Why Buhari'll probe only Jonathan's govt-PRESIDENCY

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62456

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

We're yet to receive bailout promised by Buhari, Govs lament

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Boko Haram targeting VIP's houses, Osinbajo raises alarm 9

Why Buhari'll probe only Jonathan's govt — PRESIDENCY

By Levinus Nwabughiogu, Charles Kumolu, Gbenga Oke & Boluwaji Obahopo

•Says it'll be a distraction to go beyond immediate past govt •We're not against selective probe of our members — PDP •Commend Buhari for his courage — Junaid Mohammed

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BUJA—THE P r e s i d e n c y, yesterday, said President Muhammadu Buhari will limit his probe to the immediate past government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

President Buhari had vowed, Wednesday, to arrest and prosecute Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Tribute to Auntie Chinyere •P.17

We don’t need to speak Greek •P.19

Mr & Mrs NABBED—Charms, arms, ammunition and cash of N4.5 million in fake N1,000 notes recovered by men of the Borno Police Command from suspected fake currency dealers (right) paraded at the Command Headquarters, Maiduguri, Wednesday. Photos: Inusa Ndahi.

Tompolo, MEND leaders regroup in Bayelsa

Unveiling Rashidi side n i t u Ladoja Pull-o C M Y K

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BOKO HARAM: Step up action, PDP govs tell 8 Buhari, military

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POCKET CARTOON

Buhari will lose credibility if he fails — Gbagi VISIT—Senate President, Bukola Saraki (2nd left); Dep. Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, (left); factional president, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba; his Deputy, Najeem Usman Yasin and others after a courtesy visit to the Senate President at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday.

Why Buhari'll probe only Jonathan's govt—PRESIDENCY Continues from Page 1

former ministers and government officials who looted funds and stole Nigeria’s crude oil.

Buhari, who said the suspected officials stashed the funds in foreign bank accounts, spoke during his threeday visit to the United States.

The Presidency which said yesterday that there were trails of monumental fraud everywhere that would be too difficult to ignore, however, explained that it will be a distraction to exceed Jonathan’s

regime.

Before leaving office, former president Jonathan had said any probe by the new government would be seen as a “witch-hunt” if it fails to go beyond his administration. The Presidency, however, argued that it was not a witch-hunt.

Speaking in an exclusive telephone chat, yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the probe was the proper thing to do.

His words: “It is a simple thing. Before he

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE There are four important words and actions in life. Love and respect, honesty and truth. Without these you have nothing — Take Heart Quotes

H

AVE you ever tried to see what happens within as you truly listen and also observe how you communicate with others? Do you show love and support through the way you talk and act? Do you even recognize how you show up for yourself, through selfless act of kindness, love and respect with others? Consider the idea that when one chooses limiting behavior, in part or in whole, it is a reflection of one’s character. If you find yourself yelling at someone, saying things you regret, or barking foul language, you eventually will be remorseful.

That is, of course, if you have a conscience. Sure, we all might have experience challenges and difficult days, but how we handle ourselves in those situations, whether or not we realize our flaws, is what makes all the difference to having a calm perspective and doing what’s best for us.

If there’s only one thing that comes from presenting yourself well, it is that you create a happier life for yourself. You do this by showing up for yourself; choosing your reactions. Since you’re more aware of what you say and do, you won’t get all worked up in the emotional end of a situation. In time, you figure out how to make every situation work better for you.

was inaugurated, the President said that it will be a distraction for him to start digging deep into past governments.

He said so. I don’t see anything new. But it will be irresponsible of any government to leave things of the immediate past that are glaring and evident and not do anything about it.

“It is not a witch-hunt.

You have evidence and they are glaring. A responsible government should do something about it. It is not about the former president. It is about how they acquitted themselves in the responsibility they were given. When you are given a public responsibility, you are responsible to the people.

“You must account.

When you bury a corpse and the legs are sticking out, have you buried the corpse? No. Once there are trails of money, in dollars everywhere, a responsible government should investigate. It is not as if they are witchhunting anybody ”, he said.

We are not against it— PDP Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said it was not against President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to single out the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for probe.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, who stated this yesterday in Lokoja during the conduct of the state's delegates congress of the party, said the probe is in line with the party (PDP)’s stand against corruption.

Metuh said: “Corruption is not only a crime against President Muhammed Buhari, nor is it a crime against the All Progressive Congress. Corruption is against the interest of mankind and it's against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“If President Buhari singled out the past administration and PDP members for probe, so be it. We are not against it.

If one is not guilty he has nothing to be afraid of if he or she is singled out; at the end, it will amount to vindication for such persons. Only the guilty will be afraid.

“We (PDP) are not against the selective probe of our members because we, as a party, are against corruption, and this will show that we abhor it. We only urge that the probing is done with ‘clean’ mind and not out to villify the past administration”.

Metuh had during the week accused the Federal Government of treating the PDP as ‘prisoners of war’ in view of the way the party members were being treated.

Also, ex-Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, said: "Buhari will lose credibility if he does not bring to book any former minister and any one found to have embezzled the wealth of this nation. It is very important because he has the credibility and the world is watching him. He has to do that because the amount of money that these people stole is so much and can be used to perpetuate criminal activities.

Buhari’s searchlight should not be limited to ministers who were involved in oil deals only.

"Anyone found to have robbed this country of its resources should be brought to book according to the law. I must also state that Buhari has no powers under the law to shield anyone from prosecution.

He must ensure that there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption because if he excludes anyone, some of us who have been in the campaign for accountable governance will be forced to seek asylum outside the country, because we will not be safe in a country where corrupt people are institutionally shielded from prosecution. He has the support of Nigerians to embark on the probe because so much was stolen in this country. I also want the President to make sure that our international friends are committed to this task.

That should be done by making them repatriate our stolen wealth in their respective countries. We need their support to achieve the desired result."

We should commend Buhari for his courage – Mohammed

In his response, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed said Nigerians must admit

that President Buhari’s decision to probe oil theft is a good example of leadership courage.

He said: “We must commend him for that decision because what he is talking about, other former presidents like Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan knew about it but did nothing to stop it.

What Buhari has said is not only common to the political class or ministers, it is also known to common people in the Niger Delta and other areas where oil is found and oil is stolen.

“Oil theft has been happening for so long and to even control it is a big task because some people in the Niger Delta can tell you who and who among the elite are stealing this crude; military and politicians who are into this oil bunkering and are directly involved. Buhari has only assented to it as a matter of courage and I am glad he said he will investigate, probe and prosecute the people behind oil theft.”

Mohammed added: “I must also say that people complaining that too many probes are taking place should be very careful. Nigerians need to know, you cannot eat your cake and have it.

Nigerians need to give time so that things can be properly investigated because oil theft has taken place for so long.

So it is now left for Nigerians whether they want the truthfulness and straightforwardness of Buhari or not because there are no two ways about it. If you have to know how our money was packed in billions out of this country, then some of these probes must take place.”

I’m not interested in probes — Babatope

In his reaction, a former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope said: "I don’t have interest in the probes. I am an Awolowo son and we have different approach to such issues."

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Middle-aged man docked for attempted murder

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—A MIDDLE– aged man in Anambra State, Mr. Chukwunonso Madubueze, alias Akarusia, has been remanded in police custody for allegedly planning to kill a retired secondary school principal, Chief Boniface Okonkwo, with poison.

Madubueze, who hailed from Ubahumonum, Okija, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, allegedly solicited the services of a woman (names withheld) to poison Okonkwo, who is from the same village with him, for a fee of N1 million.

He was said to have instructed the woman to put the poison in Okonkwo’s food at an eatery at Okija and after series of discussions, he insisted that the woman must swear an oath not to disclose that he was the person that prepared the concoction.

Meanwhile, Madubueze has sued Okonkwo at the High Court sitting at Ihiala over alleged infringement on his human rights.

The case was adjourned to July 28, for hearing, even as Madubueze is still in police detention.

Man dragged to court over N17.2m robbery

By Jane Echewodo

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AGOS—A 37-year-old man, Olumidi Ayodeji, has been arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate's Court sitting in Ikeja, over robbery of cars worth N17.2 million.

The defendant, who was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Y. O. Aje-Afunwa, was alleged to have received one unregistered black Toyota Land cruiser Jeep valued at N10 million, one unregistered blue-coloured Toyota Corolla car, valued at N3,700,000, black-coloured Toyota Corolla car, N3,500,000, making a total of N17,200,000 million.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the magistrate granted him N1,000,000 bail, with two sureties in like sum, who must be gainfully employed, with verifiable addresses.

The matter was adjourned to November 4.

Man kills sister in-law, commits suicide

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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BA—TRAGEDY struck in Hospital Road, Aba, Abia State, Monday, as a man identified as Uba Okoroafor stabbed his sister in-law to death and committed suicide thereafter.

Vanguard gathered that

Okoroafor stabbed his sisterin-law, whose name was simply given as Oyidiya, because she stopped him from going out because of the state of his health.

When he realised the gravity of his action, he also stabbed himself in the chest and fell off from the building to the

ground where he died.

Police sources told Vanguard that the DPO of Ndiegoro Police Division, Superintendent of Police Crescent Mamah, where the incident took place, deployed his men who conveyed Oyidiya to a nearby hospital, where she was confirmed dead

by doctors.

When Vanguard visited the area, family members were in a mourning mood, wailing over the fate that befell them.

Spokesman of Abia State Police Command, DSP Ezekiel Onyeke, confirmed the incident, saying investigations into the incident had begun.

Victims of bomb blast at Dadin Kowa and Dukku Motor Parks in Gombe, Wednesday night, being treated at Gombe General Hospital, yesterday.

NAN PHOTO.

4 suspected kidnappers arrested in Kwara

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—KWARA State Police Command, yesterday, paraded four suspected kidnappers, who have been allegedly terrorising residents of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesman of the command, Ajayi Okasanmi, who paraded the suspects before journalists in Ilorin, said they were arrested after they kidnapped a Sarikin Fulani, Aliyu Harande, at Omu-Aran town.

Okasanmi told journalists that the victim was kidnapped while praying in a mosque behind his house in the town.

He added that the suspects were arrested by the command’s anti-kidnap team, who swung into action after receiving report of the kidnap.

The police scribe also said the suspects, from whom he disclosed that police recovered a vehicle and guns, allegedly confessed to being responsible for various kidnapping cases around the Omu-Aran axis.

Okasanmi said the case was still under investigation as efforts were on to arrest the leader of the syndicate, who still at large.

The police spokesman also disclosed the arrest of three suspected cult members at OkeOyi area on the outskirts of Ilorin.

He said the suspects, who he

described as members of Eiye confraternity, were rounded up when they were forcibly initiating some potential members, while items such as an axe, Eiye cult insignia and charms were recovered from them.

Okasami also said that police arrested five suspects in connection with an armed robbery case of which a man at Gaa-Akanbi area of Ilorin and another at Amayo Ganmo area in the Ilorin environs were victims.

Corporal jailed 6 years for manslaughter

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a Police Corporal, Abang Okon, charged for unlawful killing of one Olalekan Ajayi, to six years imprisonment.

It would be recalled that the convict had pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge brought against him by Lagos State government, but later changed his plea, following a plea bargain arrangement with the government.

At the resumed hearing, state prosecutor, Adebayo Haroun, informed the court of the plea bargain arrangement between the convict and the state.

He urged the court to approve the guilty plea as involuntary manslaughter. Trial judge, Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, refused to adopt it wholesale.

The judge also rejected a part

of the bargain that recommended that the defendant serve a six-hour community.

Furthermore, Justice Ogunsanya refused to adopt the part of the bargain which recommended that the defendant be responsible for paying the school fees of one of the deceased’s children from primary to secondary school.

He ruled: “The defendant, having shown remorse for his actions on the August 28, 2013, along Ladega Junction, Ikorodu, Lagos, by negligently firing a bullet at one Olalekan Ajayi, which resulted in his death, hereby pleads guilty to the offence of involuntary manslaughter contrary to Section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

“The defendant is, hereby, sentenced to six years imprisonment to take effect from the date of his remand in prison custody.”

Police arrest 7 for human trafficking in Delta

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—POLICE officers attached to Ughelli Area Command have arrested seven girls on suspicion of human trafficking for prostitution at Nest Oil Town, Jones Creek, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that the girls, who were recruited by one Becky, 27, residing at Arumala Street, Ughelli, were taken to a guest house from different parts of Ughelli to Nest Oil town where they were said to have engaged in prostitution.

The father of one of the girls, identified as Kevwe, 14, on Monday, filed a complaint of a missing child at Ughelli police station and upon further investigation by the police, they discovered that the girl, in company of others, had been drafted to Nest Oil town for prostitution.

Though details of the arrest was still sketchy at press time, a source at the police station simply identified the girls, whose ages ranged from 14 to 27 years, as Blessing, Becky, Ejiro, Ese, Sandra, Grace, and Oghenekevwe.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015—7

8 die in Yola road accident

By Umar Yusuf

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OLA—A ghastly auto crash involving two vehicles, a commercial Toyota Starlet and Peugeot 406 saloon car, has claimed the lives of eight persons, even as many sustained varying degrees of injuries along the ever busy Yola/ Mubi highway in Adamawa State.

Eyewitness account said the two vehicles had a head-on collision, resulting in the death of five of six occupants of the Toyota Starlet, and three in the other vehicle.

An eyewitness, Mallam Sani Dandija, said that most of the victims could not be easily rushed to Yola for medical attention due to a heavy rainfall, adding that the situation was only saved when the convoy of Governor Muhammadu Bindow arrived the scene.

The governor was said to have ordered the ambulance in his convoy to convey the injured victims to the hospital.

Confirming the incident,

Head of Operations, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Adamawa State command, Muhammad Kabo, noted that five persons died at the

accident scene, with possibilities of more deaths due to the severity of the injuries sustained by the victims.

Kabo, however, appealed to

motorists to observe the highway rules and regulations, with a view to reducing road accidents in the state and the country at large.

Father of four commits suicide in Ondo

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—A father of four has reportedly committed suicide by hanging at Oke Aro area of Akure, Ondo State capital, allegedly out of frustration.

The deceased, identified as Dayo, a driver, reportedly took his life when he found it difficult to fend for his family.

His dangling corpse was discovered in his rented apartment located at New Town, Oke Aro Titun, along Idanre Road in the metropolis.

Vanguard learned that the deceased had been having some problems with owners of vehicles he drove for commercial purpose in recent times.

He was said to have been sacked by two of his employers within three weeks over some issues that had to do with daily remittance.

It was learned that the owner of a Dyna bus, who engaged him sent him packing, while another owner of a taxi asked him to go a week after he resumed work.

His inability to secure another driving job to take care of his family members reportedly pushed him into killing himself.

Police sources hinted that some neighbours who noticed his absence raised alarm. His wife and children, according to a source, are living elsewhere.

The door to his residence was said to have been forced open,

only to discover his dangling body.

Police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident.

Ogodo said detectives from the command had visited the scene and taken photographs of the deceased.

He said the deceased left a note instructing his wife and children not to implicate anybody over his death.

The police image maker added that the deceased noted that there was no foul play in his death, as he willingly took his life out of frustration.

He reportedly asked his family to go after some of his debtors in the neighbourhood.

Ogodo said the corpse of the deceased had been deposited in the state specialist hospital.

Traffic flowing again on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, after the flood that covered the highway subsided at Giri Junction, Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Arepo explosion: Armed vandals barricade creeks, evacuate dead colleagues

By Evelyn Usman &Ebun Sessou

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HE fire from the explosion at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipeline at Arepo area of Ogun State, ignited by rival vandals Wednesday, was put out in the early hours of yesterday, following a forceful shut down of supply by NNPC. This is just as armed vandals were said to have barricaded the creeks to wade off any intruder, as they recovered the bodies of their burnt colleagues.

Meanwhile, National Coordinator of Oodua People’s

Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, has blamed the spate of pipeline vandalisation on Federal Government’s decision to withdraw its pipeline protection contract.

In a statement by OPC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Yinka Oguntimehin, Adams lamented that the issue of pipeline protection “is much more complex than merely protecting the pipelines.

“It involves intelligence gathering, which ultimately should involve the people.

This was the strategy we employed while protecting the pipelines.

“The result of that strategy

was our ability to curtail the activities of vandals.

“It is no doubt regrettable that in less than one month after our men quit the job, more than 200 deaths have been recorded as a result of the activities of pipeline vandals.”

At press time, no security agency or NNPC official had visited scene of the fire to ascertain the level of damage, or for the bodies of vandals said to have been burnt beyond recognition.

Vanguard was reliably informed that some security personnel, who attempted to go into the creeks retreated midway, following the discovery of heavily armed vandals.

Though there were

journalists at the path leading to the creeks, no one dared to go beyond the river bank, as armed vandals were said to have laid ambush for anyone who dared to tread the terrain.

A security watch tower built by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism before the surveillance of the creeks was contracted out to a private security outfit by the past administration, was seen abandoned.

Billowing smoke was visible from the creeks.

Vanguard reliably gathered that vandals that sustained varying degrees of burns were reportedly being treated by their colleagues in make-shift buildings in the creeks.

92-yr-old Bayelsa monarch abducted

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—THE peace of the riverside town of Tombia on the outskirts of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, was yesterday violated by armed men, who abducted the 92-year-old paramount ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Christian Otobotekere.

The victim is the patron of Yenagoa Book Club, YBC, and father of Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, a former Commissioner for Science and Technology in the state and former Chief of Staff to Governor Seriake Dickson.

Vanguard gathered that five heavily armed men stormed the community between 7.30a.m. and 8a.m. in a Toyota Camry car and shot sporadically into the air to scare away the natives.

Tombia is one of the communities in Gbarain clan that could be accessed through land and water.

The gun-toting youths were said to have marched to the residence of the victim’s monarch, where he was seized at gunpoint.

The nonagenarian was dragged to their car and driven to AmassomaTombia bridge, where he was transferred to a waiting speedboat by his kidnappers, who escaped into the creeks after setting the car ablaze.

A food vendor was hit by a stray bullet from the abductors and is currently receiving treatment at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri.

Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, Asinim Butswat, said the marine police, JTF and the anti-kidnapping unit had moved into the creeks for the rescue and possible arrest of the suspects.

Meanwhile, YBC has expressed dismay over the abduction of its patron and called for his immediate release.

President of the association, Ebiowei Lawal and Secretary, Princewill Sede, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, lamented the increasing cases of kidnappings without the police making any arrest.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Boko Haram: Step up action, PDP govs tell Buhari, military zPDP, others endorse Buhari’s planned negotiation with sect zSagay, Ajulo, Arewa youths differ

By Henry Umoru, Abdulwahab Abdulah, Dapo Akinrefon & Bartholomew Madukwe

It’s not a good legacy —Shetima, Arewa Youths president

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BUJA — GOVERNORS elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the military to, as a matter of urgency, step up their actions in the fight against members of the Boko Haram sect that have continued to engage in massive killings and wanton destruction of property in the north-eastern part of the country.

Rising from a meeting, Wednesday night in Maitama, Abuja, the governors, who operate under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum, PDPGF, however, decried the latest terrorist attacks in the NorthEast, especially against the backdrop that Gombe State has joined the list of those constantly being attacked by the insurgents.

The governors spoke as the main opposition PDP and some eminent Nigerians endorsed President Buhari’s readiness to negotiate with Boko Haram, if the genuine leaders of the group come out for talks.

In an interview session with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, on Tuesday, during his visit to the United States of America, Buhari said that the Federal Government was ready to negotiate with Boko Haram for the release of Chibok girls, who have been in captivity since April 14,2014 if the leadership of the group was credible.

Boko Haram’s areas of attack are widening —PDP govs Speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, who revealed that as the meeting was going on, a call came to Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State alerting him of a fresh attack in the state, stressed that since the insurgents appeared to be widening their areas of attack, it was important for the military to devise more effective ways to counter them.

Nigeria, tt is expected that the President should stop contradicting himself as inconsistencies in the war against insurgency are more fatal. Let it be known that Nigerians are getting tired of rhetorics. They are getting disinterested on the mode to use in ending insurgency in Nigeria. What we await is the end of these mindless killings.”

INAUGURATION: Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara (middle), Director-General, National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), Ladi Hamalai (right) and a member, Rasaq Atunwa during the inauguration of a committee to review existing laws and law reform in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan He said: “We actually enjoin all the armed forces to step up their security measures to see how they can stem the tide of this menace. It is really a thing of concern to PDP governors that in spite of all the efforts of the armed forces, these guys are still proving to be formidable. So, we are sure if the armed forces step up a little bit, they should be able to curtail it. We received another report of another attack. These are things we believe if we all rise up as a country, we should be able to curtail it.”

According to him, the meeting discussed other issues which he did not disclose to journalists, The meeting took place before the scheduled meeting of the parent Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) which was expected to endorse a PDP governor as its vice chairman.

According to a source, the PDP governors also discussed the issue of NGF vice chairman following reports suggesting that the majority All Progressives Congress (APC) governors would reject Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State should the PDP present him as its candidate for the vacant post.

Present at the meeting were governors of Bayelsa, Kogi, Ekiti, Abia, Delta, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Rivers.

We endorse

any action, policy to crush sect — PDP Meanwhile, the national leadership of the PDP has described Buhari’s plans to negotiate with leaders of the Boko Haram for the release of the Chibok girls as a welcome development that must be embraced by all.

It urged Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation to support President Buhari to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency, which has been a major security challenge in the country.

Speaking on the issue, PDP National Publicity Secretar y, Chief Olisa Metuh, stressed that it has become imperative for PDP and all Nigerians to stand by the President and the present administration’s policy that would end the activities of members of the sect.

“The PDP restates that it stands with President Buhari and the nation on any measure adopted by the Federal Government aimed at ending terrorism in our country. Terrorism is a matter that directly affects the security of our citizens.

Therefore, we expect all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations to unite in support of any action or policy adopted to end the

menace,” he said.

I support it if it’ll bring back the girls —Sagay Constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, threw his weight behind the planned dialogue with the insurgency group provided it would lead to the release of the Chibok girls.

Sagay said: “For the sake of the Chibok girls, one can decide to bury one’s principles if there is a chance of still saving them.

In that spirit, I support him, not because I want to negotiate with Boko Haram, who are savages but for the release of the girls. It is very unpalatable and unpleasant, the idea of talking to Boko Haram but if it will bring the girls back, it is a task that one should take.”

Nigerians are getting tired of rhetorics —Ajulo, LP scribe National Secretary of the Labour Party, LP, Dr Kayode Ajulo, urged the President to desist from contradicting himself in the fight against terror.

Ajulo said: “Nigerians need peace.

While subscribing to the notion that no price should be too much to achieve peace in

On his part, President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shetima faulted the proposed move to dialogue with the terrorist group.

Shetima said: “It is unfortunate. I find it a bit contradicting and confusing that the Nigerian Government would descend so low to be threatened by a terrorist group bent on destroying the country.

In spite of all the efforts the Jonathan administration made, it ended up in fraud. The same mistake is about to be repeated by this administration.”

The Arewa youths leader noted that “he (Buhari) had promised that once he comes to power, the issue of Boko Haram would be addressed but nothing has been done. He is trying to use the same method Jonathan used. For me, I think it is not a good legacy thinking in that direction. If at all he wants to negotiate, it should not be made known to the public. It all shows that our government has succumbed to threats and blackmail.

There are limited opportunities for Buhari —Mumuney Also speaking, Qudus Mumuney said: "Everywhere in the world, leaders are fine negotiators. There is no doubt that the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has become a national disaster which President Buhari has to tackle head-on. There are indeed limited opportunities open to Mr. President. The first option is to engage the Boko Haram force-for-force and the second option is to engage them in a roundtable dialogue (negotiate).

"As a trained negotiator from the Harvard Law School, I strongly support the move of Mr. President to negotiate with genuine and identified members of the Boko Haram with a view to identifying their cause and reaching a compromise on their requests.

I believe this would ensure a long lasting solution to the sect’s insurgencies."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015—9

Osinbajo raises alarm, says Boko Haram targeting VIPs zSays scavengers being prepared by insurgents to dump bombs z5 LGAs in Yobe, Borno still occupied by insurgents

States to cut cost of governance

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA — Vice President Yemi Osinbajo raised alarm, yesterday, that Boko Haram members were targeting to bomb the houses of VIPs. This came as governors of Yobe, Ibrahim Gaidem and Borno, Kassim Shetima also stated that the insurgents still occupied five local governments of the two states.

Osinbajo made the disclosure during the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Vice President, who decried the effect of the insurgency on the economic life of the north east, stated that public enlightenment needed to be carried out through radio and television to create more awareness.

He also argued that pressure should be mounted on the new service chiefs to stem the rising tide of insurgency in the country.

Meanwhile, there was no specific mention of the location of the VIP's houses which the insurgents were said to be targeting for attack.

His concerns were contained in the communique issued at the end of the meeting and made available to newsmen

Scavengers being prepared by insurgents to dump bombs

According to the communique, “the Vice President regretted that the insurgency has affected the economic life of the north east and the country as a whole. He called for the council to speak as a team to put pressure on the service chiefs to increase their effort in fighting insurgency.

“There should be increase in sensitization and education channels like radio, television.

The Vice President also disclosed that security report has it that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in the houses of VIPs. “Governors of Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau and Bauchi States took turns to inform the council of security concerns in those regions,” while “Governors of Yobe and Borno raised the alarm of five local government areas of the two states still being in possession of the insurgents”.

rate.”

By way of resolution, “Council resolved that a four-man team made up of of the governor of Bauchi, Rivers, Ondo and Osun States are to follow up with the CBN to ensure that the issues of Excess Crude Collateral for the States are sorted out by next week Tuesday.”

BRIEFING: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (2nd right), Governor Solomon Lalong of Plateau State (left), Governor Ifeanyi Uguwanyi of Enugu State (2nd left) and Governor Bagudu Abubakar of Kebbi State briefing State House correspondents after the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

The governors called for increase in military deployment and provision of sophisticated military equipment in those areas, insisting that “insurgents were still hiding in the Sambisa forest.”

While lending his voice, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State “suggested that special economic angle should be introduced in addition to military intervention to deal with Boko Haram problem.”

On cattle rustling and banditry, NEC stated Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State

disclosed that most of the cattle rustlers were in Kumuku national part, saying that if not properly handled, it could result to another Sambisa forest.

On CBN intervention funds

Giving updates on intervention funds by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to states, NEC said it had "received a presentation from the CBN governor on the update of restructuring of bank loans for the states and payment of salary arrears.”

According to the communique, “the governor informed the council that following meetings with banks, it was agreed that existing loans should be restructured for the minimum of 20 years while salary arrears should also be restructured for the minimum of 15 years and not exceed more than 20 years.”

It added that states could opt for two options which incident “the bond option which will attract market rate and the dent restructuring option which will attract single digit

Briefing State House corespondents at the end of the NEC meeting, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, who was flanked by the governors of Enugu, Plateau and Kebbi States, said NEC also directed states to reduce the cost of governance. He, however, did not give specifics on how that would be done.

He said: “We have just finished the 59th meeting economic council in which a lot of issues were deliberated upon.

We resolved that all states should find ways to reduce their cost of governance.

“We do not have a uniform template on how to reduce the cost of governance but is very clear that states in the specific situations will find different ways and means of ensuring the cost of running governance is not as huge as it has always been.

“So, it is left for the states in their respective situation to find different ways of cutting cost but what is important is that we cannot continue with the kind of huge burden or huge cost we apply to run our government. A situation where you are having a huge percentage of your budget as recurrent expenditure is obviously not acceptable. And you must look for ways in reducing the cost of administration in the various states.”

We're yet to receive bailout promised by Buhari, Govs lament zExpress worries over exchange rate, resolve to meet President

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA— THE 36 state governors cried out, yesterday, over the worsening economic crises in the country and the failure of the Federal Government to release to them the bailout promised by President Muhammadu Buhari sometime ago.

The governors, who operate under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, at their meeting which started Wednesday night and ended in the early hours of yesterday, complained that the comprehensive relief package designed by the Federal Government to salvage the economic crisis of the states was yet to get to them.

The governors also expressed concern over the exchange rate of the dollar to the naira as well as other foreign currencies which has affected the nation’s economy.

They have, therefore, resolved to meet the President again over the issue.

It will be recalled that President Buhari had approved a $2.1 bn intervention package to help bankrupt states pay salaries.

Twelve of the 36 states of the federation were said to be owing their workers more than $550 million in salaries and allowances, with some workers not paid for seven months.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, chairman of NGF and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, said that the Federal Government has not bailed out any state under the bailout arrangement as publicised, stressing that what the state got so far was the monthly allocation from the Federation Accounts, Allocation Committee, FAAC and the dividends from Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG.

Governor Yari said: “This is also to inform our friends in the media that the Federal Government has not given any bailout to any of the states. What had been shared the last time was monies from NLNG and FAAC. As we have been saying, rather than look out for bailout, we have been looking for all monies that are in the coffers of the federation to be brought together for the purpose of sharing.

“The CBN governor raised some issues that taking the monies from those accounts, most especially as our reserves are going down, will affect the exchange rate and as well put pressure on the naira. So they decided to make the naira available or its equivalent so that these can be taken as loan for some of the states that are complaining about payment of salaries.

"The Federal Government has, however, not given out any

bailout yet. But we have been deliberating on how best the intervention will be done quickly so that we will be able to settle the issue of salaries and other operations of government in the country.”

According to him, the resolutions reached at the meeting were: *To discuss with Mr. President to seek lasting solutions to the worsening macroeconomic challenges confronting the nation, especially on foreign exchange stability. *The forum pledges to work with Mr. President to ensure coherent policy actions that will create a clear policy direction for the country and stimulate domestic production. *To collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that the National Health Act is operational and the on percent funding for primary health care is provided for in the budget.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Lagos Task force arrests 23 teenage miscreants, 106 others

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS Taskforce on Environment and Special Offence Unit arrested 129 miscreants across the state, aimed at ridding the state of hoodlums.

Of this number, 49 were arrested during a raid of dark spots and Indian hemp dealers in Agege Pen Cinema, Oshodi OkoOba, Bariga and others in the state. 20 miscreants were earlier arrested in the popular Oshodi Garage.

Fifty nine of the arrested miscreants have however been arraigned before the Special Offence Court sitting in Alausa, Ikeja.

The 23 teenage hoodlums among the paraded miscreants have been referred to the correctional homes for rehabilitation in the state Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Vanguard learned that some of the miscreants were members of cult groups in the state; displaying their membership through tattoos.

Superintendent Akeem Adedeji, Chairman of the Taskforce in an interview yesterday said the arrest followed several notices received from residents over an upsurge in crime rate in the state.

He added that the 23 under aged boys would be referred to the juvenile homes for rehabilitation.

Ambode, others celebrate Jakande at 86 L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday, described Alhaji Lateef Jakande as a progressive leader and a pacesetter who added value to the face of good governance in the State.

Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, said this at the 86th birthday celebration of the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, popularly known as Baba Kekere in Lagos.

He said that Jakande had been a strong pillar behind the other governors of the State in driving good governance, development and progress for all Lagosians. ‘’Alhaji Jakande is truly a progressive politician and administrator par excellence. We cannot forget his memorable years of selfless service to the people of Lagos State. ‘’He is a selfless leader who has set the precedent for us to follow and we shall not relent until we have surpassed his achievements in providing good governance in the State, ‘’ he said.

In a paper titled: ‘Progressive Governance: LKJ Reflects’, a former Military Governor of Lagos State, retired Rear Adm. Ndubuisi Kanu, said that the name LKJ would remain an indelible example of progressives’ governance, not only in Lagos State, but far beyond. ‘’The first bold step taken by LKJ was to abolish the shift system in Lagos Primary Education system to enable all children to be at school in the morning, thereby giving all equal opportunity to receive attention at the same period. ‘’The huge success of this policy, which was beneficial to the poor and to the nation at large, earned LKJ international accolades,” he said.

Kanu also lauded Jakande for the creation of Lagos State University (LASU), established for the purpose of providing a platform for acquisition of tertiary

education for indigent students of Lagos. ‘’Another of his many success stories is in the area of housing.

Shelter has been an essential provision to humanity for ages, next only to food. ‘’This remarkable achievement of LKJ’s administration was a landmark in the political history of Nigeria. Houses were built for Lagosians and other Nigerian citizens resident in Lagos. ‘’The feat attained by LKJ in building and establishing all the ‘Ile Jakande ‘or estates is regarded as a revolution in the history of the building industry and providing houses for the poor masses in Nigeria, ‘’he added.

Kanu urged political leaders to emulate the selfless service of Jakande by ensuring that the people enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Also speaking, Alhaji Kola Oseni, Chairman of the occasion and All progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain began the rain of eulogies when he recalled how the Jakande administration, which was abruptly cut short by the military, greatly impacted the residents.

Oseni said that Jakande left an indelible mark of development and progresss that can never be

Alhaji Lateef Jakande forgotten in Lagos State.

“We have to celebrate him in his lifetime to show gratitude to God for all his good works and for using him as a role model to other political leaders,” he said.

In his remarks, retired Brig.

Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, a former Governor of Lagos State, recounted the unmatched the legacies Jakande’s administration left behind several decades after it was abruptly truncated.

He highlighted how the man

popularly called Baba Kekere promoted good governance by providing quality education and housing for the people of Lagos State.

Jakande, in his remarks, thanked all those who packaged the activities to mark his 86th birthday.

He said that he was very happy that his country was recognising the little he did while in public service.

He said his total commitment to the people and the need to serve them were his driving force.

PROTEST: Former workers of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) protesting their sacking without compensation, after working for three years, at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

PENGASSAN laments FG’s inability to fund NNPC Joint Ventures Adegboruwa asks court to remove Nigerian National Petroleum has always been defaulting in

By Victor Ahiuma-Young Zakari as INEC chairman Corporation, NNPC Joint payment of its own counterpart

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AGOS—PETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has called on the Federal Government to pay up its counterpart fund (cash call) in the

Venture, JV, operations with the oil companies, claiming nonpayment is negatively affecting the operations of the JV. Lamenting government’s inability to fund JV operations and unpaid arrears of cash calls, Public Relations Officer of PENGASSAN, Emmanuel Ojugbana, said the JV between the NNPC and oil companies presently accounted for more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil production.

