantation owner is interested to import CPO under any guise into the country and as such says an emphatic “No” to tariff reduction.

“The contemporary agricultural transformation agenda (ATA) emphasises the value chain approach to agricultural development. For the oil palm value chain, it presupposes that both the upstream and downstream of the value chain are complementary of each other.

“POFON therefore finds the existing arrangement incongruent and inimical to ATA; where the downstream value chain enjoys extreme protection of imports ban, while the upstream value chain is protected with 35 per cent tariff,” it stressed.

POFON listed the varioua projects by its members and called on the Federal Government to provide enabling environment, necessary infrastructure and incentives to take Nigeria’s oil palm industry to global competitiveness.

FG launches website to tackle informal exports

N

IGERIAN Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has launched e-registration Website and e-registration booklet to reduce the volume of consignment leaving the country through informal exports.

The Executive Director, NEPC, David Adulugba, who said this at the launch in Abuja expressed regret that the quantum of goods leaving the country annually without documentation was worrisome.

Adulugba said the launch of the site - www.nepc.gov.ng and the booklet was vital to the growth of the non-oil export sector. He said the initiatives would enhance the process of registering products meant for export as well as assist in capturing data of the informal trade between Nigeria and other countries.

Adulugba said findings by the agency revealed that there were 48 loading points where goods were exported to other countries informally.

He expressed concern that more than three quarters of

the goods leaving the country were informal, adding the

agency was ready to tackle the problem promptly.

KFC launches Snacker snack

I

N line with its “consumer-centric” approach, KFC, one of the world’s most popular quick service restaurants has launched a new eat–as-you-go Snacker to the satisfaction of its teeming customers and prospects which offers a tasty range that appeals to snack-lovers and fun-loving youths and people in Lagos and Ibadan.

FC Snacker is a toasted sesame bun with one piece crispy strip, lettuce and pepper mayonnaise. According to KFC Head of Marketing, Mr. Vikram Varma, “People, especially, youth and students are tired of regular meat pies, hot dogs and rolls and are looking for something real. KFC in line with consumers’ expectation now has a real snack which is affordable as well as great tasting.

It is believed that customers need to be able to refuel throughout the day to maintain

optimal energy level and that’s where KFC Snacker comes in.

It also fills in certain gaps in between regular meal period.

In one of the higher institutions of learning in Lagos, Ayoade Ayo and Ayoade Sayo, Twin brothers, testified that “KFC Snacker has great influence on us at eating better and getting around our tight lecture schedule, moreover, it is affordable at the price of N300.”

Miss Ngozi Donalds, fondly called Pink Lady, who is 21, said: “I start my day early in the morning with a pack of KFC Snacker, it sets my daily rhythm right.

Customers can enjoy the KFC Chicken menu which includes the Original Recipe: one, Juicy Chicken with a Golden Crust, made with KFC’s 11 secret herbs and spices, and, the Hot & Crispy Chicken that is crispy outside and juicy inside.

24— Vanguard, FRIDAY ,MAY 24, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 —25

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26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

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lieu Secka was one time chairman of the Gambia Hotel Association (GHA) and the Proprietor and General Manager, Golden Beach Hotel , also in the Gambia. A Chartered Accountant but with vast experience in the hospitality industry. In this interview , he talked about the joy of setting up an hotel and how the economic crisis in Europe since has weakened clients budgets.

Here is an excerpts.

On how he entered the hotel industry After studying in London between 1984-90, I returned home to Banjul and worked with KPMG Chartered Accountants for one year, when I was offered a job of Chief Accountant at Senegambia Beach Hotel, Gambia’s largest hotel. I rose to become Financial Controller & Company Secretar y, Financial Director and Deputy MD before starting my own Golden Beach Hotel.

On his professional qualification I studied Corporate Administration and Business & Finance in London and a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries (FCIS), Fellow of Chartered Management Institute (FCMI), and Hospitality General Management in Cornell University Professional Development Program, NY. On how long he has worked for Golden beach hotel I opened Golden Beach Hotel in 2006, and have enjoyed to see it grow to a successful hotel.

On what hopes and aspirations he has for Golden beach hotel As we work with clients from all over the world, our mission is to have as many happy returning clients. We are always therefore encouraged when we welcome so many back, and determined to strive even harder to win many more.

On weather he has much say in the direction of the hotel As the Proprietor and GM, I run the hotel together with a small team of experienced managers. Recently I am less involved with the day to day management, which I leave to the team and I concentrate on contracting, marketing and corporate relations.

On If running the Golden beach hotel has given him any new challenges Indeed starting a new hotel was an exciting challenge, although was equally taxing. I had to lead and complete the construction, purchase equipment, fixtures & fittings, hire staff, contract with tour operators, prepare websites and get

The Gambia tourism targets Nigeria market —Secka

*Golden Beach hotel.

I repeat the walk around lunch time, as well as before I leave in the evening around 6pm. When I return at night, I do another round. Apart from speaking with guests, I also speak with staff and get to check on their work.

*Alieu Secka the operations started with the welcome of the first guests among other things After 7 years operations, some of the challenges have changed but keeping high occupancy and costs low are now the biggest in the face of increased costs. The economic crisis in Europe since 2009, have further weakened the clients budgets.

On what has Golden beach hotel brought to the hospitality industry in GambiaGolden Beach Hotel has brought very personalized services in an atmosphere of informality. Very quickly all our guests are familiar and at ease to speak with staff as well as relaxed in family type setting..

Today, our Occupancy is very high with averages of 80-95% in the peak season.

On his highlights working in this hotel Peaceful wide gardens on a quiet beach.

If he has much time during your day to connect with guests Several times during the day, I walk around the hotel property when I speak to guests in all the areas. First thing I do when I arrive in the mornings, is to go to the restaurant and check the services and chat with guests, then all the way to the beach, stopping at the swimming pool and at guest balconies.

On his view on technology overtaking luxury hospitality , with many hotels aiming for a competitive edge by introducing all the latest technological features Technology has now become a very big part of our daily living, with almost all guests requiring Wifi, so we provide this free service in the hotel lobby.

At almost any time, you will find guests on their mobile telephones, Ipads or androids. Satellite TV and sports channels are also common features.

On what plans on the table in terms of selling The Gambia as a tourist destination As earlier indicated, as a major stakeholder we work hand in glove with the Gambia Tourism Board whose mandate is to market Destination Gambia.

A Tourism Marketing Committee (TMC) was put in place by the Ministry of Tourism to reinforce traditional source markets and look at the possibility of engaging new ones including the sub region – Nigeria in particular, as well as Italy, Russia, east Europe..

We fully supports all the activities in promoting the Gambia by actively participating directly as well as materials presented. all the activities

that I have touched on above, Gambia Hotel Association will be on board.

On where he relaxes if not in the hotel For the last 21 years, I work almost every day when I am in Banjul unless I am away overseas. However I try to keep Sunday personal, and only visit the hotel briefly to see if there are any particular issues that require urgent attention and to quickly ensure that all staff are doing their work.

I would spend the day usually with my son, visiting my parents and going shopping with him then the afternoon at home with the rest of my family. Often we will go out for dinner at a local restaurant or my wife and daughter would make some special seafood dinner which is my favourite.

On his message to the hospitalityindustryaboutGambia Firstly, The Gambia has been known for its hospitality, gentleness, pleasant hotels from the top to budget ones and quiet beaches.

We have nice fashions, sumptuous Gambian cuisines, colourful and safe markets. Many thousands of Europeans flock to The Gambia with several flights daily from top tour operators that return many times to visit and enjoy these.

Tourism’ll boost in invvestment —FG M

INISTER of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke on Tuesday said the Federal Government was set to reawaken Nigeria’s tourism potential toward boosting investment opportunities.

The minister said this at the maiden edition of Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) in Abuja.

Duke said that the exhibition was to strengthen the relationship between tourism investors and their service

providers.

He said that it would also create awareness on the need to develop and promote the local tourism destinations in the country.

“Nigeria has a population of almost 170 million people, a land mass of about 923,768.64sq km and a land richly endowed with ecological resources.

“Nigeria has the greatest tourism potential in Africa and investing into the tourism sector will generate foreign exchange through financial returns on investment,”

he said.

The minister stressed the need for a synergy between the states, local governments, local communities and stakeholders to build the sector.

According to him, the Federal Government is providing an enabling environment for the development of tourism sector and give unique incentives for tourism investors in the country.

“The main thrust of government policy on tourism is to generate foreign

exchange, encourage even development, promote tourism based rural enterprise and accelerate rural urban integration and cultural exchange.

“Tourism development should therefore not be left in the hand of the Federal Government alone but there should be a synergy between all sections of the government and stakeholders,” Duke said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 —27

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MAY 24 24,, 2013

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What you need to know about the breast cancer gene

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

FTER finding out she had "the breast cancer gene," Academy Award winner, Angelina Jolie, decided to have a double mastectomy to significantly reduce her risk of cancer. Should you get tested for the gene, too?

“I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience,” Jolie stated.

“Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense

of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.”

All women at risk

There is not much control over the two greatest risk factors-being a woman and getting older--but there are other factors that can affect risk too. While there's no one safeguard that will guarantee you won’t get cancer, there are steps you can take to decrease your risk at every age.

The take-home message is that all women are at risk and there are healthy lifestyle decisions they can make that can

decrease risk.

Know your risk

When you’re young, get as much information as you can about your family history.

Knowing which relatives have had cancer will help you determine if you should pursue more serious measures, like genetic testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes. If you are at a significant risk of developing breast cancer, you may consider a prophylactic mastectomy, which will reduce risk by 90

percent.

Schedule your first examination Beginning at age 20, you should start getting a clinical breast exam every three years when you visit the gynecologist. If you’re at a higher risk for breast cancer-say, if you have a family history of it--consider getting an exam every year.

Birth control options

Research shows the risk of breast cancer increases 10 to 30 percent in women taking birth control pills. Though birth control pills have come a long way, women should consider

barrier methods, if possible, and avoid taking any other products that may contain estrogen.

Know yourself

Being able to recognize changes in your breasts is vital, which means you should know how they normally look and feel. Whether you do this through a Breast Self Examination, BSE, or a more informal process of looking and touching, is key to know what’s normal for your body. Breast self-awareness is important,

which means you should see your health care provider immediately if you notice any change.

Childbirth

Consider having children sooner rather than later. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but having children after 35, or not having children at all, may increase your risk for breast cancer.

Breastfeed

If you have children, breastfeeding for a year or longer reduces breast cancer risk.

Having a baby and breastfeeding allows your breast tissue to fully develop and become less susceptible to changes.

Boy with hole-in-heart seeks N1.7m for surgery

By CHARLYE IKPE

O

LU WA F E Y I J I M I Benson’s life is in the hands of good spirited Nigerians.

He is a hole-in-the-heart patient who requires N1.7 million for a life-saving corrective surgery.

Oluwafeyijimi’s critical condition was discovered when he was aged two. He was consistently ill so his mother took him to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, where the daunting verdict was made.

The boy was suffering from a hole in the heart - a congenital heart disorder, (tetralogy of fallot) necessitating a surgical intervention for his survival.

According to the mother, Toyin Benson, Oluwafeyijimi’s prolonged illness has impoverished the family.

A dealer in second-hand baby wears, Toyin and her husband, a brick layer, have no reasonable source of income to sustain the family, or raise the sum for the all important surgery.

She is therefore calling on Nigerians to help save her boy’s life, she said “I want my boy to

•Oluwafeyijimi live; I don’t want him to die. The child came as a joy but right now she has no peace and joy in my heart due to the circumstances surrounding his health.

If you are touched to assist, donations can be made to Oluwafeyijimi Benson, First Bank Plc. 3071772551, or through 08039151682.

Edo obtains medical equipment

E

DO State Government has taken delivery of medical supplies and equipment from Prezens for Charity, U.S.A, in collaboration with Amazing Grace Medical Outreach.

In astatement, President of Afemai World Outreach and Principal partner, PREZENS, for charity US.A., Dr Tony Akende, said the gesture was significant noting that government could not do everything hence the need for private initiatives to support government in a symbiotic relationship.

The donation was to contribute towards meeting the health needs of residents of the state, especially the less privileged.

“What we have have given can be increased with collaboration from government and other private sector individuals. This relationship will go bigger . For now, we have given medications for hypertension, diabetes, medical equipment and 55 boxes of supplies for hospitals.

Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere said people in the rural or hinterland needed such strategic intervention. Executive Director, State Poverty Alleviation Agency, Chief Mrs. Evelyn Omokhodion said the equipment/supplies will be distributed to hospitals in the three senatorial districts of the State.

N500m fund for SS patients

T

HE Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative, SAMI, and Progeny Foundation Nigeria have launched a fund raising project tagged “500 By 1 Million”.

The project, which seeks to raise N500 million through a minimum individual donation of N500, will be used to support sickle cell victims in Nigeria.

To kick start the project, a flash mob launch was held at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos. Speaking at the event, Executive Director, SAMI, Ms Toyin Adesola, said the need to provide support for victims, most of who are usually overwhelmed by

huge medical bills, is the main objective of the fund raising initiative.

“Through our work, we have been exposed to various adversities of victims and their families. Can you imagine a poor family with five children living with sickle cell disorder?

“That’s why we launch this appeal fund so we could provide medical and material support for poor victims, funds for researches to help advance the chances of proper healthcare or cure, create more awareness and advance treatments”.

For this project, SAMI and Progeny are targeting individuals, because, according to them, an average Nigerian can afford to donate N500 to this cause.

•Regular blood pressure check is an essential way of determining health status

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 31

•Wande Coal

•D’ Prince

Don Jazzy, D’ Prince, others storm S.Africa for BBA launch show

By BENJAMIN NJOKU

C

OME tomorrow, the Big Brother Africa launch show will ignite the world when multiple awardwinning musicians from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa take centre stage to do what they know how to do best.

The big night will also see 28 new housemates being revealed to audiences in over 50 African countries for season 8 of Big Brother Africa, The

AGN set to host screen actors award C M Y K

Chase.

With the live show screening from 19:00 CAT on AfricaMagic, AfricaMagic Entertainment, AfricaMagic World, as well as on DStv channel 197 and 198, viewers are to look forward to sassy and upbeat tunes from Kenya’s very own award winner, STL. Boasting hit songs such as “Take My Time” , “Hula Hoop”, “Bad as I Wanna Be”, the singer, songwriter and rapper, also recipient of awards from the Kisima Awards, Clops Awards and Jeermaan Awards,

promises to deliver an unforgettable and lasting performance with her distinct pop, soul and rap sound.

Hailing from Nigeria, musical heavy weights Don Jazzy, D’ Prince and Wande Coal are also set to thrill audience with their energetic and charming personae. Multi awardwinning record producer, singersongwriter and musician, Don Jazzy will join D’ Prince and Wande Coal on stage for their collaborative performance. These chart topping hit makers from Mavin Records are also best

I N S I D E: I’m still single after I broke up with my girlfriend — Moses Obi Adigwe

Nokia’s new Lumia series, gender sensitive

•Don Jazzy

known for songs such as “I like What I See”, “Bumper 2 Bumper” and “Who Born the Maga”. The continent can expect a sensational performance that will ignite the Big Brother live show.

Also, one of South Africa’s leading Afro pop music groups, Mafikizolo will serenade guests with their soulful and rhythmic tunes on the big launch night. With several albums and awards under their belt, the duo have brought fans far and wide, dance-floor filler hits such as ”Sibongile”, “Ndihamba Nawe”, “Nisixoshelani” and most recently “Khona”. Their performance on the Big Brother stage is sure to evoke dance moves, reminding audience why the chart topping group remains pioneers in their field with musical experience spanning 15 years.

The line-up will also include a slot for some comic relief from Kenyan stand-up comedian, Daniel Ndambuki, popularly known as Churchill. The highly talented entertainer has also become a household name with his TV show called “Churchill Live”.

In Addition to the live screening of the launch show, the good news is that the show will also concurrently be streamed live to audiences across Africa on the Big Brother website.

32— Vanguard,

C M Y K

FRIDAY,

MAY 24 24,, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 —33

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34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

I don’t have AIDS — Cossy

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BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

F you happen to be one of those people who are still spreading the old rumour that tiny-voiced actress-turnedsinger, Cossy Orjiakor is HIV positive, this news is bound to disappoint you. The booby actress has refuted the rumour, insisting that she’s free from the deadly disease.

Cossy was recently rumoured to have been HIV positive. Gripped by fear, she rushed to the hospital to ascertain her HIV status.

