BUHARI AT CHATHAM HOUSE Why i want to be President-BUHARI

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62351

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

28 Where the Card Reader rejects you

Jonathan visits re-captured Adamawa towns

BUHARI AT CHATHAM HOUSE

Why I want to be President— BUHARI •Says: "I cannot change the past, but I can change the present and the future...no witch-hunt" •Jonathan, Buhari's supporters protest at Chatham House, London

•South-West leaders meet in Ibadan, endorse Jonathan — Page 11

47

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AGOS—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), yesterday, in London gave reasons why he wants to be president after he left office as military Head of State.

He said he is in the race to restore the country’s glory. Buhari said: "I cannot change the past, but I can change the present and the future. So, before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS: Donu Kogbara

Positively presidential!

•P.17

2015 ELECTIONS: Probable political and economic implications•P.30

Mr & Mrs

BUHARI AT CHATHAM HOUSE—From left: Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Retd); former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown; APC national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi at Chatham House, London, yesterday.

CBN denies plan to convert 9 domiciliary accounts to Naira

Bombers kill 35 in Jos, Biu 8

POLLS: How far can Jonathan’s pull-out vigorous offensive go? •See inside

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRAUARY 27, 2015 —3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 —5

POCKET CARTOON

Pro-Buhari supporters at Chatham House, London, yesterday.

Supporters of President Jonathan, also at Chatham House, London, yesterday.

Why I want to be President — BUHARI Continues from Page 1

operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time."

Meanwhile, there were protests outside Chatham House where General Buhari was delivering his lecture by his supporters and those opposed his candidacy.

Buhari, who spoke at the Royal Institue of International Affairs, London (Chatham House) in a paper entitled "Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition," said that he wanted to be president in a democracy "because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done."

The former Head of State said that one of his major priorities as president was

to fight corruption in all its ramifications, pointing out that no corrupt person would be appointed into his cabinet.

He further said that he would block all the leakages in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and the Customs & Excise which were the major cash cows for the nation and use the proceeds recovered from corrupt people to fund "our party’s social investment programmes in education, health, and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pensions for the elderly.

"But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt.

I’m running for President

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Attitude is little thing that makes a huge difference —Marc& Angel Hack

S

OMETIMES changing your circumstances isn’t possible – or simply not possible soon enough.

You can’t get to a new job in an instant. You can’t make someone else change against his or her will.

And you certainly can’t erase the past. So what options do you have left?

Change your perception, belief or opinion about your circumstances. Doing so will help you change your attitude and ultimately allow you to grow beyond the struggles you can’t control.

The Greek philosopher Epictetus said it perfectly more than 2,000 years ago: “People are disturbed, not by things (that happen to them), but by the principles and opinions which they form concerning (those) things. When we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved, let us never attribute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own principles and opinions.”

to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity..."

According to him, "the institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference.

"You may ask: Why is he doing this? This is a question I ask myself all the time also. And here is my humble answer, because I still believe that change is possible, this time through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have the capacity and the passion to dream and work for a Nigeria that will be respected again in the comity of nations and that all Nigerians will be proud of."

Commenting on the reference made to him by British newspapers as a former dictator, Buhari further said: "Dictatorship goes with military rule, though some might be less dictatorial than others." He said that he took "responsibility for whatever happened" under his "watch," as Head of State.

He also promised to lead the way with force of personal example, especially in tackling waste and corruption.

No inch of Nigeria's territory'll be lost

Apparently referring to the challenges facing the country following the Boko Haram insurgents, which had been ravaging the north-east in the last few years, he said that "no inch of Nigerian territory

will ever be lost to the enemy" if he is elected president.

"As you all know, I had been a military head of state in Nigeria for 20 months. We intervened because we were unhappy with the state of affairs in our country. We wanted to arrest the drift.

Driven by patriotism, influenced by the prevalence and popularity of such drastic measures all over Africa and elsewhere, we fought our way to power. But the global triumph of democracy has shown that another and a preferable path to change is possible. It is an important lesson I have carried with me since, and a lesson that is not lost on the African continent.

"While you can’t have representative democracy without elections, it is equally important to look at the quality of the elections and to remember that mere elections do not make democracy. It is globally agreed that democracy is not an event, but a journey. And that the destination of that journey is democratic consolidation - that state where democracy has become so rooted and so routine and widely accepted by all actors.

"With this important destination in mind, it is clear that though many African countries now hold regular elections, very few of them have consolidated the practice of democracy. It is important to also state at this point that just as with elections, a consolidated democracy cannot be an end by itself. I will argue that it is not enough to hold series of elections or even to peacefully alternate power among parties.

"It is much more important that the promise of democracy goes beyond just allowing people to freely choose their leaders. It is much more important that democracy should deliver on the promise of choice, of freedoms, of security of lives and property, of transparency and accountability, of rule of law, of good governance and of shared prosperity.

It is very important that the promise embedded in the concept of democracy, the promise of a better life for the generality of the people, is not delivered in the breach," he added.

Boko Haram

On insurgency, he said: "Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium. What has been consistently lacking is the

required leadership in our battle against insurgency.

I, a retired general and a former head of state, have always known about our soldiers: They are capable, well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty in the service of our country.

Nigerian soldiers capable

"You all can bear witness to the gallant role of our military in Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in several parts of the world. But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem. The government has also failed in any effort towards a multidimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours to come to our rescue.

"Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service; we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunition to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas.

"We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria

to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism..."

Buhari, Jonathan’s supporters protest in London

Before Buhari arrived the venue for the event,

some protesters had gathered in front of the venue carrying placards and chanting songs in protest against the APC candidate.

The anti-Buhari demonstrators had placards with inscriptions such as “Buhari Belongs to the past: The past can’t belong to the future of our children”; “A dictator hiding behind another pastor cannot be a democrat”, and “Nigeria will not return to the past.”

However, pro-Buhari supporters had also mobilised to confront the the PDP supporters during which a verbal clash erupted.

The pro-Buhari elements had placards bearing messages such as “Nigerians deserve better than 16 years misrule,” and “Vote Buhari/ Osinbajo.”

Officers of the

Metropolitan police who patrolled the area, however, calmed frayed nerves between the two camps.

The media had reported ahead of the event that the Nigerian government had earmarked $20,000 to hire protesters in London against the APC presidential candidate.

A memo entitled “The Chatham House Rally: March Against Dictator,” which emanated from the campaign’s Assistant Director, Civil Society and Support Groups (Diaspora), Peter Mozie, said the money would be spent on mobilising the crowd, refreshing them and defraying other logistics.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi FaniKayode, denied mobilizing protesters to embarrass Buhari at the event.

zSee full speech on Pages 20&49

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Bauchi furniture firm workers protest

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—WORKERS of Bauchi State Furniture Company Ltd, yesterday, staged a protest to press home their demand for better pay, improved working conditions and casualization.

The workers are believed to be casual workers of the company, which is handling several furniture contracts in Bauchi and other parts of the country.

The protesters demanded an upward review of their salarie, integration into the mainstream state civil service and yearly working bonus, among others.

Reacting to the development, the Managing Director of the company, Bako Dijabira, said it was not possible to meet the demands of the workers because the company was a limited liability entity not structured for that.

He said: “Though the company was established by the state government, there are no provisions to meet their demands.”

Imo police begin investigation into Val Day death

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—IMO State Police Command has commenced investigation into the death of a middle aged woman at Okwu Nguru in Umunneato autonomous community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area.

It would be recalled that the lifeless body of the woman was dumped at Umunneato community, February 15.

Confirming this to newsmen in Owerri, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the Command would stop at nothing to ensure that those behind the dastardly act were exposed and brought to book.

Meanwhile, a strong security presence is now noticeable in the community, as people have deserted the area for fear of being arrested.

ART: A calabash carver, Malam Usman Datti, at work in Maraban Liman Katagum Market in Bauchi, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

NYSC member commits suicide over girlfriend

By Emmanuel Una

T

HE body of a 26-year-old National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, member, identified as Ernest, was, Wednesday, recovered from his one room apartment after he reportedly took a poisonous substance.

Reports indicated that the young man, who was in love with a fellow NYSC member, Chioma Okewuru, went berserk when the girl came back from her village over the weekend with a ring from a man she had promised to marry.

Ernest, who is from Edo State and a graduate of the University of Benin, was posted to Cross River State in October, where he met and fell in love with Chioma, and both were serving in Redemption Secondary School, Ofombogha 1 in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State.

Mr. Noah Ntuen, Acting Divisional Police Officer for Obubra told Vanguard on phone: “The girl had told the guy that she would not marry him, but that they could be friends. So when she came back

from home last weekend and showed him the ring her husband-to-be gave her, the young man became furious.

“On Wednesday, the situation became worse and at about 7pm, he locked himself in the room and took some poisonous substances.”

A source in the school told

Vanguard: “They met at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Abrekpe-Ebokpo and as luck would have it, they were both posted to the same school where they had a relationship going.

“He had the hope the whole thing would end in marriage, but Chioma already had

another person she wants to marry.”

Ntuen said the body had been deposited in the mortuary of Obubra General Hospital, while Chioma is with the police, where investigations on the circumstances surrounding the tragic death are in progress.

Court jails 27-yr-old man 6 months for stealing i-Phone 6

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A magistrate’s court sitting at Tinubu, Lagos Island, yesterday, sentenced a 27-year-old man, Benjamin Moses, to six months imprisonment for stealing iphone 6 from a motorist.

Magistrate Salama Matepo sentenced the convict to Ikoyi Prison, where he would serve his six months jail term with hard labour and without an option of fine, after pleading guilty to the offence of stealing.

“You are, hereby, sentenced to six months imprisonment at

Ikoyi Prison with hard labour and without an option of fine,” the Magistrate ruled.

The convict, who was arraigned on a count charge of stealing preferred against him, committed the offence on February 14.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Koti Aoudohemba, told the court that the convict with no fixed address, committed the offence at about 8pm on the said day.

He said the incident took place at Admiralty way, Lekki Phase 1, in Eti-Osa council.

He added that the i-Phone 6 that was stolen belonged to one

Afolabi Familusi.

According to the prosecutor, Familusi’s i-Phone got stolen by the convict while he was soliciting help to push his car out of the gutter.

He said the convict was caught because while he was snapping himself photographs with the phone, it was reflecting on the complainant’s i-Pad. The prosecutor said the convict was later apprehended through the pictures he took with the i-Phone 6.

The convict pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to prison accordingly.

Slain Delta community leader's family petitions IG

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—THE family of slain Vice Chairman of Oteri community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Blessing Unuesefe, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abba Suleiman over his killing by security agents.

The family, whose petition was sent to the IG through the Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged, CENTREP, urged the police boss to investigate the circumstances surrounding the

death.

In the petition by Executive Director, Oghenejabor Ikimi, CENTREP stated that the deceased was allegedly killed extra-judicially on the order of a member of the vigilante group in the area (names withheld).

According to the petition, the deceased was ordered shot for allegedly refusing to obey an order to sit on the floor.

Demanding the whereabouts of the remains of the late Unuesefe and need for an investigation into the matter, CENTREP stated: “Following the refusal of the victim to be

humiliated, the vigilante member fired a shot at the deceased and in an attempt to run for his dear life, the deceased was shot again.

“They, thereafter, took the deceased, who was bleeding, into their Toyota Hilux van and drove away, but later returned with some men of the Police Station, Ughelli, to search the house of the victim, after which the victim was taken to the Central Hospital, Ughelli, where he was confirmed dead by one of the doctors on duty.

“The whereabouts of the said

corpse is unknown to family members till date.”

Ikimi, who is also counsel to the Unuesefe family, while calling on the IGP to investigate the matter, stated that despite the complaint to Ughelli 'A' Division, no investigation had been conducted into the matter.

Contacted, state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said: “Give me time to get the facts and send to you, but the deceased was a cultist, who was involved in a shootout.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—7

Corpse of kidnapped medical doctor found in Port Harcourt

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the discovery of the corpse of Dr. Samson Okpara, who was kidnapped last week in a cassava farm at Borokiri area of Port Harcourt.

State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, who confirmed the

discovery to Vanguard, said the corpse had since been moved to a morgue.

He said two other doctors kidnapped at separate times in the state had been released.

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has enjoined All Progressives Congress, APC, not to politicize the abduction of Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, an aide to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor,

who was taken hostage last Sunday at Kaa in Khanna Local Government Area of the state.

State chairman of the party, Mr. Felix Obuah, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Jerry Needam, condemned the abduction.

He further denied allegation that his party was behind it.

The PDP, while absolving its members of any complicity in the kidnap of Mr. Ndigbara and

other acts of violence in the state, admonished Governor Rotimi Amaechi and APC to always allow security agencies do their work than wallow in what he described as fruitless suspicion.

The party further called for the immediate and unconditional release of Freddy and urged youths in the state to refrain from violence and acts inimical to peace and development.

President Goodluck Jonathan ( r i g h t ) inspecting arms a n d ammunition seized from insurgents by Nigerian troops in Baga, during his visit to North-East, yesterday. NAN PHOTOS.

Air Force men brutalize bizman, as Dame Jonathan visits Delta zHe was rude—COMMANDING OFFICER

By Egufe Yafugborhi

A

Warri-based businessman, Mr. Larry Otu, has called for investigation and justice into the brutality allegedly meted out on him by men of the Nigerian Air Force at the Osubi Airstrip, Warri, where security was beefed up over Dame Patience Jonathan’s visit to Delta State, yesterday.

Narrating his ordeal to Vanguard, Otu, Chief Executive Officer of LYM Consult, said he was at the airstrip to receive his technical partners from Canada when men from the Warri Air Force Unit stationed at the facility attacked him.

He said: “It happened at about 9am, when our foreign partners arrived the airport and I was there to clear them at the Immigration desk. I drove to the gates to face interrogation from the Air Force men.

“One asked if I knew the President’s wife was coming today. I said yes, but that I have come to pick my foreign partners. He asked what I do for a living; I said I own the company being visited by our technical partners and he said

‘as small as you are?’

“He said okay, find me something. I said I cannot give you anything. So he ordered me to reverse my car and leave. He said I cannot drive in.

“I reversed my car, drove back to the main road and was trekking down to go in when a team of the force men, numbering about eight, pounced on me.”

Otu said his attackers dragged him from there to a point behind their caravan office at the airport and continued the beating, kicking, punching and hitting with their guns, adding it took the intervention of his manager who approached one of the officers before the assault was halted.

He said: “It turned out that my manager knew one of the Air Force officers at the airport. He

ran in to tell him that it was his company’s chairman that was being manhandling.

“That was when the officer came and ordered them to stop and let me go. But before I was left with a battered, bloodied face, N200,000 was taken from my pocket by one of them.”

The victim called on relevant authorities to ensure justice by bringing the culprits to book.

He said: “I know the man who started it all and I know the one that took N200,000 from my pocket. We cannot continue to live in this kind of country.

Justice must be done.”

When contacted, Commanding Officer at the 61 NAF Detachment of the Nigerian Air Force, Warri, Air Commodore, A. D. Dudusola, whose men assaulted the victim, said: “I was not present when it happened, but they said he was rude.

“Why must it be only him?

That is the question that comes to mind. Others came to the airport, identified themselves properly and were allowed in.

“Nobody was touched, so he must have been rude.

“My brother, it is better to face other challenges than to face the worry that somebody came to the airport and blast himself, because it is not always written in somebody’s face. That is the truth.

“We can apologize to him later, but we had to do our job first so that somebody will not create problem for us.”

Police arrest 7 in Edo over PVCs racket

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—TENSION heightened in Edo State, yesterday, as police arrested seven persons at New Benin Market, who were allegedly purchasing Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, from market women.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the state, Mr. Mike Igini, who confirmed the incident to journalists, raised an alarm that politicians were working in collaboration with ICT experts to sabotage efforts of the commission in conducting credible elections.

Igini said: “I received information that some individuals were collecting PVCs from market women in exchange for money after making photocopy of these PVCs at New Benin Market.

“The police acted swiftly and arrested them. They are under-going interrogation.”

A top police officer at New Benin Police Station who craved anonymity, said: “We got the information that people were buying PVCs from market women in New Benin, so we rushed down and saw them offering between N5,000 and N10,000. Seven of them were arrested, while some escaped.”

When contacted, the new State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adegboye, did not pick calls to his phone, but someone, who described himself as his personal assistant, said the CP was on a familiarization tour of divisions in Auchi.

500 ex-primary school teachers lament unpaid N17bn in Oyo

By OLA AJAYI & BUKOLA IFEGBAYI

I

BADAN—OVER 500 retired primary school teachers in Oyo State, yesterday, marched through the streets of Ibadan, protesting unpaid outstanding gratuities and pensions estimated at N17 billion.

The ex-teachers, led by their chairman, Remi Babatunde, took to the streets after their congress held at the Agodi GRA, where they complained that they could no longer bear the hardship occasioned by the unpaid pensions.

The protesters, who acted under the auspices of National Association of Retired Primary School Teachers, said they retired from active service in July 2011, which coincided with assumption of office of the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

They lamented that since then, the present administration had not paid any gratuity to them.

They also dismissed claims that their money was part of the N6.5 billion allegedly looted at Oyo State Local Government Pension Board between October 2010 and April 2011.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Blame Africa’s poverty rate on conflicts —Teneilabe

By Victor Gotevbe & Emmanuel Asuquo

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AGOS — THE Consul General of Nigeria in Atlanta, Ambassador Geoffrey Teneilabe, has said that the current escalation of conflicts in Africa is responsible for the increasing poverty rate in the country.

He specifically noted that conflict does not only breed poverty, adding that it creates insecurity that scares investors away.

Teneilibe, who said this in Pittsburgh regretted that the rise of terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab and Al Qaeda in the Magreb, had constituted a challenge to the fight against poverty in Africa.

He spoke in his capacity as the guest speaker at the first Africa Leadership Series convened by the Pan African Graduate and Professional Student Union of the University of Pittsburgh.

His words: "The rise of terrorist groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria, AlShabaab in Mali and Al Qaeda in the Magreb has equally contributed to the rise of poverty in Africa.

Conflicts do not only breed poverty, they also create insecurity. Similarly, it drives away investors who otherwise would have invested to grow the economy.

"Over the decades, the combination of African States, United Nations Agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, the World Bank, African regional and continental bodies such as African Development Bank, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union as well as philanthropic organisations have individually or collectively fought poverty in Africa.

"Part of the strides to fighting poverty in Africa is the fact that virtually all African countries have undertaken painful p r i v a t i z a t i o n / commercialization exercises at various times with a view to transferring state owned businesses to the private sector for ownership, higher productivity and creation of more employment.”

35 killed as suicide bombers hit Biu, Jos

By Ndahi Marama & Marie-Therese Nanlong, with agency reports

M

AIDUGURI— THIRTYFIVE people were killed when suicide bombers struck in Borno and Plateau States, yesterday.

A suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded bus station in Borno State, killing 17 persons while a second bomber was shot dead before he could detonate his explosives.

In the neighbouring Plateau State, 17 people were also killed when a twin blasts hit two motor parks along Bauchi Road in Jos, the Plateau State capital, yesterday, The blasts were said to have occurred at about 6pm when residents were returning to their houses during the evening rain.

Babagana Kyari, a civilian vigilante in Borno State said: “At least 18 people, including three women, died... and several others were injured” in an account supported by a local resident, Ali Dauda.

The attack happened after two men arrived the Tashar Gandu motor park on the edge of the town in Borno State, where one detonated his explosives among passengers and vendors, onlookers said.

The two men in the latest attack pretended to be traders leaving Biu after business at the main market, which takes place every Thursday and Sunday, said Kyari.

“The two men came as if they were travellers and one of them detonated his explosives in the midst of travellers and petty traders,” the vigilante added.

“But the second man was shot and killed by soldiers before he could pull the trigger.”

Dauda said the scene was cordoned off by soldiers and vigilantes, while they waited the arrival of the police bomb squad to defuse the unexploded explosives on the second attacker.

“His body was abandoned at the scene of the blast which was cordoned off with the hope the explosives would explode by themselves,” he added.

“When the explosives failed to explode after a long wait a mob who gathered near the scene took the risk and sprinkled gasoline on the body and threw fire at it from a distance.

“The body caught fire and exploded without harming anyone.”

In Jos

In Jos, Plateau State, the bombers were said to have taken advantage of the rain to hit their targets but details of the incidents were not yet available as security personnel and other humanitarian agencies were still working to give accurate figure of those affected.

The death toll at the twin blasts which occurred almost simultaneously in two motor parks

along Bauchi road in Jos, the Plateau State capital is yet to be confirmed.

A resident of the area, Umar Awwal said the explosives were thrown from moving vehicles by the bombers who took advantage of the heavy downpour of Thursday evening and the blasts had “claimed many lives and left others seriously injured.”

A junior staff of the University of Jos whose Main Campus along Bauchi road is just a few

meters from the scenes said he heard the first blast at about 6 pm but thought it was thunder as the result of the downpour but the second blast drew residents’ attention that the sound was not that of a thunder.

The staff who did not want to be named added that he counted six bodies but could not confirm the total number of death as he was scared of getting close to security vehicles which were used to evacuate the bodies from the

scenes.

However, the North Central Zone Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency, Mohammed Abdulsalami was unable to give details as he said the agency was working to rescue the survivors.

Media Officer of the Special Task Force, STF, Capt Ikedichi Iweha said his men were still busy “taking care of the aftermath” of the blasts to have authoritative figures.

VISIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (sitting) with Nigerian troops at Baga, Borno State during his visit to North East, yesterday. Photo: NAN

CBN directs banks to close MDAs' revenue accounts

By Babajide Komolafe

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AGOS — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday directed banks to close all revenue accounts belonging to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, of the Federal Government, as mandated under the revenue electronic collection (e-collection) scheme.

This directive was contained in a circular issued to all banks, yesterday, and signed by the Director, Banking and Payments Department of the CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun.

Entitled, "Commencement of Federal Government’s independent revenue ecollection scheme under the Treasury Single Account (TSA) Initiative, the circular stated: “Further to our letter dated January 28, 2015, on the commencement of the Federal Government’s Independent Revenue e-Collection scheme, this is to remind all banks that the Federal Government’s Independent e-Collection scheme has commenced.

“The Federal Government’s Independent Revenue E-

collection Initiative will automate revenue collections of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) directly into the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) account at the CBN through the Remita ecollection platform and other electronic payment channels.

“As previously communicated, your bank branches are required to have been set up and sensitised, and your Internet banking platform configured for use by revenue payers, to make transfers to the Federal Government’s e-collection account in your bank, which will be swept by you to the CRF, as previously agreed with the CBN, OAGF and DMBs. “The office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has issued a treasury circular to all MDAs to close existing revenue accounts in DMBs not later than February 28, 2015 and transfer available funds to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.”

FIRS holds workshop on e-filling Meanwhile, in order to ensure effective take off of the revenue e-collection scheme, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS,

yesterday held a sensitisation workshop on electronic filling (e-filling) of tax returns and e-payment of taxes.

The workshop was organised in collaboration with Nigeria Interbank Settlement System and SystemSpecs Nigeria Limited, owners of the Remita electronic platform.

Executive Chairman of FIRS, Alhaji Kabiru Mashi, explained that FIRS developed the e-filling of tax returns and e-payment of taxes to simplify tax compliance for taxpayers.

He said: “It is the quest for the simplification of tax payments that led the FIRS to roll out the electronic filling service, under the integrated tax administration system.

"The electronic filing system is a self-service system which enables tax payers to electronically file and submit their tax returns along with a c c o m p a n y i n g documentations.

"It serves as a means of reducing time and cost of compliance for tax payers and reduces the interface between the taxpayers and tax authorities."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—9

2015 budget wasteful, frivolous with needless votes — CSOs zSay review can save Nigeria N395.57bn

A

By Michael Eboh

BUJA — A COALITION of civil society organisations under the auspices of Citizens Wealth Platform, CWP, yesterday, warned that the challenges currently facing the Nigeria economy will persist for a long time to come unless the wastage associated with governance and the frivolities, wasteful and unclear expenditures in the 2015 budget presently before the National Assembly are addressed.

Speaking at a briefing in Abuja on the need to restructure the 2015 budget, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, Convener of the CWP and Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, Abuja, said: “We are living in very hard and difficult times; the economic and social fabric of Nigeria is under pressure— declining crude oil prices, reduced demand for our major export commodity, continued export of refined crude petroleum and import of refined products.

“The Naira has taken a bashing and has been devalued twice in the last four months while the budget proposal seems to have been set upon unrealistic and unrealizable oil benchmark.

There are still all manners of frivolities, wasteful and unclear expenditures prevalent in the budget.”

security and non-security documents, maintenance of IT equipment and all manner of consultancy services.

"MDAs ask for a vote for welfare after they have made full provisions for the salaries and remuneration of their staff. Pray, what manner of welfare is this that is not covered by the staff remuneration?

“There are provisions for medical expenses and supplies after full provisions have been made for contributions to the National Health Insurance Scheme. In a period of austerity, MDAs still dedicate millions of Naira to the repair of office furniture. But how much do you need to buy new furniture?

“MDAs demand money for refreshment and meals as if they are running a restaurant chain.

Nigeria still intends to pay pilgrimages against the constitutional bar on adopting state religion. Is there no terminal date for the Amnesty Programme that continues to gulp billion sof naira every year.”

Advises FG to adjust priorities

Onyekpere, however, advised the Federal Government to adjust its priorities and restore the capital budget to not less than 25 per cent of overall expenditure, cut down the recurrent expenditure through

the implementation of recommendations of the Oronsaye Committee and recover the N160 billion stolen by ghost workers.

On the issue of debts and borrowings, Onyekpere advised: “Debts and new loans should only be incurred in accordance with sections 41 to 44 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, FRA. On no account should debts be incurred for recurrent expenditure.

“For improved transparency in debt management, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and the Debt Management Office should consider a collaboration to publish the details of Nigeria’s debts and the projects for which the loans were incurred.”

Review can save Nigeria N395.57bn

Onyekpere disclosed that the 2015 budget is rife with a number of unnecessary expenditures, adding that the country will save N395.574 billion if a review of some of the provisions and elimination of certain unnecessary spending in the budget are undertaken.

He explained that the sum will be saved if the N91.08 billion budgeted for kerosene subsidy is scrapped; if the sums of N732.42 million and N328 budgeted for food and catering and welfare packages in the presidency respectively are reduced; if the N150 billion budgeted for the National Assembly is reduced by half.

Structural challenges

He further highlighted the fact that structural challenges exist with the budget preparation process, stating that the template sent to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, for budget preparation seems to be deficient, as it does not differentiate between MDAs, considering their statutory duties and peculiarities.

He said: “Thus, every MDA must ask for a vote for security services, uniforms, printing of

MEETING: Commander, NNS Beecroft, Olokun, Apapa, Navy Commodore David Ikoli (2nd right); Commissioner of Police, Mr. Cornelius Kayode Aderanti (middle), Commander 9 Mechanised Brigade, Major-General Ahmed Mohammed Sabo (2nd left), Air Commodore, Air Force Base, Ikeja, Commander Lere Osanyintolu (left) and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Major Tunde Panox (ret) (right) after the State Security Council meeting chaired by Governor Babatunde Fashola, at the State House, Ikeja, yesterday.

FG discovers fresh 15,000 ghost pensioners

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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BUJA — THE on-going pensioners verification exercise by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, has revealed 15,000 ghost pensioners, an indication that massive frauds still exist in the Defined Pension Scheme of the Federal Government.

According to the DirectorGeneral of PTAD, Mrs. Nellie Mayshak, who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, yesterday, managing the scheme in the past one year “was very rough” but said her team was determined to give pensioners a new lease of life.

She said there was no alternative to a permanent verification

exercise to be sure that pension was paid to genuine beneficiaries.

Mayshak disclosed that in its efforts to clean up the system, her team felt that the data presented by various pension offices were “too bogus” and that when it started it decided to verify 771 pensioners in the Police Pension, her office discovered that they were only 237, insisting: “We really have to clean up the data.

“We will do verification but we are doing it differently. You don’t need to join queues and under the scorching sun; you don’t need to bring mats and all that.

In fact, you don’t need to come to Abuja. We will come to you.

We treat pensioners with dignity.

“We are on the cutting edge of ICT. You can fill out the

complaint form on the Internet from the comfort of your living room or call our hotline and we will attend to you, promptly, without your travelling to Abuja.”

Mayshak said there was a total of about 350,000 pensioners that needed to be verified in the ongoing exercise.

Addressing the pensioners, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said regular payment of pensions was a priority of the present administration.

She said: “President Goodluck Jonathan shares the feelings of our senior citizens and directed that they be treated with dignity.

Consequently, we had to take actions to make sure that the pains which was associated with pensions does not continue."

CBN denies plot to convert customers' domiciliary accounts deposits to Naira

By Peter Egwuatu

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AGOS — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, refuted allegation of proposed plans to convert domiciliary accounts deposits of banks’ customers to naira.

The Director of C o r p o r a t e Communication, Mr. Ibrahim Mu’azu, in a statement made available to Vanguard said: “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to a malicious rumour purporting that the CBN is planning to convert the Foreign Currency Domiciliary Account Deposits (US Dollars or British Pounds Sterling) of customers in Nigerian banks into Naira.”

According to him, “the CBN wishes to refute this rumour in the strongest possible terms.

This story is categorically and completely untrue and has no basis whatsoever in the bank’s pronouncements or plans. The CBN has never contemplated such an action and has no intention to do so.

“The CBN would like to reiterate that customers who operate domiciliary accounts as well as the general public should disregard this fictitious rumour, and go about their normal businesses.

