Tribunal upholds Okowa, Lalong's elections

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62613

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Rivers re-run polls: Senators split over Amaechi •P.8

Tribunal upholds Okowa, Lalong's elections

See stories on Pages 13 & 41

41-yr old Ogunwusi named Oonielect •P.5 THANKSGIVING—From left: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; his wife, Dame Edith Okowa; Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro; his wife Ebi, and others, during the celebration of his victory at the Election Tribunal, yesterday. Photo: Nath Onojake.

FRC orders suspension of Atedo Peterside, 3 Stanbic-IBTC directors See story FG files fresh charges against ex-NSA, Dasuki 8

DELE GIWA: Ex-DIG Omeben opens up on stalled 8 investigation

on Page 9

Mr & Mrs Peterside

COLUMNISTS: N23b Oghara IPP abandoned See Inside

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Arewa's songs of conquest (2) •P.20

Deception is corruption•P.17

Court restrains Bassambiri chiefs from parading themselves as 'Nembe Bassambiri chiefs' 43-46

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 — 5

POCKET CARTOON developments on the new choice of Ooni.

How 41-yr-old Enitan Ogunwusi emerged 51st Ooni

POLIO—President Muhammadu Buhari receiving a report on the current

polio situation in Nigeria from the World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidisi Moeti during a ceremony at the Aso Chambers, State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

41-yr-old Ogunwusi named Ooni-elect

By Leke Adeseri, South West Regional Editor; Gbenga Olarinoye & Gbenga Oke

I

LE-IFE—THE Ooni of Ife-designate, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, will officially arrive the ancient town of Ile-Ife either today or latest tomorrow. He will be arriving in company of his family members, friends and well-wishers.

According to his itinerary revealed to Vanguard, yesterday, he will storm his traditional base to thank the kingmakers after which the coronation rites as enshrined in the customs of the Ife people will be expected to start.

When Vanguard got across to his Lagos home in Lekki area, yesterday,

preparations for his trip were in top gear with his aides putting finishing touches, while he was at hand to issue instructions. A revered world of a paramount ruler of world class revolved round his youthful mien.

Ooni-designate, Enitan Ogunwusi, sources said, may be received at Ife end of Ibadan expressway, with an informed source saying the Ifa Oracle was being consulted to determine the best day for him to enter into the town.

At Ile-Ife, the Kingmakers and members of the Isoro were said to be preparing to receive him and commence the rites as soon as he arrived.

Meanwhile, there was celebration in the town yesterday, particularly

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO

T

HE dogma of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion.

As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew— Abraham Lincoln. It's up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

One day your life will flash before you, make sure it is worth watching —Gerald Way

T

HE ultimate in life is living unconditional love, and so how does the face of love look like? For me, it has the heart that reaches out to help others, to listen always with compassion, while living a life of gratitude. People who are grateful always are happy people; they magnetize happy circumstances to themselves. Walk your talk, enjoy life blessings.

And no matter what is happening in your life, gratitude keeps you going strong always.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

A

N old woman who hates meat, should not share same for her grand-children with her teeth.

among members of the Giesi ruling house where the new monarch comes from.

Although the town was calm and people went about their businesses, trucks of soldiers were seen driving through the streets with sirens blaring, while policemen and officials of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps manned strategic places.

The Ile Oodua, which is the palace of the Ooni, was said to be manned by armed security men, with an armoured personnel carrier stationed there.

“The Kabiyesi will officially arrive Ife tomorrow (today) and the king-makers and members of the Isoro will take it up from there,” Adelowo Ogunleye, Secretary of the Giesi Ruling House was quoted as saying.

“We do not know how long it will take before that process will be concluded, but that will be left for both the kingmakers and the Kabiyesi.”

He also revealed that the new Ooni who is based in Lagos, will not approach the palace on his arrival until the rituals were concluded.

Mr. Ogunleye ruled out any further controversies, saying there was jubilation all over the town and the opposing families had been calling to congratulate the family.

From cradle of Yoruba race

Vanguard was at Ile-Ife, yesterday, from where it brought reports of

There was wide jubilation in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, yesterday, following the announcement by Osun State Government that Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of Ojaja Family unit from Giesi Ruling House has emerged as the Oonidesignate.

The Giesi Ruling House last occupied the throne of Ooni when the revered warrior, Derin Ologbenla, reigned in the late 18th century.

Shedding more light to newsmen on how Prince Ogunwusi emerged as the 51st Ooni of Ife at the residence of Pa Ropo Ogunwusi, biological father of the new monarch, chairman of Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State, Dr. Taiwo Olaiya, said all political office holders in Ile-Ife and the king-makers arrived at his choice after considering some qualities that stood him out among the 43 princes that vied for the vacant stool.

Olaiya said the new Ooni’s impressive records in the field of business endeared him to all the people involved in the selection process, adding that the need to quickly industrialize the ancient city of Ife and provide jobs for many youths was considered in his choice.

He added that O g u n w u s i ’ s understanding of the Yoruba culture, despite being widely travelled and his generosity, even when he had not shown interest in becoming Ooni, also worked in his favour.

According to him: "Enitan Ogunwusi also displayed unmatched humility and calmness that was hard to come by among all the contestants, saying the fact that the business tycoon made his money without being linked to any party or government also counted in his favour."

He was destined to be great — Father

In his remarks, the father of the Oonidesignate, Pa Ropo John Ogunwusi, said before his birth, a man of God had predicted that Enitan will be great in life and achieve unprecedented success.

Pa Ogunwusi, who retired at Osun State B r o a d c a s t i n g Corporation, OSBC, added that he started noticing pointers to the coming into fruition of the prophesies, when Enitan started making headway in business.

Prince Ogunwusi described his son as a promising child who has been predestined to take Ile Ife to a greater height.

He said his son becoming a traditional ruler was a dream come true.

He told newsmen that he had ceased being his father the moment Enitan was announced as Oonidesignate.

Prince Ropo Ogunwusi, added that it was God that made it possible for his son to be chosen as the new Ooni.

He also recalled that his grand father, while alive, used to call the new monarch ‘ Ooni Adeyeye’, saying he was happy that it came to pass.

He appealed to the people to join hands with his son to move the state and the town forward.

Also speaking at the palace, the head of the kingmakers and the Lowa Adimula of Ife, High Chief Joseph Ijaodola said the process leading to the coronation of the new Ooni had commenced.

High Chief Ijaodola, who maintained that all the candidates were thoroughly screened before coming up with Enitan Ogunwusi, congratulated people of Ife on the development and prayed for peace during his reign.

The Jaaran of Ile-Ife, High Chief Kola Adeyeye stressed the need for all remaining contenders to join hands with the Oonielect for the upliftment of the ancient town.

Though security operatives were stationed in strategic places in the town to forestall breakdown of law and order that may arise, jubilation was also

noticed in many places including the house of the father of the new Oonielect.

Speaking to newsmen inside Ile Oodua, Ooni’s palace, the head of Isoro Cult and head of all deities in Ife land, the Obadio Oduduwa, Oba Olajide Ifaloba, said the emergence of Ooni Enitan Ogunwusi was “divine” and appealed to those that contested the throne with him to see his choice as “product of grace”, demanding total support from all stakeholders in the town in the interest of peace.

Ifaloba allayed fears that human sacrifice may be done as part of rites before installation of the new monarch, but added that rites that would be performed would be done mostly at night.

“We rejoice with him and thank the Creator for giving us a monarch in his class. Those that vied for the throne with him must now see Oba Enitan as father that must be supported to lift Ife. We pray for him, a long life and good health to administer the town and the entire Yoruba land”, Chief Ifaloba said.

Commenting in similar vein, Chief Olaolu Dada, Arole Obatala Agbaye, said the announcement of Ooni-designate signalled commencement of new set of rites that must be performed before the new monarch can sit on the throne.

Late Ooni Sijuwade's spirit to be 'chased' out of palace this week

He said the spirit of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade was still lurking around the palace, saying it must be chased out first to allow the new monarch have a peaceful reign.

He, however, urged all residents and visitors to

Continues on Page 47

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Gunmen abduct community leader in Bayelsa As clan head describes incident as 'one abduction too many'

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—ARMED men in military camouflage have reportedly kidnapped a community leader, identified as Chief Geoffrey Agorodi, at Ogbia Town, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The abduction, it was gathered, occurred at about 8.30pm last Friday some distance from Ogbia Town jetty.

The four gunmen, allegedly bundled Agorodi into a waiting speedboat and sped off after shooting sporadically to scare people away.

Chairman of Ogbia clan, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide, Mr. Osaanya B. Osaanya, condemned the incident, describing it as one abduction too many in the council.

He said: “Kidnapping has become a worrisome development at Ogbia.

Kidnappers have laid siege to our council and at the last count, over five persons were abducted in the past one month.

“This is unacceptable.

Most of the victims were elderly men and women, including traditional rulers.”

He urged youths to desist from crime and engage themselves in legitimate means of livelihoods.

He also called on the state government and security agencies, especially the Police, to evolve a better productive approach of tackling criminality in the council.

While noting that the youths were prepared to partner with security agencies, he asked Ogbia local government council to float a security programme to check the trend.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development, saying investigations were ongoing to unmask the identities of the abductors and rescue the victim.

Lesbianism scandal rocks Kogi varsity As sex video goes viral

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By Kingsley Fanwo

OKOJA—ONCE again, Kogi State University is in the news for unpleasant reasons as lesbian sex videos involving students of the university recently emerged on the campus.

Some of the students involved are those of Economics and English Education departments.

The two students in one of the videos monitored by Vanguard, revealed how deep the culture of lesbianism had infiltrated the female hostels in the school.

One of the students is considering leaving the school to avoid possible stigmatization as the videos had gone viral.

A female student in the Department of Zoology who craved anonymity, told Vanguard that lesbianism was becoming a big issue in the university.

She said young, fresh undergraduates were lured into the immoral club as many of them do not know what was in it before joining the lesbian ring.

“Kogi State University is fast becoming the comfort zone for lesbians. Many Jambites are lured into the ring because they don’t even know what it is all about. ‘’What they do now is to relocate off-campus in order to enjoy the

privacy needed for their illicit and immoral act. Once in it, it is so difficult to renounce because lesbians share a lot of gifts to keep victims in it. ‘’The authorities of this school may need to take drastic steps to restore the moral integrity and discipline for which we were known,” she said.

When Vanguard got in contact with one of the lesbians, she said she was lured into lesbianism in her first week on campus by a very wealthy 300 student.

She said she was not aware that their sex escapades were recorded, threatening to quit the university in order to save the

integrity of her family.

“My attention was drawn to the video in circulation by one of my friends. When I watched it, I knew that was the end of my stay in this school. ‘’Many of my course mates already have the video, so it will be difficult for me to continue my academic programme because of possible stigmatization. I have brought shame to myself and my family,” she lamented.

Although the school authorities are yet to release an official statement on the scandal, sources close to the authorities said investigations into the issue of lesbianism among the students had commenced.

300 houses submerged, as River Benue overflows its banks M

By Peter Duru

AKURDI—A sudden surge in the water level of River Benue has left over 300 houses and huts submerged, with many families rendered homeless in Makurdi, the state capital.

The unexpected flood, which also swept away property and valuables worth millions of Naira, may have created a major humanitarian crisis in the town and it’s environs.

Among the worst hit areas are Wurukum, Wadata Rice Mill, Agboughoul, Kutcha Utebe and Gydo Villa area settlements, while all the buildings that are less than 500 meters from the shore of the river and those directly behind the New Garage Road are also facing the prospect of going under the fast rising river.

One of the victims and resident of Wadata Rice Mill settlement, John Agboyi, said residents of the area were taken aback by the unanticipated flood.

“Its strange, we went to bed last night, only to wake up this morning to discover that flood water has overtaken our homes and neighbourhood, all we did was to battle to rescue some of our property from the fast rising flood water,” he said.

At Kutcha Utebe where families were seen moving their property from their homes, a resident, Terhile Fidelis, said the flood washed away most of his property before he could mobilize enough support and help to move them away.

He said: “My worry is that I do not have anywhere to go to with my family at the moment.

I just can’t understand why this sudden rise in water levels cannot be adequately tackled

by the government.”

Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Water

Resources and Environment, Mr. Nick Wende, on the issue failed as he did not pick his

calls nor reply to the message sent to his phone.

JUBILATION: Supporters of Governor Simon Lanlong of Plateau State, celebrating the governor's victory at the Election Petitions Tribunal, in Jos, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

3 men docked over alleged rape of 15-year-old girl

By Sodiq Alausa

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AGOS—THREE men, Qaudri Yekini, 23, Moses Osagie, 23, and Ebuka Anosike, 20, were, yesterday, remanded in prison custody by Magistrate T. Abolarinwa of an Apapa Chief Magistrate's Court for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl (names withheld).

The defendants, who reside at Yaya Crescent, Ajegunle, Olodi Apapa area of Lagos, are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful carnal

knowledge and sexual assault proferred against them by the police.

Prosecutor, Inspector Tony Idibe, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences between September and October 2015, before they were caught on October 11. Idibe told the court that the incident took place at the residence of the defendants at about 11:50pm.

The defendants further said that before they were caught on October 11, they also attempted to rape the victim, by touching her private parts

and also holding her without her consent.

The offence, committed according to the prosecutor, is punishable under section 409,and 258(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

Magistrate Abolarinwa granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 with one responsible surety each in like sum. The case was further adjourned till November 25, 2015, for mention.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—7

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8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Rivers re-run polls split senators over Amaechi

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—AHEAD of today ’s screening and confirmation of the remaining ministerial nominees, senators of All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have mapped out strategies on how to achieve their set goals.

While PDP senators have allegedly resolved to frustrate the confirmation of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, their APC counterparts have vowed to ensure that Amaechi is confirmed.

The PDP senators are said to be worried that with the confirmation of Amaechi as minister, he would wield so much influence and power in the politics of his native home state, Rivers, if a rerun is to be held.

This is coming as the report of the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions, on petitions against Amaechi, is to be considered today.

It will be recalled that the report was, last Thursday, presented during plenary but was not considered even though Amaechi was screened, where PDP senators refused to ask questions.

The Anyanwu-led committee deliberated on a petition by a Port Harcourt-based group, Integrity Group, over alleged fraud by the former governor.

FG files fresh charges against ex-NSA, Dasuki A

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, filed fresh charges against the former National Security Adviser, NSA, to President Goodluck Jonathan, Col Sambo Dasuki(retd).

Dasuki, who was initially docked before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on a one-count charge bordering on alleged illegal possession of firearms, is now answering to a five-count criminal charge.

Trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi had, September 1, granted the former NSA bail on self-recognition, even as he slated yesterday for the Federal Government to open its case against him.

However, at the resumed sitting yesterday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, informed the court that the charge against Dasuki was amended to include his alleged complicity in money laundering.

He was alleged to have kept in his possession funds that were proceeds of an unlawful act, an offence government said was contrary to Section 15 (2)(d) of Money Laundering

Applies for secret trial, protection of witnesses Prohibition Act 2011.

Specifically, government maintained that Dasuki was on July 17, at his house situated at 13, John Khadiya Street, Asokoro, Abuja, found to be in possession of various range of firearms without requisite license, an offence punishable under Section 27 (1)(a) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN, 2004.

Cash allegedly found

He was further accused of retaining $40,000, N5 million and another $20,000 in the same house and same date, contrary to Section 15 (2)(d) of Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.

More so, government told the court that the ex-NSA had, on July 16 at his residence at Sultan Abubakar Road and Sabon Birni Road, Sokoto State, retained another $150,000 and N37.6 million, being part of proceedings of unlawful act, contrary to Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering Act 2011.

It will be recalled that in the earlier charge marked FHC/ ABJ/CR/ 319/2015, Federal Government had listed the alleged illegal arms it found

at Dasuki’s residence in Abuja as five Tavor Assault Rifles, one Macro Uzi with serial No 60244, 20 magazines, one packet of Ministry of Defence APG calibre gun, Luger No 033375, small magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition, and bigger magazine containing live rounds of ammunition.

The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, who signed the charge, told the court that “the suspect made voluntary statement under words of caution, which categorically point to illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

“During the trial, the prosecution shall lead evidence to prove the guilt of the defendant based on credible and undisputed facts.”

‘I'm not guilty’

Dasuki, who was rearraigned before the high court yesterday, pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges against him, even as he was also allowed to go home on self-recognition.

Nevertheless, government,

Defence lawyer opposes conditions

SKYE BANK'S INDUCTION: From left— Manager, SMES Group, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Osaigbovo Omorogbe; President/Chairman of Council, Nigeria British Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Dapo Adelegan; and Head, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Tajudeen Ahmed, at the induction of Skye Bank as a premium member of the chamber in Lagos.

Why I couldn't investigate Dele Giwa's death—Ex-DIG

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AGOS—TWENTY-NINE years after the murder of renowned journalist, Dele Giwa, a retired police chief, Chris Omeben, who conducted the investigation, said the unresolved assassination was the most frustrating case he handled in his career.

Giwa, Founding Editor-inChief of Newswatch magazine, was killed through a parcel bomb at his Ikeja, Lagos residence on October 19, 1986.

