Reps in $20,000 bribery scandal

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62239

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

SYNAGOGUE: Police set to probe T.B. Joshua

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$9.3M ARMS DEAL:

Reps in $20,000 bribery scandal •PDP Reps got $20, 000 each — Kano Rep •It's an insult, says House Leader, Leo Ogor

By Emman Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—FOR the second time this week, pandemonium reigned in the House of Representatives, yesterday, following allegations of a $50,000 bribe to members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to suppress a house inquest into the alleged $9.3 million cash seized by the South African Government.

The House went into a near riot following the admission by a member of the House, Rep. Ali

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We killed Shekau long ago 12 — Military Mr & Mrs NIGERIA/BRITAIN—President Goodluck Jonathan (R) with the British Prime Minister, David Cameron during a bilateral meeting at the ongoing 69th Session of The United Nations General Assembly in New York, yesterday. State House photo.

COLUMNISTS: Between the Pastor and the General Overseer: Nigeria's moral burden •P.17

Gun-running, money Jonathan on the laundering, run - again smuggling?

•P.19

•P.19

MUTINY: 9 Ex-Senate President in court to stop sentence

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Imo police ban vigilantes from bearing firearms

By Chidi Nkwopara

T

HE Imo State Police Command has banned vigilante groups and the Imo Security Network from bearing firearms.

Governor Rochas Okorocha established the security network shortly after taking charge of state affairs.

Similarly, the police warned that any person or group of persons found to be in possession of firearms at the expiration of the two weeks deadline would be ruthlessly dealt with.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, read the riot act in Owerri, when he unveiled the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Command.

Apart from banning them from using firearms, the CP also accused the security outfits of “engaging in acts that are not in consonance with their briefs”.

He said: “The armed groups have been terrorising innocent members of the society and have become law unto themselves.

“They have reportedly been running illegal detention cells across the state, as well as being involved in extortion and several other unlawful acts.

“If these desperate contraptions were not disarmed and their activities strictly monitored, it may get to a stage when they will get out of control and become an albatross to the police and society.”

Giving an account of his stewardship, the CP said that between March and August this year, the Command recovered about 40 stolen vehicles, arrested 38 armed robbers and car snatchers, rescued 22 kidnap victims and arrested 39 kidnappers.

Ali also said 39 stolen children were rescued and handed over to their legitimate parents and 46 child traffickers were arrested.

13 die in Owerri auto crash

By Chidi Nkwopara

A

HEART rending spectacle played out yesterday along the ever-busy Owerri-Aba federal highway as no fewer than 13 out of the 14 people in a commuter bus, perished in a ghastly road accident.

The unfortunate citizens lost their lives when the commercial vehicle they were travelling in had a head on collision with a Mack truck.

Traffic was held up along the road for hours, while sympathisers thronged the scene hoping to identify the victims, as men of Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and the police had hectic moments trying to get the traffic moving.

An eyewitness said the Mack truck was overtaking another truck at Agbala, which is about 20 minutes drive from Owerri, when the accident occurred.

Vanguard gathered that the commuter bus, belonging to the Young Shall Grow Motors, was heading to Lagos from Aba and had 14 passengers in it.

The eyewitness said: “Only one person out of the 14 persons in the bus survived the accident. The rest, including the driver, died on the spot as a result of the serious impact.”

Continuing, the eyewitnesses said that while the truck driver was attempting to overtake another truck, the bus driver was on top speed and could not safely manoeuvre his way out of a ditch allegedly dug by the contracting firm handling the dualisation of the road.

“The sad thing is that as soon as the crash occurred, the driver alighted from his vehicle and disappeared into the thin air,” the man recounted.

An indigene of Agbala, who simply identified himself as Mr. Ajoku, blamed the accident on

the contracting firm, stressing that if the firm had not dug ditches on the sides of the road,

the bus driver would have succeeded in meandering through the troubled spot.

ACCIDENT: The accident on Owerri-Aba Expressway that claimed 13 lives, yesterday.

NAN PHOTO.

Commissioner's mother rescued in Rivers 60 days after kidnap

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— TWO Brigade anti-kidnap unit, Port Harcourt, yesterday evening, confirmed the rescue of the mother of Rivers State Commissioner for Transport,

Mrs Gloria Tolofari, who was taken hostage two months ago.

Spokesman of the barracks, Major Michael Etete, said she was rescued in Azuzuama during an operation by the anti-kidnap unit of the Brigade and the Department of State

Services, DSS. Etete, who appealed for information that would assist in wiping out brigands, warned criminals to desist from crime or flee the state.

He said Mrs Tolofari was rescued on Tuesday.

Man sentenced to life imprisonment for rape

By Gbenga Olarinoye

A

N Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesha has sentenced one Obafemi Kolawole to life imprisonment for rape.

Justice A. B. AbdulKareem convicted Kolawole on onecount charge of rape preferred against him.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, was contrary to Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 vol. II, Laws of State of Osun, 2003.

Justice AbdulKareem found the convict guilty of rape and unlawful carnal knowledge of a lady without her consent.

The prosecutor, Mrs Rachael Ojimi, had told the court that on September 15, 2007, the convict, at about 7:30p.m., went to the house of the victim and forcefully raped her.

According to the prosecutor, the Medical report obtained from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Teaching Hospital Osogbo, also confirmed that she was raped and impregnated.

Passing the judgement, the judge said that the prosecutor, Mrs Ojimi, a chief state counsel from the Ministry of Justice, proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

LOADED: An overloaded vehicle on Otu-Iseyin Road, Oyo State,

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How I fell in love with 13-yr-old girl, 60-year-old man confesses

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—TWO persons were shot dead at the early hours of yesterday in a suspected war between two rival cult groups in Benin, just as the Edo State Police Command paraded 46 suspected armed robbers, cultists and child defilers, including a 60 years old man who defiled a 13-year-old girl.

The killings shocked residents of Oluku area as they woke up to see two dead bodies dropped by the road side. The Edo State Police Commissioner, Funso Adebanjo, who paraded the 46 suspects, said the police were on the trail of the killers, whom he described as “useless”.

Some of the items recovered from the suspects included 20 guns, 192 live cartridges, 9 cars and 12 cutlasses.

Adebanjo recalled that “early this month, we paraded 68 suspected criminals and today we are parading 46 suspected criminals made up of armed robbers, kidnappers and people involved in rape, defilement of minors and people waging war against communities.

“These people were rounded up from different parts of the state. The command remains grateful to the people of the state for their support so far. We all must collaborate with the police and I am happy Edo is the safest state in the SouthSouth. But we are worried about old men defiling little children, we must kick against that in our society.

“Honestly, the situation is worrisome and those of them who are involved in it must be dealt with. If it is a curse we will clear it from their heads because their action for me, is madness” he stated.

The 60 year-old Edekin

Ojaogbe, who defiled a 13year-old girl, confessed his sins to Vanguard.

His words: “I was at home when this girl went to the toilet.

I called her and told her that I need her. She now came to me,

we entered my room and I locked the door and the window and I slept with her.

“It was later when I went to mould block that I was told that policemen from Afuze came to arrest me.

“My people begged the girl’s parents but they were angry. I have slept with her three times because I love the small girl.

“I was married, but I am not with my wife anymore. I have three children.”

EBOLA: Health workers screening pupils for Ebola Virus Disease at a private school in Dougirei near Jimeta, Adamawa State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Tension mounts over youth’s murder in Rivers community

By Davies Iheamnachor

O

GONI—THERE was heavy tension, yesterday, in Gokana Local Council of Rivers state as youths said to be from Nwebiara community allegedly ambushed and killed an okada rider from Barako community.

Vanguard gathered that the boys who killed the Okada rider, Mr. Letura, had on that day booked him to take them to Nwebiara community. A source said he was murdered as he took the boys to the place where they negotiated

with him that they were going.

The source also revealed that the two communities have been locked in deep communal crisis adding that several lives have gone in relation to the crisis.

A senior officer from the Police Divisional Headquarters in Gokana LGA confirmed the incident, adding that investigations are on to unravel what led to Letura’s death and the culprits

A

yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, has dismissed the suit filed by members of Osunba family of Imore challenging the appointment of Oba Taofik Akeju as the traditional ruler of Imore and Apapa land.

The presiding judge, Justice, O.O Femi-Adeniyi, in his ruling, said “after considering

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—POLICE in Delta State, yesterday arrested Peter Bolorunduro Igbekele, 25, for allegedly knocking down a policeman (names withheld) at the DSC Round about, Effurun.

A swift statement by DSP Celestina Kalu (Mrs.), Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command said that the victim, a Cadet ASP attached to the Ebrumede Police Division was on duty at about 11am at the point where he was hit by Igbekele.

“The cadet officer died on the way to the hospital.

The aforementioned driver has been arrested, and he claimed to have lost control of the vehicle.

Meanwhile investigation into the incident has commenced with a view to determining whether the action of the driver was deliberate or otherwise.

“The Command wishes to warn all motorists against careless driving as anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law”, DSP Kalu stated.

A witness at the scene however said, “It is a pity, but the police need to watch their ways. It beats my imagination why policemen should mount checkpoints and road blocks at a roundabout, not in the least a busy one like the DSC Roundabout.

It is unfortunate like I said, but it is avoidable for police to hang around roundabouts.”

Chinese national kidnapped in Kogi

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—A Chinese national working in Kogi State was yesterday abducted by armed men suspected to be

kidnappers.

It was gathered that the armed men invaded the Greater Lokoja Water Works, managed by a Chinese firm and kidnapped the expatriate from his residential

Court dismisses suit against Imore monarch

By Ifeanyi Okolie

Driver kills policeman in Warri

the issue of law raised by the respective defence counsel, I find that the claimants have admitted that they were not entitled to ascend to the throne of Alahun as declared in exhibit C3 and also failed to satisfy this court that they had exhausted all administrative remedies available to them under the Obas and Chiefs of Lagos State Law before approaching this

court.”

Justice Femi-Adeniyi said the burden of proving their legal right to ascend the throne of Alahun lay on claimants who asserted the fact.

Only after the claimant had succeeded in satisfying the court on the preponderance of evidence, that the burden of proving the opposite would shift to the defendants.

quarters built for the workers by the Kogi State Government.

The incident happened barely 24 hours after gunmen attacked a police station in Adogo, the headquarters of Ajaokuta Local Council of the state.

A source said the armed men stormed the premises located at Ganaja Village at about 2am shooting sporadically to scare away neighbours living around the quarters.

A resident, Abubakar Usman, told Vanguard that residents were terrified by loud gun shots which lasted for almost three hours.

When contacted, the Kogi state Police command, Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP, Elvise Aguebor was said to be out of office while several calls to his cell phone were not answered.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

POCKET CARTOON

President Goodluck Jonathan being received by the CMD, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala while the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark (2R); Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke (L) and the Women Affairs Minister, Hajia Zainab Maina (2L) watch during arrival formalities for the President as he arrived to attend the 69th Summit of the United Nations at The Pierre, Hotel, New York, United States of America. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Reps in $20,000 bribery scandal Continues from Page 1

Madaki, APC, Kano to the leakage of the story of the alleged bribe to the PDP members. Madaki, however, confessed that the bribe amount was $20,000.00 and not the $50,000 as reported by a national newspaper, yesterday.

The PDP deputy leader in the House, Rep. Leo Ogor, however, yesterday, described the allegation as an embarrassment, unparliamentary and an act of blackmail.

The House nevertheless directed its committee to investigate the fresh scam allegation and report within two weeks.

The controversy Controversy started at the resumed plenary of the House, yesterday,

when chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Albert Sam-Tsokwa (PDP, Taraba), raised a point of order bordering on the breach of his privileges.

Citing Order 8, Rule 20 of the House Rules, the Taraba lawmaker complained that he was embarrassed by stories in some national dailies on the walk-out by the All Progressives Congress, APC, members at the previous day ’s sitting and the insinuation that PDP members in the House were given $50,000 each to stall debate on the motion to investigate the $9.3 million botched arms deal in South Africa.

Sam-Tsokwa said: “As the House chairman of the Rules and Business committee, this issue is not to my knowledge. No money was received by

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Your success this year is dependent on your cooperation between you and your God. You will do what you need to do for God to do what He has to do.

any member of my party or myself.”

Although, Sam-Tsokwa did not mention anybody’s name, he alleged that the story was the handiwork of a member of the House, adding that the news story breached his privilege as a member of the House.

Rationalising the ruling of the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha the previous day, which led to the disagreement on the floor, he explained that: “we are all aware that infrastructure motion can be raised, seconded and voted upon. This is not the first time issues like this have been brought to the floor of the House and rejected.”

He submitted that the protest and subsequent walk-out on the House by APC lawmakers was uncalled for and condemnable and consequently prayed the House to mandate the Ethics and Privileges Committee to investigate Madaki’s allegations.

Ruling on the matter, the Deputy Speaker referred the matter to the committee but cautioned his colleagues that the House “is at trying

times” and “should be careful as circumstances like this could lead to casualties. It is not my wish that such should happen. It is regrettable that despite the fact that I went extra mile to take the motion, there was still a walk-out,” he said.

Upon the Deputy Speaker ’s ruling, Madaki stood up on a point of order to speak.

But his effort was igreeted with jeers from some members which created another pandemonium on the floor. Although, Madaki was consistently shouted down by his colleagues, the minority whip, Samson Osagie (APC, Edo) intervened and pleaded that Madaki be allowed to speak.

Madaki's confession To the consternation of members, Madaki confessed that he was the person that broke the bribery allegations to the press. He confirmed that he told a journalist that he had it on good authority “that PDP members were given $20,000 each.”

He maintained that what he told the journalist over the telephone about the bribe was that he was aware that each of the PDP members was bribed $20,000 but not $50,000 as was reported.

Following Madaki’s confession, the House was again enveloped in a state of rowdiness for about 10 minutes before

order was eventually restored, necessitating the Deputy Speaker to refer the matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for investigation.

When contacted on the issue, Deputy Leader, Rep Ogor said: “The whole episode is embarrassing and disgusting.

How can somebody fabricate such lies?

“We voted on the matter and the nays carried the day and you still staged a walk-out to protest that you were defeated,” Ogor wondered.

“I found that publication embarrassing and as far as I am concerned it is pure blackmail. It is totally unacceptable and unparliamentary.

“People should know that before you go to the press and make such an allegation you must have your facts as nothing of that nature even happened and I challenge the lawmaker to come up with his facts.

“For the fact that APC was defeated was not enough reason for them to walk out and to add insult to it they brought the allegation that the same PDP members collected $50,000.”

Jonathan at UN, tasks world leaders on terrorism

By Ben Agande

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BUJA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan declared, yesterday, in New York that the country will not relent in its fight against terrorism, pointing out that there must be international collaboration to end the menace.

In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, President Jonathan said the world must come together to halt the practice of terrorist organisations occupying territories in order to “collectively halt it before it becomes the norm”.

He also called for the

reform of the United Nations Security Council in order to ensure “equitable representation of all regions in the decision making process of the Council”.

On the abducted Chibok girls, President Jonathan reassured the international community that Nigeria will not relent until they are rescued safe and alive.

He said: “Let me underline today, that we shall not waver until we end this mindless war on the innocent, and bring all the perpetrators to justice. We will triumph over terrorism.

“In Nigeria, the threat

of terrorism in a few states in the North-Eastern part of our country has proven to be a challenge to national stability.

“We will spare no effort in addressing the menace. We are, therefore, confronting it with every resource at our disposal with due regard for the fundamental human rights and the rule of law,” he said.

Speaking on the need for an urgent review of United Nations peacekeeping operations across the world, President Jonathan said: “The

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—9

TORN NIGERIAN PASSPORT: Egypt Air admits error, offers to pay compensation

By Emman Ovuakporie

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B U J A — T H E management of Egypt Air, which was accused of maltreatment and wrongful deportation of a Nigerian medical student, Joshua Kunle AbdulAzeez, studying in Ukraine and tearing his Nigerian international passport has admitted making a mistake and offered to compensate the student.

This followed an intervention by the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora.

Having received a complaint filed against Egypt Air, the committee, led by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa yesterday met with representatives of the Airline on circumstances surrounding the alleged negligence, harassment and deportation of the complainant back to Nigeria aboard EgyptAir. It will be recalled that Saturday Vanguard had exclusively reported how Mr Abdulazeez was detained two Saturdays ago, starved for four days and his passport torn to shreds.

According to Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (APC, Lagos), "the error of not ascertaining the final destination of the complainant from his ticket was that of Egypt Air.’’ ‘’If you are going to London for instance, your final destination must be known before your visa is approved or before air ticket would be accepted by airline operators,’’ she said.

She added that ‘’ours is that, once a Nigerian is ill-treated anywhere in the world, we must make sure that justice is done’’.

Putting the issues in perspective, legal representative of Egypt Air, Robert Clarke (SAN), told the Committee that

though the incident of maltreatment and harassment as reported did not occur while the complainant was still in the physical custody of Egypt Air, the issue of negligence arising from wrong routing of his destination in the ticket was a mistake his clients cannot deny.

He said, ‘’although, my clients made a mistake when his ticket was being routed which had to do with the exchange between Egypt Air and a Turkish airline, however, the boy partly caused the problem for himself when he entered a Turkish airline that was not going to Kiev. He tried to board a plane that was going to Moldova, that was when it was discovered that he did not have a visa to that destination’’. ‘’The truth is that, we made a

mistake on his ticket; that much we are ready to admit and make compensation as appropriate. We wronged the boy. We were negligent and he has suffered tremendous damage for which we are ready to own up and address accordingly. I feel for the young man for having suffered on the account of our mistake of not routing his ticket to his final destination, which was Kiev’’, he said.

He also hinted that the matter has assumed a legal dimension following a notice of service by some lawyers on behalf of the boy, claiming damages in huge sum of money. ‘’Two weeks ago, some lawyers wrote to the airline claiming a huge sum of money in damages, so as we speak now, the matter

has gone beyond the realm of this Committee to a Federal High Court according to the letter we got’’, he explained.

Joshua Abdul-Azeez, 17 was on his way to Kiev, the Ukrainian capital when his passport was seized and torn by Immigration officials at the Istanbul Airport in Turkey for not possessing a visa to his preferred destination, Moldova.

However, in his petition to the House Committee on Diaspora, he alleged that his ordeal was caused by the lack of professionalism on the part of Egypt Air which handled his travel arrangements from Nigeria.

The Committee however urged the Airline to reach an amicable settlement with the young man and take necessary measures to avoid future occurrences.

VISIT: Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime (5th left) with the South-East Zonal Integrated Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by their Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, during a courtesy call by the committee at the Government House, Enugu...yesterday.

So Long a Night immortalises Nwachukwu

By Laju Arenyeka & Prisca

Sam-Duru

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AGOS—THE late Arts editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. McPhillip Nwachukwu who passed on last year was yesterday celebrated at the launch of his book, “So long a Night” in Lagos. The book, published after his death, features a collection of the writer’s poems inspired by his battle with a lifethreatening illness in 2005, which eventually claimed his life in 2013.

Mr. Toni Kan, who reviewed the book, quoted McPhillips’ own words to drive home the message: “Forgive me if I leave the stage halfway, it is because I have journeyed for long through life’s experiences.'' Kan said the poems were written “in service of the message, and that the poet had a lot of messages to tell. They are his last will and testament”.

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The Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Sam Amuka, represented by the Editor-inChief, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, encouraged those present to live as the late McPhillip did. He said: “Do your best while you are here on earth, and hope that your best will be good enough and speak well of you when you are gone.

That was the McPhillip way.”

Also eulogising her husband, Mrs. Tina McPhillip-Nwachukwu who organised the event in association with the Arts and Culture Writers Association of Nigeria, AWON, said McPhillip’s poetry makes him come alive to her. She told Vanguard : “Anytime I go through the poems he wrote, I still feel his presence. It’s like we’re talking in some spiritual sort of way. I feel his inner voice. I communicate with him through his poems.”

She also said she felt elated at

the success of the book launch.

Her words: “I feel fulfilled.

Though I have been in pain for a long time, the success of this book launch has made me very happy.

It might not be next year; I do not know when exactly it will be, but I know that I will come up with something new in his honour very soon. It will definitely be based on his work. He had a lot of poems that have not been published yet.”

The event also doubled as the Maiden Memorial Lecture series in honour of the late journalist.

Guest speaker, Toyin Akinosho spoke on the ‘Influence of Arts and Culture reporting towards Nation Building: The McPhillip Example.’

Akinosho said: “I know that my main brief here is to discuss the role of Art writers in contributing to the role of the culture industry.

But the first thing I would urge is that since we are journalists, we

zLate McPhillip Nwachukwu might want to take advantage of McPhillip’s memory, which we so cherish, to examine the question of negligence and quality in the Nigerian medical landscape, in a way that, hopefully will lead us to a place of such blinding self-awareness, that we will use knowledge as a curative in itself. Nigerian journalism ought to pay attention to its own health, starting with situating death of one of its most likeable, personable practitioners in context, and this is by investigating it thoroughly.”

MUTINY:

Ex-Senate President in court to stop sentence

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

F

ORMER Senate President Ameh Ebute, on Wednesday filed an appeal against the execution of six of the 12 soldiers condemned to death by the Military Tribunal, which tried and found them guilty of mutiny.

Ebute, a renowned lawyer, also filed a motion for a stay of execution of the condemned soldiers at the Appeal Court in Abuja. Ameh told Vanguard in an interview that he filed the appeal in accordance with Sections 183 and 184 of the Armed forces Act cap A of the Laws of the Federation, which give the condemned men up to 10 days to appeal against their conviction.

Ameh however asked the military not to take further action on the convicted soldiers until the appeal is heard and determined in accordance with the law of the land especially as the GOC who they allegedly attempted to kill not killed by the appellants.

The former Senate President however expressed concern over the condition under which the condemned men were being detained by the military authorities in Lagos, saying it was tantamount to execution.

According to Ameh, the soldiers had been detained in an isolated dark facility bereft of the basic amenities that can hardly support life, saying that it would be difficult for human beings to survive under such condition.

While calling on the military authorities to transfer the condemned men to regular detention facility the lawyer pleaded that nothing should be done to take their lives, as Nigeria was not in a jungle.

Ameh said, “The condition under which these men are being kept amounts to execution since they are kept in a permanently dark room bereft of the basic facilities of life.

10— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

PRESENTATION: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (right) his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (3rd right), presenting an Inspirational Woman Award to former Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Ayotunde Phillips rtd (2nd right), First Lady of Lagos State and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, Dame Abimbola Fashola (3rd left), Chairperson, National Women Conference 2014, Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde (2nd left) and wife of the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Mayowa Ikuforiji (left), during the closing ceremony of the 2014 National Women Conference in Lagos, yesterday.

SYNAGOGUE: Police set up team

to probe building collapse zNEMA declares 131 dead zAs South Africa begins identification of victims

By Emma Nnadozie, Crime

Editor

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AGOS—POLICE authorities, over the week, constituted a team of detectives to carry out thorough investigation into the circumstances which led to the collapse of a six-storey building within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN. Reliable police sources said the team is led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of one of the Area Commands in the state.

This was even as the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has put the official figure of the death toll at 131.

Vanguard gathered that the police team which had already swung into action, would in the course of the investigation, drill Prophet Joshua extensively, on the issue of a low-flying aeroplane which he alleged, had hovered severally around the building before its collapse.

The police would further interrogate him on the structural condition of the building before it was raised from a two-storey structure to a six-storey edifice; having held preliminary discussions with the Founder as well as collected all the data (both pictorial and material), needed for a thorough job.

Based on this development, sources said detectives would also

officially interrogate Prophet Josuah with a view to determining the actual cause of the tragedy.

According to the sources, "the detectives would drill Prophet Joshua extensively, on the issue of a low-flying aeroplane alleged to have circled severally around the building before its collapse. They will further interrogate him on the structural condition of the building before it was raised from a two-storey building to a six-storey edifice."

Other vital issues which the detectives vowed to investigate, according to sources, include: whether the church management cleared with Lagos State Physical and Structural Development department before raising the structure; the role played by officials of the department before and during the elevation of the structure; whether the officials who were supposed to have detected the attempt to raise the structure were compromised or not; why they failed to stop work on the structure from the start and if at all, other buildings inside the premises of the church followed the laid down rules before they were erected.

Furthermore, the police team will probe the status of foreigners that throng the church in their numbers with a

view to ascertaining whether they were officially cleared by the relevant departments before entering the country or not, their official status and duration of stay in the church and actions taken by the church to keep accurate record of events in the church.

Sources said also that pathologists working on bodies of the victims had been directed to delve into their health status with a view to finding out if any of them had communicable diseases like the dreaded Ebola before the disaster.

One of the sources intimated Vanguard that so far, they were appalled to discover that such large number of worshippers were allowed access into the structure which was still under construction before it collapsed.

The source said these are some of the questions they are eagerly waiting for Prophet Josuah to provide answers to.

The source further said: “Certainly, nobody is above the laws of the land; we have stern instructions from our boss to carry out thorough investigations into the tragedy especially, with the large number of foreign casualties recorded. The thinking in security circles is that efforts should be made to ascertain the extent of security breaches in the church which had been witnessing an influx of foreigners from far and wide. We will use it

as a parameter to checkmate other such places of worship where foreigners especially rush to with a view to knowing the activities of both the church leadership and their followers. I assure you that all these issues including that of the low-flying plane that allegedly hovered around the church before the building collapsed would be blown open in no distant time and the police is serious about this.”

Meanwhile, as the emergency rescue operation wound up on the collapsed Guest House at the SCOAN, officials of NEMA, have said that no fewer than 131 people perished in the disater.

Meanwhile, a South African minister, Jeff Radebe said yesterday that a five-step process of identification on the bodies of the South Africans killed in the building collapse has commenced.

Updating reporters in Pretoria on the situation, the minister said this was a “methodical and time consuming process, and one would not be able to predict the exact time-frames for completion.”

Radebe said 62 of the 84 South Africans killed in the disaster had been identified “with certainty.”

“On the issue of the bodies, right now, the team that is there in Lagos has been able to identify with certainty 62

South Africans. As you know there are 115 deceased in this tragedy, and 84 of the 115 are South Africans, so we still have a long time to go,” he said, adding that he meant not long in terms of time, but in effort.

According to him, “government was committed to ensuring that all those killed were accurately identified, and their bodies brought home. We want to assure the South African nation that we shall spare neither strength nor effort in ensuring that the deceased are repatriated back home.

“We believe that the repatriation of the deceased is the crucial first step in helping the families find closure in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.”

Radebe, who heads an inter-ministerial team tasked

by President Jacob Zuma to manage the situation, said identification of bodies following a disaster was a specialised scientific process, involving painstakingly thorough procedures.

He added that “a South African team of experts on the ground in Nigeria is working closely with their Nigerian counterparts to ensure that this process is completed as soon as possible. The process involved either identification of bodies by next of kin, through photo identification, from fingerprints, from dental records, or - if all these were not possible - through DNA. “Our government appeals to the families and the nation to bear with us as we allow our team in Lagos the necessary time to complete this process. All efforts were being made to keep the identification process as short as possible.”

Radebe also said that it was not yet time to discuss the issue of granting visa to TB Joshua to come to South Africa.

He was responding to a question on what government planned to do about a call to deny Joshua permission to enter the country.

“Our main pre-occupation at the moment, as government, is to bring back the mortal remains of 84 citizens to South Africa. That issue (of a visa) will be entertained at a later stage,” he said.

The ANC Youth League on Tuesday called on government not to issue Joshua a visa.

“TB Joshua should not be allowed to come to South Africa until we know what happened to our fellow countrymen at his church,” spokesperson, Bandile Masuku said in a statement at the time.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—11

EKITI GUBER: Fayose appeals court ruling A

By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO-EKITI—EKITI State governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has appealed the ruling of an Ado Ekiti High Court which dismissed his earlier application challenging the jurisdictional power of the court to try him for nonqualification to partake in the June 21 governorship election.

This came as scores of youths, market women, groups and associations stormed the premises of the state high court yesterday, condemning the sociopolitical group, E-Eleven, which dragged the governorelect to court.

In the Notice of Appeal filed in the Court of Appeal in the Ado Ekiti Judicial Division, in the suit number HAD/51/2014 and deposed to by his lead counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, Fayose averred that the presiding judge, Justice Segun Ogunyemi, erred in law to have overruled the preliminary objection of the appellant and assumed jurisdiction to hear the case.

He noted that the appellant, pursuant to Order 17, Rule 16 of the Ekiti State High Court(Civil Procedure Rules) 2011, had 14 days within which to file and serve a counter-affidavit to the originating summons The appellant further submitted that the learned

trial judge erred in law to have held that he had become functus officio and could not, therefore, set aside a ruling granted ex-parte, noting that the learned trial judge was not functus officio over an order granted ex-parte Fayose in his appeal, further noted that the ruling of the learned trial judge was against the principle of fair hearing, adding that it would foreclose the filing of defence of the appellant to the

originating summons which was, according to him, awaiting extension of time within which to do so.

He, therefore, sought from the court an order allowing the appeal,an order setting aside the ex-parte order of the lower court made on June 6, 2014, abridging the time within which the appellant was to file and serve a counter-affidavit to the originating summons.

The notice equally sought

an order setting aside the interlocutory ruling of the lower court delivered on September 22,2014, and an order extending time within which the appellants might file their counter-affidavit and other relevant processes in defence of the action Joined in the suit are Mr Adeniyi Ajakaiye, Mr Olufemi Ajayi, Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

BRIEFING: Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose (left), and Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi, former Deputy Governor of the State, during a briefing on the current situation in Ekiti State, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

HELICOPTER LANDING: School accuses Police

Affairs Minister of trespass I

By Ola Ajayi

B A D A N — MANAGEMENT of Bodija International School, Ibadan, Oyo State, has accused Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan, of trespass by landing his helicopter on the playground of the school without approval.

Already, the school has petitioned Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, alleging that the minister’s helicopter destroyed some of its property when it landed around 10:30 am last Sunday.

The petition read in part: “It has been brought to our notice that your helicopter landed on the school grounds without the knowledge and consent of the school authorities.

“We hereby remind you sir, that ours is a private organization and landing the helicopter on our premises without permission constitutes trespass.”

The petition, which was signed

by Olajumoke Ojo & Co, said since the minister did not get the consent of the management of the school, his action was

tantamount to trespassing.

He said the action “caused considerable damage to underlying drainage pipes in the School Sports Arena currently undergoing major construction works.”

Continuing, Ojo said: “We, hereby, request that this should

not be repeated. As you can imagine, this action, if repeated, could disrupt educational activities and pose considerable danger, if the school had been in session.”

The school started massive construction work on the playground shortly before the

end of third term of last academic session at cost estimated to run into millions of Naira before the helicopter landed on it.

The school was established by late Supreme Court Justice, Kayode Eso.

Osun PDP blames students' mass failure in WAEC on state govt policies

By Gbenga Olaniroye

O

SOGBO—OSUN State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has blamed the embarrassing outing posted by students who sat for last May/June West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, examination in public schools in the state on some polices of the state government.

The party decried what it called declining standard of education in the state under the leadership of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, saying the education sector in the state was gradually drifting towards total collapse. It also blamed the

situation on perceived resolve by the government to impress and empower “few party boys” at the expense of imparting positively on people.

But APC in a swift reaction, stated that PDP was only being economical with the truth by laying the blame at the door step of the state government, instead of the PDP controlled federal government.

The party said the extent to which the state had sank education in the state was evidenced by the statistical analysis of the last May/June West Africa Examination Council,

WAEC results, published on the website of the body, which placed Osun State in 22nd position, coming behind states as Kogi and Benue.

The PDP in a statement signed

by Prince Diran Odeyemi, its Director of Media and Strategy and made available to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, said the quick slide from the Mount Olympus of educational growth

by Osun State which occupied 9th position in 2009, according to WAEC passing rate, to the abyss of mediocrity few years after had given the present administration out as the one with much fuss and less focus.

Activist, stars in fresh call for Chibok girls' release

I

By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—HUMAN rights activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, and some notable Nollywood stars have made fresh calls for the release of Chibok girls who have been in captivity of Boko Haram insurgents since April 14.

They made the call yesterday in Ibadan during a public awareness programme on continuous voters registration, organized

by Women Arise for Change Initiative and Independent National Electoral Commission at the ancient Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

Odumakin, Saheed Balogun, President, The Golden Movies Ambassador, Babatunde Tokunbo, Kola Olaiya, Rasak Olayiwola and many other Nollywood stars lamented that the innocent girls had been in captivity for the past 162 days, praying God to prevail on the insurgents to released the girls to their traumatized parents.