According to Ojugbana, “The JV structure is an average of 55 per cent for the NNPC and 45 per cent for private oil companies.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that NNPC has a larger chunk of the proceeds from the JVs, it

funding of projects. Exploration activity has been greatly recessed by the challenge of funding the operating budget and cash call obligations. Over 50 per cent cut in JV funding and irregular release of Cash Call has made the operators to scale down on the whole spectrum of the E&P operations. ''Oil companies are owed billions of dollars in cash call arrears putting the jobs of our members and other workers in the industry in jeopardy as companies easily rationalize disengagement of staff and reduction in welfare packages as being due to lack of funds based on outstanding funding arrears.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—HUMAN rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to nullify the appointment of Mrs Amina Bala Zakari as the acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Adegboruwa, in his originating summons brought pursuant to Sections 154 (1),(3), 155(1)C, 157 & 162 OF the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said Zakari’s appointment was in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

Joined as respondents in the suit against Zakari is President Muhammadu Buhari, including Attorney-General of the Federation and INEC. In affidavit in support of the application, Adegboruwa stated that Zakari is not qualified to claim to be acting chairman of INEC as she was not appointed in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

In particular, the human rights lawyer contended that her stay in INEC expired on July 21, 2015 and same cannot be renewed by the President via a letter, without consultations with the Council of States and without confirmation of the Senate.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 — 11

Security agents force Osun summit’s shift to Ile-Ife organizers were not granted permit to hold the summit.

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—VENUE of the controversial Osun Economic and Education Summit which the organisers, Osun Stakeholders, OS, said was to discuss the affairs of the state was yesterday forced to change as a result of heavy presence of security agents.

The summit, which has been subject of bickering between the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was billed to hold in Osogbo but was later forced

to move to Ile Ife. The move to Ile-Ife gave some credence to APC’s position that the defeated PDP governorship candidate, in the August 2014 polls, Iyiola Omisore, was behind the move.

Omisore is from the ancestral city of Ile-Ife. Some delegates including newsmen who went to the original venue of the event in Osogbo were politely turned back by security agents who cordoned off the place.

On inquiry, one of the policemen who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the

Why we shifted the venue — Osun Stakeholders The principal convener of the summit, Mr Niyi Owolade said the initial venue for the summit was shifted for fear of attack by hoodlums.

In his welcome address at the new venue in Ile-Ife, Owolade alleged that the ‘State Boys’ planned to attack the participants.

The former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state disclosed that the summit was planned to hold in Osogbo before the state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Marafa, informed

FORUM: From left: Patron, Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Oba Otudeko; treasurer-general, African National Congress (ANC), South Africa, Dr Zweli Mkhize and consulgeneral, South African High Commission, Amb. Mokgethisam Monaisa, at the monthly breakfast forum of Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce in Lagos yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Ogun ex-political office holders lament non-payment of benefits He urged Governor Amosun

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—NO fewer than 25 former political office holders in Ogun State have so far lost their lives while awaiting the payment of their severance benefits, totalling about N2billion from the administration of governor Ibikunle Amosun.

The former political office holders, who served mainly under the administration of former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, yesterday, raised the alarm in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Chairman of the Conference of Local Government Ex-Political Office Holders in Ogun State (December 2007 to December 2010), Akorede Oduntan said at the end of their meeting in Abeokuta, that they have been going through hard times over the non-payment of their severance benefits.

Oduntan claimed that only 43 out of the over 700 ex-political

office holders who served between 2007 and 2011 had been paid their severance benefits by the state government, while those yet to be paid had been languishing in want and penury.

to take advantage of the recent Federal Government bail-out given to states to offset the severance gratuity being owed them in order to save their remaining members from untimely death.

Don’t misapply bail-out fund, APC warns Fayose

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has warned Governor Ayodele Fayose not to misapply the bail-out cash he collected from the Federal Government to settle workers’ salary.

According to the party, ‘’The warning came on the heels of persistent denials by the governor that he had collected the cash. He told hapless Ekiti people that he would announce if he collected any money from the Federal Government but he didn’t do

that when he collected the bailout cash before he quietly jetted out of the country.’’

The party also debunked claims by the governor that the cash was a normal allocation from the federation account and not a special fund to address workers salary problem.

APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement that the governor ’s denial of cash collection in his last media chat was a most wicked attitude to misinform Ekiti people and put workers at the peril of dashed hope over settlement of their salaries and other entitlements.

him on Wednesday night, of an intelligent report that some thugs were planning to attack the summit in Osogbo.

His words: “We wrote the police informing them of the summit, although there is no law saying you must get a permit to hold an in-house summit since its not a procession. We also requested for security cover for prominent people attending the summit.

“But I was shocked when the CP called and said there was an intelligent report that some people were planning to attack people at the venue of the summit. There were some infiltration, some ‘state boys’ already at the original venue looking for Comrade Yinka Odumakin.

“The next thing we heard is that we needed to see the Acting Security Adviser to Aregbesola before we could hold the summit in Osogbo and we had no choice than to proceed to Ile-Ife. We are sorry for the sudden shift and for the inconvenience it would have caused you (participants),”, Owolade added.

He argued that the summit was in the best interest of Osun State organised to save the state from the current challenges facing it.

Although the group expected about 250 delegates to attend the summit, the number of participants at the venue was below expectation.

The communiqué issued at the end of the summit, demanded restructuring of the country’s federalism to enable states explore mineral deposits in their domain for development.

The summit subsequently called on graft agencies to scrutinize Osun State government finances, saying from 2011 to 2014, the government had declared that it got N103bn while from its findings, about N183bn accrued to the state during the period.

Aregbesola should pay our compensation – Osun landlords

Meantime, residents of Osogbo whose buildings were demolished for the urban renewal programme of the state government have appealed to Governo Rauf Aregbesola to urgently pay their compensations running to about N2billion.

The affected people are mostly landlords from Mosalasi Gaji, Igbona, Ajegunle and Ayetoro areas of the state capital.

The Chairman of the association, Moshood Oladejo who addressed newsmen in Osogbo on the matter stated that they have lost 10 of their members during the struggle to have their compensation paid.

Oladejo said the over 200 demolished houses were the last hope for many of them as most of the owners were pensioners and very old.

Ogun to acquire more security equipment

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GUN State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun has said his government would acquire additional Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, to assist the Police fight insecurity in the state.

He also said the state would work towards increasing the number of Police Commands and personnel.

Receiving the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Abdulmajid Ali to his office yesterday, Amosun said the step is imperative due to the enormous security challenges the state has to cope with along the Lagos/Ibadan and parts of Sagamu/Benin Express roads, which he described as busy highways.

Ogbese monarch, Oba Oluyede IV, dies at 86

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BA Peter Adetunmbi Iseoluwa Oluyede IV, 86, is dead. He died on Tuesday, July 13, 2015 in his home town, Ayede Ogbese, Ondo State.

He was a renowned Professor of law, former member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal for many years, accomplished author of many law books on Nigerian and East African law.

Oba Oluyede ascended the throne in November 2010 upon his retirement from public service.

His reign brought a new standard of leadership to Ayede Ogbese, a burgeoning commercial community between Akure and Owo. The interment and first funeral rites are scheduled to take place in Ayede Ogbese on Friday, August 7, 2015 at 10 a.m. The final rites and celebration of the late Oba’s life are scheduled for December 19, 2015.

Late Oba Oluyede

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Police arrest fake licensing officer in Delta U

By Perez Brisibe

GHELLI—OFFICERS of Ughelli Police Command, have arrested a fake licensing officer who indulges in the issuance of fake vehicle and motorcycle licenses to unsuspecting members of the public.

It was gathered that the suspect, identified as Mr. Ogbona Chidi, was arrested at Egor Street, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State and was said to operate from Nnewi, Anambra State.

According to a source in the Ughelli “A” Division, the suspect was apprehended, following the arrest of a motorcycle rider who had patronized him to assist in registering his motorcycle.

Investigation by Vanguard revealed that the motorcycle operator, identified as Ovoke Oboruvwe, in company of one Mathew Ojokorotu, paid the suspect N6,000, with a promise to assist them in acquiring license for

the motorcycle.

Speaking further, the source disclosed that it was during a

stop and search that the police discovered that the licenses were fake, leading to the arrest of the

suspect, adding that investigation into the matter was ongoing.

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YO—BANKS operating in Akwa Ibom State have been assured of government support and a favourable business environment.

According to a statement by the Information officer, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Josephine Etuk, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akan Okon, gave the assurance yesterday in Uyo during a meeting with members of the Banker’s Forum.

Okon explained that the state government’s patronage of the banking industry was critical because it served as a veritable tool for employment generation, one of the cardinal principles of the Udom-led administration.

He, however, expressed displeasure over remittance of government revenue as at when due, operation of several revenue accounts in a particular bank, and non compliance with the apex bank’s directives on COT charges by some of the banks, describing

SEMINAR: From left, Group President, Everyday Group of Companies/guest speaker, Dr Charles Dimnwobi, Executive Director, South-South, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Ibiye Ekong, and Regional Director, South-East, Skye Bank Plc, Mr Raphael Agazi, during the bank's business seminar in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

them as inimical to the wellbeing of the state.

The Commissioner stressed the need for the banks to align with stipulated rules, and directed that revenue be

channelled into one account to ensure transparency and accountability.

Some members of the forum who spoke during the meeting, pledged their readiness to work

P

By Jimitota Onoyume

as a team to render the necessary support to the present administration.

They solicited government’s intervention and even patronage and so on.

Activist alleges random shooting, intimidation by soldiers in Delta community

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By Emma Amaize

GHARA—A Beninbased human rights activist and a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Obakpolor, has alleged sporadic shooting by soldiers at Oghara community in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Obakpolor in a statement, said, the soldiers, attached to Pan Ocean Oil Company, Oghara, were harassing,

molesting, intimidating and disturbing public peace and called on the Federal Government and Chief of Army Staff to call them to order.

He said the oil company was located far away from Okurho Road, Ogharefe, adding with the constant raiding of the area by soldiers, the residents were currently living in total fear.

“The peaceful people of the area were in total amazement and fear when the soldiers

Nigerians urged to shun same sex marriage ORT HARCOURT—THE Anglican Communion has again advised Nigerians to shun same sex marriage , saying lesbianism and gay practice should not be encouraged in the country.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, ahead of the third session, second synod of the Diocese of Evo , Province of Niger Delta, Bishop of the Diocese, Rt Reverend Innocent Ordu, said the church would continue to speak against

APC candidate alleges frustration

by INEC

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A-Ibom assures banks of friendly business environment

By Chioma Onuegbu

DELTA POLLS:

such marriage , stressing that “it is unbiblical.”

According to him, “Church of Nigeria is part of the global Anglican Community. We are a biblically-based church. There are certain things even our culture abhors. Homosexuality is against the scriptures. We cannot be party to any doctrine that is against the scripture. We have looked at the Bible. Bible abhors it; we cannot be part of it.”

He enjoined the political

class to provide the right leadership for Nigeria, noting that it was time the nation overcame challenges of insecurity, corruption and other related vices.

Bishop Ordu said the synod, slated for July 29 to August 2, had the theme "Recapturing the spirit of excellence and integrity in service: The Daniel example."

He also urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to dump the report of the last National Conference.

from the said oil company’s facility arrived at a popular bar (Warm-Up) and started shooting sporadically into the air, while littering empty cartridges everywhere during the shooting exercise that lasted for hours. They arrested several persons at the bar, took them to their base at Oghara and after maltreating them, they instructed them never to go to the bar, but told them to visit other bars, precisely mentioning the names of two other bars to their victims,” he said.

Obakpolor said the soldiers apparently not satisfied with their invasion, raided the bar again on July 12 and July 15, dropping the same instruction, which prompted the owners to cry out.

He said he had already approached the Federal High Court, Warri, seeking redress for his clients, adding, “The military, particularly those soldiers, were sent to protect lives and property of innocent citizens and not to harass, molest, intimidate, arrest without justifiable reason (s).”

By Festus Ahon

SABA—HOUSE of Assembly candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Sapele constituency, Delta State, in the April 11, 2015, election Mr. Felix Anirah, has raised alarm over alleged attempt by officials of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to frustrate the inspection of election materials ordered by the State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

Anirah is challenging the election of the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Mr. Monday Igbuya, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It would be recalled that chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice A. A. I Banjoko, had on July 8, 2015, granted an order for a joint inspection of the ballot materials used in the entire Wards/Polling Units in the constituency during the said election.

Udu people appeal to Okowa over appointment

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DU—AS fresh hands are being appointed into Delta State’s Executive Council and board of the State's Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, D E S O P A D E C , stakeholders in Udu Local Government Area yesterday appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to appoint a son of the community, Keston Okoro as a commissioner to represent Udu Kingdom on the board.

The youths in the council, under the aegis of Udu Youths for Change Initiative, UYCI, in a statement by Mr Josiah Akpovwedae, commended the governor for his benevolence to Udu people, but noted that old breed politicians had failed Udu people over the years, particularly during elections and should not be considered for the appointment.

They said Okoro assisted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to win in Udu in recent times.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 —13

C M Y K

14 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 —15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Naval officers allegedly brutalize 15 oil z‘They forced us to drink mud water, workers in Aba punctured 40 tyres of our trucks‘

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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BA—SOME officers of the Naval School of Finance and Logistics, Owerri-Nta, Abia State have allegedly forced 15 workers of an oil company in the commercial city to lie in mud water and drink it.

One of the victims, Opara, an engineer with the oil company, Stock Gap Fuels Limited, which is building a mega petrol station/ gas plant on Elizabeth Avenue

by Aba-Owerri Road, GRA, Aba told Vanguard that on Tuesday morning, they came to work on the site. He said at about 2.00pm, he left for the bank to withdraw money, with which to pay the people who supplied them sand.

“It was while at the bank that I got a phone call that about 12 Naval men were maltreating workers at the site. So, I quickly left the bank and when I got to the site, I saw 16 of my workers, including our secretary, a female inside the mud and the Naval officers were stepping on them and ordering them to drink the mud water.

“So, when I tried to approach the commanding officer, who was at the site giving orders to his men, he told his suborbinates not to allow me get close to him and based on the instruction, his boys chased me away and I had to call my office in Port Harcourt."

The engineer disclosed that he stood from afar and watched as the commanding officer ordered

his men who used their bayonets to puncture the 40 tyres of tipper trucks supplying them sand.

Narrating her ordeal, the company secretary and store keeper, Juliet Enwereji said that during her lunch time , she heard the Naval men who incidentally share the same fence with the company, ordering workers at the site to go outside.

Enwereji said immediately she came out of the office, a naval officer pointed a gun at her and the commanding officer ordered

her to lie down in the mud water.

Other workers who spoke to Vanguard said this was not the first time the Naval officer, who had previously shown disdain for the structure being erected near his house, would be maltreating them.

According to them, “there was a time he came and reported to the site engineer that he would not want a higher structure within the vicinity of his quarters.We didn’t know the reason. Some three weeks back, a pay-loader

came to the site and as it was driving out, the commanding officer called his men to beat up the pay-loader driver and took him inside his compound and detained him.”

Efforts to get the commanding officer, Navy Capt. Ejaro, to react to the allegations proved futile as Naval ratings at the gate of his quarters on Elizabeth Avenue, GRA, Aba, refused to allow our correspondent access to his residence.

SURGERY: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left) congratulates a mother and her son/patient (from Lagos State) who underwent a successful open heart surgery at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku/Ozara, Enugu State.

ONICCIMA lists challenges to Onitsha business community

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI — THE Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ONCCIMA, has said the most critical challenge

affecting the industrial sector in the state is poor power supply, just as transporting consignments from distant sea ports with attendant risks, the bad state of roads have been a disincentive for the business community in the commercial

city.

The situations, according to ONICCIMA, have led to negative consequences, like high cost of doing business, reduced installed capacity utilization and company shut down. The body said there is

Student, others win houses in MTN Trutalk Best 11 promo

By Etop Ekanem

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AGOS— MORE lucky winners have emerged in the MTN Trutalk Best 11 promo. At the final prize presentation ceremony held, yesterday, in Lagos, some lucky winners were presented with gift of houses worth N15 million each.

Among the lucky winners are Mr Seun Olola, a 25-year-old student of the College of Health Technology, Akure, Ondo State; Mr Christian Okereafor, a fresh graduate from the Abia State University, Uturu and Mrs Adekoya Bolatito Khadija from Lagos.

Reacting to his winning, an obviously elated Seun Olola was full of praises for MTN and thanked the company for the noble gesture. Seun said he was C M Y K

in total disbelief when he received a call from MTN, informing him about his winning.

Another winner, Christian Okereafor also showered praises on MTN for what he described as a surprise of a life time. “Many of my friends told me it is a lie, but now, they will be surprised to discover that I have become a landlord, courtesy of MTN,” Christian said.

Speaking on the rationale behind the MTN Trutalk Best 11 promo, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Mr. Richard Iweanoge, while addressing the press after the presentation, stated that the company, in its bid to ensure that its subscribers connect with the people that matter to them regularly, without any hindrances, introduced the MTN

Trutalk, a value proposition that enables subscribers to register 11 numbers and make calls to those numbers at 50 per cent discount.

Explaining further, Richard said subscribers on the MTN Trutalk proposition are therefore qualified for the MTN Trutalk Best 11 promo, where MTN have so far given out eleven houses, cars and huge cash gifts among other fantastic prizes.

Also on hand to witness the occasion are the Director, Regulation and Monitoring, Prince E.O Jeminiwa and the Assistant Director/Co-ordinator, Lagos Zonal Office, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Fidelis Aigbogun, who both expressed their satisfaction with the conduct and execution of the MTN Trutalk Best 11 Promo, right from its inception.

need for an inland container terminal to serve the people of Anambra and other South East states.

For the chamber, the need for inland container terminal has become imperative due to the operational challenges facing the smooth take-off of the Onitsha river port, such as maritime security along the water ways.

President of the chamber, Mr Uche Apakama, disclosed these during his inauguration as the 11thPresident of ONICCMA and the eighth edition of the chamber ’s annual lecture series,”The perspective.”

According to him, “the chamber will undergo strategic repositioning to enhance its leadership of the Organized Private Sector, OPS, in the South-East of Nigeria. In no distant time, the chamber will be inviting various stakeholders to very important fora with a view to seeking collaboration and synergy.”

Apakama, a pharmacist, was inaugurated along with the council members of the chamber. The occasion attracted important dignitaries, including the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.

Stakeholders want speedy implementation of cyber security act

By Emeka Aginam

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KURE— THE need for speedy implementation of the Cyber Security Act topped discussion at the ongoing 2015 edition of the Nigeria Computer Society, NCS, International Conference and Annual General Meeting holding in Akure, Ondo State.

It will be recalled that in his inaugural speech, President Muhammadu Buhari had assured that the present administration would tackle issues around terrorism, financial and cyber crime and other challenges of the 21st century.

Speakers at the conference with the theme, 'IT for Inclusive Development' noted that critical information infrastructure (CII) must be protected as an essential asset for national development and security.

For 21st century digital Nigeria, the President of the Nigerian Computer Society, NCS, Prof David Adewumi, said in addition to implementing Cybercrime Act, legislation should be enacted to foster the development of Information Technology and IT enabled activities in the country.

While lamenting total neglect of IT professionals in the national polity, he said: “But the challenge has been that we have never had any concrete recognition from the various government we have had in this country.

“The usage of IT in governance and security needs to be improved through more widespread adoption of IT professionalism in the private and public sectors.

Speaking during the plenary session, Tope Aladenusi, Cyber Risk Services Leader, Deloitte Nigeria, in his presentation on “Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Enhancing Cybersecurity and Resilience” cautioned that Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) are those ICT infrastructure upon which core assets that are essential for the functioning of the society and economy is dependent.

According to him, the destruction of these assets has a catastrophic impact on national security, governance, economy and social well-being of a nation.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 —17

Tribute to Auntie Chinyere

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ERY few of the people around us have significant impacts on our lives. And I want to pay a heartfelt tribute to my beloved late auntie, Chief Mrs Chinyere Asika, who recently passed away and will be buried today in Onitsha.

She was not only one of the most intellectual and accomplished women of her generation but one of the kindest.

When I separated from my husband, my small son (Oliver), and I were living in an official residence in Abuja that was attached to my father’s job (he was an INEC Commissioner at the time).

Emotional collapse Then Daddy died and we had to move out of the house, so the new Commissioner who was replacing him could move in. And I was at rock bottom and my wits end because I couldn’t afford to rent a place of my own.

Furthermore, in addition to being completely broke, I was broken and bereaved to the point of emotional collapse. I’d adored my Darling Daddy and missed him so much that I could barely focus on getting out of bed in the morning.

Recovering and earning a credible income was a distant dream at that juncture.

Mrs Asika gently stepped in

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at this point and rescued me and Oliver from homelessness, despair, starvation and humiliation.

She invited us to stay with her until I stabilised. She put a roof over our heads. She fed us. She gave us dignity. She patiently tolerated my bad habits.

In a nutshell, she became a good friend and amazingly witty and entertaining companion as well as an immensely supportive pillar of strength and wise, nononsense advisor.

I owe her my survival and an enormous debt of gratitude.

So many people have so many great things to say about Auntie Chinyere. Here is another glowing tribute from Chief Goddy Emeka Ejiofor, a family friend.

Dibueze Chinyere Asika

Tribute to a virtuous woman, Dibueze Chinyere Asika(OFR)

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UNDAY, 3rd of May, 2015 should not rejoice among the days of this year, it was on this day, without drum beat and fun fare that the sun set in the morning with the death of Dibueze Chinyere Asika following in the wake of the star that suddenly turned into an eclipse, a super nova that expired untimely. There was ghoulish and macabre rhythm of sorrow, wailing and gnashing of teeth by family, relations and friends alike.

In Dibueze’s death the trite saying that life is nature’s version of an African masquerade comes alive. Like the masquerade, life wears a mask behind which stands a litany of hidden mysteries.

It was this exasperation about life’s many mysteries that inspired the essayist and philosopher Nathan Leopard to give expression to his anger and disgust about life with a pinch of acidic humour. In his epic

book, Life plus 99 years, Leopold wrote ‘’what a rotten writer of detective stories life is.” Oliver Wendell Holmes Jnr betrayed his impression of life thus: “Life seems to me like a Japanese picture which our imagination does not allow to stand in the margin.” To Vladimir Nabokov, a Russian poet and historian: ‘’Life is but a series of footnotes to a vast obscure unfinished masterpiece, it terminates in death.” And death to Tom Stoppard is: ‘’’The absence of presence, the absence of being, the endless time of never coming back. A gap you can’t see, and when the wind blows through it, it makes no sound”. To me, we

We should not worry about death, but rather of being forgotten after death.

That to my mind would be the most disgusting epitaph

are like grasses in the field cut down at the fling of the farmer’s machete.

Dibueze’s life did not end in the margin by our own calculation. At 75 plus, three scores and ten, her death has indeed left a big hole in our hearts.

Dibueze was God-fearing, nice, a nice person before God and man, and I can see the saints standing at the gates of Heaven with open hands telling Dibueze: ‘’Come into thy Fathers kingdom, good and faithful servant, you ran a good race and your reward is eternal bliss”.

Dibueze was a gift to this age.

This is why when I think of her cheerful face now resting in the grave unknown to laughter, intellectual discuss and conviviality, I feel pained at her death. But John Donne, the 17th Century English Poet and essayist enjoined us to always scorn death, for death never wins unless the dead lived an unworthy life.

We know Dibueze lived a fulfilled and worthy life.

Humility and godliness were mirrored in her. To her, home and heart rated uppermost in the life she fulfilled. She now stands at the threshold of her path for further service to the most high.

Dibueze: ‘’remain steadfast, go forth courageously and in peace. You will find the right path that leads to the longed-for heights. Our loving thoughts and fervent prayers accompany you on your path. Your

soul will surely awaken to joyful activities on the last day. For you were an immaculate Eagle that flew across our firmament with the plume of peace in your beak, touching and changing lives of many”. David in the Bible instead of weeping and mourning at his son’s death said: ‘’God giveth and God taketh. Who are we to question God’s decision”. We should not worry about death, but rather of being forgotten after death. That to my mind would be the most disgusting epitaph, because in the final analysis, we are not likely to be assessed merely by how long we lived on earth but more importantly by our contribution to the improvement of human condition.

Dibueze, your life was a candle in the wind, and you touched life in a peculiar and special way that left the sweet taste of love, care and concern to its wake.

And I can vouch Dibueze Chinyere did her fair share of contributions to make this world a better place for our children and generations to come.

Dibueze is not dead!

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18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 THERE was widespread anxiety about the fate of the Amnesty programme for former militants of the Niger Delta when Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the President of Nigeria. Given the dynamics of the election, and the fact that the programme was established by the former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) federal government under late President Umar Musa Yar’ Adua and sustained by the regime of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, people were not sure what Buhari would do with it.

Happily, the new president made an undertaking that put the fears of stakeholders to rest during his inaugural speech, when he declared that though the Amnesty Programme would end in December this year, his government would “invest heavily in the projects and programmes currently in place”.

There are, however, worrying signs that the beneficiaries of the programme are beginning to suffer. Reports say that no fewer than thirteen beneficiaries of the programme being trained as commercial pilots in Germany at the Lufthansa Flight

Don’t Abandon Amnesty Beneficiaries Training School, Frankfurt, have been sent away for non-payment of their fees for accommodation and logistics. Two of them are said to have only one test remaining before they graduate. Another six pilots have graduated but their certificates were withheld due to outstanding fees.

It would appear that the main issue is the delay in appointing new officials to continue running the affairs of the Post Amnesty Programme (PAP). It was ascertained that there is sufficient fund in the agency’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This is just an indicator that the delay in fully constituting the organs of the federal

government by President Buhari is hurting the system.

We find it incredulous that because new political heads have not been appointed, some programmes of the federal government are allowed to stagnate. The normal thing is for the most senior bureaucrat to hold the forte until the political heads are re-appointed, to enable governance to run smoothly.

We urge the Presidency to respond with dispatch to the distress call from the beneficiaries of the PAP and allow those currently undergoing the programme to complete their courses in order to achieve the original set objectives of the programme.

Even if the programme will be closed down in December this year, those already involved in the training activities must be allowed to graduate and assisted to settle down.

The Amnesty programme has been beneficial to the economic and social wellbeing of the country. We should honour our commitments to it and give its beneficiaries a continued sense of belonging.

OPINION

In lust we trust

By Banji Ojewale

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HIS is a dirge for the soul of the United States of America. It died on June 26, 2015 when the US Supreme Court, covertly and overtly prompted by President Barack Obama, legalised same-sex marriage. The judges’ slim 5-4 verdict severed the country from the hallowed grounds of the conjugal institution established by God, Creator of Heaven and Earth along with all their inhabitants.His inviolable decree on marriage says it must be between two consenting opposite sexes, not among like gender. His law has worked for His plan for the perpetuation of the human race. In other words, the marital relationship involving the male and his opposite number gives life, supports life, sustains life and satisfies life. Its breach on the other hand brings death, breeds destruction and begets disaster and sexual bedlam. How would same sex reproduce life, if its promoters, votaries and practitioners were to have their way? It is death for those taking that road.

Their way threatens mankind with extinction since the reach isn’t for procreation but for bestial and unproductive pleasure. Obama and the US are proving to be successors of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, luring millions to their graves with effete gay music. The American leader joined several others in rhapsodic celebration to hail the Court’s ruling. He topped it by interrupting a live TV programme as he phoned a gay fellow who was on set,

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felicitating with him on the occasion of the judicial decision.

Coupled with how he has always heckled African nations to embrace the ideology of the LGBT throng or be deprived US aid, this macabre dance of Obama has made some discerning observers to wonder if the American leader and his ilk are not closet gay persons.

Tragically, the US government seems to be taking most of the citizens along this broad path of perdition. The American media reported that some 60% of the public newspapers interviewed moments after the ruling applauded the verdict. And then days after, Obama’s approval rating hit a twoyear high. According to a joint poll involving the Cable News Network (CNN), “50% of American’s approve of the way Obama is handling his presidency-which is up 5 points over the most recent survey and his highest approval rating since May 2013.” One of the issues the respondents took note of was the Supreme Court judgement that “affirmed” that Obama had been right all along in his fight for gay marriage recognition.The worry now is that emboldened by this victory Washington and its allies are not going to limit their revolt

It is tragic that the US that has the iconic Statue of Liberty in NY beckoning humanity’s wretched to come for warmth

against God and His marriage covenant to the shores of the US. They are poised for the mother and father of all wars to coerce the rest of the sane world to follow them the same way the evil Pied Piper did it centuries ago to destroy scores of innocent children in 13th century Germany. The stick and carrot strategy used in such struggles abound in the armoury of the Americans.

A commentator has added a sardonic concern:homosexuality in the US decades ago was illegal. Now it is legal. What stops the US authorities from making it compulsory? Given the finality that underscored the pronouncement of Justice Anthony Kennedy who wrote the ruling, that apprehension isn’t outlandish or misplaced. The decision outlaws same sex restrictions all over the US, including the 13 states opposed to gay marriage. In effect, the Supreme Court is urging a negation of conventional marriage to make way for a gay community.

Alaska Supreme Court judge Roy Moore says the “decision is against the laws of nature.” He adds:”Welcome to the new world. It’s just changed for you Christians… you are going to be persecuted.” Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton says what the justices handed down is “lawless ruling.”

It has triggered a faith crisis in some citizens. A Christian woman in a Texas government office was thrown into a quandary on the day of the ruling. She first refused to issue licenses when some gay chaps came to her. But her heroism wilted later.

She said:”Personally same-sex marriage is in contradiction to my faith and belief that marriage is between one man and one

woman. However first and foremost I took an oath on my family’s Bible to uphold the law and as an elected public official my personal belief cannot prevent me from issuing the licenses as required. Moreover my faith in Christ ensures I have compassion and respect for those who feel differently.”

I have been upset by the repeated use of the word marriage by the American judges and the circle of gay adherents. It is not their coinage; nor is it their invention. It was instituted by God the Creator. I don’t accept that you can appropriate what isn’t yours and maul it as the gay people and their sponsors are doing. Let them not refer to a sotermed union between male and male and female and female as marriage. Matrimony as decreed from creation is an exclusively holy idea from a Holy God which some puny, happy-go-lucky, hedonistic bunch of people can’t arrogantly claim for perverse use. You can’t subtract from it. You can’t rearrange it to feed your rapacious lust.

It is tragic that the US that has the iconic Statue of Liberty in New York beckoning humanity’s wretched to come for warmth, comfort and hope is at once the same society waving warrants of death that come in the form of morally hollow licenses leading man back in time to the loose age of Sodom and Gomorrah.

When the mighty US dollar proclaims In God We Trust as its message to the world, does it sync with the notion of faith in the One Whose institution you are thrashing. It isn’t farfetched then to give this ruling:the United States of America trusts in lust! *Mr.Ojewale, a journalist , wrote Ota, Ogun State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015— —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

We don’t need to speak Greek N Greek mythology, Sisyphus, destroy the world order and founder and first King of economic peace. The European ICorinth, was accused of Union (EU) decided to tighten the betraying the secrets of the gods, tricking and chaining death. He was sentenced to endlessly rolling a boulder up a hill and watch it roll down. Modern Greeks have been sentenced to a similar torture by their fellow Europeans since 2010.

For owing debts which stand today at 242.8B Euros, Greeks in the past five years have been sentenced to endless austerity measures which shrunk their economy by 25 percent, reduced wages by 21 percent, cut 150,000 public jobs, reduced pension, and seen unemployment rise to 25 percent. Also, family income has fallen by a third, while one third of the population has been force marched into the poverty highway.

Things were so bad, with people committing suicide, that the untested liberal Syriza Party was elected on an anti- austerity programme. Immediately, the Western media and their megaphones began assaults; characterising the party and its leader, Alexis Tsipras as starryeyed left wing extremists out to

noose around Greece making the abandonment of Syriza’s programme to create jobs and end austerity as a prerequisite for bailout. The then Greek Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis who had taught economics in some of Europe’s best universities, characterised the German-led assault as “fiscal waterboarding”. He correctly analyzed that if Greece were to be “choked, strangled and snuffed out…the (European) ground will start to crumble under their own feet”. Europe knew this was likely; that the exit of Greece from the Eurozone could be grave. Varoufakis had questioned the economic sense in Greece being pressurised to borrow another 7B Euros just to pay the European Central Bank (ECB). The way out, he argued was for Greece to get debt cancellation which the EU can easily afford, or a huge percentage write off.

To the EU, the Greek stance was dangerous; if it were to succeed, some of its members like Spain and Portugal who had dragged their populace through cruel

austerity programmes just to feed the insatiable greed of the banks and finance capital, would be in political trouble.

With no logical economic arguments to defeat the Greek submissions, the EU decided to hack down the Greek captain at the negotiations. Once the Greek Government bowed to EU pressures to remove Varoufakis, it signaled its submission to the troika of the EU to whom sixty percent of the loans are owed, the IMF which claims ten percent, and the ECB which holds six percent.

Under the new 86B Euro ‘bailout’ Greece must pay the ECB 7B Euros by August, 2015 and transfer 50B Euro Greek assets including airports, aircraft and infrastructure to a new fund that will monetise them through privatisation, bank recapitalisation and debt repayment. Greece must not protect local industry like pharmaceuticals, and must introduce more austerity measures by cutting $4B in

Skinning the Greeks for dinner and roasting them as barbecue, is a lesson for under developed countries like Nigeria who think it is fashionable taking loans for whatever reason from Europe, the IMF or World Bank

Is probe the way to go?

By Clement Udegbe

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HE way we plunge from one controversy into another, as if we are a people determined to scatter can be baffling sometimes! Some more optimistic persons insist that Nigeria will never break up, no matter what, but many more believe rightly too, that we must not take things for granted, for as long as we have deliberate inequality and unfairness in our handling of very crucial national issues, one of which is corruption.