And when the result was finally released, lo and behold! Cossy was HIV negative. Without any hesitation, she tweeted the result of her test to silence those wagging tongues. “I am not HIV positive. I don’t have AIDS cuz(because) my test result just came out. So for those of you carrying rumour, go get yourself tested”, she tweeted.

M

•Cossy

Karen’s BBA co-winner, Wendall arrested over $25,000 fraud

By IYABO AINA

E

x-BBA winner, Wendall Parson during the week was arrested over false car insurance claims after he was involved in an accident with his car two months ago.

Janet Jackson joins billionaire club

The buzz is that Wendall allegedly insured his Ford Ranger car with Alliance Insurance Company on March 18, 2013, two days after he crashed the same car. He then allegedly lodged a false insurance claim of $25,000 for the same car.

The insurance company, suspecting a foul play, launched an investigation and reportedly found out that Wendall crashed the car before he insured it with them.

This led to his arrest on Friday, while we gathered that he would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

ICHAEL Jackson may be one of the most successful dead celebrities, but his sister Janet (who, of course, is alive and well) is doing pretty well herself. The 47-year-old is officially a billionaire.

According to Variety, Jackson, who is one of the best-selling artists of all time, has earned $458 million thanks to her successful concert tours, $304 million from acting roles in films like “For Colored Girls” and “The Nutty Professor,” $260 million in album sales, and more than $81 million from tour sponsorships and licensing fees.

And the “Control” songstress isn’t the only billionaire in her household.

Jackson secretly married retail tycoon Wissam Al Mana, who’s made his fortune investing in the Middle East.

As for fellow celeb billionaires, Jackson joins a club with members including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, J.K. Rowling, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, whose “Seinfeld” money helped … but whose main fortune came from her dad, billionaire Gerard Louis-Dreyfus, chairman of the Louis Dreyfus Energy Services. At least, Janet can feel good about the fact she

Aki is bereaved!

N

earned her billion all by herself.

Mercy Johnson salutes fans, returns to work

•Karen Igho and Wendall Parson

ollywood actor, Chinedu Ikedieze popularly known as Aki is currently in a sad mood as he lost his father to the cold hands of death last Saturday.

The funny actor announced his father’s death through a broadcast message on the blackberry instant messaging platform. “Hello everyone, I just lost my dad” was his statement through a broadcast on Blackberry Messenger.

However, a source confirmed that Aki’s father died after a brief illness. Ikedieze,(MFR) is best known for playing alongside his screen partner, Osita Iheme. Their breakthrough movie was Aki Na Ukwa.

•Janet Jackson

•Mercy Johnson-Okojie

A

FTER months of disappearing from the screen following the birth of her baby, sultry actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie is back at work.

She has also sent out a ‘thank you’ message to her teeming fans, colleagues, producers and wellwishers who gave her support while she was away for her child delivery.

The Kogi State-born actress said, she

is overwhelmed at the massive love shown to her by many people. She thanked those who presented gifts to her and her baby, Purity.

Her message posted online reads; “I want to say thank you to the fans, friends, colleagues and producers who were there for me. Many of them proved to be friends on and off work. Many adjusted their schedules for me and sent in their greetings during the child dedication. ”I resumed work this week with grateful heart and understanding that I am here because God through the help of people made it possible. Or how could I explain the overwhelming votes I got at AMVCA despite been away and inactivity on social media? ’How could I explain the numbers of producers and scripts waiting for my return? How could I explain the overwhelming love and gifts while I was away? ”I am very grateful and here to say a big thank you to everyone who played a role and those who as much as had good wishes in their hearts. “Thank you and God bless you.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 —35

Wizkid is African Artist of the Year

AGN set to host screen actors award

By BENJAMNIN NJOKU

I

N the bid to recognise actors, individuals, corporate bodies, government and its agencies that have contributed immensely to the growth of the nation’s motion picture industry, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has concluded plans to organise its own award ceremony known as the Screen Actors Award.

Already, the National President of the guild, Ms Ibinabo Fiberesima has inaugurated a 10- man committee to oversee to the hosting of the maiden edition of the award this year.

To be chaired by Don Pedro Aganbi, the committee has other members, including Julius Omije as Vice Chairman, veteran actor, Tony Akposheri as PRO, Clinic Matters actress, Ejiro Okurame (Mobilization) sensational actress Cynthia Agholor and Amaka Eze will be in charge of Marketing the event.

According to AGN president, the committee has the responsibility of organising the Screen Actors Award, which she described as one of the biggest events to be organised in the industry.

Ibinabo however, disclosed that entries/nominations for the award would be conducted through a website for that purpose as well as the social media, traditional media and text messages.

S

he also noted that adverts announcing the call for entries/nominations would run in key media in the country while a consulting firm will be appointed to collate the results of the entries/nominations through which the awardees will emerge.

Speaking further, Ibinabo said, the various categories for the award will soon be announced, urging the committee members to give their best to

...tattoos son’s name on hand

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

W

IZZY boy must be feel ing on top of the world as he won the African Artist of the Year at the just concluded

•Ibinabo

make the award a world class event “This award should be to the glory of Nigerian actors and thus should have the clapping of excellence in terms of organisation, class and appeal. AGN wants to use the Screen Actors Award to specifically bring to national notice that the industry today is a high contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.

Hence, there is need to celebrate the men and women who through their talents have brought glory to the nation... It is going to be a reward night for the successes recorded by these men and women,” she said.

Shina Peters thrills fans @ Gani Adams’ birthday bash

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

I

T was all pump and pag eantry as Shina Peters dolled out some of his evergreen tracks in celebration of the Oodua People’s Congress(OPC) radical leader, Otunba Gani Adams.

To say the whole of Lagos stood still on the day leader of Oodua People’s Congress(OPC), Otunba Gani Adams celebrated his 43rd birthday isn’t an over-statement.

On Wednesday, the D-day, the roads and connecting roads leadingtotheeventcentre , witnessed a jam, as both invited and uninvited guests, including other road users struggled to have their way.

Pedstrians were not left behind, as feet hurried to take glimpses of who they refer to as “their

hero.”

The hall, decorated with the group’s usual colour, white, had arrays of lights illuminating all corners. Music blasted from the stage, as musicians of great repute took turns to thrill guests with mind blowing tunes.

Among music icons that took turns was Sir Shina Peters. He stole the day, singing for hours unending, all in praise of the Yoruba icon.

Cultural groups were not left out, many came out to chant praises, with cultural displays taking the floor in full force.

On hand to celebrate with the celebrant were the who-is-who, ranging from Obas, to Ezes, to Nollywood stars, members of ANTP, musicians, beauty queens, industry guys, paparazzi’s having a filled day, the list is endless. The likes of Emeka Ike, Ireti Osayemi, Bisi Ibidapo, and others represented Nollywood stars.

•Wizkid

Ghana Music Awards.

To clinch the crown, he beats other heavy weights like PSquare, Dbanj, Flavour Iyanya and Davido.

The kid singer who was also a guest artiste at the awards, made the trip to Ghana alongside EME team like Banky W, Tunde Demuren, Star Boy Entertainment manager, Godwin Tom, Maleek Berry and DJ Xclusive.

After grabbing the plaque, he then posted the picture on his Instagram profile for all to see.

Meanwhile, Wizzy is proving to all who care to know that he’s a proud father of his son, Boluwatife who just turned two. The star boy, who lavished his son silly with gifts on his birthday, now goes about wearing his son’s name, Boluwatife tattooed on his left hand.

Boluwatife is the product of his love game with Shola Thompson, a graduate of Houdegbe North American University.

Ex- beauty queen, Judith Ilechukwu goes into music

By IYABO AINA

S

EXY ex-beauty queen, Judith Ilechukwu, popularly known as J’Lar has demonstrated that she has what it takes to hold her own in the nation’s music scene.

The 21-year old beauty is an English and Literature student of the reputable Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa. Her amazing journey into stardom began in 2011,

Judith Ilechukwu

when she won an enviable crown as the Miss Glo Rock ‘n’ Rule Anambra 2011.

Later that year, she was also crowned Miss Global Nigeria as she was handpicked to represent Nigeria at the Miss Global International contest which was held in Jamaica.

Though she didn’t bring the crown home, she made it to the top 10 and was awarded the Best Dancer out of the 25 contestants from different countries.

She recently took a leap into the booming music industry by signing on to C a d i l l y Entertainment, and has dropped her debut hit single “Sugarcane”.

The fair beauty showcases her beautiful voice and energy in this new raving club banger which is already getting airplay in major stations around Lagos and Nigeria, as she promises to take entertainment industry to the next level.

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36— Vanguard, FRIDAY ,MAY 24, 2013

Literature and the Nigerian-ness of Achebe/Soyinka S

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•Soyinka

socio-political commentary, putting forward strong opinions and ruffling not a few feathers. It is therefore understandable that the whole of Achebe’s repertoire as a writer and his socio-political essence has been tragically summarized into those two works: Things Fall Apart and There was a Country.

It is interesting that a major point generally missed by readers of There was a Country is that the success of Things Fall Apart was the fallout of being in the right place at the right time. He had a different story. He had a story that was a clever social commentary. He had a story written in a new language.

Achebe himself alludes to the fact that genius can be both born and made.

And the voices do not necessarily have to be ethnic voices, but sometimes they are.

To deny that the Civil War was the most defining event in Nigerian history is akin to denying that the Holocaust ever happened. The rash of

,

ome critics love Soyinka’s prose, and it has nothing to do with Achebe.

Though better admired for his playwriting, many followers of the Nobel Laureate find his prose rather overbearing, even haughty. Yet, it is this particular part of its nature that confers on it the insignia of importance, importance not being the equivalent here of big words.

There is nothing wrong with simple prose, particularly if the simplicity is deliberate and cleverly guided away from becoming a constraint to the expression of the message.

Yet, the ability to attain precision in winding prose is the point where science and technology meet art. High art.

But it is a dangerous thing to define a literary writer by his artistic style alone. He is not only an artist- he is, most importantly, a Voice.

As voices, Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka have achieved what a voice is meant to achieve- the command of listening ears, and millions and millions of them across the globe.

To continue to competitively compare and contrast Soyinka with Achebe and vice-versa is to miss a very important point: that a diverse society not only can but ought to have not two but many different voices, that the voices can be representative of the many different thought directions that are synonymous with diversity and that- most importantly of all- like good music all the voices must speak together in harmony before it can achieve a common direction.

If anything, therein lies the whole essence of a writer: his role as a public intellectual and leader of thought, whether it be subtly done or overtly in your face. In the Lion and the Jewel for instance, Soyinka coaxes a laugh out of the average feminist, even with Baroka’s insidious conquest of Sidi, the cheeky maiden.

There was a country, Achebe’s most controversial published work by far, is however a direct

It is interesting that a major point generally missed by readers of There was a Country is that the success of Things Fall Apart was the fallout of being in the right place at the right time

,

Civil war literature that has appeared on the Nigerian international scene recently is only a beginning of what will, predictably, become in time a deluge. To refer to it as the Biafran war tells only half of the story, and to correct this imbalance will not be achieved by criticizing available

literature, though criticizing literature-and everything elseis the only way literature gets better. It is a call for the other side to retell the story: from their own side.

For Dim Ojukwu as well as for Obafemi Awolowo, being a sectional leader and being a national leader are necessarily mutually exclusive. This is fundamentally so, even as their sectionalism took rather different dimensions. For the one, the part sought to subsume the whole while for the other it competed with the other parts of the whole. The price they had to pay was both personal as well as political. Both were never able to preside over the affairs of a country the oneness of which they considered inferior to their ethnicity. This is only fair.

As the beloved

Chinua Achebe goes home (beloved of his village, his country, the whole of the global writing community), it might have been safer to eulogise Achebe as the complete Nigerian that he was, who used his literature, though featuring Igbo characters, to understand our African-ness; our Nigerianness.

•Ojukwu

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 37

Women should not expect extra privileges because of their gender

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

N

IGERIAN women are not supposed to expect people to give them any extra respect or privileges just because they are women due to the changing trend.

This disclosure was made by Mrs Daba Obioha, the first female President of River Bayelsa Indigenes Association in a chat with lipstick, noted that women are backward financially because they have been home-makers in the past.

The president of the 25 year old association said women are intelligent but empowerment has to do with adequate finance and nobody is ready to empower women because men want the offices.

According to her: “We need to get women involved to motivate others.

To me, politics is not dirty; it is people that make it dirty. You can’t fight a disease from outside; you have to get in there and uproot it. If all the good people run away from politics then politics will be left for the bad people. I don’t like people complaining and not doing anything

about the situation.

“In the public affairs department where I served for over 30 years, women did so much better and had to do double of what was required not because we are women but because we are doing what we are supposed to do. We have been brain- washed that we don’t like one another and even in the work place, women don’t like working with other women.

“I am a member, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party South South Forum in Lagos State and I know it will take time for women to gain the amount of wealth

the men have, because they have been at the forefront in the work place. This is one of the many factors militating against women attaining high position. Men don’t want women in those areas.

If you want to take an office from somebody, you need what it takes to get to such. The solution lies in women going into mainstream politics. Women achieving desired goals Obioha added that women are not and will never be second-class citizens and should not expect things to be given to them on a platter of gold. eat—and often overeat—in an attempt to lose weight, separate research suggests. Notably, the new study didn’t restrict participants’ calories or promote exercise. The Mediterranean diet group didn’t lose weight even as participants reaped the diet’s medical benefits.

The real meaning of eating healthy O

ur health landscape in Nigeria has changed in the most dramatic manner in the least decade or so, with marked prevalence and increase in diseases such as Diabetes type 2, heart disease, kidney disease and the big C. the ages at which these set in are also getting lower and lower, with teenagers and early twenties presenting with shocking symptoms, a totally new phenomenon.

Garbage in, garbage out!

The standard rule applies. Everything that happens starts in the mind, and a healthy eating routine begins with an attitude. You must first of all agree with yourself that you want to eat healthy before you begin to do so. Be aware that eating healthy does not only have to do with food but of being aware of every single thing that enters the body through the mouth as toxins can come in any form.

Beware of ‘strange’ Supplements The whole place is dotted with all sorts of so styled food supplements which are supposed to make up for all the food, fruits and vegetables you are not eating. Most of them are overpriced and do not cure what they say they can. If your doctor does not recommend, then shun!

Eat Fresh Experts say the closer food is to being raw and fresh, the better it is for the body. Most foods-especially fruits and vegetables should be eaten raw, but so are things like groundnuts and milk.

Look out for Roasted Food A carcinogen found on mouldy food, aflatoxin, has been identified for a couple of decades now. They are mostly found on roasted food such as boli, meat, fish and groundnuts that have been left for some time. If you can avoid dried or roasted varieties of these foods then do so. Otherwise, do the drying and roasting yourself.

mixture (walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds) daily. In addition they received dietary training in how to eat meals with large amounts of olive oil, fruits, nuts, vegetables and cereals, a moderate amount of fish and poultry, and a low amount of dairy, red meats, processed meats and sweets. Over a 5-year period, both the nut and the olive oil groups experienced a 30 % reduction in heart attacks and other cardiac events compared with the control group, which simply received advice on eating a low-fat diet.

The Mediterranean diet itself isn’t low fat. In fact, it’s a moderate to highfat diet, but it’s rich in healthy fats and low in the unhealthy, saturated fats found in animal products like butter and red meat. Products full of healthy fats make people feel fuller longer than the “light” products that people

Market vs Supermarket There seem to be better deals in supermarkets now than there are in markets. Everything here is bigger, brighter and fresher but wait a second. Ask for the source of the veggies and fruits you are buying and if the sellers don’t know, neither do you. A lot of supermarket produce is genetically modified and grown with pesticides, etc.

Natural Water We have a million and one options to get drinking water but the best remains opening up your tap, taking the water, boiling it, waiting for it to cool and drinking it. Most bottled waters come with a lot of processing which involves the addition of chemicals and the removal of essential minerals.

Wash, Wash, Wash Even when you are buying organic, residues of herbicides, bacteria and all sorts of things might continue to linger. It is important to wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before using, even if you have to peel it afterwards.

Glam up Fast Hints to instantly glam up your look!

Eat Local The more processed the food the higher the chances of its being toxic. Foods that are grown near you is the best foods for you to eat.

Learn from the Healthy There are people round the globe whose diets can act as a shining example for those who like to eat healthy.

A study which examined the effects of a Mediterranean diet in men and women ages 55 to 80. Participants received either a liter of extra-virgin olive oil weekly or 30 grams of a nut C M Y K

38 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

I’m still single after I broke up with my girlfriend — Moses Obi Adigwe something is going to happen, everywhere is Moses Obi Adigwe, a.k.a the ‘Teddy Bear’ usually quiet, some people resort to sleeping. So when he was

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA evicted, I said to myself that With a sonorous voice and anything can happen. But boisterous personality, 22- here I am, winner of the show.