Omeben, a former Deputy

yesterday, applied to conduct his trial in secret, saying it was concerned about the safety of all the witnesses that were going to testify against the former NSA. Already, it had lined up five witnesses against Dasuki.

The prosecution had earlier disclosed that the witnesses included the team leader of the DSS squad that searched Dasuki’s house, Mr. Dahiri Dodo, and the personnel that interviewed him after the arms were allegedly discovered, Mr. Samuel Ogbu.

The other witnesses, whose names were supplied to the court by the DPP, were Ali Gurara, Franklyn Usman and Musa Duniyo, who were all members of the team that conducted the search.

Meanwhile, in the application it filed pursuant to Section 36(4) of the 1999 Constitution and section 232 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, government urged the court not to reflect their names in its record or report of the proceeding.

It further applied that the witnesses, during the trial, be allowed to use pseudo names and for them to be allowed access to a non-public route to and fro court premises.

Besides, it prayed the court to only allow lawyers involved in the matter and accredited newsmen to observe the trial.

It requested the court to bar the public from attending the proceedings, just as it also applied that the witnesses be permitted to wear facial masks while giving evidence against the accused person.

Inspector-General of Police, DIG, who turns 80 on October 27, said, yesterday, that the high profile investigation was marred by interferences from “high places.”

The DIG explained that even when he had narrowed in on the principal suspect, who could have thrown more light on the riddle, the suspect was allowed to escape from Nigeria.

Omeben, now an Archbishop at Jesus Families

Ministries, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, said Giwa was also careless in maintaining a relationship with his estranged wife.

He said: “They said somebody brought a parcel and his son, Billy, received the parcel and took it to his father (Dele Giwa), who was having his breakfast that morning.

“On the breakfast table with Dele was a man called Kayode Soyinka. I heard that when Billy handed over the parcel, Soyinka left the table and went

to the adjacent room.

“It was while he was there that the parcel detonated.

Dele was injured and eventually died. The metal partition separating the dining room and the kitchen was destroyed.

“Beyond that, everything in the kitchen was destroyed. If metal could be mangled this way by the bomb, what happened to Soyinka? Nobo-

Continued on Page 9

The government lawyer, Labaran, told the court that Dasuki’s trial would suffer a major setback considering that the witnesses had declined to testify without protection, for fear of reprisal attack from certain quarters.

The application was vehemently opposed by the defence lawyer, Mr. J. B. Daudu (SAN), who urged the court to dismiss it for want of merit and for being frivolous.

Daudu contended that the prosecution had already made the names of the witnesses public, describing the application as a mere academic exercise that should not be allowed by the court.

After listening to both parties yesterday, Justice Adeniyi reserved his ruling till tomorrow.

The court will on that day also consider Dasuki’s request to be granted leave to travel abroad for medical check-up.

The former NSA, who risks 14 years imprisonment if convicted, is praying the court to temporarily release his travelling documents.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—9

Why I couldn't investigate Dele Giwa's death —Ex-DIG Continued from Page 8 -dy could give me an answer.

“My conclusion was that Soyinka knew what was coming and left the room to hide behind the wall.

“I took note of all these, went back to conduct an identification parade. We had an identification parade and got people of different physical attributes to be identified.

“Eventually, when one of those paraded was said to bear a resemblance to the person that delivered the bomb, in spite of my insistence to have the man quizzed, we could not.

Because interference now came from high places to protect the man.

“The man was said to be related to the wife of a governor at that time and as a result of his connection we came to a dead end.”

Omeben said the setback did not in any way deter him from using the evidence he had to follow the lead on Soyinka, and that he called on the Newswatch authorities to produce Soyinka.

He said: “I have enough evidence to quiz Soyinka now. Please, Ray Ekpu can I have Soyinka now? They resisted up till today. Up till today Soyinka never appeared before the police.

“The parcel bomb was said to have the Federal Government’s logo on it, which to me was not enough evidence. It was more of a circumstantial evidence. I can prove it.

“Go to any printing press if you are a ‘good’ criminal and you are planning well; they can print it for you and place it on the parcel, and it will look as if it came from the government. But for me to satisfy myself, I said please gentlemen, can I have Soyinka?

“Soyinka ran away to London. That was my principal suspect. He did not appear until I left CID. I was retired from the police in 1989 and what happened after that I do not know.”

BVN VALIDATION: From left— Executive Director, Business Development, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, NIBSS, Mrs Christabel Onyejekwe; Managing Director/CEO, NIBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi, and President/CEO, VAS2NETS Technologies Ltd, Mr. Ayo Stuffman, at a briefing on the availability of BVN validation on USSD/Internet portal for bureau de change, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

PDP caucus meet over tribunal judgments

FRC suspends Atedo, 3 Stanbic directors

By Babajide Komolafe

T

HE Financial Reporting Council, FRC, yesterday, suspended Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr. Atedo Peterside, and three directors of the company from signing any financial statement, over allegations of improper disclosures in the financial statements of the bank for 2013 and 2014.

These include the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, Mr. Arthur Oginga and Dr. Daru Owei.

Furthermore, the Council ordered directors of the bank to withdraw the company’s financial statement for the 2013 and 2014 financial year, insisting that the statements were not prepared in line with the International Financial Reporting Council, IFRS, hence misleading.

Stanbic debunks accusations

However, management of Stanbic IBTC debunked FRC's accusations, saying they were inaccurate and unfortunate.

FRC, in a statement published on its website yesterday, said: “The Directors of Stanbic IBTC are hereby directed to withdraw the Financial Statements of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc for years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 and restate them in accordance with the provisions of Section 64 (2) of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act No. 6, 2011 and Regulation 21 of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria— Guidelines/ Regulations for Inspection and Monitoring of Entities, 2014.

“The FRC number of the

following persons, who attested to the misleading Statements of Financial Position of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc for years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, are hereby suspended until the investigation as to the extent of their negligence in the concealment, accounting irregularities and poor disclosures in the said financial statements is completed in accordance with Section 62 of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act No. 6, 2011.

“Accordingly, they are not allowed to vouch the integrity of any financial statements issued in Nigeria.

“The persons are: Atedo N. A. Peterside FRC/2013/ CIBN/00000001069; Sola David-Borha, FRC/2013/ CIBN/00000001070; Arthur Oginga, FRC/2013/IODN/ 00000003181; and Dr. Daru Owei, FRC/2014/NIM/ 00000006666.

KPMG mentioned

“The Council shall require evidence of a second partner review and audit approach that the external auditors of Stanbic IBTC (KPMG Profes-

By Henry Umoru

sional Services) adopted on quality control on the said financial statements that could not reveal these infractions.

“Accordingly, FRC number of Ayodele H. Othihiwa (FRC/2012/ICAN/ 00000000425), the Engagement Partner of the audit of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc for years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, is hereby suspended until the investigation as to the extent of the negligence of KPMG Professional services is ascertained.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria is requested to assist in this effort by taking regulatory disciplinary actions against those whom the CBN expects to guarantee the integrity of the aforementioned financial statements in order to safeguard the interest of stakeholders of Stanbic IBTC. “We are convinced that once the monies are properly accounted for and used to shore up their Tier 1 capital, the institution shall become stronger.”

A

BUJA—WORRIED by what it termed manipulation by the election tribunals to favour All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has summoned an emergency meeting of the party’s national caucus to, among other things, discuss the judgments.

A statement, yesterday,

by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the meeting would “discuss the current onslaught against the party and its candidates in the last general elections, by the APC-led Federal Government.”

Metuh, who noted that the meeting will hold on Thursday, October 29, said it “will focus on the unrelenting schemes by APC and its Federal Government to use some unpatriotic elements in the judiciary to advance their plot.”

Buhari moves to fill boards, agencies

By Emman Ovuakporie

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has empowered an eight-man panel, mostly made up of officials of All Progressives Congress, APC, on positions in Federal Government boards, parastatals and agencies.

The committee is headed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir

Lawal, who was until recently the National Vice-Chairman, North-East of APC. It also has national ViceChairmen of APC from the North-West, North-Central, South-West and South-East as members.

Lawal is to act as Chairman of the committee, which according to a statement by

by Assistant Director, Press, office of the SGF, Mr. Oise Johnson, was inaugurated

yesterday.

Other are Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, North-East Zone, member; Alhaji Zakari Ede, North-Central, member; Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, North-West, member; Chief Hillard Etagbo Eta, South-South, member; Chief Pius Akinyelure, South-West, member; Chief Emmanuel Eneukwe, South-East, member, and Mr. Gideon Sammani, a Senior Special Assistant to the President, Secretary

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

AIG warns against extra-judicial killing

By Evelyn Usman

A

SSISTANT InspectorGeneral of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 2, Onikan Lagos, Mr. Bala Hassan, yesterday, warned policemen against extra-judicial killings, threatening that any erring cop would not only be dismissed, but would be charged for murder.

He also cautioned them against illegal sale of exhibit vehicles and cash recovered during investigation, threatening also that anyone found culpable would be dealt with within the law.

Hassan handed down the warning during his maiden visit to police formations in the state, reminding the officers that the Inspector General had banned extra judicial killings, particularly by anti-robbery squads.

Petrol lifting begins at Ejigbo, Mosinmi depots L

AGOS— OIL marketers have commenced lifting of petrol at Ejigbo Depot in Lagos and Mosinmi Depot in Ogun State, with as many as over 4,000 trucks on the queue.

Vanguard, yesterday, confirmed loading activities at both depots, with trucks coming from the northern part of the country.

Depots in the South-West were shut on September 18 and 22 due to pipeline vandalism in Arepo, Ogun State.

Mr. Ayo Alanamu, Acting Chairman, IPMAN, Ejigbo Satellite Depot, confirmed that they received the product weekend and that loading commenced immediately.

Alanamu said it would reduce the stress of loading at Apapa depots, adding that

marketers were now relieved.

He assured consumers that they would now get petrol at approved depot price.

According to Alanamu, “over 2,000 truck drivers have been sleeping here in the last three weeks, hoping they will receive the product as it is very difficult to park at Apapa.

“We hope that pumping of product to this depot will last and ease the suffering of loading at Apapa jetties.

“We, IPMAN at Ejigbo Satellite Depot, have given our words to support the Federal Government in fighting vandals along the western coast.”

In Ogun...

At Mosinmi Depot, an official of Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, who preferred anonymity,

confirmed that pumping and loading of petrol had since commenced.

The source said that lifting of petrol commenced immediately the directive was received from Abuja to start operation and this was done throughout the weekend and yesterday morning.

A truck driver, Mallam Kabir Sanni, said he was happy that he could load from Mosinmi.

Sanni said: “Most of us came from as far as Abuja, Kaduna and Kano to load petrol three weeks ago, but found it extremely difficult to load at Apapa.

“I beg the officials of this depot to work the day and night so that many trucks will load and leave for their destinations on time.”

Cynthia Osokogwu: Court adjourns for written address

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS—JUSTICE Olabisi Akinlade of a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere, yesterday, once again, adjourned the ongoing trial on Cynthia Osokogwu’s murder for adoption of final written addresses.

The adjournement was as a result of late filling of final written addresses by the third and fourth defendants’ counsel, Chris Obiaka.

The judge ordered Obiaka to file a joint written address, while the prosecution should file a comprehensive written addresses replying to all.

Justice Akinlade adjourned the matter to November 16 for adoption of the written addresses.

Four men, Okwumo Nwabufo, 34; Olisaeloka Ezike, 24; Orji Osita, 33 and Ezike Nonso, 25, are standing trial over alleged conspiracy and murder of Cynthia, 25, a postgraduate student of Nassarawa State University, on July 22, 2012.

NIMASA From left— Zonal Coordinator, Central Zone, Capt Kunle Olayiwola; Director, Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard, Engr Vincent Udoye; Ag DG/CEO, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, and Head, Public Relations, Hajia Lami Tumaka, all of NIMASA, at a briefing on rescue operation in Lagos. PHOTO: Shola Oyelese.

Bamaiyi: Court fixes Dec 21 for judgment on registrar's case

By Abdulwahab Abdulah, Batholomew Madukwe & Jane Echewedo

J

USTICE Lateef LawalAkapo of an Ikeja High Court has fixed December 21 for judgment in an alleged $330,000 fraud case against an ex-court registrar, Mrs Rosulu Oluronke.

Rosulu was accused of aiding a Lagos lawyer and socialite, Fred Ajudua, to defraud the former Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd) of $330,000, while he was incarcerated over the charge of attempted murder of publisher of The Guardian, Mr. Alex Ibru and two others.

Bamaiyi was allegedly lured to part with the sum when he

was told he would be assisted to secure his release by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), and some funds meant for the then trial judge, Justice Joseph Oyewole, to take care of his ailing father.

Justice Lawal-Akapo fixed the date after hearing the address by the counsel to the defendant, Mr. Bamidele Ogundele, who argued that the constitutional power of prosecution to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt had not been satisfied, adding that there was no evidence to the effect that the defendant visited the prison to collect the alleged sum.

However, prosecution counsel from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Seidu Atteh, who

called six witnesses and tendered 10 exhibits, said that an accused person can be convicted base on confessional statement and the circumstantial evidence.

Atteh further said that the evidence of Bamaiyi, who was the eyewitness to the defendant collecting the alleged sum, was neither challenged nor contradicted.

Bamaiyi had, in his testimony, alleged that Rosulu aided a Lagos-based socialite, Fred Ajudua, in defrauding him of $330,000.

Bamaiyi said he met Ajudua and Alumile Adedeji, alias Ade Bendel, at Kirikiri Maximum Prison, and that the alleged fraud took place between November 2004 and June 2005.

MTN, NCC discuss N1.04trn SIM registration sanction

By Emeka Aginam & Richard Udofia

M

OBILE phone operator, MTN, yesterday, disclosed that it was discussing with the regulatory agency, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on how best to resolve the N1.04 trillion fine for failing to fully deactivate subscribers with unregistered and incomplete Subscriber Identification Modules, SIM, cards details on their networks within the stipulated time.

NCC, after due consultation with the National Security Adviser, NSA, and other stakeholders in the industry, had agreed that pre-registered SIMs and others found to be defective should be deactivated.

Based on regulations, there will be sanctions as stipulated by SIM Card Registration Code, Section 19 to 21, where it was stated that per SIM found defective on the network, erring operator will be made to pay N200,000, which was set out on May 1, 2010.

Already, the Corporate Services Executive, of MTN, Akinwale Goodluck, in a statement said: “MTN confirmed that NCC has imposed a N1.4 trillion fine ($5.2bn) on MTN Nigeria.

“The fine relates to the timing of the disconnection of the 5.1 million MTN subscribers that were disconnected in August and September, and is based on a N200,000 fine for each improperly registered subscriber.

“MTN Nigeria is currently engaging with NCC to resolve the matter.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 , 2015—11

FULANI HERDSMEN: Afenifere carpets

Kwankwaso Senator Kwakwanso had said over the weekend that; “The issue of conflict between the farmers and Fulani herdsmen is not unique to the South West. It is not only common to Nigeria. It is all over the sub region."

In a statement Afenifere’s publicity secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “In a replay of

the sordid episode of 2000 when Arewa leaders rudely stormed the office of then Oyo State governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina on behalf of nomadic cattle rearers, former Kano State governor and serving Senator, Rabiu Kwakwanso, came with verbal daggers to the same city at the weekend asking the age mates of his father to 'shut up.'”

Clash of civilization

According to him, it is another sad day for the clash of AGOS—PAN Yoruba sociocivilizations within the Lugard political organisation, cage when a man who has Afenifere, has faulted remarks occupied all the offices made by former governor of Kano Kwakwanso has held, opens his State, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, mouth in a people’s domain and who allegedly justified the all he vomits makes listeners activities of Fulani herdsmen in confuse him with a herdsman the South West. or Boko Haram chieftain.”

The statement reads: “Kwankwaso’s grouse with Yoruba leaders was our call for an end to the criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen in the region at the recent summit in Ibadan and that the Yoruba nation may reconsider its place in a union that could not protect us and would not allow us to protect ourselves if we did not see any sign to restructure Nigeria into a proper federation.

“The declaration is not anywhere near the statement of Gen Yakubu Gowon on August 3 1966 when he said; “There is no basis for Nigerian unity, which has been so badly rocked, BIRTHDAY: Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, being helped by Regent of Isololand, not only once but several times” Akure, Ondo State, Her Royal Highness, Adebusola Oluwatuyi (2nd left) and and others in or the theme of the North’s revenge coup of July 29, 1967, cutting the anniversary cake marking the monarch's 77th birthday in Oyo, Oyo State. titled ARABA, an Hausa word meaning let us divide it."

L

By Dapo Akinrefon

Mimiko nominates opposition chieftain's wife as commissioner

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has forwarded the name of the wife of a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, to the House of Assembly for approval as a commissioner.

Mrs. Olasinmi AkindeleOdunbaku is the wife of a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Rev James Odunbaku who is a close associate of the party’s National leader Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.

Mrs. Odunbaku is expected to be screened today by the lawmakers.

Speaking about the nominee, the state Information Commissioner Mr Kayode Akinmade described her as a strong member of the PDP in Akoko North-east local government area of the state.

Ignore Fayose's tirade, APC chieftain tells Buhari

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

DO EKITI—A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Ekiti State, Mr Olusegun Osinkolu, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore the vituperations of Governor Ayodele Fayose especially over the appointment of Prof.

