We've located abducted Chibok girls — DEFENCE CHIEF

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62152

**

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

WHO OWNS APC? Party under threat as court rules on acronym today 54

We've located abducted Chibok girls — DEFENCE CHIEF •We don't want to use force, he says •Jonathan’s call stopped deal to free girls—Report

BY UDUMA KALU, WITH AGENCY REPORT

A

BUJA—FORTYTHREE days after more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted in Chibok, Borno State by insurgent sect, Boko Haram, the Military High Command, yesterday, had cheering news for the traumatised parents as it said it has located where the girls were being held hostage Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS: The Boko Haram are not Northern Nigerians •P.17

Re-thinking George W. Bush 2 .4 P •

Mr & Mrs

CHIBOK—The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (L), speaking during a protest over abducted Chibok school girls in Abuja, yesterday.

CONFAB: S-South

Senate queries Aviation 8 delegates want $1trn for Niger Delta clean-up Minister over N174bn debt

C M Y K

58

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

PROTEST—Members of United Coalition Against Terrorism, calling for immediate release of abducted Chibok school girls, yesterday, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

We've located Chibok girls — DEFENCE CHIEF Continues from page 1 but would not use force to rescue them.

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh disclosed this in Abuja even as UK media reported, yesterday, that but for the last minute change of mind by President Goodluck Jonathan, the abducted Chibok girls would have been freed.

Badeh, while addressing members of the Citizen Initiative for Security Awareness (CISA), an NGO on a solidarity campaign to the Defence Headquarters, said that the military will not use

force in the rescue operation. He, however, assured that everything was being done to ensure their safe rescue.

His words: “We want our girls back, I can tell you our military can do it, but where they are held, do we go with force? Nobody should say Nigerian military does not know what it is doing. We can’t kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back. So we are working. The President has empowered us to do the work and no one should castigate the military.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Aristotle said: ‘We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.’ So if you want to succeed, consult God, and operate in your God-given strength.

TAKE HEART

D

BY ELLA RANDLE

O you feel trapped by the limitations in your life? Remember, you hold the key to the freedom you seek. You can unlock those limitations and set yourself free! There is always a way, there is always another open door or unlocked door. Try them all —James Murphy Michelangelo is reputed to have said: “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” Did he fail to discover what was hidden within those stones? Or did he see something there in his mind’s eye but was interrupted before he could reveal its beauty? In either case, what is locked inside the marble may stay there forever.

And how like so many of us that is. We have unseen potential that takes time, maybe a lifetime, to be revealed. And how terrible when we get stuck, when we live and die with so much potential unrealized. How sad when only a small part of who we truly are ever emerges. Choose how you want to live this life. You have a choice to live it purposely, no matter what is thrown at you!

We know where the girls are — CDS “The good news for parents of the girls is that we know where they are but we cannot tell you. We cannot come and tell you the military’s secret. Just leave us alone to do our work. We are working to get the girls back”.

The CDS disclosed that the fight against insurgency was quite different from a full scale war, pointing out that “if we are fighting an external war, Boko Haram would have been begging us to withdraw.

He said: “Nigerian military had proved its worth in the civil war, Liberia and Sierra-Leone wars and in the process returned democracy to those countries”.

On operations in the North-East, the CDS said the challenge was that the military was fighting its fellow brothers. “We are not happy at all because we are killing our own and we are killing mostly youths. We cannot afford to eliminate our youths. Who are we going to handover Nigeria to? We can’t continue to kill them.”

While noting that the military in Nigeria is the strong arm of democracy, he said it (military) holds the constitution very dear, adding that the constitution is represented by the President.

“We are using our lives to defend this democracy. Democracy must thrive in Nigeria whether anybody likes it or not. People have fi-

nally realised that you don’t have another military than this one and it is either you support your military or you are looking for anarchy”, he said.

He noted that the war should not be fought by the military alone, but by all Nigerians, adding that Nigeria is at war and all hands must be on deck.

Badeh also confirmed that the military was recovering arms and ammunition that are alien to the Armed forces “which shows that people from outside were supporting the insurgents".

Expressing the belief that it was Al-Qaeda in West Africa, the CDS said: “I know people from outside Nigeria are in this war, they are fighting us, they want to destabilise us. But this is our country and some people in this country are standing with the forces of darkness; we must salvage our country, we must bring sanity back into our nation”.

Coordinator of the group, Chidi Omeje said the group represents the ordinary Nigerians on the streets who understand that no nation can stand on its own without a strong military.

He stated that the group was spurred into action because of the myriads of media attacks championed by mischievous politicians and some interest groups that have ulterior motives.

“We are not politicians or religious bigots and we appreciate our military and we know they are doing their best. We are trying to tell the leadership of the Nigerian military that ordinary Nigerians are behind them, and appreciate them”.

Jonathan’s call stopped last minute deal to free girls —Report Meanwhile, but for a last minute change of mind by President Jonathan, the abducted Chibok girls would have been freed, UK media reported yesterday.

A deal for the release of some of the abducted schoolgirls in Nigeria was close to being secured when the Federal Government called it off, BBC and Daily Mail said.

Some of the girls were allegedly set to be freed in exchange for imprisoned Islamist militants.

The papers reported that officials held talks with the group to secure the release of the schoolgirls.

An intermediary met Boko Haram leaders earlier this month and visited the location where

the girls were being held, the reports said.

The deal was to set some of the girls free in exchange for the release of 100 Boko Haram members from detention, according to BBC. But the government cancelled the planned agreement shortly before the swap was due to take place.

Though reasons for the withdrawal are unclear, The Mail on Sunday said: “A Nigerian journalist trusted by both the government and extremists from Boko Haram acted as go-between, risking his life on a oneman mission to enter the gunmen’s lair and broker an agreement, according to security sources.

“But last Saturday, at the eleventh hour, officials scrapped the exchange in a telephone call from a crisis summit in Paris where President Goodluck Jonathan met foreign ministers including those from Britain, the United States, France and Israel.

“It was agreed there that no deals should be struck with terrorists and that force should instead be used against them.

“The U-turn is said to have enraged Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau. Insiders believe that the cancellation of last Saturday’s plan and the ensuing stand-off now puts the girls’ lives in even greater danger.

“An intelligence source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The next video we see from the terrorists could show the girls being killed one by one.’

“Sources in Abuja described how Shekau had agreed to bring the girls out of their forest camps in the remote North-East of the country in the early morning and take them to a safe location for the prisoner swap.”

The sources were quoted as saying: “They would have been dropped off in a village, one group at a time, and left there while their kidnappers disappeared. There was to be a signal to a mediator at another location to bring in the prisoners.”

Continuing, The Mail

on Sunday said: “About 2,000 Boko Haram members are currently detained.

“One hundred noncombatant, low-level sympathisers were to be freed and the two groups brought together in a convoy of buses accompanied by a hand-picked go-between, respected Nigerian journalist Ahmad Salkida.

“The plan had been agreed in tortuous negotiations in response to worldwide outrage over a night-time raid on a school in the town of Chibok on April 14 when the girls were abducted from their dormitories.

“Mr Salkida was born in Borno State, where Boko Haram originated. He has known its leaders all his life and has unprecedented access.

“He has been arrested on several occasions accused of being a Boko Haram sympathiser, and he fled with his family to Dubai two years ago.

“But two weeks ago, he was summoned out of exile by President Jonathan’s aides. He initially feared he might face arrest, but was then given a letter of indemnity signed by the President when he flew to Nigeria.

“Sources said Mr Salkida was able to travel by taxi to the group’s forest camp to talk to Shekau two weeks ago. ‘His mission was secretive and dangerous,’ they said.

"He is probably the only civilian with access to Shekau. There is trust between them and Salkida had only one aim – to get the schoolgirls out.

“He reported afterwards that the group of girls he saw were alive and well, and being adequately fed and sheltered. They told him all they wanted was to go home.

“Salkida’s mission was complicated by the chaos surrounding government’s pronouncements about negotiations with the terrorist group.

“Shekau has released two shocking videos showing the girls dressed in hijabs and reciting verses from the Koran."

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

7 docked for kidnap, collecting N5m ransom

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

L

AGOS — SEVEN persons were, yesterday, brought before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere for allegedly kidnapping one Ayodele Olaoye and receiving N5 million as ransom.

Among the defendants were two women, Esther Faith Phillip; 22 and Patricia Ina; 25.

Others are Kingsley Okonwa; 30, Osita Adigwe; 34, Uzochukwu Ezioha; 24, Jude Sunday; 35 and Michael Olanrewaju, 30.

The defendants were arraigned on a four-count charge of kidnapping and conspiracy to rob, to which they pleaded not guilty, but were remanded in prison custody.

According to charge ID/13C/ 2013: “Esther Faith Phillip, Patricia Ina, Kingsley Okonwa (a.k.a. Dragon), Osita Adigwe (a.k.a O/C), Uzochukwu Ezioha (a.k.a. Black), Jude Sunday (a.k.a. Buldozer) and Michael Olanrewaju, on April 22, 2012 at Iba-LASU Road, at about 16.00hrs, did kidnap one Ayodele Olaoye and received the sum of five million naira from one Engr. Segun Olaoye, as ransom.”

In the charge, the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, informed the court that the offence was contrary to Section 269 (3) of the Criminal Law, Laws of Lagos State 2011.

At the resumed hearing, Ogungbesan tendered her written address and apologised to the trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, over the lateness.

Obviously dissatisfied that the adoption of written addresses would not commence, the judge gave counsel one week to file their reply.

Counsel to the 6th defendant, Mr. C. J. Jakuna, however, told the court he has a bail application for his client, “who was charged for conspiracy and negligence."

BRIEFING: Commissioner of Police, Plateau State, Mr Chris Olakpe (4th left); Unit Commander, Police Anti-bomb Squad, Mr Abel Mbibi (left), Police Area Commander, Metro, Mr Charles Ezeala (2nd left) and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Hussein (righ) briefing newsmen on the bomb devices recovered in Jos, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

35-yr-old man slaughters niece for ritual

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — A 35-year-old man, Boniface Ohakwe is now cooling his heels in Police custody for allegedly killing his 12-year-old niece, Miss Kelechi

Ohakwe, for allegedly for ritual purposes.

Vanguard investigations revealed that until her untimely death, late Kelechi was a student of Sir Enoch Anyanwu Memorial Convent,

Suspected kidnapper nabbed with stolen baby in Ijebu-Ode A

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA — A middle-aged woman, on Sunday evening, escaped death by the whiskers after she was caught with a baby she allegedly stole at Temidire Street, off Old Ondo Road, Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The suspected kidnapper, who was said to have sneaked into the mother of the baby’s room at Temidire area, around 3:00 pm, allegedly carried the

two-month-old baby and was about to abscond before she was caught and beaten comatose by a mob.

A traffic gridlock along the busy Old Ondo Road ensued, and lasted almost six hours as a result of the activities of the crowd that gathered around the suspect.

An eyewitness said: “I have been hearing about kidnappers, Soka forest and others, I did not believe until today when I saw this.

Househelp arraigned for stealing N200,000 with employer’s ATM card who he had previously given his

BY ANOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS — A DOMESTIC help, Joshua Ugbem, who took his employer's ATM card and stole N200,000 appeared before a Tinubu magistrates’ court in Lagos, yesterday.

Ugbem, who resides at Gbagba in Ikorodu, is facing trial on a charge of stealing.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Francesca Okere said the offence was committed on May 22 about 8.00 a.m., at Mobil Road, Ajah.

Umuariam, Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State.

Confirming the incident to newsmen in his Umuosochie, Obowo, Kelechi’s father, Mr. Alex Ohakwe, said:“I am aware that Kelechi was very fond of

She told the court that the complainant, Tolu Okogie, had sometime in the past sent Ugbem to help him withdraw some money.

According to her, "on the above mentioned day, Ugbem took his employer's ATM card and withdrew N200,000 and absconded.

“Okogie got a debit alert of N200,000 on his phone and immediately checked for his ATM card but couldn't find it."

The prosecutor said Okogie immediately suspected Ugbem,

PIN number to.

“The complainant rushed home only to discover that Ugbem had moved his things out of the house,” Okere said.

The prosecutor said the accused was, however, later apprehended by the Police at his parents' abode in Ikorodu.

Okere said that the offence contravened Sections 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Ugbem, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

“I returned from church and wanted to relax before going to the stadium to see a football match. Suddenly, I heard noise and I rushed out and to my surprise, I saw the woman holding a baby in a shawl and we asked her what she was doing with the shawl, she said she wanted to change her clothes inside the room and we enquired if she knew anybody in the house, to which she did not reply.

“It was in the process of questioning her that she confessed and pleaded that we should deal with her gently. She said she was ready to co-operate with us and promised to reveal her group to us. She even mentioned some names and was even trying to give us some phone numbers so that we could contact them .

“She mentioned one Mr and Mrs Lawal, But no further details about them was given. But, the impatience of our people made us not to get more information from her as they descended on her and beat up."

Vanguard, however, gathered that Policemen from Igbeba division arrived the scene and rescued the woman from the mob.

his uncle and was ever ready to run errands for him before this incident. It is baffling that it was the same man my daughter loved and helped that ended up killing her for supposed ritual purposes.”

Recalling what happened on the ill-fated day, Mr. Ohakwe said: “My children moved into my brother’s room as soon as public power supply was restored. I was told that he started smoking midway into the film he was showing the children.

"Not being comfortable with the smoke, my son and daughter left the room, while Kelechi, who was used to her uncle’s behaviour, remained behind.

“My brother then locked his door after the two children left his room. The wailing and shouting for help attracted the attention of my wife and other members of the family and they rushed to the scene.”

Ohakwe said his brother carefully wrapped the slain Kelechi with his bed sheet and started chasing his wife with a cutlass but was overpowered.

He said the matter was not only reported to the police but that the assailant was equally handed over to law enforcement agents.

Efforts to get Police confirmation of the incident failed as the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, did not pick calls put across to him or returned any at press time.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014—7

TEACHER WHO DEFILED MINORS SAYS:

One of them made passes at me •Asks his persecutors to throw first stone

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — THE nursery school teacher, Mr. Olayinka Oluwadare Folarin, who allegedly defiled three under-aged pupils in a toilet, yesterday, said it was one of the girls that made advances at him.

Folarin, aged 38, who claimed his illicit romance with the minors was a demonic attack which had been affecting him for a long time, said: “One of them made advances at me. You know how children play with you in a funny way. This thing is beyond me.”

This came as he challenged policemen and newsmen interviewing him to throw the first stone at him if they had not sinned before. He was being detained at Iyaganku, Ibadan.

Though he showed remorse for being involved in the act, he intermittently flared up, saying nobody is beyond demonic attack.

Calls for help

He said: “I have been doing this for a long time. I feel terribly bad each time I did it but I could not stop it. Why don’t you find a way of helping me. Is this meant to expose me?

“Some people should just think and reason with me. The person who has not sinned before should cast the first stone. If God did not

Mr. Olayinka Oluwadare Folarin, the suspect. forsake some people, I know he would not forsake me. I am a changed person now.”

Method of operation

Tearfully, he recalled how he invited the girls into the toilet and put them in the wash hand basin

in the toilet and then fondled their private parts.

He confessed that he always used his hair cream to lubricate them. However, he denied using his manhood to penetrate any of the girls.

When asked why his claims

contradicted the medical report which revealed that the hymen of the girls was not intact, he said it might have been broken elsewhere.

“I never penetrated them. I only used my manhood to rub their private parts. Yes, I used my hair cream to lubricate my organ to stimulate myself."

He lamented that since the incident happened, the school management had sacked and abandoned him, noting: "When the attack started, I called them."

Though, he reportedly wrote in his statement that he used to abuse them on Saturdays, he said it was once a while.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor said: “The suspect had engaged in multiple defilement and all the victims said the same thing that he always abused them twice a week since last year. The third girl was lured by the suspect to cover his illicit affairs.

“The third girl he abused saw a note he wrote to one of the two girls when she was sweeping the floor and asked what was happening. The teacher then collected the paper; for fear of being exposed, he recruited her into the group.

She said the case would be transferred to the state Police headquarters because of its seriousness.

Adekunle Ajasin varsity students protest colleague's killing by driver

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — HUNDREDS of students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, yesterday, trooped to the streets to protest the death of one of them who was knocked down by a car.

The students, whose identity could not be ascertained at press time was knocked down yesterday.

Immediately the incident happened, the students trooped to the streets while the driver of the Toyota Corolla car was saved from being lynched. Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, said the driver is already in Police custody.

Details of the incident remained sketchy at press time.

Meanwhile, the university authorities in a statement, last night, said the protest was sequel to the killing of one of their fellow students on Akungba main road by a Toyota car.

The statement signed by the institution's Registrar, Bamidele Olotu, said: “The students' spontaneous reaction was sparked by misinformation that the deceased was knocked down by a mini bus called agolo in local parlance and that the assailant driver ran away.

“This misinformation has since

been refuted by the Police who confirmed that the driver reported himself at the Police station and that he and the Toyota Corolla car were in their custody.

“This clarification has calmed the nerves of the rampaging students and the situation has since been brought under control.

“The corpse has been released to the parents and has since been buried.

“The university expresses deep condolences to the family of the deceased, the students body and the entire university community on the unfortunate loss of the promising young man.

“The university would like to

appeal to all students to go about their normal academic activities as peace has now returned to the campus."

Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to the university as policemen have been deployed to maintain peace."

4 suspected teenage cultists arrested in Ondo

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE— FOUR teenage secondary school students suspected to be cult members have been arrested by detectives in Ondo State.

They were arrested by a Police patrol team at about 7 a.m. at Emure-Ile junction along the Akure-Owo expressway while coming from where they were initiated in Owo. The suspects are said to be students of St Francis High School in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Police source said the suspects, now in police detention, include Lawal Lateef, 18; Felix

Victor, 17; Nsoani Stephen, 18 and Festus Francis, 18.

The suspects reportedly confessed that they were invited by a cult group for initiation in Owo. They were said to have confessed that they left Akure for Owo at about 9 p.m. the previous day they were arrested and were in the thick bush for three hours for their initiation by the cult group.

Police sources told Vanguard that the suspects confessed that they were made to lick their blood after their index fingers were pierced with a sharp object and also to drink a prepared concoction.

They were also said to have been made to swear to an oath of membership of the cult group and asked to recite their code.

Contacted, the Police image maker in the state, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the arrest of the suspects but said they were yet to reveal the cult group that invited them to Owo for initiation.

He said some incriminating objects were recovered from them and that the matter has been referred to the state CID for further investigation. Ogodo assured that the suspects would soon be charged to court.

Property agent docked for unlawful sex, impersonation

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS — A property agent, Iweka Chris Chigoziem-Nnamdi, was yesterday arraigned before a Tinubu magistrate’s court, sitting in Lagos, for posting nude photographs of victims he forcefully had sex with on the internet and for sending text messages demanding money from those he was blackmailing.

The victims are Nwoke Chizoba Judith, Mercy Cletus, Jennifer Kenneth, Queen of Port Harcourt, Salamatu Abubakar, Joy Job, Funke Job and Oge Chukwuka.

Others are Anastasia Chidinma, Angel Mugu, Eniola John, Joan Job of Port Harcourt, Joseph John Kufre and Adegbite Aremu.

Chigoziem-Nnamdi, who is 32 years old and resides at No. 1, Road 34, Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, was docked before Magistrate Yetunde Pinheiro.

The defendant is facing an eight-count charge bordering on extortion, threat to life, breach of peace, unlawful carnal knowledge and impersonation, preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, Chidi Okoye, ASP, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between November 2013 and April 18, 2014 at No 1, Road 34, Ikota Villa Estate, Ajah.

He said the defendant, with intent to extort money from one Nwoke Chizoba Judith, sent her text messages, demanding money and sex from her without any justification, adding that he also threatened to publish her nude photographs on the internet if the demand was not met.

Okoye said that the defendant also impersonated by representing himself to the public as Mike Adenuga in dealings with the public by using his e-mail account adenugamike60@yahoo.com, with his photograph.

He was also said to have impersonated one Joy Nedu, in dealing with members of the public on a social media network, Facebook, by using her e-mail address name: adpub@yahoo.com with her photograph, knowing same to be false.

Okoye said the defendant had sex with one Nwoke Chizoba Judith in a public place with intent to insult or offend her and her family, adding that the defendant, published the picture of Nwoke in a manner to provoke breach of public peace.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Firm targets 3,000MW with solar power

N B A CONFERENCE :

From left— Lord Mark Malloch Brown, former Deputy SecretaryGeneral, United Nations and guest speaker; Mr. Gbenga Olabode, Chairman, section on business law, and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, during the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA's 8th annual business law conference on the theme Exemplary Governance: Enhancing Economic Development in Lagos, PHOTO: yesterday.

Bunmi Azeez.

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA— AN e l e c t r i c i t y generating firm, Super Solar Group, has said it is deploying a new technology across the country to generate up to 3,000 Megawatts.

The group, which gave the assurance during a visit to the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil in Abuja, said the plan was to complement the passion to deliver on power reform by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Leader of the delegation and former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, stressed that the goal of government in achieving uninterrupted power supply would be actualised as the project will give the required breathing space pending the resolution of gas-topower issue.

Gana said the 3,000Mw power generation target is realisable with the support of the Federal Government.

In his remarks, Wakil said the government was determined to lift the rural electrification agency’s activities to an enviable height.

He said the Federal Government is set to harness more resources in providing the rural populace with electricity, noting that 70 percent of Nigerians live in rural areas where access to electricity is low.

Senate queries Aviation Minister over N174bn debt zBASA has N24.4bn deficit z DMO borrowed $100m zWe' ve set up a c'ttee— MINISTER

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

A

BUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, demanded explanations from the supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Samuel Ortom, on the N174 billion debt incurred by the ministry since 2011.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who issued the query during the committee’s oversight visit to the ministry ’s headquarters at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, argued that the committee was not carried along during the various transactions.

According to Uzodinma, “I have looked at the documents and seen the level of the ministry ’s indebtedness and I

wondered how these excessive debts would be offloaded by the ministry.”

Commenting on the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, contracts he said: “You can see that in BASA, we have only N10.6 billion in our purse and expenses of N36 billion.

“I know that this account is being handled by the National Assembly and the Presidency, and we couldn’t have given approval to any commitment more than how much we have in that account.”

DMO’s debt

He also questioned the reason for the borrowing of $100 million by the Debt Management Office, DMO, and for the procurement of the Chinese loan to the tune of $500 million without approval by the National Assembly.

According to him, the ministry needs approval from the Assembly and the President before embarking on such loan drive, adding that “we did not see where $100 million was allocated to be borrowed by DMO. “On the terminals' $500 million loan, we need to see the design; we do not know the size of the airport, we do not know where work has started on them.

“For the first time we are just hearing of Phase 3. So much amount of money is being allocated to it; where are we going to get the money from? We must make provision from the N63 billion appropriation.

“This has to be stopped because there is no money for it. You do not just commit government if you are not sure of where the money is going to come from.

“My advice to this ministry, so that they will not embarrass government, is to do your best to ensure that you do not unnecessarily and without approval commit government.

“We will not support you on that, because we will not be

Court strips executive of control over judiciary funds

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA— A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, held that in line with 81(2) and Section 84(1), (2), (3), (4) and (7) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President has no power to approve funds for the remuneration, salaries, allowances and recurrent expenditures of the judiciary.

The court maintained that such funds are constitutionally guaranteed charges (or “First Charge”) on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the

federation.

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Justice Ahmed Mohammed directed that henceforth, funds due the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund should be released to the National Judicial Council, NJC, in full for disbursement to meet needs of the various courts across the federation.

The court stressed that the continued dependence of the Judiciary on the Executive

arm for its budgeting and release of funds was responsible for under-funding of the judiciary, corruption, poor and inadequate judicial infrastructure and low morale.

Justice Mohammed held: “It is beyond doubt that funding of the judiciary is provided for and guided by the constitution.

“The practice whereby the Minister of Finance controls funds meant for the judiciary clearly offends the provisions of the constitution and undermines the financial independence of the judiciary.

“Times without number, budgetary estimates for the

judiciary are tampered with, and it affects the dispensation of justice in the country.

“It is a cardinal principle in law that clear words of a statute should be given its ordinary meaning.

“In this regards, the words of Section 81(2) and Section 84(1), (2), (3), (4) and (7) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), are very clear and devoid of ambiguity and should therefore be accorded its ordinary meaning.

“It is also worth mentioning that the constitution established the principle of separation of powers.”

part of an arrangement that will put us into disrepute.”

Minister’s response

Ortom explained that loans for the upgrading of the four airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano need not go through appropriation because they are part of counterpart funding arrangements.

While acknowledging that he was not part of the ministry when the contracts were awarded, Ortom stated, however, that all the contracts went through due process.

The Minister admitted the high level of indebtedness and solicited for the understanding of the Senate so as not to stall some of the projects that are near completion.

He said: “We hope that the synergy between the executive and the Senate will give us the desired result to take the industry to the next level.

“On the issue of BASA, we have put our papers together and accordingly forwarded them to the Senate Committee.”

He explained that the $100 million DMO loan and the $500 million Chinese loan were based on counterpart funding agreement being handled by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala. He insisted that the Minister of Finance was aware of the approvals.

On Phase 3 projects, he said: “The Permanent Secretary and I came into the ministry not long ago and we have not awarded any contracts. We intend not to do so because of the huge debts we have to pay.

“What we have done is to reach out to the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office, and we have set up an inter-ministerial committee that will look at all the issues based on the interim report which we have.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 —9

Hearing on alleged N10bn jet scam for June 19 zAs court orders Reps to publicly denounce restraining order claim

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA— THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, fixed June 19 for hearing in the suit challenging the powers of the Public Accounts Committee, PAC, of the House of Representatives to investigate Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, over allegations that she spent N10 billion on chartered private jets.

The court fixed the date on a day it ordered the House of Representatives to, as a matter of necessity, organise a press conference with a view to informing Nigerians that it was never at any time served with any court order that restrained any of its committees from going ahead with the probe.

The presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, made the order after counsel to the House of Representatives, Mr. A. B. Mahmood (SAN),

apologised to the court over an erroneous claim by members of the probe committee led by its chairman, Solomon Olamilekan, who had at a press conference on April 28, alleged that they were served with a restraining order from the court that stopped further investigation into the allegation against the Minister.

They had reportedly accused the judiciary of attempting to usurp their oversight function, saying they would suspend the investigation to enable them study the said restraining order with a view to responding accordingly.

However, the Minister and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, plaintiffs in the matter, had since denied serving any restraining order on the House, as Justice Mohammed summoned the House to “come and clear the air” on the origin of the said order which he said never emanated

from the court.

Though the House had, on two separate adjourned dates, declined to either honour the court’s summon or enter an appearance in the matter, it, however, subsequently briefed a lawyer that appeared for it yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Petroleum, through her lawyer, Mr. Etigwe Uwa (SAN), yesterday, vowed to produce a video clip of the said press conference where the House Committee members claimed that they were served with a restraining order stopping the probe.

Her threat followed claims by counsel to the House, Mahmood, that the probe committee was misquoted by the press, saying the House never had the intention to cause any embarrassment or disrespect the court.

Irked by the submission, the plaintiffs accused the House of treating the process of the court with utter disrespect,

stressing that though the House was served with the court processes since April 16, it declined to appear in the matter until yesterday.

Alison-Madueke also told the court that she had deposed to an affidavit of facts that chronicled steps the House had taken so far, which she said was aimed at undermining the court.

Meanwhile, her effort to persuade the court to compel the House to enter an undertaking not to proceed with the probe, pending determination of the suit, proved abortive yesterday.

The plaintiffs are praying the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, their members, committees or agents from summoning or directing them to appear before any committee, particularly the PAC, which was set up by the House to conduct the investigation.

DANGOTE SUGAR: From left— Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman; Mr. Graham Clark, Group Managing Director, and Mr. Abdullahi Sule, Deputy Group Managing Director, all of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, during the eighth annual general meeting of the firm in Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Tambuwal challenges FG on claims of economic growth

BY INNOCENT ANABA

S

PEAKER, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday, challenged the Federal Government’s claim that the economy was growing, saying there was nothing to show that such a claim is true.

Tambuwal, who spoke on Exemplary Governance: Enhancing Economic Development in Nigeria at the ongoing 8th annual business law conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law, NBA SBL, in Lagos, noted that figures from the recent rebasing of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, placed the country as Africa’s largest economy and the world’s 26th.

Tambuwal, represented

by Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN), said only good governance can rescue Nigeria.

He said: “We live in a country of inexplicable contradictions. We have great human and material resources yet we are always on the list of countries with the worst poverty index.

“Our economy is alleged to be growing, but the lives of the majority of our citizens do not convey this testimony.

“We have more places of worship than most nations on earth, yet corruption and violence threatens our very survival.”

7 contenders eye Nyako's seat as impeachment looms

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

Y

OLA— THE battle for the removal of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State from office for allegedly insulting President Goodluck Jonathan has gathered momentum with no fewer than seven top Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members jostling for the governor’s seat.

There is a strong belief in the PDP camp that Nyako’s impeachment is a foregone conclusion following last week’s defection of four All

Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly members into the PDP, making the 25 member state Assembly to be all PDP. There were strong indications last night that the takeover of the House of Assembly by PDP might diminish the influence of the state governor, who defected to APC last December, and significantly limit his ability to influence the emergence of a successor from his current party.

However, the governor, it was learnt from close

associates last night, appears unperturbed by the permutations of his opponents, hoping that the conspiracy against him would soon boomerang as the array of PDP politicians jostling for his seat would soon begin to fight against themselves.

One of the governor’s aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “What I can tell you is that Nyako is not perturbed at all over what the Presidency and some elements in Yola are plotting.

“The real problem they have is that very soon they

will fight among themselves because the agenda they have is an evil one and will never and can never be supported by right-thinking Adamawa people.”

In anticipation of the removal of Nyako by the Assembly, seven strong contenders have already emerged to take over the mantle of leadership in the state.

Top on the list of contenders is Awwal Tukur, son of the immediate past National Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, who is

reportedly being supported by those who owe allegiance to the senior Tukur, among them, the current Minister for Youth Development and former governor of the state, Mr. Boni Haruna and Joel Madaki, the state chairman of PDP. Other contenders are Dr. Ahmed Modibbo, Dr Umar Ardo, Mr. Markus Gundiri, Mr. James Barka , current Nigeria’s Ambassador to Tunisia, and the former Lagos State Military Administrator, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), who recently dumped Nyako’s APC for PDP.

10— Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Children's Day: UNICEF urges more protection of children

APC asks INEC to use e-card reader in Ekiti, Osun polls

L

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & GABRIEL OLAWALE

L

AGOS—AS Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day today, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has stressed the need for government at all levels to pay more attention to the protection of children.

In a statement issued yesterday to mark the Day, UNICEF maintained that one area where collective responsibility was urgently required was the protection of children.

According to the statement; “The collective includes the family, community, society and the state. Every day in the media, there are one form of abuse or the other against children, rape of underaged children, child trafficking and so on,'' stressing that the recent abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls underscored the urgent need for collective action. "We need to create a protective environment for our children to ensure a bright future for them.

“The protective environment is based on the recognition that all children are entitled to protection – as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria’s Child’s Rights Act 2003. All children have a right to grow up in an environment that ensures their protection,” it said.

UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Jean Gough, noted that the fear of abduction would erode all the gains UNICEF Nigeria and other stakeholders had made in girls’ education.

AWARD: From left —Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora and Chairman of the occassion; Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, Commissioner for Education, Lagos State; Mrs Abiodun Ogunniyi, Principal, Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu and Best Principal, Senior Secondary award winner; Otunba Fatai Olukoga, SA to Lagos State Governor on Education and Mrs Margaret Solarin,Tutor General/Permanent Secretary during the 8th Merit Award Ceremony2013 of Lagos State Government Education District ll held in Lagos on Tuesday. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

Subsidy trial: Witness lied on oath, defence alleges

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

L

AGOS—JUSTICE Lateefa Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court, yesterday adjourned further hearing till today in the N1.2 billion alleged subsidy fraud against one Abdullahi Alao, after defendants’ counsel accused the prosecution witness, Effiong Okim of lying on oath.

Alao, Opeyemi Ajuwah, alongside her company, Majope Investment Limited, Axenergy Limited and Olanrewaju Olalusi, were dragged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged theft of N1.2 billion government’s subsidy fund.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to Opeyemi Ajuwah and Majope Investment, Mr. Olanrewaju Ajanaku, accused

Council sets up market verification c'ttee

L

AGOS—MUSHIN local Government Area of Lagos State has inaugurated a 5-man committee to liaise with market leaders to determine genuine shop owners to ensure they don't lose out in the ongoing modification and modernisation of markets in the council.

Speaking at the inauguration, Executive chairman of Mushin Local Government, Mr. Olatunde

Adepitan, said “Some months ago we promised to modify Mushin markets in order to meet the challenges of a modern city.

Today, I'm delighted to inaugurate the committee, which is saddled with the responsibilities of verifying all the shop owners before the reconstruction started with a view to returning them very quickly to their business environment”

the prosecution witness of lying on oath that he took the statement of only Abdullahi Alao, whereas he also allegedly took the statements of the 2nd and 5th defendants.

During cross examination, Ajanaku said Okim lied in his statement on oath dated March 21, 2012. He said, “You deliberately suspended the statement of the 5th defendant so that it would not be presented in court.'' ''It was after photocopies of the statement were shown to you that you admitted that you took statements of other two defendants apart from the 3rd defendant. You are not a witness of truth,” the counsel told the prosecution witness.

At the previous hearing, prosecution witness had told the court that during investigation, the anti-graft agency discovered that out of the 15, 000 metric tonnes of fuel imported into the country

by Axernergy in conjunction with Majope Investment and Sterling Bank as the financed bank, only 4, 200 metric tonnes were allegedly discharged.

AGOS—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday in Lagos, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to make use of e-card readers during the forthcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

INEC had said that it would not use the card readers for the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls, insisting that nondeployment of card readers would not affect the credibility of the elections.

The governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun are billed for June 21 and Aug. 9 respectively.

APC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the use of the e-card readers would show INEC’s commitment to free, fair and transparent polls.

The party stated that using the simple but foolproof device for the polls would make it possible for INEC to fine-tune its deployment programme nationwide for the 2015 general elections.

It stated that INEC must stop trying to justify why it could not use the e-card reader during the two governorship elections. ‘’Contrary to what INEC has said, the e-card reader was very adaptable and its application is not subject to any environmental peculiarity once the basics of operations are met,” the APC said.

According to the party, the most compelling reason for the use of e-card reader by INEC is that it would eliminate the rigging of elections through the use of stolen or purchased voter cards.

“E-card reader will also ensure that only those with authentic voter cards are allowed to cast their votes on election day.

"Impersonation, multiple voting and endless altercations and associated tension will be eliminated at the voting centres,” the party said.

20 killed in Boko Haram raid on Nigerian village — OFFICIAL

S

USPECTED Boko Haram gunmen stormed Waga village in Adamawa State killing 20 residents, a government spokesman said Monday.

The heavily armed gunmen stormed the village on Sunday and opened fire on residents, Ahmed Soji said.

“The gunmen believed to be Boko Haram insurgents in trucks and on motorcycles attacked the village where they killed 20 people and burnt several houses,” Soji said.

“The whereabouts of several other people are still unknown but it is assumed they fled into the bush to escape the attack and are yet to re-

turn,” he said.

A second attack by the marauding gunmen on nearby Gublak village was repelled by soldiers in the area, Soji said without saying if there were casualties in the shootout.

Adamawa State, which is one of three states under emergency law along with Bor no and Yobe, has seen a string of deadly Boko Haram attacks.

In Febr uar y, the group killed 34 people and burnt scores of homes in coordinated bombing and shooting attacks on Michika, Kirchiga and Shuwa towns near the border with Borno State.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014—11

APC, PDP trade words over Aregbesola’s campaign

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Osun State chapter, yesterday called on security agencies in the to ensure the security of lives and property during the rally to flagoff Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election bid in Ile-Ife, today.

This came as APC alleged that PDP planned to cause mayhem in the state and disrupt the kickoff of the campaign.

At a briefing ahead of the APC rally, Folorunsho Bamisaiyemi alleged that the plan to kill and maim APC members was hatched in a popular hotel in Ife at the weekend.

Also, APC Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, warned the PDP against doing evil “because evil will consume them.”

However, PDP claimed it had been informed that APC, planned to storm the campaign venue with

over 100 bus-load of supporters and thugs from Lagos.

A statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of Omisore Campaign Organisation, Diran Odeyemi alleged that the buses that would convey APC members and thugs from Lagos would be arriving the state early today .

The statement reads: “We are speaking now because we know what might have informed the choice of Ile-Ife, where APC can only point to Oriolokun bust as

its achievement in four years, as venue for the flag-off of the campaign for Aregbesola. They want to bring battle to Ile-Ife, the stronghold of Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Otunba Iyiola Omisore and that is why they will go to the extent of going to Lagos to bring down supporters and thugs to populate campaign ground for APC."

Why the polls can’t be rigged — INEC Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday assured that the August 9 governorship poll in the state would be free and fair to all the parties, saying it had put in place measures that would make it difficult for politicians to rig.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, Dr Rufus Akeju, while declaring open a two-day workshop organised by the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in collaboration with a non governmental organisation, Democracy Vanguard, said the election would be monitored by election observers from both within and outside the country.

3 councilors suspended over Ogun missing mace CAMPAIGN: From left—Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi; Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; a former Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant, Chief Modupe Ogundipe; and the All Progressives Congress State Women Leader, Chief Funke Owoseni, when the governor's wife led the women on election campaign to Ikole-Ekiti for the reelection of Governor Kayode Fayemi... at the weekend.

Oyo 2015: Only God, voters'll determine next gov —ALAO-AKALA State had on Friday at the in expanding ready-made roads

BY OLAAJAYI

I

BADAN–A former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, yesterday said only God and the electorate would decide who became the next governor of the state in 2015.

Alao-Akala told newsmen in Ogbomoso that “the people had tasted governance from both sides of the coin” and would, with the help of God, determine who to vote in as governor.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo

swearing-in ceremony of the local government caretaker chairmen said he would contest for a second term.

“He only expressed himself. He is entitled to his opinion but Almighty God and the electorates will decide who governs. All that the people want is someone who will rule and change their standard of living, someone who will ensure that the people have food on their table,” Alao-Akala said.

Alao-Akala said the present administration had only succeeded

and also turned home owners into tenants through the destruction of their houses.

He also said he was not aware of any crisis in the state chapter of the PDP. Alao-Akala, who admitted that there were some aggrieved party members, added that the problem would be resolved soon.

The former governor said he was interested in building the party and would not work against such efforts.

I didn’t stockpile arms, says Amusan

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA— A governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, Kayode Amusan, yesterday, denied stockpiling 20 AK 47 guns, among others in his campaign office in Abeokuta.

He described the allegation of gun running against him as politically motivated by political opponents.

The two-term member of House of Representatives from Odeda/

Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency spoke at a briefing in Abeokuta.

He said he was forced to employ a security guard from the state vigilante service, who had a dane gun to guard the property therein following the alleged pulling down of the perimeter fencing by the agents of state government.

Amusan explained that the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who sealed his campaign office did not see any AK 47 gun

there, saying only one dane gun belonging to the security guard was found in the office.

Speaking on the controversy over the ownership of the building, which originally belonged to the Federal sold to one Ewulo Felix, who in turn reportedly sold it to him, Amusan claimed he was the rightful owner of the building, and that he purchased it with N30 million before the EFCC accused the seller of the building of fraud and then sealed off his campaign office.

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—THREE councilors in Abeokuta North local government area of Ogun State have been suspended over alleged attempt to steal the council mace.

The affected councilors are Adejojo Saheed; representing ward 4, Elega area, Ayoola Kabir from ward 12, Ita-Oshin/ Olomore area and Adio Rasheed from ward 16, Ibara/ Idiya area.

According to the letter of their suspension dated May 26, 2014 and signed by deputy leader, Fadairo Abass, one of the suspended councilors, Saheed Adejojo was accused of barging into the legislative chambers during the plenary and carted away the mace.

The other two were said to have been suspended over their alleged sudden disappearance before the incident.

When contacted, the deputy leader, Fadairo Abass confirmed that there was an attempt to steal the council mace and the subsequent suspension of the three councilors.

Fadairo, who was hostile on phone when he was asked to justify the suspension of the other two councilors after they took permission to take their leave before the incident, said "you can go to hell. You can call the governor, don’t call my line again, tell those who contracted you that you cannot do the work.”

We won’t join PDP in guber polls —OSUN LP

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—OSUN State chapter of the Labour Party, LP, yesterday ruled out the possibility of joining other opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to produce a joint candidate for the August 9 governorship election in the state.

Chairman of the party, Mr. Timothy Olatunji said however that LP would welcome any of the parties that might wish to join it for the purpose of forming a formidable team to dislodge the incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Speaking in Osogbo, Mr Olatunji, accused the state government of sponsoring crisis in the party to disintegrate it ahead of the August 9 governorship election.

Olatunji, who recently resigned his appointment as a member of board of Osun State Teaching Service Commission and defected to the LP from the All Progressives Congress, APC, alleged that the government was sponsoring a factionalisation of the party to cause disaffection .

The former Chairman of the party, Mr Rufus Oyatoro is currently leading a faction of the party.

Ogun plans prayer session on Children's Day

O

GUN State government will today hold prayer session for the release of abducted female students of Chibok, Borno State, instead of the normal Children’s Day activities It will hold at the MKO Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

The prayer session will be conducted by the children as they lead others to pray for the release of over 200 abducted girls.

Apart from the prayer session, there will be no other activity to mark the Children’s Day because of the mood of the nation arising from the abduction of the girls.

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Edo youths shut down Benin Airport ...threaten to shut down oil wells

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—THOUSANDS of youths from oil producing communities in Edo State, yesterday, grounded activities at the Benin Airport for three hours, protesting delay in the appointment of Edo State Commissioner into the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The youths threatened to shut down all oil wells in the state if the President failed to appoint a commissioner representing the state on the board of the commission in the next one week.

The youths had last month issued a 21-day ultimatum to the President to appoint an NDDC Commissioner in the state or face the wrath of people in the oil producing communities.

Yesterday's protest disrupted activities at the Benin Airport after the youths blocked the exit gates, sending passengers back thereby creating tension on Airport Road.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, doused the tension when he

appealed to the youths to allow people move into the airport. The protesting youths dispersed at 11a.m., after the intervention of the Police.

Mr. Iyamu Culture, who spoke to newsmen, said the protest followed expiration of the 21 days ultimatum issued to the President to appoint an NDDC commis-

W

ARRI — I JAW Youth Council, IYC, yesterday, said that former governor of AkwaIbom State, Obong Victor Attah and his fellow South-South delegates at the National Conference Committee on Devolution of Powers, who agreed to retain 13 per cent derivation, have no power to change the stand of the Niger Delta people.

The group, in a statement by spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said: “The attention of IYC has been drawn to an interview granted by Obong Attah, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, wherein he said that SouthSouth delegates, who served in the confab committee on Devolution of Power, agreed to retain 13 per cent derivation because of national interest and to avoid secession.

“Niger Deltans read the said interview with disappointment and regard as a betrayal of

youths might not benefit from that. Projects have also been put on hold in the state due to the non-appointment of a commissioner. We are urging Mr President to act by appointing a substantive commissioner from any quarters as long as the person is from an oil producing community.”

APC CONGRESS: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State casting his vote during the APC congress in Benin City, yesterday.

Attah, co-delegates can’t change S-South position on derivation —IYC

BY EMMA AMAIZE & SAMUEL OYADONGHA

sioner for the state.

He said: “We are protesting because the situation is affecting youth development in Edo State. As we speak, the NDDC has resolved to empower youths in all the nine Niger Delta states. With the non-appointment of Edo State NDDC Commissioner, Edo

trust. Obong Attah and other South-South delegates, who served in the committee and agreed to retain 13 per cent derivation did so on their own, and not on behalf of Niger Deltans.

“Niger Delta people have a common position on the issue of resource control, which cannot be changed unilaterally by Attah and his co-travelers. It is disappointing that Attah, a former advocate of resource control, could justify retaining 13 per cent derivation considering the fact that the 2005 Obasanjo Political Reform Conference had recommended an increase in derivation, about nine years ago.

“Niger Delta people will in due course meet and sanction Niger Delta delegates, who are betraying the position of the region on resource control and derivation at the ongoing confab. We call on Niger Delta delegates to boldly stand in defence of resource control during the debate on the report of the committee in plenary."

FG urged to probe corruption allegation against security agencies

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

A

RIGHTS activist, Mr. Omolubi Newuwumi, has called on the Federal Government to investigate claims that security agents posted to crisis zones become instant millionaires, noting that the allegations were capable of undermining the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

He also said that to win the war on terrorism, the Federal Government must ensure that security agencies were urgently equipped with modern sophisticated weapons like the sect members.

Newummi, in a chat with Vanguard, noted that Boko Haram members were better armed than the Nigerian military.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 13

C M Y K

14— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Give more time for voters'card collection — Suswam

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI — GOVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to extend the number of days allowed for the collection of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVC, in the state.

Suswam regretted that many eligible voers who were displaced due to the crises between Fualni herdsmsn and farmers were yet to collect the PVC, adding that the number of days allowed for the exercise was not not enough.

C M Y K

Jos: Govt suspends mass burial of corpses

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS — THE mass burial for the remaining corpses at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH scheduled to hold, yesterday, was cancelled at the last minute, following the identifica-

tion of 14 out of the 22 to be buried, with the remaining seven still identifiable.

The first batch of the mass burial which was secretly carried out last Friday evening drew the ire of the Igbo in Jos, who said they were not asked to come forward and identify

their brothers and sisters who had been missing since the twin bomb blasts which led to the death of about 118 people, last Tuesday.

The Eze Igbo II of Jos, Prof.

Joseph Obilom, who made this known said that mass burial was a taboo in Igbo

I'll ensure enrolment of all children of school age, Gov Yero pledges

T

HE GOVERNOR of Kaduna State, Ramalan Yero, has said that he would ensure all children of school age were enrolled into schools in the state, saying that better days were ahead of them.

This was contained in a message signed on his behalf by the Director General in charge of Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki in Kaduna, yesterday. Children’s Day is being celebrated throughout the country today.

Yero said that “better days are ahead. We are committed to ensuring that our children are given their rightful spaces in schools because education is not a privilege, it is the right of every child.”

The governor further assured that the state government was working hard to ensure that all children of school age in the state were pro-

vided with opportunities to be enrolled, adding that “our administration remains committed to improving the standards of education in Kaduna State.

"And we shall continue to provide modern teaching aids and

equipment in all public schools across the state. It is our utmost belief that the best legacy to bequeath our children is education and we cannot afford to fail in this regard.”

land, just as he said that it was against the culture of the people to buried outside their ancestral homes.

Spokesman of the Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Alhassan Barde confirmed the cancellation, saying, “there is no need as 14 of the bodies have been picked while the remaining seven are still identifiable and their relatives may come any time soon.”

The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Elias Pede relayed the information about the cancellation to anxious relatives of the victims saying, they should come and identify the corpses as “they are not so bad...The issue of mass burial is no longer there.”

Current insecurity due to breakdown of culture — Sambo

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K

ADUNA — VICE President Namadi Sambo, yesterday, said that the over 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Chibok, Borno State, abducted

by Boko Haram terrorists nearly 40 days ago, would be returned to their parents safely.

Sambo attributed the current

cases of violence and insecurity across the country to lack of cultural values.

He spoke during the opening ceremony of the a two-day National Conference on “Culture, Peace and National Security,” in Kaduna.

He was represented on the occasion by the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga.

His words: “Our current security challenges are clearly the resultant effects of the breakdown or abandonment of our cultural values of honesty, hard work, respect for elders, among others.

“There is therefore, the urgent need for deliberate cultural reengineering that places high premium on our cultural values. Our traditional institutions have a critical role to play.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 17

I

N the late 1980s, I was appointed Special Adviser to Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, then Nigeria’s Minister of External Affairs. At the time, I was a Research Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

The Director-General of the Institute, Professor Gabriel Olusanya, advised me not to take the job. When I decided to take it, he gave me a bad security report. He claimed I was married to a foreigner and was too devoted to her.

Therefore, I would be inclined to divulge national secrets to non-Nigerians.

Professor Olusanya conveniently forgot that he too was married to a foreigner.

Moreover, the wife of Professor Bolaji Akinyemi himself was also a foreigner. By Professor Olusanya’s jaundiced logic, that would make the Foreign Minister the greatest security threat of all. In spite of the spurious nature of Professor Olusanya’s objections, the SSS failed to give me security clearance and my appointment was stalled.

This point is important. The appointment of a Yoruba man to a national office was impeded by another Yoruba man. Who broke the logjam: a Northerner! The matter was brought to the attention of President Babangida. In military fashion, the president gave the SSS 48 hours to give me a security clearance. That was the end of Professor

spite of being a “Southerner,” I have received so much kindness from Northerners, even when Southerners and even Yorubas have refused to help me. Therefore, I can say this without fear of being contradicted: Northern Nigerians; from the NorthWest, the North-Central and the North-East are simply fantastic human-beings.

The Northern stock

The Boko Haram are not Northern Nigerians invited me to lunch with my best-friend, Crispin Ogunseye, to deliver the news that the president had agreed to offer me the post. The next line of action was for me to go to Dodan Barracks and fix an appointment to see Mr. President with his ADC, Colonel U.K. Bello. The news travelled fast. By the next day, a colleague of mine, Saleh, had brought the news back to the Institute from the Dodan Barracks praying grounds that I was going to be the new D.G. However, after thinking about the matter over a few days, I decided I did not want to be the Director-General of the NIIA. There was emptiness in my life. From my stint with Professor Akinyemi when I had the privilege of travelling all over the world in a government

,

True Northerners are the most upright, most accommodating and most humane of Nigerians

Olusanya’s shenanigans on that occasion. President Babangida then asked Professor Akinyemi to bring me to see him at Dodan Barracks.

In the presence of Professor Akinyemi and General Domkat Bali, he made me to understand that although I would be Akinyemi’s “adviser,” my loyalty must be to him.

Return to NIIA Within two years of that appointment, Professor Akinyemi lost his job as Foreign Minister, and I made the impolitic mistake of returning to the NIIA. On my return, Professor Olusanya served me with a query to the effect that I had betrayed the NIIA while I was at External Affairs and insisted that my appointment at NIIA be terminated. I managed to survive that inquisition, but that was hardly the end of my problems.

Without consulting me beforehand, Professor Akinyemi convinced President Babangida that I should be appointed the next DirectorGeneral of the NIIA. He then C M Y

,

jet, including several junkets with the president and vicepresident (Chief of General Staff); I knew the emptiness in my life could only be solved spiritually. Therefore, I decided to reject the offer of political appointment.

However, in rejecting it, I made another blunder. I decided to remain at the NIIA as a nonentity. I call this a blunder because I was too naïve to realise that, politically, my continued stay in the Institute would be unacceptable to Professor Olusanya, the sitting DirectorGeneral. Thenceforth, he saw me as a threat. I was hounded at every opportunity. Every possible measure was taken to frustrate me. Therefore, I found myself in the unenviable position of having to appeal in writing to the same President Babangida, whose generous offer of appointment I had rejected, for protection from the Director-General of the NIIA.

Yoruba neglect This is where the matter took a rather interesting turn.

President Babangida directed

Chief Olu Falae, then Secretary to the Government, to second me to his office, so that I would be out of Professor Olusanya’s reach. However, Falae had no interest whatsoever in helping me.

But, of course, he could not say no to the president. So he played a fast game. He called me to his office and informed me that, at the president’s instruction, he was appointing me as his “Special Assistant, Political Matters.” However, he pointed out that, in the meantime, he was short of office-space. He claimed he would soon be moving into a bigger office. As soon as he did this, I would then be able to take up my new appointment. Having said this, Falae dropped the matter.

When I realised this, I took the matter to Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji (alias Triple A), a prince of the Sokoto caliphate who was later turbaned as the Sardauna of Sokoto.

Unusual circumstances I met Alhaji Alhaji under somewhat unusual circumstances at one of the OAU Summits in Addis Ababa.

In spite of the fact that I had written a newspaper article against him when he lost a large sum of money in a taxi in London, he took immediate liking to me. Alhaji Alhaji had been Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance for the longest time. On top of that, he was then newlyappointed as Special Assistant to President Babangida.

When I told him my troubles, he laughed. Then he asked me a telling question: “Why is it that you Yorubas don’t help your own people?” When I asked what he meant, I discovered that he knew more about my predicament than I had presumed.

Alhaji Alhaji said to me: “You are a Yoruba man and yet, you are being harassed by another Yoruba man. The president referred your matter to the highest Yoruba man in the government, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Patrick Koshoni, but he did

nothing. Then he told another Yoruba man, the Secretary to the Government, Chief Olu Falae, to move you into his office. But instead, the man is playing games with you. Now you are constrained to come and see me. Dr. Aribisala, I am not a Yoruba man; I am from the North. Nevertheless, I will help you. Go and think of any job, any job you want, then come to see me and I will see to it that you get it.”

Northern redemption I went away confused because that was actually how I got into my logjam. I did not want any job. I just wanted to be left alone. So I went back to Alhaji Alhaji to tell him that I really could not think of any job I was interested in. But Alhaji Alhaji would not be denied. He said to me: “Dr. Aribisala, Chief Olu Falae refused to fulfil his promise to offer you the appointment of Special Assistant, Political Matters. I am hereby offering you the appointment of Special Assistant, Economic Matters.”

I could not take up Alhaji Alhaji’s offer of appointment.

So he embarked on another strategy. He said to me: “I am going with Mr. President to the next OAU Summit in Addis Ababa. He is going to invite your boss, Professor Olusanya, to accompany him.

Then he will tell him directly to leave you alone.” Professor Olusanya was subsequently invited to be part of the president’s delegation, and Alhaji Alhaji informed me afterwards that the president spoke to him about my case.

Apparently, Professor Olusanya was very irritated about this. Nevertheless, that was the end of his harassment.

I have gone to great lengths to recall this incident because it is one of many examples of the kindness I have received personally on different occasions at the instance of “Northerners.” Forgive me for talking as if Northerners are one people; but those of us in the South have this tendency to lump them all together. In

I have found Northerners in general to be the kindest Nigerians. They are certainly the most honest. They are far more giving and open-handed than Southerners. They are also unbelievably simple and humble. I recall the late General Joseph Garba, a Langtang man, sitting down to eat from the same plate with junior members of his staff in his New York office as Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations.

These points need to be underlined today, in the midst of all the Boko Haram atrocities in the North, especially since the terrorists often target Christians and non-Northerners. These marauders are the antithesis of everything noble; everything decent; and everything godly about Northerners. We also need to keep stating it emphatically. The Boko Haram are not Muslims: they are just using the Muslim faith as a crutch. Abubakar Shekau claimed his god told him to sell the Chibok girls into slavery. Whichever god told him this; it cannot be the Muslim God. I have many Muslim buddies and they don’t go round killing or selling anybody. One of my grandmothers was Muslim. I was her favourite grandson and I don’t remember her hankering to kill anybody.

There is not a single command in the Qur’an for Muslims to go out and kill Christians or Jews. As a matter of fact, it is quite the opposite. We need to differentiate true Muslims from these Boko Haram marauders. We need to differentiate core Northerners from them.

Most important of all, Northerners need to rise up with one voice to decry all those who go round maiming and killing under whatever pretext. These people are a blemish on the Northern image and heritage. They should be ostracised politically and emotionally. They, and not people like my wife, are the real foreigners in Nigeria.

These people are not even human-beings.

True Northerners are the most upright, most accommodating and most humane of Nigerians.

Without Northerners, Nigeria would be a very poor country indeed.

C M Y K

18— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 WE delight in ceremonies. We also like the headlines. The vogue is support for the abducted school girls of Chibok. Once they are released, Nigerians would relapse to the child abuse mode the country runs on full time.

Nowhere is the hypocrisy of Nigerian governments more prominent than in the abuse of the child. Our attention for children consists of saying a few “ right words” at the “ right occasions”. We would hear the empty words today to Children’s Day. Does anyone mention the rights of our children – our future – as debates rage about the future of Nigeria? Nothing shows the neglect of the future better than the reluctance of some States to implement the Child Rights Act, CRA, 11 years after it became law.

The illegality of various State Houses of Assembly having to pass or reject a federal law is one case

Everyday Is Children’s Day our fiery lawyers shun.

The CRA has, as one of its goals, the elimination, or at least reduction of child labour. Child labourers are house helps, apprentices, hawkers, street traders, market/shop assistants, bus conductors, motor park touts, ‘porters’, beggars for themselves or aides to adult beggars.

Section 28 of the Act states, “No child shall be a. Subjected to any forced or exploitative labour; or b.

Employed to work in any capacity except where he is employed by a member of his family on light work

of an agricultural, horticultural or domestic character; or c. Required, in any case to lift, carry or move anything so heavy as likely to adversely affect his physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development; or d. Employed as a domestic help outside his home or family environment”.

Subsections (3) and (4) prescribe a fine of N50, 000 or five years’ imprisonment or both, for individual offenders while a corporate organisation and its members would be liable on conviction to a fine of N250, 000.

CRA also prohibits child marriages and betrothals. In Section 21, any marriage contracted by anyone under 18 years is invalid. Under Section 22: “(1) No parent, guardian or any other person shall betroth a child to any person. (2) A betrothal in contravention of subsection (1) of this section is null and void”. Both provisions are in the Criminal and Penal Codes, though they are hardly enforced.

Why is the National Assembly silent about this assault on its authority?

The height of the hypocrisy is that Governors whose States have refused to implement child’s rights join in trumpeting the importance of children to our future.

We have to halt the national hypocrisy of building a future that ignores our children. Children’s Day should be daily care we ordain for our children, our future.

OPINION

BY HAMISU ABUBAKAR

I

N security matters, it is difficult to describe a planned event as phantom, because the men who create the events are likely to un-create it and put the uninitiated in a state of doubt, as it was in the much reported planned trip of President Goodluck Jonathan to Chibok.

When it was first announced, and observers and commentators gullibly swallowed the bait, forgetting that official visits are usually confirmed by presidential spokesmen, it should have been obvious that something was amiss; more so when the spokesman to the President, Reuben Abati, announced a visit to Paris earlier than the rumours of the Chibok visit began.

Pained that what was considered a news break was nothing other than an unconfirmed report which did not take place, journalists, observers, and commentators, as well as the irascible All Progressives Congress (APC) went to town seeking to knife the image of the President. Even if there was such a trip in the first place, was it not the prerogative of the organisers to cancel since it was not officially announced?

So, why the ballyhoo? All the noise is just part of the same grand design to make the government look incompetent by lazy thinkers whose stock in trade is mischief.

The APC statement showed a lack of depth about the workings of government at the highest level. Being local champions in the troubled SouthWest region of the country is not the

Chibok: Muc h ado about a phant om visit Much phantom same as running Nigeria. According to the party, the President’s aborted trip to Chibok was symptomatic of his administration’s policy flip-flop in the fight against the terror group Boko Haram. Interesting! The party is so ignorant that it does not know that in matters of guerrilla warfare and terrorism, you must be careful to be amenable to changes as is the case all over the world.

To drive home the crass ignorance that permeates the confused opposition, it does not know that it is more important for the president to find the lost girls than to be a consoler-in-chief. The parents are not interested in seeing the president before their children and only a callous group will prefer a visit to finding the girls. Curiously, the opposition continues to insist on Jonathan visiting the troubled area as if it is planning something sinister against him there, APC suggests that the sitting government at the centre has resorted to lying, when actually it was the party and others like it who bought a dummy sold to them by sources that are yet to be disclosed. To justify its gullibility, the APC asks whether presidential advance teams are deployed at will.

The fact that an advanced team moves does not mean that the president is on the move. It is only when the president moves and he is seen on ground that

he has moved; so, there was no lying because the president or his aides did not make any announcement as to his movement. You don’t justify gullibility and an ignorance of the workings of the presidency by falling prey to either a dummy or a non-event. APC thinks running Nigeria is like running a disorganised and uncoordinated party like it.

