KADUNA BOMB ATTACK: I don't know how I came out alive — BUHARI

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62195

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

FOOTPRINTS OF A STATESMAN: The Leader, The Peacemaker; Social Justice Crusader

Lagos reports first case of Ebola fever 51

Pages 56&57

KADUNA BOMB ATTACK:

I don't know how I came out alive — BUHARI

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, Henry Umoru, Luka Binniyat & Caleb Ayansina

•IBB, Atiku, Tukur, APC, CAN, others condemn attack •Yero lifts 24-hour curfew on Kaduna town •Nigeria capable of dealing with Boko Haram — Buhari

K

A D U N A — FORMER Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), yesterday, said it remained a mystery how he survived the bomb attack on his convoy in Kaduna on Wednesday.

This came as former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida; former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and former national chairman of the Peoples Demo-

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNIST: Donu Kogbara

Tribute to a titan •P.17 Mr & Mrs

VICTIMS OF KADUNA BLAST—Left:Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State with a school boy victim of the bomb attack at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, yesterday. Right: Other victims of the twin-bomb blast. Photos: NAN.

House to serve Dep. Chevron boss lauds Uduaghan Enugu Gov impeachment notice by on investment support 13 substituted means 23

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 3

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

POWER EQUIPMENT RELEASED AFTER 11 YEARS

11 years after their importation, 248 abandoned containers of power equipment being released in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN. See story on Page 9

I don't know how I came out alive — Buhari Continues from page 1 cratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, joined several other Nigerians and organizations in condemning the suicide attack on Buhari.

They described it as a dangerous development.

Meanwhile, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State has lifted the 24hour curfew imposed on the city following the bomb attacks.

82 persons died in the twin bomb explosions targeted at General Buhari and an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi.

They both escaped unhurt.

Nigeria can deal with Boko Haram — BUHARI

Recounting his experience when Governor Yero visited him at his Sultan Close residence in Kaduna, Buhari said: “When this question of Boko Haram started, and

I am sure it is on record, in the first statement I made about 18 months ago, I said no religion advocates what is happening in the North East.

So the case of this kind of killings is not religion; it is also not ethnic. When they kill children in schools in the North East, they kill teachers, they burn churches, they burn mosques, they burn motor parks, they burn markets — where is religion there? Where is ethnicity there? This is terrorism and I hope the government will come to grips with it. Nigeria is capable of dealing with this. Some of us died in the civil war for this country. For 30 months we fought and we kept Nigeria one and, God willing, we are going to keep Nigeria one.

“I commiserate with the families of those that died, because this thing was ignited at exactly when my car was almost side by side with that of the

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness and the state of joy is ever lasting when it comes from within— Take Heart Quotes

U

NHAPPINESS lies in that gap between what we have now and what we think we need. But the truth is, we don’t need to acquire anything more to be content with what we already have. We don’t need anyone else’s permission to be happy. Your life is magnificent not because someone says it is, or because you have acquired something new, but because you choose to see it as such. Don’t let your happiness be held hostage. It is always yours to choose, to live and experience.

And from the experts of wisdom notes, Mack and Angel Hack comes this beautiful saying. “As soon as you stop making everyone and everything else responsible for your happiness, the happier you’ll be. If you’re unhappy now, it’s not someone else’s fault. Take full responsibility for your own unhappiness, and you will instantly gain the ability to be happier. Stop seeking in vain to arrange conditions that will make you happy.” Simply choose to appreciate the greatness that is yours in this moment, and the right conditions will start to line up around the contentment you seek.

bomber. I came out of the car after the bomb went off.

There was blood on my dress. I did not know how it came about because I did not have a scratch myself, but there were dead bodies all over the place. The security tried to move me to the other side and we just got one of the vehicles passing and they brought me home. I hope the law enforcement agencies and the chief executives of the states will succeed in securing the country. May God help us”, he said.

This bloodletting must stop — IBB

Condemning the bomb attacks, General Babangida, in a statement yesterday said: “The latest attack in Kaduna on Wednesday by yet unknown persons has once again thrown up new dimensions in the political life of our dear country.

This, and several other attacks have tended to portray our dear country as a terrorist nation that is grappling with insecurity.

To state the least, this bloodletting must stop.

This bloodletting has to stop.

“I have sat back in my quiet retirement home in Minna to ponder what could be the motivation for these several attacks, but I am yet to find any explanation why Nigerians would be killing fellow Nigerians. For those of us who fought the civil war, our painful sense of nostalgia still remains deep, as much as our patriotic attitude towards this great country, Nigeria. These wanton killings and needless bloodletting have continued to retard our growth and democratic journey, forcing the system to improvise all manners of mechanisms to arrest this descent to anarchy. It is callous and inhuman for anyone to goad this country on the path

of perfidy, a path that is laid with landmines and bombs. This is totally unacceptable.

“Even as I sympathise with my colleague former President, General Muhammadu Buhari for escaping the bomber ’s scalpel, I also wish to condole with the families of those who lost their lives in this attack. It is frightening and calls for condemnation by all well meaning people of Nigeria. We all must rise above partisanship in our condemnation of this state of insecurity, as we all must be united in our clear-cut resolve to find solutions to this hydraheaded situation we find ourselves. We must see this state of insecurity as a Nigerian problem and not one that is pigeonholed in any particular region, religion or tribe.

Nigerians, by virtue of their nationality, should be free to live anywhere in the country without molestation, harassment and intimidation.

"Let me also condole with Mr. President on this unfortunate incident and the recurring decimal of insecurity and crime against humanity that is fast polluting public morality. We all must join hands with Mr. President at this critical time of our national history and democratic journey to proffer solutions to this anti-development scenario that is fast enveloping us."

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur yesterday described the bomb attacks as most barbaric and unholy.

According to Tukur, who is Nigeria’s Ambassadorat-Large, it was unfortunate that innocent Nigerians going on their legitimate duties were killed in the blasts, adding that for the perpetrators to commit such heinous crime against humanity at this holy period of the Ramadan fasting was most unholy and barbaric.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Prince Oliver Okpala, Tukur, who noted that no right thinking person would like to take the lives of innocent people away against the preaching and doctrines of Christianity and Islamic injunctions, however called on those behind the dangerous acts to have a re-think and return to the path of religious and social rectitude.

Halt security challenges, Atiku tells FG

CAN condemns attack

Former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his reaction called on the Federal Government to urgently take steps to halt the escalating security challenges in the country, which he said has reached an embarrassing proportion.

He said a situation where a former Head of State and key opposition figure could be targeted by terrorists or hatchet killers is a dangerous development, which should not be taken lightly by any responsible Nigerian.

According to Atiku: "The targeting of Buhari, whatever might be the motive or whoever could be behind it, has added a dangerous dimension to a bad security situation in the country”. He added that the attack on Buhari has only deepened the anxiety of ordinary citizens that nobody is safe if a former Head of State could be so targeted and almost killed but for providence”.

It's barbaric — Tukur

Also, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

On its part, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), described the twin explosions in Kaduna and Kano at the peak of Ramadan as a clear indication of disregard to the only true God by a sect that claimed to be fighting God’s cause, condemning the attacks in strong terms.

Reacting to the blast, the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in a statement said it was unfortunate that people that could be used as the moral compass for society ’s transformation were now being targeted by terrorists.

“The attack, coming almost at the climax of the holy month of Ramadan is a clear indication of the perpetrators’ inclination to evil and disregard for the

true God and all that are linked to him."

PDP sympathises with Buhari, Sheikh Bauchi

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress also condemned the bomb attacks on the former Head of State.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh described the attacks as dastardly and unfortunate. The party also sympathised with the cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, who was also lucky to have escaped unhurt.

Metuh said: “The party, while mourning the dead, “joins all well-meaning Nigerians in thanking God for saving the lives of General Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi whose convoys were affected in the incident.

“We sincerely sympathize with General Buhari.

Our hearts go out to him and all those affected in these wicked attacks.”

It's no-win situation for FG — APC

The APC in a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the attempted assassination of Gen. Buhari has changed the narrative about the insurgent group and knocked the bottom off the sinister, irresponsible and partisan colouration given to the insurgency by the Federal Government.

APC said while no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the mere fact that it occurred at all is a lose-lose situation for the Jonathan Administration.

6 — Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, JULY 25, 2014

Couple, 15 others nabbed for visa fraud

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS — OPERATIVES of the Police Special Fraud Unit have arrested 17 persons over visa fraud.

Among the suspects is an American-based Nigerian couple who posed as parents of a teenager whom they allegedly wanted to traffic to the United States of America.

The arrests, according to the the unit, followed petitions from the United States Consulate General alerting it on attempts by desperate Nigerians, who present false documents in order to be granted visa.

So far, 11 petitions, as disclosed by the unit, have been received from the US ConsulateGeneral this month alone.

The suspects, during interrogation, were discovered to have used pseudo-names in their applications.

The unit’s image maker, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said: “One of the petitions dated July 9, 2014, alleged that one Adegbola Abiodun Esther with date of birth of December 31, 1988, appeared at US Consulate-General’s office for non-immigrant Visa interview with forged Canadian visa, Turkish visa, and Angolan visa with entry and exit stamp, claiming to have visited the said countries.

"But during investigation, it was revealed that the said visas were forged by her boyfriend, one Oloni Olufemi Olawale, to fraudulently obtain the United States visa and that she paid him N100,000.

"Also, the petitioner alleged that on July 10, 2014, one Akinlade Olugbenga with Passport No. A0573775 appeared for a US immigrant visa interview with fake name – Awoleye Oluwamuyiwa Tope with date of birth, 01/ 01/1982.

But on interrogation, the suspect was discovered to have fraudulently appeared at the US Embassy to steal the identity of the real winner of the diversity visa lottery."

Politicians buy human parts from me, says suspect •As Kwara Police parade 3 for dealing in human parts •My desire to own a motorcycle prompted me – Another suspect

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN —THE Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, Mr Ambrose Aisabor, yesterday, paraded two suspects, among others, for dealing in human parts.

The third person paraded was said to be an accomplice.

Speaking at the Police Headquarters along Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin, the commissioner told newsmen that the two suspects were arrested with human head, leg and hand in Tabira village, Okuta in Baruten Local Government Area of the state.

Aisabor said the suspects, Amos Kareem and Abubakar Ladan, were arrested following a tip-off, stressing that during investigation they confessed to the crime.

One of the suspects, Abubakar Ladan, told Vanguard that Amos Kareem promised to give him a motorcycle if he could find him human head, hand and leg.

The suspects He said his desire to own a motorcycle prompted him to go to a burial ground and cut off the human head, leg and hand that were displayed.

Amos Kareem, when asked what he was doing with

human parts, said some politicians used to buy the parts from him.

The suspects, however, refused to disclose the identity of politicians who patronise them.

The police also paraded a man said to be an accomplice, having accommodated the suspects in Tabira village, claiming that he never knew that the suspects were involved in such atrocity.

It's tough coping with 9 children — Policeman’s widow •As Ogun POWA empowers 45 widows, 13 children of dead policemen

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA — IT was an emotion laden occasion for widows of policemen who died in the course of duty, yesterday, in Abeokuta.

One of the widows, Janet Peter, fought back tears as she reached for the edge of her wrapper to wipe her face.

Janet, who was presented with a grinding machine by the Commissioner of Police's wife, Mrs Amaka Ikemefuna, to at least provide her with a source of income, said it has not been easy coping with nine children she had for her late husband, Friday Peter, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP. Narrating her ordeal, she said: “We thank our mummy (Mrs Ikemefuna) for this empowerment programme.

May God continue to bless her.

It has not been easy to cope as a widow. My husband served in Ogun for years before he was transferred to Osun State.

He died after three years of service in that state last year after a brief illness.”

Another widow, Mrs Esther Ezenwata, mother of four, whose husband was killed by

a vehicle while trying to rescue some victims at an accident scene, also narrated her ordeal since she lost her husband, Mr. Joseph Ezenwata, who was an Assistant Superintendent of Police.

She said: “Since my husband died, life has not been the same again. He cared for me and the children and he never allowed us to suffer any want. But now, I am left to take care of the four children.

“I could not pay the school fees of one of them who attends a public secondary school in Abeokuta. In fact, he is the one fending for himself now through menial jobs. We appeal to the government to assist us in paying school fees of our children and then they should empower us economically, as POWA is doing today.”

One of the children of one of the late policemen who gave his name simply as Jeremiah, also called on government to come to the aid of children of policemen who

lost their lives in line of duty.

He lamented that when his father died it was the church, where the father was a member, that took care of his burial expenses.

At least 45 wives and 13 children of dead policemen, who lost their lives either through sickness, accident or slain by robbers in the course of their official duty, were empowered by the state POWA.

Mrs Ikemefuna assures widows While distributing empowerment items to the affected wives and children of Policemen such as grinding machines, bags of rice, school bags, coolers, packs of noodles among others, the state coordinator of POWA, Mrs Amaka Ikemefuna, pledged not to abandon the widows and their children, including orphans.

She said the Ogun POWA was complementing the effort of its national president, Mrs. Zarah Bunu Abubakar.

“It has been the practice of

Ogun State Police Officers’ Wives Association to stretch hands of love to the lessprivileged in the state,” she said.

...CP too The Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, who was also present at the occasion, noted that it was a sad memory to lose loved ones while performing their duty. He promised that the command would not abandon those who had lost their loved ones.

He said: “This empowerment programme is to tell our brothers, sisters, daughters and wives that we are still part of them. They should let us know whatever they are going through.”

Speaking shortly after some received different empowerment items from the POWA, the widows pleaded with the Federal Government to show concern to their plight, saying life has been extremely difficult since their breadwinners departed

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—7

KIDNAP IN LAGOS: Suspect is mentally unstable — Police

By Evelyn Usman & Esther Onyegbula

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS — MEDICAL report of the mental state of the mother of four who alleged that the General Overseer of Holy Family Ministry, Prophet Ernest Chukwuemeka, sent her to kidnap a seven-year-old boy for ritual purpose, last month in Ikorodu area of Lagos is out.

The report, which was made available to operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, showed that the woman is mentally deranged.

This is just as the command debunked reports that a building owned by the church was a ritualist den.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the investigation, yesterday, the command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, stated: “The reports were all lies.

No victim of kidnap was rescued and no human bone was . recovered at the location as reported in some sections of the media.

“The reports that kidnapped victims were rescued were all wrong. Family members of the purported kidnapped victims said they brought their relatives to the ministry for healing.

“Again, the medical result of the suspect, Rosemary Chukwu, who was sent to the psychiatric hospital to ascertain her level of sanity, has confirmed that she is mentally sick.

"Nevertheless, investigation is still ongoing. We have sent the report to the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, to advise us on the next line of action and we will act according to the advice.

“We had to clarify as a lot of misinformation had been sent across. The Judiciary is currently on strike, when it calls off the strike, I believe the DPP’s advice will be ready.

“This is not to say that nobody committed any offence. What I am saying is that we are awaiting the DPP’s advice which will inform our next line of action.”

The medical report

The medical report obtained from the Federal NeuroPhychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos and signed by a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Adebayo R. A. read in part: “Our assessment revealed that she has paranoid schizophrenia, a major psychotic disorder and will benefit from biophychosocial treatments as soon as possible.”

A mob, last month apprehended Rosemary Chukwu who allegedly abducted a sevenyear-old primary school pupil who was going to fetch water from a public well.

The suspect, who resides at 33, Omologede Street, located behind C\S Primary School,

Navy hands over arrested vessel to INTERPOL

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Rosemary Chukwu and the boy. reportedly kept the boy inside a box and was taking him to an unknown destination when she was apprehended.

During interrogation, she told the mob that Prophet

Chukwuemeka asked her to bring the boy for ritual purpose.

But the clergy man in his statement to operatives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba denied the claim, stating that Mrs Chukwu

was unknown to his ministry.

He also told operatives that the room destroyed by the mob over allegation that it was used for ritual, was used to keep lunatics being prayed for.

Ebonyi Assembly majority leader kidnapped, rescued

By Peter Okutu

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BAKALIKI – UNKNOWN gunmen in Abakaliki metropolis, yesterday afternoon, kidnapped the majority leader of Ebony State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Nwali.

Vanguard learnt that he was kidnapped at his residence at Watchman Street in Abakaliki The House member, who represents Ikwo South State Constituency is believed to be a strong supporter of the Speakerelect, Hon. Helen Nwobasi.

However, a member representing Afikpo South East, Eni Uduma Chima confirmed the incident.

A source who pleaded anonymity said Nwali’s kidnap may not be unconnected with the crisis rocking the House of Assembly over the impeachment of the former Speaker, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku last Monday.

yesterday.

Vanguard gathered that the victim was rescued around the boundaries between Ikwo Local Government Area and Cross River State.

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State was at the premises of the Ebonyi Directorate of State Services, DSS, to see the victim, Hon. Sam Nwali.

Also at the command were members of the State House of Assembly who are loyal to the Speaker-elect.

As at the time of this report, it was gathered that arrangements were on to transfer Nwali from the DSS headquarters to a private hospital were he could be given intensive medical treatment.

His rescue Meantime, the House member was rescued by security operatives around 9:30am

Coal City shuttle bus carrying over 50 students of ESUT on fire at Ozubulu Road on Independence Layout, Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

AGOS— The Nigerian Navy ship, IBUSA, has arrested a vessel named MT ITIRI at Lagos road stead in connection with an alleged hijack incident off Pennington Terminal in the nation’s waters, six months ago.

Since its arrest, the vessel has been in the custody of the Nigerian Navy ship, NNS Beecroft‘s custody.

After preliminary investigation which findings were not disclosed, Naval Headquarters, according to the Commander, NNS Beecrocft, Commodore Emmanuel Uwadiae, directed that the vessel be handed over to the INTERPOL Department of the Nigerian Police for further investigations.

In a statement signed by Uwadiae, he warned pirates and sea robbers to stay away from the nation’s waterways or face the wrath of the Navy.

Uwadiae in the statement signed by the Information Officer, NNS Beecroft said: “The Nigerian Navy, under the leadership of the current CNS,Vice Admiral Usman O. Jibrin, has zero tolerance for illegalities in Nigerian waters."

Lagos Police begins campaign against terrorism

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS —THE Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, disclosed that it has started an enlightenment campaign against terrorism.

The command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, made the disclosure to journalists in Lagos during the launch of the campaign fliers.

Braide said the pamphlet, which would be officially released to the public on Monday, was aimed at sensitising the public.

“It will educate the general public on what to look out for.

Our target is to cut across 17 million people. This is why we will go to every nook and crannies of the state to ensure that everyone is enlightened on counter-terrorism.

“We will distribute the pamphlets to private and commercial park owners, hotels, mosques, churches and other public places,” she said.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Former Petroleum Minister, Lukman, buried in Zaria

FRSC cautioned over court judgment on new number plates

By Innocent Anaba

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HE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has been asked to stop misinforming Nigerians over its plan to, from August 1, start impounding vehicles with the old number plates in clear disregard of an order of a Federal High Court, Lagos, which held that the commission has no such powers to phase out the old number plates.

The lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ofoegbu, at whose instance

the Federal High Court made the order, in his reaction to FRSC’s purported plan to start impounding vehicles with old number on the alleged strength of a favourable Anambra State High Court judgment, said: “My attention has been drawn to the well manufactured and concocted lies by the FRSC over a purported judgment it obtained in respect of the new number plates.

“A certain Nwankwonta of FRSC is now insinuating and boasts that the Federal High

Court judgment, which judgment is still valid and subsisting, has been upturned by the said purported judgment of an Anambra State High Court.

“Perhaps it is important to ask, upturned where? By a purported judgment of another state high court? The Federal High Court judgment is on appeal. Mr. Alex Iziyon (SAN) is the counsel to FRSC and we have exchanged briefs of argument in the appeal.

“The question is, does a

state high court has jurisdiction over FRSC, a federal agency.

The constitution is there for the commission and its lawyers to check.

“My alert is to assist Nigerians to be aware of their rights as rightly stated by Justice Tsoho of the Federal High Court, FHC. It must be noted that the FHC is the only court of first instance in so far as the subject matter in issue is concerned and not a state high court or howsoever called.”

By Luka Binniyat

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ADUNA— THE remains of the late former Petroleum Minister and President of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, 75, were yesterday laid to rest in, his home town, Zaria, amid tears and praises from well wishers.

The burial rites was held at the palace of the Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris at about 4p.m.

Lukman passed away in the early hours of Monday in Vienna, Austria.

The Imam of Zaria Central Mosque, Mohammed Sani Aliyu, led the funeral prayers during the ceremony which was witnessed by Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, his predecessor and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammad Barkindo, among others.

Speaking shortly after the prayers, Governor Yero said that Lukman’s death had created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill in the oil industry.

Yero also said that the former minister dedicated himself to the service of the country locally and internationally, adding that his passage was a great loss to the people of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.

Other dignitaries who paid their last respect to the former OPEC President described him as a humble and detribalised man who gave his best to the country.

Left to mourn him are three widows and three children.

COMMISSIONING: The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah (left) and Commander, Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, Major General A. A. Martins, at the official commissioning of Nigerian Army Ordinance Tailoring Factory in Lagos State, yesterday.

Gunmen kill Village Head, 14 others in Borno zDrag 2 Civilian JTF members from their homes

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI— G U N M E N suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect, yesterday, invaded Garubula Village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, killing the District Head, Alhaji Ibrahim Dawi and 11 others, including the District Head’s bodyguard.

Also two people said to be members of Vigilante Youths, otherwise known as Civilian JTF, were yesterday night dragged out from their houses to a river bank in Gamboru Ngala, a border town with the Cameroon Republic, and slaughtered by the suspected terrorists.

Two people, suspected to

be a motorist and his passenger, were ambushed and shot dead along Maiduguri-Gamboru Ngala road, bringing the number of those killed in the area to 15.

Sources told Vanguard: “The gunmen stormed the village in pick-up van and several motorcycles and opened fire on the people.”

Borno Central Senator reacts

Speaking during the BBC Hausa service programme monitored by Vanguard in Maiduguri, Senator Ahmed Zanna, representing Borno Central in the Senate confirmed the killing of the two members of the Civilian JTF at Gamboru Ngala.

He said: “I received a

distress call yesterday from the people of my Senatorial District that two members of Vigilante Youths were slaughtered by Boko Haram because of their efforts in complementing the Military in the fight against insurgents.

“Likewise, two people were ambushed while travelling in a Golf Volkswagen saloon vehicle along MaiduguriGamboru-Ngala road.”

One Mallam Muhammed Usman Ngala said one of the passengers killed in the ambush yesterday, was his cousin and had since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Eyewitness account

On the Garubula attack, a resident of the area, Mallam

Idrisa Garubula said the gunmen stormed the village at about 11p.m. and killed the District Head and 11 others, including his bodyguard before fleeing the area unchallenged.

He said: “The District Head was shot by the gunmen on his head, and later rushed to Biu General Hospital where he was confirmed dead. He has since been buried in Biu, according to Islamic rites.”

The eyewitnesses claimed that there was no presence of security operatives in the area when the attackers struck.

Efforts to get the spokesman of the Borno State Police Command, DSP Gideon Jubril for comments over the matter proved abortive as his phone was switched off at press time.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—9

DIPLOMATIC:

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle), the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nigeria, Ambassador Mohammed AlMahumud (right) and Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali, during the envoy's presentation of his letters of credence to the President in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

FG secures release of 248 containers of power equipment after 11 years

By Michael Eboh

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HE Federal Government, yesterday, secured the release of 248 containers of power equipment trapped in the ports for about 11 years.

Speaking during a visit to the ports to flag off the release, Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, said the containers, which were abandoned at different ports and port facilities, have stalled a number of power projects across the country.

Specifically, he said the trapped containers stalled 11 power projects across the

Nigerian, 115 others die in Algerian plane crash

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Nigerian was among the 116 passengers on board Air Algerie Flight AH5017 which crashed in Tilemsi, Mali yesterday after disappearing from radar for 50 minutes.

The flight took off from Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou.

Air Algerie representative, Kara Terki told newsmen that the plane had one Nigerian, whose identity is yet to be disclosed. He said the passenger list also included 50 French, 24 Burkinabe, eight Lebanese, four Algerians, two from Luxembourg, one Belgian, one Swiss, one Cameroonian, one Ukrainian and one Romanian.

—Full story on page 53.

length and breadth of the country, such as the Ikorodu/Odogunyan/ Shagamu project and the supply of transformers and capacitor voltage project to power stations in the country.

He noted that a number of the projects have been abandoned for about 13 years, why the least stalled project was seven years.

He said: “These containers could have remained at the ports forever and nobody would be bordered. But we saw the need to recover what

rightfully belongs to the Federal Government to the benefit of the general public.”

He commended the Customs and Excise Department of the Federal Government and the Customs Service for facilitating the release.

“The NCS agreed to release the containers to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, who initially carried out the transaction, but now represented by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN. “These equipments were

ordered, fully paid for and later abandoned at the ports for a minimum of seven years.”

He said Federal Government will carry out an investigation to identify the reasons for the abandonment, to forestall the recurrence of similar incident in the future.

He further stated that the release will help in minimising costs, considering the fact that the various consignments cost much more today than the cost at which they were initially purchased.

IMPEACHMENT: PDP gives Al-Makura's deputy conditions

By Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—AHEAD of the planned impeachment of Governor Umaru Al Makura of Nasarawa State and the eventual takeover by his deputy, Mr. Luka Barau, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reportedly barred Barau from seeking governorship election in the 2015 poll.

A source said it aimed at preventing the yet to be governor from using his office to seek re election and thus scuttling the chances of the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku and Senator Solomon Ewuga, representing Nasarawa North at the Senate.

Maku and his erstwhile godfather, Ewuga have since declared their ambitions to vie for the state governorship seat in the coming general election.

The trio are from Nasarawa

North axis of the state which has been angling to produce the governor of the state, since the return of democratic rule in 1999.

Besides, PDP resolved that the Speaker, Musa Ahmed, representing Nasarawa Constituency be elevated to deputy governor, while the deputy speaker, Elisha Agwadu, representing Obi II Constituency, be automatically made to take over as the new Speaker.

These were all the deals that were allegedly sealed before members of the Assembly under the party’s platform, accepted to proceed with the impeachment process against the governor.

The legislators were said to have earlier resisted the persuasions of the party chieftains from the state for the impeachment of the governor, arguing that if it was carried out, the deputy governor, apart from being the biggest beneficiary, would bank on his office and

incumbent power to seek and win a fresh election to continue in office beyond 2015.

Members of the state Assembly had reportedly argued that if they must impeach Al Makura, then they must be allowed to take the same path in Adamawa State, where the deputy governor was made to resign, before the impeachment of Governor Tanko Al Makura so that the Speaker can assume the position of Acting Governor for the period of three months before a substantive governor to be elected through a by election takes over.

Sources at some of the meetings held in both Lafia and Abuja, preceding the impeachment notice on the governor, told Vanguard that the resolution was that the deputy governor will only complete the 10 months left of Al Makura’s tenure without seeking re election to the same office.

Army reviews dress regulation

By Evelyn Usman

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HE Nigerian Army has disclosed plans to review its dress regulation, which would ensure that its troops were kitted with same type, standard and quality of military wears.

Disclosing this yesterday in Lagos while commissioning the Nigerian Army Ordinance Ultra modern Tailoring Factory located in Yaba, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah, informed that the factory would, among other things, be solely responsible for the reproduction of the kits.

General Minimah, who said that the factory was a dividend of continuity, explained that it was also part of repositioning the Force in line with the Federal Government Transformation Agenda.

Efforts, according to him, were being geared towards self-reliance by using local materials to boost local contents in line with the Federal Government’s initiative of patronising made in Nigeria goods.

He charged the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps to ensure the optimum utilisation of materials, production of quality wears that would guarantee the commercialisation of the factory and patronage by other sister services, para military and security organisations.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

UPN calls for pan-political parties' summit

APAPA TRAFFIC: Gridlock worsens as contractor abandons site

By Dotun Ibiwoye

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AGOS—UNITY Party of Nigeria, UPN, yesterday called for a pan-political parties’ summit for politicians to fashion out a common front against the Boko Haram insurgency.

Chairman of the party, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, said it was disheartening that the Federal Government had not shown enough commitment to securing the release of over 200 Chibok girls.

Speaking at a forum in Lagos, tagged the ‘Dr. Fasehun Interactive Media Roundtable’, he argued that the pan-political parties summit would bring politicians from all shades together to forge a united front to combat the insurgents.

According to him, “Several countries have come to help but this assistance has not yielded expected result.

Why has Nigeria been unable to reassure its citizens?

I believe government is in placed to provide security for its citizens. How do we rescue these girls from insurgents? No political platform should politicize our misfortune.''

Eid-el-Fitri: Osun offers free train services

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SUN State Govern ment yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of the citizens of the state and announced its free train ride for this year’s Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

In a statement by the Commissioner of Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, the government said the free train ride would convey people coming from Lagos to Osogbo on Saturday 26th by 10 am, saying “a return train from Osogbo to Lagos is slated for Tuesday 29th and will take off by 11 am.”

The statement noted that government did this to ease movement of the people during rush period of the festivity.

It enjoined indigenes of the state to maximise the advantage the free train ride them to visit home and enjoy the celebration.

By Godfrey Bivbere

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AGOS—LESS than 48 hours after it was reported that the contractor engaged by the Federal Government to repair failed portions of the

Apapa end of the ever busy Oshodi/Apapa Expressway had commenced repair works, investigations yesterday revealed that the contractor might have abandoned the job as road users, residents and oth-

ers continue to suffer the heavy gridlock.

The contractor, Boroni Prono, was given two weeks to fix the failed portions from Trinity Bus Stop to Tin-Can Island end of the expressway.

ENTERPRISE DAY: From left; Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye; Chief Executive Officer, MCS Consulting #SKILLUP, Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede; Managing Director, Ruff and Tumble, Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire; and Marketing Director, Nigerite Architect, Mr. Toyin Gbede, during the 2014 Enterprise Day in Lagos.

One of the workers had Tuesday claimed equipment were moved to site on Sunday following a directive from the Presidency to the management of the construction company.

But yesterday, workers reportedly seen Tuesday on site were nowhere to be found.

Efforts to speak with officials of the construction company for explanation, proved abortive.

An official of the company, who spoke on condition of anonymity said only the company’s director was permitted to speak on issues concerning the company.

On the spot assessment of the failed portion of the road yesterday, showed there was no sign on ground to suggest repair works would start soon.

A bus driver, Peter Edobor, who spoke to Vanguard, called for the termination of the contract and for it to be re-awarded to a more serious contractor who had the capacity and knew the urgency required.

Speaking to Vanguard earlier on the need to have the road fixed, Senior Special Assistant to the President on maritime matters, Mr Oyeleke Oyewole, said the president had expressed concern over the bad state of the road leading to the port.

NBA holds valedictory session for Aturu

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—AHEAD of his bur ial tomorrow, the remains of late human rights lawyer and activist, Mr Bamidele Aturu, were yesterday laid-in-state at the Ikeja secretariat of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, at a special valedictory session, in his honour by the Bar. Aturu, died on July 9 in Lagos after a brief illness.

The programme which lasted for about three hours, was attended by senior members of the bench, the Bar as well as other dignitaries, who paid glowingly tributes to the deceased.

Chairman, of the Ikeja branch of the NBA, Mr. Yinka Farounbi, said Aturu was a committed member of the branch and served in various capacities during his life time and said he would be immortalise with an annual programme.

According to him, the valedictory service held for Aturu at the new secretariat was historic since it was first time it was being used to honour of any lawyer, lamenting that the sudden demise of the activist was a big loss to the legal community.

In his remarks, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, said “We are celebrating Aturu today not because he is the richest Nigerian, He never made the Forbes list. He was not even a member of the in-

…To institute annual programme in his honour ner bar (SAN) but he dedicated his life to the service of humanity. He was always at the forefront to protect the dignity of the legal profession.”

Mr Alex Mouka, Chairman of the NBA, Lagos chapter, said Aturu devoted his life to justice and equity and was never afraid to speak up against any form of injustice in the society, saying

“I urge all of us to emulate him.

Nigeria will be reborn if we all stand up to speak for the truth like Aturu did.”

Also, Chairman of Ikorodu branch of the NBA, Mr. Dotun Adetunji, said Aturu made a great impact in the country with his activism.

According to him, “He died having fulfilled his God-given

assignment and task in life. He was a genuine activist who participated in all forms of action aimed at social reform and change.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Rickey Tarfa, enjoined the family to take solace in the legacy left behind by the deceased, adding, he was rated as one of the fearless activists in Nigeria.

Labour blasts Okonjo-Iweala over alleged N1.8tn salary bill

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

L

AGOS—ASSOCIA TION of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, yesterday in Lagos, lambasted the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, over recent claims that N1.8 trillion was being spent annually on wages in the public service, saying the Minister was economical with the truth.

The union in a statement urged the Minister not only substantiate how N1.8 trillion was being spent annually on wages, but to also tell Nigerians how much of the N1.8 trillion was consumed by public office holders including Ministers, Special and Ordinary Advisers, Personal, Senior,

and Junior Assistants, Senators, members of the House of Representatives, including their humongous quarterly allocations.

ASCSN, in the statement by its Secretary-General, Mr. Alade Bashir Lawal, contended that it had become necessary for the Finance Minister to give graphic details of the amount so that Nigerians could be better informed on the issue.

The Finance Minister on Monday, through the DirectorGeneral, Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu, while exchanging views with the House Committee on Health in the on-going nation-wide strike by the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, claimed the Federal Government wage bill for public servants had risen from

N857 billion in 2009 to N1.8 trillion while the staff strength was now 1.2 million.

According to the statement “It is also necessary for Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to tell Nigerians how much salary is paid by each Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) per year including their staff strength.

When you have done these analyses, it will become crystal clear how much of the N1.8 trillion is consumed by the whopping emoluments of the Political Office Holders. ''Besides, it should be stated that records at our disposal show clearly that the staff strength in the entire Public Service is about 870,000 and not 1.2 million being bandied about by the Minister unless there is a hidden agenda somewhere.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 11

One killed, eight injured in Kano blast

Oshiomhole sanctions two Perm-Sec designates, swears in 18

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has sworn in the former Chief Press Secretary to Professor Oserheimen Osunbor government, Mr. Dan Aigbavbua and 17 others as Permanent Secretaries in the state Civil Service. He, however, declined to swear in two others who arrived late for the inauguration.

The late comers, both of them women, arrived the venue while the oaths were already being administered on their colleagues. One is a Director in the Ministry of Justice while the other is in the Ministry of Education.

The governor said he wondered what time the two directors get to work if they could arrive late for their own swearingin, saying, “your punishment is that you will return to your offices as Directors and be sworn-in with the next batch of Permanent Secretaries.”