So what were the challengyear-old Moses Obi Adigwe, a.k.a the ‘teddy bear’ wowed es?

To me, one major challenge audiences across Nigeria to emerge winner of one of Ni- was maintaining the standard. geria’s most-viewed reality I got into the competition as a TV show, Etisalat- Nigerian wild card and after my perforIdol, Season 3. He speaks to mance, people were like thinkWG on the journey so far, his ing this is a splendid perforforthcoming album, and life mance. I had to keep that standard and each week, I tried to generally. prove to the judges and everyone around that I deserved to How has it been so far?

It has been good and awe- be on that stage. And each some. It has been wow. I still week we have a different can’t believe but it’s been theme and sometimes, I was obliged to do a song the way great.

What has changed about you after winning the Nigerian Idols reality TV show ?

Nothing. I am just happy and laughing all the time. It is unbelievable, don’t you understand? A year ago, if someone had told me that I would be here today, I would have said Amen! But I don’t believe you.

Everything that has happened really showed that it is just a blessing. It is a miracle in my life, and I am so excited and happy about it.

Were you surprised that you won the show?

Personally, I went into the competition with a mindset that I was going to have fun.

So, I was hoping that I would get there, I worked, hoped, and prayed that I get there.

What were the challenges you faced?

In terms of contestants that would be Abasiakan.

Why To me, he was the second best singer; his vocal abilities really amazed me. We were actually good friends maybe, because of our vocal dexterity and that we both knew music Moses Obi Adigwe and all of that. I thought we would make the top two. That it is, I must work on it and add day, the eviction show was fresh vibes. It is adding the greeted with mixed-feelings. brain factor to it to make you I was happy that I scaled stand out and your perforthrough, and then, I felt bad mance memorable. I always because my very good friend had to think about that and do things out of the box. didn’t make it to the finals.

How did you do that?

How did you feel when he Because of the people’s love was evicted?

It was like if people can vote for me. Everyday I step out, out Abasiakan, anything can honestly only God knows how happen to me. The show was many people call me on daily alright, it was fun because the basis. Somebody actually eviction show usually holds on alighted from his car and inThursdays, every other day of sisted to take a picture with the week, everyone in the me. He was such a huge fan. house are all jumpy, loud and The same thing happened a happy. But on Thursdays, it is few days ago when this kid different because it is as if walked up to me and said are

you Moses? I voted for you. It was like are you serious, having that is more than a blessing in my life. Also, on the show, we learnt a lot about maintaining your vocal balance. So, learning to maintain that balance, knowing my limits as a vocalist and a performer helped me. I learned so much from the show.

What is your kind of music?

I love old school music very much because as a younger man, it was my siblings and my parents who determined the kind of music that was played in our house. I got used to listening to a lot of old school music like Barry-white.

And of course later, I switched over to R nB. Among my contemporaries, I really love Asa. Right from her first album; she is one ar-

An album takes time to put together, for now expect a couple of singles. I have already started working on a couple of things with a couple of wonderful producers and that will be coming out very soon.

Also, I am working on a number of collaboration with other artistes.

Who are you collaborating with?

We don’t know yet. We are still discussing, no definite plans have been made.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

A lot of Nigeria artistes. I would love to work with Olamide, Neka, Asa, Tiwa Savage, Waje, Wizkid. You know, I performed D’banj Oliver Twist during the show, so I would love to work with D’banj. I would love to work with Onyeka Onwenu, she

tiste that I know has stayed true to her own thing. She came out doing her own thing and we loved her for it.

In the music industry who would you like to be like?

Nobody, I love people who stay true to themselves, be original, after that I am going to come out as Moses. I don’t want people to say that you sound like this person or the other. Rather, I want them to say that person sounds like Moses. So, I will remain true to myself, maintaining my voice, my originality.

Are we expecting an album from you soon?

has been around for decades and she has been successful, not doing a recording deals, album, just to be on stage with her.

What kind of music should fans, be expecting?

I am experimenting, I am trying out a whole lot of things. I think I am a bit of hip hop artiste but when I am going old school I will do a kind of rock. I am going to try a whole lot of things and see how it sounds and the kind of reception it gets.

Do you think you have

what it takes to break into the industry?

The thing is that in the industry, you can’t exactly come in and expect that they already have a position waiting for you. You have to go in there and fight for your own space.

And that is what I am going to do. I am Moses and I am here!

What was growing up like?

Growing up was fun, I grew up in Abuja. I am the last child in the family of four kids. I am from Aniocha south in Delta State, that is why I am an Ibo/ H a u s a g u y. I a t t e n d e d Command Day Secondary School. It was really hectic because I was the “ajebutter ” soft skin kid but I had so much fun. I loved to read so I was a very bright kid in school, I remembered then raising my hands saying Aunty, I want to answer this question, so my teachers loved me. I went to University of Benin in Edo State, I studied Political Science and Public Administration.

What are your plans for the next five years?

I am aiming at coming out with really good music that will take my career to the international stage. Do good music that will shock Nigerians and the world, win a couple of awards and get a Grammy nomination.

What would you be doing with your money?

Part of my money will be spent on my career and my family.

What about your girlfriend?

I am single right now But you have a girlfriend?

Yes, I did but we broke up last year, so I am single.

Finally what is your word to young Nigerians?

They should become the best they can be. It is one thing to have talent and it is a totally different thing to develop that talent. I would say, don’t just have those talents, develop them. Everyone has a voice but not everyone can sing.

Be good at what you want to be and never give up.

Know that it is not every time that you are going to make it through but never give up. In summary put God as number one, two develop your talent and number three never give up.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 —39

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513 PRINCE OSUAGWU & WINIFRED IMONLUAMEN

O

ver time one of the major problems many trendy and smart ladies experience in almost all the smartphones has generally been how to navigate the phones with their usually well manicured long nails.

Nokia’s new Lumia series, gender sensitive Majority of the smartphones just can’t bulge at the touch of the finger nails and since the

ladies’ thumbs are always under the protection of the long nails, navigation be-

Nokia Lumia phones

comes highly problematic.

But in the new range of low cost high-end Nokia Lumia series, the 720 and 520 models the mobile giants introduced into the Nigerian market Wednesday, the ladies have nothing to worry about, no matter how long the nails.

While unveiling the phone, Nokia’s GM, Sales Nigeria, Mr Chris Brown experimented how ladies with long fingers could easily browse the phone even with the nails.

The phones also consider people who constantly wear gloves in the cold temperate regions as the devices responds perfectly to glove touch.

The new smartphones which both run on the Windows Phone 8 operating system were launched in partnership with Airtel Nigeria and Microsoft Nigeria. This partnerships builds into the devices a free 500 Megabytes (MB) data plan for the first 6 months on the Airtel network when user recharge with N1,000.

According to Brown, the Lumia 520 is Nokia’s most affordable Lumia smartphone and is designed with a num-

ber of rich innovations. The device comes in colourful changeable covers, a four inch super sensitive touchscreen with 800x480p screen resolution. It runs on a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and spots the Nokia HERE location suite and local apps such as Jandus Radio, Soundcity and Konga.

Also available in eye-catching colors, is the Nokia Lumia 720. Sleek and stylish and expresses the Nokia unique unibody design without edges and joints. The devices have very highly responsive user interface with super sensitive touch and brings an innovative lamination process for wider viewing angles and enhanced clarity in bright conditions.

Yet Nokia made advancements to include an optional wireless charging covers. No wonder, Nokia MD, West and Central Africa, Mr Nick Imudia, declared that with the local launch of these two new devices has broadened the Nokia Lumia range and ensured that more people get to enjoy the technology in this part of the world.

100,000 Panasonic solar lantern, chargers heading to Africa Y

ou just couldn’t have believed it, there are still 1.32 billion people on the planet without electricity, which most have come to see as a basic necessity. But to mark its 100th anniversary, Panasonic plans to distribute 100,000 solar lanterns that the company has developed to the developing worlds, including

Africa. The lanterns not only provide light, but also charge mobile phones and other small devices.

In many parts of Africa, including Nigeria, many people without access to electricity have to fall back on kerosene lanterns for light.

This however, does not

Panasonic-solar-lantern

provide adequate illumination, but most unfortunately too also produce toxic smoke, gulp money on kerosene and pose a constant fire hazard.

However, there is also the irony that while many of the developed worlds debate whether to ditch their landlines for mobile phones or tablets for PCs, people in parts of Africa, Asia and South America who have never seen a telephone pole or a desktop computer can often be seen talking or surfing the internet on a mobile phone.

Unfortunately, still, this short cut to the digital age needs electricity, which conventional kerosene lamps can’t provide.

There have been some solar lanterns developed over the years to meet this problem but Panasonic has since 2006 been distributing its own to the developing world.

Google owners

Google hits $300b as shares rise to record $900

G

oogle shares moved up to a new all-time high Wednesday, topping $900 for the first time, as the internet giant opened its developers’ conference. There are reports also that Google was planning to introduce new services soon.

Google closed up 3.25pc at $915.89, bringing its gains for the year to nearly 30pc.

The rise gave Google a market value of more than $300bn. Although that is still below the value of Apple, worth more than $400bn at current share

values, but the two companies have been moving in opposite directions.

Google was opening its developers’ conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, and information filtered that investors should expect lots of news and product announcements..

Some reports said Google was set to launch a music subscription service even as a new version of Google Maps was said to have been already unveiled.

A tech analyst, actually said “expect to hear a lot of noise on new search products like Google Now and voice search integration,”

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

DESOPADEC donates Hilux pick-up to Police

Edo NULGE protests non-payment of training fund

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—AS part of its peace effort, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPDEC, has donated a Toyota Hilux pick-up to the Police in Ughelli ‘B’ Division as a replacement for a patrol van set ablaze by miscreants, during the crisis that trailed the last Ekene festival in Agbarha-Otor Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

Presenting the vehicle to the Police on behalf of the commission, the commissioner representing Ughelli North and Ethiope East Local Government Areas on the board of the commission, Chief Ominimini Obuiwevbi, said the van was meant to facilitate the job of the Police in the task of effective policing of the area.

Rivers to check illegal dredging

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has unveiled its plan to check illegal dredging in the state and stop the depletion of the ecosystem.

Sole Administrator of Rivers State Environmental Protection Agency, Chief Nemi Adoki, when the state chapter of Association of Dredgers and Sand Drillers of Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit in Port Harcourt, said the government will also review the laws regulating the operations of the agency.

Adoki said the state had suffered depletion of her environment due to dredging by multinationals and other allied industries, adding that there was urgent need for the government to review the laws regulating the activities of the agency.

Earlier, the state Chairman of Association of Dredgers and Sand Drillers of Nigeria, Mr. Steve Ayiyi, said they would continue to partner the agency to achieve their goals in the state.

C M Y K

B

ENIN—NIGERIA Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Edo State chapter, has, staged a peaceful protest over the delay in the release of the one percent statutory allocation training fund meant for staff of the local government areas in the state.

The protest, which kickedoff at the union's secretariat on Okhoro Road, Benin City, took the workers to the office of Commissioner for the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James.

Addressing newsmen, state President of the Union, Mr. Edward Ilenikhena, accused the ministry of not remitting the fund to the Local Government Service Commission in the last six months, a situation, he said, had retarded the growth in training and retraining of council staff.

He said: “We are protesting to express our grievances over the delay in the release

of the one percent statutory allocation training funds for staff of the local government in the last six months. The Union had used all avenues to get to the root of the matter through negotiation but to no avail. We have first

hand information that the money had been deducted from the council's account through the ministry only to be withheld as same had not been remitted to the Commission. The union wants to know why it has not been

VISIT: From left: Public Relations Director, Guinness, Mr. Sesan Sobowale; Plant Manager, Guinness Edo Brewery, Mr. Chris Erahgbe, Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State and MD, Guinness Nig PLC, Mr. Seni Adetu, during a courtesy visit to Edo State Government House.

Why Ogoni should produce Rivers gov in 2015 —Ogoni in US

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—OGONI indigenes in the United States of America, under the aegis of Ogoni Leadership Forum, have urged the political class from the area to be united to ensure that the area produces the next governor of Rivers State in 2015.

The forum, in a statement

by Mr. Michael Akoka and Mr. Tedum Bari Kponee-Tonwe, noted that Ogoni produced distinguished sons and daughters such as Senator Lee Maeba, Emmanuel

Deeyah, Kenneth Kobani, Befii Nwile, and others, who had served in different capacities in the state, adding that the area had qualified persons to vie for the governorship of the state.

They said: “In the coming weeks and months, the Ogoni Leadership Forum, USA, will be engaging well meaning Ogoni at home as well as in the diaspora, including members of the Ogoni elite, the political class, and youth groups, to discuss and chart a path to a consensus gubernatoral candidate for

2015, regardless of party platform or political affiliations.

“This is a noble undertaking for which all Ogoni must consider themselves morally summoned. For if we fail to come together this time, we would have essentially granted our silent consent to be perpetually governed.

Our people have demonstrated exceptionalism in their stewardship under different governors in the state, therefore, we believe that other ethnic groups must rally round and support an Ogoni for the governorship."

Our official didn’t strangle boat driver and was caught by the — Bomadi maritime chair jetty clerk.

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—CHAIRMAN of maritime workers in Bomadi, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Jonathan Ogodobiri, has denied reports that an official of the association, Mr. ThankGod Whisky, killed a boat driver, Mr. Kuku Endurance.

He said though Endurance's death was a mystery, detractors made the false allegation ostensibly to incite the public against the union and crumble commercial boat transportation in the area.

Whisky, who is the beach

released since then.”

Mr James, meantime, denied the allegation, saying that Governor Adams Oshiomhole was aware of the issue, though he promised to meet with the executive of the union to brief them on the issue.

clerk of the workers’ association, it was gathered, had a disagreement with Endurance over an attempt by the latter to jump the queue and pick passengers, but it did not degenerate to fisticuffs, it was learnt.

He said: “I witnessed the entire incident. I came to the waterside after a distress call as we operate in groups A and B. The deceased had finished his turn in group B, and it was the turn of group A to carry passengers. He just came from the creek and was attempting to poach passengers, numbering five from the

‘’The deceased attempted to bribe the beach clerk with N1,000 to allow him to pick the five passenger to the creek, but he rejected the bribe. Suddenly, the deceased, who was agrieved over the action of the beach clerk jumped into his boat and escaped with the five passengers to the creek.

“The quarrel between the two was verbal and not physical,” he said, adding that maritime workers in Bomadi were surprised to read in the newspapers, claims by the family that Whisky strangled Endurance to death, as such a thing never happened.

Insecurity: NDYV flays furore over appointment of PSC Chair

N

IGER Delta Youth Vanguard, NDYV, has berated those it called political detractors, raising issues over the appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan, of Mr. Mike Okiro as Chairman, Police Service Commission, PSC. National President of NDYV, Mr. Ehiogun Kenneth, in a statement in Benin, Edo State, said such views were not in the interest of national security, maintaining that the appointment of a former Inspector General of Police, Okiro, as chairman of PSC, was a step in the right direction towards combating the insecurity in the country.

“We are not unaware of recent comments by those raising issues on the appointment of Okiro as chairman of PSC. And this is obviously because he is from the Niger Delta region.

“We wish to state categorically that beyond ethnic sentiment, Okiro is the right man to head the PSC with his wealth of experience as a former IG. With the current security challenges in Nigeria, the PSC needs a man of his calibre to effectively reposition officers and men in ensuring national security,” Ehiogun said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 —41

TREBLE CHANCE Bastia v Sochaux Brest v Nancy Toulouse v Montpellier Grasshoppers v Basil Lausanne v Lucerne Young Boys v FC Zurich Kabankrasn v Anzhi LokomotivM v Mordovya Rubin KJazanvFC Krosnodor Alcorcon v Almeria

SOCCER TIPS

No reason to panic — Keshi Coach Stephen Keshi has told Nigerians not to panic as the SuperEagles prepare for crucial 2014 World Cup qualifying games and theFIFA Confederations Cup tournament – all taking place in a number of weeks.

A spate of injuries, first to Scotland-based midfielder Reuben Gabrieland ace forward Emmanuel Emenike, and lately to attacking midfieldersKalu Uche and Victor Moses, had caused anxiety in some quarters and is being hyper-ventilated in public spaces and a section of the media as‘problem in camBut Keshi, who steered lessendowed Togo to that country’s only FIFA World Cup qualification eight years ago, said he was more thancommitted to leading his own country to next year’s finals in Brazil,no matter the challenges.