There is no intention at all to tamper with the Foreign Exchange Currencies in the accounts of customers in our banks.

The CBN recently stated that it will not restrict access and application of funds held in domiciliary accounts in Nigeria. The apex bank also dismissed rumours that it will engage in capital controls or raid the $19.5 billion held by Nigerians in private bank accounts.

10— Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Okoya-Thomas for burial March 6

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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ROUNDTABLE: From left: Mr. Tom Hines, Political Economic Chief, US Consulate, Mr Chuks Odido, Coordinator, Reclaim Naija, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise, Mr Jeffrey Hawkins,US Consul General, Dr Abiola Afolabi, ED,WARDC and Ms Erica Chiusano, Political Officer, at the 2015 Nigerian Elections Observers Roundtable, organised by the US Consulate General in Lagos, yesterday.

OSHODI MAYHEM: No policeman was killed —POLICE L

By Ifeanyi Okolie and Monsuru Olowoopejo

AGOS—THE Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, denied, reports that it lost three of its officers to Wednesday’s crisis between factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Mosafejo, Oshodi area of Lagos State, which left three persons dead, several others injured and over 30 vehicles burnt.

Meanwhile, 18 top executives of the warring NURTW factions, who were arrested in connection with the crisis, were, yesterday, charged to court.

A visibly angry Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, yesterday, visited Oshodi market, scene of the Wednesday crisis.

Mr Aderanti gave a 24-hour ultimatum to one of the factional leaders, Olu Omo, to hand himself over to the Police.

Failure to comply with the directive, the CP threatened that he (Olu Omo) would be declared wanted by the command, advising him in his own interest to report himself to any police division.

He warned that he will not tolerate any act capable of breaching the peace in the state either from motor part touts or any other group under whatever guise.

Also speaking after an emergency State Security Council meeting at the Lagos House, Ikeja, which also had in attendance the commander of the NNS beecroft,

REVERSAL IN TUITION FEES:

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Ikenna Asomba

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AGOS—THE Lagos State Government, has refunded N209 million to the students of the Lagos State University, LASU, following the reversal of the school fees by the state government.

The refund is the money earlier paid in excess by the students in the wake of the hike in the tuition fees before the reversal as directed by the state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola last year. The N209 million is the first tranche of refund.

It will be recalled that Fashola, had on August 7, 2014, during the 19th Convocation of the university, announced a reversal of the school’s tuition fees from as high as N348, 750 to the old rate of N25,000.

On behalf of the state government, some of the cheques were presented to beneficiaries, yesterday, at the LASU Main Auditorium, Ojo, Lagos, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga.

The recipients were 100 level and 200 level direct entry students, while the remaining presentation is scheduled to be

Commodore Teikum Okoli, Commander of the Airforce Base, Ikeja, Commodore Lere Osanyintolu and others, Aderanti noted that only three persons died in the mayhem, while several vehicles were burnt.

According to him, “At least, we have closed in on about 40 of the principal characters and they are in custody. Today (yesterday) alone, we have arraigned 18 of them in court and they are in jail. And tomorrow (Today), we are going to arraign about 17 of them. I am not talking about the foot soldiers. I am talking about the leaders of these people.

“Tomorrow (today), I have given an ultimatum to the leader of one of the factions (Apparently referring to Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya popularly

called Oluomo ). If he refuses to surrender to any of our security agencies, we are going to declare him wanted. And it is going to be between us and him.”

The Police Commissioner described the crisis as saddening, especially as it resulted in loss of innocent lives, saying “In the past two weeks, we have been having challenges within the union’s hierarchy there.

“And Oshodi is such a place we have to be very careful in addressing all the security challenges because it is a major hub where we have people transiting through buses and trains.

Oshodi is not an enclave we can actually tackle. It is not that within five minutes we cannot get things tackled. But it is just that we are looking at the collateral damages."

Lagos refunds N209m to students

made during the second tranche of the refund.

Speaking at the event, Olukoga said: “This symbolic occasion is a further demonstration of the desire of our administration in Lagos State to make education affordable to the children of the poor.

“When Governor Fashola made the pronouncement

during the 19th Convocation of the University, slashing LASU school fees to N25, 000, mischief makers from the opposition party regarded the kind and genuine gesture of the state government as a political statement that will not see the light of the day.

“But today, that pronouncement has become a reality. Our government is not

deceitful as theirs. We are seriously committed to ensuring the well-being of our people in all spheres of human endeavour.

“For the records, the present school fees of LASU is the least in the country, and we are irrevocably committed to its continued infrastructural growth and development regardless of the abysmally low fees.”

Standard procedures were followed during construction of Synagogue Church —Witness

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—THE contractor that handled the collapsed building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, yesterday, said that standard procedures were followed during construction of the structure.

Testifying before Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, the coroner investigating the cause of the collapse church building, Mr Akingbola Fatiregun, who is the

Managing Director of Hardrock Construction and Engineering Ltd, the company that built the collapsed building, insisted that materials supplied by church which included sand, cement, quarry and reinforcement for the construction were of the best quality anywhere in the world.

But under cross-examination

by Lagos State Government’s counsel, Mr Akingbolan Adeniran, the witness admitted that the collapsed building had no permit from the government.

He, however, maintained that

these two factors were not responsible for the collapse because there was no sign of stress in the building before it went down.

Fatiregun in his evidence in chief, said that his company was contracted to supply the manpower and equipment for the six- storey building while the church opted to supply the materials for the building and that the architectural and structural design of the building were done by another firm which supervised the construction of the building by his company.

AGOS—THE remains of the late renowned Lagos based Philanthropist and business mogul, Molade Okoya-Thomas will be finally laid to rest on March 6.

Okoya-Thomas, died on February 1, 2015 aged 79, after a brief illness.

According to the burial arrangements, in the Lagos State University, L ASU official bulletin released yesterday, where the late business mogul deceased was the Chancellor before his death, the late OkoyaThomas is scheduled to be buried at the Vaults and Gardens after the funeral service at the Holy Cross Cathedral on Lagos Island, March 6, 2014.

LASU students will organise a candle light procession and valedictory session for the former Chancellor on March 2.

The Candle Light procession will take off 2:30p.m., from the Students Arcade and terminate at the main auditorium.

There will be service of songs for Okoya-Thomas on March 3, at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, while in the evening of the same day, the Lagos State Government will organise tributes in his honour at the Teslim Balogun Stadium between 4 and 6p.m.

On March 4, there will be

Mrs Victoria Ihenyen for burial

T

HE IHENYEN family has announced the final burial ceremony of their wife/mother, Mrs Victoria Ihenyen.

There will be a Christian wake on Thursday, March 5, at at her residence, 7 Mobee Street, off Command Road, Ipaja Lagos to be followed by lying at same venue.

Funeral service holds at Hortico Garden, 1-9, Hortico Way, Ipaja, Lagos, the following day at 10a.m.

Reception follows at the same venue.

Late Victoria Ihenyen

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 —11

S-West leaders endorse Jonathan zFalae, Mimiko, Adebanjo, others speak

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By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—CHANCES of President Goodluck Jonathan winning the March 28 general election, at least in the South-West were brightened yesterday as notable Yoruba sons and daughters who converged on Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, for a summit jointly endorsed his candidacy.

Their reason for supporting the second term ambition of President Jonathan was informed by the convening of the national conference and promise to implement its recommendations which previous presidents in the country had ignored.

At the summit with the theme, “The national conference, 2015 elections and the Yoruba Nation,'' held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, notable leaders in the zone cast aspersions on MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari (retd), the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, saying the damage he allegedly did to the zone during his tenure as head of state was unforgivable.

Mimiko

Governor Mimiko said: “Today, the Yoruba people have marched out in their large numbers to their political capital, Ibadan to discuss and articulate once more, an issue which for decades, has been considered to be the main agenda for their race. You will recall that for several decades, the Yoruba were at the fore front of the agitation for the convocation of a National Conference. I therefore congratulate the Yoruba Nation and all Nigerians that finally, their dream of coming together to dialogue how they should be governed has come to reality.

“Let me salute President Jonathan for his bold and momentous move as well as his focused leadership which was

demonstrated through his compliance with the agitations by Nigerians to debate their collective future. Convening the 2014 National Conference was indeed a historic assignment that we are proud of and as a people, we must do everything possible to ensure that the Confab recommendations get implemented.

Confab report implementation

“The Confab Report when implemented, will create room for each state to have its own constitution, its own police force, its own prison service, can create its own local governments, can build its own airports, seaports and railways and in addition; in the economic domain, solid

minerals that had been the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government since independence, have now been brought to the concurrent list.

"States can now create employment and develop at their own pace. With all that, it liberates everybody, it opens up the political space,” he said.

Chief Fasoranti and Ayo Adebanjo reiterated their earlier endorsement of President Jonathan saying their decision to support the president was not selfish neither did they align with any political party but for the common interest of Yoruba.

Adebanjo spoke annoyingly against Buhari saying those shouting ‘change’ of leadership in the country were ignorant of the period when the general threw most of them into prisons.

Roll call

The summit which was convened by the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, had in attendance illustrious people in the zone.

Among them were Chief Olu Falae, former Presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy/ All Peoples Party; Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Leader, Afenifere; General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd), leader of the Yoruba Council of Elders; Senator Femi Okurounmu; Otunba Kunle Olajide, former Secretary, YCE; Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun, PDP leader; Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Otunba Gbenga Daniels, former Governor of Ogun State; Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, former governor of Oyo State; Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State; Dr. Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to President Jonathan; Otunba Iyiola Omisore; Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation; and Senator Lekan Balogun, a PDP chieftain.

Also at the meeting were Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Minister of State, FCT; Prof. Wale Oladipo, national secretary of PDP; Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Publicity Secretary, Afenifere; Senator Teslim Folarin, PDP governorship candidate in Oyo State; Otunba Gani Adams, Oodua Peoples Congress national co-ordinator; Prof.

Temitope Alonge, Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, some members of Accord Party and Labour Party among others.

SUMMIT: From left: Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Dr. Doyin Okupe, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo and key note speaker; Prof. Dupe Olatubosun, during the post-national conference summit with the theme, " The National Conference, 2015 Elections and the Yoruba Nation" convened by Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube.

LAUTECH doctors demand paralysed medical activities in refund from Osun govt the hospital.

N150M DEDUCTIONS:

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By Gbenga Olarinoye

SOGBO—THE Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria,MDCAN, Lautech Teaching Hospital chapter, Osogbo is demanding from Osun State Government immediate payment of the four month salaries of health workers in the institution.

The association is also asking the state government to refund deductions from members of associations and cooperatives in the institution running to N150 million.

The association in a letter dated 26th February 2015, signed by its Chairman and General Secretary, Dr. Kazeem Adebayo and Tokunbo

Olajumoke respectively said that lives of members of health and medical workers of the institution are becoming unbearable with lots of hardship.

It would be recalled that health workers in the hospital have since Tuesday embarked on indefinite strike action which has

The association which said its members are still providing skeletal services noted that outstanding issues including pension scheme and unpaid deductions must be paid by the state government to cushion the effect of the hardship being faced by the workers of the institution.

S-West PDP youths raise alarm over alleged buying of PVCs

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — T H E People's Democratic Party, PDP, in South West has raised the alarm over the alleged buying of Permanent Voters' Cards by opposition parties.

The party youth leader in the South West, Micheal Adeniji stated this in Abeokuta, during voters awareness and sensitisation programme organised by the South West Youth Network.

The programme which was attended by youths and women in the state featured some speakers who enlightened the people on who to vote and why they should vote.

Adeniji who was in company of other youth leaders in the South West include; former Special assistant to President Jonathan on Social Development and Special duties, Yusuff Kunle and Omoleye Olabode, urged the people to resist any attempt to disenfranchise them.

He said: "We have been hearing that some people are going around and they are telling you to give them your cards. The cards have chips. They want to invalidate the cards so as to disenfranchise you."

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Why Nigerian women must vote for Jonathan,

by First Lady

By Perez Brisibe

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REROKPE—THE First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has charged women in the country to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stressing that any woman who votes for All Progressives Congress, APC, is an enemy of herself.

Dame Jonathan, at Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, at the PDP Women for Change Initiative Presidential Rally in the state, while applauding the benevolence of the PDP administration to women in the country, cited the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria, YouWin and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SUREP, as some of the empowerment programmes the President Jonathan administration was using to empower women and youths in the country.

She said: “The PDP is a party that talks less and does more, unlike the APC that tells new lies every week. When you catch them today, they will tell another lie tomorrow. We

Delta community endorses Ogboru, Erebi

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—THE people of Olomoro, in Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, under the aegis of Olomoro C o m m u n i t y Development, OCD, have endorsed the governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, Chief Great Ogboru and his running mate, Elder Peter Erebi, in the April 11 election.

The people, in a statement by Chairman of OCD, Warri branch, Chief Fred Okpogbor, said the decision to endorse the duo was unanimous and called on the people of Isoko “to embrace this great opportunity of the choice of our son, Elder Erebi as deputy to Chief Ogboru in the April 11 election.

“When Erebi was President General of Isoko nation, he used his hard-earned money to run the affairs of the union without levying any clan."

(PDP) do not tell you about change because we are not bus conductors that ask for change.

“We are now in a digital age and we should reject anyone who wants to take us back to analog days. They keep saying they will do this and that. They should tell us what they have done for Nigerians while in office. As for President

Jonathan, he has vowed to do more when he is re-elected.

“President Jonathan has brought a lot of innovation and empowerment programmes for us women. This is because no one loves the Nigerian woman more than Mr. President and the best way to pay him back is by re-electing him.”

In his remark, the state

governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, while applauding the developmental achievements of President Jonathan, said: “When someone does well in office, you should return that person to office and that is why all Deltans are prepared to reelect President Jonathan as President, come March 28.”

RALLY: From left: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Prof. Amos Utuama, Deputy Governor and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Peolpes Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, during the Women for Change PDP Campaign Rally in Orerokpe, yesterday.

Binis will vote for Jonathan, says Isekhure

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—CHIEF Priest of Benin Kingdom, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, yesterday, in Benin, Edo State, said that the Binis would vote for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan because the Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa, has endorsed him.

Chief Isekhure also took a swipe at a statement credited to the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, who reportedly said that the Binis would not vote for President Jonathan, insisting that no platform exists that speak for the entirety of the Bini people.

He said: “Anybody pretending to be speaking on behalf of the Bini people on that is just wasting his time.”

Isekhure spoke at his palace when a delegation of the President Goodluck Jonathan re-election campaign group, led by its coordinator, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu,

visited him.

Speaking on the endorsement of the President by the Benin monarch, the All Progressives Congress, APC, stalwart said that Oba Erediauwa did not only endorse President Jonathan but “gave the necessary impetus for Jonathan to run.

“We cannot now turn around and say a new thing. As far as I am concerned, the only candidate I know, despite my political affiliation, is Jonathan.

I will vote for him, even if heaven is going to fall. I don’t need anybody’s permission to vote for him. I will give him my 110 per cent support.”

He said he had travelled

across the South-South geopolitical zone and beyond in 2011 canvassing votes for President Jonathan, adding that he was set to do the same thing now because “Jonathan has done well.”

Isekhure, who was a member of the National Conference last year, said President Jonathan has started a process that will develop the country and not voting for him would be the greatest mistake anyone will make.

PDP scared of PVC, says Oshiomhole

By Simon Ebegbulem

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E N I N — GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was afraid of the use of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in the forthcoming election because the PVC would expose their alleged rigging methods and stop electoral fraud.

Speaking while receiving over 2,000 PDP members, led by Chief Sunny Omokaro, Chairman, Edo State Butchers Association and Chief Peter Osagie, Afesoba of Benin Kingdom, who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, at Government House, Oshiomhole said the use of PVCs will ensure free and credible polls.

He said: “You can see they are running away from card readers like armed robbers running away from police detectives. They hate the card reader.

The elections must hold and the card readers must be used. Electoral fraud must come to an end.

“The Nigerian people must be the masters of their own game, using the one man one vote mantra. Those who have lived on electoral fraud are now being retrenched by the new technology. But let me ask you to watch out because right now, they take advantage of the very people they have impoverished to buy their cards. They can do everything but they cannot stop their defeat."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—13

Jonathan, best for Nigerians, military —AIRHIAVBERE

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—FORMER Commander of the Army Finance Corps and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), yesterday, warned that it would be disastrous for the nation’s economy and even the military, if President Goodluck Jonathan was not re-elected for a second term.

He also dismissed fears by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, that the President intends to use the military to rig the forthcoming general elections, saying: “The Nigerian military has always maintained neutrality, so that allegation is untrue.”

Gen. Airhiavbere pointed out that there were sophisticated military and anti-terror equipment being purchased by President Jonathan to secure the lives of Nigerians, warning that the on-going transformation in the armed forces and in the economy may be truncated if President Jonathan is not reelected.

Airhiavbere, who ran the governorship election in 2012 against Governor Adams

Group canvasses one million votes for Jonathan

By Udeme Clement

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S the new date for the presidential election draws closer, a pressure group, Akpabioism Ambassadors, is canvassing one million votes for President Goodluck Jonathan in Akwa Ibom State, to ensure that Jonathan returns for a second term in office.

In a chat with Vanguard, coordinator of the group, Mr. James Bassey, said that his organisation has mobilised youths and other citizens from all local government areas in the state to ensure they vote massively for Jonathan in the poll.

He said: “We believe in Jonathan’s project and his transformation agenda and will support him to return for policy continuity and sustainable development.

We are sensitising our people, especially on the achievements of Mr. President in agriculture, youth and women empowerment as well as economic transformation."

C M Y K

Oshiomhole under the PDP, told Vanguard that “There are lots of reforms being carried out by this administration in the area of purchase of military hardware for our security and the economy and these are what make a nation great. We need stability and that is why the President should be given another four years to stabilise the nation, the economy and the political

atmosphere.

“Let us not forget that the problems being faced by this administration were as a result of years of neglect both in the military and other areas of our national life. The fact that the President had allowed charlatans freedom in this country does not make him a weak leader. It only makes him a democrat and that is what

Nigeria needs now to grow.

“We have a robust opposition today because he is a democrat and he should be commended and that is why some of us are saying that it will be disastrous for us as a nation not to re-elect Jonathan for a second term so that he can consolidate on his achievements and solidify both the economy and our military with modern equipment."

VISIT: From left: Former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani; Sir Emeka Offor, ABUCCIMA President, Mr Anthony Ejinkonye, Deputy Vice President, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, during a visit by top hierarchy of Abuja Chamber of Commerce to Chrome Group of Companies, in Abuja.

Rivers govt denies allegation of public funds abuse

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS STATE Government has dismissed as untrue, allegations that Governor Rotimi Amaechi abused public funds.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said the government got about N199,286,899,374,40 last year from the federal allocation, adding that borrowing was also done to meet the development programmes of the government for the state.

She said some of the money borrowed had been repaid. The commissioner gave a detailed account of the government's expenditure.

She said: “These debt obligations are not static but constantly reducing as they are repaid. Most of the loans are either already fully repaid or getting to the end of their repayment cycle. The Debt Management Office, DMO, of the Federal Ministry of Finance,

monitors this process.

“It speaks to the high level of fiscal discipline of this administration that the total current loan obligation of the state is less than N23 billion, and nowhere near the amount alleged as outstanding.

However, the government did not borrow N10 billion or any amount whatsoever from

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GT Bank) in 2014. Due to better terms and conditions, the Government of Rivers State entered into a refinancing of the outstanding facility from GT Bank by Fidelity Bank Plc. “It is also important to draw a distinction between drawing on an existing loan facility and obtaining a fresh loan.”

Ex-militant leaders canvass support for Jonathan's re-election

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X-MILITANT leaders from the six states of the South-South region, yesterday called on voters in the country to support the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in view of the numerous achievements of his administration and not the hate campaign embarked upon by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. The ex-militant leaders, under the aegis of Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives, LPCDI, in a statement, said that the ongoing media

campaign against the administration of President Jonathan was filled with hatred and deceit, calling on Nigerian voters to support and re-elect the President based on his achievements in the areas of education, power, infrastructural development and security.

National Coordinator of the group, Pastor Reuben Wilson after a meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, called on voters to shun hate words and violent utterances among the political actors and focus on issues of performance.

Reps condemn Okrika violence

By Gbenga Oke

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EMBERS of the House of Representatives have condemned the violence and attack on the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Okrika, Rivers State.

They also described the assault on APC Rivers State chapter as an attack on the freedom of association and movement.

Speaking during a solidarity visit to the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, leader of the team, Pally Iriase, called on politicians in the state to focus on issues rather than resorting to intimidation and harassment of opponents.

Okowa Campaign Organisation canvasses votes for Jonathan

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KOWA Campaign Organisation has called on youths in Delta State to come out en masse on election days to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP governorship candidate in the state and all PDP candidates.

Speaking to journalists, a member of the Media and Publicity Committee of the organisation, Mr. Kingsley Mordi, urged youths and professionals in Delta State to ensure victory for Senator Okowa and Mrs. Joan Mrakpor for the House of Representatives during the polls.

OUR ERROR

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N our story entitled: Scarcity looms as marketers hoard fuel, published on Wednesday, February 25, 2015, Forte Oil on 21 Road, Festac Town, Lagos, was said to be selling petrol at N100/ litre. We have since found out that this is not the true position.

We regret any embarrassment this might have caused the frontline marketing company. This error is regretted.

14— Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

CAN threatens to pull out of NIREC L

By Sam Eyoboka

AGOS—THE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, may soon pull out of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, established to mediate on the incessant ethno-religious crises in the country The threat to pull out of the body emerged after an emergency meeting by some leaders in the Christian Community who were protesting the shabby and unequal treatment meted to CAN leadership by the co-chair of the Council which had rendered NIREC docile since 2013 despite the rising phenomenon of insurgency in the country.

The protesters accused the leadership of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, of deliberately avoiding meeting with her Christian counterparts because they could not tolerate the gut of the CAN president.

The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, (NIREC), a voluntary association made up of 50 members, (25 Christians and 25 Muslims) was inaugurated on September 29, 1999 by the representatives of the two principal religions—Christianity and Islam in Nigeria.

Feelers emanating from a close inside source revealed that the

inter-religious body established to provide religious leaders and traditional rulers with a veritable platform to promote greater interaction and understanding among the leadership and their followers as well as lay foundations for sustainable peace and religious harmony in Nigeria may be heading for extinction.

A reliable source close to CAN Secretariat in Abuja told reporters yesterday that the 25 Christian members may soon disengage from NIREC as a

result of the disrespectful and shabby treatment meted to the leadership of CAN by the cochair and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

NIREC is co-chaired by the President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor respectively with Professor Is-

haq Oloyede, as its National Coordinator/Executive Secretary.

The source claimed that the last straw that broke the carmels back can be traced to a meeting of NIREC which was scheduled for Abuja on February 9, after about years of silence but was unceremoniously cancelled by the Sultan after Christian leadersincludingan80-year-oldmember had arrived Abuja on February 8.

“Christian leaders from different parts ofthecountryhadflownintoAbujawhere we were supposed to meet only to hear that the meeting has been cancelled,” the source said.

Calls for Mbu's redeployment irrelevant —POLICE

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BUJA—POLICE authorities have described as irrelevant, the calls by some people for the redeployment of the new Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zone 6, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu. Reacting to such calls, Force public Relations officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said, “the call for the redeployment of AIG Mbu is irrelevant, we do not respond to such call. AIG

Mbu is a police officer, a senior officer for that matter.

Postings and re- deployment of police officers is the sole prerogative of police high authorities and not calls from individuals or groups” According to him, “Mbu’s track records have set him apart as an officer who knows his onions and is able to deliver professionally within the ambit of the law coupled with his capability to pull the proverbial chestnut out of the fire.”

It was gathered the Mbu’s posting to zone 6 comprising Lagos and Ogun commands was informed by the police high command’s conviction of his ability to work professionally and achieve result under the most challenging environment not minding whose ox is gored Mbu was said to have supervised the gubernatorial elections in Edo State that brought Adams Oshiomole an APC governor to power for a second term.

NANS backs Jonathan for President

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BUJA—NATIONAL Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, yesterday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as their preferred candidate for the March 28 presidential election.

The National President of NANS, Comrade Tijani Usman made the confirmation at a one-day National Student’s Association Rally in Abuja.

Usman said that the decision to back President Jonathan was borne out of the conviction of the President’s achievements that touched on the lives of the students and youths of the country.

He said: ‘’We are supporting President Jonathan because he is the first president ever to have released about N200 billion at a one full swoop to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASSU, for the overall uplifting and development of the universities. He similarly established more than 24 new universities across the country.

He has also set up 124 Almajiri schools for our brothers in the northern part of country."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 — 15

SUCCOUR FOR IDPs: Team lead NACA/SURE-P free medical outreach for Yobe State, Dr. Aminu Fikin (2nd r) and representative of NACA/SURE-P, Dr. Ibrahim Mamadu and some beneficiaries during NACA/SURE-P free medical outreach at Internally Displaced Persons camp in Yobe, Adamawa State.

POLLS: ‘Jonathan'll win South West'

By Abiodun Alade

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HE President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Coordinator for Obafemi Owode Local Government area of Ogun State, Mr. Adeyinka Kotoye, has said that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will win the majority of votes in the South West, based on his performance and contributions to the growth of the region and the country.

“Jonathan deserved to return, he has done well.

He has improved the transport sector, improved the agriculture sector, aviation sector and he has done so much for the education sector in the country. In the economy sector, he has done well. In many areas, President Jonathan has recorded success,” he said Kotoye said that the region will not fall to the propaganda of the All Progressives Congress,

APC and its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), stressing that the result of the polls will be a shock to the opposition.

“I believe the electorates will decide but I don’t like sounding absolute but Jonathan will win. When people postulate about Tinubu’s influence in the Southwest, I often shudder.

It is very unpredictable on how people will vote.

He added that the media rebranding of Buhari will

CNPP calls for removal of SURE-P task force from Lagos roads

By Olufemi Ajasa

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ONFERENCE of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Lagos State Chapter, has reiterated its call for the removal of Federal Government’s SURE-P Task Force from Lagos roads.

In a statement by its Chairman, Akinola Obadia,

Group endorses Agoda for Senate

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GHELLI—A pressure group in Delta Central, the Urhobo Rennaissance Movement has endorsed Hon. Halims Agoda of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as its preferred choice for the Senate.

In a statement signed by its leaders, Adaigo Ojadonor and Gideon Mukoro, in Ughelli yesterday, the group insisted that Hon. Agoda was undoubtedly the right material to represent the senatorial district in the Senate if Urhoboland is determined to make political progress in an era of uncertainty and C M Y K

have limited influence, especially at the grassroots.

“The media rebranding of Buhari will have limited influence because at the grassroots, people do not use facebook, twitter or watch the television like the elite. ''The APC are using double standard to promote his candidature; in the South, they are projecting Buhari as a pro-Christian while in the North, the slogan is if you vote Jonathan, you are voting a Christian; so why the deceit?''.

fast-paced change.

According to the duo, “Hon. Agoda’s undisputed humility, love for the common man, and commitment to meaningful causes important to the entire Urhobo nation have set him apart, head and shoulders above those currently in the race for the Senate with him from Delta Central.”

The group also canvassed a landslide victory for Agoda across Delta Central on

account of his achievements in the course of his legislative career, which according to it has brought untold pride to his constituents.

CNPP noted that the deployment of the task force officials close to election period was suspicious, and called on the Federal Government to immediately withdraw them.

The group insisted the Lagos State Transport Management Authority was capable of managing traffic on the roads.

CNPP had slammed the Federal Government, last week, for introducing a federal task force in Lagos, few months to elections.

The group maintained that the SURE-P task force which has since taken over traffic control on federal roads in Lagos was causing chaos and unrest.

Part of the statement reads: “We, members of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Lagos State Chapter, hereby totally condemn the introduction of the black uniformed men known as SURE-P Task Force officials to illegally control traffic on Federal Highways in Lagos.

“Their recent clash with LASTMA officials over control of the highways is an attempt to cause chaos within our peaceful state.

16— Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FACES @ 82ND BIRTHDAY OF ALHAJI G.K. ANIMASHAWUN IN SANGO-OTA, OGUN STATE. PHOTOS BY BUNMI AZEEZ.

LECTURE IN HONOUR OF CHIEF RASAK AKANNI OKOYA @ 75 IN LAGOS, YESTERDAY. PHOTOS BY LAMIDI BAMIDELE.

The celebrator, Alhaji Chief G.K. Animashawun (sitting) his wife, Yetunde (8th right); Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (3rd right) with the Animashawuns.

From left; Mrs Sade Okoya; Alhaji Rasak Okoya; Professor Pat Utomi and Otunba Subomi Balogun during the 20th Centre for Values in Leadership CVL lecture themed 'Productivity Growth: The Challenge of Public-Private Partnership held in honour of Chief Rasak Akanni Okoya @ 75 at CVL Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday.

From left: Chief (Mrs) Margaret Shonekan; Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Animashawun, celebrator's wife; Chief Ernest Shonekan, former head of Interim National Government; Chief Femi Asekun and Mrs. Mulika Folawiyo.

From left: Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, former Head of Service, Lagos State; Chief Mrs. Bunmi Anyaoku and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Former Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral at the event.

From left: Olori Titilola Akiolu; Olori Fadeke Akiolu; Chief Yetunde Animashawun; Alhaji Chief G.K. Animashawun, the celebrator ; Olori Kuburat Akiolu and Olori Olanike, Akiolu at the event.