It is a form of corruption for any to think that all the resolutions of the National Conference should be thrown into the waste basket of history. When any group of persons organise to elevate their interest above that of the collective best interest of the nation, and try to shove it down the throat of others, they become corrupted by their selfish drive for money and power. Some of our leaders do not seem to care about how they over heat the polity, or what happens to others provided their nests are feathered by the Nigerian system. They are the ones who find peace by spoiling for war.High government office is for them an opportunity to gloat about their superiority, while leaving no stone unturned in destroying others.

They are the ones who fanned the embers of bitterness, fear, and war during the last presidential campaigns. They created the impression that they would set the country ablaze, if their wish did not come to pass. APC rode on the crest of these fears during campaigns and forced a change of baton in Aso Rock. They drove Nigerians into fighting for the peace of the country, which drove some of our former presidents and peace lovers to create many forms of peace committees, that oscillated between

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Joanathan and Buhari, until the former shocked the world by accepting the INEC verdict, and we all inhaled fresh air of calmness. But we seem to have forgotten all that too soon, and we are running back to tension, and confusion, with the shouts of probes as if probing the last administration will provide any answer, apart from satisfying those who in their drive for power will not care who they destroyed.

Those who really love the peace of this country, will be more circumspect in how they reel out plans that could over heat the polity.

The fact that President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, did not hit the ground running shows that there was really no plan to take us to the lofty heights, they promised during campaigns.The plan must have been to take the power first, and then consider what to do with it, thereafter.

Now APC has taken power, all we get is “ give us time”, You can’t do much in two months”, “We met an empty treasury”, “They stole us blind”, We can’t let them

Corruption cannot be fought only on newspapers, with television talks, just as corruption cannot probe corruption without creating confusion.

Let’s move to stop the stealing instead

social spending.

Additionally, it must make it easy for workers to be sacked, cut pension and make people who want to take early retirement, pay a high cost. Also, the country’s encouragement of the tourism industry which includes a 30 percent VAT discount, must end while VAT for more consumer items including restaurant bills are to rise to 23 percent. To complete the humiliation, depersonalisation and loss of national autonomy, the EU will have oversight over Greece.

Today, Greeks are despised by their fellow Europeans, trampled and spat on like a piece of dirt. A country that is the father of Western thought and civilisation, is treated as a thoughtless country with no brains and only fit as a foot-mat.

Skinning the Greeks for dinner and roasting them as barbecue, is a lesson for under developed countries like Nigeria who think it is fashionable taking loans for whatever reason from Europe, the IMF or World Bank. The fundamental lesson for the world, especially Africans, Asians and Latin Americans is, if Europe can put the noose round one of its own, then there is no country it cannot strangulate when it comes to debt repayment.

Greeks committed no sin except to be led blindly into the contraption of balance of payment, loans, interest rates and international finance capital. Humanity has been conditioned to believe that economics is a religion; therefore, there is no alternative to the dog eat dog creed of exploitation of the mass and dehumanisation of the weak.

What would have happened if

go scot free”, etc, all far from our expectations.

Nigerians are a very patient people.

After all, we were once reputed as the happiest people in the world, but the world has changed, and Nigeria is also changing with the world. We now have kidnapping for money, as a thriving business in the South of Nigeria.Nigerian youths now list into Boko Haram that reign terror on their fellow citizens, in the North East, while the so called Fulani herds men, continue to ravage parts of the Middle Belt zones.These terrorists are scheming to spread their evil wares of fear and destruction to the South and South East in particular, but our leaders are not really interested. They are more committed to hanging onto power, building estates, buying businesses locally and overseas, some even do it with the recent bailout funds released by PMB. Nigeria has changed; we have become more daring,more wicked, more callous, more divided along ethnic lines, and more dexterous in the game of stealing and covering tracks. It will therefore be a big mistake for this government, to continue to assume that nothing can happen to Nigeria. We have Niger Delta creek boys, who may appear silent and disjointed for now; we have the Biafrans, whom we have majorly treated with great hatred, and a fusion of these two can become a huge challenge. Boko Haram is relentless, ably assisted by the armed Fulani herdsmen, we may therefore be playing with fire by adding a probe of the Jonathan government to the kitty of the palavers of Nigeria.

No sane person will allow the type of stealing and impunity that we saw in the last sixteen years.Our leaders and politicians stole, and enriched themselves, irrespective their political parties.

We have both former and serving governors,who have become

Greece had walked away from its spiteful European brothers and sisters and defied the professional creditors? They would have tried to squeeze and deny it financial, economic and political oxygen.

On its part, Greece would have had to resurrect the Drachma it had used the Euro to replace since January 1, 2002, witnessed marked devaluation and high inflation. But it would on the long run, have emerged a better country economically, with better values, self-confidence and national pride. This is the lesson Zimbabwe taught the rest of the world when the West, America and international institutions like the IMF and World Bank conspired to snuff life out of it. Today, that country whose sin was that it defied the so called international community by redistributing land to the people, is one of the cheapest places to live in Africa with food costing less than half the price in Nigeria and a third of the cost in Ghana. Cuba is another example, it defied America and the West and has survived an economic blockade and strangulation for fifty four years now. Despite this, it eliminated extreme poverty, has virtually 100 percent literacy, provides the basics like health and education free and has so many doctors that there is virtually no country in Africa it has not sent doctors to.

Conclusively on debts; Latin America owed so much debts in the 1980s that Fidel Castro proclaimed that they were not only un-payable, but also, uncollectable. Latin Americans stood together and defaulted, and the so called creditors had no option but to cave in. Part of the Greek tragedy is that it stood alone.

stupendously wealthy since 1999.

We have former presidents since 1983, who have amassed so much wealth, that they may be richer than many African nations put together. A probe that singles out just the last government is therefore plain vendetta, bad blood, and witchhunting.

Nigeria’s history of probes has not yielded any desirable profits for the nation so far, we need not follow that path now.

We have institutions that must be strengthened and empowered to investigate our numerous thieves. We hear that President Buhari wants America to help recover over $150 Billion stolen money.There may be much more in Asia, Europe and South America.

Nigerian politicians are said to own numerous huge investments and sprawling estates in the Middle East, namely Dubai and Egypt, some in South and Central Africa, while others took their stolen monies to Ghana and other West African Countries.

APC should avoid sensation and propaganda with issues like probe of the past government and set about investigating all suspected thieves among our leaders, and politicians as they are very many with hundreds of recoverable billions of Dollars stashed away.

The big questions include what do we have on ground to fight corruption and stealing from government? Can the solution come by the enactment of Laws that will make governance unattractive to thieves, and can APC do and implement it?

Corruption cannot be fought only on newspapers, with television talks, just as corruption cannot probe corruption without creating confusion. Let’s move to stop the stealing instead.

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

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Gathering storm in Ikorodu over murder of beef seller

By Bose Adelaja

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LTHOUGH Lagos is not under siege by insurgents, but some parts of the state like Idi-Araba, Mile 12, Alaba-rago and Ikorodu have in recent times been experiencing outbreaks of violence leading to loss of lives. The most recent case occurred at Igbe-Alara town, Ikorodu, where some residents claimed that their fellow Nigerians from the North have been breaking the law with impunity with law enforcement agents seemingly reluctant to call them to order.

To buttress their claim, they readily cited an incident that happened on Sunday July 19, 2015, when a meat seller, by name, Sola Olayide, was allegedly ‘slaughtered’ by some individuals of Northern origin led by one Mallam Musa. The incident was said to have happened at a kiosk located near Vulcanizer Busstop. The kiosk is said to be owned by the said Mallam Musa.

The place, it is said, usually played host to over 50 of Musa’s kinsmen, especially at night. The patrons who troop down there find entertainment in drinking, music and dancing as well as in gambling.

Sola, reputed to be the first beef seller in the neighbourhood, had over the years gained popularity such that he soon came to be nick named ‘’Mai Nama, Better Meat and Kasua.”

The 33-year-old native of Igbo-Ora, Oyo State was said to have met his untimely death that fateful Sunday July 19, 2015 when he went to purchase a N50 worth of item from Mallam Musa.

Time was about 7.30pm when Better Meat, in company of his friend Bigi, visited Mallam Musa’s shop. Having purchased the item, they tried to cross the gutter through the makeshift wooden bridge in front of the kiosk but were impeded by two of Musa’s kinsmen who were standing right on it. Their plea that the concerned individuals should step aside to let them pass fell on deaf ears. Instead, the men were said to have taken offence and started screaming thus: ‘’You no know say na we dey power ? Go and find another place to pass; we no go leave this place…”.

A fight soon broke out leading to Bigi being pushed into C M Y K

*Sola....before the attack the gutter, while the other assailants descended on Sola, beating him to stupor before dragging him to a nearby cassava farm where he was allegedly brutally stabbed with machetes.

Unfortunately, this happened under the cover of darkness following power outage in the area, hence residents were oblivious of what was going on. Bigi, however, was said to have succeeded in making his escape from the scene, believing that Sola also must have done the same. But when he failed to see his friend after a while, he became uncomfortable.

That was when it dawned on him that Sola could be in trouble and he raised the alarm which prompted other residents to join in the search.

Soon Sola was found lying helplessly in the cassava

The other assailants descended on Sola, beating him to stupor before dragging him to a nearby cassava farm where he was allegedly brutally stabbed with machetes

farm, but his assailants were nowhere to be found, having taken to their heels.

Efforts were immediately made to hurriedly rush Sola to a near hospital but he died on the way. Infuriated by the de-

velopment, sympathizers rushed back to the scene to announce his untimely death and then proceeded to confront Mallam Musa who was found tending his wares.

Their anger was further aroused when he pretended as if nothing had happened.

Sola’s landlord, Alhaji Saka Niniola, said Mallam Musa was found with a wheel barrow trying to evacuate his wares before anybody could stop him. Luck, however, ran out on him and he was apprehended and taken to Ijede Divison where he is presently cooling his heels in a holding cell.

Vanguard Metro gathered that following the development the Police have arranged a meeting of all the Serikis (Hausa leaders) from Mile 12, Ikorodu and Idi-Araba to discuss and pre-empt any break down of law and order. But the residents suspect Musa could be released through the intervention of some influential individuals.

Sources in the town also expressed fear that the fleeing assailants may restrategise and launch an attack at night which could throw the town into confusion. A resident, Taiwo Hamzat, told VM his

family could no longer sleep with their eyes closed as a result of the rumour.

When VM visited the town last Tuesday, it was revealed that Sola’s remains have been buried while his widow and three children have returned to their hometown.

The deceased was said to be building a house whose roofing he planned to do by July ending. VM was also informed that the late Sola was planning to move into the said building on completion in December.

A friend of his, Tunde Adeola, described him as a loving, law-abiding and dedicated fellow. ‘’Ha! These people(assailants) are heartless O! How could they have killed Sola like that? He was law-abiding to the core. He started selling beef here about seven years ago and he was loved by many, including non residents. Even when you are broke and needed his support, he was always there…” he said, with tears streaming down his cheeks.

Contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said investigation was ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

Stakeholders step up fight against illicit drug abuse, trafficking

By Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

S

TAKEHOLDERS at the weekend embarked on a road show in major cities of Anambra State, including Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi as part of awareness campaign in the ongoing fight against what they termed as illicit drug abuse/trafficking in the country.

Tagged: “Value yourself”, the stakeholders, under the aegis of Illicit Drug Abuse Education in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said they were embarking on the road show as part of programmes marking this year’s annual United Nations, UN, International Drug-free Day. Led by its national chairman, Greg Anene Onyiliegbe and the state commander of NDLEA, Sule Momodu, the Illicit Drug Abuse Education group, NDLEA officials and members of the National youths Service Corps, NYSC, kicked off the road show from the office of NDLEA in On-

itsha on a convoy, went round the entire Onitsha commercial city before moving to NDLEA state headquarters in Awka where Momodu officially flagged off the one-day event which is UN World drug free day declaration.

In his opening remarks, Onyiliegbe advised youths and even adults to avoid illicit drug abuse and trafficking because of the inherent dangers, adding that apart from the annual event of this nature marking the UN world drug free day, the stakeholders on quarterly basis usually go into towns and villages to educate the masses on the dangers of illicit drug abuse and trafficking.

He also enjoined Anambrarians in particular and Nigerians in general, including churches, mosques, schools, parents and guardians to join hands in the fight against illicit drug abuse and trafficking since according to him, the battle is not exclusive to their members and NDLEA alone.

In his speech, Momodu, ANLEA state commander advised the people to say no to narcotics/psychotropic, stimulants, sedatives/depressants, hallucinogens, cannabis sativa or hemp, alcohol, inhalants, designer’s drug, anabolic steroid, monkey tail, zakami, cocaine, heroin and rubber solution.

He disclosed that the command had arrested 31 drug suspects in the state last month, adding that during the month under review, the agency seized cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) weighing 39.703kg; 27.4 grammes of cocaine, 8.6 grammes of heroin, 510 grammes of methamphetamine solid, and 2.625kg of methamphetamine liquid, all totaling 42.864 kg of drugs.

Stating that the agency secured the conviction in court of three drug dealers in the state, adding that the number of convictions may be comparatively small, but it goes a long way to sound the warning to drug offenders that the state is not a haven for them.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

From Left: Managing Director, Murphy Shipping and Commercial Services Ltd., Ms Moji Agbabiaka; President, National Association of Stevedoring Companies, Mr Bolaji Sunmola; Executive Member, Nigeria Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Alhaji Abayomi Adigun And NPCC's Chairman, Otunba Kunle Folarin, during a roundtable on the Maritime Section and the Port Industry in Lagos

Labour makes case for value added production •Lauds CBN’s foreign exchange restrictions

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

indeed, Africa could employ millions of unemployed youths now increasingly susceptible to crimes such as insurgencies and terrorism in case of Nigeria’s Boko Haram and Kenyan Alshabab.

Addressing members, Chairperson, IndustriALL Global Union,

O

RGANISED Labour has called on government to place greater efforts at promoting local production of goods and services in the country, saying “we must add value to raw materials whether crude or gas, Cotton or gold, platinum or Iron ore, etc.”

At the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of Nigerian Affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union in Lagos, labour contended that there must be beneficiation before Nigeria and

By

-2.35

$3,260. 00

-17.00

$11.45

0.07

$56.20 0.07

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

BUYING

-

0.27

CENTRAL

195.95 196.45 306.3088 307.0902 213.9536 214.4994 204.0179 204.5384 1.5826 1.5866 0.3055 0.3155 271.5843 272.5636 31.5636 31.6391 52.2464 52.393 273.028 273.7245 28.6646 28.7377

196.95 307.8716 215.0452 205.4789 1.5906 0.3255 272.9699 31.7201 52.563 274.421 28.8109

CBN Exchange Rate as at 23/ 07 /15

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stable macro-economic policies.

There must be long term financing for development.

He commended the new Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, policy on controlling the allocation of foreign exchange for development, noting “The CBN has commendably put a ban on importers from using the foreign-exchange market for some frivolous forty (40) items ranging from private jets to rice, wheelbarrows and Indian incense, Geisha (canned fish) and toothpicks, to even eggs is welcome and commendable. Nigeria and indeed Africa currently suffer huge capital inadequacy. Nigeria’s foreigncurrency reserves has sharply fallen by some 27 percent to $29 billion since the end of last September. CBN measures aimed at capital application and capital control in line with its statutory objective will definitely enhance domestic production in place of unhelpful luxury imports. It will also save the nation the current capital flight averaging some 1.3 trillion naira ($6.5 billion) a year, (almost half of national budget) on avoidable unnecessary jobkilling imports.

“Central banks worldwide ensure public control of capital for development without which capital on the loose can finance underdevelopment, cocaine growing as well as finance terrorism as America painfully came to realize in the wake of 9/11. Indeed CBN should include African prints textile materials in its foreign exchange restrictions. Nigeria has comparative advantage in production of African prints.

Indigenous Ship-owner decries govt neglect, wants full Cabotage implementation Godfrey Bivbere & Ifeyinwa Obi

M $122.70

Africa Region, Mr. Issa Aremu, called on all Africa government to have a look at the Ethiopia model of industrialization. The Ethiopia Government is fast reindustrializing with appropriate industrial policy and incentives that have brought back textile industries with hundreds of thou-

sands of jobs create.President Muhammadu Buhari must look at the Ethiopia model of re-industrialization. However there cannot be industrialization without industrialization. African governments must urgently invest in power projects to put an end to the existing power poverty and power outages. We must be weary of unhelpful privatization of power sector without electricity. Electricity in Africa should not be seen as a business to enrich few service providers but as indispensable critical success factor for industrialization and development. Also we must have

— 21

ANAGING Director of Mercury Oil and Gas Marketing Company, Osita Onumonu, has decried government neglect of shipping sector, as foreigners dominate coastal trade at the expense of indigenous ship-owners.

Disclosing this in Lagos, Onumonu said the situation in the shipping sector had degenerated because government had failed to ensure full implementation of the Cabotage Act which gives the exclusive trading rights to indigenous ship owners.

The indigenous shipowner also complained about the seeming mismanagement of the Cargo Vessel Financing Funds (CVFF) which was meant to support local operators.

He said after over a decade, no indigenous operator has benefited from the fund which is a contribution by ship-owners from all jobs embarked upon in the nation’s coastal water.

According to him, “Ship-owners have not been able to access the CVFF, which is supposed to assist in vessel acquisition. If the funds were available to the indigenous ship-owners, it would have

Ship-owners have not been able to access the CVFF, which is supposed to assist in vessel acquisition

helped in job creation.

“My application for some of the fund from the authorities failed because the bank said there was no sufficient fund when I went there” Onumonu said.

The ship-owner described the indigenous players in the sector as ‘endangered species’ as there are no jobs for them to run and sustain their business.

“We are an endangered species because even when you have a vessel, you are not able to get jobs when you do not have someone to influence the job.”

He therefore, called on the government to ensure that the indigenous ship-owners get fully engaged in the coastal trade to enable them achieve the goal of shipping development and job creation.He complained about constant harassment by government agencies that are suppose to protect them and in so cases illegal detention of their vessels.

He lamented his ordeal in the hands of the Nigerian Navy that

arrested his vessel, M/T Sapphirre1 for over 18 months even when investigation revealed that the vessel had not committed any crime.

He said his vessel was arrested on Feb. 18, 2014, while in a Ship to Ship transfer operation of AGO, having obtained all necessary clearance as a registered ship-owner. He said after completion of the operation, the vessel was on its way when it was attacked by pirates and that the ships Automatic Identification System, AIS, that was on alerted the Navy.

He said when the Navy came, they detained the ship because the vessel was taking away from its original course by the pirates and the Navy said they were going to carry out an investigation. Onumonu, however lamented that after clearance by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, which the Navy handed over the case to, it (Navy) still held the vessel in its custody, resulting in the lost of 1.8million litres of AGO that the ship loaded.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Standard Chartered set to achieve $1.8bn cost saving •Reorganises business structure

S

•UNVEILING: From left: Mr. Akin Napthal, Group Publisher, Instinct Business Magazine; Mrs Kehinde Olesin, Group Editor, Instinct Business Magazine and Mr. Adegbile Adebayo, Finance Expert/Consultant at the unveiling of the Nigeria CFO Awards, in Lagos.

Operators call FG to privatise govt assets via stock exchange Stories by Peter Egwuatu

O

PERATORS in the nation’s capital market have called on the Federal Government to use the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE to privatise public assets so that majority of Nigerians can benefit from the exercise.

The operators noted that using the stock exchange would provide the needed transparency instead of allowing few people to benefit from the privatisation exercise.

The operators further charged the Federal Government to channel the privatisation programme through the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), for sustained, diverse economic benefits.

The operators were reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement in the U.S. that his administration would continue with the major privatisation programme of past governments, with “improved moral architecture”.

Mr. Oderinde Taiwo, National Coordinator, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PROSAN, who spoke to Vanguard commended the president’s pronouncement, said that privatisation must be done through the capital market to achieve the desired results.

According to him “Government should involve many Nigerians in the privatisation process and avoid the sale of the country’s agencies to few individuals. Government should use the opportunity to grow the middle class, as many Nigerians should be allowed to participate in the exercise, unlike in the past where companies were sold to just a group of people, in the name of privatisation.”

He further stated that people should be subjected to the discipline of the capital market, with full disclosure and accountability, while urging government to avoid the mistakes of the past, stressing that some privatised companies had failed due to lack

of transparency in the privatisation process.

Mr. Olaleye Williams, the Managing Director, Global View Consult & Investment Ltd, said that the pronouncement was a step in the right direction, if properly implemented.

Williams said that the Federal Government should now concentrate on the critical sectors of the economy such as telecommunications, energy, solid minerals, aviation and health, among others.He said that government’s decision to pursue a major privatisation programme would deepen the capital market and increase listings on the NSE. Williams said that effective privatisation would also expand the Over The Counter (OTC) markets on the NASD and the FMDQ. He said that government should revamp the Abuja Commodities Exchange, presently being under-utilised, to boost economic growth and development.

Afrinvest to boost clients’ investments with AfriTrack

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frinvest Securities Limited (ASL) has announced the launch of AfriTrack – a unique service designed to unlock the value of outstanding and unclaimed entitlements of investments in Nigerian quoted securities (equities and bonds) on behalf of her clients.

Targeted at High Networth Individuals (HNIs) and corporates, cooperative societies, estate account clients and busy executives, AfriTrack is a combination of ancillary services bundled into a single service, for ease and convenience.

“It involves reconciliation of client’s shareholding and investments; recovery of all outstanding certificates,

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bonuses and dividend warrants; recovery of return moneys on unallotted public offer shares; dematerialization of recovered share certificates; revalidation of expired dividend

It involves reconciliation of client’s shareholding and investments

warrants; and consolidation of multiple shareholding accounts and CSCS accounts in multiple houses,” said Charles Egbunonwo, Managing Director of ASL. On how to avail AfriTrack services, Egbunonwo said, “simply open a brokerage account with Afrinvest Securities Limited, fill out the AfriTrack application form, supply basic information on your investment portfolio and provide us with a mandate or authorization letter. We would then leverage on our cordial relationship with various company registrars to promptly reconcile actual shareholding against benefits and entitlements received.”

TANDARD Chartered Plc is set to achieve its $1. 8 billion cost saving target by the end of 2017 as it has simplified its organisational structure that will improve accountability, speed up decision making and reduce bureaucracy.

The Bank has announced a new Management team led by Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive. The Management Team will deliver a plan to address the future performance of the Group by the year end, and put in place the new structure.

The Group’s new geographical structure will rationalise the eight existing regions into four new regional businesses namely: Greater China & North Asia, including Hong Kong, China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, led

by Ben Hung ; ASEAN & South Asia, which includes Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Bangladesh, led by Ajay Kanwal;Africa & Middle East, which includes Southern, West and East Africa, Pakistan and the UAE, led by Sunil Kaushal; Europe & Americas, including the UK and the US, led by Tracy Clarke. The simplified organisational structure will be phased in from 1 October, 2015, and will be fully in place by 1 January, 2016. The Group’s financial reporting will be based on the new structure from 1 January, 2016.

Speaking on the new

regional and business structure, Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive commented that; “The Group needs to kick-start performance, reduce its cost base and bureaucracy, improve accountability, and speed up decision making. The new structure will help achieve all of these critical objectives and will be in place as we communicate a comprehensive plan to address the Group’s performance by the year end.

Mr. Winters added, “I am working with a talented and experienced Management Team to create a bank that delivers strong returns and sustainable profitability.” The Group also announces that effective from 1 October 2015,Sunil Kaushal, currently India CEO, will move to a new role as Regional CEO, Africa & Middle East. A new CEO for India will be appointed and announced in due course. This role will however report to Ajay Kanwal from 1 October 2015.

In continuing with the announcement it is stated thatDiana Layfield, current Chief Executive Officer Africa, will be leaving the Bank.Ms. Layfield has been with the Group for over 10 years in various senior management roles, and in the last 4 years has successfully led the Bank’s Africa business which has benefited from both organic and inorganic growth.

Vetiva Fund Managers concludes offer for subscription

F

ollowing the receipt of the Securities and Exchange Commission clearance of the Offer Documents in respect of the proposed initial offer for subscription of 3 Exchange Traded Funds i.e. the Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund (“VB ETF”), The Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund (“VCG ETF”) and The Vetiva Industrials Exchange Traded Fund (“VI ETF”), Vetiva Fund Managers Limited (“Vetiva”) has announced the successful hosting of the signing ceremony in respect of the proposed Initial Offer.

The Board of Directors of the Vetiva Fund Managers Limited and relevant professional parties, were present to execute the offer documents during the signing ceremony.

Vetiva Fund Managers Limited, upon receipt of final approval from the Securities and

Exchange Commission, plans to list the Exchange Traded Funds based on the NSE Banking Index, NSE Consumer Goods Index and NSE Industrial Index respectively, on the floors of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Vetiva listed the first equity Exchange Traded Fund (The Vetiva Griffin 30 ETF, which tracks the performance of the NSE 30 Index) on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in March 2014.

Vetiva Fund Managers Limited is registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission to carry out business as Fund/Portfolio Manager. The Company is primarily engaged in Fund and Asset Management through sponsoring and issuance of Collective Investment Schemes, Exchange Traded Funds and publicly or privately Managed Funds.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 —23

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24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

UNDP, BoI partner to power rural areas with solar energy

By Franklin Alli

T

HREE weeks ago, United Nations Development Programmes, UNDP, and the Bank of Industr y, B O I , empowered two local firms in the renewable energy sector with loans totaling over N160 million, to connect Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to 1,200 houses in remote villages that have not been reached by national grids.

As a pilot test, these communities, with an

average of 200 homes each, are located in Anambra, Delta, Gombe, Kaduna, Niger and Osun States.

Vanguard learned that GVE Projects Limited and Arnergy Solar Limited), the project contractors are in the process of purchasing the meters from MOMAS, and the solar panels from NASENI. Hopefully, these communities will be lighted from September this year after installation is completed.

Rasheed Olaoluwa,

Managing Director, BO I noted: “ We are giving people in these communities the chance to increase their living standards, develop their businesses and add value to the economy of their areas if they can pay N50 per day or N3, 000 per month for the use of electricity provided by solar panels installed on their houses.

“Rather than wait in vain forever for the national electricity grid to reach them, there is a golden opportunity

Thatch house powered by Solar Energy.

NB gives N3m grant to 12 entrepreneurs

L

IFE Continental Lager Beer, a brand under the stables of Nigeria Breweries, has given additional N3million cash grant to 12 young entrepreneurs within the South-East to boost their business ideas.

It would be recalled that Life Continental Lager Beer had earlier given out N3million to 12 young entrepreneurs in its on-going “Life Continental Lager Beer Progress Booster Radio Project” about a month ago.

The Head of Brewery, Ama, Mr Abiodun Ajayi, told newsmen last week that the brand had earmarked N14.5 million grants to boost 50 young entrepreneurs, who reside and hail from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. The 12 second set of winners are: Mr Ekenne Okpadile (Anambra), proposal on domestic and commercial cleaning services; Mr Uzochukwu Okwor (Enugu),

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proposal on Photography; Mr Onyinye Onyedika-Orizu (Anambra), proposal on DJ Turn-Table and Miss Miracle Akagha (Abia), proposal on mobile small fries.

Others are: Miss Chinwe

He urged the winners to ensure that their investment is yielding enough returns to make them become employers of labour

Ottor (Anambra), proposal on giant snail farming; Mr Maxwell Madubuike (Enugu), proposal on palm oil production; Mr Christian Udeh (Anambra), proposal for paint making and Mrs. Chinwendu Nwoye (Anambra), proposal on fashion designing.

The rest include: Miss Ngozi Ogboh (Anambra), proposal on shoe making; Mr Prosper Nduba (Enugu), proposal on soya milk production; Mr Solomon Agabaenwere (Anambra), proposal on commercial tricycle operation and Mr Chukwuemeka Etummu (Anambra), proposal for garment making for wholesale.

Handling over the cheque of N250,000 to each of the 12 winners in Nigeria Breweries, Ama, Enugu; Ajayi urged the winners to ensure that their investment is yielding enough returns to make them become employers of labour.

for our rural communities to be empowered with affordable off-grid solar home systems that are operated on a Pay –As- YouGo basis.”

According to him, UNDP has budgeted $4.8 million for the projects in Nigeria, and has so far released $1.6 million to the bank for implementation of the programme.

“We are starting off with the provision of long-term financing for the installation of off-grid solar home systems in six (6) communities in a Pilot Phase.

Each home will have sufficient solar energy to power three LED light bulbs, one electric fan, one Radio/TV set and, of course, mobile phone charging.

These are the basic energy needs of the average rural family.

What we are initiating is a commercially sound model for delivering power to Nigerian rural homes at affordable rates, to provide a long-term alternative to the problematic national grid.

“We want our r ural communities to take control of their energy generation and to pay only for the energy they use. Our medium-term vision is to have 100,000 homes installed with solar systems in the next 5 years, through a combination of micro-grid and stand-alone solar home systems,” he said.

According to him, in the USA, the leading solar energy company, Solar City, has installed over 500,000 solar home systems. Every three minutes, a new home is switched to Solar City.

Simpa Networks, in India, and M-Kopa, in Kenya, have introduced the “pay-as-yougo” pre-paid technology in their offering of off-grid rural solar home systems.

Joseph Babatunde, Divisional Head, Large Enterprise, BOI, added: “In the first phase, we are starting with Niger and Osun; from there we are moving to Kaduna and Gombe second phase. The third phase is going to cover Anambra and Delta. An effort is being made to search out for suitable locations in these two states.

With just the solar panel installed upon thatch roofs power will be supplied to that place and they can run their Television set, radio, charge their phones and do quite a number of things. With an initial cost of N3, 000 per month for the stand alone, we expect an average daily charge of N50 which I believe is affordable.”

Simba Group wins customer satisfaction award

By Gabriel Olawale

S

IMBA Group has won 2015 customer satisfaction award by Capital Finance International, CFI; United Kingdom.

The Group’s portfolio comprises seven companies operating in a number of sectors that are critical to Nigeria’s sustained development; agriculture, power generation, transportation, software development, communication, ICT infrastructure, and renewable energy.

The CFI panel which identified the group’s rapid growth noted that “integrity, fairness, and meticulous attention to details made the Simba Group of Companies thrived during its 27 years as a driver of growth in Nigeria.

“A conglomerate present in the country’s most dynamic economic sectors, Simba group is comprised of seven companies that share a simple, yet effective, corporate vision; providing the customer with unparalleled satisfaction.”

By placing the customer at the heart of its many operations, Simba Group has managed to attain that rarest of corporate accomplishments; to equate the brand name to a generalized awareness and sense of superior quality. The companies of Simba Group work closely with their suppliers to ensure the consistent delivery of both products and services that meet and exceed the customers’ expectations,” they remarked.

Chairman and Managing Director, Simba Group, Vinay Grover, who received the award on behalf of the Group, said: “I have always believed that a good quality product means very little unless it is supported by a high level service, before, during, and after the sales process. That is what we assure our customers and that’s what we offer our international partners.

“For us, service is not so much a department or a buzzword; it’s an ethos that runs through the entire organization. The philosophy serves as a guide to every member of our team and determines how we react, respond to, and interact with our customers. Not only when an issue crops up, but in every transaction and interaction taking place.”

The Group’s portfolio comprises seven companies operating in a number of sectors that are critical to Nigeria’s sustained development; agriculture, power generation, transportation, software d e v e l o p m e n t , communication, ICT infrastructure, and renewable energy.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 —25

New treatment options for breast, prostate cancer

By Sola Ogundipe

P

ROSTATE cancer is the most frequent malignant tumour in men, and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Nigerian men, but screening is not a common practice.

A study carried out at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu on urological cases showed that over a 13-year period, there was a total of 847 new prostate cancer cases compared to 103 new bladder cancers. Others were: urethral cancer - eight new cases, ureteric cancers - seven new cases, and kidney cancers - 74 new cases.

Breast cancer constitutes another major public health issue globally, with over one million new cases diagnosed annually, resulting in over 400, 000 annual deaths and about 4.4 million women living with the disease.

The five-year survival rates for breast cancer patients in the United States exceed 85 percent, in Nigeria it is a dismal 10 percent.

It also affects one in eight women during their lives and is the most common cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide.

Breast cancer is responsible for 16 percent of all cancer related death in Nigeria.

Relief

But relief has come the way of patients of prostate cancer and breast cancer in Nigeria as local and international health service providers are collaborating to provide to an integrative treatment approach to tackle the menace of the disorders within the populace.

In its efforts to reach a wider population, Life Medical Spa and Specialist Centre, is collaborating

• From left: Prof. Ben Pfeiffer; Dr. Ijeoma E. Mbadiwe, and cancer medication with Prof. Ben Pfeifer, Professor and Director for Research and Development, Aeskulap International Lucerne, Switzerland with respect to providing an integrative treatment approach to prostate and breast cancer.

Already, the parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, and personal patient consultations have begun, says Medical Director, Life Medical Spa and Specialist Centre, Dr Ijeoma E. Mbadiwe.

“Cancer should be likened to a home on fire with about three or more rooms involved. If you call a fire brigade, you won't want a single person to come with a small piston squirting water on the home. You will rather have 3-4 persons with powerful hoses squirting water on the fire and if possible sprinklers from the ceiling helping as well. Cancer should be attacked from several angles; conventional medicine, diet, detoxification, immune

therapy, oxygen therapy, hyperthermia treatment and phytotherapy.

She said Life Medical Spa and Specialist Centre offers a holistic approach to healthcare with a medical spa, colonic irrigation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, far infrared sauna and therapeutic massage, fertility and family planning clinics, cancer screening services, etc.

During the early stages when cancer growth is still confined to the prostate, complementary treatments in combination with standard therapy practices leads to good outcome

NACA official appointed visiting research scholar in US Varsity

By Chioma Obinna

U

• Dr. Kenneth Kalu C M Y K

NIVERSITY of Texas, Austin, the United States, has approved the appointment of an official of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Dr. Kenneth Kalu as a Visiting Research Scholar of the University.