“I am never one to run away from challenges; I have confronted themhead-on all my life. I have very good relationship with each and everyof my players, with mutual respect and regard being the bedrock.“The players that we have invited for these matches are patriots and are always ready to defend the green-white-green. We have 16 playershere now and team spirit is high. Everyone wants to play. What we willcertainly not do is to beg anyone to play for Nigeria”.

Nigeria’s longest-serving Captain said the late arrival of someplayers is to be expected at this time of the season: .

“Most of theplayers have just concluded very gruelling seasons and have need tosort out personal issues, and of course there are talks to hold aheadof next season. These talks have to be done now considering that the players would be away for about seven weeks, on duty for Nigeria.”

The team’s Novina Hotel camp in Nuremberg swelled on Wednesday morningwith the arrivals of Germany-based striker Joseph Akpala LATE andUkraine-based forward Babatunde TIPS Michael.Portugal-based John Ogu was being expected on Wednesday night, while defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Elderson Echiejile, as well as midfielderNnamdi Oduamadi are expected in camp on Thursday.

First-choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, based in Israel, is expectedon Friday. Scotlandbased stopper Efe Ambrose and Italybasedmidfielder Ogenyi Onazi have been granted permission to arrive onSaturday due to club commitments.

Ukraine-based forward Brown Ideye will join the team in Texas, USAwhile Ahmed Musa and Fegor Ogude will join the squad in Frankfurtafter the friendly with Mexico in America, also due to clubcommitments.

The team will fly out of Frankfurt on Tuesday morning aboard aLufthansa Airline aircraft, will arrive in Houston, Texas in EXCELLENT and theevening. Abode is the classy The Westin Bastia 7 Galleria and Westin Oaks.

FOUR HOMES

3 X7 X 8X 13 PAIR FOUR AWAYS 41 2X 6X 16 X X 18 49 PERMUTATION 2X 4X 9 X AVOID 11X 12 X 21 40 TIPS RISKY 37 24 X 36 X 38 CREDIT

Dukla Pragu 2 LokomotivM 2 Brest Budejovice 2 Toulouse Valerango 3 Grasshoppers Stromsgodset 3 Lausanne Sogndal 3 Rubin Kazan Lillestrom 3 Alcorcon Salzburg 3 Rz Pellets

7 Nigeria Player of the Week 7 Ikechukwu Uche is leading the 5 charge that may just seeVillareal 5 gain immediate promotionback to La 5 Liga. His two goals against Giroma after last week's goal against 5 Alcorcon havetaken himto 13 5 goalsfor the season.

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS WEEK 45 France Ligue One

1 Ajaccio v Nice 2 2 Bastia v Sochaux XX 3 Bordeaux v ETG 1 4 Brest v Nancy XX 5 Lille v St.Etienne X1 6 Lorient v Paris SG 2 7 Lyon v Rennes 1 8 Marseille v Reims 1 9 Toulouse v MontpellierXX 10 Vallenciennes v Troyes 1

Swiss Raiffeiben Super League

11Grasshoppers 12 Lausanne 13 Sion 14 St. Gallen 15 Young Boys

v Basil XX v Lucerne XX v Thun 1 v Servette 1 v FC Zurich XX

Russian Premier League Table

16 Amkar v Zenith 2 17Dina'Moscow v Volga Nizhny 1 18 FK Rostov v Cska Moscow 2 19 Kabankrasn v Anzhi XX 20 LokomotivM v Mordovya XX 21Rubin KJazan vFC Krosnodor XX 22 Sp Moscow v Avladika'kaz 1 23TerekG3oz v Kryl'aSouetov 1 1Spanish

Segunda Division

24 Alcorcon 25 Elche 26 Girona 27 Huelva 28 Huesca 29 Lugo 30 Mirandes 31 Murcia 32 Numancia 33 Santander 34 Villareal

v Almeria XX v Real Madri 1 v Barcelona 2X v Carddoba XX v SP Glion 2X v Sabadell X1 v Las Palmas XX v Panterrodina 2 v Hercules 1 vGuadalajara X2 v Xerez 1

Austria Bundesliga

35 Mattersburg v A. Wacker X1 36 RZ Pellets v Winnsbruck XX 37 Rapid Vienna v Ried 1 38 Salzburg v Aust' Viennas XX 39 SturmGraz v W. Neustadt X1

No w egian Tippeligaen TTable able Now 40 Brann v Sarpsbong 1 41 Lillestrom v Haugesund XX 42 Molde v Honesfoss XX 43 OddGreenland v Sandness X1 44 Sogndal v Start XX 45 Stromsgodset v Aalesunds XX 46 Valerango v Rosenburg X1 47 Vilking v Tromso 1X

Gambrinus Liga (Czech) Standings

48 Budejovice 49 Dukla Pragu

v Jihlavan X2 v M.Boleslav XX

2 4 11 21 Revised Pairs 2 x 4, 9 x 11 12 x 21, 41 x 49

42—Vanguard 42—Vanguard,,

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 AQUARIUS; Here is a day when your closeness to the influential people can be source of assistance to both yourself in particular and your group in general.

And then your love life is getting better. Exhibit loving maturity.

PISCES; Take your health more seriously than before.

However that is not to say you have to ignore your responsibilities at work. Respect your senior colleagues ARIES; The influence looks more favourable to you now. You will certainly become more enterprising to the betterment of your cause. Right now nobody can ignore you.

TAURUS; Those of you who are more observant within your base of operation will have more to gain.

Prepare to take good advice from the veterans within your base.

GEMINI; Although your personal ideas are very reliable and capable of bringing success, you will need to be as co-operative as possible to achieve your desire.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

O

NCE beaten but twice shy is a general saying among some folks, but how can that be?

The truth is that you can be beaten a number of times, yet, that doesn’t make you a fool provided on each occasion you

Once beaten... learn some lessons.

For example, Ronald Reagan former Fresident of the United States of America contested for American presidency a number of times before he

eventually won it.

Another American President Abraham Lincoln failed in virtually everything until at last, he won the presidency.

Supposing these two individuals ac-

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

cepted being beaten once, what would have been their place in history?

Accept to be beaten several times, if need be, but take the lessons with you and move on to be a super achiever.

By Lanre Kehinde

CANCER; It is important you take your sources of making money very seriously. Both hard work and element of luck will work favourably for you.

LEO; The Moon in your Star Sign will encourage you to become a little bit aggressive; here is a day when your leadership ability will assist many.

VIRGO; The Moon in Leo can force agitation on the minds of some of you but if keep your head above the cloudy atmosphere you will not have anything to fear.

LIBRA; Young-at-heart Librans may be greatly excited today and for the next few weeks; if you take good decision on your love life you will enjoy it.

SCORPIO; Here is an ambitious day for many of you. The more practical you are about your reasonable desire the better for your cause. Be more family minded SAGITTARIUS; Good luck will knock at your door.

Although it is good to plan ahead, you have to take advantage of now that presented good opportunities.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN; Keeping both your personal and other people secrets will do you lots of good today. Then tomorrow is your big day; prepare yourself accordingly

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Good health for me?

Dear Joshua, I have never gone through any major sickness since I was born but it is always good to know, especially as people are saying that those that do not fall-sick often can die the very first time such happen. Can they be right?

Please tell me about my financial prospects.

Iyabo. Benin.

Dear Iyabo, They are wrong. And you have no cause to fear. Actually my findings here pointed to your hard beginning-health wise. If you ask your parents they would tell you much than you think you know about yourself Leo and Scorpio that hosted your natal Sun and Moon are members of few strongest Star signs available (when talking of health/life and death). Thus you are well endowed.

Although as both the Sun and Moon were at loggerheads when you were born you must have gone through some tough times health-wise, especially when you were younger, very great ability of Scorpio to survive and good aspects the planets enjoyed during your birth hour are indications of good health for you. And as your age advances so also your health will continue to improve.

Then concentration of many heavenly bodies in health related Virgo is another pointers to good health. However that is not to say you will go through adulthood life without any health related challenges but when they come you have what it takes to survive and be back on the road to sound health.

What to watch out for include TOOTHACHE, the chest/ back, stomach and at very advanced age may come circulatory system related challenge. Being a female Scorpio born person always pay good attention to gynaecological related ailments and fever is common in this part of the world.

But then all ailments mentioned here are mere warnings (although to be taken seriously) nothing fatalistic please!!!!

Although you can be generous, kind and loving you are not the extravagant type. Thus you are reliable and can make success of your family purse. You are practical analyst with respect for your family dignity, therefore putting aside money for raining days comes natural to you Occasionally you think that money don’t come as faster as desired by you but it comes eventually after a few lesson.

Luckily for you Libra that hosted your natal planet of desire (Mars) is money and partnership/marrige related.

Thus money will find it way into your life either personally or via joint efforts between you and your husband.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013—43

M

secution.

Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk

Hijab ban in Lagos: MPAC, MURIC, others hit back at govt Aishat Alabi, a JSS I student for wearing hijab.

In a seperate statement signed by the chairman of MPAC, Disu Kamor, the group expressed shock that the

government should have seen the use of hijab in public schools in the state as an opportunity to reinforce common public perception of Lagos State as a melting-pot and a

,

USLIM Public Affairs Centre, MPAC, has said it will engage all lawful means to frustrate the decision of the Lagos State Ministry of Education with respect to the recent ban on hijab, adding that it will continue to actively work with other Islamic organizations and stakeholders towards expanding the coalition to achieve reversal of the ban in the quickest possible time.

In a similar vein, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, called the attention of senior citizens in Lagos, men of goodwill, the Nigerian security agencies, human rights organizations and the international community to wade into the matter immediately.

MURIC in its statement said: “Muslims are peace-loving people. They go their own ways until authorities push them to the wall. The Allah-given and fundamental rights of Lagos Muslims are being flagrantly denied today by the Lagos State government.”

“Muslims are civilized and cultured people. We issue no threats, but let nobody make a mistake about our resolve to ensure that justice is done.

Already, MURIC has reported this hijab case to some international and local human rights bodies so that the whole world will know what is happening here. Letters have been forwarded to Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, The Islamic Human Rights Commission, National Human Rights Commission as well as the House of Representatives’ Committee on Human Rights in Abuja. This is just the beginning. All available legitimate options are on the table.”

MURIC however urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to re-open dialogue on the demand of Muslims in the state on the use of hijab in public schools; and to put in place a public hearing on the matter that will be well publicised and attended by Islamic organizations. It also demand for investigation and sanction against the principal of Kadara High School who was reported to have caned

...the decision of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, although shocking, will not prevent the use of hijab in public schools, or anywhere else. Rather it will strengthen the resolve to fulfil aspiration to obey the divine injunction, at all costs

,

Lagos State Ministry of Education will prevent students in public schools in the state from using the hijab (the obligatory female Muslim head covering). The Commissioner for Education Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye had said last week at a press briefing in Ikeja that “usage of Hijab and other religious materials in public schools was against government’s policy”.

According to MPAC; “it is in flagrant violation of the religious and civic rights of the pupils. MPAC is shocked that rather than speak on behalf of the Constitution she swore an oath to defend, Mrs. Oladunjoye is taking the State in a course of confrontation and down the dead end of religious intolerance. The Lagos State

good example where diverse groups and ideas co-exist peacefully, thus upholding the democratic ideals of inclusion and diversity.”

Reacting further, the association said this decision is capable of bringing Muslims who desire to obey the Qur’anic injunction of adorning the hijab in all public places into confrontation with the school authority as the hijab will continue to be used in schools and workplaces.

“One thing is certain, the decision of the Lagos State Min-

istry of Education, although shocking, will not prevent the use of hijab in public schools, or anywhere else. Rather it will strengthen the resolve to fulfil aspiration to obey the divine injunction, at all costs.

Everyone who holds dear the values of freedom and equality that the people of Nigeria have struggled so hard to establish over the years should also find the decision shocking– to witness the Ministry blatantly subscribing to this discriminatory policy and use of state power as a means of implementing tyranny emphasises the need to deepen our democracy through active political participation.”

MPAC however stated that it awaits the position of the State House of Assembly on the issue just as it hopes that the lawmakers will show honour and courage to act on the side of justice and fairness. “Ultimately, it is the decision at the grassroots level for millions of Muslim women to wear the Hijab in all public schools and places of work which will prove official discriminatory policy not only unnecessary and ignorant, but also simply unworkable. MPAC will intensify campaigns for the rights of female Muslims to freely make their choices concerning hijab and their rights to implement that decision without threat of intimidation or per-

UNIFEMGA reacts The Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) has also condemned the ban on the use of hijab by Muslim female students in all Lagos Public schools.

In a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Wahab Egbewole and AbdurRahman Balogun, National Public Relations officer, said such ban was a breach of the fundamental rights of the students to practice their religion.

Oladunjoye rather claimed in her press briefing that wearing hijab would cause confusion and break down of the law.

UNIFEMGA argued that hijab is part religious obligation of a Muslim woman that cannot be detached from her work or studies.

“If the Lagos state Government, or the Ministry knows that the affected students need to wear hijab when they go for prayers or read Quran, why would it be restricted,” the group queried.

"It is unacceptable and laughable that wearing of hijab will create confusion and break down of law as claimed by the commissioner during her press conference."

“We want to say categorically that even in advanced democracy, this right is guaranteed to Muslim female students to dress in accordance with their faith”.

As a Muslim alumni body, we have not heard of any state or public schools where wearing of hijab causes confusion or led to break down of law and order”.

“It is actually an affront on our faith system to equate hijab with confusion or break down of law. It is also insulting to the collectivity of our faith to say that Muslims should send their daughters to private school if they want them to wear hijab," the group stated.

Ask Your Imam On 27th day of Rajab

Please Malam, do we have any prayer that we can do on 27th day of Rajab?

T

HERE is no clear cut prayer on the night of 27th day of Rajab, but you cannot stop doing ibaadat. There are arguments on this issue but the truth is that no one knows when the last will come and as a result, use every night if possible in the month of Rajab to supplicate. The night of 27th day of Rajab is considered as Laylat ul-Isra or the Night of Ascension. This is the night when the Holy prophet was taken up to the heavens to meet his Lord Allah Almighty.

There is not disagreement of scholars on this, but what they actually disagree on was the kind or mode of prayer. While some say 20 rakats between Maghrib and Ishai, some say no. But since there is no laid down prayer on this night, and more importantly because rendering of prayers have no limitation as far as spiritual connection with Allah is concerned, my teacher taught me that you can supplicate at any time, more especially during fasting (whether obligatory or voluntary), you can say Istighfar as many times as possible and say the following dua.

Alh’amdu lillaahilladhi lam yattakhiz’ waladhan, wa lam yakunllahuu Sharikun fil-Mulki, wa lam yakunllahuu waliyyun-minazh’ulli wa kabbiru Takbiraa

Allaahumma innii as-aluka bi-ma-a’aqidi i’zzika a’alaa arkaani a’rshika wa muntahar Rah’mati min kitabikaa, wa bismikal aa’-z’amil aaz’zam wa d’ikrikal aa’-laa, wa bi-kalimatikat-Taammaatika, an tu’salliya a’laa Muhammadin wa aalihii, Wa an taf-a’la bimaa anta ahluh Meaning: All praises belong to Allah, Who has not taken a son and does not have a partner in the Dominion, nor does He have a helper out of weakness; and magnify Him with a worthy magnification (Holy Qur’an 17:111). O Allah, I ask You by: the juncture of Your might over the pillars of Your Throne, and the ultimate Mercy from Your book. And [I ask You] by Your name – the great, the •From left: Imam Harun Razak of Vanguard Mosque, Sheikh Abdul-Rah- majestic, the splendid. And [I ask You] by Your remembrance – the elevated, the man Adangba, National Missioner, Al Fatiu Quareeb Society of Nigeria and Imam Lukman Olowo during a visit by Sheikh Adangba to Vanguard Mosque. sublime, the exalted; and by Your complete and perfect words, that You bless Muhammad and his family and do for me, what You are worthy of doing. Amin.

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44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Achebe's body arrives Land dispute: Lawyer petitions IG over use of armed thugs

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LAGOS based lawyer, Ademola Koko has petitioned the Inspector General Police, IG, over alleged illegal activities, acts capable of disrupting public peace, and unconstitutional use of police, in respect of a landed property at Oribanwa village, Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State by some persons in the area.