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(RIGHT) Chief Ajibola Ogunsola, f o r m e r Chairman, P u n c h Newspapers and Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande

From left; Otunba Subomi Balogun, Founder, First City Monument Bank, FCMB; Chief Adekunle Ojora and his wife, Ojuolape during the event.

(RIGHT) F r o m r i g h t ; C h i e f Gbenga Obasa; C h i e f (Mrs) Abah Folawiyo and Chief ( M r s ) Ye w a n d e Onileere at the event.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 —17

Positively presidential!

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HATHAM House, a pres tigious independent policy institute in London, engages government, private sector and civil society people in open debates and confidential discussions about issues relating to international affairs.

Chatham House attracts world leaders and premier league analysts from many different fields. And I’ve just watched – via an online live stream - Major-General Muhammadu Buhari addressing a gathering at this distinguished venue.

He looked and sounded positively presidential. He spoke well and his body language was relaxed. He oozed seriousness but also displayed an endearing sense of humour.

He was confident as well as self-deprecating.

And inspiring.

Here was a cool, calm, collected and super-mature man at the peak of his game, a disciplined ex-soldier who has seen and heard it all and is ready to face up to the tough challenge of leading a struggling nation he TRULY loves towards a more ethical, more secure, more respectable and more productive future.

The event was chaired by Sir Richard Gozney, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria between 2004 and 2007. When Gozney was introducing Buhari to the audience, he admiringly referred to Buhari’s legendarily modest lifestyle (which he had personally witnessed, having once paid an official visit to his home).

When Buhari stuck to the talking time that he’d been allotted by the organisers of the event – unlike many VIPs who take delight in rambling on for as long as possible the minute they gain access to a microphone! - Gozney approvingly said that he had known all along that Buhari would stick to the timing deal.

It was obvious that Gozney regarded the General as someone who deserves praise and can be trusted - on some levels at least.

A European journalist friend was there and called me to say that Buhari’s performance C M Y K

impressed him and everyone he’d chatted to after the event.

It has to be said that the ability to impress senior foreigners is a useful attribute for those who want to be Heads of State. When almost everyone who matters outside your country views you with contempt or doubt, wahala dey!

Anyway, my favourite excerpts from Buhari’s speech titled “Prospects for Democratic Consolidation In Africa: Nigeria’s Transition” – include:

Buhari’s speech With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War, democracy became the dominant and most preferred system of government across the globe.

On a personal note, the phased end of the USSR was a turning point for me. It convinced me that change can be brought about without firing a single shot.

The global triumph of democracy has shown that another and a preferable path to change is possible. It is an important lesson I have carried with me since.

Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium. What has

•Major-General Muhammadu Buhari addressing a gathering at Chatham House London been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency. …I have always known about our soldiers: they are capable, well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty in the service of our country.

You all can bear witness to the gallant role of our military in Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in several parts of the world.

But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem. The government has also failed in any effort towards a multi-dimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours to come to our rescue.

Tough on terrorism

He looked and sounded positively presidential; he spoke well and his body language was relaxed; he oozed seriousness but also displayed an endearing sense of humour; he was confident as well as self-deprecating; and inspiring

Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently….We will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas.

Our economy has grown at an average of 7% for about a decade. But it is more of paper growth, a growth that, on account of mismanagement, profligacy and corruption, has not translated to human develop-

ment or shared prosperity.

A development economist once said three questions should be asked about a country’s development: one, what is happening to poverty?

Two, what is happening to unemployment? And three, what is happening to inequality?

The answers to these questions in Nigeria show that the current administration has created two economies in one country, a sorry tale of two nations: one economy for a few who have so much in their tiny island of prosperity; and the other economy for the many who have so little in their vast ocean of misery.

Repositioning of Nigeria’s economy In the face of dwindling revenues, a good place to start the repositioning of Nigeria’s economy is to swiftly tackle two ills that have ballooned under the present administration: waste and corruption. And in doing this, I will, if elected, lead the way, with the force of personal example.

On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my administration.

The institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference.

But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witchhunt. I’m running for President to lead Nigeria to prosperity

and not adversity.

On March 28, Nigeria has a decision to make. To vote for the continuity of failure or to elect progressive change. I believe the people will choose wisely.

Permit me to close this discussion on a personal note. I have heard and read references to me as a former dictator in many respected British newspapers including the well regarded Economist. Let me say…that I take responsibility for whatever happened under my watch…[and that] I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time.

You may ask: why is he doing this? This is a question I ask myself all the time too. And here is my humble answer: because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done, because I still believe that change is possible, this time through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have the capacity and the passion to dream and work for Nigeria…

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

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

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 BY its admission, more than one million permanent voters’ cards have been stolen from the Indepen-dent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which prefaces this story with the trite line that the cards are useless since only their authentic owners could use them. INEC should get wiser as the thefts continue.

There must be a use for stolen PVCs. INEC, to its shame, has not found out. The professionals who break into where the cards are stored, have good reasons to do so, reasons that should interest INEC, if it questions the assumed fidelity of the card.

It is also futile reasoning for INEC to believe that the thieves are interested in voting with these cards.

They have better uses for them. Questions INEC officials should answer include how the movement of the cards is such public information that rogues have them and why the INEC officials entrusted with the cards are not being punished when they are stolen.

Cards have been stolen in Ebonyi, Edo (8,319 in November 2014), Delta (1.3 million over two days in August 2014; 6,000

Wh C Thef ts Whyy PV PVC Thefts Should Bother INEC in January 2015), Rivers (31,000 in January 2015) states – at least the reported cases.

Where else have cards missed and INEC thought nothing of them? In the latest reported incident in Delta State, 6,000 cards, according to INEC, were stolen. The thieves were armed enough to execute their brief.

Today ’s thieves are too sophisticated to waste their time on unprofitable ventures.

INEC, therefore, deceives itself by insisting that stolen cards are useless. It should interrogate the motive of the thieves beyond voting with the cards. Does INEC know

stolen cards could be used to rig the elections? If particular polling units, wards, local government areas or states lose their cards to thieves, would the stolen cards not affect the results? Voters are being denied their rights; all that INEC could say is that it would not reproduce the cards.

It is holding lowly security officials responsible for a massive national task with vast implications that INEC top officials should understand. While INEC has gone digital with its PVCs, thieves have taken the future step of stealing the cards to ensure that those they do not want to vote would not vote.

The matter raises issues with the praises INEC has been heaping on itself. Who takes responsibility for the breach of rights of those who cannot vote because their cards were stolen? If INEC’s biometrics were not a myth, voters whose cards were stolen or unissued should be accredited at the polling booths once their finger prints identify them, but INEC has handed that decision to the almighty card reader, which only recognises PVC-bearing voters.

OPINION

By Israel Akpojaro

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FTER reading the interview of Francis Ehwerido in the Vanguard of ThursdayFebruary 19 2015 on the unending controversy surrounding the Uvwiamughe Declaration (Delta: Where the UPU erred), I could not but conclude that the Delta State governorship race has inadvertently been reduced to a one-horse race, instead of the three-horse race it is expected to be. The race to Unity House, Asaba, was projected by political analysts to be a tough contest given the calibre of the candidates of the three major political parties in the state. Flying the APC flag is Ortega Emerhor, a banker of repute and notable entrepreneur, while Great Ogboru, a dogged politician is running on the platform of the Labour party. Finally, you have PDP’s Ifeanyi Okowa, a popular grassroots mobiliser and distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Senator Okowa is largely perceived to be the front runner not only because of his towering political profile but also because Delta State has been a dominant PDP state since the current democratic dispensation began in 1999. However,pundits had predicted that the 2015 governorship in the state would not be a walk in the park for the PDP and Okowa, given the statures of Ogboru and Emerhor. Ogboru, in particular, was expected to provide a stiff challenge to Okowa taking into consideration his valiant efforts to unseat the incumbent governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, in two separate elections.

But as things currently stand, it does not look like either Ogboru or Emerhor have the vision or ideas to tackle the breadth and depth of

Delta and the Uvwiamughe Declaration challenges that confront Delta State and move it forward. Since their campaigns started, both candidates have been locked in a battle as to who is the authentic Urhobo candidate for the April 11 election - as if they are running for an Urhobo State. The case of Ogboru is particularly sad. Here is a man who truly gave Uduaghan a run for his money and, in two straight elections, won in Oshimili South where the state capital, Asaba, is located. But today, what do we have? Ogboru is desperate to be identified as the Urhobo candidate having been endorsed by the Joe Omene-led UrhoboProgress Union. Talk about falling from Olympian heights, and there you have it!

Meanwhile, a faction of the UPU led by Tuesday Onoge has pitched its tent with Emerhor.

As a Deltan, not an Urhobo, who once saw in Ogboru a man with great leadership potentials for our beloved Delta State, you can imagine my disappointment. Meanwhile, as both candidates bicker over who is the genuine Urhobo candidate, neither has been able to articulate for Deltans his vision, ideas, and requisite experience to govern and change the

It is as if Ogboru and Emerhor think the governorship is theirs for the taking once they get the support of their kinsmen through the UPU

state for the better. Beyond making general and nebulous promises of liberty, justice, and change, both Emerhor and Ogboru have not been able to tell us in concrete terms what plans they have for the economy, job creation, agriculture, and the industrialisation of the state. Even in Delta Central, the home of the Urhobos, the average person on the street knows about Okowa’s promise of Prosperity For All Deltans hinged on his S.M.A.R.T agenda.

It is as if Ogboru and Emerhor think the governorship is theirs for the taking once they get the support of their kinsmen through the UPU. To start with, to be elected governor, a candidate must win by a simple majority vote, in addition to winning in two-thirds of all the local governments. That means that the successful candidate must win in at least 16 out of the 25 local governments in the state.

Currently, Delta North has nine local governments while Delta Central and South each has eight local governments. It is therefore self-evident that to be elected governor, a candidate must have a strong showing across the three senatorial districts and the various ethnic groups. Simply put, neither Ogboru nor Emerhor can become governor with the votes of the Urhobos alone. And going by the 2.2m registered number of votersin the state, Delta Central has 38%, Delta South 34% and Delta North 32%.

From the foregoing, it is surprising - and again disappointing - that Ogboru and Emerhor have paid little attention, if any, to Delta North in theirquest for Unity House.

Meanwhile, Senator Okowa has continued to acquit himself as an astute politician by connecting with major stakeholders and the grassroots across the three senatorial districts.

Like him or not, the distinguished senator has truly distinguished himself as a pan-Deltan and consensus builder. With every passing day, the man is gaining new followers all over the state with his political savvy, focus, and statesman like disposition.

As I listened to Senator Okowa’s speech at the Delta PDP fund raising dinner in Asaba, it was clear to me that the other candidates have missed their lines. “I am driven by my unshakable belief in a united and prosperous Delta state,”Okowa declared. “I am a Deltan at heart; and I believe any person aspiring to lead our people cannot, and should not, present himself as the candidate of a particular ethnic group. We must continue to build bridges of unity and love across one Delta.”

I would only add that if Ogboru and Emerhor insist on running as Urhobo candidates, they will do well to run for State House of Assembly, House of Reps, or even the Senate. The constitution has made ample provision for such parochial ambitions. But the office of the Governor has no room for ethnic champions.

Akpojaro, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Warri.

Delta opinion..21/2/2014

*Mr.Akpojaro, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRAUARY 27, 2015— —19

Election 2015: Before the cookie crumbles

By Clement Udegbe We should not look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dearly brought experience ----- George Washington

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F any one prophesied to APC kingpins of ‘Change’ this time last December, that they would still be involved in planning to win the 2015 elections,by end of February this year, they would have responded with ‘get thee behind me Satan’ to such a prophecy. But as we say in typical pidgin English: 'cunning man die, cunning man buri am'.

The Igbos say that you cannot be taller than me and the same time shorter than me.The APC knows how to and have almost perfected the game of intimidation, shouting, and hounding their victim to accept and cave in to their plans, but the PDP, has mastered the game of fixing situations, and climbing out to prevail. The lesson here is, that rabbit, which the APC has been pursuing all over the place in the cave, the PDP has custody of its children, and better understands the rabbit’s routes in that cave. The essence of these proverbs is to bring home to the APC that it is not enough to shout, harass and

issue threats to win an election, it is better to always let things flow in a peaceful and healthy atmosphere.

In elections 2015, the players may be very skilled , but the people are determined to see that INEC the referee, remains unbiased to the end. After all, this is neither a government of a retired General, who must either win or kill, nor do we have a President who believes in do or die politics. For the first time, in our experience with democracy, we have a President in GEJ, who believes in the right and power of the people to choose their leader, in a free, fair, and nonviolent atmosphere. And with him on the saddle, we seem to be arriving at that point, where the vote of Nigerians will matter and determine the results in elections.

Since the 2011 election that made him our President, he has improved our election culture, reducing violence to minimal levels.

It should be a matter of serious civic and moral responsibility and duty therefore, for us all to ensure that 2015 elections remain free, fair, rigging free, and non-violent to the letter, in order for us all to take a good advantage of the civilized

platform GEJ has provided for credible elections.

Before the 28th March, when the cookie will surely crumble, we must continue to look into our past in order to learn not to repeat bad mistakes and errors we made, so as create in the end, a good culture, of peaceful, and non-violent elections in our beloved country.

The test for APC’s maturity and subsequent qualification for entry into Aso Rock, lies in how they will handle failure in the 2015 elections. This is more so because APC as presently constituted appears in the main, to be a waste bag of the ruling PDP, with mostly renegades, unfaithful and therefore unreliable party carpet crossers and some never do wells from the PDP. Yes, we indeed need positive changes in the way we are

One sure way to goad Nigeria into electoral violence is to keep soldiers out of certain areas where violence will surely take place

governed, but we cannot afford to jump from the frying pan into fire.

We dearly need to tame the monster of corruption in our nation, but we cannot afford to go back to our vomit, neither do we have to cut our nose to spite our face.

Just like a virgin has no business in a maternity ward, APC cannot fight corruption with their list of very corrupt kingpins! Who are they trying to deceive? God forbid!

Before 28th March, GEJ and his teams, need to roll up their sleeves, get to work, and do a good campaign, reaching out to all sections of Nigeria with their appeals, and proofs of what they have done and are promising to do in the next term.

Quickly and within the next three weeks, first, the task to flush Boko Haram from our soil must have to be accomplished conclusively.Our brave, highly skilled, reliable, tried , tested and trusted Military should flush the insurgents first, and leave us thereafter, to get clean wet towels to wipe the faces of weeping opposition men and haters of peace in Nigeria.

Second, all sharp and smart eyes must be on INEC , for nearly scuttling this Presidency, and plunging us into a war, should we have voted on February 14th.

It will be fool hardy to leave INEC to itself now. The twin troubling issues of child voting in the north, and differential methods of distribution of PVCs between the north and the south need to be dealt with real quick. Why

On qualification for national leadership

By Uchenna Nwankwo

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IGERIA'S 2015 Presidential election campaigns are getting murkier and murkier by the day and indeed disappointingly personal and vain. There is too much mudslinging and little or no enlightenment. Currently, loud and mischievous questions are being raised by the ruling party and its agents about Buhari’s qualification to lead the country. If they are not saying that he is too old for the job, they are telling us that Buhari cannot possibly be healthy enough for the task. They even presume to foretell and pronounce on the poor man’s longevity. Writing on the subject in a paid advert in the Daily Sun Newspaper of Friday, 06 February 2015, former Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State declared thus: “All I am saying is that no progressive country of the world … like the US, the UK, etc, have ever elected anybody above 70 years of age since the inception of democracy in their countries”. It is all too bewildering. Surely, the level of obstreperous partisanship in the country is approaching its nadir.

It is as if Buhari himself had some premonition about this turn of event. In his Chairman’s Remarks at the occasion of the 50th Anniversary Lecture of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, University of Ibadan, March 20, 2014, General Muhammadu Buhari made statements that appear targeted at his traducers of today. Commenting on the appropriate age for national leadership, Buhari had this to say: “The topic chosen for today’s lecture: ‘Youth and the Future of Nigerian Politics’ is particularly interesting in view of the recurring public debate, favourite among Nigerian men of letters of the merits of young leaders vis-à-vis old ones.

I suppose this debate will go on and on and the protagonists will likely not accept the other side of the argument. A brief look worldwide in the 20th and 21st centuries at the success of leaders tells us that we should not hold any hard and fast views.

China and Japan post-1945 had a history of very old people managing the affairs of C M Y K

these two great oriental economies. Mao Zedong and Chou En-Lai in their mid-to late seventies laid the foundation for their successor, Deng Xiao Ping to bring one billion people out of poverty into self-sufficiency in food supply and an economy second only to the United States.

For several decades after World War II, Japanese politics restricted the position of prime minister to those between 75 and 80 years old! Considering the Japanese economic miracle it wasn’t such a bad idea.

German post-war recovery and prosperity was led and guided by two old people: Konrad Adenauer who became West German Chancellor at the age of 73 and his Economics minister, G. Erhard.

Another 70+ General Charles de Gaulle led French resurgence after the war. In Britain three old men Churchill, MacMillan and R.A. Butler managed British recovery through the 1950s and 1960s.

In Saudi Arabia the last three kings ascended the throne in their 70s and 80s and see what transformation Saudi Arabians have enjoyed in the last 40 years.

If you think that this achievement is solely due to oil resources take a look at Nigeria and consider what poor use we made of our resources.

Looking at the other side of the argument consider the remarkable achievement of Lee Kuan Yew, a young man in his 30s when he assumed the premiership of Singapore.

Today Singapore is a beacon of efficiency, growth, discipline and prosperity. Or the case of General Suharto of Indonesia whose administration lifted one hundred million of his people from stark poverty to reasonable levels of income and employment. A miracle, if ever there was one.

Consider also the impact of another young man, John F. Kennedy. In 1961 he

A national leader must also have the capacity to deal evenly with all sections of the country

galvanized and kick-started American technological achievement by inspiring oratory which led to [the] landing of a man on the moon and satellite communications which has transformed the whole world.

Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, these cursory recollections from history teach us, I submit, one thing: Ability, competence and skill in politics do not reside in one particular age group. The ideal is to have a mixture of experienced people who will bring their wisdom to bear and young men and women with energy and vigour to cooperatively run an administration.”

How true!

In Nigeria today, there is a new worrisome development in our relations of production.

The Labour Force is being emasculated and marginalised through the payment of poor salaries and casualization by their employers. Even the Banks, the telecommunication (GSM) companies that are raking in trillions of naira from their operations, and many other big businesses in the country are all involved in this new casualization practice and the payment of starvation wages to their workers. Most of our thriving private educational establishments pay as little as N10,000.00 per month per graduate-teacher notwithstanding the huge revenues they extract from their pupils or their sponsors.

Why has the Jonathan administration done nothing to combat these enervating anomalies? How does the APC intend to tackle these problems as well as deal with the massive unemployment situation in the land if elected into power? These are the kind of issues we want the contestants to address in their campaigns.

Of course, it is not expected that political leaders must evolve all the solutions by themselves. But it is the business of political parties and their leaderships to peruse the works of researchers, writers, etc and arm themselves with such ideas, expound their efficacy and apply them in policy formulation and governance. America’s President Nixon ran one of the most outstanding foreign policies in post-World War II US history. But that is partly because

should traditional rulers in the south queue up to pick up their PVCs, while their colleagues in the north are responsible for distributing the PVCs, if not a well-planned rigging method ?

No sacred cows, let INEC be in charge, and do the job they have been paid for by Nigeria. All holes must be plugged now before it becomes too late.

One sure way to goad Nigeria into electoral violence is to keep soldiers out of certain areas where violence will surely take place. In Lagos State for example, many will be discouraged to come out to vote, because of fear of the use of area boys to foment trouble around polling areas, especially in non-indigene dominated areas around Ojo, Ejigbo, Okota, Ajegunle, Amuwo Odofin, to name a few. Soldiers should help in these areas, and in all the states where the President’s campaign team was attacked in the north, including other violence flash points like Rivers , and Ogun States, where anything can happen in March.

Also the INEC Electronic Card Readers need to be double checked for efficiency now, before they are used to derail the elections.

Nigerians still trust and love GEJ, he has no reasons not to come out with a clear victory on the 28th March, except he undoes himself .

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

he brought in a foreign policy guru, Henry Kissinger, on board.

Here, President Jonathan stumbled on a talented engineer, Prof.Barth Nnaji, and brought him in as Minister of Power. For a while, our electricity supply seemed to improve, but then the same Jonathan threw the Professor out over a non-issue.

And the result: all the apparent gains collapsed. This goes to underscore the point that to assemble a good team is the hallmark of good leadership. That, to my mind, is the stuff great leaders are made of. Without the capacity to identify and appoint reliable and competent lieutenants, no leader can excel.

And this appears to be the real problem with the Jonathan administration!

A national leader must also have the capacity to deal evenly with all sections of the country. I am not particularly impressed with the half tenure (2011 2013) capital expenditure patternof the Jonathan administration which I understand shows that it spent a whopping N497 Billion on projects located in the North-central zone; N296 Billion in the Northwest; N216 Billion in the Southwest; N212 Billion in the South-south, not including what is spent by the Niger-Delta Ministry as well as money spent for servicing Amnesty in the region; N116 Billion in the Northeast and, lo and behold, N74 Billion in the Southeast.

Secondly, the Jonathan administration proposes to construct a Second Niger Bridge billed to cost N117 Billion through a Public Private Partnership, with the Federal Government contributing a paltry N30 billion naira while the contractors will raise the rest of the fund and thereafter collect a 25-year toll tax from its users.

The Jonathan administration says it set out to construct two new bridges, across the River Niger and River Benue. These are the Loko-Oweto Bridge linking Nasarawa and Benue States, which is progressing satisfactorily, and the 2nd Niger Bridge, connecting Anambra and Delta States. It is worthy to note that the other bridge is being constructed without any PPP and without any toll tax on the users. My question is: Why the discriminatory attitude?

•Mr. Oke, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition Being a paper presented by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). at Chatham House, London, yesterday

By Muhammadu Buhari

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ERMIT me to start by thanking Chatham House for the invitation to talk about this important topic at this crucial time. When speaking about Nigeria overseas, I normally prefer to be my country’s public relations and marketing officer, extolling her virtues and hoping to attract investments and tourists. But as we all know, Nigeria is now battling with many challenges, and if I refer to them, I do so only to impress on our friends in the United Kingdom that we are quite aware of our shortcomings and are doing our best to address them.

The 2015 general election in Nigeria is generating a lot of interests within and outside the country. This is understandable.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, is at a defining moment, a moment that has great implications beyond the democratic project and beyond the borders of my dear country.

So let me say upfront that the global interest in Nigeria’s landmark election is not misplaced at all and indeed should be commended; for this is an election that has serious

been aptly captured as the triumph of democracy and the ‘most pre-eminent political idea of our time.’ On a personal note, the phased end of the USSR was a turning point for me. It convinced me that change can be brought about without firing a single shot.

As you all know, I had been a military head of state in Nigeria for twenty months. We intervened because we were unhappy with the state of affairs in our country.

We wanted to arrest the drift. Driven by patriotism, influenced by the prevalence and popularity of such drastic measures all over Africa and elsewhere, we fought our way to power.

Preferable path to change

But the global triumph of democracy has shown that another and a preferable path to change is possible. It is an important lesson I have carried with me since, and a lesson that is not lost on the African continent. In the last two decades, democracy has grown strong roots in Africa. Elections, once so rare, are now so commonplace. As at the time I was a military head of state between 1983 and 1985, only four African countries held regular multi-party elections. But the number of electoral democracies in Africa, according to Freedom House, jumped to 10 in 1992/1993 then to 18 in 1994/1995 and to 24 in 2005/2006. According to the New York Times, 42 of the 48 countries in GEN. MUHAMMADU BUHARI s u b import for the world. I urge the Saharan Africa conducted international community to multi-party elections continue to focus on Nigeria between 1990 and 2002. at this very critical moment.

The newspaper also reported Given increasing global that between 2000 and 2002, linkages, it is in our collective ruling parties in four African interests that the postponed countries (Senegal, Mauritius, elections should hold on the Ghana and Mali) peacefully rescheduled dates; that handed over power to victorious they should be free and opposition parties. In addition, fair; that their outcomes should the proportion of African be respected by all parties; and countries categorized as that any form of extension, not free by Freedom under whichever guise, is House declined from 59% in unconstitutional and will not be 1983 to 35% in 2003. Without tolerated. doubt, Africa has been part of With the fall of the Berlin Wall the current global wave of in 1989, the dissolution of the democratisation.

USSR in 1991, the collapse of But the growth of democracy communism and the end of the on the continent has been Cold War, democracy became the uneven. According to Freedom dominant and most preferred House, the number of electoral system of government across the democracies in Africa slipped globe. That global transition has from 24 in 2007/2008 to 19 in

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Map of Nigeria 2011/2012; while the percentage of countries categorised as ‘not free’ assuming for the sake of argument that we accept their definition of “free” increased from 35% in 2003 to 41% in 2013.

Also, there have been some reversals at different times in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, GuineaBissau, Lesotho, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania and Togo. We can choose to look at the glass of democracy in Africa as either half full or half empty.

While you can’t have representative democracy without elections, it is equally important to look at the quality of the elections and to remember that mere elections do not democracy make. It is globally agreed that democracy is not an event, but a journey. And that the destination of that journey is democratic consolidation - that state where democracy has become so rooted and so routine and widely accepted by all actors.

With this important destination in mind, it is clear that though many African countries now hold regular elections, very few of them have consolidated the

Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy

practice of democracy. It is important to also state at this point that just as with elections, a consolidated democracy cannot be an end by itself. I will argue that it is not enough to hold a series of elections or even to peacefully alternate power among parties.

It is much more important that the promise of democracy goes beyond just allowing people to freely choose their leaders.

It is much more important that democracy should deliver on the promise of choice, of freedoms, of security of lives and property, of transparency and accountability, of rule of law, of good governance and of shared prosperity. It is very important that the promise embedded in the concept of democracy, the promise of a better life for the generality of the people, is not delivered in the breach.

Sign of progress Now, let me quickly turn to Nigeria. As you all know, Nigeria’s fourth republic is in its 16t h year and this general election will be the fifth in a row. This is a major sign of progress for us, given that our first republic lasted five years and three months, the second republic ended after four years and two months and the third republic was a stillbirth. However, longevity is not the only reason why everyone is so interested in this election.

The major difference this time around is that for the very first time since transition to civil rule in 1999, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing its stiffest opposition so far from our party the All Progressives Congress (APC). We once had about 50 political parties, but with no real competition. Now Nigeria is transitioning from a dominant party system to a competitive electoral polity, which is a major marker on the road to democratic consolidation.

As you know, peaceful

alternation of power through competitive elections have happened in Ghana, Senegal, Malawi and Mauritius in recent times. The prospects of democratic consolidation in Africa will be further brightened when that eventually happens in Nigeria.

But there are other reasons why Nigerians and the whole world are intensely focussed on this year’s elections, chief of which is that the elections are holding in the shadow of huge security, economic and social uncertainties in Africa’s most populous country and largest economy. O n insecurity, there is a genuine cause for worry, both within and outside Nigeria. Apart from the civil war era, at no other time in our history has Nigeria been this insecure.

Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium. What has been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency. I, as a retired general and a former head of state, have always known about our soldiers: they are capable, well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty in the service of our country.

Gallant role of our military You all can bear witness to the gallant role of our military in Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in several parts of the world. But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem.

The government has also failed in any effort towards a multidimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours to come to our rescue.

Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunition to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas. We will always act on time and not allow

Continues on page 49

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 —21

By Godwin Oritse & Godfrey Bivbere

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ARITIME lawyers are divided over the refusal of terminal operators to obey the ruling of Justice C.N Buba ruling of December 17th2014 asking the concessionaires to stop the collection of unapproved port charges and refund over N150billion illegally collected from port users in the last three months.

While some of the legal luminaries are in support of the judgment saying that the terminal operators must obey the ruling even as they have appealed the case, others are of the opinion that the concessionaires are not bound by the ruling and asked the general public to ignore any move by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to compel the terminal operators to make refund and stop the collection of illegal charges.

A leading maritime lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Chidi Ilogu has said that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) cannot execute the judgment delivered in its favour against members of the Association of Shipping Line Agencies (ASLA) on Shipping Line Agency Charges (SLAC) yet because of a pending appeal.

Ilogu, who is the Counsel to ASLA said that members of the association, being dissatisfied with the Federal High Court judgment delivered on 17th December 2014 by Justice Ibrahim Buba, immediately filed a ‘Notice of Appeal’ challenging the entire judgment of the lower court.

He said the judgment is being appealed on the grounds that the NSC cannot perform economic regulatory role at the ports in Nigeria pursuant to a presidential directive which is inconsistent with the extant laws of the country including the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act and regulations

$139.85

0.10

$3,037.00

-45.00

$14.02

0.23

CURRENCY

BUYING

DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

197 319.7507 260.7295 216.8648 2.4393 0.3228 279.2976 31. 2174 52. 5263 35.5263 278.0852

$60.37

1.71

$50.24

0.96

From left: President of MAN, Dr Frank Jacobs; MD, Nigeria Gas and Steel Ltd , Chief Hasib Moukarim; Chairman, MAN, Prince Felix Okoji and Deputy Chairman of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, during a courtesy visit to Nigeria Gas and Steel Ltd (NGSL) in Oregun Industrial Area, Ikeja.

Maritime lawyers divided over port charges made pursuant thereto; that the purported economic regulatory functions are ultra vires the powers of the NSC as presently stipulated under the enabling Act which has not been amended; and that the purported presidential directive, being inconsistent with the NSC Act, is null and void and of no effect.