Delta LG polls: PDP chieftain drums support for Clark

By Festus Ahon

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GHELLI—A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Richard Akassa, has enjoined the people of Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State to support the council chairmanship aspiration of Chief Ebikeme Clark.

Akassa, in an interaction with newsmen in Ughelli, described Clark as a very resourceful and prudent personality, whose esteemed status as the son of the Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark has not affected his humility.

“Ebikeme is a grassroots mobilizer. He is very accommodating and quick to forgive. He is development oriented and I am convinced that if given the mandate to govern the council, he will impact positively on the lives of the people.”

VISIT: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (middle), flanked on the by Mr. Daniel Igali, President, Nigerian Wrestling Federation (left) , and Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Director-General, National Sports Commission (right), with wrestlers and other officials of Nigeria’s wrestling team to the Commonwealth Games, when the Governor visited the contingent in Glasgow, Scotland.

Why we're slow in rescuing Chibok Girls —Presidency

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—THE Presidency, yesterday, gave an insight into why the Federal Government was slow at rescuing the over 200 Government Secondary School girls kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14.

The Presidency also disclosed that plans were being put in place by the Federal Government to block domestic and international sources of funds for the insurgents group.

According to the Presidency, the present slow and steady method became imperative to avoid a repeat of the 2004 experience when t300 children were killed in an attempt by Russians to free hostages held

by Chechens in the North Caucasus region of Russia.

Speaking yesterday at a Chatham House lecture series held at the Royal institute of International Affairs in London, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, said that the Nigerian military, other securi-

ty agencies as well as their international allies, have the wherewithal to secure the freedom of the over 200 Chibok girls from their abductors, but would like to thread with caution because making Nigeria and Nigerians happy at the end of the day would be to bring back the girls alive to reunite with their families.

Dr Okupe who spoke on Priorities and Progress in Nigeria: Imperatives for stability and Growth, described tackling the current insecurity in the North Eastern part of the country as the major priority of the Federal Government. He, however, lamented that the various acts of insurgency were slowing down growth in other equally important sectors of the economy.

According to Okupe: “We are taking advantage of the offers from our international military and intelligence allies to get a greater understanding of the landscape and identify key

locations . We are working with our neighbours to secure the borders and limit the movements of the Boko Haram fighters, building on the agreements reached at the recent summits in Paris and London” While speaking on the various milestones attained by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in the last three years, Dr. Okupe said the reduction of Nigeria’s food import bills by half as well as successful implementation of reforms in critical sectors of the economy are crucial to the attainment of social and economic stability.

The presidential aide asserted that since Nigeria attained independence in 1960, no administration has done so much as the Jonathan administration in guaranteeing food sufficiency, better power output, effective transportation and general macro economic stability.

3,000 DPP members decamp to APC in Delta council

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By Godwin Oghre

APELE—NO fewer than 3,000 Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, members, including some prominent ward, local and state executives in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday decamped to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The exercise which took place simultaneously in Koko, headquarters of Warri North and Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area,

was led by Chief Solomon Ogomugo, Chief Godwin Oligoron and Chief Robert Pablogba.

Receiving the decampees to APC, Chairman of APC in Warri North council, Chief Markson Ebiareneyin, represented by a stalwart of the party in the state, Mr Amorighoye Mene, said that the decampees had decided to join APC in order for the party to form a formida-

ble opposition to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming council elections and in the 2015 general elections.

Ebiareneyin assured the decampees that they lost nothing by joining APC as the party intends to give them equivalent privileges as enjoyed by old members of the party, adding that victory was sure for the party at the general elections.

ANO—AN unidenti fied woman was killed, while eight other persons sustained severe injuries, when a high calibre improvised explosive device, concealed in a refrigerator went off at the New Road motor park in Sabon Gari area of Kano metropolis.

The incident which occurred around 3p.m., triggered panic in the commercial city of nine million residents.

New Road motor park was also the scene of the deadly blasts last year, during which no fewer than 70 lives were lost, when luxury buses were targeted.

An eyewitness confided in Vanguard that the suspected refrigerator was moved into the park by a truck pusher, after passing through security check points mounted by security agents and the park management.

The source added hat the IED went off soon after it was loaded into a vehicle. He said the impact severed the head of an unidentified woman with eight other persons injured .

Briefing newsmen at the scene of the blast, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adelenre Shinaba, confirmed that “a woman lost her life in the blast, while eight others who were injured have been taken to hospital.”

He said that the explosive which was concealed in a refrigerator was smuggled into the pack by a truck pusher, adding: “It went off at the point of loading it on a stationary vehicle.”

He urged the city dwellers to go about their legitimate businesses without fear of molestation, adding that proactive measures had been put in place to ensure adequate protection of lives and property.

Shinaba enjoined the citizens to be extra vigilant and report suspicious movements to relevant authorities.

Kano is, however, calm after the blast as residents besieged the adjourning Sabon Gari market for Sallah shopping.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

EDSTMA faults Edo PDP on murder allegation

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—THE Edo State Traffic Management Agency, EDSTMA, has described as wicked, claims by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state that one of its officials killed one Mr. Godfrey Imobhio, who was hit by a towing truck on May 2, 2014.

The PDP in the state had visited the widow of the deceased, where it raised N2 million for her upkeep. The party accused both the EDSTMA and the state government of neglecting the family of the deceased and assured the family of their comfort.

But reacting yesterday, the Head of Operations, Zone 3, of EDSTMA, Mr. Nosa Aideyan, said that the PDP was making a mountain out of a mole hill, explaining that the “towing truck is my private property with which I helped the late Godfrey, who was my friend, so it has nothing to do with the state government or EDSTMA.” He said that contrary to PDP’s claim, compensation was paid to the deceased's family. “I paid compensation to the family to assist them even though it was purely an accident.”

Aideyan narrated: “On May

2, after I had closed from duty, Mr. Imobhio called me, that I should assist him tow his vehicle that broke down around Five Junction area. I told him that my driver and I had closed, but he pleaded with me to beg my driver to come. When I called my driver, he told me that he was already at home, but I begged him to go and bring the truck.

“My driver came, and when

we got there we saw that we couldn’t tow the truck and decided to remove the tyres from the road. It was in the process of reversing that the late Godfrey was hit. It was dark and my driver didn’t know that Godfrey was behind the towing van. He was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately he died the next day. When the police invited me, I explained what

happened and settled with the family. That was how the matter was withdrawn from the police.

“I am now surprised that some peersons are now bringing up a stale occurrence which they didn’t even bother to verify, saying that an EDSTMA official had killed a manager, which is not true. The towing van that was used did not even belong to the state government or EDSTMA."

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By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT—NATIONAL Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has impounded adulterated alcoholic beverages worth about four million naira, in markets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

NAFDAC Coordinator, Rivers State, Mrs. Mercy Ndukwe, said that during the raid, five persons were arrested for selling the adultrated drinks, adding that the public should report such fake products to her agency.

2015: Group urges Akpodiete to run for House of Reps

By Festus Ahon VISIT: National Secretary, Edo Professionals Forum, Mr. Dan Oshodin (left), Governor Adams Oshiomohle of Edo State, and the National Cordinator, EPF, Mr. Osamede Umweni, during a solidarity visit by the group to the governor, in Benin City.

NIMASA targets 2015 for elimination of maritime piracy

By Ifeyinwa Obi

NAFDAC impounds N4m contraband in Rivers

declared a war risk zone by international marine insurers.

According to him, the agency's domain has only the power to detain offenders, as the Memorandum of Understanding it entered into with the Nigerian Navy and the Air Force has gone a long way to enhancing water patrol and aerial surveillance of Nigeria’s maritime domain.

He lamented that Nigeria loses 150,000 to 200,00 barrels of crude oil everyday, which cost the country millions of dollars

in lost revenue.

He said: “To effectively cover the countries under the Regional Maritime Search and Rescue of eight countries, a robust maritime domain awareness and response system is required.

We approached the relevant Federal Government authorities and got approval to put in place robust maritime domain awareness. This led to the birth of the NIMASA Satellite Surveillance Centre.

“Our desire is to provide a

IRECTOR-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, has assured that maritime piracy in the Nigerian maritime domain will end by 2015.

Speaking in Lagos, he said that the country recorded zero piracy attacks in the last five months.

Akpobolokemi, who was represented by the agency’s Executive Director incharge of Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Captain Bala Agaba, said that NIMABy Samuel Oyadongha SA had developed a full proof intelligence netENAGOA—BAYELSA State Minwork that would enable istry of Health says it is embarkit know of a planned piing on school-based continuous distriracy attack before it was bution of long lasting treated nets for carried out. use by households in the state.

“The last one that was No fewer than 280 primary schools successful, we knew in Bayelsa State are expected to beneabout it 48 hours before fit from the roll back malaria training the attack and that was exercise. why we were able to stop Already, a total of 280 headmasters, same,” he said. headmistresses and 840 teachers have He said that there was been trained in the exercise. no truth in the report The exercise, Vanguard learnt, is in that Nigeria had been collaboration with the Federal Minis-

safety net for those doing business within Nigerian waters with the NIMASA satellite surveillance centre which was launched last month, the agency is now able to respond to any distress call on Nigerian waters and even beyond. The new 24-hour satellite surveillance equipment has the capability to detect boats, ships and objects of predefined cross-section floating on water."

Bayelsa distributes mosquito treated nets in schools try of Health, National Malaria

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Elimination Programme, Association for Reproductive Family and Roll Black Malaria Partners.

Speaking at the launch of the training programme in Yenagoa, state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, urged the participants to utilise the knowledge gained for the overall benefit of the households, communities and the entire state.

According to him, “the strategy of using primary schools is to inculcate in the children the use of insecticidal treated nets as they develop in life.”

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GHELLI—CONCERNED Christian Youths in Politics, CCYIP, has urged Prof. Alex Akpodiete to contest the House of Representatives election in 2015 to represent Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu federal constituency of Delta State .

Delta State Coordinator of CCYIP, Mr. Henry Onorhere, during the visit of the leadership of the group to Akpodiete in Ughelli, said: “After a critical look at the political antecedents of those who have indicated interest to run for the House of Representatives seat for Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu federal constituency, CCYIP has decided to urge you to contest the position.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—13

Urhobo lay claim to McDermott Ward in Warri

Outgoing Chevron MD lauds Uduaghan on investment support efforts

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By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—OUTGOING Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Andrew Fawthrop, has commended Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for his efforts at providing an enabling environment for businesses and investments to thrive in the state.

Fawthrop, during a farewell visit to the governor at the Government House Annex, Warri, yesterday, said that the full value of Uduaghan’s support for the business community in the state will be felt more in the years to come.

He said: “What you have done has opened up a lot of opportunities, such as the Warri Port and the Escravos Gas to Liquid, EGTL, project. You have brought innovation and leadership to this state which is amazing. People will see it later. Thanks for your support and advice while I was here.”

In response, the governor said that the Chevron MD's gratitude was an encouragement to do more in improving the economy of the state, especially coming from a high profile business leader who has been in Delta State for several years.

He said “I wish I had a bigger platform to express my joy on our relationship with Chevron. I had the opportunity to speak at international fora and I have always used the Chevron model of relationship to its stakeholders.”

VISIT: From left: Mr. Olatunyi Idowu; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Mr Andrew Fawthrop, Chairman/ Managing Director, Chevron and Mr. Dan Agbofode of Chevron, during a visit by the out-going Chevron MD to the governor, at Government Annex Warri. Photo: Bripin Enarusai.

Sylva condemns attack on Buhari

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—FORMER governor of Bayelsa State and chieftain of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Timipre Sylva, has condemned Wednesday’s bloody attack on the convoy of General Muhammadu Buhari, former Head of State and National Leader of the APC. Sylva, in a statement, yesterday, by his Media Adviser, Doifie Buokoribo, said that the apparent assassination attempt on Buhari was a spineless assault on the voice of conscience in Nigeria by bigoted terrorists and their political sponsors seeking evil attention.

Sylva noted that Nigerians, by their traditions and religions, are a naturally peaceful people, saying that those who promote or indulge in the campaign of death and destruction will have no place to hide from the wrath and curse of God and men.

He lamentedted the frustration of Nigerians with the Federal Government’s shoddy handling of the menace of insurgency and regretted that the terrorists ap-

pear to have been left to ride roughshod on the country.

He said: “We are embarrassed by President Goodluck Jonathan’s poor handling of the security problem and the situation where the government has allowed its sense of partisanship to overshadow the needed political, economic, and social will to tackle the insurgency.”

Sylva noted that in civilised societies, opposition leaders, as of right, enjoy more protection from the government than

2015: Eight persons battle for Edo South senatorial seat al race include Samson

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—AS campaign for the 2015 National Assembly election hots up in Edo State, eight persons have indicated interest to vie for the Edo South senatorial seat, including the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie.

It is unclear whether the current occupant,

Senator Ehigie Uzamere, will seek a third term or wait for the 2016 governorship race.

Meanwhile, Osagie, has urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo South to ensure that a committed person, with credible track record emerges as the party’s flag bearer for the senatorial election.

Some of the aspirants who are in the senatori-

Osagie, APC; Jim Adun, APC; Matthew Urhoghide, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Ehiogie West-Idahosa, PDP; Victor Edos Ebomoyi, PDP; Patrick Obahiagbon, APC and Henry Idahagbon, APC. However, in a statement yesterday, Osagie stressed the need for the people of Edo South to pick credible candidates, noting that if given the chance, he will not disappoint the Binis.

even those in government, stressing, “Murder is the worst form of censorship and this government has become increasingly notorious for attempting to permanently silence voices of opposition.”

ARRI Urhobo Democratic Movement has said that Urhobo McDermott Ward in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State should be left for Urhobo people to fill in the forthcoming council elections.

A leader of the movement, Mr. Samuel Achoja, of Igbudu community in Warri, said that the call was necessitated by the need for the indigenous ethnic nationalities to adhere strictly to the Ibori Road Map to Peace, which he said was aimed at ensuring that indigenous ethnic groups participate in the governance of their various localities in the oil city.

He observed that other ethnic groups had, in the past two dispensations, used their influence to encroached on the Mcdermott Ward against what he described as the principles behind the Ibori Road Map to Peace.

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

2015: Okpe leaders okay Igbuya for another term

Don't pay for medicare, Uduaghan tells pregnant women

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EADERS of Okpe ethnic nationality have described the Majority Leader of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Monday Igbuya, as a blessing to the state. They called on indigenes and others residing in Sapele Local Government Area to see him as a role model.

Chairman of Okpe Political Leaders Forum, OPLF, Mr. Darlington Ebireri, in a statement in Sapele, praised Igbuya for protecting the people’s rights through quality representation, job creation and poverty alleviation.

“You have done us proud. All we can do is to acknowledge and thank you in our modest way by asking you to continue in Delta State House of Assembly,” the leaders said after a meeting of stakeholders in Okpe Kingdom.

Ijaw ex-militants demand creation of Toru-Ebe, Oil River states

By Festus Ahon

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G H E L L I — FORMER militants of Ijaw extraction under the aegis of Meinbutu, have called for the inclusion of Toru-Ebe and Oil River states in the proposed states approved by the national conference.

The Meinbutus, in a statement by Ebis Moni, King Jerry Prebor, Boundle Funpu, Esokowini Akasa, Lawrence Ijokor, Afore Theodore, and Poweide Egbele, also demanded for a minimum of 50 percent derivation for the oil producing communities.

Saying that the country should not take the simplicity of the Ijaws for granted, they urged the confab committee on state creation to revisit the Ijaw state creation proposal for fairness, equity and justice.

They described the non-inclusion of ToruEbe, and Oil River states among the proposed states to be created as discriminatory and “another imperial colonisation.”

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By Emma Amaize

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DONATION: From left: Mrs. Rebecca Atumu, Vice Principal; Mr. Sylvester Akra, Principal, United College of Commerce, Warri; Mr. Festus Utuama, DESOPADEC Commissioner and Mr. Michael Ugbokodo, Chairman, Agbarha-Warri HOSTCOM, after the handover of N32 million science equipment to the school yesterday.

Delta $16bn Gas City project: Gbaramatu Ijaws demand own EPZ c'ttee

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—ETHNIC contention for stakes in the $16 billion Odigigben Export Processing Zone, EPZ, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, has escalated with Ijaws of Gbaramatu Kingdom asking the Delta State Government to inaugurate an EPZ Interface Committee for Ijaws affected by the project as had been done for their Itsekiri neighbours.

Addressing newsmen in Warri, the Gbaramatu Ijaws restated their demand for the re-naming of the project, adding that

their patience was running out as they would resort to self help in addressing their alleged shortchanging in the project if same was not addressed by government and the supervising Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who led the latest Gbaramatu outcry on the EPZ, said: “We demand two different Interface Committees for Gbaramatu Ijaws and for Ogulagha. We have our own 23-man committee to negotiate our interest.

The list has since been sent to the Delta State Govern-

ment and NNPC.” Gbenekama added that NNPC should immediately open channels of discussion with the various Ijaw groups and come up with a Memorandum of Understanding with the communities before undertaking the groundbreaking for the project.

“We also demand that Julius Berger Limited henceforth carry the Ijaws along in whatever they are doing on the project. We had written several letters to them on our position, but they have so far refused to open a channel for discussion. Enough is Enough,” Gbenekama said.

Why we executed power, other projects in N-Delta communities —Sterling Oil

By Daniel Gumm

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ARRI—THE management of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company, SEEPCO, has said that the company embarked on rural electricity and other projects in several coastal and riverine communities around the Ramos River, mid-stream of Bayelsa and Delta states, because the communities in the areas were not connected to the national grid, thus impacting negatively on the economy of the area.

SEEPCO’s Manager, Government and Community Relations – Marine Operations, Mr. David Omaghomi, made the disclosure shortly after the commissioning of rural electricity, transportation, infrastructure and communication projects valued at several millions of naira in Agge, Aghoro 1, Aghoro 2 and Agedi Zion communities, by the Vice

President of SEEPCO, Chief Arvind Mahamuni.

According to Omaghomi, his company commissioned consultants to conduct a NEEDS assessment earlier in the year in conjunction with NAPIMS, a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to ascertain the needs of people of its host communities before embarking on the

projects.

Speaking before commissioning the electrification, commercial passenger boats, town hall and radio house projects in Agge, Agedi Zion, Aghoro 1 and Aghoro 2 communities, respectively, Mahamuni explained that his company successfully executed the projects due to the enabling environment provided by the host communities.

DESOPADEC donates N32m science equipment to school

By Akpokona

Omafuaire

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ARRI—WARRI – THE Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, has handed over science equipment worth N32 million to United College of Commerce, Warri in

its efforts at reviving science development in the state.

Mr Festus Utuama, Commissioner representing Urhobos of Ughelli-South, Udu and Uvwie Local Government Areas on the board of the commission, made the donation to complement the state government's agenda of human capital development.

ARRI—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has advised pregnant women and nursing mothers in the state not to pay any health official for medical services.

Addressing pregnant women at the Mother and Child Centre, Central Hospital, Warri, he said that the cost of their medicare was covered by the state government’s free maternal and under-five health care programme.

Governor Uduaghan, who inquired from the women if doctors and nurses were collecting money from them and was told that they weren't, urged them to resist anybody who demands money from them.

He said: “You are not to give money to anybody.

You should not make any payment, even if it requires operation. The services are free and your children who are five years and below have free medical attention.”

He advised the expectant mothers to keep their ante-natal clinic appointments religiously in the interest of their health and unborn babies.

Goodluck Support Network, Delta chapter inaugurated

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OODLUCK Support Network, GSN, a socio-political group, has inaugurated its Delta State chapter, with a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in the state, Dr Akwara John, as its state coordinator.

National Coordinator of the group, Chief Egbe Akparakwu, who inaugurated the state chapter in Effurun, said the group will, in partnership with other groups across the continent of Africa, build 16 different projects in the country that will be known as Policy Nigeria Awareness Initiative, PNAI, to sensitise Nigerians towards the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 15

Soldiers destroy kidnappers' camp in Aba

By Eric Ugbor BA—SOLDIERS from 144 Battalion Army base, Ngwa High School in Aba, Abia State, have destroyed a kidnappers’ camp located at Amuzu Ibeku in Osisioma Local Government Area.

It was gathered that the bungalow had been used by the gang to harbour some of their victims until a ransom is paid.

Though the owner of the house identified as Mr. Ejike Uzodinma and his gang were said to have fled the camp after one of their victims (a businessman) escaped from their custody, the team of army personnel who conducted a search operation in the camp and neighbouring compounds recovered a registered tricycle the group used to ferry him to the camp.

An unconfirmed report has it that the kidnappers also abducted a female victim whose whereabouts is still unknown.

A victim, who was held in their camp and later escaped, attributed his escape to God’s intervention and described the inhumane torture he passed through in the hands of the

A

kidnappers as not what he would wish even his enemies to go through.

The victim, a businessman based in Aba who preferred to speak on the condition of anonymity, said: “I was driving to my house at about 10pm on Saturday after sitting out with my friends when a Toyota Corolla ash colour suddenly double-crossed me and

at gunpoint ordered me out of my car and moved me into their vehicle.

“They blindfolded me inside their vehicle and later took me to a location at about 11am. They initially asked me to sit in a plastic chair from where I was taken to another location in a bush around 1am Sunday morning.

“Around 5am, they took off

from the bush into a house where I slept till the following morning.

Initially, they demanded N20 million ransom, but I told them that I can only guarantee N200,000, a plea that didn’t go down well with them. One of them slapped me and threatened to kill me but I kept begging them."

VISIT: The Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Peter Agba (right) presenting a souvenir to the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, during the Minister's visit to the CNC headquarters in Yenagoa.

CD faults Igbo leaders on transfer of CPs

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—THE South East chapter of Campaign for Democracy, CD, has faulted the South East Leaders of Thought over their call for mass transfer of commissioners of police in the geo-political zone.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Onitsha, chairman of CD in the South East, Mr. Uzor A Uzor, said the call by the Leaders of Thought, led by Professor Ben Nwabueze, for transfer of all the police commissioners in the zone was ill-timed and could truncate the peace and harmony existing in states in the zone.

The CD boss, however, called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to disregard the call by the leaders of the zone, adding that the call was ill-timed and would not yield any positive result.

Crisis brews in Imo as lawmakers seek better welfare package

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE executive and legislative arms of government in Imo State may be heading for serious confrontation, following what the lawmakers see as executive exploitation.

Already, the lawmakers, who are mainly from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have reportedly rejected cheques for their June salary to press home their demand for better welfare packages and appropriate salary.

Similarly, Vanguard gathered that when the

lawmakers refused to go on their annual recess, the executive softpedaled to get the budget passed and later reneged on its agreement with the legislators.

A close aid of one of the legislators told Vanguard that, “the lawmakers rejected the cheques because it only reflected what they had been kicking against, prior to the passage of the 2014 budget last month.”

The legislative aide lamented that the lawmakers in Imo had allegedly been losing over N400,000 monthly since their inauguration in 2011.

He recalled that the lawmakers had been making frantic efforts to get government to redress the shortfall, especially when they realised that the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission r e c o m m e n d e d something higher than what they were receiving.

Vanguard recalls that the House had earlier set up an ad-hoc committee to visit other state legislatures to verify the take home of lawmakers.

Armed with their findings, the lawmakers were said to have called off their long vacation, as well as plan to resume plenary.

ABIA GUBER: Group cautions against exclusion of Ngwa people

U

By Anayo Okoli

MUAHIA—A social-cultural group, Odimma Ndi Abia 2015, has cautioned against excluding aspirants from Ngwaland in next year’s governorship election on the basis of zoning adopted by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

According to the group, the floodgate should be opened to all Ngwa people.

“Equity, justice and fair play demand that all Ngwa aspirants be given the opportunity to contest the election, irrespective of the zone they hail from,” it said.

Although Abia governorship is believed

to have been zoned to Ngwaland, some politicians are insisting that aspirants from Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma should be excluded since they fell into Abia Central, the senatorial zone as the incumbent governor, Chief T.A Orji, who is not, however, an Ngwa man.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 16

BURIAL CEREMONY OF LATE UWANGUE OF WARRI, CHIEF BERNARD EDEMA OTUEDON-OKOME

Ohanaeze youth tackles Arewa wing over call for dissolution of Nigeria U

The chief mourner, Capt. Albert Otuedon, during the burial rites of the late Uwangue of Warri, Chief Bernard Edema Otuedon-Okome. He was buried on July 18, but the ceremonies continued till yesterday.

By Anayo Okoli

MUAHIA — OHANAEZE Youth Council, OYC, has condemned in strong terms the call by Arewa Youth D e v e l o p m e n t Foundation for the dissolution of Nigeria, describing it as a big offence that warranted treasonable prosecution.

OYC also condemned the demand by the Arewa Youths for Southerners in the North to leave within two weeks and for Northerners in the South to do same.

The group, in a statement by its National President, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said: “Our attention has been drawn to a provocative warning against Ndigbo by the Arewa Consultative Forum, threatening to interfere with Igbo businesses in the North.

“This is also on the

heels of the call by the Arewa Youth D e v e l o p m e n t Foundation for Southerners to quit the North within two weeks.

“This is a similar approach to the event that culminated to the unfortunate crisis of the late 60’s when undue sentiment, emotional outburst and propaganda were allowed to take the better part of reasoning of some people in the North.

“Later, millions of innocent Igbos and Easterners were to pay the supreme sacrifice.

“The truth is that there is no single threat to any Northerner in the South East or Igboland.

They are here doing their normal businesses and unmolested by anybody.

“The governors of the

zone as the chief security officers of their various states only took constitutional measures to safeguard their states against insecurity, especially in view of the recent discoveries and arrests of Boko Haram suspects in the zone.

“Do the Arewa people want the South-East governors and people to keep quiet in the face of Boko Haram threat to the zone,” OYC said.

The group said it was shocking that at a time Nigeria was passing through serious security breaches, some misguided youths, under sponsorship by fifth columnists, could be making divisive calls inimical to their fatherland.

According to the group, Arewa youths are being used by some disgruntled persons who did not wish the country well.

NCP denies ALSCON's alleged asset stripping by UC Rusal

By Favour Nnabugwu

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Cross section of Uwangue descendants.

Cross section of Uwangue female descendants at the event.

C M Y K

BUJA—THE factfinding committee of the National Council on Privatization, NCP, on Aluminum Smelting Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, has said that the allegation of asset stripping against UC Rusal, owners of the company, was untrue.

According to the committee, ALSCON’s machines and structures are intact.

Speaking after an assessment tour of the multi-million naira plant at Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, chairman of the committee, Mr. Emmanuel Amadi, said the disposal of scraps, non-liquid assets, faulty and inactive equipment and their parts by UC Rusal did not amount to asset stripping.

Amadi, who led two other members of the NCP; Mohammed Abubakar and Benson Upah, on the visit, expressed displeasure over the closure of the plant.

He urged the management to quickly develop and submit to the government a

business plan with time lines to keep the plant functional.

He called for industrial harmony between the management of ALSCON, noting that its absence could jeopardize smooth operations of the company.

While appealing to the management of the company to reconsider recalling some of the sacked union officials, Amadi revealed that the committee would immediately present the report of its findings to

the NCP to take the next action.

Managing Director of UC Rusal, Dmitriy Zaviyalov, informed the committee members that the falling prices of aluminum metals in the global market and lack of gas supply to the company were hampering the operations of the plant.

He said between 2007 and 2012, Rusal invested N24.54 billion in the plant but noted that due to teething problems, it suspended production in March 2013.

CBN, states sign N220bn MoU for SMEs

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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BUJA—THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the 36 state governors for a N220 billion micro and macro development fund for the Small Scale Enterprises, SMEs, across the country.

The scheme is to fast-

track the actualization of the Millennium Development Goals and transformation agenda of the federal government.

In his opening remarks, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the initiative was considered necessary to enable federal government bridge the socioeconomic gap existing in the country.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 17

Tribute to a titan

I

was absolutely devastated when I heard, at the beginning of this week, that my former boss, Dr Rilwanu Lukman, had died in Vienna, following a prolonged period of ill health. And my profound sorrow about the passing of this globally revered Nigerian is combined with a deep sense of guilt.

I spoke to Doctor on the phone last month and he sounded so frail; and I promised to visit him as soon as I could.

But work and personal pressures kept getting in the way, so I kept postponing the trip to Austria; and now it is too late; and I’m finding it very hard to forgive myself for procrastinating.

The moral of the story is that we should never put off till tomorrow something that is best done today, especially when it relates to someone we love dearly.

Having failed to travel to Vienna on time, I was determined to at least make it to his home state, Kaduna, yesterday…so I could be there when his body was flown in from Europe. My plan was to drive to Kaduna from Abuja with friends.

But I and many other Lukman fans were prevented from embarking on this journey because the homicidal animals who describe themselves as Boko Haramists decided to launch two suicide bomb at-

tacks on the convoy of ex-President, MajGeneral Muhammadu Buhari, who happened to be visiting Kaduna.

Buhari narrowly missed death, as did a prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi (who was, incidentally, close to Lukman). But several innocent citizens were less fortunate and lost their lives; and the authorities, understandably, imposed a curfew that made it impossible for anyone to enter Kaduna by road.

During one of the last conversations I had with Lukman, he sadly reflected on the terrible carnage that Boko Haram was inflicting on our country. And it’s ironic that these evil terrorists struck so spectacularly on his burial day, thereby compelling hundreds of mourners to say “goodbye” to him from afar.

Ah well. Never mind. Better to dwell on the man himself and on who he was and what he achieved, rather than on my frustration and depression and tears!

Lukman, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, former Minister of Mines , Power and Steel and former President and Secretary General of OPEC, was an impressively civilized gentleman, a talented professional (engineer) and a quintessential public servant who was touchingly devoted to his family.

He was one of the few Nigerians who have acquired serious international clout. He was held in very high esteem by foreigners, who heaped honours on him.

Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom, made him a Knight of the British Empire, KBE, in 1989. The French Government made him an Officer of the Legion d’Honneur in 1990. The Republic of Venezuela gave him a First

BY Greg Okenwe

R

ECENTLY at Bende headquarters of Bende council area in Abia State, the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji in continuation of his government’s youth empowerment programme gave out 200 vehicles to unemployed youths, and N2 million each to 13 unemployed graduates.

Beneficiaries of this were mainly unemployed youths from Arochukwu, Ohafia and Bende council areas, all in Abia North district. Before now youths from Abia South and Abia Central have benefitted from the programme. Since coming into office in 2007, Governor Orji had never reneged on his government’s expressed commitment at empowering the teeming unemployed youths in the state and reducing crime in the process.

Gov. has always emphasised at several fora that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, stressing on the need for the youths to be meaningfully engaged, the scale notwithstanding. It is also noteworthy that since 2007, more than 4,000 youths have been selected across the council areas and placed on monthly stipend of N20,000 each under a social security scheme. The programme has enabled most of the beneficiaries to live without overburdening their parents after graduation.

Through Ochendo Scholarship Scheme, so many youths in the state whose parents are unable to train in school have been offered scholarship to study at home and abroad at graduate and post-graduate levels. Those of them in primary and secondary schools have been enjoying free bus ride to schools since 2007. Bursary award of N50,000 each for the first time in the history of the state is being offered to indigenous undergraduates in tertiary institutions across the country by the state government. Also not left out in the bursary arrangement are indigenes of the state that are currently studying in the Nigerian Law schools across the country.

At a time many thought that it was impossible for state governments to give out free vehicles to youths, the present government in Abia State has since given out more than 500 vehicles free to the youths in the state. Details of the

Class honour known as The Order of the Liberator. He was also the first African ever to become a Fellow of Imperial College, University of London.

I got to know him when I was a young, London-based journalist. I was sent to

*The late Dr Rilwanu Lukman interview him after the Imperial College ceremony and we immediately developed a warm and intellectually stimulating rapport.

He was so amiable, so clever, so knowledgeable, so polished and so interesting to talk to. I was awestruck by his accomplishments and felt proud and privileged when he decided to stay in touch with me and introduced me to his wife.

When I moved to Nigeria many years later, he became my boss – in his capacity as Chairman of the Presidential Oil/Gas Sector Reform Implementation Committee, OGIC, of which I was a founding member.

The Committee was inaugurated in April 2000 and drafted the original

version of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. Some of the proposals Lukman came up with were truly inspired and would have massively enhanced our oil/gas industry – and transformed our country - if they’d been implemented.

Lukman and I were in total agreement on every issue except Niger Delta empowerment. He had many pals from the South-South zone and treated me like a daughter, but I felt that he – like so many other VIPs of his generation - didn’t focus enough on the pressing needs of oilproducing communities.

However, he was a fantastic person to work for overall. He had a great sense of humour and an informal, egalitarian management style. He wasn’t the kind of Oga who possesses dictatorial tendencies, instils fear and discourages debate.

He preferred to lead by example and related to us subordinates in a fatherly fashion. He was always inviting us to have breakfast, lunch and dinner with him. He frequently asked us to share our opinions with him…and didn’t get annoyed if we dared to contradict him.

When I got miffed about a Niger Delta issue and resigned, he told me, with an amused look on his face, that I could resign from his office, but not from our friendship! I shall miss this marvellous iconic man SO MUCH. May his widow and children find the strength to bear his absence.

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OPINION Job creation: The Abia example beneficiaries of this and particular of the vehicles and models were always made public, confirming the authenticity of the scheme. Also given out free to the youths were more than 500 tricycles, sewing machines, computers, and others through the state youth empowerment programme.

Which is why I find rather baseless some sponsored articles in some newspapers criticising the state youth empowerment scheme, alleging that the government was giving out rickety vehicles to graduates and PDP members in the name of youth empowerment. But surprisingly, some of the published beneficiaries of the programme were from Anambra and Imo states who were born, brought up and are still residing in Abia State.

Some of the beneficiaries of the vehicles have added one or two cars to their fleets and have provided jobs for idle drivers and at same time put food on the table of their family members. Across the state today, commercial taxi business is booming and one can easily pick a cab to any part of the state or outside with ease.

T

hrough Governor Orji’s aggressive and sustained agricultural revolution, his government was the first in the country to introduce Youth-In-Agriculture Initiative which was aimed at encouraging and supporting youths in practising commercial farming. Since then, so many unemployed youths in the state have been trained and supported by government to practise agriculture in the state. Some of them are already employers of labour today after being trained at the government established liberation farms in all the council areas of the state.

There is no doubt that the Abia Youth Empowerment Scheme is unique and a model worthy of emulation by present and successive governments across the country.

Empower Nigeria partnership with the Abia State government is a right step towards sustained and successful youth empowerment in the state. It will also encourage other youth development partners to be partners in

progress with the state government in keeping and setting the pace for youth empowerment.

It will be recalled that the collapse of major industries across the country did not begin today; rather, it is as a result of long years of neglect by successive governments.