Mahmoud Yakubu as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Osinkolu, in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday, said; ‘’Fayose lacks the moral justification to condemn

President Buhari of being sectional, in view of alleged lopsided appointments that had happened in the state under his watch.

He said the litany of attacks being launched against President Buhari was a ploy by Fayose to hijack the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the centre for him to actualise his Vice Presidential ambition in 2019.

Fayose last week condemned President Buhari of being sectional

for appointing a Northerner from Bauchi State to succeed Prof. Attahiru Jega from Kebbi State, describing this as the highest point of lopsidedness and marginalization of the southern region.

Osinkolu said President Buhari is empowered by the constitution to appoint whoever he thinks could build on the legacies of the immediate past Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, adding that Fayose’s vituperations should not in any way deter the presidency from doing what is right and just.

Crime: Lagos to procure 3 helicopters

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

G

O V E R N O R Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, last Sunday, said his administration had concluded plans to procure three helicopters next month to enable security agencies tackle criminal activities from air and assist in monitoring traffic gridlock to ease movement across the metropolis.

Governor Ambode, who

spoke as guest on a popular radio programme, Soni Irabor Live, SIL, on Inspiration FM, said he was deeply concerned about pockets of robberies in some areas of the state in recent times, expressing optimism that the helicopters will go a long way in aiding security and traffic surveillance in the state.

He said government would also boost the operation of Marine

Police and the Nigerian Navy on the waterways in the state, and that various equipment and platforms would soon be presented to them.

The Governor said about 220 roads across the state had been rehabilitated in the last four months just as he had mandated and empowered all the Local Government areas and the Local Council Development Areas to construct a total of 114 roads.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Ayade presents N350bn 2016 Appropriation Bill

By Emma Una

C

ALABAR—CROSS River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, yesterday proposed a budget of N350 billion for the 2016 fiscal year.

Christened “Budget of Deep Vision”, the 2016 budget, which is Professor Ayade’s first as governor, represents a 273.7% increase over the 2015 appropriation bill of the immediate past administration.

Governor Ayade explained that the reason for the astronomical increment was as a result of expected funds from Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, and support for his signature projects by the Federal Government, pointing out that, “our rare moment of hope is born.”

According to the governor, “The economic sector is to be allocated N179,727,830,404.00 representing 51.41%; Social Services, N53,009,294,029.00 representing 15.21%; Regional Development will receive N53,443,575,772.00, representing 15.31%, while General Administration will get N63,219,299,785.00, representing 18.1%.”

Speaking at the presentation of the budget before the state House of Assembly, Governor Ayade said: “In a quest to develop the

state, we have tried to ensure that the public expenditure structure that prioritizes a higher capital budget over recurrent is maintained. The 2016 budget is thus structured on a deliberate principle of capital/recurrent budget ratio of 84%: 16 %.

Offering further insight, he said: “The opinion of this ratio is that while the state is industrialized and developed,

the individuals will also feel the impact of governance. This shall be done by creating employment opportunities for our youths in response to our desire to liberate families from the jaws of hardship by the wages of honest labour. There is no doubt, as a pivotal state in Nigeria that has adopted the budget system of Medium Term Budgetary Framework, it has

benefitted immensely through the buy-in from MDAs, especially the realistic forecast for the succeeding year. As the state migrates from MTBF to IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standard), with the baseline of zero-based budgeting system, signals are imminent for an era of scaling and justifying items, projects/ programmes before inclusion in a budget."

BUDGET: Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, flanked (4th right) his Deputy, Professor Ivara Esu; Deputy Speaker CRHA/Member representing Calabar II state constituency, Mr. Joseph Bassey, (3rd right); Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Gaul-Lebo and Clerk of the House, Mr. Bassey Ekpenyong (1st from right) with other members of the state Assembly shortly after the 2016 "BUDGET OF DEEP VISION" presentation by the state governo in Calabar, yesterday.

Edo Customary Court of Appeal president probes alleged mismanagement of N32m

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—PRESIDENT of the Customary Court of Appeal, Edo State, Justice Peter Isibor, has set up a panel of inquiry to investigate alleged mismanagement of N32 million at the headquarters of the court in Benin.

The four-man panel headed by Justice Timothy Oboh, it was gathered, had already quizzed some principal officers of the court although no one had been indicted so far.

Other members of the panel included Justice P. A. Akhihiero and Mr. T. A. Momudu, Secretary.

Justice Isibor said the panel would, among other things,

ascertain and verify all incomes and expenditures of the directorate, ascertain whether there was any fraud committed, recommend appropriate measures for the disbursement of all incomes henceforth as well as recommend measures for shoring up incomes of the directorate in future.

He, however, explained that one of the members of the

panel, Justice O. Ovbiagele later withdrew his membership for undisclosed reasons.

Justice Isibor explained that the N32 million was over head paid to the Directorate by the Edo State government for the months of January to April specifically, noting that “I have been very circumspect when it comes to the management of funds here. Unless I see what they want to use funds for and

I find that it is reasonable, I don’t approve. But to the best of my knowledge, all my approvals have been predicated on the utility and usefulness of any request made."

He, however, added that for now a case of fraud or mismanagement of funds had not been established in the directorate until the panel submitted its report.

Court adjourns ruling on Agip's motion in Arco Group suit

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— JUSTICE Lambo Akanbi of a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, yesterday adjourned ruling to December 3, on a motion

by Nigeria Agip Oil

company, NAOC, seeking extension of time to appear properly in a suit filed against it by Arco Group Plc. Arco Group Plc had, in a suit before the court, had requested NAOC to explain why it allegedly violated provisions of the Nigerian local content law.

Earlier, Justice Akanbi had expressed surprise that the two parties still appeared in court after his advice that they should explore means to resolve their differences

outside the court room.

He again enjoined them to reach a settlement outside the court room.

According to him, “At the last adjourned date, I had advised the parties to go for settlement and then come back and withdraw the matter from the court. But I am surprised that the two parties are in court today on the same matter. I still advise that both the plaintiff and the defendants should go back and settle the matter.”

NMA tasks communities on children's immunization against polio

P

By Davies Iheamnachor

ORT HARCOURT— NIGERIAN Medical Association, NMA, has urged traditional rulers, communities, religious leaders and others to ensure that children in their communities are immunized against polio, measles and other diseases.

At a briefing yesterday, on the flag-off of the 2015 Physicians’ Week, chairman of NMA in Rivers State, Dr. Furo Green, said it was worthwhile for the rural communities to adhere strictly to the practice of immunizing their wards against deadly diseases.

Green called for understanding and cooperation of traditional rulers, school proprietors, religious leaders and parents in the advocacy for the eradication of diseases in Nigeria.

He said: “We urge traditional rulers, religious leaders, proprietors of kindergarten, day care homes and orphanages, not only to join the advocacy train but also to ensure that every child around them is immunized."

Former C-River dep gov passes on

F

ORMER deputy governor of Cross River State, Dr Mathias Offoboche, is dead.

A statement by his eldest son, Dr Clay Offoboche, said the former deputy governor died in a London hospital on October 25.

Dr Offoboche, a reputable gynaecologist served as deputy governor to Dr Clement Isong in the old Cross River State on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN. Dr Offoboche hailed from Yala Local Government Area of the state and was a contemporary of Dr Joseph Wayas, former Senate President and Chief Eze Umezeoke, former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Late Dr Offoboche

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—13

Delta Tribunal upholds Okowa's election

By Emma Amaize, Festus Ahon, Egufe Yafugborhi, Pereze Brisibe, Theresa Ugbobu & Ochuko Akuopha

A

SABA—THE Delta State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Asaba, yesterday, refused the requests of the governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, and his All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart in the state, Chief Great Ogboru and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, respectively, to nullify the election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the April 11 governorship election.

The three-man tribunal, headed

by Justice Nasiru Gumi, held that Chief Ogboru was unable to prove his claim that the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, did not comply with the Electoral Act, 2010.

It described the petition by Emerhor and APC as “unusual”, as they did not lead with credible evidence to establish the allegation of corrupt practices alleged by them in their petition.

The tribunal held that both petitions were incompetent and dismissed them.

Judgment

Delivering judgment on the Ogboru and LP petition, the tribunal held that the allegation of excessive voting was not valid following contradicting reports of witnesses brought before it by the petitioners.

Justice Gumi said: “On the allegation of corrupt practices, the petitioners have not been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt, allegations of snatching of ballot boxes and stuffing of ballot boxes.

In addition, the petitioners failed to prove the cases of corrupt practices on election day as alleged in the petition. The first respondent is the duly elected governor of Delta State. The petitioners failed to prove their allegations. The petitions are hereby dismissed with a cost of N50, 000 each on the petitioners.”

It said, “The issue of whether the first respondent was duly elected is a non-issue because he was returned by INEC." On the petition by Emerhor and APC, the tribunal held that the petitioners also failed to prove the allegations of electoral

malpractices in their petition, saying, “The petition lacked merit, it is bound to fail, it has failed and is hereby dismissed.

The petition is unusual for a governorship electoral petition.

It contains only 17 paragraphs.

It is on seven pages of A4 paper and on one and a half type space. There are 25 local government areas in Delta State and by virtue of polling units, there are at least, 3,329 polling units in the state. One would have thought that there would have been pleadings on what transpired in the polling units but this was not the case.”

It said it was, therefore, not surprised at the lean pleadings of the petition, as the petitioners dwelt more on the use of card readers vis a vis their deployment for the election and the legality of INEC introducing it in the first instance, instead of proving the allegation of corrupt practices they canvassed.

The tribunal dismissed the evidence of a witness to the petitioners that INEC ordered that the use of card readers for the election should be bypassed, saying, “also, the evidence of one of the witnesses amounts to hearsay, and is not admissible.”

results before compilation was completed and the number of recorded votes exceeded the number of accredited votes by the card readers.

On his part, the APC candidate, Emerhor, urged the tribunal to nullify the election based on alleged irregularities, violence and non-compliance with the relevant electoral laws The three-man panel of the

Speaker, others hail judgment

Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuya, chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Edwin Uzor, a lawmaker, Chief Sheriff

Oborevwori, Chief Arthur Akpowowo, Chief Fred Majemite, Chief Ebenezer Okorodudu, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Mr Suuny Onuesoke, Olorogun John Oguma, Chief Amos Itihwe, Mr Christopher Ochor, and Chief Beck Hitler, a prominent leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, described the judgment as a true reflection of the wish of Deltans.

VISIT: Comptroller-General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (retd) being received by Comptroller Charles Edike of Apapa Command during a working visit to Lagos.

Emerhor, Ogboru react

The APC candidate, Olorogun Emerhor, in his reaction, rejected the verdict of the tribunal, saying that he would appeal the judgment and stretch it to the Supreme Court if need be.

He declared: “This is the first- level court. We will appeal and eventually to the Supreme Court.

Our case is not different from that of Rivers and Akwa Ibom cases. They will all be tested at the higher courts.”

Chief Ogboru, speaking through the chairman of LP, Chief Tony Ezeagu, who left the tribunal immediately it threw out Ogboru’s petition, also said his party would appeal the judgment.

Okowa lauds judgment

tribunal, which commenced judgment at about 9: 47am, however, dismissed the petition for lack of merit.

The victorious Governor Okowa lauded the judgment, describing it as a victory for democracy, saying, “The judiciary has come of age, and their judgment was thorough. It was a fair and landmark judgment. Today, I call on the opposition to join hands with me to develop Delta State and wipe out the tears of the people.

Ogboru had dragged Governor Okowa, PDP and INEC to the tribunal, saying the declaration of the election results in 21 of the 25 local government areas of the state were invalid on grounds of alleged irregularities and over voting.

He had prayed the court to nullify the election result on grounds that it did not comply with relevant electoral law and that the electorate did not elect Okowa, claiming he did not fulfil the requirement of section 178 of the Electoral Act. Ogboru also alleged that INEC announced the

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

C M Y K

15 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Confusion in Owerri as IMSG shuts hospital

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

W E R R I — PALPABLE confusion reigned supreme at the Specialist Hospital, Owerri, Sunday night, as operatives of Imo Security Network, ISN, stormed the hospital at about 8.15p.m. and ordered patients and workers to vacate.

Vanguard gathered from the startled workers and close relatives of the patients on admission that one of the ISN operatives, who identified himself simply as the Owerri West Local Government Area Commander of ISN, locked the hospital gate and left, when he did not succeed in sending the workers and patients out of the hospital.

Our correspondent, who was attracted to the scene, following distress calls from workers, saw how three pregnant women in labour were taken to other hospitals.

One of the workers told Vanguard that “as at the time the ISN Commander stormed the hospital, a patient was being attended to in the theatre,” adding that “when we sought to know where he drew his powers from, he told us that Governor Rochas Okorocha gave him the directive to shut the hospital down.”

Continuing, the worker said that when the ISN Commander could not force the staff to abandon their patients or for the patients on admission to vacate their beds at that odd hour, the man left and locked the hospital gate.

20 PRO BIAFRA DETAINEES: Court to rule

on bail applications today We did not detain supporters of Radio Biafra Director—Anambra police

By Jimitota Onoyume, Vincent Ujumadu & Enyim Enyim

Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. This is even as the Anambra State police command has denied detaining any supporter of Radio Biafra Director.

The protesters had demanded the unconditional release of the Director of Biafra radio, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Jaja had to defer the matter till today after listening to arguments of counsels of the 20 suspects seeking the court to grant them

bail last week.

While remanding them in prison custody, the Chief Magistrate said he needed to take a critical look at the issue and thus adjourned till today.

The suspects were, among other things, charged for treasonable felony. They also allegedly tore the nation’s flag, an act the Police said was a threat to the unity of the country, Those arraigned were: Benson Sunday (21), Emmanuel Ali (25), Ukeme Monday (32), Chibuzo

Ezechina (33), Charles Eze (29), Egbo Okechukwu (24), Chibona Ifion (47), John Douglas (20), Ezenwa Alphonsus (51), Wori Endurance (30), Chinomere Nwolu (25), Henry Eze (36), ORT HARCOURT— Friday Uzunwa (22), Igodo Abio CHIEF Magistrate (34), Akaniyene Uwem (22), Eni Andrew Jaja of a Port Harcourt Iboro (27), Obinna Stephen (26), Magistrate's court will today rule Monday Ocha (37), Obinna on the bail applications filed by Ibekwe (27), and Kingsley counsels of 20 pro Biafra Ezengorie (24). supporters arrested in Port The three-count charge against Harcourt during a protest march them read in part, “…on October last week by members of the 20, 2015, at about 2:00p.m., at Ikwerre Road in Port Harcourt, in Port Harcourt magisterial District, the suspects and others now at large did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: treason and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(2), of the criminal code, Cap C38, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004. “… on same date and time did without lawful authority demonstrate and chant war song that Hausa is not part of Biafra, which caused panic in the neighbourhood, instilled fear on reasonable grounds with intent to intimidate or cause panic within the state and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(1) of the criminal code, Cap C38 laws of the Federal VISIT: Chief Willie Obiano, governor of Anambra State (right), welcoming former Head of State, Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

General Yakubu Gowon to the Government House, Awka, during a visit by the United Nations And “…all the suspects and Children's Fund, UNICEF, and World Health Organization, WHO, delegation, yesterday. others now at large on the same place and time, did wilfully and unlawfully damage the Nigeria flag, which was hoisted at Zenith Bank Plc, Ikoku Branch in Port Harcourt, and thereby Deck,' also revealed that "40 proliferation of small arms

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu committed an offence per cent of the arms are and light weapons in the punishable under section NEWI—PRESIDENTIAL Committee imported by the political country.

451 of criminal code, Cap “It will create awareness C38 Laws of the Federal on Small Arms and Light Weapons, leaders and the remaining PRESCOM, stakeholders’ sensitization forum, 60 per cent are fabricated on the socio-economic Republic of Nigeria, 2004.” impact of illicit small arms held at Enugu for South East zone, has revealed within the zone.”

Meantime, the Anambra According to him: “The and light weapons that about 60 per cent of the illegal arms in the State Police command said, essence of the survey is not proliferation in Nigeria and zone are produced locally. yesterday, that no supporter Professor Aloysius Okolie, for the government to sensitize the Nigerian of director of Radio Biafra, embark on disarmament, populace on the proposed who is the South East Mr. Nnamdi Kanu was but to find out those factors comprehensive SALW coordinator on House detained by it, contrary to a Survey, of PRESCOM, that motivate people into survey in Nigeria. newspaper report, on the acquiring such arms and "The forum will matter. made the revelation during sources of the arms.” galvanize support for the a two-day stakeholders' Police Public Relations Earlier, the PRESCOM survey team and Officer, PPRO, for the sensitization forum on the coordinator, Mr. Dickson enumerators to ensure comprehensive national command, Mr. Ali Orji, stated that the essence collaboration at the grass Small Arms and Light Okechukwu said the 17 Weapons, SALW, survey in of the forum was to give roots for the success of the persons, made up of 13 room for information and project,” he stated.