The president’s statement that he was more interested in rescuing the girls above the visit option was read thus by APC : ‘’This statement shows that President Jonathan does not understand the demands of his office, and that in good/bad times, he is to be seen and heard as the lead celebrant/lead consoler for his compatriots…. As usual, a trip – belated as it was – that could have gone a long way in redeeming the battered global image of the Jonathan administration in the handling of the abduction issue has turned out to be another albatross for the President.

Again, a president who is demonstrably averse to success has snatched defeat just when he was on the cusp of victory.”

APC’s definition of success is not bringing back the girls but paying a visit for the sake of it. No wonder many with the temperament of APC like Asari Dokubo, are wondering whether the abduction did not have connivance at some level of the APC-controlled state government.

For this party of

extremists and rude characters who would not mind denigrating a presidency it continues to dream to occupy, just as the goat dreams to be the king of the jungle someday, nothing can be short of decency than to seek relevance by insulting the head of government of your country. But since we have been told of the Janjaweed nature of the party, it is not a surprise to watchers the resort to violent language like the violence that plagues the three APC states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa.

If Jonathan has waffled and wavered on the overall Boko Haram crisis before the terror group gained enough strength to become a runaway monster, how would the rest of Nigerians describe the monumental incompetence of the APC states that brought us to this pass? It is on record that the violence that rocked Borno and Yobe was a balance brought forward by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) of APC that now wants the PDP to clear its bloody mess. Adamawa was relatively safe until its sailor governor joined the APC. So why wont the APC kill the monster it created for political reasons rather than the uncouth language that has become its lot?

*Mr. Abubakatr, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 19

B

Y the time the Chibok girls were abducted, it was clear to the whole world that the Nigerian forces, do not have the capacity to contain the Boko Haram insurgents and so, many countries volunteered their assistance. This is not unusual because Nigeria has in the past, been in the vanguard of sending troops to countries requiring stability in their systems - Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Mali, Somali and so on. The response of the whole world to assist us is indeed good.

However, we must frown at the methods of the Americans in the Chibok issue. So far, what we have seen is a continuous demystification of the Nigerian armed forces. Every day, they have gone to the press, condemning one aspect of our operations or the other, even in their House of Assembly, this is indeed bad.

Even with our poor military capabilities, we are still an independent nation. If we reject their request to assist, they will not be in this country, so since they elected to assist us, it is expected that, they will be in top level discussions with our senior military and government personnel and, any observations made handled confidentially at that level.

The whole world knows that Nigeria does not have the capacity

to engage in this type of guerrilla warfare, so, going to the media every now and then, to harp on the shortcomings of our military, will not do the operations any good.

First, it serves to glorify the strength of the Boko Haram forces and secondly, it is a dampener to the morale of our troops. And if this situation persists, it will affect relationship between the Americans and our Nigerian troops. The two sides must cooperate to get the job done.

America is not the only country involved in the operations.We have France, Britain, Canada, Israel, China and others. America should not assume an imperial disposition, as if they are infallible.

It took over ten years to get hold of Osama bin laden, up till today, the continuous insurgency in Iraq is the product of America's mishandling. They were in Afghanistan and had to withdraw, when they found the going too costly to handle. Pakistan, Yemeni, Syria are a few examples of countries America failed to bring insurgents under control, why are they making so much noise about Nigeria's military shortcomings.

It would be recalled that if action had been taken by America and the rest of the world, when the Boko Haram insurgency was at its tutelage stage, the situation would not have degenerated to this level.

The CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) and other focussed and

,

forward looking Nigerians, did cry out to the world to declare Boko Haram a terrorist organisation but America, with the same Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State, claimed that it was a localised uprising, caused by poverty and other negligible factors. Today, the wool has been removed from their eyes. Pastor Ayo Oritsejeafor, the President of CAN, was in America parliament to lobby for America's prompt action but his pleas were ignored. Why is America now playing the saint in this instance.

B

ecause of her role as the policeman of the world, America is indirectly culpable in the present situation that we have found ourselves. When they were to take action, they prevaricated and when they were to prevaricate, they acted hastily. That is why Syria is where she is today.

Those who condemn the Nigerian authorities today, were

The jetset-Jonathan's voodoo development index

BY BISI OLAWUNMI

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will never cease to amaze with his simplistic ways and rationalisations. On the Boko Haram insurgents whose abduction of over 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno state, that has now taken centre stage, globally, the President simply dismissed criticisms of his reported aborted trip to Chibok, contending that it was not mandatory for him to visit the town. Of course, simplicity is one of President Jonathan’s virtues. He comes across as the regular guy made good – no pretentious frills or airs. Even his speech carries no affectations, though some of us would wish he packs more punch than his trademark flat, monotone of delivery. But that is natural Ebele for you. Anyway, how could anyone want to crucify the man if the deeply internalised character molding of the pristine, uncomplicated simplicity of his rural upbringing in the rustic village of Otueke has permanently etched an enduring, simplistic thought process on his impressionable young mind ? In the fast trajectory of God’s amazing grace on the young academic’s rise to Mount Olympus of power, there apparently was no time for grooming, for creating a new personality for him – the public persona. No doubt, his simplicity has its advantage – it got him the votes in 2011 general election, with his projection as one of us common folks.

Remember the shoeless, canoe boy imagery?

But then, simplicity in disposition, coupled with simplistic speech, can become a baggage that diminishes the high office of the President of the most populous Black nation on earth. The Presidency is a unique platform to inspire the populace and for those it has pleased God, in his wisdom, to put on that throne, they owe it a duty to the nation not to become letdowns. Stirring words and bold actions are the hallmarks C M Y K

of any inspiring leadership. Sir Winston Churchill, Britain’s war time Prime Minister stirred the British to stand firm against Nazi Germany and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat ; Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. galvanised his underdog African race in the U.S. with his soul-stirring ‘I have a Dream’ speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and changed the course of American history, for ever. They spoke, gave hope and lifted spirits in troubled times.

These are troubled times in Nigeria. Can this president rise up to the occasion ? I have my doubts, not when our ‘gentleman’ president projects a simplistic understanding of grave situations and seems more rattled and exasperated, as if he is being unfairly ‘crucified’. It is a wrong attitude. And unfortunately for this president, he is apparently surrounded by those who stoke this feeling of his being made scapegoat of a governance crisis he inherited. Admitted, the system rot preceded him, but the issue is : What has he done to lift the gloom ? Has he been able to stir and energize the populace ? Where a leader has speech and action deficiencies, disaster looms. Nigeria is heading toward that foreboding threshold. Mr. President must demonstrate a clearer understanding of the state of the nation and speak reassuringly to the people.

President Jonathan is a highly educated person - with a PhD - and a doctorate degree does not come cheap. I should know; I recently took that hard road, and as a senior citizen. He got his PhD as a young man and that meant he was a sharp fellow.

So, you ask : What happened ? The attributes of a PhD are the rigour of research and understanding of relationships among variables. The economy is an area where there is need for the President to demonstrate understanding of the relationship between

,

BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

,

Chibok and America's blame game

The Americans should concentrate on what they came into the country to do, bring back the Chibok girls in safe conditions and collaborate with the Nigerian authorities

the ones who advised President Jonathan, not to be too hard on the Boko Haram Islamist, when the situation was within control.

We all know President Jonathan as one that is easily swayed, he has even come out publicly to say that he is neither a lion or a general, so he takes his time.

Because they know that he listens and takes his time, they go to him with different proposals, when he adopts their recommended approach and it fails, the blame is placed on him.

The Americans once advised Jonathan to deal tenderly with the Boko Haram insurgents, others advised that they should be granted amnesty. This is after they (Boko Haram) have committed heinous crimes like the bombing of the United Nations office, the Police head quarters attack and the attack at the mobile police base at Abuja.

Several bombings of churches and innocent citizens, they claim it is a local thing, now the whole localised thing has gone out of proportion and we are now trading blame.

The army retaliated hard on the insurgents when Ihejirika was Chief of army staff, the shameless northern elders forum threatened to take him to the United Nations special tribunal for genocide. The whole world watched and nobody said anything to condemn such statements.

Whole towns have been destroyed by these mindless insurgents, very important professional institutions like the School of Agriculture, Mubi, were attacked and innocent students slaughtered, the leadership of the north found nothing wrong in such actions. Instead of settling down to find viable approaches to the

But the World Bank put dampers on the celebration of this ‘feat’ by rating Nigeria among the five poorest countries in the world.

,

statistics and the situation on the ground as statistics alone does not give a complete picture of the state of the economy. Statistics can become an exercise in gimmickry, the protestations of Finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the Kukah Centre workshop notwithstanding. The re-basing of Nigeria’s economy, that has made it to upstage South Africa as Africa’s biggest economy, is one such gimmickry, primarily to massage a bruised political ego – to showcase a ‘success’ story. But the World Bank put dampers on the celebration of this ‘feat’ by rating Nigeria among the five poorest countries in the world. The World Bank has indices of development – including per capita income, gross domestic product, school enrolment, state of infrastructural facilities, life expectancy - uniformly applied to all countries in its rating.

F

or those of us ‘on the ground’, Nigeria’s rating among the poor nations closely reflects the daily battle of survival among the preponderant majority. But President Jonathan, still basking in the re-basing euphoria, wouldn’t take such ‘nonsense’ rating, not even from the World Bank.

Pronto, the president created his own ONE INDEX RATING of development to show

enormous challenges facing them, they went about trading blames and lobbying countries like the United States to tow their line.

If the people whose lands are being destroyed, are not interested in protecting the lives and properties of their people, who will help them?

When the local village vigilantes took it upon themselves recently, to take their destinies in their own hands, several insurgents were killed and a few of them handed over to the authorities. The CNN reported it, that is how it should be. The affected regions must first show commitment in ending this insurgency challenges before outsiders can join in the crusade.

The Americans should concentrate on what they came into the country to do, bring back the Chibok girls in safe conditions and collaborate with the Nigerian authorities, in other ways to stop the activities of these insurgents.

It is the responsibility of the whole world.

MRS TETSOMA AMUKAPEMU

L

ET me use this medium to join the multitudes praying for the repose of the soul of Mrs. Tetsoma Amuka Pemu, mother of the publisher Vanguard newspapers. A lion does not give birth to a goat.

She is the source of Uncle Sam's simplicity, carriage and nobility.

May the Almighty God grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

*Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

that Nigeria is a buoyant economy - the ownership of private executive jets by the country’s parasitic, Jet-set elite. The President, at his 2014 May Day speech at Eagle Square in Abuja, had contended : “Nigeria is not a poor country. Nigerians are the most travelled people. There is no country you go that you will not see Nigerians… Aliko Dangote was recently classified among the 25 richest people in the world… I visited Kenya recently on a state visit and there was a programme for Nigerian and Kenyan business men to interact and the number of private jets that landed in Nairobi that day was a subject of discussion in Kenyan media for over a week”. He then declared : “If you talk about ownership of private jets, Nigeria will be among the first 10 countries, yet they are saying that Nigeria is among the five poorest countries”. What a laughable, simplistic talk ! A voodoo development index. How can it be lost on the President that the presence of most Nigerians abroad as economic migrants is their escape option from grinding poverty and insecurity at home ? Does it also occur to the President that the boom in private jet ownership is perceived by the people as manifesting the boom in corruption under the Jonathan Presidency ? The other day, President Jonathan wondered why we are raising dust about Boko Haram terror campaign, saying that it is our turn to experience the global trend of terrorism, so we must endure.

Again, simplistic talk. With Boko Haram rampaging in the core North and Fulani herdsmen militia invading North Central, with threatening spillover southwards – it may not come as a surprise if, in his signature simplistic nature and in spite of the horror of the times, President Jonathan tells us, in the words of singer, Bobby Ferrin : Don’t worry, be happy !

*Dr. Olawunmi, a lecturer, Dept. of Mass communication, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Viewing centre blast: Evil mission partially aborted ...I feel guilty—biz owner

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG. Jos

S

EVENTY-TWO hours after Jos, the Plateau State capital, experienced twin blasts which left about 100 dead and several injured persons still lying critically ill in hospitals, another explosion occurred at the Bauchi road axis of the town at about 9pm on Saturday. This time, the target was a viewing centre where about 300 youths were watching the European Champions League final.

The lone bomber who was prevented from the targeted spot, detonated the bomb, apparently in annoyance, killing himself and three other persons in the process. Two others were injured and are now receiving treatment in hospitals.

Viewing centre Operatives of the Special Task Force, STF, keeping the peace in Plateau State as well as the State Police Command confirmed the incident during a chat with Vanguard Metro, VM. The Media spokesman of the STF, Capt Ikedichi Iweha told VM on phone that some vehicles and property were burnt during the incident.

He said: “We are putting the findings together but for the record, three persons have been confirmed dead and two others

*Scene of the explosion Zone, Principal Planning Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mohammed Suleiman gave a different figure. According to him: “During our search and rescue, we discovered three bodies that night but in the morning we discovered one more body and two persons were injured. The injured persons were taken to Al-Isan hospital in Angwan Rogo and the other one is at Gambaji Hospital in Yan Shanu”.

,

,

When he started the car, the bomb exploded and my brother and his friend who had come to talk to the driver were killed injured, that is the figure for now. The bomb was targeted at a viewing centre in the area but fortunately, it exploded without hitting the target”.

The Plateau State Police commissioner, Mr. Chris Olakpe affirmed this, adding that: “A lone bomber carried the bomb in a car and was heading towards a television viewing centre, the target of his attack. ”He was unsettled by the presence of youths and security operatives and detonated the bomb before getting to his target. I can confirm to you that three people were killed and three others wounded.

The dead included the loan bomber while the death included one Alhaji Bello, the owner of the house in front of where the bomb went off and his f r i e n d ” .

However, the North Central

Speaking on the death of Alhaji Bello the owner of the house where the suicide bomber blew himself, the younger brother, Ibrahim Shehu Masala told MV: “Around 8:30pm I came into my elder brother’s compound and met him arguing with someone about the presence of the person’s car in his premise. He asked the driver of the car to remove the car but the man refused.

“He went into the house and instructed his wife and children to leave the house. After they had gone, he came back and called a neighbour, telling him that he suspects the vehicle.

“They insisted that the driver removed the vehicle but he refused but later agreed to do so. As he entered the car, they insisted that he must drive a w a y . ”Though I had gone into the my

own compound, but I could hear them. When he started the car, the bomb exploded and my brother and his friend who had come to talk to the driver were killed”.

Shehu added: “Five minutes after I left the scene, the bomb exploded, I was just lucky not being there as I would have been affected”.

The late Bello has two wives and eight children, according to the viewing centre owner Another eye witness, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed who told VM he overheard the argument but his mind was on the match said: “Many of us did not really pay attention to what was happening but thank God for those people who stopped the evil man; many of us would have been dead by now”.

Businesses in town Meanwhile, the owner of the Viewing centre, Salamanu Ahmed Ali, told VM on phone he is not interested in running the viewing centre any more as he would not have been able to live with guilt had his patrons perished.

He said: “The situation is very unfortunate, I don’t know what to say or how to describe it. I lost my elder brother, Alhaji Bello, in the incident because he was suspecting the driver; now see what happened. ”I am not interested in the business any longer. I am a Marine Engineer by profession

*The targeted viewing centre and I’m running other businesses in town, I will concentrate on those ones because I’m so scared now. If the driver had had his way and many people died, I don’t know how I would have lived with the situation”.

He confirmed that the family of the late Bello are taking refuge with relatives as their building was destroyed by the explosion.

Reacting to the incident, Member representing Jos NorthNorth Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Baba Hassan, said: “It is a very terrible situation; at times I lack words to express myself. It just happened some days ago at terminus market and now it has happened again on Bauchi road.

“We condemn this act; this is something we only watch on television and now we are seeing it even here in Jos North.

I’m calling on the youths to come together and fight this thing, because this is a war on Nigerians. Bauchi road is 100% Muslims, and the target was

the viewing centre not this house. So as you can see, it is a war on everybody”.

Also, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Mallam Idi Waziri stated thus: “This war is not for the government alone, it is for everybody. These people are living with us, they are within us and we must fish them out.

“Government cannot provide security to all households in Nigeria, everybody must be a partaker in ensuring that we fight this war. It is not the issue of religion or tribe, but it is an issue that some people have made up their mind to kill their fellow human beings and they want to continue.

“It is a deliberate attempt to frustrate government’s efforts towards development. We will continue to call on citizens of Plateau State in particular to remain calm, resolute and firm towards ensuring that we fight and win the war and collectively, and celebrate it, God’s willing”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 21

Robust economic growth not reflecting on job creation — Report

NDPHC hands over Akute transmission station to TCN

BY EDIRI EJOH

By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE & RETNA TOHOMDET

A

RESEARCH study on job creation and employment in Nigeria conducted by Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa, CSEA and Nextier, has shown that unemployment challenges facing the African continent, especially Nigeria, has remained high, in spite of the significant progress made in achieving robust economic growth in the last decade.

The report pointed out that the failure of economic growth and government effort to create adequate jobs has forced the country to go back to the drawing board in an attempt to find a

solution to this growing problem in the country, noting that this level of unemployment can only get worse unless innovative decisions are taken as Nigeria is fast becoming a service economy.

Speaking on the report at a one day dialogue organised by CSEA and Nextier Advisory to address the issue of job creation and employment generation strategies in the country, the Director of Research CSEA, Dr. Olumide Taiwo lamented that despite the recent achievement of robust economic growth in Nigeria, following the debasing of the GDP, it has been accompanied by increasing rates of unemployment, especially among the youths.

The dialogue was designed to present results of rigorous research

by CSEA and Nexier to help key stake holders create solutions to increasing unemployment rate in the country.

Corroborating the position of the report, Executive Chairman, African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building, Professor Olu Ajakaiye, said it was unfortunate that the celebrated economic growth could not churn out the corresponding quantity and quality of jobs in the economy and urged that generation of decent jobs should be carried out through public-private collaboration.

FROM RIGHT: Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, Managing Director Shell Petroleum, Mrs Bola Adesola, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Mr Yan Nsarkoh, Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria, and Dr. Stella Okoli, CEO, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited at the Business Leaders Roundtable to discuss sustainable development in Lagos.

$181.55

Fashola tasks artisans on real economy

0.2

$3,023.00 +22.00 0.07

$17.41

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

154.73 260.5808 210.9125 172.709 1.5183 0.3034 238.2533 24.8083 41.2547 28.2534 238.5318

$110.52

+0.16

$104.38

+0.64

CENTRAL 155.23 261.4228 211.594 173.2671 1.5232 0.3134 239.0232 24.8889 41.388 28.3447 239.3026

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has fully handed over the newly built largest power transmission plant in Nigeria, Akute Power Plant, to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

NDPHC, the operator of the NIPP projects had commissioned the plant located in OkeAro community, Ogun State last year, but completely handed the plant to TCN at the weekend, having completed the provisions of the contract.

TCN is therefore expected to fuly utilise the state-of-the-art facility to improve power supply to Nigerians.

The Deputy General Manager, Civil Field Operations, NDPHC/NIPP, Claudius Ogunrinde, said: "The project has been completed and commissioned; and the company has been running it under contractual terms.

Today marks the proper and complete handover of the facility to TCN. "We are here to examine the effectiveness of what we have done about a year ago and some of the factors listed to be improved upon, and we have seen that most of them have been done and the job is excellently executed to the RFP specified standard, he said.

He further explained that TCN was allowed to take partial control of the facility since last year but with a clause in other to acquaint them with the technology and ensure that the plant starts serving Nigerians.

"The clause was that : In case any of the equipments develop problem, they have a warrantee for one year, the contractor that did the job (EPC,) should also be around to help solve the problem and guide the staff on how to run the station without problems.

The waranty is over today and it becomes the baby of TCN completely," he said.

To aid electricity consumption by Nigerians, the transmission plant is meant to step down power from 330kva to 132kva and then to 33kva. The 33kva is where the Discos and consumers are getting supply from.

SELLING 155.73 262.2649 212.2756 173.8252 1.5281 0.3234 239.7931 24.9695 41.5214 28.436 240.0734

CBN Exchange rate as at 26/05/2014

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

G

OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, has stressed that informal sector would not be properly harnessed if not captured in the real economy. He therefore, called on tradesmen and artisans to formalise their businesses with a view to moving to the real economy.

Fashola made the remarks in his address at the traders and artisans during the grand-finale of fifth Lagos Tradesmen and Artisans Week in Ikeja, themed: “ Sustaining the Growth of the Informal Sector: The Lagos model.”

According to him the huge potential of the informal sector would not be properly harnessed if not captured in the real economy.

The governor described artisans and trademen as strategic players

•says estimated $45Bn lost in extra-legal economy in the economy, urging them to register their businesses to get captured in the state’s economic data.

“We have tried to capture some of the data of your members because so many of you exist in what we call extra-legal economy. The extra-legal economy is estimated to be about $45 billion and this economy has no record of it.That is about N7.2 trillion and that is about 14 times the state budget if we use 2012 budget as the basis. ”We need to capture these businesses in the real legal form so that our records can reflect it.” Fashola said the proper capturing of all economic activities in the state was necessary for development planning, “A reliable economic data will help the government to address problems such as unemployment and other related problems.

“You hear the people say I am unemployed, perhaps it is not the case

of total unemployment. Some truly are unemployed but some are just underemployed. ”Some people for example are running a business that is not as productive as they want and they count themselves as unemployed.

“If we don’t capture that kind of person in our legal economy, such person does not account for one of the people who need electricity. ”So when we are planning electricity for hairdressers in our data, we would not see that person. ” We need to capture the records of the extra-legal economy to be able to know who is doing what so that we can plan for you.” he said. Earlier in his address, Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, described artisans and tradesmen, as strategic development partners in the state.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

INVESTORS Top 10 performing stocks

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

n the top 10 performing stocks last week were Ikeja Hotels Plc, Oando Plc, Forte Oil Plc, NPF Micro-finance Bank Plc, Custodian and Allied Plc, Avon Crowncaps & Containers Plc, and Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc. Others were Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc snd Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc.

I

keja Hotel led the pack with 42.86 percent or N0.27 price appreciation to close at N0.90 from N0.63 per share. Ikeja Hotel has always been noted for late submission of its financial statement.

As it is, the company just released the 2012 annual report last week

(which could be the reason for the rally on the share price), while that of 2013 is still being awaited. Added to this is the fact that the company has not paid dividend for the past two years, and from all indications, it will still be continuing the trend.

Explaining the reason for nondividend payment last year, the Managing Director, Mr. Goodie Ibru, said the company was ploughing the profit back into the business, citing refurbishment of Lagos Sheraton hotel, one of its subsidiaries, as hindrance. He had also said that cost of acquisition of Capital Hotel Plc had put a burden on its finances.

The 2012 audited account released last week showed marginal drop in revenue to N6.944 billion as against N6.954 billion in 2011. The cost of sales improved considerably, dropping to N2.626 billion in 2012 from N3.172 billion the previous year. Profit after tax increased marginally to N1.73 billion from N1.44 billion probably due to deferred taxation, amounting to N194.474 million during the year.

O

ando Plc followed with 25.08 percent or N4.01 appreciation to close at N20.00 from N15.99 per share. The company is presently penciled down as operating below the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s post-listing rules requirement for non-rendition of its 2013 annual reports and accounts.

However, the half year unaudited financial statement for the period

C M Y K

ended June 30, 2013 showed a decline of 20 percent in turnover from N350.6 billion to N280.3 billion. The gross profit decreased by three percent to N30.2 billion compared to N31.0 billion in corresponding period in 2012. Profit before tax declined by 41 percent dropping to N6.2 billion from N10.4billion in 2012, while the profit after tax decreased by 35 percent to N4.3 billion as against N6.6 billion in 2012. In line with its capital restructuring exercise, the company recently concluded the N54.5 billion rights issue exercise and has secured shareholder approval for a special placing to raise N30.7 billion.

F

orte Oil’s share price rose by 19.62 percent or N30.59 to close at N186.54 from N155.95. The company recently set a remarkable record for itself being the first company to release its 2013 annual reports and accounts two months ahead of the filing due date. Last week, Forte Oil was announced as one of the stocks that were added in Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Frontier Market Index.

MSCI is a leading provider of investment decision support tools to over 6,000 clients worldwide, ranging from large pension plans to boutique hedge funds. The Equity Index

The solution to e-payment fraud

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

You can protect yourself from epayment fraud. It is not by abstaining from e-payment, but by observing the following simple steps.

CONFIDENTIALITY his is the first and most important preventive measure against epayment fraud. Critical is the confidentiality of your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Never disclose it to anybody, no matter how close, even if the person is your spouse. Never disclose it to any bank staff, and don’t provide it in response to any email from any source. It is important to note that, banks don’t request PIN from their customers, not for any reason. Notice also that when you use your card on ATM,

T

provider which has presence in 23 countries, offers a range of products and services - including indexes, portfolio risk and performance analytics, and ESG data and research.

Listed on petroleum and petroleum products distributors, Forte Oil is the most highly priced stock in the sector.

It grew revenue by 41 percent to N128 billion compared to N91 billion in 2012. The profit before tax increased by 467 percent to N6.52 billion compared to N1.15 billion recorded in 2012, while profit after income tax increased by 397 percent to N5.00 billion compared N1.01 billion. It recommenced dividend payment with N4.31 billion, translating to N4 per share in 2013.

N

PF Micro-finance Bank rose by 17.89 percent or N0.17 to close at N1.12 from N0.95; Custodian and Allied appreciated by 9.80 percent or N0.25 to close at N2.80 from N2.55; Avon Crowncap went up by 9.52 percent or N0.14 to close at N1.61 from N1.47; Mobil advanced by 9.19 percent or N10.94 to close at N130.00 from N119.06; ETI added 8.07 percent or N1.13 from N14.00 to N15.13; NB went up by 8.02 percent or N13.08 to close at N176.13 from N163.05, while Dangote Sugar advanced by 6.95 percent or N0.64 to close at N9.85 from N9.21 per share.

PoS or on the web, when you input your PIN to conduct a transaction, the PIN is not shown, it is hidden. Rather the PIN is represented with asterisks (****). It is so to make sure that if anybody is around and want to peep to discover your PIN, he/she would fail.

Furthermore, it is risky to keep your PIN in a written form or in your phone, except your disguise it. If you write down your PIN somewhere, somebody may discover it and use it to defraud you. In addition to your PIN, you should also keep your card, and documents or details of e-payment transactions as much as possible. This is because fraudsters can use your card information or details of e-payment transactions to defraud you.

CHANGE YOUR PIN It is good to maintain the same PIN, but it is expedient that you change your

WS MARKET NE

May & Baker gets shareholders to raise fresh capital S

HAREHOLDERS of May & Baker Nigeria Plc have authorised the directors to raise up to N3 billion in new equity fund with a view to reducing dependence on loans and strengthen the company’s balance sheet.

At the annual general meeting in Lagos, shareholders unanimously authorised the board of directors “to raise additional equity capital of an amount up to N3 billion or any fraction thereof either locally and or internationally through any or a combination” of rights issue, private placement and public offer.

The meeting also empowered the directors to decide on absorption of excess monies from the new capital issue.

The resolution highlighted that the new capital issue would be for the “purposes of enhancing the company’s working capital and financing the development of the company’s businesses”.

To create headroom for the new capital issue, shareholders also authorised the increase of the authorised share capital of the company from N1 billion, consisting of 2.0 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to N1.90 billion, consisting of 3.8

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 23

S FORUM

s’

PIN from time to time. It does not cost anything. This is necessary once you feel that your PIN has been compromised.

Sometimes, it is difficult to keep people away when you are using your card, especially on PoS. If for any reason you use your card for internet transactions via a cybercafé or internet network you are not sure of the security, it is expedient you go to the nearest ATM or your bank to change your PIN. TEXT ALERT Some people don’t apply for text alert because of the cost but it can save you lots of money. It helps you monitor transactions on your accounts so as to immediately detect if there is a transaction you did not authorise and respond fast. In some banks, the alert is delivered even before the transaction is consummated (i.e. the alert is delivered before the ATM dispenses the cash). While it does not prevent e-payment fraud, the text alert gives you the opportunity to reduce the amount of money you would have lost to the fraudster.

CUSTOMER CARE CENTER It is true that most customers don’t know the contact of their bank’s Customer Care Center. They do not because they don’t know the importance of such knowledge.

Imagine, you received text alert of a cash withdraw from the ATM that you did not conduct, which implies e-payment fraud.

The easiest way to stop further withdrawal and reduce the loss is to contact via phone, the Customer Care Center of your bank and notify them of that illegal withdrawal and request they block further transactions on the account. It may even be when you lose your card, or you feel your PIN has been compromised. In such situation, knowledge of the contact of your bank’s Customer Care Center will come very handy and save you from losing all the money in your account.

approval billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, by creating additional 1.80 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

In his address to shareholders, the chairman, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), said the recapitalisation is an important measure to reduce the company’s current high debt-to-equity ratio and the resultant high financing costs.

According to him, it is imperative that shareholders inject more equity into the company to make it stronger and put it in a better position to face the challenges in the industry.

He outlined that the management of the company has been implementing measures to improve the performance of the company and deliver returns to shareholders.

INVESTORS SPEAK

Why e-dividend has not stopped rise in volume of unclaimed dividend With the arrival of electronic trading and other electronic platforms in the Nigerian stock market, specifically the introduction of the electronic dividend payment which requires all shareholders to open bank accounts or update their bank account information and forward same to their registrars, the incidence of rise in unclaimed dividend is expected to reduce.

In view of the volume of unclaimed dividend which has been on the rise over the past few years following declaration of considerably good dividend by companies, one may wonder if the e-dividend has achieved the desired result. Some shareholders who spoke with Vanguard Investors Forum on the issue attributed this to low level of literacy in the country.

Excerpts:

•William Adebayo

anybody suggests any time frame, that person is not being truthful.