Daniel lacks power to merge Labour Party with PDP —Oginni

A

By Daud Olatunji

B E O K U TA — A faction of Labour Party in Ogun State has said the former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, lacked power to merge the party with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Factional Secretary of the party in the state, Sunday Oginni, stated this yesterday while reacting to the report that Daniel was planning to merge Labour Party with the PDP. Daniel, who is said to be planning to defect to the PDP anytime from now, was said to have told his loyalists in Labour Party that he would merge the party with the PDP ahead of the 2015 elections.

12 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

2015: I won't dump PDP —Omo-Agege

By Festus Ahon

A

S A B A — A GOVERNORSHIP aspirant in Delta State, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has said that he has no intention of quitting the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, should he fail to secure the party’s 2015 gubernatorial ticket.

Reacting to media reports, Omo-Agege, in a statement by his Director of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Godwin Anaughe, said: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement by one Sir Samuel Onosakponome in a paid advert published in the media, where he claimed that our principal, Omo-Agege, may have plans of dumping the PDP for another party should he fail to secure the governorship ticket of the party for the 2015 general polls.

“I wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that OmoAgege has never and will never entertain the idea of leaving the PDP, which he laboured very hard to build. We believe in the rules of the game and will respect the democratic wishes of the members in the primary election scheduled for November 29, 2014.

“From the very beginning, Omo-Agege made it clear that

he was in the race to win.

Nothing has happened since then to change that belief. We are very comfortable with where we are. In fact, we are more confident today than we were at the beginning, that we will win the PDP gubernatorial ticket and the election.

“We appeal to our numerous well wishers and followers to remain calm and resolute in the task of sustaining and

building on the legacy of the Emmanuel Uduaghan administration when elected next year. We are focused on the things that we need to do to win and we will not be distracted.

“We are not shaken by the paid advertorial in question as our commitment to the PDP and the democratic process is total. In the course of our just concluded consultation tour of

the 25 local government areas of Delta State, Omo-Agege made a commitment to Deltans that he will not engage in smear campaign. We will keep to this commitment and every commitment we have made and will make during the course of this campaign. We shall not succumb to cheap blackmail from those who may be scared of our ever rising profile in the field.”

CONSULTATION: From right: PDP governorship aspirant in Delta State, Sir Anthony Obuh; Chief Uche Ugboma, and the Chairman, PDP, Isoko North Local Government Area, Hon. Tutumor Daniel, when the guber aspirant visited PDP leaders in Isoko North LGA as part of his consultations in the state yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini.

Anioma PDP endorses Edevbie for Delta guber

By Oboh Agbonkhese

P

EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, leaders and members in Anioma, Delta State, have endorsed Olorogun David Edevbie, a governorship aspirant for the 2015 general elections in the state, in the absence of an Anioma person emerging as the party's flag bearer.

They noted that Edevbie would remain their choice if they had to support anyone outside Delta North.

They spoke during Edevbie's consultation visits to the nine local government areas in the district, where they acknowledged that Edevbie was eminently qualified to be governor of Delta State based on his experience in the private sector in Nigeria and overseas.

Edevbie recounted his contribution to the development of the state while he served as Commissioner for Finance and the positive impact he made towards the development of the Niger Delta region while he served as Principal Secretary to the late President, Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua.

Some of the stakeholders Edevbie visited were PDP

chairmen in Oshimili South, Evang. Ebiliom Maduemezie; Oshimili North, Chief

Chiejina Okafor; Ika North, Chief Godwin Ogadi; Aniocha North, Ogbuefi Nnamdi

Mohanye and Ndokwa West, Engr. Daniel Ossai, among others.

2015: No anointed aspirant in PDP —PIPA

By Dan Gumm

W

A R R I — T H E leadership of Proper Inheritance Political Associates, PIPA, a group within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed claims that some aspirants have been anointed by the PDP leadership and the powers that be, as the sole candidates of the party for the 2015 general elections.

PIPA described such claims as mere rumours intended to mislead the grassroots PDP members, insisting that no PDP leader has the power to unilaterally anoint any aspirant as the candidate of the party without due process.

“We wish to state that the party has not done its primaries, where candidates will be nominated. The process is ongoing and is yet to be completed.

“It is our firm belief that as we in PIPA have been supporting some aspirants, we believe that other groups have the right to

endorse any candidate of their choice. We assure members of PDP that PIPA will make sure that no candidate is imposed on us,” the group said.

PIPA Chairman, Mr. Eugene

Eyube in the statement, said “PIPA is a strong pressure group within the PDP, committed to the tenet of the party, believing in due internal democratic process.”

Court stop NURTW from collecting levies from block industries operators

By Gab Ejewa

A

DELTA State High Court sitting in Otor-Udu, has restrained the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURT, and its branches in the 25 local government areas of the state from collecting dues and levies, molesting and assaulting drivers and persons in charge of trailers, tippers and other vehicles of members of OtorUdu and Otu-Jeremi Block Industries Association.

Trial judge, Justice Flora Azinge, held that since the defendants, (Delta State chapter of NURT and its branches in the 25 councils) contravened sections 3 and 4 of the Collection

of Dues in Public Places by Transport Unions (Prohibition) Road Traffic Law Chapter C11 Vol. 1 Laws of Delta State (2006), they were liable to pay a fine of N50,000 as prescribed

by Section 5 of the said law.

Claimant in the suit, Registered Trustees of OtorUdu and Otu-Jeremi Block Industries Association, had asked the court to determine whether by the above edict, particularly sections 3 and 4 of the said laws, the defendants, Delta State chapter of NURTW and NURTW branches in the 25 councils could collect collect dues/levies or can molest any driver or persons in charge of vehicles of the claimant’s members in the state.

2015: Nigerians'll deliver Jonathan —Awala

A

S the 2015 general elections draw nearer, the Nigerian Youth Mandate, has assured that a great number of Nigerians will vote overwhelmingly to re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Women Leader of the Delta State chapter of the group, Mrs. Linda Awala, who gave the assurance in Sapele, Delta State, yesterday, said: “Mr President has performed impressively in the task of the governance of this country. This is what all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity, can attest to, going by his laudable programmes in the areas of health delivery, education, social and infrastructural provisions.

We will all vote overwhelmingly for his reelection in 2015.”

She spoke at the inauguration of the state chapter of the group in Sapele, which had in attendance, its National Chairman, Mr. David Markson.

Ijaw group endorses Labloseigha for DTHA

B

O M A D I — I JAW Democrats, ID, in Delta State has endorsed Mr. Pius Labloseigha for Bomadi constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, come 2015.

The group, at a forum in Warri to assess the performance of representatives of the constituency in the present legislative session, noted that the people experienced gross underrepresentation since 2011 when the present legislative session began. The group said that Lablosigha, if voted in, “Will greatly improve the living standards of the people. We also believe he will turn things around for the people of the constituency.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—13

2015: US offers support to INEC for credible polls

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT—THE United States of America has promised to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to achieve credible elections in 2015.

Chief Political Secretary, American Consulate in Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Hines, who spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday when he visited the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, in his office, said his country will support in capacity building and other related areas, adding that the US was determined to assist the nation strengthen its democracy.

He said that his country had resolved to assist in the building of a virile democracy in the country in partnership with Nigeria, adding that the move was largely informed by the warm relationship

between the two countries.

“We will assist Nigeria as much as we can to ensure free,

fair and acceptable elections in training of staff and providing February. We will achieve this necessary education for through partnership in credible elections,” he said.

A

SIGNING: From right: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd); Clerk of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Aaron Timiye and the Speaker, Mr. Konbowei Benson, during the signing of two bills into law at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

UNIBEN VC: Don’t bow to cabal's pressure, ASUU urges Governing Council

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Benin chapter, yesterday called on the Governing Council of the University to ensure that due process was followed in the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor.

The lecturers stressed the need for the council not to bow to alleged pressure by some people they described as a “cabal,” who are bent on imposing a VC on the university.

Chairman of ASUU, Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina, also raised alarm over a letter allegedly written to the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, adding that the motive of the perpetrators was to hoodwink the minister into believing that the union wanted an acting Vice Chancellor.

“You will recall that sometime ago, some persons obviously within the University community, placed an advertorial in one of the dailies calling for the appointment of an acting Vice Chancellor, their reason being that the absence of the Vice Chancellor from the university occasioned by ill-health was stalling the smooth running of the University.

AKS 2015: Abuja court strikes out case against zoning

“ASUU UNIBEN did not bother about the claim as there was no iota of truth in it. The union understands that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Osayuki Oshodin, is human and could fall sick and within his right as a Nigerian, seek

medical attention anywhere.

Even though he was away receiving medical attention, he was kept abreast with daily development in the running of the University.

“Recently, available and credible information indicated

that the individuals had resorted to criminality in the pursuit of their evil agenda.

The information is to the effect that a letter was written to the Minister of Education calling for an acting Vice –Chancellor with a forged letter head of ASUU-UNIBEN.”

Itsekiri graduates back Obuh for Delta guber race

W

ARRI—ITSEKIRI graduates across Delta State, under the aegis of Coalition of Itsekiri Graduates for Tony Obuh, have resolved to strengthen the support base of the former Permanent Secretary, Government House, Asaba, Mr. Tony Obuh, in the state’s gubernatorial race.

Coordinator of the Coalition, Mr. Justin Edema, in a statement in Warri, said that the group, which has over 1,000 members had decided to pull resources together in collaboration with the Chief Ayirimi Emami-led Delta United for Tony Obuh, because of the aspirant's quality.

Edema noted that aside from Obuh’s experience in government as a civil servant, he has “a good heart which is better than all the good heads in the world.”

Promising that his group will mobilise the entire people of Warri federal constituency and

Delta South senatorial district to ensure that Mr. Obuh emerges the next governor of Delta State, Edema enjoined Deltans to put sentiments aside and back the aspiration of “the proven technocrat because

Delta State needs someone who is vast in administration and has the necessary exposure to pilot affairs in the state at the end of Governor Uduaghan’s tenure.”

N Abuja High Court, has struck out a suit seeking to declare the zoning policy of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State as unconstitutional.

Trial judge, Justice A. Umar, in his ruling, declined jurisdiction on the ground that his court lacked the territorial integrity to hear the case.

The judge ruled on a preliminary objection by the party against the suit.

Justice Umar upheld the argument by the respondent that the suit ought to be instituted in Akwa Ibom and not Abuja.

Plaintiff in the case, Mr. Leo Ekpenyong, was also accused of not exploring internal reconciliation within the party.

According to the court, there was no evidence that Leo, who claimed to be an aspirant, would be affected by the zoning of the party in the state.

“The Akwa Ibom State PDP did not create the policy. It was a creation of the national PDP, which its state branches have adopted,” the court said.

The plaintiff had contended in the suit that the policy contained in the PDP’s constitution was not only discriminatory but negates the constitutional provision for the right of every citizen to contest election without being discriminated against regardless of his place of birth.

I'll sustain Imoke’s agenda in C-River—Ugbe

C

ROSS River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development and governorship aspirant on the platform of People Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, has said that if he was endorsed to run and eventually wins the race to the Government House, his primary responsibility will be to meet the needs of the citizens.

Ugbe, who commended the efforts of former Governor Donald Duke and incumbent, Senator Liyel Imoke, in rural and urban transformation and massive infrastructural

development in various sectors, promised to sustain the stransformation agenda of Governor Imoke.

Speaking in Calabar, the governorship aspirant said he would leverage on the legacies of previous administrations to usher the state into an era of quality leadership and good governance with unlimited opportunities.

He added that his vision to improve on the giant strides of Governor Imoke was dependent on the choice Cross Riverians will make towards

picking the appropriate character and observed that democracy has afforded Cross Riverians the opportunity to decide their fate.

Ugbe expressed faith in the future of Cross River State, noting that his mission was to strengthen the values of adequate representation and good governance.

According to him, the state has made significant progress to become an investment destination in Nigeria and assured of his plans to consolidate on these gains.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Navy promises improved operations

S

By Godwin Oghre

APELE—THE Nigerian Navy is to rehabilitate it facilities across the country to improve its efficiency in the task of protecting and defending the nation against internal insurgence and external aggression on the country's waterways.

Flag Officer Commanding, Nigerian Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Goddy Ayankpele, who gave the assurance during his facility tour of the Nigerian Naval Engineering College, Ogorode, Sapele, Delta State, said that courses of college would be upgraded and affiliated to relevant universities within and outside Nigeria with a view to turning out effective and efficient naval personnel.

On the area of insecurity in parts of Northern, the naval chief said that the Nigerian Navy has been working round the clock to see that activities of insurgents do not extend to the country's waterways, pointing out that the force was also complementing the role of other security forces in the country to see that insecurity was checked.

Group endorses Ayomanor for Delta Assembly

S

APELE—A GROUP, League of Gentlemen, made up of professionals and retired military officers has endorsed Chief Lucky Ayomanor for the Delta State House of Assembly, Sapele constituency in the 2015 general elections.

Coordinator of the group, Mr Ernest Inikoro, at a meeting of the group in Sapele, Delta State, yesterday said that the decision to endorsed Chief Ayomanor for the Delta State House of Assembly was devoid of sentiment and bias.

According to him, from 1999, to the present political dispensation, Ayomanor has distinguished himself as a Director, Central Operation in the Delta State Direct Labour Agency.

Uduaghan at UN, says crude oil theft, threat to int'l peace N EW YORK— G O V E R N O R Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday, warned that the persistence of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region where over 400,000 barrels per day are stolen may threaten world peace and democracy if concerted action was not taken to curb same.

Speaking at an African Business Roundtable workshop on combating emerging threats on the sidelines of the on-going United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States, Uduaghan said that with 90 percent of the stolen oil exported, the cash return was enough to empower individuals and organisations engaged in the theft to destabilise democracies in the West African sub-region.

Uduaghan, who is also the Chairman of the Committee on Crude Oil Theft set up by the Federal Government, said that the growing insurgency by extremist Islamist groups and violence on the civil population may not be unconnected with the huge cash outlay that cannot be traced due to crude oil theft.

He called on the international community to create a platform where stolen crude oil can be tracked and disbursement of proceeds adequately monitored as such funds usually fuel the acquisition of small arms.

He said that the balance 10 per cent of 400,000 barrels stolen daily was processed locally at the modular refineries spread across the Niger Delta region, noting that the pockets of persons arrested from those locations have only token effect in combating the scourge. Extant laws and legislations for prosecuting suspects, Uduaghan, said were grossly inadequate, noting that a strong legal framework needed to be created so that kingpins and promoters of crude oil theft can

be prosecuted.

He added that his committee had embarked on the sensitisation of security agencies on the need for them to be alive to their responsibilities while also encouraging international oil companies, IOCs, to carry out

HE NATIONAL Patron, Youth Wing and Secretary, Board of Trustees of the National Coalition for Jonathan and Sambo Presidency, NACOJSP, Dr. Benjamin Irikefe, yesterday, said that the group had been vindicated by last week’s endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for second term by the various organs of the Peoples

As part of his government’s strategy to curb oil theft in Delta State, Uduaghan said that the communities were being empowered through the programmes put in place by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC.

ATIKU'S 2015 DECLARATION

DECLARATION: From left: Adamawa State All Progressive Congress, APC, Chairperson, Hon. Binta Garuba, APC chieftain and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim and others, during Atiku's declaration for the 2015 Presidency in Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (2nd left), Sen. George Akume, and others at the event.

Jonathan's endorsement vindicated support group, says Irikefe

T

corporate social responsibilities in their areas of operation.

Uduaghan noted that the IOCs must improve on the technology deployed in the laying of pipelines as the prevailing style of laying them on the surface was no longer acceptable.

Democratic Party, PDP. Irikefe, in a statement hailed the PDP’s Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee and over 8,000 Goodluck Support Groups, which gave automatic ticket of the party to President Jonathan, to seek re-election in the 2015 presidential election.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—15

Imo Police Command bans gun-toting vigilante groups

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI — Imo State Police Command has banned the bearing of firearms by vigilante groups and the Imo Security Network established and commissioned by Chief Rochas Okorocha soon after assuming office.

Similarly, the police warned that any person or group of persons found to be in possession of firearms at the expiration of the two weeks deadline, would be ruthlessly dealt with.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, read the riot act in Owerri, when he unveiled the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Command.

Apart from banning their use of firearms, the CP also accused the security outfits of engaging in acts not in consonance with their briefs.

“The armed groups have been terrorizing innocent members of the society and have become law not themselves. They have reportedly been running illegal detention cells across the state, as

well as being involved in extortion and several other unlawful acts,” Mr. Ali said.

The Imo police boss noted that “if the activities of these desperate contraptions were not disarmed and their activities strictly monitored, it may get to a stage when they will get out of control and become an albatross to the police and society.”

Enugu State rallies for President Jonathan T

HE ENUGU State Movement for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan (EMJ) is hosting a mega-rally, today, to drum up support for, and seek to persuade the President to accept the challenge to contest next year ’s presidential election.

Chairman of the support group, Charles Egungbe, said in an interview, yesterday, that

EMJ was a “private sector initiative with robust support from Governor Sullivan Chime.

"Today’s rally," Egungbe said, "cuts across political party lines, and would be an event to remember.

“We expect thousands and thousands of people,” he said, without being specific. “All the 17 local government areas of the state are fully mobilized, including the civil societies,

traders, students, among others.”

Vice President Namadi Sambo is expected to represent the President at Enugu rally, according to Egungbe.

In apparent support for the rally, the Enugu State has declared today public holiday, while markets were also directed to be shut to allow residents grace the occasion in numbers. It will hold at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

Egungbe said the rally was

I joined politics to address injustice by former Anambra govt — Chief Mokwe

By Evelyn Usman

L

AGOS — THE last may not have been heard of owner of Upper Class Hotel, in Onitsha, Anambra State, Chief Bonaventure Mokwe, whose hotel was demolished on the order of former governor of the state, Peter Obi, following alleged discovery of human heads and arms in one of the hotel rooms.

This followed his declaration to join politics on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in an apparent move to vindicate what he described as unjust treatment meted out on him by the former administration.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Mokwe recalled how he was thrown into the dreaded cell at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Awkuzu, alongside his wife and staff, over a crime he claimed to know nothing about.

But he expressed optimism that with his decision to come on board politically, governance by trial and error, intimidation and harassment of citizens as allegedly experienced in the last administration, would become a thing of the past.

He said: “My decision to join APGA is purely based on the personality of the man at the helm of affairs, Willie Obiano.

“I believe strongly that with his educational background which he earned and not acquired, I can work with him to propagate APGA in a better lime light."

“He is exactly the opposite of the past administration and his crime fighting effort centres on intelligence, manpower deployment, rule of law, youth empowerment, all hands on deck approach, investigation and checks and balances."

particularly to seek to persuade President Jonathan to run again, but would also serve as a demonstration of support for Governor Chime, who, he said, had done so much for Enugu State during the seven years of his administration.

“The message we seek to send across is that Enugu State, without exception, is behind President Jonathan for a second term,” he said. “We are also persuaded that Enugu State is working and that Sullivan will lead the state into a successful transition.”

“Enugu State has decided to back the President all the way and make his second term project a resounding success. We had voted for him in the past, but now, we even want to improve his voting record in Enugu State,” Egungbe added.

O

WERRI — A gubernatorial aspirant and former member of the National Assembly, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, has expressed regret that Imo State has not witnessed good governance from 2007 till date.

Araraume made his feelings known, yesterday, while briefing C M Y K

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI — Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, Executive Secretary, Prof.

Julius Okojie said, yesterday, that less than a quarter of the 29 (less than 8)universities in the country have NUCcertified post-graduate schools.

Professor Okojie, who disclosed this at Anambra State University School of Post graduate Studies Interdisciplinary International Conference at the Igbariam Campus of the university, said: “Most of the universities that have approved postgraduate schools focus attention only on teaching, thereby leaving research which is an integral part of university education and post-graduate studies.

“For us to talk about research, we have to ask ourselves where we are in research. Research is the thing we use to distinguish universities from other higher institutions. Your research in respective universities should be unique, but we have lost the culture of research in the universities."

MfB donates N20m prize award for endowment

CONFERENCE: From left, Director,Brand Communication and Sponsorship, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Matlou Tsotetsi; Executive Producer/CEO, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, and jury member, Benin Republic, AFRIMA, Oscar Kidjo, during the AFRIMA 2014 nominees unveiling press conference, at Protea Hotel, Lagos-Nigeria.

Guber aspirant laments lack of good governance in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

Approved post-graduate schools less than 8 — Okojie

the state Executive Council of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on his gubernatorial ambition.

“Imo has not made any progress since 2007 till date.

There is no functional hospital in the state today. The state infrastructure is either dilapidated, comatose or simply dead,” Senator Araraume said.

While noting that experience could not be acquired overnight or purchased with money,

Senator Araraume, however, said that the state had found itself in its current sorry situation because those charged with the responsibility of managing its affairs did not know the difference between public and private funds.

In his own speech, Deputy Director General of Araraume’s campaign organization, Chief Okey Ikoro, kicked against zoning arrangement in the state, adding that it "sadly throws up

mediocrity.

“The state should feature those who have the capacity to perform, instead of applying zonal sentiment in the choice of a gubernatorial candidate,” Ikoro said.

He urged the PDP to place all the aspirants on the scale, check their antecedents and capabilities before coming up with a candidate that will fly the PDP flag in the state.

A leading Microfinance Bank, MfB, in the country, Accion Microfinance Bank, has donated N20million prize award to the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN. The bank made the donation to CIBN at the ongoing annual banking and finance conference in Abuja.

Managing Director/Chief Executive of the MfB, Bunmi Lawson, said the award was meant for the best graduating student in Microfinance Certification Programme and funding of the prize award every year.

He noted that the award was instituted to reward excellence in microfinance banking education.

“The development of microfinance within the economy will help improve access to financial service.

At Accion, we will continue to support CIBN and its programmes aimed at building adequate capacity for microfinance banking,” she said.

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Late Vanguard Newspapers' Art Editor, McPhillips Nwachukwu's Maiden Memorial Lecture

From left, Mr. Olaniyan Aderemi, representing DG, Nigeria Orientation Agency; Mr. Odiari Emeka, rep of DG, National Gallery of Art, and Engr. Chris Emeka.

Mrs Tina McPhillips Nwachukwu, wife of former Arts Editor, Vanguard Newspapers (5th left); Mr Gbenga Adefaye, representing Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers and Chairman of the occasion (6th left), with some members of staff of Vanguard Newspapers, during the Maiden Memorial Lecture series and book presentation ceremony of late McPhillips Nwachukwu, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele (See story on Page 9)

From left, Mrs. Tina McPhillips Nwachukwu; Professor Oladipo Kalejaiye, representing Director-General, National Institute for Cultural Orientation; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, representing Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers and Chairman of the occassion; Mrs Annette Ibe, Nigerian Tourism Development Commission; Mr. Toyin Akiosho, Guest Speaker, and Mr. Toni Kan, book reviewer, during the Maiden Memorial Lecture series and Book presentation ceremony of late McPhillips Nwachukwu, former Vanguard Newspapers' Arts Editor, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

From left, Mr. Arnold Udoka, Director of Dance, National Troupe of Nigeria; Mr Nwago Obi, National Institute for Cultural Orientation, and Miss Laju Arenyeka, of Vanguard Newspapers.

School resumptions, non-compliance with FG's Sept 22 order around Nigeria

Pupils of Great Lights Scholars Academy Jehu III, Masaka Nasarawa State in assembly as schools as schools complied with the Federal Government's directive to resume on September 22. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Asoro Primary School pupils in class, at Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, in session. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike

Students of Okpanam High School, Delta State, yet to resume. Photo: Nath Onojake

School premises in Oyo State under lock and key at Inalende area of Ibadan.

Photo: Dare Fasube

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 — 17

T

HE past week has not e e n a fine one for the rightwing Pentecostal Christian movement in Nigeria. And by extension, the moral burden of Nigeria’s ruling class and all our compatriots who swear loyalty to these two sets in our nation’s firmament, also got heavier.

Almost as if coordinated, two heavy scandals fell on the laps of two of the most notable representatives of rightwing Pentecostalism that have shaken their sureties in the most profound manner, exposing the serious moral dilemma associated with the scandals of the past couple of days. Early last week the report broke that two unnamed Nigerians and an Israeli security contractor based in Abuja, were held in South Africa, for attempting to illegally import into South Africa the sum of $9. 3million in cash. The said sum of money was allegedly packed in three suitcases and had been ferried into South Africa in a Bombadier Challenger 600 aircraft. It turned out that the plane in question belonged to the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. It is not only the prominent position that he occupies as the leader of Christendom in Nigeria that was brought under sharp focus as a result of the embarrassing story from South Africa, but his place as the expression of Aso Villa-at-prayer or more explicitly, the religious arm of the Jonathan presidency, added fuel to the scandal.

By Wednesday last week, a thoroughly compromised Nigerian government sloppily announced to their South African counterparts that the seized money was to procure arms on behalf of the Nigerian security services. It seemed that the South Africans were not convinced by the explanation with their authorities being quoted as saying the explanations were “flawed and riddled with d i s c r e p a n c i e s ” .

Consequently, the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) of South Africa obtained a court order to freeze the money, because the illegal importation had breached the country’s laws that dealt with transfer of foreign exchange of such proportion. The NPA further showed that Tier One Services Group, the company that the Nigerian government claimed to be procuring arms from, was neither authorized to sell nor rent military hardware. The Nigerian government’s explanation was hogwash! Tier One Services Group apparently issued an invoice to a Cyprusbased company, ESD International Group Ltd., in respect of the procurement of armaments and helicopters for delivery to Nigeria. But South African investigators said the time the invoice was prepared and the time money was brought into their country “threw up some serious issues of intent”, according to VANGUARD newspaper of September 18, 2014.

Nigeria’s image was brought to an all-time low by the incident but people seemed more shocked by the b

Between the Pastor and the General Overseer: Nigeria's moral burden his grieving country that: “Not in the recent history of our country have we had this large number of our people die in one incident outside the country”. South Africa’s SUNDAY TIMES newspaper of September 21, 2014, incredibly reported how chaos, incompetence, lies and the refusal of Pastor TB Joshua’s church and the Nigerian authorities to cooperate in the rescue attempt, all conspired to deepen the tragedy. While TB Joshua preferred to tell the absurd story of a mystery

least one television camera.

Farinloye was quoted by SA’s SUNDAY TIMES as saying that rescuers lost the two or three critical hours immediately after a disaster when most lives are saved. It was amazing that two days after the collapse and with casualties mounting, TB Joshua was telling the congregation on Sunday that: “they were trying to scare you from coming to this church.

Don’t be scared, you are not the target, I am the target. I know my hour has not yet come”. As the report added,

,

connection of the CAN President, Pastor Oritsejafor, with the episode, no matter how tangentially, and despite his denial and the spirited defence of his position by some commentators. In a statement, signed on his behalf, by one Bayo Adewoye, it was stated that “we can confirm that he holds an interest in Eagle Air Company, the aircraft in question is not operated by Pastor Oritsejafor”. It added further that: “the aircraft has been leased to and is operated by Green Coast Produce Limited”. What is conveniently forgotten here was that when faceless members of his church donated the aircraft to him, Oritsejafor had stated that it was for the purpose of doing God’s work. But the lease out of the plane didn’t resemble anything spiritual; pardon my ignorance of these matters, but it appeared more like the service of mammon: at least in the moment that it was caught ferrying money illegally into South Africa. And when efforts have been made to excuse the illegality, what came to mind is the level of outrage that would have been deliberately generated, if the plane had belonged to the Sultan of Sokoto, and two Northern Muslims and a Saudi citizen (for example!) had been caught ferrying such sums around the world!

Those who have defended Pastor Oritsejafor, like Femi Fani-Kayode, would have ratcheted up anti-Northern and anti-Muslim hysteria, while calling for the breakup of Nigeria, as he regularly does! And to show the level of ruling class irresponsibility, the House of Representatives could not even probe the issue, when it sat on Tuesday this week. A voice vote was enough to kill the plan to examine the scandal. The “Honourable” members preferred that Nigeria was smeared and brought to disrepute abroad, than the truth of the situation be brought out in the open.

The individuals caught up in the illegality are far more important than Nigeria!

The mess is even more criminally obvious in the culpability associated with the collapse of a building in Lagos, that belonged to Senior Pastor TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations. As I write these lines on Tuesday night, the death toll has climbed up to 115 people.

South African President, Jacob Zuma, in response to the tragedy, told

about a “mysterious plane hovering” and an alleged Boko Haram attack. This is the sorry pass that our country has been taken today, by an alliance of obscurantism; a coterie of rightwing religious bodies and their incredibly rich pastors, primates, overseers (as we have seen in these two different but interrelated scandals) and our irresponsible and unpatriotic ruling elite! This alliance resides at the lowest moral depth of society, because on the one hand, the rightwing pentecontalists exploit a genuine spiritual need amongst Nigerians, who are caught up in the soulless world of neoliberal capitalist uncertainty inhabited by the demons and principalities of poverty, underdevelopment, insecurities, violence and economic deprivation. On the other hand, they are in cahoots with a ruling elite whose choices have largely fostered the hopelessness that the Pentecostal denizens exploit. They are the two sides of oppression for the Nigerian people and so need and reinforce each other constantly and therefore carry the same moral burdens. It should therefore not surprise us, if the lives lost at General Overseer, TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church

They are in cahoots with a ruling elite whose choices have largely fostered the hopelessness that the Pentecostal denizens exploit. They are the two sides of oppression for the Nigerian people and so need and reinforce each other constantly and therefore carry the same moral burdens

,

plane which hovered over the building and the story took a more bizarre turn, with allegations of an attack by Boko Haram, the authorities in Lagos state, through the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Toyin Ayinde, had revealed that the 5-storey building had no government approval for its construction.

Similarly, Ibrahim Farinloye, of NEMA, pointed out, that church officials prevented rescuers from accessing the church: “some of us were even attacked (by church members)”. The church members were also hostile to journalists and smashed at

it took him 30 minutes into the televised sermon, before he mentioned the dead!

A

nd to underline TB Joshua’s far-reaching influence, the Lagos state governor who visited the church, disappeared through a backdoor, in order to avoid the media.

Similarly, President Goodluck Jonathan, with an eye on the 2015 elections, visited TB Joshua at the weekend. It was more important to be on TB Joshua’s side than to demand justice for the 115 people who died as the tragic episode was shrouded in mumbo-jumbo,

of All Nations, end up counting for nothing and never find justice; just as they are spiritedly sweeping under the carpet, the illegal ferrying of $9.3million in Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s plane. These are scared cows living above the laws of the land; furthermore, they are friends of President Goodluck Jonathan and will shortly be expected to carry out important spiritual assignments, for Jonathan’s 2015 re-election project.

That is why they DON’T GIVE A DAMN that lives were lost or monies were illegally exported from Nigeria!

The Scotland referendum

I

STAYED awake all-night last Thursday, watching the returns of the Scottish Referendum. It attracted worldwide interest, because what was on the line was the 300-year old union that is the United Kingdom. It is true that for the two years leading to the referendum, most polls had predicted that the NO votes would prevail. But in the two weeks before the vote, a SUNDAY TIMES poll in London had put the YES vote ahead, for the first time.

And alarm bells were pressed within the political circles of the United Kingdom. The SUNDAY TIMES is owned by Rupert Murdoch, the rightwing media mogul, who has an axe to grind with the British establishment in London. He had openly supported the YES vote for Scottish Independence. The

final days led to the most feverish political maneuver as both sides made a desperate effort to woo those who had not committed one way or the other.

The Scottish Referendum caught the imagination of the world, because the outcome, especially if the YES vote had prevailed, would have had far-reaching consequences for many countries around the world. A YES victory would have strengthened secessionist forces around the world. In Nigeria, the open and closet secessionists would have become emboldened and there was no gainsaying the fact that they would have stepped up their agitation into the future, presenting such Scottish outcome as a vindication of their platform. It was the same attitude that was

ratcheted up, when South Sudan broke from a united Republic of Sudan, until the tragic civil war, premised upon the vicious ethnic rivalries and leadership irresponsibility, gave them the pause around the continent. I was very delighted that the NO votes prevailed in Scotland, just as I was happy that there would be newer constitutional tinkering to devolve greater autonomy within the United Kingdom. Similarly, the fact that the issue was resolved democratically, spoke for the deepening of democracy around the world, but in Nigeria in particular. A united United Kingdom speaks for unity in our country, badly governed now, but with incredible possibilities for liberation and development, into the future.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 FOLLOWING the sudden upsurge of the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the Nigerian North east, with the mighty Nigerian Armed Forces appearing to wilt in the face of the affront to our territorial integrity, many Nigerians wondered why the surge of support from the advanced countries and friends of Nigeria did not produce any positive result.