Nigeria,at Villa Toscana females and four males, interaction on how to curtail Hotel, Enugu. who were among those He said that 60 per cent protesting on the said date, are fabricated locally in were cautioned and asked Nigeria and "some to go home by the state T. PAUL’S Anglican Nwajiobi; Mrs. Adaobi Commissioner of Police, communities are known for Church, Kirikiri Chigbu, Secretary, and Mr. Hosea Karma. their natural fabrication of arms," adding that Town, is set to hold its Venerable Levi Opara, He denied a newspaper Harvest, Vicar and Archdeacon. politicians were part of Adult report that the police shot and The harvest, four members of the arms proliferation in the Thanksgiving area and most of the Bazaar, with the theme, commencing at 8a.m. will Movement for the political leaders helped in 'Count your Blessings,' take place at the Actualization of the the importation and on Sunday, November 1. church’s auditorium at 7/ Sovereign State of Biafra, This was made known 8 Okoduwa Street, MASSOB, describing such fabrication of arms.

The sensitization forum by the harvest committee Kirikiri Industrial Estate, report as mischievious. tagged, 'All Hands on Chairman, Mr. Ben Apapa, Lagos.

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60% of illegal arms in S/East produced locally —Presidential C’ttee

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St Paul counts blessings

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16— Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 — 17

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AI Mohammed, APC National Publicity Secretary, is one of President Buhari’s ministerial nominees.

When he appeared for screening before the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio made a wry observation. He said: “If I know (Lai Mohammed) very well, he may have one or two propaganda to drop before he leaves here.” His Senate colleagues burst into laughter because they understood what he meant.

Lai Mohammed is a master propagandist. During the election season, he cried wolf every other day, claiming to unearth new “fantabulous” PDP plans to rig the election.

One of the most outrageous was his allegation that PDP used disappearing ink on the ballot papers of APC supporters in Ekiti. He also alleged PDP imported one Gyora Berger from Israel, with the mandate to jam all the card-readers in the NorthWest and the North-East.

Our distinguished Senators failed to ask Mohammed about these tall-tales for which he is known and loved. They failed to determine if we are to expect more of the same from him as Honourable Minister, or whether he intends to tamp it down a little.

Anti-corruption APC The APC is now Nigeria’s self-styled anti-corruption party. Five months after the elections, the only recognised public policy of the new Buhari administration is anticorruption. The government’s economic policy is anticorruption.

Its social policy is anticorruption. Its foreign policy is anti-corruption. Buhari plans to revive our ailing economy with anti-corruption.

He plans to fix our broken educational system with anticorruption. He also plans to fix our health and social services with anti-corruption.

Hear him: “The monies we realise from anti-corruption campaign will be adequately used to improve education in the country.”

“The money saved will finance jobs, health-care and the provision of social safety net for the needy, weak and vulnerable of our land.” When can we expect these dividends of anti-corruption to start competing with our proceeds from oil?

Fabrication of data: The APC has consistently exploited the gullibility of Nigerians.

Recognising the low level of education in the country, the party has gone all out to promote its anti-corruption policy. It went to town with the CBN governor’s bombast, first that $50 billion was missing from the nation’s coffers; and later that $20 C M Y K

Deception is corruption billion was missing. Any Nigerian with a modicum understanding of economics knows it is impossible for such huge sums to be missing in an economy the size of Nigeria’s.

Professor Soludo declared that, in the five years of Jonathan’s administration, no less than 30 trillion naira had been stolen. The APC again went to town with this, not minding that the total annual federal budget under Jonathan was a little over 4.5 trillion naira. In short, more money has been allegedly stolen under Goodluck Jonathan than there was money to steal.

The propaganda did not stop once APC came to power. The APC claimed it met an empty treasury.

However, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission debunked this claim by revealing that Jonathan left behind $30 billion. There was also some $2 billion left in the Excess Crude Account and the Sovereign Wealth Fund; amounts that would have been more had the governors not insisted some of it should be shared.

Buhari says: “Jonathan’s

Corruption cannot be fought with deception. It is a classic principle of jurisprudence that “he who comes into equity must come with clean hands.”

But APC clearly does not understand this at all

ministers stole 150 billion dollars.” How exactly did Mr. President come by this outlandish figure? These figures are just plucked out of thin air. APC chieftains say one million barrels of oil was stolen everyday under Jonathan.

That cannot be because it is virtually half of Nigeria’s daily oil-production.

Oshiomhole says a senior official of the Obama administration revealed that a Jonathan minister stole $6 billion dollars. How can one single individual possibly steal that much? This claim has since been denied by the Americans. Oshiomhole also claims a consultancy fee of 140 billion naira was paid for the Second Niger Bridge when the total cost of the bridge is only 108 billion.

APC chieftains just keep coming up with outrageous figures, in order to keep burnishing their anti-corruption posture.

Promises, promises During the election, APC ignored the parlous state of the economy and went to town, promising Nigerians heaven on earth. It promised to pay a stipend of 5,000 naira monthly to the 25 million poorest Nigerians. This would come to 125 billion every month and 1.5 trillion every year.

The party must have known it was impossible to do this with a 4.5 trillion annual budget, least of all at a time when oil is now selling for less than $50 a barrel.

Nevertheless, it used this promise to deceive the gullible.

APC promised to provide free education; free meals daily for millions of Nigerian public school-children; free tertiary education; free health-care and free houses. All this have turned out to be fictitious.

Buhari promised to create 740,000 jobs within a year in the 36 states of the federation, as well as one million jobs for Igbo youths by revamping the huge coal deposits in Enugu State for electricity generation.

However, in five months, his administration has created no

new jobs. Instead, it has lost many by its go-slow and donothing stance.

Reneging on promises Once the election was “won,” Buhari declared on TV Continental that, unlike the Quran and the Bible, the APC position during the election is subject to change.

Suddenly, the APC found it necessary to deny the two key documents on which it had based its presidential campaign: “My Covenant with Nigerians,” and “One Hundred Things Buhari Will Do in 100 Days.”

These documents bore the official APC logo, were promoted on the APC website and were used extensively on the campaign trail by APC officials. But once the election was over, the APC reneged on the promises made in them.

Garba Shehu said: “I did not fund or authorise any of those.

I can equally bet my last kobo that candidate Buhari did not see or authorise those publications.”

Lai Mohammed swore that: “Buhari never promised to do anything in 100 days, that’s the honest truth.”

However, the 100 days document was the handiwork of the policy and research directorate of the APC presidential campaign, headed by former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Buhari himself introduced the Covenant document in the first person. He said: “This covenant is to outline my agenda for Nigeria and provide a bird’s eye view of how we intend to bring about the change that our country needs and deserves.

The covenant is derived from the manifesto of my party, the All Progressives Congress.

It, however, represents my pledge to you all when I become your president.” But once he became president, Buhari now claims he had nothing to do with the document.

Assets declaration

In a document titled: “I Pledge to Nigeria,” Buhari declared: “I pledge to publicly declare my assets and liabilities, (and) encourage all my appointees to publicly declare their assets and as a pre-condition for appointment.” However, after the election, Femi Adesina, the president’s special adviser, denied the president ever made such a promise.

He said: “You need to get his words right, go and check all that the president said during the campaign, in no place would you see it attributed to him as a person. But then there is a document by his party, the All Progressives Congress, saying he would declare publicly, so we need to set that right, it’s a declaration by his party.”

What is obviously lost to the APC is that there is a definite contradiction between fighting corruption and telling lies.

Corruption cannot be fought with deception. It is a classic principle of jurisprudence that “he who comes into equity must come with clean hands.”

But APC clearly does not understand this at all.

Deception is corruption It is remarkable that the very party that fought an election by taking the moral high ground of being anticorruption is the one that has shown the most blatant inclination to twist, bend, distort and obfuscate the truth at every turn.

For APC, change means recycling old PDP politicians; avoiding the young; and relegating women into obscurity. Change means ensuring the principal organs of government: the executive, legislature and the judiciary, are now all monopolised by the North.

It means the key staff of Aso Rock are now virtually all Northerners. It means the INEC Chairman is now from the North, the same region as the president.

Change for the APC is declaring Rotimi Amaechi innocent until proven guilty; while declaring Diezani Alison-Madueke guilty until proven innocent. Change means the president can overlook the South-East in appointments.

Clearly, this is not the change Nigerians were led to expect.

This is not the kind of change APC promised Nigerians while seeking our votes. What the party has done is to betray the trust of Nigerians. To put it bluntly, Nigerians were deceived into putting the APC in power.

This makes it all the more anomalous that the same APC claims to be the party of anticorruption. Someone needs to tell APC chieftains that telling lies is corruption.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 ALHAJI Tanko Al Makura, the Governor of Nasarawa State, has decided to shrug off criticisms and build a cargo airport in the state capital, Lafia. He has already signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese company, Tongyi Engineering Group, towards the actualisation of his dream.

Nasarawa thus joins the ranks of states jostling to establish their own airports, despite the fact that most of them already have functional local and international airports close to their states. These include Abia, Anambra, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, to mention but a few. Within the past eight years, no less than five new airports sprang up around the country. These were at Dutse (Jigawa), Asaba (Delta), Uyo (Akwa Ibom), Bauchi (Bauchi) and Gombe (Gombe).

The construction of airports by state governments appears to have acquired status symbol. Governors usually justify the need for their

Proliferation of airports airports by designating most of them as “cargo” international airports, thus underscoring the economic vision behind them.

They argue that the airports would boost industrialisation and help in evacuating agricultural products to all parts of the country and the world at large. They insist that investors would be more easily persuaded to visit their states if they could fly in directly.

The question is: how come that not a single cargo airport in the country has started bringing in or lifting cargo?

Most of these airports are idle, with commercial airlines visiting

infrequently and only under heavy subsidy arrangement with the state governments. Over time, their lack of commercial viability could lead to increasing neglect, deterioration of facilities and eventual decertification by aviation regulatory authorities.

Keeping them properly maintained could be a big drain on the dwindling resources of states.

In most cases, quite apart from the factor of pride and the lure of awarding contracts, most governors are pushed to construct airports to join the elite club of governors who can fly directly from their states to any

OPINION Fela: The noise of advancing ideas (2) Continued from yesterday pg. 20

By Tochukwu Ezukanma

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ELA came up with something distinctly new: it had the pronounced base-line of Rhythm and Blues, heavy percussions of traditional African music and well-defined lead guitar as in Highlife music – all - laced with elaborate and dainty horns (trumpet, trombone and saxophone) and intricate piano of Afro-American Jazz. It was a unique musical genre. He called it AfroBeat.

The vocalism of Afro Beat also defied convention. Unlike the soft and velvety singing of Highlife, and similar styled singing, embellished with feigned American accents, of Nigerian Pop musicians, the vocals for Afro Beat was loud and coarse. It reflected the vibrancy and upbeat of Nigerian, especially, Lagos life. Its lyrics, for the most part, were in the Nigerian mass language, Pidgin English, because they bore messages for all and sundry in Nigeria and beyond.

Unlike the usual romantic platitudes and praises for the wealthy and powerful of Nigerian music, the lyrics of Afro Beat were the words of a social crusader.

The arrogance, greed and the insensitivity of the Nigerian power elite, and their roughshod over the passive and timid Nigerian masses offended Fela’s natural sense of justice. So, like C M Y K

Jim Brown who, driven by his moral revulsion for racial injustice, set out, on his own, to overthrow the institution of slavery in the American South, Fela was on a one man mission to reform Nigeria of social injustice. This mission found expression in his music. With his poignant and defiant lyrics, he brayed against official corruption, mass poverty, police and military brutality, gutlessness of the Nigerian populace, etc.

His music resonated among Nigerians because it encapsulated their moods and sentiments: hopes, frustrations, hunger for a good life and longing for social justice.

And like Jim Brown, Fela paid a heavy price for his crusading passion. The persecution of Fela by different Nigerian governments culminated in the burning of his house by soldiers in 1977. As the soldiers rampaged through his house, before setting it ablaze, they assaulted his guests, beat up his band members, raped some of his dancers and threw his 78 year old mother out of a 2nd floor window. She later died from the wounds she sustained from the fall. His mother,

Fela’s noise advanced the ideals of freedom and social justice with the power of music

Fumilayo Ramsome-Kuti, was a foremost nationalist and politician, a leading figure in the Nigerian struggle for independence. In a mournful song, Unknown Soldier, that described the burning of his house and the killing of his mother, Fela eulogised her as, “Political Mama, Influential Mama, Ideological Mama, and the only Mother of this Country”.

Jim Brown failed to overthrow slavery in American. He was captured and lynched by a White mob. Jim Brown’s assault on slavery may have seemed foolhardy, ineffective and meaningless.

However, it is from such “numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped”. The seed Brown sowed with that selfless stand for an ideal germinated, and years later, bloomed, and through its many branches, generated forces that broke down racial barriers and oppression in America. Similarly, Fela, failed to change the Nigerian society. But then, he left his indelible marks on it. Apart from his indigenisation (of rhythm and vocalism) of popular music in Nigerian, he charted a totally new course for Nigerian music. It became a possible tool for social crusade, mass mobilisation, and awakening the aspirations and consciousness of the masses. His music continues to reverberate. It continues to strike a deep chord in Nigerian minds because of its amazing splendor and the

part of the country rather than travelling on rough and distant roads to the nearest airports. Governors with airports in their state capitals can easily charter aircraft at a moment’s notice.

Some even buy or lease private aircraft and helicopters, with attendant huge costs to their states’ lean treasuries. These airports mainly exist to service the opulent lifestyle of governors and a few members of the elite.

Though, we agree that airports open up states for greater opportunities, we are convinced that they cannot be priorities for most states, especially those that are situated close to existing airports.

With poor roads, dilapidated schools and hospitals, lack of water and unpaid salaries still bedeviling most states, we call for caution in the proliferation of airports.

Let us learn to walk before running.

incontrovertible pertinence of its message.

At his death, Lagos, the bustling, boisterous commercial capital of Africa, came to a somber standstill. Gathered to pay their last respect was a throng – unparalleled in its size and incongruous in its composition. The incomparably large crowd, made up of the rich and poor, learned and ignorant, bumpkins and sophisticates, Nigerians and foreigners, etc, gathered in solemn veneration for one of the leaders of our time. Leaders are not just those who occupy positions of political power and influence. Actually, real leaders do not have to occupy exalted positions in government to lead. A leader has a following because he possesses that indescribable, indefinable magnetism that powerfully and irresistibly draws people to him. People also follow a leader because leadership represents a current in history. And a current, naturally and effortlessly, moves and carries people along.

Undoubtedly, Fela left a footprint in the sand of time, he made history. The father of modern Zionism, Theodore Herzl, once wrote that, “history is nothing but noise, noise of arms and noise of advancing ideas”. Fela’s noise was noise of advancing ideas. He advanced the ideals of freedom and social justice with the power of music.

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

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015— —19

This work and ‘chop' mantra

By Sunny Ikhioya

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Y the time this article is published, the ministerial screening would have been completed and the majority party's candidates would have sailed through irrespective of the people's feelings. That has been the tradition- take a bow and go, it has not changed. That is our Nigeria, a country that was promised a radical change from the past, well, we wait and see.

All that we have heard since this government took over is the word corruption. Everyone agrees that corruption is the bane of Nigeria but each party has interpreted corruption differently. It is corruption when the one party is involved and mere accusation or allegations when it involves the other. Many of us have been misled into thinking that corruption is mere stealing or white collar criminality.

Corruption is much more than that, any empowerment, whether economic, political, religious, ethnic et al that is done outside the due or normal process is corruption. It is fraudulent, it is stealing, it is criminal to

appropriate to yourself what does not rightly belong to you because that is the foundation for distrust, for discord and for conflict in society.

Nigeria has been ranked as one of the most corrupt nations in the world and past governments have tried to attack it decisively but all attempts have been futile.

The revered Bishop Mathew Kukah alluded to this fact in his october 1, 2015 presentation, that Muhammadu Buhari fought corruption on his first outing and lost his job in the process. Many others have also confirmed the fact that when you fight corruption in Nigeria, it fights back more forcefully- Ndudi Elumelu, Lawan Farouk, Sanusi Lamido and others.

The only way we can make the fight against corruption succeed is to attack it from the root- the structures and institutions- no other alternative will work. The nation Nigeria is founded on corruption; false demographics, false allocation of resources, false information about relationship, false secular principles and on false geo- political arrangements, that is the issue. Only a leader

that is ready to tackle these issues head on can succeed in the corruption fight. We cannot fight corruption in this country when alleged corrupt leaders are hailed as heroes by their people, when the enforcement agents such as the EFCC, DSS and others target political opponents of government and those members of their own party who do not toe party lines. This has been the practice in the past, it is even more glaring now.

Unfortunately, the APC as the majority party is not well disposed towards fair criticism, any attempt made at bringing these flaws to light is returned with a barrage of counter positions. We must see genuine criticism as an attempt at finding solutions, a leader that is tolerant of criticism is a leader

Nigerians must be wise. They must stop encouraging the line of thinking that encourages a good leader to steal money

Overcoming Nigeria’s water and sanitation challenges

By Olubunmi Aboderin

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N an era that is witnessing the resurgence of Ebola and other contagious haemorrhagic viral diseases, having access to running water may well be considered a national security issue.

Adequate water supply is a problem that faces most of us daily, almost regardless of income bracket. If you live in a rural area, you probably have to go and fetch water from a well, stream or river. If you’re wealthy enough to build your own house, you probably have to sink a borehole. If that house is in a sand-filled area, highbrow or not, you either have to drill past the 200 metre mark to get useable water or contend with the contaminated water available at shallower depths. The person who can solve the challenge of getting clean pipe borne water into every household in Nigeria will be a national hero.