Most of the local investors that we have currently in the

By WILLIAM JIMOH market are not literate and are used to the old idea and NTHONY Omojola, Invest will not change over night. ment analyst, Credible AssoEven the operators too are not helpciates Ltd: ing matters, I mean the stockbrokers beI happen to be a member of the tech- cause they should have a way of clearnical committee that set up the e-div- ing their dividend from the registrars idend platform. As at the time the and not always allow them to accumuplatform was launched, we expect- late. The same thing applies to many ed a drop in the level of unclaimed companies that are operating staff share dividend, but with the poor level of scheme that still have a lot of names in education in the country and the level the unclaimed dividend list. Such names of information technology know-how, should not come up. That is why comcoupled with people’s resistant to panies’ secretariat department should change, not much has been wake up and ensure that as soon as divachieved. People who are used to re- idends are declared, they add them to ceiving their physical dividend war- the money they are giving to the regisrants and going for extraction even trar instead of allowing them to accudirectly from the registrars still want mulate. to continue to do that and that has made the expected result slow in Corporate coming. investors This not withstanding, e-platform has come to stay, but rather than reThe same thing with the trustees and ducing the volume of unclaimed other corporate investors whose names dividend,it has contributed in in- are still in the list of unclaimed divicreasing it. dend. Their names are not supposed to Another reason is that some of the be there. Names that should be found companies that have been perform- in the list are those of people living in ing well after the financial meltdown the remote villages and not cooperate have started to declare good divi- bodies which have understanding of dends and that has also added to how this thing works and have access increase the quantum because when to information. certain percentage of such dividends If this category of people can wake up are not claimed up till a particular to this reality and clear their own share time, definitely, they will result to of the unclaimed dividend, the aggrelarge chunk of unclaimed dividend. gate amount outstanding will come That is why you see the level still in- down. Even if the number of people creasing because people are not em- involved increases, that does not really bracing e-platform. matter because over time, we are goFor this reason, it is important that ing to get over it. we continue to educate ourselves and investors generally so that we William Adebayo, Chairman, Greendo not continue to accumulate divi- wich Shareholders Association of Nidends. geria: On whether we envisage an end to the problem, we don’t really have The problem with controlling the voldata to say when specifically we are ume of unclaimed dividend as we have going to get over this problem and if it today in the Nigerian capital market

A

•Anthony Omojola started from the period before the market meltdown when some Nigerians who were opportuned to be in government embezzled so much money, directed it to the equity market because they could not afford to put such money in the bank.

Many of them were not clever enough to open account with those names. What they were most interested in was for them to get a place where they can put that ill gotten money which made them to buy equities with them.

The shares they bought with such money have fictitious and fraudulent names which many of them cannot even remember and that is the genesis of the unclaimed dividend problem that now face most companies that are declaring dividend after the market melt down.

As an investor who invested with your hard earned money, you should know that such investments are appreciating and companies are declaring dividend, why won’t you go and claim them?

Another category of people that contribute to the growth in level of unclaimed dividend are those Nigerians that have travel out of the country and since they have found greener pasture in those countries, they have forgotten about their investment, and because they did not provide account details where those money could be paid in when dividend are declared, the quantum keeps increasing.

Lately, there are some elderly people who bought shares, but did not inform their children of such investment and when they die, their children and other relatives will not be able to claim such dividend because they are not aware of the invetsment.

E-dividend platform as we have it now provides relief to that problem and what the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) needs to do is to mandate every stockbroker to ensure that anybody opening a CSCS account with them must accompany it with an account detail. That is the best way to stop the issue of the unclaimed dividend.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Asia, Europe account for 45% of Nigeria’s crude export

BY MICHAEL EBOH

F

OLLOWING a steep de cline in United States’ demand for Nigeria’s crude, India, Netherlands and Spain have emerged as the highest buyers of the nation’s crude oil, accounting for 45.01 per cent of its total crude export in January.

Specifically, data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, revealed that India was the highest recipient of Nigeria’s crude oil in January, accounting for 18.09 per cent of total crude export with 11.811 million barrels of crude oil.

The Netherlands followed with the purchase of 8.889 million barrels of crude, while Spain received 8.695 million barrels.

In general, Nigeria’s total crude export appreciated slightly by 1.19 per cent to 65.305 million barrels in the month under review, up from 64.537 million barrels in December 2013.

Crude Export Europe was the major importer of majority of Nigeria’s crude during the review period with 34.377 barrels of crude, representing 52.64 per cent of its total crude export.

Asia and the Far East followed with the purchase of 15.67 million barrels, representing 23.99 per cent of the total crude export.

Nigeria’s crude export to other African countries stood at 6.509 million barrels, while South America purchased 5.903 million barrels of crude.

Further analysis of Nigeria’s crude oil export by destination revealed that France trailed India, Netherlands and Spain, receiving 6.561 million barrels of oil, while Brazil received 5.903 million barrels.

Others are Italy — 5.06 million barrels; South Africa — 2.9 million barrels; China — 1.956 million barrels; Sweden — 1.948 million barrels and United States of America — 1.871 million barrels.

Impact of shale In December 2013, the negative effect of shale exploration in the United States of America, USA, and other parts of the world, was brought to the fore, as Nigeria’s crude oil export to North America dropped by 91.31 per cent in

From left: President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Mrs. Adedoja Ojelabi; General Manager, Operations Technical Geoscience (OTG), Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mr. Andrew O. Ejayeriese; and Geophysics Coordinator, ExxonMobil Production Company (EMPC), Mr. David Johnson, during a one-day short course in Lagos for 70 geosciences lecturers from Nigerian universities. one year.

Specifically, the NNPC disclosed that Nigeria exported

1.438 million barrels of crude oil to North America in December, down by 15.111 million

barrels in December 2012.

North America accounted for 22.19 per cent of Nigeria’s to-

tal crude export by December 2012, but it dropped to 2.23 per cent by December 2013.

Prior to the decline, the US was the highest buyer of Nigeria’s crude, purchasing 14.279 million barrels in December 2012, thereby, accounting for 19.15 per cent of its total crude export and 86.28 per cent of total crude export to North America.

But by 2013 end, the US dropped to the 10th highest importer of Nigeria’s crude, with 1.438 million barrels.

The NNPC report also indicated that by December 2013, Europe was the highest importer of Nigeria’s crude, accounting for 47 per cent of Nigeria’s total export; followed

by Asia and Far East, accounting for 26 per cent; while Africa accounted for 12 per cent of the total crude export.

South America accounted for 10 per cent while the Oceania/Pacific and North America accounted for three per cent and two per cent respectively.

India emerged the highest importer of Nigeria’s crude in December 2013, with 13.086 million barrels, followed by the Netherlands with 9.866 million barrels, and France 4.497 million barrels.

FG, NASENI collaborate to boost solar panel production

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

T

HE quest by Nigerians to have reg ular power supply may not be farfetched if the Federal Government’s collaboration with the National Agency for Science Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, to produce solar panels is anything to go by.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who expressed the Federal Government’s readiness when he inspected the NASENI solar panel manufacturing plant in Karshi, Abuja, stated that the focus is on solar to compliment gas-fired turbines.

According to him, “with the low level of electricity generation in the country which is mainly through gas fired-turbines, the Federal Government is now focusing on solar to compliment it.

He said, “We want to grow renewable energy resources utilisation and deployment in Nigeria. With the low level of electricity generation and transmission in the country, the only way to reach the rural communities is through renewable technology. This is one of the technologies that are far away from the national grid.”

He also said that with the launch of

the Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria (OLRN), using renewable energy, it had become imperative to develop Nigerian solar manufacturing plants.

He assured that the Federal Government would be ready to patronise products from the agency, especially for the OLRN. “Patronising them will give them more encouragement to go into mass production and sales of the solar panels across the country.

“Solar is the only thing you can deploy to every part of Nigeria and get electricity.

We have challenges with wind because the onshore wind velocity is not quite amenable with wind turbines and only select part of the country will use that,” he said.

The Minister explained that partnering with NASENI was part of government’s effort to ensure local content development in the power sector as well as job creation for Nigerian youths.

“I will say this is a learning visit and step to forge a relationship with NASENI solar company. It is also to ensure that we even train most of the technical people that will be going out there to deploy this technology in our rural com-

munities.

“That is why the Ministry of Power will like to collaborate with NASENI in the deployment of solar power technology in the country,” he said.

He stressed the need for NASENI to improve on its marketing and to always comply with international standard.

“We will be promoting NASENI. We will tell our partners that we prefer NASENI solar panels because Mr. President is so concerned when it comes to local content development.

“Once the solar panels continue to be of international and best standard, why go outside. We will patronise NASENI no doubt about that,” he said.

Earlier, NASENI Executive Vice Chairman, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the 7.5mw pilot plant was already producing high quality solar panels that could be found in the market.

“The solar factory as you have seen is a demonstration plant and it was started as part of our research and development and we want to prove that it can work in Nigeria.

“It is a 7.5mw pilot plant and it is producing solar panels of high quality standard and the products are available in the market,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 25

Oil & People •CHIJIOKE NWAOZUZU cnwaozuzu@gmail.com

Imperative of developing African market for natural gas

BY CHIJIOKENWAOZUZU

T

Welders raise alarm over influx of foreigners to sector

BY EBUN SESSOU

T

HE President of the Nigerian Welders Association (NWA) Comrade Pius Itama, has called on the Federal Government to curb the influx of foreigners competing for welding jobs in the oil and gas sector and other sectors of the economy.

Itama made this call at a two day National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association in Ogun State.

He said that members of the association are now being faced with unemployment, which is caused by the flooding of the Nigeria welding market by foreigners, mostly Chinese, Indians and Lebanese.

He noted that the association had about 20,000 members out of which less than 10 per cent are employed by the multinational companies operating here in Nigeria.

“Instead of employing Nigerian trained professional welders in order to reduce the unemployment rate in the country, these multinational companies still bring in some half-baked foreigners to come and do the job.

“We have so many construction works going on across the country now which involve welding. Go to the cement factory in Okpella, the one in Ogun state, Agbami oil rig and so on, these are places where our expertise is needed, but instead of employing Nigerians you will see thousands of those foreigners doing these jobs, even up to the person driving forklift.

“Funny enough, the Federal Government, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, amongst others are turning out trained welders everyday only for them to be roaming the street without having any work to do because their works had been taken over by foreigners,” Itama said He noted that since the inception of welding and construction works in the country, Nigerians have been fully involved in, “the construction of our refineries both in Warri, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and even some petrochemical industries and cement factories. Nigerians were the ones that carried out the welding works. Why is it now that they are saying we can no longer do it?” he queried.

“I am not sure the Presidency is aware

of this problem, because if it is, I have the conviction that they would have done something about it.

“I believe it was some disgruntled elements in authority that are manipulating this thing because of their own selfish interest and they will not tell the Presidency the truth of the matter because most of them are the owners of the companies where all these foreigners work,” he lamented.

He stressed that the Nigeria Immigration Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Nigeria Customs Service, should brace up to their duties, as most of these foreigners do not even have the requisite skills and the legal documents to work in the country.

NERC cautions operators on customer relations

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

W

ORRIED by reported high rate of unpleasant relationship with customers, the management of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has warned operators in the industry to adhere to world best practices and corporate governance.

The Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, issued the warning in Abuja, during the inauguration of members for the Jos, Ibadan and Yola forum offices respectively.

He however observed that, “there will always be issues between the customers and the operators, but the most important thing is how the issues are handled.

According to him, the essence of the forum is to enhance engagement and governance in the industry. “There will always be conflict in the market; consumers will always have issues with operators, this is a conflict resolution mechanism,” he said.

He said that Forum members constitute people who live within the particular area and know the expectations and aspirations of the people so that they will be able to resolve conflicts that emanate from the environment.

HE key to extensive internation al trade in natural gas lies in developing a global integrated/substantial pipeline grid, and increasing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fleet, where navigable water access is available. Integrated pipeline facilities do not presently exist in much of the world, but are being built rapidly. By 1991, international gas trade was focused in North America, Europe and the Former Soviet Union (FSU).

By 1997, around 54% of world’s natural gas production was exported to world markets in the form of LNG, whereas only 19% of the world’s natural gas production was exported across any international border. However, there are new pipelines that are operating and some under construction in South-East Asia, South America and Africa. Also, there is a growing list of potential new transportation projects using natural gas.

Presently, the international gas markets are made up of three grids and seven isolated markets. The three grids are found in the NAFTA Zone (North American Free Trade Agreement) made up The reason the major marketers of US, Canada, and Mexico; Western Eustill sell at N97 is because they rope; and the FSU / have bulk purchase agreements Central Europe. The seven isolated with NNPC, and they can also load markets are found in: from the Ejigbo Depot Brazil/Central South America (made up of and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina); the South (TSGP) Projects. Both projects have American (Southern Cone) made up of experienced severe bottle-necks, not Chile, Uruguay, etc; the Eastern Medunconnected with funding problems iterranean; the Indian Subcontinent; and politicking. The priority for NigeSouth-East Asia; North-East Asia; and ria at the moment would be to develop the Coastal Trio (made up of Japan, strong internal gas pipeline grids and South Korea, and Taiwan). harness the huge natural gas reserves to achieve the all-important goal of elecAbsence of tricity generation. However, it is also gas market useful for the major gas nations in Africa to meet under the aegis of the AfriThe foregoing would suggest the abcan Petroleum Producers Association sence of an international gas market, (APPA) to establish modalities for conand also the absence of an isolated Afstructing a functional African regional rican gas market. The absence of an market for gas. international gas market is largely inTo achieve the desired objective, natfluenced by the fundamental factors that ural gas pipeline grids in Africa must drive natural gas economics. The most be developed internally; within and critical of these factors is the high cost between nations; and grids should be and relative inflexibility of the transport linked to target markets (electricity gensystems required to get gas to market. erators and industrial users, particularHigh transportation costs and inflexily those that use natural gas as a feedble delivery systems have tended to isostock). Achieving a regional natural gas late regional gas markets from one anmarket for Africa will thus alleviate the other, thereby making it difficult to creproblem of electricity generation, reate a ‘world gas market’. The second duce the consumption of petroleum major factor is that gas transportation products, boost industrialization and costs also exhibit strong economies of GDP, and minimize environmental polscale. The higher the volumes, the lowlution. er the average unit cost of production.

In international gas trade, large gas Dr Chijioke Nwaozuzu wrote from discoveries and large markets enjoy Emerald Energy Institute, University substantial economies of scale over of Port Harcourt. small gas discoveries and small mar-

,

Natural gas conditioning system

kets. Therefore, the critical drivers of natural gas economics are principally high cost of gas transport systems and scale requirements. Consequently, natural gas markets have historically developed first in countries with substantial natural gas reserves of their own, and later in countries with insignificant or no gas reserves but with large energy demands to justify importation of natural gas through international pipeline grid systems or through the LNG transaction.

The second observation relates to a lack of African regional gas market. The presence of substantial gas reserves in Nigeria, Libya, and Angola, etc is enough stimuli for the development of an isolated gas market in Africa. Of all the African countries with gas reserves, Nigeria has far more natural gas reserves than all of the other countries combined. Therefore, the initiative to construct a regional gas market in Africa falls squarely on the court of the Nigerian Government.

There have been two initiatives from the Nigerian Government in this regard: the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP),

,

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

FG to construct super transmission grid

T

HE Federal Government has said it is finalizing plans for the construction of a super grid power transmission system to cope with the anticipated increase in power generation in the country.

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, made this known when he received a team from the China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Company Limited, a subsidiary of the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC).

He said the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was willing to consider all options to strengthen its wheeling capacity, adding that as generation capacity increases, TCN will become bankable due to increase in wheeling and transmission charges.

He urged SGCC to liaise with TCN to key into the planned massive improvement in the national grid system, adding that the sector required massive investment for rehabilitation and new construction.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and Vice President of SGCC, Mr. Cheng Wei, told Dikki that the visit was a follow up to the visit of the Chinese Prime Minister to Nigeria.

Tanker drivers threaten strike over member’s death

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

P

ETROLEUM Tanker Drivers, PTD, has threatened to embark on an industrial action in Lagos, to protest against the unwarranted killing of its member, Comrade Olalekan Lawal allegedly by men of Operation Messa last April in Lagos.

In a statement issued by its National Chairman, Comrade S.A. Oladiti, and National Secretary, Comrade Sunday Ochibejivwie, the union warned that the strike will commence this week if the authorities fail to heed to its demands and request for compensation to the deceased family.

The Union said it had already instructed its members in the Lagos zone to stop loading from Tuesday if its demands have not been met. The drivers also decried the excesses by military men at check points demanding for samples of products ranging from 10 to 20 litre, saying that the development had become intolerable.

The Union also directed all members nationwide to carry green leaves in a show of solidarity and protest the slain driver.

US crude import from Africa declines by 90% — EIA

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

N

IGERIA and other Af rican oil producing countries which depend on the United States market for export may have to diversify their economy, and look toward other countries to sell their oil, as the U.S import of crude from Africa declines by 90 percent.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA, African oil exports to the U.S. averaged 170,000 barrels per day (bpd) for the first four months of 2014, as rapidly rising U.S. oil production has reduced its demand for imported light sweet crude.

The EIA noted that U.S. refiners have been major consumers of African crude oil, primarily light sweet crude from Nigeria, Algeria, and Angola, and accounting for two million bpd, or about onequarter of African crude exports as recently as 2010.

African exports to other global regions reflect both changes in exports to the United States and the repeated and extended disruptions in Libyan production that have occurred since 2011.

Until recently, African crude that flowed to the U.S. has been diverted to serve European markets that have historically been served by Libya, and to supply increased demand in Asian markets where despite Libyan disruptions, deliveries of African crude

From left: US Consul General in Nigeria, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins; US Secretary of Commerce, Ms Penny Pritzker; Chief Executive Officer, CEO, GE Nigeria, Dr Lazarus Angbazo; and GE Africa CEO, Mr. Jay Ireland, during the visit of the US Secretary of Commerce to the GE Nigeria Corporate Office in Lagos. have increased.

The EIA also stated that European refiners have historically imported substantial volumes of light sweet crude from Africa (2.2 million bpd in 2010), including over threequarters of Libyan exports (1.1 million bpd in 2010).

With most Libyan crude oil off the market, exports to Europe from the rest of Africa have increased by more than 700,000 bpd from 2010, while European imports of oil from

Africa have also increased to offset the 900,000 bpd decline in North Sea oil production since 2010.

European, Asian markets As a result, despite much lower imports of Libyan oil, total European imports of African crude oil in 2014 have fallen by only 100,000 bpd since 2010.

Conversely, African crude exports to Asia have increased by more than 200,000 bpd since 2010. So far in 2014, ex-

NERC calls for revolution in power technology

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

T

HE Chairman of the Ni gerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, has emphasized the need to revolutionize the technology in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, to keep the system in tandem with the challenges of the time.

Amadi, who stated this during the presentation of the Nigeria Electricity Supply and Installations Standards, NESIS, document to the Commission by the Chairman of the Technical Working Group, TWG, Mrs. Foluseke Somolu, in Abuja, said the change was necessary for the reform in the sector to succeed.

While commending the document being presented, he added that, “We expect a high quality document because of the composition of the techni-

cal working group, made up of lawyers, professors, and engineers.”

The TWG comprised of members representing a wide spectrum of electricity industry stakeholders including, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE; Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON; Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN; and the Federal Ministry of Power.

Others are the Lagos State Electricity Board; Metering Code Panels, MCP; Distribution Code Review Panel, DCRP; representatives of the Distribution Companies; Licensed Electricity Contractors Association of Nigeria, LECAN; Rural Electrification Agency, REA; the academia; Law firms, and NERC. Amadi further asserted that the Electrical Installation Regulation, which was promulgated in 1996, has become obso-

lete, and this serves as the basis for the development of this updated regulatory document.

He noted that the Technical Working Group, which had been working on the document since 2012, was an indicator that crowd-sourcing is more valuable than outsourcing to consultants.

He stated that the regulations ensure fluid generation, transmission, and distribution in the electricity industry, which is necessary for the reform in the sector to succeed.

He was supported by the Commissioner for Engineering, Standards and Safety, Mrs. Mary Awolokun, who stated that the document is a vital development for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry because it covers all aspects of the value chain in the electricity industry.

ports to Asia from African countries other than Libya have increased by 400,000 bpd compared to 2010 levels, more than offsetting the decline in Libyan supply to Asia.

Higher refinery runs to satisfy growing regional petroleum product demand have increased crude flows to Asia.

Of the Asian countries, China imported more than 1.2 million bpd of oil from Africa during the first four months of 2014, 22 percent of total African crude exports, and is now the world´s largest importer of African oil.

The EIA further stated that growth in demand for oil products and the expansion of Chinese refining capacity, which increased by 900,000 bpd in 2013 and is expected to increase by an additional 500,000 bpd in 2014, have driven rising Chinese demand for oil imports.

With U.S. crude production expected to increase by an additional one million bpd in 2014, it is likely that its imports of African crude will remain low compared to historic levels.

However, refiner crude selection decisions are based on relative crude economics, and U.S. refiners could import additional African oil should the economics of African crude streams become more favorable, it noted.

The level of demand for African crude in Europe is also somewhat uncertain. EIA´s May Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts European demand to fall in 2014 and stagnate in 2015, which would limit European refiners´ demand for crude.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 27

FG inaugurates gas to power committee …Targets 6,000MW by December

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

W

ORRIED by the shortage of electricity supply in the country, the Federal Government has inaugurated an eleven member emergency committee charged with the responsibility to fast track the gas to fire plants revolution.

Members of the committee, drawn from key stakeholders in Power, Presidency and Petroleum Resources, were also tasked to find solution to the lingering gas crisis to ensure accelerated and improved power generation.

The Committee, which has Mr. Beks Dagogo-Jack, Chairman Presidential Task Force on Power as Chairman, also has Dr. David Ige, Group Executive Director, GED Gas, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, as coChairman and nine others.

A 12-point term of reference was handed over to the committee, which included the development policy framework that would ensure availability of gas and strategies for curbing vandalism of gas infrastructure.

Inaugurating the Committee, the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, recalled the unalloyed political will demonstrated by Mr. President to drive the fast cruising Power Sector Reform to a logical end.

He recalled the ambitious plan by Government to increase Gas-fired plant contribution to the grid from the

P

From left: Mr Laoye Jaiyeola, MD, Kakawa Discount House and Chairman, Junior Achievement of Nigeria; Mr Oladotun Isiaka, GM, Deep Water Operations, Exxonmobil, Longest Serving Board member Company award winner and Mrs Simi Nwogugu, Founder, JAN during the 15th anniversary of Junior Achievement Nigeria and the launch of e-Platform, in Lagos. current 70 per cent to 85 per cent by Decem ber 2014.

According to him, “ we are thus at the mercy of gas in order to meet this target, it is for this reason that Mr. President has tasked us to find solution, otherwise we could be strangulated by gas shortage.”

He therefore appealed to the members of the task force, to do all they can, so as to ensure success of their assignment.

“There is obvious gap in gas supply. This has been made worse as a result of vandalism; we cannot be giving gas to the world through export, while we are in dire need of gas to

fire our plants.”

He therefore appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience, especially with the new owners, and argued that in the short run, there would be expected disruptions, but assured that reports making the rounds now is that there is remarkable improvement nationwide.

The Minister also used the occasion to denounce the activities of those he described as energy thieves, and enjoined everyone that expects stable power to pay their bills, just as he recognized the importance of liquidity as essential ingredient in the running of the system.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison Madueke, said her ministry is working hard in developing stringent framework in meeting immediate and long term gas demands with some key players like Shell, and private sector in the development of gas infrastructure.

She said that with the enormous work done, “we will see a positive result of what we are doing.” She said her ministry has identified various critical projects which Government has also released funds for their realization to resolve challenges where necessary.

Why Seplat lost Shell oil blocks F

ACTS have emerged as to why Seplat, Nigeria’s biggest indigenous exploration and production company lost out in the bid for oil mining leases (OMLs) 24 and 29, the most prized acreage in the ongoing divestment by Shell, Total, and ENI. The company stated that its bid “ was not the highest priced offer”, according to Oil and Gas Report. The company further explained that this was why its “strong bid” for the Oil Mining Leases “did not lead to the company’s selection as preferred bidder.”

Though Seplat did not disclose the value of its ‘strong bid’, it simply said it “will continue to exercise price discipline”.

The statement was made in the company’s first interim report since its listing on the

IPMAN crisis: Zonal leaders express confidence in new EXCO

Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges in April 2014. It was the first official disclosure by any party involved in the very competitive race for the 45 percent equity held by the three European majors in OMLs 18, 24, 25 and 29, all producing onshore acreages in the eastern Niger Delta.

Shell and the other companies had kept sealed lips held tightly about the bid, which had lasted close to 12 months and had involved over 50 companies and consortia.

United States-based, Pan Ocean had won OML 24. Reuters, had earlier reported that two Nigerian oil traders, Aiteo and Taleveras had jointly won OML 29, the most coveted of the four assets, though the actual cost could not be ascertained.

Shell’s own figures stated

that the remaining reserves (P1+P2) in OML 29 are about 2.2Billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). The hydrocarbon fields on the acreage could deliver as much as 160,000BOPD and 300MMscf/ d at peak, with focused, aggressive work programme. It was reported.

A joint bid by Midwestern Oil and Gas and Mart Resources is said to have won OML 18, while a consortium of Nigerian and Canadian companies named Cresta is the preferred bidder for OML 25. When contacted, Midwestern Oil and Gas simply responded: “We’d talk about it later”.

The Seplat statement can be interpreted to mean that the company is not sorely disappointed with the outcome. Seplat is confident that there is

“a substantial pipeline of other material opportunities that are being pursued,” according Austin Avuru, its Chief Executive Officer. “We will retain our focus on acquisition opportunities where we can leverage Seplat’s technical and financial strength,” he said.

Seplat’s net cash position currently is approximately $285 million, following receipt of the gross proceeds of the IPO of $535 million and repayment of the MPI shareholder loan of $48 million, it said in the statement.

“All of our development projects remain on track, and we are confident of delivering our target production exit rate for this year of 72,000 BOPD, and of recovering as much of the production lost in the period as possible”, Avuru added.

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

RESENT and past leaders of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, across the country have passed a confidence vote on the newly elected national officers of the association.

They also pledged their total support to the newly elected national officers of the association.

The leaders who unanimously spoke in Abuja last week in support of the Elder Chinedu Okoronkwoled new executives pledged to work with them to ensure steady supply of petroleum products to Nigerians.

Speaking to newsmen after an expanded crucial meeting in Abuja, to find a lasting solution the crisis that had engulfed the association for years, members who condemned the conduct of Chief Lawson Obasi insisted that no one has ever emerged leader of the association through court order.

IKEDC targets meter accuracy, energy loss reduction

T

HE Management of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company has said it is working in conjunction with its technical partners, Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO) to ensure meter accuracy and loss reduction within its network.

Speaking during the oversight visit of the Senate Committee on Privatisation to IKEDC, Mr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje, MD/CEO, IKEDC, said the company had made significant progress in its quest to ensure a robust metering system that will enhance accuracy in billing.

Ajifowobaje said KEPCO was spearheading an exhaustive review of IKEDC’s network to achieve the introduction of effective meters as well as promote reduction of energy losses through continuing upgrade and optimization of the company’s installations and facilities.

“IKEDC is working with KEPCO to provide a strategic solution to metering that takes cognizance of the needs of all customers within the network.

I am happy to report that with the adoption of new technology we have made substantial progress in this regard.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 29

C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 31

Travels agency wins Emirates award

P

EACOCK Travels and Tours, weekend, launched an attractive holiday package for intending travellers to the United Kingdom this summer. This came just as the firm won the Best Travel Agency in Nigeria Award.

The award was given by the Dubai-based Emirates

Airlines during the celebration of its 10th anniversary in Nigeria. The MiddleEast airline said the award was in recognition of Peacock’s giant strides in the travel management industry in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Peacock said its pleasant and exciting UK vacation offer is avail-

able for groups, families, individuals other categories of people who may be interested in visiting the UK during the summer.

The offer, according to a statement from the London office of Peacock Travels and Tours, will be available throughout the summer from June to September.

He noted that prospective travellers would have the opportunity to tour various places for 10 days.

The Travel Manager, Peacock Travels and Tours, UK, Mr. Keith Lloyds, said the offer included a tour of the London city, visit to Manchester and Chelsea football clubs.

CAN holds thanksgiving, election in Lekki

T

HE Christian Associ ation of Nigeria, Lekki Local Council Development Authority, LCDA Chapter, has held its interdenominational divine service with the theme, “Christ in You the Hope of Glory” at the Lekki LCDA Multipurpose hall, Lagos.

The programme which was organized to appreciates God’s faithfulness also featured the election of new executive to run its affairs.

Those present included Apostle Dr. Ben Omoregie, Vice Chairman PFN Lekki/Epe province who doubled as the guest preacher, Mrs. A. A. Badero, chairperson of the day, Chief Olusegun Oyiri (JP), The Olosoroko of Osoroko land as Patron and Hon. Mukandasi Ogidan, the Executive Chairman Lekki LCDA as Guest of Honour with notable personalities from Epe.

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 33

C M Y K

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

C M Y K

V anguard anguard,, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 35

Nigeria and quest for entreprenueral revolution

BY AYO AKINOLA

Policing the Nigeria of our dream (2)

I

N any case, with the very crying need for reorganization of police administration in the nation, if the needfull is done, the ministry would not be needed in the organization, and the police would not be under any unnecessary influence of government. One of the most manifest challenges of police personnel in Nigeria is corruption which, along with indiscipline, is the most intractable bane of the Nigerian society.This situation makes the Edo saying true which hypothesizes that if a thief joins others to search for lost property, it would be difficult to find.

There is a desperate need for officers and other ranks of the police to work out administrative measures to move them close to the generality of the people they serve, with institutions and methods that will win their confidence through service delivery. As it is, the people neither trust nor respect anything police. This is very unfortunate as the force cannot operate satisfactorily without the cooperation of the people.

If the police must perform their duties fully to the satisfaction of the people, however, the state and indeed, the people must take these and its other inadequacies more seriously. Lots of these inadequacies are actually crying for attention. I met a young English constable at the British Police College in 1961. He had a Master’s degree from Oxford University. I asked what made him enlist into the police force as a constable with such comparatively high education. He promptly answered that his father before him was a constable, and that his basic salary was better than the earnings of his university colleagues employed in the civil service. He added that his calculations were turning out wise as he was

enough excuses for the human rights abuses they perpetrate. This is a very adverse comment, yet it is more true than false. No matter what palliative excuses the police authorities might have, the comment conveys what the generality of the people feel. Think what you like, however, and do what you like, the need for an able and viable police organization remains absolute. Not only the police authorities, but also the government and people of Nigeria must think seriously of how to reverse the trend. It is imperative to do this or the nation might be chasing anarchy.