It has since emerged that the United States has increasingly become aloof towards Nigeria as a result of what it sees as frequent abuse of human rights in the war on ter ror, as well as the high scale of corruption in the top echelons of the military. In fact, the dynamic American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James F Entwistle, has several times called for accountability among the service chiefs.

There have been grumbles in the army that we lack the equipment to fight though spending on defence has remained high in the past three years. This has led to acts of indiscipline in the rank and file, which precipitated the recent court martials.

The problem is so deep-seated that it became a major prompter of talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and his American counterpart, President Barack

By Tochukwu Ezukanma

A

FTER the election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, my cousin, who lives in my hometown, called me. He told me that he, in concert with many other supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan, was celebrating the president’s electoral victory. In such elation and jubilation over the triumph of their preferred candidate, it is possible for them to get carried away and retort unlawfully conduct. And these will happen without any knowledge of the president and his aides. So, there is so much that the supporters of the president can do without his knowledge.

The hanging of the banner, #Bring Back Jonathan 2015, at one of the entry points into Abuja was despicable. With that detestable banner, a bunch of supporters of the president, in their sycophantic intoxication, threw caution to the wind, losing all decency. Like every Nigerian, Goodluck Jonathan reserves the constitutional right to vote and to be voted for. Therefore, he can seek re-election in 2015. But to make a case for his re-election by exploiting a national tragedy was repulsively callous. It was insensitivity take to a nauseating extreme. It made a mockery of a national misfortune and the grief of the parents and other loved ones of the kidnapped Chibok girls. Refreshingly, the president has stated his lack of complicity in the hanging of that obnoxious banner.

In a recent newspaper article, the Wages of Impunity, in addition to criticizing the

C M Y K

Probe Alleged Corruption In The Milit ar Militar aryy Obama during this year ’s United Nations General Assembly.

There are allegations that moneys meant for the purchase of arms and ammunitions are sometimes diverted, contracts overpriced or obsolete equipment procured to fight and insurgent group that is freeloading on the looted military arsenal of the late Libyan dictator, Muammar Gadhafi. This emboldened the insurgents to abandon dodgy guerrilla tactics and opt for the conventional warfare style of seizing territories and branding them part of the dream “Islamic Caliphate”.

About six months ago, the crisis in our defence and security sector boiled to the

surface when the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Gusau, reportedly threatened to resign unless the Service Chiefs allow him to scrutinize crucial memos connected to our defence needs, while the Service Chiefs insisted on military autonomy.

We call for an enquiry to ascertain the truth of this issue, including charges that certain retired Service Chiefs had come into “sudden riches” with which they are pursuing political ambitions.

Even though the military must maintain a certain level of autonomy over operational procedures, the matters of financial expenditure remain open to scrutiny by political authorities in a democracy.

Corruption has been a major indicator for indiscipline and weakness of armies since the dawn of time. That the Nigerian armed forces which excelled in all former military operations both within and outside the country since it was created suddenly started yielding to terrorists is indicative of serious lapses within.

Whatever it is must be quickly identified and dealt with to reinvigorate the Nigerian armed forces and restore confidence among our friends in the international community.

OPINION Soyinka and the price of partiality banner, Wole Soyinka also censured the president for including the ex-governor of Bornu state, Ali Modu-Sheriff, a suspected sponsor of Boko Haram, in his entourage on a recent visit to Chad. The president denied travelling with him to Chad. Ali Modu-Sheriff has longstanding business interests in Chad and often spends a lot of time there. He happened to be in the Chadian capital, N’Djemena at the time of the president’s visit. He joined Nigerians residents of the Chadian capital to welcome the president, on his arrival, at the airport.

Therefore, the insinuation that the president is hobnobbing with an alleged sponsor of Boko Haram is totally incorrect.

The president, according to his spokesman, is fully aware of the allegations against Sheriff and is awaiting the outcome of a security probe on him. Like most Nigerians, I believe the president on both counts, especially, as there is no evidence, in either case, to the contrary. Moreover, it is reasonable to trust the judgment and believe the words of a man overwhelmingly elected by Nigerians to lead them, and thus, determine their collective fate for four years.

In the article, Wole Soyinka was acidic, and he did not mince words in excoriating President Jonathan. The problem with Soyinka is that he is not an impartial critic; he is biased. He turns a blind eye to the corruption, lawlessness and political blunders in the Southwest and the

Southwest dominated All Progressive Congress (APC). He gives the false impression that only the federal government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are culpable of political sins.

Well, Mr. Soyinka, other governments and political parties are also guilty of some political offenses.

After all, one of the most corrupt politicians in Nigerian, who is also the most despotic and domineering political godfather is from the Southwest and a member of APC. Of all the geo-political zones, the Southwest is an anachronism, at least, in one respect – it is a zone still run by an imperious political godfather as a personal political fiefdom.

Governor Raji Fashola, in one swoop, raised school fees at the Lagos State University (LASU) by up to 1000 percent?

It is understandable that, occasionally, school fees are increased, in line with inflationary pressures and other insinuating economic and academic realities. However, decency and sensitivity to the economic plight of the generality of Nigerians dictate that such increases should be reasonable and modest. A one thousand per cent increase in school fees was unconscionable. It was an exercise in arrogance, superciliousness and disregard for the pervading economic predicament of the masses and their struggle to acquire an education.

Quite naturally, the students protested.

Their protest was peaceful. Still, policemen

were called in by the state government.

The state government and the police tried to excuse away what was a violent and unlawful repression of the constitutional right to peaceful protest, by stating that the police fired into the air. Still, the use of live bullet in dealing with a peaceful student protest, for whatever reason and/ or under any guise, was excessive and unconstitutional.

Wole Soyinka is on a self-serving mission.

He is driven by personal interests and love for the spotlight. In retrospect, there was the Wole Soyinka that prevented the falsification of election results in the old Western Region. Armed with a pistol, he entered the Western Broadcasting Corporation and forced the radio announcer to announce the accurate election results. There was also the Wole Soyinka who drove into Biafra through the battle field at Nsukka. He returned to Nigeria and, in an unusual act of courage, denounced Yakubu Gowon for his stances on Biafra; he was jailed by the Gowon administration. That former Wole Soyinka was selfless and honourable, his credibility unimpeachable.

But over the years, his integrity and honour were compromised by his dalliance with a number of military dictators and subsequent political leaders. As such, Nigerians cannot trust him. For the price of partiality is distrust.

Mr. Ezukanma, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014— 19

, W

HEN they say the office of the president of Nigeria is the most powerful in the world, some take it with a pinch of salt.

But when you look at certain factors, you will find it difficult to fault the claim in its entirety.

To become Nigeria's president is like the Biblical race, which is said not to be for the swiftest.

Unlike in more pedigreed democracies such as USA, UK, Canada, India and the lot, no person who has ever wanted to be president of Nigeria has achieved his ambition.

Just take a look: Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, President Shehu Shagari, President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Umaru Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Each of them had his eyes on something else much less.

Balewa was handed the premiership by his political principal, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who preferred to stay home, govern the Northern Region and call the shots. Shagari wanted to be a senator, but was chosen over more flamboyant and charismatic contenders.

Obasanjo came out of jail and was totally disoriented when

the offer to succeed the military came to him out of the blue in 1998. Yar’Adua, a governor, wanted to go back to the university and teach science.

Obasanjo dragged him into the race. Jonathan was eyeing a second term as governor of Bayelsa State when Obasanjo pulled him out to stand as ailing Yar’Adua’s running mate, perhaps with the shrewd knowledge that GEJ’s emergence as president was only a matter of time.

On the other hand, look what happened to hot button contenders for the top post: Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Moshood Abiola, Gen Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Chief Arthur Nzeribe, Malam Adamu Ciroma, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Olu Falae, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Gen Muhammadu Buhari… None of them smelt it.

Some even died frustrated in the effort.

To be a Nigerian president, you have to seem uninterested, hoping your real or contrived apathy will be noticed by the man currently occupying the position but about to leave power. If you fight you will lose. But if you are favoured

,

and you get in, you become a self-reinforcing political powerhouse able not only to stay out your maximum terms but also pick your successor. Same goes for the offices of governors.

That was what happened recently when President Goodluck Jonathan got the offer from all the organs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and peripheral interest groups within the polity to stand as the sole candidate of the party for the 2015 presidential election. The PDP has now said it will not hold a presidential primary. No need.

It will only stage a national convention to ratify the nomination.

B

ut we hear that one Abdul Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, said to be a son of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, has vowed to challenge GEJ for the PDP ticket.

What a comic relief! Did he not hear what happened to Alhaji Sule Lamido, the charismatic, high performing Governor of

Gun-running, money laundering, smuggling?

T

HE issue of how much disclosure is healthy for the citizenry has been a matter for public debate. For instance, if, in a war situation, the President of a nation suddenly became blind and unable to manage the affairs of state, would it be better to make this known to the public; or his lieutenants should shield him from public view and carefully carry on his responsibilities as if nothing has happened?

In any case, it is worse and patently more dangerous when a government becomes so secretive that it leaves the question of public information at the level of conjecture. When the human mind is permitted only to guess, the imagination runs riot and anything goes.

In the latest of a series of global ridicule, to which the scandal-prone Goodluck Jonathan administration has been entangled, the administration is once again fingered in what increasingly looks like official smuggling, money laundering or gun-running, each of which is heinously criminal.

If we were to accept this scenario as a skeleton; and the Federal Government suddenly refuses to fully disclose its role in the sordid affair, everyone would be left to supply his own meat to the skeleton.

The former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, would quickly jump out and say, I told you long ago that our President is training snipers to get rid of all those who would be on his way to the 2015 presidential ambition. This would stick perfectly, the tons of denials we received from Jonathan at that time, notwithstanding.

By whatever name, the recent criminal exhibition in South Africa has serious implication for everyone in society: To the opposition politicians, the source of those guns with which they harass us on election day is now becoming clear. Who the gods want to kill, they first make mad. That C M Y K

perhaps explains why they are starting their procurement more than six months before the elections. It shows their level of desperation. Again, it is also good for the weapons to arrive in time so that they could be useful for their congresses and primaries.

In a pluralistic and multi-religious society, there is always the other side: The Muslims are already positing a scenario like this: “A private jet belonging to the President of the Nigerian Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs, the Sultan of Sokoto, is impounded in South Africa, Iaden with undeclared cash to the tune of almost $10 million. Also arrested are two Nigerians and a Saudi Arabian citizen. The people claim that they are in South Africa to purchase arms…”

How would those of us Christians have reacted to this scenario? This is the opposite number of the case at hand, with the impounded plane, Iaden with undeclared cash to the tune of almost $10 million, belonging to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor – President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN. All in the name of God! The whole thing is becoming very intriguing. The South African government was unaware that the Nigerian government was coming to buy weapons in their country. What this means is that a foreign country can now walk into another country, buy weapons and walk away?

If, as claimed, that the jet was on lease, who authorised Pastor Oritsejafor to operate commercial flights with his private jet since he knows the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities, NCAA, rule that owners of private jets (as they are stupendously rich enough to afford the plane in the first place) can only carry family members and friends?

Who authorised the loading of almost $10 million cash on this jet at a Nigerian airport? Where were the Nigerian Customs

authorities who ask and frisk passengers to declare sums in excess of a few t h o u s a n d dollars?

Where was the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, that this hefty amount could be moved without their knowledge? Or was this transaction cleared by the same alleged CBN insider who

,

Jonathan on the run – again

GEJ’s advantage is doubled by the fact that he has performed well above average; if you put matters sector by sector, Jonathan has done more than any other elected president

Jigawa State? Lamido was one of the individuals that former President Obasanjo had approached to go and prepare to replace Jonathan. The political romance between Obasanjo and GEJ had gone terribly sour and an angry OBJ decided that GEJ was “no longer electable”.

Remember that letter to Obasanjo that President Jonathan wrote in January, describing OBJ as a goat seller who, after selling his goat, refuses to let go of the rope?!

OBJ started pussyfooting from Lamido’s Dutse to Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Kano telling them they had what it takes to replace GEJ. Then, recently, another presidential wannabe, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, went to Ota to sell his own presidential dreams, perhaps on the platform of the rival All Progressives Congress, APC. Now that the game is in play and GEJ seems unstoppable, Obasanjo appears to have abandoned the people he incited to challenge GEJ. In most democracies, whenever the incumbent who has not exhausted his constitutional chances for re-election indicates he wants to run again, he is usually favoured with the right of first refusal, except his performance could cause the party to lose the election.

Everybody wants to be on the presidential or gubernatorial gravy train in the next four years.

But GEJ’s advantage is doubled by the fact that he has performed well above average. If you put matters sector by sector, Jonathan has done more than any other elected president since the end of the civil war. In such areas as agriculture, transport, works,

Whatever categorisation is acceptable to the Federal Government, smuggling is bad; money laundering is worse; and gunrunning is worst. A combination of the trio would wreck a nation!

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facilitates the funding and financing of Boko Haram, as hinted by Australian negotiator, Reverend Stephen Davis?

W

hat exactly were those weapons intended for, considering there was an Israeli citizen on the “mission” and Reverend Davis had pointed fingers at some highly-placed non-Muslim retired military top brass with close contact with Israel and its military/security industry?

Where is Sule Lamido’s son? Knowing what it had in mind, an honest government would have first vacated the conviction of Lamido’s son who was caught with the paltry sum of $50,000.

They should also apologise to the young

power, aviation, education, investment and what have you, the President’s four-plus years have seen a steady resuscitation of collapsed sectors and their steady renewal unlike at any other time since 1970. And he has ensured that the goodies are evenly spread all over the country, eschewing marginalisation of any group.

I score him below average on the fight against corruption and the Boko Haram insurgency, but something tells me that GEJ has woken up against Boko Haram at last, and the end of this ugly menace could be in sight.

One of the greatest legacies of the Jonathan era so far is the growth of democracy under him.

If not for the contrived Boko Haram insurgency which is being promoted by sectional devils who had threatened to make governance impossible for him unless he forgoes his constitutional rights to them, Nigerian would have experienced the greatest stability and peace under Jonathan compared to any other time. He has allowed free elections to hold, in which whoever wins is allowed to assume his mandate irrespective of political party. Under GEJ, losers have congratulated winners, and we have had the fewest post-election tribunal squabbles.

In fact, Jonathan’s peaceable dispensation and tolerance have allowed the opposition to grow and form into a rival coalition ready to mount, perhaps the strongest challenge against the ruling party.

The PDP has a very sellable candidate, and with their united front, the rival APC really has a herculean task in their quest to dethrone the ruling Party.

man since it is now clear that he was convicted on “procedural error”. Of course, the timing is also important: One happened when Lamido was hobnobbing with the opposition and the other is coming on the heels of a major election!

Whatever categorisation is acceptable to the Federal Government, smuggling is bad; money laundering is worse; and gunrunning is worst. A combination of the trio would wreck a nation!

It is doubtful if anyone can be swayed by Femi Fani-Kayode’s tacit admission of old crimes: “Much ado has been made about recent events in South Africa concerning the Nigerian-owned jet that was found loaded with millions of dollars and that was in the process of procuring arms… As a former Minister of Aviation, l wish to assure the general public that the flying of large sums of cash by security and intelligence agencies for the purchase of arms in a time of war and conflict is something that is quite normal and that it happens quite often. As a matter of fact, it has happened under successive Nigerian governments, both military and civilian.”

Yes, you are perfectly allowed to commit any crime but don’t get caught. The South African authorities have been able to cut us to our right size of being innocent at home but guilty abroad. It happens all the time.

There is no escaping the inevitable conclusion that the situation facing us is precarious. It can still be saved, not by 'bold-face' but by unfettered explanations from President Jonathan and his men.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Cultists’ invasion: Fear grips Lagos community •Residents want new CP to intervene

By Bose Adelaja

R

ESIDENTS of the Odogunyan area of Ikorodu in Lagos presently cannot sleep with their eyes closed as two rival cult groups, Aiye and Eye, have been making life unbearable for them. Worst affected are places like Powerline, OjeEmuren and Oduyebo streets, while neighbouring communities in Ogun State like Odo-Nla, Odo-kekere and Agodo have also been attacked by the dreaded “Bad Boys” as the cultists are more notoriously known.

Each time the communities are attacked by these undesirable elements, there are usually lifeless bodies left behind at various streets to tell the story of their bloody invasion. After one of such attacks, angry residents had stormed the palace of the late Ayangburen of Ikorodu Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, to seek

•CP Aderanti •Odogun swooped on the cultists, apprehended many of them and handed them over to the Police. But rather than being tried in the court of law, they were granted bail and they returned to the community with venomous rage.

Vanguard Metro gathered that residents were alarmed by this development and immediately rallied to assist the ‘’Yago Boys’’ in containing the threat. It was

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The community has been living in fear and residents are frantically calling on the new Lagos State Police Commissioner to investigate the matter so that peace will return

for his intervention.

Unfortunately this was not to be as the aged monarch was soon to join his ancestors.

The situation soon turned worse in the community and some of the residents fled for safety, while others who had nowhere to go put their trust in God, praying for a Messiah to deliver them from the hand of the rampaging killers.

Soon after, however, an idea was mooted to form a vigilance group which came to be known as ‘’Yago Boys’’.

Spear headed by one Honourable Adesanya Matthew, the group soon

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also alleged that some unscrupulous elements in the Police, especially in Sagamu Road division, enjoyed some form of fraternity with the cultists as vital information were being leaked to them, encouraging them in their mayhem in the ancient town.

VM also gathered that as soon as an arrest was made, some wealthy individuals in the community would contact the Police and offered a huge amount of money to bail the suspects who return to unleash more terror on innocent residents.

During VM’s visits to Odogunyan and its environs,

residents recalled how about 15 cultists were handed over to the Police in Sagamu Road Division and the case immediately transferred to Panti, but to the astonishment of many, the suspects got bail to the tune of N300,000 each.

A couple of months back, an alleged cultist popularlly called ‘’Obayaje” (which means a spoiler) was discovered to be behind the dastardly acts and was being allegedly financed by a land grabber who also had been fingered in various land matters in Ikorodu and its environs.

VM gathered that on various occasions, ‘’Obayeje’’ was declared wanted by the Police from Sagamu Road Division. Senior officers in the division were said to have implored the residents to assist in the search for the culprit who usually flee the town after a clash, thus making his arrest difficult.

The Police were said to have used everything at their disposal in the search for the suspect who successfully evaded arrest.

However, in August this year, Obayeje was reportedly shot, eliciting shout of joy as soon as the information spread round the town. But the joy was short lived as one of the residents Fashola Olumoye, popularlly called

Ifa, who was instrumental to the development is presently being detained at Criminal Investigation Department CID, Panti.

For the past few weeks, the arrest of Ifa, a member of the Yago Boys and the death of Obayeje have sparked confusion among residents as some friends of Obayeje were said to have come for a reprisal attack, maiming innocent residents in the process.

Confusion among residents Information made available to VM has it that on that fateful Thursday August 14, 2014, Ifa, was said to have spotted Obayeje near a yetto-be commissioned hotel and he raised an alarm. But Obayeje had signalled to some of his boys to come to his aid.

An argument soon ensued between the two, and before anybody realised what was happening, an unidentified fellow allegedly shot at Ifa who dodged the bullet. But Obayeje was not that lucky.

The bullet was said to have hit him, killing him on the spot.

Few days later, things took a different turn as Ifa was arrested by the Police, no thanks to a wealthy member

of the community who allegedly influenced this. In fact, the man claimed that Obayeje was never a culprit but his personal assistant.

Since the development, the community has been living in fear and residents are frantically calling on the new Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Kayode Aderanti, to investigate the matter so that peace will return to the community.

A resident, Sarafadeen Ahmed, 35, said the development has put his family in disarray. ‘’Madam, cultism is no longer new in this community and Police are helpless. We were observing siesta in our room about a year ago when a bullet fell from the roof and hit my wife; she died three days later. I now fend for the family alone,” said the widower.

Another resident, Madam Gladys Okechukwu, has this to say: ‘’Electricity is a bit okay here but the only problem is insecurity and we don’t really know who to run to. I no longer operate my business for fear of these ‘Bad Boys’ o,” Contacted on the matter, the Divisional Police Officer Sagamu Road Division refused to entertain questions from this reporter. ‘’Na the matter you wan investigate?

Of course you know where to go to for such issues,” he said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 — 21

DPR cautions users of gas cylinders •Says cylinder expires after 22yrs

By EDIRI EJOH

T

HE Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has urged Nigerians to be careful with the use of Liquify Petroleum Gas, LPG, gas cylinders, as some are expired and prone to fire accident at homes and other uses.

Most fire accidents that occur at homes and other places are as a result of the use of expired gas cylinders and sometimes the carelessness of users.

Head Gas, DPR, Lagos Zonal Office, Mr. P.A. Emordi, who disclosed this stated that gas cylinders have expiring dates on the valves with a duration of 22 years of validity before which they should be disposed for another one.

Highlighting the breakdown of the years required for gas cylinders, Emordi noted that, “After the purchase of gas cylinders, it should be taken for the first integrity test after ten years, and five years before carrying out another integrity test.”

Also, he stated that the cylinder should be used for five years and then taken for integrity test, and then finally two years ( 10-5-5-2), making the duration of 22 years before final disposal.

He added that gas cookers

should undergo integrity test to correct every likely leakage of gas from the cookers.

He, however, advised users of cooking gas not to open the gas cylinder before striking the match or fire, as the pressure of the gas can lead to a possible explosion.

Speaking on safety of operators in the industry, Mrs. C.N. Njuku stressed the need for operators to adhere to various design consideration/ approvals and requirements such as layout, spacing and distance requirements for vessels, drainage and containment

control.

She noted that additional considerations such as fireproofing, water-draw system, and relief systems are also important with respect to the integrity of the installation and risk reduction.

According to her,

From left: Head of European Union Delegation to Nigeria and Ecowas, Ambassador, Michael Arrion; Director General, Bank of Industry, (BoI), Rasheed Olaoluwa; Counselor/Head of Trade and Economics Section, EU Delegation to Nigeria and Ecowas, Massimo De Luca, at the 2014 EU-Nigeria Business Forum Press Conference in Lagos.

Chartered Printers demand representation at ports to strengthen regulation

BY FRANKLIN ALLI & JONAH NWOKPOKU

T

HE Chattered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria has requested the Federal Government to allow its members to be among the regulatory agencies at the sea ports and airports across the country so that they can checkmate printing materials from outside the country.

The institute which was established by an Act of Parliament No.24 of 2007 to regulate the practice of printing and allied body in the country also wants representation at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, office; Universal Basic Education, UBEC; National Population Commission, Office.

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, President and Chairman-in-Council, Wahab Muhammed Lawal, lamented that illegal importation of light packaging materials by some Asian companies under the guise of raw materials, is adversely affecting the local printing industry as it has rendered some printing presses redundant and some operating completely below capacity.

“This illegal activity has rendered some companies jobless. Go to some presses at Somolu in Lagos, they are sleeping with all their equipment and if you go round you will see where a machine that is supposed to print four colours is printing only one colour. You will also see some workers sitting down. So it has rendered some printing presses jobless and as a

result, the owner cannot pay salary and before you know it, he is retrenching workers.

Lawal said the body could not deal with the situation because it lacks the powers to enforce its laws adding that the Institute is also handicapped by lack of representation at strategic places like the ports and offices from where they ought to play a role in helping the authorities address the situation.

“The Act that established this body mandated us to advice the government on matters relating to printing. If we are to advise the government on matters relating to printing, we must be involved when they are taking a decision on printing. We must have representations at the airports, seaports, INEC Office, Universal Basic Education,

UBEC; National Population Office. That is when we can provide advice and that is when all this illegalities can be reduced,” said Lawal.

Also speaking, the Institute’s General Secretary, Mallam Ndagi Abubakar, said the most effective way to enforce compliance of the Institute’s regulations, besides the enabling Act is to ensure representation of the Institute at the strategic places where they can aid the law enforcement agencies in curtailing the trend “We want to be represented at some strategic places where printings are being done and both at the sea ports and airports.”

stakeholders in the industry should ensure the proliferation of the LPG plant and prospective plant operators must follow due to obtain approval for the commencement of any intended gas project.

Njoku argued that it is unethical for depots storing or coastal LPG to continue operation without a quality control laboratory even if an MOU is signed with a third party. “To stem the tide over fire accident, all product reception points must establish a functional laboratories, depots for products re-certification.

“Additional considerations such as fireproofing, waterdraw system, and relief systems are also important with respect to integrity of the installation and risk reduction, adding that DPR aim is to increase monitoring of operations in order to ensure that it is done in a safe and secure manner and required by extant petroleum regulations,” she stated. On his part, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Marketers, NALPGAM, Mr. Basil Ogbuanu, urged operators in the industry to think safety first in their operations.

According to him, NALPGAM is in partnership with DPR and has over the years reported issues of irregularities from tank farms that pose risk to operations.

USC 178.35 USD3,262.00 USC 13.50

USC -2.85 USD 70.00

USC -0.29

USD 98.38 USD -0.68 USD 92.45

USD -0.66

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.75 252.9698 198.9776 164.8557 1.4227 0.2847 230.9711 25.1953 41.2601 26.7239 231.6762

155.25 253.7872 199.6205 165.3883 1.4273 0.2947 231.7173 25.2772 41.3934 26.8102 232.4248

155.75 254.6045 200.2634 165.921 1.4319 0.3047 232.4636 25.359 41.5267 26.8966 233.1733

CBN Exchange Rate as 24 /09 / 2014

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

,

You have to work extremely hard to take hold of what you wish for, and you need a strategy to give direction and focus to your work

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Give your dream a scheme

BY JOHN MAXWELL

W

hen you wish upon a star; Makes no difference who you are; Anything your heart desires; Will come to you.

Disney offers great entertainment but lousy life lessons. You’re not going to receive a visit from a fairy godmother or find a genie in a bottle to grant your wishes.

It’s not just Disney that promotes the power of wishful thinking.

Motivational speakers peddle the same nonsensical notions. “If you can see it, you can be it!” “If you can believe it, you can achieve it!”

People with experience in the real world know that there’s huge gap between what you can believe and

A sound strategy…

Should be written down - The process of putting your plan on paper forces you to think it through clearly. A written plan also serves as a tangible reminder of your priorities.

Genuine hope does not rest solely on an optimistic outlook; it also needs the sturdy foundation of a solid plan

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what you can achieve. If you wait for what you wish for, then you’ll spend your whole life waiting. You have to work extremely hard to take hold of what you wish for, and you need a strategy to give direction and focus to your work. Without a plan, you’re like Peter Pan— childishly refusing to accept responsibility for your growth.

Maybe Disney should rewrite its lyrics something like this…

When you wish upon a star; You won’t make it very far; Anything you dream requires; Schemes to come true.

“Why?” and “what?” are two huge questions related to your dream. The answer to the first provides you with a sense of purpose. The answer to the second gives you a vision for the future.

However, you won’t get anywhere unless you also address a third question: “how?”

Planning begins by understanding where you are. Not where you wish you were or where you desire to be, but where you actually

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are. In all likelihood, the distance between your present abilities and your future potential will appear vast. That’s okay.

We all start out light years away from where we aspire to go. The key is to generate a plan that gives you a realistic chance of traveling from here to there. Genuine hope does not rest solely on an optimistic outlook; it also needs the sturdy foundation of a solid plan.

Should

BUSINESS

have

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deadlines - To do great and important tasks, two things are necessary: a plan and not quite enough time.

Deadlines push you to accomplish something by a designated endpoint. They prevent procrastination and delay.

Should be shared with others - As you plan, seek feedback from trusted advisors. They can point out blind spots in your selfassessment, and they can lend insight into the steps you will need to take on your journey of personal development.

Should result in significant changes to your daily schedule - To pursue your dream, you will have to make sacrifices. You will need to let go of some current commitments, habits, and relationships in order to reach for others. The simple fact is that you will never change your life until you change something you do daily.

Mr. Maxwell is a renowned author and motivational speaker

Date 23/9/14

O

Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

nline freelance marketplaces are websites that match buyers and sellers of services provided via the internet.

Buyers bid on services at a fixed price or at an hourly rate. These marketplaces allow people to sign up remotely for freelance assignments and get paid through a merchant account.

In 2013 alone, more than $750 million (about N120 billion) was earned by entrepreneurs around the world who got hired via Elance, one of the largest freelancing and outsourcing platforms on the internet.

The major chunk of this sum is concentrated in the highly demanded services highlighted below.

Virtual assistance : This is one of the fastest growing services on the internet. A virtual assistant (commonly known as VA) is an independent entrepreneur who typically works from home and uses technology (internet, email, phone, instant messaging) to deliver services to clients globally.

In summary, they are the online version of a Personal Assistant. What can a VA do?

Everything a personal assistant does and more. In addition to general administrative and clerical work, today’s VAs handle bookkeeping, online research, data entry, manage and respond to clients’ emails, schedule tasks and also offer language translation services.

Nowadays, more VAs are increasingly hired for customer care tasks. With the aid of internet phone technologies (VOIP), VAs can act as receptionists and answer the phone when customers call to make enquiries or complaints. You could make a phone call to a US-based company and its VA in Pakistan would respond to it.

Online marketing : Also known as digital or internet marketing. Both big and small companies around the world are shifting their advertising spend from traditional channels (like newspapers, radio and TV) to

Buying(N) 154.75 253.9602 199.6275 165.3312 1.4265 0.284 230.6533 25.2076 41.259 26.8137 231.8774

Central(N) 155.25 254.7808 200.2725 165.8654 1.4311 0.294 231.3986 25.2895 41.3923 26.9004 232.6266

Selling(N) 155.75 255.6013 200.9175 166.3996 1.4357 0.304 232.1438 25.3714 41.5256 26.987 233.3758

Explore lucrative services on freelance marketplace

focus on online advertising.

We now live in a world where people watch more Youtube than television and read more blog articles and Facebook posts than newspapers.

Online marketers are specialists and independent entrepreneurs who help people, businesses, organisations and even governments to increase their presence and influence on the internet. As the influence of the internet grows in the modern world and the complexities of social media and search engines increase, the demand for online marketing specialists will surely be on the rise.

Designers : If you own a business or run any kind of organisation in today’s world but don’t have a website, it’s typically assumed that you don’t exist. A website is a virtual office space. Almost everybody wants a beautiful website but not everyone has the skills to design one. The huge and growing global market for visually appealing websites has increased the demand for people with talents and skills in website

and graphic design. Apart from websites, people with these skills design book covers, corporate logos and do graphics for magazines and marketing collateral (like banners, brochures etc.).

Through the internet, thousands of people in developing regions of the world earn a sizeable income by designing websites, graphics, logos etc, for clients who live on the other side of the world.

Writers: Content is king on the internet and even the most popular websites/blogs are constantly looking for rich, fresh and creative blog articles that will keep their readers satisfied and engaged.

Many of these blogs have to publish new articles everyday to remain relevant and sustain the volume of readers and visitors they receive. To meet up with this demand, thousands of freelance writers are hired every day across the world to produce the content that feeds the internet’s insatiable appetite for fresh information.

Programmers (Coders) :

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—23

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Organisations suffer a great deal whenever people have developed the mindset of shifting the blame to someone else when they ought to have helped

& YOU

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COMMODITIES (24/9/14) Commodity Light Crude

Last 91.69

Natural Gas

3.83

+0.01

+0.34

Sugar

14.51

+0.36

+2.54

Coffee

186.35

+5.45

+3.01

Cocoa

3,378.00

+81.00

+2.46

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The global software industry is worth billions of dollars. In recent years, the spread of smartphones and other mobile devices has significantly boosted the software industry and computer programming (or ‘coding’) has become one of the most sought after and highly paid skills in today’s world. The demand for coding skills is projected to grow exponentially over the next decade. ome basic requirements S are needed to enjoy the lucrative benefits from the

several platforms on the internet that provide opportunity to sell one’s time and talent to people around the world.

Invest in yourself and develop useful skills : Although talent may come naturally to some, we definitely have to invest in training ourselves in order to build the skills required for the highly competitive but rewarding world of freelancing. The platforms offer some of the most effective, flexible and affordable ways to learn and practice all the skills you need include: Coursera, Open Education Database (OEDb), Udacity, Udemy, Lynda and W3Schools.

Promote yourself and sell your skills : To successfully do this, you need a platform that will expose and project your skills to the whole world. The cheapest and most effective way to accomplish this today is over the internet. There are quite a number of online work

portals that help skilled freelancers around the world to find work/projects at very competitive prices.