The lawyer in the petition said, “Pursuant to our petition dated March 6, 2013 of which the IG monitoring unit, Kam Salem, Lagos was instructed to take over the case from the general investigation under Deputy Inspector General of Police, Abuja, we hereby raise serious complaints about the activities of the Investigation Police Officer, IPO. “On May 17, 2013, the IPO came with another officer to, “arrest our clients and he subjected them to serious inhuman treatments without reporting their arrival at Elemoro Police Station, which has original jurisdiction or the Area “J” Police Command at Ibeju Lekki council, Lagos and detained them unconstitutionally at Lagos State Police Command SARS. "They were taken to Abuja with bail conditions made difficult, just to wear them out psychologically. This ugly trend is barbaric, unlawful, disgraceful and annoying,” Koko said.

Delta Revenue Board chairman promises to make office ICT compliant

BY JACOB AJOM

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HAIRMAN OF Delta State Board of Inter nal Revenue, DBIR, Mr. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has said that the ongoing transformation process in the Board will make it a reference point in Africa in relation to the continent’s tax L-R: Mr. Abiola Popoola, immediate past president, CIPM; Dr.Oladimeji Alo, past president,CIPM; Dr. Christopher Kolade, past president CIPM; Victor Famuyibo, president/ system. chairman of Council; Dr. Michael Omolayole, pioneer president,CIPM; and Mr. Victor He also said that Governor Emmanuel Eburajolo, past president CIPM during the Investiture of Famuyibo as the 16th CIPM President/ Uduaghan had set up Information Commission Chairman of Council in Lagos Technology in all the offices of the agency across the state.

Joel-Onowakpo, in Asaba at the closing ceremony of a fiveday retreat organised for staff of

BY ETOP EKANEM der the pretext of data-collection. nities into the project and give the board, as part of the plans It said: “To forestall any violent them their entitlements by way HE Ijaw Peoples Congress, to launch the state into continenof employment, contractual opIPC, yesterday, called on eruption in these communities, portunities, and consensually tal limelight, told staff that aside we, hereby call on the managethe approval for generating the Nigerian National Petroleum ment of NNPC to ignore and dis- obtain work permit from these plants for all the offices of the Corporation, NNPC; the Inspec- credit any geological data dished communities.” tor-General of Police; DirectorThe group also alleged that the board in the state, the state gov- General, Department of State Ser- out by IDSL in respect of its opCommunity Affairs Department erations in these communities beernor, Uduaghan was doing eve- vice, DSS, and Minister of Petroof the company had concocted rything possible to ensure that leum Resources to call Integrat- cause IDSL lacks the required non-existing communities and competence to work in the areas. the revenue base of the state was ed Data Servicing Nigeria Limitpassed “them off as existing comincreased and all leakages ed, IDSL, to order, over its alleged Again, we are calling on NNPC munities to NNPC to create the to give IDSL a marching order manipulation of some communiblocked. to quickly integrate Akparemog- impression that all is well, whereHe said, “If the ICT project is ties in Burutu Local Government bene, Amasuo, Opuapale, Aya- as the real existing communities consummated as the idea is con- Area of Delta State. were ignored."

IPC National President, Mr. koromo and Oyangbene commuceived, there will be no tax system in Africa that will be better Ekanpou Enewaridideke in a statement, alleged that the oil than the one we will have in servicing company, which is a Delta State. Let me inform that subsidiary of NNPC, had withthere are massive transformation out usual permit, desecrated the pany, NPDC, in its OML and reformation currently going forests of Akparemogbene, AmaBY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG 42 re-entry operations and on within the board." suo, Opuapale, Ayakoromo and Oyangbene communities in BuA R R I — I N D I G - Chevron Nigeria Limited rutu council in January 2013 unENOUS contractors from in its Utonana flow station operations to strictly adhere Kokodiagbene in Warri to the Nigerian Local ConSouth-West Local Govern- tent Law in the award of ment Area of Delta State, contracts. have called on all multinaKICA in a statement by

BY EMMAARUBI He also ordered the contractor and con- tional companies operating Uyadonghan Powede and sultant to come to Asaba, the State capi- in the community to strictly Jackson Timiyan, ChairARRI—Delta State Commission- tal to explain why the project was still adhere to the Nigerian Lo- man and Secretary, respecer for Water Resources, Dr. Chris far from being completed even when cal Content Law in the tively, said: “We are profesOghenchovwe, yesterday, told the contrac- government was not defaulting in pay- award of contracts to indig- sional community contracenous contactors in the in- tors handling all projects tor and the consultant handling the Afri- ment. terest of peace and justice. that are within the confines can Development Bank ADB, assisted The visibly angry commissioner had Under the umbrella of of indigenous contractors. water project to serve Warri and Effurun visited Warri with a retinue of state offithat they were deliberately frustrating the cials and newsmen to inspect the project Kokodiagbene Indigenous We will not condone any act state government’s programme of making completion compliant level only to be Contractors Association, of injustice in the award of drinking water available to the people of told that only three out of 15 expected KICA, the contractors, contracts to us as provided called on Nigerian Petro- for in the Nigerian Local the areas. arms of the job had been completed. leum Development Com- Content Law."

IPC urges NNPC, IGP to probe oil firm

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Companies told to obey local content in contracts award

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Oghenechovwe blames contractor over slow pace of work on Delta water project

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PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

On the release of suspected terrorists

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T is awrong step.

People should not hold the notion that they can do anything in Nigeria and get away with it.

This Boko Haram issue has a political undertone and the earlier we nip it in the bud, the better for the nation. Mrs. Sylvia AmugoUmukoro, Lawyer

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OOKING at the issue, I do not see any reason why the presidency should order the release of suspected terrorists because these people have caused a lot of trouble for Nigeria. These terrorists have killed so many Nigeriansanddestroyedmanyproperty.—Mrs.LovelineEzemegbu, Lawyer

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HE release of suspected terrorists has some implications because some of them will return back and reinforce to fight the Federal Government. I am of the view that it is too early for the President to have made such order since the amnesty is still on.— Mr . Jamiu Bashir, Lawyer

NIGERIANS are kept in thedarkbythiscurrentadministration; the National Assembly should summon President Goodluck Jonathan to explain why he ordered the release of suspectedterrorists.ButIbelieve thathe’sbeenrationallyadvised.

—Mr. Okunaya Tolulope, Student

I see it as an attempt to undermine the already declared state of emergency. If the President wants to go the whole hog, he has to exercise enough political will. However, I think it is a welcomed idea. Mr Oluwole Adisa- Lawyer

I

will only advise Mr President to stop playing politics and focus more on governing the people.

The President knows what to do to stop the Boko Haram, so let him do the needful and do it fast. — Mr. Kayode Makinde, Lawyer

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 45

4 communities petition Ebonyi Assembly over operation of cement coy

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Enugu has lowest crime rate — IGP

BY TONY EDIKE

BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI—THE four host communities of NIGERCEM, Nkalagu, Ebonyi State, yesterday presented a strong worded letter to the State House of Assembly, appealing to it to intervene in the current feud between the state government and Ibeto cement manufacturing company over the ownership and running of the firm in the state.

Signatories of the letter dated April 16, 2013, including Chief Boniface Alu, Emmanuel Eze, Pius Nnaji, Patrick Ngbebu and others, prayed the House to urgently intervene in the impasse, noting that some individuals were capitalizing on the state of the company to tarnish the image of the state government.

The letter read in part: “We, the stakeholders and community leaders of NIGERCEM landlord hereby write to express our reservation concerning the current impasse over the resuscitation of NIGERCEM and we request for your urgent intervention.”

The communities expressed unhappiness over the dimension the matter had taken in recent time and urged the House to call the parties involved to the negotiating table, so the matter could be urgently resolved.

'Jonathan needs technocrats in cabinet'

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SERVICE OF SONGS FOR LATE PINI JASON—From right: Mr Obi Azuru, Mr Kanayo Esinulo, and Sir Emma Ohakim, during the service of songs for Late Chief Pini Jason Onyegbadue at the All Saints Anglican Church, Montgomery road, Yaba, Lagos on Tuesday.

BELOW—From right: Chief Chris Ekwilo, President General, Igbo Coalition in Lagos; Mrs Inyang Anya; and Prof Anya Anya, President General Ndi Igbo of Lagos.

APGA leadership tussle: A-Court adjourns indefinitely

BY TONY EDIKE

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA—FOR President Goodluck Jonathan to take Nigeria to lofty heights and make it the envy of the world in the comity of nations, he needs an all-technocrat cabinet, an author, Mr. Joe Dauda, has said.

Speaking at a briefing to mark the public presentation of his new book, yesterday, Dauda said President Jonathan’s temperament also affected his actions, even as he urged the President to use criticisms from opposition to his favour.

He said: “The President needs an all-technocrat cabinet. If there is any President that does not need the headache of politicians as ministers, that President is President Jonathan".

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NUGU—THE Court of Ap peal sitting in Enugu, yesterday, adjourned indefinitely the appeal before it over the leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, pending the decision of the National Judicial Council, NJC, on the petition written by the respondent, Jude Okuli accusing the presiding justices of bias.

The three-man panel of justices, including Paul Galinje (Chairman), Justice F. A. Kwasami and Tom Yakubu, who presided over the appeal, said at the resumed hearing yesterday that the respondent, Mr. Okuli, had petitioned the NJC over the ruling staying the execution of Enugu State High Court’s decision that removed APGA National chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, from office.

According to the chairman of the panel, Justice Galinje, the NJC had forwarded a copy of the

petition to him for his comment and he had since done that.

He said since they were aware of the pendency of the petition, the substantive appeal could not be heard until the council took decision on the petition.

He, therefore, adjourned the matter sine die, saying further hearing of the appeal would depend on the outcome of the petition before the NJC. Meanwhile, the appeal filed

by Okuli at the Supreme Court against the stay of execution granted Umeh by the appellate court, had been slated for hearing on December 16 and 17, this year, one month after the scheduled November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

The Federal High Court sitting in Awka had last week, vacated the interim order it earlier made restraining Mr. Maxi Okwu, chairman of Governor Peter Obi’s faction of APGA , but declared that its action had no effect whatsoever on the

decision of the Appeal Court which restored Umeh to his position as APGA national chairman.

Speaking with newsmen after the court session, yesterday, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who led Chief Umeh’s team of lawyers, including Chief Patrick Ikweto, SAN, said the decision of the court to step the matter down indefinitely until it hears from NJC was fair enough, adding that the panel had shown clearly that it had no personal interest in the matter.

“The situation of the matter now is as announced by the court. The court said until it hears from the National Judicial Council, that is fair enough and I want to commend the Justices of the Court of Appeal, it shows that they don’t have anything at stake, they don’t have interest in anybody or person and that is how it should be. I believe that’s how Justice should be dispensed.

NUGU—THE Inspec tor-General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, yesterday, declared that Enugu State has the lowest crime rate in the country, explaining that this fact was buttressed by statistics and empirical evidence.

Abubakar, who spoke while taking delivery of 100 brand new vehicles donated to the police by Enugu State government, stated that this was largely a result of the tremendous support that the administration of Governor Sullivan Chime had been giving the police and other security agencies.

He said: “Today, I can confirm, as the Inspector-General of Police, that Enugu State has the lowest crime rate in Nigeria. I also confirm that Enugu is one the safest places in Nigeria.

This is the result of the wonderful partnership between the Enugu State Government, the Police and other security agencies.”

He commended Governor Sullivan Chime for the gesture, saying it was an example that his colleagues should emulate.

He said: “I commend you (Chime) for this gesture.

This is a shining example for your colleagues to emulate. This is a practical demonstration that you love and care for your people and you understand what it takes to provide security of lives and property".

Mrs Osuma is dead

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RS. Cecilia Adunni Osuma (nee Olasoji) is dead, aged 69.

The late Mrs. Osuma who died in USA after a brief illness is survived by children, grand children, brothers and sisters among whom is the elder brother, Chief Michael Adetunji Olasoji.

Burial arrangements to be announced later.

z Late Mrs Osuma

46— Vanguard,

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FRIDAY,

MAY 24 24,, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013—47

BIRTHDAY: Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu (middle) cutting his 55th birthday cake on Victoria Island, Lagos. He is being assisted by former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Azeez Gbolarumi (2nd left); Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Southwest PDP, Chief Ishola Filani; former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; representative of the National Chairman of PDP, Mr. Bernard Mikko; Kashamu's wife, Sabine; member, PDP Board of Trustees, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun; Mr. Tilewa Adebajo; National Auditor, PDP, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju; Ambassador Aminu Wisdom and Mrs. Ibilola Solaja (left).

BRIEFING: From left: Mr. Justin Ngini, National Sales Manager, Coscharis Motors Ltd; Ms. Laura Oloyede, GM/COO, Cutler Ogilvy; Mr. Ezio Tuniz, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager, Sub-Sahara Africa, Ford Motor Company and Mr. Eugen Prinsloo, Senior Marketing Manager, during the briefing by the Ford Motor Company in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

VISIT: 300 Level Mass Communication Students of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, Minna, with Mr. Victor Omoregie, Coperate Affairs Manager, Vanguard Newspapers, during the students' visit to Vanguard Newspapers' office, Apapa, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

QUIZ: From left: Quiz master and moderator, Mr. Gabriel Aneke, Education Director, Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, Monsignor Jerome Oduntan and MD/CEO, Veritas Travel Agency Ltd, Rev. Fr. Louis Odudu, during a three-day year of Faith quiz and art competition for Catholic Junior and Secondary Schools in Lagos.

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CONFERENCE: From left: Participant, Chantale Joseph; CEO, Mibod Global Resources Ltd, Ms. Abiola Okoya; First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, CEO, Star Crest Group, Mrs. Fifi Ejindu and President/CEO of M and M Dyson, LLC, Marcia L. Dyson, at the second international conference on african women empowerment in Paris, France.

From left: Mr. Ugo Chime, member, Board of Trustees, REDAN, Dr. Chryssy Potsiou, FIG Task Force on Housing and Property; President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mr. Agele Alufohai, and Mr. Anthony Okwa, former Secretary, REDAN, at FIG Working Week in Abuja.

SYNOD: From left: Bishop of Kafanchan Anglican Diocese, Rt.Rev. Marcus Dodo; Bishop of Kaduna Diocese, Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon and Bishop of Benin Diocese, Rt.Rev. P.O.J. Imasuen, during the second session of the Ninth Synod of the Diocese of Kaduna Anglican Communion and thanksgiving service in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

PRESENTATION: From left: Stanley Dediare, Jonathan Igangan, Coach Koremene Payebo, Abhulimhen Patrick, Claim/Insurance Manager, Julius Berger Services Nigeria Ltd, JBSN, Sascha Gattaschau, Prophet Ogbe and Timothy Egbe, at the presentation of cheques and footballs, by JBSN to two football clubs of Itsekiri & Ijaw extraction in Warri, Delta State.

COMPETITION: From left: Mr. Oladele Onitiju (judge), Mr. I.A. John and Useni Kehinde (both of Wesley Girls Junior Secondary School, Yaba, Mrs. Victoria Tandoh, CEO, Kings School, and Mr. Ayodeji Jeremiah (judge), during the King’s School first inter-school essay competition for students in private and public schools between the ages of 8 and 14 in Lagos.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Blame your leaders for state of emergency, Erewa tells northerners

Borno govt to spend N300m on construction of Maiduguri Water Works

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BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI—THE Borno State government is to spend about N300 million on the construction of the Maiduguri Water Works “C” in the Alamderi area of the state.

The project which is expected to generate seven million litres of water per day would ease the problems of water scarcity in Bulumkutu and the environs.

State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Mai Sheriff made this known at a ministerial briefing to mark the second year anniversary of Governor Kashim Shettima in office.

He said that work at the Water Works “C” had commenced in earnest and was expected to be completed before December, this year.

This came as the government had also purchased pipes worth N88 million for routine repairs and replacement of broken pipes within the metropolis.

According to him, the staff of the ministry were already laying pipes in the benefiting communities even as drilling of 12 boreholes and construction of reservoir and over head tanks would soon start. The government said about 130 boreholes were being drilled across the 27 local government areas of the state.

Lagos First Lady to grace launch of retreat centre

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AGOS—LAGOS State First Lady, Dame Abimbola Fashola is expected to be among the dignitaries at the formal launch of retreat centre project of Knights of St. John International, St. Agnes Commandery 447 & Immaculate Conception LAUX 380.

The launching, according to the President, Sir Hilary Okhuelegbe, is billed for tomorrow at Welcome Centre and Hotels, Lagos and will also be attended by the Archbishop of Lagos, Bishop Adewale Martins and other clerics in the Catholic Church.

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The World Bank Country Director in Nigeria, Maire Francoise Marie Nelly, presenting a copy of Nigerian Economic Report to the Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, in Government House, Minna on Wednesday.