We require the police to help in the sanitization of the polity. We need it to enhance discipline, as it is necessary for the general protection of society. We need them as anti-graft watch dogs within and outside their organization, hugely and painstakingly organized to deal decisively with the nation's intractable ills of corruption which are in all ways wrecking the nations thought processes. We need the police to work ceaselessly at self-cleansing.

Operational activities

However, we need the organization to be strictly professional in both its administrative and operational activities, which must on all fronts, be purpose-driven. The Nigeria Police Force must do something urgently about its reputation. There is no way they can succeed without the cooperation of the other people of Nigeria. The authorities must be dispassionate and take the enormity, difficulties, and values of the service into consideration in fixing fair and just remunerations for officers and men of the force.

The turn-out of an officer reflects his state of discipline, his self-pride, self respect, and attitude to his duties. The daily turnout is given very serious attention at the institutions, We require the police to help in the sanitiza- training and it is checked tion of the polity. We need it to enhance out daily during postings to their discipline, as it is necessary for the general duty beat. Sloppy protection of society and dirty turn-out for duty, including improper dressing were then actually doing the course at the Poserious offences that earned all ranks dislice College as an Officer trainee. Sooner than later he hoped, he would add the dig- ciplinary entries into their records and pernity of a higher rank to his good pay. It is sonal files. Proper and permanent arrangeobvious that this will not happen in Nige- ments should be made for periodic supply of uniforms as was the case during the coria as things are.

It is perhaps necessary, in retrospect, to lonial era. It would not do justice to the quote here in part, the Vanguard editorial men, or to the service, if they continue to comment of Wednesday, January 15, 2014, buy their uniforms.

Modern implements of work, and all as follows: What happens to policemen who routinely shoot commercial bus driv- necessary requirements for carrying out ers who refuse to be extorted? Which po- their duties should be fully provided, and licemen have been successfully prosecut- proper housing and welfare arrangements ed for murder even as they fire live bullets must be adequately addressed. Police ofpoint blank at rioters? Have the police not ficers and men are, most of the time, at the killed unarmed children, women and got receiving end of criticisms and abuses. It away with their crime? The police believe is also obvious that they, by their activities, invite the negative comments which can they can do anything.

There are enough precedents to encour- only be avoided through their responses age their lawlessness. They have succeed- to refresher on-the-job training and coned so far. Are the police punished when sistent purpose-driven supervisory efforts their road blocks on the highways cause of the senior officers of the Force.

Complaints and abuses are never in short accidents? Have they not killed without provocation or while quelling mayhems? supply, but there is hardly any positive Those who killed suspects claiming they action taken, from within or outside the force, to attend to the complaints, not even were resisting arrest are commended.

When these happen, lawmakers and the by those paid to do so. The people are rightexecutive look the other way. The victims ly the loudest complainants, but they also in most cases are the voiceless. Impunity play the major role in corrupting the pothat has grown from these abuses has em- lice personnel, especially when they find boldened the police. They enforce laws by themselves deliberately on the wrong side placing themselves above the law. They of the law.

To be continued are incurably reckless and equipped with

, C M Y K

ES, you heard it right, entrepre neurial revolution has began in Nigeria, and the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, are leading the revolution. One of the major challenges facing developing and underdeveloped countries of the world is poverty. It has been so endemic as a result of the high rate of unemployment that has become the major characteristic of the developing and underdeveloped countries of the world.

Although the level and magnitude of poverty and unemployment has been observed to be different within and

,

across nations, it still remains the major obstacle to the success of the struggle for the optimum utilization of human resources for both social and economic development of nations. Africa entered the 21st century as the poorest, the most technologically backward, the most debt distressed and most marginalized region of the world. With the position Nigeria occupies in Africa in terms of the share of population, one cannot but imagine the percentage of Nigerians that are affected by this debilitating monster called poverty and hence making the war against poverty one of the cardinal policies of government in Nigeria.

Figures from the Bureau of Statistics show that about 67 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line. The data further reveal that only 50 per cent of the population A better approach to the eradication of has access to safe drinking water, poverty should be to break the generational while 38 per cent cannot avail them- chain of poverty by empowering the youth to selves of primary be self reliant through vocational skill acquihealth care. It is estimated that about sition programme targeted at the youths 70 per cent of Nigerians consume less minating into his Transformation Agenthan one third of the minimum protein da. Evidence exists as to the stimulaand vitamin intake due to low purchastion of growth in many sectors of the ing power. This statistics shows the very economy as a result of some of the prodepth of poverty in Nigeria. It is dehugrammes of government aimed at almanizing and can be rated as a killer leviating poverty. disease which has assumed an epidemIn the view of Osunde, (2003) and ic state. Any responsible government Nwagwu, (2005), a better approach to will not go to sleep with such a terrible the eradication of poverty should be to situation. break the generational chain of poverThe government of Nigeria through ty by empowering the youth to be self most of her policies and programmes reliant through vocational skill acquihas made tremendous effort towards sition programme targeted at the changing the scenario in the country. youths. The difference lies in the presDespite the effort of government in this ence of a critical mass of entrepreneurs direction, the “poverty virus” is getting that triggers an entrepreneurial revomore entrenched and spreading wider lution with all its multiplier effect. among the populace. This incidence is It is this entrepreneurial spirit that is higher among the youths who fall withempowering China, India, along with in the age bracket of 15-35.

Russia and the former Soviet satellite The untrained and unskilled youth countries in Eastern Europe and the grows into an unemployable man who Baltic States, to rise above the gravity cannot be employed because of his lack of years of underemployment. of marketable skills to be engaged in a To be continued

,

The first part of this piece was published in Friday edition of Vanguard

By SAM IGBE

Y

job that can adequately support his family. This makes it impossible for him to provide for his children in terms of education both at the formal and informal level to guarantee his wards self sufficiency. Thus, the cycle continues with generation after generation propagating this vicious cycle of poverty.

Economic growth is seen as a sine qua non for sustained progress in poverty and unemployment reduction. As Sachs (2005) opined, poverty cannot be reduced except there is economic growth. To him, it is a fact that has been proved by both historical and comparative studies. Empirical facts also exist to show that countries that have reduced poverty are the ones that have grown the fastest.

On the other hand, poverty has grown in the countries that have been stagnant economically. Ajegi, (2002) observed that since poverty is a situation in which the victim is subjected to economic, political, social and environmental depreciation, it carries with it the potential for all forms of resentment and quite often, such resentment could be violent and destabilizing. This view can be used to explain the rising cases of violence in Nigeria as it is evidenced in the insurgency called "Boko Haram”, kidnapping and militancy across the country.

In the words of Adam Smith, (1776),” no society can be flourishing and happy, of which by far the greater part of the members are poor, unemployed and miserable.” These views have created a growing awareness and an unprecedented global consensus that poverty is the greatest threat to peace, stability and the entire human race. The 1995 world economic summit offered a resounding expression of this with the identification of poverty eradication as a political, economic, social and moral imperative for social development.

Keying into this expression, the Nigeria government has introduced and established various programmes and agencies saddled with the responsibility of alleviating poverty in the country. The Goodluck Jonathan Administration has done a lot in this case, cul-

,

36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 37 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

ARIES: YOUR best bet today is to seek important cooperation of influential people and that of your spouse/partner. The more legal conscious you are, the better for you.

TAURUS: IF others want you to conclude an important financial transactions that can possibly be done today, you’ll need to say no and go ahead as tomorrow may not be as conducive as today.

GEMINI: The more self assertive you are the better but then it is important you don’t take things and people for granted. Be wise CANCER: ALTHOUGH there seem to be an air of understanding within your working arena today, tomorrow may turn the whole thing the other way.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

L

AZINESS manifest in different forms.

For some, it is plain stupidity. If you think otherwise, read this with me. A man was

Are You Lazy? — 3 complaining to everybody he knows that he has no job. Out of pity his Christian brother offered him some money

TERROR MUDA

to start a little business.

You would think that having suffered for long, our friend would have learned some

in “Never say goodbye”

valuable lessons, but not so with our man. Rather than invest the money in a business personally and manage the business you will be surprised what he did.

By Lanre Kehinde

LEO: HERE is an exciting day that will climax tomorrow. After a long time, others will see how passionate you can be even in love. Don’t gamble, please.

VIRGO: IF your desire is to make money today, you will need to be less emotional and prepare for domestic challenges tomorrow. Enjoy your love life.

LIBRA: GOOD relationship between the Moon and other Planets will bring you good opportunities. Be less argumentative and take your love life more seriously.

SCORPIO: THIS is your day when things will go according to your plans. Financial success indicated but if you wait till tomorrow, opposition’ll bring disappointment.

SAGITTARIUS: THE Moon encourages you to be as assertive as possible but you will need to expect certain level of opposition. Try to be more friendly.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN: HAPPENINGS within your working arena should be taken more seriously now or else, avoidable trouble would start tomorrow. Again, it’s important you are more practical about your health.

Be more loving.

AQUARIUS: EVEN, if friends and others are helpful and pledging loyalty today, they may be forced and get on your nerve tomorrow. Be graceful in your expression.

PISCES: WHATEVER can lead to avoidable trouble tomorrow, either at home or along your career/business lines, should be well taken care of today. Be very open.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

What’s my immediate future?

Dear Joshua, I am interested in what you are doing. Please tell me what I should expect concerning my immediate future. Would I succeed travelling abroad for business?

Olabode. Mushin.

Dear Olabode, Few years back you have started a very longer (years) great cycle of success and happiness, and this year you will be moving closer to the peak of the said cycle; meaning that your 42nd year on earth will be much more better than all your previous ones on earth.

Visible signs of the positive things will physically manifest during your major first period of the year 2014 that will come between May 28 and June 28, 2014. Then because of transiting lucky Jupiter in Sagittarius – your Solar 9th house of travelling and distant affairs you can be successful at acquiring visa and have a fruitful foreign travels.

However that is not to say that there will not be any challenge . Actually like it happened about six/seven months ago when work and accident related issues were the major challenges, there will be repeat of such when AROUND NOVEMBER 2014..

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

38— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

state traffic management personnel already positioned at various traffic points across the state. The Lagos State Government is therefore using this medium to call on the handlers of this faceless group to withdraw them immediately so as not to breach the peace and tranquility the state currently enjoys.”

The State House of Assembly had earlier raised an alarm over the presence and activities of the black uniformed individuals who allegedly identified themselves as Federal Task Force under FERMA. The issue was raised also at a plenary under matter of urgent public importance by the Deputy Whip, Rotimi Abiru, who alleged that the operatives go to garages extorting money from motorists and also mounting roadblocks.

FERMA traffic controllers.

Security issues

Fear, worry as FERMA’traffic controllers begin operation

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

M

otorists and pedestrians in the early hours of the fateful day made several calls to relevant state government ministries and agencies demanding to know whether the strange uniform men were being deployed by the state government as a new outfit to manage traffic in the state.

A motorist, Alhaji Jelele Abiona, said: “We were afraid when we saw these men managing traffic at the Old Toll Gate even in the midst of terrible traffic jam. We don’t know where they suddenly came from. With the current insecurity situation in the country we have to raise alarm because it is strange to find black uniform men without any form of identity managing traffic.”

The men in black were alleged to have told men of the Lagos State Traffic Authority, LASTMA, to stay off federal highways as they had been trained and mandated to henceforth, take over traffic management on federal roads.

The tension created by the incident, however, compounded traffic situation as LASTMA men left the roads to avoid possible confrontation with the black uniformed men.

Again, last Thursday, according to a senior LASTMA official, the same FERMA taskforce allegedly operated in unmarked five mini buses, drove from Ojota to Jibowu along Ikorodu Road and chased out all LASTMA men in sight.

In the process, many LASTMA officials sustained injuries from the ensuing stampede.

Lagos House responds In a prompt response to the development, Lagos State House of Assembly, called the attention of Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, to the activity of some people it described as, “strange uniform men, named FERMA” at Lagos end of old Lagos/Ibadan toll gate controlling traffic, saying that the development could lead to security threat.

The speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, gave the alert at a plenary session when the House was questioning Commissioner for Finance, Ayo Gbeleyi, Attorney– General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye on the non- payment of severance emoluments to past political office holders in the state.

Said Ikuforiji: “These people in strange uniform were seen at the toll gate controlling traffic; we may find them all over Lagos very soon. This can also lead us to problem. We should call on relevant authorities to caution them.”

The Attorney-General, who also confirmed the statement, said he saw them controlling traffic but maintained that, “there is the need to investigate and know the

people who have employed them, there should be a legal backing for their operation.”

According to Ipaye, the Minister of State for Defense, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, who was earlier alerted on the presence of the strange men, denied any knowledge of the people.

Similarly, Commissioner

,

LAGOS residents, last Tuesday, expressed concern over the sudden presence of unknown group dressed in grey and black uniform, who took over traffic control on major highways in Lagos, particularly, Old Toll Gate end, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

It was gathered that the new traffic management outfit was created as a support team for men of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, in the maintenance of road infrastructure across the states of the federation, with Lagos being the pilot scheme.

The house at a plenary recalled that the issue of the group and its training came up when the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, was invited to the House recently over security issues in the state.

Although, the commissioner promised to investigate the matter and report back to the House, the House said he was yet to do so till date.

In his contribution, the Deputy Majority Leader, Lola Akande said the activities of the group must be checked quickly to avoid the emergence of another Boko Haram because according to

The Commissioner of Police should be invited again to brief the House on his findings about the recruitment exercise “because he has promised us that he will investigate”

for the Ministry of Transportation, K ayode Opeifa, confirmed the development saying “An unknown group dressed in grey and black uniforms have invaded the highways in Lagos.”

He continued: “The illegal traffic officers currently operating from the old toll gate area with unknown origin and unknown to the Lagos State Government have invaded the roadways with a view to causing public disturbance as they do not have the backing nor the support of the state government and will therefore disturb the operations of the

,

her, the activities of the Islamist fundamentalist sect started in a similar fashion Abiru said the intention of the men was suspicious more especially when both the Minister of Works and the Managing Director of FERMA had publicly disowned the outfit On his part, Lanre Ogunyemi, representing Ojo Constituency 1, said the commissioner of police should be invited again to brief the House on his findings about the recruitment exercise “because he has promised us that he will investigate.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Lagos raids 2,217 non-indigene beggars •Returns 458 to relations

By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

I

N SPITE of the efforts of the Lagos State Government to end street begging in Lagos, more beggars troop into the state daily.

Last year, the state government faced fierce public outrage over what was termed ‘deportation ‘ of some Igbo indigenes to Onitsha, Anambra State.

Last Thursday, the state government continued its effort to rid the state of beggars. It picked up 2, 217 nonindigene beggars and destitutes from the streets and of this number, 458 were released to their relations, who are resident in Lagos.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Youth & Social Development, Dr. Enitan Badru disclosed that the measure “is a continuous exercise.”

He said the aim was to rid the Lagos streets of beggars, destitutes and mentally challenged persons.

A group of beggers According to him, “The state government has handed over 458 persons to their relatives; 28 were handed over

to the Child Protection Unit for further social investigation; 27 rescued from different locations in the state

— 39

were transferred to the correctional centre and 53 are currently undergoing rehabilitation and training at the Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre.”

Badru said about 2,217 beggars and destitutes were rescued from the streets of Lagos “to rid the metropolis of their menace. In realization of state government’s policy on ridding the streets of Lagos of beggars and destitutes, who constitute social nuisance and realization of Lagos as a mega city.

“The Ministry of Sports and Youth Development embarked on aggressive rescue of beggars, mentally challenged and destitutes from the streets of Lagos and over –head bridges,” the special adviser said.

He said 1,412 of the destitutes and beggars were taken to the rehabilitation and training centre Owutu, Ikorodu where the government made provisions for facilities to help in turning their lives around.

The special adviser said 87 able – bodied persons suspected to be criminals were handed over to the taskforce for prosecution.

Ogba retail market: Lawmakers, traders disagree over reports

By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

M

OVES by the Lagos State House of Assembly to end the crisis trailing the planned redevelopment of the 29-year-old Ogba retail market, Ojodu LCDA have suffered a setback, eight months after the plan commenced.

Ogba market was opened in 1985 by the late Air commodore Gbolahan Mudasiru, who was Lagos State military administrator between January 1984 and August 1986. The House had on September 23, 2013 commissioned the committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry to look into the planned redevelopment which had caused crisis between the traders and the Council Chairman, Engr. Julius Oloro.

The committee led by Mr. Bisi Yusuf, last Monday, presented its report to the House on May 19, 2014. All the parties involved in the redevelopment plan signed the report.

House’s approval At a time the project is expected to take off, the House’s approval is causing rancour between the traders and the House especially the Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry. The traders alleged that the recommendations presented by the chairman of the committee were ‘false and malicious’, declaring their readiness for a showdown with anyone who comes to the market for demolition “except the approved report is reviewed to include our submissions, as presented to the committee earlier.”

The Report: According to the report, the demolition of the existing structure is to allow for the construction of a modern three-storey market complex by the council. The report stated that the chairman and the traders have now found a common ground on the planned rede-

Ogba market velopment and that when the project is completed, the prices of the shops would range from N1 million to N5 million with 25 percent rebate for previous shop owners.

It also recommended that previous shop owners should make 20 percent down payment of the amount for a particular shop while the remaining 80 percent would be spread within a period of two years without interest.

The House also agreed that the new market should accommodate petty traders like pepper, yam, fish, meat and vegetable sellers as it was before the demolition. The report stressed that necessary consideration should be given to some shop owners that once bought containers in the market from the previous developer of the market.

It also ordered that the sum of N150,000 would be given to shop owners that do not want to be relocated to containers in the interim, as compensation.

The committee said it observed that the market needed urgent renovation to meet the state’s Megacity status.

It said the former developer had already sold some spaces in the market to traders and this was the reason the

traders objected to the renovation.

The report stated that while construction is on, the traders would be relocated to a “comfortable place” close to the market so that they could still retain their customers.

Traders’ Reaction Worried by the content of the reports, the traders in a letter obtained

by Vanguard Newspaper stated their displeasure on the latest development.

The letter dated May 21, 2014 and signed by Alhaja Ganiyat Kasumu, the Iyaloja of the market, described the report as a “False presentation of verbal agreement between the Ogba retail market traders’ association and Bisi Yusuf to the Lagos State House of Assembly.”

Kasumu noted that a petition dated 18 September, 2013 was sent to notify the House and series of meetings were held with Yusuf after the first one held in October, 2013.

“However, we had received offers from the Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, Oloro and counter offers were made.

Similarly, we were repeatedly assured that certain conditions would be met before the market can be considered for upgrading. We were also told that La-

gos State Government does not wish to bring untold hardship upon tax payers and the electorate.

“During a sitting at the House of Assembly on Monday 19, May 2014, we were shocked about what happened during the meeting. We became spectators and there was no opportunity to respond. Our agreement was based on the provision of a suitable temporary relocation site within a walking distance from the present location and has been repeated several times yet no provision has been made regarding it. The only suggestion made by the Chairman of Ojodu LCDA was (Ogba) Primary School compound close to the market; this was completely rejected because of distraction to the young primary school children.

“In the address of Bisi Yusuf of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, said that 250 containers have been provided for the traders and we are unaware. The chairman of Ojodu LCDA had earlier introduced Enterprise Bank as their banker. But we are now surprised to hear that Ecobank and Wema Bank are the banks (listed in the reports).

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

How we became born again in Edo PDP — Iduoriyekemwen •Says any attempt to stop Jonathan’s presidency in 2015 is a call for anarchy

H

ON Matthew Iduoriyekemwen is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state and former state Representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The PDP leader who is one of those eyeing Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s seat in 2016, spoke to Vanguard last Tuesday, after some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state dumped the party for the PDP. He reacted to their defection and asserted that no amount of terrorist activity will stop Jonathan’s re-election. Excerpts:

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

H

OW would you react to the crisis in the state APC which led to the defection of some party leaders to the PDP? I have always said that the only thing constant in life is change.

And one thing you cannot take away from any human being is ambition. People have ambition and if they feel that that ambition can easily be achieved in another political platform, then they can easily change political parties.

But I want to commend the courage of those that joined our party because the PDP is the party for all Nigerians as at today.

It is a party that has clear cut agenda for Nigeria.

Sectional parties Others are sectional parties or regional parties. So if we as Edo people must be part of the national government we must identify with PDP. I welcome into our party and I am happy the PDP is bouncing back again.

But the same people were in the PDP before they joined APC due to crisis, are you not envisaging another crisis in the PDP? Well in Nigeria politics, crisis is normal, but it is the ability to manage the crisis that makes the parties stand out. We have had our crisis in the PDP and we learnt our lessons at different times. With these people coming I don’t envisage any crisis. We all have experiences in politics so we must pursue our ambitions without trying to exterminate the ambitions of others. And we must know where to draw the line between our personal ambition and that of the party.

Your party the PDP is likely to zone is governorship ticket to Edo Central, but we know some of you want it in the South, what is the situation?

I think it is too early for me to comment on which zone the governor should come from. But as an individual I know that the party will look at character and quality of the individuals, some body that will deliver the state

and ensure development. We must look at the geo-political zone of the person, his ethnic group because those things matters a lot. But I believe that at the end of the day the party will sit down and look at the most credible candidate which will give the party victory because that is the most important thing at the end of the contest.

When and others ran for the PDP governorship ticket, you complained after the primaries that Gen. Charles Airhiavbere was imposed by the leadership of the party, has imposition stopped in the PDP? I believe that we have all learnt our lessons, I don’t think that there will be any imposition of candidate this time around. I believe that the party will be completely democratic in the choice of candidates. We have seen crisis in different forms and different shapes and was have seen the results which usually don’t end well. So we will try and put our house together, I believe that the process that will lead to the emergence of the governorship candidate of the PDP will be transparent, democratic. Yes we all have our

•Iduoriyekemwen: We've all learnt our lessons personal ambition but like I said the overall interest of the party supersedes the ambition of everybody including myself.

You are a very close friend of President Jonathan are you satisfied the way he is handling the Boko Haram insurgence?

I am in full support of the steps taken so far by the government.

We all know that the Boko Haram issue is taking us backward in terms of the efforts being made

by President Goodluck Jonathan

to woo investors to the country.

But if you look at the situation critically, you will know that the Boko Haram thing is a set up to stop President Jonathan from seeking re-election. It was created by opponents of the present government to take over power by all means.

Unfortunately, the abduction of the Chibok girls made the whole exercise counterproductive. How can you go and pick up innocent girls? The governor of the state

as we learnt was warned by WAEC that the school was not conducive for the exams yet they went on to use the school as an exam center and there was no provision made to secure the school. I think it was a calculated blackmail against the presidency.

I will say that President Jonathan has done well by inviting the international community to join in this fight against Boko Haram.

But it clear that these people are being sponsored.

And I heard people condemning the President for not visiting Chibok, but even if the President visits Chibok who is he going to meet there. Are the girls back? If the President provided all the logistics to ensure that the girls are found, why will he now be forced to go to Chibok?

Security agencies are busy combing the entire area and from what we saw in the video, those girls do not look like people in the forest. It means they were being fed somewhere. All the girls were wearing hijabs and the question I want to ask is who made those clothes for them?

Very prominent persons in this country are involved in this and I will only appeal to government to fish out those behind Boko Haram no matter how highly placed they are.

Government should prosecute them because some persons cannot because of power become enemies of the state or try to blackmail the president not to contest the 2015 presidential election. I feel the President’s approach in handling the Chibok issue is commendable. If the President had gone out to declare war on them, these same people complaining now will say the president wants to kill the Northerners.

Not long ago we saw them saying that the President has declared war on the North. And when he wants to be diplomatic they say he is a weakling. It is sad.

Cheers as Lagos marks 47th anniversary

BY AKINWUNMI AMBODE

R

EMINISCENCES! As the good and great people of Lagos State celebrate the 47th Anniversary of its historic creation today, waves of nostalgia sweep yours truly. How old was one then?

Just four years.

Here, the first popular political party, Nigerian National Democratic Party(NNDP) was formed by Herbert Macaulay in 1922. Described as ‘one of the most versatile intellects produced by 20th century Nigeria’, and called the Defender of Native Liberties, Macaulay was the rallying point for doctors, lawyers, landlords and market women.

According to Mokwuko Okoye, ‘Lagos was able to dominate provincial Nigeria as Paris dominated the 18th and 19th century France.’

While the Sir Hugh Clifford Constitution of 1923 provided for four

elected members with three for Lagos and one for Calabar, the NNDP did capture the three Lagos seats in the Legislative Council. And it continued to dominate Lagos politics for some 20 years with great minds in its ranks such as Dr.Adeniyi Jones, Eric Moore, Karim Kotun and Adeyemo Alakija Lagos again became the epicenter in the nationalistic struggle with the return to the country of patriots such as Professor Eyo Ita, and Nnamdi Azikiwe in the early thirties. Eventually they saw to formation of the Nigerian Youth Movement in 1934.

Prominent as members were Dr. J. C. Vaughan, Ernest Ikoli, Samuel Akinsanya and H. O. Davis as the moving spirits. Their struggle was for Nigeria’s political independence as did the then newly formed Egbe Omo Oduduwa, which was inspired by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Between then and now, Lagos has thrived economically under its leaders, starting from the tenure of Brigadier Gen.

Mobolaji Johnson, Late Comm. Adekunle Lawal, Comm. Ndubusi Kanu, Comm. Ebitu Ukiwe, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Late Comm.

Gbolahan Mudasiru, the late Navy Capt.

Okhai Mike Akhigbe, Brigadier Gen. Raji Rasaki, Late Sir Michael Otedola, Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Brig.

Gen.Muhammed Buba Marwa, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the present administration of Gov. Babatunde Fashola (SAN). In all, the thirteen of them have made tremendous contributions to the evolution of Lagos State at one point or the other.

Equally worthy of mentioning are Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Alhaji H.A.B. Fasinro, Chief F.C.O. Coker, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas among others who made Lagos tick.

In fact, Jakande’s administration was particularly unique. He introduced housing and educational programs targeted at alleviating poverty.

He built new neighborhood primary and secondary schools even as it provided free

Continues on page 41

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014—41

•Ikokwu: Let us restructure our country now

We'll drive away Igbo delegates if... — Ikokwu Restructuring:

SECOND Republic politician, former Anambra State Chairman of the defunct Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Guy Ikokwu, in this interview said Nigeria should be restructured and derivation increased to at least 25 per cent to accelerate development in the country.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

O

N 13 per cent derivation controversy It should be noted that at independence, our constitution gave the regions 50 per cent derivation from the resources from their own area whether agricultural or mineral. It was the military that progressively moved the percentage down to 13 per cent and there were negotiations in the last few years to move it to 25 per cent while the Niger Delta kept insisting on 50 per cent derivation. If the percentage is increased to 50 per cent it will

apply to resources in the six geo political zones of the federating units as was the case at independence.

Any resolution between 25 and 50 per cent has to be properly reasoned out for the benefit of the federating units. We all know at the moment that the oil resources are fast depleting and the 50 per cent derivation principle which will apply to other mineral resources in other parts of the country and also to the agricultural and other resources will certainly generate more revenues to each of the geo political zones.

On restructuring of the country: If the Conference fails to recommend the restructuring of the country then we shall be going back to status quo ante, which calls for a proliferation of states which will be no less than 50 in number. This will increase the level of corruption in the country and reduce capital development exercises because of the enormous expenses involved in the presidential system and the dictatorship of the executive governors and presidency which means that the country will not have true federalism for decades to come.

It should be clearly noted that if this conference fails to restructure the country, then the adage of ‘to your tents oh Israel’ will become a truism for Nigeria.

The prediction for chaos for 2015 would be realized and it is therefore hoped that the present level of insecurity in the country is not a prelude for the 2015 cataclysm. According to old age long parlance “A stitch in time saves nine”.

Let us restructure our country now from unitary federalism to true federalism with the devolution of powers to the six geo political federating units.

His confab expectations There are very strong indications that the National Conference shall in the next 30days resolve some of the salient issues that will make or break the conference.

Some of the cardinal issues to be resolved are very few whereas the rest can be resolved on a consensual basis now that the 20 committees have submitted their reports. With regard to the structure of Nigeria, there are two main view points; one is for the retention of existing or more states and for the amendment of the existing constitution by the National Assembly. The other view-point is for the present six geo-political zones to have increased regional powers, in this way the present Federal powers will be drastically reduced and we shall be implementing true

federalism. This issue will now go for referendum under a new law. This issue of true Federalism has haunted Nigeria for the past 50 years during which our constitution and political structure have been militarized to the point where we now have what is referred to as UnitaryFederalism.

The leaders of the six geopolitical zones have held several internal meetings with their people and are supposed to represent what is in their best interest. The people of the SouthEast geo-political zone who are mainly Igbo have unmistakably opted for a zonal arrangement with increased powers and devolution from the centre in Abuja. In this way the zone can deal with a myriad of problems such as infrastructure, education, job creation, health, energy, security and overall wellbeing of her people.

Capital resource capability It is up to the zone to have as many states as it requires for its administration, while enhancing its capital resource capability.

The Ohanaeze, Igbo Leaders of Thought, The Aka Ikenga, Ndigbo Lagos, Igbo Youth Movement, Igbo traders and peasant groups, MASSOB, and Igbo elite all have come to the irrevocable conclusion that Nigeria has to be restructured now on the basis of the six zones being the federating units of the country. This will enable each zone to develop at its own pace and to establish its own criteria.

On South-West demand for regional autonomy It is gratifying to note that the Yoruba South-West zonal group agrees on this zonal restructuring arrangement; likewise the South-South, which maintains that this new structure will be the best for Nigeria.

We also understand that the North Central zone comprising more ethnic groups than the other zones believes that this new

arrangement will enhance their viability rather than within the numerous unviable state structures which they have presently.

The other two zones: NorthWest and North-East, which are heavily dependent on the present centralized unitaryfederalism will certainly be better off, when their zones have greater power to look after their interests as they would be more endowed than most West African states of the moment.

We want to make it clear that individual delegates from the South-East, who frustrate such restructuring of Nigeria on zonal lines, had better stay back in Abuja and not attempt to come back to the South-East.

It should be noted that once the restructuring on zonal lines is agreed matters like derivation; immunity; Local government; budgetary provisions for capital and recurrent expenditure; security; elections; nationality and indigenship; foreign affairs; customs; aviation; religion; national and zonal legislature; judiciary and others can be easily resolved consensually or otherwise.