In a letter, Prof Jacqueline Jones, said Kalu is expected to conduct research on “Foreign Aid and Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa specifically Nigeria and Ghana”.

Result of the research, which will be conducted in collaboration with other academia, is expected to proffer solutions to contemporary economic and social problems of the region.

Kalu, currently serves as Deputy Director (Finance) at the NACA “I’m excited at this great opportunity to work with accomplished academia at the University of Texas, Austin. I am very passion-

ate about developing deeper understanding of the nature and evolution of institutions in SubSaharan Africa.

“I am confident that my research at UT-Austin will draw us closer to cracking the intractable problem of weak and extractive institutions that has so far made ‘nonsense’ of almost all development efforts in the region”.

Until his new appointment, Kalu was Group Head of Economic and Business Intelligence, and Relationship Director at the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN. Director- General, NACA, Prof.

John Idoko said: “Kalu’s commitment to the development of Africa’s economic and governance institutions is infectious, and his understanding of Africa’s political economy is first-rate.”

Pfeifer is combining conventional and complementary oncological treatments to create effective therapies for patients with metastatic and castration resistant prostate cancer and metastatic breast disease.

Further, Mbadiwe notes that the integrative approach includes basic complementary treatment measures such as dietary and life style changes, specific physical therapy and exercise programmes, psycho-oncology measures, hyperthermia and fever therapies, detoxifying treatments, enzyme therapy and specifically designed medical treatments utilising various plant derived preparations (phytotherapy) tailored to individual patients.

On his part, Pfeiffer says present day potential therapies such as radical prostatectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatment only make sense as long as the cancer is confined to the prostate and metastasis has not developed.

“Unfortunately, these treatment methods lead in a high percentage of cases to unacceptable and permanent side effects for instance, erectile impotency in 60 - 100 percent, urinary incontinence in 10 - 30 percent of patients etc.

“Furthermore with regards to cure, the results of treatments by these invasive methods are still unsatisfactory; recurrence rates being between 20 - 30 percent.”

The expert notes that there is presently still no cure for metastatic prostate cancer, castration resistant or hormone refractory prostate cancer and the testosterone ablation therapies such as orchidectomy or the administration of LHRH agonists and anti androgens frequently only achieve short term tumour control (months to few years).

Long-term results

Pfeiffer says long term results are unsatisfactory and most prostate cancer patients become hormone refractory. “At this stage there is often fast progression of the disease and metastasis

develops and finally leads to death.“ Unpleasant and often permanent side effects and high rate of treatment failure leads to an ever increasing demand for complementary therapies by patients with prostate cancer and breast cancer.

“Often patients' expectations of such treatments are too high. In particular, complementary treatments should not replace the potentially curative methods such as radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy.

“During the early stages of the disease when cancer growth is still confined to the prostate, complementary treatments in combination with standard therapy practices leads to good outcome. During the hormone refractory stage of the disease, however, complementary treatments have gained significance due to its low toxicity and better results.”

Therapies

Pfeiffer states that the so called "Gold -Standard" therapies for breast cancer include cancer removing surgery, usually combined with adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation treatment and/or endocrine therapy afterwards. “Although this treatment sequence is effective for most of the patients, about a third or more of the women with breast cancer will see their disease progress and become metastatic.

If metastatic bone disease is present, then treatment with bisphosphonates or osteoclast inhibitors will often be added.”

“Experience shows that each patient with advanced and metastatic breast cancer responds differently, even if the disease history and the tumour markers are relatively similar. Over the years, Aeskulap International centre has been able to develop a treatment algorithm which considers various patient data and allows a tailor-made treatment programme for each patient, including combinations of the following phytotherapy; Aeskulap-MCP, Aeskulap-CAStatin, Aeskulap-Artemisinin among others.

26—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

PETITION: Senate mulls suspension of Mararafa, Hunkuyi, 4 others •We

'll send you packing on Tuesday, Sen. Mararafa tells Saraki, Ekweremadu, others

•Saraki: Senate President

•Ekweremadu: Embattled Deputy Senate President

By Joseph Erunke

A

S the Senate prepares for resumption next week, Tuesday, plans have been concluded by the leadership of the legislature to place six senators on suspension over their involvement in the recent petition to the police over alleged forgery of Senate rules.

The six senators who have been accused of breaching the rule of not just the Senate in particular

C M Y K

•Marafa: Petitioned Police

•Hunkuyi: Against amendment of Senate rules

but also the National Assembly in general, are expected to be placed on indefinite suspension pending the submission of an investigation into allegations against them, expected to be read on Tuesday.

Two senators close to the leadership of the Senate, who spoke to Vanguard but preferred not to be mentioned, said the six senators were found to have been actively involved in the petition

to the Nigeria Police, alleging forgery of the Senate Standing Rule, a development they said, was against the legislative immunity the National Assembly has.

Two of the senators, who are not only ranking in status but had also been in several sensitive committees in the previous assembly, said the suspension which will be effected during next Tuesday’s plenary, would follow a motion to be raised by one of

the senators loyal to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

The motion will call on the Senate to look into the allegation of forgery of Senate Rule by some members and subsequent petition to the police for investigation, which they noted, resulted in the current crisis in the legislature.

At this point, he said the six suspected senators, all of who are die-hard loyalists of Senator Ahmad Lawan, who lost his senate presidency bid to Senator Saraki, would be placed on indefinite suspension, after which they will be subsequently directed to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which according to him, would be named in the early hours of Tuesday’s plenary, to defend the allegation.

All the six senators, visibly among who are senators Kabiru Marafa, representing Zamfara Central and Suleiman Hunkuyi, representing Kaduna North, are not only from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC , but also from the Senate Unity Forum, a group of senators who are against the emergence of Senator Saraki, as Senate President.

“Some senators who lost their bid to be in the Senate leadership have decided that we must not settle down for legislative business which we were in the first place elected here to do and we are not going to allow this continue. We have tolerated distraction enough but I can tell you that all these will come to an end as we resume.

“We have decided on what to do in order to move forward and first among the actions we are taking immediately from Tuesday, is to suspend these renegades in our midst.

"In spite of our rule which forbids our issues being taken outside of the legislature, some people have gone to ridicule us and we must not allow this to continue if the National

Who is Senate leadership? There is nothing like that in the 8th Senate. What you have is a group of persons occupying those offices against the rules of the Senate and the Nigerian Nation! Tell them dem no fit!

Assembly, especially the Senate, which we have known in the past few years must be allowed to work for Nigerians,” the source said.

Saraki, Ekweremadu must go But in a swift reaction to the alleged impending suspension, spokesman for the pro-Lawan senators, Senator Kabiru Marafa, dismissed the alleged action as the ranting of ants, vowing that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu as well as other principal officers in the Senate leadership would be sent parking on Tuesday, July 28, when the upper legislative chamber resumes.

Marafa asked people not to believe yet that there was a leadership in place in the Senate, saying a proper leadership would be put in place when the Red Chamber reconvenes next week just as he said Saraki and his three colleagues were occupying illegal offices that according to him, would soon be swept off their feet.

Asked whether he was aware of their alleged impending suspension by the Senate leadership, Senator Marafa, in a terse text message to Vanguard, responded: “Who is Senate leadership? There is nothing like that in the 8th Senate. What you have is a group of persons occupying those offices against the rules of the Senate and the Nigerian Nation! Tell them dem no fit!”

The Senate is expected to name the various committees next week with their membership after which it will start full legislative business, having been on a self-imposed recess.

Chapter XIII, ( 97) -(1) (a) of the Senate Rule says: “There shall be a committee to be known as Committee of Selection appointed at the commencement of the life of the Senate to perform the functions allocated to it by these rules, and for such other matters as the Senate may from time to time refer to it. “(b) The Committee on Selection shall consist of the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Senate Majority Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Majority Leader, Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and the Deputy Minority Whip. “ (c) the President shall be the Chairman of the Committee of Selection and in his absence, the Deputy President; (d) nominating senators to serve on committees to consider any special matters brought before the Senate.”

It will be recalled that Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, representing Kaduna North on the platform of the ruling APC had petitioned the police, alleging substitution of the Senate Rule without the authorization of the Senate.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015—27

NASS: APC chieftains whose influence can end crises

By Charles Kumolu

DESPITE being accused of allowing the crises rocking both chambers of the National Assembly to fester, some leading voices in the All Progressives Congress, APC, are believed to posses the magic wand needed to prevent the now rambunctious legislature from derailing

A

FTER months in which party leaders have prevaricated in the name of loyalty and indiscipline, it is expected that those, who wield influence decisively engage in trouble shooting for public good.

It is so given the obvious inability of the legislators to find a common ground thereby taking the crisis to epic proportion at the expense of the business of law making.

Those whose influence can help to urgently resolve the festering National Assembly crises include President Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun; Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Senator Ahmad Lawan and Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila among others.

Ironically, most of these leading voices being looked upon had been variously accused of remotely dragging the party to this critical point.

In the thinking of many, the APC found itself at the crossroads because of the failure of these leaders to take advantage of the time lag between March 28, 2015 when it won the presidential election and June 9 when the National Assembly had its leadership elections, to chart a course for the lawmakers.

It is this belief in their influential capacity which cut across ethnic, religious and party boundaries that informed the latest thinking among observers that except they get involved, the APC crisis would in no distant time become an existential problem.

Time for concessions Speaking in that regard, President of the Coalition For Good Governance and Accountability, Comrade Michael Agbazilo, told C M Y K

•Buhari: Indifferent?

•Tinubu: Party is supreme

•Saraki: Senate President

•Oyegun: Party chairman

•Atiku: Power broker

•Dogara: House Speaker

Vanguard : ‘’APC leaders need to act now, else, the party would be doomed. The Senate will resume plenary next week and the crisis is escalating by the day. The leaders in question here are the actual people who can stop this madness. ‘’I am not in doubt that if they apply the principle of collective guilt, the madness will be resolved for the sake of Buhari, who is the only Nigerian President who has exhibited the willingness to serve. My submission does not mean that other ongoing peace moves like that of the governors' committee will not yield result.

However, we should not lose sight of the fact that the governors often have parochial interest. Battles are hardly won at the war front, so this is the time for dialogue and concession. Every camp should make sacrifices for the issues at stake to be addressed.”

Buhari Being a man of principled disposition, no one expected Buhari to have his imprints on the matter particularly having said earlier that he was going to work with whoever emerges as leaders of the NASS.

However, in the argument of some, the President’s neutrality in no small ways, may have added up to the scale of the impasse.

In putting forward this position, analysts relied on past instances when former President Olusegun Obsanjo, even at the risk of desecrating the doctrine of separation powers, had influence in who became what in the NASS. It is in that light that some want the President to cautiously wade in to make a difference in the crises that could have devastating effect on the direction of his administration.

As the leader of the party, reining in would also put to rest the feelings that he is being indifferent to an issue that may constitute a mortal dent on the APC. Atiku Atiku was alleged to have backed Saraki and Dogara against the wish of party chieftains on allegations that his presidential aspiration

Battles are hardly won at the war front, so this is the time for dialogue and concession. Every camp should make sacrifices for the issues at stake to be addressed

received less support from certain party leaders.

Though the former Vice President had distanced himself from the emergence of the duo, some still hold contrary opinion. Not even when he was among the few core party chieftains, who congratulated the duo when they emerged in the controversial contests.

As his party was contesting the legitimacy of the elections, Atiku congratulated Saraki, admonishing him to see their elections beyond narrow interests.

Discountenancing allegations against him, Atiku maintained that it is legitimate for individuals to pursue their interest. He is seen by observers as a high impact member of the APC whose decisive involvement could ensure normalcy.

Analysts see him as wielding the political appeal required to pioneer private and public dialogue towards saving APC. Tinubu No matter what some think of him, Tinubu has become legendary in Nigerian politics, particularly following his immense contribution to the sustenance of multi-party democracy since 1999.

Ever since the crises started, Tinubu, who had favoured the party ’s choice of Senator Ahmad Lawan and Gbajabiamila as Senate President and House Speaker respectively, had never hidden his support for party supremacy on the matter.

Given the fact that he boasts of inestimable leverage on party matters, the former Lagos State governor is key to the search for peace.

In looking up to him at this time, observers maintain that the APC national leader should not stand and watch helplessly while the party they built is being threatened by avoidable controversies and mudslinging that might lead to disintegration. Hence, the unanimous call on him to rise to the challenges of returning the party to the path of sanity and discipline in order to restore the confidence reposed in it by Nigerians.

Tambuwal As someone, who emerged under similar circumstance as the speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011, Tambuwal is better placed to know how best to wriggle out of the attendant legislative crises.

Aside that, he is still seen as a rallying point in the House, a situation that had manifested in the various trouble-shooting and perhaps unseen roles he played in the imbroglio.

Having congratulated the NASS leadership after the contest, many were hardly in doubt about where he stood on

Continues on page 29

28—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

T

HE political atmosphere in Abia state is assuming an interesting dimension as the opposition parties in the state appear set to take the game to the ruling PDP in the governance of the state.

Abia has been a state where the presence of opposition parties are mostly felt during electioneering and disappears after, but the situation have changed with the results of the 2015 general elections in which the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) nearly outwitted the ruling PDP in the state.

While nothing is being heard from the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and Labour Party (LP) the APGA and All Progressives Congress (APC) are threatening to take over power in the state. There has been this belief that Abia State is always there for the PDP to take in every election and before now, the PDP had all seats in the 24-member House of Assembly. However, the situation has changed. Now, PDP has 13 seats in the House while APGA won 11.

Except for the period between May 2007 to July 2010 when the PPA ruled the state during the first tenure of former Governor Theodore Orji; the PDP has held sway in the governance of Abia state since the return of democracy in 1999.

Return of democracy There was a time in Abia when 99 per cent of politicians in the state belonged to the PDP. Many chieftains of APGA and APC such as Chief Tony Ukasanya who was the first Abia PDP chairman; former PDP BoT member, Chief Ben Apugo; former Speaker, Sir Stanley Ohajuruka; Dr. Nyerere Anyim; former SSG, Ralph Egbu, Chief Ikechi Emenike , Hon. Acho Obioma, a former PDP member of the House of Representatives, were members of the PDP. At the 2015 polls, many PDP chieftains, including the state chairman of the party, Senator Emma Nwaka, lost their state constituencies to the opposition.

The list include former Minister of Labour of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; former minister of State, Defence, Col. Austin Akobundu (Ikwuano); Prince Vincent Ogbulafor (Umuahia South); Chief Uzo Azubuike (Aba North); Chief Onyema Ugochukwu (Umuahia North); Chief Ukpai Agwu Ukpai (Ohafia South); Hon. Agwu U. Agwu (Arochukwu) and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Umunneochi) among others.

Thus, the opposition parties seem to have realized the need to exert their influence. While the APC in the state has been swimming in the euphoria of being the new ruling party at the

•Ikpeazu: Abia State governor

•Otti: APGA governorship candidate

ABIA: APC, APGA take game to PDP SINCE the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, opposition parties in Abia state have been identified with cameo appearances particularly during elections. The status of Abia as a state where the winner takes all has changed with the result of the 2015 general elections. federal level, the PDP seems bent consolidating its hold on power in the state.

APC’ll take over in 2019 – Ohajuruka Said an APC chieftain and former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Sir Stanley Ohajuruka, “Our party is in power at the federal level, nobody should be afraid of anyone in Abia state. APC is the main opposition party in Abia state. The APC has all it takes to win the governorship seat in 2019; PDP is occupying the position temporarily. If not for what they did at the elections, APC would have won the governorship seat and majority seats in the House of Assembly.

We will take over power in the state in 2019.

State chairman of the APC, Donatus Nwankpa who explained that his party now has the right calibre of persons to win elections in the state, insisted that APC would only be engaged in constructive criticisms and calling the government to order when it goes wrong.

We doubt Ikpeazu’s sincerity –APGA His APGA counterpart, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, has carpeted the Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s government saying it doubts the vision, seriousness and sincerity of the administration in most of the actions, policies, and programmes it has

If Abia’s financial state is healthy, why are Abia workers still being owed months of accumulated salary arrears while pensioners have been completely ignored and forgotten?

embarked upon.

Ehiemere, who addressed a press conference in Umuahia, said his party is appalled by the refusal of the PDP-led government to disclose the true financial position of the state to the people, particularly the amount owed to banks and other financial institutions by the outgone Theodore Orji ‘s administration. “If Abia’s financial state is healthy, why are Abia workers still been owed months of accumulated salary arrears while pensioners have being completely ignored and

forgotten? Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu reneged on his campaign promise and disappointed Abians by refusing to pay Abia workers on or before 24th June as he pledged, and has continued to make unholy claims on the radio as if the welfare of the suffering Abia workers does not matter. The claim by the governor that he has slashed his salary which is not up to one million naira, and yet refuses to talk about his security vote which stands at a whopping N750 million monthly is a huge betrayal of Abians, especially the highly indebted and suffering Abia workers. “ Opposition to weak to dislodge PDP – Chukwu, Dep gov Reacting to the claims of the opposition parties, Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Ude Oko Chukwu told Vanguard: “We don’t have any opposition capable of dislodging the PDP in Abia State. I don’t want to mention names but which of the parties can stand the PDP? Abia is a PDP state; there is no other party here. In Abia, opposition parties only exist to make up the numbers; don’t mind the noise they have been making.

They came back for the elections and very soon, you won’t hear them again till the next elections. Some of these people who are making noise in other parties are members of the PDP who left as a result of the fallout of the party’s primaries.

They took their decision in the heat of anger and men who take such decisions are bound to always make mistakes. PDP is still one big family with its structures intact and firmly rooted across the 17 local councils of the state.”

State Legislature: With the nature of the state legislature where PDP has 13 members to APGA’s 11, pundits who expected that the election of the Speaker would have been a tough battle between the two parties, were proved wrong as Hon. Martin Azubuike (PDP/ Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency), emerged unopposed as Speaker. Efforts by Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri (APGA/ Umunneochi state constituency) to emerge Deputy Speaker, failed as he was defeated by Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe (PDP/Bende North state constituency).

Turbulent assembly

Fears that the state may witness a turbulent Assembly as the ruling PDP has no clear majority in the House, cannot be overlooked. Political analysts opine that the situation may affect the governor’s programmes.

Commenting on the situation in a telephone chat with Vanguard, Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Martin Azubuike, said that the legislature is an institution where members cooperate to perform their duties to ensure good governance of the state as anything less would be a disappointment to the people.

As the opposition parties struggle with the ruling PDP for the control of the politics of the state, it remains to be seen who gets the upper hand at the end of the day, but it is clear that the face of politics in the state has changed.

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015—29

their rights to choose their leaders before other youths believed to be APC supporters from Jos North stormed the venue.

The youths carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No to Councils Dissolution”, “Bring Back our Chairman and Councillors”, “Lawyer Lalong, a lawbreaker”, “Lalong, we no go gree”, “Lalong is another Boko Haram on the Plateau” among others, were chased away by the alleged APC youths while the security agents stood helpless.

Plateau's House of commotion

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

W

HEN the people of Plateau State went to the polls to vote Governor Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress, APC, into power in the last general elections, they earnestly desired the promised change.

But two months into the administration of Governor Lalong, there seems to be a rethink as to whether or not the right decision was made.

After the initial euphoria of assuming power, the governor made few appointments which gladdened the hearts of the people of the state.

As soon as the governor settled down for business, his administration set up committees to look into the activities of his predecessor, Jonah Jang.

The action was greeted with mixed reactions especially among the electorate.

When the Plateau State House of Assembly was set to elect its principal officers last month, the tension the exercise generated called for the governor’s intervention due to the deadlock in the choice of the speaker of the House.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with 13 of the 24 members could not produce the speaker and the intervention of concerned stakeholders saw the emergence of Mr. Peter Azi of the APC, which has 11 members, as the speaker.

This was a pointer that the Assembly may not be independent and many in the opposing PDP were miffed and are currently regretting the situation where the majority could not close ranks to produce the speaker of the House.

Dissolution of councils As expected, there has been no serious reaction from the House to any of the Governor’s actions except the recent dissolution of the local councils’ chairmen and councillors and constituting the yet to be named Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the 17 councils.

Many citizens criticized the governor, who is a lawyer by profession, for scorning his constituency as a court had ordered him to stay action on the dissolution but the State Government appealed to a higher court to quash the order of the lower court.

Why I dissolved councils – Gov Lalong To give credence to his action, the governor, who had earlier

C M Y K

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with 13 of the 24 members could not produce the speaker and the intervention of concerned stakeholders saw the emergence of Mr. Peter Azi of the APC, which has 11 members, as the speaker

stated he was advised by his Transition Committee to dissolve the chairmen because they were “not ready” to work with him later stressed that the chairmen were corrupt hence the need to dissolve them.

Armed with his conviction, the administration compiled a list of Transition Committee Chairmen who will take over the leadership of the councils from the various Directors of Personnel Management, DPMs, who were holding fort since the sacked chairmen.

House fails to discuss council dissolution When the State Assembly through the 13 PDP members wanted to discuss the situation due to the tension it has generated, Speaker Azi noted that the issue was in court and could not be discussed on the floor of the House.

At the time the APC-led administration concluded plans to announce the names of the caretaker committees, a letter was sent to the House and an attempt by the Speaker to read the letter at plenary last Tuesday caused commotion as the 13 PDP members who are against the dissolution kicked against the action reminding the Speaker that “the case is in court.”

Rowdy session The House went into a rowdy session as the Speaker was prevented from the reading the said letter and the plenary adjourned to the following day though the plenary did not hold and none gave any reason for it.

•Lalong: Plateau State governor

Discussing council dissolution is illegal –PDP lawmakers Speaking on the issue, Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Yusuf Gagdi; Majority Leader, Mr. Daniel Dem and 11 other members of the PDP described “the attempt by the Speaker to smuggle the issue of the constitution of the Caretaker committee” for deliberation of as “illegal.”

They said they “will not allow illegality to be done in the Assembly since the issue of dissolution of the chairmen is still in the court of law.”

APC, PDP youths in free-forall Amid the commotion in the House, some youths said to be loyal to the sacked chairmen and councillors staged a rally to protest the dissolution but the protest turned rowdy as youths said to be loyal to the APC attacked them in front of the State Assembly, the venue of the protest.

The youths believed to be PDP loyalists kicking against the dissolution had earlier gathered in front of the State Assembly saying the dissolution was a breach of

Lalong can’t dissolve councils Speaking with Vanguard, a protester, Wangbe Njim, who is the councillor representing Seri Ward, Kanke Local Council said, “Lalong has no power to dissolve us, the people gave us the mandate like they gave him.

“President Buhari cannot dissolve governors. Lalong must obey the law. By the power of the law, we must have our seats and complete our tenure.”

Similarly, a youth leader, James Nyam added: “We are not happy with the situation because the politicians do not consider how it will affect the masses. These people were elected the same way the governor was and he promised to work with them for the good of the state.

“We are not here for violence but to express our dissatisfaction and appeal to the governor to see reason and recall the chairmen and their councillors so that governance can continue at the grassroots.”

Though no life was lost in the fracas but the protest ended in disarray as the youths engaged in a free for all while security men turned the blind eye.

With the development, concerned citizens are worried, asking if the needed “change” will be seen or impunity will continue to be the order of the day.

NASS: APC chieftains whose influence can end crises Continues from page 27 the matter.

Tambuwal had said the emergence of Saraki and Dogara indicated that democracy had come of age in Nigeria and that the doctrine of the independence of the legislature is gradually taking firm root.

Oyegun Despite the presence of some powerful party figures, the buck stops on Oyegun’s desk as the national chairman.

It is this incontrovertible notion that attracted blames to him immediately after the controversial polls. He was

accused of allowing the leadership crises to fester to the point where Saraki and Dogara routinely ignored party directives.

Having committed so much to the eventual victory of the party at the presidential election, Oyegun is one of the strong forces and rallying points needed to ensure that all grievances are amicably resolved.

Saraki To observers, any peace move in the party would be meaningless if the Senate President, who is the central character plays less decisive role.

Being at the centre of the

impasse gives him all the aces to end or aggravate the crisis.

Apart from his position, Saraki, as a big player in the polity with influence beyond party lines, has the requisite contacts and power to salvage the party.

Dogara Like Saraki, an end to the impasse may not be in sight if Dogara and his opponents fail to have a point of convergence through sacrifice and concession.

As a way out, he recently insisted that principal offices be shared according to NASS tradition which is always guided by the principle of federal character.

30 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

When MAMA brought Durban to standstill

By Benjamin Njoku

I

f there’s one thing that those who attended this year ’s MTV Africa Music Awards went home with, it’s the fact that the project has sustained its laudable mission of shining global spotlight on African music and creativity.

Like the previous editions, this year ’s MAMA, which held amidst pomp last Saturday in Durban, South Africa, was a re-affirmation of the organizers’ resolve to use the platform to promote peace and unity in Africa.

The project, which started five years ago, has indeed, grown in leaps and bounds, bringing both African and international music stars in one venue to celebrate their creativity.

According to Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks(VIMN) Africa, organizers of the awards ceremony, “Africa is a continent of the now and the future; tonight was a testament to that. MAMA 2015 represented and reflected the abundant amount of creativity and passion this continent breeds.”

Describing MTV Base’s journey after ten years as “amazing”, Okosi said, “We have helped to redefine the African youth, culture, space and music.

We worked so hard to elevate our continent to the global audience, creating more camaraderie within the African continent, where we have African artistes come together to perform beyond their local performances, do collaborations with their counterparts from other countries of Africa. It’s quite incredible and we want to continue in that trend,using our platform to promote youth culture and music in Africa.”

The awards ceremony, which strives to unite Africans through music, temporarily brought the C M Y K

*American singer, Ne-Yo and Seyi Shay performing on stage at MAMA 2015

*OC Ukeje and his South African colleagues

*MAMA 2015 host, Anthony Anderson walking the red carpet coastal city of Durban, to a standstill. It had A-list artistes from across the continent shining brightly on the night which was dedicated to the celebration of the best of the best in African music scene.

Nigeria dominated this year ’s MAMA again, carting away seven awards.

These went to P-Square (Artiste/Group of the Decade), D’Banj (Mama Evolution), Mavins (Song of the Year), Patoranking (Best New Act), Davido (Best Male Act) and Yemi

*Some of the celebrities walking the red carpet Alade (Best Female Act).

Davido won the same award last year. The ‘Aye’ crooner beat his South African counterpart, AKA, Diamond from Tanzania,

Yabatech student crowned Miss Palmchat

Ghanaian Sarkodie and Wizkid to clinch the trophy.

Other winners were Diamond Platnumz (Best Live), DJ Arafat (Best Francophone), Ary (Best

Lusophone), Nicki Minaj (Best International Act), Sibusiso Mavundla and Saran Kaba Jones (MTV Base leadership award).

Continues on page 31

Robotic medicine: Healer or Killer?

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 —31

Ebonylife’s Meet & Greet unites Buhari with Nigerians in diaspora T

he street of the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., burst at the seams with highly enthusiastic and passionate young Nigerians who came out in their numbers to attend the EbonyLife TV Meet & Greet interactive session with President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) in commemoration of the President’s historic visit to the United States of America .

Guests at the high-level security, but well attended

event, consisted of young technocrats and professionals across a wide gamut of career and business endeavours, who had the rare opportunity of sitting face to face with Mr. President in an atmosphere of intricate and unique decor, joie de vivre and sheer patriotism set in motion by a highly emotional rendition of Nigeria’s national anthem.

One after the other, guests were briefly allowed to introduce themselves and

*President Muhammadu Buhari at the interactive session with Ebonylife CEO, Mo’Abudu express their warm wishes for a new Nigeria while the President listened with rapt and patriarchal attention.

Wishes were variegated and poignant, ranging from a desire to see a more secure nation and enabling environment for business foreign direct investment, to a corruption-free and revamped economy and support for the building of a burgeoning creative economy.

The President, who was accompanied to the event

What MAMA has done for African music stars Continues from page 30 South Africa and Nigeria shared this year ’s Best collaboration award which went to AKA, Das Les, JR and Burna Boy for the song “All Eyes On Me.” The contribution of artistes from Portuguese

and French-speaking Africa was also recognized in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories

which went to Ary (Angola) and DJ Arafat (Ivory Coast) respectively.

Hosted by Emmy award

with Governors Rochas Okorocha, Adams Oshiomole, Abiola Ajimobi, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi; Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Professor Ade Adefuye; Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele; Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu; Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, among other special

dignitaries, responded by thanking the channel and the Diaspora young professionals for according him the opportunity of the interactive session.

He also took the opportunity to express his appreciation to the President of the United States of America for the visit, as well as to leaders of other Western and African countries for their overwhelming goodwill and support for Nigeria and his administration.

nominated actor, Anthony Anderson, the awards coincided with Mandela Day. Anderson held the 5,000 audience that thronged the event venue spell bound with his lively humour, engaging charisma and unexpected outfit changes.

American acts Ne-Yo and Jhené Aiko were the headlining acts. But it was African singers including AKA, Bucie, K.O, Black Motion, P-Square, Cassper Nyovest, Black Motion and Diamond Platnumz who set the stage on fire with their

electrifying performances.

On the red carpet, Bonang and D’banj made their romance public as they stepped out together, walking the red carpet and locking lips during the live broadcast.

Apart from the awards presentation, the event was spiced up with performances. One of the memorable performances on the night, was the one involving American singer, Ne-Yo and our own Seyi Shay. The two singers got the audience screaming with excitement as they performed a rehearsed duet of Ne-Yo’s ‘Coming With You’ track. Also, 2face, performed his evergreen song, “African Queen”,alongside South African RnB and House singer, Bucie. His performance got everyone dancing and singing along with him.

Thereafter, Yemi Alade pairing up with a Kenyan Afro-pop band, took the stage and gave a remarkable performance.

But a glowing stint came from D’banj and Artist of the Decade winners, PSquare, featuring hit tracks “Personally”, and “Shekini.” D’banj’s performing his “O’liver Twist” song set the stage on fire, leaving the audience yearning for more.

It was a colourful event which was dotted with electrifying performances and unique collaborations, thus lighting up the serene atmosphere that pervades the coastal city of Durban.

Yabatech student crowned Miss Palmchat

By Juliet Ebirim

A

fmobi Limited recently crowned Yabatech student, Miss Monah Chime as Miss Palmchat 2014. The event which was anchored by comedian, Omobaba took place in YabaTech, Lagos.

Koga entertainment artistes, Zayo and Dris were present and they wowed the audience consisting mostly of students, with electrifying performances.

The beauty contest was a six months online campaign hosted by the fast growing instant messaging App, Palmchat. The campaign enjoyed a lot of publicity on both mainstream and social media as Monah fans follow her with about 1,873,510 votes which enable her to come out in the first round of the competition to beat a student of Nigeria Open University, Miss

•Monah Chime Uzondu Uba. Afmobi Nigeria the umbrella company of Palmchat app handed Monah Chime keys to a brand new Hyundai i10 as the grand prize for winning the pageant.

The Palmchat Country

Manager Mr Henry Ikwuemesi said the Miss. Palmchat 2014 contest was a huge success and his team hoped for an even greater recall on 2015 campaign.

“We saw a lot of people download and sign up on Palmchat app while the Miss. Palmchat campaign was running last year, we do not want to lose that steam so this year we’ll push even harder for a better Miss.

Palmchat contestant that will give us an even greater campaign recall”.

Fielding questions from media persons at the event, Marketing and Business Development Director, Afmobi Ltd,Mr. Mounir Boukali said that what Palmchat hopes to achieve is a huge online community with all the support services that will create a true ecosystem where people interact with each other and with their favorite service providers’ on-the-go.

32— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Maternal healthcare must be affordable

Dr Naheem Ekemode was the Director, Lagos state Hospital Management Board before it was dissolved under the Fashola administration. He tucks almost five decades of experience under his belt. The UK- trained Obs/Gyn specialist discusses with Lipstick on why maternal healthcare should be a priority.

Dr Naheem Ekemode

T

here is an ongoing campaign with the aim of legalizing abortion in Nigeria through the back door under the pretext of fighting maternal mortality.

We frown at a lot of things that the religions are against but we don’t look at certain modern realities and this question of abortion comes under that. When I was doing my postgraduate training, Britain was one of the first countries that legalized abortion and they had a lot of reasons for that. Those reasons are not peculiar to Britain. Since I was going to work in their maternity unit we had to sign a contract that said when you are there you will be able to carry out abortions.

And if you refused?

Then you will not get the job.

For instance the Irish were against it so they had problems. There were a lot of legal battles and as a result when you are competing with an Irish in a gynaecological post they are disadvantaged.

The reasons why they legalized abortion was that there was a lot of quackery.

They had lots of unwanted pregnancies. People were reckless and they had a big social problem. You have to look at the reality at that time.

You had a lot of young girls; they got pregnant and they

could not get it terminated so Britain had to take the bull by the horn. Two, they had a lot of complications out of abortions that were not done properlyinfections, perforations of the womb, excessive bleeding and all these led to a higher mortality rates. They studied it and found the only way was to legalize abortion.

Should that be recommended in all countries? If it worked in

Britain, does it mean it will work here?

It had to be recommended.

You didn’t just go and have one just like that. The GP will recommend you then the gynaecologist will look at it and assess the situation and sometimes they even have to bring in a psychiatrist to assess the psycological situation and so on. At least two or three doctors will have to sign. At that time (between 1975-1980) Britain was about the only country in the whole of Europe that legalized abortion so you found there was an influx from Europe and even the oil-rich Arab countries. We had to counsel the patients.

When I got to Nigeria I was walking along the corridors of power. The government at that time agreed that there was need to legalize abortion but both the Christians and the Moslems were strongly against it.

But is there any real scientific link between quack abortions and high mortality rates in Nigeria?

Many cases were even rushed to my hospital in those days with a quack almost pulling out the intestines of a patient bleeding heavily.

Government did not legalize it but closed their eyes to it.