And it is clear that the industries cannot be fixed overnight because of the huge capital and technical knowhow required, having been neglected for decades.

So investing a huge chunk of public funds in their revitalisation will surely affect other critical sectors of the economy that also require urgent attention. In this regard, while the Abia State government is working on revitalising the ailing industries it inherited, her idea of doing something in the immediate to tackle youth unemployment through her youth empowerment scheme should be highly commended.

Waiting until the ailing industries are brought back to life before the unemployed youths could be empowered or employed will be a time bomb. That is why states across the country should adopt the Abia Youth Empowerment Programme Scheme model to pre-empt possible youths restiveness. It is a more practical approach to youth empowerment. Also, the long-term approach, which has to do with the revitalisation and construction of industries should be worked on.

The Abia youth scheme is the surest way of taking the unemployed youths out of the streets to reduce crime rate.

No wonder the crime rate in the State has reduced drastically since the commencement of the programme.

The success of the programme is predicated on the fact that it is being carried out in a most transparent manner which has made it difficult for politicians to hijack it for selfish political purposes. There are no middlemen between the beneficiaries and the state government, thus, avoiding exploitation and fraud. *Mr. Okenwe, a beneficiary of the youth scheme, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 NEXT month, the National Automotive Council, NAC, would be 21 years old. Its mandate in Act 84 of 25 August 1993 is to ensure the survival, growth and development of Nigeria’s automotive industry using local human and material resources.

NAC was to drive employment generation, technology acquisition, and effective utilisation of local raw materials in Nigeria’s automobile industry. Ultimately, NAC was to fund research in the making of the Nigerian car, an automobile that would have most of its components from local materials, and the artistry of Nigerian engineers in order to save Nigeria money – and jobs that are lost to imports.

The best part of the 21 years has seen NAC officials complaining about the failures of the industry, allusion to inability to produce the Nigerian car, which accounts for the policy flips on vehicle importation. Without a local car manufacturing industry, importation becomes the only option.

Few would remember the politician Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, an electrical/electronics engineer, and a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Owerri, who made prototypes of his first ever all-African car which he named Z-600

Aut o Impor ts uto Imports Indecisions in 1997.

BBC’s Hilary Andersson described it as the all-African dream machine, made for the family market with a top speed of 140km (86m) per hour. Ninety per cent of its parts were sourced locally. It would have cost $2,000 to own one, which would have made it the cheapest car in the world. In 2005, South African authorities wanted Izuogu to build the car in their country.

NAC never looked Izuogu’s way. Armed men stole all the manuals, designs, engine blocks and completed prototypes of Z-600 from Izuogu’s workshop in 2006. The dream died.

According to Section 9 (a) of its Act, NAC earns, “Two per cent of the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of all imported, Fully Built Units (FBU) auto component spare parts, Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and raw materials brought in for the automotive subsector.”

NAC Director-General Mr Aminu Jalal once lamented that Nigeria imported about 50,000 new and 150,000 used vehicles yearly. “Nigerians spend an average of N400 billion on importing passenger cars and by the time you add trucks and other vehicles, the amount Nigerians spend on imported vehicles will be running to N600 billion annually.”

An annual expenditure of N600 billion on vehicle imports translates to N12 billion annual revenue for NAC. How much revenue accrued to NAC in 21 years? Was the money invested in research of the Nigerian car? What has NAC done in 21 years?

Last year Jalal said the Made-in-Nigeria vehicle in 2017 was no longer realistic. It would be a belittling anniversary for the prototype launched 20 years earlier.

NAC should worry about its relevance.

OPINION

BY TIMIEBI KORIPAMO- AGARY

woke up to that fateful midnight SMS: Sad. We lost Bamidele Aturu.” At Ifirst“So I thoughtfully concluded it was a bad

dream, an ugly night mare. So I waved it away and tried to continue from where I left off my sleep. But sleep eluded me! I was left contemplating on the SMS and when to call my dear friend Funmi, who had sent me the text. My worry heightened when my call to her was unanswered. I needed information from someone to confirm the veracity of the text message.

When the response finally came, I was shell shocked as the caller on the other end confirmed the contents of the SMS. My initial responses were series of questions: When? How? Where? What happened? I had no immediate response but silence, a loud tangible silence that stretched long to the life and times of a cherished activist icon. I was simply short of words. Tears came to my eyes at the gravity of what had happened.

I reached out to colleagues and friends I knew had interacted and worked with him.

I got calls back and one, a former Senator and friend of the Labour Movement was so dumb struck that he asked: “Are you sure?Because I spoke with him a few days ago; it can’t be true!" Alas, it turned out to be true!

I have been very sad since the news of his death. I am yet to recover from the shock and the pain of this death. However, as a Christian, we cannot grieve without hope of blissful eternity with Christ. It is consoling that BFA was also a Christian and a Redeem Pastor, and that he has gone to a

Bamidele Francis Aturu: Last man standing far more glorious place to take a well-deserved rest after years of fruitful labour.

He fought “a good fight; finished the course; kept the faith” (Tim 4: 7). And now he is ushered to his rest.

I knew of and read about BFA long before I met him. His human rights crusade put him in a class of men and women who fought assiduously to promote, protect, preserve and defend the fundamental rights of Nigerians. Our paths crossed when I became the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in 2003. We connected as he represented Labour in the Tripartite Committee that reviewed the final draft of our Labour Bills. He was very passionate and objective in his position during the review exercise. His balanced views and detailed analysis of the various clauses of the five draft bills will forever be one of his parting legacies to the Nigerian Labour Movement. Sadly though, only one of the five pieces of legislationshas been passed after eight years of their submission to the National Assembly. n the heat of his very busy schedule, BFA still had time to write several I labour books, present papers, honour dialogue engagements and served in a number of human rights committees. One of his books: Nigerian Labour Laws: Principles, Cases, Commentaries and Materials ranks as a foremost reference material for students and practitioners of Industrial Relations. I have found it a treasure trove

in my general industrial relations practice and regular labour negotiations. I also recall his excellent inputs and gallant defence during the Amendments of the Trade Unions Act 2005. He stood up with members of the National Assembly for Nigerian workers and amplified their voices that moderated the tone of the amendments. His contributions averted the listing of Nigeria in the Committee of Standards of the ILO for gross violation of workers’ rights and unfair labour practices, and nipping in the bud, industrial protests and associated work stoppages that would have threatened the peace of the nation.

Bamidele was an amiable colleague, friend and “aburo”. We treasured and respected each other’s professional and technical views. He was a principled activist, quiet achiever, a nationalist and statesman who distanced himself from any situation that could compromise or corrupt his ideals. He would rather turn down opportunities that may conflict with his avowed beliefs. But he was never hesitant to undertake briefs on violations and abuses of human and workers’ rights. This was probably why he accepted to be a member of the 2011 Committee that looked into the conflict in the NDDC. He must have participated out of his deep conviction for the challenges of the people of the region and a conviction that they deserved more than they were getting.

Bamidele was a dogged fighter, an advocate of the poor, powerless and voice-

less masses, the abused, neglected, down trodden! He was a team player that expanded the space for Nigerian activism and activists. very time I called on him to discuss workers issues and concerns and E share some thoughts on contemporary

development in the labour sector, his eager response that I should inform my principals that they were unfair was instructive and inspirational. But he was also very courageous to tell workers to take the path of honour and negotiate in good faith, rather than resorting to abuse of the sacred instrument of strike. And any time I asked for his intervention, especially during national impasse or impending face-off, he usually graciously obliged. Together, we had partnered to regulate peaceful and harmonious industrial relations in Nigeria.

His death is a huge loss to the nation in general and, the human rights and the labour movement in particular. His dependable disposition, honesty, truthfulness will be greatly missed by all peace loving Nigerians. He always promised each time we spoke to come and enjoy pepper soup at my place. He was so busy he never fulfilled his promise. His excellent works live! May God Grant him Eternal Rest! *Mr Koripamo- Agary, an independent scholar and consultant, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014— —19

W

HEN the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria ,CBN, came into office in 2009, people hoped that funding for agriculture, manufacturing and the real sector will be enhanced and thereby build on the foundations already made by his predecessor in office. But instead he had began by tearing down everything his predecessor built. People expressed their concerns with his style, but within his first one year in office, he had re-orientated the banking sector, sowed fear for loan transactions within the sector and downplayed venture capital, and funding for the productive sectors from the banking system. The hope for a reenergising the banking sector for the common man’s economy was dashed to pieces, as the man careered off on a frolic of his own, culminating in his expected sack by his employers early this year.

While we wait to see how the precipitate litigation from all that pans out, the real effect of the period of distraction from driving the economy is that we hear and read a lot about funding for projects, encouraging the development of the small businesses, growth of the manufacturing sector from people in government. But when a man

armed with his feasibility studies, business summary and reports walks into a bank to ask for funding for his project, the response that he receives can be discouraging.

He discovers that all he had heard and read about obtaining with ease had no bearing to the reality in these banks. In short, civil servants are doing their jobs, consultants write and defend their reports to government, while nothing moves, in effect.

Our commercial banks are still very much tuned to short term lending for trading and such quick transactions to the neglect of the agriculture, manufacturing and small businesses. First you must produce a one year or six months turn over seven times the amount you are asking for. That is: If you are asking for two million naira for your new project, you must give, for a start, a turn over of over N14 -20 million within the last six months. How does a new business investor come up with such a turn over ? Second, you will be required to produce collateral in the form of shares certificates, or landed property to support your application of the value of at least three times of the amount you want to borrow, say N6 million. How does a young graduate from a humble family or new entrepreneur come up with such collateral? Third, they will slam

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you with an interest rate of between 25 percent and 35 percent per annum, which means that for certain long term businesses, like agriculture and manufacturing, you are already in default of repayment before you kick off !

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he prevalent lending rates today only favour importers, traders, and oil bunkering investors, and the rest gamut of quick businesses that will never create the required employment and growth for the economy. The real and productive sectors are suffering, and the worst hit is the agricultural sector, which our commercial banks have categorized as “High Risk Sector”; in other words, a ‘no go’ area for them.

Except the CBN steers the banks away from the old path of focusing

Bridges and the cost of democracy

By Eric Teniola

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N January 4, 1966, the then Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966) commissioned the Onitsha/ AsabaBridge popularly called the Niger Bridge. It was his last engagement outside Lagos.

The bridge which was built by the British, cost £5million at that time. The then Prime Minister was accompanied to the commissioning ceremony by the then Federal Minister of Works and SurveyAlhajiShehu Usman AliyuShagari (90) and the then Premier of Mid-Western Region, Chief Dennis Chukwudi Osadebeh (1911-1994), a poet and journalist, who was also from Asaba.

The then Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Michael Iheonkura Okpara (19201984) who was from Umuahia in the present Abia State and who at 39 was the youngest premier at that time, boycotted the ceremony. The ceremonial governor of Eastern Nigeria at that time, Dr.Akanu Ibiam(1906-1995) from Uwanna, Afikpo, in the present day Ebonyi State also boycotted the ceremony. There was a political crisis at that time between NPC and UPGA. The three men, Sir Tafawa Balewa, AlhajiShehu Shagari, Chief Osadebe and other officials paid toll on the bridge. Eleven days later, Sir TafawaBalewa was murdered.

Now 48 years after the ceremony, the President, Dr.GoodluckEbele Jonathan has flagged off the construction of another second bridge to link Asaba with Onitsha.

The second bridge is to cost N200 billion and would be constructed by Julius Berger AIMS Consortium under the Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer Model. The design alone cost N325 million under the Public Private Partnership Policy.

The Niger Bridge has obviously become old with frequent complaints by motorists and experts who believe that regular vehicular traffics and heavy duty trucks, amongst others and indeed old age, now causes the bridge to become a trap. Most of

the nuts and bolts used by the British colonial government cannot be found anywhere in the world because they have become obsolete.

That another second bridge is being constructed 48 years after, speaks volumes about our national planning. Asaba and Onitsha are not just ordinary cities. Onitsha became an important trading port for the Royal Niger Company in the mid-1850s following the abolition of slavery and with the development of the steam engine when Europeans were able to move into the hinterland. Trade in palm kernels and palm oil which was going on the coast of Bight of Biafra since 12the century was now moved upwards and other cash crops also boomed around this river port in the 19th century.

Onitsha has become, today, a big commercial, educational and religious centre. It ranks with Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano as commercial nerve centres of Nigeria. Regrettably Onitsha is a textbook example of the perils of urbanisation without planning or public services. It can boast of a brewery valued at $110 million, a Catholic Cathedral as large as the one in the Vatican in Rome and an Anglican Church as beautiful as that of my church, Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. There is a reason for that. The Anglican was the first missionary in Onitsha in 1857. Later came the Catholics in 1884. As of today there is a competition for audience between the Catholics and the Anglican in Onitsha.

When General Ibrahim Babangida (73) created Delta State-the BIG HEART- on August 27, 1991 and named Asaba the capital there was demonstrations in some parts of Delta State.He was alleged to be partisan because his wife Maryam Babangida(1948-2009) was from Asaba.

Only General Babangida can defend himself on that. But if a wife cannot influence certain decisions of her husband, not all decisions, then that wife is not fit to be a partner in a marriage.

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f all the powers in the world none is

only on the service sector, while turning a blind eye to manufacturing and agriculture, we will get nowhere no matter the big grammar they speak about our economy. Unless CBN devises policies and programmes to create accessible venture capital for manufacturing and agriculture, and provide a level playing field for start-up businesses, it will make little progress. And until lending by banks to agriculture and manufacturing is on long term basis of not less than five to ten years exit tenures, with single digit interest rates, and generally soft security conditions, we will just continue with the rigmarole and produce reports that are majorly useless to the common man who wants to be productive and make a living through manufacturing or farming.

CBN may have to revisit the policies and programmes in the early 1970s where commercial banks were made to lend not less than 40 percent of their annual profits or turn over to agriculture and the manufacturing sectors, review those policies and attune them to current trends, to reduce the risks in lending to agriculture.

If we have to move into the path of growth as a nation, the CBN should think of a compulsory national lending portfolio of 40:30:30; ie 40 percent to agriculture, 30 percent to manufacturing, and 30 percent to the sundry sectors by commercial banks over a period of not less than ten years to start with.

Our commercial banks should return to helping businesses with good potentials to start up, and to

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By Clement Udegbe

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CBN, agriculture and venture capital funding

CBN may have to revisit the policies and programmes in the early 1970s where commercial banks were made to lend not less than 40 percent of their annual profits or turn over to agriculture and the manufacturing sectors

Our prodigal and spendthrift attitude is killing the economy and hurting our chance of survival; if we are to uphold and endure this democracy then we have to sacrifice the execution of capital projects, inclusive of construction of bridges

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more powerful than PILLOW TALK; that is, night talk between a wife and a husband. The power of a woman is unlimited. That is the way it has been, and that is the way it will continue to be. And as we all know, General Babangida was a loving husband until his wife died in a Los Angeles hospital, California on December 27, 2009. As for Asaba it is not just a city.

The city has been important long before Maryam Babangida was born. As a matter of fact the naming of Asaba as Delta State capital has today become a big burden to the good and highly industrialised people of Anioma with nine local governments out of 25, in their quest to have their child as governor of Delta State. It is to be hoped that one day Asaba will be accepted by all and sundry in Delta State as their own state capital.

Asaba is strategically located on a hill at the Western edge of the River Niger. The historic River Niger is a trans-African link beginning from Western, Eastern and Northern Nigeria through the River Niger from the north and via the Asaba Niger Bridge, an east west link and a Nigeria landmark. Asaba lies approximately 6 degrees north of the equator and about the same distance east of the meridian; about 100 miles north of where the River Niger flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Asaba occupies an area of about 300 square kilometres. It maintains an average tropical temperature of 90 degrees during the dry

nurture them to become public quoted businesses. They must stop the trend of chasing deposits which drive their workers into compromised morals in their bids to bring in the big deposits.

Deposit chasing is tantamount to reaping where one has not sown.

It is deceptive, harmful to national growth, and contrary to our spiritual and religious standards since we are mostly Christians and Muslims in this country.

One major assignment before our new CBN Governor is to drive a deliberate change in direction of our banking sector to generously favour lending to agriculture and manufacturing, as a matter of priority. He must refocus the mindset of the average bankers from that of risk aversion to risk containment in lending to the key productive sectors. For example, lending to any big farm project with proven technical management should sail smoothly without asking for their arms and legs.

The trend being observed in manufacturing under the new motor policy, where most of the vehicle manufacturers are rushing to cash-in on the generous import tax regimes by building their factories only on the pages of newspapers, will not help.

Nigerians want to see the factories functioning, not plans and forecasts as they are all singing, while price of vehicles is hitting roof tops.

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

season and an average fertile rainfall of six inches during the rainy season.

Asaba was once the colonial capital of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. It was founded in 1884. It hosted the Royal Niger Company, which the British authorities set up to stimulate trade and the exportation of goods to England. That company has grown today into the UAC Nigeria PLC. Its traditional ruler is the Asagba, Dr. Joseph Chike Edozien of American education background.

Be that as it is, we have not given special favours to the people of Asaba and Onitsha or indeed the whole of South East and SouthSouth. Even if we today construct a second bridge to link Onitsha and Asaba.

By now there should have been three bridges on that river. Also by now we should have started the construction of a standard bridge to link Agenebode in Edo State to Idah in Kogi State, two towns overlooking each other. Vis-à-vis there should have been four bridges across Lokoja and same to Jebba. If anything happens to the Jebba and Lokoja bridges, the North will be cut off from the South. We can build bridges, construct roads, hospitals and many more if we want to and that is if we reduce the cost of governance.

Our own democracy must rank one of the most extravagant and exorbitant democracy in the world. Our economy cannot sustain it any longer. If we are to uphold and endure this democracy then we have to sacrifice the execution of capital projects inclusive of construction of bridges.

Our prodigal and spendthrift attitude is killing the economy and hurting our chance of survival. Imagine how much we are spending on the National Assembly, National Conference, Presidential fleet, seminars, oil subsidies, presidential and gubernatorial aides, etc. Apart from insurgency which we can't find solution to in spite of external help, the greatest danger to our democracy is the high cost of governance. We can't continue this way any longer.

*Mr . Teniola, a former director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Succour at last for Bauchi flood, insurgency victims rice. So when we share it among ourselves, what one gets is very small,” she said.

Usman Danladi a beneficiary from Adamawa State said he was displaced from his house as a result of flood disaster. He said he came to Bauchi State November last year because he lost his house and farm lands to flood.

By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi

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ICTIMS of flood disas ter and insurgency in Bauchi State presently have cause to smile and temporarily forget their pains and distress. The Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation recently came to their aid after it flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims of flood, insurgency and communal clashes in the state.

The beneficiaries who hail from 10 Northern states of Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Gombe, Nasarawa, Plateau and Yobe profusely expressed appreciation to the committee for the timely intervention in cushioning their hardship through the donation of relief materials such as rice, soaps, wrappers, blankets, noodles, salts, palm oil amongst other items.

Support to displaced persons

complement government’s provisions to flood victims across the country, the committee is also vested with the mandate of post-impact rehabilitation of affected persons and communities.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had at the time, earmarked the sum of about N22 billion as financial assistance to all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and as allocations to ministries and parastatals to cushion the devastating effects of the flooding experienced in parts of the country.

The remaining allocations were made to the Ministry of Works, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA; Ministry of Environment and the Technical Committee on Flood Impact Assessment which received N2.6 billion, N1.1 billion, N350 million, N150 million and N100 million, respectively.

The 34-man Presidential Committee was co-chaired by billionaire Aliko Dangote and renowned activist Olisa Agbakoba.

As one of the benefiting states, Bauchi received N400 million relief fund for the more than 19, 000 persons affected by the floods of last year.

The Sub-chairman of the State Relief Committee, SRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Jahun, said the beneficiaries were spread across the state, adding the floods caused an estimated damage of N3 billion, which makes the N400 million received grossly inadequate to support the victims.

“I had to start life afresh with my family, so I moved down to Bauchi because I heard that the government usually gives support to displaced persons,” he said. He commended the committee over the kind gesture and urged them to give Humanitarian some beneficiaries gesture capital to set up businesses in order to Shortly after the flag off of have decent sources the ceremony, the Chairman of livelihood. of the committee, Dr Sani When President Abubakar Lugga, led a deleGoodluck Jonathan, gation of the committee memin 2012, decided to bers on a courtesy visit to Govinaugurate a presiernor Isa Yuguda, at the Gov- •Relief materials presented to victims of insurgency and flood disaster. dential committee to ernment House in Bauchi. He mobilise funds for said the committee decided to siding in Jahun quarters in beneficiaries. “Even though I flood victims, Nigerians extend its humanitarian ges- Bauchi metropolis, thanked am grateful for the gesture of breathed a sigh of relief as the ture not only to victims of flood the committee for the gesture the committee, some of the gesture was expected to go a disaster, but also those of in- and urged them to assist her items are just inadequate for long way in addressing the us. You can imagine a situa- hardship experienced by those surgency, communal clashes family with accommodation.

In an interview with Van- tion where 10 persons are affected. and cattle rustlers. Abubakar disclosed that the committee guard Metro, VM, another supposed to share a bag of Apart from raising funds to went beyond the scope of its beneficiary, Hajiya Dan Azimandate to purchase food and mi, who is an indigene of non-food items worth N750m Bauchi State from Darazo Loto cushion the losses of victims cal Government Area said her of insurgency and communal family was displaced early this month from their home as clashes in the 10 states.

A victim of insurgency, a result of an attack launched

By Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos The meeting which was held in Jos, the State capital, was organised by Apurimac Onlus, Centre for TAKEHOLDERS working on the Advocacy, Justice and Rights and the Centre for I came to Bauchi State early this month permanent restoration of peace in Peace Advancement in Nigeria but funded by the along with my late husband’s three other Plateau State have been urged to redouEuropean Union and attended by 35 participants from ble efforts at preaching and promoting the State. wives and 20 children because our house tolerance and peaceful coexistence as Addressing participants, Project Officer of CAJR, was burnt by insurgents no development can take place in a state Mr. Choji Pwakim, stated that the meeting was aimed of continuous rancour. at enhancing CSOs capacity in the area of networkSafiya Aliyu, a mother of nine by insurgents in the local govThe stakeholders were also tasked on ing. Pwakim disclosed thus: “We are here to synerchildren, said she lost her husernment. networking with relevant groups and ingise, prepare our minds to join hands, work togethband to an attack by insur“Ninety three persons, individuals to ensure the existing peace er and fashion out better ways of achieving lasting gents last month in Taraba cluding me, ran away from achieved in the State is sustained by conpeace in the State.”

State. According to her: “I Darazo because our house was sistently engaging in dialogue with comAlso, Rev. Samuel Goro, who is the Director of came to Bauchi State early this burnt by gunmen. We felt our munity members to ensure they desist Centre for Peace and Advancement in Nigeria, CEmonth along with my late huslives were threatened, so we from the temptation of getting involved PAN, stated the meeting was held to discuss ways of band’s three other wives and relocated to Bauchi town bein violence. strengthening the existing peace in the State.

20 children because our house cause of the peace among the The charge was given during a threeHe added that steps have been taken by particiwas burnt by insurgents. We residents”. day meeting with theme: “Advocacy and pants in terms of continuously urging community had to relocate to a neighbourShe complained that the reCoalition/Networking: The Central Role members to desist from violence as well as well oring state to start life all over lief materials were not enough of Civil Society Organisations in the ganising dialogue meetings and peace education, again”. for her family because some Strategy for a Lasting Peace in Jos.” saying the efforts are yielding positive results.

Safiya who is presently reitems were shared with other

Plateau: Group tasks residents on tolerance

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 21

Open Data market worth $3trn

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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CIENCE and Technology experts at a two-day Senior Expert Dialogue, SED, said Nigeria can benefit from the Open Data market which has the potential to save and generate about $3 trillion globally.

They said Nigeria government can key into the initiative by creating the enabling environment for the citizens to have free access to all public information to be able to take the right decisions and also hold their leaders accountable for the use of the common funds.

According to them, a recent study on the annual turn over of Open Data globally conducted by McKinsey&Company showed that various countries that opened their doors for open data, have already started reaping the befits by reducing cost of their governance, empowering the citizens to ask questions where necessary and also enabling the private sector to build applications that can host relevant information that guide peoples’ decisions.

They said there is value in Open Data if government is ready to create the enabling environment and make public

From left: Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Army Staff; Dr Alex Otti, Group MD, Diamond Bank Plc and Lt Col Haruna Dasuki, Commandant, 65 Battallion, Bonny Cantonment, Nigerian Army during the donation of a block of building to the Nigerian Army at the Army Cantonment, Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele all public information, not just by pushing them to online platform but also taking them to offline for the benefit of those who do not have access to internet.

Speaking on the initiative, the Principal of a South African based research firm, McKinsey&Company, Lohini Moodley, said Open data and Open government are related but are also separate issues

that Africa needs to key into now to improve on the quality of outputs in both public and private sectors.

She said Open data apart from enhancing the quality of output wherever it is adopted, can also be used to increase transparency in government, benefit consumers and citizens and also encourage establishment of app companies that would in turn

create jobs and generate revenue for government.

According to her, every government has a lot of data assets that can be made available and accessible in the right way, which can be utilised by analysts, businesses, and the community in order to benefit in various fields of life.

“Nigeria can use data to

RMRDC tasks Nigerians on new dawn in industrial development

BY NAOMI UZOR

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HE Raw Material Research and Development Council, RMRDC, has urged Nigerians to queue up and be counted in the drive for a new dawn in industrial development of the country.

Delivering his speech at the Public Presentation of 2nd Nigerian Raw Materials Exposition (NIRAM Expo 2014), tagged “ Achieving Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan through Raw Materials Sourcing” the Director General of RMRDC, Dr Hussein Doko Ibrahim, who was represented by the Director Agriculture and Agro Allied Dept, Dr Moyo Jolaoso, said , the Nigerian economy has been passing through a very tough terrain in recent times due to various challenges of under-development and therefore urged Nigerians to queue up and be counted in the drive for a new dawn in industrial development of the Nigeria state.

“A major challenge in this regard is the issue of achieving a sustainable

means of sourcing for raw materials by the many manufacturing industries in Nigeria. The Raw Material Research and Development Council, an important stakeholder in the industrial sector of the economy was concerned about the state of manufacturing in Nigeria and decided to spearhead the process of bringing about rapid transformation of the industrial sector of the economy through the institution of the NIRAM Expo” he stated.

He noted that the 2012 NIRAM Expo was a resounding success judging by the sheer number of participants from the Organised Private Sector that graced the event and it is only right that they ride on the coattails of the maiden edition to achieve even greater heights so as to attain the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He said the objectives of the NIRAM Expo, which has been slated for October 28th -30th in Ikeja, Lagos, is to promote synergy among stakeholders in raw materials value chain, to provide conducive platform for exhibition of raw materials, to facilitate procurement of raw materials needs of industries, to enhance the growth

and development of resource based industries and to compile and publish a compendium of raw materials producers.

The Director General of NACCIMA, Mr. John Isemede, said the OPS and agencies of government, should work together and learn how to add value and develop the raw materials that we have, adding that SON, NAFDAC should have a certification centre so as to promote and develop our raw materials. “ The greatest problem we have is infrastructure, what other countries will get done in three hours, will take us a day to do. We have a reappraisal for all agencies to come together, the structure has to be put in place, it is not tariff that is our major problem in Nigeria but accessibility.

The six geo political zones should be looked into; we have opened our doors for the western world, we have been exporting cocoa base for so many years, we have to develop the value chain and palm produce should also be looked into,” he said.

– Experts plan infrastructure, plan the school system, health etc. It is about change of mindset and data can be used to make right decision. It is also about building capacity. Nigeria needs to have the technical and analytical capabilities to interpret the data. These are necessary to maximise open data potentials.

“To do this, Nigerian government needs to provide the enabling environment, the available data in its disposal and also start to use them.”

Moodley, who cited a Kenya example of using Open data app to guide parents on the choice of school for their wards, said Nigeria can use Open data to reduce the cost of various projects released on regular basis, start discussion, and engage businesses and citizens on how data should be made open and how they should be used.

“I think Nigerian government should ensure that data are made readable and engage the private sector in various projects. There is various ways to use open data and benefit from it, weather to create new product and services, and help government organisations save money better.

“Because there is value that can be generated from open data, it should be understood that when capability is built, it will pay off in the long term.

“We have done analysis across three sectors where value can come from - education, house, consumer products financing and what we have found is that by using technology to improve transaction, by using technology to enhance studies in schools, allowing students to come in contact with the right employers, it could lead to improvement in education, which ultimately will lead people getting better jobs and earn higher salaries,” she added.

Also speaking on the initiative, the head of research, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, Dr. Sope Williams, said Nigeria stands a chance to benefit from the $3 trillion worth of Open data market but for it to work in Nigeria, every citizen must see himself as a stakeholder and push for more open government.

She stressed the need for Nigeria to adopt open and transparent government that will be more accountable and people oriented.

“All of us have a stake in government and should push for more open government. We need a government that is more transparent, more accountable and engaging the citizens of Nigeria more,” she added.

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Durosinmi-Etti hands over to Oguntayo at Skye Bank

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From left: Ms. Mary Agha, Company Secretary; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Mr. Ashish Desai, Managing Director, all of Wapic Insurance Plc, at the company’s 55th Annual General Meeting, in Lagos.

RISK DIVERSIFICATION: Stockbrokers enjoin investors to leverage mutual fund

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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tockbrokers in the nation’s capital market have called on investors to leverage mutual funds for a well balanced asset portfolio.

According to them, mutual funds remain one of the best investment options that could be taken advantage of by investors to ensure that their risk is well spread among various asset classes.

This is especially important as individual investors lack adequate knowledge to engage capital market investment.

“Ideally, they should come in through Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) also called mutual fund because they have well balanced governance structure, comprising the fund manager, the trustee that looks after governance and custodian that hold the assets.

So there are checks and balances in that structure to safeguard the interest of investors.

“Besides, CIS is also regulated and monitored by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). So, it is a good vehicle through which investors should participate in the market,” said Mr. Mike Ezeh, Managing Director, Cranes Securities limited.

He stated that although mutual fund does not enjoy the kind of patronage equities do, it is a very good investment option to explore the market.

He stated that though there are many registered mutual funds in Nigeria, their patronage was low compared to other financial markets where mutual fund managers enjoy higher patronage via mutual funds rather than by direct investment in equities. For instance, in Brazil, 10 million more investors participate in the market through mutual funds, while only 500,000 invest directly in the market, he said.

Explaining how CIS works, Ezeh

said by pooling funds of several individual and corporate investors, it gives investors access to investments that they will ordinarily not have access to.

“Unlike equities, a CIS is generally not traded on a stock exchange, but investors buy and sell units to/from the fund manager at any time. Shares are created and sold to new investors on a continuous basis so you can either invest a lump sum or on a regular monthly basis,” he said. According to him, the operation of the entity is based on the principle of the diversification of risk.

“Payment is easy and convenient

and can be done online or by direct debit. Also dividend proceeds can be credited to an investor’s bank account,” he added.

The president, Association of Corporate Trustees (ACT), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni, on her own, said investors should take advantage of the depression in stock prices to buy units of well-managed mutual funds in order to benefit from the capital appreciation over time.

She explained that ACT’s role in mutual funds is to ensure that investors’ funds are preserved, adding, “The mutual funds are preferred option to enter the equity market.

Union Registrars restructures, gets core investor

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s part of strategic move to sustain its competitive edge, Union Registrars Limited, which has recently attracted a new core investor, Citadel Nominees Limited, has embarked on review of its business processes and broadening of portfolio.

The company ’s Managing Director, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, who confirmed the development, explained that the company has undergone a comprehensive review of all aspects of its operations in order to shed weight and shape up in view of the inclement operating environment in Nigeria.

Ayeni explained that, the restructuring activities would cover areas such as: re-launch and rebranding of the e-channels, which is a suite of user – friendly, on-line channels for easier access to Union Registrars’ services.

He also listed relocation of the head office and branches for enhanced service delivery, introduction of new products, and

creation of a new brand identity and acquisition of new client company accounts. Besides, the on-going restructuring entails right sizing of branch network and human capital for enhanced profitability.

He noted that the re-engineering and repositioning of the company would be driven by the vision to gain market share and create service excellence under a new ownership. On the completion of the erstwhile divestment process by the Union Group, which has been replaced by Citadel Nominees Limited as the core investor group in the company, Ayeni said the company has no option other than to optimise its resources and opportunities in view of the reality of the operating environment.

Market watchers explained that Union Registrars has undergone a trying period under its former parent body, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, due to tough business climate and the de-marketing that attended the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria in the parent bank.

ormer Group Managing Director/ CEO, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, has formally handed over the mantle of leadership to his successor, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, at a ceremony in Lagos.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Durosinmi-Etti said the event demonstrated the existence of sound corporate governance in the bank which makes succession seamless and rancour-free.

He said having served as the CEO of three different banks for a total of 11 years, he felt it was time to leave for another person to come and take the bank to another height.

He described the years he spent at Skye Bank as the hallmark of his banking career, which he described as interesting.

He said with change, there would be a new way of doing things and called on the staff to support the new helmsman.

He said he would continue to work for the success of the bank as well as serve as its ambassador at all times.

In his remarks, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Oguntayo, thanked his predecessor for his leadership and guidance in the past and wished him success in his future endeavours.

Group, bank train youths on entrepreneurship

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ope Worldwide, a Lagos based Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, in conjunction with Citibank Nigeria Limited has trained 20 youth, from Makoko community of Lagos State, in its “Youth Enterprise Training” as part of efforts to strengthen economy growth of the community and the country at large.

The organisation had last year graduated and empowered 25 youth in entrepreneurial skills including, catering, tailoring, hair dressing, web design and make up application under the same platform, making a total of 45 youths in two years.

Speaking during this year ’s graduation and handing over of startup equipments to the trainees, the Acting CEO of the Group, Dr. Ebunoluwa Jayesimi, who spoke through its Information Technology Manager, Engineer Aduragbemi Williams, said the initiative was born out of a desire to liberate youths in the country from the bondage of poverty, while ensuring that they contribute their quota to the economic growth of the nation.

In her own remark, the programmme coordinator, Mrs. Abiodun Olowoake, said Makoko and Iwaya were chosen catchment communities in Lagos considering the number of youths in the areas who are not gainfully engaged.

She further said that by the design of the programme, the trainees were trained so that at the end of their trainings, they can return to their communities to train others, so as to ensure a trend of transforming the current economic plight of the people in the areas.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014— 23

Anambra community ejects Anglican Church from school premises

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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COMMISSIONING: From left— Mr. Jideofor Amaechi; Igwe Ginger Ibeneme, Council Chairman of Oji River; Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu; Convener, SURE-P TVET project, Mr. Peter Esele (2nd right) and others during the commissioning of the National Power Training Institue of Nigeria, NAPTIN's Electrical & Communication Laboratories at Oji in Enugu State.