The present cost of running this country has to be reduced drastically for developmental purposes. One major issue which obviously follows the restructuring is the preference of a Parliamentary system over the Presidential system which is very expensive and enhances massive corruption as we have witnessed in Nigeria since its inception by the military.

The Governors of the zonal government should be elected as the assembly men are and would have their seats in the zonal assembly. Zones should either have more states without local councils or create councils with part time councilors and minimal expenses, without Executive Governors as we have now.

The current looting of the treasury at the state or zonal level will be drastically reduced.

Cheers as Lagos marks 47th anniversary Continues from page 40 education for these two tiers.

He established the Lagos State University and constructed over 20,000 housing units, all built cheaply and of great value.

After the military interregnum came one of the symbols of the democratic struggle, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the governor. The man hugely respected as the pathfinder of modern Lagos came with a vision; to transform the political and socio-economic landscape of Lagos for good. Did he succeed?

Of course, yes.

When he promised 10,000 housing units during the campaigns he delivered. During his eight-year eventful period he made massive investments in the

fields of infrastructural development, education and primary health care delivery.

Beyond the construction of new roads to meet the growing demands of an exploding population, he brought administrative restructuring in several areas such as security, LASTMA, waste disposal system, LAWMA as well as the Rapid Response Squad to effectively contain crime and criminality within the metropolis.

It was such that brought in his successor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) who has gone ahead to build worthy legacies for all to be proud of. With a vision to transform Lagos to a megalopolis, his administration has brought to bear sanity in virtually all the areas of the

economy.

From tremendous infrastructural development of long lasting roads and drainages, education, healthcare delivery, urban transportation and waste management he stands head and shoulders above his peers.

Having been in a vantage position to work with the last two governors for thirteen years, I conclude this piece as I share with you all one lesson I learnt from serving under them by using the football anecdote. My two former bosses, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) are both great supporters of Manchester United, while I, their ward, is a Chelsea fan. I have come to regard Asiwaju as the

“special one” because, like the famous bearer of that title, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, he laid the solid foundation for the evolution of modern Lagos. Like ‘Mourinho’ he has the vision and the winning formulae. In May, 2003, at his inaugural speech for his second term in office, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu declared that “we will build with vigor on foundation laid in the first term until the momentum of positive change becomes forever irreversible in Lagos State”.

But the Special One needs a special manager and an ebullient visionary to accomplish the goals. If Lagos State were Manchester United, His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is the

•Ambode quintessential and indefatigable Alex Ferguson. He brought in his Midas touch in all facets of governance to actualize that positive change in the development and growth of Lagos State.

•Ambode,writes from Lagos

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Re-thinking George W. Bush

I

F I were assigned the task of plac ing George W. Bush somewhere in the Hall of Fame of great American presidents, I’ll not be persuaded to put him anywhere in the first ten rows of US leaders who conceived of great ideas and implemented them with finesse. As a matter of fact, I might be tempted to put his name on an indefinite waiting list.

President Bush is no different from those high school prefects you forgot about the moment they served their term; people who were more like phantoms in office.

But, since he left office, George Bush has been doing quite a bit to reinvent himself and present another side of him that was largely unknown to the public.

First, he has held doggedly to the unspoken gentleman’s agreement that once out of office, a former US president simply left the stage and allowed his successor to try his hands at running the ship of state without undue interference from his predecessor. For that, I give him credit in an era where some of his conservative allies and soul-mates would have loved him to intermittently hurl innuendos at President Barack Obama.

Since leaving office, Mr. Bush has also engaged his mind and energy trying to help wounded warriors, or US. war veterans, back to normal life. I’ve seen him on television doing mountain bike ride to assist the veterans. Recently, he has taken to painting and has held a mini exhibition of his work of art. It appears

office in 2003, about 50,000 Africans afflicted by the AIDS virus were receiving antiretroviral drugs to halt the progress of the disease.

By the time he left office in 2009, an estimated figure of two million people in Africa had become beneficiaries of Bush’s anti-HIV/AIDSprogramme which cost the American taxpayers almost $50 billion. For the record, the Obama administration suggested a 12 percent cut in the programme in the 2013 fiscal year due to dwindling economic fortunes in the US. His suggestion attracted quite a backlash from health groups and prominent individuals within and outside the U.S.

Programme for Africa

Even President George W. Bush’s critics agree that his work on health issues in Africa deserves commendation. This is how Eugene Robinson, an AfricanAmerican opinion writer at The Washington Post, who is hardly a Bush enthusiast, wrote about George W. Bush’s anti-HIV/AIDS programme for Africa in July 2012, on the occasion of the International AIDS Conference in the US: “This is a moment for all Americans to be proud of the best thing George W. Bush did as president: launching an initiative to combat AIDS in Africa that saved millions of lives. But some of these men and women (attending the conference) would be dead if not for I’ll most heartily nominate him for the Bush’s foresight award of a medal of honour by the Afriand compassion. can Union for the work he did, and conThese are not words I frequenttinues to do, in trying to combat the ly use to describe spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa Bush or his presihis specialty is painting the portraits of dency. But, credit and praise must be world leaders he was privileged to in- given where they are due, and Bush’s accomplishments ..... deserve accoteract with while on active duty.

Bush rarely avails himself for press in- lades.”

It is noteworthy that former presidents terviews, but when he does, he speaks so articulately that you wonder what Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are also happened to his thought-process when using their influence and good nature he was the boss at the White House. And to do a variety of projects that are of trequite surprisingly, the man now knows mendous benefit to the people of Africa. how to garnish public speech with rib- But as these ex-leaders carry out their philanthropic work in Africa and other cracking humour.

Quite recently, he again shocked the areas of the world, their gesture of goodpress when he, the man who was known will also makes one wonder what former for keeping everything secret when he African leaders are doing to lift millions was president, wrote a letter to the U.S. of Africans out of poverty and disease.

National Archives to release or declas- Some of them have deliberately opted sify some of the records of his presiden- to move themselves out of the limelight cy as soon as possible. His Presidential to selfishly enjoy their retirement. OthCenter is now fully operational and he ers are gallivanting around, frolicking uses it to promote a number of causes with the money they looted while in office. he is interested in.

Yet, so many of them are busy strugWhile I will be reluctant to recommend gling so hard to return to the presidenGeorge W. Bush as a candidate for an American President’s Hall of Fame, I’ll cy. Where they are constitutionally barred most heartily nominate him for the award from doing so, they try so hard to turn of a medal of honour by the African themselves into political mafia leaders Union for the work he did, and contin- in their various countries, causing all ues to do, in trying to combat the spread forms of political trouble and refusing to of HIV/AIDS in Africa. When George W. quit the political scene.

Bush launched the programme while in

,

,

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 43

Ohakim to sue APC chieftain for defamation

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—FORMER governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, has instructed his team of lawyers to commence legal proceedings against a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Uche Onyeagucha, over an alleged defamatory comment.

Onyeagucha, who was reacting to the recent bombing of Ohakim’s Owerri residence, alleged that the former governor intentionally

set his house on fire to attract sympathy from the citizenry.

Vanguard recalls that property worth millions of Naira, including historical artifacts, furniture, personal effects, classes of documents, electrical and electronic appliances, were completely destroyed by fire said to have been ignited by an incendiary bomb.

Strong feelers from the Ohakim family made available to Vanguard revealed that the former governor was particularly irked by

Onyeagucha’s comment, which was widely quoted in the media.

“He (Onyeagucha) has to prove that the former governor willingly burnt his hard-earned property to garner sympathy from Imo people.

“This is not only insulting but also defamatory. The onus lies on him to prove his allegation,” a family source told Vanguard.

Also reacting to Onyeagucha’s allegation, former state chairman of defunct All Nigeria People’s Party, Dr. Vitalis Ajumbe,

described the comment as unguarded and most unfortunate. “Onyeagucha’s comment is unguarded and most unfortunate. How could he say that Chief Ohakim burnt his property to attract sympathy? He honestly goofed,”Ajumbe said.

It will also be recalled that the State Police Command had quizzed Onyeagucha over his comment on the burnt property, but it was not clear at press time, what the outcome of the interrogation was.

Contempt: IGP, Army commander appear in court today

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

AWARD: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Warehouse Group Plc, Mr. Austin Okere receiving the Global Growth Award from Helena Leurent, Managing Director, Head of Business Engagement, World Economic Forum, at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja.

Labour fears Nigeria may be exposed to external aggression

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

A

SSOCIATION of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, has said it was alarmed by the revelation of the United States, that corruption was largely responsible for the inability of Nigerian armed forces to subdue the Boko Haram insurgency, expressing fears that if there was an external aggression today, Nigeria could be overrun.

The body, in a statement in Lagos by its Secretary-General, Mr. Alade Lawal, said the US revelation had confirmed its position over the years that government should confront corruption frontally for it not to consume the entire country.

According to the statement, “our fear is that if there is an external attack today, the armed forces will not have basic supplies of ammunition and other accessories to defend our territorial integrity because of corruption. We are really in trouble.”

The union lamented that corruption had eaten so deep into the fabric of the society, to the extent that armed forces combatants could no longer get basic supplies, such as bullets, transport, fuel, food, etc, at the war front to repel the Boko Haram

religious fighters, leading to low morale and desertion of troops from the war zones.

It recalled that in the build-up to the National Conference, it had argued that while the platform would create an

opportunity for Nigerians to air their views on how the country should be governed, the truth must be told that mere sitting down to discuss alone would not solve the myriad of problems facing the country.

WiniGroup wins SafeNet’s best new partner award demonstration of SafeNet’s

W

INIGROUP, a foremost Nigerian IT solution company, has bagged the 2014 edition of SafeNet’s Best New Partner of the year award.

The award, which is an annual event for the Europe Middle East and Africa, EMEA region was held at Vienna, Austria in recently.

At the event, Keyon, a Swiss reseller also walked away with the “The Best Partner of the year” while Benelux Distribution received the “Best Distributor of the Year”.

Safenet said that WiniGroup because of its commitment to the development of best solutions with aggressive strategy on the ebanking sector, has resulted in significant commercial success and healthy pipeline for the current year.

According to the general manager of WiniGroup and the recipient of the award, Mr. Sam Adeyemi, “The award was a clear

confidence in WiniGroup’s inhouse capacity to deploy all our solutions and we are currently a top leader to reckon with in the entire EMEA region”.

WiniGroup, a young and vision driven company is highly committed in offering a wide range of IT business solutions including enterprise process planning to help organisations increase operational efficiencies and maximise growth and profits.

Its risk management solutions enable customers to identify exposure to potential and prospective network threats and vulnerabilities through a proactive risk management approach.

WiniGroup’s significant investments in technical expertise in year 2013 resulted in advanced capacity to manage proof of concept opportunities as well as solution implementations on behalf of SafeNet contributed to the award.

NITSHA—THE Inspector-General of Police, IGP, is expected to appear before the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, today for contempt of court.

Also to appear in the case presided over by Justice Isah Bature Gafai are the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, Zonal 9, Umuahia; Anambra State Commissioner of Police and the Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment, Nigerian Army, Onitsha.

Their appearance in the court is sequel to a writ of summon, dated May 13, 2014, signed by the Assistant Chief Registrar of the court and served on them.

The contempt proceeding was brought against the respondents by an Onitshabased industrialist and transporter, Chief Michael Emerah, and his company, Micmerah International Agency Limited.

In the suit filed on his behalf by his legal counsel, Nnamdi Ibegbu (SAN), the applicants, Emerah and his company are asking the court to order the committal of the respondents to prison for disobeying the order of the court made on July 14, 2010.

The applicants recalled that the court had on July 14, 2010, restrained the respondents from allowing the then chairman of Onitsha North Local Government Area, Idu Okosi and the Anambra State Urban Development Board, ASUDEB from further invasion of the Micmerah Modern Park at Upper Iweka Triangle, near the Flyover Bridge, Onitsha.

The applicants contended that the respondents had in utter disobedience of the court order, failed to protect their lives and properties in the said motor park, as well as another motor park at No. 12 Upper Iweka road, Onitsha known as Micmerah Park.

Boko Haram: MASSOB warns Ndigbo in north to return home

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA—AS the dreaded Boko Haram sect continues to kill innocent Nigerians in the northern part of the country, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has again warned Igbo resident there to return home or remain in the north at their own peril Sounding this note of warning in Onitsha, Anambra State, MASSOB National Red Cross Chairman, Osondu Okwaraeke, recalled that prior to the peak of the killings, MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, had urged Igbo resident in the volatile areas of the north to return home.

He added that wazuruike even went as far as providing transport and other logistics to them for easier evacuation.

According to him, “so, no sympathy for victims of Boko Haram because a stitch in time saves nine.”

...Cleric warns politicians against playing politics with terrorism

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

H

EAD, Celestial Church of Christ, Worldwide, Reverend Emmanuel Oshoffa, has warned politicians not to use terrorism to drag the country into chaos through politics.

Oshoffa, who gave the warning while briefing newsmen on the state of the nation in Lagos, lamented that the country was fast sliding into a terrorist state, where there was no sanctity for human lives.

He urged politicians to guard against making inflammatory statements capable of disintegrating the country.

He said: “In consonance with the current state of terrorism and Boko Haram insurgency in the country, especially the kidnap of our girls, Celestial Church of Christ, hereby declare a one-day fasting and prayers for all members of the church worldwide.”

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

PDP youths back Jonathan for 2015

Youths urged to support NDDC

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA— THE Youth Leader of Bayelsa State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Donald Daunemigha, has reiterated the support of the people of the Niger

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— YOUTHS in the Niger Delta have been urged to give the new board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, a chance in the region.

President, South South Youth Patriotic Movement, Mr. Chinagorom Nwonkwo, who made the appeal, said the new board should be encouraged to succeed.

He expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the new board in tackling challenges in the region.

Adokiye Mujiton of Rivers State Youth Federation, on his part, said the board had started revisiting abandoned projects in the region, adding that it was a right step in the right direction.

Delta for President Goodluck Jonathan and called on him to contest the 2015 poll.

Daunemigha, in an interview in Yenagoa, lauded the PDP governors in the region and others, who against all odds stood behind the President and urged them to continue to support the

President to realise his transformation agenda.

He said the people of the Niger Delta were behind the President come 2015 and urged him to declare his intention to contest.

According to him, President Jonathan who is from the zone that has

... as Ndokwa Youths endorse Obielum

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA— YOUTH leaders of Ndokwa/ Ukwuani Federal Constituency have called on Chief Godwill Obielum to contest for the governorship position of Delta State in 2015, describing him as a team player.

Speaking after their meeting in Utagba-Ogbe, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of state, the youths said that their choice was based on the fact that Chief Obielum is a team player and fit to occupy the governorship seat come 2015.

A statement by Nzete Anslem, President of Ndokwa National Youth

WACCIMA FEST holds

T

HE Warri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, WACCIMA, will hold its maiden edition of an annual festival tagged WACCIMA FEST 2014: Light up Waffi City, today.

Honorary Publicity Secretary of WACCIMA, Sir Simon Asite said the event, which will hold at P. K. Guest House, Warri, will bring together stakeholders to address areas where WACCIMA could partner government in policy thrust areas such as Warri Beyond Oil initiative, among others.

Leaders’ Forum, said: “All aspirants for the governorship position of Delta State were carefully assessed and, in our view, Obielum emerged as the most acceptable candidate for our brothers and sisters in all parts of Delta State and

beyond.

“The choice of Obielum is based on the fact that he is a team player, more experienced in human, security and crisis management; he sees all of Delta State as a family as he is not biased in his approach to issues.”

Uduaghan pays tribute as Dungs is buried

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

G

OVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has paid glowing tribute to the late Col. John Dungs, former Military Administrator of the state, as he was laid to rest in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Represented by his deputy,

Professor Amos Utuama (SAN), the governor praised the late Military Administrator for “his commitment to sustainable development,” adding that the state was “still building on the foundations he laid.”

Uduaghan said: “Dungs lived a most peaceful life, always keen on helping and

Politics different from governance, says Akapbio

G

OVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has called on leaders to distinguish between politics and governance, attributing their inability to do so as the bane of progress in Africa.

Akpabio spoke at Living Faith Church, Ikot Ebido in Uyo to commemorate 2014 Democracy Day and seven years of his administration in Akwa Ibom State.

He said: “It is time for us to begin to distinguish between politics and governance because they are not the same thing.”

On who takes over from him, Governor Akpabio said: “I do not care who that person is as long as he or she is a citizen of Akwa Ibom State and has what it takes to govern the state.

“It is time for us to begin to distinguish between

politics and governance because politics has destroyed governance in Africa.”

Akpabio said in the seven years of his administration, Akwa Ibom had witnessed God’s grace and intervention.

The governor implored the people of the state to pray for God to give them a governor they will be proud of in 2015.

giving to the less privileged.

No doubt, his foray into politics would have been aimed at expanding and strengthening his capacity to assist, to lift and prop those who needed his help most.”

He praised his gallantry during the Liberia Civil War as he was a “member of the team that seized a gunboat from the Charles Taylor-led rebels, capturing 27 of the rebels.”

He also praised him for bringing his training as an engineer from the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, to bear on all he did after settling down, “first at Abuja before politics brought him back home to Jos.” He urged the widow, Victoria, to always remember that her late husband positively touched the lives of many people and, therefore, be encouraged by his good deeds.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

contributed immensely to the commonwealth of Nigeria through its resources, has the constitutional right to contest in 2015, insisting that nobody has the power to deprive him of that right.

He said: “President Jonathan has done creditably well in terms of providing infrastructure across the country.

“He has done better than his predecessors and so deserves the respect and appreciation of all for his untiring efforts at pulling the country out of the woods.”

On the PDP led administration in Bayelsa State, he described Governor Seriake Dickson as a focused leader that has achieved so much in the last two years.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Chibok schoolgirls' saga

I

F Boko Haram would disturb Jonathan’s administration because of his religion, then what is the chance of those of us that are Christians to rule this country in the nearest future. Goodluck must still win in Jesus name.

Amen.— Mr. Ojonugwa Ademu, Worker.

T

HIS abducted girls’ issue is creating more harm from these Boko Haram insurgents.

Villagers should be vigilant and let the government live up to its expectation because so many lives have been lost and property destroyed.— Mr. Kalesco Timmy, Commentator.

M

AY God the Almighty forgive our leaders for all the wrongs they have wreaked on this country and show us mercy. God is the solution to all circumstances of live.

However, the Chibok schoolgirls need to be brought back.— Mr. Peter Ikena, Manager.

W

E have to do something about this Boko Haram and the northern governors have to be arrested.

Sometimes we do not have to politicise every issue or view it from ethnic angle, otherwise we will never get things right.— Mr. Enato Osazie, Businessman.

N

ORTHERN elders, you can see that what goes around comes around. They have finished with innocent Christian, now is your turn. Soon and very soon, none of the northerners, especially the politicians, will have a hidden place.— Mr. Osuji Kelechi, Student.

I

have read so many comments about the sect. This is neither a religious nor political fight. Are they bombing Bayelsa State? When the supposed moderate Muslims start to turn on their brothers and sisters, then we will recognise a difference.— Mr. Elijah Daniel, Worker.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 45

UNDEDSS wants new constitution premised on regional autonomy

Elumelu justifies Delta community's demand for additional 9 wards

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

BY DAPO AKINREFON

A

T

HE Professor Pat Utomi-led United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, UNDEDSS, has asked for a brand new constitution premised on regional autonomy or confederalism.

The group said that “it is becoming clearer, observing the National Conference play out by the day, that certain forces of feudalism and stagnation are fixated with perpetually entrenching this status quo of corruption, injustice, inequity and regression on the Nigerian peoples.

“We the leaders and peoples of the Niger Delta hereby declare unequivocally that we will resist any attempt to bring about regime-change by any means outside the extant electoral laws of Nigeria, and will settle for nothing less than the creation of a new constitution for Nigeria, where confederalism/regional autonomy is enthroned.”

Addressing newsmen, UNDEDSS scribe, Mr. Tony Uranta, noted that “apparently, some Northern leaders, for example, do not believe in the genuineness of purpose on the part of the chief convener of the Confab; rather they have taken the view that it is a ploy by the President ‘to confiscate all revenue accruing from oil exploitations’ for the Niger Delta without going through the process of constitution amendment and, the North clearly believes that the present structure of quasi-federalism should remain. In other words, that Nigeria should maintain the status quo.

"Everybody has a right to his or her opinions, but, the Niger Delta knows that Mr. President has only altruistic objectives regarding the conference, and that Nigeria is in dire need of a holistic restructuring; just as the Niger Delta applauds Confab delegate, Ms. Annkio Briggs’, decision to distance herself from the Devolution Committee Report that showed no progressive thought."

C M Y K

BOOK LAUNCH: From left: Managing Partner, Red Media Africa and author, Mr. Chude Jideonwo; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike DabiriErewa; Prof. Pat Utomi and former Minister for Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, during the public presentation of a book titled Are We The Turning Generation? written by Chude Jideonwo, in Lagos.

Edo PDP accuses govt of dragging traditional rulers into politics

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of dragging the traditional institution in the state into politics.

State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who made the allegation, expressed dismay at the rate at which traditional rulers were being involved in the politics of the state through the instrumentality of the state government. He warned that as custodians of the culture and traditions of the people, “traditional rulers must be complete-

ly insulated from the politics of the state.”

Orbih, in Uromi and Ubiaja, Edo Central senatorial zone, while receiving defectors from All Progressives Congress, APC, in a veiled reference to comments by some traditional rulers from Edo South senatorial zone, who visited the Government House, where they condemned the defection of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and others from the APC to PDP, said “I have noticed with surprise that the government summons traditional rulers to Government House at will where they freely comment on the politics of the state.

“The defection of Pastor Ize-Iyamu, his supporters and others who were fed up with the policies of the government is a normal thing in any political dispensation.

They have the constitutional rights to freely associate with others, they have the constitutional rights of free movement from one party to another.

“I appeal to the government not to drag our royal fathers into politics. They should be allowed to perform their roles as custodian's of the peoples’ culture and tradition. Our traditional rulers should leave politics to politicians."

Customs blames delay in issuance of PAAR toms for approval. We approve on stakeholders it and grant them authority to

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has accused stakeholders of altering their import/export business while processing same, resulting in delay in the issuance of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR. Speaking with Vanguard, Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of the Customs ICT Rule Centre, Mr. Bashir Yusuf, said that most stakeholders present different documents to officials of the country from where they are importing and to Nigeria Customs.

He said: “The major issue we have now is not about the generation or transmission of PAAR, it is compliance in forwarding good trade information and integrity of whoever or whatever agency is sending it.

“We do not want a situation where people are forwarding information that is not factual while from their country of export, they

give factual data, but when it comes to Nigeria, they tamper with the data. This is not helping the system.

“People complain about delayed PAAR. It is, in essence, PreArrival Assessment Report. We have instances where people open form ‘M,’ forward it to Cus-

continue with their importation.

“They will not communicate anything to the ruling centre until their goods arrive while the normal thing should have been for them to forward their proformer invoice, their final invoice and shipping documents as they get it."

2015: Omo-Agege begins consultations for Delta guber

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—FORMER Secretary to Delta State Government, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has begun consultations for his 2015 gubernatorial ambition with a vow to carry all parts of the state along if elected.

Speaking during a consultation meeting with the National Executive and the Elders Council of Urhobo Political Congress, UPC, Omo-Agege, said: “I will

pilot the affairs of the state with a pan-Delta mindset if given the mandate. I am offering myself for service to all Deltans.”

Insisting that aspirants from the three senatorial districts in the state contested in the gubernatorial elections that produced Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in 1999 and 2007 respectively, he said; “Chief Ibori and Uduaghan did not emerge on the basis of zoning.”

SABA—MEMBER representing Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, has thrown his weight behind the demand by Okpanam community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State for the creation of nine new wards in addition to the existing ward.

Speaking to Vanguard, Elumelu said that the request by the Okpanam community, which had formally written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the additional wards “is a welcome development and I support it. My federal constituency is the largest.”

The community had in the letter sent to the National Chairman of INEC, outlined reasons why it was imperative to create additional wards in the federal constituency to avoid disenfranchising many Deltans in the 2015 elections due to massive population increase.

Delta community donates N10m for Poly project

B

OMADI Federated Community, Delta State, has donated over N10 million for the rehabilitation and refurbishment of dilapidated structures at the temporary site of the Bomadi Polytechnic, for the institution to kick off by September.

This was sequel to the promise made by the community to the Commissioner for Higher Education, Delta State, Prof. Hope Eghagha that it would donate N5 million for the rehabilitation of some structures at the temporary site.

Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee, Chief Godspower Oporomo, who spoke shortly after the ceremony, described Bomadi as the gateway to the Ijaw nation, stressing that when the Polytechnic come on stream, it will serve the Ijaw nation and the neighbouring Urhobo speaking areas of the state.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 47

Agency to generate more credible geosciences data

Jonathan can defeat Boko Haram, set tone in Aso Rock —NTIARP

A

BUJA — DIRECTORGENERAL of Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, NGSA, Mr Alex Ndubuisi, has said that the agency would intensify effort to generate more credible geo-sciences data to ensure development of solid minerals in the country.

Ndubuisi spoke, weekend, in Abuja at a reception organised by the NISE Town Union to mark his recent appointment as Director-General of the agency.

He said although the programme of generating credible data had been ongoing, efforts would be intensified to generate adequate data, as according to him, the availability of credible geo-sciences data had become necessary to increase the interest of investors and competitiveness in the sector.

Ndubuisi further said the agency would make available, enough geosciences data for research, industry and investors.

“The agency, being responsible for the generation of geosciences data... my vision is to increase the level of geosciences data available in this country."

Lamido to support Niger Republic's Fulani settlers' education

BY ALIYU DANGIDA

D

UTSE—Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has pledged to support the education of Fulani settlers from Niger Republic, as part of his efforts to enhance cordial relations between Nigeria and Niger.

Lamido spoke while receiving a delegation from Maradi State in Niger Republic which was in his office in Dutse, the state capital to thank him for his kind gesture.

He explained that supporting the young Fulani in Niger Republic to acquire education was not different from supporting same tribe in the country, pointing out that Nigerians, especially those in Jigawa State had common borders and similarities that bind both countries together.

The governor further said that there was very cordial and mutual understanding between the two countries even as Nigerien women were married in Jigawa State.

C M Y K

BY NAOMI UZOR

A

From right: President of the Diocese of Kaduna Mothers' Union & Women's Guild, Mrs Comfort Amina Idowu-Fearon; Mrs Remha Ayodele; Mrs Patience Nweaze, the awardee; Mrs Charity Aterem and Mrs Comfort Alao at the Mothers' Union & Women's Guild Annual Conference 2014 in Kaduna, Sunday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Jos blasts: 36 Igbo killed, 42 injured —Eze Igbo Jos •Says it's taboo to bury Igbo in mass graves

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS — THE Igbo community in Jos has confirmed that 36 of its kinsmen and women were killed and 42 others injured in last Tuesday’s twin bomb blast at the terminus area of Jos metropolis in Plateau State.

The Eze Igbo II of Jos, Prof.

Joseph Obilom and the Igbo Executive Council in Jos made this known in Jos, yesterday.

They said the 36 bodies had been identified just as many others were still missing and frowned at the secret mass burial for the decomposing bodies carried by the Plateau State government last Friday.

According to them, it was a taboo to bury an Igbo in mass graves or even outside their ancestral homes. ”We were not consulted when the arrangement for the mass burial was being made,” they further said.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Jos, the traditional ruler said his community members sent to locate the bodies were not allowed access to the bodies on Wednesday and at the time of the carrying out the exercise, the Igbo community was not consulted to identify some of the missing people.

His words: “As at now, the Igbo killed are 36, those injured were 42. Many more are still missing and goods worth millions of Naira lost. Igbo always bury their dead in their ancestral homes and we are saddened by this development.

“We have lost our people and means of livelihood. We request the federal and Plateau State governments to come to our aid by sending relief materials to cater for the victims.

”We do not allow our people to sleep in primary schools and other government buildings when there are problems. We take custody of our people till the wounds are healed but whenever others are taken care of in terms of relief materials, we are not always considered and never compensated.”

Obilom also frowned over the neglect of the Igbo in similar situations, asking that the community should be taken into consideration in terms of compensation.

According to him, the “inhuman treatment, marginalization and rejection must stop. We are always the most hit in the situations like this but we are always forgotten. ”We are in support of moving traders out of the terminus and its environs but the satellite market should be strengthened to ensure sanity and orderliness.”

He also called on Boko Haram and other perpetrators of violence to “embrace peace as killing of innocent people would not solve the problems.”

BUJA — A group, NewTone In Aso Rock Project (NTIARP), in collaboration with Market Youth Congress Of Nigeria (MYCON), has said President Goodluck Jonathan can defeat Boko Haram and set the tone in Aso Rock that will resonate years after he must have left office.

In a parley with newsmen on the state of the nation, National Coordinator of NTIARP, Mazi Chris Maduka, said: “If President Franklin Roosevelt, who was a disabled President can prosecute and win the world war and set the United States on the path to greatness, President Jonathan can defeat Boko Haram and set the tone in Aso Rock that will resonate years after he must have left office.

“But he cannot do it alone, he needs our collective support and prayer. Let’s resolve today to support and sustain the new tone in Aso Rock, talking less and doing more.”

According to him, the group is a network of support for governance based on justice, equity and sustainable development and not just a support group for Jonathan’s campaign, adding: “We are committed to initiating policies and framework that will complement the ongoing Federal Government well articulated transformation agenda."

Yayale to FG: Grant amnesty to B-Haram if they meet N-D militants' conditions

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

A

BUJA — FORMER Secre tary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, has asked the Federal Government to grant general amnesty to the members of the Boko Haram sect if they meet the conditions that gave rise to pardoning Niger Delta militants in 2009.

Ahmed, who spoke in an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Abuja on Sunday, however, expressed doubts whether the sect members would ever come out and establish real contacts with the government with a view to facilitating genuine dialogue.

Ahmed, who was part of the late President Yar'Adua's team that midwifed the Niger Delta amnesty package in 2009, said unlike the Niger Delta militants, who had a clear and definite demand, the Boko Haram agenda was unclear and confusing.