They didn’t witchhunt the doctors that were doing abortions. They give doctors free reign to operate but when you run into trouble they will quote the law for you. They don’t screen and that to a great extent reduced the effect of it on the maternity rate. The government realizes

There were a lot of legal battles and as a result when you are competing with an Irish in a gynaecological post they are disadvantaged

that it is a thing that should be done.

Shouldn’t there be more emphasis on maternal healthcare in the first place?

Access to maternal services is limited. It is probably indicative. There are few government hospitals compared to the number of the masses and when you talk of the masses they are living in the rural areas. These kind of services are not readily available. In the villages you will find babalawo that will take care of all the babies. He does not have training; he does not know his limits and as a result cases that should be referred in good time or for caesarean sections eventually die there- all sorts of complications.

In the cities still the number of hospitals are not enough and government hospitals now are not cheap. You have a lot of traditional birth attendants who are non orthodox medical practitioners- herbalists and so on even in the cities. When government realized people go to these people for maternal services they had to give them a board. They assess them, give them training, basic hygiene to avoid infection. Many of them put their hands in when delivering. And then to know their limitations. Someone who has had one or two babies they can look after but when you have complications they are supposed to refer them to the hospital. They are now being encouraged.

But people have been giving birth before Western medicine They were giving birth but in an unorthodox way. Labour is natural. You see some farmers, they take their delivery themselves in the farm. It is not all labours that will go on fine. When they have complications, how will you know? Pregnancyinduced hypertension, malpresentations, breech, transverse presentations, placenta previa, bleeding and all that; they don’t know all these. They don’t know how

Continues on page 33

VOL. 1: NO. 17

Unveiling Rashidi Ladoja

FRIDAY, JUL Y 24 , 2015 JULY

By Ola Ajayi

F

ORMER Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja is a household name in Oyo State particularly among workers and teachers in public primary and secondary schools.

Before his tenure between 2003 and 2007 was punctuated by his controversial impeachment, believed to have been masterminded by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and executed by the late Ibadan politician, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, his government was known to be workers friendly as he paid salaries regularly.

The late politician who helped Ladoja to the exalted seat however claimed then that he was dumped after Ladoja got what he wanted.

The impeachment, which the Supreme Court declared illegal and reinstated Ladoja in 2006, has created bad blood between him and his former Deputy, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala up till now. The relationship between the duo could be likened to that of a cat and a mouse.

Though, he tried hard to get the Peoples Democratic Party ticket for a second term, the party denied him and gave the

IN THIS EDITION

Why N100bn Ogun 3-year LG fund made no impact•Page 3

Rumpus in Osun Assembly over Aregbesola’s probe committee •Page 7

Though, he tried hard to get the Peoples Democratic Party ticket for a second term, the party denied him and gave the ticket to Alao-Akala who emerged as the governor of the state then in 2007

ticket to Alao-Akala who emerged as the governor of the state then in 2007.

To take his own pound of flesh, he directed his loyalists then to vote for the All Nigeria Peoples Party. While the PDP won the governorship election, the seats into the State House of Assembly were shared between the ANPP and the PDP. The impeachment, having been declared null and void by the apex court, further endeared people of the state to him.

Ladoja who is seen to be a vindictive person is yet to bury the past behind him. All entreaties made by the then PDP bigwigs to woo him back to the party failed.

Among those that tried to persuade him included Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Chief Tajudeen Oladipo, the then South West leader of the party.

Beautiful bride Still seen as a beautiful bride, the PDP, through then Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide would have chosen him as the PDP governorship candidate in the just concluded election, but for resistance of Senator Teslim Folarin and Otunba Alao-Akala who insisted he did not belong to the party .

Unperturbed, he still contested the election on the platform of Accord, the party he set up some weeks to the 2011 election.

He was seen as the favourite by people in the state among other contestants.

Even some workers threw their status as civil servants to the wind and openly campaigned for him.

But, in politics, two plus two may not be equal to four. The election was declared in favour of Governor Ajimobi.

Though, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Ladoja is challenging the result of the election at the tribunal.

C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

OYO STATE government in any part of Nigeria to build hotels. There are so many hotels everywhere but government can standardize them and collect taxes from them rather than compete with them. There are some states that wanted to please their people by embarking on projects that they cannot sustain like saying they want to give money to the unemployed rather than creating jobs. There are some states that embarked on giving free meals to pupils in school not considering that the money may dwindle in future.

Buhari: It's too early to criticise anybody — Ladoja

Period of adjustment

Former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja who was also the governorship candidate of Accord Party in the April 11 election is not a push-over in political circle. In this interview, he takes an entirely different stance on the salary cut by President Muhammadu Buhari and other national issues. Excerpts:

By Ola Ajayi

O

N President Muhammadu Buhari

pace It is too early to criticize anybody. It is much too early.

He has not yet spent 100 days out of more than 1,500 days so why are you criticizing somebody in less than threemonths. You cannot expect somebody that has not been in government for quite sometime to know all the doors in government to open at the same time.

The man had been there before and he is calculating every step he takes. I think we should allow him to have his way. In six months time, we can assess whether he has done well or not. We cannot assess him in one month.

Service chiefs He has to take stock as a new man there and he has started putting in place service chiefs.

We should not be in a hurry.

He cannot behave now like a military person and so he has to take his time and consider the possible effects of his action on the people.

He must also consider the effects of his actions on the legislature and the judiciary. All these organs must agree with you in a democracy. By and large, I want to believe that President Buhari knows what he is doing and as he is getting by, he should be getting results.

Usefulness of Buhari’s US trip Mr President has his reasons for going there. Part of it, I think, is to seek support to fight Boko Haram more particularly since Boko Haram has been linked to Al-Qaeda C M Y K

and ISIS. The problem against terrorism is not only in Nigeria.It is a worldwide phenomenon and only concerted effort will break the terrorist. We may need their intelligence. We should give the president the benefit of doubt to do it his own way.

Cut in the President , VicePresident’s pay I see some of them as window dressing. If you say you cut the salaries of the National Assembly members, who knows how much they are earning?

We only know what is written in the revenue allocation commission but we don’t know what their allowances are. So, if their allowance is N30 million and salary is N5 million and you say you cut the salaries, what does that translate to? So, unless they tell us their full package and say from the total package, I am cutting it into half.

If not, just cutting my basic salaries into half, we are still

•Senator Rashidi Ladoja window dressing. We have still not learnt our lessons in politics

We cannot assess him in one month. He has to take stock as a new man there and he has started putting in place service chiefs. We should not be in a hurry

to be open and at times we take the public for a ride and we say we are doing it. Who is fooling who?

Backlog of unpaid salaries by some governors The problem varies from state to state. There are some states that did not have enough money and yet they embarked on gigantic projects. There are some states that wasted money doing projects that are unnecessary because we believe that wherever the private sector is strong, the government should not go and dabble in it particularly if it is economic issue. I do not think it is the responsibility of any

Many of these states also depend on federal allocation rather than improving their Internally Generated Revenue.

Of course, others spent the money on elections. The condition attached to the bailout is making the facts clearer.

This is a period of adjustment.

We need to provide cushion for about six months. When we left government in 2006, we left N11 billion and that was what we provided for. That even if there is any shortfall in federal allocation, we can pay salaries for three months and nobody will know that there is problem.

You can adjust your finances.

The bail-out will teach them lessons on proper management of funds. But the unpaid salaries is really causing insecurity problem in the country.

His challenge of Gov Abiola Ajimobi’s election at the Tribunal I trust in the judiciary. I know they are aware that they have 180 days to dispense the case and they have given us their assurances that they will keep to the legally stipulated time.

They may have problems here and there but we have their assurance.

N5bn ffor or re-election: Ajimobi ffaults aults Ladoja’s claim G

•Governor Abiola Ajimobi

OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has faulted the claim by former governor Rashidi Ladoja that he spent N5 billion on his re-election bid in the last April governorship poll in the state, describing the insinuation as a product of hallucination of a ‘confused politician’.

Ajimobi, in a statement by the APC’s spokesperson in the state, Mr. Olawale Sadare, stated that the rules on election spending were strictly adhered to by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state during the last elections in which people of the state gave the governor the mandate to continue his good work in office.

According to the release, any insinuation to the contrary was just a figment of the imagination and a deceitful allegation.

“Having put the historic election, which is unprecedented in the political annals of Oyo State behind, His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, is now working hard continuing his

administration’s delivery of the benefit of continuity and good governance to the electorate.

“No doubt, this reckless allegation by Senator Ladoja and his cohorts, will not distract the people’s governor from fulfilling his pact with the entire citizenry of Oyo State”.

The former governor was, however, advised to behave as a statesman who needed to concede defeat and also to be conscious of the reality on ground that another election is in the next four years, adding that the era of politicking has gone.

Ladoja who contested the governorship poll on Accord platform had during the justended Eid-el-Fitr festival alleged that Gov. Ajimobi spent N5 billion on his re-election bid.

He was speaking with some journalists in Ibadan. Ladoja is at present challenging Ajimobi’s election at the tribunal.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 — 3

OGUN STATE

Why N100bn 3-year Ogun LG fund made no impact

By Daud Olatunji

E

XACTLY three years ago, precisely on July 23,2012 , Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun swore in 19 persons as Chairmen of the various local government areas across the state.

Their swearing in took place 48 hours after the 19 of them were elected into office. The remaining one, Ipokia local government was sworn in after the State Independent Electoral Commission resolved the crisis and declared the winner.

Their swearing in was supervised by the State Chief Judge, Olatokunbo Olopade at the June 12 Cultural Centre, in Abeokuta, the state capital.

While addressing them after their inauguration, the governor charged them to see their new position as a call to service and not to enrich themselves.

Amosun warned them to urgently embark on people oriented programmes in their various local government councils. He reminded them of the expectations of the people as they were the closest government to the grassroots.

He also encouraged them to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue of their respective local governments Prior to their election and swearing in, the governor had appointed caretaker committees in all the council areas who were in charge for almost a year.

Caretaker committees Exactly three years after, the chairmen were told to vacate their seats and hand over the government properties to the Head of local governments in the areas.

To most people in the state, the crop of council chairmen failed in the people’s estimation. They were said to have failed in improving the Internally Generated Revenue of their councils, failed to develop the grassroots root and failed to execute peopleoriented programmes.

Investigation has revealed that in three years, the chairmen, put together, collected over N100 billion as federal allocation and none of them disclosed how much they realised as Internally Generated Revenue.

Findings from the Federal Ministry of Finance showed that, although, the federal allocation used to fluctuate, the least amount collected by the councils monthly was not less than N2 billion.

•Governor Ibikunle Amosun In the 36 months they spent in office, they shared N108 billion excluding the IGR from their councils.

A perusal of the published report on revenue allocation to local governments by Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, signed by former Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawal revealed that the local governments in the state have received more than N100 billion in three years.

Though, all of them did not collect same amount, non however collected less than N6 billion in three years excluding the IGR. According to the document from the Ministry of finance, all the local governments received N2.5 billion in February, N4.4 billion in November, N4 billion in December and N3.5billion and N3.4 billion were received in August a day September 2012.

In 2013, N3.9 billion was received by the councils in September while N4 billion was received in February, in March they collected N3 billion, N4 billion in November and N5 billion in June.

In 2014, N4 billion was collected from the federal government in April while N3.8 billion was collected in January and N2.6 billion was received in May. Further investigation revealed that, in 2015 the councils collected their allocation from Federal government between January

and May when they were sent parking . But, there are nothing to show that these councils bosses collected such huge amounts. The councils' Chairmen did not embark on projects like their predecessors.

While speaking on their achievements in three years, the Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota who is also Chairman of Association of Local governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Ogun State, Rotimi Rahman said they did their best. He however, said, they had constraint of fund, which he said did not allow them to achieve most of their plans.

Rahman said this while featuring on a radio programme in Abeokuta, claiming that the councils were

I want to assure you all that we will continue to ensure that what is due to all the 20 Local Government Areas of our state gets to them as at when due

broke.

According to him, the major challenge they faced was money, ‘’the Federal government is broke and it affects other tiers of government including the local governments,’’ he said.

But, he was challenged by some residents of the state who described their tenure as disastrous.

According to one Kayode Olumide; ‘’I was not impressed with the way the local governments were ran.

Nothing has been done by these people.’’ Olumide faulted Rahman on the state of rural roads, saying, the council Chairmen have failed to complement the efforts of the state government on the urban roads with rural roads.

Most people that spoke with our correspondent scored the council Chairmen low, saying, they performed below their expectation.

A former Minister, Sarafa Ishola, in his assessment of the state of local government administration in the state, said there was no meaningful programme or project embarked upon by local councils since the officials assumed office about six years ago. “I also charge you to tell me, any on-going or completed project that any of our local councils have executed in the nearly six years in office,” he said.

He said the councils fared better during the PDP administration in the state.

“We had so many roads done by the council during the PDP administration in the state.

“We had schools and health centres constructed by many of our local council chairmen in the past. How many of such can we say the current crop of chairmen in the state have handled?” he asked.

“I take this opportunity to challenge the local government administration, irrespective of the way they got there, to note that history will not judge them right if they don’t start taking infrastructural development within the context of the mandate of the people of their different areas into consideration,” he added.

However, there are unsubstantiated claims that, the state Governor, has been diverting the local governments fund.

The governor was reported to have taken the councils fund to execute some state projects on behalf of the chairmen.

A source close to the government house hinted that, the governor did not trust the chairmen that they

would not squander the money meant for the councils.

The source said, the local government fund was being supervised by the governor with a view to ensuring proper use.

It is therefore widely believed that, the governor crippled the administration of local governments. He was reported to have refused to release the fund for the chairmen. But, the governor said that he woud ensure that whatever amount was due to the local governments get to them as at when due.

Amosun, while reacting to the allegations that his administration is one of those that tamper with local governments’ funds said; “I want to assure you all that we will continue to ensure that what is due to all the 20 Local Government Areas of our state gets to them as at when due.

“It is regretful to note that while most of the local government areas in Nigeria complain of lack of funds, they also have not exploited the constitutional avenues available to them to raise their own Internally Generated Revenue”.

Years of service Meanwhile, as the chairmen bow out from office after three years of service , the state Governor has been advised to allow experienced people govern the councils.

Most people who spoke with our correspondent berated the former chairmen for not disclosing the amount they generate as IGR. One of them who was an official in a local government but, pleaded anonymity said, the governor decided to stop giving them N20 million each every month because of the appropriation.

He said the chairmen usually connive with career officers to siphon the council money.

Findings have shown that b o t h Vice-Chairm e n a n d Secretaries to the local governments were sidelined by their chairmen.

As governor Amosun plans to inaugurate caretaker committees for the councils, residents of the state have enjoined the governor to choose the most experienced and reliable people.

The governor was said to have told the former chairmen to hand over all the local government properties to the most senior officer in the councils.

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

ONDO STATE

Dealers, DPR face-off in Ondo, Ekiti states takes toll on citizens

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE – THIS is not the best of times for the Petroleum Dealers and Owners Association in Ondo and Ekiti States.

By extension motorists in the states are equally facing excruciating times due to the scarcity of petrol occasioned by a face-off between the dealers and petroleum regulatory body, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, and a special price monitoring task force in the states.

For several months, many filling stations have been sealed and their attendants whisked away by the regulatory authorities for flouting government directive to sell the product at the approved pump price of N87 per litre.

Approved pump price But, the dealers have vowed not to sell the product at the pump price of N87 per litre because they alleged it would amount to colossal loss.

Following public outcry after selling above pump price even when the scarcity was over across the states, the regulatory authorities which include the Department of Petroleum Resources DPR and the State task force on petroleum Products stormed filling stations across the two states and discovered that the dealers were actually flouting government directives.

Consequently, the DPR C M Y K

sealed off many stations across the two states and in a clean sweep arrested a good number of petrol attendants and Managers of the affected stations.

Irked by the development, the members of the dealers association sent representatives to the two bodies to explain their plight and their reason for selling above the stipulated pump price.

The bodies according to investigation refused to budge sticking to their guns that it’s either they adhere strictly to government approved price or the seals on their filling stations would remain.

Vanguard learnt that several representations were made to the regulatory bodies but all met a brick wall.

Last week, the umbrella association of dealers and owners of Petrol stations in the two states cried out that they can never under the present situation sell the product for N87 per litre.

This is coming as users of the product continue to suffer as the scarcity bites harder.

Few independent marketers who have the product not only sell at N110 per litre but also under-discharge to cheat buyers.

Findings from the regulatory bodies indicated that in many of the filling station now dispensing the product their meters had been adjusted to underdispense to unsuspecting buyers across the two states.

Vanguard was told the sharp

An idle petrol station in Akure

practice was to allow the sellers break even because of the loading and transportation cost from where they source for the product.

A new dimension it was gathered has also been introduced into the on going

Reports have it that the deal between the major marketers and the independent marketers was that the proceed from the sales are shared equally after operational cost is removed

fraud in the sale of the commodity.

Findings has equally shown that many major marketers after receiving their consignment from the NNPC divert them to filling stations owned by independent marketers to sell above pump price since they dare not sell above the approve N87 per litre.

Some of the dealers who are "considerate" divert some of the 33,000 truck load and drop some in their stations to avoid suspicion.

Reports have it that the deal between the major marketers and the independent marketers was that the proceed from the sales are shared equally after operational cost is removed.

Trucks loaded with fuel now enters the two states around 2am to divert fuel meant for major marketers to independent marketers in the state capitals and remote

towns.

South West Voice gathered that they choose to travel at that odd hours so as to avoid prying eyes more so now that commercial vehicle owners who are worse hit by the sale above pump price trail every major marketer's petrol truck that enters the states to its final destination.

Findings showed that many of such filling stations that have been moribund are now back to life as they have as much as 33,000 litre of fuel in their dump over night and are selling at N110 per litre.

Most of the major marketers in Akure, the Ondo state capital have not dispensed any product in the last one month.

Reports showed that same is operational in Ekiti state .

Those that dispensed do so maybe once in many weeks leaving consumers to buy above pump price coupled with the fraud of under dispensing by the independent marketers.

Speaking with South West Voice the Chairman of the Petroleum

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 — 5

ONDO STATE

dealers and Owners association in Ondo / Ekiti state Jimi Oladapo said they have been badly hit by the development and that government should hear them out.

Oladapo said rather than sell at a loss, it will be beneficial for them to close shop and await the time they can receive consignment from the NNPC depots that can be sold at the approved N87 per litre.

He explained that the dealers in the two states have been facing untold hardship because “ for some time now the product have not been available at the NNPC depots due to the scarcity.” Consequent our members have been sourcing for the products through other means with the attendant cost.

Adedapo told Vanguard that the true cost per litre of petrol varies from one source to another.

He pointed out that from Lagos, the cost per litre was between N96 and N100 while transportation per litre was N7 and loading expenses per litre, N1 totalling between N104 and N108 per litre.

Also, Adedapo said that from

landing cost is exclusive of operating expenses such as diesel to run the station, staff salaries and wages, strategies, office and pump maintenance.

“From the analysis, you will agree with us that it will be impossible for us to sell at the government approved price of N87.00 per litre”, Adedapo also disclosed that even when NNPC gives out fuel, the cost to them at their stations are above N89.00 per litre.

“One wonders how as businessmen with responsibilities can sell below cost price. The ordinary law of supply and demand will not allow it “.

The dealer lamented that despite the plights members of the association were going through, the regulatory authorities most especially, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), in Akure rather than facing the reality of the situation, have resorteds to sealing of stations in Ondo and Ekiti state.

They pointed out that the regulatory bodies have vowed not to open their stations until they complied with directives of selling at the government recommended price.

“Rather than running our stations at a loss, since most of us are on loan from financial institutions, we have resolved not to procure the products until it is readily available at NNPC depots” The petroleum dealers said the so call subsidy was nothing but fraud and had become a conduit pipe through which nation’s resources are being siphoned.

“Let the marketers go and source for the products, if this is done fuel cannot be up to N87.00 and it will further go down to about N50.00 due to the falling crude oil price.

“Everybody knows that kerosene is being subsidised,

•Jimi Oladapo sources from Ogara/ Warri in Delta state the product cost between N99 and N102 per litre while transportation per litre cost between N2 and N5 and loading expenses per litre N1 totalling between N105 and N108 per litre.

The dealers said rather than forcing them to sell at unrealistic price, Federal Government should deregulate the downstream oil sector to enable them sell at appropriate prices.

According to them the

The petroleum dealers said the so call subsidy was nothing but fraud and had become a conduit pipe through which nation’s resources are being siphoned

but how many people get it to buy at N50 per litre recommended price.

“We want members of the public to help us tell the Federal Government to remove the fuel subsidy so that we can sell fuel at appropriate price and remain in business. Subsidy is a fraud”, Adedapo stated.

The chairman who painted a gloomy picture of the hardship ahead asked the people of the states to prepare for the hard times because they cannot sell below the cost price.Adedapo wondered that “if the landing cost from NNPC depots is N89.00 how do they want us to sell at N87.00. That is not possible.

The association however pleaded for the understanding of the members of the public from the two states for the hardship. “ We are sorry for whatever inconveniences these actions might cost the public who may be at the receiving end,’’ he said.

Consumer protection Speaking on the face-off, the state Chairman of the Consumer protection Council (CPC) which monitors the supply of petroleum products across the state Alhaji Jimoh Bello said it is illegal for any station to sell the product above the pump price.

Alhaji Bello promised tough time for any filling station discover to sell above the N87 pump price approved by government. “ We will not hesitate to prosecute any dealer caught dispensing any of the products above the approved prices.

The chairman however denied arresting or sealing up any station in the state.

Efforts to speak with officials of the DPR in the state proved abortive as south West Voice reporter was referred to their head office for official reaction.One of the top officers in charge of Ondo/ Ekiti outlets Mr Adewole said he would need to seek the permission of his controller before granting Press interview.

Meanwhile reports indicated that petrol attendants arrested by policemen who accompanied the regulatory bodies have been released after their dealers signed an undertaking. s C M Y K

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

LAGOS STATE

•Flooded Ewenla community

Ewe-Nla community cries out over perennial flooding

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

T

HERE is a popular saying in Lagos which warns prospective tenants not to bother seeking for a new accommodation during the dry season but only in the rainy season.

The reason is simple, so that they will easily determine if the house or the area is flood prone, and whether the roof of the house is leaking when it rains or the house will be submerged when it rains.

But for the inhabitants of Ewe-Nla Community, located off popular Aro-Baba area in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, it is a tale of woes throughout the year as flood water never recede in the area.

A densely populated residential community, which C M Y K

lies on a low topography, and at every slight showers of rain, the area is thrown into chaos, as houses and other structures around will be covered in flood water, thereby, making movement of both humans and vehicles practically impossible.

helpless passer-by and residents .

The area boys will ferry anyone on their back across the water to the other side.

Water channels It was also observed that there is poor drainage system in the area which contributes immensely to their plight. The sparse water channels available are always filled with refuse and other impediments to free flow of water.

Any time it rains, some street urchins popularly called “Area boys” often cash-in on the hopeless situation by extorting money from

It was gathered that residents who could not cope with the situation had packed out of the area in their large numbers

The situation which has remained unchanged is a source of worry to residents, motorists and other road users.

It was gathered that residents who could not cope with the situation had packed out of the area in their large numbers.

Ironically, the strategic road is a link to many parts of the state, such as, Lagos Abeokuta Express road through Shasha, Ejigbo, Ikotun, Idimu, Egbeda whenever there is traffic gridlock on major highways.

The link road readily serves as an alternative to motorists.

Many structures situated directly on the flood plain have cracks on their walls as a result of distress suffered, as the buildings are often soaked in the flood water.

“Several appeals to relevant

authorities in the past had fallen on deaf ears,” Mr. Obe Ayinla, a resident lamented.

He continued, “We, (through our Community Development Association, CDA), have written several letters of complaint to Lagos State government and the council area for intervention.

All they told us was they were coming. And up till now they have done nothing. As you can see, (pointing to the flooded area), the road is impassable and our houses taken over by flood.

Government presence “The situation has paralysed business activities here, our wives are out of job, our children are often prevented from going to school. We have never enjoyed government presence here.”

Mrs. Aboiudun Alabi, also a resident, told Vanguard that the situation was hopeless.

“We are still living here because we have no place to go. My husband is no more and the only shop that I use to sell petty goods has been taken over by perennial flooding.

“We are using this opportunity to appeal to our amiable Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to have mercy on us and come to our rescue. We know he is a kind hearted man,” she pleaded

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 — 7

OSUN STATE

•Osun State House of Assembly building

By Lateef Dada

O

SOGBO – It was a rowdy session in Osun state House of Assembly when two members belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, sought representation in the committee that will probe the alleged misappropriation of funds levelled against Governor Rauf Aregbesola by a serving judge, Justice Folahanmi Oloyede.

Announcing the committee, Speaker, Rt Honourable Najeem Salam, said the allegation would be treated without fear or favour.

The committee as announced by Salaam is made up of: Owoeye Timothy, Oladoye Folorunso, Adebayo Waseeu, Akinola Olasunkanmi, Ogunsola Oyeleke, Afolabi Olalekan with Adegboye Akintunde as the Chairman.

Composition of the committee Reacting shortly after the inauguration, the member representing Ife Central, Makinde Oladejo, expressed dissatisfaction over the composition of the committee, saying the minority was excluded.

Oladejo who is the minority leader, said, “though we are not here to serve as opposition, but what are the criteria they used to compose the committee that I did not have? How would you do

Rumpus in Osun Assembly over Aregbesola’s probe committee such a thing without the opposition and the minority leader?

Stressing that all members should be carried along, Oladejo said, “though, the majority may have their way, the minority will always have their say.’’

Also, the PDP in a statement signed by Prince Diran Odeyemi, the director of media and strategy, said the “lawmakers were not clever enough by deliberately leaving out members of the opposition in the house out of the committee adding that the lawmakers were acting the script prepared by Governor Aregbesola and are now at the second stage of their plans., ‘’ According to the statement “ Osun APC lawmakers are now at the second stage of their script. The first stage was to write Aregbesola to defend

himself, the second stage would be to invite him and the petitioner. At the third stage, Aregbesola will be called to come and play to the gallery

PDP also reminded the lawmakers that the same petition they are about to gloss over is with EFCC, ICPC, Transparency International and other national and international agencies

Governor Aregbesola

in defense, they will then rubbish the petition and recommend the petitioner for disciplinary action and removal as judge.

“The whole world knows the lawmakers lack the courage to deal with the issues raised by the petitioners but they have exposed themselves as puppets and mere rubber stamps in the hands of the governor with the composition of the probe committee., “While we implore APC lawmakers to have it at the back of their minds that they will forever remain in the wrong side of history for helping the enemy of Osun people plot way out of trap he has arrogantly walked into, PDP also reminded the lawmakers that the same petition they are about to gloss over is with EFCC,

ICPC, Transparency International and other national and international agencies, who are expecting thorough investigation from the lawmakers.”

Thorough investigation However, the speaker had earlier expressed optimism in the fair outcome of the committee, saying the most qualified members were chosen.

He said; “Even if there is need to impeach the Governor, it would require two third of the members of the Assembly which if they are to vote, PDP are just two.

He said the fact that they are not in the committee does not mean there won’t be justice, saying their involvement does not add anything to the success of the committee.

C M Y K

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

OSUN STATE Oba Hammed Adekunle Makanma Oyelude is the Olowu of Owu-Kuta in Aiyedire Local Government of Osun state and Chairman Supreme Council of all Owu Obas in Nigeria and in the diaspora.

He celebrated his three years on the throne recently. A political associate of the former Nigeria military president, Ibrahim Babangida in this interview said there were 37 Owu communities scattered in different parts of the country including the East. Excerpts:

By Gbenga Olarinoye

T

HE journey so far after three years as monarch Three years down the line as the Olowu Kuta, all glory to God Almighty. I have been •Olowu’s palace having it easy. With the help of God, my friends and teeming supporters, I have been having a smooth sail.

His ascension to the throne I grew up in the North, Maiduguri and Zaria. We have four Ruling Houses and where I come from is the most senior. When I was younger, like other Princes, I was aspiring that one day, I would become a king but I never knew it would come this early.

Destiny thrust this post on me when I was hoping my boss, General Babangida would get me Federal appointment. But God gave me life time appointment instead. That made him, Babangida to write when I was made king. When the late monarch passed on, our ruling house was next to fill the stool and our leaders responsibilities and not i m p a t i e n c e , called for nominations.80% authority. I go and come back h i g h nominated me and 20% when it is time to return home. handedness. wanted another person. Those But I must admit the two are As you are •Olowu of Kuta that were not even eligible not the same life here in my aware, Owu from other ruling houses also little London and outside this was the first contested. empire formed by Oduduwa. an Owu Kuta man. Some place.

“Owu la koda”. After the moved to Ibadan in Olugbode Card carrying Any relationship between disintegration of Owu, some compound, some moved to member his Kuta and Kuta in Kogi people also joined us in Kuta Ijebu, some to Abeokuta, some here and they moved to to Epe. That was how they state?

Because of my closeness to No, or may be I have Erunmu. That is were the likes scattered. But during the life Gen. Babangida, I was stumbled on the history. of Oyelese hail from. He is an time of late Balogun of Owu, branded a PDP man. They said People in Kuta in Kogi must Owu man. Then one of the late Akin Olugbade, who I would kill Action Congress be Nupe by tribe. But our own Olubadan, Olugbode was also suggested that all Owus of Nigeria, ACN, as it was Kuta is an Owu settlement. We should come together. That then known, if I clinched the have been here since 1425. was over 20 years ago and we crown. But I told them I was formed Royal Union of Owu not a card carrying member of Things that led to People. So since then, we PDP. disintegration of Owu gather annually to deliberate.

Aregbesola refused to be kingdom?

Last year , I hosted them, this swayed and that marked the We have 37 Owu year I am hosting them also beginning of our relationship. communities in Nigeria and for two days. During the Our people are today happy about 6 in diaspora. Orile meeting, we usually deliberate and we have been enjoying Owu or you call it Owu Ipole on issues that concern us as a their support since I became is the ancestral home of all group of people. We are the king. My boss (Babangida) Owus. It is the headquarters.

Jews of the Yoruba race. We support was very crucial to my Coincidentally, my progenitor ascending the throne. migrated from Orile Owu THE T How are you coping in a around 1425 and settled here. Aregbesola was settlement like this?

Some of his brothers joined even telling me EDITOR: I look at my kingdom as a him here too. But the Adeleke Adeseri small London. What I would disintegration occurred in recently that he CORRESPONDENTS: have missed from having to 1420. Alaafin, Ife and Ijebe and a professor Kolade Larewaju live among people is being joined hands to fight Olowu.

Ola Ajayi have discovered shore up by influx of people Check history, Owu was the Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson here. Friends like you and my first kingdom in Yorubaland. some Owus in the Dapo Akinrefon subjects are always around Check Johnson and Johnson East.

We are Daud Olatunji me. The way I relate is also and other archival documents.

Olasunkanmi Akoni helping me always have But my forefathers lost that making efforts to Monsuru Olowoepejo people around me. I delegate empire to Alaafin because of Ikenna Asomba meet these people

There are Owu communities in South-East — Olowu

C M Y K

have Owu Obaloyin in Kwara so also Owu Isin. Aregbesola ( Osun state governor) was even telling me recently that he and a professor have discovered some Owus in the East. We are making efforts to meet these people.

As the chairman of Supreme Council of Owu Obas?

I don't have a large community but I am senior in the hierarchy of Owu Obas.

What are your roles?

My roles include but not limited to uniting and to harness and formulate policies and identify directions we should go as a group of people. To God be the glory, I have been playing my roles very well. First week of July, all Owu Obas will be meeting here and that is part of effort to forge common course and unite our people.

What eventually disintegrated Owu kingdom?

From the information I got from the British archives, before the disintegration, Olowu was only next to Ooni.

So he was so powerful. At that time, he sent some of his men to collect royalty from Alaafin, but the then ruler in Oyo could not afford his demands, so Olowu told his men to march Alaafin down to Owu.

Supernatural powers With supernatural powers he had, Sango, the brother to the then Alaafin came and produced all the demands of Olowu. Sango came and sprayed guinea corn and produced all what Olowu had demanded. Because of the shame the then Alaafin declined returning to his stool and Sango became new Alaafin.

Olowu later demanded for tribute from Alaafin Sango. And because he resisted being treated like his brother and issues started cropping up. Ife saw that opportunity and also the Ijebus. They waged war against Owu and defeated her.

EAM

Ibadan Osogbo Akure Abeokuta Lagos

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24 , 2015 —33

Why Nigerian women are going natural

By Anino Aganbi

T

he beauty of every woman, they say lies in the hair. The African woman takes pride in the uniqueness that is found in carrying natural, well groomed hair. For some, it is a sign of our identity while others may carry their hair in its natural state either because it is fashionable or for a whole lot more reasons.

Natural hair supporters go one step further to say natural hair is a nod to being a real African but what does that really have to do with being black? Are people who perm or straighten their hair being put in a different box from those who go natural?

To a lot of people, it is a thing of choice.

Gone are those days when you are mandated to carry a perm because it might be easier to manage or just because it is fashionable.

Interestingly enough, the Afro look is coming back in vogue. So, watch out ladies.

Eyitemi Ogunsakin, a mother of one spoke on the issue, saying, “I decided to keep my hair natural because hair relaxers were not working for me and it was difficult for me to get it relaxed. So I felt the best thing for me was to cut off the permed hair. Although, there are some hairstyles I

see on others that fit them and long for such but because of my natural hair which I dreded, I can’t do them. The natural hair is not open to you fixing weave-ons that you can leave a bit of your hair out.

Asides that, it is very easy to carry. It takes a lot of money to handle. There are people who buy a lot of stuffs to maintain their natural hair, there are a lot more ways to do it. It is time consuming, expensive. For me, because I am on dred-locks, I go to the salon every two weeks to wash

my hair and buy some expensive things to take care of my hair. I decided to go natural in 2005 knowing fully well that there is some stigma attached to a woman being on dreds. I wanted to do it long before I got married. If you want your natural hair to look nice, then I would say it is not cheap. It is the same thing if you want your skin to look good without using a very expensive body cream. So it is really not cheap”.