The UNICEF sponsored Water and Sanitation Summary Sheet for Nigeria authored by the Water and Sanitation Monitoring Platform says: “Water and sanitation coverage rates in Nigeria are amongst the lowest in the world.” The summary goes on to say that “Nigeria is in the bottom 25 countries worldwide in terms of sanitation coverage.” Why don’t we have better access to running water? Why are we still struggling with a plumbing system the Romans figured out more than 2,000 years ago? How many of our children grow up saying, “I want to be a hydrologist”? Is water science even taught in our schools?

Reading a paper entitled, “The Enterprise of Fire Safety Services in Lagos, Nigeria”,

by John M. Corbin, a professor of economics and public policy from the Andres Bello University in Santiago, Chile, I came across his rather surprising, scathing, unnerving, grossly unflattering and somewhat onesided description of Lagos. His withering invective takes up the entire introduction to his thesis and what stands out is his vitriol at his perceived notion of our standards of hygiene and sanitation. Cobin insinuates that most people practice open defecation and declares: “people have little concept of sanitation… bathrooms are a hygiene hazard and are very filthy almost without C M Y K

exception outside of five-star hotels and a few of the decent miniature malls.” One could say he is guilty of exaggeration and generalisation. It seems to escape his purview that many people who practice open defecation do so because they have no alternative, and many more people would love to wash their hands before eating or after using the toilet, but they simply don’t have the water with which to do so (let alone soap). Of course, there are individuals who wouldn’t properly use an available toilet or wash their hands even if they were paid, but such individuals, I dare say, exist all over the world and even in his own country.

Currently, it is estimated that fewer than 34 percent of Nigerians have access to adequate sanitation and less than 61 percent have access to running water. As a nation, we had a Millennium Development Goal target that by September 2015, at least 63 percent of us would have improved sanitation facilities and at least 75 percent of our population would have access to improved drinking water. Improved drinking water is defined by UNICEF/WHO as including “household connections, public stand pipes, boreholes, protected wells and springs.” Improved sanitation is taken to mean “public sewer or septic system, pour-flush latrines, ventilated improved pit latrines and pit latrines with slabs.”

Unfortunately, not only did we not achieve these goals, it appears we’ve regressed in the improved drinking water category, partly due to population increase nationwide.

(Major cities like Lagos and Abuja face further pressure due to the increased rate of urban migration which is putting a strain on efforts to provide and sustain robust water supply for residents of those cities). We

More attention needs to be given to the rural areas so that those who dwell there have at least the same level of access to safe water

headed for success, let no one think otherwise.

From the Senate ministerial screenings, we are beginning to see a new side to Nigerians, you can 'chop' if you have worked for the people. So, Fashola can go through as the representative of Lagos whether he faces allegations of corruption or not, same goes for Fayemi and Amaechi. Meanwhile, the EFCC is busy hounding Godswill Akpabio whose performance in Akwa Ibom state is very visible, where is the justice?

You work, you chop, that is the new mantra. Anybody that has done reasonably well in government should be allowed a pass, even if he is tainted. That is the new debate and that is our present dilemma. Tell me how this can address the monster of corruption? There is no stand you take that will not favour a particular interest group, therefore, other interest groups will fight you back. That is why it is going to be very difficult for Mohammadu Buhari to fight corruption transparently and that is why some of us are skeptical about the methods he has adopted so far. If you want a clean change, you must be willing to give equal treatment to all, be ready to try and risk new

appear to be making marginal headway in providing improved sanitation coverage across the country but currently it would seem that our best is not good enough.

According to the WSMP, “much more effort and resources are clearly required to accelerate sanitation coverage rates both in rural and urban areas.” The report goes on to say, “there are clear indications that coverage is deteriorating even as significant investments are made in the sector, especially for water supply.” In other words, we are not building water infrastructure fast enough and we can do a better job in maintaining what we already have.

In 2006, the National Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey on Core Welfare Indicators across all the 774 local governments in Nigeria including the FCT. The aggregated findings show that water distribution coverage varies by zone with the South-West having the widest comparative distribution of piped water and the North-East having the most limited coverage. With respect to the availability of adequate sanitation facilities as a percentage of population figures, the NBS survey shows the South-East leading the way and the North-East having to catch up with the rest of the zones. In state by state comparisons, Lagos, Oyo, Kwara and Osun had the widest distribution of improved water access and Enugu, Anambra, Gombe and Taraba had the greatest need to improve their ability to provide access to water for their residents. In terms of sanitation, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Anambra and Imo had the most effective networks of sanitation facilities in comparison to the other states of the federation. Bauchi, Kogi, Ebonyi and Bayelsa had the most work to do to be at par or better than all the other states. By now, the rankings may have changed.

Going forward, more attention needs to be given to the rural areas so that those who dwell there have at least the same level of access to safe water and hygienic sanitation facilities as those who live in the cities. The WSMP advises that there is a “need to enhance co-ordination and institutional collaboration in the water and sanitation sector to sustain gains of the past and maximise benefits.” The Ministry of Water Resources, The Ministry of Agriculture and the MDG office have all made efforts to alleviate water problems, but more needs to be done. The UNDP says, “There is a major challenge in translating substantial public

untainted hands instead of recycling familiar faces, be ready to tackle both structural and institutional disruptions instead of pretending that they do not exists, be ready to isolate party/ godfather's interests from national interest and above all, show the will to see this through. That is the only way Nigerians will go with the corruption fight, no other way.

We have waited for four months and going to the fifth month now for fresh clean hands, as we have been led to believe. But, the list that has gone through the Senate did not show such promise.

Thus, it is incumbent on President Buhari and his team to prove us, doubting Thomasses wrong; they can do this through a change in their attitude and accord priority towards changing the structures within their respective ministries.

The country must never again accept partially or perceived corrupt people into leadership positions.

Corruption is corruption and nothing else, and it is killing the country. A good workman with a defective character is a worthless one, so is a good leader that is corrupt. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

investments in water into effective access.

This requires more involvement by communities to identify local needs, and better planning to deliver holistic and sustainable solutions.”

A representative of a particular NGO was being shown round a certain local community school. When the tour got to an area near the perimeter of the fence, the representative was asked to be careful where she walked because of “shot put” bags thrown in that vicinity. What, pray tell, is “shot put”? Plastic bags employed as vessels for the receiving and disposing of human waste, which are then thrown in the general vicinity of the nearest refuse heap. The pupils resort to this method because the condition of the lavatories is so degraded that it is hazardous to life and limb. Those toilets started falling into disrepair when there was a problem with the water supply. Rebuilding the broken toilets or installing new ones would yield only short term benefits (and the new facilities risk the same fate as their predecessors) unless the underlying water supply problem is solved. The conundrum goes even deeper than that. Even if the apparatus for running water with which to flush toilets is provided to the school, water can only be pumped when there is electricity (assuming the school is wired to the power grid). So, do you provide a generator to the school? How will they pay for the fuel to run the generator? Or do you install solar panels?

At what cost? A “patch-patch” approach to the problem is better than no approach at all, but it would be cost ineffective and of limited usefulness. Supporting the work of the Water Sector Reform Programme (the brain child of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources) may be a better place to start.

The old MDG 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 targets couldn’t be achieved partially because of the water problem. There is an inverse correlation between the availability of water and levels of extreme poverty; child mortality; maternal unwellness; rampant diseases and environmental degradation.

Seven of the new 17 Sustainable Development Goals (namely, 1, 3, 6, 10, 13, 14, and 15) may not be achieved without better access to consistently safe water (with its knock-on effect of bringing about better sanitation and better hygiene practices). *Ms. Aboderin is a Member of the Institute of Directors and the Founder of an NGO with a mandate to enhance productive capacity.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Arewa's songs of conquest (2)

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HESE folks lack any institutional memory to even understand the subtlety of those they are engaged in power game with. They are in a game whose rules of engagement they don’t have the faintest idea of.

They didn’t know that the power of cash becomes immaterial when the key to the treasury is handed to those you thought you were funding.

Some folks are so poor despite having tons of cash.

In 1962, Obafemi Awolowo in the course of the legislative sitting passed a note to the then Prime Minister of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa. The content was “when can we see?”

The response was instant “why not now?” Pronto the Opposition Leader and the Prime Minister moved to his office and Awo stroked the frame of his glasses and looked straight into Balewa’s eyes, asking: “Mr PM, what is it I’m hearing about plans to impose emergency rule in Western Nigeria today?”

Balewa laughed haughtily and said, “Come off it Chief Awolowo, how would you countenance such a wicked rumour? Do you not know how long a process it takes to do such a thing?”

Architect of power misfortune Meeting ended and both men returned to the chambers. By the evening of that discussion, a state of emergency was declared in Western Nigeria.

General Olusegun Obasanjo in a moment of delirious delusion took his pen and scribbled some comic script to the effect that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the architect of his own power misfortune in Nigeria. The inferior scholarship in him read power and office as the same thing. He boasted that he was walking barefooted when Awo was already a famous adventurer in power but that the office of the President of Nigeria which he could not attain was his on a platter.

He went further to ridicule the sage that even when he gave him clues as to how to placate Arewa to concede power to him, Awo remained his rigid and principled self as C M Y K

Abiola: 'I know my people'

Late MKO Abiola the Pro-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University to which he deliberately appointed him to learn Arewa ways.

That reminds me of another power muppet of Yorubaland, Chief Sunday Adewusi the notorious Inspector General of police under Alhaji Shehu Shagari. He was among the delegates to Obasanjo's Political Reforms Conference of 2005.The Yoruba agenda committee had sought audience with the delegates and the Governors of the region before the conference's commencement. We were all assembled in the office of Oyo state Governor, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja when Adewusi asked "e joo awa melo lo gbo awusa ninu awa to nlo soke lohun to ri o ma mun nkan rorun fun

Military Governor of the region when he dallied over Obasanjo's instruction to turn the great "Ife fortress" (apology to another Arewa spokesman,Prof.

Jubril Aminu) to the Federal. If Shekau were to find himself in Ife today,he would yell with pride "Boko Haram" given what that centre of learning has become.

Either as Military Head of state or President, I ask Obasanjo to point at one pride of such he was able to give to Yorubaland outside his personal mansion and hotels in Abeokuta.

In between his military rule and civilian dictatorship, Arewa found a place for him in prison and till date he is said to bear their marks of torture on his back.

Before him was Ladoke Akintola who took that route against Awo's well thoughtout federal engagement in a multi-ethnic state. He was brutally assassinated before he could take stock.

wa o? He was asking how many of the Yoruba delegates could speak Hausa as that would make things easier for them as if they were people of the colony going for some constitutional conference in London.

I took time to count the number of traditional marks on his cheeks as I wondered if any gathering of Arewa would be asking how many of them could speak Yoruba even when the fellow calling the conference was called a Yorubaman.

Obasanjo indeed became Nigerian Head of State which Awo did not achieve but all they made him do was to convert many of the great things Awo did in Western Nigeria into Federal holdings in a unitary fiat. He sacked Admiral Akin Aduwo as

Bashorun M.K.O Abiola also emerged from that school. He did everything imaginable for the Arewa. He built many mosques, gave out cash in tons, took titles uncountable.

He even established National Concord to desecrate the Yoruba essence in service to Arewa (National Concord reincarnate owned by the new kid on the block has been repeating history).

Abiola was a good boy until he wanted to share power with Arewa. In 1983 he was told "power was not for sale".

Before Awo died, MK0 was reconciled with him and the sage told the business mogul in the course of their meeting"those who put me through all the travails are your best friends,I pray they don't take your life". Instead of saying "Amen", Abiola

responded "I know my people". By 1993, he won a presidential election but his "people" kept him in prison until they liquidated him and returned his body bag to Lagos.

Arewa's DNA and power sharing While Abiola was in gaol, Oladipo Diya took the Akintola road as the new traveller as Abacha's No 2. His assignment was to consign the Yoruba leadership to the dustbin. He raised the Imeri Group to displace Afenifere and nicknamed NADECO "Agbako". It took only three years for Arewa's hammer to fall on him.

It was to "Agbako" he turned in the moment to salvage his life the way Obasanjo found lengthy sheets to write epistles to Afenifere leader, Chief Michael Ajasin when Arewa's "bulala" became unbearable. Luckily for Diya, Abacha dozed off eternally the night before his execution but he is said to still bear the scars of torture on his head till date.

I have gone through this narrative only to show one thing: it is foolhardy for anyone to think Awo was wrong in concluding that Arewa's DNA does not share power and that Nigeria would only do well if the constituent units live their civilisations and we run a centre that allows them their autonomies within corporate Nigeria.

A new team is now on the Akintola route and soon we shall be able to say if they are able to turn the tide of history or we shall once again play Bob Marley's: "Now you get what you want Do you want moreeeeeeeeeee..." concluded.

This piece published elsewhere in early May 2015 has been reproduced by popular demand.

FEEDBACK Re: Arewa's songs of conquest

A It is foolhardy for anyone to think Awo was wrong in concluding that Arewa's DNA does not share power and that Nigeria would only do well if the constituent units live their civilisations

FTER reading your incisive article with the above headline in Vanguard of 20th October 2015 in conjunction with Femi Aribisala's "Weep Not For Tinubu", I assumed both of you sat down to write on the same subject until I found out that yours was written over five months ago.

I must credit you with prophetic insight to be able to see clearly the end of a trip in opportunism from take -off point.

Those who fail to learn from history are bound to relive it now and then with disastrous consequences. It is a shame that the Yoruba political space has been taken over by a counter culture that does not act based on rigorous

intellectual interrogation of issues but reliance on the strength of cash.

Now that it appears the head of that band of counterculture politics has used his own money to purchase retirement from politics, it is my hope that a new bunch of leaders who are well informed and committed to the core values of the Yoruba will rise and rebuild the fallen walls.

Keep writing!

Ola Bamigboye.

Lagos.

Dear Yinka, I can only thank God that people like you are still available and can be heard.

Please don't you think it's time to work on the project to unite the entire south by educating

various tribal constituents with political and economic information necessary for leadership sacrifice and political unity.

Thanks Tony Iroegbu Comrade Odumakin, Your write up in Vanguard with the above title was candid indeed, true talk. All who are politically aware saw it coming and it has arrived.

Too late to cry. Will those involved learn any lesson?

Thanks for entertaining me since you started writing for Vanguard , joining my friends Messs. Aribisala, Owei Lakemfa and Ochereome Nnanna.

Boniface Obum

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 —

21

OPS woos BOI to cut interest rate on GEF to 5%

By Franklin Alli

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DONATION: Fom left: Mr Chima Nwafor, Cluster Head, Business Banking, Surulere, Ecobank, Nigeria; Mrs Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Head, Personal Banking, Ecobank Nigeria; Mrs Abeke Yetunde Fatoke, Education Secretary, Surulere Local Governmnet Authority, Lagos State and Mrs Memunat Akinwunmi, Head Teacher, Obele-Odan Nursery/Primary School, Surulere, Lagos during the donation of books and learning kits to pupils of Obele-Odan school as part of activities to mark Ecobank day celebration in Lagos.

No further devaluation of Naira, CBN replies Sanusi •Exchange rate adjustment necessary — LCCI

By Babajide Komolafe

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has dismissed the call for further devaluation by the Emir of Kano, and immediate past Governor of the bank, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, saying there would be no further devaluation of the naira.

Sanusi on Friday had faulted the decision of the CBN and the federal government not to further devalue the naira, and also to retain fuel subsidy. He said, “it is wrong to continue with the fuel subsidy. It is wrong to continue to pretend that you can keep the naira at a certain

117.85

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$3,133.00

$14.50

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0.22

48.03

0.04

44.66 CURRENCY BUYING DOLLAR POUNDS 303.6558 EURO 218.5321 FRANC 202.1864 YEN 6319 CFA WAUA

0.06

CENTRAL

196 302.1144 217.4228

196.5 302.8851

197

217.9775

201.1701 201.6833 1.6236

1.6277

0.3189 0.3289 275.9237 276.6276

1.

0.3389

CBN Exchange Rate as at 26 /10 /15

C M Y K

level, when the price of oil is falling, without depleting your reserves. You have to make a choice.”

But CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, yesterday, while addressing journalists in Lagos, at the sidelines of the Investiture of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), responded to Sanusi’s comment saying, “We are all aware of the CBN’s official position on this, that there will not be any further devaluation of the naira, and this has been communicated.”

“We have made the official position known to the public. There could be comments from various quarters of the economy but we have made our official position known”, he said.

CIBN backs CBN The position of the CBN was also supported by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). Commenting on the calls for further devaluation of the naira, CIBN President, Otunba Adebola Osibogun, said, “The CBN itself is a member of the institute; off course they consult with us, we work together, even

We are all aware of the CBN’s official position on this, that there will not be any further devaluation of the naira

though they take the decision, so whatever the CBN decides, the institute always support.”

LCCI backs Sanusi But the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, supported Sanusi’s position, saying there is need to adjust the exchange rate in line with current realities. In a telephone interview with Vanguard, Director-General of LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said, “We have to situate our policies within the context of current realities. The reality for now is that the current exchange rate policy is not sustainable. That is why we have all the crises we have been having in the foreign exchange market.