Enugu Assembly approves service of notice by substituted means on Onyebuchi

By Tony Edike

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NUGU—ENUGU State House of Assembly, yesterday, asked the clerk, Mr. Christopher Chukwura, to serve its notice of impeachment on the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, by substituted services.

The resolution was sequel to a motion by the leader of the House, Udeokoye, Awgu North, who asked the House to mandate the clerk to serve the notice through substituted means. The motion was seconded by John Okuta, who represents UzoUwani constituency.

Also the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, in the SouthEast, yesterday, criticised the action of the lawmakers, describing it as a “mockery of democracy which activists fought hard to enthrone.”

The State Assembly had in a motion, Tuesday, commenced impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor, accusing him of gross misconduct and disobedience to directives of the governor thus allegedly undermining the activities of government.

At yesterday ’s sitting, Chukwura had narrated his difficulty and efforts in serving the notice of impeachment on the Deputy Governor, which he supported with a sworn affidavit of court.

This prompted the House to direct that the copy of the notice be served through his e-mail, pasted at the gate of his private residence at Salvage Crescent or at the gate of his official quarters, which renovation had been abandoned two years ago.

CLO kicks

CLO, in a statement by the Zonal Director, Olu Omotayo, a

lawyer, criticised the action of the lawmakers as unknown to law, stressing that keeping poultry in his residence did not amount to gross misconduct.

It said: “We had earlier stated when the incident happened that the proper procedure in accordance with the law as provided under the Enugu State Waste Management Authority Law, is for the Enugu State Waste Management Authority to serve the operator or occupier of a premises, which activities constitute nuisance, with a notice to abate the nuisance, failure of which the authority can then make a complaint against the occupier, before the Environmental Protection Court.

“This was not done, and as such any letter written by any agent, servants or privies of the governor, who is a complainant in this case, was irregular and unlawful.

Section 12(2), of the Enugu State Waste Management Authority Law, Cap. 75, Laws of Enugu State 2004, provide punishment for breach of environmental law while SubSection 3, of same law provides:

… the law

“Where tenement is a residential government building, the court shall recommend to the Head of Service or the Secretary to the State Government for ejection of the occupier, who has been convicted of any offence under this section on three occasions.

“So in the Deputy Governor’s case the invasion of his residence and the subsequent demolition of his

poultry are illegal and unlawful.

Any action of the state, however beneficial it may be to the public, if not done in accordance with the laws of the land portends danger in a democratic society.

“The Provisions of Section (3) of the Enugu State Waste Management Authority Law, Cap. 75, Laws of Enugu State 2004, were not complied with.

So we do not understand what the House of Assembly is saying.

In the US...

“It is important that we consider the process in the United States of America because of the political and constitutional nexus that exists between Nigeria and America.

“In the United States, impeachment is not only limited to the president and his vice, governors and their deputies, but to all civil officers— they could be senators and judges as experience has shown.

“Since 1787 when the United States Constitution became operative, only 13 officers

have so far been impeached.

This underscores how Americans guard this provision jealously to avoid political instability. It is only resorted to when other avenues have become practically impossible.

“The opposite is what we are seeing in this country and if this trend is not checked it will be perilous for this country.

“The 1979 Constitution and 1999 Constitution do not provide grounds for impeachment. This is in contrast to the American constitution which highlights the grounds for impeaching a public officer.

“The 1999 Constitution only provides that above mentioned elected officers shall be removed from office if they are found guilty of ‘gross misconduct’.

“The definition of ‘gross misconduct’ in Section 188(11) is not explicit enough. Reckless legislatures have harped on this inadequacy to impeach on frivolous grounds.”

NITSHA—THE President-General of Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Elder Chris Eluemuno, has announced its decision o stop worshippers at Ebenezer Anglican Church from further conducting its activities inside Oyolu-Oze Primary School in the area.

This, according to him, is because the community has since discovered that the worshippers are merely tenants who have been going about telling lies to the public that the school was owned by the church as a mission school.

Eluemuno, who disclosed this yesterday at the school compound during their graduation ceremony, said the community had allowed the church to use the school premises on a tenancy agreement of N20 per month since 1990, only for the worshippers to lay claims to ownership of the school.

He said the community built the school in 1980 and handed it over to the state government in 1982, and that in 1990, the Anglican Church approached them for rental.

He said the community obliged the church and agreed to a monthly rent of N20, lamenting that it had not paid a dime till date, neither did the church put up any structure on the premises.

US, Ebonyi govt sign MoU on potable water

T

HE United States Agency for International Development, USAID, yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Ebonyi State Government to establish a collaborative development partnership to modernise the state’s water utility.

The agreement cemented the ongoing working relationship to strengthen the institutional, legal and regulatory framework of Ebonyi State water system.

The MoU was signed by

Governor Martin Elechi and the USAID Mission Director, Michael Harvey, and provided a platform for continuous partnership in other activities.

Applauding efforts of the state government’s investment on clean water production and connection of its population to an affordable water supply, Harvey expressed satisfaction with the completion of two new water treatment plants and a 52-kilometer trunk water main that connects one of the

new water treatment plants to the state capital, Abakaliki.

Harvey said: “USAID will work with the Ebonyi State Water Corporation to help it achieve financial independence and, in the end, provide more, better quality water on a reliable basis.”

USAID’s urban water reform activity, under the Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa, SUWASA, is a water policy reform activity at the state level that focuses on sustainable urban water supply.

24—V anguard 24—Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Global aviation industry reels under serial clashes •As 462 people perish in three accidents in just one week on Wednesday after suffering a technical N the past one week, avia fault. The aircraft tion appears to be put under was conveying to attack by humans and weather. London English For a very long time, the avia- divers who particiPlane crash site tion industry has never been this pated at the World assailed by extraneous factors, Cup that just ended what with the three crashes that in Shanghai, China. It almost that this industry should have a had manifested across the world landed in a river. The implica- wary culture. It is a warning to within just seven days. While tion of these accidents is that con- do more, especially with regards Malaysian airliner, a Boeing 777- fidence in air travel may begin to safety management system, ER with 298 souls on board, was to wane considerably.

SMS. I do believe that if we imThe crash of the AirAsian plane plement ICAO Annex 19 to the allegedly shot down by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine, Thursday, was simply down to bad weath- fullest, accident will be reduced an AirAsian ATR-72 plane with er. In aviation, three factors are to the barest minimum.”

58 passengers crashed in Taiwan largely responsible for air crashHe also cited inadequate funds Penghu Island two days ago, es. These are the environment for training and re-training of avi(bad weather); machine (state of ation staff, especially airline crew, with 48 casualties.

The aircraft was said to have aircraft) and human factor, which as one of the factors militating crashed amid stormy weather accounts for at least 70 per cent against air safety worldwide. while attempting to land. Simi- of air accident. This had been “Funds are in short supply and larly, an Air Algerie MD-83 plane largely responsible for much of this is making training and rewith 116 souls on board was only the air crashes in Nigeria in the training of aviators difficult. Peoyesterday declared missing bare- last decade. ple are no longer having the kind Although there are instruments of training we had in our days ly 50 minutes after take off. The airliner was flying from Burkina to mitigate accidents arising from because of paucity of funds,” Faso to Algeria when it was de- bad weather, such as the Dop- Capt. Ore noted. To think that the clared missing. Bad weather had pler weather radar and wind AirAsian plane crashed on landbeen fingered as reason for its shear detectors, the judgement ing indicates how bad the weathdisappearance. In each of the of a pilot in the face of extreme er really was. cases, safety and security had weather conditions remained the Though the preliminary report been called to question once more best option. This explains why on cause of the crash is not out, it may be safe to surmise that the Although the nation has more than 30 crash may have been caused by wind shear, which is described airports, owned by both federal and state as sudden change in wind and governments, only a very few are equipped speed direction. Wind shear that with the Doppler weather radar and antioccurs around an airport is usually the most difficult for pilots to wind shear device contend with. It was that weathin commercial airlines’ opera- the regulator in Nigeria,the Ni- er condition that aided the crash tions. Malaysia Airlines’ flight gerian Civil Aviation Authority, of Sosoliso and ADC airlines’ MH17 was allegedly shot down NCAA, always insists on pilots crashes in Port Harcourt and Abuin Ukrainian airspace flying from arming themselves with on-time ja in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All weather reports before hitting the the passengers and crew per- skies. The AirAsian plane that Mandatory ished. Although keen aviation crashed is a turbo-prop aircraft weather briefing observers and experts wondered which experts see as one that what the airliner was doing in could land almost anywhere in This is the wet season. Consethat airspace, in view of the on- emergency situations, since it quently, regulatory agencies ofgoing war between Ukrainian requires short runways for its take ten advice pilots to obtain mangovernment forces and pro-Rus- off and landing. datory weather briefing and abort Former Director of Operations, flights when weather minima sian rebels canvassing a state of their own, that airspace remained Nigeria Airways and DC-10 pi- goes below manageable level. a popular air route for planes fly- lot, Capt. Dele Ore, said the de- The good news is that some Nivelopments of the last week was gerian airports are now fitted with ing from Europe to Asia.

At the time the plane was a reminder that the aviation in- the Doppler weather radar, even brought down by a missile, oth- dustry should have a wary cul- as the kind of much more moder aircraft flew through same air- ture and a warning to do more ern aircraft that flies the nation’s space on the day, as neither the concerning safety and security. airspace on the domestic front are International Civil Aviation Or- Capt. Ore, who is current presi- equipped with anti-wind shear ganisation, ICAO, nor the Inter- dent of Aviation Round Table, device to warn pilots against the national Air Transport Associa- said there was need for ICAO to weather phenomenon ahead of tion, IATA, raised any alarm, insist that aviation nations of the time. warning airlines to steer clear of world adhered strictly to Annex The disappearance of the Air 19 of its regulation, which em- Algerie flight AH5017, yesterday, the route.

It was only after the crash of phasises air safety. was attributed to desert storm, He blamed frequent air crash- another extreme weather condiflight MH17 that airlines stopped flights from the route. These are es on complacency on the part of tion. At the time of writing, the exclusive of the Virgin Atlantic crew, in view of automation of aircraft was yet to be found by Airways plane which made an virtually all aircraft currently in safe and rescue team mobilised emergency landing at a military operation worldwide. He said: for the purpose eight hours after. base in the Russian city of Irkutsk “What is happening is a reminder Because the fuel endurance of

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

I

,

Rescue workers at the site of a plane crash the aircraft type is way below that, kit is assumed the aircraft had crashed somewhere. In fact, an official of the airline in Algiers confirmed to Cable News Network, CNN, that the plane had crashed but didn’t indicate where it crashed.

The lesson from all these for Nigeria is to ensure that serious attention is paid to safety and security of commercial aircraft operations. Although the nation has more than 30 airports, owned by both federal and state governments, only a very few are equipped with the Doppler weather radar and anti-wind shear device. Some do not even have the instrument landing standing which aid instrument flight range, IFR, system.

Former Secretary of Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, said it was frightening for the world to witness three major crashes in just seven days. Aside from the Malaysian airliners that was shot down, Tukur attributed the two others to extremely bad weather, saying the accidents were a wake call for aircraft manufacturers to return to the drawing board.

According to him, today’s weather has become so harsh that it takes divine intervention for pilots to survive the element when it comes.

“Frankly speaking, there is serious problem in the industry worldwide. There is need to look at aircraft manufacturing today because current harsh weather conditions caused by global warming. We have never had it this bad. So, planemakers need to take a second look at aircraft

designs in line with changing weather conditions,” Tukur said.

He also cautioned the aviation authorities in Nigeria to ensure air safety in the country was at one hundred percent and not less. This also brings to focus the need for the federal government to urgently ensure that a substantive director-general took over the mantle of leadership the regulatory agency in the country.

Regulatory agency More than two months ago, former head of Accident Investigation Bureau, Capt. Mukhtar Usman, was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan but is yet to assumed duties due to delayed clearance by the Senate.

What exists in the agency at the moment is one of the directors in the NCAA holding forth in acting capacity.

For an aviation sector as fledgling as Nigeria’s, this kind of arrangement does not augur well for the sector. A similar scenario led to the crash of Associated Airlines crash in June last year. Dr. Harold Demuren was removed from office and Capt. Fola Akinkuotu was appointed in his stead but was not cleared by the Senate until three months after.

In view of current trend in global aviation, some stakeholders in the aviation sector contend that the present arrangement in the regulatory agency has placed the agency on a weak footing to appropriately regulate the industry.

,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—25

I N Delta 2015: S I will replicate Asian in Delta I success State – Edevbie D Page 26 E

ADAMAWA: Finitiri’s first week

Kogi/Lokoja: I am the beautiful bride —Akawo

Page 27

Page 27

WHO SUCCEEDS FASHOLA?

New permutations in Lagos THE defection of popular Lagos politician, Jimi Agbaje to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has further galvanized the political landscape in Lagos as the two major political parties strategise to outsmart one another in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

and his associates are said to have acknowledged that having their way in Lagos would not be as easy as it was in 2007 when Fashola was crowned over the reluctance of many of his associates.

Tinubu it is alleged, has finally settled on former AccountantGeneral of the State, Akinwunmi Ambode. Ambode who resigned about three years ago despite having a couple of years to attain before retirement is credited with having formulated the financial formula that saved the state when former President Olusegun Obasanjo seized council funds meant for Lagos during the Tinubu years.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

W

Major aspirants

•Tinubu (left) and Fashola: Will the navigator and pathfinder keep APC on Alausa Round House path? was in 2007 when Tinubu, the first executive governor in the Fourth Republic prepared his exit played the last minute joker on his associates with his decision to produce his then Chief of Staff, Babatunde Fashola, as his successor. The house of Tinubu was temporarily shaken but it recovered not too long after, to overcome a stiff challenge mounted by the PDP through its candidate at that time, Senator Obanikoro, himself a former associate of Tinubu.

Former associate The second sign of trouble for the Tinubu crowd was the local government elections conducted after the 2011 elections in October of the same year. The election ended with the acclaimed victory of the PDP in some councils which embarrassingly included Ikoyi-Obalende

which is the base of the APC national leader, Tinubu.

It took a court decision which some stakeholders considered suspicious for the APC to recover the council and a few others where the opposition PDP claimed to have won. It is no surprise that ahead of the 2015 round of general elections the authorities in Lagos are reported to be apprehensive about the conduct of the local government elections which is due in the last quarter of the year.

Conventional wisdom is that the APC authorities in Lagos would not want to stir the calm waters by conducting a local government election which could lead to bad blood among party members just before the decisive general elections in 2015.

Tinubu, generally reckoned for his abundance of political strategies is believed to have started planning the Fashola succession a long time ago.

Sources in the Tinubu camp

generally admit that the way and manner Fashola was made would not be used in plotting the emergence of a successor for the incumbent governor.

Among issues that have come to play in the consideration of the camp of the APC leader are zoning, ability to win the hearts of the people and off course loy-

,

ITH an estimated population of 21 million, Lagos State is unarguably the biggest pie in the 2015 electoral map at the state level.

Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, the state has been out of the grip of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and hence the seeming desperation of party chieftains in the state and in Abuja to find a sellable candidate.

Until Agbaje’s entry into the party last week, it had been almost an open field for the incumbent Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

Besides finding a sellable candidate, chieftains of the party in the state have on their own and sometimes with the forced nudge of party officials in Abuja been forced to put aside their perennial differences.

With the PDP almost looking formidable, the ruling party in Lagos, the All Progressives Congress, APC, is also equipping itself with fresh strategies and ideas to fend off its perennial foe.

Indeed, at one point in time, the state which has since the advent of the Fourth Republic almost entirely been in the political stranglehold of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu began to look vulnerable.

The first signpost of trouble

Unlike 2007 when Tinubu was the sole determinant of the candidate, this time, Tinubu it is alleged would have to consider several other factors including the incumbent governor, Fashola and other major stakeholders including other aspirants on the platform of the APC. Among the major aspirants on the platform of the APC presently are Ambode, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, the incumbent commissioner for works, Dr. Femi Hamzat, speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,

The second sign of trouble for the Tinubu crowd was the local government elections conducted after the 2011 elections in October of the same year

alty. Though Tinubu was said to have publicly dismissed religion as a factor, given the liberalism of the Yoruba voter, the political strategist was, however, not oblivious of the long stretch of Muslim governors that have ruled the state and the agitation of Christians, and Ibos who constitute the second largest tribe in Lagos for a Christian governor of the state.

Whatever the factors, Tinubu

,

Chief Adeyemi Kuforoji, former commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan and a member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa among others. Of the lot in the APC, only Senator Solomon has so far openly made a declaration.

Tinubu it was learnt has not openly come out to endorse any one and surprisingly, inside sources say that he has encourContinues on page 26

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

New permutations in Lagos Continues from page 25 aged all aspirants who have approached him for support to enter the race, saying that a level play ground would be given to all.

That injunction is not lost on Asiwaju as it gives him the moral high ground to affirm that whoever emerges from the primaries is the product of a democratic exercise and not the product of imposition.

Besides the lot, a number of those also interested in succeeding Fashola it was learnt are also quietly doing underground work purportedly aimed at derailing Ambode from his track.

When news of Tinubu’s alleged endorsement of Ambode emerged earlier in the year, it was believed to be a kite as it was claimed that Tinubu would only wait till the last minute to endorse a candidate as was done with Fashola in 2007.

Explaining the reason for the relatively early endorsement of Ambode, a source close to Tinubu revealed: “In 2007 a lot of energy was consumed in the Fashola project because of the timing and this time around it was considered wise to conserve energy by bringing out a candidate early enough.”

Whatever, it is also generally agreed among political associ-

•Ambode ates close to Tinubu that a different game plan from that used in 2007 would have to be adopted in 2015.

The complexities for 2015 in Lagos were further complicated last week after the apparent defection of Jimi Agbaje to the PDP. How Agbaje could derail the

•Abike gubernatorial aspiration of Senator Obanikoro on the platform of the PDP remains to be seen.

It has remained a matter of conjunction among political stakeholders on whether Tinubu and Fashola are on the same page on the issue of Ambode The perception that the Hamzat

Delta 2015: I'll replicate State – Edevbie

camp is still flexing its muscle has drawn queries as to the suggestion that Fashola and his predecessor are on the same page.

The prospects for Hamzat who was at one time also said to be in the consideration of Tinubu were dimmed few years ago when his father, also said to be

an associate of Tinubu took up a traditional title in nearby Ogun State.

For sensitive Lagosians, the decision of the senior Hamzat, Alhaja Olatunji Hamzat to become the Olu of Afowowa-Sogade in Ewekoro in Ogun State was said to have raised eyebrows among some who championed the gubernatorial cause of his son.

Nevertheless, there have been recent suggestions that irrespective of the determination of the pair of Tinubu and Fashola to synergise on the succession, that fourth columnists are working to frustrate that kind of synergy.

Such forces it was learnt are determined to ensure that Fashola is made irrelevant in the determination of who succeeds him.

It is, however, doubtful if Tinubu would buy into any such scheme by his associates given his determination not to allow any friction among his forces in the fight against the PDP. Even if Fashola may not come out openly to name his successor, associates of the incumbent governor paint a picture of the typology of the man they want.

“I think for Fashola the typology is more important than the man and that I think is what he is working towards,” an associate of the governor disclosed.

If that typology fits in with Fashola, then there could indeed be no problem and the Asiwaju phenomenon would again have been seen to have prevailed.

Asian success in Delta

CHIEF David Edevbie, was a Commissioner for Finance during the Governor James Ibori’s Administration in 1999 and after he became the Director of Finance and Strategy to Yar'Ádua Campaign Team. He is presently contesting for the 2015 governorship position of Delta State under the platform of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. In this interview with LEKE ADESERI, he bares his mind on the why he wants to serve Deltans in 2015, sayin, “to sustain the Delta beyond Oil project, there is the need for the people to select a credible gubernatorial candidate to succeed Uduaghan,” among other salient issues.

W

HY run for the Delta governor ship?

I believe my international private sector background combined with my public sector experience at both state and national levels have provided me with a unique blend of skills to do the job effectively.

I feel I have what it takes to consolidate on the gains so far achieved by successive governments in Delta State since 1999. The crux of the matter is that I am motivated by a strong desire to serve the people of Delta State.

How much of Delta state can you say you really know?

Well, I am a keen observer of Nigerian economic history and I have over the

years been involved in the state especially since 1999. I do not really think that Delta State politics is significantly different from politics elsewhere.

Politics is a high stake enterprise everywhere in the world. Yes, there is ethnic diversity in Delta State but it should not be seen as a negative but rather as a source of strength and rich cultural values which we can harness for the good of our people.

While it is true that some individuals are bent on using our ethnic diversity to cause disaffection, but the generality of our people see themselves as one.

Our being together should not be regarded as a mistake. For example, look at the geography of the State. It is re-

•David Edevbie markable ranging from the lush green heavily forested terrain of Delta North and its beautiful valleys, to the riverine terrain of Delta South which metamorphoses into the forest terrain of Delta Central.

The core of my thoughts each time I think of the geography of the State is the rich agricultural endowments waiting to be tapped. These God given en-

dowments can be tamed and harnessed for the economic advancement and overall good of our people.

When I was working for the Commonwealth Development Corporation in the early 90s, at one stage I was responsible for our investments in the agriculture and agro-allied sectors of countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Continues on page 28

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—27

Kogi/Lokoja: I'm the beautiful bride - Akawo Salihu Akawo a former commissioner in Kogi State presently represents Kogi Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly and is an aspirant for the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives. In this interview he ventilates on his aspiration among other national and local issues. Excerpts:

BY Boluwaji Obahopo

T

HREE years in the state House of Assembly. How far has your experience been?

No experience is useless. It has been a mixed bag of experience but all the same it has been a worthy experience.

So far, so good, because we have been able to give the people a representation; the quality of it we leave if for prosperity to judge.

As an institution, one thing we have clearly achieved is that, the House members have related cordially with high sense of unity. You hardly see the difference that our people exhibit among themselves and that to me is very symbolic. That to me is a message to Kogites, that we can only grow and develop in unity. Some of the thing that divide us are been there but when we meet at the forum particularly at the state House of Assembly, where we meet at the forum of all the 21 Local Government.

Is it the unity that to a large extent, made the House to be seen as a rubber stamp of the executive.

That is not the point I am making, whatever you think of the House we leave that to the people and the judgment of history as a rubber stamp or not, but the kind of unity I'm talking about when we stand up to talk in the House, we don’t talk as individuals but we talk as brothers looking out for the progress of the state., that is the point I making. And I want this translated in our daily lives, especially, I want the executive to learn from this in the discharge of their duties end in the appointment and spread of projects, because that is where the problem really is.

I don’t think all segment of the state has equal sense of belonging either in appointment into the civil service and even execution of projects. And honestly, if members of the House of Assembly could sit and talk on the budget as one, and also consider appointment without any bickering, without any sentiment, I strongly recommend to all other arms of government to act, putting the state as one.

Is there internal democracy in your party, PDP?

•Akawo I have my reservation towards that regard. At this stage of our political development all parties in Nigeria lack internal democracy. As we approach election in 2015 you will see defections here and there, people who are dissatisfied with the mechanisms of their parties.

That shows us that, a lot still need to be done in the area of internal democracy.

What is your next political step?

My next step is going to be a response to my people. For quite sometimes, there has been a call and encouragement to seek election into the House of Representatives in 2015.

Naturally, I m consulting every

segment of the political class, every segment of the society before I will take a position. The outcome of my consultation will determine my position.

But how do you respond to the agitation of the PDP in Lokoja LGA that it is their turn?

Which opportunity is that?!

The man in the House of Reps presently is from Lokoja LG and he assumed the office since 2007.

First and foremost, let me even say that the fact that the PDP zoned the House of Reps ticket to Kogi LG in 2011 and lost does not mean that the man there is from Kogi LG. Yes, we (Kogi LG) lost and the loss was not caused

by Kogi LG alone, we also lost

in Lokoja LG. So it was a general rejection of the PDP candidate in both LGAs. If you are elected, what should people expect from you?

As legislator or lawmakers, one of the paramount issues is that you must give the people a “voice”; you participate in making law that will usher in good governance. You participate in the appropriation of resources to the extent that you articulate the needs of your people in the yearly budget.

That is essentially, what is expected of you. That you will be there for them, you speak for their favour, and articulate to move the area forward.

Why is there confusion about the party you would use to contest the election?

That is coming from people who want me to take a shot at the Reps seat. What that means with all sense of modesty is that I am a bride to all parties. Those who are clamouring to have me on their platform I can only say I m grateful and thankful. I must say our party must be very careful with the way they handle this federal House of Reps thing. If you give the people their due, they will be obedient to the party but if there is any form of imposition, they will ventilate that anger. I have heard people comment on some posters in town, but I want to put it on record that its without my knowledge or approval; who ever must have done that is wishing me to go higher.

ADAMAWA: Finitiri’s first week •Pays lawmakers N120m each

BY Umar Yusuf

A

DAMAWA State Acting Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, was the speaker a member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly representing Madagali constituency until last Tuesday when the House impeached former Governor Murtala Nyako for gross misconduct.

Fintiri emerged as acting governor ahead of the Deputy Governor, Bala James Ngillari, who controversially resigned before Nyako’s removal of Nyako.

In spite of the issues that Ngillari’s resignation is generating, Finitiri has been on the saddle for more than a week. A peep into his first week in office reveals a flurry of activities.

•Fintiri Moments after Fintiri was sworn in on July 15, the day of the impeachment, he swung into action with the

dissolution of the executive council of the former governor.

He announced the sacking

of the Executive council at the swearing in ceremony of the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Liman Tukur, a university teacher with the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.

Thereafter, one of his major pre-occupations is avoid the mistakes that Nyako made.

He started with the legislature, his constituency, by paying 25 members of the Adamawa House of Assembly their constituency allowances of N120 million each.

The lawmakers had earlier demanded N1 billion each from the former Governor which he rebuffed.

June, 2014 salary of Adamawa civil servants was next on the agenda of the acting governor.

As the attempt to remove Nyako the accounts of the state were frozen thereby pre-

venting the government from paying workers’ salary. However, before the impeachment on the July 15, the accounts were de-frozen to pave the way for the new government to operate.

After paying salaries, Finitiri’s sledge hammer fell on the special projects unit, SPPU which he scrapped with immediate effect.

The SPPU was established by the Nyako-led administration to empower the grassroots and about 6000 unemployed youths were benefiting from the programme before it was scrapped.

To further remove structures of the impeached governor, a Faculty of Law of the State University located in Mayo Belwa, the hometown of Nyako has been relocated to Mubi, the main campus of the university.

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

T

HAT this country is blessed with both human and natural re sources is axiomatic. Also, every day or week in Nigeria provides its own events – good or bad. It is the delight of any clever newspapers` columnist to either analyse or satirize. It is always fun.

If the visit of the Pakistan`s girl (Malala) has convinced the presidential advisers of the wisdom of meeting the parents of the abducted Chibok girls, it is graceful that President Jonathan has met in Abuja not only the sorrowing parents but also, those lucky girls who managed to escape from the murderous gang. Even the news would gladden the heart of the television clown (Zebrudaya) that the President “is doos it”, as President Obama is doing it in US (though the American President would have visited the place of incident ninety days ago). This is a case where comparison becomes odious.

As stated in my last two articles, members of the National Conference have performed extremely well beyond the pessimistic sentiments of some doubting Nigerians. The robust debates and clear expression of different opinion by many delegates had shown the capability of many Nigerians outside the professional political class – the proverbial jesters.

Proverbial jesters The National Conference is showing that Nigeria could be great if opportunities are given to the right people at the right time.

Though the National Conference is yet to submit its Report (to be considered on 4th August), the crucial question on Derivation (in Power Devolution Agenda) remains insoluble or intractable. Members are yet to agree on whether to maintain the status quo of thirteen and half per cent share to oil producing states or to approve 5 per cent to all disaster areas of the country (not only to the three states of the North-Eastern zone under Boko Haram insurgency). The apparent disagreement shows glaringly the absurdity of Nigerian mentality which is plagued with the idea of SHARING of resources – oil money.

The condition of the Nigerian state: Contradictions galore It is not difficult to point clearly to some distinguished members of the National Conference that the concept of true federalism which every member wants recognizes the principle of full appropriation of each states resources by the states concerned, subject to taxation If as all members have recognized that all states have several minerals yet untapped, and if now tapped, would make all states not only economically stable, would also cement the political stability of the country. The easy formula to raise funds is that each state to provide 60 per cent, other states, 20 per cent and Federal Government, 20 per cent of the equity capital. There is no question of `Nigerian `oil` or Nigerian `gold` in any tenets of fiscal responsibility. The Kano groundnut pyramid often referred to was contributed to by individual Kano peasant farmers who sold the produce of their farms to the Northern Marketing Board and were paid fully according to the quantity supplied. There were no government-run plantations except those kept by private companies like UAC, CFAO, and PZ etc.

Another specific question that might arise from shedding of extra loads from the federal government to states is the economic one – the arrangements to fund the states which would now acquire added responsibilities.

It is obvious that the `sharing mentality` which has pervaded the debate on devolution of power has missed the

salient point of how to fund the Federal Government itself. The present thinking is that more than 52 per cent of `oil money` now being taken by the federal government should be scaled down to 40 per cent while states with heavier or additional responsibilities should take 60 per cent. If the Federal Government now provides 100 per cent funding for the operations of `our oil`, it stands to reason that alternative method of funding would have to be examined.

It is assumed that the present 1999 Constitution, though federal in appearance, is being run as a unitary one. If states are happy with the present monthly line-up in Abuja to share in the cake they did not contribute to its baking, the issue of true federalism gladly accepted by all is deceptive and misleading. The problem is that the Federal Government would like to cling to the existing arrangement with its sharing imperfections and absurdities in a supposedly federal environment.

Many patriotic commentators have pointed out, and justifiably so, that the members of the National Conference have missed the crucial point of Nigeria`s political instability – how the federal government is formed and run in a country of many nations.

Britain the colonial master designed a government at the centre run by representatives of the three Regions.

When federal elections were introduced in 1954, the winning party in

each region supplied the Federal Ministers from its members in the House – thus the winning party in the West and East (NCNC) and the winner in the North (NPC) formed the federal government. Before Independence in 1960, a national government was formed under Tafawa Balewa (NPC) to prevent the danger of bitter political rivalry that might damage economic and political stability of the impending new nation. Events after 1960 showed the elusive nature of a genuine national government required for a multi-national state.

It is known to history that the multinational states which do recognize their differences and peculiarities have been able to survive the prevalent turbulent political and economic divisiveness and restlessness.

Economic divisiveness As in Belgium, the federal government is negotiated; in Switzerland, the federal government is made of the leading political parties. There is no major difference on national issues by the government and the opposition.

It is painful, if not regrettable, that the Nigerian experience is a sad one where the PDP (ruling party at the centre and many states) and the opposition (APC) do not see eye-to-eye on many crucial and specific issues (though no defined differences in political ideology). Both parties see the prospects of retaining power or change of power in 2015 as the most important political achievement of their existence. In a country engulfed in bloody insurgency, unsteady electric supply, urban congestion and rural depopulation, daylight armed robberies, kidnappings, ritual murders and heavy unemployment, all that matter is the prospects of 2015 and the immediate political gains from bye-election victories and untidy impeachments. What a funny and confused nation with its sly politician!

The country needs consensus and unity to confront the present ravaging dangers that confront it. Unfortunately, bitter political divisions as being exhibited by the political parties are not the answer.

Delta 2015: I'll replicate Asian success in Delta State – Edevbie Continues from page 26 Philippines, Vietnam etc all places that have similar terrains like ours. Their investments flourished and I saw firsthand that it was not magic. All that is required is the commitment of the people and know how.

I am extremely confident that I can replicate the same successes in Delta State within a very short space of time because I have the experience and know how that others simply do not have.

The potential multiplier effect of such intervention on the Delta State economy can only be best imagined and the thought of it alone excites me. My people just need to focus their efforts towards dominating the environment for the good of the collective people. On a general note, the differences in our ability to do so are responsible for the difference in the pace of development between countries and regions.

The most nagging problems in the three senatorial districts In general, the problems are essentially the same which is developmental. Nev-

ertheless, I must commend and congratulate the previous governments since 1999. They have done so much for the state. The first of which I was an integral part of essentially concentrated on Infrastructure development.

Thecurrent government has not only built on that but is also focusing on Delta with out oil with great success. Since development is cumulative, I intend to build upon their works.

Road network problems However, the next developmental thrust should take into account the specific problems of each senatorial district.

For example, while in general there is clearly need for more infrastructure, Delta North has relatively greater erosion, water supply, and road network problems.

Delta Central clearly needs more roads.

While Delta South also needs to be opened up with more roads and bridges; yes all the governments since 1999

have done much, but we still need to do more. We need to build more schools, hospitals, provide water, electricity, ensure security and create employment opportunities for our teeming population.

How do Deltans receive you?

The truth is I am overwhelmed by the amazing show of support I am receiving at the moment. My on-going consultations is exciting the people of Delta State and clearly my aspiration is receiving popular acclaim.

Initially many Deltans thought it was just a rumor and apparently many did not believe I would venture into the perceived murky waters of Delta politics because they felt that based on my past antecedents; I was too refined and principled for Delta politics.

Every minute I receive telephone calls from Deltans from all walks of life irrespective of their ethnic background urging me to pursue my aspiration.

Most Deltans are fascinated by my track record of implementing purpose driven ideas and honestly, I am seen as

a breath of fresh air by many even those in the opposition parties. You see, I do not have the political baggage that most of the others have and based on my previous track record while in government, they know me and what I stand for.

They regard me as being honest and trustworthy, experienced in the art of governance, committed, consistent and loyal and respectful. I am also viewed as an intellectual with demonstrably clear vision.

As a result, several political interest groups are mobilizing across the State and even beyond to actualize my aspiration. Frankly, it is becoming a mass movement. Please do not take my word for it, go out there, talk to people and hear for yourself.

Why running under PDP? I have served a Governor of Delta State and a President of Nigeria on the platform the PDP Africa's most phenomenal political party since 1999. So it is logical that it should be the platform from which I would want to realize my gubernatorial dream.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 29

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

IDENTITY CRISIS:

Old Basket Mouth speaks —People say I sold my

birthright to him

By ADERONKE ADEYERI Only a handful of Nigerians know that the stage name known as ‘Basketmouth’ used to belong to another comedian other than Bright Okpocha, the comedian popularly known as ‘Basketmouth’. The first comedian to bear the name was Ernest Essien, an Akwa Ibom Stateborn humour merchant who was on the scene before Bright Akpocha.