Mrs Toyin Nwaokolo also aired her views. She states, “I

was tired of adding chemicals to my hair and going under the dryer. Besides, natural hair is in vogue. I am enjoying carrying my natural.

I do not have any regrets going on my natural hair because you can play around and do all sorts with it. I have a very soft hair and do not issues with it. I could decide to comb it out, twist it or even pack it. Going on natural hair is expensive to maintain because you cannot use the same shampoos and treatments as you do with the

Maternal healthcare must be affordable Continues from page 32 to identify them in good time and what to do. A lot of people have died. They take normal delivery but for those who take complications, there will always be stories. They will say it is witchcraft.

But there are also an unprecedented number of malpractices taking place in highbrow hospitals. How do you explain this?

Some of the regulations laid down for these hospitals are a little bit tough to execute and the kind of staffing that are necessary are unaffordable to these hospitals so in order to cut corners, they employ unexperienced ones. The big hospitals with big names charge high but cut corners and as a result such complications arise. For example in my clinic I see all my antinatal patients by myself and monitor their

delivery with my 47 years experience. I have three generations of patients. I deliver the mother, then deliver the daughter. Thank God for the stamina but that’s the only way. If I should employ a gynaecologist with my experience I have to pay through my nose. I do a lot of almost free medical services.

We have a lot of socio economic problems as far as that is concerned. The insurance scheme is supposed to fund some of these but you find they are all out to make money. This funding that is supposed to be generated to help run hospitals are not there all the time.

What should government be doing that could actually work?

There’s a lot of work to be done. You have to go back to the basics. It is like a pyramid.

3-5%- tertiary healthcare

(teaching hospitals and so on); then about 20-25% for secondary healthcare (general hospitals). 65-70% forms the base of this triangle and supposed to be for women and children. It takes care of them from the grassroots, protects them, gives them maternal services, child welfare services at that level.

When you are able to effect a good primary healthcare service you find that you are taking care of 65% of the community. There is the need to have in every ward a maternal unit that should take care of basic delivery. When it gets complicated they send them to general hospitals.

The primary healthcare must be well funded and well executed because that is the bedrock of healthcare and when you have efficient primary healthcare and these services are accessible and affordable then you find that

you have effective healthcare delivery.

Is that not the same as Lagos state claims to be doing?

There is a little bit of confusion.

The state government manages secondary and tertiary units.

The primary units are managed by the local government. These local governments- if managed very well- their funds are supposed to come directly from the Federal.

Unfortunately the calibre of people who would marry this primary healthcare should be educated people who know their onions. You find that it is these honourables who hardly have school certificates managing it. There are structures being being all over the place and they are somewhat well equiped, but the correct kind of staffing in key.

permed hair. It is more expensive to maintain. I hope to enjoy carrying my hair in its natural state for much longer than I am thinking of”.

Also speaking Paulina Nzeh adds, “I decided to go natural after reading Chimamanda’s “Americana”. Later on, when I started carrying my natural hair, I discovered it was soft and curly and that there was no reason I should have relaxed it in the first place.

Retouching just makes it sleek and longer but I really love my hair in its natural state.

Keeping it natural is painful but I do not have any regrets.

I do not see myself in the nearest future retouching my hair. I try to wash my hair every two weeks and use coconut oil on it. I also avoid using anything chemical on my hair. The natural is no longer the deeper life thing but the feminine thing. I do not believe keeping your hair natural is cheaper. I have not been able to give my hair the full treatment it deserves because of money. There are a lot of treatments that can be used for the natural hair and they are all expensive. I was advised against using the normal shampoo as there are shampoos made especially for the natural hair.

Maintaining your natural hair to grow longer might actually differ as a result of individuals. I think keeping your natural hair is the way to go but it might be difficult for people with a strong hair texture.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

We keep providing relief to distressed souls

….as Rotary Club, Victoria Island inaugurates its 34th president

By Anino Aganbi

T

he Rotary club of Victoria Island, Dis. 911 recently installed Rotarian Dr. Pauline Adebanke Onibudo as the 34th president of the club. The induction of the 2015/2016 board members also took place alongside the inauguration. It was with gladness in the hearts of all Rotarians present that the 34th president of the club was inaugurated. The rotary club has always been known for the active roles they play in the society at large and with that role in mind; they still hope to continue to do more. All protocols were observed as the District past presidents, chattered president, president elect and all other rotary members of Victoria Island made their presence felt while commemorating with a woman of great substance. It was highly noted that Rotarian Dr. Pauline Onibudu is an educator at heart and is therefore helping young people fulfill their purpose, thereby becoming all God created them to be. Her zeal as an educator has earned her several awards in recognition to the educational sector.

The Chairman of the occasion, Capt Akinbowale John Johnson started by expressing his joy at being present at the installation of the world class President in the current rotary year.

He stated that “I am most delighted to witness this wonderful occasion and the opportunity given to me as chairman of this great event. The very person being elevated to this exalted position of this respectable club is my dear sister Dr.

Mrs. Pauline Banke Onibudu. Secondly, I would say the person chosen can do the job well, having demonstrated her competence in different areas. She is also a woman of integrity and tenacity who is ruled by love, selflessness and commitment to render service to humanity. Any task she is involved in must be perfectly done. I therefore urge other members of the executive arm to brace up for some real work. I admire the rotary because it is an organization that has always been after my heart. It is seen as truly devoted to the welfare and plight of

Membership of the rotary club is therefore a privilege and an opportunity to learn, associate and contribute voluntarily towards the advancement and sustainability of the human race

the downtrodden and the masses. Its resources are geared at enumerating their problems. Rotary enjoys the goodwill of the people as it is seen as a respectable organization whose interest is how to make the world a better place and we all know we

FROM LEFT: Rotn. Olugbenga Onabadejo, Rotn. Dr. Pauline Onibudo, Rtn. Frank Akinrele present at the inaugural ceremony of the 34th president Rotary Club, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Rotn. Dr. Pauline Onibudo need to make this world a better place. I urge you to keep the fire burning; keep leading the world by your light which illuminates and brings out the worlds beauty.

Keep showing the world that it is possible to have clean water to drink in remote villages and hamlets. Keep showing that indeed, the poor can be sheltered and given food. Keep providing relief to the distressed souls and bruised hearts and as you do so, you are getting back your blessings a thousand fold.

The 34th Inaugurated President, Dr. Mrs Onibudu stated that “I wish to express my profound gratitude to the organizing committee and every member of Victoria Island Rotary Club for believing in me and finding me worthy to pilot the affairs of this noble and highly respected club for one year.

I thank you for the trust and have accepted the offer with gratitude. I promise the members of this club that I will put in all my knowledge and efforts to ensure that the good work is continued.

Rotary is an international humanitarian organization of over 1.2 million people devoted to making the world a better place especially for the under-privileged. It also provides opportunities for networking of professional

persons united in service through the advancement of education, house sanitation and goodwill around the world. Membership of the rotary club is therefore a privilege and an opportunity to learn, associate and contribute voluntarily towards the advancement and sustainability of the human race. This privilege further gives you a chance to key into the vision and the objectives of the founding fathers of rotary. In this way, you are accepting and given the principles of the four way test”. She further disclosed that ‘The community service project is a major activity of the rotary and it aims at assisting the members of the public especially the less privileged. Our club has an opportunity to make a lasting impact this year especially in the areas of health and education. We are also into giving a helping hand in other important areas. In line with the above, the club established a vocational center in Ibeju, lekki to assist the less privileged acquire profitable and marketable skills. We hope to do more with your support in other areas. Our theme for this year is Be a gift to the world” and I urge you to be a gift to your family, club, community, state and country at large.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 —35

Executive Secretary, Ejigbo LCDA, Mr Jaiye Alabi (right) presenting cash gift to a widow, Mrs Rotimi Afusat, during the disbursement of cash gifts to 25 widows in the council area, on Monday. With them is the Council Manager, Alhaji Nurudeen Shobajo.

Ejigbo council empowers 75 unemployed youths, 25 widows

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A

s part of measures to eradicate poverty among residents, and in Nigeria in general, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos State has provided free three month skill acquisition training for 75 unemployed residents including men and women as well as undisclosed amount of financial support for 25 widows in the council area.

Addressing beneficiaries of the free skill acquisition and widows’ cash support programmes at the council secretariat, recently, the Executive Secretary of the council, Mr. Jaiye Alabi (Esq), advised them to regard the good gesture of the council as a golden opportunity to say eradicate poverty and hardship in their lives. The council boss reminded them that, there are thousands of people who are not privileged to get support in any form from government, and as such, they should make the best

use of the support offered them by his administration.

Barrister Alabi, also used the occasion to assure other unemployed residents and widows in the council, that his administration will

extend the gesture to them as soon as more fund is available to the council.

He urged residents to support the council, by paying their rates and levies to the council pause as at

when due, in order to enable his administration implement more people oriented programmes for their benefit.

He commended Lagos State Governor, Mr.

Akinwunmi Ambode for his resolve to take governance to the people at the grassroots, adding that the governor ’s agenda has set the standard for local governments administrators in the state.

Pet projects: First Ladies advised to empower women in agriculture

By Josephine Agbonkhese

F

irst Ladies across the country have been advised to consider gravely the empowerment of women and youths in agriculture as they take on pet projects.

Founder, Uplifting Women Though Farming, UWTF, Afoma Adigwe, who urged them to set up pet projects that would encourage more female participation in agriculture while speaking recently in Lagos, said it was

high time Nigerian saw agriculture as a “big deal”.

“If we can invest more in agriculture, many more youths will embrace it and it will be better for the country.

I don’t know why we are treating this issue with levity. Other countries do not joke with farmers but I wonder why we are different.

I can tell you categorically that if our First Ladies can set the pace, it will help in no small way to alleviate poverty in our land,” she said.

Adigwe who also recently met with Nigeria’s

Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, Ifeoma Akabogu-Chinwuba, on a proposed agricultural trade tour in Cote d’Ivoire after a meeting with officials of the African Development Bank on participation of more female farmers in agriculture, reiterated that agriculture is the only bail out for Africa in the face of economic depression.

Also speaking on the proposed commencement of Farmgate Microfinance Bank, a project meant to financially empower female farmers, Adigwe said the bank will serve as a reliable

platform for supporting farm projects of female farmers.

“The bank will operate with UWTF and it will strictly be for women. We will identify women through their farms, get to know their needs and partner with them. We want to grow together with these women farmers. We are presently at the documentation stage and in a couple of weeks, we will get started. Already, we have many women as stakeholders who are so passionate about this cause,” Adigwe said.

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

BY LAJU IREN

Robotic medicine:

I

f there is a field that will forever be grateful to technology, it has to be the field of Medicine. It would seem in fact that from time immemorial, advancements in Medicine have been largely tied to advancements in health technology.

Even before the invention of the medical syringe in 1863, and beyond the giant strides in robotic medicine today, this fact lives on. If you disagree, then you should volunteer to have a painful surgery done without the use of

Healer or killer?

anaesthesia. In fact, if you were born before the 19th century, that would be the only way out, as your only comfort would be to bite on a piece of wood.

Even though Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered the X-Ray by accident in 1895, it has been intentionally used to save millions of lives in the

LG ‘Body guard’ dares others to beat your sound

BY LAJU IREN

O

ne reason why the oncedead culture of watching movies at the cinemas has been revived in Nigeria is because, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, people always want a one- of-a-kind viewing experience. You want to feel like it’s you and the movie characters alone in the world, but that’s impossible when you don’t have the right home theatre system.

If the new LG LHD 675 Bodyguard Home Theatre System lives up to its name, then the ultimate sound experience is possible right at home. Easy to set up and operate, the LG LHD 675 BodyGuard Home Theatre System with customized Sound Tower Speakers enable music lovers enjoy quality movies and pictures; it is the logical choice for people who want to enjoy a variety of media as well as watch movies.

For consumers who enjoy streaming songs, they can do so from their mobile phones or

other Bluetooth devices and enjoy USB Playback and Sound Sync with LG TVs for improved sound production. The device comes with integrated dual subwoofer; it also comes with a streaming feature, enabling users fill their living room with music by streaming tunes from mobile phones or MP3 player to their home theatre system.

“We are pleased to announce that the LG LHD 675 BodyGuard Home Theatre System will be among the first devices in the market to feature the most upto-date specs and features, at LG Electronics we know that great sound is also at the heart of the home entertainment experience,” said Mr. Hyunseung Shin, General Manager, Convergence Audio/ Video Division, LG Electronics, “in a great way, we designed the LHD 675 to be a turnkey solution with great sound quality and smart functionality for added value; and we packaged it in a compact, stylish design.”

LG LHD 675

past two decades. What about vaccinations for polio, measles, chicken pox; different birth control methods, In-Vitro Fertilization among others? The list goes on and on. Ninety-five percent of all hearing aids are today 3D printed. Align Technology prints 650,000 pairs of Invisilign teeth-

straightening braces a day.

This tech is also pushing into prosthetics.

Enter Robotics. They aren’t just in the sci-fi movies, the robots are here. The da Vinci Surgical System for example,The da Vinci Surgical System for example, has performed over 20,000 operations since its 2000 debut. The more recent nanobots can swim through the bloodstream and scrape plaque from arteries.However, it’s not all good news. A recent study into the safety of surgical robots now links the machines’ use to at least 144 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries over a 14-year period in the United States.

According to the study carried out by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center. 144 deaths, 1,391 injuries and 8,061 device

malfunctions were recorded out of a total of more than 1.7 million robotic procedures carried out between January 2000 and December 2013.

Issues such as broken instruments falling into patients’ bodies, electrical sparks causing tissue burns and system errors making surgery take longer than planned.

Its authors say the number of injuries and deaths per procedure has remained relatively constant since 2007.

But due to the fact that the use of robotic systems is increasing “exponentially”, they add, this means that the number of accidents is increasing every year. They highlight that when problems do occur, people are several times more likely to die if the surgery involves their heart, lungs, head and/or neck rather than gynaecological and urological procedures.

Although such a development might give cause for concern, the researchers instead of feeding fears, called for improvements in the field of robotics. The reasons might not be farfetched; many of those surgical procedures might have in the first place, been next to impossible if not for robotics.

What SLOT.ng means to Nigeria’s image in world business

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

A

ll the seven wonders of the world put together may arguably not have the level of impact the tech wonder has in human, business and social lives.

Since the discovery of technology either as way of communication or a way of solving other problems, the world has never been static. It could actually be correct to say that technology has put much reality to the saying that the 'earth moves...' Or that 'the world revolves....'.

There also may not be a better place to draw example to these facts than the African continent, considering what technology has done in the fabrics of its social,business and even educational life.

Africa is no longer a dark continent as the world was meant to believe by those apparently meant to underdevelop it.

Innovations envied abroad are initiated in Africa at the moment and businesses here are wearing that beautiful apparel that usually gives some global outfits that larger- than -thou image.

Just recently an indigenous mobile phone retail chain, decided to move its businesses an inch to the global status by moving its services online.

The beauty may not particularly be that its services are online but the fact it is doing so with the backing of global companies which have made foreign outfits like Amazon.com, Walmart.com

•Slot.ng outlet and Staple.com so thick.

With the support of brands like Samsung, Intel, Microsoft, LG, Blackberry, Tecno, Sony Mobile, HTC, Lenovo, Huawei and a host of others, Slot believes that get its services online will not only create convenience for its Nigerian customers but will also help strengthen the rating of African businesses online.

Unveiling the service Slot.ng and its app recently, MD of Slot, Mr Nnamdi Ezeigbo said that as the business landscape changes worldwide, businesses, irrespective of how remote their operating bases may be, should also change ideas. "Over the year, we have taken time to understand the peculiar life style of the Nigerian people and this has helped us design products suitable for them. Today we are bringing our retail stores to your

door steps, your offices, even at your finger tips" What that means is that with Slot.ng app, customers can at their convenience,buy some of the smartphones and other mobile products available at slot's physical shop, online and have them delivered real time.

Besides, Ezeigbo also noted that other innovations like the Trade In and Screen Insurance initiatives which allow users to trade in their old phones for new ones and get their smashed smartphone screens replaced at just 5 percent cost, respectively, have distinguished his business from a local retail store to a global concern.

Like he pointed out, "this is the right time to go online, the time when about 16percent of Nigerians representing 38 percent of active mobile phone users having access to the internet"

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015—37

Suspected vandals blow up NPDC pipeline in Delta U

By Perez Brisibe

GHELLI—FOUR months after suspected oil pipeline vandals blew up a high pressure gas pipeline belonging to Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, at Ighwrenene in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, another explosion yesterday morning rocked the same pipeline.

The incident, it was gathered, occurred around1:50am yesterday, sending huge balls of flame which were visible from different parts of Ughelli.

Though it could not be confirmed who was responsible for the sabotage of April 3, an Urhobo militant group, Urhobo Gbagbako, claimed responsibility for it.

Investigation by Vanguard revealed that the affected pipeline is a trunk line conveying products from Eriemu, Kokori, Afiesere, Uzere, West-End at Kwale, Ogini, Olomoro and Owhe to the Ughelli Quality Control Center, UQCC. Owing to the terrain of the road leading to the point of explosion, when Vanguard visited the scene of the incident as at 8:40am, men of the NPDC and Delta State Fire Service were seen helplessly

battling to gain access as the road was flooded waist deep with water.

A staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, fire department who spoke on anonymity, said: “We

are making attempts to switch off supply to the line, but till that happens, we are helpless and can’t gain access to the point of explosion owing to the flooded terrain of the road.’’

Meanwhile, residents of

Ighwrenene and other adjourning communities in the area have lamented the state of security of the pipelines crisscrossing their communities, with a call on the federal government to patronize locals in the security of the pipelines.

BRIEFING: Leader, Rivers State Lawmakers in the National Assembly, George Sekibo (middle), with the members of the group, Betty Apiafi (left) and Chinda Kingsley, during a briefing on the indiscriminate arrest by security agencies in Rivers State over election petition tribunal in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Asagba of Asaba marks 90th birthday, lauds Buhari

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By Festus Ahon

SABA—THE Asagba of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien, yesterday, said President Muhammadu Buhari was an Apostle of change and urged Nigerians to support him to bring about the change that would move the country forward.

The monarch, however, told Buhari to be focused and not be distracted by anybody, noting that change was the only thing that could bring about development in the country.

Edozien who spoke at a briefing as part of activities to mark his 90th birthday, said Asaba was yet to witness the desired development as the capital of Delta State.

He said Asaba, even as the headquarters of the then Royal

Anniversary

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E D D O STAKEHOLDERS Forum is celebrating its 10th anniversary today, Friday, July 24, 2015.

A statement by the group said the event will feature donation of exercise books to pupils of Ogiedo Primary School, Jeddo, today, while there will be thanksgiving service at Anglican Church, Jeddo, on Sunday. A get together party is scheduled to hold immediately after the church service.

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Niger Company, ought to have been developed beyond its present state.

While welcoming the Asaba Capital Territory Development Bill, the monarch, who was inducted into Asaba Hall of fame by his people, said his induction was his happiest moment in his 90 years sojourn

on earth.

He thanked his subjects for deeming it necessary to celebrate his 90th birthday, saying it was a privilege for him to live up to 90 years and appreciated God for His goodness.

The Asagba, whose entrance into the venue of the ceremony was heralded by 21 Canon shots,

said Asaba was a great town in the history of the country.

Earlier in his remarks, chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Prof Epiphany Azinge, said Asaba Kingdom was celebrating the Asagba as a living legend and for his many contributions to the development of Asaba.

Tell SPDC to relinquish our oil field, Delta since November 29, 2011. community urges FG The statement read: “The

By Ochuko Akuopha

O

LEH—THE people of Uzere in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State have urged the federal government to prevail on the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to relinquish the abandoned Uzere East OML 28 oil field and grant them the privilege to acquire and put it to maximum use.

They also called for the establishment of a modular refinery and gas processing plant in the community to utilise the abundant crude and gas reserves in the area which they estimated at 15 billion cubic feet.

The community, in a statement signed by its President-General, Comrade Columbus Oguname, noted that the oil field with about 35, 000 barrels per day capacity had remained shut by SPDC

continuous closure of the oil field has not only robbed the federal and the state governments of huge revenue but the Uzere community is also deprived of accruable benefits in terms of employment, contracts, scholarship amongst others.

“The community has gone through hell while SPDC finally dis-invested its assets in Uzere West OML 30 in 2012 and now being operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company,NPDC.”

Peter Mission trains Ogwashi-Uku Prisons Onoriobe, said the programme inmates The inmates, through their was aimed at equipping the

O

GWASHI-UKU—THE Peter’s Mission for the Less Privileged, a non governmental organization, has organized a skills acquisition workshop on soap and Izal making for inmates of Ogwashi-Uku Prisons in Delta State.

Speaking at the workshop, the chairman of the NGO, Mr. Peter

inmates with relevant skills that would make them self-reliant after their prison experience. He advised the inmates to shun antisocial behaviour, and also urged governments at all levels to create enabling environment that will enable youths maximize their potentials and be useful to the society.

spokesman, expressed their gratitude to the NGO for engaging them in a worthwhile programme through skill acquisition. They said the humanitarian gesture of empowering the inmates was the best method of reorienting the inmates from any negative tendencies after serving their term in the prison.

Rivers APC slams PDP over Amaechi

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By Gbenga Oke

ORT HARCOURT— Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday insisted that alleged plan by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to tarnish the image of the former Governor Rotimi Amaechi would fail, even as it said those digging ditches for the former governor would eventually become victims of their own devices.

In a statement by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Chris Finebone, APC decried the politics of pull him down which the Rivers PDP had allegedly engaged in.

He said: “The APC believes that the manic obsession with Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

by Jerry Needam, PDP and their sponsors is a clear testimony of a deliberate plot to ensure that the good self of the former governor is tarnished at all cost and it underscores the real reasons for the so-called judicial commission of inquiry set up by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

Delta community gets new exco

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ARRI—NEW executives to run the affairs of Diebiri Batan in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State for the next two years have been inaugurated.

Those inaugurated are Ogugu Don Dickson Chairman; Numa Eric Vice Chairman; Pastor Lude Benjamin Secretary; Deinfegha Samuel Asst.

Secretary; Goodluck Ekpebide Spokesman; John Newyear Financial Secretary: Dio Ebimobowei Welfare Secretary; Ikpelagha Tony Organizing Secretary; Chief Namabiri David Treasurer; Amalde Fredrick Adviser; Chief Joseph Igbelegbele Member; Amabimo Johnson Member, and Numa Akpeobi, Member.

Performing the swearing in, Elder James Osuobiri commended the Batan indigenes for conducting themselves in an orderly manner during the nomination process.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Abia sets up security operations centre in Aba

Abia govt saves N160m from ghost workers

By Anayo Okjoli

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State Government, yesterday, said its workers' verification exercise has saved it about N160 million, being money previously paid to ghost workers and padded salaries.

The government also explained that it had not yet received bailout funds from the Federal Government, but got about N3 billion from the share of the LNG money distributed to states.

Accordingly, the government said it was still in the process of securing the bailout funds of N30 billion which would be sourced from the N250 billion mapped out by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for the states.

The government, therefore, clarified that approval given by the state House Assembly for

Ajie Eluaka passes on

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prominent woman leader in Onitsha, Anambra State, Ajie Janet Eluaka (nee Azubogu), has died at the age of 71 after a brief illness. Until her death, she was a well-known educationist in the eastern part of the country.

Burial arraignment will be announced later. She is survived by children, grandchildren and relations including her first son; HRH, Igwe Herbert Ukuta, Agbalakata III of Iggah in UzoUwani LGA, Enugu State.

The late Ajie Janet Eluaka

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was for the N30 billion bonds and not for loans from commercial banks.

According to Governor Ikpeazu’s Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, who spoke to newsmen in Umuahia, the approval from the House of Assembly was one of the requirements for the bailout

bond to be secured.

Oriaku explained that the N30 billion was part of the state’s obligations to local government workers’ salary arrears which he put at about N9 billion, and pension arrears; obligation to contractors as well as obligations of some government agencies.

He said the government accommodated obligations of

some of its agencies like Abia State Polytechnic which owes First Bank N2 billion.

He stated that “no matter the intimidation, we will get the issue of ghost workers and padding of salary right” and clear the ghost worker syndrome in the system, lamenting that “we have a lot of people who are in Abuja, London and other places are receiving salary here.”

APGA condemns approval for Gov Ikpeazu to borrow N30bn from banks

By Anayo Okjoli

U

MUAHIA — THE All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State has condemned the approval given to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to borrow N30 billion from commercial banks, saying some relevant rules were not followed in the approval.

In a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Madu Chikwendu, it described as “embarrassing,” the passage of the resolution by the House of Assembly authorizing the governor to borrow N30 billion.

The party said that much as it would welcome “any genuine efforts to develop the state, we categorically reject the hurriedly packaged and approved resolution.”

Chikwendu said investigation by the party showed that “there was no public hearing and secondly, there is no evidence that any of the legislators consulted their respective constituencies.

"Additionally, very important and legal provisions were neglected. These include details about the interest rates, mode of repayment, duration of facility, security, moratorium and others.

“We note with consternation the grand deception employed by the ruling party for the hasty passage of the loan. For instance, the

purported assurance by the Speaker that the loan would be repaid through the over N1 billion generated from Aba is an obvious fallacy.

“We are aware that Abia has never decleared more than N250 million monthly IGR in the last few years. More laughable is the information that Abia is the least indebted state and needs to borrow and equal the level of other states.

“Indeed, this transaction is riddled with additional illegalities. Was this loan approved by the Debt

Management Office as required by law? Even the banks providing this loan are toying with depositors funds since there is no guarantee that the state has the capacity to repay the funds.

“The All Progressive Grand Alliance, Abia State chapter hereby calls on the State House of Assembly to toe the part of honour and consult individual constituencies and the people of Abia State before undertaking such monumental decisions that may mortgage the future of the Abians yet unborn.”

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA — IN a bid to check kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the state, Abia State government has established a special security operational centre in Aba. Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Godwin Adindu, who made this known, said government has also provided open security phone lines to be used at the collation centre.

The phone numbers are: 08080897172, 0816981056, 09095687884, 08079260355, and 08163267708.

The statement encourages members of the public to make use of these numbers in giving useful information that will aid the security agencies in the fight against the crime of kidnapping and other crimes.

Abia/Ebonyi boundary dispute: Ebonyi Assembly asks security agencies to intervene

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State House of Assembly, yesterday, called on security agencies in the state to expedite action towards ensuring that peace was restored in the boundary communities between Ebonyi and Abia states.

It should be recalled that between July 14 and 15, the boundary communities of Lokpanta and Lokpaukwu of Abia State and Amata and Amaeze of Ivo Local Government Area in Ebonyi State were reportedly in crisis following a land dispute that affected both states for over

50 years.

Speaking during plenary, the member representing Ivo State constituency, Oliver Osi alleged that the boundary communities in Abia State were the brain behind the crisis and accused members of the Abia communities of hiring mercenaries who shot dead an Ebonyi man (Obinna Ajah), disrupted activities in Ivo Local Government Area and masterminded the kidnap of one Chukwuma Akwa.

“During the impasse, one person was shot dead, several persons sustained injuries. One Chukwuma Akwa from Ebonyi

went missing as a result of this.

This matter is very critical and requires urgent attention. If not, it might lead to further crisis which might go out of hand.”

He condemned a situation whereby policemen from Abia State would mount a roadblock in the boundary communities in the state.

The Speaker, Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, who appealed for immediate resolution of the crisis affecting both states, constituted a seven-man committee headed

by Hon. Chris Usulor.

The committee would visit the affected areas with a view to finding lasting solution to the crisis.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What is your take on President Buhari’s anti-graft war?

I

trust Mr. President.

The only thing that I ask of him is that he should not forget to probe Bukola Saraki, Ameachi, Tinubu, Atiku, Kwankwaso etc. If he probes them, then he is serious in his anti-graft war. Mr Olawale Oyebode, Self Employed

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I

f Buhari can take on Obasanjo, Atiku, Tinubu, Amaechi and Okorocha, then he will do well in fighting corruption. But if he cannot, it means that he is just beating about the bush because OBJ is the reason Nigeria as a country is still underdeveloped.

Mr Ernest Aneke, Worker

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hat I can say about President Buhari’s anti-graft war is that Nigerians should not be in a hurry. There is no hiding place for the corrupt. Zero tolerance to corruption is our goal. Princess Bolanle Aladesanmi, Businesswoman

O

ur President must be very careful so that those people surrounding him, including serving APC Governors, especially the ones from S/East and S/ South, do not corrupt him.

They all know themselves.

Presido, we need to expand our prison first o! Mr Kazeem Aremu, Worker

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do not know how PMB would prosecute his party henchmen who are alleged to be corrupt. Most of these people helped him to come to power and Nigerians know them well.

To me, I do not think it is going to work. Miss Sandy Faith, Student

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resident Buhari’s antigraft war is going to rock the boat and I pray he does not sink with the corrupt ones. He will step on many toes. I just wish him success because I totally agree with him that there must be cleansing.

Mr Nelson Nwamara, Entrepreneur

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 — 39

NSCDC drags 4 to court over illegal dealing in petroleum products

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—FOUR men were yesterday docked by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly dealing in and distribution of petroleum products without lawful authority.

The defendants, Owobobola Damilola, Roju Gbokan, Akinyemi Micheal and Ogbolo Godwin, are facing a twocount charge of conspiracy and unlawful dealing in petroleum products preferred against them by NSCDC. The Prosecutor, Mrs Alimat Owomunigbo, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences on May 8, at Majidun, Ikorodu area of Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the court.

She said the defendants were arrested by NSCDC while dealing and distributing petroleum products without any lawful authority.

Rep gives succour to hospital patients

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G H A R A —T H E m e m b e r representing Ethiope Federal Constituency, Chief Lovett Idisi, has provided succour to patients at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, Oghara.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Celesman Oyibo, an amputee, got his outstanding medical bills settled in full, a new set of clutches provided for him and some cash for his upkeep Chief idisi promised to empower him with the wherewithal to put his skills to meaningful and gainful venture having gone through the necessary rehabilitation as well as skill acquisition in the hospital.

Report has it that the amputee was discharged since February this year but his inability to settle the medical bills kept him in the hospital since then.

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Bailout not for salary allowances — AHMED

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—KWARA State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday gave a fresh insight into the bail out given the 36 states of the federation by the federal government, saying it was not meant to pay outstanding salaries and allowances being owed workers and pensioner across the country as widely believed.

Rather, he said the bailout was meant to restructure the debts of states in various banks and financial institutions in order to assist them have a lease of life to run their day-to-day administrations.

It would be recalled that the reported pains and agonies of workers across the federation over problems of backlogs of unpaid salaries prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to release the bailout.

In view of this, striking council workers in the state had lately appealed to traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state to help appeal to the state government to use the bailout from the federal government to offset their outstanding salaries and allowances.

LAUNCH: Cross Section of traditional rulers at the official launch of definitive community level intervention for pre –Eclampsia (CLIP) in Ogun State at Oba’s complex, Governor’s office Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta yesterday. By wunmi Akinola.

But Governor Ahmed in his monthly personality programme, tagged ,” Governor Explains”, held in Ilorin yesterday, explained: “The bailout has to do with restructuring of existing loans because states had not been able to pay salary of workers because of two things. First , is that there is drop in federal allocation and second is that, states have incurred debts that had made their cash flow

to be under pressure.” ‘’This is because by the time they pay the loan, they would have little left for normal business of governance. And you know that the loan is first line charges and that is why states are under pressure.”

“However, the issue of bail out which people expect that money will be sent to states from the federal government to pay salary

and other commitments, that is not how bailout is going to work. ‘’What we mean by bailout and what the federal government meant by bailout is the restructure of existing loans that the states are owing banks and other financial institutions in a manner that the pressure on monthly payment is lessened so that it creates an additional head room for states to do other financial obligations.

Jubrilla lauds Buhari on insurgency during US visit

By Umar Yusuf

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OLA—GOVERNOR Mohammed Jibrilla of Adamawa State has given President Muhammadu Buhari a pat on the back for effectively addressing the two teething problems of insurgency and plight of the internally displaced persons, IDPs, affecting the state during his working tour of the United States.

The governor, in press statement personally signed by him, described the visit of the

President to the U.S. as a successful, saying the twin problems of the state and other national issues were effectively addressed.

Jibrilla was reacting to the commitment from the U.S. in support of the war against insurgency and terrorism, even as the World Bank and other donor agencies pledged the sum of $2.1 billion funds for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the North East and the resettlement of IDPs in the region.

He was particularly impressed

NIMPORT 2015 holds August 17, to discuss pipeline security

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HE 2015 edition of the annual Nigerian International Maritime Ports and Terminals Expo and Conference (NIMPORT) has been scheduled to hold from 17th -21st August 2015.

This year edition, according to the planning Committee Chairman, Mr Fortune Idu, would be declared opened by the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade.

According to Idu, NIMPORT would host companies involved in Marine; Ports and logistics; Marine Oil and gas operations; New Port Design; Environment Oil Tank Farms; Ports; Shipping Finance; and insurance, Water Transport and infrastructure; International trade and local content options in the

marine transport.

Idu stated further that the event which was co-sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport would attract a total of 700 professional delegates with an estimated 1000 daily visitors to the exhibition.

The event would run concurrently with the Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure & Technology Expo and Conference.

Idu said, "the Expo will bring industry leaders to offer solutions to current development setbacks on oil /gas pipeline operations and bring public attention on how best to improve and expand the pipeline industry to create more jobs and promote communal inclusion.

that the funds and support by the U.S government would go a long way to end insurgency, rebuild confidence and resuscitate the ailing economy.

He added that Buhari’s visit had provided a milestone in restoring

the dignity of Nigeria, owing to his stance against corruption.

“As a frontline state in the fight against the dreaded monster of insurgency, nothing will gladden our hearts like the end of this senseless carnage.