“I think it is a good advice that we should adjust, I won’t call it devaluation, adjustment of the exchange rate in line with current realities. That will make it easier to manage the current crises that we have. The current approach of the CBN is even creating more problems, than it is even solving. I don’t even believe that is the way we should go”.

Diversifying the economy a must-CBN Speaking on the theme of the CIBN Investiture, “Diversifying the Revenue base of Nigeria economy, the CBN Deputy Governor, Adelabu said though Nigeria missed the opportunity to diversify the economy when the crude oil prices where above $100 per barrel, doing so has become a must in view of the decline in crude oil prices and revenue.

He said, “The dwindling oil prices, reduction in volume of crude oil production are affecting us, with revenue nose diving, because we relied so much on crude oil.

We lost the opportunity to diversify between 2009 and 2014 because we had relative stability in exchange rate, and oil prices went up as high as $110.

HE Organised Private Sector, OPS, has hailed the Bank of Industry (BOI)for the N2 billion Graduate Entrepreneurships Fund it unveiled three weeks ago to tackle youths unemployment in the country.

OPS, however, requested the bank to bring down the interest rate on the loan to five percent from the current nine percent. Speaking exclusively with Vanguard, Chief Bassey Edem, OPS Chairman/ President, NACCIMA, said: “The initiative by the Bank of Industry is very commendable and in the right direction as it would help in reducing unemployment and effective engagement of the youths in our country if the money so allocated to this segment is properly applied.”

Commenting on the interest rate, he said “The question of the interest rate at 9 percent works two ways. For an established business, or existing entrepreneur the 9 percent interest rate is considered adequate since it is a single digit interest rate which businesses are clamouring for. However, the interest rate of 9 percent for start-ups is hardly adequate. Instead, we wish to propose at most a 5% interest rate plus a moratorium period of not less than one year from the date the loan is approved. This is a fair suggestion considering the myriad of issues such as preparation and sufficiency in utilizing the funds at hand.”

Chief Edem said the OPS would also want the bank to adopt the models that is in vogue in developing economies whereby new business ventures take their roots from existing one. “They may diversify their operations depending on areas of interest or expertise. This model which emphasises a period of internship, mentoring and effective supervision guarantees that problems associated with start-ups are minimized. This model should be adopted to safe-guard against the hiccups usually associated with Startups.

Period of internship “Also we would prefer that before the loan is advanced to such budding entrepreneur they should be made to pass through a compulsory period of internship to enable them master the craft inherent in the business before being allowed to practice independently. In other words, where all these conditions are fulfilled, when the capacity of these young graduates are built to enable them face the challenges associated with growing a business of their own, it is then time to provide the loan.

“As alluded earlier the initiative is very commendable but must be properly channelled to achieve the intended results. There must be a mechanism to ensure that the so called ‘Bankable Business idea’ is developed after or during a period of effective internship, supervision and mentoring.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Review of the half-year results of eight of the 10 oil and gas firms listed on the NSE main board showed that the companies made a cumulative profit after tax of N18.490 billion as against the N42.797 billion recorded at the same time a year earlier

INVESTOR'S ,

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

H

ONEYWELL Flour Mills Plc was the most patronised stock on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as its share price rose by 24.32 per cent or N0.24 to close at N2.79 from N2.55 per share. N.E.M Insurance was the next, as it rose by 10.90 per cent or N0.06 to N0.74 from N0.68 per share.

Glaxosmithkline followed, rising by 10.74 per cent or N3.03 to close at N39.99 from N36.96 per share; Transnationwide Express Plc closed as the fourth most active stock, appreciating by 9.81 per cent or N0.09 to close at N1.22 from N1.13; Access Bank Plc advanced by 7.14 per cent or N0.30, closing at N5.02 from N4.72, while Oando went up by 7.10 per cent or N0.66 to close at N9.96 from N9.30.

Others were UACN Property Development Co. Plc, which recorded share price increase of 6.78 per cent or N0.40 to close at N8.57 from N8.17, followed by May & Baker Plc with 4.84 per cent or N0.05 appreciation to close at N1.22 from N1.17; GT Bank appreciated by 4.78 per cent or N0.99 to close at N24.50 from N23.51, while P.Z Industries Plc, the last on the top 10 list, appreciated by 4.63 per cent or N1.00 to close at N25.00 from N24.00 per share.

Honeywell Flour Mills Plc has been meshed in declining financial fortune due to factors ranging from falling naira to price war going on in flour milling industry. Accordingly, the company’s profit before taxation fell by 66 per cent for the year ended March 31, 2015 to N1.4 billion from N4.2 billion in the previous year. Also, its profit after tax fell to N1.1 billion compared to N3.4 billion achieved a year earlier, representing 67.6 per cent decline. Its revenue for the period dropped to N49 billion, showing 11 per cent decline relative to N55 billion achieved in 2014.

Though the company is optimistic of a turn around, it explained that the poor financial performance was occasioned by the falling Naira, perennial chaotic traffic and debilitating condition of the roads leading in and out of Apapa. “Added to these, is a rise in dollar denominated input costs. Costs of wheat and spare parts have been rising because of the falling Naira to foreign exchange rates. These challenges coupled with weakening macro-economics of the country, means it takes much longer to factor such cost increments into product prices,” the Managing Director, Mr. Lanre

Jaiyeola, said.

N.E.M like most insurance companies listed on the Exchange is lagging behind in the NSE’s post-listing requirement relating to timely rendition of account.

Owing to this, the company recently got N300, 000 (Three hundred thousand) as fine for late filing of its 2014 full year financial result. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2015, NEM grew gross premium written by 10.73 per cent from N5.81 million in 2014 to N6.43 million. Its profit before taxation rose to N1.87 million from N1.38 million, representing 35.72 per cent increase, while profit after tax at N1.58 million was 54.14 per cent growth over N1.09 million recorded in the same period in 2014. The net assets stood at N7.48 million as against N5.90 million posted in the first quarter in 2014, indicating 26.81 per cent growth.

GSK’s Nigerian unit said on Tuesday its first-half pretax profit for the period ended June 30, 2015 fell to N424.8 million, down 66.05 percent from a year ago.

Revenue also fell to N15.44 billion during the period from N15.66 billion in the same period in 2014.

The company in 2014 financial year proposed a 75 kobo per share dividend and bonus issue of one new share for every four previously held by its shareholders. The drugmaker said the one for four (1 for 4) bonus issue and 75 kobo dividend was payable to shareholders whose names appeared on the company ’s register as at the close of business on May 13, 2015.

Transnationwide Express, which has been investors’ toast, recently revealed plans to increase its share capital from N250 million to N500 million through public offer and rights issue to the existing shareholders. The company plans to offer 132.5 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo by way of rights in proportion of 1.1 shares to the existing shareholders and a total of 234.9 million ordinary shares by way of public offer.

The company said the fund raise is required to meet its expansion plans, as well deploy better information technology to support our business operations.

The company recorded a profit after tax of N45.710 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 as against N28.58 million recorded on the previous year, representing a 60 per cent increase in profit.

BVN: The challenges after the deadline

By Babajide Komolafe

F

OUR days from today, the deadline for bank customers to enrol for the biometric verification number (BVN) will elapse.

According to the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), about 21 million customers have enrolled as at

Friday last week, and 12,000 Diaspora customers have also enrolled. Given, that there are about 40 million bank accounts in Nigeria, and about one third of customers will definitely have more than one account, not to mention those who are signatories to corporate accounts, one might be tempted to conclude that a huge percentage of bank customers

have been enrolled for the BVN. Hence, it is expected that there should be less or none of the kind of crowd and crisis the pervaded banking halls across the country, few days to the June 30th initial deadline. Further, given the massive publicity by banks and the regulator, as well as efforts to address knotty issues, incidencts of complaints of lack of information or breakdown in technology should not be prevalent.

From left: Mr. Franco Maria Maggi, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Mrs Clementina Iyortym, National Trade Marketing Manager; Augustine Ikeasugbe, winner, Gulder Ultimate Chase Promo; Mr Uaboi Agbebaku, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Mr. Mark Rettem, Finance Director, NB, during the presentation of a brand new car to the winner of the Lagos leg of the Gulder Ultimate Chase held at National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

MARKET NEWS

Q2: Economic headwinds pull Oando’s profit down by 27%

By Nkiruka Nnorom

O

ANDO Plc has announced gross profit of N37 billion for the six month period ended June 30, 2015, representing 27 per cent decline over N50.5 billion recorded in the same period in 2014.

Highlights of the company’s unaudited financial statement released on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the revenues fell to N180 billion from N194.6 billion, representing seven per cent decline.

Along with many other companies in the oil & gas industry, Oando’s less than stellar numbers are indicative of the emergence of a new global oil order due to the continuing crude price fluctuation - a near halving since June 2014 - that has changed the corporate landscape for oil companies, and has far-reaching implications for

the economies of oil exporters.

A review of the half-year results of eight of the 10 oil and gas firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) main board showed that the companies made a cumulative profit after tax of N18.490 billion as against the N42.797 billion recorded at the same time a year earlier.

Energy groups

The world’s big energy groups have also shelved $200 billion of spending on new projects in an urgent round of cost-cutting as pricing volatility is sustained.

Investment house, Goldman Sachs, has identified 61 new projects, more than half of those awaiting final approval, as uneconomic at an oil price of $60 a barrel, putting more than $750 billion of capital expenditure at risk and 10.5m barrels a day of peak production.

Among companies deferring big production plans while they wait for costs to reduce are BP, Shell, Chevron, and Statoil.

The company’s full year result released alongside the six months unaudited report showed that its gross profit increased by 17 per cent to N69.8 billion compared to N59.4 billion in 2013. Profit after tax decreased to N183.9 billion compared to N1.4 billion in 2013.

The PAT numbers, according to the company, were impacted by impairments of N76.9 billion (41.8 per cent) in Exploration & Production, N16.9 billion (9.2 per cent) in under lift and JV receivables loss, N37.1 billion (20.2 per cent) in Rig business impairment, and N7.3 billion (3.9 per cent in foreign exchange losses. The company noted that 75.1 percent of the impairments have been declared as non-cash related.Commenting during a visit to the NSE, Mr. Wale Tinubu,

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 — 23

,

S FORUM However, there are challenges the industry and customers would have to battle after the deadline. For example, it is believed that customers that have not enrolled by October 31st will not be able to access or operate their accounts until they do so. Some banks are already communicating this to their customers.

The first challenge in this regard is the issue of customers that have enrolled but are yet to receive their BVN. While, NIBSS has tried to address this challenge by creating an SMS channel to confirm if they have BVN, the issue is that this represents half measure, as many customers have enrolled for more than six months and they are yet to receive the BVN. Two readers, Tope Olorundare and Omosebi Omotayo, sought the assistance of Investors Forum via email last week on how to overcome this challenge.

Omosebi stated, “I did my BVN registration at UBA bank last year, till now I am yet to get my BVN. Here is my ticket I.D. Pls treat this case urgently ”.

Olorundare on his part wrote, “I enrolled in this BVN April this year at Access Bank in Lagos and up till now I don’t have BVN. They don’t seem to have solution to my problem. Don’t know what

While, NIBSS has tried to address this challenge by creating an SMS channel to confirm if they have BVN, the issue is that this represents half measure

Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc said: “Our nation is experiencing change as witnessed from the tone of redirection in the oil and gas industry, which will lead to improved accountability and operational efficacy in all governmental agencies in this sector.

“Our business is also experiencing this

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Global best standards

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INVESTORS SPEAK

to do?

Before deciding to seek help externally, these two customers must have visited their banks, complained severally, and they would have been told to be patient, they would soon receive their BVN. But to no avail. Definitely there would be thousands of customers with similar cases. What would happen to them after October 31st? Would they be allowed to operate their accounts with their registration ticket I.D? These are questions, NIBSS and CBN need to address before Monday November 2nd.

Diaspora customers Similar to the above, is the case of Diaspora customers residing where NIBSS is yet to establish a BVN enrolment center.

While addressing journalists at the AGM of the company on Friday, NIBSS Managing Director, Mr. Ade Shonubi had said, “After the October 31st deadline, their (Diaspora customers) account would not be closed, but they would not be allowed to operate it, and once they do the enrolment and have a BVN, the account will be then activated” He, however, stated, “As at now, we have about 12 centers that have been opened around the world. We expect in the next few days another five or six centers will be opened in places like Australia, Malasia etc.”

Given that it is not the fault of these customers that they have not enrolled for BVN, shouldn’t there be some exceptions for them? Or would they have to suffer the consequences of not being able to access their accounts, while waiting for NIBSS enrolment centers. Or should they incur the expenses of travelling to countries where there is BVN enrolment center in order to meet the deadline.

change with the sale of 60 per cent of our downstream business in line with our strategic goals, placing fundamental growth expectations on the upstream division, as already evidenced in the 11 fold increase in production and 82 per cent increase in 2P reserves.

GTBank MD wins West Africa’s Business Leader of the Year UARANTY Trust Bank Plc has once again reaffirmed its position as a leading global brand with the recent recognition of its Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Segun Agbaje, as West Africa’s Business Leader of the Year during the 2015 All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA).

The All Africa Business Leaders Awards in partnership with CNBC Africa recognizes individuals who have made profound impact in their respective areas by demonstrating innovation, integrity, accountability and adherence to global best standards.

In those days when brokers have problem they will rush to insurance companies to go and have cover, but these days if from the beginning you don’t pay your premium you cannot have cover

According to Roberta Naicker, Managing Director, ABN Group, CNBC Africa is proud to continue the tradition of celebrating visionary leadership and excellence in business across Africa. Through this award, we distinguish and honour leaders who have contributed and shaped the African economy.

She further stated that, “In winning this award, Segun Agbaje epitomizes the core values of a successful leader; strength, innovation, ingenuity, knowledge and foresight – values that are imperative to creating and sustaining a business within the Pan-African and global economy.

•Adeshiyan

•Olusegun

Shareholders differ on insurance stock Shareholders have expressed divergent views on the dwindling activities of insurance sector’s in the Nigerian Stock Market. While some are of the opinion that the sector is not doing well as a result of over regulation from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) others commended NAICOM for helping the sector to improve. Excerpt:

P

By Providence Obuh

ASTOR Olagoke Olusegun, National Coordinator/ President, De-Impressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (Inc.) NAICOM should minimise their charges on insurance companies, because if they also invest in these companies they will not give all those huge charges because it will affect them.

We all know that the only thing shareholders benefits from organisations or companies is dividend, even sometimes when you look at these companies account and expenses, it is not encouraging because there are extra expenditures like fines. When they fine a company for instance N2 million, and that is a company that has not declared dividend for more than three years.

They will not consider such company by asking why their account is being delayed. What I am saying is that NAICOM should take it easy with the companies because it affects the investors.

So many aged pensioners are enjoying from the dividend of their investment and when they don’t see anything coming from where they invested they can die untimely as a result of untold hardship.

NAICOM should always remember the minority shareholders who depend on only their investment.

We are not saying they should not be regulated but it is over regulation that we are complaining about

Chief Timothy Adeshiyan, President, Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA) I don’t agree with anybody that insurance stocks are not doing well. Insurance is about management of a place, it depends on the kind of people managing the insurance company. For instance, this year I will not say Insurance companies have not done well and NAICOM have done a lot to improve so many of the insurance companies.

They are improving, I can tell you boldly, it is when you want to pay your premium that they can listen to you, when you have claims there will be problems. But now, both at the point of claims and the time of premium there has been tremendous improvements. For instance it was NAICOM has established the rule of no premium no cover and when you don’t have cover you can never have claim.

Fire brigade approach A lot of the insurance brokers are responding to it because they don’t want to to take the big risk, so that no premium no cover has helped insurance companies a lot, if you see their balance sheet you will know that there is better cash flow than it used to be in those days.

There is no more fire brigade approach to insurance, in those days when brokers have problem they will rush to insurance companies to have cover, but these days if from the beginning you don’t pay your premium you cannot have cover. We are not saying they should not be regulated but it is over regulation that we are complaining about though the regulation in the insurance sector is highly needed because it will give the insurer (the person who want to insure) the confidence that when he insurers and there is a bubble, then he can have somebody to run to and they too can run to reinsurance companies.

24—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

and December 2015. Power transmission and distribution companies owed N161.244 billion compared to N158.57 billion and N150.88 billion as at May 2015 and December 2014, respectively.

In its analysis, the CBN said: “Net domestic credit (NDC) increased from its level in December 2014 by N2.537 trillion or 13.45 per cent to N21.41 trillion in the review period, indicating a 15.85 percentage points decrease below the provisional programmed target of 29.30 per cent for fiscal 2015, but 28.29 per cent higher than the level achieved a year earlier.

“Net credit to government, VISIT: National Association of Petroleum Exploration, NAPE Executive Committee’s curtesy visit to the Lagos State Executive Governor

Energy firms owe banks N3.72trn — CBN •Upstream oil companies owe N1.15trn

By Michael Eboh OWER firms and oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria are owing banks in the country about N3.72 trillion as at June 2015, according to data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The CBN, in its Statistical Bulletin for the Second Quarter of 2015, said the indebtedness of the energy firms was 27.7 per cent of the total credit to the private sector which stood at N13.433 trillion in the period under review.