A few of the top freelance platforms available on the internet include: Elance, oDesk, Freelancer and Guru.

Hardwork and patience : Like most paths that lead to success, making it as a freelancer in the services industry will require a great deal of hardwork and patience, especially in the beginning. Clients don’t want to take risks with a novice and usually would prefer to hire freelancers who have a wealth of experience. As a beginner, it may be difficult to get hired at first, but with patience and hardwork you’ll surely find someone who will hire you.

Use great customer service to grow your reputation: On all of these online freelance platforms, the quality of customer feedback you get can easily make or break you. For every job you’re hired for, the client is encouraged to provide feedback on the quality on your work and their level of satisfaction with your service. In addition to leaving a feedback comment, customers can also award a low to high star rating. And when future clients think of hiring you, most of them will first read through your previous ratings and these will likely influence their decision to hire you or not.

As a result, freelancers with high ratings and positive customer feedback are likely to get more jobs.

Another good reason you should focus on providing great service to your customers is that it always pays off in the long run.

Clients prefer to work with freelancers they’ve worked with before and are comfortable with their services. If you impress a customer on one job, they’re likely to consider you first when they have another project. And their patronage definitely increases as your relationship with them deepens.

Source: Smallstarter.com

% Change +0.14

How destructive is the 'blame game'in organisations?

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

“No one wins the blame game” ...Carl Jung

M

ost employees knowingly or unknowingly have allowed a major debilitating virus to creep into the fabrics of their organisations. The reality is that no organisation (with the current rate of business uncertainties) can attain its rightful position if this unwanted virus is not dealt with. Surprisingly, the leaders, executives and their collective workforce are affected by this debilitating virus, and guess what; organisations are at the receiving ends. By now, you will be wondering what this virus is. It is the ‘Blame Game” or ‘Shifting the Blame to Someone Else’. Any organisation that encourages this blame game will end up stifling creativity, innovation and productivity -the three required ingredients for growth. The truth of the matter is that no real result can be achieved without someone taking responsibility for his/her actions. This responsibility is bestowed on every one who earns a salary and should be predicated upon achieving the goals of one’s organisation. The rule of the game is not about winning a law suit and punishing someone who has been blamed, but ensuring that we help one another achieve the goals of the organisation.

Unbelievably, someone in a team might have a solution to something or might have an idea of how best to resolve an issue, but simply because he/ she was not made the team head might decide to do nothing or not going the extra mile in achieving the desired

result. In a situation where by that particular team’s project did not go well, that same person may be the first to shift the blame to someone else or will decide to proffer solutions when the damage has been done already – probably to ‘shine’ or appear superior to others.

Organisations suffer a great deal whenever people have developed the mindset of shifting the blame to someone else when they ought to have helped. Instead of creating blames, we should help one another to create value for the organisation.

,

,

In 2013 alone, more than $750 million (about N120 billion) was earned by entrepreneurs around the world who got hired via Elance

Change ($) +0.13

Even if blame game is justified, it serves no constructive purpose

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The era we are now in the business world is not that of who is wrong or right, who is to be blamed or not, but the era of helping the weak in your organisation to achieve better results. The truth is that some are weak in some areas and strong in other areas. The idea is to complement one another for the betterment of the organisation that pays our salaries.

History was made in America in 1961 by former President John F. Kennedy.

In order to drive home the need to take responsibility of one’s actions and never to heap blames on someone else, I will pose a question that we always ask in all our “Achieving Enterprise – Wide Strategic Leadership Excellence” workshop. The question is: When do you think former President John F. Kennedy was most popular? The larger numbers of participants always say when he was elected as the American President. Others said when he won the Cuban Missile Crisis or when he was

assassinated. The reality is that none of the answers given made him most popular. He was most popular after flubbing the Bay of Pigs Invasions. That happened in 1961 when the US military was unsuccessful in the invasion of Cuba under the watch dog of President JF Kennedy. So why was JFK celebrated in an unsuccessful invasion that brought embarrassment to Americans?

President JFK did four key remarkable things: He accepted responsibility for it; he didn’t “pass the buck”.

He showed his humanity and fallibility. He showed his honesty and forthrightness.

He showed he had a “back” large enough to shoulder his responsibility of office.

Had JFK passed the blame to President Eisenhower who approved the program in March 1960, he could not have earned the respect he had after the incident. Great leaders and employees take responsibility for their actions whether good or bad.

That is the only way our direct reports and subordinates will see us as being truly genuine and honest. And when your subordinates see you as being genuine and honest, they will do all in their capacity to help you succeed.

As leaders, managers, supervisors, and as parents, let us take responsibility of what is in our hands.

Final note: Indulging in a blame game is indeed destructive. Even if blame is justified, it serves no constructive purpose. If it serves no constructive purpose, of what use is it?

Organisations were not founded to act as a law court in discovering who is right or not in the blame game, but were founded to deliver results to all shareholders.

When we take responsibility for our actions and help the organisation to win, everybody wins.

C M Y K

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Pomp in Iseyin as Adedibu’s in-law, Sen. Babalola joins Accord

By Bashir Adefaka

Rethinking Nollywood in the Nigerian Project

T

HE ancient city of Iseyin stood still for several hours, weekend, as people thronged the city gate and palace of Aseyin to receive the former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. The former governor was in town to receive new defectors led by Senator Andrew Gbenga Babalola into the Accord Party.

Babalola, an in-law of late father of Ibadan politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, was the immediate past senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District. He decamped along with several others in the district from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, into the Accord.

Receiving the new members, leader of the Accord and former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, observed that governance had gone beyond whipping sentiments to lure people to support the government of a non-functional party.

Ladoja said, “Time has come now that anyone that has no blueprint of what governance is all about should steer clear of canvassing for people’s votes.”

He further stated that ambition to lead people and to govern should stem from the fact that such a person that must canvass for people’s votes must have a track record of what he or she had done before, in leading people or government, at any time in the course of his life.

sophistication, technical quality and convincing plot and storyline with historical and philosophical weight.

HERE is no doubt that today, Nollywood has become It is in this sense that I find the newest volume on Nollywood a national brand. It has become the foremost a commendable and compelling redirection for rethinking signifier of our cinematic energy as a creative people. and rescuing the Nollywood phenomenon. Auteuring Nollywood began small, but today it has become a huge Nollywood (edited by Dr. Adeshina Afolayan, of the contributor to the national economy. In the recent GDP Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan) is a work that rebasing exercise, Nollywood contributed 1.2 per cent to the captures the several worries of Nigerian about the Nollywood national economy. If that appears little, then you have no phenomenon, and the question of whether or not it has the knowledge of where and how Nollywood began. Its capacity to do beginning is founded on a shoestring budget and a creative more in terms of ingenuity of a few entrepreneurs who had to face contributing to the commercial risk and cinematic scorn to achieve their transformation of objectives. If you want an exact date for the beginning of Nigeria and our Nollywood, scholars point at Kenneth Nnebue’s 1992 assessment of who movie, Living in Bondage. Today, Nollywood has achieved we are and what global reckoning by its sheer capacity to proliferate beyond we can hope to be. all its economic, political and social limitations. Nollywood To achieve this is second only to Hollywood in global entertainment c r i t i c a l ranking; Bollywood, the Indian film industry, has since contribution, been displaced to third place.

Nollywood must On another significant level, Nollywood can rightly be first transform considered as the sole heir of the tradition of African cinema itself through pioneered by the likes of Ousmane Sembene, Souleymane several internal Cisse, Haile Gerima, and others. In spite of being founded adjustments and rehabilitations. It doesn’t matter if on the format of the home video, Nollywood has captured Nollywood drops behind Hollywood and Bollywood in term the imagination of Africa in its attempt at a cinematic of the quantity of films it injects into the market; that would representation of African, and Nigerian, cultural themes, seem a fair price to pay for the need to produce qualitative films values, conflicts and challenges. It is, therefore, possible for that matters. The various contributors to Auteuring Nollywood some to think that Nollywood cinematically represents Business of were united in their recognition of the urgency of a revolution Nigeria and its cultural and historical complexities. It of the aesthetic and technical forms of the movies in terms of governance shouldn’t even be far-fetched to consider Nollywood as good storyline, coherent plots and reasonable casting. The Nigeria’s national cinema, especially with its many book particularly asked for an auteur; a director that stands at “Governance is a business that should also attempts at exhibiting issues that speak to our collective the forefront of the cinematic revolution with a vision. attract similar demand from whoever will be the predicament as a people.

I am particularly thrilled by the assessment of one of the occupier of that office,” said the former governor.

In spite of these adulations, there are so much that are still contributors as to the possibility of Nollywood assuming its In his remarks, Senator Gbenga Babalola said wrong with this film industry. And my point of interrogation role as a national cinema. This comes with a lot of that his joining the Ladoja-led party was is its capacity to not only adequately reflect and recreate, but responsibility. Most importantly, such a national cinema must because the PDP had lost focus on what it set also to challenge the national project in Nigeria. Nigeria is learn to tell the Nigerian story with all its challenges, out to do for Nigerian people particularly in a plural society, divided along religious, linguistic, cultural possibilities and failures. That trajectory of telling our story has Oyo State where, henoted that, the party had and ethnic lines. This is the first fact that precipitates the already been championed by the prolific Tunde Kelani who infatuated to different sections where any serious need for national integration of all the diverse groups and not only interrogates the Yoruba cultural heritage, but also politicians or people would not want to be nationalities forcefully amalgamated into the Nigerian projects the twists and turns of the Nigerian projects. Many identified with such party. state. Nollywood, therefore, already has its work cut out for people will not forget Saworoide and Agogo Eewo, two critical It would be recalled that only recently 2,500 it: it is to cinematically map the terrain of failures, successes, movies that constitute a parable on our nation-building efforts. prominent leaders of the All Progressives and possibilities of this project in a manner that challenges When such efforts are complemented by other films like The Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic all of us, government and the governed, to pause and Figurine and October 1 (Kunle Afolayan), Half of a Yellow Sun Party, PDP, defected to the Accord Party, AP. rethink our collective existence as Nigerians. It isn’t (directed by Biyi Bandele, and adapted from a Chimamanda Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, currently enough to cinematically re-present what is wrong with us, Adichie’s novel of the same title), and many others, we can representing Oyo South Senatorial District in and to do it badly. We don’t need a national cinema that is begin to motivate Nollywood towards a cinematic dynamics the National Assembly, led other top notches of merely exhibitionist. that could carry the burden of cultural and APC to AP at a grand reception, held at the national trauma and possibilities.

Mapo Hall in Ibadan. Ladoja, who is the I am particularly thrilled by the assessment of The evolution of Nollywood as an industry national leader of AP and Ashipa Olubadan of benefitted from the Nigerian socio-economic Ibadanland, formally presented the party’s flag one of the contributors as to the possibility of situation. Nollywood came into existence in to Lanlehin and other prominent politicians of Nollywood assuming its role as a national the throes of the economic troubles the state at the rally. confronting most African countries in the 80s.

Among those decamped at the event in Iseyin cinema. This comes with a lot of responsibility It, therefore, owes a moral debt to respond were Baba J. A. Odeyemi, the former General ‘Movies for me,’ says Steven Spielberg, ‘are a critically and creatively to the situation that brought it to life.

Manager of Defunct National Electric Power heightened reality.’ This is critical: the cinema acts as a Nollywood stands at a critical juncture in Nigeria’s current effort Authority, NEP, Oyo, Chief Bashiru Gbadamosi, mirror which is deployed to re-examine our collective at undermining and transcending its national predicament. What Chief Mike Olanrewaju and Chief Abass experience. And the more traumatic the experience, the we need are no longer several cameras wrongly placed for Olopoero. Others included Hakeem Ajeigbe, more disturbing the movies should be. The cinema, commercial purposes. Rather, what ought to proliferate are Dr. Usman Bolaji and many others. therefore, ought to be able to tell the Nigerian and non- visionary auteurs who can Nigerian audiences something; it should, for instance, challenge us at every turn in our reveal to them how the Nigerian project is faring. My national existence. The Nollywood worry, however, is whether Nollywood, as presently director is no less a patriot than the constituted, will be able to do this adequately. political leadership in the country; A normal Nollywood movie is predictable and boring; s/he has a responsibility to project you sit for hours through mostly ordinary depictions of our collective experiences in a city and rural life that you are already familiar with. You manner that antagonises and are also treated to a rehash of historical moments not disturbs and forces us to think properly researched. When the movie finally ends, you about the past, the present and the get up and you are not the wiser for it. future.

You sure would find many actors to praise for sterling The Nollywood of the future is a performances, and on top of my head are actors like Pete cinematic industry that would Edochie, Olu and Joke Jacobs, Gabriel Afolayan, begin to take Nigeria seriously.

Genevieve Nnaji, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Ramsey Nouah, Thus, for the Nigerian Nollywood Funke Akindele, Odunlade Adekola, to name just a very director, there is only one few. You even get to laugh too watching movies like commandment: imaginatively Osuofia in London and Jenifa. But then, it isn’t just the recreate Nigeria! stars that make for compelling movies that speak to our Dr. Olaopa is Permanent collective conditions as Nigerians. There should be more Secretary, Federal Ministry of that Nollywood can do beyond its stars, and comedy and Communication Technology, bland storylines. I am talking about aesthetic Abuja.

Ladoja and other AP chieftains at the event

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By Tunji Olaopa

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 — 25

point in time.

Among the schools that received pupils and students are Caro Favoured College, AwodiOra; Strong Tower Academy, Ikorodu; Dorcas Memorial College, Ajegunle; Brain Builders Academy, Badagry; Topfield College, Awodi-Ora; Kings College, Ikoyi and Highstone College, Ajegunle.

Speaking to Vanguard Learning, Principal, Caro Favoured College, Awodi-Ora, Mr. Mark Okoh said: “The State government gave the directive of a suspension of the earlier announced date of resumption based on the fact that some public and private schools have not completely put all necessary precautionary measures in place to contain the spread of the Ebola virus.

Outbreak of the scourge

*All for Ebola: A teacher checking the temperature of students using the infrared thermometer in Lagos.

EBOLA: States divided over Sept 22 resumption •S’West states defy order, as Anambra, Enugu, Benue, others resume •We weren’t carried along by Lagos govt —Private schools administrators

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ONTROVERSIES last Monday, continued to trail Federal Government’s directive for public and private primary and secondary schools to resume for the 2014/2015 academic session.

While several state governments made last minute dramatic U-turn, directing schools in their states not to resume last Monday, but on later dates like October 6, 8 and 13, other state governments who insisted that schools in their states must abide by FG’s directive were shocked, as their teachers failed to resume for work, giving several reasons bordering on inadequate provision of the necessary anti-Ebola precautionary measures in their schools.

Vanguard Learning gathered that while states like Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Ebonyi, Plateau, Ondo among others, resumed for academic activities,

no fewer than 15 states across the federation were said to have shunned FG’s directive to resume September 22. The states include Rivers, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Adamawa, Kano, Kwara, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Ogun and Lagos states.

Academic activities Earlier, the national body of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, had ordered its members to shun academic activities until the Federal Government and several state governments have provided the required health gadgets in schools to ensure not only their safety but that of their pupils.

Against this backdrop, it was learnt that the affected state governments suspended resumption to two or three weeks, on the grounds that this period will allow them to further put in place all necessary precautionary

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT New cause of glaucoma discovered, cure underway Pg. 29 C M Y K

measures against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in their schools.

However, in Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola’s last minute dramatic U-turn for Lagos schools to re-open October 8, has not gone down well with several private school owners, who said that the state government did not carry them along in the meeting where the new directive was given.

Recall that Fashola had on Sunday, in an interactive session with principals, vice-principals, head-teachers and assistant head-teachers of public primary and secondary schools in the state, directed that schools should no longer resume on the earlier announced date of September 22, but next two weeks (October 8), explaining that this period would allow for more time to further put in place all necessary precautionary measures against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Lagos State schools.

However, when Vanguard

Bringing back university life to the North-East

Learning visited some schools that resumed, the administrators who lamented that they were not duly carried along in the latest directive by the governor, pointed out that there was no reason to continue to keep the students at home, since they had already put in place all necessary

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By Dayo Adesulu, Ikenna Asomba & Tare Youdeowei

“But here in my school, we have put every necessary measure in place. We attended the seminars, we have gotten all the materials the state government directed all schools to get to prevent an outbreak of the scourge. As you can see for yourself, we are checking them at the gate, we are monitoring the children to ensure that everything is in order.” He added that: “we have constant running water at the gate, we have provided soaps, hand sanitisers, infrared thermometers to check the students' temperature and we have trained teachers who will move into action if there is any emergency, based on the training they have received so far.”

Reacting to Fashola’s dramatic U-turn that schools should resume October 8,

Even when we go to government establishments where these materials are readily available, we pay for them; so, since we have the anti-Ebola equipment, there was no need disrupting the academic calendar any further precautionary measures to combat the EVD in their schools.

The administrators who also said that the state government never considered them in the allocation of anti-Ebola materials, however, stated that they had provided it for themselves, noting that they were ready to subject themselves to inspection by authorities of the state at any

,

Okoh lamented that private schools were never carried along at the meeting where the new directive was issued.

His words: “We were not really carried along and it is unfortunate. We were not at the meeting last Sunday, as it was specifically for principals, viceprincipals, head-teachers and assistant head-teachers of public Continues on page 26

Get students'medical report on resumption, Benchmark School urges proprietors Pg. 28

Pg. 27

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

EBOLA: States divided over Sept 22 resumption Continues from page 25

•Pupils of Children Academy Nursery and Primary School, Benin City, Edo State, having their temperature checked before entering the school

Knocks, kudos as Lagos shifts schools’ resumption over Ebola

By AMAKA ABAYOMI & TARE YOUDEOWEI

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IXED reactions have continued to trail the sudden shift in the resumption date for schools in Lagos State from Monday, September 22 to Wednesday, October 8. More parents have expressed their support for the state government for putting the safety of children first.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State had, at an interactive session with principals, vice-principals, head teachers and teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state, on Sunday, September 21, directed that all learning and teaching activities for the next academic session in Lagos be suspended until October 8.

According to the Governor, “though schools are to re-open on September 22, but it would be for the purpose of distributing and supplying of preventive materials and to allow schools’ managements to tie up loose ends in the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. “These two weeks would be ‘getting-ready weeks’ for teachers and administrators and to allow for more time to further put in place all necessary precautionary measures against EVD in Lagos State schools.”

For

Those in support of the postponement argue that more time was, indeed, needed to ensure that students are safe and well, rather than sick or dead. The few who oppose the development stress that further shift could be more suicidal than the Ebola virus itself.

Leading the pack of supporters is Mrs. Ifeoma Ekawhare, who said: “I support government’s directive because children are better off at home than dead with Ebola.

The shift is not permanent but

to allow the appropriate authorities do all that needs to be done to keep our children safe at schools.”

In agreement is Ms. Ifreke Brendan, who said the shift shows that government cares for the students in the state.

She said: “It is not a bad idea and it shows that government cares about our children. Even if schools had opened today (September 22), I wouldn’t have allowed my child go to school because it is much easier to control who your child comes in contact with at home than in school where the teachers can’t supervise as effectively as parents because of the population of students per class.”

Outbreak of the virus Pointing out that the shift speaks well of the government, Mrs. Chika Ofor said: “I am behind government’s decision because issues like this are not to be rushed.

“We all agree that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of our children in their various schools and we, parents, need to give government more time to put necessary measures in place to prevent the outbreak of the virus.”

Stressing that each state government should consider its status before reopening its schools, a mother, who simply gave her name as Mummy Favour, said schools should be opened when all preventive measures have been put in place and not when the Federal Government directs.

She said: “Peculiar states like Lagos and Rivers need to apply more caution than others, hence the need for more time.

Government is doing what is best for everyone, especially the children because if schools resume and we record another outbreak, it is the same people who condemned government

for the extension that would still blame government for being in a haste to reopen schools.”

… against

Despite the sigh of relief from many stakeholders who were not comfortable with the September 22 resumption date, a few still do not support the prolonged holiday, saying most schools, especially private ones, have put in place measures aimed at ensuring the safety of their students and teachers.

One of such persons is Mr. Adekunle Ajibodu, who said: “Any further attempt to elongate the long holidays will be more suicidal than the spread of Ebola virus itself.

This is because, while the spread of the virus can be curtailed and controlled, illiteracy that can be produced due to long holidays will remain very venomous and permanent.”

Seething with anger is Mrs. Chimdi Obi, who had to go and take her son from the boarding house, said the further extension was unnecessary as the virus can be contracted in churches, mosques, schools or anywhere.

Said she: “My son and I were really excited about him going back to school and adequate preparations for his return to school had been made. I was on my way home from dropping him off at the boarding house when his guardian called me to come take him back because government has shifted the resumption date."

“This shift is unnecessary because the kids are tired of staying at home and parents are running out of ideas to keep them busy. Besides, after having said the state is free of Ebola, government seems to be contradicting itself by extending resumption date.”

primary and secondary schools and officials of the Nigerian Union of Teachers. Private schools were never invited. And since we were not invited, it means we were not part of the agreement to suspend resumption to October 8.

“When they (government) needed our attention, they called us to a meeting, and at the meeting, they told us what we should put in place. We have put those things in place and we are ready to subject ourselves to inspection anytime they deem fit.

We must also get it clear that the agitation of the NUT officials from the public schools was that there was nothing on ground in their schools, to show that they were ready to resume.

But we have things on ground, so we are not protesting that parents should not release their children for resumption. After all, the state officials had already told all private schools to get their materials themselves, that they are not giving us free like public schools.

Even when we go to government establishments where these materials are readily available, we are paying for them.

It is not given to us free. So, since we have the anti-Ebola equipment, there was no need

know how to respond. However, one of the communiques of that supposed meeting was that schools will be provided with the necessary anti-Ebola equipment, of which we private schools don’t think we will be beneficiaries.

“So, if the schools will be closed for equipment to be provided and we are not going to be beneficiaries, why don’t we just go ahead and provide the equipment ourselves and resume, so that anytime the government officials are ready for inspection, they will see that we have those equipment in place.”

Mrs. Nneka Okafor, Vice-Principal (Administration), Highstone College, Awodi-Ora, confirmed her school’s level of preparedness. “Even before the new directive by the Lagos State governor, we had already put all the necessary precautionary measures in place. As you can see, we have the hand sanitisers, the running water and the soap.

However, we resumed on Monday, but today (Tuesday), our proprietress called, directing us to allow the children to go home, and to resume October 8 as directed by government.

Her directive was never because we were not prepared, but at least, it will give our teachers the ample opportunity to prepare their lesson notes among other things.”

According to an administrative staff of Strong Tower Academy, who does not want her name in

Parents who brought their children to resume say they are already tired of the holiday, therefore the children should resume. Some of them are from overseas, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt disrupting the academic calendar any further,” he said.

Similarly, the Vice-Principal (Administration), Topfield College, Ajegunle, Mr. Agbolabo Onasanya, who decried the lack of communication said: “Our decision to resume despite the directive from the Lagos State Government to suspend resumption till October 8, is as a result of the communication mixup on the part of the government. Last Thursday, we had a meeting with the Ministry of Education and this issue was not brought up.

Precautionary measures “So, we made efforts to put all the necessary precautionary measures in place as the government directed, and then last Sunday, we were told that the governor had an interactive session with principals, viceprincipals, head-teachers and assistant head-teachers of public primary and secondary schools, as well as officials of the NUT. There was no private schools representation.

So, that decision was arrived at and our heads were shaved in our absence. So, we did not really

print: “We resumed on Sunday for a fresh academic session.

About 80 per cent of the boarders resumed as earlier directed by Governor Fashola that private schools that have put all necessary precautionary measures in place can resume on September 22. Before our students came in, they were properly checked with the infrared thermometers. We gave them health talks, but we did not teach them.”

Asked how the parents reacted, she said: “Parents who brought their children to resume say they are already tired of the holiday, therefore the children should resume. Some of them are from overseas, Abuja, and PortHarcourt.”

On his part, the Vice- Principal (Administration), Kings College, Mr. Charles A. Utomi, said: “We received students in the hostels, served them breakfast, but the Association of Senior Civil Servants this morning (Monday) directed we shut down as they are agitating over unpaid salary arrears. So, we decided that students in the boarding house already received by the school will only be allowed to go home if their parents are available to pick them.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 — 27

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG

Get students'medical report on resumption, Benchmark School urges proprietors

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EAD of School, Benchmark Montessori School, Ikeja, Mrs Olufolake Bisiriya has urged school owners to seek for students' medical report on resumption saying the measure will checkmate the the L-R:Proprietress, Benchmark Montessori School, Mrs. Modinat Sanusi, spread of Ebola in School Head, Mrs. Olufolake Bisiriyu and Assistant General Manager, school.

Finance and Administration, Mr. Tunde Rasaq at the media interactive She noted that session held at the school premises in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos... recently before parents would be allowed to bring their children to school Bisiriya reiterated that the main that apart from academic after the summer holiday, focus of an educationalist is to excellence which the school parents must present a clean build a total child. According endeavours to impart its medical report of their children to her, Benchmark is unique students, vocational training for because it imparts knowledge the students is also taught at to the school.

She said, “Parents are to fill to its children in a playful the early age.

Benchmark which prides questionnaire about the health manner.

The Head of School said that itself in scoring 95 per cent in condition of their children and present document of their state an ideal Montessori school is 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 that school where students are Common entrance results of health on resumption.

Apart from this measure, not encouraged to cram, but to urged school owners to look Bisiriya disclosed that each know and learn things by into giving their pupils well classroom at Benchmark understanding. Montessori rounded education so that after Montessori School has its discourages the habit of graduation, they would have separate toilet and sink where cramming adding, "we teach gotten a lot of skills.

He gave an example of children at their early stage to pupils can wash their hands.

According to her, in read fluently," she said. Benchmark school which Benchmark School, sanitizers, According to her, a Montessori inculcates into pupils at their toilet and water are provided is about life, to make a child early age how to play the piano, in each classroom with a sink better and do things on his or guitar and other vocational having running water. She her own adding, “You will be training.

He said: “All these are packed explained that the washing of amazed that a three year old hands in a bowl cannot prevent in Benchmark can read in the extra-curricular activities the spread of Ebola Virus from fluently without cramming. In and they are being taken by one person to another. She fact, with the aid of Montessori professionals. We don’t allow a insists that the authentic way skills, our nursery pupils read single teacher to handle many subjects. The teachers also go of safe guarding our students newspapers.”

Speaking in the same vein, for training and we also from contacting the virus is to install sink with running water. Mr Maruf Abdulrazak, organize training for our Speaking at a press briefing Assistant General Manager, teachers regularly. held at the school's premises, Finance, of the school, noted

Private, public schools in Rivers comply with October 6, resumption

BY DAYO ADESULU

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he Rivers State Ministry of Education says public and private schools in the State will re-open on Monday 6th October, 2014. The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Minabelem Michael West disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

He said that the Ministry of Education decided to move the resumption date to 6th October after consultation with the State Ministry of Health, the National Union of Teachers (Rivers State Chapter) and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (Rivers State Chapter).

The Permanent Secretary stated that the Ministry will

C M Y K

do everything possible to ensure the safety of teachers and school children in the State rather than exposing them to possible dangers of contracting the disease.

"Although the Ministry of Health has informed the Ministry of Education that there are no new cases of Ebola in the State, they have nevertheless informed us that there are still persons in the State undergoing mandatory periods of surveillance to determine their Ebola status.

Given this situation, the State Ministry of Education considers it very necessary to do everything it can to ensure the safety of teachers and school children in the State rather than exposing them to possible danger of contracting

the disease’’ he stated.

Minabelem Michael West also said that the State Government has also been most proactive in the fight against the disease and will continue to do its best, not only to provide necessary preventive materials in our public schools but to completely eradicate the disease in the State.

He also directed that proprietors of private schools in the State are expected to make similar provisions in their schools. He noted that the Ministry of Education, Rivers State has organized sensitization programme for teachers on the Ebola Virus Disease in line with the Federal Ministry of Education.

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Staying positive in a negative world H

AVE you ever considered why fish in their salty aquatic environment do not in itself become salty when it is prepared and eaten by human beings? In fact, you need to add adequate salt for it to be tasteful in order to enjoy the fish meal. Here’s the rub, the salty water in the aquatic environment inhabited by the fish do not get into the internal part of the fish and hence, though the fish is surrounded by salty water the fish is not determined by the salty water. We can draw valuable lesson from the fish. As human beings we have the ability or power not to allow what is happening around us to get into us. In life, it is not what happens around us or to us that really matters but rather it is what happens within us that determines our success or failure in life. The world is filled with negativity and garbage dump mentality that we must make a conscious choice to stay afloat this ocean of negativity. From our waking moment to the time of our night rest, we are bombarded with all sorts of negativity from divers’ sources and even from people closest to us. How can we shield ourselves from these missiles of negativity that threatens to destroy our inspiration and motivation to succeed? To live positively in a grossly negative world we need to protect the three gates to the control centre of our lives (mind): the eye gate; the ear gate; and the mouth gate.

The first waking moments of the day sets the tone for the day. We can’t begin the day by waking up and immediately switching on the television to listen to the News or even reading Newspapers and expect to stay positive or respond positively to the events of the day; it most probably may not happen. Of course the world is full of tragedies and negativity and they make the headlines more than the positive events. Therefore, on waking up in the morning be grateful to God for the gift of a brand new day and another opportunity to succeed; count your blessings and not your losses. Yesterday ended last night. Begin each day on a clean slate.

Read and meditate on the scriptures and positive materials in the first waking moments of the day; it is also helpful to listen to inspirational music. I also believe during the day and especially before having our night rest, we should expose ourselves to positive information as we did in the morning so that the subconscious mind can work on the information and make it part of our life. I also believe we should be selective of the programmes, movies and music we listen to, choosing those that convey uplifting, positive and principle centred information. Just as the adage says, “you are what you eat” We can safely say, “We are what we read, watch and listen to” Remember, garbage in, garbage out.

Our source of motivation is very vital. Love is the most powerful

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By DAYO ADESULU

We are what we read, watch and listen to” Remember, garbage in, garbage out

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force on earth and the most lasting motivation is an internal motivation; birthed from within. Therefore, we must do what we love and love what we do. This is the secret of extraordinary achievers; they love what they do. An external source of motivation is short-lived, only the internal source of motivation will triumph even in the face of failure, defeat and disappointment.

Another important ingredient of staying positive is by using affirmation. Affirmations are powerful, faith-filled statements that reflect what you want to be; what you want to do; what you want to have; spoken out loud with the conviction that they are already real in your life. Muhammad Ali’s famous words, “I am the greatest” became a reality in his life; that’s how powerful affirmations can be in transforming our destinies. Therefore, watch the words you speak to yourselves and others; let it be uplifting and positive words.

Your mental picture creates your actual picture. Therefore, utilize your imagination effectively by creating the mental picture of what you want to experience rather than visualizing negativity.

Associate with people that are positive and uplifting and avoid people that dampen your enthusiasm to succeed with their negative, critical and faultfinding attitude. Helping people who are less fortunate than you can be a boost to your self esteem and this raises your value to your world and keeps you on the positive pedestal.

Therefore, monitor what you hear, what you watch or read, and what you say because they are the gateway to the mind which determines the quality of your life.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Dons pay tribute to late Ade Ajayi, laud his contributions to African education AST week, the University of Lagos, UNILAG, organised a special Senate meeting in honour of late Emeritus Professor Jacob Festus Ade Ajayi describing him as an extra ordinary don whose shoes will be too large for others to wear.

Professor Ajayi, who died on August 9, 2014 was one of the pioneer Vice Chancellors of the University of Lagos between 1972 to 1978.

In a tribute paid to him by the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Rahamon Bello said: “Africa's history owes him an enormous debt of gratitude for pioneering with a few others a nationalist historiography, which aimed at giving pride and confidence not only to African nationalists but more importantly to scholars on the beauty and essence of their continent.”

He described the late Ade Ajayi as someone who argued important issues using his pens. According to him, under Professor Ajayi, the Ibadan School of History, based at the Department of History,

University of Ibadan became the dominant school in the study at Africa and Nigeria's history.

He said that late Ade Ajayi was a transformation leader and change agent who had very clear dreams of what public education should be.

“Many attest that he had the gift of innovative thinking, a visionary spirit and the tenacious patience required to successfully lead meaningful educational reform,” he said.