“In addition to the said Notice of Appeal, the Plaintiffs filed an application for a Stay of Execution and/or Injunction Pending Appeal.

“It is a trite principle of law as established in a plethora of cases that where an appeal Is pending and the applicant has applied for a Stay of Execution of the Judgment appealed against, the parties to the appeal are enjoined to maintain the status quo – being the subsisting position before the judgment of the lower Court,” Ilogu stated.

A former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, disagreed with the above position stressing that the mere fact that there is a pending application for stay and an appeal does not remove the effect of the judgment.

Agbakoba, stated that “Our position is supported by Supreme Court decision in Okafor v. Nnaife[1987] 4

CENTRAL 197.5 320.5623 261.3913 217.4152 2.4455 0.3328 280.0 065 31.2971 52.6596 35.1317 278.791

198 321.3738 262.053 217.9657 2.4517 0.3428 280.7154 31. 3768 52.793 35.2207 279.4968

CBN Exchange Rate as at 26/2/15

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VISIT:

The essence of the judgment obtained by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is for the overall general good of the Nigerian Economy

NWLR (P. 64) 126 at 138, the Court held that it will be unfair to allow a losing Defendant “to continue cutting down and selling economic trees on the land”adjudged by the trial court not to belong to them simply because of a pending application for stay of execution and an appeal.

“The essence of the judgment

obtained by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is for the overall general good of the Nigerian Economy. It is to stabilize prices and ensure more cargo into Nigerian Ports and stem the yearly loss of over N2 Trillion potential revenue to the Nigerian government caused by excessive and illegal port charges by Terminal Operators” he noted.

FG contracts must involve indigenous freight forwarding component — NCT Godfrey Bivbere

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he National Council on Transport, NCT has said that the freight forwarding components of all government contracts must be handled by indigenous operators.

The council took this decision at its last meeting following the recommendation of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN. The council comprises Minister of Transport, the Permanent Secretary, Commissioners for Transport and their Permanent Secretaries at the state level as well as the heads of transport related institutions across the country.

Disclosing this in Lagos over the weekend, Registrar of CRFFN, Mike Jukwe, said the decision was taken to empower local operators. He explained that the implementation of the decision will help protect the economy as well as provide security for the country by ensuring that dangerous goods do not find their way into Nigeria unchecked.

According to him, “The National Council on Transport has insisted that all federal government contracts that have freight forwarding components in line with the local content policy should be handled by Nigerian freight forwarders.

“We are also going to insist that this

provision of the resolution of the NCT is implemented to the latter . And let me tell you why foreign companies do freight forwarding in Nigeria, it is because of the aspect of door to door.

Door to door is involved in any freight forwarding business. For instance a shipper in Europe that has a subsidiary in Nigeria that is into freight forwarding, will prefer that the company carries out the business of freight forwarding on their behalf.

“By selling Door to Door, there is a prepared agreement where the freight forwarding component is also embedded in the contract. We will work on that because in Nigeria we hardly do most of the Door to Door. With the Door to Door, they are taking the business away from us.

“So it is for us to fight and agree that the component is not included in any agreement Nigerians are signing with their foreign shippers. That should be left out, so that when the cargo comes in, it will be cleared locally. In our own regulations, for a foreign company to operate in Nigeria as a freight forwarder, one of the conditions is that the Chief Executive Officer, CEO or the Chief Operating Officer, COO must be a Nigerian and we will enforce it,” he concluded.

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

…Briefs…

IOSCO elects Gwarzo as AMERC chairman

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AWARD: From left: Dr. Nnamdi Bolu, Corporate Strategy Associate, Arik Air; Group Chief Executive Officer, Arik Air, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide and Managing Director, Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue during the Air Star awards ceremony held at Arik corporate headquarters, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Nigeria, UK partner to boost capital market activity, diversification Stories by Peter Egwuatu

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OISED to strengthen economic cooperation, promote mutual development and trade between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, has disclosed renewed interest by the British government to help Nigeria in its diversification drive to boost the economy and the capital market.

The British High Commissioner after a meeting with the President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede in Lagos disclosed this to select journalists, saying British government has huge interest in the stability, diversification of the economy, security, development and prosperity of Nigeria.

According to him, the agents of the commercial interest in Nigeria are the British companies and British investors.

He said “So, what we are interested in doing as a government is to encourage our companies to look at Nigeria and helping them with access to the market.

Mutual access “In addition to this initiative on capital market which is about increasing mutual access to resources and financial instruments, we are looking also at a broader Nigerian economy. We have particular interest in well-established industries here like in the oil and gas and many other smaller companies in Nigeria.

“We have legacy companies here in Nigeria such as PZ Cussons, Guinness Nigeria, Glaxosmithkline and others. What is new is that we are expanding the nature of our involvement and interest in the Nigerian economy, particularly in valueadding service areas. The financial service sector speaks for itself. Lagos is actually

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the capital and there is increasing financial services activities.”

In addition, he disclosed that the UK investors are considering investing in the Nigerian education sector. “Nigerians have interest in British educational standards and syllabuses and what has been the case has been either distance

learning or Nigerian students going to the UK. But we like a reverse flow.

On his part, Aig-Imoukhuede said the meeting was important because the initiative was launched at a time when global factors and forces had influenced the movement of capital flows.

Flobal Trust pledges to provide beneficial financial products

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lobal Trust Limited has pledged to provide meaningful financial services and products that will help individuals and companies achieve their respective objectives.

The former Regional Head, Public Sector, South-South and South-East for Ecobank Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Abayomi Adeyeri, who assumed office as the Chief Marketing Officer of Flobal Trust Limited made the promise in Lagos.

Adeyeri said his focus at Flobal Trust would be to deepen the bouquet of bespoke products and services that could help to further unlock the immense potential of the Nigerian economy. According to him, by providing individual and institutional clients with amenable financial options, advisory services, planning and supportive capacity building, Flobal Trust will take more Nigerian companies and individuals

Adeyeri brings considerable experience, especially in strategies and marketing to his new job

to higher levels.

He outlined that Flobal Trust is designed and well structured to serve as a one-stop financial service centre for capital and money market transactions, corporate finance, financial planning, general advisory services and capacity building.

Adeyeri, who holds an MBA in marketing, voluntarily resigned recently from Ecobank Nigeria to settle into his new role as the chief marketing officer of Flobal Trust Limited. Until his retirement, he was in charge of the bank’s public sector business in the entire 11 states in South-South and South-East directorate. He was responsible for providing excellent leadership and strategies that ensured that the bank remained competitive in the business unit.

Adeyeri brings considerable experience, especially in strategies and marketing to his new job. He joined Ecobank Nigeria as head of marketing in 2004 in the course of an illustrious nearly two decades banking experience that spanned Ecobank, Diamond Bank and Prudent Bank. At every point, he had been credited with many milestones.

HE Acting (Ag) Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo has been elected as Chairman of the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). The election took place at the on-going Annual meeting/conference of the regional body in Muscat, Oman and is to run for two years.

By this election, Gwarzo is to serve on the Executive Committee of IOSCO, the highest decision making organ of the global securities regulatory organization for the next two years.

IOSCO is recognized as the leading international policy forum for securities regulators. The organisation’s membership regulates more than 95% of the world’s securities markets in over 100 jurisdictions and its membership is steadly growing.

In his acceptance speech, Gwarzo appreciated AMERC members for the vote of confidence on him and stated that his election was a further commitment of AMERC to build on the foundations laid in advancing IOSCO and AMERC.

Access Bank fêtes customers on Valentine’s Day

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ccess Bank Plc has been commended for its display of affection during the Valentine’s Day celebration. In line with the bank’s aspiration to build a long-standing relationship with its customers, the bank introduced a campaign whereby several customers were given Valentine’s Day gifts.

The Campaign which was tagged #LoveAll250 was aimed at celebrating unity in diversity. Taking into cognizance that there are over 250 languages in Nigeria, the campaign particularly focused on breaking down language and cultural barriers through the promotion of love, peace and unity.

Speaking on how the campaign was successfully organized, Head of Strategic Brand Management, Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi, said #LoveAll250 which ran for two weeks from February 2 – 15 was aimed at celebrating Nigeria’s unity in diversity.

According to him, the campaign involved social media fans winning gifts on behalf of their nominees and coming from the angle that love could be expressed in more than 250 ways.

Social media fans were asked to express love in their own ways by posting pictures that speak love. They were also required to nominate a special person who should get gifts from the bank.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 — 23

IT is believed that smallholder farmers can become the bedrock of food security in Africa, provided they can access the essential ingredients of modern agriculture like quality seed of improved crop varieties.

One of the leading African seed companies that have hit the 10,000 seed production mark is Maslaha Seeds based in Zamfara State. The company that started humbly in 2007 producing about 600 metric tonnes of seeds, but with technical skills through consultancy and trainings from Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the company has changed the lives of many smallholder farmers.

The Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdullahi, a trained Accountant that once worked with the Bureau of Privatization Enterprise (BPE) before setting up the company, talks on the seed industry in Nigeria in this chat with JIMOH BABATUNDE.

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N the role of research institutions in seed production They have a very vital role to play. The research institutions have lots to do not only in Nigeria but everywhere. Seed is a technology and it is a product of research, you can’t produce seeds without research and these institutions are always engaged in how to improve on existing varieties or they develop new varieties.

There are lots of challenges in getting quality seeds in terms of drought, weather, pests and diseases, and these things keep changing and it depends on the situations. So the research institutes have to be there and they have to keep working day in day out in order to address existing challenges and upcoming ones.

Research institutes So, the research institutes have very important roles to play. They develop seed varieties, test and continue to test. It takes time for the varieties to see the light of the day. And even when it is registered and released it takes time for it to be commercialized, because most of the seed companies now dont take commercial business just like that.

They subject the new varieties to number of tests before they go into large scale commercial production.

On technology dissemination in Nigeria In seed technology dissemination, we have a long way to go in Nigeria, the government has tried, but the problem in Nigeria has to do with the death of our ADPs. The ADPs need to be reactivated. They are not the ADPs that we used to know. This has greatly affected dissemination in Nigeria, so if you

Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, engaging with dry season farmers during the tour of Magaga irrigation scheme at Gwarzo local government, on Friday. The irrigation scheme was named after Akinwumi Adesina during the minister’s visit

Research institutions important to agriculture growth — Maslaha seeds boss Ibrahim

look at the way things are done now they are not encouraging.

The information dissemination is now done by the private sector or some public intervention from time to time on some projects.

The way things are done now cannot sustain us, so if we want to do something in a sustainable way, we really need to invest heavily in seed dissemination.

I think the transformation agenda is trying to do something in that regards as the minister has established a full fledged department for extension services. This is good and when it is fully operational it will be of great service.

On why African Development Projects (ADPs) are moribund It has to do with funding. Those days when the ADPs were ADPs, they were funded by the World Bank.

important. Though Nigeria is nowhere near the call for 10% budget allocation to agriculture, but we really need to improve.

Maybe when we get to that 10% there will be something for extension services in Nigeria.

On role of biotechnology in Nigeria You see seed production is technology and biotechnology is science. For example we just developed a cowpea that is resistant to maruca which has been a serious problem for cowpea not only in Nigeria but everywhere cowpea is grown.

Farmers have been spending

Fed College of Agriculture, Akure gets grants on cassava processing

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Government interventions But today, when the projects are funded by the government interventions , there are problems, because it shows that the government is not really funding the extension but the World Bank and when the World Bank left, the whole thing collapsed.

The government is only maintaining salaries for the staff there, but the money to really carry out the function is not there as there is no budget for extension work.

This issue of voting money into agriculture as called for by AU in the Maputo declaration is very

lots of money spraying their farms five to ten times and at the end of the day the maruca disease will still destroy the crops.

But now through biotechnology process they have developed a cowpea variety that is resistance to that. You don’t have to spray five to ten times. I think when farmers get this new variety they will be happy.

I will say there is need for strong regulation on biotechnology because of issues surrounding it, so there is need for bio safety regulation in Nigeria before we get into it; it is about assuring people about their safety. When I

say regulation, I mean strong institution in Nigeria that will monitor, that this thing is safe.

Biotechnology is different to GMO, they are but increase in knowledge but we need not close our doors, but we should invest in setting up the institutions and strong regulations that will save guards Nigerians of the safety of this thing.

If we don’t close our doors to this technology it will create jobs like the telecommunication sector too. All we need is strong government regulations. The fear of most seeds companies in Nigeria is that when GMOs are allowed into Nigeria that they will lose their businesses, but I don’t think that way. I am open minded.

I believe in changes and where ever you see changes, you adjust and move along. If you don’t move with changes you are doomed.

The fear by most of the local seed companies not only in Nigeria but Africa about GMOs should not be the case, but my concern is about the safety of it for the local people who don’t have the knowledge.

So the government should be there to save guard the people.

On how the GES has helped the seed business in Nigeria The Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) of the federal government has facilitated the growth of seed system in Nigeria.

The seed system before now has been very problematic in the sense that this kind of synergy and linkage was not there so to say between the seed companies, the agro dealers and the farmers.

There has been that kind of stand alone attitude of working individually. So one of the positive things this GES has done is establishing that linkage and system. Now I can tell you that in Nigeria we have what we can call a seed system.

In related components that when we produce seeds we deliver to agro dealers and agro dealers get it delivered to farmers. This is a very good thing that has happened.

I will say there is need for strong regulation on biotechnology because of issues surrounding it, so there is need for bio safety regulation in Nigeria

he Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Phase II (CAVA II) grant has been awarded to Federal College of Agriculture, Akure by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

The purpose of the grant is to help 200,000 smallholder farmers to sell two million tonnes of cassava roots to make processed products such as high quality cassava flour, chips for animal feed and cassava starch in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

With the grant, the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure is expected to work with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and a host of other partners including Ondo State cassava value chain

actors to meet the poverty reduction creed of the project.

In his reaction to this development, the Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina said that the choice of the College is informed by its relevance in the cassava sector and its commitment to providing world class leadership in value chain activities and development in Nigeria.

The College is also expected to partner with current effort of the Team on Cassava Value addition (HQCF and other traditional cassava value chain) of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Foreigners in freight forwarding cause N100m capital flight, security risk

By Godfrey Bivbere

T

HE involvement of foreigners in the freight forwarding business is costing the nation capital flight of over N100 million annually and exposing the nation to influx of unwanted cargo, Managing Director of Tentpeg Communication network Limited, Goddy Oghenejakpor, has said. Oghenejakpor who spoke with Vanguard in Lagos, explained that foreign companies which are involved in freight forwarding business handle the biggest jobs in the industry as their foreign counterparts would not want to deal with indigenous operators.

He pointed out that these companies end up repatriating their income back to their countries, whereas the Nigerian freight forwarder will reinvest such funds in the economy. He noted that a situation where foreign outfits handle shipment and clearance of consignments in “Door to Door” operations creates room to unwanted cargoes to come into the country unchecked.

Similarly, National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Olayiwola Shittu, condemned the involvement of foreigners in the freight forwarding business, stressing that the Federal government should be more concerned about the security implication of their involvement to the economic implication.

According to Shittu, “It is not even a matter of loss; it is a matter of national security, our economy is in foreign hands, that is what it translates to. When a man ships and the same man has an affiliate company in the country that comes to clear the goods, there will always be cover up.

“I want to tell you that is where Panalpina ruined Nigeria before the American government helped to push them out. That is what they have been doing, we have cried out about the danger but no one seems to be listening.

I see no reason why Customs should give license to foreigners, it does not make sense.

“But then you know that some of our big men are fronts to those foreign companies that is why when you go to their Article of Memorandum, AoM, you will not see any “Oyibo man”, foreigner but when it comes to operations, you see them everywhere. Look at the shipping companies, the

foreigners come in as foreign staff, by the time they get there, they now settle down.

“There must be a deliberate government’s policy and I see government hand in the covering up and we know that it is not good for the country,” he stated.On his part, the registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, Mike Jukwe, blamed “Door to Door” operation

Shippers’ council is being economical with the truth — STOAN

By Godwin Oritse

C

BRIEFING: From left: Callistus Obi, Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services; Patrick Akpobolokemi, Director-General; and Ezekiel Bala Agaba, Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development; all of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); at a pess conference, in Lagos.

Personnel crisis hits NPA as GMs, AGMs retire en-mass

BY Godwin Oritse

T

HERE are indications that the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, will suffer a crisis in the quality of its personnel as about 15 General Managers and Assistant Managers are due for retirement based on the Government policy of a Director not exceeding eight years.

As these experienced hands take their leave from the port

authority, the management is currently in a quandary as to how to replace these retired officers.

Besides the retirement of these officers, some Assistant General Managers are also due for retirement in the next few weeks.

Some of the retiring officers include Mohammed Bulangu, in charge of Marine and Operation, Mrs. Adenike Sonaike and Sunny Wobi left the NPA as General Managers

Retirement in NPA is a normal exercise, there was nothing special about their exit.

Illya obviously does not see the implication of the retirement of this large number of General Managers leaving at the same time C M Y K

for the involvement of foreigners in the business.

Jukwe noted that Nigerians are hardly involved in “Door to Door” and therefore leave that aspect of the business to foreigners because of the collaboration between the foreign freight forwarding company here and their counterparts abroad.

According to him, “We will work on that because in Nigeria we hardly do most of the door to

door. With the door to door, they are taking the business away from us.

“So it is for us to fight and agree that that component is not included in any agreement Nigerians are signing with their foreign shippers out there. That should be left out, so that when the cargo comes in, it will be cleared locally. In our own regulations, for a foreign company to operate in Nigeria as a freight forwarder, one of the conditions is that the Chief Executive Officer, CEO or the Chief Operating Officer, COO must be a Nigerian and we will enforce it,” he concluded.

in charge of the Western and Eastern zones respectiviely, Chris Okonji, General Manager, Finance.

Others are Nasiru Kuliya, General Manager, Audit and Abba Rufai Umar, General Manager Human Resources and Obiageli Anubi, Secretary to Board and General Manager in the legal department of the port Authority.

The departure of these workers of the NPA, has definitely put the authority in a crisis situation as most of the officesses vacated by these senior staff are yet to be filled.

Speaking to Vanguard on the development, the Public Relation Manager of the Authority, Musa Illya, an Assistant General Manager said that retirement in NPA is a normal exercise adding that there was nothing special about their exit.

Illya obviously does not see the implication of the retirement of this large number of General Managers leaving at the same time.

OUNSEL to the Seaport Terminal Operators’ Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Mr. Femi Atoyebi (SAN) has said that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council was being economical with the truth regarding the recent court judgment barring terminal operators from collecting unapproved charges from port users. Atoyebi said that recent publication where the Council itemized about nine issues purportedly decided in its favour” in the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba on th 17 December 2014 was misleading.

In a statement, Atoyebi said that contrary to its claim in the said publication, NSC did not file any counter-claim in the matter relating to STOAN in suit number FHC/L/CS/1704/2014 and so the court could not have upheld same as claimed by NSC in the said publication.

“Secondly, the publication deliberately concealed the fact that the said judgment is subject of a pending appeal and that our clients also filed an application for a stay of execution of the judgment/injunction pending the determination of the appeal,” Atoyebi stated.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said that his firm had cause in the past to write to the NSC “when it was apparent that they were making frantic efforts to ride rough shod of the judicial process” and threatening his clients to comply with their directives as from 22nd December 2014.

The action of the NSC, he said, is not only illegal but unacceptable and cloaked attempts to foist upon the Court of Appeal a situation of complete helplessness “so that if our clients’ appeal succeeds, their lordships’ decision would have been rendered nugatory.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 — 25

O

n why he chose to be come a chef It’s primarily because I love food and I have passion for cooking. Also, cooking runs in our family as my father was an accomplished baker.

On his training I started my kitchen profession as a Trainee with Transcorp Hilton and went further to do my Kitchen management course with The Hague Hilton University. I am currently a Chef de Partie at the Transcorp Hilton kitchen, that is number four in the hotel’s Kitchen hierarchy.

I have also been to a few places to acquire knowledge and I have worked with different Executive Chefs and other chefs from different countries like China, Spain, Italy and most recently Korea. Training to become a professional Chef is like working in a war zoneyou either survive or you quit.

On a personal note, it’s been fun being a professional Chef.

On his training experience Sour and Sweet but thank God I scaled through because of the interest and passion I have for cooking.

If he will relive the training experience again

Nigerian food carries traditional identity — Hilton Chef

cleaned and ate it all. When asked by the senior chef why he ate the eggs, he replied ‘you asked me to chop it after cleaning and I have done that sir ’. The senior chef asked again ‘where are the chopped eggs?’ ‘In my stomach sir’ the young chef replied.

On favorite food to cook with Sauces, seafood and steak in a new way.

Raji Ayodele Wisdom, a native of Offa in Kwara State, is currently a Chef de Partie at the Transcorp Hilton kitchen that is number four in the hotel’s Kitchen hierarchy. The father of four said he became a chef because of his love for food.

In this interview, he talks about his journey into the profession, his training and other experiences in the profession.Excerpts:

I am now a trainer but learning is a continuous process in life, you have to keep updating your knowledge continuously in order to meet the changing expectations and preferences of the guests.

On best cooking tip for a novice SPAGHETTI A LA RAJI is

boiled spaghetti with chopped cherry tomatoes (baby tomato), basil leaves ( curry leaves), soya oil, salt, diced red pepper, diced onion and clean dry Cray fish and garlic.

beginning and know that a light awaits you at the end of the tunnel.

On advise for a young professional Believe in yourself, don’t be discouraged or distracted at the

On funniest Kitchen incident A young chef was asked to clean cooked eggs and to chop it after cleaning. He got it

On favorite Gadget Kitchen Knife and Phone

British Airways provides customers top tips for long haul family travel

T

here’s something magi cal about flying when you’re a child – being awed by the size of the aircraft, the anticipation as you fasten your seatbelt, the thrill of takeoff and the wonder of looking down at the clouds.

Usually it’s not quite as fun an experience for parents. Airports can be stressful places at the best of times and particularly so when escorting one or more easily distracted children, while juggling bags and passports and negotiating urgent appeals to use the bathroom.

On board the aircraft there’s the inevitable debate about who sits where and the need to keep an eye on an insatiably curious child intent on heading off for some exploring while you wrestle your bag into the overhead compartment.

Even when you’ve settled in your seat and answered a seemingly endless barrage of excited questions you sometimes aren’t able to relax. Your duties as maître d’ and enterC M Y K

tainments officer usually preclude anything other than snatching a bite or two of an inevitably cold meal and pretty much rule out following the plot of anything longer than a cartoon.

But Kola Olayinka, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager West Africa, who has being flying with his family and children since they were babies, says that by being proactive you can reduce a lot of the stress that can accompany long haul family travel.

“You need to consider the children even before you make your reservations, even if they are a bit older because everyone can act up when they’re out of their comfort zone. For example when you’re booking connecting flights, factor in an additional 30 minutes per child to the minimum connection time.”

He also suggests trying to book the entire trip on one airline or its alliance partners as this makes life much easier if

Mother and child

Even if you have checked in online and already have your boarding passes, it’s wise to leave more time than you normally would if you’re flying with the family

there are any delays or connection problems. If you need a baby seat or bassinet book it when you make your reservation as these are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

M

ake sure all your pa perwork is in order. If you travel frequently your passport will be up to date, but it’s worth checking the children’s passports are too. Also find out if the country you’re leaving or visiting require any additional paperwork for children.

How important is the food culture to Nigerians today and are they still handing down traditional recipes to the younger generations?

Every Nigerian loves and holds traditional food to highest esteem both at home and abroad. Each native food carries its traditional identities anywhere it’s being eaten. For example, if you attend any party and you see Amala, you will know that the host is a Yoruba. So it is gratifying to note that our eating culture is still intact and the interested younger generation will continue to live with it, grow with it and get the necessary training as well.

On what he eats at home Any of my wife’s specials.

To take some of the stress out of the airport experience, do as much as you can before you arrive at the check-in desk. You can pre-empt some queuing and any arguments about who sits where by requesting your seats using the Manage My Booking function on ba.com 24 hours before the flight departs.

If you want to be absolutely sure of getting the seats you want, you can secure these earlier for a small charge.

You can also check-in on ba.com and print your boarding pass out at home. If you’re travelling with teenagers and they really want to be cool they can get a mobile boarding pass sent to their smartphone using the ba app.

Even if you have checked in online and already have your boarding passes, Olayinka suggests that it’s wise to leave more time than you normally would if you’re flying with the family.

“Rushing through an airport is not conducive to a stress-free journey for anyone,” he said.

Above all keep a careful eye on your children in the airport so they don’t wander off. Make sure that if you do get separated from young children, whoever finds them can get in touch with you. You can write your mobile number on their boarding cards etc.

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

I N S I D E

Foxy battles in Bauchi Page 26

2015 ELECTIONS:

Page 28

Probable political and economical implications

Page 27

Where the card reader rejects you

reject us, we will gladly bow out and say thank you we have done our beat. But as it were, until the people say no, I do not see how we can surrender.

That is why we have been in this business.

What are you offering Deltans and why should they vote for you this time?

Not very much has changed in terms of the social, economic and political environment in the state. What we are bringing to the table is that healthcare and medicare will be largely improved, we are going to ensure that hospitals begin to function, our schools are going to be better. Of course, we will create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Enabling environment I have heard about this ‘enabling environment’ in so many economic circles, but most of it is lip talk. My party and the leadership I want to bring to the state will be more of an interventionist agency.

Interventionist in the sense that development and growth will be witnessed.

•Ogboru: Our former foes have become friends

My time has come — Ogboru IDOLISED by fans as the Peoples General, Chief Great Ogboru had become a rallying platform for opposition to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State. He had in the last decade moved across different political platforms in his quest for the governorship of the state - South-South Rainbow Coalition, SSRC, then the Alliance for Democracy in 2003, the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP in 2007 and 2011, and now Labour Party, LP . Ogboru has continuously captivated popular imagination in Delta, yet has underperformed at the crucial point of counting the votes. Ogboru has, however, pleaded the alibi of rigging.

Given his marital and maternal linkages across the three senatorial districts of the state, and the uprooting of those factors he claimed had conspired against him in the past, Ogboru is asserting himself as the candidate to beat in the forthcoming governorship election in Delta State. Last Wednesday Ogboru alongside some Labour Party candidates and the leadership of his campaign was the guest of Vanguard Editors. He drew questions on his past political participation, plans and his claimed pan-Delta agenda. Excerpts:

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

W

HAT new thing do you have that is pushing you to contest again?

What we have been doing in Delta state apart from creating opposition in the state for good reasons, is also making sure that the people of Delta have an alternative, and that alternative comes from our leadership. We believe that we

are giving them good leadership because they continue to follow us. If when we came in 2003 and 2007 and were roundly rejected, we would not have come in 2011.

We have made significant progress. We had about 11 members elected to the State House of Assembly, we had a Senator elected and we had about two members elected to the House of Representatives.

That is significant progress.

In a proper and conducive

environment, I would have said that our party would have been a very strong platform on which to leap in the 2015 election, but unfortunately, those dreams were filtered away because of the type of politicking that we practice.

Nevertheless, the gains that we have made, the consciousness we have created in the society, make it imperative for us to continue for as long as the people demand our leadership. When they

To a large extent, we will partner with the people because we know that access to capital is difficult, we will partner with them to provide the necessary capital and the necessary technological skills for them to be able to participate in an economic environment.

One key project that we will do is to create a public company for each of the senatorial districts. A public company that will specialize in the provision of social services.

That public company will be owned by the people of Delta.

All the shares of the companies will be controlled by the indigenes of the three senatorial districts. These companies will not be ordinary companies, they will be owned partially by foreigners.

We told you in 2011 that we have a concept that is called the EODI, which is the Equal Opportunity Development Initiative and we told you that N100m will be set aside monthly for each local government for developmental purposes. This is 2015, we are developing this concept. If we are to give nine local governments N100m each for instance for development and the company is owned by the people of Delta state, there is a certain amount of profit that the company must make because it is a limited company.

Wealth creation

The gains that we have made, the consciousness we have created in the society, make it imperative for us to continue for as long as the people demand our leadership

By doing so, you are creating wealth for the people of Delta State. I think that when that is done and replicated over time, the trickle down effect of that will mean that you have better roads, better schools, better hospitals and better housing.

With this programme alone, we can engage the people of Delta State over a period of time.

If this programme works the way it is envisaged, we are going to take crime off the streets of Delta State because when the people have access to capital, good schools and good roads, the most likely tendency is that people will stay away from crime.

You claimed to have won the last elections in Delta State but was not declared. How are you going to protect your vote this time?

Our votes have always been protected and that is why we Continues on page 28

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—27

Foxy battles in Bauchi BAUCHI State’s knack for betraying even accomplished political leaders is legendary. It is thus no surprise that ahead of the forthcoming general elections that many voters and political leaders are keeping their intentions close to the chest

By Suzan Edeh

G

OVERNOR Isa Yuguda had in an interview with this newspaper urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to bother about the votes of the state promising to deliver the state wholly to him. That assertion is, however, put into question given the governor’s inability to even secure the president from political embarrassment which he suffered during the recent presidential campaign to the state when his campaign convoy was pelted with stones. Given that development, Governor Yuguda’s assurance would be little regarded by Dr. Jonathan’s inner strategists.

They will equally not forget that in 2011, the president could only secure about 16 per cent of the total votes cast and that was when his rival, Muhammadu Buhari who took more than 80 per cent of the votes ran on a lean campaign budget. Given the increased enthusiasm for Buhari across the country and the solid structure around him, the former head of state could further even to Yuguda’s amazement even further dazzle the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the elections across board.