He had to change the name ‘Basketmouth’ to ‘MC Miracle’, to avoid clash of identities with Bright Okpocha. Though MC Miracle hit stardom with his landmark mindblowing joke ‘“Mfon-obong, itoroobong, ima-obong, ekom-obong, dem go dey bobong bobong bong bong”, but his life has never been the same since changing his name ‘Basketmouth’ to ‘MC Miracle’.

Hear his story: When did you start comedy professionally?

Professionally, I started comedy in 1996 but I have been into comedy for a long time that I cannot even recollect the year.

What brought about your choice of name “Basketmouth”?

Back then, I used to perform at a place called ‘Tag’ in Apapa with the Frontliners Band led by Jah Hanson.

So any time we went on recess, I will pick up the microphone to showcase my talent. On one fateful day, when I started cracking jokes a guy just shouted “this guy you be

NEW BASKETMOUTH

I asked him if he liked the name and his response was in the affirmative. I told him to keep the name so I changed mine. Most of my friends including my wife did not approve of this

Hottest Nigerian celebrities on social media,

why they are hot C M Y K

OLD BASKETMOUTH NOW MC MIRACLE

Basketmouth o,”! That was how the name stuck.

Since you started with the name ‘Basketmouth’ but now known as Mc Miracle, will you say Basketmouth stole the name from you?

No, he didn’t steal the name.

Sometime in 2000-2001, Basketmouth approached me during one of the Plantashun Boiz’s concert at D Den on Isaac John in Ikeja and he introduced himself to me as ‘Basketmouth’ and told me he heard I was also using the name. I

Yaw produces new stage play

was already an established entertainer then so what I saw was a younger brother from Benin with hunger for success in his eyes.

There and then, I asked him if he liked the name and his response was in the affirmative. I told him to keep the name so I changed mine.

Most of my friends including my wife did not approve of this. They

How translation tech can help you speak in unknown tongues

said I sold my birthright to him. Till date, some of my colleagues still call me Mc Basketmouth.

Did the change in name affect you?

Definitely yes, because I had to begin a rebuilding process, getting to let my clients and fans know about it . It took a lot of time, money and conviction. But since they got used to it, it has been great.

So what is your relationship with Basketmouth?

He is my younger brother who is doing very well for himself. In

Continues on page 31

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—31

Synopsis

‘’ BAD NEIGHBORS and HATESHIP LOVESHIP

People say I sold my birthright to him

are releasing on Friday, attached are the art work.

Synopsis for BAD NEIGHBORS:

A couple with a newborn baby face unexpected difficulties after they are forced to live next to a fraternity house Synopsis for HATESHIP LOVESHIP

Continues from Page 30

A wild teenage girl orchestrates a romance between her nanny and her father, who is a recovering addict.

fact, I feel proud that I allowed him use the name and he has always shown me respect whenever we meet.

Way back, we cover up shows for each other. I remember one particular incident when he had to go for an interview at the America embassy to get visa and also had to perform at Pall Mall in Calabar. He called on me and I went to cover up for him. We have a cordial relationship though we hardly see often because of our busy schedules.

Some comedians are making it big while others are not. Why is it so?

Hard work, dedication,

I feel proud that I allowed him use the name and he has always shown me respect whenever we meet. Way back, we cover up shows for each other tenacity and originality are the secrets to making it. Also the element of God’s favour cannot be overruled. . So there is just a thin line between making it and not making it.

Is being a good comedian all about being funny or is there more to it?

There is more to it. Your character and professionalism counts in this business. You need to see it as a proper profession like a 9-5 job. A comedian has to update him or her self . Above all, you need to be extremely funny with a good delivery skill and stage craftsmanship.

What is your unique selling point?

Spontaneity and music-comedy. I can turn anything I see into a funny song. And that is really my selling point.

What is your relationship like with other comedians?

I have a fantastic relationship with all my colleagues, be it senior or junior. Most of them are all my good friends.

Would you say girls like comedians?

Girls generally love entertainers, the girls and entertainment go hand in hand.

What has been your experience with the opposite sex?

I have a very good and cordial relationship with the opposite sex and I also have a lot of respect for

The movie

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK THINK LIKE A MAN TOO 22 JUMP STREET TRANSFORMERS ONE NIGHT IN VEGAS AMAZING SPIDER MAN 2

Exhibition Schedule from July 11th-17th

my boundaries. Anyway, everything comes with its territories (laughs).

What has been your most awkward experience as a comedian?

2006, when I got the franchise for ‘Nite of a Thousand Laughs’ in Uyo. We had a full hall that made even Opa Williams embrace me. After the show and it was time to count our gate-takings, we found we realized only N720, 000 after spending over N2.5m to package the show. It was then I realised that the security guys at the gate fed on my ignorance because that was my first major show .

Have you ever gone blank on stage?

Yes, in fact severally.

So how did you manage it?

When it happened , I had to pick on someone among the audience to do some wisecracks and I was fine.

Once you can get laughter from the audience as a comedian, your confidence returns and soars. But no matter what, a professional comedian will not just stop or act blank in front of his audience.

Is it true that comedians make more money than other entertainers?

We all make money but I can’t say who makes more money. Comedy is a one-man show with few expenses but musicians have to pay their band, dancers etc. So it depends on who the client is and how much he is willing to pay.

Anything new for your fans?

Yes, I am working on a 3 in 1 album tagged “Me, Myself n I”. It will showcase me as a full entertainer. A singer, stand-up comedian and a music-comedian. It will be an all-round package. Also I am currently working on a movie with Joke Silva, and a soap opera in the making. Many things in my plate.

How would you rate yourself ?

I am the best there is, the originator and no imitator.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Bad Neighbours : 2:00pm,6:55pm 22 Jump Street : 11:50am,2:00pm,4:15pm,6:25pm,8:40pm One Night in Vegas : 1:50pm,5:45pm,7:45pm Think like a Man too : 3:10pm,5:15pm,7:20pm,9:20pm Number one fan : 12:00pm,3:45pm, Transformer 4 : 3:50pm,8:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Bad Neighbours : 10:45am,12:40pm,5:10pm,7:10pm 22 Jump Street : 10:50am,1:00pm,6:15pm,8:25pm One Night in Vegas : 10:30am,5:10pm Think like a Man too : 3:45pm,6:10pm,8:40pm Number one fan : 11:15am,1:40pm, Transformer 4 : 3:10pm,9:20pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Bad Neighbours : 8:30pm 22 Jump Street : 11:55am,2:10pm,4:25pm,6:35pm,8:45pm One night in Vegas : 3:00pm,6:45pm,8:35pm Think like a Man too : 4:20pm Number one fan : 11:20am,1:10pm,4:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Bad Neighbours : 8:35pm 22 Jump Street : 11:20am,1:40pm,4:00pm,6:20pm,8:30pm One night Vegas : 12:40pm,2:40pm,4:40pm,6:40pm,8:30pm Think like a Man too : 4:20pm Nnmber one fan : 12:20pm,4:30pm,8:30pm Transformers 4 : 11:00am Devil in a dress : 2:20pm,6:20pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI Think like A Man too : 12:15pm,5:20pm,7:10pm Transformers 4 : 10:10am,6:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO 22 Jump Street :11:40am,2:05pm,4:25pm,6:45pm One Night in Vegas : 11:50am,1:50pm,4:00pm Number one fan : 11:30am,1:20pm,3:10pm,5:00pm,7:00pm Jump And Pass : 4:05pm,5:40pm,7:15pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS Bad Neighbours : 3:30pm,5:25pm,7:20pm,9:15pm 22 Jump Street : 4:45pm,6:30pm,9:00pm Think like A Man too : 4:25pm,6:55pm,8:40pm Transformer 4 : 12:30pm,8:10pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS 22 Jump Street : 2:10pm,3:30pm,6:30pm,9:00pm Think like A Man too : 12:00pm4:30pm,8:00pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, IBADAN 22 Jump Street : 11:40am,1:50pm,4:00pm,6:10pm,8:20pm One night in Vegas : 2:00pm,8:40pm,8:20pm, Think like A Man too : 12:00pm,3:50pm,6:40pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDA 22 Jump Street : 12:30pm,4:30pm,5:40pm,6:40pm,7:50pm Think like A Man too : 10:40am,2:40pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR 22 Jump Street : 11:40am,1:50pm,4:00pm,6:10pm,8:20pm One night in Vegas : 5:00pm,6:40pm,8:20pm, Think like A Man too 1:00pm,8:30pm Number one fan : 12:00pm,1:40pm,3:20pm

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

MTN Project Fame dumps Adaora Oleh for Bolanle Olukanni as co-host

BY IYABO AINA

A

daora Oleh has been removed as a co-host of popular reality TV show, Project Fame. Adaora has worked as co-host on MTN Project Fame for five seasons.

The UK-born Nigerian host has been replaced by new girl on TV, Bolanle Olukanni, who will now take co-host Joseph Benjamin‘s side in the seventh season of the music reality TV show.

Olukanni is currently a cohost on Moments with ‘Mo alongside Mo Abudu and Dolapo Oni. The show returns without a change in the judging panel; Ade Bantu, Tee-Y Mix and Bibie Brew will be taking the high seats. Members of the faculty also remain unchanged.

F

ast rising Nollywood actress and storywriter, Ruth Kadiri has just completed work on her new movie titled ‘Matters Arising’. The movie is a romantic comedy that features Ghanaian actor Majid Michel.

‘Matters Arising’ which has a village setting and shot in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria, is about a married thrift collector, who does not live up to his responsibilities, he is always found wanting. He is soon forced to face the consequence of his ways. According to Ruth, it is a movie that seeks to bring happiness to movie lovers and at the same time teach people that it is more honourable to own up to their responsibilities.

With this movie Ruth Kadiri has placed herself on the list of female movie producers in the industry such as Uche Jombo, Omoni Oboli, Funke Akindele, Stephanie Okereke Linus and Rukky Sanda.

Ruth Kadiri shows comic side with Matters Arising

Eviron Drink partners Uche Jombo’s Almost Perfect

E

viron Health Drink, has partnered one of Nigeria’s foremost movie producers, Uche Jombo on a new movie project titled “Almost Perfect.”

Almost Perfect is a story about a married woman, who is the breadwinner of the family. She wants her husband to get a job to support the family; she knows things would go on perfectly with him working.

However, a major twist emerged when the husband eventually got the job. It was a twist that threatened the foundation of the marriage. Will the marriage survive? That is one question Almost Perfect has the answer to.

The movie features Uche Jombo, Desmond Elliot, Ken Erics, Daniel .K. Daniel, Michelle Dede and Peggy Ovire.

According the Brand Communications Manager of Eviron Health Drink, Miss Lilian Mmuoemenam, “Eviron partners with Uche Jombo because of the similarities between the two brands. “Uche Jombo is known for producing premium advocacy movies that addresses prominent issues affecting the physical and psychological wellbeing of individuals in the society.

Yaw produces new stage play M ulti talented OAP, actor and producer Steve Onu popularly known as Yaw, have announced a new stage play performance known as PO! for the month of August.

The two-man satirical stage play starring popular Wazobia FM OAPs Nedu and Ogbolor is scheduled to hold at Terra Kulture on all Sundays in August 2014.

Earlier in the year, Yaw put together an elaborate 6th edition of his annual stage play series known as ‘The Street’, which saw comedy, and music lovers turn out en masse to watch the sensational performances. PO, which is written by Femi Branch and directed by award-winning scriptwriter/director Obi Martins, presents the good, the bad and the ugly taking place in Nigeria in a humorous fashion. Organisers say special artistes and comedy performances will be revealed soon.

Censors Board partners Ghana, Ugandan’s film bodies on regulation

T

he National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has taken practical steps to strengthen strategic bilateral relationships with Ghanaian and Ugandan Film authorities.

President, Cinematographic Exhibition Board of Control (GCEBC) last week received a comprehensive list of films approved by the NFVCB. The document contained approvals spanning the first half of this year from January to June 2014.

The initiative is part of the agenda to checkmate cross-border trafficking of illegal movies. A breakdown of the 306 films titles which were sent to the Ghanaian authority showed: 25 films for January, 66 for February,74 for March , 44 for April ,35 for May , and 62 for June.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—33

Hottest Nigerian celebrities on social media

Why they are hot

By KEHINDE AJOSE

S

ocial media has changed the way fans interact with celebs and also altered the way celebs engage their fans. Donjazzy announced the Mohits break up on twitter; he didn’t have to organize a press conference to do that. Social media platforms such as Twitter,

Donjazzy

T

he Mavin boss Donjazzy is gradually become a must follow on the social media scene.

His conversational style, humour and giveaways has built a unique social media appeal for him .He is known to give recharge cards, cash prizes, and other goodies to his numerous fans. The word :”Dorobucci” gained popularity the moment Donjazzy used it Twitter.

With 863,000 followers on Twitter(as at the time of this report,) and an undeniable following on Instragram.

Genevieve

J

ust like Omotola, the Imo state born belle leads Nollywood on Instargram with more than 97,000 followers. Her pictures serves as the bait that captivates her followers on Instargram. Even her random tweets gets retweeted. That is Genny’s star power at work. She recently took to her Twitter account to express her thoughts saying she didn’t call Nollywood bland and mediocre.

2face Idibia

A

s one of Africa’s music powerhouse ‘2baba’ as he is often called by his fans also commands huge following on Twitter and Instagram. He often tweets in pidgin English and his unassuming nature also reflects in his social media interactions with fans. He has 792,000 followers on Twitter(as at the time of this report), and also has more than 100,000 following on Instargram.

Facebook and Instagram are the new platforms celebs use to build their brands, engage with fans, and communicate their new offerings .In the home front, Nigerian celebs are not left behind .In no particular order here are the top Nigerian entertainers who have a cult following on various social media platforms.

Wizkid

W

hen it comes to being on top of social media engagement, Wizkid knows his onions. He relates as though he is the dude sitted next to you in a cab. Little wonder he is the most followed Nigerian celeb on Twitter with 1.16millions (as at the time of this report).

Even though he doesn’t hesitate to throw jabs at whoever criticizes him, the star boy has learnt the art of appealing to the emotions of his fans and also shares goodies from time to time.

His official Twitter handle is @Wizkidayo. On the Instargram platform, he has over 150,000 followers. The versatile singer sure knows how to ‘Holla’ at his fans.

Omotola

O

n social media Omotola can be compared to the characters she plays in movies. She can decide to switch to a counsellor, an advocate, a caring mother, or simply being the ‘Omosexy ‘fans can’t get enough of.

She is the first Nigerian celeb to hit 1million likes on Facebook. .Omotola is known to use her Twitter account as a tool for advocacy. She lent her voice to pressing national issues like the abducted Chibok girls case and other subject matters.

Banky W

B

anky seems unfettered despite being criticized severely on the social media for having a huge head.

His instagram account boasts of more than 48,000 followers, while on Twitter he is a ‘Bankable’ celeb as he boasts of 792,000 followers on Twitter.

Mr Wellington’s no holds barred persona, humour, sensitivity ,and ability to connect to fans sets him apart on the social media.

Dbanj

T

hese days the kokomaster hobnobs with the rich and famous.

From Bill Gates to Aliko Dangote, we were told of his meeting with them via his Twitter and Instagram.

Dbanj has over 900,000 twitter followers gradually moving into the million realm. His humour, trademark eclectic nature and his unpredictable personality seems to be one of his selling points on the social media. He goes by the moniker’ Bangalee Ejanla’ on Twitter

Davido

B

eing a rich kid sure comes with its perks as Davido doesn’t hesitate to flaunt his latest material acquisitions(from cars to wristwatches)on his social media accounts).Just like his colleague Wizkid, the ‘Skelewu’ sensation doesn’t act like a sheep on the social media scene, instead he fires back at anyone who steps on his ‘tail’.

Tiwa Savage

S

he is undoubtedly of the leading female acts in the Nigerian entertainment landscape, Tiwa Savage also leads on Twitter with over 706,000 followers (as at the time of this report) and more than 66,000 followers on Instagram.

The ‘Kelekele’ love singer is not quiet on the social media landscape .She uses the platform to create buzz for her brand, share her love tales, and also throw jabs at anyone who steps on her toes.

TontoDike

O

ne word comes to mind when you think of Tonto Dike on the social media landscape , its drama. Her social media accounts are action packed like the role she plays. She is known to have been in several twitter brawls and isn’t repenting anytime soon. She almost got into NDLEA trouble for posting marijuana pictures on her instagram page .She has more than 44,000 followers on Twitter and close to 47,000 followers on Instagram.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

have been employed for), it is not yet Uhuru!

70%

Research suggests that 70% of parttime working fathers think there is a social stigma attached to it.

Fathers are choosing not to take paternity leave, believing there is a social stigma against dads who choose to work part-time, research suggests.

A quarter thought it could damage their career in the future. Only a quarter of fathers who work part-time did not have any concerns about the option.

40%

40% of men opt out of their right to take time off for childcare, and stay in the office instead.

80%

Nearly 80% of fathers working parttime thought it was seen as supportive, only 21% said cooking, cleaning and childcare should be done equally between both partners.

46 Weeks

Under the new system, mothers and fathers could share 46 weeks, with Dad taking over the leave when Mom went back to work. Government ministers are apparently mulling other modifications as well, including allowing parents to take leave in separate blocks rather than all at once, and instituting some kind of “use it or lose it” system to encourage men to actually take paternity leave.

Will dads begin to stay home?

85%

This percentage of Swedish fathers were taking paternity leaves as at 2011, taking considerable pressure off moms.

•As Lagos approves paternity leave s a final stamp of the State’s reputation as the most gendercompliant state of the federation, the Lagos State Executive Council has approved a new policy that will allow new fathers to take a ten day “Paternity Leave”.

As a way to encourage good parenting among its workforce, the state also extended the maternity leave of its female employees by three months, bringing it to a total of six months though both the extension of maternity and the 10-day paternity leaves will apply only for the first two births of the couple.

The policy, it was said, was to enable parents give their new born babies the required attention in their first few months in life, and also in keeping with the state’s policy of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life. It will enable mothers take proper care of their babies and recoup well from the stress of child birth before resuming work.

Clearly, Lagos is at the forefront of tackling major social issues, even before they become calamities.

The consequences of extensive work life of career officers in the public service was reduced attention by such parents to the basic developmental needs of their infants, especially during the first six months. The common reaction is for nursing mothers to leave their children

in the hands of daycare nannies at such tender age of six weeks. Many times, the ‘nanny ’ is herself an under aged housegirl.

The policy obviously has a human face, and nursing/pregnant women all over Lagos ought to be rejoicing that they won’t have to wake up all alone in the night while spouses sleep on, with the excuse of having to go to work in the morning.

But Mrs Iyabo Akande, an expectant mother who chatted with Lipstick while waiting for ante-natal care at one of the state’s general hospitals, is not quite impressed with

,

A

The consequences of extensive work life of career officers in the public service was reduced attention by such parents to the basic developmental needs of their infants, especially during the first six months

,

Gov. Raji Fashola the move.

“Were they not supposed to be at home in the first place?” She quipped.

“It is not a paternity leave for some people to go and be drinking beer. And if people now have to enter the kitchen and be cooking for them what is then the point of their being at home?”

Also raising the question of polygamy, she asks rhetorically: “what if the child is an ‘outside’ child? Does paternity leave still apply?”

The move has been widely hailed by the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Community; which has praised the policy as one which has the power to move the country towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs).

Definitely, other states should borrow a leaf from Fashola’s Lagos, which is becoming the most Gender compliant state.

Statistics:-

Even in nations such as the United Kingdom (UK) where the idea of a paternity leave is not so strange anymore (and where it is illegal for employers to dismiss or penalise workers who ask to take paternity leave, regardless of how long they

*Alicia Olatuja

A

licia Miles Olatuja, (who is) best known for her performance at U.S President Barrack Obama’s inauguration in 2013, is billed to perform at an intimate event on the 1st and 2nd of August, 2014 in Lagos next month , courtesy the Lagos Jazz

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 —

By Anino Aganbi

W

Empowering girls through photojournalism

35

ORLD press photo is the largest, most prestigious annual press photography contest in the world; it is an award gi v e n y e a r l y f o r excellence in press photography. Lagos photo has entered a three year partnership with world press photo.

A travelling exhibition is held in over 25 countries every year and one of the top awarded best press photographs is showcased.

The pictures have been brought to Lagos, Nigeria so people can see what’s going on around the world .Lagos photo’s aim is to bring art into public places and engage in stories, inspire and document change.

Students were brought from community senior secondary school, an initiative the foundation had started on youth empowerment through contemporary art and they got paired with students from Vivian fowler. They documented different aspects of the exhibition using high tech phones to Members of the African Artist Foundation Nokia West Africa and students of the Vivian Fowler Memorial College and create video footage. The Community Senior Secondary at Freedom Park, Lagos. students were encouraged to learn more about the exhibition so they could have a creative She further stated ‘’although ‘’There is an exchange stage. It has helped to give them way to express themselves. their budget only covers 20 happening between students confidence in a way even knowing Medina Dugger, Head art curator, students to be taught in which they of different socio- economic that not all of them are going to tow African Artist foundation said ‘’ The are grateful to their sponsors for, background and they are the line of being an artist. The look scheme has brought about positive there is a larger population of learning about the world, so on their faces when they accomplish influence in the lives of youths being students who want to be involved. confidence, skills and a drawing speaks volumes. These empowered by the organization Arts should be taken more seriously relationships are better youths are given livelihood skills although they still have a long way to and should be added to academic between the students’’ she which would come in useful to them go being that they were still at the pilot curriculums like other subjects’’. disclosed. later in life as entrepreneurs’’.

Mr. Iwuchukwu Raphael, Gear Marketing, Nokia- West Africa said “The organization believes in supporting the society in terms of creativity and story telling among children. The aim is to teach the children how to use the device to tell stories about the e c o n o m y, society or whatever comes to mind. He further stated that Nokia tries to sponsor things that Series in their tradition of offering limited Mr Okala Uzochukwu land and we consider it an honour to be would affect the lives of entertainment in Nigeria.

Sylvester, said the event will also the platform for this historic event,” Oti children positively because The American vocalist married to feature awards for women who Bazunu, founder of Lagos Jazz Series, there are lots of things for Nigeria-born bassist Michael Olatuja have distinguished themselves in said. the children to experience. will headline the LJS mid-year event the banking sector, politics, The Lagos Jazz Series brings together M r. G a b r i e l O l a l e k a n which is taking place at La Scala at the media, Oil and gas, business, international and local artistes to create Sobola, Arts teacher, Vivian Muson Centre, as part of the Abyssinian education to mention but a few. a celebration of music for a few days in Fowler College said “the Jazz Vespers, led by Multi-Grammy The award categories, he said, Lagos each year. The series is the students had already been Award winning drummer, Ulysses include Virtuous Mothers biggest ever live music festival in given a fore knowledge of Owens Jr., Xavier Davis an Awards, Nigerian Education Nigeria, and organizers hope it will photography and what they accomplished pianist, composer and Development Awards, a Special gradually put the city of Lagos on the were expected to do at the arranger, and James Davis Jr. a Honorary Recognition Award from map as a destination city for Jazz, music workshop. He believed that classical, jazz and contemporary music Nigeria to Female Media and entertainment. LJS is an annual the exhibition threw more enthusiast. It will be an intimate cocktail Personality among others. music festival which holds in Nigeria in light into what the students that will have in attendance government Guest speaker for the occasion the month of November, and has been did not know about dignitaries, corporate executives and is Nigeria’s fore-most Female running since 2010. photography ”. professionals, media practitioners and Activist and member of National He further stated that if culture advocates.

Confab Abuja, Dr Joe- Okei series of arts was to be 2014 Mediastead Also to headline is prolific BritishOdumakin while Prof. Mrs added into the academic Women Conference Nigerian jazz and soul artiste, Ola Adebukunola Adefule- Ositelu, curriculum, it would holds tomorrow Onabule, whose band will perform for Chief Mrs Felicia Adjeke, Dr. enlighten students the he 2014 edition of Mediastead the first time in Nigeria after many years Ejiro Kwakpovwe and DSP more. Art events are Women Conference takes place on of selling out tours across Europe. “We Celestina Kalu are expected to be generally planned in his Saturday July 26, 2014 by 10am. are really proud to welcome Ola home. in attendance. Venue is Airport school and that has given Executive Director of Mediastead intl’ This will be his first concert in his native Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. the students confidence.

Obama inauguration vocalist, Alicia Miles Olatuja, for Lagos Jazz Series

•To be headlined by Ola Onabule •Part of the eclectic Abyssinian Jazz Vespers all stars

T

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Ho w translation ttec ec h can help How ech you speak in unkno wn ttongues ongues unknown

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

T

here is no doubt that being multilingual in this global village is an added advantage. But when compared to the thousands of languages in today’s tower of Babel, it’s next to impossible that one person would be able to speak them all. But an advantage of today’s world is its smart tech from which translation tech evolves. Here are some ways translation tech apps is empowering users with the right tongues at the right time:

Waygo

If you’ve ever been to a Chinese or Japanese restaurant you’d wish you had this app sooner. Waygo, available on iPhone and Android, is capable of recognising and translating Chinese and Japanese menus and signs, simply by pointing a smartphone camera. The company behind it says it’s working on more languages for the future. If this is true, it might come in handy at your favourite Calabar restaurant very soon.

Google glass

In what might seem like a trick borrowed from Men in Black, you can simply look through your Google glass, hold your head by looking at a sign and say: ‘Ok Glass, translate this.’ Apps such as UniSpeech and Word Lens make this possible.

Skype Translator

With apps like the Skype Translator, people who do translations for a living might soon have to find another source of income. This Microsoft-designed app lets provides translations as people speak to one another in different languages during voice calls. It will launch for Windows 8 devices later this year.

The different languages of money

O

nline shopping giant, eBay isn’t just making in different currencies, through its machine translation, it automatically translates listing details on its websites and apps. In June it bought a startup called

AppTek, which specialises in this area. eBay has also said it’s interested in making more tools using translation such as instant messaging software for sellers and potential buyers to chat about a product even if they don’t speak the same language.

Tweeting in tongues

Twitter has added Bing Translate, a feature powered by Microsoft’s technology, to translate tweets from different languages.

Users who have the feature on the iPhone Twitter app can tap on tweets to see a translation.

Apps for sign language

Understanding sign language is not the easiest thing for the average person.

Imagine an app that can help you through this with a snap of the finger! Microsoft has worked with Kinect Sign Language Translator, using the Xbox camera and motion-detection accessory to translate sign language into text and spoken language.

Password hint: The weaker, the better?

S

tronger is better right?

Well not always. A recent report by Microsoft says that users should use and reuse weak passwords for websites which don’t hold valuable information.

According to the company’s researchers, Dinei Florêncio and Cormac Herley, who worked with Paul C van Oorschot from Carelton University in Canada, users can focus their efforts on recalling secure passwords for high-value sites like banking or e-commerce if they don’t have to worry about complex unique passwords for every individual website.

The researchers argue that password managers introduce more problems than they solve. While they allow the use of fully random, completely unique passwords, they also

introduce a single point of failure: users can lose or forget the password to their password manager, or the cloud service that hosts their passwords could be hacked.

Once users start storing passwords in the cloud, though, they trade “one set of risks for another”. On the one hand, any single password being stolen is less dangerous. But “it introduces severe new risks: if the master password is guessed or used on any malware-infected client, or the cloud store is compromised, then all credentials are lost.”

This puts users between a rock and a hard place. To this end, the study suggests that users should pick and re-use easy-to-remember passwords for low-risk sites, in order to maximise their ability to recall complex unique passwords for high-risk ones.

A robot that’s part of the family A

crowdfunding campaign for Jibo, a little robot designed to become one of the family, kicked recently and has raised more than US$577,000 — nearly six times its $100,000 target-long before fundraisers’ anticipated deadline.

The voice-controlled robot with a friendly face is a do-it-all personal assistant. Communicating with users in a human voice, it can learn individual preferences, relay messages and reminders, and function as a video conferencing device, for starters. It can take pictures, provide information from the Web or apps, order food and display e-books.

Jibo has two high-resolution cameras that can recognize faces and capture photos. By recognizing each member of the family, Jibo can deliver the right messages and information to each person at the right time. Jibo can connect to smartphones (via an app), computers and other Jibos in the same home. The robot stands around 11 inches tall and weighs approximately six pounds. It can pivot to face users wherever they are in a room using its three full-revolute axes. It features an LCD touchscreen, full-body touch sensors, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and an ARM-based mobile processor. Jibo operates in U.S. English, though it will recognize and communicate in other languages over time. Users can opt to run Jibo using an optional battery pack, which is good for around 30 minutes of power supply.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—37

‘Nigeria needs proper hospitality training institution’ H

accommodating.

e has worked in about 14 countries in four different continents as hotelier. Today, Michael Rathgeb is the General Manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos. The German born hotel administrator has worked in various departments in the hospitality industry from being a chef to house keeper; food and beverages to being a manager in the past three decades.

The graduate of the Cornel Schools of Hotel Administration in New York in this chat shares his experiences in the industry with JIMOH BABATUNDE.

If Nigeria is the first country he has worked in Africa No, Nigeria is not my first African country. This is actually my second coming to Nigeria, though my first visit was brief.

I worked in Egypt and in Cape

On best global practices in the Nigerian Hospitality industry Oh yes! We are a service organization and in that wise

,

On his background As mentioned earlier, this is my thirtieth year in the industry. I have worked as a chef as well as an Operations Manager in my first few postings. The hospitality industry has taken me around a lot.

I worked in Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom, I was the opening General Manager of the Radisson Blu in Bristol, and Austria among other places. I have worked in 14 countries in four different continents.

On the Nigerian Business environment The Nigerian Business is very dynamic. It encourages us to be on our toes as Nigerians are spontaneous people.

Nigerian Hospitality Industry is growing and it has great potentials and an excellent career opportunity for dedicated and aspiring young people. I see even more brands including ours come into the country in the coming years.

If he sees challenges in the industry Yes, there are challenges but I also see opportunities in caring and giving the ‘Yes, I Can’ attitude, we can make a big difference.

RADISSON BLU is well positioned to meet with the demands of the market. The brand all over the world is known for exceptional service and we here in Lagos do not intend to be different.

We have our values implemented, we are committed to providing exceptional service, we are

We have our values implemented, we are committed to providing exceptional service, we are innovative and we are keen on training and developing our employees

,

Michael Rathgeb Town, South Africa just before I came here and I have visited several others.

If he has settled well as being the General Manager As I mentioned earlier, it is

not new to me. It is my 10th year in the role. Maybe I should be answering how I have settled in Nigeria and I must say I have settled faster than I thought I would. The people are very ward and

are always looking out to ensure that our clients’ expectations are met just as it is in other parts of the world.

Maybe not at the same pace but we are getting there.

This is why I see the growth in the industry in Nigeria becoming competitive with the coming in of many hotel chains

Tourism to offset sluggish South African economy G

across the various cities. I see the competition getting tougher.

ROWTH in the tourism sector, with its substantial job creation spin-offs, could act as a partial antidote to the sluggishness of the economy, South Africa Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom says.

However, he warned that the hospitality sector ’s positive effect could be undermined by South Africa’s new visa and immigration regulations.

Mr Hanekom told Parliament’s tourism portfolio committee that the visa and immigration regulations issued six weeks ago by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba could have a negative effect on the sector.

In terms of the new rules, people wishing to visit South Africa would only be able to apply for visas at the country’s foreign missions, which in the case of a large country like China would mean only in Shanghai and Beijing. ”It could potentially have a negative impact on tourism. We have to make it as easy as possible for person to come to our country,” said Mr Hanekom. “We are dealing with a very, very competitive international environment and people have choices. At this stage where we are getting a good share, with close to 10-million arrivals annually.

”We can increase that share but if we do the wrong thing that share can drop.

We don’t want to slip backwards; we want to maintain it and we want to grow it.”

Mr Hanekom stressed that it was “critically important” to remove unnecessary bottlenecks and pointed out that discussions were taking place with the Department of Home Affairs.

Many significant role players, both local and foreign, had raised their concerns with Mr Hanekom and Mr Gigaba, pointing out that the new requirements would place quite onerous burdens on visa applications. This included the need for an unabridged birth certificate for children and the accessibility of South African missions. ”Even in these difficult times where we are struggling to achieve the kind of growth levels that we would like to achieve, the good news for the tourism sector is that it has been on a steady growth path for a very long time,” Mr Hanekom said.

Since 1990 the sector had expanded by about 200% while gross domestic product (GDP) had only grown by 74%. “The tourism sector therefore makes an important contribution to our growth

targets.”

Tourism’s direct contribution to GDP has risen from 2.8% ($8.33bn) in 2011 to 3% ($9.33bn) in 2012, though it could be as high as 9%-10% if the indirect contribution is taken into account. The sector accounts for more than 610 000 jobs, or 4.6% of direct employment - or as much as 1.4-million if indirect employment is taken into account. A target of 225 000 new direct jobs by 2019 has been set. The sector is also well suited to fostering the development of small and medium enterprises and e n t r e p r e n e u r s .

Mr Hanekom emphasised the importance of improving the road network to key tourist attractions such as the Kruger National Park.

South African Tourism CEO Thulani Nzima said a key focus would be growing the domestic market, with the aim of increasing the number of domestic tourists to 18-million over the next five years. The agency had an “aggressive” strategy to grow the African market and planned to have five marketing offices in key African countries by 2020. There is an office in Nigeria.

innovative and we are keen on training and developing our employees.

Radisson Blu is doing very well at the moment and we strive to do even better. We topped the table of our competitors’ set in occupancy and room rate in 2013.

On manpower in Nigerian hospitality industry Yes, there are potentials. I have observed however that some people are impatient and proper hospitality school training is required but I must say that we have good employees with a great zeal.

If the market is favourably profitable At first glance, it seems the rooms are expensive but taking a closer look at the cost of energy, training, maintenance, food & beverage one will discover that a lot actually goes into the running of the hotel.

I would like to say a very big thank you to our clients (without them, I would have packed my bags long ago) and look forward to having them every single day of the week as we have themed nights Mediterranean, Seafood and Shellfish, Barbeque, curries of the world, our Sunday Brunch.

They need to come around to pot some balls at the Golf Bar.

38 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

V anguard anguard,, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014— 39

National confab and ‘feeding bottle federalism' (2) The first part of this discourse was published yesterday

Arts with science humanise us, Ifowodo tells Chemline students

Pupils of the Chemline Academy in Ikeja

By Uduma Kalu

I

T was a quiz of sorts last week at the 1st speech making and graduation ceremony of Chemline Academy in Ikeja, Lagos, founded by Dr Frank and Mrs Wendy Uwajeh, in 2008. Proprietor of the college, Dr. Uwajeh recalled his interest in academic excellence which is yielding results. He told them the supportive importance of education and rewarded staff and students for their loyalty and performances. But it was Ifowodo’s speech entitled, 'When last did you read a book?' that defined the whole event.