Okorocha's aide counsels Ndigbo over Buhari’s appointment

By Ikenna Asomba

A

S mixed reactions continued to trail the recent appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, people of the South East region, have been urged to exercise restraint in making quick conclusions that they will be marginalized under the Buhari’s administration.

The Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor and Liaison Officer, Lagos, Alfred Ononugbo, made this plea on yesterday, while speaking at a press conference in Lagos, to announce a Solidarity Rally and Grand Reception in honour of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, on Saturday, July 25, at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Ononugbo, who affirmed that Ndigbo cannot be relegated to the background as one of the tripod legs holding Nigeria, however advised that the Buhari administration should be given time to digest the degree of challenge ahead in order to make

appropriate selection in his appointments.

Disclosing that the programme was put up by the Imo State Liaison Office, Lagos in collaboration with South East APC forum, South East Communities in Lagos, he said: “You can’t talk about Nigeria without Ndigbo, and you can’t talk about Ndigbo without Nigeria. So, we want to make it clear through this Solidarity Rally and Grand Reception in honour of the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha , that we are part of the Nigerian project, that we are stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

“We trust our leaders and we feel it’s too early to begin to make deductions. The fact that APC stood for merit underscores the situation on ground at the moment. I think we should allow the Buhari administration find its feet. The administration is studying the situation of the country, because the APC met a totally broken down infrastructure and system in the country.

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

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VISIT: From left— Deputy Superintendent of Police Folashade Odoro; Mr. Amitolu Shittu, Chairman, Osun State Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Mr. Babatunde Sowole, Chief Superintendent of Police; and Superintendent of Police Waare Samuel, during the familiarisation visit to the governor by the leadership of committee at Government House, Osogbo.

NIPR: From left— Sir Keith Richards, Chairman of Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Mr. Joseph Okonmah, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Lagos State chapter, and Dr. Ken Egbas, Managing Director Trucontact, at the 26th annual general meeting and public relations week lecture on Corporate Social Responsibility: Prospects and Challenges in a Growing Economy, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

STAR PROMO: Mr. Peter Igbeniije, Proprietor, Genesis Store, Apapa Lagos (left), receiving an award from Kolawole Oluborode, Regional Business Manager, Uyo, at the Star Partner Programme award in Lagos.

ROUNDTABLE: From left—Ayofe Akinwale, Senior Lecturer, Department of Industrial Relations & Personnel Management, University of Lagos; Ismail Agaka, General Manager, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Lagos office; Bisi Adeyemi, Managing Director, DSCL Corporate Services Ltd, and Ismail Bello, acting Deputy General, National Union of Texitle, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, at NSITF/DSCL stakeholders roundtable in Lagos.

AGM: From left— Dr. Nat Ofo, Vice President; Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa, President & Chairman of Council, and Mr. Dele Togunde, Registrar/Secretary to Council, all of Institute of Chartersd Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, at the institute's 41st annual general meeting in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

TRAINING: Mr. Peter Onoriobe (middle), with officials of Ogwashi-Uku Prisons and members of Peter's Mission for the Less Privileged, during a training workshop for the prison inmates by the mission at Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.

WOMEN IN MGT.: From left— Mrs Nkechi Obi, Executive Vice Chairman, Techno Oil; Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, immediate past President, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered); current President, Dr. Nelson Uwaga and Dr. Ngozi Odu, Executive Director, Uniport Foundation, during the Women in Management and Leadership Conference in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

JEXTOBAN: From left— Mr. Benjamin Ajiboye, Mr. Emmanuel Ojo, Chairman, Board of Governor, Jextoban Secondary School, and his wife, at the school's graduation ceremony.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 —41

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42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Anambra stakeholders flay Obiano's 2nd term campaign group

By Enyim Enyim

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From Left: Victor Grage, George Buwa, Edema Ogbuagu, Tunde Ilevbare and Benji Omatsola during the service of songs for late Mrs Helen Esi Ekunkunbor held at SWAN Hall, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, yesterday.

From left:Alero Ekunkunbor, first daughter, Mayomi Olubowale, Mr. Sonny Ekunkunbor, husband, Amaju Ekunkunbor, second son and Oma Babalola at the service. Photos: Akeem Salau

Royal father seeks demarcation of boundary to avert bloodshed

By Austin Ogwuda, Enugu

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HE traditional ruler of Neke Uno, Nike in Enugu East local government area of Enugu State, Igwe Geofrey Ogbu, has called on both the Federal and State governments to come to the aid of his community by urgently demarcating the disputed boundary between Neke Uno, Nike and Ukehe community in Igbo Etiti local government of the State in order to avert possible bloodshed.

He made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Edward Ubosi in his office, yesterday.

While lamenting that the two communities from two different local governments had been at

Pilgrims Commission plans skills acquisition centre

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—The National Christian Pilgrims Commission plans to set up skills acquisition centre for youths to produce young entrepreneurs and to reduce unemployment for the sustainable development of the country.

The executive secretary of the Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Okpara, who spoke in Enugu, appealed to public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the commission by sponsoring the programme to actualize its drive. He spoke when he led a delegation of the commission on a courtesy visit to the governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at the Government House.

Mr. Okpara noted that the commission under him had undergone a lot of innovative programmes that have expanded the commission’s activities.

He added that the commission would partner with the Agriculture Ministry in Israel and the National Lottery Regulation Commission to achieve its expansion objectives.

loggerheads over a parcel of land for many years, resulting to unending litigation, Igwe Ogbu expressed worry that despite the lingering dispute, the people of Ukehe have continued to build on the land in question that was seen as provocative.

He said that to avoid escalating the matter, ''it would be nice and appropriate if government plays fatherly role and demarcate the boundary to eschew further legal battle and also to forestall a possible break down of law and order between the two communities”.

Responding, the Speaker, Ubosi told the delegation that the issue of boundary adjustment and demarcation was being handled by the office of the deputy governor but advised them to also channel appropriate petition to the House Committee on Lands.

Metu’s ambition cause of latest crisis in Anambra PDP—-Nwoye

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA— A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Chief Tony Nwoye, has blamed the ongoing crisis in the Anambra State chapter of the party on the alleged ambition of the national

publicity secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh.

Metuh, Nwoye said, is aspiring to be the next national organizing secretary of PDP during the next convention of the party.

Addressing stakeholders of the party in Awka, Nwoye said it was to ensure that his cronies took

Tribunal adopts APGA’s documents as exhibits

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HE election petition tribunal sitting in Awka and presided over by Justice Nayai Aganaba, yesterday, admitted as exhibits the undisputed documents tendered by the House of Representatives’candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the Njikoka/Anaocha/ Dunukofia Federal Constituency in the last National Assembly election.

Dozie Nwankwo who was represented by his counsel, Dr Olatoke Joshua, SAN, presented PW 1, Engr. Samuel Oreagbunam from Irunebo Village of EnuguAgidi in Njikoka local government area of the state to identify his earlier documents made available to the tribunal . Part of the documents tendered and admitted in evidence included the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC-Forms EC8 B2, EC8 B and EC8 C2, a summary of comprehensive results of Njikoka, Dunukofia and Anaocha local government areas which constitute the constituency of the petitioner, Dozie Nwankwo.

The counsel to INEC, CB Anyaigbo, Osinachi Nwoye for second respondent, Dr Nnamdi Eze of the PDP and Chuma Oguejiofor for the third respondent (PDP) objected to the admissibility of the documents on the grounds that they were not listed as part of the documents to be tendered. But Olatoke, however, countered the objections, pointing out that the move by the lawyers to the respondents is frivolous and a mere attempt to waste the precious time of the tribunal.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Nayai Aganaba, ruled that the documents be admitted as exhibits before the election petition tribunal.

In a cross examination, the counsel to INEC alleged that the PW 1, Oraegbunam relied on hearsay and o t h e r documents made available to him by other agents.

over the Anambra PDP that informed the hurry to conduct the congresses of the party without proper planning.

He said: “It is the office of the national organizing secretary that should handle the congresses but Metuh has been cajoling members of the NWC to do his bidding. We have made contact with members of the NWC, including the acting national chairman, and they all denied knowledge of the Anambra congress and dissociated themselves from what Metuh was doing. He (Metuh) collected forms and gave them to the person he wants to install as chairman of PDP in Anambra State.

“Most PDP leaders are in support of shifting the congress, but Olisa Metuh is insisting on conducting it immediately because he wants to install his cronies to assist him in his ambition to become the next national organizing secretary of the party. Our members are being forced to consider other options if this matter is not properly addressed.''

NITSHA—A cross section of Anambra State citizens, yesterday, condemned the inauguration of a support group for Governor Willie Obiano's campaign for second tenure.

The group was inaugurated, Wednesday, at the Meloch Best Western Hotel, Awka, where the who is who attended the function including the national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Ikechukwu Oye. Speaking on behalf of Anambra stakeholders, a former lawmaker and majority chief whip in the Anambra House of Assembly, Chief Okonkwo Okom, advised the governor to shun the group and any such group that would distract him from delivering good governance to the people the state. “ For any group to come out now that the governor has hardly spent two years in office to start drumming for his second tenure smacks of irresponsibility.

The governor should be allowed to concentrate on his job of delivering democracy dividend to the people”.

According to him such group would not only distract the governor from his good intentions for the state but would waste the funds of the state that could be meaningfully used for the development of the state.

Okom, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC said his party would give support to the governor to succeed but would not tolerate any form of maladministration from the Obiano government.''

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015—43

Tompolo, MEND leaders regroup in Bayelsa zTo discuss place of Niger Delta in Buhari's government

W

By Emma Amaize

ARRI—LEADER of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND and High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, yesterday, summoned commanders and leaders of the various wings of the militant group to an emergency meeting, tomorrow in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He did not state agenda of the meeting, but Tompolo, who is the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw nation, in the invitation, said the meeting, which will hold at Izon House, Yenagoa, was important.

His words: “My dear beloved commanders and leaders of various wings of Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, I greet you all.

It is my pleasure to humbly invite you to a very crucial and urgent meeting.”

A source told Vanguard, “The place of the Niger Delta in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and appraisal of the former President Goodluck Jonathan's government, in

view of the current happenings in the country will be tabled for discussion at the meeting. The meeting is restricted only to those invited, it is not an all comers meeting, we will make our position known after the meeting.”

Tompolo and other exmilitant leaders officially

disbanded MEND after they accepted amnesty offered them by the administration of former President Umaru Yar ’Adua in 2009.

But, a faction of MEND, which did not accept amnesty continued to operate the militant group and stated their disapproval of Jonathan's

government, but it was obvious that the moving forces behind the group had abandoned it.

Tomorrow’s meeting is the first time all the former commanders and leaders of the militant group are meeting formally since it was disbanded in 2009.

VISIT: Delta SSG, Mr. Ovie Agas (middle front row) flanked by Bashorun Askia Ogeah, (3rd left), Hon. Olisa Imegwu (3rd right), Comrade Christian Ededhor (3rd right), LAWSAN President, Mr. Daniel Igben and others, during LAWSAN team's visit to the Delta SSG in Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Port Harcourt electricity agency apprehends 100 suspected vandals

C

By Emma Una

ALABAR—NO fewer than 100 electricity thieves who illegally tapped into Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Agency's network and those who vandalised its equipment have been arrested and handed over to police for prosecution.

Dr Godwin Orovwiroro, Head of Customer Care Unit of the Electricity Agency during a Public Consultation on Tariff Review, in Calabar, yesterday, said customers who colluded with staff of the agency to tamper with metres to stop them from functioning properly, were being held culpable for defrauding the agency.

“Those who connect into our network without paying or consulting us and persons who fiddle with our metres to stop them from functioning properly are defrauding us are being arrested for prosecution,” he said.

He said a theft detection department had been established in the agency for surveillance activity in the cities and towns within its area of operation to fish out all electricity thieves who “are enjoying what they are not paying for and are

not planning to pay for, which makes them not better than common thieves.”

Dr Orovwiroro said the agency was putting in place a 10-year plan to effect a gradual increase

in tariff between 10 and 14 per cent within 10 years to meet increasing cost after carrying out a comprehensive data base.

“We are currently enumerating all our customers to know those

who are in our network and those who are connected illegally to our network and after prosecuting the thieves, we shall begin a gradual raise in tariff between ten to fourteen percent in the next ten years," he said.

Why we want Edo PDP exco dissolved —Abulagba

B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—FORMER House of Representatives member and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Johnson Abulagba, has warned that the PDP stood no chance of winning the 2016 governorship election in the state unless the party executive was dissolved to allow for fresh blood to be injected into the party.

Speaking yesterday, Abulagba who, also was the deputy

governorship candidate of the PDP in 2012 election, said: “What the chairman of the PDP in our state, Chief Dan Orbih, is giving us right now is glamorous opposition done during press conferences. That will not win us any election because it is a known fact that Edo State voters, more than 90 per cent of them do not have television and they do not read papers. When you are relying on press conferences and rallies, you are only addressing

10 per cent of voters in Edo State and that cannot give us victory.

"The present Exco, led by Chief Orbih, does not believe in winning elections. Because we do not have a governor in the state, the chairman is seen as the governor, so we are sure that the chairman is enjoying that status. They don’t believe in internal party democracy, he governs the party as a sole administration."

Warri monarch, Clark, Omene, others win Delta Role Model Awards

A

SABA—OLU of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 11, Chief E.K. Clark, Chief Joe Omene, and Chief O. C. Majoroh of Majoroh Partnership, are among 24 personalities who have passed through the rigorous selection for this year ’s Delta Role Model Award, for exceptional

contribution to the development of the state.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other Deltans from around the globe will grace the occasion.

A statement by the President and chief organizer, Mr Donaldson Onosakponome, said: “This year ’s edition

would, among others, appraise the state since its creation, focusing on basic achievements and challenges as well as proffering necessary road map for a brighter future.

The event would also showcase the cultural heritage of the state."

Airfoce to acquire more combat equipment

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— NIGERIAN Airforce is to acquire more fighting equipment to boost its force in the country.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, who disclosed this to newsmen at the 97 Special Operations Group, Port Harcourt, said the Airforce was re-strategizing to enhance its operations to effectively deal with the Boko Haram challenge in the North East and oil theft in the Niger Delta.

“What I can assure you is that we are doing everything possible to evaluate what has been done in the past, with a view to re-strategizing so that we have a very effective force to deal with security challenges, both in the Niger Delta and the North East. We are trying to look at processes , what have we been doing in the past.? What do we need to do more to be more effective? And that is why this is the second unit I am visiting since I assumed office,” he said

FG urged to declare environmental emergency in N-Delta

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— FEDERAL government has been urged to declare an environmental emergency in the Niger Delta to rescue the area from pains of soil pollution arising from decades of oil exploration, Celebrated African environmentalist, Mr Nnimmo Bassey, who made the appeal yesterday at the University of Port Harcourt during the 2nd Right Livelihood lecture on soil, not oil also cautioned against continued pollution of the soil, saying government at all levels in the country should take urgent steps to restore polluted environment.

Bassey, who is Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, enjoined all to invest in the soil, stressing that it was the only home to humans.

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24 15 —Vanguard, 24,, 20 2015

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Tertiary institutions need law, morality— OLANIPEKUN

L

AW and morality have been described as Siamese twins that can aid the growth of tertiary institutions and by extension national development.

The prescription was made by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), a legal luminary and former pro-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, while delivering the 7th Registry Annual Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA. Speaking on Law and Morality in Tertiary Institution in Nigeria: Catalysts for National Development, he said: “Any tertiary institution that is devoid of the foundational principles of law and the basic tenets of morality, even if it purports to carry out activi-

ties or make progress, can be assured of being bereft of any development worth to the nation and its people.”

Earlier in his address, Chairman at the occasion and Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adebiyi Daramola, commended the effort of the Registrar, Dr. Modupe Ajayi, for her sterling qualitative leadership of the registry and for keying into the vision of the university.

At the event, notable Nigerians, including Orangun of Oke Ila Orangun, HRM Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin; Chief of Staff to the Ondo State governor, Dr. Kola Ademujimi, and a former Registrar of FUTA, Mr. Babatunde Adebayo, were honoured.

... as NTI's tasked on moral instructions

T

HE National Teachers’ Institute, NTI, has been called upon to bring its expertise to bear for more effective moral instruction in the nation’s schools.

National Coordinator, Association of Moral Education in Nigeria, Rev. Sister Mary JudeTherese Nwodo, made the call when she led a delegation on a visit to Director-General of the institute, Dr. Aminu Sharehu, in Kaduna, to discuss ways of further collaboration.

According to the National Coordinator, the association was looking to NTI to play a major

role in the objectives of the organisation, which had taken it upon itself to check the moral decadence in the society.

Her words: “We recognise the onerous responsibility vested on your organisation as a training institute for teachers, who are the torch-bearers of moral education and interface with a wide spectrum of the population.”

Responding, Dr. Sharehu expressed the institute’s readiness to partner with organisations and individuals for the growth of the country’s education sector.

Traditional bone healers seek govt's aid

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clarion call has gone to the Federal and state governments to assist traditional bone healers by providing modern and standard equipment, and funds to improve their profession.

Speaking to journalists in his office at Sango-Ota, Ogun State, Director of Jesus Heals Orthopaedic Home, Dr. Daniel Ogobor, said the problems confronting traditional bone healers included lack of drugs and patients running away from hospital to avoid paying their bills.

He also advised governments to establish centres where orthopaedic surgeons and traditional bone healers could work together and exchange ideas that would raise the standard of the profession.

Mrs. Njideka Ogobor of Long Green Healthcare, corroborated Ogobor’s suggestions for governments to provide substantial funds for the treatment of high blood pressure, infertility, and other dangerous diseases.

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

OKOGIE TO NIGERIANS:

Be patient with Buhari

By Sam Eyoboka

L

LECTURE: Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe (middle), new President, Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, ONICCIMA, Mr Uche Apakama (2nd left), Vice-President, Finance, Chief Kevin Obieri (2nd right), and others, at the opening of the 8th annual lecture of ONICCIMA at Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Deal severely with those who ruined Nigeria, Clark tells Buhari

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark yesterday raised alarm over the level of corruption in the country and the economic crunch which have all combined to stagnate the progress of Nigeria over the years.

He warned that if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to deal severely with those who ruined Nigeria over the years, Nigeria as a country would sink.

In a six-page letter to President Buhari which was read to journalists yesterday at his Asokoro residence, Abuja, Chief Clark urged him to as a matter of urgency appoint a new Chairman for the Amnesty Programme as a replacement for the immediate past Chairman of the programme, Chief Kingsley Kuku, adding that he would be a sad man if the Amnesty programme fails.

According to the Elder statesman, the President should know what it means to Nigeria as a country to have peace in the Niger Delta, just as he stressed that quick appointment of a new Chairman even in acting capacity would help stop the imminent disintegration of the programme that has kept the peace in the Niger Delta.

The Ijaw leader said that the vacuum already created following the absence of Kuku’s successor was creating tension and if not managed immediately, it would lead to that era when the activities of the militants in the creeks, contributed to crude oil fall to about 7,000 barrel per day, compared to the present situation of 2.5 million barrel per day,

adding that the problem with the programme at the moment, was lack of an authority to operate the account of the programme.

According to him, “the economy of the country and the eradication of corruption which has become systematic and endemic that has stagnated the progress of this country over the years and the culprit if not severely dealt with will sink the

country. We, therefore, pray the Almighty God that these discussions will materialise and achieve the desired result.

“Secondly, I now respectfully wish to bring to the attention of Mr. President the imminent danger facing the Amnesty programme. It would be recalled, that the former chairman of Amnesty programme and Adviser to Mr. President on Niger Delta

Affairs, Chief Kingsley Kuku has since vacated his office as a result of change of government, but unfortunately, he has not been replaced by an appointee even in acting capacity by Mr. President, and as a result, the whole programme for now, is without leadership, and no one has the authority to operate the account of the Amnesty programme."

PDP: State chairmen give NWC 14-day ultimatum to summon NEC meeting

By Henry Umoru

A

B U JA — T H I RT Y- S I X State chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and that of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja have given the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, a 14-day ultimatum to summon a meeting of the National Executive Committee, to address burning

issues in the party.

Rising from a three-hour closed door meeting with members of the National Working Committee, NWC, the state chairmen who are also members of NEC told the leadership of the party that the NEC meeting has become imperative and must hold now to strengthen and reposition the party.

The last NEC meeting was held

weeks before the March 28 presidential election and after the loss of the PDP, there were calls for the convocation of NEC meeting and resignation of NWC members. The then National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu bowed to pressure and resigned. He was followed shortly by the then Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih.

PDP Northern Senators endorse Aduda, Bwacha for minority whip, deputy minority whip

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—AHEAD of the resumption of plenary next Tuesday, the Peoples Democratic, Party, PDP, Northern Senators have unanimously agreed to present to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, name of Senator Philip Aduda as the Senate Minority Whip.

A source told Vanguard that the

PDP Northern Senators have also endorsed Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Taraba South for the position of Senate Deputy Minority leader.

Senator Aduda, FCT, from North Central, was chairman, Senate Committee on Power in the 7th Senate and a two-time member of the House of Representatives where he represented AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency. He was first elected into the House of

Representatives from 2003 to 2007 and got re- elected in 2008.

Senator Bwacha, a member of the Federal House of Representatives (2003 to 2007), was also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture in the 7th Senate.

In the 8th Senate, the opposition PDP will produce Senate Minority leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Senate Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.

AGOS—CATHOLIC A r c h b i s h o p Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie has appealed to Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari ample opportunity to study the situation of things before embarking on his avowed crusade against corruption and insecurity. He also argued that Boko Harm would soon become history.

Dismissing accusations that the Buhari administration is rather slow in implementing its campaign promises, Okogie who served with the military during the Nigerian Civil War, argued that as a soldier, Nigerians should expect their current president to strategise.

He said: “A good soldier always strategizes. They take their time to do things.

They don’t just jump into doing things. Don’t forget that he was a military head of state before. Now he’s putting on another cloak, so he has to be democratic. He has to study the ground first of all,” Okogie said, stressing that Nigerians must forget that the former military man had attempted to be president thrice.

Mrs Matilda Awani passes on

M

RS. MATILDA Fatimo Gray Awani is dead, aged 78.

The late Mrs Awani will be buried, Friday, August 14, 2015 after funeral service at the St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Ekurede, Itsekiri, Warri.

Social wake and entertainment of guests follows at 2, Edo Link Road, Gray Awani’s Compound, Ajamimogha, Warri, Delta State.

Late Matilda Awani

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015—47

EFCC suspect dies during Eid prayers in Kirikiri Prison A

businessman and foreign exchange dealer, Alhaji Suleiman Yerima, remanded in prison custody, following an ongoing trial by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been reported dead.

Yerima died last Friday during the end of

Ramadan fast prayers on the Muslim Praying Ground at Kirikiri Prison, Lagos.

It was learned that the businessman suddenly slumped while prayers were ongoing and was subsequently rushed to the medical facility by prisons officials and the visiting imams, but was

later pronounced death.

Although autopsy results are still being awaited, Yerima is suspected to have died of natural causes as p r e l i m i n a r y examinations showed that he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, which led to his slumping during the prayers.

Blind man, wife, six siblings escape death in generator fire

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

I

T was a black Wednesday for the family of Mr. John Nwabufo of NkwelleEzunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State as a generating set reportedly set his family house ablaze, with the man and his wife, Ndidiamaka, and six children managing to escape death by the whiskers.

According to a source, trouble started for the family when one of the sons allegedly carried a lantern close to the generator, which ignited a fire that engulfed the entire house.

The source said soon after the outbreak, Nwabufo, a bed-ridden, partially blind man, was evacuated alongside his wife and children through the window by sympathisers.

One of the eyewitnesses, Chief Vincent Anyakora, who is also the chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the area, said the incident occurred in the wee hours when the family members were still asleep.

He said: “The family was still asleep when the house caught fire and neighbours started shouting, which made the entire residents to storm the place and rescue them.

“The entire building had caught fire when the rescuers came and they had to break the window from where the blind man, his wife and their six children were rescued.

“If not for God, their father, who is partially blind and had been bedridden for years now, and his entire family would have been wiped out by

the fire.

“You can see the generator that caused the trouble; it is completely burnt and every property was burnt, except only the family members who were rescued alive.”

Also speaking, the elder brother to the blind man who lost his house, Mr. Jacob Nwabufor, said: “My brother is currently staying in my house after losing his house and every other thing he had on earth to the fire and

cannot start life afresh unless the state government and good spirited individuals and group come to his aid.

“His wife, Ndidiamaka, has fled the community until after some days to enable the women clear the ashes. That is our tradition.”

Eyewitnesses, Mrs. Catherine Unegbu and Madam Patience Abadom regretted that officials of the fire service did not respond to calls.

792,132 children for anti-malaria treatments in Sokoto, Zamfara

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A M A K K O (SOKOTO)— NO fewer than 792,132 under five children are to receive preventive malaria treatment this year in Sokoto and Zamfara states.

The Chief Executive Officer, Malaria Consortium, Mr. Charles Nelson, disclosed this yesterday at the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, SMC, programme in Wamakko.

The event was organised by the governments of Sokoto and Zamfara states in collaboration with ACCESS SMC project partners in Nigeria, led by Malaria Consortium.

Nelson said as part of preparation for the administration of the SMC medicines in the two states, 23 national trainers and 141 state trainers have been trained.

Others trained included 1,974 health facility staff, supervisors and 6,531 community healthcare workers.

He said SMC was a critical tool in combating

the menace of malaria.

He said: “For the 25 million children who live across the Sahel where there is seasonal surge of malaria incidence, World Health Organisation, WHO, recommends seasonal m a l a r i a chemoprevention SMC. “The SMC is an effective tool in the fight against malaria.”

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who inaugurated the programme, expressed joy with the initiative, assuring that his administration would continue to address all the core issues related to malaria control as a mark of its concern to the survival and protection of children.

Represented by the state’s Head of Service, Alhaji Bature Shinkafi, the governor said the state government had d e m o n s t r a t e d commitment to malaria elimination by adopting these strategies.

He said: “The strategies include capacity building for healthcare facilities.”

48—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Trump considers 3rd party campaign

Iran deal with US brings thousands to Times Square protest T

HOUSANDS of protesters packed into Times Square on Wednesday evening to demand that Congress vote down the proposed U.S. deal with Iran.

As the crowd loomed behind police barricades, chants of “Kill the deal!” could be heard for blocks. The event, billed as the “Stop Iran Rally ” consisted mainly of pro-Israel supporters, though organizers said it represents Americans of all faiths and political convictions.

The group is asking Congress to reject the deal under which the U.S. would agree to lift economic sanctions against Iran in return for measures to prevent the country from building nuclear weapons.

President Barack Obama has said the U.S. considers Iran an adversary whose activities will be closely monitored.

At the rally, Alan Dershowitz, a prominent Jewish attorney, said he was “opposing the deal

The protesters against the Iran nuke deal in New York as a liberal Democrat.”

He said he believed democracy was “ignored” because the Obama administration negotiated the deal without congressional input.

“That is not the way democracy should operate,” he told the crowd.

Republican presidential candidate former New York Gov. George Pataki speaks to supporters at the …

In a statement Wednesday, Rep. Peter King, a former chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said he attended a classified briefing with Secretary of State John Kerry and “is still convinced that this is a bad deal for America.”

“It was entirely wrong and arrogant for the Obama administration to submit the deal to the U.N. before Congress voted on it,” he said. “It

is definitely my intention to vote no on this deal with Iran.”

Desiree Soper of Long Island said she was drawn to the protest because she wanted to voice her opposition.

“I don’t trust Iran,” she said. “They ’ll find loopholes.”

Demonstrators also took note that U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer did not attend the protest, prompting chants of “Where is Chuck?” from the crowd."

FBI: Islamic State bigger threat than al-Qaida F

BI Director James Comey yesterday said the Islamic State group’s online attempts to recruit Americans pose a bigger terror threat to the U.S. than al-Qaida.

Speaking late Wednesday at the annual Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, Comey warned of the extremist group’s intensifying social media campaign.

“ISIL is not your parent’s al-Qaida,” said Comey, using an alternate name for the Islamic State. “ISIL is buzzing on your hip.

They’re right there on Twitter.”

While al-Qaida is careful in how it chooses operatives, he said the Islamic State has cast a wider net and is willing to recruit “unstable, troubled drug users.”

Comey said Islamic State-linked Twitter accounts have about 21,000 English-language followers, hundreds or thou-

sands of whom are in the U.S. The FBI has hundreds of open investigations involving Americans who may have become radicalized and wanted to carry out terror attacks, he said.

He confirmed the bureau had not been tracking Muhammad Abdulazeez, identified as the gunman who shot and killed five service members last week at military sites in Tennessee.

Investigators have not determined whether Abdulazeez was inspired by Islamic militants. His family has said he suffered from depression and used drugs.

Saudi-backed Yemeni troops, fighters gain control of Aden

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EMENI troops and local militias, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, seized full control of the strategic port city of Aden after repelling Shi’ite rebels from their last holdout in this southern city and were pushing on Thursday to solidify their gains, military officials said.

The battle for Aden has been the epicenter of Yemen’s conflict over the past several weeks. The rebels, known as Houthis, seized the Yemeni capital,

Sanaa, last September and then began pressing their advance south.

Fierce fighting over Aden broke out in March, sparking the Saudi-led airstrikes that have been targeting the rebels to halt their advance.

More than 1,690 civilians have been killed since late March, according to figures released by the United Nations this week.

The anti-Houthi forces made significant gains in Aden over the past week,

with battles to drive the rebels and their allies out of the city stretching on for days.

The troops were able to take control late Wednesday of the presidential compound, which sits on rocks that jut out into the sea and houses a number of villas beside the presidential palace. Several rebels were captured and an undetermined number were killed in the fighting, officials said.

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EAL-estate developer Donald Trump would increasingly consider a third-party presidential campaign if the GOP establishment were to treat him unfairly, he told The Hill in a Wednesday interview.

“I’ll have to see how I’m being treated by the Republicans,” Trump said. “Absolutely, if they ’re not fair, that would be a factor. ” The Republican businessman, who is leading most national polls, is under attack from many leaders in his own party who view his candidacy as a sideshow that could harm the GOP brand.

But as The New York Times previously reported, what some party higher-ups fear most is Trump launching a third-party campaign that could pull more votes from the Republican nominee than the Democrat in the general election.

“You’ve got to keep him in the tent,” former Rep. Tom Davis (R-Virginia) told the newspaper. “He just wreaks havoc, and every vote he takes comes out of our hide.”

A poll released earlier in this week may confirm that fear.

Testing a hypothetical three-way matchup among Trump, former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida (R), and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, a Washington Post/ABC survey found Clinton (46%) easily ahead of Bush (30%) and Trump (20%).

Trump, speaking to The Hill about a potential third-party bid, singled out the Republican National Committee in particular for being unfair to him.

“The RNC has not been supportive,” Trump said.

“They were always supportive when I was a contributor. I was their fair-haired boy. T h e RNC has been, I think, very foolish.”

Greece legislators pass law to open bailout talks

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REECE’s creditors prepared on Thursday for the start of bailout talks in Athens, after lawmakers adopted a second package of reform measures before dawn despite a left wing rebellion that may bring early elections.

In a sign of how the goal of coming to grips with the country’s debt is swiftly sliding even further away, Greece’s most influential think tank predicted a sharp drop back into recession.

That adds to the headwinds facing

leftwing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who must negotiate a bailout worth up to 86 billion euros with sceptical lenders while struggling to hold his divided Syriza party together.

After another marathon session that ended in the early hours of Thursday, the Greek parliament voted overwhelmingly to approve the second package of reform measures.

But 36 Syriza lawmakers rebelled, forcing Tsipras to rely on opposition votes.

Europe readying sanctions against Burundians over election

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HE European Union is ready to impose sanctions on Burundians failing to help end the Central African nation’s crisis, the EU’s foreign policy chief said on Thursday, following elections that Brussels and Washington say were not credible.

Facing its worst political crisis since the end of civil war in 2005, Burundi is awaiting the results of Tuesday’s vote in which President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a third term, breaking the twoterm limit agreed in a peace deal a decade ago.

“The European Union is preparing ... to adopt, if necessary, targeted restrictive measures against those whose actions led to acts of violence, repression and serious human rights abuses or hinder the search for a political solution,” Mogherini said in a statement.

Six government officials are likely to be targeted with asset freezes and travel bans and discussions are under way to draw up the measures, EU officials told Reuters, although no further details were immediately available.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 — 49

World’s most optimistic people live in Africa S

URE, France has Paris, Provence and the Palace of Versailles. But when it comes to optimism about the domestic economy, the French have nothing on Ethiopians.

The three countries with the brightest prospects in the next year are all emerging or developing economies in Africa, while three with the bleakest outlooks are advanced economies, according to a Pew Research Center

survey conducted March 25 through May 27.

Nigeria tops the charts, with 92 percent of respondents seeing their economy improving in the next 12 months, compared with a net 5 percent who said it would stay the same or worsen. Residents in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia were similarly upbeat, with more than 80 percent of people in each country projecting economic progress.

On the other end of the

scale, Poland was home to the smallest share of respondents seeing faster economic momentum in the next year, with just 16 percent holding that view.

France — where almost half of those polled thought things would get worse — showed the weakest readings among advanced economies.

Nigeria and Ethiopia also ranked high on Pew’s survey of longer-term prospects. Each of those two had 84 percent of respondents judging that

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when their children grow up, they’ll be better off financially than their parents. See below how emerging economies stacked up against their advanced counterparts.

There was widespread

pessimism in richer countries like France, Japan and Italy.

As President Barack Obama prepares to visit Ethiopia next week in a first for a sitting U.S. president, there are solid indicators of

faster growth. The government will boost spending by 20 percent in the budget year that began in July, with more than half allocated for roads and higher education, State Finance Minister Abraham Tekeste announced last month.

No changes to Obama schedule in Kenya after leak

U

S President Barack Obama does not need to reshuffle his visit to east Africa after a posting of some details of the trip were made public in Kenya, a White House spokesman said.