The huge debts by the firms are being attributed to the low price of oil in the international market, which has negatively impacted on the revenue profile of the companies.

The total indebtedness of the energy firms as at June end was N147 billion or 4.11 per cent above their total debts of N3.573 trillion as the end of 2014. But it represented a slight decline of N108 billion or 2.82 per cent compared to the N3.828 trillion recorded as at the end of May 2015.

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Energy sector Giving a breakdown of banks’ credit to the energy sector, the CBN said at the end of June, downstream oil and gas, natural gas and crude oil refining companies owed banks N2.059 trillion compared to N2.285 trillion and N2.047 trillion owed in May 2015 and December 2014, respectively.

Similarly, independent power projects and power generating companies were indebted to the banks to the tune of N353.91 billion, compared to N357.501

billion owed in May 2015, and N276.125 billion as at the end of 2014.

On the other hand, upstream

oil and gas services companies owed banks N1.147 trillion against N1.027 trillion and N1.099 trillion as at May 2015,

The total indebtedness of the energy firms as at June end was N147 billion or 4.11 per cent above their total debts of N3.573 trillion as the end of 2014

year-to-date, rose by 231.72 per cent showing 195.67 percentage points increase above the provisional programmed target of 36.05 per cent for fiscal 2015.

“Credit to private sector increased from its level in December 2014 by N782.10 billion or 4.32 per cent to N18.897 trillion. At this level, it was 21.74 percentage points lower than the provisional programmed target of 26.06 per cent for fiscal 2015.”

The report further attributed the increase in credit to government on a N1.183 trillion drawdown of government deposits which overshot the N572.5 billion expansion in claims on government. According to the report, these movements were traced to N1.131 trillion drawdown.

This is on government deposits by the CBN, and N47.1 billion contraction of credit to government by commercial banks. In its analysis on private sector credit, the CBN said: “The 0.6 per cent increase in claims on private sector was accounted for by the increases of N68.3 billion or 0.6 per cent and N16.0 billion or 1.8 per cent in loans and advances to other customers and investments, respectively.

No justification for electricity tariff hike — Stakeholders

By Ediri Ejoh

N

IGERIANS have been thrown into confusion over whose authority supersedes on the issue of electricity tariff increase. No sooner than President Muhammadu Buhari, assured Nigerians that there will be no hike until supply improved significantly, than the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, last week declared a new tariff regime effective from November 1.

Stakeholders note that the new tariff is more than 40 percent higher than the current levels and will be the second time in nine months, even as there has been no significant improvement in the electricity supply situation in the country.

While some consumers admit to better supply in some locations, majority however, insist that the situation is even worse than before, as they enjoy the scarce commodity only for a few hours late into the night, when it is really of no use to them.

No justification: Reacting to the development, an advocacy group, Nigerian Electricity Consumers Advocacy, NECAN, said the recent “consultations” on tariff carried out by electricity distribution companies, DISCOS, were a mere trick to justify tariff hike.

According to NECAN President, Mr. Tomi Akingbogun,

"We believe NERC is allowing the public to be over billed by allowing the DISCOs justify the increases. Otherwise, how can it be explained NERC allowed a tariff hike of 12.5 to 48 percent in January, and allowing same percent in October of that same year?

“NERC has allowed the DISCOs to take advantage of everyone and had changed the rules at will thereby breaking all the rules. The condition given to them was to ensure that customers are metered before complaining of losses.” He therefore called on President Buhari to keep his promises to Nigerians and discourage the exploitation by the DISCOs. Costs evaluation: Also commenting, the Director General, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said the proposed upward review in electricity tariff at this time is worrisome, as consumers should not be made to pay for inefficiency or corruption costs.

His words: "It is important to evaluate the elements of the current costs, especially the integrity of procurement processes and other operational expenditure under the current dispensation. The risk of bloated costs is typically high with such enterprises, especially as they operate in a monopolistic environment.

"Pricing is only one component (although fundamental) in the power reform process. There are other issues such as the gas availability, security of gas infrastructure, adequacy of investment in gas infrastructure, security and adequacy of the transmission lines, and the general framework to mitigate the risk of investment in the sector.

"The problem of outrageous billing is yet to be addressed. The commitment to the provision of meters for electricity consumers to ensure fair billing is inadequate. A vast majority of consumers still have no meters.

Inadequacies in billing Yet this is fundamental to a good relationship between the power firms and their customers.

Many consumers feel exploited at this time because of the inadequacies in billing. The contentious fixed charge is still in place. "It is heart rending that the choice of locations of many of the Independent Power Projects, IPPs, was informed more by politics than the economics of power generation.

"Access to a major input in power generation, which is gas, was not sufficiently taken into account. This reality has badly affected the cost profile of the IPP projects. All these are

complications and challenges on the path of the power sector productivity," he maintained.

Breaking the law: According to Section. 76 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act. •MYTO 1.0 states that there will be no increase until 2017, and only 5% will be allowed.

DISCOs were given two years to meter all customers. But they refused saying there was no money. Grant was given them, they refused to access it.

Alternatively, customers were asked to fund meter purchase and be refunded from their bills. But for three to four years or more down the line, nothing has been done to that effect.

The law does not recognise estimated billing. NERC should stop the practice, but instead it allows it on the excuse that DISCOs must make profit.

Presently, only about 40 per cent of electricity users are metered. How does NERC want the DISCOs to make profit from the 40% customers captured?

This is the question begging for answers if the plan is not to allow them make super profits before metering everyone.

No valid basis for hike: Against this backdrop, the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics, NAEE, condemned attempts by the DISCOs and NERC to increase electricity tariffs, saying that there is no valid and empirical basis for any sort of increase.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—25

Scarcity: Kachikwu ignites hope with new refining models

By Clara Nwachukwu

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NE of the take home messages from the Group Managing Director, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, after scaling his ministerial screening was that finally, the nation’s four refineries will be made to work.

If this happens by December as being planned, then not only will Nigerians kiss goodbye to the perennial fuel shortages that bite harder during this period, but also significantly reduce the cycle of petroleum products importation and the attendant huge capital flight and subsidy claims.

Heads were up at the National Assembly, as millions of Nigerians watched the live telecast of the ministerial screening, when Kachikwu gave the assurance that all the local refineries would have been restreamed by the year end.

According to him, this will displace massive fuel imports, cut huge import bills, reduce pressure on the nation’s lean foreign exchange earnings occasioned by the free fall in crude oil prices at the international market as well as create multiplier effects in the domestic economy.

He expressed confidence in the technical skills of the refineries workforce, saying that over 80 percent of NNPC’s technical staff are competent. He cited the achievements of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC, at rehabilitating the plants as part of the potential available in the industry.

New business model While responding to legislators’ questions, Kachikwu gave a rundown of the Nigeria petroleum industry, and promised to drive an operations model that will place the Corporation on a performance platform that will guarantee commercial viability.

For the over one hour he was put to task, he gave a detailed explanation of a reform package that has been activated to re-inject vibrancy in the petroleum industry. He also disclosed of plans to enhance efficiency and transparency in the sector as well as restructure the national oil firm to be competitive across the full value chain of the industry.

He equally promised to build local capacity across all the business units of the Corporation to enable it live up to the roles as the industry leader, government’s revenue earner, custodian of the nation’s C M Y K

petroleum assets and lead domestic fuel market supplier.

He, however, noted that target objectives will remain only a dream except the operations of all the business arms of the Corporation are commercialised and profitable.

Using the refineries as an example, he said their new role is to operate as profit centres, reliable fuel sources as well as feedstock sources for ancillary businesses, particularly for the petrochemicals and industrial.

At the Port Harcourt Refinery, for instance, he said the complex has become the reference for domestic technical ingenuity, internal innovation and revival model for sister refineries in Warri and Kaduna respectively.

Nigerian refineries: Nigeria’s four refineries have combined capacity for 445,000 barrels crude oil processing per day, which produce about 18 million litres of the premium motor spirit, PMS or petrol. This product is highly prized in the country as one of the main fuel for transportation and light machines used by homes and small businesses.

However, the refineries have remained largely moribund for decades due to poor maintenance and wrong business models. The refineries are over 30 years and have not had a proper Turn Around Maintenance, TAM, for over 15 years, as they relied on the NNPC for administrative and funding control, a system that slowed processes and denied them of financial independence.

But Kachikwu, who is tipped to become the junior but powerful Minister of Petroleum Resources, has reiterated that the new business model he activated in the system will dismantle all administrative and funding constraints in all the Corporation’s business units,

•Oil refinery especially the refineries. He added that this will enable them to leverage internal energies and competencies in optimising uptime at the plants.

He told journalists in Lagos that the refineries are of strategic national economic and security importance, and restated his commitment to not only recover their capacity but also explore opportunities of building new plants with a view to leveraging economies of scale in the existing industry hubs.

Operational efficiency: Kachikwu maintained that all the nation’s refineries must be revamped and attain 60 percent process capacity by December, when government will decide

...target objectives will remain only a dream except the operations of all the business arms of the Corporation are commercialised and profitable

the best management model to adopt in making them efficient.

He noted that none of the refineries can operate profitably below 60 percent capacity, adding that if this were the case, such a refinery will not be supplied crude feedstock through traditional allocation processes.

Under this circumstance, he said the Corporation will have no choice than to explore private sector management for any underperforming refinery.

He said: “If after we finish (facility maintenance) and we think that the issue is management then we see if there is somebody willing to buy a majority share that have the skills set and the market reach internationally to do the work.

“Obviously if we did that and by then we have expressions of interest from people who are building refineries in this political environment they will be given the first right of refusal, because they will be able to help manage what is there, help to share skills.”

He specified that the acceptable 60 per cent performance benchmark must not be a flash in the pan, adding that it would require sustainable uptime at the refineries fluid catalytic cracking units, FCCUs, which is the optimum process unit.

To scale the 60 percent

performance hurdle the refineries must add value to crude oil at all the process units in order to cut waste, enhance commerciality of operations and optimise resources.

He had told journalists: “The greatest immediate challenge is how do you limit the debt loss factor and then on the medium term basis address the issues and make the refineries to work for example? The reality is that the refineries are not working now, because if you give me a 60 per cent this week and next week I am down to zero performance, when you take an average, you are down to 20 per cent and the average performance of the refineries right now is below 30percent, that is on a continuity basis. That is the fact.”

Scaling the hurdle: Interestingly, out of the three refineries, only the 210,000 barrels per day Port Harcourt Refinery has all its three key process units including the Crude Distillation Unit, CDU; Vapour Distillation Unit, VDU; and Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, FCCU, on-stream after an internal rehabilitation programme.

The company which initiated and successfully evolved the downstream petroleum industry local content model for in-country refinery refurbishment and upgrade is already working to ramp up its production performance level to 80 percent installed capacity in order to enter a sustainable commercial comfort zone.

Kachikwu, pointed out that only PHRC appears to have crossed the performance hurdle and stressed that government will no longer run unprofitable businesses when better options exist in private sector partnership.

After revamping the refineries, he said, their business models will be examined to determine the best management approach to take. The model, he said, will protect and preserve the public interest in the refineries without compromising efficient commercial and technical operations standards.

Researchers release report on mini refining in Nigeria

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MID ongoing efforts by stakeholders to grow local refining capacity in Nigeria, the federal government has realised now, more than ever, the critical role of sufficient local refining capacity to the economy and national energy security.

To this end, an energy investment research and advisory initiative, “Africa’s Barrel Equation” has published a research-based report on mini refining opportunities in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy.

Years of agitation for policy support, towards the development of modular refining in Nigeria, received a boost in May, when Nigeria’s

Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, announced a renewed policy attention in this area.

This was followed by roadshows, where DPR explained the essential elements of the new opportunity. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari (with a demonstrable drive to solve Nigeria’s oil sector challenges) in its first few days in office, took a posture that proved its massive support for the growth of local refining capacity.

This is evidenced by the speedy rehabilitation of old refineries, renewed discourse about alternatives and possible

privatisation, as mentioned recently by NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

The 58-page report is titled: “Analysis: Mini Refining Investment Opportunities in Nigeria,” and was lead-authored

by Research Analyst and founder of “Africa’s Barrel Equations”, Mr. Chijioke Mama.

The report takes an analytical look at relevant issues concerning mini refining in Nigeria’s specific context. It also explores a number of areas including: •the risks/strategic issues in plant operation, •existing and desirable fiscal

incentives for investors, •specific risk/location attractions and pitfalls, • the impacts of the current subsidy regime in Nigeria, and, •the determinants of petroleum products price in a market controlled by the free forces of demand and supply.

In addition to some big refining projects that are ongoing and proposed, mini refining comes with unique advantages both to investors and the national economy. These include ease of operation, relatively low plant cost, mobility and scalability has made it very attractive and suitable for solving Nigeria’s peculiar, petroleum products consumption challenges.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 — 27

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VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—29

Buhari should save APC from factionalisation —Sen. Adebayo •Urges President to settle rift between Saraki and Tinubu Senator Salman Adebayo, a medical doctor, was the Deputy Senate Minority Leader of the ANPP during the 4th Senate. In a chat with Vanguard in Ilorin, he spoke on the crisis between the leaderships of the Senate and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC while also canvassing support for President Muhammadu Buhari on his anti-corruption war.

By Demola Akinyemi

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S a former minority leader of the Senate, how do you see the Senate Standing Rule that produced Senator Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate against the wish of a section of his party?

During our time, we were regarded as the guinea pig Senate (1999-2003). We were the ones that fashioned out most of these Senate standing rules.

There was no minority then because we had about three parties. I was the Deputy Minority Leader of the ANPP. I was in the 6-man committee that was first set up by the senate that fashioned out the rules we are using today.

We had the template of the 1989 Senate at that time. The rules of the Senate is very simple, subject to the constitutional provision that there shall be Senate President and his deputy among the members and without emphasis on parties.

Emphasis on parties We have been in opposition for a very long time and in this regard, you can even protest against yourself because it has been one of ingredients for survival then as opposition. There is no doubt that there are mistakes along the line because we are new. The bane of banana peels in the Senate has always been through imposition. Our Senate was the most troubled and most unstable because we had three senate presidents and until we chose our own, there was no peace. You see, the Senate is not a place for imposition. There is a way party can impose if it wants and not like this. The issue was first about zoning, which the party can zone to anywhere but leave the people to decide on the candidate they want from the region. The moment one is C M Y K

particular about a candidate, there will be problem. The Senate is the house of equals and the President is one among those equals and that is why he is a very powerful man in the country. When this thing happened, we were even lucky the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP did not snatch the seat.

If we had made the mistake of not conducting any election as specified, it becomes a nullity because somebody can go to court on it because there was no retraction of that letter, which has a procedure.

Then we had 48 PDP senators and we needed only 37, which is one third of the total number. So they could have gone ahead to elect themselves as President and Deputy and there is nothing anybody can do about it because you need 73 votes to remove any of them and the APC has only 60. Saraki should be commended for saving APC. That is all we have been saying on allowing the senate to chose their man. Despite all the issues regarding the election and intrigues of Saraki, the Senate has twice passed a wide vote of confidence on him, irrespective of what the party says. Saraki just needs to be at home with his fellow senators.

There is no banana peel within the senate but if there is any, it is always thrown from outside into the senate

•Senator Adebayo

What is your advice now that the issue has gotten to this level?

Whatever cannot be helped must be endured. He has emerged, even though he may not be the choice of his party, which is subject to many interpretations. It happened during the time of Aminu Tambuwwal, rather than continue the friction, we should make the best of the situation we have found ourselves and accept it. We have to be very careful as APC because the expectations from the people are enormous and we cannot afford to continue this bickering. The country is in a very bad shape. If we continue to press on this, it may lead to factionalisation. What we should be concerned with is whether he is performing now or not. So far, he has been one of the best Senate presidents we have had within the short time we have had him despite the crisis.

The issues between the Senate President and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu reached a crescendo, last week, with comments coming from both men. How best do you think the APC, as a party, should wade into this?

The two of them are not people you can wish away because they are powerful people in the party.

I don’t think there is anything personal about it and its easy to resolve. That is where the leadership should come in and

the president must wade in at this time. He has to discard all the saying that he is not a politician and can work with anybody. This “siddon look” posture is what got us to this stage in the first place.

Let the leaders come together, meet and trash out all the differences. I don’t see any reason clinging to one position.

Banana peels within the Senate The country is a very big enterprise and everybody can have things. We should not introduce ‘Banana peels. There is no banana peel within the Senate but if there is any, it is always thrown from outside into the Senate through imposition of candidates.

The Senate President has been accused of being APC in body but having the soul of the PDP. Do you subscribe to this notion?

If I have opportunity, I will always like to go back to the Senate. There is no party in the Senate, it’s just for convenience that we say majority and minority. During our time, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had more problem with the PDP, it was ANPP and AD that were his saving grace. Senators don’t see things in party perspective once you are in the red chamber and that is how it should be. They are elder statesmen. The house you see on screen is exhibition

as has been joked, and that is why some are saying they are not doing anything. The bulk of the job is done at committee levels.

What do you make of the ministerial screening?

To me, this is business unusual regarding what we have been seeing. Udo Udoma and I were in the same Senate. Before, the ministers would not have said a word but just take a bow which is conventional. Anybody that has been in the Senate and the House of Reps must have seen it all because they would have interacted with many ministries, agencies and even the judiciary, so what do you want to ask them?