"Which brings me to my title, couched as a question: When last did you read a book?

“Unfortunately, beguiled by the notion of promoting technological advancement, our educational curriculum has been steered gradually into creating a false dichotomy between the sciences, on the one hand, and the arts and humanities, on the other. In the misplaced frenzy of this policy, students are made to look down on the liberal arts and humanities as impractical, even totally worthless, intellectual pursuits. But thankfully, one does not have to strain to refute this thinking.

Interdependence of art and technology Describing God as creative God, Ifowodo quoted the bible saying, “In the beginning was the word.” The word, he says, “was with God, and the Word was God...But I can think of no better way of making this claim of the interdependence of art and technology than by the example of Steve Jobs, co-founder and creative entrepreneur of Apple Incorporated, makers of the world’s most loved digital devices, arguably. Jobs is universally acclaimed as a revolutionary creative genius who transformed beyond recognition six different industries spanning personal computers, phones, music, animated cartoons, tablet computing and digital publishing. "In the compelling biography of Jobs written by

Walter Isaacson is to be found a seamless integration of art and science for the perfection of the most useful tools of our contemporary existence. Perhaps the lessons of Jobs’s insistence on the unity of art and technology can be brought to the perfection of not just tools but also to solutions to the world’s most urgent questions of peace, social justice and development?

Ifowodo said, “When introducing the iPad, Jobs made sure to emphasise that “the reason Apple can create products like the iPad is that we’ve always tried to be at the intersection of technology and liberal arts.”

This, then, was the magic formula that enabled him to “cook up gadgets that we didn’t

BY UCHE ANICHUKWU

know we needed, but then suddenly can’t live without,” as a commentator, Jobs again stressed the role of his vision anchored on the nexus of arts and technology, elaborating a little more this time on ipad 2 thus, “It is in Apple’s DNA,” he said, “that technonolgy is not enough. We believe that it’s technology married with the humanities that yields us the result that makes our heart s i n g . ” Ifowodo the ended: "Art is about imagination and creativity, about realitydefying dreams. The irony is that it was the liberal artminded Jobs dreaming impossible dreams who drove the engineers, even his engineering wonder kid cofounder and friend, Steve Wozniack, the genius behind the original Macintosh computer, to feats of technological beauty that they had sworn were beyond the human mind.

"In conclusion, I ask again, When last did you read a book? I will restate that: when did you last read a book that has nothing to do with your school subject or examination, job, profession, faith or illness? In short, when last did you read a novel, poem, story, play or creative non-fiction book such as autobiography and other life writings?

O

THERS are: Plateau - 16, Rivers -5, Sokoto -10, Enugu - 11, FCT - 10, Gombe 11, Taraba - 18, Yobe - 15, and Zamfara - 8. These do not include our rich farmlands and tourism potentials. Sadly, everything lies prostrate and unexploited because a Governor can afford to sleep for a whole moon only to return to a self-appointed Santa Claus called Federal Government to suckle at the feeding bottle by month end.

On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates, UAE, is an example of an oil-rich federal state, which has made the most of her resources due to the entrenchment of fiscal federalism. Perhaps, only a handful of Nigerians know that Dubai is not a country, but just one of the seven Emirates (states) making up the UAE. Dubai accounts for a tiny chunk of the UAE oil output compared to the oil rich Abu Dhabi Emirate, for example. In fact, Dubai’s oil is also running out as I write, but the Emirate has no reason to worry itself or begrudge sister emirates.

Its leaders have transformed it into an amazing financial, commercial, and tourism bride of the Middle East. The world is flocking into Dubai like suitors that ate a love portion. But Dubai’s spell is just her bubbling financial, business and tourism capacities. By the way, UAE’s GNI per capita is USD40,760 compared to our miserly USD1,280 (World

Bank 2011) - no thanks to “Feeding bottle federalism”.

Let our leaders (North or South) note that we are in an era of knowledge-driven global economies. South Korea has no oil and other mineral resources, but it is the World’s 13th largest economy and the 3rd in Asia.

That country has no iron ore, but its steel company, POSCO, is among the top in the global steel industry. Unfortunately, we depend on importation of steel even though we are over-blessed with iron ore and limestone. According to the World Bank data (2012), South Korea’s GNI per capita is USD20, 270. Compare it to the USD1, 280 of an oil and mineral rich Nigeria.

It suffices to state, therefore, that the sharing formula stalemate at the confab not only lay credence to the notion that free oil money is actually the real gum binding this expansive land together, but that we are a nation living in denial. Yes, no two federalisms are the same. But federalism has its irreducible minimums such as fiscal federalism, multilevel policing, etc. We cannot build a train, put it on the road, and expect it to run well. If it is not federalism, it cannot be like federalism. Like Benson Akintola, a political scientist let us pause to ponder: “What does a state amount to when it lacks the means to meet its basic financial obligations? A mere name? A pretension? A chimera? A bugaboo? A destitute?”

•Anichukwu, a political analyst, lives in Abuja

For nation building, ‘Geo-Economic’ Zones are better (3) This is the concluding part of this discourse

I

BY BOLAJI OGUNSEYE

WILL argue that this termi nology, which prioritizes the political imperative, conditions the minds and perception of not just our developmentally-retarded politicians, but also of the average, politically-aware citizen about what is the most essential issue at stake for nation building. Politicians and most of us see those zones as inner-chambers from which regional, tribal/ethnic political gladiators prepare and emerge to fight the political battle over who controls the power and office to allocate resources at the national level. This same developmentally-useless inter-zonal contest for political and resource advantage is reproduced among LGAs and senatorial zones within the States of Nigeria. The ultimate insult to Nigerians is that the antination-building wars of individual greed are pretentiously claimed to be fought on behalf of the citizens of those so-called political zones!!

So long as we internalize - as groups and as individuals, the cynical ‘geo-political’ rivalry idea, for that long shall those six areas be seen and used mainly as launching pads for political-power struggle and rivalry of the most desperate, primitive and vicious kind by Nigerian politicians, most of whom, apart from corrupt gains through public office, have very little claim to success and achievements in any respectable fields of human endeavour.

Politics is no doubt important, and it impacts all of us individually or as groups, whether or not one chooses to be interested

or involved in it. But look closely, politics (especially the Nigerian kind) has feet of clay in the most crucial areas of existential progress – for individuals and for groups.

Politics, like politicians, feeds off economic progress and prosperity. In fact, Nigerians politicians even feed off the misery of the majority in periods of terrible economic downturn!! A sound economy, on the contrary, funds politics and provides the public resources on which politicians feed and from which they often steal. A good economy also oils the wheels of good governance, where and when that is the priority of political leadership. About time, therefore, we made economic production, productivity, human empowerment and socio-economic well-being of Nigerians the priority concern of politics and politicians.

Concern of politics While the Confab is about to end, I am hereby challenging members to seriously consider re-designating those 6 areas as ‘Geo-Economic’ Zones. Such terminology tweaking will change the perception of these zones in Nigerians’ popular psyche (politicians especially) such that they are no longer seen as areas from which to launch politico-ethnic wars against other zones, but rather as places in which frantic and creative economic production and human development are taking place, where there is a rush to outperform other zones in a context of healthy economic competition.

The idea of specially-designated economic and industrial regions or zones has been in currency for over a century in countries

that have put economic modernisation at the heart of their nation-building vision and effort. Saudi Arabia, for example, has embarked on the construction of four Economic Cities during the past decade, with a view to making them the hubs of economic production, manufacturing, R&D, employment generation and technological innovation.

The Ruhr heartland has served that purpose in Germany, the Rhone-Saone Corridor in France, the British Midlands, including the industrial cities of Northern England, Ukraine, for the former Soviet Union (perhaps why Russia is today very jealous of perceived encroachment in Ukraine by the EU and US), the Northern region of Italy, Eastern China, etc.

Nigeria features the uniquely good fortune of having varied and evenly spread natural resources across all the six main ethno-geographic zones. To that extent, the natural basis already exists for creating an atmosphere of wholesome rivalry (as well as collaboration) over production, productivity, innovation, invention and technological know-how. Let’s extend the debate and the fighting over and beyond ‘whose turn is it to rule?’

I hereby move that the national confab throw the term ‘geo-political zone’ into the rubbish bin of under-development (where it has always belonged) and adopt the more grown-up and nation-buildingfriendly term ‘Geo-Economic Zone’. It’s a change that, in my view, will prove popular with the masses of Nigeria. Case rested.

Bolaji Ogunseye is a policy analyst and development professional

40—VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, JULY 25,, 2014

What you need to do on Eid-l-Fitr day

BY HARUN RAZAQ

E

Ho w tto o pa at and Zak atul-Fitr How payy Zak Zakat Zakatul-Fitr S

OME Muslims confuse their annual Zakah with Zakatul-Fitr while some who understand the difference still observe the two in the month of Ramadan merely to attract more reward in the month of Ramadan. Zakat is simply the calculation of your dues on your assets and the fourth pillar of Islam, while ZakatulFitr’s scope and implication transcend what we must do in the case of the former.

However, we should remember that Zakat becomes due, one year after a person’s wealth reaches the value of Nisab (minimum

required to give as zakat-ulfitr. A Muslim traveller is also enjoined to pay his zakat where he spends the last two days of Ramadan. If a person dies before Maghrib on the last day of Ramadan, ZakatulFitr would not be obligatory upon him even if he had fasted all the other days of the month, but if a child is born after Maghrib on the last day of Ramadan, it would be obligatory to pay Zakatul-Fitr on his or her behalf. Some scholars even noted that zakat should be paid on the foetus of a baby in the womb.

A man must pay on a wife whose divorce is not yet

,

If a person dies before Maghrib on the last day of Ramadan, Zakatul-Fitr would not be obligatory upon him even if he had fasted all the other days of the month

amount paid) and according to most scholars, a Muslim’s wealth has to remain above that Nisab level throughout the course of the year. This means he must be free from all indebtedness and liabilities. Again, it is done annually at a predetermined period. If one chooses to pay it in every Muharram or every Zhul-Qada, so be it. So, it is impossible for the whole Ummah to have reached the obligation of paying Zakah, at the beginning or end of Ramadan. We should be clear in our minds that this type of Zakah is not tied to the month of Ramadan. But paying it in Ramadan is more rewarding. An individual can bring forward his Zakah due date, in order to take advantage of the multiple blessings of Ramadan. In fact, to make it easy on the recipients whose needs have to be met, one might chose Ramadan for the extra Sadaqah he gives out.

Zakatul-Fitr however is done with staple food consumable in a particular area. In this part of the world, grains such as rice, garri, beans etc are given as Zakat or its money equivalent.

Every free Muslim must pay Zakatul-Fitr for himself, his wife, children, and all his dependants. It is only obligatory for those who have more than what is

,

concluded. If you have more than one bowl of staple food in your house, then it is obligatory upon you to give others who don’t have.

In essence, the rationale behind it is to make those who don’t have happy during the festive period. It also purifies the fasting Muslim from any shortcoming during the fast. And since every Muslim needs this, it is therefore obligatory on him whether rich or poor. The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Make them (i.e. the poor and destitute) rich on the day of `Eid-ul-Fitri. Put succinctly,

for anyone who has more than a bowl of staple food or excess of what he can take for a day at home is qualified to give fitrah to the poor and needy to make a happy celebration for all.

“The Zakah are only for the Fuqaraa (poor), and the Masaakeen (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed

by Allah. And Allah is AllKnower, All-Wise.” Q9:60.

You may also start from a day before the ‘Eid but before the prayer.

Prayer of the day Allahuma ar-zuquni fihi fadhala lailatul Qadri, wa swayirr umuri fihi minal usuri ilaal-yussuri. Allahumo inaka afuuwu, tuibul-afwa faa afuwa nii.

O Allah, on this day, bestow on me the blessings of Laylatul Qadr, change my affairs from being difficult to being easy. O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me.

O Allah, on this day, make my fasts worthy of acceptance, make it to be what pleases You. Our Lord, cover me with your mercy, grant me in it success and protection, for the sake of our leader, Muhammad, and his family and all his companions. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

Amen.

NASF AT member ong Mo we NASFA memberss thr throng Mow for Lailatul-Quadr

M

EMBERS Nasrullahi-il-Fatih society of Nigeria, NASFAT, Lagos and Ogun States, will converge at the Mowe Nasfat Village, along Ibadan express-waylater today for this year’s Lailatul-Quadr otherwise known as The Night of Power.

The annual event is one of the rituals in the last ten days of Ramadan.

According to information reaching Vanguard, the event is an all-night worship and supplication to Allah and members have been

ID-L-FITR is Muslim festival of fast breaking. It occurs at the end of Ramadan fasting (on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of Islamic/Hijrah calendar).

And it is obligatory Sunnah according to most scholars. Tiere are certain Islamic injunctions that are expected of a Muslim on the day of eid-l-fitr. These commands are very meritorious as it helps the Muslim to increase the weight of his/her deeds and bring him/her closer to Allah. These commands include: stop fasting immediately new moon of Shawwal is cited and has been endorsed by the Muslim leader in your country (e.g. in Nigeria by Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaj Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III the Sultan of Sokoto); pay your zakatul-fitr before the eid prayer; prepare for the eid prayer with your family as early as possible; perform Ghusl (eid bath) before going out for the prayer; wear a new (or best) of your clothes, men only should apply perfume to ‘ed; use Miswak (toothbrush); eat before the salah; because of the hadith narrated by al-Bukhari from Anas ibn Maalik, who said that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used not to go out on the morning of eid al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates of which he would eat an odd number. Al-Bukhari, 953. It is mustahabb to eat before going out to emphasize the fact that it is forbidden to fast on that day and to demonstrate that the fast has ended.

Ibn Hajar (r.a) suggested that the reason for that was so as to ward off the possibility of adding to the fast, and to hasten to obey the command of Allah. (Al-Fath, 2/446) Whoever does not have any dates may break his fast with anything that is permissible. Proceed to praying ground on time with your family; pronounce the takbirat (Q2:185) “Allah, Akbar, Allah, Akbar, Allah, Akbar, laailaha illa-lahu Allah, Akbar, Allah, Akbar, Allah, Akbar, Walillahi-l-hamd” as you move to eid; the prayer is valid for men, women, children, travelers, residents etc; go to the eid by one route and then return home through another route; do the salat while the sun is approximately 2 Rumah (i.e. six meter) above the horizon; avoid nawafil at the eid ground just wait for the congregational one; listens to the Khuthbah after the salat; congratulate one another on the days of ‘Eid by saying “Taqabbal mina wa minka” (may Allah accept it from us and you) or eid Mubaraq”; avoid sinful engagements; be happy and kind to others such as the less privilege by giving them food, halal drinks etc; full of thanks to Allah for His favours on you.

directed to seize the opportunity by consolidating on the acts of worship through increased devotion within the period in order to gain maximum reward. Prominent Islamic scholar will deliver lecture.

The event which starts after breaking of fast today will run through the night and ends at dawn after sahur.

Eminent Muslim personalities including governors of some States in the South-West will attend the occasion.

Mudeer Daru-Ddawat-Wal-Irshad Arabic Center, Sheikh Mustapha Zuglool (left) welcoming guests to the concluding part of 1435 Ramadan Quran Tafsir and Special Prayer held at the school recently.

A cross section of Muslims during the Tafsir and Special Prayer organised by Daru-Ddawat-Wal-Irshad Arabic Center, Isolo, Lagos, recently.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—41

Osun Guber Poll:

Group holds prayer for Aregbesola

A

We spend o 80m annually tto o assist ovver N1 N180m the less privileged — Imam Shuaib

I

MAM Abdullahi Shuaib is the Executive Director, Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation, an Islamic organisation providing charity services to the less privileged to cushion the effect of poverty. He spoke to Vanguard on how zakat is helping to alleviate poverty in the society.

anonymous. Some people just call and ask for our account number and pay money into the account since they are satisfied with what we doing. Also, we write letters to individuals, Islamic groups and organisations and we do get positive response from them. These are the two ways in which we get funds and material but hat is your essentially, most of group doing them we don't know. to alleviate poverty How do you among Muslims in identify the the country? beneficiaries of Basically, our major this programme? area of activity is We have an solving the financial avalanche of needs of the less programmes being privileged. We also aired on television give them capacity and so, people take building and trainings down our telephone and when they numbers and pull a successfully come out call to us, write to us of trainings, we always asking for one favour empower them with a or the other. Again, token to equip their some of our donors businesses and s o m e t i m e s consolidate on what recommend some they have started. We people to us and we have actually go after them. They supported so many will ask, how do we Imam Abdullahi Shuaib people in this area by get to know about buying the equipment them but our and providing some with working capital. response is usually that 'we want to support Those who engage in petty trading, we give you'. them deep freezers and generating sets and How many people have you some with sets of computers and some with empowered during your last financial increased capacity building. We also provide y e a r ? some form of assistance to those who are into We have empowered over 2000 people and over N180million have been expended on the needs of the less privileged. This year's activity is still on-going because right now people still give their sadaqah (charity).

Before the end of this interview, we will receive alert and it goes on like that until Ramadan is over. That is to tell you how people give to help others.

W

...we receive alert regularly and it goes on like that until Ramadan is over.

That is to tell you how people give to help others

,

,

agriculture either through capital to kick-start or to expand their businesses. We also provide free services to some people to cushion the effect of poverty. In fulfillment of the obligation of Allah to acquire knowledge, we are seriously concerned about the education of Muslim students. We pay for their school fees, educational materials and give research grants to both local and international students among others.

What time of the year do you usually carry out these services?

We do this on a yearly basis, although it a all-round-the year activity but the peak of this activity is usually in January when we conclude our financial year.

How do you raise money and material for these people?

We have donors and sympathisers that we can't even identify. They prefer to be

Are there o t h e r I s l a m i c g r o u p s that are involved in this programme for the poor?

Yes, there are other I s l a m i c groups that are doing something similar to what we are doing. We are aware of that. This is in fulfillment of an injunction in Q u r ' a n ; Chapters 9:103, 60.

special prayer session was held for Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over the weekend by Concerned Muslims. The prayer was anchored on resounding victory for the governor in the forthcoming governorship poll in the state on August 9. The prayer session, organised by The Concerned Muslims was meant to see the governor victorious in the forthcoming election as well as peaceful conduct during and after the poll.

The special prayer session, held at Ikorodu, Lagos State was led by Ustaz AbdulWaheed Olowo, Mudeer Daru Islamiya wal Hadiths-l-Ulumi. The Cordinator of the group Ustaz Haroon Balogun stated that the prayer which started on Ramadan 21 would climax tomorrow, Ramadan 29.

“We want to use the istijabah within this period of the last ten days of Ramadan to beseech Allah for our brother Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola having done greatly in the last four years and for a peaceful election in the State. It is our prayer that the good work continues and the enemies of the state are put to shame,” he said.

Igbogbo Nasfat Y ouths hold Eid-lYouths Fitr funfair

T

HE Youth wing of Nasrul-llahi-il-Fatih Society of Nigeria, Igbogbo branch has concluded arrangement to hold a family funfair as part of celebration marking the end of Ramadan fasting.

The event which is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, July 29 will take place at the Igbogbo Central Mosque, Odofin, Ikorodu, Lagos.

According to the organising committee, the event will feature various kinds of entertainment rainging from Islamic Music, comedy, dance among others while guests will be treated to gourmet’s feast and slap-up meals.

Sheikh Zuglool tasks leaders on honesty

T

HE Proprietor of Daru-Ddawat-Wal-Irshad Arabic Center, Sheikh Mustapha Zuglool has warned all politicans and leaders at all levels to show honest in all their dealings just as he prayed for peace and stability of the country.

Zuglool made this known during the conclusion of this year’s Ramadan Tafsir and Special Prayer held at the school mosque, in Isolo, Lagos recently. The Tafsir which commenced on the 29th of June, with analysis and explanation of taoheed, ended with the story of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) espousing the oneness of Allah and condeming the act of paganism in the society.

The scholar urged those who still practice paganism under the guise of culture and tradition to refrain from such practice as the act is unforgiveable by Allah. “All sins are forgiveable

by Allah but associating partners with Allah or paganism is not a forgiveable sin. The least punishment is 40 years in hell fire.”

The highlight of the event was a prayer session dedicated to various leaders at all level of governance as well as Muslim countries immersed in crisis.

Ahmadiya holds regional conference in Warri T

HE Ahmadiya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, AMJN, would hold a 3-day eastern region conference in Warri, Delta State. The conference themed: “Advent of the Promised Messiah and Interfaith harmony” would hold at Mom civic centre, Airport Road, Warri, Delta state, from Friday August 1 to 3, 2014.

According to a release sent to Vanguard, the conference would be attended by the National President, (Amir,) of the Jamaat, Dr. Mas’hood Adenrele Fashola, dignitaries from the National Headquarters as well as delegates from eastern

region of the Jamaat comprising Edo, Delta, Rivers and other states in the SouthSouth and South-East geopolical zones of the country.

In the release signed by Naib Amir, (Deputy National Head), Eastern Region, Dr, Gani Enahoro, stated papers would be presented by leaders of various faith with a view to promoting religious harmony in the country. “National leaders of various faiths, such as Christianity, Hare Krishna, Judaism and African Traditional religion have been invited to present papers that would continue to promote religious harmony in our

nation. This is in light of the condemnable insurgency and avoidable security challenge prevalent in the North Eastern parts of the country,” he said.

He added that the AMJN is an enitrely peace-loving and peace promoting Islamic community spread across over 200 nations of the world including Nigeria with the motto: ‘Love for All, Hatred for None.’

Enahoro disclosed that the Jamaat would insha Allaah looking forward to celebrating one hundred years of peaceful existence in Nigeria in 2016.

42—V anguard 42—Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, JULY 25 , 2014

From Calabar to Badagry:

My journey to perfection

By Enuma Chigbo

O

NCE upon a time in my very recent past, there was a journey- a journey from good old Calabar the land where I reside, to the bustling city of Lagos, the land of my birth. And by no design of mine, I ended up in Badagry. It started like this: one fine evening, at my wonderful friend and host’s house Ekuase in Lagos, we watched bits and pieces of the World Cup opening - by we, I mean Ekuase, her four adorable children and me. After that, by divine inspiration, I ‘resurrected’ an animation script I had put on the back burner for a while. It was then I heard The Voice, “Make sure you tour Badagry.”

I wondered what this had to do with what we had just watched or even the script I was writing but that voice was one you don’t question. You just do it! I shivered at first as this was certainly no journey to embark on alone. My host had declined on this one, but companionship did come soon after. With very minimal effort, I acquired six people –Grace, the producer of my award winning documentary, The Deadwood; I call her small but mighty, her husband Alex, Stanlee my director, his beautiful and peaceful looking wife Daisy, and their three children with the energy of 10. Indeed, I got much

Jesus in the bible, I kept the matter in my heart for a very long time. Anyway, it is time to speak or forever hold my peace. “I hear that Badagry was modified from the phrases “Bad Agreement” and “Bad Agree.” Is this true?”

“No, it is not,” Papa J responds.

“Badagry comes from the word, “Agbadagiri,” which means “pepper farm”. And in these few words of his, lie yet another story, which most definitely will be told another day…From Ikeja, we drive through Akowonjo. Grace and Alex happily point to a church. “This is where we got married.” Not too long after, we are in Egbeda and again they point out where they had their wedding reception in Eduland School.

“Lagos is the third city in the world to have street lights,” says Papa J and we marvel at it all but somewhere in between, I am taken on yet another tour and this time it is by Stanlee, who tells me about the Ancient Benin Kingdom. His stories are as mysterious and potent as they are humorous and this goes on all the way to Badagry. We drive past the French Village and the thought of coming out here to camp for three months does cross my mind…

We go past the roundabout all the way to Seme Border. It was then I remember that I had been down this route before. It was an

,

We see a picture of four generations of slaves born on one plantation hanging on the wall of the museum

more than I asked for, so I guessed that’s a good sign!

So one fine wet Sunday afternoon, my ‘gang’ and I leave for Badagry. Take off point for everyone is Stanlee’s Ikeja office, where we meet our tour guide for the very first time. I’ll call him Papa J as somehow, that name seems apt. He’s seated in the driver’s seat, in the fully air conditioned 15- seater bus which would be our conveyor to Badagry. He has a rare look a look that combines energy, doggedness, maturity humour and deep knowledge all in one. I introduce myself as the lady he’s been talking to on the phone and we are all aware of who we are.

Stanlee and company meet us not too long after. By this time, the rain gives way to the sun and off we go. “Does the tour start here?” I ask Papa J and he has a good laugh, but somehow that begins the tour. Before then, I heard something about the meaning of Badagry. It was a negative meaning and I guess like Jacob or Mary the mother of

,

official journey, with my friend and sister Obioma. I thought about the little article I had written. “It’s a tiny little border but things happen there.” At this point, the mysterious Benin talks give way and Papa J resumes duty as he shows us the Lagos Lagoon, said to be the West African water way. “All the rivers in South West Africa empty into this water,” he says, even as he points in the direction of Port Novo. “See immigration people o,” one of us says as we approach the border. They are all dressed in grey. “Don’t mind them, they are parasites", says Papa J. “See im bele,” Stanlee says in Pidgin English. We all have a good laugh as we catch sight of one of them whose shirt seems to be fighting with the rest of his body. Papa J points towards some very interesting looking cows.

“These are the short horn cattle.

During the time of regional governments, special cattle were brought in. The whole idea of this was to introduce dairy products to the Badagry area. Now that sounds familiar, I think and it was

Palm trees at Badagry beach then I remembered the Obudu Mountain Resort all the way in Northern Cross River. Sometime in the early 50’s the Scottish brought 50 cows for the very same business…interesting!

Like I said earlier, the Seme Border is a little place but things happen there. “There’s a big market here,” says a clearly astonished Stanlee. “More like a big racket,” says Papa J, and the laughter resumes yet again. “Did you see the scooters all lined up?”

Alex asks me. I missed that for a second and begin to look out for them quite earnestly. “That’s what they use to smuggle petrol,” says Papa J. I ask if there is a place we can eat. “You want to eat?” He sounds surprised. I say yes, as we have not eaten all day. By the time I have this conversation with him, it is about 3pm. “Maybe you should all fast.” He responds.

This Papa J na wa! Somehow, by the mercy of Papa J, we do not fast. He points in the direction of fresh baguettes sold on the road and we buy immediately. The people in these parts look a tad different and I wonder what language they speak. In a few minutes as if reading my mind, my answer comes in the most shocking manner. “O ju oyi,” said this woman. Which is simply Igbo for, “It is cold.”

Gambia diaries Oh my brethren! I lament but then why am I surprised? Like I said in my travelogue The Gambia Diaries, I draw similarities between my Igbo brethren and oyibos. They are found in every nook and cranny of the world as long as there is something in it for them. Not too long after, we see a sign – Welcome to Chief Aivoji Beach Estate. In this very dirty beach you get to see the Atlantic Ocean. I guess you can over look the dirt and have a good time if you abide by the rules, which are: No littering, no bathing naked, no breaking of pots…” Chei…there’s God o! For reasons best known to the Almighty God, that phrase has become more popular than our national anthem. I recall Stanlee shouted this in appreciation of His goodness when we saw the Atlantic Ocean from afar. Of course he had to add another clause. “All dis water they are sharing…”

But it was not only Stanlee;

somehow we all echoed the same phrase even though we would change some of the words every now and then. I recall stopping at one of the hungry customs check points. “Wetin una get?”

They ask us in Pidgin English.

“There’s bread o!” we all echo.

And…there are no further questions!

Voices of mockery On a more serious note, it’s quite mind boggling how the heart cry of a woman could result in voices of mockery from all over the world…anyway there is a God indeed and He hears the deep cries of women in anguish.

Okay now, back to the tours…we leave the beach after taking photos by the abandoned canoe, which Stanlee’s son describes as a shipwreck and head for the museum. On the way, Papa J points out the Hotel St James. “It was one of the funkiest hotels back in the day.”

“Now it’s been turned into Christ Embassy,” says Stanlee’s wife. We head towards the Old Badagry, and Papa J points out the Ancient Wawu Kingdom Townhall, and Christian Missionary Cemetery. Then we get to the museum. We don’t like the fact that there is overgrown grass all around but inside is a completely different story. “Everything you see here is from the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade,” said our tour guide. “In 1472 when Europeans arrived in Badagry, they engaged in trade. Raw materials such as tobacco, sugar cane, rice, and cotton were taken away, transformed into finished products and exchanged for human beings.”

“The Europeans did not introduce the slave trade. They simply brought in the Trans Atlantic factor. Slavery has always been part our culture. During the Trans Saharan Trade the going rate then was one horse to eight human beings.” Badagry he said was the second largest port in West Africa.

30% of all the slaves in West Africa passed through Badagry.”

We see a picture of four generations of slaves born on one plantation hanging on the wall of the museum. “In slave auctions back in the day, they had horses as star prizes and a mullato girl as the second prize. If you bought 10 slaves you get about two or three children free. About 300

slaves were sold every market day, higher than 100 slaves in Enyong market in Calabar.”

A section on the wall has slave dealers such as Captain Dawk Hawkins and Seriki Abass – the latter grew up in a slave camp and later became a dealer. He also points to a place opposite the museum across the Atlantic called Gberefu Island. “This island is 20 times larger than Victoria Island in Lagos. There was a well that slaves were forced to drink from and special potions were put in the well for the slaves to lose their memory after drinking.” The tour continues to Seriki Abass’s compound the slave who became a slave dealer, where we are greeted by two horrible looking monkeys and his great granddaughter, who becomes our tour guide.

Tiny little window She takes us through the very busy compound reminiscent of the activities at the Seme Border, to the rooms where our fellow human beings were ‘accommodated’ before they were shipped off to the land of no return. One room is between 10 to 20 square meters and ‘lodged’ about 80 people. And for the lucky ones who want to go sightseeing, there is a tiny little window, where they can crawl up to get a glimpse of their future. In this house, you also get to see some relics, one of them being a very heavy umbrella worth about 40 slaves, ceramic plates where you could get one in exchange for eight slaves back in the day…

We all head back shortly after with mixed feelings and definitely more learned than we were when we arrived and that got me thinking… if I were to describe this tour in one word, what would it be? Satisfaction became my immediate answer. I didn’t see why not after all I felt a strong sense of that as I got back to my cozy room at Ekuase’s place. Perhaps it was the same feeling of satisfaction I had when I went from The Marina Resort to Creek Town by boat about five years ago. The satisfaction was great but somehow in my quiet time on my way back to the land in which I reside, more words – words way beyond me seamlessly weave their way into my heart – words that say how much He would perfect all that concerns me.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—43

Intrepidity of a leader ffor or eq uity in A bia Stat e equity Abia State

By DON UBANI

R

IGHT from the earliest his tory of man, leadership has been a characteristic feature of human enterprise. Where any society is, by way of its socio-econo-political development, depicts a clear measurement of the potency of its leadership. It, therefore, follows that the gap between two human societies is a reflexion of the differences between the two different leaderships. In human development, there has always been a distinction between a leader and a ruler. While the former is altruistic, visionary, broad-minded and is concerned with the fate of generations yet unborn, the latter is egocentric, parochial, materialistic, acquisitive and short-sighted. In two societies where one has a leader and the other a ruler, there is always a wide world of difference.

Majority of third-world countries, despite the abundance of natural resources God endowed them with, have remained undeveloped or, at best, under developed principally due to the quality of their leadership. How would one ever expect a society which leadership is inclined to pleasures and euphoria of the moment to grow? As would be recalled, history is replete with the rise and fall of many Empires and Kingdoms. In Sub-saharan Africa, such Empires as Songhai, Mali and Kanem-Borno had fallen because of lack of vision and altruism on

the part of their leaders. Historiography equally reminds man that renowned Roman Empire and most recently the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR, got disintegrated as a result of inarticulate leadership. All in all, any headship of any society or organization that is not anchored on equity, simply but terribly reflects rulership as against leadership.

The strategic importance of effective application and administration of equity in any human milieu does not need to be overemphasized. Suffice it, however, to say that where there is equity, there is a sense of belonging that generates patriotism, dedication, development, progress, harmony, security and stability.

Absence of equity On the contrary, mere absence of equity, in whatever form and at whatever level of human congregation, becomes a catalyst for frustration, unpatriotism, self destruction, retrogression and eventual societal dislocation and collapse. This is because, under such a very disharmonious circumstance, no sane man would expect any positive contribution from a segment or strata of a society that feels discriminated against, marginalized and psychologically traumatized. It is in the spirit of equity that the authors of Nigeria’s Federal Con-

stitution of 1999, as amended, even though tele-guided by the Nigerian Military, clearly divided each of the thirty-six states of the Federation into three senatorial zones. It is also in the same spirit that the same constitution provides a maximum period of two tenures of four years each for a governor of a state. In this respect, common sense dictates that the position of a state Governor should rotate amongst the people of the constitutionally stipulated three senatorial zones of each state.

In Abia State, for example, the three senatorial zones are; •Abia North, made up of Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ohafia and Umunneochi Local Government Council Areas •Abia Central, consisting of Ikwuano, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa-South, Osisioma Ngwa, Umuahia-North and UmuahiaSouth.

•Abia South, comprising AbaNorth, Aba-South, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa-East and UkwaWest Council Areas.

Going down memory lane, Abia North had occupied the governorship seat for two tenures of four years each; 1999- 2007. Currently, Abia Central has been on the seat since May 29, 2007 till date and the occupant; Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, would be safely and successfully rounding off his second tenure on 29th May, 2015. From the above narrative, it is very lucid that the only senatorial zone that is yet to have

a stint at the State’s governorship seat is Abia South.

At this juncture, it would be necessary to state that in rotating the governorship seat of any Nigerian State, the consideration, principally, should not be based on geo-cultural affinity as the Nigerian Constitution does not provide for it. Rather, the emphasis should be on senatorial delineation.

Senatorial delineation It would also be necessary to elucidate the very simple fact that in Abia State, constitutionally speaking, power rotation can not be hinged on primordial sentiments of Old Bende and Ukwa/ Ngwa groupings. If this were to be so, it would automatically have followed that an indigene of Ukwa/Ngwa should have become the governor of the state immediately after the tenure of an indigene of Old Bende who governed the state from 1999 to 2007.

There is no gain saying the fact that in a democracy, every citizen has the right to legitimately aspire to any height of leadership.

At the same time, the same democracy makes it imperative that the constitutionality of the polity must be strictly adhered to.