Conduct of the exercise It is, however, not to say that the opposition is laying in comfort, despite the popularity of Buhari, the presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. For instance, a governorship aspirant that contested the APC governorship primary, Comrade Mohammed Tanko Ningi has a suit before the Bauchi Federal High Court against the party over the conduct of the exercise. The main bone of contention is that the exercise was flawed and one evidence he is projecting is that the 2,901 votes collated at the end of the exercise is more than the 2,854 delegates announced as accredited for the exercise by the chairman of the election committee Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. Of interest to many is the speculation among many stakeholders in the state that Abubakar was helped by Governor Yuguda to emerge as the APC candidate just as he helped Jatau Awwal to emerge as the PDP candidate so that whoever wins, his legacy and

interests are protected.

Though the governor has flayed such insinuations the restraint by the APC candidate to attack the Yuguda legacy despite what some see as many vulnerable issues gives room for such suspicion.

Other candidates in the governorship race include Bala Musa, PDC People Democratic Congress , Musa Yakubu Wanka, ACPN, All Allied Congress of Nigeria, Hassan Haruna, African Democratic Congress ADC, Alhaji Danladi Musa, Mega Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP, Abdullahi Adamu Usman Dan China, Kowa Party, Mukhtar Haladu, All for Democracy, AD and Bello Ibrahim,All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA. The contest as almost everyone now knows is between the PDP and the APC. One factor that is likely to influence the choice of candidates in the various elections is the state of insecurity in the country that is especially felt in Bauchi.

Bala denied the charge and also accused the governor of working at cross purposes with those determined to return the president to power

•Yuguda: Battling the homefront Though the Yuguda administration has won plaudits for proactively responding to threats, the widely acknowledged failure of the federal authorities to do the same could negatively rub on the party and harden voters against the PDP. Awaal, the PDP candidate is likely going to run on the strength of the ruling party and also get the flaks from the failures of the party.

Remarkably, Yuguda and the national chairman of the party, Adamu Mu‘azu who is also from

the state and was Yuguda’s predecessor seem to agree on the choice of Awaal as such removing possible problems ahead of the governorship election.

However, one major stakeholder Senator Bala Mohammed, once an aide to Yuguda is not on the same page with the two on the succession.

Senator Mohamme, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT may not want to rock the boat and has as such not come out openly to oppose the party’s candidate but suspicions of ill feelings are bound to be alleged

given that he had raised a formidable platform to contest the election for the party’s ticket until he had a last minute change of mind.

Indeed, the prospects of the PDP going into the election are especially threatened by the internal bickering as a result of the face-off between the governor and the minister.

Despite the well known acrimony that has shadowed the relationship between the two men in the last few years, many were still shocked by the claim

by Governor Yuguda that Bala was responsible for organising the boys that stoned President Jonathan’s campaign convoy when he visited the state at the end of last month. Governor Yuguda’s claim was also an embarrassment to PDP propagandists who had before then sought to lay blame for the stoning incident on the opposition APC. Bala denied the charge and also accused the governor of working at cross purposes with those determined to return the president to power.

For the APC, one notable personality that is likely to influence the pendulum of the Buhari momentum is Bello Kirfi, Waziri Bauchi. He is widely regarded as an influential politician who has helped to influence political affairs in the state.

Other factors that would come into play are in favour of the APC in all the elections is the party’s powerful support group known as the Buhari Support Group, the former deputy governor of the state, Garba Gadi who won popularity for sticking with Buhari and the former All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP even when Yuguda who came on the same ticket with him in 2007 spurned the party for the PDP. They are almost with the exception of Ningi who is in court, all united in enthroning the party ’s candidates in all positions in the forthcoming election.

Why it won’t be business as usual for election riggers —Okojie, REC, A-Ibom THE Akwa-Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Austin Okoje in this interview reassures the people of Akwa-Ibom State that the commission would provide all the candidates for the 2015 General Elections a level playing field to ensure rancour-free polls. But he implores the political class to cooperate with INEC since according to him, every successful election requires effective partnership and cooperation as well as adequate timing and planning among other issues. Excerpts:

H

By Tom Moses

OW prepared your commission is towards the rescheduled elections in Akwa-Ibom State?

We are fully prepared for the elections. Although politicians have their own ways of doing

things, we can assure you that Akwa-Ibom State will witness the best of elections ever. First, we have received a total number of 1,692, 662 voter cards but as at today, we’ve distributed 95.4 percent of the cards. 9,000 PVCs were snatched. As at today, we have recovered 7, 862, we are

still left with 1,140 cards to be recovered.

We intend to move our materials three days before the elections so that on the day of election, materials get to the polling units as early as 6am.

You are aware of our new method of accreditation. We now have what we call the Card Reader. This is one of the innovations we have introduced to disallow the idea of rigging and on the issue of rigging; we love to appeal to the political class to talk to their supporters not to bring the issue of thuggery so that we can have peaceful elections. To secure your results

and votes, we have a means of transferring your votes and the result electronically to the centre.

So, the era of ballot box snatching is now over.

So, in a nutshell, we are fully prepared for the elections. I am surprised that even with the introduction of smart-Card Readers people still think it will be business as usual. If you have seen the quality of elections we conducted in Ekiti State and Osun last year, then, the quality of the 2015 elections will be higher than those ones. As major stakeholders you must be kept on

Continues on page 29

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Why I refused to surrender — Ogboru Continued from page 26 were able to get 430,000 votes.

You do not have 430,000 votes in an election if your votes are not protected. The problem is the riverine communities in Delta State which we were not able to handle properly.

So, those riverine communities became challenges in the sense that even the police could not provide security and I can tell you that most INEC officials could not even get there. That is why I questioned how these card readers would be used.

What happened then was that whereas we won the upland in most of the state, those riverine votes were brought to defeat the will of the people of Delta state.

That was why I was I not declared, but the times have changed, the dynamics have changed, the complexities changed, the actors are different.

Enemies of yesterday So enemies of yesterday are friends of today and when all of these complexities are put together, it tells you that some of those votes that worked against us in the past will work for us now.

Have you had any reconciliation with Governor Uduaghan especially after the PDP primaries?

This question is always coming to me because Uduaghan was short-changed during the primaries. I think he is getting a pill of what they have been doing to me. I was glad when I met him recently in a very warm embrace.

And when he spoke to us, he said he was at peace with himself. And if you were there, you will know that we had not met prior to then.

If we had met, his behaviour would have been different.

There is no discussion going on between us anywhere behind the scene.

Uduaghan knows that Ogboru is the elected governor of the state but things did not go well the way they should go. On a personal note, we are friends and in-laws too. While all these are going on, you have to understand that there is a human relationship between us.

When we took him to court, we were duty bound to do so.

That is the name of the game.

Sometimes when you are fighting with your brother, you also wish that you don’t give him a killer punch because the punch could be so devastating that he may never recover from it.

So, have you been able to

•Ogboru: We are going to defeat Tompolo resolve the challenge from the riverine areas? Also, what is your role in the present crisis rocking the Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU? I believe that we have a very strong support from the Ijaw and Itsekiri communities today.

That support was not there yesterday, but like I said with the stage and the actors being different, the dynamics must be

different.

So, the differences are working for our good and I believe that when the election takes place, those toxic votes will come to us. Whatever vote that will come from the riverine communities, will be in our favour. Our followership there is enormous.

But Tompolo is believed to be a PDP chieftain and is Ijaw?

We are not bothered about that. We are going to defeat Tompolo in his local government. The only place he will win is Gbaramatu.

Women in the congress

We are not bothered about that. We are going to defeat Tompolo in his local government. The only place he will win is Gbaramatu

The place we are likely to have some challenge, is Burutu where the deputy governor comes from. But because Tompolo is a factor that is being rejected, I believe that his candidate will be defeated.

On UPU? The UPU is an organisation that has lasted for over 83 years. It is older than the Nigerian nation. The UPU has a constitution as to how to become the president general of the association.

The president is elected by all the president generals, youths and women in the congress. In this case, because you were supporting somebody else, you decided to create a faction.

Unfortunately for the Onoge group, if we were to conduct an election in the state, the UPU candidate will not get 10 percent of the votes. It is a two horse race.

•Card reader

Where the card reader rejects you

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

G

IVEN the trenchant positions for and against the introduction of the card readers, Nigerians and indeed, international election observers would be in suspense on the efficacy of what the country’s Election Management Body has promised as the antidote to election rigging.

However, even the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega is not oblivious that as a mechanical or electronic device that the card reader could have its problems. So despite the fact that not more than 160,000 units would be needed, the commission according to him procured an extra 20,000 units to serve as backups on Election Day. Two possible scenarios 1. If the functional card reader fails to read your PVC, you would be politely told to leave the polling station and the incidence would be noted down by the polling officer. Where you resist, law enforcement officers would be asked to handle you.

2. However, if the card reader authenticates the card as genuine but fails to match the finger print of the person who brought it to that on the PVC, the assistant presiding officer shall repeat the process again and if the finger print still does not authenticate the person, then the potential voter will be referred to the presiding officer or a senior officer at the polling unit. That officer would examine the PVC to establish if it really belongs to the voter and if satisfied and with the concurrence of the agents of the parties allow the potential voter to proceed to the next stage of the accreditation process and for voting.

However, the incidence of the card reader failing to cross match the PVC to the finger print shall be noted as an incidence.

This is because the card reader keeps a tabulation of all those who passed through the screening exercise.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—29

T

HERE is no doubt that Nigeria is a lovely and likeable country.

Many Nigerians like their country but many patriots love their country ‘ where everything goes‘.

Certainly, it is not unfair criticism to state that often, Nigerians place undue emphasis on things that matter less.

The business of the day is the act of chasing the small document called the Permanent Voters‘ Card (PVC), an elusive object to some registered voters. I am yet to receive mine after repeated visits to the declared collection points. The PVC is a brain-child of Professor Attahiru Jega, Chairman of INEC. His ultimate aim is to establish the real voter for a credible election.

Another Jega‘s instrument is the ‘Reader‘ which would prove the authencity of the PVC. If it is the INEC fiat that only the carriers of PVCs would be allowed to vote, it is reasonable to expect that all registered voters are given their cards. The argument of substantial compliance by INEC in the distribution of PVC is specious.

It is the responsibility of INEC to ensure that all registered voters are in possession of the PVCs. Though the arguments raised by the dust of elections postponement are yet to abate, the security issue raised at the last moment seems like a divine intervention to prevent an unforeseen tragedy. It is a pity that at the time our gallant forces are routine the murderous gang, a new offensive by their suicide bombers is being opened in other areas.

THE ECONOMY It is instructive to observe that the daily pursuit of PVCs for the elections has shifted attention from the fate of the national currency which has been under siege in the last few months.

The Central Bank, being overwhelmed by other monetary problems, has been trying to support the Naira. From adjustment of its value from

2015 ELECTIONS: Probable political and economical implications N155/USD to N168/1USD; from N168 to N199 to a dollar, the Naira is weakening every day.

The new Central Bank Governor is yet to show ingenuity in saving the Naira. The ominous sign from the Central Bank reads thus: Exchange rate – N199, Monetary Policy Rate – 13 per cent (MPR) Oil Price - $61. By the time elections are held and concluded, the economic reality will look like transition into depression, high debt portfolio, increase in unemployment and widespread poverty, even with PVCs permanently stuck in our pockets. The alternative looks like further adjustments in the

Perhaps Obasanjo will now be sitting in his living room, laughing at those commentators who are in the habit of criticizing without hearing his own side of the story

value of the Naira which would create money delusion, i.e. more naira will be earned from dollar value to meet the budgetary needs. It would be a case of too much money chasing too few goods and services – prelude to inflation.

Obasanjo and the rest of us The celebrated Otta-chicken farmer, former military Head of State and twice elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the medias‘ delight at any time – in office, out of office, awake or in deep slumber (if he ever sleeps).

Till today, Obasanjo enigmatic posture and his often theatrical displays have continued to baffle and confuse many of his critics.

The seemingly reluctant head of state who took over the government in 1976 brightened the image of the military by handing over power to a democratically elected civilian government in 1979.

In his book, “NOT MY WILL’ (Published in 1989), he notes with complete disdain. Take Zik for instance, he started his career on a very high and admirable plain as the `Zik of Africa` with a broad African outlook, broad African interest and broad African approach. He came

down to West Africa and became encapsulated into Nigeria and rose to National prominence and plane before he became frustrated and ethnicised into Eastern Nigeria. He was whittled down from Zik of Africa to Zik of Ibo land. He should not end up with emphasis as the “Owelle of Onitsha”.

“Chief Awolowo started on the ethnic plane because he could not compete with Zik on the national plane. Zik was obviously heads and shoulders above him on the national plane. He was crowned as the leader of the Yorubas and he never rose beyond that, inspite of his industry and administrative ability”.

“Shagari did not court power and he wanted to be nothing more than a senator which was no crime. He was pushed into power by those who wanted to make use of him and he was unfortunately too weak and somewhat ill prepared for the trappings of political power to check the abuses of his power by those who made use of him”.

It may be appropriate if not futile, to attempt to unmask the real characteristics of the man who is generally regarded as an enigma. To this writer, Chief Obasanjo appears a superbly confident man, highly intelligent and crafty. But behind the deceptive mask of listlessness

lies the clear mind of a strategic thinker. His lack of charisma in the eyes of his more flamboyant political adversaries has been their undoing. His acerbic tongue appears to be a calculated design to throw opponents off balance before he throws a punch which could result in concorsion and abysmal pain.

Chief Obasanjo, as a politician, looks like a serious planner with a mixture of intrigues and tricks.

As for the unity of Nigeria, he is and always will be an incurable optimist.

From his accumulated experience and judging by his recent performance on the job, are Nigerians under the spell of a redeemer? Or are we dealing with a mere opportunist at the helm of national affairs? Chief Obasanjo had suggested the answer a long time ago. “:He notes in, `NOT MY WILL` (PG 226) that, `some who see themselves as been charitable say he is very lucky, those not so charitable say he is an opportunists, some friends say, `he works hard and he is good`.

“None of them is totally right or correct. I believe that three ingredients must be present for success in any human endeavour, physical preparations, mental preparation including attitudinal and character, opportunity must avail itself and that may be due to luck, fate, destiny or chance. But as an old classmate of mine put it, if you are three or four times consecutively lucky, it is worthy of not if not close study” The bottom line and the point to note is that success invites envy and envy is not easily cured”.

Perhaps chief Obasanjo will now be sitting in his living room, laughing at those commentators who are in the habit of criticizing without hearing his own side of the story.

For instance, did President Jonathan seek his help to persuade the North (PDP supporters in the North) that if given a chance, he would do only one term?

Why it won’t be business as usual for election riggers — Okojie, REC, A-Ibom Continues from page 27 notice of whatever we are doing as far as my administration is concerned, there will be a level playing field for everybody. If any information goes to one party, it must also go to the other one.

There are allegations that PVCs are being sold in some places in this State for cloning and that members of the PDP dominate ad-hoc staff list, what is your response to these allegations?

This is going to be the fourth time of my being involved in the conduct of national elections.

Rumours will always be there.

Ballot papers are very sensitive materials and are always kept under the custody of the Central Bank. When I came to Akwa Ibom State, I had not spent two days yet when I started reading from the papers that INEC had been bribed with Five Billion Naira and some bags of rice. On ad-hoc staff, we advertised and asked interested applicants to

apply on-line. Now, the on-line list is what the commission forwarded so that we can now go to verify them.

The verification exercise is going on as we speak in the respective Local Government Areas of the applicants. So, until the commission completes the exercise, we cannot compile the list so that we can have the appropriate record. So, for now, we don’t even have the list but here they are saying the PDP loyalists flood INEC ad-hoc staff list.

So, what is your advice to political stakeholders?

Stakeholders have a duty to ensure that the political space is conducive for a well-organized and coordinated election. This can only be possible with peace.

Peace, in a country like Nigeria is a lofty objective. Peaceful elections are absolutely necessary for us to be able to consolidate and deepen our democracy. As we prepare for the 2015 elections,

•Okojie we must do everything possible to promote peaceful conduct, mitigate conflicts and prevent violence because unless we do these, the yearnings of Nigerians for free, fair and credible elections

will be subverted.

It is important to note that free, fair and credible elections do not begin and end with only the procedures that INEC put in place for the conduct of such elections.

No matter how well elections are conducted, if the outcome is conflict-ridden and characterized by violence, it will lose its essence of deepening democracy and it will undermine the credibility of electoral process.

What specific lessons have you learnt from the 2011 general election?

Some of the key lessons we learned from the 2011 elections and those reviews are that good elections require adequate timing and planning. We have come to learn that there is no alternative to planning and preparing adequately. Election projects in a country like Nigeria require massive undertakings and require very professional planning.

Also, good elections are about effective partnerships and cooperation. We have learnt that running an election is a cooperative enterprise not just a task for INEC alone. Within weeks in 2011, we were able to assemble and manage over 360,000 poll officials to work at the poling unit level.

Thousands of other security personnel were on patrol while over 20,000 university staff, including Vice Chancellors, were enlisted to serve as collation and returning officers besides thousands of local and foreign observers who witnessed the elections.

Without the cooperation of various ministries, departments and agencies, especially the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and security agencies that worked with us, the conduct of the elections would have been difficult, if not an impossible mission.

30 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

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C M Y K

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C M Y K

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 —35

C M Y K

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

it really been like trying to make it or even get noticed?

To tell the truth, it has not been easy.

In the industry there are different caucuses that exist and if you don’t belong to any it is very difficult to get an in. This is the major challenge for most upcoming actresses. Another thing is that the established stars look down on the upcoming ones, forgetting they too started as rookies.

But isn’t true that many supposed upcoming actresses have no talent but want to use acting as a platform to hook up to rich men?

I think that’s the reason they hold auditions before they cast anybody into movies. They hold auditions to see if you actually have the talent.

What really counts to make it out there; is it really based on merit or just knowing who is who?

I’ll be as sincere as possible, In Nollywood, most roles are based on merit. You go for auditions, you have the talent, they see it in you and you get the role. For people who don’t have the talent and just want to appear in movies, they sexually harass producers and directors to get roles, that’s the truth.

We’ve been hearing of people paying for roles in Nollywood, have you ever paid for a role?

No, I haven’t.

Why haven’t you paid, no money?

Not having money might be a factor but for me, it is something I’ve decided never to do. The reason is simple, in Nollywood, once you start paying, you will continue paying for roles. It’s for people who are not sure of their talent.

What has been your

I’m one of Majid Michel’s admirers — Cynthia Shalom Cynthia Shalom has only appeared in a few Nollywood movies but her quality performances in them have proven that she is one to watch out for. She revealed to us in this interview the trouble upcoming actresses go through to make it in the film industry plus more:

By Juliet Ebirim & Kehinde Ajose

H

OW many movies have you done?

I’ve done a couple of movies. In 2008, I shot about 3 movies that were aired on Africa Magic and then I took a break. I went to school, graduated, and then came back to the industry.

I’ve done about three or four movies and then shot some that are still to be released.

Which is your biggest movie so far?

The working title of that movie is ‘Royal Twist’, it’s a cinema movie. It’s on the net Who inspired you to go into acting?

I don’t think anyone actually inspired me; I started acting when I was young in Secondary School. It became a hubby; it became a combination of things I love - music, dance, and it’s a talent that I’ve had inside that I didn’t know actually was there until I got motivated in school to do something.

Relocating to Lagos That was when I knew I had this thing in me and thought it would be nice if I developed it.

Where exactly are you based?

Well, I think an actor doesn’t really need a base, that’s what makes you an actor because you can get a job anywhere in the world and you just have to make yourself available.

Although I’m trying to relocate to Lagos.

As an upcoming actress, what has C M Y K

I don’t think anyone actually inspired me; I started acting when I was young in secondary school

Cynthia

Wizkid, Skales and girlfriend in war of words

Continues on page 37

Smart Apps, smart mobile experience In a smart world

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—37

Synopsis

I’m one of Majid Michel’s admirers – Cynthia Shalom Continued from page 36 most embarrassing, depressing moment, that you felt this acting thing isn’t worth it after all?

I’ve gone for auditions that were run in a way that you could tell it wasn’t based on merit. It didn’t even get to my turn and I was there till the end of it. I was angry at myself and asked myself why I even left my house.

They were like seven on that table and you could tell that these seven people or judges had their own candidates. I was so pissed at myself, the whole charade and the industry. Why invite people for auditions when you already had

Which actress do you want to be like?

I admire Genevieve Nnaji and Mercy Johnson; I think they are the most natural actresses I see. When I see their movies, I feel like I’m where they are playing that role because they are very natural.

What do you mean by natural?

I don’t know how to interpret it but when you’re given a script or a role, some people gesticulate so much, they don’t do all that. They are as natural as they could get, and bring along the character effortlessly.

Still Standing

C

hronicles the joy and pain of a striving young American family, originally from Africa, living the America dream until a major tragedy alters the family’s course. It tells the story of a mother’s plight—raising teenagers and caring for a husband, while trying to sustain the family core values, livelihood and her sanity. It’s designed to enlighten and provide audiences with insights from Africans into the continent’s past, present and future

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK

• 30 DAYS IN ATLANTA • SELMA • 5O SHADES OF GREY

• WEDDING RINGER • ANTIQUE

The schedule commencing from Friday 27th – 5th March , 2014.

SILVERBIRDCINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Still Standing : 1:05pm,4:55pm, Sponge Bob : 11:00am,12:50pm,2:40pm, The Wedding Ringer: 11:30pm,3:00pm,6:45pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Still Standing : 10:45am,4:55pm,6:55pm Sponge Bob : 10:35am,12:45pm,2:50pm The Wedding Ringer: 4:55pm,9:05pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Still Standing: 12:20pm,2:10pm,4:45pm,6:50pm,8:45pm Sponge Bob : 12:00pm,1:50pm,3:40pm Selma : 4:20pm The Wedding Ringer : 1:00pm,3:00pm,5:00pm,7:00pm,9:00pm Seventh Son : 6:00pm,8:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI Antique : 2:30pm,6:45pm Selma : 2:10pm,8:30pm, Laggies : 10:15am,2:50pm Barbie in Princess Power : 10:25am,11:50am,1:20pm The Wedding Ringer : 12:10pm,4:35pm,6:30pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Still Standing : 6:50pm The Wedding Ringer : 11:40am,4:20pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Still Standing : 12:30pm,2:25pm,4:30pm,6:30pm,8:20pm Sponge Bob : 11:00am,12:50pm,2:20pm The Wedding Ringer: 11:00am,3:00pm,7:00pm

people you wanted?

As an actress, how do you work yourself into characters?

I think for me, it’s spiritual, it’s how your mind connects. When I get a script, I read through, it’s not something you just interpret at a go. I read over and over again and then try to understand the story first and try to understand that character which I’m supposed to play.

OZONE CINEMAS SABO YABA Still Standing : 2:50pm Sponge Bob : 12:30pm Selma : 10:10pm Barbie in Princess Power : 10:15am The Wedding Ringer : 5:00pm,9:00pm Annie : 10:20am GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Still Standing : 2:25pm,7:00pm,9:10pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Still Standing : 11:50am,6:05pm,10:00pm

He’s a natural guy, he’s cute, and he knows how to do his thing.

He’s a very good actor so I admire him when

Understanding the character After understanding the character I try to put myself in that character, asking questions about the person of the character and get myself into the character.

Which actor do you have a crush on?

Majid Michel, he’s a natural guy, he’s cute, and he knows how to do his thing. He’s a very good actor so I admire him when I see his movies If you kiss him on set, would you be aroused?

No, I wouldn’t be Do you consider yourself a daring actress or just a casual one?

I consider myself a daring actress, I want to move and do things I wouldn’t think I would do.

Cynthia

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU Still Standing : 12:55pm,7:05pm The Wedding Ringer : 1:00pm,5:05pm Annie : 2:55pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,APAPA The Wedding Ringer: 2:25pm 30 Day in Atlanta : 8:00pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Annie : 10:00am,12:10pm,4:50pm The Wedding Ringer: 3:55pm,7:40pm 30 Day in Atlanta : 10:20am,4:50pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDA Antique : 8:25pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, KANO Annie : 10:00am,5:25pm VIVA CINEMAS, ILORIN Still Standing : 12:55pm, The Wedding Ringer: 4:50pm Reclaim : 11:15am,6:50pm The 7th Dwarf : 12:40pm,6:30pm John Wick : 2:25pm, Annie : 12:25pm Champagne: 11:15am 30 Days in Atlanta : 8:55pm KADA CINEMAS, BENNI Still Standing : 11:00am,5:45pm

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Lady Judith bags ‘Ambassador of Peace’ award Skales

G

Wizkid

Wizkid to Skales

‘You’re a foolish guy with zero brain’ F

ORMER label mates, Wizkid now Starboy boss, and Baseline Music act, Skales threw caution to the wind during the week and engaged themselves in a war of words on the social media.

The latter had accused the former of stealing the beat for his hit song, “Azonto”, claiming also, that he wrote Wizkid’s “Superstar” song.

Angered by this allegation, Wizkid fired back at Skales in a series of tweets calling him names, and claiming it was mainly a publicity stunt from Skales to promote his new smash hit, “Je Kan Mo.” Some of Wizkid’s tweets read thus: “Since you started your career you never dropped one album and you are claiming that you wrote my song! God punish your left balls. Skales!!’ Even when the label wanted to drop your a** cos you didn’t make one naira for 3 years! I was there!

You are a foolish guy with zero brain.’

However, defending her man,

By Godwin Oghre

Skales’ girlfriend, Sasay lashed out at Wizkid.

In one of her tweets, Sasay, who has been dating Skales for two years now, said: ‘Before you tweet trash about someone’s hustle, think first, has your hustle paid off? How much do you fucking make? Can you afford a girl like me?’ But Wizkid’s well known boo, Tania Omotayo stayed off while the

feud lasted. Skales, who is putting finishing touches on his debut album’ Man of the Year ” has since deleted all his tweets. The video of his new smash hit, “Je Kan Mo” aws released on Tuesday.

Both him and Wizkid were once signed unto the same record label, E.M.E owned

by Banky W.

Darey back with Love Like a Movie N

IGERIAN RnB star, Darey Art Alade is set to thrill fun seekers in Lagos once again with his popular lovethemed concert tagged “Love Like a Movie” which is billed to hold on Saturday, April 4, at the prestigious Eko H o t e l Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The maiden edition of the concert, which held two years ago, h a d

international model and TV reality show star, Kim Kardashian as co-host. It featured artistes like 2Face Idibia, Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Ice Prince, Waje, Timi Dakolo, Cupid, Praiz, Tolu, MoEazy, Kaffy and several other artistes.

Whereas the 2nd edition featured another international star, former Destiny’s child member, Kelly Rowland as well as Nigerian stars including Tiwa Savage, Waje, Timi Dakolo, MoEazy and the chief host.

Speaking on the groundbreaking concert series, Darey said “The aim is to surprise people with the quality and freshness of what will be on display. I think we will surprise even ourselves – that’s how good it will be.’

Love Like a Movie 3 will explore new grounds and take the show into the future with a brand new depiction of Love.

OSPEL singer, Mrs Judith Akpomejevwe Nwachukwu, aka, Lady Judith, last weekend bagged the prestigious award of Ambassador of Peace and Youth Empowerment (APYE) award of the Niger Delta Youths Coalition (NDYC), a coalition of several youth organizations across the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

In his address, the National President of the group, Mr Obukowho Adaji said, the award is being bestowed on the mother of two gospel singer “For doing so well in the areas of curbing societal menace through youth e m p l o y m e n t / empowerment, bringing succor to the needy, being an agent of societal change and development, outstanding leadership qualities and general humanitarian/ philanthropic

gesture.”

Lady Judith, also a career Hematologist with stint in the petroleum and gas industry, had worked in the medical department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, where she spent a decade of meritorious service before she relinquished paid job about six years ago, embarking into the world of gospel music, where she recently released her latest album, titled, “You Are The One.”

Lady Judith

Obi Olivia wins Guinness #madeofblack Selfie Challenge

A

student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Obi Olivia has been voted the winner of the Guinness #madeofblack video Selfie challenge. Her engaging video, which demonstrates her love for fashion and #madeofblack attitude, received the highest number of likes by fans on the Guinness Facebook page.

The competition, which is a part of the Guinness #madeofblack campaign, ran for five weeks and encouraged fans to post their own Selfie videos, telling Nigerians why they are #madeofblack.

The grand prize money of N250, 000.00 was presented to the winner by Guinness #madeofblack ambassador and ace rapper, Eva Alordiah.

During the presentation, Eva congratulated the winner and applauded her style.

Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, Marketing Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Obinna Anyalebechi, said the #madeofblack campaign, launched in August 2014, shines a light on a movement being created by a new generation of Africans whose boldness cannot be contained and who are already fuelling a new, progressive spirit of Africa.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—37

it really been like trying to make it or even get noticed?

To tell the truth, it has not been easy.

In the industry there are different caucuses that exist and if you don’t belong to any it is very difficult to get an in. This is the major challenge for most upcoming actresses. Another thing is that the established stars look down on the upcoming ones, forgetting they too started as rookies.

But isn’t true that many supposed upcoming actresses have no talent but want to use acting as a platform to hook up to rich men?

I think that’s the reason they hold auditions before they cast anybody into movies. They hold auditions to see if you actually have the talent.

What really counts to make it out there; is it really based on merit or just knowing who is who?

I’ll be as sincere as possible, In Nollywood, most roles are based on merit. You go for auditions, you have the talent, they see it in you and you get the role. For people who don’t have the talent and just want to appear in movies, they sexually harass producers and directors to get roles, that’s the truth.