The former Defence minister said the way Boko Haram members were operating had also

made it difficult to establish contact with its leadership for any meaningful dialogue.

The former Head of Service of the Federation said: "In the case of the Niger Delta, it was possible for the government to establish contacts with their leaders, who were not in the creeks. They had a definite demand and territory, which made it easy for us to know what they wanted.

"But in the case of Boko Haram, they say they are in the NorthEast but they are invisible. They are so invisible that you can hardly trace them even though they may be in your household.

"Secondly, the Boko Haram demand is not economically-based or a call for economic emancipation. Their demand is a religious one, which even the constituency of Boko Haram actors, Islam, is uncomfortable with."

The former SGF, who described the current security challenge in the nation as a dilemma, pointed out that it would be very difficult for the Federal Government to

acquiesce to the demands of Boko Haram since the constitution does not authorise it to dabble into the religion of any Nigerian.

On how to stem to spate of insurgency across the country, Ahmed called on government at all levels to give more attention to gathering for the people instead of promoting personal interest at the expense of the majority of the citizens.

"The government must do more to cater for the youths in order to entice them to keep off evil ways and embrace what is right for the society. The only way to do that is through job creation, poverty alleviation and massive education of the people," the former government scribe said.

On how President Goodluck Jonathan can succeed and move the nation forward, Ahmed said the President should learn to be a statesman and a father to the nation by being bold enough to look critically at his team and get advisers who can advise him patriotically.

C M Y K

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

AWARD: Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right), receiving National Infinity Magazine’s Nigerian of the Year 2013 Award, from Editor/Publisher of the magazine, Mr. Jide Ige (2nd left), during the formal presentation of the award and 3rd Ismail Babatunde Jose Lecture. With them are: Governor's wife, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola; Chairman on the occasion/President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina (3rd left) and Guest Speaker, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, at Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Abere, Osun State, weekend.

VISIT: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, presenting a gift to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (left), during a courtesy visit to the Governor, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

VISIT: From left, Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Ganiu Olanrewaju Solomon; Aladegunsebi of Odorogunshin, HRM Oba Olawale Ogunsanya, and his wife, Olori Adunni, during Senator Solomon's courtesy visit to the monarch in Epe, Lagos, weekend.

FUNERAL: From left, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Engr. Ignatius Edet, Commissioner for Rural Development, and former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere, discussing, during the funeral of former State executive member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Albert Ukpanah, at Nsekhe, Ukanafun, weekend.

FORUM: From left, Dr. Martyn Davies, CEO; Frontier Advisory, Kennedy Bungane, Chief Executive, Regional Management and Strategy, Africa, Barclays Africa Group Ltd, South Africa; Olufemi Abegunde, chairman, Deloitte Nigeria governance board; Daniel Monehin, division president, Sub-Saharan Africa MasterCard, United Arab Emirates; Joseph Eshun, Partner, Deloitte East Africa; Thiru Pillay, Managing Director, Consulting, Africa, during a breakfast session, hosted by Deloitte Africa for business leaders, at the recently concluded World Economic Forum, in Abuja

CONFERENCE: From left, Mr. Deeliban Poohaiah, MD La casera; Ms Gwen Job, Brand Manager, La casera; Mr. Rafeal Soti, Business Sales Manager, and Mr. Lalit Singh, National Distribution Head, La Casera Company, during 2014 Partners Conference, at Eko Hotel, Lagos, weekend. Photo: Shola Oyelese

MAYBALL: From left, executive council member, Mr. Yinka Akande; Mrs. Biola Agbaje, Chairman, both of Nigeria Society for the Blind, and Mr. Tunji Olugbodi, MD, Verdant Zeal, at the 2014 Mayball (an annual dinner and dance) of Nigeria Society for the Blind, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

PRESENTATION: From left, Executive Director, Infrastructure Bank Plc, Mr. Hakeem Olopade; member, SURE-P Committee, Col. Abdulmumini Aminu (rtd); Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank Plc, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, Deputy Chairman, SURE-P, Mrs. Tanwa Olusi, at the presentation of mass transit buses to beneficiaries by SURE-P & Infrastructure Bank Plc, in Lagos.

CEREMONY: From left, Mr. Sunday Adeyemi, Registrar/CEO, Chartered Institute Personnel Management, CIPM; Mr. Anthony Arabome, Vice President, CIPM; Best Graduating Student, Mr. Adebayo Oluwashina, receiving award from President/ Chairman of the Council of CIPM, Mr. Victor Famuyibo,and Immediate Past President, CIPM, Mr. Abiola Popoola, during CIPM's 16th Induction Ceremony of new members, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 49

C M Y

50— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 51

Ohanaeze, Imo indigenes endorse Heartland Gateway International Market

By JUDE NJOKU THE proposed multibillion Naira Heartland Gateway International Market to be sited on 28.097 hectares parcel of land at Mgbidi in the Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State, has received the endorsement of the Lagos State chapters of Ohaneze Ndigbo and Imo State Towns Development Association, ISTDAL. The Amalgamated Traders Association comprising Igbo traders in Lagos, has also given its nod to the development of the ultra-modern market. The market is hinged on a design, build, operate and transfer, DBOT agreement between the Imo State Government of Nigeria and Grace-

Heartland market

land Channels Ltd. The groups which noted that Ndigbo have invested heavily in Lagos and other parts of the country, lauded the vision behind the development of the market. According to them, it is a bold step to “go back home and open up Igboland (Akuruo ulo) so that as some of us are getting older, we can now do our business from home (Igboland) and leave our businesses in Lagos and other parts of the country to our younger ones”.

Unveiling the details of the market to these key stakeholders at different fora in Lagos, the promoters led by Chief Meckson Okoro explained that “ after 44 years of neglecting the develop-

ment of Igboland, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has challenged the Igbos in diaspora by donating a wonderful piece of land along Owerri-Onitsha express way at Mgbidi junction with Oguta, an excellent location, to Graceland Channels Limited, for the development of Heartland Gateway International Market”.

Okoro who is the Principal Partner of M.I. Okoro & Associates, a firm of estate surveyors and valuers and marketing consultant to the project, explained that he is not new to such schemes. He midwifed the development of the multi-billion Naira Auto Spare Parts Market, (ASPAMDA) at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.

The project: Heartland Gateway International Market, according to Chief Okoro, will be the most ambitious international marketing in the country. On completion in the next 24 Continues on page 52

Ariston offers more satisfaction to consumers

A

RISTON, the worldwide leading company in the thermo comfort industry is poised to offer its consumers worldwide with more comfort from its wide array of high quality products. Ariston is the biggest producer of electric storage water heaters for domestic use.

Report has it that every year, more than 6,000,000 families in more than 150 different countries, decide to have a new Ariston water heater to benefit from over 80 years of the company ’s experience and customer satisfaction.

A statement released by the company explained that consumer satisfaction and safety sits at the core of their offerings. “Ariston products put the user first: they incorporate a wide range of functions designed for the customer ’s well-being, to give him all the comfort and relaxation he might possibly need” ”In addition to a wide range of smart boilers, water heaters and air conditioners, Ariston also offers an integrated and

innovative range of solar systems and heat pump water heaters allowing users to benefit from renewable energy sources, the technology of the future.

Heating the water by means of the sun only, with no use of electricity it ensures hot water comfort while safeguarding the environment for the generations to come”.

Ariston also designs customized solutions for new installations, providing consumption profiles and energy saving simulations in addition to saving energy and optimising comfort. The elegance of Ariston designs makes these products suited to any environment.

Italy’s typical quality and aesthetic taste represent the hallmark of Ariston’s designs.

Ariston has been cooperating for years with well-known Italian designers, bringing their ideas and creativity to life in a functional and pragmatic way: the bond between Ariston and design makes everyday life easier and more comfortable.

C M Y K

52— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2013 — 53

Experts seek ways of giving safety a voice in Nigeria

By JUDE NJOKU

E

XPERTS and other stakeholders who participated in the maiden Professional Development Conference and Exhibition PDC, organised by the American Society of Safety Engineers ASSE, Nigerian chapter, have called for the adoption of global best practices in occupational safety, health and environment to enhance the country’s international economic competitiveness.

The three-day conference which was tagged Nigeria PDC 2014, had in attendance safety experts drawn from the construction industry, oil and gas, telecommunications and related sectors.

Declaring the conference open, the Commander of the Fleet Support Group, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Akinsola Johnson noted the positive efforts being made by Nigeria in the oil and gas as well as shipping industries and declared that these laudable national endeavours would require the adoption of best practices in areas like corporate governance, occupational safety and environment.

In her remarks, the Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission, FRSC, Mrs Funmilayo Akinlade called on Nigerians to imbibe safety consciousness because of the grave consequences of disregarding such safety measures. She called for the erection of more roadside infrastructure to give a second chance to crash victims.

The President of the Nigerian chapter of ASSE, Mr Jeff ‘Vwede Obahor said the Nigeria PDC 2014 was organised to bring together all HSE professionals and industries’ leaders under one roof to discuss and share ideas and experiences that will move Nige-

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

D

Construction of high-rise building... Are safety measures applied?

ria towards a safer tomorrow.

“Our ultimate goal is to give voice to safety through effective collaboration with other professional bodies and government agencies, and to strengthen HSE practice, compliance and ethics,” he said.

Obahor who described safety as a way of life, regretted that in Nigeria, safety is not give the pride of place.

He therefore called for a robust government policy and efficient and effective regulatory framework on safety. “Improving HSE competency de-

velopment and awareness anywhere requires enthusiasm, great effort, smart work and discipline from dedicated safety professionals as well as a robust government policy with effective and efficient regulatory framework,” he said Obahor pledged the the PDC would become an annual event in line with what obtains in the United States of America where an average of 3,500 people attend the conference every year.

West African Ceramics bags NIA award as Nigerite gets kudos for excellence

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

F

O R E M O S T manufacturer of ceramic tiles in Nigerian, West African Ceramics Ltd has bagged the Nigerian Institute of Architects, NIA Excellence Award in the category of companies with most local content products in the Nigerian building and construction industry. The award was conferred on the company at the just concluded 6th Lagos Architects’ Forum organised by Lagos state chapter of the NIA. Receiving the award from Mr. Tayo Babalakin, an architect and President, Association of Consulting Architects of Nigeria, the Size Analyst of West African Ceramics, Sachin Katare lauded the body of architects for its unmatched professionalism exercised in organising the forum which had “Lagos 5.0- Architecture and Real Estate Development” as its them.

Speaking about the award, the Chairman,of Lagos NIA, Arc. Ladipo Lewis said the excellence award for best local content is a special recognition of

Yuguda inspects N10.9bn Bida - Mokwa road project

merit given to an indigenous company whose operation from sourcing raw materials to the processes of delivering the final product entails the utilisation of local contents in terms of value creation in the Nigerian economy, systematic capacity development, and the thoughtful use of material and human resources locally sourced. He added that West African Ceramics Ltd is one of such companies which have consistently stood out in local contents.

In a related development, Messrs Nigerite Limited, has been commended by architects, builders and town planners who participated in the Lagos Architects’ Forum.

Identified as a Corinthian Partner by the organisers, Nigerite delighted participants at the forum with the array of products exhibited at its stand. A Corinthian partner is regarded by the organisers as a first class partner.

Speaking at the exhibition stand, the Director of Facilities, University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the United States, Dr. Maurice Ngwaba said Nigerite has been contributing to the de-

velopment of the built environment in Nigeria for years.He noted that the introduction of Nigerite products has helped the development of the industry.

“Nigerite is a tested and respected company in the country. Many of its products have created flexibility, thereby enabling architects and other building professionals to deliver quality jobs.”

A former president of Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc. Ibrahim Haruna said Nigerite has formulated and produced more quality products through research, pointing out that the company has evolved in its 55 years of existence of producing building materials into many other areas.

Also speaking, Dean, College of Environmental Science and Management, Caleb University, Prof. O. S. Okedele affirmed the contribution of Nigerite to the building industry. According to him, “we need to appreciate Nigerite’s contribution to the production of quality building materials which have kept the company ahead of competitors in the industry, stressing that its successes are also traceable to its alignment with some institutions of learning”.

ETERMINED to en sure that the Federal government’s promise to deliver on good and motorable roads is actualised, the Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda last week, inspected the progress of work on the ongoing BidaMokwa road project in Niger State.

Speaking after the inspection, the minister said he was not disappointed at the pace of work on that road.

The road project was awarded to Messrs Triacta Nigeria Ltd in November 2010 at the cost of N10.9billion. This was sequel to the government’s resolve to revitalise and effectively manage the nation’s critical road infrastructures.

The Minister described the Mokwa-Bida road as vital to the socio-economic renewal of the country.

The project is collaboration between the World Bank and the Federal government.

Quality of work “Well we are here to inspect one of our road projects currently being handled by the Ministry of Works for the complete rehabilitation of some sections and overlay on Mokwa-Bida road. We have gone through the road and we are happy with the progress and quality of work that has been done”.

“The contractor will be able to catch up despite the rain that is coming, to complete the project on time. The project was awarded in November 2013; it is a 24- month contract and will end in November 2015 So far we have gone through the asphalt plant, the quarry plant and I think we have the capacity to deliver on time”.

“This one is funded partly by the Federal government. The government is contributing 10 percent while 90 percent id is coming from our development partner- the World bank.

So the funding process is adequate and we don’t foresee any problem,” he said.

Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger commended the Federal Government’s efforts in ensuring that all road networks were linked and in good shape.

He emphasised the state government’s readiness and support for enhancing reforms in the road sector.

54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 BRIEFS

APC under threat as court rules on acronym •Tinubu, governors’ differences widen

By EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR, DAPO AKINREFON & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

L

AGOS — PROSPECTS of the coun try’s major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, were shaky, yesterday, ahead of a decisive ruling on the validity of the party’s registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Besides, some party members were also apprehensive on the direction of the party following tension among party leaders on account of recent disagreements.

Some party insiders were fearful that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who had been a major rallying point for the opposition party might be losing enthusiasm over what sources claimed as the increasing opposition to him by other major party stakeholders, mainly some governors.

A ruling by a Federal High Court, Abuja, today, was anxiously being expected on a suit instituted by the unregistered African Peoples Congress, APC against the registration of the All Progressives Congress by INEC. A loss for INEC in the suit in which the All Progressives Congress was refused to be joined in as a party, could be catastrophic for the new political party and put it in possible jeopardy ahead of crucial gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

Tinubu, according to sources was not enthusiastic about the meeting expected to deliberate on outstanding issues flowing from recent congresses across the country. Tinubu, it is alleged, is miffed over the recent turn of events in the party which has seen him at the short end on three sensitive issues to the club of governors in the party.

Tinubu, according to party sources lost out on the venue of the convention, the choice of a chairman of the convention planning committee and on the zoning of the office of national chairman in the next executive.

Following the development, there were fears that Tinubu who had alongside General Muhammadu Buhari been the rallying point in the merger could lose enthusiasm for the new party. Party spokesman,

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, however, rebuffed insinuations of any tension in the party over the alleged misunderstanding. Party elders are, however, to meet within days to deliberate on outstanding issues affecting the party notably the unresolved congresses, zoning of national party offices and permutations on the presidential candidate of the party.

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a party elder also dismissed claims of a crisis in the party, saying the party would win the 2015 round of elections despite signs of internal rifts. He said, “Positions are being more keenly contested, people are seeing the future and I know that the next government in the next election will be an APC government at the federal level. We are now a serious contender for power at the federal level.”

The suit on the ownership of the acronym, APC, was entered before the high court by a rival political group, the African Peoples Congress, which is insisting that it has the patent right to the ‘APC’ acronym. The plaintiff told the court that though it was the first political group that applied to the electoral body to be registered as ‘APC’, it alleged that upon fulfilling all the condition precedents, INEC, without any cogent reason, declined to grant it the status of a political party in Nigeria.

Defunct political parties

More so, the plaintiff told the court that it was surprised that after INEC under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega refused its application, it went ahead and registered another group with the same ‘APC’ acronym that was originally submitted to it by the plaintiff. It further told the court that it had earlier instituted an action that sought to prevent the Bisi Akande-led APC which primarily consist of three defunct political parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Congress for Political Change, CPC, and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, from laying claim to the acronym since it was already in existence prior to the demise of their former political parties.

The plaintiff further insisted that it was wrong for INEC to have gone ahead to register the rival APC when a suit restraining the party from using such acronym was A communiqué signed still pending in court. by the Chairman of the Consequently, the plainGoverning Council, the tiff, in a motion on notice Ovie Uvwie Kingdom. before the court which is HRM, Emmanuel Sideso due for ruling today, apand Secretary General, Eze plied for an order to stop Ijikala II of Oko, Prof. Laz INEC from further recogEkwueme respectively, nizing or having any dealand made available to Van- ings with the ‘APC’ pendguard, the paramount rul- ing the final determination ers warned the Boko of their substantive suit.

Haram sect to release, The plaintiff specifically without further delay, all prayed for an order of the the abducted schoolgirls in court in the exercise of its their custody. disciplinary jurisdiction, The Council resolved annulling, setting aside that, “ the abduction of and voiding the action of school girls in Chibok, INEC in registering All Borno State, was a most dis- Progressive Congress with heartening development the acronym ‘APC’, notthat must be condemned withstanding the pendenby all as a national calami- cy of the suit. ty.”

Traditional rulers seek support for security agencies

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

T

HE Governing Council of National Development Summit of Traditional Rulers, NDSTR, has directed its subjects nationwide to provide adequate support to security agencies and the intervening foreign security agencies to ensure the defeat of Boko Haram terror. The NDSTR, which issued the directive at the end of its meeting in Abuja, also urged the members to support government at all levels with a view to ensuring that the current state of insecurity it described as national calamity is brought to an end.

Modi takes over as India’s PM N

ARENDRA Modi took the oath of office as India’s new prime minister at the sprawling presidential palace yesterday, a moment made more historic by the presence of the leader of archrival Pakistan.

Modi’s inauguration is the first to which India invited leaders from across South Asia. Heads of government from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives, Nepal and Afghanistan attended, and Bangladesh was represented by the speaker of its Parliament.

But most eyes remained on Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose visit could signal a thaw in relations between the often hostile neighbors. Indian Presi-

•India’s new prime minister Narendra Modi, center left, shakes hands with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during Modi’s inauguration in New Delhi, India, yesterday.

dent Pranab Mukherjee administered the oath to Modi and his Cabinet as thousands of guests, including politicians, business leaders and movie stars, watched. Outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was seated

next to Sharif.

Analysts said Sharif ’s presence signaled an easing of tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Pakistan and India have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947.

Pope Francis, Israeli PM trade words on Jesus' native language

P

OPE Francis and Is raeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traded words yesterday over the language spoken by Jesus two millennia ago.

“Jesus was here, in this land. He spoke Hebrew,” Netanyahu told Francis, at a public meeting in Jerusalem in which the Israeli leader cited a strong connection between Judaism and Christianity.

“Aramaic,” the pope interjected. “He spoke Aramaic, but he knew Hebrew,” Netanyahu shot back. Like many things in the Middle East, where the pope is on the last leg of a three-day visit, modernday discourse about Jesus is complicated and often political.

A Jew, Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the Romanruled region of Judea, now the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He grew up in Nazareth and ministered in Galilee, both in northern Israel, and died in Jerusalem, a city revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims, and to which Israelis and Palestinians lay claim.

Palestinians sometimes describe Jesus as a Palestinian. Israelis object to that.

Israeli linguistics professor Ghil’ad Zuckermann told Reuters that both Netanyahu, son of a distinguished Jewish historian, and the pope, the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, had a point. “Jesus was a native Aramaic speaker,” he said about the largely defunct Semitic language closely

related to Hebrew. “But he would have also known Hebrew because there were extant religious writings in Hebrew.”

Zuckermann said that during Jesus’ time, Hebrew was spoken by the lower classes - “the kind of people he ministered to”.

Flight MH370: Malaysia releases satellite data today

R

AW satellite data about missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will be released today, a Malaysian official said yesterday.

Malaysian acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein made the comments about the data from satellite company Inmarsat as he toured a newly constructed terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Families of the passengers on board the

plane, which disappeared in March over Southeast Asia while carrying 239 people, have been demanding that the raw data be made public.

The fate of the plane and those on board has become one of the great aviation mysteries of modern times.

Inmarsat, the company whose satellites communicated with the missing plane in its last hours, had said it didn’t have the authority to release the data.

WCC condemns Brussels museum shootings

BY SAM EYOBOKA

T

HE general secre tary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Dr Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, has condemned last Saturday’s attack on the Jewish Museum in Brussels which resulted in the deaths of four persons including two Israeli citizens.

“This brutal attack on visitors to a museum paying tribute to the Jewish people and their history reflects the frightening and unacceptable increase of intolerance and violence against minorities in Europe,” Tveit, a Norwegian Lutheran pastor said from Geneva where the WCC is head-

quartered.

While the motive for the Brussels killings remains unclear, Tveit said, calling on all churches and all people of faith in Europe and around the world to pray for the families of the victims of this shooting and to renew the struggle against anti-Semitism and intolerance everywhere.

“We also call on the authorities in Belgium to find and bring the perpetrator to justice,” he said. Tveit’s condemnation joins with a statement from the general secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Rev. Guy Liagre, also released on Monday.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 55

Again, Uduaghan floors Ogboru at Supreme Court zCourt fines lawyer N8m

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE Supreme Court, yesterday, awarded a punitive fine of N8 million against a legal practitioner, Dr. Dickson Osuala, after it found him guilty of filing “frivolous” appeals in a bid to unseat Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.

The apex court held that Osuala, counsel to the governorship candidate of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, abused the judicial process, and ordered that he should pay the fine from his own pocket.

Osuala had, in the suit that was decided yesterday, applied for a review of the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Uduaghan of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as winner of the Delta State gubernatorial election.

He premised his application on Section 285 (7) of the constitution which he claimed was fraudulently inserted into the constitution by the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, despite the fact that the apex court drew his attention to the fact that it was not the business of the court to amend the constitution, but that of the National Assembly and also advised him to go to the National Assembly or the Federal High Court to challenge the section, Osuala, rejected the advice and insisted that the

Supreme Court should overrule itself.

Irked by the application, the apex court panel unanimously agreed that Osuala should be punished for not only abusing the process of the court, but for also not advising his client rightly.

Justice Walter Onoghene, who presided over the panel, insisted that the N8 million fine slammed on Osuala would serve as a deterrent to other lawyers who may wish to attempt similar move in future.

Delta govt lauds judgment

Meanwhile, Delta State Government has commended the apex court for the judgment.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, in a statement, said: “The suit was intended to inflict violence on our jurisprudence and inflict great damage on the doctrine of stare decisis.

The fact that the Justices ruled that the counsel to Chief Ogboru

should directly bear the cost of N2 million awarded to each of the respondents underscores the need for counsel to exercise caution in advising their clients.

“We commend the Justices of the Supreme Court for the enduring lessons passed to all legal practitioners by this landmark ruling that will to a great extent ensure responsible litigation and representation at all levels of Nigeria’s courts.”

The panel told Osuala to advise his client to take his case to heaven if he was not satisfied with the court’s ruling.

Besides, the Justices noted that Ogboru had through his counsel, wanted to resurrect a dead and buried horse, warning that “this should be the last time this kind of case should be brought before this court.”

It will be recalled that Ogboru had twice applied for a review of the judgment and was turned down by the apex court.

The attempt yesterday was the third through the same lawyer, seeking a review of the verdict.

Dennis Osadebay memorial lecture holds tomorrow

A

SDEV 81 Club, Asa-ba holds its first Dennis Osadebay Memorial lecture at Nnebisi Hall, Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State tomorrow.

The topic for the inaugural lecture is: The Minority Question, Some Thoughts on Identity, Justice and Incorporation in Nigeria,

and will be delivered by Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah.

Asdev 81 is a club of professionals and businessmen in Nigeria and the Diaspora. It has, since 1996, organized annual seminars and lectures focusing current developmental and political issues in the country.

Court strikes out Amaechi’s suit against Rivers lawmakers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT—A RIVERS State High court sitting in Port Harcourt, yesterday, struck out a suit by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, seeking to stop members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from initiating impeachment moves against him.

Trial judge, Justice George Omereje, in his ruling, said that the governor did not disclose

any reasonable cause of action in the suit, noting that the claim of the governor was not justifiable and thus incompetent.

“If the court goes ahead on its ruling on the persons mentioned in the suit without giving them opportunity to defend themselves, it would amount to unfair hearing,” the Judge said.

Governor Amaechi had asked the court last year, in the heat of the

political crisis rocking the state, to stop the state House of Assembly from initiating impeachment moves against him.

The state House of Assembly, Speaker, Otelemaba Dan-Amachree and the pro- Amaechi lawmakers were the first set of respondents while the second set were the factional Speaker, Evans Bipi and the other four anti- Amaechi lawmakers. They are Victor Ihunwo, Michael Chinda, Martins Amaewhule and Kelechi Nwogu.

56 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Vanguard, TUESD AY, MAY 27, 2014 — 57 TUESDA

•Ailing Peter Olayiwola

Man, 50, seeks N8m for kidney transplant

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

F

OR more than a year, Peter Olayiwola has battled with a protracted problem of kidney failure. The 50-year-old father of five who hails from Ogbomoso in Osun State, has gone from one hospital to the other in search of relief to no avail.

A businessman by profession, Peter, who is currently bedridden and in very poor state of health at his residence at 30 Igbeyinadun Street, Sasa, Akowonjo, Lagos, was hale and hearty until one day in 2013 when he suddenly presented with high blood pressure.

Narrating the ordeal, Peter’s wife, Kehinde, recalled that when the problem began, he was always feeling weak and

complained of tiredness even when he had not engaged in any tasking activity.

“He was always complaining of tiredness and inability to breathe well. His whole body would be covered in sweat and he could not perform even the simplest task without needing to sit and rest for a while under the fan. This continued till June when he began complaining of abdominal pain. He was taken to the health centre at Vulcaniser in Awkowonjo, where the kidney failure was diagnosed. From there we were referred to Igando General Hospital and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, where further checks confirmed the diagnosis.

Already, doctors at both hospitals have recommended

that the permanent solution to Peter’s ailment is a kidney transplant. He has been referred to an Indian hospital for the treatment..”

Eventually, he began dialysis on August 25 , 2013 and was going for the procedure every three days at a cost of N20,000 per session but when the family could no longer afford the huge cost, the dialysis sessions were reduced to once per week.

“We pay even more if he has to be transfused with blood. At times he experiences shortage of the blood and would require a pint or two. Now we are doing the dialysis at N21,500 without blood. We have already spent a fortune on this problem . Our life savings is gone, and we are at the mercy of Good Samaritans,” Kehinde lamented., noting that her husband currently utilises a private clinic, but goes to LASUTH for check up.

Kehinde said Peter has no family history of illness or kidney ailment. for that matter. “He has never been hospitalised since we met until this problem began. We have been married about 20 years and he has always been healthy.“ A total cost estimation of the kidney transplant to take place at Kims Hospital, India, is put at N8 million. A compatible donor is available but lack of fund is currentlly stalling the lifesaving procedure.

“I am appealing to kindhearted Nigerians to come to my husband’s aid and help raise the required sum,” she pleaded.

If you are touched by Peter’s plight and wish to assist, kindly obtain further details through 08033440271.

Check your BP regularly, Nigerians urged

O

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

N this year’s World Hypertension Day, medical experts advocate regular HPB checks in the home. In the view of Managing Director, New Heights Pharmacy, official partner for Omron Healthcare in Nigeria, Pharm. Ogheneochuka Omaruaye, the prevalence of high blood pressure in society is a major cause of increase in the risk of heart attacks and other health-related issues.

Omaruaye recalled a recent community based study of rural and semi urban population in Enugu, Nigeria put the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria at 32.8 percent in urban areas and 12.4 percent in rural areas.

“The proportion of those coming down with high blood pressure increases with age. The prevalence of high blood pressure is highest in some low-income countries in Africa, with over 40 per cent of adults in many African countries thought to be affected. It has become a public health concern as youths in their early 30s are prone to hypertension, a situation which not only reduces life expectancy but threatens the nation’s economic life since the productive part of the population is at risk.

He remarked that adults should check their blood pressure regularly not only during periodic hospital visits while effective control strategies to prevent high prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria, required regular blood pressure surveillance.

“We decided to add our voice to the movement for proper monitoring of blood pressure because trends of prevalence suggest that it has increased in economically developing countries in recent years while it remained stable or decreased in developed countries. Awareness, treatment and control of hypertension is extremely low in Nigeria as health care resources are overwhelmed by other priorities.

Omron Healthcare monitors provide the solution for checking blood pressure anytime, anywhere before typical cardiovascular diseases are provoked. To use a blood pressure monitor, sit down, relax. Do not cross your legs. Remove your coat or jumper to expose your bare upper- arm. Avoid rolling sleeves up as this can constrict the arm.

Place the cuff approximately 2.5cm above the elbow crease. Fasten the cuff comfortably without it being too tight. Press the button to switch the monitor on, remain still during the measurement and do not talk. Press start, the cuff will inflate and then slowly deflate. Finally, make a note of the measurement and the pulse rate.

Omron Healthcare has a rich heritage in the design and manufacture of medical equipment, it is the world’s leader in blood pressure monitoring, offering accurate and comfortable devices for an easy self-measurement at home.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

ELLO everybody and welcome. This week fea tures the third installment of our new product discussions. The first of these products to be discussed today are novelties that enhance our vital sexual features to create sex appeal and boost our self-esteem.

As you may know, the way we look affects our sexual confidence and the way we feel about ourselves. That is why looks are important and every adult out there must be committed to taking care of him or herself.

So first in line of our new products for today is the Pheromone Firming Bust Gel for women. No matter how beautiful a woman’s breasts look, they are bound to develop wrinkles and sag with pregnancy and age.

That is why breasts need to be taken care of and the Pheromone Firming Bust Gel does that. This pheromone infused gel tones the skin and makes the breasts firmer. It also makes the breasts appear younger by removing wrinkles and smoothening the skin. And of course, it is a sexual attractant as well because it has pheromones in it, so women will love it.