As it has earlier been made manifest, the difference between a leader and a ruler has always been very clear. A leader is a man

or a woman of immeasurable vision, who is capable of visualizing the future. Such a man imagines socio-econo-political problems and selflessly solves them well ahead of time. It is, therefore, no wonder why the Governor of Abia State; Chief T.A. Orji, has been consistent in his advocacy that his successor shall be a product of equity in rotation. On many different occasions and fora, he has reminded his audience that he is a product of equity in rotation and that whoever will be his successor shall equally be a legitimate product of rotation in observance of the State’s Senatorial realities.

Governor T.A. Orji is not a lonely voice crying in the wilderness.

Many of his colleagues are in the same boat of equity, justice and fairness with him. Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has never hidden his strong belief that the next governor of the state should come from Enugu North Senatorial Zone of the state. Governor Martin Nwancho Elechi of Ebonyi State has equally advocated a power shift to Ebonyi South. Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has repeatedly said that his successor should come from Eket Senatorial District in 2015 while Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has made it clear, through a legislation by the State House of Assembly, that the next governor of the state shall hail from the Northern Senatorial Zone of the state.

To be concluded

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Minister tasks Northern states on education

By Victoria Ojeme

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BUJA— THE Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has called on all the northern state governments to look inward towards achieving a better access to education for children in the region.

The minister made the remark, yesterday, at the launch of Nigeria Education Data Survey, NEDS, organised by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, in conjunction with the

Ministry of Education in Abuja.

According to Shekarau, the research, which sampled over 27,000 households and 72,500 children nationwide, gave indication that access to education in the south is higher than in the north.

He said: “The household survey provides insight on access and distance study.

For example, in the south, access is higher than in the north for the same distance from school, suggesting that the non-participation in the

north needs to be resolved with more strategies than building new schools.”

Represented by the Director, Human Resource, Muhammed Dahiru, the minister said the aim of NEDS 2010 report was to provide reliable and timely education sector data that would inform policy and decision-making across all levels of government.

Information made available to Vanguard by the USAID Senior Development Outreach and Communications

Specialist, Josephine Kamara, explained that the NEDS report profiled the education status for every Nigerian state and the FCT. “In addition, thematic reports that summarise the status of access to early childhood education and literacy, and participation in Qu’ranic schooling were shared, along with presentation of papers on household education expenditures and distance and access to schooling,” the report indicated.

DINNER: From left— Mr. Jalo Waziri, Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE; Mr. Tonye Cole, CEO, Sahara Group; Mr. Andrew Yakubu, GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and Mr. Oscar Onyema, CEO, NSE, at a dinner on The Role of the Capital Market in Unlocking Value in the Oil & Gas Sector, in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

FG, UN-Habitat partner on youth empowerment

By Caleb Ayansina

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BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the United Nations Habitat to boost its youth empowerment programme across the country.

The agreement signed between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and UNHabitat will, among others, empower the ministry to embark on the evaluation and straightening of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, while addressing other key youth-based issues, such as upgrading of youth centres to the model of UN-Habitat One Stop Youth Centres.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna, said youth issues had undoubtedly become sensitive and critical for the country, as they constituted over 60 percent of the population.

He reasoned that as they had become major actors and victims in crises situations, there was the compelling need for government to pay attention and show commitment towards

addressing their challenges.

Haruna, who emphasised the necessity of functioning youth centres across the country, said the centres could be re-aligned to function in a way that would positively impact the lives of the youths.

He said: “Clearly, the NYSC, against all the odds

it faced over the years, has been a Nigerian success story worth sharing with the world, particularly given the conditions of youths in today’s labour market.”

In her remarks, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Dr. Aisa Kirabo,

underscored the importance of the agreement as a platform for addressing the challenges facing the youths.

She observed that developing the capacity of youths should be a priority for leadership, pledging the commitment of her agency to partner the ministry.

... as ECOWAS battle human trafficking

By Victoria Ojeme

A

BUJA—THE Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has concluded plans to fight human trafficking in the subregion.

Assistant General on Human Trafficking in Ghana, Mrs Victoria Natsu, made this known at the opening of a three-day annual review meeting on Member States Implementation of ECOWAS Plan of Action on Trafficking in Persons.

She said: “We are here to review our ECOWAS

policies that has been done and to see the part of the policies that are working and those that are not working so that we can improve on them.

“We want to deal with the issue of vulnerabilities and ignorance so that even though members in our communities can move freely, we will also look at issues where there will be abuse.

“Children under 18 should not be working to support families. They are supposed to enjoy their childhood.

They are supposed to be in school and have the best of education and health.

“Anything that goes contrary to this is an abuse of their fundamental human right. Once the children are protected and empowered, the issue of abuse is minimised.

“There is free movement, but we are also looking at abusing the right of individuals when it comes to the issue of movement.”

In her remarks, Chief Mission, International Organisation for Migration, Ms Enira Krdzalic, said human beings could not be stopped from crossing national borders but should be properly managed.

Why Buhari was attacked —SECURITY EXPERT

By Ebun Sessou

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SECURITY consultant, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has described Boko Haram’s attempt on the life of former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), and Muslim cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, in Kaduna as an attempt to plunge Nigeria into widespread political-ethno-religious violence.

Reacting to the attacks, which left over 80 others dead, Dr. Ekhomu said the choice of the targets

by Boko Haram was calculated.

He said: “Had any of the two assassination attempts succeeded, the concomitant violent reaction by citizens would have been widespread and deadly.”

He said the development might have triggered violent conflict between All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, supporters; Christians and Muslims on one hand and youths and security agents on the other, because of the perceived inability of the security agencies to prevent incessant killings in Nigeria.

According to him, the goal of Boko Haram is to destabilise Nigeria.

Ekhomu, who is also the President of Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria, AISSON, said the Kaduna bombings were a harbinger of more assassination plots against top politicians and religious leaders by the terrorist group.

He said: “As a consequence, top level serving and former political executives, civil servants, military and police officers should take their personal security seriously to deny Boko Haram terrorists the opportunity to harm them.”

He, however, praised Buhari’s security detail for shielding him from the bomb blast by blocking the perpetrator.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 45

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Unijos to start commercial rice farming soon BYMARIE-THERESE NANLONG

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OS—THE Universi ty of Jos would soon engage in commercial rice farming in Plateau State, in collaboration with the Kasetsart University, Thailand.

Already, the University of Jos, has acquired 1,000 hectares of land for project even as its newly established Faculty of Agriculture would partner professors of Horticulture in the Thailand University for the project.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai spoke on the issue yesterday, pointing out that expertise will be shared between the two universities so that the students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Plateau State farmers and the nation at large will benefit from the collaboration, to boost food security in the country.

Fidau prayer for Chief Ojuko holds tomorrow

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HIEF Alhaji Ojolowo Ojuko, a community leader and a devout Muslim in Ota, is dead.

Aged 106, he died last Friday, July 18, and was buried on Saturday, July 19, according to Muslim rites.

Among those in attendance during the burial ceremony were; Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; Rahmon Rotimi, Chairman, Ado Odo/Ota Local Government, Ogun State; some royal fathers, chiefs and top politicians.

A seven-day Fidau prayer holds tomorow (Saturday, July 27 July), at Ansar-UdDeen School, Ota. Chief Ojuko was survived by children, grand and great grand children, among whom are Chief Jide Ojuko, one-time Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Ogun State; Mojeed Kamaru; Mrs. Bimbo Akinosi; Mrs. Alaba Ogunsanwo, and others.

.Late Chief Ojuko C M Y K

Plateau Assembly shelves plan to probe Governor Jang BYMARIE-THERESENANLONG

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OS—THE Plateau State House of Assembly has shelved its earlier plan to probe the alleged financial impropriety leveled against the state Governor, Jonah Jang.

Although members of the House refused to discuss the matter the initial discussion which threw the House into a rowdy session openly, the committee set up to look into the issue has been asked to stop doing further investigations on

the missing fund.

Apart from respecting the court injunction instituted by the Special Adviser to the governor on Special Duties, Yakubu Jang, the House is said to be reluctant discussing the issue as the governor had given

VISIT: Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (left) with Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, who paid him a visit over the attack on his convoy in Kaduna. Photo by Olu Ajayi.

Bomb blasts: Kaduna govt lifts curfew

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ADUNA—THE Kaduna State government yesterday, lifted the 24 hours curfew imposed in Kaduna metropolis following the twin bomb blasts that killed 39 persons on Wednesday.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Ben Bako, announced this while briefing newsmen after an emergency State Executive Council meeting held in Kaduna.

Bako said 39 persons lost their lives in the two separate attacks at Alkali road and Kawo, while 37 persons were currently receiving treatment at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Governor Mukhtar Yero visited the scene of the explosions as well as the victims at the hospital and Gen. Muhamma Buhari to commiserate with them over attacks.

Buhari told the governor that the Kawo attack was a targeted assassination on him.

He, however, commended the government, security operatives and rescue team for their prompt response.

The former head of state urged government to expedite action towards addressing the country’s security challenge.

Yero had earlier said the visit was on behalf of the government

and entire people of the state.

The governor reiterated his commitment to address the

security issues in the state and solicited for support to enable him succeed.

Bizman appeals court ruling over property The claimant had prayed the

BY INNOCENTANABA

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N industrialist, Chief Louis Onwugbenu, has appealed against the ruling by Justice Folasade Bankole-Oki of the Lagos State High Court over a property on 6, Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The judge, had on June 5, vacated an order stopping a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Ikechukwu Obiora, from developing the property.

Justice Bakole-Oki had also remitted the case file to the Fast Track Division registry for re-assignment to a trial judge.

In the appeal, Onwugbenu argued that the judge erred in law when she dismissed his motion on notice for interlocutory injunction dated August 12, 2013, for lacking in merit.

He is praying the appellate court to set aside the lower court’s decision, and grant his reliefs in the motion on notice.

court to restrain the defendants from developing, advertising or selling property in Ikoyi including Thompson Street; 4, Olumegbon Street; 1 Rumens Street; 3 Rumens Street; 1B Alagbon Close; 35 Lugard Avenue; 6, Olawale Dawoo Street; and 6, Okotie-Eboh, pending the determination of his suit.

Onwugbenu claimed that sometime in 2009, he gave Senator Obiora N1.4billion to buy the property, adding that the senator bought the property, but had failed to deliver the certificates of occupancy to him or pay back the money.

Defendants in the suit are Senator Obiora, his company, Corporate Ideals Properties Limited; A.B.C. Orjiako (said to have guaranteed the money) and Orangeline Limited (said to have bought 6 Okotie-Eboh).

Onwugbenu in the suit, had prayed the court to compel the defendants to return the property with the accompanying documents, or a refund of the N1.4 billion with interest.

sufficient explanation concerning the missing money.

The member representing Kanke Constituency in the House, Timothy Golu however, who spoke on the issue, told Vanguard that, “We have been briefed by the governor that the money is still intact and is yet to be utilised. ”We are watching to see the next step, it is not that we are doing nothing but for now, we are satisfied with the explanation the governor gave. ”There are many angles to the allegation; the state angle, the local government perspective but the House is being careful not to mislead the people. It is not that we are running away from our responsibility.”

Efforts to speak with the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Public Accounts, Gondina Sambo, who was in the forefront of the probe were unsuccessful as he did not pick or return several calls put across to his mobile phone.

Religious group charges FG on anti-terrorism war

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BUJA—THE Jama’atu Izatil Bid’ah Wa’Iqamatus Sunnah, JIBWIS, a religious group, yesterday urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to tackle the lingering insecurity in parts of the country.

This is contained in a communique issued by the Secretary, Tafsir Committee of the group, Alhaji Yahya Abubakar, at the end of its Ramadan Preaching programme in Abuja.

JIBWIS said no responsible government would fold its arms and watch the massacre of its defenceless citizens on a daily basis.

“The government should demonstrate the spirit of justice, equity and fairness to its citizens as a panacea to the current security threats and challenges in the country.”

The group also called on government to provide sufficient fund to the education sector, saying, “no nation can achieve meaningful development without ensuring sound education for its citizens.

It also advised the government to create more job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths, who posed serious security threat to the nation.

JIBWIS enjoined wealthy Muslims to give Zakat and other alms to the needy and vulnerable in the society to reduce hardship and poverty level in the society.

It also called on politicians to have the fear of Allah and put the interest of the nation above personal interest for the nation to move forward.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—47

Learn from one another, Bill Gates tells African leaders

Jigawa okays N1.83bn for state-owned varsity VC's residence

By Tina Akannam

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UTSE —THE Jigawa State Government has approved the release of N1.83 billion for the construction of the official residence of the Vice Chancellor of the state university at the Kafin Hausa Local Governmennt of the state.

The state Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Mr Babandi Ibrahim, made this known in an interview with newsmen shortly after the state executive council meeting in Dutse, yesterday.

Already, he said the council had approved the award of the contract to Messrs A. G. Parero Nigeria Limited for the work to commence immediately .

Ibrahim further said the council approved the release of N143.3 million as compensation to the owners of the land where the university was sited.

According to him, the villages whose farmlands were acquired for the establishment of the university, including Dalamu, Murawa, Aragada, and Abzilawa will be fully compensated by the state government.

Solution to Africa's challenges lies in STI — Minister

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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BUJA — THE Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama, says solution to Africa challenges lies in science, technology and innovation, STI. The minister stated this while delivering a keynote address at the Senior Experts Dialogue, SED, tagged: “Senior Experts dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation and the Africa Transformation Agenda: Making New Technology Work for Africa” in Abuja.

The event was organised by the Science and Tech Ministry with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA, the Government of Norway and Finland.

Bulama said the adoption of science, technology and innovation should no longer be seen as an option to Nigeria but a critical tool to achieving its economic prosperity.

By Dapo Akinrefon

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From left: Dr Temitope Sinkaye, Special Adviser to Kogi State Governor on Youths and Women Development; Kogi State Deputy Governor, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi; Governor Idris Wada and Ogori/Magogo Council Chairman, Major Femiyan Akerejola (rtd), during the official handing over of tricycles for YAD4KOGI public works volunteers under the state government's Youth Advancement and Development programme.

FG decries high interest rate on loans to entrepreneurs

By Emeka Mamah

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HE Federal Government, yesterday, decried what it described as high interest rate charged by commercial banks on loans to entrepreneurs, saying it was the major stumbling block to the growth and development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs. Vice President Namadi Sambo made this known in Saudi Arabia when he received a delegation from the Islamic Development Bank, IDB, led by its Chairman, Dr Ahmed Mohammed Ali. A statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Sambo quoted him as stating that a situation where international financial institutions channelled funds through local banks for onlending to SMEs only for such banks to turn round and charge

high interest rates was lamentable.

According to him, this was even as the SMEs support the banks by increasing their liquidity.

He then urged the IDB to evolve ways through which small scale entrepreneur could have easy access to cheap funds to finance their businesses Sambo, however, further stated that the Federal Government has a robust national master plan for the SMEs and asked the IDB to provide direct financing support for such entrepreneurs in the country.

He called on the bank’s support in financing both gas and transportation infrastructure to allow for local processing and transportation of gas within the country Congratulating the chairman

for the extension of his services by the bank, Sambo added that the current rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP had shown that Nigeria, as one of the fastest growing economics, there was therefore the need for the bank to take advantage of this favourable economic climate to further support the nation in her quest towards rapid socio-economic growth and development.

In his remarks, Chairman of the IDB, Dr Ali, said bank’s had low interest loans in many sectors, including education, healthcare, project financing, power and gas, pointing out that at the moment, the bank was engaged in a gas pipeline project that would connect the southern and northern parts of Cote D’ I’voire, which was at pilot stage and hoped to work with Nigeria in the future if the project worked.

INSURGENCY: Security agencies urged to form united front

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By Peter Duru

AKURDI — THE Air Officer Commanding, AOC, Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Air Marshal Salihu Riba, has urged security agencies in the country to form a united front in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

Riba said such a partnership would ensure the stability, unity and security of the country.

He spoke, yesterday, at the graduation ceremony of officers of the Intermediate Intelligence Course 10 of the NAF School of Air Intelligence, NAFSAINT, held at the Air Force Base, Makurdi, the Benue State

capital.

Riba was represented at the occasion by the Air Force Base Commander, Air Commodore Olusesan Idowu.

According to him, “the interoperability among the security agencies is vital to having a stable, united and secure Nigeria. And since a more effective intelligence community will also better support the combined operations of security agencies, we must continue to strive to build ethos of cooperation and collaboration."

Earlier in his speech, the Commandant, NAFSAINT, Group Captain Benson

Omoyungbo, said the graduating students were effectively trained on Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, awareness by bomb experts.

He said: ”They were also lectured on the role of intelligence in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse, in pursuant to the vision of the Chief of Air Staff, CAS, for the force and the challenges facing the country.”

He noted that the graduands had been prepared for future intelligence assignments and urged them to imbibe the spirit of team work in their future assignments.

O-CHAIRMAN of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has appealed to African leaders to learn from one another, saying this will bring about rapid development in the continent.

Addressing students at the Addis Ababa University in Ethopia, Gates optimism for Africa’s future, said “the rise of this continent will depend on whether leaders – here in Ethiopia and all across Africa – are open to learning from each other, and from their own people.”

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation works with partners in Africa to make smart investments so that together we can achieve real and lasting impact for those with the greatest challenges.

Gates said: “Africa is now in an incredible position to shape its own destiny for the better for one very simple and powerful reason: the countries of Africa are learning from each other.”

Acknowledging the development gains made through foreign governments, international aid, and non-profits, such as the foundation, he pointed out that “the real fuel for development will be the resources of African nations themselves – whether that’s in the form of government funding, private-sector investment, or just plain human creativity at all levels of society.”

The Microsoft boss, however, said “this is where the idea of ‘African countries learning from each other’ becomes so important. If you want to spend your national budgets as effectively as possible, there is now a clear path for doing exactly that – and Africans themselves are defining that path, for others to follow if they choose.”

Gates, who was presented with an honorary degree at the university, harped on the importance of health and agriculture, just as he commended the government of Ethiopia for its Health Extension Programme and the establishment of its Agricultural Transformation Agency.

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48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

RAMADAN: Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), Hon. Abdulhakeem Abdulateef (left), and others, at the Ramadan Tasfir and Prayer for Nigeria by the Ummatum Lailaha Ila Allahu of Nigeria, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

PROTEST: From left: Elder statesman, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, and Hon. Funmi Tejuosho, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, during a protest to mark the 100 days of the abduction of the Chibok school girls by Boko Haram in Lagos. Photos: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

General Secretary, National Conscience Party, NCP, Comrade Femi Aborisade, and Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation, Dr. Abiola Akiyode, at the event.

SEMINAR: From left: Conference Secretary, Lagos Central Baptist Conference, Dr. Kehinde Babarinde, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Religious Matters, Rev. Adefunmilayo Akitoye-Braimoh, and Executive Director, Churches in Action for Peace and Development, Archbishop Kehinde Stephen, at the Justice Advocacy seminar on Palestine

by CAPAD with support of the Karibu Foundation in Lagos.

TRAINING: Deputy Head of Operations, LAGBUS, Mr Olubodun Ogunyankin (left), Chief Operation Officer, Superflux International Ltd, Mr Gabriel Okonkwo (second left), Managing Director/CEO, LAGBUS, Mr Babatunde Disu, (second right), and Divisional Head, Operations, Superflux, Mr Mahendra Waman, during a training for LAGBUS ticket vendors at Superflux complex in Ogba, Lagos, yesterday Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Children displaying the Rescue Our Girls placard during the protest.

AWARD: Mrs E.M Osime, Principal, Queen's College (right), presenting the Best Driver's Award to Mr Samuel Adebayo, at the school's Prize Giving ceremony in Lagos.

EXHIBITION: From left: Mrs Teniola Aluko, Trustee, Kola Aluko Foundation, Mr A.S. Ogah, Minister/Head, Information, Culture & Sport, Nigerian High Commission, UK , representing the Nigerian High Commissioner, and Mr. Kola Aluko, Trustee, Kola Aluko Foundation, at the Nigerian Photography Exhibition at Bonhams, London.

GRADUATION: From left: Community Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, CCNL, Mr. Emeka Mba, Miss Okpoto Sarah, Managing Director, Lady Mechanic Initiative, Mrs Sandra Aguebor-Ekperuah, Miss Osarulyi Itohan, Regional Logistics Director (Lagos/West), Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Ltd, Mr. Ademola Richards, and Miss Johnson Blessing, at the graduation ceremony of second batch of lady mechanics sponsored by NBC and CCNL at Eayen, Benin-City.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 49

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50—Vanguard, FRIDAY,

JULY 25, 2014

Ebola: What Nigeria should be doing —Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist & Managing Partner, EpiAfric,

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O confirmed case of Ebola has been reported in Ni geria, but in the wake of the suspected case discovered in Liberia, coupled with the fact that Nigerians move around a lot and frequently visit the affected regions, there is reason to be concerned.

Are the nation’s health authorities sensitising the public enough? Is the country responding the right way? What should authorities be doing that they are not?

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, an infectious disease sepidemiologist who is managing partner of EpiAfric, a public health consulting firm based in Abuja and part of a World Health Organisation team that responded to an Ebola outbreak in South Sudan in 2004 spoke to Sola Ogundipe on the Ebola situation in the West African sub-region, and implications for Nigeria. Excerpts:

I

SSUES: There are two broad strategic challenges every country faces when there is an Ebola outbreak. The first one is because of the disease itself; ebola is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases known because it kills about 90 percent of those infected.

The second big issue is managing the public anxiety around the disease. In countries that have witnessed the outbreak, it is almost a bigger problem to manage the anxiety and fear than managing the outbreak itself.

Broken confidence: Because the disease kills most of the people infected, when people

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are ill and are taken to the hospital they almost inevitably die.

The community then often wrongly associates death with the hospital and very quickly people start assuming that it is something in the hospital that is causing their death.

This can then cause a cycle of broken confidence in healthcare provision. People start trying to manage ill patients at home, not taking them to the hospital, which then causes further transmission of the infection. The second thing is that the harm caused by any infectious organism is dependent on two critical factors —the virulence (how

outbreak, the virulence is less.

So we are seeing only 50-60 percent of people dying which is a good thing for those that do not die, obviously. But it is bad for transmission because the longer someone stays alive with the disease, the more likely it is that he/she transmits it to others.

Latest outbreak

•Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu much death the infection causes) and the transmissibility or efficiency of transmission from person to person.

Previous outbreaks: In most previous outbreaks, Ebola has been very virulent, i.e., 90 percent of infected persons would

die. What this means is that those infected are likely to die before they can infect others.

The disease kills so much, and so quickly, that people do not have enough time to transmit the infection. However, in this particular case, in this latest

Basically, this particular outbreak has become the biggest ever reported. The Ebola virus is adapting to the environment, therefore not killing people as quickly as it used to. Not everyone is dying and they are living longer and therefore transmitting the virus more efficiently from one person to the other.

Transmission: Unlike in the movies, such as the one “Outbreak “Ebola is not transmissible by air. Ordinarily, therefore it should be an easy disease to manage. Without contact with body fluids of an infected person you cannot get it. There must be contact with body or any other body fluid. Some cultural practices demand that we wash our dead and that is one of the riskiest things to do during an Ebola outbreak.

Communication: The major thing to communicate at this point is that if somebody has a travel history showing they have travelled to or from Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Guinea, and subsequently presents with fever, body aches and bleeding, there should be high index of suspicion of Ebola.

That travel history is critical. In the early stages, Ebola presents like malaria or any of the many other respiratory infections. There is no difference in the presentation disease during the first days of the illness.

If you have that and you have just come back from Sierra Leone or Guinea, you should seek care at a tertiary hospital.

Caution: I think there is need for Nigerians to be concerned, but that concern should be directed into holding our government, and health officials accountable.

For now, let's hope that it does not spread to Nigeria, because if it does, it will really test our health systems, especially now that doctors are on strike. If it does spread to Nigeria, then we will all be at the mercy of the response mechanism and we can only hope that they are prepared.

An Ebola outbreak at this period would be dangerous for the country.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—51

Lagos reports first suspected case of Ebola Virus •says it’s ready to combat possible outbreak •FG deploys team of virology experts

By Chioma Obinna, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

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HE Lagos State Govern ment, yesterday, reported the first suspected case of Ebola fever in the state.

Following the report, the Federal Government has deployed a team of 14 medical experts to support the state with required technical input to ensure that suspected cases of Ebola were handled with dispatch.

Addressing a news conference in Lagos on the issue, the Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, explained that the suspected case came from a private health facility in the state.

Adeshina said that the patient, said to be 40-year-old, hailed from Liberia, and worked for a West African organisation in Monrovia, Liberia.

According to Adesina, the said patient arrived Lagos on a flight from Monrovia via Lome on Sunday, July 20, 2014 at 4pm. Her words: “History taken revealed that he had no contact with any case of Ebola virus; did not visit any person with EVD in the hospital and neither did he partake in the burial of any person who died of EVD. However, on account of his working and living in an endemic region for Ebola virus like Liberia; and the presentation of non-specific constitutional symptoms and signs of fever, body ache, vomiting, diarrhea, etc associated with EVD, a high index of suspicion was raised.”

The Special Adviser further explained that based on the high index of suspicious signs raised, the patient was admitted and detained on suspicions of possible Ebola virus infection.

BRIEFING: From left: Dr. Kayode Oguntimehin, Permanent Secretary, Primary Healthcare Board, Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, Special adviser to Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adeshina, and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Modele Oshunkiyesi, at a briefing by Adeshina on Ebola virus in Lagos on yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

“Already, blood sample collection and testing had been initiated which includes samples to the Virology Reference Laboratory, LUTH, Idi-Araba and WHO Reference Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. Presently, the patient’s condition is stable and is in recovery. The diarrhoea and vomiting have stopped. Intravenous infusion has also been stopped and he is now tolerating by mouth; while the health facility has since initiated Universal Safety Precautionary measures to prevent spread of the disease and guarantee

the safety of other patients.”

Adeshina, however, asked residents to be calm, as the state had put in place appropriate measures to contain any possible outbreak of the Ebola virus.

She also urged Lagosians to report suspected cases of the virus through: 08023169485; 08033086660; 08033065303; 08055281442; 08055329229.

“Lagos is ready to contain any possible outbreak should the impending result of the suspected patient prove positive. As we speak, contact tracing has started, and the Lagos Mainland Hospital has been identified; cordoned off and we have created isolation unit. We have deployed doctors to the hospital.

The Federal Government has

trained to identify and refer to the Lagos Mainland Hospital which is our designated infectious disease location.

The Special Adviser explained that Ebola virus disease is caused by a virus which natural reservoir of virus is not completely known, stressing that fruit bats have been considered to be the natural host of the virus.

“Early symptoms of disease include fever, headache, chills, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, backache, and joint pains.

Later symptoms include bleeding from the eyes, ears and nose, bleeding from the mouth and rectum, eye swelling, swelling of the genitals and rashes

,

Lagos is ready to contain any possible outbreak should the impending result of the suspected patient prove positive. As we speak, contact tracing has started

An Ebola victim

Ebola virus

given us 30 protective equipment and they have promised to give us 250 more and we are procuring other gadgets to protect anyone that may be in contact with the virus,’’she further added.

Commending the private hospital for prompt response said:”We have mobilized health facility monitoring agency, to get in touch with the private sector to do some rapid sensitization. We are giving out Informative, Communicative and Educative material. We are doing this with the private sector because they are the first point of call for most people.

“All our staff and health facilities have been on standby since March 2014, when we heard about the outbreak of Ebola virus. So, we have been ready and that is why we are now focusing the private hospitals."

While assuring residents that the ongoing medical doctors’ strike will not affect treatments of any possible case, she said “we do not need a doctor to identify someone with the virus.

There are effective steps in place. The nurses have been

,

all over the body that often contain blood. It could progress to coma, shock and death,” Adeshina explained.

FG deploys medical team

Speaking, Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi, Director, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, said “The Federal Government is here to support the state government to ensure that the case is nipped in the bud.

The Federal Government has deployed 14 of us to Lagos, and we will be supporting the state with the required technical input, to ensure that any suspected cases of Ebola are nipped in the bud.”

Nasidi warned that dead bodies are more dangerous in cases of Ebola Virus than the living. He lamented that the virus has refused to leave African countries where cases have been reported." On his part, Head of Virology Reference Laboratory, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Dr. Sunday Omilabu said the results will be ready by weekend.

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52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

V anguard Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, JULY 25 , 2014 — 53

BRIEFS

Ukrainian PM, Cabinet resign as MH17 remains arrive in Netherlands

Algerian airliner crashes with 116 passengers in Mali A

passenger plane carrying 116 people is feared to have crashed on a flight from Burkina Faso to the Algerian capital Algiers.

Contact with the Air Algerie flight was lost over the Sahara as it crossed Mali in bad weather, officials said.

French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius said the plane, which has 50 French citizens aboard, “probably crashed”.

French media reported that soldiers had found wreckage in Tilemsi, central Mali, but this was not confirmed.

Contact with Flight AH 5017, chartered from Spanish airline Swiftair, was lost about 50 minutes after take-off from Ouagadougou, Air Algerie said.

The pilot had contacted Niger’s control tower in Niamey to change course because of a sandstorm, officials say.

Speaking in Paris, Mr Fabius said: “Despite intensive search efforts no trace of the aircraft has yet been found. The plane probably crashed.”

He said two French Mirage fighter planes were scouring the area.

Earlier, an Algerian official told Reuters that the plane had crashed, but

gave no further details.

France’s civil aviation body said crisis centres had been set up at airports in Paris and Marseille.

An Air Algerie spokesman quoted by

Reuters said the provisional passenger list included 50 French citizens, 24 people from Burkina Faso, eight Lebanese, four Algerians, two from Luxembourg, one Belgian, one Swiss, one

Sudanese woman who was sentenced to death for converting from Islam to Christianity, then detained after her conviction was quashed, flew into Rome on an Italian government plane on Thursday and hours later met the Pope. Mariam Yahya Ibrahim, whose sentence and detention triggered international outrage, walked off the aircraft cradling her baby and was greeted by Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi.

Soon afterwards, Ibrahim, her husband and two children had a private meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican. “The Pope thanked her for her witness to faith,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said. The meeting, which lasted around half an hour, was

KRAINIAN Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and his Cabinet announced their resignation yesterday. “I announce my resignation after the collapse of the coalition and the blocking of government initiatives,” Yatsenyuk told parliament.

Ukrainian political experts said they expected the resignation, and that Yatsenyuk and his Cabinet will remain in place as an acting government until elections in October.

The government has been battling pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. More than 400 people have died in the fighting, the government said.

A Ukrainian journalist working as a freelancer for CNN has been abducted by pro-Russian rebels. Armed men from the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic seized Anton Skiba outside a hotel Tuesday in the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk.

MH17 probe: Russia says it’ll cooperate

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Meriam Ibrahim disembarks from an aircraft with her children Maya, in her arms, and Martin, and is greeted by Italian deputy Foreign Minister Lapo Pistelli, after departing from Khartoum.

USSIA will cooperate with the investigation into the downing of a Malaysian airliner a week ago and is satisfied that the Netherlands, rather than Ukraine, is leading the effort, the country’s ambassador to Malaysia said yesterday.

Liudmila Vorobyeva also rejected suggestions that the pro-Russian separatists blamed by Western governments for shooting down Flight MH17 possessed a Russian-made anti-aircraft missile, and said the rebels lacked the training to use such a system. Nearly 300 people, 193 of them Dutch citizens, were killed when the Malaysia Airlines plane en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was brought down in eastern Ukraine, where separatists are battling government forces, on July 17.

At least 15 killed in Israeli shelling of Gaza school — Health Ministry

Israeli soccer players attacked by protesters at Austrian friendly

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SRAELI forces shelled a U.N.-run school sheltering Palestinians in the northern Gaza strip, the Gaza health ministry said on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and raising the conflict’s death toll to nearly 750.

Israel Radio said, with-

out citing a source, that most of those killed at the United Nations school were children.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the incident reported as a truce between the Jewish state and Hamas-led Islamist guerril-

Sudanese Christian woman on death row out, meets Pope

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Nigerian, one Cameroonian, one Ukrainian and one Romanian.

Officials in Lebanon, however, said there were at least 10 Lebanese citizens on the flight.

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intended as a “sign of closeness and solidarity for all those who suffer for their faith,” he added.There were no details on what led up to the

27-year-old’s departure after a month in limbo in Khartoum, but a senior Sudanese official said it had been cleared by the government.

EU targets state-owned Russia banks in sanctions plan

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HE European Union would target stateowned Russian banks vital to financing Moscow’s faltering economy in the most serious sanctions so far over the Ukraine crisis under proposals considered by EU governments on Thursday.

Ambassadors of the 28nation bloc met in Brussels to discuss options drafted by the executive European Commission in response to the downing of a Malaysian airliner in an area of eastern Ukraine held by Russianbacked separatists.

Decisions are likely next

week at the earliest. In one key measure, European investors would be banned from buying new debt or shares of banks owned 50 percent or more by the state.

These banks raised almost half of their 15.8 billion euro ($21.29 billion) capital needs in EU markets last year.

“If implemented such sanctions would be a seriousblowtotheRussianeconomy, exacerbating an already very likely recession this year and sustaining an economic depression for longer,” said analyst Michal Dybula of BNP Paribas.

las remained elusive, despite intensive attempts at mediation.

Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry, said that as well as the 15 dead, another 200 people were wounded in the attack. The director of a local hospital said various medical centers around Beit Hanoun in the coastal enclave were receiving the wounded.

Pools of blood lay on the ground and on students’ desks in the courtyard of the school near the apparent impact mark of the shell, according to a Reuters photographer at the scene.

“Such a massacre requires more than one hospital to deal with it,” said Ayman Hamdan, director of the Beit Hanoun hospital.

More than 140,000 Palestinians have fled 17 days of fighting between Israel and Gaza militants, many of them seeking shelter in buildings run by the U.N. Refugee Works Agency (UNWRA). Israeli forces are trying to stop militants from Hamas, which rules Gaza, and their allies from firing rockets into its territory.

pre season soccer match in Austria had to be abandoned after pro-Palestinian protesters invaded the pitch and started attacking players from Israeli team Maccabi Haifa.

Clashes between a group of youths carrying Turkish and Palestinian flags and the Maccabi team broke out at the end of Wednesday’s friendly game with French side Lille.

War has been raging in the Middle East for more than two weeks now, with Hamas rockets being fired into Israel, which has responded with continued air strikes on Gaza and a ground incursion into Palestinian territory.

The conflict has now claimed 732 Palestinian lives, many of them children according to the Gaza Health Ministry, while Israel has reported 35 deaths — 32 of those soldiers.

2 foreign workers shot dead in Afghanistan

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WO foreign workers with an international aid organization were shot and killed in the western Afghanistan city of Herat on Thursday, the provincial governor said.

The women, who were believed to be Finnish, worked for the International Assistance Mission, Governor Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi said.