We’ve been hearing of people paying for roles in Nollywood, have you ever paid for a role?

No, I haven’t.

Why haven’t you paid, no money?

Not having money might be a factor but for me, it is something I’ve decided never to do. The reason is simple, in Nollywood, once you start paying, you will continue paying for roles. It’s for people who are not sure of their talent.

What has been your

I’m one of Majid Michel’s admirers —Cynthia Shalom

C

ynthia Shalom has only appeared in a few Nollywood movies but her quality performances in them have proven that she is one to watch out for. She revealed to us in this interview the trouble upcoming actresses go through to make it in the film industry - plus more:

By Juliet Ebirim & Kehinde Ajose

H

OW many movies have you done?

I’ve done a couple of movies. In 2008, I shot about 3 movies that were aired on Africa Magic and then I took a break. I went to school, graduated, and then came back to the industry.

I’ve done about three or four movies and then shot some that are still to be released.

Which is your biggest movie so far?

The working title of that movie is ‘Royal Twist’, it’s a cinema movie. It’s on the net Who inspired you to go into acting?

I don’t think anyone actually inspired me; I started acting when I was young in Secondary School. It became a hubby; it became a combination of things I love - music, dance, and it’s a talent that I’ve had inside that I didn’t know actually was there until I got motivated in school to do something.

Relocating to Lagos That was when I knew I had this thing in me and thought it would be nice if I developed it.

Where exactly are you based?

Well, I think an actor doesn’t really need a base, that’s what makes you an actor because you can get a job anywhere in the world and you just have to make yourself available.

Although I’m trying to relocate to Lagos.

As an upcoming actress, what has C M Y K

I don’t think anyone actually inspired me; I started acting when I was young in secondary school

Cynthia

Wizkid, Skales and girlfriend in war of words

Continues on page 38

Smart Apps, smart mobile experience In a smart world

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Synopsis

I’m one of Majid Michel’s admirers – Cynthia Shalom Continued from page 37 most embarrassing, depressing moment, that you felt this acting thing isn’t worth it after all?

I’ve gone for auditions that were run in a way that you could tell it wasn’t based on merit. It didn’t even get to my turn and I was there till the end of it. I was angry at myself and asked myself why I even left my house.

They were like seven on that table and you could tell that these seven people or judges had their own candidates. I was so pissed at myself, the whole charade and the industry. Why invite people for auditions when you already had

Which actress do you want to be like?

I admire Genevieve Nnaji and Mercy Johnson; I think they are the most natural actresses I see. When I see their movies, I feel like I’m where they are playing that role because they are very natural.

What do you mean by natural?

I don’t know how to interpret it but when you’re given a script or a role, some people gesticulate so much, they don’t do all that. They are as natural as they could get, and bring along the character effortlessly.

Still Standing

C

hronicles the joy and pain of a striving young American family, originally from Africa, living the America dream until a major tragedy alters the family’s course. It tells the story of a mother’s plight—raising teenagers and caring for a husband, while trying to sustain the family core values, livelihood and her sanity. It’s designed to enlighten and provide audiences with insights from Africans into the continent’s past, present and future

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK

• 30 DAYS IN ATLANTA • SELMA • 5O SHADES OF GREY

• WEDDING RINGER • ANTIQUE

The schedule commencing from Friday 27th – 5th March , 2014.

SILVERBIRDCINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Still Standing : 1:05pm,4:55pm, Sponge Bob : 11:00am,12:50pm,2:40pm, The Wedding Ringer: 11:30pm,3:00pm,6:45pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Still Standing : 10:45am,4:55pm,6:55pm Sponge Bob : 10:35am,12:45pm,2:50pm The Wedding Ringer: 4:55pm,9:05pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Still Standing: 12:20pm,2:10pm,4:45pm,6:50pm,8:45pm Sponge Bob : 12:00pm,1:50pm,3:40pm Selma : 4:20pm The Wedding Ringer : 1:00pm,3:00pm,5:00pm,7:00pm,9:00pm Seventh Son : 6:00pm,8:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI Antique : 2:30pm,6:45pm Selma : 2:10pm,8:30pm, Laggies : 10:15am,2:50pm Barbie in Princess Power : 10:25am,11:50am,1:20pm The Wedding Ringer : 12:10pm,4:35pm,6:30pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Still Standing : 6:50pm The Wedding Ringer : 11:40am,4:20pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Still Standing : 12:30pm,2:25pm,4:30pm,6:30pm,8:20pm Sponge Bob : 11:00am,12:50pm,2:20pm The Wedding Ringer: 11:00am,3:00pm,7:00pm

people you wanted?

As an actress, how do you work yourself into characters?

I think for me, it’s spiritual, it’s how your mind connects. When I get a script, I read through, it’s not something you just interpret at a go. I read over and over again and then try to understand the story first and try to understand that character which I’m supposed to play.

OZONE CINEMAS SABO YABA Still Standing : 2:50pm Sponge Bob : 12:30pm Selma : 10:10pm Barbie in Princess Power : 10:15am The Wedding Ringer : 5:00pm,9:00pm Annie : 10:20am GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Still Standing : 2:25pm,7:00pm,9:10pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Still Standing : 11:50am,6:05pm,10:00pm

He’s a natural guy, he’s cute, and he knows how to do his thing.

He’s a very good actor so I admire him when

Understanding the character After understanding the character I try to put myself in that character, asking questions about the person of the character and get myself into the character.

Which actor do you have a crush on?

Majid Michel, he’s a natural guy, he’s cute, and he knows how to do his thing. He’s a very good actor so I admire him when I see his movies If you kiss him on set, would you be aroused?

No, I wouldn’t be Do you consider yourself a daring actress or just a casual one?

I consider myself a daring actress, I want to move and do things I wouldn’t think I would do.

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Cynthia

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU Still Standing : 12:55pm,7:05pm The Wedding Ringer : 1:00pm,5:05pm Annie : 2:55pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,APAPA The Wedding Ringer: 2:25pm 30 Day in Atlanta : 8:00pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Annie : 10:00am,12:10pm,4:50pm The Wedding Ringer: 3:55pm,7:40pm 30 Day in Atlanta : 10:20am,4:50pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDA Antique : 8:25pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, KANO Annie : 10:00am,5:25pm VIVA CINEMAS, ILORIN Still Standing : 12:55pm, The Wedding Ringer: 4:50pm Reclaim : 11:15am,6:50pm The 7th Dwarf : 12:40pm,6:30pm John Wick : 2:25pm, Annie : 12:25pm Champagne: 11:15am 30 Days in Atlanta : 8:55pm KADA CINEMAS, BENNI Still Standing : 11:00am,5:45pm

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—39

Lady Judith bags ‘Ambassador of Peace’ award Skales

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Wizkid

WIZKID TO SKALES:

‘You’re a foolish guy with zero brain’ F

ORMER label mates, Wizkid now Starboy boss, and Baseline Music act, Skales threw caution to the wind during the week and engaged themselves in a war of words on the social media.

The latter had accused the former of stealing the beat for his hit song, “Azonto”, claiming also, that he wrote Wizkid’s “Superstar” song.

Angered by this allegation, Wizkid fired back at Skales in a series of tweets calling him names, and claiming it was mainly a publicity stunt from Skales to promote his new smash hit, “Je Kan Mo.” Some of Wizkid’s tweets read thus: “Since you started your career you never dropped one album and you are claiming that you wrote my song! God punish your left balls. Skales!!’ Even when the label wanted to drop your a** cos you didn’t make one naira for 3 years! I was there!

You are a foolish guy with zero brain.’

However, defending her man,

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By Godwin Oghre

Skales’ girlfriend, Sasay lashed out at Wizkid.

In one of her tweets, Sasay, who has been dating Skales for two years now, said: ‘Before you tweet trash about someone’s hustle, think first, has your hustle paid off? How much do you fucking make? Can you afford a girl like me?’ But Wizkid’s well known boo, Tania Omotayo stayed off while the

feud lasted. Skales, who is putting finishing touches on his debut album’ Man of the Year ” has since deleted all his tweets. The video of his new smash hit, “Je Kan Mo” aws released on Tuesday.

Both him and Wizkid were once signed unto the same record label, E.M.E owned

by Banky W.

Darey back with Love Like a Movie N

IGERIAN RnB star, Darey Art Alade is set to thrill fun seekers in Lagos once again with his popular lovethemed concert tagged “Love Like a Movie” which is billed to hold on Saturday, April 4, at the prestigious Eko H o t e l Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The maiden edition of the concert, which held two years ago, h a d

international model and TV reality show star, Kim Kardashian as co-host. It featured artistes like 2Face Idibia, Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Ice Prince, Waje, Timi Dakolo, Cupid, Praiz, Tolu, MoEazy, Kaffy and several other artistes.

Whereas the 2nd edition featured another international star, former Destiny’s child member, Kelly Rowland as well as Nigerian stars including Tiwa Savage, Waje, Timi Dakolo, MoEazy and the chief host.

Speaking on the groundbreaking concert series, Darey said “The aim is to surprise people with the quality and freshness of what will be on display. I think we will surprise even ourselves – that’s how good it will be.’

Love Like a Movie 3 will explore new grounds and take the show into the future with a brand new depiction of Love.

OSPEL singer, Mrs Judith Akpomejevwe Nwachukwu, aka, Lady Judith, last weekend bagged the prestigious award of Ambassador of Peace and Youth Empowerment (APYE) award of the Niger Delta Youths Coalition (NDYC), a coalition of several youth organizations across the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

In his address, the National President of the group, Mr Obukowho Adaji said, the award is being bestowed on the mother of two gospel singer “For doing so well in the areas of curbing societal menace through youth e m p l o y m e n t / empowerment, bringing succor to the needy, being an agent of societal change and development, outstanding leadership qualities and general humanitarian/ philanthropic

gesture.”

Lady Judith, also a career Hematologist with stint in the petroleum and gas industry, had worked in the medical department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, where she spent a decade of meritorious service before she relinquished paid job about six years ago, embarking into the world of gospel music, where she recently released her latest album, titled, “You Are The One.”

Lady Judith

Obi Olivia wins Guinness #madeofblack Selfie Challenge

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student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Obi Olivia has been voted the winner of the Guinness #madeofblack video Selfie challenge. Her engaging video, which demonstrates her love for fashion and #madeofblack attitude, received the highest number of likes by fans on the Guinness Facebook page.

The competition, which is a part of the Guinness #madeofblack campaign, ran for five weeks and encouraged fans to post their own Selfie videos, telling Nigerians why they are #madeofblack.

The grand prize money of N250, 000.00 was presented to the winner by Guinness #madeofblack ambassador and ace rapper, Eva Alordiah.

During the presentation, Eva congratulated the winner and applauded her style.

Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, Marketing Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Obinna Anyalebechi, said the #madeofblack campaign, launched in August 2014, shines a light on a movement being created by a new generation of Africans whose boldness cannot be contained and who are already fuelling a new, progressive spirit of Africa.

40— Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

5 things women NEVER tell their men Okay, we know the most common one: most women lie about the “O” word. But there are other things besides that the modern woman lies about. Very often!

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HEIR first gig For most adult women, the first sexual experience is unforgettable and probably the best ever. Even if they have not kept in touch with their first man, they remember him with fondness if he did not leave them pregnant and stranded with a baby.

But will they ever tell their man this? Never.

Studies show the average woman lies about the age at which she was disvirgined, adding anything between 2 and 10 years to the age. For instance, if a woman got disvirgined at 14, she is likely to put the figure at 20 to her current man. Men, on the other hand, openly boast about their earlier sexual conquests.

That they check out other men A man might be so close to the girl in his life that he would point out other women’s body parts that he finds attractive and everybody would have a good laugh. On the other hand, a woman would never do that. If she thinks the guy next door has a cute ass, she never, ever mentions it to the man in her life. Not only would she not mention it, she would never ever even make the blunder of

oogling the attractive derriere when their man is around.

Studies show women make lewd jokes about other men when they are with girlfriends just as much as men do, and they even fantasie but are great about hiding it.

That she hates cooking A few years down the line, many relationships run into crisis on this account- many many women just do not like to cook.

In our part of the world, girls are raised not only to learn how to cook but to happily cook for other people for the rest of their lives, three times a day. If they cannot live up to that ‘simple’ responsibility, they are complete failures, especially in relationships.

Nothing makes your man feel grander than knowing he has met his woman’s need and probably even exceeded her expectations

Women are therefore happy to pretend to be kitchen genies at the beginning of relationships and would never admit to not just absolutely loving cooking.

Rather, they prefer to give their man the impression that they live just to feed him as many times as possible in a day.

Unfortunately, that impression is bound to waste when she insists of going out for dinner every so often when the relationship is established.

She feels insulted when he gives her money Of course nothing makes your

man feel grander than knowing he has met his woman’s need and probably even exceeded her expectations, especially if he had to bend over backwards to do it.

Studies show the average woman is actually disappointed almost every time their man gives them a gift, especially when it is money.

Truth is, today ’s working women have developed very sophisticated tastes that their men can barely keep up with, and they are ready to work very hard when it’s necessary to do so. But would a woman ever complain

Ministry of Women Affairs endorse walk against rape

By Esther Onyegbula

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HE fifth edition of the much awaited Walk Against Rape has once more gotten a nod from the Lagos State Ministry Of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and notable celebrities like: Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Jimmy Jatt, Ali Baba, Owen Gee, Gt the Guiterman, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi (OAP)Isio Wanogho (Model), Bolaji Rosiji, Ego Obaro, Praise Fowowe, Jerrilyn Mulbah, Jodie, Bhaira (AMBO 3), Toni Payne, amongst others.

Walk Against Rape Campaign is a special demonstration that brings together mothers, fathers, guardians, teachers, youth advocates, social activist , actors, actresses, sports men, media practitioners, musicians, DJs, comedians, youth organizations, showbiz personalities and student delegates from various higher institutions and Secondary Schools around Lagos state to lend a voice to sexually abused persons (particularly women and children), and also show their

support to the course of bringing an end to RAPE in Nigeria where the number of Rape cases is on the increase.

According to the Project Coordinator, Esther IjewereKalejaiye, “Our aim is to help in encouraging victims to speak out and reduce the stigmatization attached to the victims of sexual abuse and Rape as well as use “Walk Against Rape” as a platform to inform the society about the soaring scourge of

Olagbegi sexual abuse especially as it relates to young girls and women in general.

Rosiji We intend achieving a lot more with the campaign this year as we would be having a three

her man has not even scratched the surface when he gives her cash? Never.

She does not trust him For all her freedoms and liberation, a woman is far less likely than a man to voice her insecurities in a relationship that the other way round.

She has watched her mother look the other way more often than not. She has heard her aunt tell her uncountable times of how it’s a man’s world. She has been called names just for showing a flash of jealousy and she has been told by the census that there are more women than men.

Her girlfriends are telling her to be wise and hold on to her straying man and so while he snoops and snoops and finds nothing, she makes minimal efforts and finds everything but does she ever mention it? Never.

The reason that hot new househelp gets a shaven head and the girlfriend is told jokingly to do her top buttons up is not because she does not trust her girlfriend or the maid but because she certainly does not trust her man.

Her man might ask the question a dozen times- “honey, do you trust me?” and her answer would be a big fat lying “Yes”

months sensitizing workshop College Acquaintance Rape Education C.A.R.E in partnership with the Lagos State Government and the Domestic and sexual violence response team (DSVRT) for young people of secondary and Primary school age to educate and sensitize them on Rape and encourage them to speak up. The workshop kicked off on the 18th of February 2015 with Desmond Elliot, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State; Mr. Ade Ipaye and a host of other stakeholders in attendance.

Akran of Badagry advocates fund for NFLV Badagry

By Anino Aganbi

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ANGUAGE, which had become a moot point in Nigeria, is once again on the high rise. Foreign and local languages that were seen as not adding values to the morale of a child are now being taught at home and in schools. As a result, most languages in Nigeria seem to be dying off. This has prompted most bodies to rejuvenate languages among

children and adults. The Akran of Badagry kingdom His Royal Highness De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi 1 commended the federal government for establishing the Nigerian French language village in his domain and called the management of the institution to ensure that its mission and vision were accomplished from time to time.

HRH ,Oba De Wheno made this call when the new director

of the village professor Raufu Adebisi paid him a familiarization visit recently.

He stated that “he had followed the rapid development of the village right from its inception and urged the new management to build on its present stage and to re-brand the institute for greater accomplishment’.

“He however appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider the delisting of

interuniversity centres especially the French village from the TETFUND list; the French village cannot generate the revenue that would be enough to accomplish its task. He posited that no educational institution can survive in the face of paucity of funds. The Nigerian French language village caters for language immersion programmes for undergraduates of French from universities and colleges of education in Nigeria.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 —41

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Smart Apps, smart mobile experience in a smart world

By Prince Osuagwu

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EMI Olanrewaju is an early adopter. He was one of the first Nigerians to buy a mobile phone when the revolution in the telecoms sector began in 2001. Olanrewaju was not a tech addict. Rather, he was one who always sought products and services that would make his life easier and his business better.

Olanrewaju has had challenges with his weight: been slightly on the obese side and also suffers from osteoporosis, a disease of the bone that has greatly affected his mobility.

Back then, Olanrewaju’s mobile phone was helpful in his vocation as a marketer. The voice and text functions on his mobile were helpful in greatly reducing the amount of movement he had to make. Sadly it didn’t quite save him from the troubles he was trying to avoid. He still had to make painful trips to the cyber cafe to check and send emails.

Just as he had to go to the hospital frequently for his checks and he still had to travel a lot for meetings. This was because the first generation of mobile phones were not “smart”. They had limited processing and memory speeds.

Processing and memory speeds The first apps were very basic and limited in what they could do. Calendar, calculator, world clock and contact book, basic monochromic games (Snake, Tetris, Tic-tac-toe, pong among others) as well as monophonic ringtone editor are samples of the earliest apps mobile phone makers developed.

Soon though, as the phones became smarter, users like Olanrewaju could do more with their phones than call, send sms or play boring monochromic 2D games. They could now send and receive emails via their phones, thanks to the mobile internet capability that was creating a seismic shift.

With the launch of Apple’s iphone in 2008, technology companies and internet service providers began driving the shift from voice-call-oriented Telco 1.5 to the data-and-digital focused Telco 2.0.

The internet and apps Although there is no one universal way of defining Telco 2.0, it is safe to describe it as digital services that harness the power of mobile devices by infusing it with the power of the

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internet.

Users like Olanrewaju started getting value for their investment when Sun Microsystems developed the Java Operating System (OS) which quickly became the backbone of several mobile applications in the first generation of mobile devices.

Symbian Limited also came devised the Symbian Operating System that grew to become the most popular smartphone OS on a worldwide average until the end of 2010 (with 250 million devices running the Symbian by 2009) when it was overtaken by Android, an open source platform now used by many developers.

Research in Motion (RIM), creators of the immensely popular Blackberry devices also made a huge contribution to the way the mobile app is now being regarded now with its introduction of the email enterprise system in 2002.

Before 2008, mobile users used basic apps for various purposes such as chat apps to complex scientific calculators and loads of fantastic games. However users were not spoilt for choice. They were limited to the apps that were bundled unto their mobile devices. However, Apple blazed the trail by creating the iStore in 2008 and thus opened the

floodgates for the various app stores and shared platforms like Blackberry app world, Google play store, Mobogenie, and MTN Nextapp stores to flourish.

The mobile lifeline: Apps make life easier. There is the popular BBM that allow users to chat, share files and even call over the internet, and there is the Facebook app, the Twitter app and several apps that make it easier for internet users to consume the web content without stress. But what if there was a real time utility app that delivers

Before 2008, mobile users used basic apps for various purposes such as chat apps to complex scientific calculators and loads of fantastic games

several unique contents that are tailored to improve an individual’s life?

That is exactly what the BetterMe app is set out to do.

The app is powered by Nigeria’s leading ICT company, MTN, to help Nigerians optimize the power of the internet to do extraordinary things that make for a better life. As is very well known, there is no end to the possibilities offered by the internet and given the talent and innovativeness of Nigerians coupled with the opportunities provided by access to the internet, we are bound to witness many individuals attain greater heights and do a whole lot of things faster and better with less effort.

The app is uniquely built to provide easy access to a world of digital content and offers subscribers a single platform to access, view and share loads of lifestyle content, among many others.

In order to help users even get the best of the app, MTN launched three different internet data bundle offerings for customers early in the year. The bundles offer customers discounted offerings for voice, sms and data services thus giving customers cheaper and easier access to the Internet.

Before now, there were few multi-content-delivery apps that is, if it is a business app, it delivers strictly business content, while an entertainment app delivers strictly entertainment content.

And if it is a ‘time waster app’, it does exactly that. On the other hand, the BetterMe app combines all the top performing categories of apps on one platform, yet its user-interface is not cumbersome. It saves them the trouble of switching from one app to another, while also easing the burden on the device OS. In fact, it is one a one stop app that has the capacity of helping users track their New Year resolutions.

Commenting on these fine aspects of the BetterMe app, Fola Akinmolayan, chief executive officer of Neo2 Ltd, an indigenous company that built the app, said that MTN’s value propositions will help Nigerians every step of the way to become better farmers, doctors, teachers, traders, students and many other professional fields.

“The platform is also intuitive in that it’s able to provide alerts about events around and related to the New Year. For us, we weren’t going to recreate another productivity app. We saw the need in the market that there was just too much information and the need to help people curate and distil this information to manageable chunks which they can use to become better people.

Information fuels ideas and ideas rule the world. If you don’t have the right information, you don’t know it,” Akinmolayan said.

Right information Bayo Adekanmbi, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN provides an informed perspective for assessing the Betterme campaign. He said:“BetterMe is a simple equation, myself as an ordinary Nigerian plus the power of the Internet that is the leverage, the connection and the opportunity that comes with the Internet will make you become a better me. BetterMe is a new social lexicon that defines an ordinary Nigerian who leverages the power of the Internet to do extraordinary things. It is that ordinary mechanic by Obalende Bridge who has become a master in fixing Honda cars, not because he has gone to any school, but because he knows how to go to the Honda website and check the latest trends from Honda, hence attracting more customers, reducing the time he serves the market and making more money for himself,” Adekanmbi quips.

Now 2015, and thanks to the rapid evolution in the telecommunications industry, Olanrewaju is now a better businessman, he does not travel as much as he used to fourteen years ago.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—43

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SLAM defined the duties and responsibilities of women 1400 years ago and got them out of oppression. Rather than showcasing them as sex symbols, Islam laid down rules to protect their honor and gave them a key role in the upbringing of families along with their husbands that in turn contributes to the foundation of healthy societies.

Fourteen centuries ago, Islam made women equally accountable to Allah in glorifying and worshiping Him – setting no limits on her moral progress.

Since men and women both came from the same essence, they are equal in their humanity and in earning of rewards for their good deeds. Islam establishes the basis of equality among both genders. In the Quran, in the first verse of the chapter entitled “Women”, Allah says: Islam on Women’s Rights and Duties and Liberation through Islam “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allah through whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship).

Surely, Allah is Ever an AllWatcher over you.” (Quran 4:1) The Quran also says: “That He may admit the believing men and the believing women to Gardens under which rivers flow (i.e. Paradise), to abide therein forever, and He may expiate from them their sins; and that is with Allah a supreme success.” Quran (48:5) In terms of reward, again, the Quran states that both men and women are equal and they will be rewarded according to their deeds.

“And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.”

(Quran 4:32) Rights of women In Islam, a woman enjoys basic freedom of choice and expression based on recognition

Jumada Al-Awwal 8, 1436 A.H.

Women are not mere sex symbols of her individual personality. For example, women have been given the right to accept or deny marriage proposals. She is also to keep her and her father’s name after marriage. Islam also encourages women to express their opinions and ideas. History shows that women used to pose questions directly to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and offer their opinions concerning religion, economics and social matters. We find evidence of this in many traditions of the Prophet (S.A.W).

Women Education in Islam The Prophet said: “Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim (male and female).” (AtTirmidhi)

A wife must also guard her husband’s property. She must safeguard his home and possessions, to the best of her ability, from theft or damage

This includes knowledge of the Quran and the Hadeeth as well as other types of worldly knowledge that can bring good to people and societies at large.

Both men and women must promote morality and goodness and condemn evil in all walks of life. Muslim women, therefore, must acquire the appropriate education to perform this duty in accordance with their natural talents and interests.

Islam recognizes and fosters the natural differences between men and women despite their equality.

Due to their physical makeup, some types of work are more suitable for men than women.

This in no way diminishes the efforts of anyone. Allah will reward both sexes equally for the value of their work, though, it may not necessarily be the same activity. So, while bearing, raising and teaching of children, and providing support to her husband and maintenance of a home are among the foremost duties of a mother and a wife, and very highly regarded role for a woman in Islam, if she has the skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she may do so, as long as her family obligations are not neglected.

Concerning motherhood, the Prophet said: “Heaven lies under her feet.” (An-Nasai) We see from this hadith the high status and respect that Islam gave to a woman. Many studies show that the first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother. It is vital, therefore, that mothers become educated to impart appropriate morals in their children who in

The new Editorial Board members of the Truth Newspaper, the foremost Islamic weekly newspaper in Nigeria owned by Ahmadiyya Muslim Jaamat of Nigeria.

turn would influence the future of healthy societies.

Political Rights A right given to Muslim women was the right to voice her opinion on socio-political issues.

On any public matter, a Muslim woman may voice her opinion and participate in politics. An example from history is Abdurrahman Ibn Awf who consulted many women before he recommended Uthman Ibn Affan to be the Caliph and leader of the Muslims.

Economic Rights of Women A Muslim woman has the privilege to earn money, the right to own property, to enter into legal contracts and to manage all of her assets in any way she pleases. She can run her own business and no one can claim her earnings, including her husband.

Islam has also provided a woman the right to inherit from her relatives. The Quran states: “There is a share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether the property be small or large – a legal share.”

(Quran 4:7) As a Wife Islam has attached a lot of importance to marriage. A marriage provides the bedrock for ones emotional well being.

Divine guidance in the Quran and Hadith has clearly laid out a system of laws to support harmonious interaction between the sexes. Many verses in the Quran stress the need for husbands and wives to be affectionate with each other and to exercise patience in challenging times. The Quran states: “And among His signs is this that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and he has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.” (Quran 30:21) To foster the love and security that comes with marriage, Muslim wives have various rights. The first of the wife’s rights is to receive mahr, a gift from the husband, which is part of the marriage contract and required for the legality of the marriage. This is unlike unIslamic practices in certain parts of the world where women are forced to pay dowry to the husband to enter in marriage contracts. Unfortunately, many

Muslims also engage in such illegal practices.

The second right of a wife has to do with maintenance. Despite any wealth she may have, her husband is obligated to provide her with food, shelter and clothing. He is not forced, however, to spend beyond his capability and his wife is not entitled to make unreasonable demands.

The Quran states: “Let the rich man spend according to his means, and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allah has given him. Allah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him. Allah will grant after hardship, ease.” (Quran 65:7) Islam is clear in its teachings that God created men and women to be different, with unique roles, functions and skills. As in society, where there is a division of labor, so too in a family, where each member has different responsibilities. Generally, Islam upholds that women are entrusted with the nurturing role, and men, with the guardian role. Therefore, women are given the right of financial support.

The Quran states: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means…” (Quran 4:34) This guardianship and greater financial responsibility given to men requires that they provide women with not only monetary support but also physical protection and kind respectful treatment.

The Prophet said: “The most perfect believers are the best in conduct. And the best of you are those who are the best to their wives.”

Duties of a Wife With rights also come responsibilities. Therefore, wives have certain obligations to their husbands. For instance, a wife is prohibited to talk foul about their husbands and are obligated to keep her husband’s secrets and protect their marital privacy. A husband, too, is expected to guard her honor.

A wife must also guard her husband’s property. She must safeguard his home and possessions, to the best of her ability, from theft or damage. She should manage the household affairs wisely so as to prevent loss or waste. She should not allow anyone to enter the house whom her husband dislikes nor incur any expenses of which her husband disapproves.

A Muslim woman must cooperate and coordinate with her husband. There cannot, however, be cooperation with a man who is disobedient to Allah and His teachings. In such cases, religious advice should be sought as fulfilling requests that are against Allah’s teachings is not allowed.

The Quran states: “It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision.

And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.” (Quran 33:36)

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—45

Delta community restates suppor t for Jonathan, Okowa, Nwaoboshi, others

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—THE people of Akwukwu-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, have restated their support for the Delta North senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, whom they described as humane and a community developer.

Speaking at a town hall meeting to sensitise the people ahead of the March 28 and April 11 general elections, HRH David Azuka, the Obi of Akwukwu-Igbo Kingdom, said the people of the kingdom were unanimous in their resolve to vote for Chief Nwaoboshi in the senatorial election and all other PDP candidates from the presidential to the state House of Assembly polls.

Noting that Chief Nwaoboshi was instrumental to the appointment of a son of the kingdom, Dr Ben Iwezu, into the State Executive Council, the monarch said Nwaoboshi also

Jonathan Campaign Organisation inaugurates Ward chapters in Delta

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REROKPE— AHEAD of the March 28, presidential election, Okpe Local Government Area coordinator of Jonathan/ Sambo Campaign Organisation in Delta State, Blessing Oborevwori, yesterday, inaugurated the executive committee for 10 wards and 150 units in the council.

Those inaugurated include Mrs. Abani Akpobi, Prince David Ugbokan, Gloria Aragba, Chief Arthur Itogha, Francis Ebireri, Abraham Okpeyovwe, Newyear Akpere, Wilson Eravho, Owin Erirhomu and Sunday Omadaju.