FULANI HERDSMEN ATTACKS:

CAN urges FG to extend military operations to Middle Belt

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI —THE Chris tian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has called on the Federal Government to extend the current military operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to other states in the Middle Belt now being destroyed by alleged Fulani mercenaries.

Benue State Chairman of the

association, Archbishop Yiman Orkwar made the call, yesterday, while addressing journalists on the security situation in both the state and the country in general.

He, however, noted that although belated, the declaration of state of emergency in the three states was a step in the right direction. ”From all indications, the

CPC asks NSIEC, to conduct by-election in Minna wards

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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INNA —CONGRESS for Progressive Change, CPC, in Niger State has called on the state’s Independent Electoral Commission, NSIEC, to respect a subsisting court order compelling it to conduct by-election into two wards in Minna, the state capital.

It said that the High Court order was issued over a year ago. The call by the party came as a contempt of court proceeding was being initiated against the state NSIEC for allegedly refusing to obey the court order.

Already, Form 48 from the High Court of Niger State was issued on November 3, 2012 against the Chairman of the NSIEC, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar over the issue. ’’Unless you obey the order of the court forthwith as contained in the judgement of this

honourable court commanding you to conduct Councillor ship by-election in Limawa ‘A’ ward and Nasarawa ‘B’ ward, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison,” the processes stated.

terrorism being witnessed in the country is purely in pursuit of jihad. In Benue State, Fulani terrorists in collaboration with Boko Haram and other foreign mercenaries are causing wanton destruction of lives and property. ”To this end, we encourage President Goodluck Jonathan to also order military operations aimed at dislodging the armed Fulani jihadists and their allies from Benue and other Middle Belt states of the country,” he said.

Lamenting the level of killings and wanton destruction of property in the six local government areas of Benue State by the Fulani mercenaries, Orkwar urged the Benue State government to set up rehabilitation camps for displaced persons in the affected communities without further delay.

AGOS—A PROMI NENT Itsekiri youth leader in Delta State, Comrade Benson Erewa, has called on northerners to blame their governors, elders and leaders, who failed to avert the declaration of state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Aamawa states.

Reacting to comments by some Northern leaders condemning President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of state of emergency in the affected states, Erewa noted that the northerners should instead blame their governors, who had failed to address the Boko Haram menace, which eventually resulted to the state of emergency.

Group tasks Nigerians on peace

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AGOS—THE Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, KIND, has appealed to Nigerians to continue to love and live in peace with one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political leanings.

KIND in a statement signed by the Project Administrator, Mr. Steve Aborisade, said the call became necessary in the face of incessant conflicts, bitterness and gross animosity existing between Muslims and Christians; and among the ethnic nationalities.

FG commissions 40 km Vom-Manchok Road

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OS—THE Federal Gov ernment has commissioned the 40 km VomManchok Road linking the Ganawuri community in Plateau State with the Manchok community in Kaduna State.

Mike Onolememen, the Minister of Works, who performed the commissioning ceremony Tuesday, said the road would boost socio-economic activities in the host communities and in the country at large.

The 7.3 metres-wide asphalt concrete carriageway cuts 21 metres deep through a huge mountain on the Plateau axis. The project was awarded to P. W Nigeria Ltd. on November 15, 1999 when Chief Isaiah Balat was minister, with May 15, 2001 set as completion deadline.

A brief on the project, which was submitted to the minister by P. Dieyi, the Federal Controller of Works in Plateau, said the initial deadline was missed due to some

constraints.

It said the constraints included the difficult terrain.

Mr. Onolememen expressed delight over the quality of the project, which he said was of world standard.

“The project, awarded since 1999, was stalled due to a lot of challenges. But, with the coming of President Goodluck Jonathan, we were given the marching order to bring this project to completion."

Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013—49

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50— Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 51

London attackers known to British security services

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WO British men of Nigerian descent accused of hacking a soldier to death on a London street in revenge for wars in Muslim countries were known to security services, a source close to the investigation said yesterday.

One man, filmed calmly justifying the killing as he stood by the body holding a knife and meat cleaver in bloodied hands, was

named by acquaintances as 28-year-old Londoner Michael Adebolajo, a British-born convert to radical Islam.

So frenzied was the attack, some witnesses thought they were trying to behead and disembowel the victim.

The attack, just a month after the Boston Marathon bombing and the first Islamist killing in Britain since local suicide bombers

killed 52 people in London in 2005, revived fears of “lone wolves” who may have had no direct contact with al Qaeda.

British media said police raided homes of relatives in the city and near the town of Lincoln. Adebolajo and the other man, who may have been born abroad and later naturalized as British, are both in custody in hospitals after being shot by police.

UK police arrest two people

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RITISH police arrested two more people yesterday in a hunt for accomplices of two British men of Nigerian descent accused of hacking a soldier to death on a London street in revenge for wars in Muslim countries.

The two suspected

killers, now under guard in hospitals, had been known to security services before Wednesday ’s daylight attack, security sources said. Another man and a woman, both aged 29, were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to

UK Muslim communities fear backlash

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TRAPPING his baby into a car seat, Abu Khaled said it was unfortunate that a British soldier was hacked to death in an apparent Islamist attack a day earlier in London, but it was not the only misfortune on his mind.

“A 75-year-old man was stabbed to death earlier this month on his way back from the mosque in Birmingham.

You didn’t hear about that, did you?” said the bearded 36-year-old personal trainer, speaking near East London Mosque, one of the capital’s oldest and largest.

“Eleven children died

in Afghanistan in a U.S. drone attack about the time of the Boston bombings. You didn’t hear about that either, did you?” he said.

The overwhelming reaction from Muslim communities to the brutal killing on Wednesday has been one of horror, compounded by fears of a backlash.

“These men have insulted Allah (God) and dishonored our faith ...

There will no doubt be a lot of soul-searching about why these individuals do what they do,” Farooq Murad, head of the Muslim Council of Britain, said in a news conference.

murder.

One of the assailants, filmed calmly justifying the killing as he stood by the body holding a knife and meat cleaver in bloodied hands, was named by acquaintances as 28-year-old Londoner Michael Adebolajo - a British-born convert to Islam.

So frenzied was the attack, some witnesses thought they were trying to behead and disembowel the victim, who was named as a 25year-old Afghan war veteran working as an army recruiter.

The attack, just a month after the Boston Marathon bombing and the first Islamist killing in Britain since local suicide bombers killed 52 people in London in 2005, revived fears of “lone wolves” who may have had no direct contact with al Qaeda.

Adebolajo and the other man, who may have been born abroad and later naturalized as British, were shot by police at the scene. Officers on the case raided six homes on yesterday.

Obama outlines policy of drones

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S President Barack Obama is due to defend his administration’s use of drone strikes, in a major speech on counterterrorism.

He is expected to offer some transparency over the strikes, amid reported moves to restrict their scope.

The speech comes a day after the US said publicly for the first time that drones had killed four US citizens.

In his speech, Mr Obama will also address his aim of closing the US

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detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Last month, the US president pledged a new push to transfer the remaining prisoners from the facility, saying it was “contrary to who we are” and harmful to US interests.

Administration officials said the president would discuss on Thursday “ why the use of drone strikes is necessary, legal and just, while addressing the various issues raised by our use of targeted action”.

The speech at the National Defense University in Washington coincides with the signing of new “presidential policy guidance” on when drone strikes can be used, the White House said.

The policy document sharply curtails the instances in which drones can be used in places that are not overt war zones, such as Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, the New York Times reported.

52— Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013—53

former PDP national chairman, Dr. Okwesilese Nwodo out of office. Nowdo according to some accounts had followed Dr. Jonathan during his first official visit to the United States and during that time presented to him a game plan on how he as president could checkmate the power and influence of the governors in the party.

Central to Nwodo’s script was the e-registration of party members, a plan that would also make all members of the party financial contributors to the party, and as such, create independent funding for the party and remove it from the apron strings of the governors who largely fund the party. It was a plan that the president reportedly bought hook, line and sinker.

It was no surprise that the president fully backed Nwodo a well known associate of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar who had left the PDP with Atiku for the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN - for the position of national chairman of the PDP.

Use of brain and brawn

NGF: Moment of Truth Nigeria’s 36 governors gather today to choose a chairman to pilot the affairs of their forum for the next two years. It is the culmination of intrigues that could fracture the frames of the increasingly controversial forum.

A

FTER months of dithering procrastination members of the country’s most prestigious gang, Club of 36 go in for the election to produce a new captain.

Today’s election of chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF is coming after months of subtle campaign for the top job that has been laced with intrigues, backstabbing and sometimes open display of presidential power.

The NGF formed at the onset of the country’s democracy in 1999 has had five chairmen in the persons of Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, (Nasarawa, 1999 2004), Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah, (Akwa Ibom State 2004 2006), Chief Lucky Igbinedion, (Edo 2006 2007), Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, (Kwara 2007 2011) and the incumbent, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

Today’s showdown is in the

eyes of many seen as an ego fight between President Goodluck Jonathan and his loyalists on one side and the incumbent chairman and a number of his supporters in the forum who are fighting to keep the body and the power of governors out of the reach of the president.

But it didn’t start as an ego fight. The bruising fight that has literally been taken to Amaechi started as a matter of money and politics before it became almost completely overshadowed by ego.

Deeper issues of governance Under its first three chairmen, Adamu, Attah and Igbinendion, the forum was largely regarded as a chummy club where the governors came together to rub minds and relax.

However, under Saraki the forum began to take on deeper issues on governance and project

the self interest of the governors as a collective and individually.

Saraki’s stewardship: Under Saraki’s stewardship, the forum helped the governors to win a share from the Excess Crude Account, money that the previous administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo had sought to save for the rainy day.

Politically, they also threw muscles. It would be recalled that a subset of the body, comprising essentially of governors belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP were at the forefront in the collaboration with the cabal in Aso Rock at the time of the sickness of former President Umaru Yar‘adua.

The governors in the early days of the last sickness of the immediate past president gave scant regard to the then vicepresident, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and according to some accounts worked together to see how they could project one of their own as a possible replacement for Yar‘adua.

However, fate failed them.

Advent of Jonathan administration and Amaechi as NGF chairman: On the advent of the Jonathan administration and with Amaechi as chairman, the NGF continued to gain influence. The peer review mechanism conceived during

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

The president it was assumed believed that Nwodo given his experience also as the pioneer national secretary of the PDP was sufficiently equipped to help him navigate the mines that the governors could lay for him. The president heartily launched the e-registration on August 10, 2010.

Few days later, the PDP governors rallied round to convince the president to stop the project. And in no time, Nwodo was himself clumsily forced out of office.

Saraki’s successor as NGF chairman: Amaechi further consolidated on the use of brain and brawn in the contest of power with the president.

Even more significant is the fact that Amaechi has been able to endear himself to his colleagues and the citizenry with his remarkable performance in office.

The estimated 500 model schools

At the meeting, the northern governors are going to decide on how they would vote, either as a bloc or individually

Saraki’s chairmanship, became a notable instrument for advancing key goals of good governance under Amaechi.

Among the PDP governors, the NGF chairman also acted as unofficial leader and helped to articulate the interests of the PDP governors.

A case of how the PDP governors used their power to browbeat other stakeholders was reflected in how they chased

,

built by Amaechi in Rivers State that can compare with any primary school in the world, the 130 primary healthcare centres, the farm projects among others are examples of legacy projects that Amaechi has executed that are now being emulated by his colleagues. But did the performance get into the governor’s head? Critics say so.

Continues on page 54

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

INSECURITY:

We must decentralize security now — Igini LAWYER, activist, Mike Igini is the Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner. In this interview, he called for the decentralization of the policing system in Nigeria as a way of assisting current efforts at fighting insecurity, frowns at illegal appropriation of funds by public officials among other issues. Excerpts:

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

T

HE failure of governments at all levels to provide security has generated questions on what concerned public officials like president, governors, local government chairmen, ministers and others do with their security votes?

Indeed it is time to ask those questions, but apart from asking such questions, we also must start from the very conception of security needs as it pertains to our current needs.

Without doubt it is clear from the outcome in terms of security that much is being done, nevertheless whatever is being done has not been sufficient.

constitution, don’t you think it is high-time that the practice is outlawed?

What is unconstitutional is unlawful, I do not subscribe to any form of appropriation that is not vetted, it may be done before or after it has been applied depending on its need, but it should be susceptible to scrutiny if not by a large group but by at least a specialized group. The core motivation of democratic leadership is the necessity to be accountable to electors or the representatives of electors.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has argued for governors to have control over state police commissioners as a way of

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We should devolve and de-concentrate policing powers on local issues to give elected people at lower levels sufficient leverage on security

Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso had last year stopped the disbursement of security votes alleging it was a smokescreen by governors to divert public funds. Do you agree?

As I said above, much may have been done, but as long as the conditions remain insecure all such efforts will be perceived as insufficient, because security is a binary conception. It has only two acceptable variables, secure or insecure, there is no middle ground.

Unfortunately, Kano does not rank as one of the safest states these days, I would have said the governor made a very wise decision, nevertheless it hardly matters how much is allocated to security if the outcome is ineffective.

The concern of Nigerians has not been so much the amount allocated as the opacity of the process of utilizing such allocations effectively.

If you say you want money to build five warships to go to war and the soldiers get to the war front to find only two ships with half the troops stranded, your own soldiers will kill you first before the enemy.

Given that the votes are not provided for in the

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boosting security. Do you agree?

He has made a very important point because the ambit of control of those who implement security should be reasonably defined at the different levels of need, for as the basic principles of administrative control suggests, regarding the span of control of someone responsible for a task, such a person must be directly responsible to a single source

of control.

However I must float a caveat, we have never heard of a Local government chairperson who requires lawful use of a DPO (Divisional police Officer), or of a state governor who requires the lawful use of a state police Commissioner who did not get the required response due to his or her authority.

Moreover, the most strident opposition to the devolution of policing powers has unfortunately come from those who most need the devolution

Policing powers My view is that we should devolve and de-concentrate policing powers on local issues to give elected people at lower levels sufficient leverage on security, allowing states and local government to invest appropriately in security infrastructure according to local needs, but we cannot dispense with a national police service at our current developmental stage How best do you think the public anger against the existence of security votes can be doused?

Security is expensive, to train, deploy and maintain a single security personnel is not a cheap exercise, let alone a detachment of troops, but to do so must be effective and the

•Igini: Police should be decentralised process of doing it should not be opaque, besides, if you are doing so to secure people why should they not know what it cost and how you have expended resources to achieve it?

Nonetheless, to douse public anger , first expenditure on security should be effective, then the appropriate personnel to address security issues should be used when dealing with security challenges; let the security personnel do their part, but where you require sociologists, psychologists, judicial expertise, economic and political decisions, the right people should be brought in, the use of force is only one aspect of conflict management, if we do not have such a paradigmatic approach we would find ourselves using a motor saw when what is required is a lancet.

Second security is what we do together ultimately, and I believe therefore that at the root of our insecurity is the inability to have a common

understanding of who we are as a people, we are too suspicious of ourselves and hence we protect the wrong people amongst us for the wrong reasons, if we share common values and accept the areas where we have necessary differences, it will be easier to pick out the deviants who aim to destroy all of us, when we do that, we can be like the Bostonians in the USA who all stood together, locked down their state just to pick out a few people who refused to share their common needs for security which fosters prosperity. But ironically,in Nigeria at the early stages of this Boko Haram insurgency, we saw how the same people that security men were risking their lives to protect hailed and celebrated the killing of security men and the bombing of police stations. Could the Boston bombers been killed and the other arrested if the people had not co-operated the security services ?

NGF: Moment of Truth Continues from page 53 Not surprisingly, the governor’s domestic foes including associates of his predecessor, Dr. Peter Odili who have not found space in the present administration have teamed up with Amaechi’s enemies in Abuja to humiliate him.

Today’s election would largely be a contest between Amaechi and the candidate of the presidential villa. As at yesterday, the decision on who would contest against Amaechi was still being decided between Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State.

Amaechi is almost sure of all the votes from most of the Southwest governors. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has been a key strategist in his camp and moved round the country with him.

Amaechi until recently was believed to have the backing of nearly all but one of the South-South governors but with unrelenting pressure from the presidency a couple of them

are now distancing themselves from him.

It is as such no surprise that today’s vote would be decided by what decision is taken at an early morning meeting of the Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF scheduled to take place at the Asokoro, Abuja residence of Governor Babangida Aliyu, the Niger State governor.

At the meeting the northern governors are going to decide on how they would vote, either as a bloc or individually.

But even more will be the key decision on the mode of voting. It is generally believed that even some of those campaigning against Amaechi could even vote for him in the event of a secret ballot.