Recapitulating his achievement in UNILAG, Bello pointed out that it was in his time that the University of a Lagos formally adopted the Faculty System as he streamlined the unwieldy and confusing academic structure in which the faculty system operated alongside the School and Collegiate system. Aside from this, he noted that Professor Ade Ajayi will always ensured that a harmonious working relationship between students and staff prevailed on campus.

On his part, paying his tribute, Professor O.A Fakinlede, Dean of

Engineering, UNILAG, while alluding some of Ajayi's achievements, said that apart from the Main University Library, Main Engineering Complex, Mariere Hall and the Senate House, virtually every other significant building was delivered under Professor Ade Ajayi. He said: “Those times were not easy. According it him, “ it was an era of military coups and regimes. It was also a time of student unrest.”

Also, in his tribute to Ajayi.

Professor A.F Ogunye who worked with him so closely in his life time, spoke about his relationship with Ajayi.

He said: “Professor Ade Ajayi gave me unalloyed support to set up the new Chemical Engineering Department to be the best in the country. I remember, he encouraged me as the Chairman Admission Committee to admit sports men and ladies to reverse the slogan “Eko for Shoe.” Those that did not make the University entrance requirements were admitted into the NCE programme in the College of Education.”

Odegbami, Rufai, Ajunwa, others for Wonderland independence carnival

By Ikenna Asomba

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N commemoration of the nation’s 54 th Independence Anniversary, Soccer legend, Segun Odegbami, former Super Eagles goal stopper, Peter Rufai, First Nigerian Olympic Gold Medalist, Chioma Ajunwa are dignitaries expected at the Wonderland Independence Day Carnival holding at the Keda Field, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Lagos on October 1.

According to the Chief Operating Officer, Wonderland, Tayo Adeyemo, the event which is supported

by Vijumilk, CWAY, Haansbro Biscuit, Mimee Noodles, Pepsi, Tasty Time, Dip Water, Chellarams Plc, Real Active, will involve 17 schools drawn from Alimosho Local Government Area, and it is aimed at strengthening the unity and social values of the country.

Noting that it will give the participants the opportunity to associate and interact among themselves, Adeyemo said the whole event is in three phases- Sports, Academic and Entertainment.

He stated that for the sports category, there will be cycling race, table tennis, 4 by 100 meters relay race and march past, while drama and cultural dances will feature in C M Y K

the Entertainment category, as the Academic category will involve Quiz and Art Exhibition, where each school will be represented in the categories.

Adding, Adeyemo said “Theatre and sports icons like Segun Odegbami, Peter Rufai, Chioma Ajunwa, Funso Adeolu, Yemi Solade and Artar Laniyan will be at the occasion to inspire the pupils.

The people we have invited

are people of unblemished record who rose from zero to hero in their chosen endeavours. We want them to inspire this generation to become international icons.

We want our future generations to show zeal for patriotism, tolerance and most importantly think of what they can do for our great country.

This is why we are bringing various motivational speakers to uplift their mind.”

AISEC Alumni, NECA set to host 30th Mgt. Lecture

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HE 30th in the series of Omolayole Management Lectures is set to hold today, September 25 at NECA House, Plot A2, Hakeem Balogun Street, Central Business District, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos by 2.00pm.

The lecture, themed: Social Entrepreneurship as a Tool for National Economic Development, is organised by Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, and AISEC Alumni Nigeria. Mr. Seni Adetu, Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc. Mr. Larry Etta, who is also the President of NECA, will speak at the event.

This lecture is held annually in honour of Dr. Michael Omolayole who is the former

Chairman and Managing Director, Lever Brothers Nigeria Plc - now Unilever Nigeria Plc, former Presidential Advisory Committee member and Chairman and Director of numerous multinational companies to address contemporary socio-economic issues of national and international concern.

The book to be presented at the event is a compilation of a selection of past lectures from the Omolayole Management Lecture series over its 30-year run. The lectures have covered diverse topics since 1985 delivered by notable speakers and this first volume includes lectures by Chief Ernest Shonekan, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye among others.

Bringing back university life to the North-East When sorrows come, they come not in single spells, but in battalions—William Shakespeare, 1564-1616.

THIS article could easily have been titled The Lost Generation of The North-East of Nigeria and it would still be apt. One of the untold stories of the ongoing war in the Northeastern part of Nigeria, is the devastation it has brought to higher education in the North-East – especially the three front-line states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa; and to some extent, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba.

Together, the six states constitute the poorest and most backward in the nation based on every social and economic indices available to demographic experts.

My first experience with the zone dated back to 1992, when, as Consultant for a World Bank Project, we set out to examine and document poverty in Nigeria. Then, as now, the North-East was the poorest by far of all the six geopolitical zones. Twenty-two years after, and things have remained the same. We can argue till the cows come home about who was responsible for the relative backwardness of the zone. But, the fact is totally indisputable.

Those who claim that Boko Haram resulted from the abject poverty might have a point. The Devil always finds work for idle hands and the North-East has the greatest percentage of them also.

Perhaps one important element will serve to illustrate the point – Federally Allocated Revenue, FAR. Since 1999, but especially after the 13 per cent derivation principle was adopted by the country, all the six North-East states have collected just about the same revenue as two South-South states – and sometimes less. Since nobody would seriously dispute that money is a key factor in development, it is easy to see the sort of handicap under

,

L

BY DAYO ADESULU

Those who claim that Boko Haram resulted from the abject poverty might have a point; the Devil always finds work for idle hands and the Northeast has the greatest percentage of them also

,

which the governments of the states operate – even if there was no corruption. This fact has had a woeful impact on the development of university education in the zone.

Again, nobody will dispute the fact that establishing and maintaining a university, in any state, is an expensive undertaking. The North-East states have less than any other zone to spend.

Consequently, virtually all the state universities in the zone are white elephant projects struggling to stay open, collecting the worst students, mostly state indigenes who could not gain admission elsewhere. They also invariably have the least qualified lecturers; mostly rejects from other universities. There is little or no research undertaken by the faculty, libraries are filled with old books and few periodicals. Most of their courses have not been accredited by the NUC – resulting in thousands of graduates holding on to worthless certificates. By and large, they are turning out graduates who could not possibly be employed by the Organised Private Sector or multinationals and who can only find employment within their own states.

Sorry for my unpardonable error:

“A man who has made so many mistakes can’t afford to ignore the correction of his friends.” Saul Bellow. VBQ p 161, hile compiling the VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, I deliberately included that line by Bellow. Knowing how prone human beings, including Jankara University dons, are to error, I kept an escape quotation to myself. Just as well.

Two weeks ago, I was enjoying myself in Uyo when a call came from a friend. He spotted a grievous error in the previous week’s column. While intending to congratulate Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo on his 80Th birthday, I wrote Professor Bamgbose, not once but twice. Both Professor Banjo and Bamgbose were Old Igbobians, like me. Professor Banjo, I am sure, will forgive the error. Happy Birthday, once more Sir. And, to my friend, who is reading this, “Thanks; that is what friends are supposed to do, when you make an ass of yourself.” I will retaliate.

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Visit: www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/ biolasobowale

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 — 29

New cause of glaucoma discovered, cure underway Stories by EBELE ORAKPO with Agency report

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LAUCOMA sufferers can now heave a sigh of relief as medical scientists at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA, have discovered a new cause for the disease and could, therefore, develop a cure for the hitherto incurable condition.

Glaucoma occurs as a result of increasedGpressure within the eyeball (intraocular pressure, IOP). When this pressure which is due to poor drainage of fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye (which can be likened to a clogged pipe), exceeds its healthy pressure level, it damages the optic nerve, leading to gradual irreversible loss of sight.

It is estimated that about 50 per cent of people in the developed world do not know that they have glaucoma while the figure

is about 90 per cent in developing world, including Nigeria.

The pipe, known as Schlemm’s canal or scleral venous sinus, is a circular channel in the eye that collects aqueous humor from the anterior chamber and delivers it into the bloodstream through the anterior ciliary veins.

According to the study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, the researchers led by Susan Quaggin, MD, Director, Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute and Chief, Division of MedicineNephrology, the new study identified “the molecular building blocks needed to make the drainage vessels, providing the necessary chemical tools to repair the eye’s plumbing and restore normal drainage.

Up until now, the molecular basis of the disease caused by an absent or defective canal was unknown.”

NAEC unveils E-learning centre

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POPULAR saying goes thus: “What you hear, you forget; what you see, you remember; what you do, you understand.” To make learning more functional, fun and more student-centred, the Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC) in collaboration with Access Bank and Chips, Bits & Bytes Ltd., an e-learning solutions provider, have built an e-learning centre (21st Century classroom) at the Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja.

Speaking to a gathering of top officials of NAEC and some teachers on the benefits of the centre equipped with interactive board and laptops loaded with last 20 years of past question papers of NECO, JAMB and WAEC and over 4,000 animations, Chief Executive Officer, Chips, Bits & Bytes, Mr. Tunji Ola said e-learning centres became necessary having discovered that children love animations.

Teaching and learning "Children are glued to television sets because they love animations. What we have done is to transfer that same energy they use in watching animations that profit them little, to be able to watch animations of how the brain functions, how digestion, respiration etc., take place. Hitherto, it has been difficult to communicate certain things to them, we use all manners of languages but when they can see it graphically, everything changes. So rather than the old way of teaching where it is all about the teacher, this method is about the pupils. They contribute to the process of teaching and learning.”

Ola noted that the laptops have been approved by the Federal Ministry of Education for up to 44 subjects. "It has curriculum for every teacher, per subject, per week, per term.

The student can study on his own, generate questions on a topic, test and grade himself.

With this method of teaching, if we were having A students, we can have A-star students who will not just pass exams but C M Y K

*Dr. Susan Quaggin.

The discovery:“The study identified an important chemicalsignalling pathway for the healthy functioning of Schlemm’s canal and the substances necessary for its growth and development.

"That pathway requires the chemical equivalent of a lock and key to open. The lock is a substance called Tie2 and the key is a growth factor called angiopoietin.”

According to the study, “if either the key (angiopoeitin) or the lock (Tie2) is missing in mice, they cannot make Schlemm’s

Photo credit: www.ztopics.com

canals and will develop glaucoma.”

The findings are based on a new mouse model of glaucoma developed by Quaggin and graduate student, Ben Thomson.

“This is a big step forward in understanding the cause of the disease that steals the eyesight from 60 million people worldwide and this gives us a foothold to develop new treatments. Our goal now is to grow new ‘pipes’ or vessels to cure the glaucoma,” said Quaggin who is working in collaboration with Amani Fawzi, MD (associate *Maj-Gen. Dapo A d e b a y o , professor of Commandant, NAEC, ophthalmology) and Director, CSS, Col. Xiaorong Liu, (assistant Iferi, Commandant, professor of CDSS Ikeja, Lt.Col. Eduoku and the ophthalmology), both at school's P.T.A Feinberg, and Chairman, Mr. Northwestern scientist, Sunmola receiving Samuel Stupp to develop lectures at the a nanofiber eye drop that e-library activates re-growth of the

understand the subjects. Students in British and American International schools are not more brilliant than our students," adding: "This is a pilot scheme and we will train the teachers here.”

Asked if it is possible to monitor the student, he answered in the affirmative, saying that the teacher can monitor what each student does. “The teacher can demobilise the particular laptop from his end. The child will be unable to update anything in the laptop even if he removes the battery. It is called electronic punishment.”

In a chat with Vanguard Learning, the Commandant, NAEC, Major Gen. Dapo Adebayo said NAEC has contributed immensely to Nigeria’s education sector.

“NAEC has been able to train first class students. "Our students are first class materials in the universities. We are able to inculcate discipline into them. It is not just training them but being able to inculcate discipline and that is really helping our society,” he said.

While thanking Access Bank for this gesture, Adebayo said: “The military believes that cutting-edge technology is what is most needed in our generation to improve educational standards among school children.” He promised that the school will put the centre to good use.

On his part, the Commandant, CDSS Ikeja, Lt.Col. Eduoku noted that Major Gen. Adebayo initiated the programme and it is being coordinated by the Director, Directorate, Command School Services, Colonel Joseph Iferi. My school is just a pilot school.”

clogged vessel.“We are developing a highly potent peptide nanostructure that has the capacity to interact with many receptors at the same time,” Stupp said. “This will amplify the required signalling pathway for an effective therapy.

The nanostructure is also being designed to have the necessary half-life to optimize efficacy.”

Quaggin said the team hopes to grow a bigger Schlemm’s canal in people with glaucoma to lower the pressure in the eye. “That’s what we’re hoping for with this new eye drop.

“We really nailed that pathway as being critical. Now we know these two substances are key factors in the development of glaucoma, which wasn’t known before. The mouse model is so similar to what we see in patients with glaucoma,” she said, adding: “Now we can understand how raised pressure leads to the damage of the neurons in the optic nerve.”

Award-winning filmmaker joins AUN Faculty

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RESIDENT, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Dr. Margee Ensign, has said that the need to train communication students in investigative and objective news-writing and multimedia skills at this critical moment in Nigeria's history, has made it necessary for the university to engage the services of a top Canadian communication expert, Professor Don North. He is to teach in the Communication and Multimedia Design program of the institution, according to a release by the university made available to Vanguard Learning.

The release signed by Mr. Daniel Okereke, Executive Director, Office of Communications & Public Relations,noted that besides years of professional writing experience, North "holds the Advanced International Reporting qualification of the Columbia School of Journalism, New York.

In 1984, he was an Associate Professor of Journalism at the Ryerson College, Toronto, Canada.

"A veteran documentary filmmaker, North has participated in training journalists for the Voice of America. In 1996, he trained journalists in Bosnia from the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, London. He has worked for ABC News and NBC News and has filmed, produced and directed more

than 30 documentaries/TV programs.

In 2005, his documentary, Remembering Saddam, won the Best of Show at The Aurora Awards. He also won Best Reporting Award at the Overseas Press Club. At the New York Film Festival, he won a Gold Medal with his Time of the Jackals. In print, North told the story of his own career in Inappropriate Conduct: Mystery of a Disgraced War Correspondent.

At a welcome dinner organised in his honour, Prof. North reflected upon his professional principles, emphasizing that every story should be factual and checked. Quoting a media guru and Canadian communication scholar, Marshall McLuhan, North who won the Gold Medal for his work, Siege of Beirut 1982 at the Berlin Film Festival, said: “I have deep and abiding belief in man’s potential to grow and learn, to plumb the depths of his own being and to learn the secret songs that orchestrate the universe.

We live in a transitional era of profound pain and tragic identity quest, but the agony of our age is the labor pain of rebirth.”

Also speaking, the Dean, School of Arts & Science, Dr. Idorenyin Akpan described Don North as an “indispensable asset.”

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Remit our pension fund, pay our salary arrears, COEASU, SSUCEN cry out

BY KELECHUKWU IRUOMA

L-R: Chairman, Board of Trustees, Imperial College Alumni Association of Nigeria, Sir Edet Amana, President, Olugbenga Adelana; Publicity Secretary, Phoebe Larry-Izamoje and Secretary, Destiny Amana, during the press Conference on the plans and programmes of the association held at the weekend at Hotel De Island, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Imperial College alumni pledges support for Science, Technology education

BY KELECHUKWU IRUOMA

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N a bid to assist the furtherance of education in Nigeria, the Imperial College Alumni Association of Nigeria has urged the Nigerian graduates of Imperial College, London and the general Nigerian public to be

acquainted with the plans and programmes of the association.

This was disclosed by the President of the association, Mr. Olugbenga Adelana, during a press conference held at Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to him, part of the objectives set out by the association is to enlighten the

Coscharis technologies deploys reverse engineering in Covenant Varsity

BY EMEKA AGINAM

MAKING Nigeria a technology capable country in the 21st Century knowledge economy, Coscharis Technologies Limited has deployed a state- ofthe-art reverse engineering technology at the Covenant University, Otta, Nigeria.

Reverse engineering is taking apart an object to see how it works in order to duplicate or enhance the object. The practice, taken from older industries, is now frequently used on computer hardware and software.

With this development, the school has become the first university in Nigeria to embrace reverse engineering technology which majority of developed economies are already deploying for global competitiveness.

It would be recalled that President Jonathan had said that his administration would want to see the German Machine euphemism for competence and effectiveness replicated in Nigeria particularly in the areas of investments of technology transfer and human resources development.

A tour of the university building equipped with state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory facilities for both teaching and research by technology journalists during the weekend showed that the students and staff of the Mechanical engineering

department of the University were already using the Solidworks, 3D printer and Scanner supplied by Coscharis Technologies to design and simulate objects and print out prototypes which will eventually be produced in the school.

Earlier in his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Professor Ayo C.K stated that the deployment of the technology was in line with the mission of the school.

According to him, Covenant University is committed, “To creating knowledge and restoring the dignity of the black man via human development and a total man concept driven curriculum employing innovative, leading edge, teaching and learning methods, research and professional services that promote integrated, life-applicable, life-transforming education relevant to the context of Science, Technology and Human Capacity Building.”

Explaining why more Nigerian schools embrace Solidworks/ reverse engineering, the Managing Director of Coscharis Technologies Limited, Mr. Emomine Sunday Mukoro told Technology Journalists during the tour that for Nigeria to position itself as a producing country, reverse engineering is imperative to boost manufacturing in the country.

general public about Imperial College and promote links between Imperial College and Nigerian institutions with similar objectives into solving the issues of teaching, research and knowledge transfer which have been challenging Nigeria institutions.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of the association, Sir Edet Amana in the course of his address noted that the Imperial College has moved up the ranking table to be the second overall best university in the world. He said also that, “there are competent Nigerian graduates of Imperial College that can help Nigerian institutions in the areas of science and technology.

Mr. Adelana said that according to the approved plans and programmes of the association, the MEET N GREET event which will be held at Conference Hall of the African Heritage Foundation Ikoyi, Lagos will be aimed at welcoming new members as well as promoting interaction between them and regular members of the association.

Time and address of the event will be communicated to the members via the website www.icaanigeria.org.

This will be followed by the Annual Alumni Dinner and Award night which will be held on 3rd or 4th of December, 2014.

The Quarterly Alumni Barbeque/Tent Meeting will be in held in March, 2015, which will be followed by the Annual General Meeting to be held in the first week of April of every year. In providing a forum for discussing and proffering solutions to the problems of Nigeria, most especially in the area of core competency, academic specialists and research.

MEMBERS of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education, Nigeria (SSUCEN), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Chapter have called on Lagos State Government and the school management to remit their pension fund and pay their salary arrears.

According to the Chairman of COEASU, AOCOED chapter, Mr. Michael Awosetinyen, “for over 17 months, workers’ pension funds are being deducted from their accounts and are yet to be remitted to their respective accounts.”

He also said that their retired staff who made the college what it is today are yet to be paid their pension. He said “our pensioners who have meritoriously served the college, whose youthful vigour, strength and milk were freely used to grease the College’s growth, glory and development; and who are now old and frail, with nothing to care for themselves except their pension benefits have been denied their pension benefits since they retired from service and are crying for help. Our pensioners are dying.

They no longer send their children to school. They must not die.”

The association which has vowed not to work till its demands are met, spoke through Mr. Awosetinyen saying that the government is not funding the college with enough money despite the fact that it is the oldest

institution in Lagos State said: “the monthly subvention that is being given to the management is not even enough to pay the workers’ salaries, solve the problems of the institution.

“Our governor has contravened the law by not paying workers deduction of their funds, for the fact that the government has refused to address our issues, we will remain at the gate and on the street until our demands are met”, he continued.

A member, who identified himself as Mr. Akanmu said: “Lagos State Government has violated the law, in the sense that it has deprived our pensioners their money and has refused to pay our salary arrears.”

The chairperson of SSUCEN, Mrs. Wunmi Ombugadu, said the salary given to them is divided into two, one is being paid by the college and the other by the state government, adding that the management of the college is owing the staff seven months arrears while the state government is owing them four and half months arrears.

On the issue of retirement, Mrs. Ombugadu noted that the retirement age which was approved by the governing council of the college was 65 but claimed that a letter was sent to them by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Hon Olukoga to reverse the age to 60.

She however said they had already sent a letter to the government but is yet to be responded to by the government.

Fafunwa Education Foundation makes case for indigenous language

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

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HE Fafunwa Education Foundation (FEF) is set to make case for our indigenous tongue during her Annual Lecture slated for next week Tuesday. Besides, the occasion will witness the emergence of the 2014 awardee for the foundation’s annual PostDoctoral Award for the best doctoral thesis in Nigerian university.

Expected to deliver the annual lecture titled, Mother Tongue Instruction and the Educational Development of the Nigerian Child, on 23rd September, 2014, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island at 11am prompt, is Professor Bola Lawal from the University of Ilorin, Department of Arts Education.

The foundation at a recent interactive session with members of the Press at the University of Lagos, Faculty of Education, urged Nigerians to turn out en

masse for the event being held in honour of Professor Babatunde Fafunwa, former Minister of Education.

Prof. Pat Akumabor, First Awardee of FEF (2002), speaking about the topic of the lecture, enthused that, Baba (Late. Prof.

Fafunwa) was very passionate about the mother tongue instruction, it was his baby. It is just that Nigeria is a country with over 400 local dialects so it is impossible for one language to be used for instruction in schools.

“But, we are saying that we can use the language of the environment to teach the children especially at the very junior levelpre-primary, primary and the lower primary levels.

In Europe, a lot of places where children are taught in local languages, they do very well but in Nigeria, we use English, and when the child thinks first in his or her mother tongue before translating it into English, a lot of the import of that message is lost.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—31

UBA sponsors ICT contest for students

By Desmond Okon, UNN

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N line with the social r e s p o n s i b i l i t y initiatives of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and in continuous support of the enhancement of education, the bank has sponsored an ICT competition for secondary and tertiary institution students across Nigeria . The ICT competition is organized by Readmanna Ventures Limited.

The competition starts at the secondary school level where different students compete among themselves with winners emerging to compete at the interschool and State competitions.

Two winners that emerge from the finals are then sponsored to participate in the Certiport Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office in Anaheim , California , USA, where they are tested on their proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Excel.

The competition is open to all secondary school and university students in the

UNILAG, UI, others produce reps in Onga cooking contest

By Williams Akachukwu, SAU

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OUR regional winners have emerged in the ongoing 2014 Onga National Campus Cooking Competition. The winners, picked at the campus activations done in four universities out of the 14 targeted for the campaign, will join others to compete at the grand finale holding in Lagos from which a national winner will emerge.

The regional winners who have already been identified are: Miss Jessica Egbenwonu, a student of the Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan; Miss Arafat Azeez, student of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Miss Temitope Oyedija, student of Faculty of Law, University of Lagos; and Christopher Xyztus, student of School of Natural and Applied Science, Federal University of Technology, Minna.

With the Egusi soup and Semo recipe she prepared during the contest, Egbenwonu was considered the best among all the contestants while Azeez led the pack of her peers with Efo riro and Eba that delighted the judges. For the contest at University of Lagos, Oyedija recorded victory over others with the Okro soup and Amala recipe she prepared.

Nigeria , who are able to show proof of enrolment at an academic institution.

Olubunmi Agusto of Day Waterman College , Abeokuta , Ogun State and Adonijah Airede of Regent School , Abuja , FCT represented Nigeria at this year’s competition. Olubunmi Agusto, 15, clinched the second position in the championships, behind the winner, Dominique Howard of USA with Hannah Wilson of the United Kingdom, in third place.

In the competition’s 13-year history, Olubunmi is the first African to emerge among the top three. In the past, participants from Africa have come from Nigeria , South Africa ,

Cameroon , Uganda and Ghana.

The championship started with a pool of 400,000 participants around the world who took Microsoft Office Specialist certification. After competing in the national-level, Olubunmi and Adonijah Airede made it to the global stage with 123 finalists in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The finalists in Microsoft Word took a timed exam in which they had to recreate a Word document by following instructions. They were scored on accuracy and speed.

In one timed challenge, contestants were presented with an image of a Word document with an image of Saturn and other elements such as text boxes and tables.

YCWM awards scholarships to 6 pupils

By Tare Youdeowei

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a t h o l i c s have been reminded to always care for one another and not forget the less privileged.

Speaking at the 2014 edition of the annual scholarship award ceremony of the Young Christian Workers Movement (YCWM), St Mary’s Catholic Church, Ajegunle, Lagos, the visiting priest, Rev. Fr Calistus Akorah charged parishioners to help one another and also correct wrongs identified in the society.

Fr. Calistus said: “Our society is what it is today because everyone is just watching and

one form of improvement or the other. This year there was significant improvement in the number of pupils which increased greatly from 250 to 430, covering more than 40 schools as against 25 schools in previous years.

Commenting on examination questions, the committee’s head said: “We can confidently say that the standard of examination meets both state and federal examination standards and we are glad that God strengthened us to increase the awardees to six pupils. Five of them are going home with N50,000 each and the overall winner is leaving with N100,000.”

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 — 33

34—Vanguard,THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Defunct PHCN retirees send SOS to Jonathan over unpaid benefits

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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etirees of the de funct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, have a sent ``Save Our Soul’’ message to President Goodluck Jonathan over unpaid pension and other benefits, seeking for his immediate intervention to save them from untold

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hardship and untimely death.

For the past two weeks, the pensioners have been protesting across the country especially in Abuja, Lagos, Kwara states among others over unpaid pension arrears and other entitlements.

In the recent protest in Lagos, they decried nonpayment of their accumulated pension bene-

fits and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately intervene in their plight by directing relevant ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, the Accountant General of the Federation, and National Electricity Liability Management Company, NELMCO, to pay up their entitlements.

They displayed plac-

ards with inscriptions such as ``Finance Minister, where is our money? ``Agbogun and NELMCO pay PHCN pensioners our entitlements,’’ ``who is holding our pension?

NELMCO or ..? “President Jonathan, please order the release of our pensions, arrears, hamonisation, monetisation, and electricity rebate, pensioners are dying. Sam Agbogun, release our money.’’

Speaking, Chairman of the pensioners in Alimosho, Mr. Lawrence Aremo, lamented that they were not owed for four months (May to August) pensions, but other outstanding benefits spanning over several years. ``Some of these entitlements are: gratuities, Electricity Rebate Arrears since 2009, and especially since NELMCO under Dr Sam Agbogun took over payment of our

pensions in August 2012.

Others are harmonisation and monetisation arrears, 133 per cent and the 33 per cent increase which was granted since 2013 to all federal pensioners amongst others,`` he said.

He lamented that the pensioners were paid haphazardly and usually delayed.

Aremo said several meetings were held between the representatives of the retirees with the NELMCO management, arguing that all the verbal promises to them had not been fulfilled.

Mr Rotimi Fashina, another retiree, said some of them were forced to retire early but that their gratuities and other entitlements were still being withheld.

He said that a retiree, who was in the news recently, hung himself out of hunger and frustration, adding that the retirees could not meet family obligations. ``Some of us were injured in service, we have a blind man who was forced to retire yet is being owed several months of pension,’’ he said.

He said that the retirees were sure that the President was not given the right information about the pensioners and issued a ``Save Our Soul’’ message for quick action.

In the same vein, the aggrieved pensioners in Ilorin, Kwara state, also protested the non-payment of their harmonisation, monitisation and gratuity entitlements said to amount to N25 billion nationwide.

They equally alleged that they were owed their monthly pensions for many months and demanded immediate payment of the arrears.

The pensioners who protested at the office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company at Challenge Office, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital carried placards with diffferent inscriptions.

The placards deplored their indebtedness, drew attention to their plight, and called on the relevant authorities to effect the payment of their entitlements with immediate effect.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 , 2014 — 35

BITS Bits

Prof AkeredoluAle is dead

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Finally Nwanyanwu quits Labour Party

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HE resignation of the chairman of Labour Party, Barrister Dan Nwanyanwu last week did not come as a surprise to Labour Vanguard.

We broke a story that there was pressure on him within the Party to quit.

We also published excerpts of the letter written by a member of the party’s exco.

The then chairman told us that the Party’s constitution has no tenure limit.

Announcing his resignation in Abuja, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu gave his reasons as “ personal”.

Hopefully, within a short time, his next political move will be clear.

Labour Vanguard will keep you posted

COMRADE Williams Akporeha

Pains, gains of Delta State workers—NLC COMRADE Williams Akporeha is the State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State Council and National Treasurer, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG. In this interview with Labour Vanguard, he speaks on issues ranging from the achievements, aspirations and constraints of the NLC in Delta State. Excerpts:

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

HERE is growing concern that la bour is losing its relevance in the country and hardly impact positively on workers. How has Delta State NLC impacted on the state workforce?

Let me start by saying that organised labour is the engine room of economic and human resource development by government. Therefore, activities of labour are primarily hinged on the principle of commitment to the struggle to ensure government and employers do the needful to build not only an expanded industrious workforce but also desirable work conditions for the continuous functionality of the engine room.

Diplomatic strategy Now, in Delta state, the prevailing industrial harmony can be directly attributed to our determination and preference for dialogue before issues get to a boiling point. To achieve this, we have always deployed a diplomatic strategy that ensure that while we are pushing for improved wages and conditions for workers, the engine of state is not short-circuited.

We are also leveraging on the magnanimity of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who has been, so far, very wonderful on issues relating to labour. At every time, the governor has deployed prompt personal mechanisms that ensure issues are amicably resolved. The state workers appreciate his disposition to labour and continue to show understanding and cooperation.

That is not to say however that there are no pending issues between government and labour. One outstanding character of the state NLC is the confidence with which all issues are not only promptly brought to the attention of the governor but persistently followed through, notwithstanding the presence of some distasteful impediments within the links.

Although, the required action from government may not be immediate, the approach has built trust between the state workers and NLC leadership.

Also, let me state that as with every large organisation, the state On the whole, it is safe to say NLC has had its share of dissents. Again, it is this trust and that our activities have positively confidence in the leadership that impacted on the state workers has kept organised labour in the state as one indivisible unit in the face of concerted efforts by cergress, refunds were made to all those affected tain elements within and outside to infuse by government. divide and rule.

I must also mention that the struggle for On the whole, it is safe to say that our prompt payment of pensions to retirees is also activities have positively impacted on the on the front burner among the issues on the state workers. discussion table between government and What has been the major achievements Congress. Let me also say that through of NLC under your leadership? effective collaboration between Congress and I would prefer an appraisal of my leadthe state government, workers in the state now ership by the state workforce and the genearn their monthly salaries as at when due. eral public. However, for posterity, let me In addition, I want to personally commend talk about few things that are verifiable as the state Governor for approving the much the dividends of the NLC under the present needed 13th month salary as end of year inleadership of the council. To start with, the centive for the state workforce. successes of the state NLC so far under There are a number of other items on our my leadership, credit must first of all be checklist that Congress is presently discussgiven to the State Governor, Dr .Emmaning with government. However, Congress uel Uduaghan, who has never withheld has attained unity like never before even in his co-operation whenever Congress gets the face of unpretentious divisive elements. the opportunity to knock at his door.

To be concluded Recall that I took up leadership of

,

IGERIA’s fore most authority on social security, Professor Dayo Akeredolu- Ale is dead.

He made significant input into what is now Nigeria Pension Reform and indeed the E m p l o y e e s Compensation Scheme.

P r o f e s s o r Akeredolu Ale who died on August 20 had to his credit series of academic work on Social Security for the International Labour Organisation.

He also consulted for the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, during which he contributed to NSITF’s publication “ The Quest for Social Security in Nigeria”.

The late Professor was passionate about a functional social security system for Nigeria.

Congress in late 2011 and in my first May Day speech in 2012, Congress highlighted the plight of casual workers in the state, appealing fervently to the governor to adopt measures that will end casualisation of workers.

Few hours to 2013 May Day, in fact, my speech had gone to press, on the eve of May Day, suddenly the Governor announced the regularization of the appointment of over 1,000 casual workers in the state's ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs. So, although we are still pushing for the regularization of the remaining casual workers both in the public and private sectors in the state, this remains very remarkable to the leadership of Congress in the state.

Recall also that the state government in 2012 donated 10 buses to labour to provide transportation for workers at zero fare as palliative to cushion the impact of the partial fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government. Then, in 2013, the NLC leadership in the state requested and secured another 10 buses from the state government for industrial unions.

However, it must be said that the delivery and operation of the 2012 batch through the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, is a topic for another discussion.

Again, through our consistent interactions with the state government on the need to create employment to fill existing vacancies resulting from promotions, retirements and deaths, the Governor approved recruitment into the state civil service early this year. At the moment, I am sure the state government is tidying up the technical areas for a smooth recruitment exercise.

Furthermore, the present leadership of Congress in the state has been able to reach consensus with government on the urgent need to rectify some computation errors discovered the implementation of the minimum wage, despite early implementation.