They were advised to live up to their responsibility in the discharged of their duties.

Oborevwori said: “The president has charged us to go to our respective units and wards and meet our people, whether Labour Party, All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to look beyond party and cast their votes for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in his re-election bid.”

played a key role in the election of an Ukala son as chairman of the council.

He said: “This is the first time our son is being elected as chairman of council since its creation and this is the first time our son is being appointed as a commissioner.”

According to him, Nwaoboshi has also attracted the

construction of roads to the kingdom, adding that they have every reason to give him their votes. “We stand by the Anioma kings' endorsement of Chief Peter Nwaoboshi,” he said.

On the state governorship poll, the monarch, said: “We will support our son, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. This is the first

time an Anioma person is emerging as governorship flagbearer of the PDP; so we will vote him.”

He warned against destruction of campaign bill boards, insisting that candidates were free to erect their bill boards in the area irrespective of their political

VISIT: From left: Desmond Agbama, NUJ Chairman, Edo State; new Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adegboiyiu; A.S. Bello, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Mr. Kenneth Ebrimoson, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operation), Edo State during the CP's visit to NUJ Secretariat, Benin. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

Restrain Oarhe from parading self as Edo SDP Reps candidate, Stephen urges court

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—THE House of Representatives candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, for Owan federal constituency, Edo State, in the forthcoming general elections, Mr Ekeinde Stephen, has asked a Federal High Court, Benin City, to restrain one Mr Dickson Oarhe from parading himself as a candidate of the party for the March 28 House of Representatives election.

Mr Oarha has been insisting that he emerged the consensus candidate at the party's primaries for Owan federal constituency poll.

Stephen, in the suit, is also asking the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising or dealing with Mr Oarhe, as candidate of the party for the election pending the determination of the suit.

In an affidavit in support of the suit, Stephen averred that “Under the constitution of the SDP, after nomination of its candidates, an aggrieved party is required to appeal to the party’s zonal caucus in line with section 13.4 (VI) of

the party’s constitution. There was no appeal received by the party’s zonal caucus challenging his nomination till date.”

He further averred that “From the records of SDP, Oarhe is not a member of the SDP, neither did he participate in the nomination process for the selection of the candidate for the House of Representatives for Owan federal constituency for the rescheduled March 28, National Assembly election.

“To the utmost surprise of the plaintiff, Oarhe has been parading himself as the candidate of SDP for the House of Representatives for Owan federal constituency in the forthcoming National Assembly elections.”

He argued that there was need to restrain Oarhe from further parading himself as candidate of the SDP as he is not the candidate of the SDP for the said election.

Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned till March 5.

Senatorial candidate blames assassination attempt on opponents

By Emma Una

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ALABAR—CHIEF Gershom Bassey, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senatorial candidate for the southern senatorial district of Cross River State, whose house was invaded last week by suspected assassins, has described the attempt on his life as harrowing and the handiwork of political desperados.

Chief Bassey told Vanguard in Calabar, yesterday, that the PDP was an all-embracing

party that has practised politics in the state in a friendly manner devoid of rancour, so when he heard of the shootings in his house, he felt pained and wondered why people would go to such length just for political office.

He said from the information his security aides provided, some people came to his house at 8 p.m., on Saturday to ask for him and when they heard that he was not around, they began to shoot, wondering why armed robbers would ask people if he was at home.

BRV drums up support for Okowa

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AT I O N A L C o o r d i n a t o r, Benin River Vanguard, BRV, a socio-cultural organization in Delta State, Mr Anthony Okotie, has criticised the recent call by some persons to vote against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in the forthcoming election.

Reacting to the call by Delta Province Unity, which excluded nationality of Delta North extraction from the state, Okotie noted the inherent contradictions in the group's position, insisting that for the sake of equity and justice, Senator Okowa should be voted for in view of his legendary political antecedents which mark him out from other aspirants jostling for the governorship of the state.

According to him, under the rotational political arrangement, it was only fair for the Delta North to have their share in the governance of the state as they are part of the state, adding that no ethnic group has the exclusive preserve to govern the state.

Faulting the claims by Delta Province Unity, Okotie noted that the people of Delta North have never at any point in time, denied or attempted to humiliate their Ndokwa kinsmen as stated by the group.

Madam Salubi dies at 92

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ADAM Rebecca Salubi (nee Oritsejonone), aged 92, is dead. She died on January 10, 2015 after a brief illness.

The late Madam Salubi is survived by children, grand children and great grand children. Burial arrangements will be announced by the family.

Late Madam Salubi

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 — 47

Be peaceful, responsible, Plateau youths tasked

Jonathan visits recaptured Adamawa towns from Boko Haram

By Umar Yusuf

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—YOUTHS as assets and critical instruments for development have been asked to be peaceful, by conducting themselves responsibly as future leaders whom the country was looking up to for direction especially as the nation prepared for the general elections.

The Unit Coordinator, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Dr. Waheed Adedeji made the appeal while addressing over 500 youths from Plateau North senatorial zone at the opening ceremony of Youth Camp IV held at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Mountain School, Shere Hills, Jos. The Youth Camp IV, organized by the Institute of Governance and Social Research, IGSR, drew participants from Jos North, Jos South, Jos East, Barkin Ladi, Bassa and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

Adedeji further urged the participants not to disappoint the society by indulging in violent activities.

Also speaking, the Commander, Sector Three of the Special Task Force, STF, Col. W. T. Akinola urged the youths to “imbibe the culture of peace.''

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OLA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan made a brief visit to Adamawa State yesterday to see for himself some of the recaptured towns from Boko Harm in the state.

Jonathan was accompanied on the visit by the Service Chiefs including the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Air Staff, the Inspector

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private talks and sympathized with the people.

Jonathan later visited Michika and Vimtim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief Air Marshall Badeh. Vimtim, Badeh’s home town and Michika the home town of the former Military Governor of Lagos State, Mohammed Buba Marwa and the former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna were also the strongholds of the Boko Haram before there were

LAUNCH: From right: GM, Banex Plaza, Abuja, Mr. Jideofor Chunwuba; Zonal Head, FCT 3 of First City Monument Bank Ltd (FCMB), Mr. Akinwumi Kolapo; Chairman of Classic Wardrobe Affairs Ltd, Mr. Emeka Agbakoba and Deputy Commandant of Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, Mrs. Beatrice Irabor, at the launch of FCMB Personal Business Account product in Abuja.

Yero pledges improved security in Southern Kaduna

By Luka Binniyat

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ADUNA—KADUNA State governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero

Agoda, our choice for Senate, group insists OSOGA—THE Urhobo Electoral Advocacy and Enlightenment Group has endorsed Hon. Halims Agoda, OFR, as its candidate for the Senate in the forthcoming elections. Interacting with newsmen and members of the public in Mosoga, the group through its spokesperson, Elder Edirin Atuyota, described Agoda, as lawyer and experienced legislator of suprising resourcefulness and accessibility, insisting that he is the right material to represent the Urhobos at the Senate in what it described as uncertain times for the Urhobo nation.

According to Atuyota, even though many members of his group had decided to remain in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP,

of General of Police and the National Security Adviser among other military top brass.

On arrival at the Yola Airport, Jonathan was flown to Mubi for inspection of the town which was reclaimed from the Boko Haram insurgents after being renamed an Islamic state and occupied for almost two months.

While in the area, the President and his entourage visited the Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Isah Ahmadu, where they held

in order to reform the party from within, they were still committed to voting for Agoda of the All Progressive Congress, APC, for the overall good of Urhobo land.

While reiterating that Agoda was without a doubt the best material for the plum job, Atuyota, on behalf of the group claimed that “This is not the time for unwarranted sentiments and blind party loyalty as if we are zombies. We just have to elect a Senator we can be proud of across Urhobo land as a man of genuine integrity and reliability.

Barrister Agoda has passed every such test, setting himself apart as a true son of Urhobo land. By refusing to align himself with forces inimical to the fortunes of the Urhobos and Delta State in general, the gentleman is our choice for Senate.”

yesterday reaffirmed his commitment to improve the security situation in the southern Kaduna, where raids by suspected Fulani herdsmen on several communities had left hundreds dead since 2011.

Yero made the pledge while on campaign tour to Zangon Kataf Local Government Area where he also promised to complete all ongoing projects in line with his government’s policy of ensuring that no project was abandoned.

He said, “The present administration has continued to collaborate with security agencies with the aim of preventing attacks on our communities.

Unfortunately some people are bent on creating chaos in the state but we shall not relent until the entire state is safe for our people.

“I want to call on people in this area to support this government’s peace and security efforts and I want you to support our security agencies with relevant information to prevent criminals messing up our much desired peace and development.”

While at the Palace of the Agwam Bajju, Malam Nuhu Bature,Yero said he was at the palace to seek for support and

blessings of the traditional ruler.

The governor commiserated with the people of the area over the recent attack by gunmen that resulted in loss of lives, and prayed for continued peace in the state and the country at large.

In his remarks, the Agwam Bajju cautioned politicians against making unguarded utterances that could lead to crisis in the state.

Bature,spoke on behalf of two other traditional rulers, the Chiefs of Ikulu and Kamanta respectively, emphasising that peace was the bedrock of any development.

He called on those seeking to lead people to demonstrate responsible attitude to issues affecting the communities at all times.

Bature commended the decision of the state government to establish a university of science and technology in Kafanchan, saying it would expand opportunities for qualified candidates to gain admission into tertiary institutions.

“We can see that the work is in progress, and we believe that it is not just a promise,” he said.

retaken by the Military.

The President had earlier paid similar visit to parts of Borno State which were recently recaptured from the Boko Haram insurgents.

NEC dismisses existence of fake Boko Haram leader

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HE Northern Elders Council, NEC, has described ‘’media reports credited to some politicians of the existence of a fake Boko Haram leader whom the military will produce to discredit some other politicians,’’ as ‘’a fairy tale’’ which should ‘’be discountenanced.’’

NEC said that ‘’At this period of our success (against Boko Haram insurgents) what is not required is overheating the polity; rather we must all join hands to support our military to rout out this agents of destruction and merchants of death.’’

In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of NEC, Ambassador Yusuf Mamman it commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the military over the level of progress being made to flush out the Boko Haram insurgents from the north east zone in the country.

Mamman said that the council was happy that the military had stepped up the fight against the insurgents and condoled the families of victims of the insurgency.

The statement read, ‘’The Council joins the House of Representatives in applauding Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian Military for stepping up the fight to end insurgency in the country. ‘’We further condole the families of those that lost their lives in the entire insurgency saga, as well as the recent Potiskum and Kano suicide bombings while we condemn in strong terms such unwarranted attacks. ‘’The council notes with delight the resolve and efforts of the military generals to capture Shekau alive as a means of ensuring the quick resolution of the scourge. ‘’Let us use this medium to call on politicians to close ranks and join the campaign for the success of this military effort. ‘’We appreciate the efforts of the stakeholders in the terror stricken area, for their cooperation towards the renewed break through by the military. ‘’We also commend Mr. President through the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo for organizing a sensitization meeting with religious leaders on the need to ensure violent free March 28 and April 11, 2015 general elections.’’

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

VISIT: From left: Project Coordinator, Development Africa, Arturo Tendero, Country Director, Development Africa, Joshua Kenpeneer, Technical and Policy Head, Well-being Foundation, Dr. Luther-king Fasehun and Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, during a visit to the governor at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

COMMISSIONING: From left: Area Manager, Tata Motors Ltd, Mr. Subhajit Som, Head, Vehicle & Asset Finance, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbor, Head, Franchise Management, LAGBUS Asset Management Ltd, Mr. Ogunyankin Olubodu, and Head, Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Lloyd Onaghinon, at the commissioning of LAGBUS-Tata buses financed by Stanbic IBTC Bank in Lagos.

COURTESY CALL: From left: Council member and Chairman, Events Committee, Mr. Sola Kolawole, Trade Marketing Director, Mr. Samer Junuzovi, President and Chairman of Governing Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN, Mr Ganiyu Koledoye and National Commercial Director, Mr. Matthew Seguin, during the NIMN's courtesy visit to Nigerian Bottling Company, in Lagos.

COCKTAIL: From left: Marie Phido, Associate Director and Head, Sales and Marketing, KPMG Nigeria, Seyi Bickersteth, National Senior Partner, Mo Abudu, MD/CEO, Ebony Life TV, John Momoh, Chairman/CEO, Channels TV and Yomi Sanni, Partner and COO, KPMG, at the annual KPMG Nigeria alumni cocktail in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele.

SESSION: Left: Former Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, Vice Chairman, APC, Amuwo Odofin, Mr. Ayo Ogungbiye, Hajia Fatimah Adamu-Bako, Rev. Henry Nwabueze and Mr. Cecil Okereke, at an interactive session on PVC collection in Lagos, yesterday.

AGRI-BUSINESS: From left: Mr. Ladi Balogun, GMD/CEO, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Ltd, Danladi Garba, Chairman, Tractor Owners & Hiring Facilities Association of Nigeria, TOHFAN, and Kudzai Gumunyu, Head, Agriculture Business Finance, FCMB, during the FCMB Agri-Business workshop in Lagos. Photo: AKeem Salau.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

BRIEFING: From left: Special Adviser to Minister of Trade and Investment, Mrs Abisola Mustapha, Director General, SMEDAN, Hon. Bature Masari and Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Ashok Israni, displaying the signed Glo-SMEDAN MoU and Head, Corporate Sales, Globacom, Kamaldeen Shonibare, at a briefing in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

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Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication and Technology (right) and Comrade Ayodele Adewale, former Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, at the 2015 Social Media Week, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—49

Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition Continues from page 20 p r o b l e m s to irresponsibly fester, and I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

On the economy, the fall in prices of oil has brought our economic and social stress into full relief. After the rebasing exercise in April 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as Africa’s largest economy. Our GDP is now valued at $510 billion and our economy rated 26th in the world.

Single digit Also on the bright side, inflation has been kept at single digit for a while and our economy has grown at an average of 7 % for about a decade. But it is more of paper growth, a growth that, on account of mismanagement, profligacy and corruption, has not translated to human development or shared prosperity.

A development economist once said three questions should be asked about a country’s development: one, what is happening to poverty? Two, what is happening to unemployment? And three, what is happening to inequality?

The answers to these questions in Nigeria show that the current administration has created two economies in C M Y K

one country, a sorry tale of two nations: one economy for a few who have so much in their tiny island of prosperity; and the other economy for the many who have so little in their vast ocean of misery.

Even by official figures, 33.1% of Nigerians live in extreme poverty. That’s at almost 60 million, almost the population of the United Kingdom. There is also the unemployment crisis simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode at the slightest stress, with officially 23.9% of our adult population and almost 60% of our youth unemployed.

We also have one of the highest rates of inequalities in the world.

With all these, it is not surprising that our performance on most governance and development indicators (like Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance and UNDP’s Human Development Index.) are unflattering. With fall in the prices of oil, which accounts for more than 70% of government revenues, and lack of savings from more than a decade of oil boom, the poor will be disproportionately impacted. In the face of dwindling revenues, a good place to start the repositioning of Nigeria’s economy is to swiftly tackle two ills that have ballooned under the present administration: waste and corruption. And in doing this, I will, if elected, lead the way, with the force of personal example.

On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand.

Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my administration. First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process.

Revenue producing entities such as NNPC and Customs and Excise will have one set of books only. Their revenues will be publicly disclosed and regularly audited. The institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference.

But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt. I’m running for President to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity. In reforming the economy, we will use savings that arise from blocking these leakages and the proceeds

Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my administration

recovered from corruption to fund our party’s social investments programmes in education, health, and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pensions for the elderly.

As a progressive party, we must reform our political economy to unleash the pent-up ingenuity and productivity of the Nigerian people thus freeing them from the curse of poverty.

Private sector led economy We will run a private sector-led economy but maintain an active role for government through strong regulatory oversight and deliberate interventions and incentives to diversify the base of our economy, strengthen productive sectors, improve the productive capacities of our people and create jobs for our teeming youths.

In short, we will run a functional economy driven by a worldview that sees growth not as an end by itself, but as a tool to create a society that works for all, rich and poor alike. On March 28, Nigeria has a decision to make. To vote for the continuity of failure or to elect progressive change. I believe the people will choose wisely.

In sum, I think that given its strategic importance, Nigeria can trigger a wave of democratic consolidation in Africa. But as a starting point we need to get this

critical election right by ensuring that they go ahead, and depriving those who want to scuttle it the benefit of derailing our fledgling democracy. That way, we will all see democracy and democratic consolidation as tools for solving pressing problems in a sustainable way, not as ends in themselves.

Permit me to close this discussion on a personal note. I have heard and read references to me as a former dictator in many respected British newspapers including the well regarded Economist. Let me say without sounding defensive that dictatorship goes with military rule, though some might be less dictatorial than others. I take responsibility for whatever happened under my watch.

I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time.

You may ask: why is he doing this? This is a question I ask myself all the time too. And here is my humble answer: because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done, because I still believe that change is possible, this time through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have the capacity and the passion to dream and work for a Nigeria that will be respected again in the comity of nations and that all Nigerians will be proud of.

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 — 51

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Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—53

Oshodi: Uneasy calm after mayhem, as traders, residents count losses

By Olasunkanmi Akoni,Bose Adelaja & Monsur Olowoopejo

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ELATIVE peace has since returned to Oshodi after a bloody clash involving rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, on Tuesday crippled commercial activities in the area for several hours. Three lives were lost in the mayhem, while several vehicles, mostly commercial buses, were burnt, in addition to other losses recorded while the factional war lasted. The presence of Rapid Response Squad, RRS and a Task force team seem to promise a semblance normalcy. But this was not enough guarantee of safety for commercial vehicle owners to operate as they fled the parks, leaving many commuters stranded.

A source at Oshodi hinted that the fracas started at Saudi park in the early hours of the fateful day. “Some hoodlums have been residing in the motor park but indications emerged that some of them were loyal to a particular party and some union leaders wanted to evict them from the park. But the move was violently resisted by some loyalists of the other party, resulting in dangerous weapons being freely used by both sides.

This climaxed into gunshots being fired by the hoodlums, with residents scampering for safety to avoid being caught by stray bullets.

Rampaging hoodlums Spirited efforts by policemen from Mosafejo Division to quell the riot by shooting several canisters of teargas to disperse the rampaging hoodlums proved abortive as the hoodlums refused to budge until the arrival of the RRS. Vanguard gathered that the removal of a Police Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, around midnight made it possible for the hoodlums to operate freely.

According to residents, the Tuesday violence could have been prevented if the nearby Police station was well equipped.

The state NURTW chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, told VM, yesterday, that the situation would be thoroughly investigated, adding that the union had set up a five-man committee to handle it.

Residents also claimed they had in the past supplied information to the authorities which led to the arrest of the touts who usually returned to terrorise those responsible for giving out such

information in the community. A notable example is one Mr Okokomaiko Aremu who is said to have gone into exile after he was severally attacked by the hoodlums.

A resident, Abdulahi Oloruntobi, said the touts usually escape arrest while policemen end up arresting innocent individuals.

“The touts usually disappear from the parks to seek cover among the residents, thus making it impossible for them to be fished out,” he said.

One Alhaji Murtala Olokodana blamed residents for harbouring the criminals who have since stigmatised the community.

A former CDA leader and the family head of Ogunlana, Pastor Otolorin, wants government to provide adequate security in the area.

Another resident Madam Olaseni Abiodun said the touts were usually found at Oju-irin and Agege Motor Road, claiming that police men at Mosafejo Division are usually reluctant to step out of their acclaimed jurisdiction to make arrests.

While uneasy calm has taken over, affected traders and commercial operators were yesterday busy counting their losses and bemoaning their fate. Although few traders have opened for businesses, commercial activities are yet to commence fully owing to the prevailing fear that the hoodlums may yet return to unleash another round of terror on operators of businesses in the area.

Indeed the fear may not be unfounded given the worsening

Even as life is gradually returning to Oshodi, the Mosafejo thugs are still in a combat mode, breathing fire and making retaliatory threats against their opponents and law enforcement agents

notoriety of Mosafejo, where most of the hoodlums terrorising Oshodi hold sway. So, even as life is gradually returning to Oshodi, the Mosafejo thugs are still in a combat mode, breathing fire and making retaliatory threats against their opponents and law enforcement a g e n t s .

According to accounts, the recent mayhem was a fallout of a police team raid*Mosafejo....Enclave of hoodlums terrorising Oshodi? ing Mosafeji and arresting 20 hoodlums in the While reacting to the develprocess. Those arrested were said root to Mosafejo. opment, Opeifa said: “The inThe community formerly called to be members of one of the rival formation at our disposal says factions of the NURTW which, “Eyin-Irin” or the back of the railbetween them, had over the way line, was said to be a Gov- that it is not an issue concernyears made Mosafejo a hotbed ernment Reserved Area of its time ing NURTW. We are yet to get of bloody clashes over sundry until in the 1980s when it lost its the full details. As soon as the reasons, bordering in most cases status in this regard as motor police complete their investigaon who controls the parks at parks and market took over. After tion, we will be able to know it was given official recognition the cause of the crisis.

Oshodi.

“We don’t know if it was poin this regard on February 18, litically motivated or not be1983, the area which was earlier Supremcy cause I was there on Sunday. mostly inhabited by civil servants showdown was taken over by touts many of The Park Monitoring CommitThis development has over time whom made the parks and mar- tee has taken over the parks. created the impression that Mo- ket their abode, from where they Aside that, we are in discussafejo is synonymous with trou- launch sporadic attacks on un- sion with the leadership of the ble occasioned by the frequent wary individuals, thus making union in order to protect the public transport system. supremacy showdown between life unsafe in the area.

“From all indications, we are Within a space of one week, two contending motor park touts. But yet to link anything to the crimajor crises were recorded as two ironically Mosafejo means “runsis, and we will not allow anyfactions of the touts clashed and ning from trouble”. Mosafejoone to be punished for what he wasimi is a community in Onig- this led to loss of lives with many wasn’t involved. people injured and several propbongbo local council area of Laerties damaged.

It is a situation gos. It is essentially a border town APC reacts as it is not far from Odi- olowo which has drawn government’s and Mushin local government attention to the area.

Also, All Progressives ConIn the aftermath of Wedneswith the railway line separating gress, APC, Lagos chapter, day’s bloody mayhem, the state them. condemned the acts and called commissioner of Police, Kayode Historically, Mosafejo is reputon the police authorities in the ed as producing one Nurudeen Aderanti, had visited the area. state to fish out perpetrators After the CP’s visit, some of the Olokodana who drove the railand bring them to book. residents prayed the government way which conveyed the Queen The state Publicity Secretary to give the community a face lift of England from Ido to Kano of the party, Joe Igbokwe, dewhen she visited Nigeria as far as the Divisional Police station scribed the dastard act as, lacks major facilities ranging from back as 1956. The train driver was “Very unfortunate.” man power and modern said to have received the MemIgbokwe said that Lagos ber of the British Empire Award equipment.

State Government in its swift MBA by the Queen. response had taken extra measState govt reacts, The community had also proure to make sure that it will not absolves NURTW duced other notable Nigerians, re-occur.

“We sympathize with including the first Store Controlthe family of those who lost their The state Commissioner for ler of the Nigeria Railway Corlives.

Lagos State government poration, NRC, in the person of Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, is doing everything to make S.A. Akinola as well as Professor said the state government was sure it does not reoccur. already investigating the imOluwole Ogunbiyi and the Ebo“I know Governor Babatunde fins who have made names in the mediate and remote causes of Fashola has informed the Comengineering field in the United the Oshodi mayhem. missioner of Police in the state He however, absolved memStates of America. to arrest the situation forthwith bers of the National Union of In the area of entertainment, and ensure that perpetrators two prominent Fuji musicians late Road Transport Workers, are brought to book as deterAlhaji Ayinde Barrister and Kola- NURTW, of any involvement in rent to others.”

Igbokwe stated. wole Ayinla, are said to trace their the deadly clash.

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Labour Ministry, House of Reps honour DELSUTH cooperative society

Electorate urged to collect PVCs

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B U J A — D E LT A University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, MPCS, Oghara, has been conferred with award of excellence as rated among the best 10 performing cooperative societies by the Ministry of Labour and Productivity in conjunction with House of Representatives.

The Chairman of DELSUTH MPCS, Mr. Superior Ayonuwe, dedicated the award to executives and members of the society, pointing out that without their cooperation, he would not be able to do anything worthy of the award.

Earlier, while presenting the award, Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by Alhanji Baba Keita, House member from Katsina State, explained that the purpose of the award was to recognize, encourage and appreciate them for their good works despite the current economic meltdown and fall of oil price in the global market.

DINNER: President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) and his University of Port Harcourt classmates at a dinner with the President in Abuja.

‘Buhari’s Chatham speech full of lies’

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OVE on Nigeria, a civic action and pressure group promoting democracy, good governance and transformation agenda, has described the lecture delivered

by General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) at Chatham House, yesterday, as windy and full of lies.

In a statement in Abuja by the group’s National Coordinator, Mr. Clem Aguiyi, it argued that the lecture by the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate “would have passed for a wellcrafted speech if he was a first timer and we are ignorant of his antecedent and reputation.

“But because this will be his second tenure as president assuming he succeeds, having served first as a military dictator, we are fully aware of his reputation no matter how he tries to run away from the past.”

UPU youths allege marginalization in PTI recruitment

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HE leadership of Urhobo Progress Union Youth Wing, led by Mr. Ovie Igho Anthony, has called for the immediate cancellation of ongoing recruitment at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, alleging marginalization of Urhobo.

The Public Relations Officer of the group, Mr. Marcus Ekure, told newsmen: “Just as the case of Federal University of Petroleum Resource Effurun, FUPRE, we have discovered another conspiracy between the powers that be at PTI and some of our traditional rulers.

“The conspiracy is to the detriment of the collective interest and good of the Urhobo nation, which is the host community.”

He said the exercise does not conform with the provision of the Local Content Act, catchment area policy and other relevant standards and

conventions.

He condemned the movement of the recruitment to Abuja rather than in Delta State and the use of a foreign recruitment agency.

According to Move on Nigeria, “for the first time in three decades, Buhari accepted responsibility for the ills of his military regime, which include jailing of Pa Ajasin, even after the military tribunal had discharged him of all corruption charges.

“He held Dr. Alex Ekwueme in captivity throughout the period of his 20-month regime, even when no crime was traceable to him and he detained the late Igbo leader, Emeka Ojukwu, who held no

political office.

“It is not for Buhari to determine when Nigerians will forgive his sins. He was offered the opportunity during the Oputa Panel, which he missed.

“It is regrettable that Buhari wasted the opportunity provided him by the Chatham House to, at least, address issues bordering on restructuring and the Boko Haram insurgents, whom he clearly refused to identify as Islamic extremists.”

Jonathan lauds Land Swap District scheme

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, performed the ground breaking ceremony of the Land Swap Districts, at the Waru District of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, describing it as a laudable policy, which would ensure the end of government funding of commercially viable public infrastructure.

Jonathan, who was represented on the occasion by Vice President Namadi Sambo, noted that the initiative, which was private sector driven, would not only

provide the much-needed infrastructure in the capital city, but also free funds for the FCT to channel to other critical human developmental needs.

This was contained in a statement by a Special Adviser to the Vice President, Alhaji Umar Sani.

According to Jonathan, “With this Land Swap, government can do more for the people, boost private sector investment and prudently apply its funds to other demanding needs, all in one swoop.”

NAGAFF to parties: Tell us your plans for ports

By Ifeyinwa Obi

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HE National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, has called on all political parties to present their programmes on how they plan to address various issues affecting the ports industry, when elected.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NAGAFF, Mazi Chidiebere Enelamahaga, said the association wants the parties to reach out for discussion with the importers and freight forwarders in the industry.

Enelamahaga pointed out that some of the problems faced by agents and importers at the ports were man-made and stressed that the parties should be able to offer solution to them.

According to Enelamahaga, “we want to remind members that politics is about the interests of the greater majority and good governance.

“For example, our experiences in excessive port charges and illegal arrests of containers along the city roads

by Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, leaves much to

be desired as far as benefits of democracy to Nigerians, especially freight forwarders, are concerned.

“Others shall include undue interference over the realization of the objectives of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, by the Transport Ministry and undue stoppage of containers by government agents at the various shipping companies.

“The issue of extortion of members by the agents of the government is the greatest problem in our profession.”

EGISTERED voters in Ogun State have been called upon to collect their Permanent Voter ’s Cards, PVCs, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said only 59.1 percent of PVCs had so far been distributed in the state.

The Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IACN, Ogun State chapter, comprising registered political parties, also called on INEC to ensure that all eligible registered voters in the state dully obtain their PVCs within the stipulated time of March 8 deadline or, if need be, extend the collection period.

In a statement in Abeokuta by Mr. Biola Martins, Chairman and Mr. Segun Adegbenro, Secretary of the registered parties, respectively, they condemned what they called shoddy arrangements by INEC in the distribution of PVCs and pleaded with the electoral body to put all necessary machineries in motion to ensure that PVCs collection exercise is done with ease and proper arrangement.

Warri family petitions Uduaghan over compensation

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ATE Chief Thomas Akpoturi’s family, owners of a building in Warri, has petitioned Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, alleging refusal of the state consultant valuer handling the expansion at Okumagba Avenue Warri, to address its complaints on nonpayment of compensation.

In a letter by counsel to the family to the governor, dated February 24, the petitioner alleged that the survey line of the road indicated by the surveyor infringed on the building.