They were riding a taxi through the city when men in a motorbike attacked them and fled, Wahidi said.

India doctors remove 232 teeth from boy’s mouth

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OCTORS in India have extracted 232 teeth from the mouth of a 17-year-old boy in a seven-hour operation. Ashik Gavai was brought in with a swelling in his right jaw, Dr Sunanda Dhiware, head of Mumbai’s JJ Hospital’s dental department, told the BBC. The teenager had been suffering for 18 months and travelled to the city from his village after local doctors failed to identify the cause of the problem.

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

PDP chides Ekiti Assembly for creating 19 LGDAs

By GbengaAriyibi

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DO EKITI—EKITI State chapter of the Peoples

Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday berated the state House of Assembly for approving the creation of additional 19 Local

Religious leaders can end Boko Haram, not Jonathan — ORITSEJAFOR

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — P R E S I DENT of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Orisejafor, has said religious leaders in the north and not President Goodluck Jonathan, could end the Boko Haram insurgency.

Orisejafor spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the graduation, send-forth and prize giving ceremonies held by Stephen International Centre.

The occasion was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Secretary to Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, South West CAN coordinator, Arch. Bishop Magnus Atilade, commissioner for women af-

fairs, Elizabeth Sonubi and national coordinator of voice of Christian matyrs , Isaac Oluwole, among others.

According to CAN President, “With all sense of all responsibility, I use this opportunity to call on all Muslims religious leaders, traditional rulers and political leaders in the north not necessarily in the South West because in the South West, we have lived together and I know the way it operates in the south west. ''So, I am challenging from the north, our religious leaders, political rulers and traditional rulers as matter of urgency, to step forward and take responsibilities for the way out of this problem.''

Government Development Areas, LGDAs, in the state, saying the House acted illegally.

The party in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, equally faulted the increase in the number of the councils from 18 to 19 when referendum was conducted for 18 councils According to the statement “We are still in court challenging the legality of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission and the body went ahead to organise an illegal referendum. The Assembly added more illegality to an illegal act by increasing the number of the councils. ''We are restating the fact that both State Independent Electoral Commission and Assembly are into illegal acts. You cannot build something on nothing and we are a law abiding party and are calling on the people of the state to take note of what the outgoing government of the All Progressives Congress is doing.”

However, reacting to the al-

legation by the PDP that it secured court’s injunction stopping the House from going ahead with the creation of local government, the Speaker of the House, Adewale Omirin, said no such injunction was received by the House On the allegation that the House decided to create 19 LGDAs, when referendum was conducted for 18 councils, Omirin said the House's action was based on the petition by the people of Ajoni-Oreniwa in Ikole Local Government.

Meanwhile, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement, PAAM, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to safeguard all materials used during the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State.

PAAM, which accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of desperately plotting to rubbish the election results by replacing the used ballot papers with those already printed in China, said; “the Ekiti election has restored INEC credibility and the electoral commission must guard jealously all materials used for the election.”

In a statement by its Director

NPA deceiving Nigerians, says Lagos govt

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—LAGOS State Government yesterday, described as act of deception and falsehood the response of the management of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, to recent comments by Governor Babatunde Fashola on the persistent gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, which has continued to cripple vehicular movement and business activities in Apapa and its environs.

NPA, in a statement by its Head of Public Affairs department, Mr. Musa Illya, had identified Lagos State Government as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the port concessions in terms of the revenue collected from importers as wharf landing fees, and other businesses generated by the port activities among others.

Fashola, about three weeks ago visited Apapa and lampooned the management of NPA over its inefficiency in monitoring the handling of cargo operations at various terminals as well as poor implementation of concession policy of the ports.

But the state government through the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, urged members of the public to disregard the claim by the NPA spokesman, saying he was either selling lies or ignorant on the update of Apapa issues.

He said “Is either the proponent is under illusion to sell lies to the people or he is unaware of the issues surrounding Apapa regeneration plans between the Federal Government and the state government. We met with Federal Government, FG, in 2011, 2012, with Minister of Works, where an agreement was reached. The state government has implemented over 75 percent of the deal while the FG has contributed nothing.'' ''He can go and verify. There has been no commitment from the FG. Only last Thursday, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Works met again to review the situation and they agreed to mobilise a contractor to fix the failed portions of the road and up till now, nothing has been done on it.''

2015: APC'll subject Amosun to primaries – APC CHAIR

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, yesterday, said all its aspirants, including Governor Ibikunle Amosun would be subjected to transparent and credible primaries, even as it dismissed opposition political parties’ claims of wining the governorship election, saying, the party would win all elective positions in the forthcoming poll.

The party also said it would provide a level playing ground for all aspirants in all positions in the 2015 general elections.

State chairman of the party, Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji, spoke at a reception organised in Abeokuta by the Ogun Central Senatorial District of APC for the new state executive committee members.

Adeniji, who said the new executive had been duly received in the two other senatorial districts of Ogun East and Ogun West, said the APC had no anointed candidate for any elective position.

According to “Since the last conduct of the party’s

Mimiko donates relief materials to flood victims

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—GOVER NOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, yesterday donated relief materials worth millions of naira to flood victims in Igbobini, Ilu-Agbo and environs in Ese-odo Local Government area of Ondo State.

Governor Mimiko, his wife, Olukemi, female political office holders and spouses of political office holders among other top government officials were at the Basic Health Centre Ilu-Agbo, which serves as the relief camp for the victims for the presentation of the gift items.

The materials donated included food items, clothing materials, beddings, toiletries and cooking utensils among others.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 55

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

FOOTPRINTS OF A STATESMAN: The Life And Times Of CHIEF DANIEL OKUMAGBA A biography by Bernard Oboatarhieyeren Okumagba

The Leader

The real leader has no need to lead, He is content to point the way — Henry Miller, American writer and painter

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ESTERDAY

We presented the second part of Chief Okumagba's journey into political limelight. His entrance to mainstream politics, his contributions and concern for justice were projected in that section of his biography.

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ODAY We see The Leader. A

peacemaker who believed strongly in inter-ethnic harmony and peaceful coexistence amongst all ethnic groups.

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Y father played vari ous leadership roles in the institutions that he featured in. He played leader-

groups, with clear consideration that no community can live in isolation. In this regard, he was friendly with people from the constituent tribes of the Warri area and beyond.

Those familiar with my grandfather ’s household knew that it was a mini-commonwealth of sorts – the children were conversant with the languages and traditions of the neighbouring tribes. Some of them even had Itsekiri and Ijaw middle names and spoke the languages fluently. It was the evidence of a time before the advent of micro-nationalism, when tribe and tongue played scant roles in relationships.

My father was appointed Secretary of the Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu Kindred Families of Okere-Urhobo in 1950.

This was a position of responsibility that meant he had to perform this role creditably, while carrying out other roles.

Ohwotemu - who founded Okere-Urhobo in Warri. The Kindred Families continued to own the lands in its areas in Warri. In 1968, this was challenged when a suit, Number W/48/1968, was filed at the High Court of Midwest State sitting in Warri, against the Kindred Families.

The plaintiffs were: “D.O. Idundun, Chief P.O. Awani, A.E Hesse, C.A Lorie and J.D. Oruru (for and on behalf of Ogitsi Family of Okere, Warri); Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees; and Erejuwa II, the Olu of Warri.”

The defendant was: “Daniel Okumagba (for himself and on behalf of Olodi, Oki, and Ighogbadu Families of Okere, Warri).”

The suit Number W/48/1968 at the Midwest State High Court, Warri, was heard by Justice E.A. Ekeruche and decided in July 1973. The plaintiffs asked for the following:

About the Book Chief Daniel Okumagba, who lived from 1922 to 2000, was widely acknowledged as a man of truth, courage and discipline. From 1960, when he won election to represent Warri East Constituency at the Western Region House of Assembly in Ibadan, Chief Daniel Okumagba played major roles in Nigeria’s national development.

He was a member of the National Council for Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), a foundation member and foundation national executive committee member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic, governorship candidate of the party in Bendel State (now Edo and Delta states) in the 1979 general elections and pioneer chairman of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.

Chief Daniel Okumagba was a teacher, legislator, politician, businessman and frontline Niger Delta leader.

In all, he was a man of peace, who believed in peaceful coexistence among various ethnic groups, a statesman and nationalist.

In this biography of Chief Daniel Okumagba, Bernard Okumagba (former Delta State Commissioner for Finance) tells of a father whose life has not been fully chronicled and of values and circumstances that shaped the public identity of his father.

Bernard’s story of one of the key players of the First and Second Republics in Nigeria is a compelling narrative. Footprints of a Statesman: The life and times of Chief Daniel Okumagba, is a son’s appreciation of his father, and the lessons therefrom.

Rights (Vesting in Trustees) Law 1959 and the Warri Division (Itsekiri Communal Land) Trust Instrument, 1959.

2. A declaration that, in accordance with Itsekiri Customary Law, defendants have forfeited their rights of user and/or occupation and any other rights or estate in or over that part of the land in dispute marked Area ‘’B’ and any right they may have in or over that part of the land in dispute marked Area ‘A’ in

All the claims sought by the plaintiffs were dismissed by the High Court in a judgement, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Justice E.A. Ekeruche in the judgement of the High Court, delivered on the 17th of July, 1973, stated as follows: “Considering first the traditional evidence in the case, my view of that aspect of the evidence in plaintiffs’ case,

He was an outspoken critic of injustice and inequity. He was an advocate for peace and reached out to people of all tribes and faiths without discrimination

ship roles in Okere-Urhobo, in Warri, the Urhobo nation, the Western Region, Midwest/ Bendel State and the Nigerian nation. He was an outspoken critic of injustice and inequity. He was an advocate for peace and reached out to people of all tribes and faiths without discrimination. He was a peacemaker and believed strongly in inter-ethnic harmony and peaceful co-existence amongst all ethnic

Yet, his ability to fit into the demands of the Office and lead, while dealing with his other responsibilities as Teacher (from 1947 to 1976), Parliamentarian (from 1960 to 1963) and other public offices that he held, was widely acknowledged as remarkable.

Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu Kindred Families are descendants of the three brothers - Idama, Sowhoruvbe and

“1. A declaration that in accordance with Itsekiri Customary Law, all that piece or parcel of land at Okere, Warri, described in Plan No WE.2367 filed in this suit and verged pink is the property of the Ogitsi Family of Okere, subject only to the overlordship of the Olu of Warri now vested in and exercisable by the Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees by virtue of the Communal Land

the Plan No. E.2367 filed by the plaintiffs in this suit.

3. An order of injunction to restrain the defendants, their servants and/or agents and any other person or persons purporting to claim under or through them from entering the land in dispute and/or interfering with plaintiffs’ rights and interest in and over the said land in dispute and in particular from granting leases or other disposition of the same to any other persons or collecting rents or any other dues from any other persons in respect of the land in dispute.”

whereby plaintiffs have sought to establish that the land in dispute and even also Okere Village were part of the kingdom founded by Ginuwa I and also their evidence that Ogitsi owned the whole of Okere land including the land in dispute, in this case is that it is unconvincing.

“I do not believe that any kingdom founded by Ginuwa I extended to Okere. Plaintiffs’ evidence and also evidence in the whole case do not prove such extent of any kingdom founded by Ginuwa I. “I am satisfied and I find as Continues on page 57

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—57

FOOTPRINTS OF A STATESMAN: The Life And Times Of CHIEF DANIEL OKUMAGBA A biography by Bernard Oboatarhieyeren Okumagba

The Peacemaker, Social Justice Crusader He did not believe that any ethnic group should dominate the other. He believed and preached mutual respect and cooperation Continues from page 56 a fact on the evidence before me that Okere was never part of the kingdom founded by Ginuwa I. I am also satisfied that Ginuwa I never exercised overlordship rights over Okere, and that the overlordship rights of the subsequent Olus did not extend to Okere.

“A point which plaintiffs and their counsel have tried to urge on this court is that because the land in dispute is in Warri and so in Warri Division, the Olu of Warri has rights of overlordship over it, because, as Olu of Warri, he has rights of overlordship over all lands in Warri Division.

The whole argument or view is erroneous. The Olu, by title, is Olu of Warri, but his rights of overlordship relate only to land of Itsekiri people…

“As between the evidence in plaintiffs’ case and that in the defendants’ case, I accept and believe the evidence in the defendants’ case as truthfully stating how Ogitsi family and the defendants’ people came to be in Okere area.

“I accept and believe the evidence of the defendants that three persons, namely, Idama, Ohwotemu and Sowhoruvwe, first came to Okere and founded various

fendants and that they have been such owners and in possession of the land from the time their ancestors founded the land.

“Having found that the defendants own the land in dispute and that they were never

About the Author

B

tenants of anyone, plaintiffs fail on their claim for forfeiture.

“Plaintiffs having failed on the claim as to ownership of

When Chief (Dr) Frederick Esiri became the PresidentGeneral of the UPU, my father was elected the Secretary-General and served from 1984 to 1993. He was diligent, compassionate and patriotic tracts of land.”

“I also accept the evidence of the defendants as to how and when Ogitsi got to the waterside area of Okere and made his sett1ement there, and as to how the settlement and that of defendants’ people grew until they met in Okere.

“I am satisfied and find as a fact that the land in dispute in this case, including the area where rubber plantations are shown on plaintiffs’ plan, Exhibit 2, and also where Madam Esale’s rubber plantation is, belong to the de-

Justice Mohammed Bello, who also retired as Chief Justice and Justice Andrews Otutu-Obaseki; held, in the judgement delivered on October 8, 1976, that the appeal lacked merit. Justice FatayiWilliams and the other jus-

tive in the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) from as far back as the late 1950s. By the early 1960s, he was a participant in many UPU events. In 1964, he accompanied Chief T.E.A. Salubi, who was the President-General of the UPU, on a tour of the union’s branches across Nigeria. At occasions where he addressed the gathering, such as in Benin City at a visit on June 2, 1964, his message centred on the importance of focusing to achieve the objectives of the UPU. Peter Ekeh in his book,

the land in dispute and for forfeiture are not entitled to the injunction they seek.”

“The plaintiffs have failed to prove their claims in its entirety and I accordingly dismiss same in its entirety.

Not satisfied with the High Court’s judgment, the plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Court, the only appellate court at that time, in suit number SC/309/1974, reported in 1976 Volume 10 Nigerian Supreme Court Cases (NSCC). The justices, led by Justice Atanda FatayiWilliams, who later became Chief Justice of Nigeria; with

tices of the Supreme Court in the unanimous judgment ruled that: “On the whole, it is sufficient to say that most of the matters canvassed before us were examined meticulously and rejected by the learned trial judge for reasons upon which we cannot improve and to which we do not desire to add except, perhaps, to say that whether taken separately or together, none of the points urged upon us by learned counsel for the appellants would, in our view, justify any interference with the findings and decision of the learned trial judge. Consequently, we are of the view that the appeal has no merit and is accordingly dismissed.”

My father (even after the judgement of the Supreme Court in favour of our Kindred Families) continued to advocate peaceful coexistence amongst all ethnic groups. He continued to preach inter-ethnic harmony and mutual respect. He did not believe that any ethnic group should dominate the other. He believed and preached mutual respect and cooperation.

My father was equally ac-

T.E.A. Salubi: Witness to British Colonial Rule in Urhoboland and Nigeria, records the encounter as follows: The second speaker was Mr Okumagba who reiterated Mr Rerri’s advice that affairs of the Union be insulated from party politics. He was keen that people should not allow their personal political affiliation affect their communal interests. His passion for Urhobo affairs transcended politics to the level of culture and he cut a distinct image as not just a political ambassador of the nationality but a cultural ambassador as well.

When Chief (Dr) Frederick Esiri became the PresidentGeneral of the UPU, my father was elected the SecretaryGeneral and served from 1984 to 1993. He was diligent, compassionate and patriotic.

From his days at Urhobo College Effurun to his work as community shepherd and politician, my father had become known to many as an iconic figure in the advancement of social justice and equity.

To be continued.

E R N A R D Oboatarhieyeren Okumagba was born in Warri, Delta State on April 7, 1967 to Chief Daniel Okumagba and Mrs. Dorcas Okumagba of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.

He attended Government College, Ughelli from 1977 to 1982 and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1983 and 1987 where he bagged a B.sc degree in Accountancy (2nd Class Honours, Upper Division). Subsequently, he undertook the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) professional examinations and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1991. Bernard started his working career at the international financial services firm Arthur Andersen & Co (now KPMG), in 1988. He later worked in several banks from 1991 to 2007. Bernard held various positions at these banks, including Senior Manager, Corporate Banking Division; Head of Internal Control/Audit Division, Bank Chief Inspector and Principal Manager, Consumer and Commercial Banking Division, amongst others. He left United Bank for Africa Plc in August 2007 following his appointment as Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning.

He served as Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning from August 2007 to November 2010 and was subsequently appointed Commissioner for Finance and served from November 2010 to May 2011. Bernard was reappointed Delta State Commissioner for Finance in July 2011 and held this position until July 2013. He is presently Chairman of Regents Consults Limited and Noly Insurance Brokers Limited. He is also currently a Director of Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc. Bernard holds the traditional chieftaincy title of Eruvwu R’Ovie of Agbarha Kingdom, Warri, Delta State.

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

V anguard anguard,, FRIDAY, JULY 25 , 2014 —59

Third term for President Boni Yayi?

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ENIN Republic’s Minister of Agriculture, Fatoumata Amadou Djibril, has reportdedly confirmed the rumour that President Boni Yayi could benefit from a third term if the citizens agree, regardless of whether the Constitution limits the number of presidential terms to two.

The minister amde the broadcast on Canal 3, a local television channel. According to her, the opposition and civil society had suspected for a while that the president, Boni Yayi, planned to stay in power forever, adding that there is no harm that young women and young people organize President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic marches to ask for a third term in favour of Boni Yayi. power on the evening of April 6, 2016.

For her, if those that she considers as For, even if the people make this the “people” lead such an approach, the unusual complaint to the President of Head of State can only comply. the Republic to seek a third term him, “The head of state should be as a good democrat and respectful of listening to the will of his people,” she his word, people should remind him too insisted. Under these conditions, what that he swore to Pope Benedict XVI and to be done to the Constitution which many personalities from the internationexpressly provides just one renewable al community, that he is about to finish term for the president? Does the expres- his second and final term. The possibilsion of the will of the people, as envis- ity that President Boni Yayi comes to aged, override the Constitution? “listen to his people,” in this case, in “This is what democracy is. Only in view of its many professions of faith, the absence of a referendum held in the must therefore be rejected. rules of the art, the people will express It is hoped that the head of state will their will in some other way, only that not let an opportunity to prove to the the Constitution adopted and is still in world that there is only one word go force, will be respected in the field of away. In short, with the idea of steps to alternation in power", activts have said, create a third term for Boni Yayi, we adding, "Boni Yayi must keep his word". better understand the introduction of Undoubtedly, the minister's the popular initiative in the draft statements will not fail to shock many revision of the Constitution, still pendBeninoise. At a time when the ing in the National Assembly. Better permanent computerized voters list understand more of the Member of Par(FISA) is not yet actualized, where the liament Rashidi Gbadamassi who reorganization of local and municipal cently stated: “The Boni Yayi candidate elections, are postponed indefinitely, ... The KO will be reissued in 2016 …” these words of the minister are not likely to reassure the Beninoise about the good faith of the Head of State to leave

Morocco 2015: Benin steals the victory to Malawi (1-0)

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HE Squirrels se niors earned a valuable victory (1-0) against the Flames of Malawi, at the Stadium “Amitié” of Kouhounou at the end of the match for the first leg of the third preliminary round of the 2015 Can Morocco. The winning goal was reached following a raid of Jodel Dossou on the right side completed by a centre that Rudy Gestede took with the head off the crossbar before Stephane

Sessegnon catapulted the ball in the nets (his 4th goal in 3 matches) in the 18th minute.

But the Squirrels whose mission was to ensure win before the return match in two weeks, could not make things worse. They missed all their opportunities. First

by Stéphane Sessegnon (34th, 39th and 59th minutes), then Jodel Dossou (36th and 50th minutes), and Séidou Mama.

On the Malawian side,

whose objective was to leave Cotonou with a draw, all attempts to create difficulties to the Benin keeper Saturn Allagbe were unsuccessful.

They encountered a remarkable Benin defence led by Khaled Adenon and Reda Johnson. It should be noted that both teams finished the game after the evictions of Nana Nafiou Badarou by the Benin side and Yamikani Fodya in the ranks of Malawi.

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

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All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

GOGO-PETERS—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Iris Banimi Bofori Peters and later changed to Tamunonimi GogoPeters, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tamunonimi Braide. All former documents remain valid. University of Lagos and general public please take note.

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O N I A N WA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Sandra Nkemdilim Obiageli Onianwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sandra Nkemdilim Obiageli Ojiako. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and general public please take note.

AT O G B O — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Atogbo Winifred Akiomoado, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abubakar Winifred Akiomoado. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and general public please take note.

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ARINZE —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinyei Joan Arinze, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinyei Joan Uzoma.

All former documents bearing my former name remain valid. Nigerian Medical and Dental Council, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Lagoon Hospital and general public take note.

ANYA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anya Chinasa Sandra, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Ozougwu Chinasa Sandra. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 61

Vanguard CLASSIFIED AMADUOBOGHA— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amaduobogha Bridget Bulouere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Imuere Bridget Bulouere. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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All former documents remain vaild. Gerenal public please take note.

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Uduaghan commissions swimming pool in Warri D

ELTA state Governor, Doctor Emmanuel Udughan has said his government would not

slack in the area of youth empowerment through it’s Delta Beyond Oil programmes as more

Keshi Continues from B/P sub-committee to ensure the process of extending the coach’s contract is done in a week.

“The [NFF] executive committee mandated the technical sub-committee to open channels of communication with Mr Stephen Keshi with a view to extending his contract, as the NFF is still interested in working with him. The technical subcommittee is to report back to the executive committee within one week,” stated the football federation.

Keshi is one of the coaches linked to the head coach role of South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

With the NFF seeking to keep Keshi, the federation is also stepping up on

securing an international friendly match for the Super Eagles in the coming Fifa window.

The African champions are expected to start their qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in September and the NFF wants the tuneup match as preparation for the Afcon qualifier.

“The committee mandated the NFF management to proceed with discussions with a number of African countries with a view to the Super Eagles playing a friendly match in the Fifa window of Wednesday, 13th August, 2014, as part of preparations for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches,” the NFF said.

Continues from B/P him of financial misappropriation.

Eight members of the board endorsed the impeachment including; the first vice president Chief Mike Umeh, Chairman of chairmen, Chief Effiong Johnson, Dr. Shehu Adamu, Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Alhaji Muazu Suleyman, Deji Tinubu and Mallam Ahmed Kawu.

The impeachment of the NFF president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari may not have surprised most followers of Nigerian football. Apart from the fact that it has become like a culture that during each elective year, there will be one form of crisis that will eventually sweep away the sitting president, the case of Maigari may be slightly different.

Immediately after the country won the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the impression was created in certain quarters that since it was Maigari’s board that was able to win the continental trophy after the Tunisia 1994 victory, he was supposed to have a second term.

Interestingly, that success was also what divided the board as some

members who have been described as a cabal by the group that impeached Maigari literally hijacked the Bauchi State born football administrator so much so that only a few of them used to take far reaching decisions concerning the running of the nation’s football.

Before now, the board members had agreed to support each other so that if possible all of them could return to the board in the August 26 elective congress of the NFF, but little did they know that Maigari and some anointed members had other ideas.

Sources at the Glasshouse told Sports Vanguard that the chairman of the technical committee, Barr. Chris Green, board member, Ahmed Fresh and the chairman of the communications committee, Chief Emeka Inyama were the arrow heads that allegedly manipulated Maigari.

“The secret manner he ran the federation’s affairs, particularly, financial dealings was first blown open when the former Director General of the National Sports Commission, Pat Ekeji questioned why match bonuses and allowances of

facilities and infrastructures will be put in place to actualize the challenge.

Speaking at the commissioning of the newly constructed Olympic size swimming pool at the Warri City stadium, the governor explained that the Delta Beyond Oil programme was designed to ensure private sector driven economic sector and reduce unemployment to the barest minimum.

According to him the scheme has started offering job opportunities to young graduates and entrepreneurs in the state

Continues from B/P what he can do in the future. It depends on the way he takes this profession, but I think he’s a good talent.

“We’ve not decided yet (what the plan is for him) because it’s not

•The Olympic size swimming pool commissioned by Gov. Uduaghan and in the future it guarantees sustainable means of livelihood and addresses the challenge of restiveness among the youths in the state.

Meanwhile the swimming pool was used to host the sixth edition of the Chief of Naval Staff Open swimming championship.

Iheanacho easy. He’s just 17 and sometimes that’s the problem. We’ll see what he will do in the future.

For the moment he will stay with us and we’ll see when we return to England what will happen with him. But

he’s a very important player for the future for the club.

“After the tour we will see what happens with him. There are a lot of things to arrange to play in England but he has an important future.”

Maigari some Super Eagles assistant coaches were slashed when government had released about N850m (Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) to the football federation for the prosecution of the Afcon 2013 tournament.

“That development led to the sack of Super Eagles Assistant coach, Sylvanus Okpala by Maigari who swore never to forgive Okpala even if President Goodluck Jonathan intervened,” our source recalled.

It is now clear that most members of the board were not aware of the actual amount government released for the Cup of Nations in South Africa until the Ekeji incident. It is same for the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in Brazil as members of the board remain in the dark over how much the federation was given.

It was further learnt that before the World Cup, only the four of them allegedly took decisions of how to plot the country ’s participation at the championship including such issues like who got what and how the contracts were awarded.

But the final straw that broke the camel’s back was

in Brazil where it was said that unknown to other members, all the four had already purchased their forms for the next election even as the electoral committee was yet to make the sale of forms public.

And to perfect the plot, it was further said that Green, the chairman of the technical committee who left the country the same day with the Super Eagles players and stayed all through their camping in London and America left the team during the competition proper and the first vice president, Chief Mike Umeh was mandated to stay with the team while the ‘Super Four’ stayed together to perfect their return to the board.

The plot soon became a matter of public discourse as soon as Nigeria crashed out of the championship in the second round and that was what actually angered the rest coupled with all the alleged known excesses of Maigari and his kitchen cabinet. So they decided to take their pound of flesh.

The sacking of the entire board and the management team by a Jos High Court and the subsequent appointment of Lawrence Katken as the acting general secretary

brought the first opportunity for the aggrieved group to fight back, but the FIFA ban actually postponed the evil day.

Recall that immediately after FIFA lifted the suspension slammed on Nigeria following the withdrawal of the suit by Mrs. Ruth Baribote, the angry board members wanted to remove Maigari during the meeting but the absence of Enyimba of Aba chairman, Felix AnyansiAgwu hindered the plot but set the stage for what happened yesterday.

In fact before the crisis meeting of yesterday, it was clear that the board was entirely torn into two; one group was still loyal to Maigari while the other led

by Chief Mike Umeh was against him. And that also reflected in how they arrived for the meeting which did not last for up to 30 minutes before the impeachment was announced.

The Umeh group was the first to arrive the NFF secretariat while Maigari and his team arrived few minutes to 12 noon, underscoring the fact that each faction was meeting secretly and strategising on how to carry out their plan.

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 — 63

2014 Glasgow C’wealth Games

Opara wins Nigeria’s first medal in Glasgow

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

N

IGERIA began on a good note yesterday at the ongoing Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland as the country won her first medal in weightlifting.

Youthful Nkechi Opara gave Nigeria her first medal when she won a bronze medal in the Women 48kg weight class. She lifted a total weight of 162kg behind the duo of India’s Sanjita Khumukcham and Mirabai Chanu Saikhom who won the gold and silver respectively at the Clyde Auditorium.

Opara making her debute in the sport competed alongside, Khumukcham who began her weightlifting career in 2006 in Manipur, India and won her major cap at the 2011 Asian Championships in Tongling, China hauled a total lift of 173kg while Saikhom who emerged Best Lifter at the 2013 Junior National Championship in Guwahati, India lifted a total weight of 170kg to settle for the silver medal.

Nigeria topped the weightlifting medal charts in 2010 edition with five gold, four silver and five bronze followed by Samoa (3, 0, 0) and India (2, 2, 4).

Paul Bassey loses brother

G

EORGE Bassey, brother of veteran journalist, Paul Bassey has passed on. George died last week in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. He was aged 50.

According the burial arrangements announced by the family, the body of late George will be buried in Eket on August 26, 2014.

This time also, India, with six lifters from 2010 Games, are likely to maintain that level of performance.

Nigeria’s preparation was not too good as lack of funds did not allow them go for foreign training and exposure.

They have, however, named a strong squad, including 2010 63kg gold winner Obioma Agatha Okoli.

India had done exceedingly well in the 2013 Commonwealth Championships in Johannesburg last November. Many Indian lifters are among top three of the latest Commonwealth rankings.

Our Weightlifters are determnined for honours — Iquaibom

•To officiate in Glasgow

B

SWEAT MERCHANT . . . A Nigerian weightlifter doing a Clean & Jerk for the country.

Nigeria Table Tennis teams in good start A S the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth enters day three on Friday, Nigeria’s table tennis teams on Thursday began their campaign in the team event on a good note with the men and women team recording an emphatic victory over their opponents.

The women began their road to the podium early on Thursday when the trio of Edem Offiong, Ganiat and Rashidat Ogundele overcame their Kenya counterparts in a one-sided encounter

•Toriola

Mo Farah illness forces withdrawal

D

OUBLE Olympic and world long distance champion Mo Farah has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow due to illness.

The 31 year old was expected to compete in the 5,000m and 10,000m however has been unable to full recover from abdominal pains which forced him to pull out of the Diamond League meeting in Glasgow on the eve of the Games.

Farah will remain in his Fort Romeu training base

in the hope of recovering in time for next month’s European Championships in Zurich, where he defends his 5,000m and 10,000m titles.

“I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games,” said Farah.

“The sickness I had two weeks ago was a big setback for me. Training is getting better here in Font Romeu but I need another few weeks to get back to the level I was in 2012 and 2013.

•Mo Farah

with the Nigerians recording a 3-0 win.

Also, the men’s team led by veteran Segun Toriola as well as current African champion, Aruna Quadri and Ojo Onaolapo walloped Bangladesh 3-0 in their first group D match.

Also, the International Table Tennis Federation (IT TF) has seeded Nigeria male team as the number seed in the team event.

Defending champion, Singapore is rated number one, while England is two with India occupying the third spot in the rating.

According to ITTF Publication Director, Ian Marshall, Singapore occupies the top seeded position in both the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events.

The Asia giant has the top rated players like Clarence Chew, Gao Ning, Li Hu, Yang Zi and Zhan Jian which formed the powerful Men’s Team; whilst Feng Tianwei joins forces with Isabelle Siyun Li, Lin Ye, Yu Mengyu and Zhou Yihan competed the

OARD member cum Technical Director of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) ,Lawrence Iquaibom has been listed as one of the referees that will take charge of the weightlifting events at the on going Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Iquaibom, who won a commonwealth Games silver medal for Nigeria way back in 1982 in Brisbane, has since arrived Glasgow for the assignment.

The weightlifting event at the games starts today (Friday) with Nigeria being represented by a strong 15man team.

Iquaibom said before leaving Lagos early this week that he sees the invitation extended to him to officiate at the Games as an honor to the country, even as he pledged to do a good job.

“I see my inclusion as one of the technical officials as an honor for Nigeria and I will definitely not disappoint,” Iquaibom said.

He stressed that the Nigerian weightlifting team to the Games would also do the country proud in Glasgow, despite the not too solid preparation they had ahead of the Games.

“I think our weightlifters will also do well in Glasgow.

Their preparation may not have been the best, but they are determined to have a glorious outing as they did last year in Malaysia during the Commonwealth Weightlifting Champion-ship in Penang,” Iquaibom said.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Nigeria to open talks with Keshi

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation [NFF], under the acting president Mike Umeh, has said it will start the process of discussing with Stephen Keshi to

Why Maigari was impeached

BY JACOB AJOM and JUDE OPARA, Abuja

P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has been impeached.

Maigari who was reinstated last week after

•Keshi

INSIDE

8 pages of Sports Vanguard

Iheanacho is exceptional — Pellegrini

M

ANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini was delighted with Kelechi Iheanacho after the Nigerian scored in victory over Sporting Kansas City.

City beat a host of European clubs to sign Iheanacho after he scored six goals in seven games to claim the Golden Ball at last summer ’s Under 17 World Championship.

Pellegrini said: “Kelechi is just 17 years old and he’s a very important player for us in the future. He demonstrated today

a Jos High Court vacated an injunction that sacked him and his board was thrown out of office after the Executive Committee passed a vote of no confidence on his leadership and accussed

Continues on Page 61

•Maigari out

•Umeh in

continue as Super Eagles’ head coach.

The federation stated that it is still ready to work with Keshi and has mandated its technical Continues on Page 61

Continues on Page 61

•Iheanacho scores on his Man City debut

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Emphasise (6) 5 Suppose (6) 9 Coins (5) 10 Nut (6) 11 Examiner (6) 12 Dissuade (5) 14 Frank (4) 17 Free (3) 18 Choke (4) 20 Jockey (5) 22 Deposit (5) 23 Quit (7) 24 Twist (5) 26 Postpone (5) 29 Scorch (4) 30 Joint (3) 32 Dandy (4) 33 Regional (5) 35 Battle (6) 36 Eraser (6) 37 Fresher (5) 38 Deserved (6) 39 Proper (6)

DOWN 1 Division (6) 2 Dared (6) 3 Rushed (4) 4 Drain (5) 5 Performed (5) 6 Prophet (4) 7 Innumerable (6) 8 Infuriate (6) 13 Gigantic (7) 15 Throw (5) 16 Not ever (5) 18 Enciphered (5) 19 Leered (5) 21 Uncooked (3) 22 Guided (3) 24 Abrade (6) 25 Roof-beam (6) 27 Grope (6) 28 Rue (6) 30 Sharpened (5) 31 Peeled (5) 33 Solitary (4) 34 Entice (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Crest 5, Rotted 8, Table 10, Undone 11, Amid 14, Relate 15, General 18, Net 19, Tap 21, Dead 23, Deter 24, Born 27, Den 29, Oaf 31, Radiant 32, Seated 34, Mine 35, Chilly 38, Freed 39, Twenty 40, Needy.

DOWN: 2, Run 3, Stoned 4, Tan 5, Rear 6, Toiled 7, Defend 9, Belated 12, Men 13, Date 16, Ergo 17, Later 20, Penance 22, Akin 24, Basket 25, Roam 26, Nation 28, Divide 30, Fen 33, Defy 36, Hen 37, Lad.

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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