The errors are currently being rectified between government and Congress. It is also worthy to note that before now, state workers were groaning under the burden of over taxation due to computer errors but through effective intervention and dialogue with government by the present leadership of Con-

,

36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

SPECIAL REPORT:

America not immune to human rights violations

By Muhammad Ladan I WAS among the 21 pers o n s , working to promote the enjoyment of human rights across the world, that were invited by the United States Department of State to participate in a twoweek International Visitors Leadership Programme, IVLP, titled US Foreign Policy and Human Rights. IVLP is the premier exchange programme of the US Department of State and the May 2014 edition brought together human rights defenders and journalists from twenty one countries across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America.

I have been to the United States many times before the IVLP, but this was a unique opportunity to access institutions, government officials and places I would not ordinarily have been admitted into. It was also an opportunity to share experiences and ideas with people doing similar work in other

victims of slave trade went through harrowing and dehumanizing experiences. Demand for reparations by the descendants of the victims is still a subject of debate, even though victims of World War II were compensated and Germany had paid about $60 billion to survivors of the Holocaust. In any case, we were told there was no evidence that torture was carried out at the plantation of James Madison, which is located in Orange County, Virginia, United States.

James Madison you would remember was the father of the United States of America’s constitution and the country ’s fourth President. He inherited the legacy of slave ownership even though it contradicted his ideas of liberty and “comfortable preservation of humanity.”

He was said to be ‘deeply conflicted’ over the institution of slavery but did not free any slaves even in his will. He in-

,

The United States, Somalia and South Sudan for example are the only countries that have not ratified the International Convention on the Rights of the Child,ICRC

,

parts of the world. The programme started at Montpelier, a 2,650-acre former plantation of James Madison, which was also home to about six generations of slaves, from 1723 to 1844. Taking an extensive tour of this famous plantation, I was pained and frustrated.

I kept imagining the torture, inhuman and degrading treatment suffered by black Africans during the infamous era of slave trade. From their capture and tortuous journey to Europe and America to the hard labour on the plantations, the

sisted that emancipation of slaves must be “gradual, equitable and satisfactory to the individuals immediately concerned and consistent with the existing and durable prejudices of the nation.”

While touring Montpelier, Dr. David Marion, a Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs and Prof. Michael Myerson from University of Baltimore School of Law, took us through the philosophical foundations of the United States constitution, reputed to be the shortest in the world, as a background to the gener-

al understanding of the American values and principles of individual rights and freedoms, within the framework of popular democracy, rule of law and federalism.

The Constitution of the United States, we were told principally aims at safeguarding the liberties of the entire nation and that the purpose of government is to protect the rights and concerns of Americans, who are always considered as citizens of the Federation and residents of their respective states. There is a big lesson here for Nigeria, where state of origin (indigeneship) confers rights and privileges that are not legally and clearly defined, giving rise to denial of access to public schools, land allocation, appointments and other economic opportunities to so called non indigenes or settlers. This has been a major source of conflict in Jos, Kaduna, Abia and many other parts of the country.

Non governmental organisations From Montpellier, we moved to Washington DC, where we visited government agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Justice, The Capitol and the offices of some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Amnesty International &

Cleric urges judges to seek God’s wisdom in their jobs — Pg.39

Heritage Foundation.

It was interesting to experience clear separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislature in Washington, with effective checks and balances and a vibrant civil society working with relevant institutions to address issues of serious concern to the people.

This for me underscores the importance of strong democratic institutions in promoting good governance that caters for the rights and concerns of the people. The legislature in Nigeria needs to imbibe this attitude by being more pragmatic and people oriented and not serve as a rubber stamp to the executive arm of government.

Discussions with the NGOs in Washington indicated clear focus in the United States on individual liberties and concerns with human rights issues that advance their national interests. Mr. Steve Groves of Heritage Foundation was particularly assertive of this neo conservative view that expresses moderate interests in global affairs and promotes strong national defense. This view may not be the dominant view of an average American, but is significant enough to influence the non-ratification of many international treaties by successive US governments, including major international conventions relating to children, women, torture

and persons with disabilities.

The United States, Somalia and South Sudan for example are the only countries that have not ratified the International Convention on the Rights of the Child,ICRC. The US also signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, ICC on December 31, 2000, but unsigned it on June 6, 2002.

It should be noted however that the United States signs and upholds the principles behind many of these treaties, but fail to ratify them or ratify with reservations, partly because of the difficulty in obtaining 2/3 majority endorsement at the US Senate, which is a requirement for ratification of international treaties by the country. There are also concerns about the implication of ratifying international treaties on domestic laws, which many Americans argue are adequate in addressing issues of concern to average Americans.

Issues of concern From Washington DC, we broke into four smaller groups for the National Programme.

Some of us went to Dayton, Ohio, others to Lincoln, Nebraska and Tulsa in Oklahoma and my own group went

Continues on page 37

Council of Legal Education Statutory report to NBA —Pg.39

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—37

America immune to human rights violations Continues from page 36 to Buffalo, New York. We called in at the New York State Directorate of Human Rights, Western New York Peace Centre and International Institute of the University at Buffalo.

Passing through a neighborhood in Buffalo that was visibly dilapidated, with so many people on the streets looking wretched and frustrated, I was surprised and disappointed. Of course all countries have developmental challenges, but I never expected the level of squalor and poverty I witnessed in that neighborhood. I expected different kinds of challenges, because I thought that social and economic rights are taken for granted in America. Our driver who resides in Buffalo, a big town on the US border with Canada, told us that majority of the inhabitants of the area are immigrants struggling to survive. He said the area is dangerous at night with high crime rate, because a lot of criminals like burglars, rob-

Critics of the Arizona immigration law say it encourages racial profiling.

Police Department was a refreshing insight into how policing can be more effective when the community is fully involved. We learnt that the

,

It is of critical importance for all nations to develop strong institutions that will deliver basic rights and guarantee fundamental freedoms to citizens as well as create mechanisms that will provide effective remedies for deficit of service and human rights violations

,

bers, drug traffickers and addicts, murderers, etc, inhabit the area. At the New York Directorate of Human Rights, we were also told by the officials that most of the complaints are housing and employmentrelated.

From there, we moved to San Francisco, on the East Coast. We dropped in at Oakland Police Department, Castro District, University of San Francisco and some NGO offices. The visit to Oakland

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com C M Y K

community oriented policing strategy in Oakland led to the creation of a neighborhood crime prevention council in which 17 neighborhood service coordinating officers are hired by the local government to work with assigned police officers. Working closely and building ties with members of the community, Police in Oakland have reduced crime rates, lowered ethnic tensions and curtailed human rights

abuses, especially under its current leadership.

Herein lies another lesson for Nigeria. Even though the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, has since adopted the concept of community policing, their strategy is dysfunctional and has not significantly impacted on crime rates in Nigeria.

For Nigerian Police community policing to succeed, there must be a more intensive engagement with the communities in a clearly structured and coordinated manner as witnessed in Oakland.

San Francisco is generally regarded as the most lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) friendly city in the US. The Castro District is the centre of gay activities in the city and is visibly marked with flags, pictures, artworks and monuments depicting history of gay rights. This is in total contrast to Nigeria where religion and culture unite to resist gay marriages and public display of affection by gay

couples, leading to a legislation banning such practices.

During an interactive session with Human Rights Watch in San Francisco, Ms. Clara Long, who researches immigration and border policy for the international NGO, informed us of several cases of arbitrary deportation of immigrants, including those who had US Green Cards, for minor offences without the opportunity for redress.

Powerful lobby groups Review of immigration laws that allow this to happen she said are blocked by powerful lobby groups.

Going through all these, I could not but see a lot of similarities between America and Nigeria in terms of their natural and human resources, diverse cultures and willingness of the people to use available opportunities to improve their lots. As we debate the future

of Nigeria, we need to appreciate our differences and recognize our diversity as an inherent strength rather than weakness. We must listen, learn and respect the views of one another and seek common ground on contentious issues for the peace, justice and development of our dear country.

At the end of the visit I came to the conclusion that no country is immune to human rights violation. The only difference is the frequency of occurrence of violations and the reliefs available to victims through the instrumentality of America’s strong and functional institutions. In the US more often than not, there are consequences for reported violations of human rights, unlike in many other countries where rights are violated with impunity.

Vibrant civil society America is far from being a perfect society, not at all. But our visit has opened our eyes to the friendliness, openness and determination of the people to demand and defend their freedom, human rights and democracy. We also witnessed a vibrant civil society and functional government institutions and facilities working to address issues of concern to the people.

In the final analysis, I must say, it is of critical importance for all nations to develop strong institutions that will deliver basic rights and guarantee fundamental freedoms to citizens as well as create mechanisms that will provide effective remedies for deficit of service and human rights violations. * Muhammad Ladan is the Director, Human Rights Education and Promotion Department with the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC.

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

LIM HOLDS New SANsSESSION sworn-in

Defects in law not responsible for rise in terrorism — Raji, SAN R. Ahmed Raji, M SAN, has said that the rise in acts of terror-

ism in Nigeria cannot be attributed to defects in the laws of the country.

In a paper he delivered at the just concluded annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Owerri, he said that the Terrorism Prevention Act, TPA, which according to him was Nigeria’s principal tool in prosecuting terrorism emphasizes respect for the fundamental rights of suspects or accused persons.

He said that before an individual may be detained for investigation purposes for a period in excess of the constitutionally permitted time, the investigating body must seek and obtain an order of the Federal High

Court.

He added that since inception of the TPA 2011, the law has been employed to prosecute at least 40 cases out of which judgments had been delivered in about 15. This according to him was remarkable because criminal trials in Nigeria are reputed to last for over five years.

“In spite of these achievements, it cannot be said that the law has been effective in checking the menace of terrorism (or serving as a deterrent) given the fact that the acts of terrorism have been on a steady rise in Nigeria but this failure is not attributable to defects in the law,” Raji said.

The fundamental problem facing the prosecution of crimes in Nigeria especially terrorism, ac-

cording to him is a lack of proper record keeping, statistics and data collection. “This includes but not limited to records of births, certificates and registration.

“We must have a correct diagnosis for there to be an effective solution.

Until the cause is known, I am afraid we are in the woods.

"The law may be used as an instrument to discourage act of terrorism.

The law may be used in a way that it would give us a justice sector that is able to quickly and promptly attend to any terrorism issue. The law may be used if we know the root cause of terrorism, to address the root cause. If it is due to poverty, the law may be used to redistribute wealth,” he said.

News sets of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, were during the week, sworn in at the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Abuja.

•Left: Mr Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN; Nigerian Bar Association, NBA President, Chief Augusyine Alegeh, SAN and Chief Solomon Asemota, SAN.

•Left: Mr Gerrad Ezeuko, SAN and Chief Akeem Afolabi, SAN.

Group hails Lagos over tribunal on BRT vandalisation HE Stop Impunity T Nigeria, SIN, Campaign has commended the

Lagos State Government for setting up a Tribunal of Inquiry into the road traffic accident in which a soldier was killed in the Palm Grove area of Lagos on July 4, 2014 and the subsequent arson and vandalisation of Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, buses by soldiers.

SIN Campaign in a statement, described the action of the soldiers who went on rampage on July 4 following the accidental killing of their colleague, burning every BRT vehicle in sight, and attacking civilians and journalists, as “an act of impunity, which is one of the major social problems perverting the Nigerian polity.” It noted

that the inquiry into the incident, should be thorough and all indicted officers brought to book, adding that all persons and agencies of government whose rights were violated by the incident should also seek legal and economic redress.

The Campaign coordinator, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, of Human Development Initiatives, HDI, said: “The concept of ‘impunity’ is linked with disregard for the law or rule of law, violation of human rights, abuse of legal-social order and deliberate disregard for due process. This impunity which translates to immunity from the law warrants a thorough investigation which, happily, the

Lagos State Government has found the will and courage to institute.”

He noted that the accident which resulted in loss of life was clearly unfortunate and perhaps could have been avoided but wondered: “Was it right for soldiers to have taken laws into their hands by going on rampage, destroying government property, beating up civilians, and disturbing public peace?”

He contended that the Military is clearly subject to civilian authority, particularly having regard to section 130 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which declares that the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.

Chairman NBA Aguata branch of NBA, Mr. E. Ezeonwuka (eighth from left), Mr. Jude Ogamba and his wife Pamela after the Ogambas hosted members of Aguata branch of the NBA in their Owerri country home during the just concluded Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, conference held in Owerri, Imo State.

Left: Mr Ahamefula Ejelam, SAN ; Prof.

Ernest Ojukwu, SAN and Mr Olusola Idowu, SAN.

*Left: Mr Silvernus Ogwemoh, SAN and Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN.

*Left: Dr. Adewale Olawuyin, SAN; Mr Teslim Busari, SAN and Mr Kevin Nwufo, SAN. C M Y K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—39

Cleric urges judges to seek God’s wisdom in their jobs

Council of Legal Education Statutory report to NBA

BY OLANREWAJU ONADEKO

T

HE Nigerian Bar As sociation, NBA, led by the President, has continued to provide the requisite robust synergy for the seamless discharge of Council’s mandate through its active representation on the Council by gentlemen and ladies whose contributions over the years remain invaluable.

In this report, I have attempted to highlight our modest efforts in the last eight months since assuming office, of building on the formidable efforts of my predecessors, through the support and direction of the

*Mr Olanrewaju Onadeko TahirMaman who devoted a considerable portion of his tenure to driving the review of the NLS curricu-

,

I opine strongly that professional ethics remain the fulcrum of the legal profession and must therefore not be left to perfunctory mention or conjecture in an amorphous course module

CLE, to position the NLS as a centre of excellence in the provision of cutting edge legal education that is suitable to the needs of society in the 21st century and beyond.

Consolidation of the Legal Education Reform: The past five years have witnessed a concerted effort at repositioning the NLS through curriculum review for a responsive legal education that will equip Nigerian –trained legal practitioners to adequately compete with their counterparts in the global legal market.

Global legal market Realising the imperative for this paradigm shift, the NLS under the supervision of the CLE has continued to emphasise hands-on legal vocational training of aspirants to the Nigerian Bar. Review of the NLS curriculum has been an on-going project of successive Directors cum Directors – General of the institution. I acknowledge and commend the huge sacrifice and commitment of all my predecessors in office –Mr. Rudd, Hon. Justice OlakunleOrojo (rtd), Mr. BabatundeIbironke SAN, Chief JK Jegede and Dr. KoleAbayomi. Permit me to specially acknowledge the immense effort of my immediate predecessor, Dr.

,

lum. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours. I pledge my commitment to the continuous improvement of our training curriculum as well as human capital development in line with global best practices in legal education.

Deployment of ICT Learning Facility: We have tried to advance the infusion of ICT into virtually all facets of our operation at the NLS.Apart from the full automation of the students’ application and registration processes, we have just concluded negotiations with the NUC for our six (6) campuses to be connected to the NGREN Video Conferencing platform which already has about29 Nigerian Universities interconnected through its platform.

We have also engaged NIGCOMSAT, an agency of the Federal Government for the deployment of internet facility through the satellite to provide biometrics for staff and students, video conferencing back-up to boost simultaneous interactive e-Learning across our campuses, intranet and virtual library. For the first time, we successfully transmitted our Bar final examination questions on-line to the campuses. It is our expectation that with this intensive exposure of our students to ICT during their training, those eventually called to the Bar will be able

to take advantage of the ICT facilities for their legal practice in the global village.

Re-introduction of Professional Ethics and Skills as aDistinct Module: I have spent a considerable part of my time in office responding to enquiries from foreign institutions on why there is no professional ethics as a distinct module at the NLS. Whilst it is correct that the curriculum review of the past few years has infused ethics into all the academic modules, I opine strongly that professional ethics remain the fulcrum of the legal profession and must therefore not be left to perfunctory mention or conjecture in an amorphous course module.

One of the main outcomes of the maiden academic roundtable at TINAPA, Calabar, is the urgent need to reinstate and strengthen the course as a distinct module. A substantive Professional Ethics and Skills Department has also been established within the academic unit across the campuses to ensure that aspirants to the Nigerian Bar are groomed in tandem with the extant rules of professional ethics and international best practices in legal education.

Expanding the Frontiers for Quality Assurance.

In addition to the standing committee of the CLE on quality assurance, the management of the NLS have been proactive to plug loopholes through in-built peer review mechanismsto help us trouble shoot and proffer solutions to our curricula needssuch as: • periodic academic roundtable retreat of senior academics from all campuses of the NLS; • annual academic staff retreat from all campuses of the NLS;

R

T Rev. Olusola Odedeji of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Arch Bishop Lagos West Dioceses, in Lagos, has urged judges to seek divine wisdom from God in the discharge of their duties. Odedeji gave the charge at a special service to mark the opening of the new legal year 2014/2015 in Lagos state. Activities marking the new legal year are slated to hold from September 22 to 25.

He said that as principal officers of the law, judges occupied a sensitive and delicate position, adding that their task could not be effectively discharge without wisdom from God. Drawing reference from the Biblical story of King

Solomon, Odedeji stressed the need for judges to acquire divine direction, especially considering the magnitude of their office.

“As judges, you need the wisdom of God in the dispensation of your duties.

You are God’s representative among his people; it does not matter whether the people are good or bad, God has given you a dedicated authority to guide them.

“We all as leaders of God’s people need wisdom to act, just as King Solomon had a chance to demonstrate the wisdom of God in resolving the issue between two women in the bible.

“The request for wisdom is not a want but a need, and as leaders, we must realise that whatever we do or

neglect to do, will affect the people, and so, we must mind our action and inaction,” he said.

According to the Bishop, no office in the world is ever a right, they are merely a privilege, and so, all must be accountable for their actions.

He urged judges to be discreet in their affairs, so as to ensure that their tenure does not experience mockery.

Odedeji “as the bible says, he who is just let him continue to be just.”

Other dignitaries at the service included the retired Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Philips, as well as serving judges and magistrates.

Fashola, others bag ESQ

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

G

OVERNOR Babatune Fashola, SAN, of Lagos State has received an award for best Leadership and Governance in Africa, at the 2014 ESQ Nigerian Legal

Memorial service for late Justice Nwodo holds Sept 27

T

HE first memorial service in honour of the late Justice Regina Nwodo, who died last year will hold at her home town, Ukehe in Igbo Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State on September 27, 2014.

The service will take place at St Peter’s Catholic Church, Ukehe.

A statement by her husband and former Minister of Information, Chief John Nwodo said ‘’My family will appreciate, if’ friends and well wishers joined ‘us on that day.’’

Late Nwodo, a former Appeal Court Justice died of cancer related illness last year.

Late Justice Regina Nwodo

Awards.

Meanwhile, the Law Firm of the Year Award went to Aluko & Oyebode, and the former Vice-President of Nigerian39 Bar Association, NBA, Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN, emerged winner in Outstanding Female Icon of the Year category.

According to the organisers, Fashola was honoured for his efforts in redefining governance and his development strides in Lagos State.

Other winners at the event were Alliance Law Firm (Corporate Restructuring Team of the Year); Aluko & Oyebode (Dispute Resolution Team of the Year; Sexton Cross (Energy/Oil Gas Team of the Year) and Aluko & Oyebode (Intellectual Property Team of the Year).

Special awards were also given to some individuals, among them Chief Afe Babalola, SAN in the Lifetime Achievement Award category; Mr. Wale Tinubu in the Business Icon of the Year category and Chief JK

Gadzama, SAN, the Outstanding Achievers Award category.

The NBA Section on Business Law received an award for “Outstanding Achievement,” while Templars Barristers & Solicitors emerged the “Banking and Finance Team of the Year,” the law firm of Kola Awodein was voted the “Capital Market Team of the Year.”

Odujinrin & Adefulu emerged winners in the Mergers and Acquisition Deal category; Banwo & Ighodalo won in the Project Finance Deal category and Paul Usoro won in the Telecommunication Deal category.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Legal Blitz Limited (Publisher of ESQ Legal Practice Magazine) Mr. Lere Fashola, said the awards were to recognise the excellent job lawyers and law firms were doing to project and develop the nation’s legal profession.

Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, presenting the award for “Outstanding Female Icon of the Year” to the former Vice-President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN.

40 — V anguard, THURSD AY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 Vanguard, THURSDA YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CANCER: Things are getting better as the much needed stability is getting closer to your base. This is a good day to back your reasonable hopes and wishes with positive and practical action for realization LEO: Success indicated for many natives of this Star, especially those of you who are more ambitious along your career/business lines willing to be as hard working as possible. Think of both immediate and far future.

VIRGO: Saturn in your Star gets positive aspects and prepare to allow those of you who are hard working to earn success. Joining forces with other reliable sources will never be a bad idea today. Respect the law.

LIBRA: You are closer to good business and/or career opportunities more than you can imagine now, although you will need to take positive initiative in practical way.

It is good to keep your business secrets.

SCORPIO: The Moon in Taurus at positive angle to Saturn in Virgo positively highlights your Solar 7th and 11th houses of partnership and social activities. The more practical you are today the better for you.

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Of Income And Expenditure

I

NCOME is the money we earn while expenditure is the expenses. In order words, expenditure is the things we spend our money on.

One of the basic economic problems

man is saddled with is how to keep expenditure below his income. In other to meet up with this challenges, some of us keep postponing

TERROR MUDA

doing certain things we ought to have done now, hoping that we will do it when our finances improves. But the reality is that we will

in “Never say goodbye”

never have enough money to spend as our income will surely rise up to our expenditure.

We will never earn enough income to match up with our expenditure but we can earn enough to creatively cater for our need.

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS: You will have more to gain if you pay good attention to what your reliable friends are saying about your social life the way it will have positive effects on your image/career and/or business lines.

CAPRICORN: This is one of your good days of this month which you will need to utilize fully. Those of you who are more ambitious will have more profit to show for your practical efforts. Don’t neglect your love life however.

AQUARIUS: Success indicated for you. If you are more observant, some of your past efforts will begin to yield good fruits the way your finances will be enhanced. It is important you take domestic issues seriously too.

PISCES: Although success is not forbidden today, if care is not taken you would miss good opportunity in painful way probably through careless remark by somebody closer to you. Try to be very diplomatic.

ARIES: The Moon in Taurus with positive aspect from Saturn in Virgo, your finances are favoured, especially if you don’t allow unending hard work get the better off you. Reason with your spouse and partners.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS: The Moon in your Star Sign should be taken good advantage of by your being positively assertive in the enterprising world. Yet you will need to be as practical as you can be. Serious minded lovers are favoured.

GEMINI: Those of you with what looks like protracted domestic pressure may find the needed solution if you don’t try to run away from reality that will stare at you.

The more receptive you are the better for you.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF TAURUS RULER = LOVE AND MONEY RELATED VENUS. QUALITY =FIXED. ELEMENT=EARTH. SYBOL = THE BULL. GROUP = FEMININE. ZODIACAL NUMBER = 2ND. Taurus although, second sign of the zodiac, is the first of the earth signs, and that means leadership ability especially when it comes to reckoning with who is who among people that have staying power and those that can be regarded as serious minded (hard workers) and practical set of peop1e.Through Venus — its’ ruler, Taurus rules money, movable possessions, and steadfastness. That is why Taurus born people hate whatever can lead to or be regarded as insecurity and they are good managers of both money and other material related resources.

You appear cool headed and like true Taurus, you can exhibit ability to be patient and the degree of perseverance in your inner—self is truly high. However, if anybody takes you for granted or try to take undue advantage of you, he/ she will be surprised with the level of resistance and/or resentment you will show.

With the influence of Taurus in you, you are more of a person with powerful personality with strong determination to wear both oppositions and obstacles out of your way via renewed struggle and consistency. You see, people that do not really understand you may label you as an obstinate and excessively stubborn person. In fairness to them, there is some degree of stubbornness in you, however, if you rightly or wrongly think that failure is starring you at face, the bull in you can induce you to act like all head no heart type of a person. Taurus element is earth, its’ quality is fixed and its’ symbol is the bull. That is why they (Taurus born persons) attach importance to money and security. In fact, financial crisis can lead to despondency for Taurus born people.

Earth connection makes you a practical person who will work very hard and patiently too. Native, of earth signs are cautious and reliab1e and they will rarely day dream. The quality of Taurus which is fixed makes it easy for you to always see your important projects to logical conclusion.

Because of your unwillingness to change your mind unnecessarily, some people will call you a rigid person, but nobody can rightly accuse you of laziness. In-fact, fixed quality of Taurus is another indication of reliability in your horoscope.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

THURSDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—41

I’ve come to police Delta with human face — CP Alkali A CHANCE meeting with the newly posted police boss in Delta state, Alkali Baba Usman, was as astonishing as it was eventful. The soft-spoken officer displayed unusual candour rare among most of his colleagues. In fact, he behaved as if he had met a long-time friend.

No wonder the Inspector-General of Police chose to send him to the oil -rich, but problematic Delta State, as the new Police helmsman.

He was readily forth- coming with answers to questions from EMMA NNADOZIE. Excerpts:

W

HEN you were announced as new Commissioner of Police in charge of Delta State, how did you feel?

I felt that I am into a challenge, which I prayed I can surmount.

Are you conversant with the inherent challenges you are going to face?

I am getting conversant with the challenges ahead.

Let’s talk about the position of Delta State in terms of crime in this country. How equipped are you to fight crime?

With the structures I met on ground and the support the government is giving in fighting crime, I have no reason to fail.

What will be your watchword in your efforts to fight crime?

I have said it earlier on, that I want to ensure that crime and criminality are reduced to the barest minimum in Delta State.

Before we continue, would you kindly give us a brief background of who Alkali Baba Usman is?

Alkali Baba Usman was born sometime in 1963. I am an alumnus of Bayero University, Kano, and the University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID. I am married with children. I joined the Nigerian Police Force sometime in March 1988. I rose from the rank of ASP, and thence to the rank of Commissioner of Police, last January 27th. I attended all the courses that are mandatory to be attended at various ranks and I also attended extra courses like investigation, insurgency and counterterrorism, including traffic management.

I am a member of the International Association of Police, I am a fellow of the International War College.

This is my first command.

Before now, where did you serve ?

I have served in various

,

With the structures I met on ground and the support the government is giving in fighting crime, I have no reason to fail

How are you going to carry your men along in this new dispensation?

We are in Delta State for the purpose of policing and I will use all the resources available at my disposal, both human and material, to ensure that my men are motivated to do the job.

How would you carry down the ladder, the programmes of the new InspectorGeneral?

Well, by policing by example, I will be together with them at all points in time to do the Police job, day and night.

,

commands. I was in Kaduna as the Deputy Commissioner, Administration, I was in FCT as the Deputy Commissioner, Investigation, and I was also in the staff college as a directing staff. Again, I was in Ilorin as an Area Commander, I was the second-in-command in Ebonyi, I was Assistant Commissioner, CID in Kaduna, and before then I was DPO (Divisional Police Officer) in various places like Yola, Gombe, Kaduna, and Jos. I have attended peace keeping operations outside the country and so forth.

How are you going to

manage the excesses of politicians in Delta State?

I will play the game by the rules, and whoever does not play by the rule should expect that I have nothing to do with him but to allow the law to take its course.

The issue of militancy and kidnapping, what magic wand are you coming with?

I have met very good structures on ground to fight kidnapping and armed robbery. I am going to sustain them and improve on them.

Sustenance and improvement The outfit I met which the former CP did, has kept kidnapping and armed robbery in check; these are things I intend to improve on.

How do you intend to deal with other security challenges?

That is why after I have paid my courtesy call on the governor, the next courtesy call I made was to security agencies and media houses, both electronic and print media. This morning, I visited the Federal Road Safety Corps and Civil Defence. I have visited the Prisons. I have visited NTA and The Pointer.

These visits are to synergize to fight crime and criminality in Delta state.

How are you going to check the excesses of your men in Delta State?

Just as I was reporting, I called the Officer in-charge of escort and the provost and briefed them on my policy and checkmating the activities of policemen that are not ready to do the police job as they need to. I have put two departments in place to check the excesses of policemen in case of indiscipline or getting involved in unwholesome activities.

Delta CP, Alkali Baba Usman In the area of road blocks and decongestion of cells, what should the people of Delta state expect from you?

I have just directed that a detailed report on the state of all the cells in Delta State be brought to me on daily basis to put check on the cells particularly, in the Criminal Investigation Department. As for road blocks, the IG has not ordered that road blocks to be re-instated rather, he encouraged the establishment

of pin-down points and stopand- search. So, we are going by it. And if you find any road blocks anywhere in the state, please let me know either now or anytime, through phone call or any other authorized means, because the IG has not brought back the road blocks, but we are not leaving the roads free.

Lastly what would you like to leave as your legacy?

I want to leave a legacy of policing with human face.

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMPER 25, 2014

I’m not intimidated by Akpabio — Senator

ly different from being a governor. Some of them will be good legislators and some of them will not be and some of them who will not be know themselves and they should stay away and maybe look for some executive positions to continue.

SENATOR Aloysius Etok, who represents Akwa Ibom North West on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been locked in a battle with his state governor, Godswill Akpabio over his attempt to return to the Senate for a third consecutive time. The governor is interested in the post. In this interview, Etok said Governor Akpabio came into politics to meet him and never played any role in his emergence as senator. Excerpts:

On whether his state governor would be a good legislator if he comes to the Senate I don’t know and I can’t say.

I have left that assessment and evaluation to individuals.

They should judge and evaluate themselves and those who know themselves that they cannot do legislative work should stay away.

Legislative work is a service job which needs a lot of patience and personal input.

It is not something that you will say maybe your consultants will do for you, commissioners will do for you.

You have to put yourself down and do it.

On whether he can get the PDP ticket ahead of the governor in the PDP primaries given the gover nor ’s influence in the party There is no doubt, the primary is the fear but I have said it before that we need a cogent, level playing primary. If they do anything short of that, it will be too bad.

By Joseph Erunke

2

Senatorial district But when I came and I desired a second term, I told them, I talked to them that it was a waste for the senatorial district to continue to send baby senators and freshers every time and they considered that and looked at it.

Now, that they also know that it pays better to send a very matured and a ranking senator back to the chamber, I think they will understand because they need my experience.

The Senate needs my experience and the nation needs my experience. My constituents and my senatorial district will benefit more if I come back because I will be part of the system, the core part of the system than bringing somebody who is a fresher that will be at the periphery of the system.

•Etok On comments that there was agreement between him and Akpabio before his election to hold forth for the governor in the Senate I don’t think so. I never had any such agreement because the governor was not even part of the arrangement for me to come to the Senate.

He was not part of the arrangement and so he wouldn’t have had any issue or arrangement with me to come and hold forth for him. I can’t do that, by every consideration, I would not do that for him because he didn’t bring me into politics.

Bringing people into politics People bring people in to politics and instruct them on what to do but he came to see me in politics and so he cannot give me instruction.

Did he play any role in your emergence as a senator?

I wouldn’t say because one, I came out of a system that was for equitable share of offices within the senatorial district and in an answer to power shift in Akwa Ibom State. The other thing is that there was an agreement that when I am done with the Senate, the next federal con-

stituency that has never produced a senator would now produce a senator and that federal constituency is Abak Federal Constituency, that is the only agreement on ground and not that I should hold forth for the governor for some time for him to come and take over from me.

Was there any tenure fixed for you in the Senate, so that the next constituency which you mentioned can take over?

No, no time was fixed for me So, you can decide to contest as many times as possible and Abak constituency waiting?

By the way, even if there was any fixed time, it is the same people who fixed the time that can review the time.

Are you not intimidated that your governor will defeat you at the election with the resources at his disposal?

My governor is one of the richest governors in Nigeria but that notwithstanding, I am not intimidated by his wealth.

I am only worried by the will of the people because the will of the people is stronger than the wealth, silver and gold. I am worried over the will of the people and what God has said. If God said I am to go back to the Senate, irrespec-

tive of the quantum and value of his wealth, he will not mean anything.

Is your ambition to return to the Senate not affecting your relationship with your governor?

I don’t think so. The governor came into politics to see me and therefore, he should not feel bad that I am still in the business he came to meet

,

015 is fast drawing close, what about your governorship ambition?

Actually, I am not going for governorship, I am returning to the Senate, so I am campaigning to return to the Senate.

On Governor Akpabio’s interest in his position It can never be an election unless there is more than one person. So there will be election and the governor is free to contest and I am free to contest. I cannot demand to be a sole candidate. If the governor is interested in coming to the Senate, he can contest against me.

If your constituents say since you have represented them for two terms that you should give way to the governor, what would you say?

Power belongs to God but mandate is of the people.