He said efforts to get the valuer to pay compensation to the said family to enable them demolish and reconstruct the building to fall in line with the blue line has proved abortive, hence the call on Governor Uduaghan to intervene.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 — 55

N175BN LG ALLOCATION: Imo govt replies Ihedioha

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—IMO State government has said that contrary to the N175.034 billion said to have accrued to the 27 local council areas of the state between May 2011 and December 2014, heavy deductions were usually made at source before remittance.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, made the clarification in a press statement made available to Vanguard in Owerri yesterday.

“We do not intend to join issues with Hon. Ihedioha on the allocations he published but suffice it to say that he should have known more than most people in the state that allocations do not get to the state as published. Heavy deductions are always done at source,” Onwuemeodo said.

While noting that all the allocations received by the government of Rochas Okorocha had been justified, Onwuemeodo also said the free education programme was capital intensive, explaining that was why the federal government could not do it.

He said: “The Okorocha government has monumental infrastructural development, massive road construction, visible empowerment programme, aggressive renovation of schools, the erection of 305 upstair school buildings in the 305 wards in the state, 27 ultra modern hospitals in the 27 local governments in the state.”

He tasked Chief Ihedioha to also publish the allocations received by the local councils within the 12 years the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was in power in the state.

“The PDP governorship candidate should equally do Imo people a favour by listing all the federal government’s projects captured in the federal budgets for the state also for 16

years and how much that had been released for the projects.

“He should also list who collected the money and where the projects which such monies were allocated are sited for Imo people to equally go and see,” Onwuemeodo saidVanguard recalls that a document released in Owerri by Chief Ihedioha

IFE and three children of an Abuja-based cleric, Pastor Francis Irabor, founder of Great Calling Ministry, GCM, located in Mabusi Area, in Abuja, have been reported missing.

Mrs. Augusta Irabor with three children Sarah, 5; Rhoda, 4, and David, 2, were said to have left their residence at Utako Area in Abula at 5p.m. to an unknown destination since February 6,2015 and have not returned .

The cleric, Mr. Francis Irabvor, who was in United Kingdom at the time of the incident, directed friends and relatives to report the disappearance to Utako police station immediately, while he hurriedly returmed to Nigeria. All attempts to locate his family members’ whereabouts had been futile.

government area with an allocation of N7,264,718,173.64.

Conversely, Nkwerre local government area received the lowest allocation of N5,417,840,531.43, closely followed by Onuimo and Nwangele with N5,739,729262.70 and N5,930,969,442.39 respectively.

FLAG-OFF: Vice President Namadi Sambo flanked by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed (wiih microphone) and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Philip Aduda while other dignitaries assisted as the Vice President cuts the tape to commemorate the ground breaking ceremony of the Land Swap Districts on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan at Waru District, Along Apo Mechanic Village, Phase IV South, FCT. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

RESCHEDULED NLC ELECTION: Fresh crisis looms

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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HE March 12 rescheduled National Delegates Conference of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, may be heading for a fresh crisis as one of the contestants from the public sector union has been lobbying a private sector union candidate to withdraw from the post he is contesting and go for the post of treasurer.

Sources said the public sector candidate is said not to be

Cleric’s wife, 3 children missing

W

indicated that the 27 local government areas of the state received a total of N175,034,754,198.58 within the period under reference A breakdown of the figures showed that Mbaitoli local council area received the highest allocation of N7,911,605,236.16, followed by Isiala Mbano local

Concerned friends, family members, church members and the police had all been involved in the search for the missing Irabors and the cleric is further distressed because he was kidnapped in his Prado sports utility vehicle late last year by unknown gunmen on Lokoja Express road, Edo State, when he was returning from a funeral of his in-law.

But with God’s intervention he later escaped after going through hell in the hands of his adaptors.

Pastor Irabor, who said he had been receiving threat calls from unknown sources before his own kidnap, appealed to security agents and Nigerians to help locate the whereabouts of his family and report to the nearest police station.

comfortable with the present candidate for the post of treasurer, which is unopposed.

The desperate candidate who wants to remain part of NLC leadership at all cost, is hoping to again move for a reopening of nomination on the floor of the rescheduled election as was the case in the botched election earlier in the month.

His union had in the botched election allegedly instigated the reopening of nomination that was majorly responsible for the ballot papers crisis that aborted the election.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the candidate who had printed a victory celebration calendar ahead of the botched election, on Friday, February 20, led a team to a popular hotel at Otako, Abuja, to lobby that the private sector union candidate

publicly renounce the post he was seeking and go for the post of treasurer for which another public sector union’s candidate was standing unopposed.

The candidate, who is the president of his union, it was gathered, went to the meeting with his General Secretary and met with a former General Secretary of the private sector union’s contestant to prevail on him not only to support his candidature but also switch to the position of treasurer, assuring that he would mobilise others to vote for him.

It was gathered that the candidate is pushing that since a new Credentials Committee had been formed, by virtue of the enlargement of the committee, it would be easier to make the committee or the conference-insession reopen nomination.

‘APC'll rescue Nigeria from economic woes, mediocrity'

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—SENATOR Gbenga Ashafa has said that the All Progressives Congress, APC, would rescue Nigeria from the mediocrity at the centre, shackles of poverty and uncontrollable level of unemployment the country was facing at present.

The lawmaker made the remarks while commissioning three newlyconverted motorized boreholes he donated to communities at Mutaku, Owu and Ado, all in Ikosi Ejinrin Local Council Development Areas of Epe town in Lagos State.

Ashafa, who represents Lagos East senatorial district, lamented the neglect and rot brought upon the country by the ruling party at the centre, adding that the Federal Government, led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was full of unfulfilled promises.

He recalled that in 2011 when Jonathan came to Lagos State and promised that he would build the Murtala Muhammed Airport Road, he never did anything till now.

He said: “The red line of the light rail system is still hanging because the Federal Government has refused to approve the take off of the project for more than two years now. “ Also, the proposed Lekki Seaport is being hindered because the Federal Government has refused to pay its counterpart funding of $117 million, yet, $20 billion is still missing.”

Ashafa said if APC came to power at the federal level, it would serve as the new ‘messiah’ to rescue the nation’s economy which had greatly been hampered by the present administration.

NTI to train Nomadic teachers

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ATIONAL Teachers’ Institute, NTI, is to train Nomadic teachers under a collaboration with the National Commission for Nomadic Education, NCNE. Director-General of the NTI, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, disclosed this when a National Commission for Nomadic Education, NCNE team, led by the Executive Secretary, Prof. Rashid Aderinoye, visited the institute’s headquarters in Kaduna.

Specifically, Dr. Sharehu assured that NCNE can still benefit from NTI activities is the inclusion of Nomadic Teachers in the yearly nationwide training and re-training of teachers under the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, workshops, after intimating relevant stakeholders.

He added that he would engage necessary authorities on the possibility of SUBEBs nominating Nomadic Teachers to be trained in the Federal

Government Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) training handled by the NTI, as well as educate states on the need to include NCNE teachers in those that would be trained by the NTI new Centre for the Teaching of English.

Prof. Aderinoye, had earlier told the NTI that his team was at the NTI to show appreciation for the for its past assistance and seek more training opportunities

56 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 , 2015 The advocacy group CAGE, in a statement on its website, said its research director Asim Qureshi had met with a Washington Post reporter who asked about the name Mohammad Emwazi.

CAGE’s files revealed that Qureshi had worked on Emwazi’s case “due to security service harassment,” the statement said.

“The following day, the journalist revealed to Qureshi that she knew from her own sources, that the man known as Jihadi John was Mohammad Emwazi.

The journalist showed Qureshi a video of Jihadi John in order to identify him. Qureshi clarified that while there were some striking similarities, that due to the hood, there was no way he could be 100% A masked, black-clad militant, who has been certain,” the statement said. identified by the Washington Post newspaper as a Briton named Mohammed Emwazi, brandishes a Advocacy group knife in this still image from a 2014 video obtained blames UK security from SITE Intel Group yesterday. services Emwazi was in communication with CAGE Reuters, suggested that in 2009 after graduating.

Emwazi was from a He was supposed to be over the course of two years middle-class family and going on safari there, but after being prevented from grew up in London. was reportedly detained on flying to Kuwait in 2010, He reportedly graduated arrival, held overnight and the organization said.

Emwazi reportedly told from the University of then deported.

CAGE at the time: “I had a Westminster in London He was also detained by with a degree in computer counterterrorism officials in job waiting for me and programming.

Britain in 2010, Reuters marriage to get started.

But now I feel like a The Washington Post said, citing the Post. report, cited by Reuters, Emwazi is believed to prisoner, only not in a quoted unnamed friends have travelled to Syria in cage, in London. A of Emwazi as saying they 2012, according to the person imprisoned and believed his path to Washington Post reporting controlled by security radicalization began when cited by Reuters, and later service men, stopping he went on a trip to to have joined ISIS there. me from living my new life in my birthplace and Tanzania, in East Africa,

‘Jihadi John’ unmasked •Name as Mohammed Emwazi •From a wealthy family

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man with a British accent seen in ISIS videos showing the beheadings of Western hostages was identified yesterday as Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born Londoner, according to Criminal Investigative Agency, CIA. The Washington Post earlier reported that Emwazi is “Jihadi John,” citing one of Emwazi’s close friends.

This is even as a Muslim-led human rights advocacy group in London, CAGE, which had contact with Emwazi over alleged “harassment” by UK security services, also said in a statement there were “some striking similarities” between 26-year-old Emwazi and the man seen in execution videos holding a knife.

Three Americans, two Britons heheaded

In videos released by ISIL, the masked, blackclad man brandishing a knife and speaking with an English accent appears to have carried out the

beheadings of three Americans and two Britons.

Meanwhile, London’s Metropolitan Police had declined to confirm the reported identity. CNN has been unable to confirm the reporting.

“We have previously asked media outlets not to speculate about the details of our investigation on the basis that life is at risk,” said Commander Richard Walton of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.

“We are not going to confirm the identity of anyone at this stage or give an update on the progress of this live counterterrorism investigation.”, he added.

A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman told CNN: “We will neither confirm nor deny the current reporting as to the identity of Jihadi John.”

Reports indicate a middle class upbringing

The reporting in the Washington Post, and subsequently reported by

my country, Kuwait.”

CAGE points the finger at British security services, who they say have “systematically engaged in the harassment of young Muslims, rendering their lives impossible and leaving them with no legal avenue to redress their situation.”

Qureshi drew a parallel with the case of Michael Adebolajo, convicted for the May 2013 murder in London of British soldier Lee Rigby, who said the UK domestic intelligence service MI5 had tried to recruit him.

Haras Rafiq, managing director of the Quilliam Foundation, a UK-based counter-extremism think tank, told CNN that it was clear that Emwazi had been radicalized before 2010.

He said the intelligence agencies who stopped Emwazi traveling to Tanzania believed there was evidence that he intended to join the extremist group AlShabaab in Somalia.

‘Notorious celebrity’

Sajjan Gohel, director of international security at the Asia Pacific Foundation, told CNN that it had been an open secret for some time that the U.S. and British intelligence communities knew Jihadi John’s identity.

US wraps up Ebola military mission in Liberia T HE United States staged a military ceremony yesterday to end its five-month Ebola mission in Liberia, with the west African nation in recovery from the worstever outbreak of the virus.

A force that at one point reached 2,800 has been gradually scaled back since the epidemic began to recede. This is even as Pentagon has announced that “nearly all” troops will be gone by the end of April.

“The importance of the progress we see today means more than just the reduction in the number of new or suspected cases of Ebola,” said mission commander Major General Gary Volesky.

“This progress is also about Liberians being

able to get back to a normal way of life.”

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) “cased its colours” — the ceremonial folding and stowing of the flag — in Monrovia, marking the end of the “Joint Forces Command United Assistance” mission.

The Pentagon says around 100 US troops are to remain in the region to strengthen “disease preparedness and surveillance capacity” of local governments.

Liberia, once the country worst hit by Ebola, has registered 4,037 of around 9,600 deaths in the epidemic, which began in Guinea in December 2013.

At its height in the final four months of last year, Liberia and Sierra

Leone were recording between 300 and 550 confirmed, suspect and probable cases a week.

The latest data from the World Health Organization shows a total of fewer than 400 new cases US soldiers stand in front of an Ebola treatment centre built by the United across the three coun- States army in Tubmanburg, the provincial capital of Bomi County in western tries in the three weeks Liberia recently to Sunday.

Suicide bomber kills 17 in N/Nigeria bus station

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suicide bomber at a bus station in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state killed at least 17 people yesterday , a military source and an allied local vigilante said.

A second bomber tried to detonate his explosives in the same bus station in the town of Biu, but was stopped by the crowd and beaten to death, vigilante

Ibrahim Jaton said.

“A young man came to Tashan Gandu motor park and our boys stopped him for search at the check point but he refused to stop and all we heard was a loud sound,” Jaton said.

“The whole spot was scattered within minutes”.

The use of suicide bombers has become a common tactic of Boko

Haram since last year as the group expanded territory and became stronger and more deadly.

But in the past three weeks it has begun to suffer a string of defeats in a military offensive by Nigeria and neighbors Cameroon, Niger and Chad, all of which have been destabilized by the Islamists. A spate of attacks on civilians

by the militants in the past few days seem aimed at taking revenge.

Suicide bombers struck two bus stations in different parts of northern Nigeria on Tuesday, killing at least 26 people in attacks President Goodluck Jonathan blamed on Boko Haram, the Islamist militant group he said would soon be defeated.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 — 57

C M Y K

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRAUARY 27, 2015 — 59

C M Y K

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

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CAF U-17: Eaglets need to re-strategise, says NFF secretary

N

IGERIA Football Federation secretary-general, Musa Amadu said the coaches of the national under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets need to re- strategise and fortify the team, if they are to do well at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup October, in Chile.

Amadu stated that it was sad to see the Eaglets losing a match, which was theirs for the taking, against their South African counterparts in the semifinal of the CAF U-17 championship in Niger Republic. The Eagles failed to recover from a 26th minute goal deficit, even as they squandered a host of scoring chances. Mr. Amadu stated that the team was too laid back in the game hence, their dismissal at the semifinal stage.

WAKE UP CALL... Golden Eaglets in action against Guinea at the CAF U-17 tournament in Niamey. “ We were quite sad with the fact that we couldn’t get to the finals in Niger Republic. The boys were quite laid back.

“Coach Emmanuel Amuneke must return to the drawing board to prepare the team for the World Cup in Chile between now and October

to ensure the team approach the tournament with a lot of dedication and commitment especially given the fact that we’ll be going their as the defending Champions,” Amadu said.

The Eaglets are billed to play against Guinea for the third place on Sunday.

African Juniors: Nigerian athletes set for Addis Ababa conquest

By Ben Efe

N

IGERIAN a t h l e t e s preparing for the African Junior Championships in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia have expressed their readiness to win most of the medals and retain the title they won 2013 in Mauritius.

The athletes, 35 of them have been camped in Shagamu, Ogun State training for the championships and according to camp

commandant, Seigha Porbeni, the group has been training very hard towards the meet. The athletes are likely to depart on Tuesday next week for the championships, which is slated for March 3-8.

“Our training is going on well, we are ok. The athletes are in high spirits and we are looking at improved performances from what they did at the Mauritius meet,” said Mr. Porbeni.

The athletes had a trial yesterday to evaluate the

forms of the athletes. Those whofailtomeetthestandards will be sent back home.

Nigeria is mostly like to face challenge from the host nation, which came second in the overall standing at the 2013 edition. The Ethiopians made a strong showing in the sprints, which is Nigeria’s traditional strong hold, while Nigeria is not making any headway in the long distance events.

Kenya is also aiming to win the championship, after naming a 28 member squad.

Mali can’t stop Falcons’ AAG race

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UPER Falcons captain and defensive midfielder Evelyn Nwabuoku is optimistic that her side will overcome Mali to book their All Africa and Olympic Games tickets.

The African champions will be the guests of Mali on Sunday, March 22, in Bamako for a place at the 11th All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

Nwabuoku said her side want to qualify for the championships to erase the ugly memories of their absence from the immediate past games.

“Mali can’t stop us from going to the All-Africa Games as well as the Olympics no matter how hard they fight.

“Of course, none of us wants to remember the fact that we didn’t qualify for the last AllAfrica Games and Olympics. It was a sad occurrence in our history

that nobody wants to repeat.

“Mali are actually a good side, I remember clearly that we encountered the side in 2010 and they gave us hell, but we eventually defeated them.

“We’re not going to underrate the Malians nor any other side at any stage of the competition.

“We just commenced training for the match against Mali in Bamako,

team spirit is quite high as everybody is responding very well and eagerly looking forward to the clash,” said the captain of Nigeria Professional Football League (NWPL) side, Rivers Angels.

The decisive fixture will be held in Nigeria with the aggregate winners going ahead to cement a spot at the quadrennial multiple sports fiesta.

South Africa, Mali for final

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ALI beat Guinea 2-1 to set up a CAF Under-17 Championship final against South African on Sunday at the Stade Seni Kountche in Niamey.

Sekou Koita put the Malians ahead on 24minutes when he drove home a beautiful tap-in inside the box, wrong-footing Guinean goalkeeper

Moussa Camara. Aboubacar Traore levelled matters in the 50th when he powered his header past goalkeeper Alou Traore.

Aly Malle restored Mali’s lead two minutes later in a spectacular fashion, curling his free-kick delightfully for one of the contenders of goal of the tournament.

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Astonishing: City ‘ll qualify for Champions League final — Hart E

NGLAND and Manchester City goalkeeper, Joe Hart has insisted that his side can still progress to the next round of the UEFA champions league quarter finals after losing 1-2 to Barcelona at home.

Hart stopped Barcelona from extending their lead to 3-1 after saving Lionel Messi’s late minute penalty, and believes that City can find motivation from Sergio Aguero’s goal in the second half of the first leg at the Ethiad.

“We can use the second half as our motivation to qualify”, said Joe Hart after Manchester City’s game against Barcelona during which he saved a Leo Messi penalty at the death.

Suarez opened scoring for the visitors in the 16th minute of the game and doubled his side’s lead in the 30th before Sergio Aguero returned one in the second half of the game. Marca

CELEBRATION . . . Monaco’s forward Dimitar Berbatov celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Photo; AFP

Monaco inflicted a lesson in realism •French media reaction

T

HERE was not much sympathy for Arsenal in the British media after their disastrous 3-1 defeat to Monaco in the first leg of the Champions League tie against Monaco but their French counterparts certainly did not hold back either.

The front page of the

•Hart

sports daily L’Equipe went with the headline “Arsenal Foudroyé”, which translates as “Arsenal Blasted”, with Monaco’s win described as “One of the greatest Champions League performances by a French club”.

Olivier Giroud was singled out for the harshest

treatment inside, with the former Montpellier striker given 2/10 for his performance and fingered as having “heavy responsibility ” for the defeat. His team-mates did not fare much better however, with Mesut Özil awarded 3/10 and Santi Cazorla the only player to be deemed worthy of a 5.

Le Monde is one of several papers to feature quotes from Prince Albert II of Monaco, who was in London to watch the game.

Speaking to broadcasters Bein Sports after the match, he revealed that he had visited the Arsenal changing room before kickoff.

Calhanolu – We deserved to win

B

AYER Leverkusen star Hakan Çalhanoglu underlined that his side deserved the 1-0 win over Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid in the Last 16

•Çalhanolu

first leg at the BayArena.

“We were all fully awake and we deserved to win. We know Atlético are very strong at home but if we play like we did tonight, we have a good chance over there,” Çalhanolu told the official UEFA website.

The Turkish scored the only goal of the game. Çalhanolu picked up a backheel from Karim Bellarabi and finished in style in the second half.

The 21-year-old has now scored nine times and provided seven assists in all competitions

for the Bundesliga outfit. Çalhanolu joined Bayer for €14.5 million

this summer – the highest fee ever paid for a Turkish international.

Wenger blasts ‘suicidal’ defending in 1988 as the Gunners

A

RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger accepts his side’s “suicidal” defending has left them with a mountain to climb to avoid elimination from the Champions League following a 3-1 home defeat

by Monaco in their last-16 first leg tie.

There was no happy reunion with the Principality club which Wenger guided to the Ligue 1 title

failed to fire and were punished as Olivier Giroud had a night to forget, missing several good chances.

A 25-yard deflected effort from Geoffrey Kondogbia put Monaco ahead on 38 minutes, and after Giroud had spurned another two great chances to get his side level, former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov crashed in a second on the break.

•Giroud

Simeone: It could have been worse

A

TLETICO Madrid coach Diego Simeone is relieved Bayer Leverkusen only scored one goal in their Champions League defeat last Wednesday in Germany.

Last season’s finalists were beaten 1-0 in the opening leg after Hakan Calhanoglu scored for the Bundesliga outfit the 57th minute and the Spanish champions were on the back foot for the last 14 minutes of the game following the sending-off of Tiago Mendes.

Leverkusen dominated the encounter but could not add to their advantage.

“I’m happy with the result because seeing how the game developed it could have been worse,” Simeone told his club’s official website.

“It was a strange game but neither side had many chances to score."

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015—63

Ilaboya wins in Edo as Icheen retains seat in Benue

F

HUMBLED: Golden Eaglets after their defeat to South Africa.

Watch out for Eaglets in Chile — Rufai

By Jacob Ajom

F

ORMER Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has pleaded with Nigerians not to crucify the Golden Eaglets for failing to reach the final of the ongoing Africa U17 championship in Niger.

The Eaglets who are the reigning world champions fell 1-0 to the Amajimbos of South Africa in a highly contested semi final duel decided Wednesday in Niamey.

But Rufai who runs the Staruf Football Academy in Lagos said the Nigerian representatives did their best but were not just lucky on the day.

•Rooney

“They were good on the ball and made several attempts at goal. It was not just their day because they were not outplayed by their South African counterparts.

He reaffirmed his belief in the team and the technical crew. “I still believe in the team and

W

AYNE Rooney, Robin Van Paersie and Angel Di Maria are among several Manchester United stars who have expressed optimism on the partnership deal between the club and Nigeria’s leading fruit drink Chivita.

Commenting on the significance of the club’s decision to name Chivita as MUFC’s official soft drinks partner in Nigeria, the three Man U stars chorused that the team was now refreshed to reclaim its rightful place at the top of the Premier League

Garba

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Federation to cultivate the habit of early preparations for national teams before major tournaments.

“Preparation for teams should be a routine business. Now we know they have the World Cup ahead, preparations should begin now.”

Man U stars endorse Chivita partnership

Continues from BP

the United Arab Emirates in 2013, will lead the pack, supported by fellow U-17 world champions Akinjide Idowu, Izuchukwu Omego, Abdullahi Alpha, Dele Alampasu, Chidera Ezeh and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Nigeria play host Senegal, CongoBrazzaville and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A of the tournament scheduled for 8th – 22nd March in the Senegalese cities of Dakar and M’Bour.

Ghana, Mali, South Africa and Zambia play

its technical crew led by Emmanuel Amuneke.

They will surely make Nigeria proud in Chile.

Watch out for them because when they get to the world stage, it becomes a different ball game,” Rufai said.

But he charged the Nigeria Football

in Group B. All four semi finalists will fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand, scheduled for 30th May – 20th July this year.

after enduring a torrid 2013/14 season last year.

They attributed the upsurge in performance

by MUFC which has seen the club surging from the middle of the

Ideye Continues from BP Europe he is the best performing Nigerian striker.

“That’s exactly what you expect from a player giving 120% on the pitch, it’s also what we require of our players, so it’s only fair and objective to recall him.”

Amokachi has been in charge of Nigeria on a temporary basis since December - following the departure of Stephen Keshi, who was unable to agree a new deal with the Nigerian Football Federation after failing to qualify the team for this year’s Africa Cup of

Mikel Continues from BP Hotspur in the League Cup final on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.

Mikel was due to return to action this weekend, but he had to go under the knife in a London hospital after

table to fourth position and with only 10 points behind the leader, Rooney said the team has returned to its winning ways.

feeling pain on the affected knee.

According to the defensive midfielder ’s adviser, the Nigeria international will require at least four weeks to recover from the ailment.

Nations.

But Amokachi insists the the uncertainty surrounding the coach’s position should have no bearing on whether Ideye is given another opportunity for his country.

“It doesn’t matter who is in charge, Ideye is in fantastic form, he is scoring goals and creating them in one of the best leagues in the world,” he said.

“We are happy for him and wish him all the best in subsequent games at his club.”

Ideye has scored five goals in 24 appearances for Nigeria.

In 2013, he helped his country clinch their third Africa Cup of Nations title, scoring in the 4-1 semi-final victory over Mali.

A member of their 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa, Ideye was omitted from the Nigeria squad that reached the second round at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

OREMOST journalist and former chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Mr. Frank Ilaboya is the new chairman of Edo State Football Association. Ilaboya, who had served as vice chairman in the past four years, replaces Chief Abel Ehigie.

He was elected at elections conducted in Benin City on Thursday, after polling five votes as against three by his opponent, Ikpomwonsa Edebiri. Teddy Victor Egbon withdrew on the floor of the Congress.

Alex Olaye was elected vice chairman after polling six votes as against three by Johnbull Edosomwan, and no vote for Kadiri Christopher.

In Makurdi, Hon. Mrs

•Ilaboya Margaret Icheen was reelected for another four years aas chairman of Benue State Football Association, with Alh. Musa Abdullahi as 1st vice chairman and Hon. Ali Julius as 2nd vice chairman. The elections were supervised by Member of NFF Executive Committee and chairman of State Elections Monitoring Committee, Alh. Ibrahim Gusau.

England set to call-up Jordon Ibe

T

HE England setup are keen on calling up Jordon Ibe to the senior squad, with Nigeria competing with the Three Lions for our w o n d e r k i d ’ s international services, reports the Daily Mail.

Ibe is eligible to play for Nigeria because of his father, and the African giants want to tempt the 19-year-old into turning his back on

England and committing his future to them instead.

Ibe has represented England at multiple youth levels, and while he’s expected to one day play for the senior side, he could be fast-tracked now – with Roy Hodgson and co. desperate not to lose the enormously talented teenager to the Nigerians.

Immortalise Okoya-Thomas, Bamidele charges FG

T

HE chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research and former Lagos State commissioner for youth, sports and social development, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on the Federal Government to immortalize the late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas as a pillar of sports in Nigeria and a shining example of philanthropy and industry.

Bamidele made the call in Ado Ekiti as Lagosians and Nigerians prepare for the burial ceremonies of the late sports development and promotion icon billed for March 3 through March 6 in Lagos.

According to Bamidele who worked closely with the Lagos socialite in his days in Lagos, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas was an uncommon pillar of support to Nigeria’s economy and sports and has left a vacuum as his

•Late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas great shoes as an astute industrialist and unrivaled philanthropist would be difficult to fill. “ His philanthropic gesture transcends beyond the shores of Yoruba race to assume an international dimension.

He was selfless in service and had a reliable strength of character. His patriotic contributions to the growth of Lagos State, especially in the areas of youth and sports development, would eternally remain indelible in the annals of the country’s history.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Ideye is best Nigerian striker — Amokachi N

IGERIA caretaker coach Daniel Amokachi says in-form West Brom striker Brown Ideye deserves an international recall.

The 26-year-old has not played for the Super Eagles since November 2013 and missed out on last year ’s World Cup. Ideye has scored four goals in four games for

his Premier League side, prompting Amokachi to call him “our best striker in Europe at the moment”.

“Any coach would want him in his squad.

Continues on Page 63

Garba picks AYC squad LYING Eagles’ F Head Coach Manu Garba (OON) has

released a list of 21 players who will represent the country at the 19th African Youth Championship in Senegal.

Skipper Musa Muhammed, who led the U-17 squad that won for Nigeria a record fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup in

Mikel under-goes knee surgery

J

OHN Obi Mikel has undergone knee surgery, which has ruled him out of Chelsea’s clash with Tottenham

Continues on Page 63

His new-found form has not gone unnoticed,” Amokachi told BBC Sport.

“When you look around all the top leagues in

•Garba

Continues on Page 63

SELF REDISCOVERY: Ideye on duty for Nigeria.

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Separated (6) 5 Renew (6) 8 Naughtiness (8) 9 Lot (4) 10 Bath (3) 12 Wrath (5) 15 Din (3) 17 Resin (3) 18 Employ (3) 19 Self (3) 20 Fabric (5) 21 Hatchet (3) 22 Court (3) 23 Finish (3) 24 Plaything (3) 26 Allude (5) 29 Still (3) 33 Tolerate (4) 34 Admission (8) 35 Proper (6) 36 Outcome (6)

DOWN: 2 Farewell (5) 3 Diplomacy (4) 4 Condescend (5) 5 Firearm (5) 6 Yielding (4) 7 Saying (5) 10 Handle (5) 11 Windy (5) 12 Performer (5) 13 Sorrow (5) 14 Sovereign (5) 15 Prompt (5) 16 Cereal (5) 25 Fat (5) 27 Happening (5) 28 Go in (5) 30 Surpass (5) 31 Liberate (4) 32 Go by (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Taxi 4, Map 6, Real 8, Silver 9, Ardent 10, Elk 12, Genie 14, Loose 15, Canal 18, Delete 20, Ordeal 24, Water 26, Cease 28, Party 30, Sty 32, Futile 32, Astute 34, Yell 35, Mad 36, Crew.

DOWN: 2, Alive 3, Invoice 4, More 5, Peak 6, Radio 7, Amnesia 11, Lea 12, God 13, Eat 16, New 17, Lot 19, Execute 21, Rep 22, Drastic 23, Lay 25, Aft 27, Still 29, Title 30, Seem 31, Yard.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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