Like they say, bigger is better. So today, we have two new penis pumps for men. They are the Machismo Pump and the Precision Pump with Erection Enhancer. Penis pumps essentially do two huge things for men. They enlarge the penis and facilitate greater blood flow to the penis to ensure a firm erection when a man needs it. So in the two above products, men everywhere will find solutions to penis enlargement and erectile dysfunction (men suffering from a lack of erection or an erection that is too soft for penetration).

Next on the list are products that enable us get the best out of our love lives. By this we are talking about novelties that aid sexual satisfaction. There is no man anywhere that is happy to experience premature ejaculation, because it affects his ability to enjoy intercourse and satisfy his female partner.

For this, we have a sex toy for stopping premature ejaculation called the Cock Xtender Sleeve. It is the best looking penis sleeve I have ever seen. It is thick,

realistic and brown like the color of our skin, is reusable and prevents quick ejaculation. The Cock Xtender Sleeve also adds three inches length and some considerable width to the wearer to make him appear much bigger than he actually is, and it stretches to fit most adult men. So this is an important and exciting new product for the men.

And for the women, we have new vibrators that will leave big smiles on their faces after use because of their quality. They are the Cyberskin G Spot Buzzer and My First Jack Rabbit Vibrator. Any woman who claims not to enjoy intercourse is one who has never used a good vibrator. These two top of the range vibrators offer women unparalleled pleasure and multiple orgasms when used.

This is a big deal because the value of sexual satisfaction cannot be quantified. But we all know how good it makes us feel and what it does for our relationships.

Let us now answer a few questions from our readers.

I have this girl that I was engaged to marry. I trained her through school, paid for everything and the day she graduated, she disappeared. Months after, she invited me for her wedding to another man. I was good to this girl. How do I trust women now? Mike Dear Mike, I am sorry to hear your story. Men and women have always deceived each other for ages.

What happened to you can happen to anybody.

Only luck can bring the right person into our lives.

My advice for you is to date a woman who already has a job. That way, she wouldn’t need to depend on you for money. It is easier that way to know if a girl really likes you or your money – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 08171912551 or 08027901621 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

58 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Itsekiri people write delegates •Seek creation of Warri State, eight geo-political zones

T

BY HENRY UMORU

HE people of Itsekiri have written delegates calling for the creation of Warri State out of Delta State and the division of the country into eight geopolitical zones.

According to a memorandum by the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality, which was signed by the Chairman, J.O.S. Ayamike and

the Secretary, Edward Ekpoko and distributed to delegates, the people called for minority protection as in the case of the Constitution of Midwestern region which protected minorities like the Itsekiri, Ijaw, Isoko and Afenmai and made their homeland special areas.

Lamenting the level of marginalization in the area, the

people of Itsekiri who noted that they produce over 38 per cent of the oil and gas that sustain the country, stressed that even at the level of their contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, they have no representative in a Senate of 109 members, one Federal House of Representatives seat out of 360 seats and three out of 29

members of the Delta State House of Assembly.

Consequently, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought said in the absence of protection of minorities like them, Warri State, which should be conterminous with Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West Local Government Areas in Delta State should be created, adding that with the creation of Warri State, there would be preservation and control of their land; preservation of their language; inviolability of their custom and the right to participate in the government of Nigeria at all levels.

The people also called for true Federalism, stressing that the Itsekiri people support parliamentary system of government against the backdrop that it was cheaper to run and it would check wastage in political administration.

Political administration On Minority protection, the document read, “We demand for insertions of provisions to protect minorities in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). This further amendment should be similar to the minority clause inserted in Section 7(3), 14(4) (5), paragraph 3 of the first column of the First Schedule of the Midwestern Region Constitution of 1964 which protected

minorities like the Itsekiri, the Ijaw, Isoko, Afenmai in the defunct Midwestern Region and made their homeland Special Areas.

On structure of Government, the people said, “We demand for true federalism. The federating units should be the ethnic nationalities. Big ethnic nationalities can form a federating unit while minority land-owning ethnic nationalities can form a federating unit or a Region with other ethnic nationalities with whom they have geographical contiguity. Such union is to be guided by a constitution.

“We call for the recognition of the following zones: *South West Zone, *Mid West Zone - to be carved out of South-South Zone and to comprise Edo and Delta States; *South East Zone; *South-South Zone; *North East Zone; * North Central Zone; *North West Zone *Middle Belt Zone - to be carved out of NorthCentral Zone and to comprise of Benue, Plateau and Kogi states.

“The Itsekiri of Warri now in the South-South Geopolitical Zone have geographical contiguity with the proposed Midwest Zone and the South-West Zone. If the Midwest Zone is created, the Itsekiri will opt for Midwest Zone but in the absence of that it prefers to be with the South-West Zone with whom they have historical link.”

S-South delegates demand $1trillion for N-Delta clean-up •Clark warns that N/Delta may be wiped out soon

BY HENRY UMORU

S

OUTH-SOUTH delegates yesterday decried the harm wrought on Niger-Delta environment by oil exploitation and demanded $1trillion about N160 trillion to clean up the region and save the inhabitants.

The demand came on a day that Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark warned that Niger Delta might be wiped out without urgent clean up as delegates disagreed over the recommendations of the Committee on Environment.

The Environment Committee which has Senator Florence ItaGiwa as chairman and Yadoma Bukar Madara as deputy chairman recommended the establishment of Special Environmental Courts in all the states against the backdrop that regular Courts are often inundated with a multitude of civil and criminal cases.

Another strong recommendation by the Committee is the need for resource democracy where the people would have the right to own and manage their resources by entrenching resource democracy which gives rights to federating units to prospect for

and develop resources in their territories, adding that this will help remove conflicts between federating units and promote progressive and active development.

The Environment Committee also recommended that the Land Use Act should be expunged from the Constitution and amended because it has generated a lot of controversy since its enactment and it has taken away land rights from local communities.

Compensation for affected communities In his contribution, Clark, former Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw leader, called for compensation for affected communities in the Niger Delta following environmental degradation, raising an alarm that if government and the conference failed to take urgent action, the Region called the Niger Delta would soon disappear. He stressed that something holistic must be done if the mirage of environmental problems in the region were to be reduced to the barest level.

Clark juxtaposed the recommendations of the

committee with those of previous conferences and reports, saying that there was nothing new in the report arguing that the problem has been that of implementation.

Lamenting the untold hardship Niger Deltans living along the coastal lines face, he recalled that the United Nations had, in 2011, submitted a report to the Federal government stating that it would take 30 years and $20 billion to clean up the oil spills in the Niger Delta region. He said it was sad that it took the Federal Government two years to set up a committee to consider the report.

Also contributing, a delegate representing Benue State, Senator Jack Tiley Gyado

warned that environment would make Nigeria unstable if not well managed saying that 99 per cent of the nation’s problems were environmental in nature. He added that oil spillage in the Niger Delta was the biggest crime against humanity because a community or zone cannot give wealth to a country and die for it.

According to him, with the gas flaring in the zone, the lie span of people in the region was being shortened every minute.

He called for a modification of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to now be Ministry of Niger Delta and Environmental Affairs.

In her contribution, a Federal Government delegate, Ms

Annkio Briggs who urged the Federal Government to commence the process of cleanup of the Niger-Delta with initial budget of one trillion US Dollars, stressed that what was happening in the region was destructive and caused by environmental pollution and degradation as a result of gas flaring and oil spillage.

She however threw her weight behind the Committee’s report that the Land Use Act be expunged from the constitution, adding that there must be total resource control to enable states manage their resources and effective control of their environment.

North fails in desperate bid to scrap NDDC, N-Delta ministry

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE AND LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

D

ESPERATE attempts by northern delegates to adopt a proposal for scrapping the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, hit the brickwall as delegates overwhelmingly opposed the

proposal.

The North, in a position submitted by Professor Aishatu Madawaki, a delegate from Sokoto State, said the existing ministry and agency were a duplication of functions of the Federal Ministry of Environment, since they were equally doing similar functions.

They proposed that in a

situation where the ministry and agency were allowed to remain, then a similar body be created equally for the northern region to take care of its soil erosion, desert encroachment, desertification and deforestation, among other issues in the region.

But the proposal did not sail through as delegates opposed it.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014—59

Court sacks reinstates Ilomuanya in Imo royal tussle

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — THE Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri has sacked Governor Rochas Okorocha’s preferred chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri, and reinstated Eze Cletus Ilomuanya as authentic head of the Council.

Delivering judgment in the suit brought before the court by Eze Ohiri, challenging the court of appeal judgment, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Ngozi Ukoha, also ordered Eze Ohiri to pay Eze Ilomuanya the sum of N20,000 as costs.

Justice Ukoha agreed with Eze Ilomuanya’s Counsel, Obiora Obianwu, SAN, that the court of appeal judgment is “a judgment in Rem, which is binding on all parties and non-parties alike.”

The judge said a high court could not sit in review of the judgment of a Court of Appeal.

Chibok girls: Anambra cancels Children’s Day parade

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA — ANAMBRA State government has cancelled march-past by school children in today’s Children’s Day celebration, saying it was in solidarity with the abducted Chibok school girls still held by Boko Haram insurgents.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Chief Tony Onyima, said that churches in the state were earlier requested to conduct prayer sessions for the release of the girls.

The statement read: “His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Willie Obiano, the Governor of Anambra State has directed that this year’s Children’s Day in the state scheduled

for Tuesday, May 27, 2014 would be celebrated in a sombre manner.

“This directive has become necessary as a mark of solidarity with the over 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, abducted by the Boko Haram sect last month.

“Consequently, the usual

march-past lined up as part of activities to mark the day would not hold anywhere in the state.

“Headmasters and headmistresses of primary schools and principals of secondary schools in the state, either private, public or mission owned, are by this announcement directed to hold prayer sessions in their schools for the urgent release of the girls.”

Only political parties can decide candidates for election — Judge

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

AGREEMENT: From left, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Ibrahim; Japan Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji; Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lawrence Awute, exchanging loan agreement of $85 million for polio eradication project, in Nigeria. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

Controversy trails emergence of UNIZIK new VC

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

S

WKA — AN Anambra High Court presided over

by Justice Hope Ozo ruled, yesterday, that only a political party could decide who should be its flag bearer for an election.

Delivering judgment in a suit brought by Mr. Ernest Eze against the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and the state chairman of the party, Chief Mike Kwentoh, over the candidature of the party in the recently conducted local government election for Orumba South in the state, Justice Ozo said that though the plaintiff won the primaries conducted by APGA, there was a standing apex court judgment that a party decides its candidates.

The plaintiff had gone to court to challenge the nomination of Mr. John Onyeakpa by APGA, and his acceptance by ANSIEC after the plaintiff had scored the highest number of votes during the August 17, 2013, primaries of the party for the council election.

OME POWERFUL politicians in The Pres idency and Imo State as well as a prominent businessman (names withheld) have been named in moves to negatively influence the outcome of the selection process of a new vice chancellor for Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,as the race for the vacant position takes a new twist.

Professor Greg Nwakoby, according to the executive summary sheet of VC selection, came first out of over 34 applicants who appeared before a short list…awards N2m against police ing committee of the governing

BY VINCENT UJUMADU council of the university; of which nine were shortlisted and invited for interview.

WKA — A Federal High Court sitting in In a curious twist, however, it was Awka, Anambra State, has absolved an Onalleged that Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, itsha-based businessman, Chief Arthur Eugene who came second with a total of Nworah, of alleged kidnapping and illegal im80.65, was being pushed to emerge portation of arms levelled against him by operaas the new VC rather than Prof. tives of the State Anti Robbery Squad, SARS. Nwakoby who garnered 89.65 per Ruling on the motion filed by his counsel, Mr. cent.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the presiding judge, Justice Nwakoby, infact, scored highest in M.L.Abubakar, also awarded the sum of N2 milcurriculum vitae and interaction, two lion against Anambra State police command for criteria used to score the nine can- alleged illegal detention of Nworah and subsedidates. quently set him free from all the charges against Powerful politicians are allegedly him. behind moves to dump Nwakoby Nwora’s problems started in 2005 when he had who came first for the second placed over N900 million business deal with an oil magAhaneku. nate, Sir Emeka Offfor, who, incidentally hails The appointment of a new VC for from the same Oraifite as him. the university no longer requires the He later petitioned against the operatives of the consent of the President as univer- SARS in the state for clamping him into detensities are now autonomous and se- tion when, according to him, he voluntarily turned lect their VCs without government himself to the police and was subsequently deinterference. tained.

Court quashes kidnapping allegation against Onitsha bizman

A

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Klitschko wins Kiev mayor seat U

KRAINE’S burly boxing hero and strident protest leader Vitali Klitschko claimed victory Sunday in Kiev mayoral vote that cements his role as a statesman for the country ’s post-Soviet generation.

“All change will begin in Kiev,” the former heavyweight champion declared after exit polls gave him 57 percent of the capital city’s vote.

The two-metre-tall titan who never suffered a knockdown in his stellar heavyweight career was Ukraine’s most popular figure at the height of the protests that toppled a Russian-backed regime in February.

But the 42-year-old’s star faded once the old president fled to Russia and voters began searching for others with similar pro-Western leanings but a bit more experience in dealing with delicate diplomatic and economic affairs.

Klitschko ran in tandem with Petro Poroshenko — a billionaire chocolate maker who was on course to win Sunday ’s presidential poll in the first round.

But the mayor ’s seat still leaves Klitschko with numerous levers of power and provides him with the perfect launching pad for a future presidential run.

The city boss not only manages a considerable share of the state budget but also oversees tax collection from Ukraine’s biggest and most influential companies.

That role is vital in a country where politicians and tycoons often switch places and where the position on weighty matters taken by big corporations is often as important as that assumed by parliament.

Klitschko will also be able to decide which political forces can rally on the city ’s iconic Independence Square — scene of protests that toppled two governments in the past decade.

“These elections are very important for Klitschko,” said Kiev’s Penta political studies centre analyst Volodymyr Fesenko.

“His success on this job will determine his political future.”

Klitschko was always viewed as the quiet intellectual of the world boxing scene who liked to pull off his gloves and pick up a thick Dostoyevsky novel when relaxing in the gym.

The man once dubbed Dr Ironfist is fluent in several languages and boasts a PhD from his thesis on “Methodology for evaluating the performance of boxers in a multi-stage sport selection system”.

Yobo Ȁ Achor, explained that the duo had hitches with their travelling documents and were scheduled to make it to the team’s camp any time from now, a development Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi frowned at.

However, the technical crew was happy with the entire squad’s response to arrival in camp and the comradeship that existed among all the players. “It’s one big family here and this is the spirit we should carry to the World Cup,” declared Lille of France goalie Vincent Enyeama. There are also no injury worries with the team as all the

players have been visiting the gym to maintain fitness.

The players were also very happy with the recall of team captain Joseph Tambarin Yobo and Osaze Odemwengie. Yobo, himself declared during breakfast on Monday that he was overwhelmed by the shower of love by his team mates. “I am humbled and I pray that I will justify the confidence reposed in me”, he said.

Osaze spoke in a similar vein, adding that it was a family reunion that is bound to affect the fortunes of the team at the World Cup. “We will do our best in Brazil to justify this unity that we have in camp”.

AYC qualifiers: F/Eagles to meet Lesotho

T

HE junior national team, the Flying Eagles will battle Lesotho in the third and final round of the African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifiers in August after the Southern Africans eliminated Angola.

Little Lesotho completed the double over Angola on Sunday when they beat the home team 1-0 to go through to the next round on a 41 aggregate.

The Flying Eagles will host the shock troopers on August 16, while the return leg will be a fortnight later.

•Klitschko

The overall winners will advance to the 2015 AYC to be hosted by Senegal in March.

Lesotho made their AYC debut at the 2005 tournament staged by Benin Republic. They lost 2-0 to Morocco, upset Angola 1-0 before they crumbled 4-1 to Egypt.

Lesotho recorded only a point at the 2011 AYC, which the Flying Eagles won in South Africa.

They lost 2-0 to Egypt, 2-1 to hosts South Africa, before they forced Mali to a 1-1 draw to finish bottom of their first round group.

AYG: Nwuche hails Amalaha over new African record P RESIDENT of Nigeria We i g h t l i f t i n g Federation (NWF) Hon. Chibudom Nwuche has given a pat on the back to Nigerian teenage lifter Joy Chika Amalaha who on Sunday set a new African record in the weightlifting event of the on going African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana.

Amalaha who won gold for Nigeria in the 58kg body weight category did put up an amazing performance as she lifted 87kg in snatch to set a new African record.

The 14 year old Ebonyi state born lifter went ahead to lift 102kg in clean and

jerk an effort that was equally a new African record.

An elated Nwuche while congratulating Amalaha for her feat noted that he saw the splendid performance coming going by the high level of discipline always displayed by the athlete.

“I am happy with the splendid showing of Amalaha in Botswana.

She has really done Nigeria proud by not just winning gold but setting a new African record.

Amalaha is a bundle of discipline.

Team Nigeria Ȁ the weightlifting boys and girls category counted six in Nigeria’s favour. So the total gold medal won is nine (9). Three other gold medals were won in Judo where Esther Etim made Nigeria proud.

Others include the one won by Team Badminton and Table Tennis gold won

by Oginni Olasunkanmi”, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye disclosed.

Team Nigeria also won another gold medal in Cycling Team Time Trial Girls.

Nigeria had won three gold medals on Sunday which included the two from weightlifting which

have been increased to six and table tennis girls’ event.

The young athletes have been fired up by the presence of the Honourable Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo and the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye and President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr Sani M. Ndanusa who have been encouraging the athletes to put up their best in their respective sports in the ongoing Gaborone 2014 African Youth Games.

The competition which commenced on Thursday, would be rounded off on Saturday, May 31st 2014.

MEDALS — Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye presents medals at the AYC in Gaborone.

Keshi Ȁ Brazil 2014.

“Six countries are calling on me, so Nigeria will not be the last country for me to coach,” claimed ‘Big Boss’ Keshi.

Keshi, who guided the Super Eagles to a third Africa Cup of Nations last year and also qualified the country to a fifth World Cup, has been rumoured to have interested South Africa.

The 52-year-old coach has previously handled Togo and Mali.

He has endured a frosty relationship with his employers the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in his third-year in charge of the country’s team.

He quit his post moments after he led Nigeria to win the 2013

AFCON in South Africa, citing differences with the NFF leadership.

He would later rescind his decision after the intervention of top government officials.

He was also at the heart of a national debate that raged over whether he would need additional assistance at the World Cup in Brazil.

However, he has most recently maintained he has enjoyed a good working relationship with the football federation.

He has also said he would be willing to continue as Nigeria coach “if the terms are right”.

Nigeria have featured in four World Cups and after each of these campaigns they have changed coaches.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 61

C M Y K

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Iran match ‘ll be toughest for Eagles – Peterside

BY JACOB AJOM

A

S

OUTH Africa based former Nigeria international, Peterside Idah has warned that if there is any game the Super Eagles should be worried about in the World Cup, it is the opening game against Asian giants, Iran.

Speaking on Supersport channel, Idah who is a football pundit with the cable network said, “Iran will be the most difficult game for Nigeria. This is a match our players must be warry of bnecause it is key to the team’s campaign in Brazil” He continued, “I know we are going to win, but it is going to be difficult.” He explained, “It is an important game for both countries. Iran believes if there is any country they can beat in the group that country is Nigeria. Ironically, Nigeria sees Iran the same way, particularly, when they have it at the back of their minds that Argentina game will be tough.”

The former Nigeria goalkeeper said he does not believe the Eagles would underestimate their Iranian opponents.

“If they do that, it will be to their peril. I see the encounter as tough.”

Nigeria will kick-start her World Cup campaign against Iran on June 16 in Fortaleza . The other teams in the group are favourites, Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

GETTING READY: Super Eagles players in a training session.

IX winners have emerged in the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) World Cup draw, which took place at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) studios in Abuja yesterday.

The winners are James Benjamin from Adamawa State with telephone number O8035238276,

LL is now set for the 5 th Aliko Dangote Open Gymnastics Champion-ships billed to commence tomorrow through June 1 at the Abuja National Stadium Gymnasium.

President of the Gymnasium Federation of Nigeria, Foluso Adefemi said that there will be an opening ceremony for the weeklong event tomorrow.

The closing ceremony which comes up June 1, at the same venue will have President of the

Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote as special guest of honour, while the Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo will be Guest of Honour.

Union Maritime Agency Limited is sponsoring the event in conjunction with Dangote Group.

Scribe of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria, Rita Akande disclosed that arrangements have been put in place to ensure there are no hitches.

World Relays: In our women we trust — Nesiama

BY BEN EFE

N

IGERIAN women quartet lived up to expectations as they picked up a bronze in the keenly contested final of the women 4x400m at the maiden IAAf World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.

The team featuring Folashade Abugan, Omolara Omotosho, Patience Okon, Regina George before the championships were tipped to win a medal by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria technical director, Omatseye Nesiama and last weekend they did not disappoint as they cruised to the third position, to spare the country the agony of returning home empty handed from the Caribbean island.

“We had absolute confidence on the girls and they did not

TAN’s World Cup draw: Six winners for Brazil

S

5th Dangote Open Gymnastics championships begins

Sobaikibina Godswill Doubra from Bayelsa State( 07063200179), Ashiru Kehinde from Ogun State (08035132185), Tsarba Pogu from Borno Sate(08065702910), Obed Christopher from Plateau State (07068239163) and Emeka Odidika .E from Anambra(08032449947).

disappoint. We are very happy with the result and we are looking forward to a better outing at the Commonwealth Games and the African championships,” said Navy Commodore Nesiama.

The race was won by the USA with a time of 3.21.73 seconds, Jamaica finished as runners up with 3.23.26,

and Nigeria anchored by George finished third with a time of 3.23.41. It was an improvement on their previous outing in warm up meets in the USA. In the women 4x100, the team wasn’t up to it in the strong field. They placed fourth in the race won by the USA with a time of 41.88 seconds, Jamaica running without ‘Pocket Rocket’

Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce placed second with 42.28, and Trinidad and Tobago returned 42. 66 narrowly edging Nigeria to fourth place with their 42.67 seconds run. It was

Naija Gunners celebrate Arsenal cup triumph

BY JACOB AJOM

I

T was a rare scene at the Federal Civil Service Club, Yaba at the weekend as Arsenal fans in Nigeria, Naija Gunners celebrated the London Club’s FA Cup triumph in style.

The club house was filled with scores of fans clad in the famous Arsenal’s red jersey popping champagne and dancing to music blaring from big loudspeakers. The fans were so ecstatic even as they agreed one trophy in 9 years was long overdue for the London club.

“It is the beginning of good things to come in the coming seasons,” said Wole Olagundoye, President of Naija Gunners, in a chat with Sports Vanguard.

C o n t i n u i n g , Olagundoye said,

“Arsenal is the best team in the world. The only team that plays orgasmic football and it is a tradition that has been maintained for a long time.”

The fans also lunched a logo which bears all the major features of the club’s original logo but with a touch of Nigerianness.

Speaking on the logo which was designed by Charles Udoh, a member, Vice President of the fans club Samuel Chidoka said, “the logo typifies who we are, what we are and what we do.”

The event attracted a lot of dignitaries, including immediate past President of the fan club, Emmanuel Ibru, chairman BOT, Godson Uti, a member of BOT, Ekpenyong Ene-Ita, among others.

•Regina George

also their season’s best.

“We are satisfied with our outing in the world relays. What remains is for us to make improvements,” added Commodore Nesiama.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 — 63

Pistorius reports to psychiatric hospital

M

URDER suspect Oscar Pistorius yesterday reported to the Weskoppies psychiatric hospital near Pretoria, South Africa, where he will undergo a 30-day mental health evaluation.

Judge Thokozile Masipa last week ordered the Paralympian to undergo observation to determine whether his state of mind played a part in the shooting to death of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The Judge made the order after a psychiatrist testified that he suffers from a Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) which makes him hyper-vigilant.

Masipa said the appointed psychiatrists and psychologist will submit reports for the court’s perusal.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel earlier said if the accused does indeed suffer from

•Pistorius a psychiatric illness.

It might then have impacted on what happened on the night of the shooting and it was necessary for the court to know.

The double-amputee, who shot to stardom when he outran able-bodied athletes, has pleaded not guilty to murder, saying he thought he was shooting at an intruder.

Pistorius is also

Black Stars coach admits facing final squad naming headache

B

LACK Stars coach Kwesi Appiah has admitted his players are making it very difficult for him to name his final 23man roster for the FIFA World Cup finals.

The ex-international was impressed with the level of commitment shown during the training sessions in Ghana.

Appiah named a preliminary squad of 26 with Stephen Adams, one of three goalkeepers, as the only locally based player in the squad.

After a three day non residential camping in Ghana which was rounded up in style with a 6-1 thumping of a local select side, the Black stars have moved to Arnhem to intensify preparations.

Appiah says the work ethic of his players is making it difficult to omit three players from the squad.

“The team has respond-

Ramos wants to retire at Real

S

•Appiah ed well in this few days of training in Ghana. Everybody is looking focused and giving his best to make the team,” Appiah told Africanfootball.com “But it’s the kind of headache every coach wants, it would not be easy cutting it down but unfortunately at some point in time it will have to be done.”

The Black Stars will play the Netherlands on 31 May in a pre-World Cup friendly.

2014 World Cup: Complete Sports, New Horizons to sponsor 8 Nigerians

BY EMEKA AGINAM

I

N a commitment to provide quality IT training while encouraging sports participation among Nigerian youths, information technology (IT) training company, New Horizons in partnership with Complete Sports will sponsor eight Nigerians on an all-expense paid trip to Brazil to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup fiesta..

To qualify for the draw, interested individuals are to train or write their professional IT exams with New Horizons Nigeria.

charged with three contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, one of illegal possession of ammunition and two of discharging a firearm in public.

If convicted of murder, he faces a mandatory life sentence which usually carries a minimum of 25 years in jail, though mitigation could reduce it in this case.

“If found guilty of the lesser charge of culpable homicide, he could face a 15 years imprisonment or a non-custodial sentence.”

This will be an added advantage for them because they will register for courses of their choice and get certified while also getting an opportunity to join Nigeria and other selected countries in Brazil.

Accordingly, there will be a draw to announce the winners on the 31st of May, 2014 at the National Stadium Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere, Lagos where over 10,000 youths will be attending the raffle draw/ Quiz competition and seminar on “Football, ICT and Money: What is in for the Nigerian Youths”.

ERGIO Ramos said he wants to finish his career at Real Madrid, after an up-and-down season ended with the centre-back as the goalscoring hero of the 4-1 Champions League final win over city neighbours Atletico Madrid. Ramos was even linked with a move away from Madrid during the autumn after reported behind the scenes issues with club president Florentino Perez, but finished the club campaign in sensational style. His 93rdminute header sent the final in Lisbon to extratime just as it seemed Atletico had held on for a famous win, while two similar goals were also vital to the 4-0 semifinal second leg win at Bayern Munich.

The Spain international, 28, told AS during Sunday evening’s Decima party at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu that he hoped he could finish his career in a Madrid shirt.

•Ramos

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

Hot cake! 6 countries want me — Keshi

S Eagles Loud In London!

Yobo, Osaze take centre stage HE Super Eagles are taking nothing to chance as preparations effectively commenced yesterday night in London with the team’s first training session ahead of the World Cup in Brazil next month.

The team tackle Scotland’s Tartan Army at Fulham’s Craven Cottage tomorrow.

All the 30 invited players invited except for Brescia of Italy midfielder, Nnamdi Oduamadi and France based star, Sunday Mba, were in camp and attended the team’s training session on Monday evening. Team Scribe, Dayo Enebi

Continues on Page 60

Continues on Page 60

•Yobo

•Keshi

AYG: Team Nigeria rakes 9 gold, 2 bronze medals

T

•28 players in camp •Oduamadi, Mba missing in action

T

UPER Eagles World Cup-bound coach Stephen Keshi has claimed he is wanted by at least six other countries.

Keshi’s future after the World Cup is uncertain, but the former international skipper said he is focused on leading Nigeria to a successful campaign at

EAM Nigeria continued from where it stopped on Sunday winning four more gold medals and another bronze medal to make it (9) gold and two (2) bronze medals.

Nigeria benefitted from international rules which tripled the two gold medals won in the weightlifting event on Sunday and made it six and added with the other three won in Judo, Badminton and Table

Tennis to increase the gold medal haul to nine (9) instead of five (5).

A top official of the National Sports Commission clarified, “ yes we’re supposed to have won two gold in weightlifting according to International weightlifting body, but in the African Youth Games the gold medal is counted three. So, the two gold Nigeria won in

Continues on Page 60

Klitschko wins Kiev mayor seat — P.60

•Osaze

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Curse (5) 7 Soup (5) 8 Leaf (5) 10 Helped (5) 12 Stitch (3) 13 Start (5) 15 Disagree (7) 17 Worshipped (6) 19 Observe (3) 20 Scrap (7) 23 Record (4) 25 Rip (4) 26 Oriental (7) 30 Garland (3) 31 Beginner (6) 34 Rehearsed (7) 37 Scheduled (5) 38 Taxi (3) 39 Figure (5) 40 Rush (5) 41 Wire (5) 42 Flat (5)

DOWN 1 Generate (5) 2 Step (5) 3 Whimpered (6) 4 Elderly (4) 5 Sweet (7) 6 Tan-coloured (5) 9 Golf-peg (3) 11 Perceive (7) 13 Filthy (5) 14 Furze (5) 16 Ocean (3) 18 Soiled (7) 21 Material (5) 22 Avarice (5) 24 Bore (7) 27 Fixed (3) 28 Announcement (6) 29 Reappear (5) 32 Essential (5) 33 Instrument (5) 35 Vehicle (3) 36 Gamble (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Scamp 7, Peel 8, Action 9, Yield 11, Cur 13, Row 15, Reed 16, Gap 18, Fete 19, Donated 20, Arch 22, Dust 23, Heading 25, Ewer 27, Act 28, Dear 30, Did 31, Din 33, Undid 36, Veneer 37, Able 38, Named.

DOWN: 1, Venue 2, Sly 3, Axe 4, Pad 5, Sty 6, Robot 10, Lean 11, Created 12, Reached 13, Reduced 14, Western 16, Gouda 17, Paint 18, Fed 21, Her 24, Icon 26, Wider 29, Aisle 32, Bet 33, Urn 34, Dim 35, Dad.

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.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.