Whatever the people want me to do, I will do. For instance, I can tell you to the glory of God that nobody has ever done a second term in my constituency.

Etok

On whether he will leave the party if the primary is manipulated No, I don’t think so. If you go to my state and count the real founders of the party, I am one of them. So I would not move away from the party for any other person. But I am sure and praying that the party will do the needful and be

My governor is one of the richest governors in Nigeria but that notwithstanding, I am not intimidated by his wealth. I am only worried by the will of the people because the will of the people is stronger than the wealth

me in. He entered politics to join me and therefore if he feels bad of me being in the profession he met me, then it is entirely left to him and that will be too private for him.

On his opposition to some state governors going to the Senate I would say I didn’t oppose governors who are coming to the Senate; I only said some of them do not have any value to add to the legislative process if they come. And not all of them can be good legislators.

Being a legislator is entire-

,

just and fair to ensure that they don’t lose grounds in the state.

On recent attempts to recall him by some members of his constituency The members of my constituency never planned my recall, it was just the manipulation of the governor and his people, his cohorts. That was why they couldn’t go anywhere. They attempted to go to the field and the field sent them back and said no, that is our senator, he has not done anything to warrant a recall.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMPER 25, 2014—43

My zone can't produce next governor — Rep Kaze Plateau 2015:

Hon. Bitrus Kaze is the member of the House of Representatives representing Jos South/Jos East in the House of Representatives. Though he is from Plateau North Senatorial district, he has not relented in canvassing for the next governor of Plateau State to come from the Plateau South Senatorial district.

He speaks on his motif in this interview: Excerpts:

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG, JOS

R

ECENTLY, there were reports of an attempt by an Australian to negotiate with Boko Haram and the same man has indicted a prominent soldier and former governor as sponsors of the sect. What is the implication of this?

First, I have always spoken against any attempt to negotiate with terrorists because we do not have a readymade example anywhere in the world where terrorism was successfully fought through negotiation I'm not aware if there is. All the life of Israel as a country, it has been war against what they consider terrorists. There has been no time Israel for example entered into any form of negotiation with any terrorists and succeeded.

I am not aware of any such country in the world where terrorism has been fought by negotiation.

That does not mean that I do not recognize that there had been one or two attempts to try and negotiate with terrorists, in the case of Nigeria, even before the Australian, there were several others and some offered on their own to go and negotiate with the terrorists including former President Obasanjo. Some were constituted by government led by Tanimu Turaki, Minister of Special Duties, his committee took so much time and brought no report. In fact after the committee was set up, terrorism grew from bad to worse as we can see today so.

As a politician, are you in favour of zoning of political seats at the federal and state levels?

The constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria provides that the nation shall be ruled in such a manner that you do not take advantage of any section of the country. That it should be run in such a manner that it guarantees

All sections of the state

•Kaze national unity and loyalty.

That is that section of the constitution that gave rise to the federal character. No less a person than the Jos-born Olisa Agbakoba SAN said that the political name for federal character is zoning, that tells you that the spirit of zoning is not just in political parties, it is there in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. A journalist by name, Paul Uwadima said the difference between zoning and federal character is like trying to differentiate between eba and

garri. To me, it is the same, the spirit of zoning is actually lifted from the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and the framers of the constitution had in mind unity, loyalty and fairness for all sections of this country. The PDP constitution provides in clear terms for zoning for party and public elected positions. I am a member of the PDP, if anyone else will not support zoning, members of the PDP are bound by the party constitution and must support zoning.

Abia 2015: Power shift to Ukwa/Ngwa non-negotiable – Prince Aku, others BYCLIFFORDNDUJIHE

U

KWA/Ngwa indigenes of Abia State are not taking lightly what they described as moves to scuttle power rotation to their area in accordance to the Abia Charter of Equity as reaffirmed by Governor Theodore Orji.

Leaders of the area, who congregated on the banner of Abia Democratic Movement, told reporters in Lagos, at the weekend that power rotation to Ukwa/ Ngwa in 2015 is non-negotiable and vowed to fight legally anyone plotting to thwart the arrangement.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Abia State businessman and political kingmaker, Prince Sunny Aku, cautioned former governor of the state Chief Orji Uzor Kalu over his perceived agenda to stop the emergence of an Ukwa-Ngwa person as governor in 2015. He also advised Kalu to desist from attacking and distracting Governor Orji from completing his legacy projects and handing over to Ukwa/Ngwa person.

Others who shared Aku's views at the event included Chief Paul Ananaba (SAN) and leaders of Ngwa Lawyers Forum.

Aku said that Abia stakeholders would not fold their arms and watch Kalu rubbish Governor Orji in a bid to scuttle the desire of the Ukwa-Ngwa people to produce

•Aku the next governor of the state.

Prince Aku said after due consultations with Abians concerning the political situation in the state, and the unwarranted attacks on Orji because of his resolve to ensure power shift to Ukwa-Ngwa, he decided with the people of Ukwa-Ngwa and Abia to send the message to Orji Kalu that enough is enough.

“Let nobody take Abia for granted. In 2015 power will shift to Ukwa-Ngwa.

Those who think that after leaving office they can come back in 2015 through their cronies to plunder the state’s resources again will not succeed.

“Governor Orji must be supported to complete all his projects and hand over to a candidate of Ukwa-Ngwa ethnic group.

We view the attacks seriously and we will

In Plateau for instance, where do you think the gubernatorial seat should be zoned to?

In my personal view, in the spirit of fairness, justice, equity and peace on the Plateau, I believe that the governorship should go to the southern Plateau. You may ask why Plateau south? They had the opportunity to serve in that capacity when Nasarawa State was part of Plateau, I do not agree with the argument that because they served under the old Plateau, they cannot serve in the new state, they still have the opportunity and that is the fact.

Governor Dariye from Plateau central had eight years, here we are with Governor Jang from Plateau North for eight years, it is my belief that it goes to Plateau South because they have stayed out of office as governor for almost 20 years.

not fold our hands and watch anybody rubbish the office of Abia State Governor because any attack on him is an attack on Abia people.”

The leaders said they had resolved to stand

by Governor Orji and urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership not to make any mistake because if he shifts, the entire Abia will shift with him.''

Commending Orji on his achievements in office, Aku said that Governor Orji took over power with no government house, state secretariat and basic infrastructure, which he has provided. “Many things that make government function were lacking in Abia before but T.A Orji has put them in place.”

On whether the other senatorial zones are in support of power shift to Ukwa Ngwa, Prince Aku said that the other zones are in support of the decision except a few people that “we know that Orji Kalu is using to cause this problem.

UKwa Ngwa is in majority; out of the 17 local government areas we control nine. Osisioma Ngwa population is more than three LGAs put together and that is why they say Osisioma alone can make or unmake or make you governor.”

Elder Ananaba (SAN) and member of the group said they would resist any attempt to deny Ukwa Ngwa the governorship by some people who had vowed that Ukwa Ngwa would never rule Abia State.

“They are holding meetings to ensure that they stop Ukwa Ngwa, but we are ready to ensure they don’t succeed, he adds.

It is only fair for Plateau to remember them so that all sections of the state will feel a sense of belonging.

There are speculations that you are taking this position because you want to be the deputy governor, how true is this?

It is not a crime for me to be the deputy governor but unfortunately, I am not thinking of that, I have not declared any interest and as a matter of fact, you don't aspire to be a deputy governor.

It is after the primary that the party together with the candidate decide who is to be the deputy governor.

Secondly, those that say I am looking for the deputy governor seat are attacking my intelligence because it means that if Plateau State for instance decides that Plateau North should vie for governorship, they have come to the conclusion that even after serving eight years in the National Assembly, I do not realize that the position of the governor is more influential than that of the deputy. Or am I so daft that I cannot see that I am fit to contest for the seat of the governor, that is an affront on my intelligence because I am fit and qualified in all cases even to contest for the seat of the President of this country!

What is your relationship with Governor Jang? Is it true that it is broken down?

To the best of my knowledge, I don't have any problem with the governor at all. I represent him and will continue to do so until my tenure expires.

Some of the stories you hear are the creation of people who want something to happen so they can take advantage of it to achieve whatever they want but I can assure you that there is no problem whatsoever with the governor, his deputy, the SSG or anybody in government at the federal or state level.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Meat free Monday T

HE world wide campaign ‘Meat Free Monday’ is still to arrive in Nigeria. Even though our country is equally and in many parts severly affected by climate change. The campaign is supported by ExBeatle Paul McCartney who wrote the song ‘Meat Free Monday / It’s a fun day ”.

Through a meat free day climate change should be slowed, says the ex-Beatle.

Pop star has been for long promoting a global Veggie Day. For this purpose, the vegetarian Ex-Beatle has now released a video for the song “Meat Free Monday”. 65-year-old modellegend Twiggy also appears in the video. Photo contributions from all over world by ‘Meat Free Monday’ participants are the basis of the video.

The clip came just before the New York climate summit of the United Nations. On 23 September the UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon held a Climate Summit in New York.

Ban Ki-moon was looking for “bold commitments and actions that will catalyse transformative change”, ahead of the crucial Paris Climate Treaty conference next year. Through a meat free day, emission of greenhouse gases is reduced and climate change will slow down.

Global leaders are urged to act, but everyone can play a

I

Hakeem Jimo’s

Ve ggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com plant-based diet for one day each week is a simple but significant environmental action that everyone can take, with the added benefit of improved health. Skipping meat for one day a week can reduce your annual carbon footprint by as much as not driving your car for a whole month.

Meat production is responsible for 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, with some scientists saying the percentage is higher. An area of Amazon rainforest the size of a hundred football pitches is cut down every hour to create room for grazing cattle. The ‘Meat Free Monday’ campaign in Nigeria will be officially launched at the Lagos Veg Fest (October 10-12 Twiggy, 65-year-old model-legend in Freedom Park, Island)

small part to make a big difference. The ‘Meat Free Monday ’ is a simple but effective idea on the table – simply a weekly meat free day.

Meat production creates harmful greenhouse gases and requires increasingly unsustainable levels of precious resources including land, water and energy. It is a major contributor towards global environmental degradation and climate change. Adopting a

L-R: Vice President, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, NPMCN, Prof. Ademola Olaitan; Provost, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Prof Matthew Araoye; NPMCN College President, Prof. Rasheed Arogundade; College Registrar, Prof. Oluwole Atoyebi and College Treasurer, Prof. Opubo Tariah and others during the 32nd convocation of the NPMCN recently in Lagos.

Slim with Ease debuts

S

LIM with Ease, a healthy weight loss plan has been introduced into the country’s health industry with a view to help over weight Nigerians lose their weight.

The launch was inspired by the remarkable weight loss programme which has enabled individuals like Ms. Nina Ndubuisi to lose over 54kg in less than two years.

Nina will be in Lagos, on November 8, 2014 at Nouveau Centre, Victoria Island Lagos to share her story in the hope that others will be inspired to join her on a healthy journey.

The objective of the event is to bring the secret of her weight loss to Nigeria (Africa), proving that one can lose weight by eating not just Westernised foods but also by eating African dishes.

According to Slim with Ease spokesperson, Rita Okoye, the event will also show that people do not, have to be on a “diet” to lose weight and eat healthy as well as promote healthy eating in the homes and fizzle out the belief that when on a “diet” you can’t still enjoy the same meals with the rest of the family.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—45

2015: PDP, APC members seek Jonathan's disqualification

BY Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—TWO members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, have approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare that President Goodluck Jonathan is ineligible to seek re-election.

In the suit, which was entered before the court by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, the plaintiffs, Mr. Adejumo Ajagbe, a PDP member from Lagos State, and Olatoye Wahab, a member of APC from Osun State, also joined the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, as defendants.

The plaintiffs maintained that going by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), President Jonathan, having contested the

UN urged to immortalise victims of terrorism

A

pressure group, Youth Movement for Violence Prevention and Moral Restoration, has called on the United Nations, UN, to declare September 11 Antiterrorism Day, in honour of victims of terrorism worldwide.

The movement’s executives made the call after a meeting in Lagos, adding that “we resolved to pay tribute to the lost souls in the September 11, 2001 terrorists’ attacks in USA that paved way for the eventual triumph of the global anti-terrorism spirit.”

While calling on the Federal and states governments to unite in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgence, the group also tasked political parties on cooperation and innovative partnership.

The statement, signed

by Professor E. Adesulu, Chairperson; Mr. Ado Akinbode, National President; Miss Tinglocha Aminat, National Secretary among others, said: “Terrorism is an intolerable aggression against humanity and civilisation, which need global condemnation and we have no doubt that Nigeria and the will defeat the evil at hand.”

presidential election twice, won and taken the oath of office and allegiance twice in respect of that office, could no longer present himself for election to that office the third time.

They relied on the provisions of Sections 132(1), 135(2)(a) and (b), 137(1)(b), 142(1) and (2) and the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Marwa and Nyako (2012) 6 NWLR (Part 1296)

199 at 306.

The plaintiffs argued that by the provision of the Constitution, the President and Vice President, who were elected in the same election and sworn into office on the same date and at the same ceremony were in the eyes of the law, deemed to have been elected for one single term of four years, notwithstanding the death or even impeachment of the President.

The suit, which was lodged by four SANs, including Chief James Ocholi, A. Owonikoko, Okon Efut and Mahmu Magaji, has been assigned to Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed for hearing.

The plaintiffs insisted that the reference to “two previous elections” in Section 137(1)(b) of the Constitution, includes two previous oath of allegiance and oath of office taken by President Jonathan.

MOU: From left— Mr. Don Ezeh, Metro Secretary, Knights of Saint Mulumba, Lagos Metropolitan Council; Reverend Sister Stella Mbano of Daughters of Charity, Sister-inCharge, Ozanam House rehabilitation home for homeless pregnant teenagers; Dr. Charles Mbelede, Metro Grand Knight, Knights of Saint Mulumba, Lagos Metropolitan Council; and Mrs. Monica Eigbe, President, Ladies of Saint Mulumba, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between Knights of Saint Mulumba and Daughters of Charity on monthly financial support for the home, in Lagos.

ENUGU RALLY: TAN says it won't join issues with ‘petty politicians’

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HE Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, Enugu State chapter, yesterday, has expressed disappointment over the report in some national dailies alleging plans by the state chapter of TAN to scuttle the rally being organised by the Enugu State Movement for Re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it will not join issues with “petty politicicians.”

The report further alleged that TAN Enugu, working with a federal lawmaker, had slated Electoral Ward meetings of it to distribute money for this purpose.

In a statement by Mr. Ugulu Ugulu, Publicity Secretary of TAN, Enugu State chapter, the group said the allegations were frivolous, baseless and laughable.

The statement said: “It is a global knowledge that TAN is the flagship organisation in the campaign for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“It could also be recalled that Enugu State Government was the only South- East state not officially

represented at the first geopolitical zonal rally of TAN held in Awka, Anambra State on August 17.

“It was the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who saw to the distribution of the registers to all nooks and crannies of the state and sponsored the

mobilisation of the mammoth crowd that attended the Awka rally from Enugu.

“TAN Enugu State chapter has no problem with any proJonathan rallies or groups because the more the merrier.

We refuse to join issues with some chicken and petty politicians in Enugu State.”

FG to charge ‘fake' professor to court

By Laide Akinboade

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, said the man who claimed to be a professor, with a view to applying for establishment of a private university, would soon be charged to court.

Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, revealed this while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja.

The NUC boss said the man, identified as Ambi P. N., who claimed to be a Professor of Statistics, would appear in court alongside two others also found to be bearing fake academic titles.

He added that investigations into the background of the key actors of the proposed Nigerian British University revealed that they were all fakes.

Okojie also said it was imperative for Federal Government to re-introduce post-graduate training programmes (fellowship) in tertiary institutions in the country.

He said: “What was even more revealing is that the three actors, the chief consultant who was supposed to be a professor, the proprietor who was supposed to be a doctorate degree holder from Divinity School and a lawyer, were all fakes.”

Middle belt Forum condemns insurgency

By Nkiruka Nnorom

T

HE All Middle Belt Youth Forum, AMBYF, has condemned ongoing destruction of lives and property by Boko Haram terrorists and Fulani herdsmen in the region and the northern part of the country.

The group also dissociated itself from Arewa Youth Development Foundation and recent threats against the Igbo and other southerners. It called on Middle Belters not to buy into the anti-social postures of some northern elements.

In a two-page communique by the group’s National Leader, Mr. Aluh Odeh, and National Secretary, Mr. Andzayi Jonathan, the group insisted that Arewa North and other Islamist groups were not speaking for the Middle Belt whenever they made or drew political battle lines.

IoD honours Otiti, Opral Benson, others

By Bartholomew Madukwe

T

HE Institute of Directors, IoD, will tomorrow honour former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Alhaji A. Otiti, Chief Opral Benson and 28 other Nigerians with its fellow award in Lagos.

Others include Mr. John Ayeni, Chairman, Skye Bank Plc; Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, Chairman, Ashaka Cement; Mr. Alex Otti, Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, and Mrs Favour Chika-Okafor, Group Executive Director, A-Z Petroleum Ltd, while Ambassador Victor Chibundu and Alhaji Rasheed Gbadamosi would both get award in the Honorary Fellow Category.

Mr. Yemi Akeju, 1st Vice President, IoD, said the institute’s annual directors conference will hold in Abuja on October 23, with President Goodluck Jonathan as Special Guest of Honour.

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

2015: Group tasks PDP delegates on Udoh's re-election

NULGE boss accuses govs of frustrating grassroots' devt

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—THE National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Ibrahim Khalil has accused state governors of frustrating grassroots development.

Khalil said in a statement in Kano, yesterday, that there was practically no hope for local councils in Nigeria so long as governors are empowered to oversee their affairs.

According to him, “most of these governors do not allow free and fair election in their states and often favour their anointed candidates with whom they connive to drain the council’s accounts.

“Dividends of democracy would continue to elude the electorate so long as governors are in control of local government finances.’’

Khalil further noted that the action of the state governors was driven by selfish motives, adding that as ‘’chief executive officers of the second tier of government, they have abdicated their

W

ARRI—WARRI Progressive Network, WPN, has called on Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, delegates in Delta State to ensure that the lawmaker representing Warri South Constituency and Majority Whip of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mrs. Omawumi Udoh emerges victorious at the party primaries.

It also noted that Udoh's performance as a three-term legislator, informed the calls for her re-election.

The group in a statement by its President, Mr. Reinelt Yemiete called on Udoh officially to throw her hat into the ring for reelection.

His words: "We are calling on the PDP delegates to do the needful by voting massively for her in the party primary election, slated for October this year.

“We in WPN have always said we are supporters of good governance, and advocates of democracy.

We commend those in Government when we discover that they had done what is worthy of recognition and carried out their statutory functions."

responsibilities.’’

He, however, suggested that the only way to halt the trend was for local governments to have full autonomy.

The NULGE boss who was a member of the just

concluded National Conference, stated that most of the councils had been deprived of their rights to development, adding that ‘’governors decide which projects goes to which councils without recourse to

their developmental needs.’’

He maintained that the journey towards local government autonomy remained a struggle for all Nigerians to deliver the third tier of government from the clutches of politicians.

MEDIA PARLEY: From left: Company Secretary/General Counsel, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Ltd, Mrs. Funmi Adedibu, Divisional Head, Human Resources and Change Management, Felicia Obozuwa, GMD/CEO, FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun, Founder/Managing Director, Sustainable Finance Advisory, Carey Bohjanen, and Group Head, Marketing and Communication, FCMB, Mr. Ikechukwu Kalu, at the media parley organised by FCMB for media executives in Lagos.

Jonathan deserves PDP's endorsement —Erokwu

A

By Gabriel Ewepu

BUJA—A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Chike Erokwu, has described the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the party as its sole candidate for the 2015 presidential election, as the best thing that happened to the PDP. He said that Jonathan

deserved the endorsement because of his excellent performance in the last three and a half years.

Erokwu expressed optimism that the party will not lose the election since the adoption was the right step taken to consolidate on the gains of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

Erokwu said:”I am in full

support of the decisions by the party ’s two most powerful organs, the Board of Trustees, BoT, and National Executive Committee, NEC, as well as the Governors’ Forum, by unanimously adopting President Jonathan as presidential candidate and Vice President Namadi Sambo as his running mate.

“I see it as a good step in

PEOPLE SPEAK

the right direction because the motive was to consolidate the gains of Mr. President’s transformation agenda. This will also assure Nigerians of getting the best from his administration in the next four years.

“It is not undemocratic as some people would want us to believe. It is a demonstration of political maturity by those who understand the game of politics."

On Boko Haram terrorists in Konduga surrender to Nigerian troops

T

hose who think the Nigerian Armed Forces is weak can now see things for themselves.

To defeat terrorists is little or no problem to the Army, the main problem is the populace. Are they ready to give reliable information to the troops? Mr. Shamsideen AmusaBusinessman

T

hank you Jesus! Thank you Lord for answering the prayers of Nigerians, your name alone is glorified. This simply shows that God is never asleep in the affair of this country. Answer may be delayed but it cannot be denied. Mrs Balogun EjimotWorker

T

he blood of the innocent persons killed by the Boko Haram sect shall someday arrest them.

Nigerians should wait because God has not finished the fight yet. This is just the beginning. The covered secret will be uncovered soon. Mr. Pius Nwankwo- Worker

B

oko Haram was able to perpetrate such crimes just because they got timely information and financial support from dishonest Nigerians who are bent on dividing the country for their selfish political gains. Mr. Chris Nduba- Worker

W

e have been waiting for this for a very longtime. The Nigerian Military is highly experienced and organized compared to any military world over. I commend them for a job well done.

Mr. Ojo GideonBusinessman

I

really commend our gallant soldiers for putting a good fight against Boko Haram terrorist group, I call on them to put in more and defeat Boko Haram completely. It is an insult for rag untrained terrorists to challenge a well trained army of the giant of Africa.

Mr. Asuquo BasseyWorker

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—47

We'll take education to people's doorsteps — AL-MAKURA L

AFIA—GOVERNOR Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State yesterday said his administration would take education to the door steps of the people.

The governor made the pledge when he paid an unscheduled visit to Government Girls Secondary School, Garaku, Kokona Local Government Area to supervise the level of on-going renovation of the school.

“It is on this note that I introduced free education for all, including non-indigenes from primary to secondary schools

level in the state.

“The state government is seriously committed to ensuring that all children in the state are properly educated.

Al-Makura explained that government planned to embark on massive construction and renovation of secondary school structures across the state.

He added that the decision was necessitated by the level of decay in the system.

He said an emergency was declared in the sector to give urgent attention to education and save it from collapse.

He said some schools in the state would not resume until October because of the ongoing work in the schools.

He added that the government would continue to provide the needed infrastructure and facilities in schools to reposition the sector.

He, therefore, urged the contractors handling projects in schools across the state to do quality work and finish within the specified period.

“Funds expended on education by both government and parents are not a waste as education is

the live wire for any meaningful socio-economic well-being of any nation or society,” AlMakura said.

The governor said that it was through education that all professionals were produced to man the various sectors of the economy, adding that everything possible would be done to fund it properly.

He also reaffirmed government’s commitment to the provision of environment conducive for learning in its educational institutions.

Al-Makura said his administration would not be deterred in its effort to revitalise the sector for optimal result.

Eight operators of illegal varsities under fire

A

BUJA—NO fewer than eight operators of illegal universities across the country, which have been closed, are being prosecuted, the National Universities Commission, NUC, says.

The illegal universities were published in NUC’s weekly bulletin and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Abuja.

The publication, signed by NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof.

Julius Okojie, listed the institutions as National University of Nigeria, Keffi; Nasarawa State and North Central University, Otukpo, Benue State.

Others are Christ Alive Christian Seminary and University, Enugu; Richmond Open University, Arochukwu; Abia State; West Coast University, Umuahia; and Saint Clements University, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list also includes Volta University College, Aba, Abia State as well as the illegal satellite campuses of Ambrose Alli University.

“In addition to the closure, the following ‘Degree Mills’ are currently undergoing court actions; the purpose of these actions is to prosecute the proprietors and recover illegal fees and charges on subscribers.

“For the avoidance of doubt, anybody who patronises or obtains any certificate from any of these illegal institutions does so at his or her own risk.

“Certificates obtained from these sources will not be recognised for the purposes of NYSC, employment and further studies.”

The bulletin also listed 55 illegal universities which had not been licenced and were closed down for violating the Education Act of 2004.

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TOUR: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, in company of Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi of Ogun House of Assembly (left) Hon. Isiaka Aderonmu, a council boss and others on their arrival at the Nigeria Benin Republic border at Idiroko during a tour. Photo by Wumi Akinola.

Ebola: VCN moves against stigmatisation of animals

By Gabriel Ewepu

A

BUJA—THE Veterinary Council of Nigeria, VCN, yesterday, moved against the stigmatisation of animals in the on-going fight against the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the country.

The Registrar of the council, Dr. Markus Avong, who made this known said that EVD was not brought into the country by any monkey or bat but by a deceased Liberian Patrick Sawyer, who was a carrier adding that it was Sawyer that transmitted EVD to those who came in contact with him.

Avong said: “I want us to look at this issue from this perspective and the scenario in Nigeria and some other West African countries that are being ravaged by EVD. “Whereas, in those countries, the disease involved animal to human transmission, in Nigeria there has never been any animal involvement in the transmission of the virus.

“It was not animals that brought the infection to

Nigeria, but a human being.

“If we place so much emphasis on the animal population with respect to the problem of Ebola in the country, we may divert people’s attention from the real issue.

“It is a human to human transmission in Nigeria and I will not advice we stigmatise wild animals because the situation is limited to human beings. People should not run away from animals as if they were the cause of the disease in Nigeria and what we are suffering.

“But it does not mean we should not take proactive measures, or become careless; people eating fruits without proper washing and being careless in handling of animal carcasses.”

Avong then urged people to visit zoos and parks to entertain and educate themselves without fear and avoid discrimination between their pets and domestic animals.

According to him, there was nothing wrong eating bush meat or suya as being speculated. “The problem is not from the animals

in Nigeria, and never has it been traced to them here. We need to be a little cautious but not to divert attention from the real thing.”

1,205 patients discharged from tuberculosis, leprosy centre in Zamfara

G

USAU—THE Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre in Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara, has treated and discharged 1,205 patients from 2013 to date.

Alhaji Shehu Sarkinfada, the Supervisor of the centre, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Gusau, the state capital.

Sarkinfada said within the period under review the centre had treated 1,093 tuberculosis patients and 112 patients with leprosy, with all of them successfully discharged.

According to him, the success recorded by the centre is as a result of the support and assistance from the State Government in collaboration with NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organisations, NGO. “Other donor agencies that gave us different forms of assistance were TY Danjuma Foundation, Central Bank of Nigeria Gusau branch, as well as other private organisations and wealthy individuals within and outside the state,” he said.

While commending the government, NGOs, donor agencies and private individuals for their support towards developing the centre, Sarkinfada appealed to the federal government to fast track the establishment of a policy on disabled.

He noted that the policy, if provided, would help in assisting people with disability in the country.

Benue CNPP chief appeals to Jonathan over convicted soldiers

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—BENUE State Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Baba Agan, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to commute the execution of the 12 soldiers, who were sentenced to death for mutiny last week.

The soldiers were said to have revolted against their former Commanding Officer, after some of them were killed by the Boko Haram insurgents.

He noted that “though the court martial of the soldiers was proper, legal and in consonance with military laws and ordinances, we cannot also forget that these men

have in the line of duty given their best in the fight against the enemies of this country.”

Agan, who stated this yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen in Makurdi, also urged the entire country to forgive the convicted soldiers.

He said, “At this time of our history and fight against the forces of darkness and disunity who are threatening the peace and stability of our dear nation, we cannot afford to tie our own soldiers on the stake and shoot them.

“Though their actions may have been at variance with the ethics of their profession, we plead that the President uses his good offices to commute the conviction and grant them amnesty.”

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

FORUM: From left, Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ben Akabueze; Head of European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Michel Arrion; Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, VISIT: President of ICAN, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu; Osun Deputy Gover- and Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, during the nor, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye Tomori, and state Chief of Staff, Adegboye- 3rd EU-Nigeria Business Forum, in Lagos. ga Oyetola, during a visit to the state by the ICAN President.

BIRTHDAY: Deputy Director, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Mutiat Alabi (middle), flanked by her children, during her 60th birthday celebration, in Lagos.

VISIT: From left, Mr. Kiki Whenu, Lagos State governorship aspirant; Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Leaders Forum, Hon. Akinsanya Ajose; Hon Moses Dosu, and Mr. Andrew Whenu Monday, at a reception for Ambode, during a solidarity visit to the Community Leaders of APC, in Badagry, Lagos, weekend.

INSPECTION: From left, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Yemi Adelakun; Director, Planning, Research & Statistics, Dr. Ibrahim Idris; Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, and Acting Regional General Manager, South West, FAAN, Mr. Noah Sanya, during an inspection tour to Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by the top management of the ministry. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

BRIEFING: From left, Chairman, Harvest City Ministry Get-The-Word-Out (G2) committee, Aklidire Eligbai; Senior Pastor, Harvest City, Pastor Enyinnaya Igbokwe, and Gospel musician, Mrs. Mayowa Adenrele, at the media briefing to unveil 5th edition of G2, at the church premises, in Gbagada, Lagos.

DINNER: From left, Chief Kunle Uthman, and Chief Richard Ahonaruogho, at the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, President's dinner.

PRESENTATION: From left, member, KCMB Micro finance Bank, Mrs. Adekemi Akande; Chairman, Board of Directors, KCMB, Mr. Demola Banu; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, and Director of the Bank, Mr. Alex Okoh, during the presentation of dividend of KCMB to the Governor at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

Vanguard,THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—49

50— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA—AGAINST the backdrop of evidence that Boko Haram commander, Mohammed Bashir, who has been impersonating the late sect leader, Abubakar Shekau in videos was killed on September 17, by Nigerian soldiers, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has warned that any other person or leader who emerges using the name ‘Shekau’ will receive the same treatment.

The warning was made just as 135 members of the terrorist group surrendered to troops in Biu, Mairiga-Buni Yadi as well as Mubi-Michika towns.

Briefing the media on current developments in the Counter Terrorism Campaign yesterday, Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade said, “Since the name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists leader, the Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title as well as all terrorists that seek to violate the freedom and territory of Nigeria”.

Disclosing that many of the insurgents have been surrendering to Nigerian troops, Olukolade said, “A total of 135 terrorists on Tuesday evening surrendered with equipment, to troops around Biu local government area. A group of 88 submitted themselves at Mairiga-Buni Yadi while another group of 45 terrorists were taken in, around Mubi-Michika”.

He said they are all being interrogated and processed in conformity with the dictates of standard best practices”.

Explaining how the operation was going on, General Olukolade said, “Nigerian troops have been conducting co-ordinated air and land operations in furtherance of efforts at containing the terrorists in the North-Eastern part of the country”.

“Somehow, it became apparent that the terrorists in continuation of their campaign of terror were determined to take over communities around Maiduguri which is their prime target. There was therefore the need to ensure that communities such as Konduga were protected”.

“It is noteworthy that the terrorists made not less than four attempts between 12 and 17 September to violate the security and enter Konduga to perpetrate their atrocities. Air and land forces were subsequently deployed to handle the situation”.

“The convoy of combat vehicles typical of terrorists’ mission that involves their top commanders were fiercely engaged by the land and air forces. Several of the terrorists including some of their commanders lost their lives in the encounters which lasted an average of about five hours each.

The troops captured some of the terrorists and their equipment”.

“In the course of those encounters, one Mohammed Bashir who has been acting or posing in videos as the deceased Abubakar Shekau, the eccentric character known as leader of the group died”.

C M Y K

BOKO HARAM: DHQ warns next Shekau to be ready for justice ...As 268 terrorists surrender to Nigerian troops Continuing he said, “Since the name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists’ leader, the Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title as well as all terrorists that seek to violate the freedom and territory of Nigeria”.

“On restoring normalcy after the encounter, inhabitants of the community who were victims of terrorists activities corroborated information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed alias Abubakar Shekau; alias Abacha Abdullahi Geidam; alias Damasack; etc. Indeed, the recent devastation on the leadership of the insurgents is attributable to the renewed commitment to the mission of eradicating terrorism in our country.”

“Meanwhile, a total of 135 terrorists have yesterday evening surrendered along with equipment to troops around Biu Local Government Area. A group of 88 submitted themselves at Mairiga/Bun – Yadi while another group of 45 terrorists were taken in around Mubi – Michika. They are all being interrogated and processed in conformity with the dictates of standard best practices”.