Responding to a question about Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority issuing details of the president’s arrival time to the country that became public, spokesman Josh Earnest said there is not enough cause for concern to change Obama’s

schedule.

“The details of the president’s schedule that are critical to keeping safe are details that have not been disclosed publicly at this point,” he told reporters.

50— VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

2015 HAJJ: Ogun assures pilgrims of safe, smooth operations

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Shawwal 8, 1436 A.H.

Ramadan ends, Fasting continues

B

EFORE the advent of Islam, Arabs believed that any marriage held in Shawwal would always turn out to be unsuccessful. They believed that marriages conducted in the month would hit the rock .

As a result, they avoided making any covenant or contract around that period for fear of being broken. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) came and he did not only dismantle their fictitious and superstitious beliefs, he taught them that only Allah determine the fate of every human being.

He fed them with the words of Allah and guided them away from the path of perdition onto the glorious path of Islam. As part of the evidence to show the puerility of their belief, Aisha (r.t.a) married the Prophet in this month and their relationship never waned.

The month of Shawwal is another month that we get rewarded for fasting only six days in it after Ramadan; we can enjoy the reward of being fasted for a whole year. Incredible, isn't it? That is another of the mercies of Allah on Muslims. Although it is voluntary in nature, its importance cannot be overemphasised.

To a Muslim, the first day of the month of Shawwal is of very great significance. The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Whosoever fasted the full month of Ramadan and then follows it with six fasts of Shawwal, is like a person who has fasted the full year.”

It must be stated that it is not a hard and fast rule to fast consecutively in the days of Shawwal. A person can distribute them over the month of Shawwal by fasting on Mondays and Thursdays.

Although the Shafi‘is and Hanbalis hold the view that it is superior to fast the six days consecutively, the reasons they adduce for it is that to hasten to do the ibadah, adding that there could be problem in delaying the fast as some unforeseen circumstances could set in such illness, lazyness, fatigue which can hinder the sunnah.

Reward of fasting Apart from the fact that fasting six days in Shawwâl after observing the Ramadan fast gives the person the reward of fasting throughout the year, these extra fasts cover up for the deficiencies in our performance of our obligatory worship. On the Day of Judgment, our voluntary acts of worship will compensate for the shortcomings in how we carried out our duties. Most of us have deficiencies in the observance of last Ramadan especially in our conducts which detract and perhaps reduce the value of our ibadah. Obviously, we need something to cover up for those deficiencies; this is what the six days of Shawwal can do for us.

Again, our return to the habit of fasting right after Ramadan is a sign of our steadfastness,

submissiveness, and total obedience to Allah and His Messenger. This can further lead to the acceptance of our prayers by Allah. When Allah accepts our worship, He blesses us to engage in further acts of piety. As the saying goes; ‘The reward of virtue is further virtue’. Therefore, following one good deed with another is a good virtue.

It is also a means of showing gratitude to Allah by embarking on the habit of fasting immediately after Ramadan.

There is no blessing greater than forgiveness for one’s sins, and we know that fasting Ramadan is a recompense for our sins. So, we can embark on six days fasting in Shawwal to show gratitude for forgiveness of sins.

Besides, you can’t imagine the blessings of Allah on you and as such you cannot thank Him enough.

Every minute of our life is blessing on the increase. If we show gratitude continuously, we tend to have a basket full of blessings as Allah indicated in the Quran. When we recognize that our thanks are never enough, it gives the highest expression of gratitude to the Creator.

Abu Hurayra related that the Prophet (s.a.w) said, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, though there is good in both. Be steadfast, rely on Allah and do not deem yourself incapable.

FFORTS at ensuring safe and smooth hajj operations in Ogun State has commenced with strategic inoculation and medical screening exercise for the 2015 intending pilgrims at the Board’s Secretariat in Abeokuta.

The Chairman, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dr. Ishaq Yusuf said, the essence of the screening exercise was to ascertain that the intending pilgrim is healthy and has the prerequisite Islamic knowledge and capacity to perform hajj.

He noted that the medical screening would avail the board to determine the state of health of pilgrims in offering necessary medical attention to them in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Yusuf, said, inoculation would cover giving of polio and malaria vaccines other medical supports within the five day exercises to pilgrims in preparation for holy pilgrimage.

He called on the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the State, as the State was known to be the best in the last four years in the country. Stating, following the lay down rules by the board officials would go a long way in assisting them to perform a successful hajj exercises.

Meanwhile, some of the intending pilgrims at the screening exercise, Mr. Fadahunsi Ishola Bamidele from Ifo Local Government Area of the State, commended the State government for the arrangements and conducts of the inoculation and medical screening exercises as its gives a lot of relief and save the stress of moving up and down from different medical clinics for the required test for hajj.

Also, speaking at the screening, Mrs. Agboola Nimotallahi from Ipokia Local Government Area of the State, called on the State government to continue its magnanimities, in terms of given supports to the pilgrims both within and outside the country. She said, officials the board gave adequate attention and guidance to them during the screening exercise.

Jigawa trains intending pilgrims

BY ALIYU DANGIDA

A

HEAD of the 2015 Hajj exercise, Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced daily seminar across the 27LGA’S of the state, aimed at sensitizing intending Pilgrims to acquire obligatory knowledge of hajj rites.

In a statement by the PRO of the board, Mati Ali said the Executive Secretary of the board Alhaji Sani Alhassan directed for the kick start of the program last Monday and will end on Wednesday 18th August 2015 in all the designated centers.

The statement added that, before Ramadan period, the board concluded the weekly seminar for the intending pilgrims which has recorded huge success in terms of its implementations.

The Executive Secretary explained that the board has determined to ensure all intending pilgrims in the state understood the basic principles of hajj and Umrah before embarking on the journey to holly land.

The Executive Secretary stated that the Board will monitor the seminar so as to assess the attendance and performance of the intending pilgrims and preachers.

He then called on the intending pilgrims in the state to ensure regular attendance during the seminar in their respective areas so as to acquire obligatory knowledge of hajj rite.

NASS Resumption: Don’t use Islam as a def ense — NA COMY O defense NACOMY COMYO

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Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from the Muslim faithful and supporters, during the 2015 Eid-il-fitr celebration, at Oke-Baale praying ground, Osogbo, last Friday.

HE postponement of the resumption date of National Assembly (NASS) from July 21 to 28th, purportedly premised on members who went on Umurah (lesser hajj) as claimed by certain members of lower legislative house who granted a press interview to some electronic media recently was a sheer deceit and playing on the intelligence of Nigerians.

The apex Muslim Youth body in the country, National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO) reacting to the statement frowned at the use of religion of Islam as a cover-up to deceive Nigerians.

While noting that the distinguished senators and honourable members of House of Representatives have right to fulfill their religious obligations as required by their faith, it argued that NASS members who performed the lesser hajj knew of the house resumption date before they departed the shores of Nigeria and therefore, it became expedient for them to arrange their return trip to suit the house calendar.

NACOMYO further argued that the number that went on Umurah could not have been significant as to prevent the ‘red’ and ‘green’ houses from resumption for legislative business.

The group reminded the federal law makers of the high expectations from them by Nigerians, urging them to be more committed and deliver on their mandate.

While urging them to avoid a seemingly impasse in the leadership brawl rocking the NASS, the umbrella Muslim Youth body noted that national interest should override sectional or personal concern and as a democratic imperative for good governance.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 — 51

EID-IL-FITR CELEBRATIONPix:Bunmi Azeez

Shawwal 8, 1436 A.H.

Three years after, Where is Gawat?

•Muslims urged to pray for his return •As Lagos celebrates Eid-il-Fitr in low key •Ambode hosts Muslims

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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T was a mixed feeling among Muslims in Lagos who joined the rest of their fateful worldwide to celebrate 2015 Eid-el-Fitri which marked the end of 30-day fasting.

While some had quality time with their family members, others were in prayers and in relaxation spots.

It will be recalled, July 6, 2015, marked exactly three years the frontline Islamic programme presenter on NTA, Alhaji Aremu AbdurRasaq Gawat was declared missing in a controversial

Federal Constituency 2, Hakeem Abiodun Muniru; and Mudasiru Obasa, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly and the Chairman of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Adeyemi Alli, gave the advice in their Sallah messages to Muslims as they mark the end of the Ramadan.

Obasa, who represents Agege State Constituency 1 in the state Assembly, called on Muslims to continue to pray for Nigeria.

“I want to wish Muslims in the country happy Eid-el-Fitri celebration and I pray that we witness more of such celebrations

was also devoid of the usual gridlock.

Some of the respondents who spoke with our correspondent blamed the seemingly low turn out to the economic reality as well as the need to take time off the hustle and bustle of daily life in Lagos. The beaches were also deserted. Some of the touts at the beaches complained of low patronage.

Also some of the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT and LAGBUS which were provided by Lagos State Government to carry passengers free of charge on Sallah day, had their buses empty as there were no much passengers on the road.

At press time, there was no report of any serious causality as against the yearly occurrence during the same celebration.

Chief Imam of Lagos, Alh. Garuba Akinola Ibrahim[right] and Mufasr T.O.S. Gbajabiamila, Alfa Agba of Lagos praying for Muslims and the Nation during the 2015 Eid Ul-Fitr Prayer at Donda Barrack in Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos.

From left: Mr. Fatai Owoseni, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, HRM Oba Riliwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos, Sheik AbdulAfeez Abou, Baba Adini of Lagos and Alh. Lateef Okunnu at the Dondan Barrack, Obalende praying ground.

Ambode hosts Muslims

•Alhaji Aremu Gawat missing in mysterious circumstance circumstance in Lagos. His sudden disappearance has remained a mystery to many, with so many unanswered questions.

On that fateful day his vehicle was found on the Eko Bridge without him in the car.

Search parties were immediately, launched to find him alive or recover his body. The length and breadth of Lagos Lagoon belly, was searched all to no avail. It has not been confirmed whether he is dead or alive.

Consequently, series of special prayer sessions were organised for the missing ace broadcaster and former staff of NTA, Tejuosho, Yaba, Lagos.

The circumstances that led to the sudden disappearance of Gawat, was described as “mysterious” by many, but with optimism and prayers, the missing TV presenter could be found.

However, Muslims in the country have been advised to use the end of the Ramadan period to pray for Gawa’s return as well as work for the unity and peaceful co-existence among the country’s ethnic groups.

Member of the House of Representatives for Oshodi/Isolo

in our lifetime. However, while celebrating, I want to advise that we should not forget to continue to say and do things that will continue to enhance the unity of this country. We are at a critical period of our political life and we should continue to promote the unity of the country through our utterances and actions,” Obasa said.

Why wondering on what could have led to the sudden disappearance of a man considered to be peace loving and quiet, the lawmakers prayed for his safe return even as they urged Nigerians, especially, Muslims not to relent in their prayers for the missing presenter and his family.

Low key celebration: Celebration of the Eid-el-Fitri across the Lagos metropolis was largely low-key as Muslims marked the end of the Ramadan Holy month.

Reports from some relaxation centres revealed that the usual traffic of fun seekers to places like beaches, cinemas and fun joints dropped unlike in the past.

Most of the roads were practically free of traffic. The everbusy Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, accompanied by his wif,e Bolanle in a cheer demonstration of sense of belonging, joined Muslim faithful to mark the Eid-El-Fitri celebration at a reception held at the Lagos House, Alausa.

The governor, at the feast, urged them to imbibe the tenets of the season and ensure it reflects in their daily activities.

“Let me use this medium to felicitate with our Muslim brothers and sisters on the completion of the year 2015 Ramadan. Ramadan has come and gone, but the lessons of the month remain and we should as worshipers sustain them in our everyday activities.

“Let us put to use the lessons of Ramadan, which essentially is that of peace. Let us remain peaceful and eschew vices by remaining steadfast in our journey to make Lagos state a better place for all of us”.

“We may differ in tongue and faith, but we all remain equal before our creator, the owner of heaven and earth”.

“It is my fervent prayer that the Almighty will continue to increase us in wisdom, health and wealth. May we witness many more celebrations.”

Earlier, the First Lady expressed her appreciation for the support given to the present administration so far, just as she appealed for more cordial relationship in the state.

From left: Alh. Abdullahi Musa, Imam of Obalende, Gen[Rtd].

Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Mr. Abe Ibraheem and Mr. Bayo Adeleke at the Donda Barrack, Obalende praying ground, Ikoyi, Lagos.

A check point at the back gate before the Eid-il-Fitr prayer at Dondan Barrack in Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos.

52—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Onokerhoraye: Celebrating an icon @ 70

By Friday Okonofua

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N July 24, 2015, our indomitable and revered Emeritus Professor Andrew G.Onokerhoraye, internationally acclaimed professor of geography and former ViceChancellor of the University of Benin will be 70 years old.

This being an important milestone in a person’s life, and having had the opportunity to study this foremost academic and nationalist over nearly 20 years, I thought it necessary as a lesson for all academics to summarise my reflections about him in this short essay.

Professor Onokerhoraye is many things to different people, but to me he is an irrepressible academic who is committed to the universal principles of scholarship, a true patriot, and an indefatigable defender of the ethos and ethics of the Nigerian University system.

For me, one episode imprinted him in my memory for all times and in perpetuity. As a medical student, I often ruminated over what line of professional development I would pursue after my training. I later decided to be an academic rather than be a politician or businessman, mainly because of the opportunity academia provides for rationale and objective thinking, for truthfulness and to be oneself irrespective of the social and political clime.

Those were the days when the doctrine of academic freedom was highly revered, when a scholar had the leverage to publish or teach what he liked, and when an academic was often not encumbered by ethnic, religious or other primordial considerations.

Primordial considerations In the late 1980s when I completed my postgraduate education and then ready to take up full time appointment in a Nigerian University that best mirrors my idea of an objective institution that will provide me the opportunity to grow, I noticed a systematic departure of most universities from the ideals of a truly universal system. I had applied to four universities at the time, and was indeed, offered appointments. But in different forms in the Universities, I noticed unabated in-fighting, systematic ethnic chauvinism, political manipulation, high handedness by high ranking officials and deliberate favouritism. I remember vividly telling a professor friend of mine at the time to tell a ViceChancellor of one of the Universities who had insisted that I should see him before considering my application that

he would wait until the head of a carmel passes through the eye of a needle before I can prostrate before him to get an appointment which I thought I deserved.

The University of Benin was one of the Universities I applied to at the time, and Professor Andrew G. Onokerhoraye was its Vice-Chancellor. In my determination to test the orientation of the University, I simply forwarded my application to the University of Benin by post and waited to see the results. I did not know the ViceChancellor, and insisted on not “pushing” the application in any material way possible.

Peer review process To my consternation, I went through an interview process and was appointed a professor after the normal peer review process. I later got to know that Professor Onokerhoraye fiercely battled the usual cabal to get me appointed, and insisted that on the strength of my curriculum vitae, my performance in the interview, and the report of the peer reviews, that I was qualified to be so appointed. This was regardless of the fact that I had not known him, neither was I from his Urhobo ethnic group.

My decision to take up appointment as Professor at the University of Benin instead of the other three Universities where I had been appointed is one of the most difficult decisions I have taken in my entire career.

It was largely due to my rationalisation that if a ViceChancellor can appoint someone to a position he deserves based on merit and without the usual chicanery, that must be the University where any person seeking objective development can obtain social protection in a country then witnessing systematic morale degeneration

Onokerhoraye represents an era in the history of Nigerian Universities that needs to be revisited if the University intends to offer its true meaning and results for our national development

Prof. Andrew G.Onokerhoraye in its educational system. The University has since turned out not to be the same, largely because of the ascendancy of conservative ethos over those that deepen progressive thoughts and ideas for the system. Sadly, it came to pass that after years of vacillation on what principles would best grow the Nigerian University system, conservativism and corruptive influences have dethroned more progressive and noble ideas without a whimper of resistance by official regulatory forces. The politicisation of all Universities has wiped away the real essence of University experience, a harm that will take generations of systematic and purposeful reengineering by a suicide reformer to revivify.

Thus, to me Prof.

Onokerhoraye represents an era in the history of Nigerian Universities that needs to be revisited if the University intends to offer its true meaning and results for our national development. The true essence of a University is high quality teaching, research and service delivery. Any University wishing to attain global relevance must deepen its approach to these elements, using the best academics from any part of the world. A University being an assemblage of persons with high intellect, only by rigorous debate and interrogation will a University seeking excellence arrive at the best ideas for driving its development. The ViceChancellor of the University of Chicago when asked how his University was able to attain high global rating cited the quality and rigor of debates that enables faculties to come up with new ideas and innovations that guide its teaching and research.

Onokerhoraye as Chairman of the Senate of the University of Benin is often remembered for permitting unfettered debate, which enabled the University to

take decisions on knotty academic issues.

Those were the days when professors went to Senate with statistics and documents to prove their positions, and when they would not be sure what decision will be taken by Senate until after the session has ended.

Unfortunately, this is no longer the case in many Nigerian Universities.

Professors everywhere have become sorry tales of their former selves and have simply become “rubber stamps” of already decided positions.

Meaning of the mandate I once went as a member of a visitation team to a Nigerian University and we were inundated with stories of how a Vice-Chancellor had simply turned the Senate into his personal kitchen doing what he liked without a word of resistance from fellow professors. The ViceChancellor did many unusual things like unduly influencing University admissions without members of Senate questioning him on the legality and logicality of the action. Surely, the appellation of “Chief Executive Officer” that has been added to the office of Vice-Chancellors has sometimes led to abuses by people who do not know the meaning of the mandate given to them.

Despite that Universities have always prided themselves as being administered under a committee system, our new wave of University CEOs have now found it comfortable in their private interests to do away with this system. Unless some sanity is brought into the administration of Universities, the achievement of excellence so desired by all stakeholders will be difficult to attain.

In sum, Professor Onokerhoraye has always been

a true academic that mirrors what a true University system should be. He devoted substantial part of his time as Vice-Chancellor to teaching and research, and the supervision of post-graduate students. Indeed, as ViceChancellor he was reputed to have launched 24 textbooks in his discipline in one day. I also remember that when I debuted the African Journal of Reproductive Health in 1997, he personally attended the launching as chair of the occasion and was the highest personal donor, testifying to his willingness to support young and growing academics. He has supported the journal from that time till now. He is also one of a few former Vice-Chancellors I know who have taken time to document their tenure in a book so detailed and enthralling to read.

But readers should not get me wrong - Onokerhoraye is not a saint, and certainly has his foibles. I have often taken time to analyse some criticisms of his actions, and can only attribute these to reactions that a person gets when he insists on being relevant in a highly competitive and contentious system.

Onokerhoraye (fondly called Onoks by friends and admirers)is a recurrent lexicon in the political and academic life of the University of Benin.

Recurrent lexicon He is regarded as the Maradona of the University and a dictionary or an encyclopaedia of sorts, as he always has a history to recall in dealing with an issue in the University. Stories are often told daily about what he has done or not done – many of which borders around his perceived political invincibility and deftness. However, to show that he is only human, some of his political calculations have come to pass in the University, while many have not seen the light of day.

In sum, I see Onokerhoraye as an academic so passionate about change for a University that he has helped to nurture that he has often looked for purely Nigerian and indigenous ways to push for change. As he approached 70 years, my analysis is that of a man who has done very well in a system, but whobecame eager to ensure that he leaves a legacy as robust as he met it. I must say this is a quagmire that many high ranking academics who are retiring find themselves today. For those of us still in the system, we should be prayerful that our hope for a better and more progressive University system will come to fruition, otherwise we would fail to have a good place in history.

On behalf of all progressive Nigerians, I wish our dear Emeritus Professor Andrew G. Onokerhoraye a most happy birthday and thank him for his numerous contributions to the Nigerian University system.

*Okonofua, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, & VC, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 — 53

How I’ll run sports in Enugu — Commissioner

BY EDWIN EZE

N

EW Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Charles Ndukwe has spoken on how he will run sports in the coal city state.

Speaking at an interactive session with Directors and Heads of Departments in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ndukwu reaffirmed his resolve to move sports development forward and ensure that youth empowerment was taken to an enviable height in the state, stating that, “the Youth and Sports Ministry is alive now and must take the bold imitative to explore all the possible opportunities to bring Sports in Enugu state back to its formidable position in Nigeria.”

He reiterated that he would not run sports only from the Office but would rather visit all the nooks and crannies in

the state to discover talents, groom them and expose them to international stardom through constant competitions at both local and national level.

While commending Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for giving him the opportunity to serve the state he stated that, “having played Sports and sponsored Sports competitions” he would, “apply his experience to contribute his quota to National Development.”

In her speech, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. (Mrs.) Chinwe Anibeze assured the Commissioner of the unalloyed loyalty and unflinching support of all the Staff, Directors and Heads of Departments in the ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure that Enugu State regains its pristine position in Sports and Youth

Newcastle Continues from BP of Anderlecht defender Chancel Mbemba – but doubts remain about the player’s age.

The Magpies will sign the Congolese international on the understanding he is 20 years old.

However, it has long since been reported that Mbemba has four birthdays – ranging from 1988 to 1995.

Mbemba once stated in an interview that he believed his birthday was around 1990, which would make him 25.

The centre back began his career in his homeland, where his date of birth was registered as August 8, 1988.

By the time he came to

sign for Anderlecht in 2012, his new birthday was stated as August 8, 1995.

However, during qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, Congo registered him as a November 30, 1991 birth.

And to add to the confusion, Mbemba himself has been quoted as saying he was born in 1990.

Newcastle, however, are said to be relaxed about the situation surrounding a player they regard as the best defender in the Belgian Jupiler League.

He will follow Anderlecht team-mate Aleksandar Mitrovic to Tyneside after the striker joined in a £12.5m deal earlier this week.

Eagles Continues from BP Champions have a date with the Tafia Stars in Dares-Salaam in September on the Afcon qualifiers match day 2.

Oliseh, whose contract will run until 2018 with the team explained that early preparations will help them put plans in place ahead of the game.

“Camp for the game

against Tanzania will open on 17 August with the foreign-based players joining the team one week to the game,” Oliseh said.

“We need to start camping next month and we will definitely start off with the home-based players.”

Nigeria currently sit second on the log and trail group leaders Egypt on goal difference.

development in Nigeria.

She commended the H o n o u r a b l e Commissioner for his assurances to reinvigorate Sports and Youth empowerment in

the State; and also thanked the Directors and Heads of Departments for their bold ideas which helped her to run the affairs of the Ministry before the appointment of Commissioners.

Indians, Czechs headline Lagos Int’l Badminton Classics

T

HE second edition of Africa’s and indeed, one of the biggest Badminton tournaments in the world, the Lagos International Badminton Classics ended Saturday, with India’s Sai Praneeth,

PRESENTATION: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left), presenting a trophy to the Winner of the Men’s singles, Sai Praneeth from India (right) while the runner up, Dziolko Adrian from Poland (2nd right) watches with admiration

Siasia pays tribute to Gov Wike

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

C

HIEF Coach of the National U-23 team, the Dream Team IV Samson Siasia has paid a glowing tribute to the government and people of Rivers State for the hospitality they showed to his team during the camping for the 2016 Olympic Games qualifier against their

counterparts from Congo.

Siasia said both the governor, Hon. Nyesom Wike and the people of the state adopted the team as their own and went out of their way to give them all the support adding that the Dream Team IV has taken the city of Port Harcourt as its home.

Continues from BP

•Gov Wike

Liberia U-20 Continues from BP Kossiwa Kpadenou, Cherifa Moussa and Aissata Ameyo Amegee as assistant refeee 1, assistant referee 2 and reserve referee respectively.

The match commissioner is Lea Annette Dabanga from Central African Republic.

yansi-Agwu has taken a swipe at those making uncomplimentary remarks about the appointment.

Anyansi told Sports Vanguard in Abuja yesterday that the NFF took its time before zeroing in on Oliseh whom he added that despite not having coached any known national team before, has all the credentials to take the Super Eagles to a greater height.

According to him, history has shown that most of the successful coaches of today did not have any known experience before they began, insisting that Oliseh proved beyond all reasonable doubt that he is the right man for the job.

“I want to appeal to everybody to leave Oliseh alone. We have given him

“Governor Wike and the people of Rivers State have been very wonderful, we can’t thank them enough for keeping us there an even up till now. In fact the team more or less has adopted Port Harcourt as our home and he has told us to be free to come there any time we wish to play.”

seeded number one at the competition carting away the top prize after he defeated Poland’s Adrian Dzioiko seeded number five 2-0 in the men’s singles final.

Czech Republic’s unseeded player, Kristina Gavnholt defeated Turkeys,Ozge Bayrak seeded number seven 2-1 to take the women’s title.

The pair of Poland’s Przemyalaw and Adam Cwalina defeated India’s Manu Attry and Sumeeth Reddy 2-0 in the men’s doubles.

In the mixed doubles Poland’s, Robert Mateusiak and Nadieza Zieba defeated India’s Kona Tarun and Nisikki Reddy 2-0.

11th Shell P/H Open Scrabble Tournament begins

T

HE much awaited 11th Shell Port Harcourt/2nd Nigeria Players Scrabble Tournament begins today in the Rivers State capital with the arrival of players at the Shell Club, Aba Road.

The tournament is categorised into five which makes it unique and also the first of its kind in the history of Scrabble in the country.

The categories are Maters category, where the best of the talents will compete. There is also the intermediate category, the opens category, which like the name implies is open to all comers.

Anyansi-Agwu the job and that is the reality and there is nothing anybody can do about it now, allow him to work, pray for him and support him to succeed. If you have any idea, bring it out let’s all share it because that is the only way you can support him, not people creating doubts and negative impressions for a job he has not even started.

“Let people allow him and see him work, I am telling you because I am involved, if you interact with this young man you will be convinced that he has the ability to do this job, so people should let us’ see him work. I don’t understand why people keep wishing others to fail, instead of turning those wishes into a posi-

tive ones.

Oliseh is not just anobody, we didn’t pick him from the street. I mean he has paid his dues and for the fact that he has not coached a top flight team does not make him a bad coach. We believe that he has what it takes to make Nigeria great again.”

On why the NFF invited Chief Coach of the National U-23 team, the Dream Team IV, Samson Siasia and the Supper Falcons coach, Christopher Damjuma, the Technical Committee boss said the meeting was to fashion ways of ensuring that the two teams qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games after their not too impressive outings against their counterparts from Congo and Equatorial Guinea respectively.

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

FIFA queries Russia over Frimpong F

IFA has asked the Russian Football Union to explain the latest high-profile incident of racism that saw a Ghanaian player banned for two matches for his reaction to fan abuse and the alleged abusers’ team escape action.

In video from Friday’s Russian Premier League game, Spartak Moscow fans could be heard racially taunting FC Ufa midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong. The former Arsenal player, who posted a video of the incident on social media, is black.

Reacting with a finger gesture to the fans led to Frimpong being banned for two games, while Spartak escaped punishment over the latest racism incident to blight Russian football ahead of the 2018 World Cup. The RFU found no evidence of racism.

But FIFA sustainability head Federico Addiechi, whose brief covers racism issues, said Thursday that the Russians have been given until Tuesday to respond to the governing body ’s disciplinary department after asking for details before sanctions are imposed on Wednesday.

Addiechi said he is waiting to see if “the evidence used to make the decision ... that we can see clearly on the internet has been taken into consideration.”

Z

•Controversial Frimpong in action.

ESSIEN: Mourinho has a big ego E

•Essien (l) with former boss, Mourinho.

LLTC unveils plan for 120th anniversary

BY JACOB AJOM

A

JUMAT Service at the Lagos Central Mosque today will signal the commencement of celebrations of the 120th year anniversary of one of Nigeria’s foremost tennis clubs, the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

This will be followed by a church service at Our

•Edu

Zenith Bank B/Ball: First Bank battles Dolphins in final.

Saviours Anglican Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos on Sunday.

Reeling out the anniversary programme to newsmen in Lagos yesterday, Anniversary Committee Chairman Prince Gbenga Lufadeju, who doubles as the Vice President of the club said the events will culminate in a Christmas Party on December 18.

He said activities marking the anniversary include coaching of interested kids, visit to orphanage home, children’s party, sports competitions, public lecture, among other things.

Earlier, President of the club, Rotimi Edu recalled the proud past of the club

saying, the first President of the club was incidentally, Nigeria’s first colonial Governor-General, Sir Fredrick Lugard, his successors like Sir Hugh Clifford, Sir John Macpherson, Sir Benard Bourdillion, Sir James Robertson, among others.

He said after the colonial era, Nigerians who succeeded them maintained and improved on the club’s legacy and attracting the best tennis players in the world to Nigeria. He recalled the likes of Late chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Dr Akinsete, Femi Popoola, Rear Admiral Anthony Oni, Barrister Sam Egbuchunam and others who have made the club one of the best in Africa.

VERY successful manager has his special attribute and former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien believes Jose Mourinho’s success is as a result of his ego.

The Ghana midfielder, who has recently signed in Greece with Panathinaikos after having featured at Real Madrid and AC Milan, spent eight seasons in West London.

He said he had a good stay at Chelsea with good players as well as a good manager.

“We had a great group of players with a manager who was always behind us and kept pushing us,” he told The Guardian of his time at Stamford Bridge.

He said having players who were full of themselves

was a challenge and all thanks to Mourinho who also had a big ego he was able to manage them well.

“We had players with big egos and big characters, but at the same time they were good men as well,” added Essein.

“Mourinho has a big ego as well but in a good way.

It was easy for him to manage those kinds of players. He is still the same man. He’s still tough.”

Despite all this he also praised him for his ability of getting the best out of his players.

“Mourinho knows how to get the best out of his players, how to say the right thing, how to motivate them,” concluded the Ghanaian.

ENITH Bank Women Basketball defending champion, First Bank Basketball team of Lagos will tomorrow tackle Africa Zone 3 Champions, Dolphins in a second straight finals to decide who carts home the Zenith Bank giant trophy.

To get to tomorrow’s final, the Elephant Girls outdunked former 4 times champions, First Deep Water 68 – 43 in the semifinals to come face to face with Dolphins.

Though the reigning champions started the game slowly, that did not stop former most valuable player award winner Nkechi Akashili from showing the stuff she is made of when she accounted for 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to complement Chidimma Nwakanma’s 14 points while the reigning most valuable player of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball Championship, Chioma Udeaja, added 13 points to send the defending champions, First Bank to their consistent finals for the past four (4) years.

Their victory did not in any way portray First Deep Water as push over’s as the Babatunde Babalola financed team gave good account of themselves as a young side that is undergoing serious rebuilding process.

Jamaica down USA to reach Gold Cup final

F

OR the first time in six editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the United States men’s national team will not appear in the final. An unexpected 21 loss in Wednesday’s semifinals to Jamaica, which had styled itself as David facing the regional Goliath, saw to it that the Yanks will miss their first title game since 2003 of this biennial tournament.

In 22 previous matchups, the Reggae Boyz had beaten the United States just once, even if many of the games were closely fought.

This time around, the

Americans were unable to recover from a two-goal deficit before halftime.

In truth, they were unlucky to lose this game. It

was arguably their best game of the tournament – the non-contest with Cuba, a 6-0 walkover, in the quarterfinals excepted.

•Action during the match.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 —55

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Newcastle to sign player with four birthdays N

EWCASTLE are poised to complete the £8.5million signing

Continues on Page 53

We didn’t pick Oliseh from the street – Anyansi-Agwu

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

A

•Mbemba

PPARENTLY wor ried by the spate of criticism trailing the appointment of former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh as the Chief Coach of the national team, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief Felix An

Liberia U-20 girls storm Abuja today

T

Continues on Page 53

•PREPARATION: Super Eagles players in camp.

Eagles camp opens August 17 S

UPER Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has given the home-based Eagles August 17 date to

•Oliseh

resume camping for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers while their foreign counterparts

will join them just one week after.

The 2013 African

Continues on Page 53

HE delegation of U20 Women National Team of Liberia to Saturday’s 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against the Falconets will arrive in Nigeria today.

Inspired by a hat -trick from Chinwendu Ihezuo, the Falconets crushed their hosts 7-1 in the first leg played in Monrovia two weeks ago.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed officials from Togo to take charge of the encounter, taking

place at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Abuja.

Vincentia Enyonam Amedome is the referee, with compatriots

Continues on Page 53

•Devdebo

QUICK CROSSWOR

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

DOWN: ACROSS: 1 Belittles (6) 1 Skirt (6) 2 Fix (6) 5 Origin (6) 3 Agreement (4) 9 Duck (5) 4 Shrub (5) 10 Entreaty (6) 5 Drain (5) 11 Wood (6) 6 Spoken (4) 12 Tag (5) 7 Haphazard (6) 14 Just (4) 8 Stretch (6) 17 Vehicle (3) 13 Beating (7) 18 Ripped (4) 15 Room (5) 20 Strop (5) 22 Equipped (5) 16 Sped (5) 18 Fashion (5) 23 House (7) 19 Allude (5) 24 Plunged (5) 26 Penetrate (5) 21 Seed-case (3) 22 Period (3) 29 Tart (4) 24 Smart (6) 30 Curve (3) 32 Challenge (4) 25 Dupe (6) 27 Skill (6) 33 Design (5) 35 Vegetable (6) 28 Relaxed (6) 30 Slackness (5) 36 Senior (6) 31 Material (5) 37 Items (5) 33 Fastener (4) 38 Cure (6) 34 Besides (4) 39 Warmed (6)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Snail 7, Chewed 9, Spy 10, God 12, Alive 13, Oval 16, Piano 17, Latest 19, Nose 20, Solve 22, Tow 24, Ashamed 27, Ten 28, Ruins 31, Rugs 33, Access 35, Model 37, Tsar 38, Haven 39, Sum 41, Lug 42, Bureau 43, Meals.

DOWN: 1, Across 2, Recall 3, Peg 4, Span 5, Nylon 6, Invasion 8, Dope 11, Distance 14, Lava 16, Atom 18, Test 21, Obdurate 23, Were 25, Head 26, Dust 29, Issued 30, Shroud 32, Smell 34, Club 36, Onus 40, Mug.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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