But whatever, it is almost generally agreed that given the key issue of 2015 and the stakes involved that today’s election could end up a deadlock or lead to the emergence of two chairmen of the forum!

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013—55

T

ODAY, everybody talks about corruption without any concrete suggestion as to how this common disease could be cured. The general impression is that every Nigerian is corrupt in one way or the other. It is like the ailment of malaria whose causes are well known, yet Nigerians prefer usage of drugs rather than the eradication of the causes of the disease, as an effective solution.

It is true to say that the perilous state in which the country is in today is far from the glorious one imagined by all Nigerians and foreign friends alike in 1960. The situation has become clearer even after the attainment of independence in 1960 when we became our own masters. The disappearance of the hated imperialists whose hatred had cemented our fragile unity, threw us into the deep ocean of global economics and politics. Nigerians and their leaders got entangled in the crazy art of survival in a slippery political terrain.

Political terrain The post – Independence Nigeria continues to shed an interesting scenery – the attempt to marry political stability with economic posterity – in an atmosphere of religious bigotry and ethnic rivalry. The most famous of the architects of Nigeria’s political freedom, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, became Nigeria’s President, another illustrious leader, Sir Ahmadu Bello was murdered during the 1966 coup, and the last of them; the great “Awo” (Obafemi Awolowo) was indecently imprisoned for treasonable felony. Thus, the first decade after independence saw Nigeria in search of political stability without the positive contributions of those who master-minded the process of political freedom.

The Civil War of 1967 to 1970 was a costly mistake, in terms of wastage of human and material resources and also, the failure to bury the hatchets of tribalism and cynicism.

In spite of the ethos of no winner, no losers engendered after the brutal war in the

07059197616

Why we're where we are today 1970s, the foul stench, from the graves of those who suffered under ‘genocide’ in the romantic Biafra , continued to foul the fresh air of assumed friendship and cooperation across the Niger. Even our beloved novelist and renowned master of the English prose, Prof. Chinua Achebe could not but remember that sordid tale of genocide of about two million children in his book, ‘There Was A Country’. There is no doubt that Chief Awolowo (died in 1987) and Prof. Achebe (died in 2013) would have by now sorted out their differences, presumably observed in 1951 when the late Prof. Achebe watched the inglorious carpet – crossing of legislators in the Old Western House of Assembly – through which process Chief Awolowo was assumed to have stolen victory from Dr. Azikiwe.

Today, it is unfortunate that ethnic misunderstanding (leading to unhealthy rivalry) could be so entrenched by the attitude of those past leaders whose personal contradictions on nationalism have so far failed to impact positively on inter-ethnic relationship required for nation building and national unity. I am sure the art and act of genocide which is a terrible sin would never be allowed to exist again among brothers. If it had happened in the past, it is most regrettable.

The return of democracy in 1999 has brought its own moments of joy, especially after wasted years under military dictatorship, aided willfully by civilian collaboration. The rising hope of freedom and enjoyment of dividends of democracy suddenly appeared to have put the new leadership under severe strains. Those who sang gleefully the melodious stanza that ‘we prefer freedom with danger to servitude in tranquility’ did not open their mouths too wide, when religious fanatics started to burn houses of non-muslims in some Northern cities of the country.

Perhaps, those religious and ethnic vampires thought that Nigeria has become a fertile area for blood game, hence, the appearance of Boko Haram’s murderous gang – throwing bombs, and killing people at will, all in the name of God, the Merciful. The Mighty Lord (Allah) who is worshiped by both Christians and Muslims in the country does not approve of human sacrifices. The reign of terror has continued unabated until the Federal Government appeared awake from its slumber by declaring the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

There should be no question on the justification of the emergency declaration.

All peace-loving Nigerians should give

support. The Federal Government in its move to protect Nigerians (wherever they live) from wanton killings and destruction of their properties. Any opposition group should tell Nigerians of alternative policy for the future after terrorism has been finally suppressed and peace restored.

It looks as if the problem of political instability over the years has affected the pursuit of economic policy of prosperity.

The country is of politicians who care little for the common good but more for their survival and individual prosperity. The present mood among the ;parties is the prospect of 2015 – who will be the president and from which part of the country?

In the early economic development, the Swedes sold their only resources, lumbers overseas and bought the needed technology from the most economically advanced nations. On the contrary, Nigeria’s crude oil is sold to import refined oil and other products that could conveniently be produced at home. It is a matter of Leadership and its quality.

Keynes in Oyo State: Many economic historians will not forget easily the stagnation of the twenties and the thirties of the last century – the appalling depression of 1929 in USA and the chaotic condition of the thirties in Britain and Western Europe.

A British economist, John Maynard Keynes, in his book “General Theory” of Employment, Interest and Money (1936) revolutionized economic thinking in solving problems of large-scale unemployment. He advocated injection of funds into the economy through massive public works.

Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo State Governor is proving to be a good disciple of Keynes in his policy of road construction and reconstruction projects in his native Ibadan land and also, in many principal towns of Oyo State. Congratulations to the Atunluse of Ibadan, and his pretty wife, Florence for the new titles justifiably conferred on them recently by the OLUBADAN of Ibadan.

Chinualumogu Achebe: A tribute to Ugonabo

BY SEN IKE EKWEREMADU

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AYING tribute to a great man like Professor Chinualumogu Achebe is certainly not the kind of race a man runs carrying snuff in his palm. It is a serious task, not for want of great deeds worth mentioning and reflecting on, but for too many exploits begging for mention.

How do you describe a man so honoured, even among his kinsmen, that he was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ugonabo (double eagle) of Ogidi? Renown for its strength and glory, Ugo (the eagle) is such a very rare and highly esteemed bird among Ndigbo. As a title, Ugo is reserved only for their extremely distinguished sons. To be honoured as a “double eagle” goes to show the extraordinariness of the man, Achebe.

How else do you describe a colossus other than also as an Iroko? About this special tree, Achebe writes: “You cannot plant greatness as you plant yams or maize. Whoever planted an iroko tree - the greatest in the forest?

You may collect all the iroko seeds in the world, open the soil and put them there. It will be in vain.

The great tree chooses where to grow and we find it there...so it is with greatness in men.”

A writer and teacher of uncommon character and pedigree, he was not only A Man of the People, he was also the mouth piece of the weak and oppressed, and invested his entire life seeking solutions for The Trouble with Nigeria. When the centre cannot hold as Things Fall Apart and the falcon can no longer hears the falconer, Achebe stood out as a live force to rally his country men and women back to their roots and indeed back to those socio-cultural values by which our fathers lived.

As one of a quartet that includes Christopher Okigbo and Professor Wole Soyinka, which started and gave the Nigerian literature character, he equally gave a resonant voice, first to Nigerians, and to the entire black race. Like most great men, Achebe was a half-human and haIf-spirit (okara mmadu na okara mmuo), a philosopher, and a prophet. Though through his contributions, especially the imports of Things Fall Apart, blacks could understand what colonialism was all about, he saw

•Achebe far beyond the challenges of colonialism. Through A Man of the People, for instance, he warns of the dangers of reducing independence to merely replacing White imperialists with a new set of indigenous colonialists who lord it over the masses and live in vexatious luxury and opulence at the expense of the people. Through No Longer at Ease, we could also see the damning aftermaths of colonialism. When it became obvious that things were No

Longer at Ease, Achebe opened our eyes through to see The Trouble with Nigeria and the Anthills of the Savanna.

Achebe saw The Trouble with Nigeria as clearly that of a failed political class. More importantly, he proffered the way forward, not just by written works, but also by an exemplary life that serves as An Arrow of God that will forever pierce the consciences of the leaders. Importantly, on the need for peaceful co-existence and tolerance, Professor Achebe says: “Let the kite perch and let the eagle perch too- if one says no to the other, let his wing break”. For fomenters of trouble, he warns that, “A man that makes trouble for others also makes trouble for himself”. But even more philosophical are the words that “He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down”.

Achebe’s parting shot, There was a Country, is to me more than just a book or a personal account of his pain and those of his Eastern Nigerian kinsmen over the unfortunate Nigeria-Biafra Civil war. Traditionally, when a father is about to join his ancestors, he assembles his

children for the final blessings and parting words. To Achebe, it is only a stupid man that has his toenail pulled out by the same tree stump twice. Achebe is obviously pained that those things that led to the unfortunate war among brothers are growing wings and muscles amongst us.

From nepotism to political arrogance and intolerance, corruption, religious fanaticism, and now an unprecedented wave of senseless killing across the land, Achebe is simply telling his countrymen to stand together and say “Never again”. Yes, never again so that whatever consumed the mound of fufu would not be allowed to empty the soup pot.

I therefore believe that the best way we can all mourn and immortalise Achebe is to live his ideals and build such Nigeria he dreamed of- a Nigeria where peace and justice reigns.

Goodbye the Iroko and may the Almighty God give us all, especially your immediate family, Ogidi people and indeed the entire Igboland and Nigerians the fortitude to bear your passage.

Goodnight, Ugonabo Ogidi, the immortal name.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu Deputy President of the Senate & Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

FG approves new tariff for industrial sector

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

A

BUJA—THE feder al government has given its approval for a new tariff regime that is expected to increase the capacity of local manufacturers and boost investments across all industrial sectors of the nation’s economy.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this during the inauguration of a 12-member committee to work out appropriate tariffs to support the implementation of the country’s industrial policy in Abuja, yesterday.

He said the consideration was aimed at repositioning the manufacturing sector and increasing its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product from its current four per cent to 10 per cent over the next four years.

Thecommittee,chairedbythe Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Dauda Kigbu, has as members, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Chief Kola Jamodu, Executive Secretaries of the NationalSugarDevelopmentCouncil,NigerianInvestmentPromotion Commission and DirectorsGeneraloftheStandardsOrganisation of Nigeria and National AutomotiveCouncil,amongothers.

Nation’s security challenges, a passing phase —Papal Nuncio

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—NIGERI ANS have been urged to see the security challenges bedeviling the nation now as a passing phase that will eventually become history.

The Titular Archbishop of Sueli and Papal Nuncio to the Republic of Benin, Most Rev. Dr. Brian Ngozi Udaigwe, made the appeal while delivering the homily at a Pontifical Sung Mass at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Parish, Okponakuma, Njaba local council area of Imo State.

“The security challenge facing the country now is not peculiar to the country.

Nobody is happy about the happening but we must all team up and fight the insurgency bedeviling our dear country,” the Papal Nuncio pleaded.

You’ll account for our women, children someday —NEF tell Jonathan Says Dokubo is a coward who will flee in event of war

By SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL

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EDITOR,

BUJA—NORTHERN elders yesterday spurned the benevolence by President Goodluck Jonathan ordering the release of terror suspects from prisons across the region, saying he would at some point in time be made to account for the women and children seized by security agents based on unverified terrorism charges.

The northern elders are miffed that the Federal Government under President Jonathan, allowed innocent women and children, who should be spared even in times of war, to be taken captive and incarcerated in dehumanising conditions for many months without trial.

The elders, who spoke to Vanguard yesterday through their spokesman, Prof Ango Abdullahi, noted with dismay that the administration had allowed innocent women and children to suffer untold hardship for offences they did not commit.

Abdullahi said: “Let me tell you that what the government did by ordering the release of suspected terrorists was borne out of shame and guilt being suffered by it for clamping innocent women and children into detention camps or what you may call Nigeria’s ‘Guantanamo Bay’, which are scattered all over the place.

“We note with delight that at last common sense has prevailed and the embattled families have regained their freedom. But we has-

ten to add that this government must account for the women and children from the North, who they took into unwarranted detention.

“As far as we are concerned the release of the so-called terror suspects should have been done long ago as long as this people were not tried or charged.

“To us what the President has done is borne out of embarrassment the government is suffering at home and abroad over the arbitrary detention of innocent women and children. The NEF

took very serious exception to the latest threat by militant leader, Dokubo Asari to match the opposition bullet by bullet if Jonathan was not re-elected in 2015, saying that it was a threat to national security.”

In spite of the threat, however, NEF said that while Dokubo did not have the monopoly of war, it should be clear to him and his sponsors that the country was bigger than a militant leader and his cohorts, who are speaking from both sides of their mouth for pecuniary reasons.

“From the antecedents of Asari

Dokubo, we believe that he is making these empty boasts app a r e n t l y because of the filthy lucre he is getting from pipeline contracts and the promise of more. But we can bet that he would be the first person to flee to the creeks if the war he is threatening breaks out.

“If not that he is being sponsored by the corridors of power to make this repulsive threat, the best would have been to ignore it as mere ranting of a confused individual looking for cheap gains”

INDUCTION: From left: 1st Vise President, Nigerian Institute of Training and Development, NITAD, Rev Tunde Salawu; President, NITAD, Dr. Kayode Ogungbuyi; an inductee, Mr. Taiwo Babatunde; Mr. Ola Azeez (guest lecturer); Mrs. Osakuni, Mr. Olumide Falusi, Council member & others at the 11th induction ceremony of NITAD in Lagos.

Ebonyi House recalls impeached deputy speaker, member

A

BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State House of Assembly yesterday, recalled its suspended former deputy speaker, Valentine Okike, representing Onicha West constituency.

Okike was impeached and suspended over alleged abuse of office about two months ago.

Also, recalled was another member, Lillian Igwe, who represents Ivo constituency who was suspended for her alleged misconduct about one year ago.

The offence committed by the female lawmaker that led to her suspension on June 4, 2012, was her alleged excessive drinking, which the House had described as embarrassing to its dignity.

Presenting its report, chairman of the five-man adhoc committee which investigated the alleged offences of the female house member, Mabel Aleke, stated that the accused, Igwe, was initially un-

willing to show any sign of remorse for the act as she demanded evidence before she would accept the allegations.

The committee added that she accepted her misconduct and had shown sign of remorse in her act of misconduct in the past and recommended that the

House grant her leniency to enable her join her colleagues in the acts of legislation.

The House adopted the committee’s reports through a motion moved by Sam Nwali, who represents Ikwo North constituency, and the motion was seconded by Jerry Obasi, who represents Ohaozara

West constituency.

Following the adoption of the report, the suspension of the female lawmaker was lifted through a motion moved by Eni Chima, who represents Afikpo South West constituency and seconded by Ogbonnaya Nwifuru of Izzi West constituency.

Emodi hails NASS for endorsing state of emergency

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—SPECIAL Ad viser to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, has hailed the National Assembly for the unanimous decision to approve the President’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

According to her, the senators and members of the House of Representatives endorsing the declaration have once again demonstrated that national interest must at all times be placed higher and above partisan and sectional considerations.

In a statement yesterday, Senator Emodi, said: “The special Adviser, National Assembly Matters commends the leader-

ship and members of the National Assembly for adopting a patriotic position on the declaration of state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states by the President.

“The action of the National Assembly is highly commendable as the lawmakers have shown that national interest must not be abridged on the alter of partisan considerations.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013—57

C M Y K

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Vanguard CLASSIFIED ELENS—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Elens Eigbokhan Ehizefua Onomhen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Edeh Ehizefua Onomhen. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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ODILI —I, formerly known as Pamela Chinenye Somtochukwu Odili – Emeka, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Pamela Chinenye Somtochukwu Idu - Emeka. All former documents remain valid.

The management of Providence High School, Enugu Grundtvig International School, Oba and Nkissi Regent School, Onitsha, Please take note.

ODILI —I, formerly known as Laurette Uchechukwu Obianuju Odili – Emeka, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Laurette Uchechukwu Obianuju Idu - Emeka. All former documents remain valid. The management of Providence High School, Enugu Grundtvig International School, Oba and Nkissi Regent School, Onitsha,Please take note.

ODILI —I, formerly known as Stephanie Mmesomachukwu Nwanyife Odili – Emeka, now wish to be known, called and addressed as S t e p h a n i e Mmesomachukwu Nwanyife Idu - Emeka. All former documents remain valid. The management of Providence High School, Enugu, Grundtvig International School, Oba and Nkissi Regent School, Onitsha, Please take note.

U K A I V B E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Ukaivbe Akpevwe Rosemary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. R o s e m a r y Akpevweoghene Akhabue. All former documents remain valid. Delta State Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) and general public please take note.

LAZARUS—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Caroline Kunket Lazarus, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Caroline Kunket Gukop. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc. and the general public please take note.

Correction of Names My name was wrongly written as Anorusi Febiakebena, instead of Anoruse F e b a i k e b e n a Macdonald. I now wish to be known and addressed as Anoruse F e b a i k e b e n a Macdonald. All former documents remain valid. Delta State University, Abraka; NYSC and general public please take note.