“The Defence Headquarters applauds the gallantry of Nigerian troops who have remained undaunted and professional in prosecuting this campaign against terror. The keen interest exhibited by our

neighbours and allies is commendable and we appreciate them”.

“All allies in the war against terrorism are hereby assured of the Nigerian military’s resolve to maintain momentum in the efforts to decimate and defeat terrorists. The invaluable efforts toward achieving sustainable peace and victory against the terrorists are highly appreciated”.

“It is nevertheless necessary to alert all citizens that there is still the need for even more vigilance and cooperation with the security forces. Everybody is required to remain alert to ensure that we are not taken unawares by

terrorist elements who might want to carry-out isolated attacks in any part of our country.”

On the true position of the Chibok girls presently, the DDI said all efforts were still ongoing to secure the release of the girls, noting that the military will not relent until the girls are secured.

Asked to comment on allegations by Cameroonian military authorities that they were responsible for the death of the imposter Shekau, Olukolade said, “To the best of our knowledge, we can say categorically that no foreign force of any type penetrated our country ’s borders up to Konduga which is just about

35 kilometers to Maiduguri.”

On the situation in Bama and Gwoza, the DDI said, “I want to repeat what the Defence

Headquarters have been saying all along. We have not conceded any part of this country and we won’t do so. All these areas still remain part and parcel of our operational areas and the operation is still ongoing.”

On why Nigerian troops were now having upper hand over the terrorists in the battle, Olukolade said, “Training and more training has been going on; equipment a nd more equipment has been coming in.

It will keep coming in. There is also a new resolve to deal with all these nonsense once and for all”.

MEETING: From left; Chairman, Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Tanko Yakasai; former Inspector General of Police, Gambo Jimeta and former governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Akwe Doma during NEF's meeting in Abuja, on Tuesday.

2015: IGP plots to stop politicians with criminal records

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA—INSPECTOR General of police, Suleiman Abba declared yesterday that no politician with criminal record will be allowed to contest any position in the 2015 election, noting that the force will collaborate with the Department of State Security to screen out such politicians.

Abba made the declaration just as he said only one of the over 20 Police officers still missing after Boko Haram terrorists attacked the Gwoza Camp of the Police had returned while nothing has been heard of the others.

Speaking at a meeting with DIGs, AIGs, and state command CP’s in Abuja, the IGP assured that with 2015 general elections around the corner, the Nigeria Police has concluded all security arrangement to provide enabling environment for free

...Says 20 cops still missing after Gwoza attack and fair elections.

He, however, warned that politicians vying for one office or the other should be ready to play by the rules and accept defeat in good faith or use legal and legitimate process in presenting their grievances, adding that anyone that will want to take laws into his hand will be fiercely resisted by the police.

His words: “We urge contestants to play the game according to the rules and to also accept where they lose. A winner must emerge. Once he emerges, the loser must accept the loss. ''Whoever decides to take aws into their hands, whether around the tribunals or even outside without reference to the tribunal, you want to take the law into your hands because you have lost any election, let me say that we will not take it kindly with you.

“The law will take its course, not minding who you are and where you belong. We will make sure that there is peace and tranquility and we will make sure that the majority continues to enjoy the service we are made to provide.

“We have made adequate arrangements to ensure that the police provide sufficient security for all the activities leading to the general elections. These activities have started including the registration of voters, the party primaries, the selection of candidates and screening, the conventions by the parties and many others including the very important one which are the campaigns by all the political parties and all the candidates.

“In all these activities, the police will ensure that adequate security is provided to the officials who are conducting the election, INEC officials.

When it get to the issue of screening, we will collaborate with our colleagues, particularly the Directorate of State Security to ensure that candidates with criminal records are not allowed to contest”.

“Similarly, we will provide enough security to the members of the public who will partake in some of these activities. For example in the registration of voters, we will make sure prospective voters are secured to go and register and on the election day, we will make sure that the materials provided by INEC are well protected ahead of the polling date and on the polling ahead of the polling date, we will escort them to their destinations. That is to all the states of the federation.

“We will create the enabling environment for voters to feel free enough to go and cast their votes and if they opt to stay there, fine.''

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—51

Governor Chime’s belated rally for Jonathan

By Cliff Ileka

B

Y Thursday, September 25, 2014, the Enugu State Government would have sponsored a rally for the adoption of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election. To this end, officials of the 17 councils in Enugu State were directed to rent at least 200 persons in each of the 260 wards in Enugu State. Public holiday has been declared and shops and markets shut down- all for a stage effect.

Since last year, various interest groups have been falling on top

of the other in seeking recognition as the most ardent supporter of President Jonathan. One of the most prominent among the groups is the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, led

by Chief Ifeanyi Ubah. Ltd. TAN has successfully organised rallies in all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

The geopolitical zonal structures of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, have also held solidarity rallies for President Jonathan. The South East of Nigeria on April 11,2014, held a similar rally for Jonathan at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium,

Enugu. The South East rally was a huge success with the graceful presence of virtually all the whois-who in the Federal Government, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the South East.

These supports for Jonathan projects have paid off with his adoption as the sole presidential candidate of the PDP in 2015 election by the various organs and pressure groups within the partyPDP Governors Forum, Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee. With the above adoptions well accomplished, the question on every lip is the rationale for the

Enugu State governor, Chime Enugu Thursday rally, more so when the governor is part of some of the adoption mechanisms. The general observation is that a prudent resource manager would deploy the State’s resources to other critical areas of competing needs than waste over N2 billion for grandstanding, vainglory and shadow-chasing.

It is a common knowledge that the civil servants of Enugu State are the least paid compared to other states of the federation. It is also on record that hundreds of both the primary and secondary schools in the state do not have sufficient teachers and this has accounted for the very poor performance of Enugu indigenes at both the West African School Certificate examinations, NECCO, JAMB etc. Among the state-owned h i g h e r institutions in Nigeria, Enugu State ranks very high in school fees as can be verified from the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, and the Enugu State University of Science and Te c h n o l o g y (ESUT). The medical students of ESUT cannot exhaust their experiences with the state administration.

On the Medicare, almost all the general hospitals in the state are in dilapidated state with the doctors w e a r i n g martyred looks.

The commercial/ industrial bequeaths to Governor Chime are yearning for revitalization.

They include the Sunrise Flour Mills, Enugu; Nigergas Ltd,

Enugu; Nigersteel, Enugu; Hotel Presidential, Enugu; AVOP, Nachi; NCFC; Daily Star Printing Press; ENTRACO, Emene; etc It is, perhaps, only in Enugu state that we still have rural communities without electricity let alone access roads.

Enugu capital city cannot boast of pipe borne water. And any attempt by the trade unions in the state to raise voices, will be met with repression, persecution and other forms of punitive measures.

An Enugu state trade unionist, Mr Osmond Ugwu, is still nursing the wounds.

What precipitated the Chime belated and belated rally for Jonathan is the blame the governor faced after the South East Rally organised by TAN at Awka on August 19, 2014. All the PDP governors or their governments’ paraphernalia took active part at the highly successful Awka rally except Governor Chime of Enugu State.

Local allure of power The Enugu governor and his handlers appeared to be basking in the local allure of power when they were overtaken by the more proactive Deputy President of the Senate, Sen Ike Ekweremadu.

The huge Enugu presence at the rally was powered by Ekweremadu. To the governor, it was a pain.

The writer is on the same page with the numerous Enugu indigenes and other rational minds that the belated rally for the adoption of President Jonathan is a colossal waste of public funds. Every political novice knows that Enugu is totally a Jonathan State. In fact, if the goats, chickens, and cows had votes, they would cast it for a man who has given the South East a true sense of belonging in terms of key appointments and infrastructural development. Or is it a late restitution for his opposition to Jonathan’s emergence as acting President in 2010?

The Enugu rally is like trying to impregnate a pregnant woman as Enugu had since adopted GEJ, not just as a PDP candidate, but as a son and brother. Chime should be more concerned with policies that will positively affect the lives of the masses rather than lavish the State’s resources on the massage of self-ego, vainglories, and petty competition.

Mr. Ileka writes from Enugu

52— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,(L) meets with UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon during the 69th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters yesterday AFP PHOTO/POOL/Craig Ruttle

US President Barack Obama chairs a special meeting of the UN security council during the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly yesterday. Obama pitched an international counterterrorism resolution during his second appearance as chair of the United Nations Security Council. AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARY

Workers prepare the electronic polling stuff for October 5th general elections at the regional electoral tribunal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on september 24, 2014. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI

French security forces escort one of three suspected jihadists (back C) at Montpellier airport before being flown to Paris yesterday. AFP PHOTO/SYLVAIN THOMAS

French security forces escort one of three suspected jihadists as he walks towards a plane bound for Paris after being arrested in Montpellier yesterday. AFP PHOTO/SYLVAIN THOMAS

Italian military personnel wearing protective dress push a protected stretcher suited to take care of a pretended Ebola victim during a specialized training course for the management and transport of highly contagious patients, in Rome's Pratica di Mare military airport in Pomezia yesterday.

Supporters of Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate Al-Nusra Front hold placards calling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a "terrorist" and denouncing Arab states that have joined anti-Islamic State group campaign , they demonstrate in the northern city of Alepppo yesterday AFP PHOTO / ZEIN AL RIFAI

One of the 10 suspected terrorists of Somali origin appear at Buganda road magistrates’ court yesterday. Ugandan police carried out a wave of arrests and reportedly found explosives in the capital Kampala on September 13, 2014 , AFP PHOTO/ ISAAC KASAMANI

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 — 53

BRIEFS

Saudi pilots face death threats for strikes on ISIS

S

Obama rallies global coalition against ISIS U

.S. President Barack Obama yesterday rallied the global community to join the coalition against Islamic State, as Jordan confirms its direct military involvement in overnight U.S.-led airstrikes inside Syria that killed at least 70 IS fighters. Mana Rabiee reports.

The US said its airstrikes in Syria have had an “important impact,” US president Obama said the global coalition against ISIS is total and will destroy the hate group that is hiding behind Islam to commit atrocities. This came as Jordan confirms it participation in the war against ISIS and the US national security adviser Susan Rice said the strikes by US warplanes and cruise missiles targeted the Islamic State movement as well as the little-known Khorasan group, which Washington has said was plotting attacks against US targets.

“We think the strikes had an impact, important impact,” Rice told NBC news, 36 hours after Washington expanded its bombing campaign from Iraq to Syria, backed by allies in the region.

“Obviously, this won’t be the last of our efforts.

•Obama But this was a first wave.” She added: “We feel very good about our success. We’ll continue to take a look and we’ll

be doing more.”

Rice said the United States at this point is unable to confirm that

the airstrikes succeeded in killing Khorasan’s alleged leader, longstanding Qaeda operative Muhsin al-Fadhli.

“We can’t confirm that at this stage. We’ve seen reports on social media to that effect. We will continue to look for signs as to whether or not that’s, in fact, the case,” Rice told NBC. The coalition aims to destroy the Islamic State group, which controls a swath of territory in Iraq and Syria, has murdered two US journalists and a British aid worker and is locked in a brutal war with Iraqi and Kurdish authorities.

Syria hails coalition strikes on ISIS

A

SYRIAN govern ment minister said U.S.-led air strikes against militants are going in the “right direction” because the government had been informed before they started and they were not hitting civilians or Syrian military targets.

Syria is still watching all developments with caution, Ali Haidar, minister for national reconciliation, told Reuters on Wednesday after U.S. warplanes pounded Islamic State positions in a second day of attacks.

“As for the raids in Syria, I say that what has

happened so far is proceeding in the right direction in terms of informing the Syrian government and by not targeting Syrian military installations and not targeting civilians,” he said.

“Notification of the Syrian government happened,” he said. “Confirmation that they would not target Syrian military installations, and confirmation they would not target civilians happened.”

The United States said on Tuesday that Washington’s envoy to the United Nations had told her Syrian counterpart air strikes would take place, but it

has ruled out coordinating with Assad, whom Washington sees as part of the problem.

The Syrian foreign minister said last month that Damascus was ready to cooperate in any international effort to fight Islamic State.

Despite welcoming the strikes, Haidar said fighting militants would take more than such military action.

“The war on terror does not only come through air strikes, which are not the only means to fight terrorism,” he said, adding that military action could go on for some time.

NATO observes Russian pullout from Ukraine

N

ATO has observed a significant withdrawal of Russian forces from inside Ukraine, but many Russian troops remain stationed nearby, an alliance military spokesman said on Wednesday.

“There has been a significant pullback of Russian conventional forces from inside Ukraine, but many thousands are still deployed in the vicinity of the border,” Lieutenant-Colonel Jay Janzen said in an e-mailed response to a request from Reuters for comment.

“Some Russian troops remain inside Ukraine. It is difficult to determine the number, as pro-Russian separatists control several border crossings and troops are routinely

•Putin moving back and forth across the

border. Further, Russian special forces are operating in Ukraine, and they are difficult to detect,” he said.

On Sept. 4, a NATO military officer said Russia had several thousand combat troops and hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles inside Ukraine and around 20,000 troops close to the Ukrainian border.

As recently as a week ago, NATO said it believed Russia still had around 1,000 soldiers inside Ukraine despite some cuts in troop numbers since a ceasefire began on Sept. 5.

Janzen said there appeared to be a reduction in incidents, including artillery fire, between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists.

Hollande denounces execution of hostage

F

RENCH President Francois Hollande yesterday denounced the “cowardly” murder of a French hostage in Algeria and vowed not to give in to the Islamic State group.

“Our compatriot Herve Gourdel was murdered

cowardly, cruelly and shamefully,” Hollande told reporters in New York where he was attending the UN General Assembly.

Hollande said he would convene a special security meeting at the Elysee palace on Thursday to discuss the latest developments and vowed France

would stay the course in fighting Islamists in Iraq.

“France is going through an ordeal through the murder of one of its citizens, but France will never give in to blackmail,” Hollande said shortly afterward before the UN General Assembly.

AUDI pilots who conducted air strikes on jiha dists in Syria received online death threats yesterday after photos were published of those involved, among them a son of the crown prince.

The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) released photographs of eight airmen it said were involved in Tuesday’s US-led operation, carried out with Gulf allies.In one picture they stood, some smiling, in green flight suits with arms around each other in front of one of their fighter jets. One of the pilots involved in the raids is a son of Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz himself, according to Saudi newspapers.

Dozens of Islamic State group (IS) and Al-Qaeda militants were reported killed in the coalition air raids, sparking jihadist threats online where the Saudi pilots’ photos reappeared.One Twitter user said the air force men were “wanted by IS” while another said their throats “will sooner or later be slit”.

A broader threat came from a Twitter post which called for the killing of police as well as military men.Their combat mission happened to coincide with the kingdom’s 84th national day. Saudi Arabia is dominated by the ultra-conservative Sunni doctrine of Wahabism.

Turkey shies away from coalition strikes

W

HEN the United States asked Turkey to join a coalition to fight the Islamic State, Turkey answered with a resounding no, citing concern over the lives of 49 hostages the hardline group took in June from Turkey’s consulate in northern Iraq. But on Sunday the hostages were mysteriously freed, unharmed, after over three months in captivity — and Ankara has not changed its stance on joining the U.S.-led coalition, despite their homecoming. As the United States, along with allies that include several Arab countries, strikes parts of Syria for the first time, Turkey is shying away from concrete action against the Islamic State, prompting rumors as well as concern among lawmakers, experts and even relatives of the released hostages.

British MPs debate ISIS tomorrow

T

HE British parliament will hold an extraordinary session on Friday to vote on whether to join USled air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday.

He said he was “confident” the House of Commons would approve the action requested by Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi during a meeting between the two leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York.

“I have been asked by the Iraqi government for our help and so I’ll be recalling the British parliament on Friday so that Britain can take part in international air strikes against ISIL (IS) in Iraq,” Cameron told Sky News television.

“What we are doing is legal, it is right, it does not involve British combat troops on the ground but as ever with our country, when we are threatened in this way, we should not turn away from what needs to be done.”

Uganda remands terror suspects

T

EN people arrested during a major security swoop in Uganda’s capital were remanded in custody Wednesday after appearing in court on terror-related charges. Ugandan police carried out a wave of arrests and reportedly found explosives in the capital Kampala on September 13, just hours after the US embassy in Uganda told its citizens to stay indoors because of fears of an “imminent” attack. On Wednesday a group of 10 people accused of being members of Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab rebels appeared in a Kampala court, where magistrate Simon Kintu remanded them in custody and adjourned the case to October 7.

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Obuh congratulates Jonathan

A

governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Sir Anthony Obuh, has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on his recent adoption by the national structure of the party as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections.

He said that the decision of the party was the best thing to happen to the nation’s advancement in entrenching and consolidating on good governance and constitutional democracy.

He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the adoption of Mr. President by voting massively for him in the forth coming 2015 presidential election.

He said: “This will ensure the continuity of the lofty socio-economic policy objectives of the transformation agenda which has yielded economic growth and infrastructural developments across the country.”

... Izon chiefs, too

A

group, Delta Izon Traditional Chiefs Forum, DIC-FO, has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on his endorsement by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as its sole presidential candidate even as it emphasised the need to support only credible candidates in all elective positions in Delta State.

Chief B. Tiemo, President of the group, in a statement in Bomadi, Delta State, said Jonathan’s endorsement by PDP was based on the fact the leadership of party has implicit confidence in his transformation agenda.

DIC-FO noted that only credible, prudent, selfless, God-fearing candidates would be supported and voted for as governor, senator, House of Representatives members and into the state House of Assembly, urging its members to remain alert until the green light was given their candidates for the 2015 polls.

It applauded Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the sustainable peace enjoyed by the ethnic groups in Delta State.

PDP's adoption of Jonathan checked in-fighting— DICKSON

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has said the decision of leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its state governors to adopt President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2015 general election was to institutionalise the right of first refusal for an incumbent President.

He said: “The action of PDP is to promote stability in the political system and party responsibility to the electorate.”

He spoke at an interactive session with the members of the Federated Correspondent Chapel of Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ. The governor said though the adoption of President Jonathan had been wrongly termed “sole candidacy,” by the media and the opposition groups, it was to entrench stability in the political system.

He said: “It is not a declaration of sole candidacy. The term ‘sole candidacy’ is a far cry from what we have done.

What we have done is to stabilise the political system.

“What we have done is to say that we don’t want to subject our members to costly and stressful experiences.

“What we have said is that once you are a President from a political party, you have a right of first refusal. It will reduce in-fighting and cost of lobbying and campaigns.”

SWORN IN: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and Mr. Dennis Idahosa, the new Commissioner for Investment and Public, Private Partnership (right) during Idahosa's swearing in yesterday.

Oshiomhole woos investors, swears in commissioner

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—AS part of efforts to attract new foreign investors to Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has sworn in Mr. Dennis Idahosa as Commissioner for Investment, Public and Private Partnership with a charge to use his wealth of experience to attract investors to the state.

Speaking after swearing in the commissioner at the Government House, Benin, yesterday, Oshiomhole said: “Every day we receive all kinds of enquiries about people who want to invest in our state. Quite a number have already decided to come.

“But I believe we can attract even more if we have someone that understands the thinking and feelings of international investors and what we need as a government to attract them to locate their offices in our state so they can create jobs and increase the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of the state.”

Responding, Idahosa

thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in him and promised to bring his wealth of experience in the private sector to bear in delivering dividends

of democracy.

He assured the governor that he will do all in his capacity to attract investors to the state to boost its economy.

RIVERS GUBER: DPP commended on zoning

By GBENGA OKE

R

IVERS South-East Renaissance Movement, RISERM, has commended the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in Rivers State for zoning its governorship ticket to the Rivers South-East senatorial district.

RISERM, a social political organisation, in a statement said DPP had demonstrated its willingness to listen to the voice of the Rivers people as 2015 gubernatorial election gets closer.

The group said “It is important to state that since Rivers State was created in 1967 no person from the Rivers South-East has become governor of the state.

“The senatorial district has always supported other senatorial districts to produce the governor of Rivers State.

So, equity and justice demands that we all go in their direction this time. That is exactly what DPP has done.

“We are elated by the action of the DPP and wish to appeal to the leadership of the All Progressive Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at all levels to emulate the patriotic and brotherly act of DPP,” the statement said.

Coordinator of the group, Dornu Barida Nwinang, said: “Zoning governorship ticket by political parties to the Rivers South-East senatorial district will go a long way to create unity.”

Ewherido family hails Senate on Manslaughter Bill

T

HE family of late Senator Pius Ewherido has thanked the Senate for the passage of the Corporate Manslaughter Bill.

It will be recalled that the bill was sponsored by the late senator and had passed through second reading and public hearing before his death on June 30 last year.

The elder brother to Senator Ewherido, Rev. Fr. Anthony Ewherido, said the passage of the bill was a dream come true for the family.

He said: “The family wrote a reminder to the Senate just before the first anniversary of my brother’s death.”

He noted that by the passage of the bill, the senate had fulfilled its promise to the family during various condolence visits by senators in 2013.

He urged the House of Representatives to speed up its concurrence of the bill so that it can go to the President for his assent.

PDP lauded on zonal c'ttees

T

HE Ogun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has hailed the national leadership of the party for its clarification over the role of the zonal integration committees.

In a statement, yesterday, in Abeokuta by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Waliu Oladipupo, the party said: “We salute the courage and candour of the national leadership of our party for its clarification on the activities of the Zonal Integration Committee.

“The National leadership of our party has stated categorically that the committees have nothing to do with the party structures in the states and have no powers whatsoever to interfere with their composition and activities.”

The party said the clarification put paid to the “boasts in certain quarters that the committees were set to either harmonise or dissolve some State Executive Committees.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014—55

Tension in Anambra as Obiano’s wife declares speaker APGA House of Reps' candidate

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—THERE was palpable tension at Ogbaru Local Government Headquarters, Atani, Anambra State on Tuesday, following a declaration by Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, wife of Governor Willie Obiano, that Princess Chinwe Nwaebili, the incumbent speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly has been nominated as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Ogbaru federal constituency during the 2015 National Assembly election.

The first lady, who made the declaration at Ogbaru local government secretariat, Atani, during her maiden visit to the area, as part of her familiarisation tour of the 21 council areas of the state, shocked the teeming crowed, including APGA leaders and other party faithful, by declaring that the speaker was the party’s choice for the 2015 House of Representatives' election.

Her pronouncement at the event, which obviously embarrassed the party leaders, threw the crowd into a rowdy shouts of disapproval and protestation, which almost degenerated to a free-for-all between supporters of Ogene, who were also there to receive the first lady and those of the speaker.

She advised other aspirants wishing to contest the National Assembly election for Ogbaru

federal constituency under APGA’s platform to forget such ambition for now and wait for another dispensation, since APGA had already nominated Nwaebili as its candidate.

After her speech, Princess Nwaebili commended her for the achievements so far recorded by the governor since he assumed office on March 17 this year and urged them not to relent.

Nwaebili, who practically hijacked the event with several of her support groups, had been variously reported to be eyeing the

National Assembly seat currently occupied by Victor Afam Ogene, an APGA stalwart and deputy chairman, Media and Public Affairs, in the House of Representatives.

However, supporters of Ogene, the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, who were obviously rattled by Mrs. Obiano’s statement, still presented their fish and yam gift to the first lady for finding time to visit the area, which she

received after an initial rejection.

Reacting to the development after the first lady’s departure, Mr. Collins Ukeje, one of the beneficiaries of the Late Fidelis Ogene Memorial Foundation, a foundation established by Afam Ogene in memory of his late father, expressed concern that all the empowerment strategies mapped out for the youths and widows in the area

by Ogene would come to naught, if he was not allowed to go for second term in office.

INTERACTIVE SESSION: From left; Igwe Kelly Nzekwe, the traditional ruler of Igbariam; Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha; Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State and Igwe Rowland Odegbo, the traditional ruler of Nteje during an Interactive Session with Anambra North Traditional Rulers Council at Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area...Tuesday.

FG plans to strengthen land registration process nationwide

By Austin Ogwuda & Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE Federal Government, yesterday, began a nationwide land titling and registration through the Presidential Technical Committee on Land

Reform, PTCLR. The maiden zonal workshop for stakeholders in the South-East geopolitical zone kicked off yesterday in Enugu.

In his opening remark, the Chairman, PTCLR, Prof. Peter Adeniyi, said: “Since formal land registration commenced in the

country over 100 years ago, less than three percent of land nationwide has been registered.

“Land issues touch all strata of the society. It serves as sociopolitical instrument to reshape the economy. In particular, it is an invaluable economic factor for empowerment and national

Unions accuse multi-national oil firms of victimising leaders

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

E

NUGU—NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, counterpart, yesterday in Enugu, Enugu State, accused some multi-national oil companies of victimising their leaders because of union activities and threatened to shut the oil industry should the victimisation continue.

Chairman of PENGASSAN, who is also the President of NUPENG, Mr. Igwe Achese, while acknowledging the right of management to transfer staff under normal circumstances, lamented at a news briefing that the affected companies transferred key union officials

...Threaten to shut oil industry from one state to another so as to destroy the unions.

According to him, while a Deputy President of NUPENG, Mr. Asuquo Okon, has been transferred by Agip from Lagos to Port Harcourt, the PortHarcourt zonal Secretary and member of PENGASSAN Central Working Committee, CWC, Mrs. Elo Victor-Ogbonna, was transferred from Port Harcourt to Lagos.

He warned that if the transferred officials were not returned to their bases, the two unions would be forced to declare a nationwide strike because the International Labour Organisation, ILO, Nigeria labour laws and other international codes, were against victimisation of union

officials because of unionism.

Achese said the two unions would, in the next few days summon a joint National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, under the aegis of NUPENGASSAN, to fix a date for the strike.

He declared: “We want to use this medium to call on the Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the leadership of the National Assembly and other well meaning Nigerians to prevail on these companies, including Chevron, to return our officials to their bases because when we start, there will be no going back.”

development.

“The absence of proper documentation of interests in land has been compounded by several other issues, including ignorance, illiteracy, inadequate regulations and policy guidelines, poor governance infrastructure, prohibitive cost of processing titles, absence of transparency, inadequate skilled manpower, overlapping institutional functions,customs and tradition.”

Adeniyi said the essence of the workshop was to,”encourage and assist states and local government to establish an arbititration mechanism for land ownership conflict resolution; make recommendations for the establishment of National Depository for Land Titles Holdings and Records in all states of the Federation and the FCT.” He further revealed that the PTCLR adopted the Systematic Land Titling and Registration,SLTR, in line with global best practices and urged the stakeholders to embrace the policy.

According to him, the workshop will be conducted in all the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Enugu community moves to install new monarch

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—TO stave off leadership crisis in a bid to replace their late traditional ruler, the people of Ogonogoeji Ndiagu Akpugo Autonomous Community in the Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State have adopted Chief John Nneji as the Igwe-elect.

Chief Nneji, who is awaiting the state government’s recognition, is to fill the vacancy created

by Igwe Gabriel Nnaji who died last year.

The adoption of Chief Nneji became necessary, following a recent attempt by some members of the community to present another candidate to the authority as Igwe-elect.

Reacting to the development, the community, issued a statement announcing that Chief John Nneji who was presented to the Nkanu West Local Government authority on July 25th 2014, was the duly nominated Igwe-elect.

Igbo youths want new polling units cancelled

By Nkiruka Nnorom

O

HANAEZE Youth Council, OYC, has frowned on the recent creation of additional 30,000 polling units by chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, barely five months to the 2015 general election and called for immediate cancellation of the exercise.

The group said the cancellation became necessary because the 2006 census on which the recent creation of new polling units across the country was based was flawed and lopsided.

It, therefore, called for conduction of fresh census, saying no census was conducted in Igbo land as there was no conducive atmosphere for 2006 census.

The group, in a statement signed by its Sec. Gen, Mr. Uzochukwu C. Uzochukwu and Sec Board of Trustees, Mazi Okwu Okwu, described the exercise as crooked.

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Second From Disaster ••lessons from 9/11 attacks

By PRISCA SAM-DURU & VERASAMUELANYAGAFU

S

OLEMN was the mood of the audience that graced the screening of the documentary film on 9/11 attacks on United States of America. The film titled Seconds From Disaster was screened penultimate Thursday, at the US Consulate, in Lagos Seconds From Disaster captures the details of the attack and critically x-rays the security lapses that gave US away to terrorists that fateful day.

Among the security lapses revealed in the documentary were bureaucratic bottlenecks, which made information flow and feedback more cumbersome; legislative lapses that allowed the movement of people with knives of certain sizes into aircrafts and indeed everywhere; disunity among agencies and officials, leading to discordant tunes; procrastination by the security operatives and underrating of suspects to live and move unhindered in the US before they finally struck, etc.

The documentary in a distinctive way, echoes lessons to be learnt from the 9/11 attacks even as Nigeria battles Boko Haram insurgency. Such

lessons as identified by some of the participants are the need for Nigerians to be united while fighting a common enemy, the importance of a united security agencies, the need to report suspicious individuals and share information with the authorities, and the fact that everybody is a stakeholder and so all hands must be on deck with everyone working as if he is the last line of defence.

Justice and equity Other lessons are the need to stop apportioning blames to others, for justice and equity to prevail so as to avoid agitations and attacks as well as to shun the ephemeral monetary gain that leads many to assist terrorists.

Addressing participants, Dehab Ghebreab, Public Affairs Officer of the US Consulate, Lagos, explained that the essence of the gathering and film screening was for both in memory of the victims of 9/11 attacks and an opportunity for Nigerians to learn from their mistakes and fight Boko Haram insurgency with more precision and unity.

Ghebreab regreted that there are still a lot of people out there

President Barack Obama, his wife Michel at the memorial of 9/11 attacks on US tying to harm people. “Here in Nigeria, we are also contending with the terrors of Boko Haram, I want you to know that all of us together, wherever we are, have to stand up against terrorism...

The US government is out to support the government of Nigeria to defeat the horrors of Boko Haram” Reading an excerpt from President Obama’s speech at the Foundation Hall below the World Trade Centre site, as he marked the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York that day, she said, “Here at this memorial this museum, we come together, we stand in the footprints of two mighty

towers graced by the rush of eternal waters. We look into the faces of nearly 3,000 innocent souls, men and women and children of every race every creed, from every corner of the world. And we can touch their names and hear their voices

Hybrid Theory exhibits

H

YBRID

Theory,

an

exhibition of body of works by artists Adesoji Adesina and Uthman Wahaab which raises rhetorical questions around narratives on identity and representation, opens today by 7 pm at signature-beyond gallery, Lagos.

The exhibition addresses the supposedly inability of Africans to apply themselves to the mechanism that enables modernization through the application of the laws of economics, science and technology.

It runs till Friday, October 10, 2014

UVA bid to empower Nigerian youths

U

NVEILING Africa (UVA) has completed a seven days youth orientation campaign tagged “UAV Days of Change” as part of the efforts to help Nigerian youth brace up in thinking, assume leadership responsibility as well as act as role model for other.

Unveiling Africa, a youth led, nonprofit organization founded in 2006 in Canada and Nigeria has the vision to enable the transformation of Africa by engaging and equipping African youth with passion, skills and a mind set required for them to contribute to the development of the continent.

Development of the continent

Youths at the UVA orientation recently in Lagois

and glimpses the small items that speak to the beauty of their lives- a wedding ring, a dusty helmet, a shining badge. Here we tell their story so that generations yet unborn will never forget”

The campaign organized and presented by Unveiling Africa teenage Ambassadors, ran from 2nd of August to 8th with themes revolving around helping the participants on activities aimed at making Nigeria a better place, honouring hardworking and motivating parents and guardians, inspiring youths to be more health conscious and the need for them to be conscious about the environment.

The campaign also sought to empower teenagers by encouraging them to be

proactive and entrepreneurial, just as it encouraged participants to engage their community through community service and volunteering at any social change oriented organization.

The effort according to UVA, was aimed at impacting Nigerian teenagers and to contribute in improving the understanding of quality education and youth engagement in Nigeria.

Contrary to the believe that the youths are the leaders of tomorrow, the campaign expressed the believe of UVA community that the youth are the leaders of today, thereby providing the Days of Change campaign as a platform to engage Nigerian teenagers by challenging them with daily tasks which educate and empower them.

The campaigns engaged and positively impact no fewer than 173 diverse Nigerian teenagers who signed up for it online via social media platforms such as Facebook and twitter.

Renowned lawyer and activist, Femi Falana and popular Nollywood celebrity, Osita Iheme (Paw Paw), who both witnessed the closing ceremonies, expressed admiration and interest in the activities of UVA and its maiden online campaign.