OBIERA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jennifer Ifelunwa Obiera, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Jennifer Nwezi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OBEBEDUO—We, formerly known and addressed as Peter Odafe Obebeduo, Josephine Oghenekevbe Obebeduo(Mrs), Elizabeth Ogheneochuko Obebeduo, Joseph Oghenebrume Obebeduo,Deborah Odiri Obebeduo, Jeremiah Efeoghene Obebeduo, Naomi Oghenerukevwe Obebeduo, Peter Okemute Obebeduo and Paul Onajite Obebeduo, now wish to be known and addressed as Peter Odafe Oghenovo, Josephine Oghenekevbe Oghenovo (Mrs), Elizabeth Ogheneochuko Oghenovo, Joseph Oghenebrume Oghenovo, Deborah Odiri Oghenovo, Jeremiah Efeoghene Oghenovo, Naomi Oghenerukevwe Oghenovo, Peter Okemute Oghenovo, Paul Onajite Oghenovo. . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AMATA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amata Ochade Vivian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ikwuagwu Ochade Vivian. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ANIEMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Aniema Friday Ekpo, now wish to be known and addressed as Favour Friday Ekpo. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OGHUMU—I, formerly known and addressed as Emonena Oghumu, now wish to be known and addressed as Nelson Adarefe Emonena Oghumu.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IBHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omhonrhia Ibhe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omhonrhia Aikhakhomon, All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EDET—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Etim Edet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Awinoron. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State University and general public please take note.

OKIERETE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Georgina Okierete Ayiwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Georgina Ayiwe Nwachukwu. All former documents remain valid. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN and general public please take note.

UGWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliet Ogechukwu Ugwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eze Juliet Ogechukwu.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UDOH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mmama Etim Udoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mmama Emmanuel Ndifon Bob. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

FAKOS-SALIS—I,

Confirmation of name This is to confirm that the name Eboh Omoromunu Cynthia, refers to one and the same person as Eboh Omasan Cynthia, now wish to be known and addressed as Eboh Omasan Cynthia. All former documents remain valid.

DESOPADEC and general public please take note.

E K A N E M — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Mbereobong Okon Ekanem, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. M b e r e o b o n g Oribikunomaa Clifford. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWANAKWERE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss N w a n a k w e r e Confidence Chioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Enekwizu Confidence Chioma. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OJI—I,

public please take note.

ONYEMAOBI —We, formerly known and addressed as Dr. Onyemaobi Ikechukwu Chinedu; Mrs. Onyemobi Chinwe Christiana and Barr/Dr. Onyemaobi Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. Chibuzom-Pius Ikechukwu Chinedu; Mrs. Chibuzom-Pius Chinwe Christiana and Barr/Dr. Chibuzom-Pius Chukwuemka Ndubuisi. All former documents remain valid. Abia State University Uturu, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin and general public, please take note.

OGBEDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogbede Oritsematosan Marian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akponine Ogbede Oritsematosan Marian. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

N WA G W U — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwagwu Assumpta Ulumma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Assumpta Ulumma Oshoke Anavhe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

WIFA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Miracle Barilubari Wifa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Miracle Ebifaye Opusunju. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MBAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinonyelum Emmanuela Mbah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs N n a m a n i Chinonyelum Emmanuela. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akah Chioma Njideka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Udezue Chioma Njideka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADISA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Soyeye Funmilayo, later Adisa Funmilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. O k w u m a b u a Funmilayo Joy. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

formerly

known and addressed as Miss Rose Oji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rose Emosivwhe. All former

documents

remain valid. General

known and addressed as Larry Hyacinth, now wish to be known and addressed as Ihebom Hilary

Chidi.

All

former

documents

remain valid. General public please take note.

Salis

Wale

Fakos

Ayomide, wish to state that I am the same person as Fakos-Salis Ayomide. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 — 59

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OVUAKPORIE —I, formerly known and addressed as Precious Kesiena Ovuakporie, now wish to be known and addressed as Kesiena OwhoOvuakporie.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKEKE —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okeke Ifeoma Ann, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ozigbu Ifeoma Ann. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UGWU —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugwu Amuche Racheal, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Enejah Racheal Amuche-Kachy. All former documents remain valid. Interior Woodworks Limited, Abuja and general public please take note.

FASEYI —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Faseyi Bukola Ruth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Folarinde Bukola Ruth. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OLISE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Cynthia Obiageli Olise, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cynthia O. Braimoh.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EMPERE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Empere Natasha Alaere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sapele Natasha Alaere. All former documents remain valid.

Madonna University, Okija and general public please take note.

ESALE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Grace Esale, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Grace Niger Afedu.

All former documents remain valid. Opolo Epie Central Secondary School, Senior Secondary School Board, Yenagoa and general public please take note.

2013 UEFA Champions League final. Time: 7:45 p.m.

•Heynckes

Heynckes: ‘I have never experienced this’

•Mario Gomez

•Lewandowski

Tough group stage gave Dortmund confidence – Klopp

J

ÜRGEN Klopp told UEFA.com the way his Borussia Dortmund side played in the group stage was “surprising” and gave him belief they could achieve something special this season.

If Borussia Dortmund win the UEFA Champions League at Wembley on Saturday, they will certainly have done it the hard way.

Having negotiated a group comprising three other domestic title winners from last season – AFC Ajax, Manchester City FC and Real Madrid CF, whom they would later oust in a gripping semi-final memorable for Robert Lewandowski’s four-goal first-leg salvo – the Schwarzgelben were no strangers to drama in the knockout stage.

Yet, for all that his side profited from late goals

E

VEN Jupp Heynck es, 68 and with three decades of coaching experience behind him, feels this has been an “extraordinary season” for FC Bayern München that could yet end in a treble.

Even at the age of 68, with more than three decades of coaching experience behind him, FC Bayern München’s Jupp Heynckes is enjoying a season like never before.

Heynckes, in his third stint at Bayern, has already guided them to the Bundesliga title at a canter. The UEFA Champions League – a trophy Heynckes first won with Real Madrid CF in 1998 – could follow at the expense of Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, while the German Cup final against VfB Stuttgart could complete a stunning treble.

It would be a sensational way for Heynckes to leave his post, with Josep Guardiola already inked in to take over in the summer.

“I have never experienced this, and that’s why this is an extraordinary season,” he said.

“We have broken almost all records.

•Klopp

against FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Málaga CF in the last 16 and quarterfinals respectively, not to mention withstanding a rousing Madrid comeback at the Santiago Bernabéu, coach Jürgen Klopp identifies a 1-1 draw on matchday two as the moment he began to sense that maybe Dortmund could achieve something remarkable.

“The best feelings we’ve had so far were when we made it into the second round, because it was pretty special how we managed to do it,” he told UEFA.com. “The way the team played in the group stage was pretty surprising, and the match at Manchester City was an eye-opener for us – it showed we could compete with the strongest teams in Europe or even achieve more against them.”

UEFA issues Wembley ticket warning

U

EFA has issued a warning about the unauthorised and unlawful sale of tickets and hospitality packages ahead of Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium.

UEFA and the local organising committee of the 2013 UEFA Champions League final are aware of a number of companies and websites offering tickets and hospitality packages to the match, many of which are advertised at vastly inflated prices.

Please be informed that any unauthorised offer or sale of tickets to this match in the UK is a criminal offence under British law.

UEFA and The Football As-

sociation (FA) are working with the authorities to combat ticket touting activities in the lead-up to the UEFA Champions League final and we will be taking ap-

propriate legal action against ticket touts found to be breaking UK law and/or the ticketing.

All official sales channels are now closed and tickets

as well as hospitality packages are completely sold out.

We urge you not to purchase tickets or hospitality packages from unauthorised sellers.

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

Sports Club honours Obuh drops ttop op sstt ar s ffor or TToulon oulon Enugu ars Achebe tourne ourneyy E

T

HE Flying Eagles have dropped several key players including skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun and striker Umar Aminu for next week’s Toulon Tournament.

Others dropped are goalkeeper Jonah Usman, Chidi Osuchukwu, Chizoba Amaefule, Agboyi Ovbokha, Sikiru Alimi and Lucky Omeruo.

Tournament organisers have demanded that only 22 players be registered for the

NUGU Sports Club will not be left out in the celebration of literary icon Chinua Achebe who was laid to rest in his home town Ogidi, Anambra State yesterday.

Members of the club will today pay tribute to the late Achebe. The popular Enugu FRCN choir will perform at the sports club

competition, which is expected to prepare several teams for the U20 World Cup in Turkey.

The Flying Eagles want to allow fringe and newly listed players press for places in a final 21-man squad for the World Cup. The Flying Eagles are making their debut at the famous Toulon Tournament and kick off their campaign on Wednesday, May 29, against defending champions Mexico.

18 winners emerge from MTN Football trials in Enugu, Abuja

T

Jonathan launches Rhythm RESTED; Flying Eagles captain, Ajagun ‘N’ Play June 6 Gov’s Cup: losers final holds in Sapele government’s efforts at

BY JACOB AJOM

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will on June 6 launch a new grassroots-oriented sport programme code-named Rhythm ‘N’ Play in Abuja.

The Rhythm’N Play Initiative, a national mobilisation for grassroots sports development programme was conceptualised by the Nigeria Academical Sports Committee, NASCOM, headed by businessman and sports enthusiast, Yemi Idowu.

“There was need to reposition sports in order to facilitate mass participation and early discovery of young sporting talents at the grassroots. At the Presidential Retreat held last year, NASCOM was identified as a key component of

developing sports at the grassroots and Rhythm ‘N’ Play is a brand created

by NASCOM to serve as its flagship campaign to drive and revolutionize grassroots sports in Nigeria,” he said.

The NASCOM boss said in Lagos yesterday that the programme would see students engage in sports, music and dance as a way of life.

This, he said would encourage mass participation in sports and redirect the energies of the Nigerian youth to more productive pastimes.

“Six major games, including athletics, football, racket games, ball games, Martial Arts and Calisthenics have been selected for the pilot programme,” Idowu said.

Rooney Continues from B/P seek to convince the unsettled England striker to leave Manchester United for Parc des Princes.

PSG, who are braced to lose their titlewinning manager, Carlo Ancelotti, to Real Madrid and will consider Rafael Benítez as a replacement, have sensed an opportunity to secure the England international and hope

to pair him up front with Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic next season.

The French champions, who are backed by the moneyflushed Qatar Investment Authority, made their interest in securing the player known last week and have indicated they would be prepared to match his salary, which amounts to about £300,000 a week.

Spokesperson of the Club, Prof Chike Anibeze, said that the “The tribute session is in honour of late Chinua Achebe and will hold at the main lounge of the club in Enugu,” while the choir of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, will entertain during the event.

T

HE city of Sapele will today have a taste of the Delta State’s Governor’s Cup when the third place match is decided at 2 pm this afternoon. At stake will be a 30-seater bus worth N13m and half a million Naira cash. And to fight for these prizes will be Dom Domingo Secondary School who lost to Alegbo Grammar School Ugheli in the semifinal at Oleh and

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Edjekota Secondary School who lost to Comprehensive Secondary School Ogwashi-Uku in another semifinal clash at the Agbor Stadium on Wednesday.

The two matches attracted good crowd. Jay Jay Okocha was at the Agbor Stadium to watch his former school reach the final of the cup which will earn the winners N1M, a 30-seater bus and a training tour of Europe.

Adefemi tips Elegbeleye to succeed

BY UDEH UCHE President of Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria, Folorunsho Adefemi has vowed that the new Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye would be a hit for Nigerian sports. ‘’He is surely going to be a success story because of his immense wealth of experience and his passion for sports”, Adefemi said.

While congratulating the new DG, Adefemi traced his contributions to his days in the House Committee on Sports of the House of Representatives. “He is a thorough breed who is humble and hardworking. He listens

•Elegbeleye and does his work without fear or favour.

For a man endowed with these qualities, Nigerian sports, no doubt, will be the beneficiary ”, hardworking Adefemi whose good works saw him clinch d votes of Gymnatics for another tenure said. He prayed that God should give Elegbeleye the wisdom, understanding and good health to reposition Nigerian sports.

HE trials for the MTN Football Scholar, ‘Season three’ which kicked off in Enugu over the weekend and Abuja on Monday, have thrown up some lucky winners. At the Enugu zone where about 750 participants were screened, 10 youths selected, while eight were picked from the Abuja trials.

The Project Head, MTN Football Scholar, Kikelomo Atanda-Owo of Peculiar People Management

(PPM), Technical Partners and Consultants to the project, said in a chat with the media, that the participants showed much enthusiasm with many of them determined to make the list.

She said the trials were held for two days in both venues, explaining that many of the more than 200 that appeared in the Abuja center did not possess the requisite basic Senior School Exam Certificate required to be screened.

Amodu Continues from B/P maiden Confederations Cup appearance in Saudi Arabia in 1995, told BBC Sport: “What’s the point in winning a World Cup dress rehearsal and missing out on the big party next year?

“The World Cup is a crucial one for the country. For us, it is the most important tournament.

“The fans and media expect Nigeria to win the Confederations Cup, but it is less important to the team and country to be honest.”

The Super Eagles are level on points with Malawi at the top of their World Cup qualifying group and face away trips to Kenya and Namibia next month.

Amodu wants to ensure the team is focused on those matches.

“There are tricky games ahead in the World Cup qualifiers and one slip can easily change the complexion of the group,” he said.

“Every game now is a cup final for them and people should stop piling undue pressure on the team.”

Amodu’s comments seem to conflict with the view of coach Stephen Keshi, who told BBC Sport after the Nations Cup success in South Africa that playing at the Confederations Cup was his main target.

“While preparing the team, I had my eyes set on Brazil,” he explained.

“I was confident we would get there but my players felt I was drunk or acting like a comedian - now they believe.”

Amodu wants Keshi and his players, who are thrilled by the prospect of competing against some of the world’s best teams, to put the tournament into perspective.

“Yes, it is good to test yourselves against some of the best teams in a competitive level but it is not a competition to prepare the Super Eagles for better assessment,” he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013—61

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62— Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 24, 2013—63

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013

I-N-S-I-D-E

We don’t need Confed Cup, Amodu warns Keshi “What’s the point in winning a World Cup dress rehearsal and missing out on the big party next year?''

N

IGERIA’S technical director Shaibu Amodu insists that the Super Eagles’ main target should be qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, rather than trying to win next month’s Confederations Cup. The African Champions will face Tahiti, Uruguay and

Spain in Brazil in the June tournament which doubles as preparation for the South American country for the hosting of next year ’s World Cup. But Amodu, who was in charge of the Super Eagles when they finished fourth in their

PSG lure Rooney with promise to match United wages

P

SG are stepping up their attempts to lure Wayne Rooney from Manchester United Paris Saint-Germain have informed Wayne Rooney ’s representatives that they would be willing to match his current wages as they

Continues on Page 60

Champions League update — P.59

•Keshi

Continues on Page 60

•Amodu

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

•Rooney

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Agile (5) 7 Lustre (5) 8 Speak (5) 10 Proverb (5) 12 Manage (3) 13 Ascend (5) 15 Stretch (7) 17 Thoroughfare (6) 19 Headgear (3) 20 Depreciate (7) 23 Fruit (4) 25 Pulp (4) 26 Assign (7) 30 By way of (3) 31 Yarn (6) 34 Protection (7) 37 Recover (5) 38 Sicken (3) 39 Moral (5) 40 Missile (5) 41 Annoyed (5) 42 Threw (5)

DOWN 1 Brief (5) 2 Let (5) 3 Really (6) 4 Vast (4) 5 Layer (7) 6 Feel (5) 9 Barrel (3) 11 Spend (7) 13 Apart (5) 14 Angry (5) 16 Friend (3) 18 Patio (7) 21 Stand (5) 22 Suspicious (7) 24 Surround (7) 27 Can (3) 28 Prosper (6) 29 Centre (5) 32 Ran (5) 33 Foreign (5) 35 Tree (3) 36 Engrave (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Adore 7, Char 8, Fright 9, Cleft 11, Cob 13, Ram 15, Leap 16, Fat 18, State 19, Ferried 20, Mode 22, Wild 23, Awesome 25, Edge 27, Tap 28, Once 30, Rue 31, Tor 33, Shorn 36, Scheme 37, Easy 38, Theft.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Throe 2, Arc 3, Ode 4, Eft 5, Zip 6, Wheat 10, Fear 11, Clamber 12, Bandage 13, Radiant 14, Meddler 16, Feat 17, Tramp 18, Sew 21, Ewe 24, Oath 26, Dunce 29, Corpse 32, Jet 33, Set 34, Ore 35, Net.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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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