So far, it has been very good. The only person that was given that privilege was Lai Muhammed to honour the Senate President and Kwara state by extension. The rule is that any nominee that is not supported by at least two Senators will not be cleared.

Do you think President Buhari is succeeding in his fight against corruption?

To the extent that he is going to lay a solid foundation and template to fight it, yes.

Corruption cannot be fought in four years. It’s good that he is starting from the top, which will send a message because the average Nigerian is too greedy.

We need strong institutions and not powerful individuals. If that is the much he is being able to do, it is okay.

30—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

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AND Rover continues to broaden the appeal of the Discovery with the launch of two new special editions – the Landmark and the Graphite. New distinctive exterior design features to both editions enhance the look of the fourth generation Discovery, while unique interior touches to the Landmark bring more luxury and exclusivity.

These special editions give the Discovery even greater on-road presence than ever before.

Experts brainstorm on viability, growth in nation’s auto industry

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Discovery Landmark The Discovery Landmark builds on the generous specification of the HSE derivative with new interior and exterior features that offer the customer a more premium and unique look and feel to their Discovery.

The Landmark is available in a limited range of five body colours, including Zanzibar, which has been exclusively reserved for the Landmark edition and is not available on any other Discovery. The other four available body colours are Waitomo Grey, Santorini Black, Yulong White and Indus Silver.

Enhancements to interior refinement come as standard inside the Landmark with the addition of Windsor Leather seats and the Extended Leather Pack throughout, furnishing the dashboard, door casings and fascia. The interior is purposefully limited to three colourways – Ebony, Almond and Tan. The latter is offered for the first time ever in a Discovery, with Tan Windsor Leather Seats complemented by Ebony door casings and fascia and a Straight Grained Walnut veneer trim finisher.

Additionally, the customer can choose from a selection of standard and optional steering wheels to complement the choice of veneer. This includes the Grand Black Lacquer or Straight Grained Walnut Wood and Leather steering wheel.

Graphite The Discovery Graphite builds on the success of the Black Pack and introduces a modern and distinctive look to the model range with striking finishes. A grey Graphite finish to the fender vents and grille, which also sports a gloss black and lighter grey frame, blend with existing grey highlights appointed to the door handles and the Discovery badging to the bonnet and tailgate. Exclusive to the Graphite is the 19-inch 7-split spoke alloy wheel in a high gloss dark grey as standard. The customer can choose between a spectrum of nine body colours and three interior colourways.

Efficient technologies: The acclaimed Terrain Response® and Hill Descent Control drive technologies ensure optimal and responsive driving across any terC M Y K

Land Rover Discovery appeal broadens with two special editions rain as standard. Add in the choice of optional Wade Sensing™ technology to alert the driver to deep water, and the Discovery is equipped to tackle whatever path the customer decides to travel.

A full 7-seater with stadium seating and 2600-litre stowage capacity, the Discovery can be reconfigured and equipped to fit seamlessly into the changing lifestyle of its owner. Its versatile interior with variable seating and a range of essential hard-wearing and practical accessories, ensure everyone travels in premium class comfort without compromise. The split tailgate and height adjustable air suspension are an added bonus for easier loading and unloading.

The Land Rover Discovery continues to drive power and all-terrain capability with both diesel and petrol engine options matched with the refined

ZF 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Discovery’s 3.0-litre V6 Supercharged petrol engine, generates 250kW@6500rpm, with 450Nm of torque, and combined CO2 emissions from 285g/km.

Fuel consumption stands at 12.0

l/100km.

The Land Rover Discovery retains its position as the ultimate vehicle for all-terrain capability and versatility, with over 1 160 000 retail sales worldwide and 225 international awards since its launch in 1989.

PEAKERS from various sectors of the economy will be brainstorming on viability and growth in the nation’s automotive industry on Thursday at the Conference and Exhibition Centre, Ikeja.

Expected to speak at the seminar to address the theme of the event viability and growth in the Nigeria Auto Sector are Dr. Ayo Teriba, CEO Economic Associates, Okey Nwuke, Group Deputy Managing Director, Coscharis Group, who is also a seasoned banker, Engineer Olawunmi Gasper, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Educational Board, Kofi Sageo, Managing Director, Subaru Motors who was also former managing Toyota Nigeria Limited, and Mr. Tony Areyeka, Managing Director Truckmaster who was former Managing Director General Motors Nigeria.

Addressing a press conference to announce the seminar, the chairman, Automobile and Allied Products Sectoral Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Oseme Oigiagbe stated that the Group would use the opportunity to recommend the way forward for the nation’s auto industry which should be a catalyst for nations development.

He explained that their recommendations at the end of the event would be sent to the Vice President and would be vital document for whosoever would be emerging the minister of Trade and Industry.

“We would have a two page document on what to send to the Vice President on the industry” he said, adding that “we would lay the cards on the table for whosoever would become minister of Trade and Industry.

Osinbajo to flags off Abuja International Motor Fair •30 automotive companies to showcase products

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HE Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will lead other dignitaries from the public and private sectors to declare the 17th edition of the Abuja International Motor Fair open on Thursday at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Fair said that having the fair declared open by the Vice President underscores the Federal Government’s commitment in encouraging and supporting efforts geared towards developing the automotive industry in Nigeria; especially now that it is seriously working towards diversifying the economy.

Mr. Agwu, who is also the

Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Ltd,-Organizers of the Fair, noted that the presence of the Vice President will go a long way in reinforcing the aims and objectives of the show which is fast tracking the development of the automotive sector of in Nigeria.

His presence according to the Managing Director would give the needed encouragement and boost to existing and potential investors in the industry.

It will also enable the government to know the level of progress made by the new auto policy as many locally assemble vehicles vehicles will be on display. Innoson Motors the leading local auto assembly company will be taking part in the show for the first time.

Agwu said “The platform of this event will offer a litmus test to the shape of things in the industry with the current paradigm shift in the sector as the automobile is undoubtedly the primary yardstick of success for any auto exhibition.

This means auto enterprises showcasing at any exhibition must ensure visibility and wholeness/completeness, not leaving anything to chance. This edition is loaded with a whole lot of content that is designed to showcase the strength and resilience of the participants as well as create an educative and fun filled atmosphere for all those that will be visiting the show.

“MTN Nigeria Limited, one of

the leading and widest telecommunications companies in the country will be playing a significant role in this event. The telecommunications giant is using the event to support the rapid development of the automotive and road transport sectors on the economy.

This is already working as more reach outs are being made to drive quality visitors to the event using the platform of MTN. With the theme this year, which promotes the culture and attitude of self- belief and self –confidence, the Organising Committee head also noted that aside the known strong brands that will be at the show, a few others will be debuting.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 — 31

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CELEBRITY:

EDUN, IKI-EBIEROMA: The emergence of Delta’s constitutional PAGE 4 militants

VOL. 1: N o. 771 1 No.

From across 10 states, Bille descendants trace origin to Rivers PAGE

5

TUESD AY, OCT OBER 227, 7, 20 15 TUESDA OCTOBER 201

N23b Oghara IPP abandoned

•The facility’s main gate •Uncompleted turbine masts

•An abandoned pick up van

•Uncompleted office block

•We did what govt paid for — Company source •No money to go on; govt paid N19bn, not N22bn — Ochei, ex-Speaker •Local suppliers, labourers cry over purported N30 million debts — Chief Ajubeshi •Fear of vandalism as security guards threaten to quit over salary arrears •We heard some people bought houses in Asaba, US from this project — LOCALS

By Godwin Oghre

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G H A R A — D AV N O T C H , the contractor executing the N23.2 billion Delta State Independent Power Project, IPP, at Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, initiated by the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Udaughan, in 2009, has finally abandoned the job, Niger Delta Voice can authoritatively reveal.

Last Friday, when Niger Delta C M Y K

Voice visited Oghara, weeds had overtaken the project site deserted for about a year now.

The premises lay idle. The cabins, which served as temporary offices, were under lock and key, while the warehouses were principally unfinished.

The turbine masks, office blocks, security house, stores and basement also remain uncompleted. At the deserted site were two caterpillars and one pick-up van with deflated tyres.

Also at the temporal warehouse in Oghara, housing some of the imported equipment, it was also evident that nothing was going on, as the depot, almost gutted by fire, some months ago, was lifeless.

The IPP project is a combined cycle utilizing gas/diesel power plant, involving acquisition and installation of two open cycle Rolls Royce Trent 64 MVA Phase IV Gas Turbines and two 64 MVA Brush generators, capable of generating 100MVA.

Gov Okowa’s visit

It was gathered that the governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, had also visited the project site to assess the situation on ground. However, he has not publicly declared his position on the project.

A top official of the company, however, said: “There is no fraud, the company has delivered on what government had paid so far, there is no money now to continue, we need money to complete the project. The equipment ordered

had been brought in and are in the warehouse in Oghara.”

The project was very dear to Dr Uduaghan, but it could not be verified why it was not completed during his tenure, as it laid comatose in the last months of his administration.

The only thing that could be insinuated was that his political relationship with the former Speaker, Ochei, who divested his interest in the company, two years after the contract was

Continued on Page 7

2—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

EKET MODEL CITY PROJECT:

Gov Emmanuel in a hurry to change A’Ibom *Pays compensation; to inaugurate project January 2016

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

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By Tom Moses

KET—OVER 300 residents of Atabong Street, Eket, Akwa Ibom State, whose structures the state government is demolishing to pave way for the remodelling of the town into a modern city, grinned, weekend, as Governor Udom Emmanuel commenced direct payment of compensation to beneficiaries.

The affected villagers said, judging from previous circumstances, they never knew government would pay them compensation before the actual demolition of their structures and commended Governor Emmanuel for not subjecting them to hardship.

One of the villagers, Chief Felix Ibok, said: “Governor Emmanuel by this gesture has demonstrated the fact that his administration means well for the people of this state. What he has done for me today is like a dream.

“In fact, if government had come to forcefully eject me, I would have done something terrible. I do not want to mention what I would have done, but I do not think anybody would be happy with the government for coming to eject me as was the case with the people of Bakassi without providing alternative places to shelter them.

“I am very thankful to Governor Emmanuel for not putting me to shame and giving me the means to relocate and even build a better house for my children. With this cheque, which will become cash in the next few days, I can relocate without qualms.

“My children will not wander like sheep without shepherds because I am going to secure not just another house, but a comfortable one to shelter them.”

Besides, he commended the

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Theresa Ugbobu Ochuko Akuopha Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa C M Y K

Commissioner cross-checking names of beneficiaries governor for making bold his promise to rebuild Eket Local Government Area into a model city and, therefore, restore the confidence of the people of Eket Senatorial district, who suffered total neglect in the eight years of the previous administration.

Another beneficiary, Mrs. Juliana Etuk, who was also in jubilant mood after receiving her cheque, praised the governor for his love for the people.

Contractor already mobilized—Inyang Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang, who handled the issuance of cheques to the beneficiaries, said Governor Emmanuel was desperate to have the project executed and inaugurated by January 2016.

He explained that prior to the

commencement of payment of the compensation, the contractor, Niger-Pet Construction Company Limited, assigned to handle the Eket Model City project, was mobilized over a month ago, hence the need for the beneficiaries to quit the spaces marked for demolition for the actual work to commence.

“We discovered that in the past when government paid compensation, there was a tendency for wrong persons to pick up the money and deprive the people, who were affected by the exercise, the ability to move out and secure alternative accommodation for themselves.

Removing bottlenecks “There was also the issue of quarrelling among persons

•Beneficiaries in a queue for payment who may have been bearing the same names and work on the projects would be delayed because of litigation.

“We therefore advise that for the compensation to be paid and for government to have the right of way and subsequently hand over to the contractor, any one whose property is affected and needs to be paid will have to meet certain minimum standard requirements.

“The property owner must show up with a witness, who could be a lawyer or a valuer so that the person would sign the pay advice for us and while you are picking up the cheque, the contractor, who is picking up the right of way will sign and the estate valuer who valued that property will sign.

“The consultant who is

making the payment on behalf of the government will also sign and we will all witness it.

“We want to eliminate all the bottlenecks so that after payment of compensations, there would be no issues of persons going to court to say that people picked up their monies or would be calling up their lawyers and then, the lawyers will go to court and cause this project to be delayed.

“I want to make a passionate appeal: there are two things that happen in the society. It is either people welcome development or they reject it and in our present circumstances, government is going out of its way to raise this money because as you know, the price of

Continued on Page 5

… As controversy trails payment of compensation

By Chioma Onuegbu

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YO—THERE is hullabaloo over payment of compensation to owners of property to be demolished by the state government to create space for construction of roads at different local communities in Akwa Ibom State.

Some residents of the affected areas, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice last week, complained that the compensation paid to them was meagre and their property undervalued, while others were threatening to go on protest over the matter.

National President of Ekid People’s Union, EPU, Professor Asindi Asindi, lamented that apart from being inadequate, the mode of payment of compensation for structures, along Atabong Road in Eket Local Government Area, was unacceptable to them because the procedure fell short of normal standards of paying compensation.

He said: “It has come to the notice of Ekid People’s Union that compensation being paid on demolition of structures, farms and properties along this road is far from adequate. Ekid People’s Union is the mouthpiece of Ekid nation.

“Therefore, we are appealing

for a review of the present compensation process regarding the Atabong road project so that our people will not be subjected to any form of socio-economic and psychological trauma.

“We seem to witness an unprecedented and uncivilized procedure, whereby accredited and assigned valuers are ignored and landlords are paid directly with no recourse to valuation. We appeal to Governor Udom Emmanuel to intervene in the current compensation payment exercise to rescue the people from untold hardship.”

Properties undervalued Similarly, one of the affected

persons living along Akwa Efak Street, off Nsikkak Eduok Road, who did not want his name in print, said they were not satisfied because the compensation paid for the structures was undervalued.

The resident said: “Yes, compensation was paid last week. But it is very poor and inadequate. No doubt, people welcome the idea of constructing the road to a standard because it will divert the flooding and reduce the untold sufferings residents have bearing over the years.

“But what I am saying is that with what was paid as compensation, most landlords will automatically become tenants. People are not happy

Demolition of structures in Uruan LGA

and they even planned to go on protest because of that; we are blaming the valuers because the properties were undervalued.”

Communities petition A’Ibom Assembly Also, communities in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, including Uruk-Ata Ikot Ekpu, whose structures and farms were affected when the EtimEkpo-Iwukem Road leading to Aba in Abia State was constructed by the immediate past administration, have petitioned the state House of Assembly over alleged nonpayment of compensation.

The lawmaker, representing Onna Constituency and the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Nse Essien, who brought the matter up during plenary last Thursday, said he was disturbed by the numerous petitions dealing with compensation.

He said: “Mr. Speaker, I am particularly concerned about the people of Uruk-Ata Ikot Ekpu and neighbouring communities in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area whose property, structures, farm lands and economic trees had to pave

Continued on Page 5

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—3

BAYELSA OIL COMMISSION:

Dickson breaching election promise — Alagoa Morris, Head, ERA/FoN

•Makes case for law to regulate solid waste, sewage disposal

BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — ENVIRONMENTAL activist, Mr. Alagoa Morris, is disheartened at the failure of the Bayelsa State Government to establish an oil commission, a promise made to the people

by Governor Seriake Dickson during his first term electioneering campaign.

Morris, Head of Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoN, Bayelsa State, is also livid that the state House of Assembly had not passed a law to regulate indiscriminate disposal of solid waste and sewage.

He, however, said that the Governor Seriake Dickson-led government had done relatively well in the area of infrastructural development, especially major roads in Yenagoa and enactment of bills and laws to back up his transparency initiatives and other empowerment policies.

Need for oil commission The environmentalist, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said he was at a loss over why Dickson had not set up the Bayelsa State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, BASOPADEC, given the fact that it was part of his campaign promises.

His words: “Some individuals and groups have been advocating for this commission since 2006; during the brief

administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and also during the immediate past administration in the state.

“Civil society groups, including the Eagle’s Eye of Bayelsa, TEEB; Bayelsa NonGovernmental Organizations Forum, BANGOF, presented private bills in 2006 and 2010, respectively, to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

“It will not be out of place for Bayelsa State to join other states in the Niger Delta that have gone ahead to set up a replica of the NDDC to take care of community development related issues; especially oil producing communities.

“Presently, apart from oil company-sponsored projects in communities, government’s presence is roundly absent in most of our communities. The establishment of such a commission would bridge the lacuna and, that is the essence in calling for the establishment of the BASOPADEC by the state government and, for the interest of justice and common good.”

Host communities, oil companies’ clashes “The establishment of this important commission to take care of part of the 13 percent derivation accruing to the state is predicated on the need for justice. If the 13 percent derivation from the Federation Account is meant to address the developmental challenges of communities in oil bearing states.

“It is only proper that the funds trickle down to the communities; those who bear

the negative consequences of oil exploitation. In this connection, I hail the Federal Government for seeing to that need.

“The gap intentionally created by not allowing this to trickle to the communities is directly responsible for most of the conflicts between host communities and oil companies in the state and other criminal activities that are on the rise in the creeks, such as kidnapping and piracy.

“Communities now see the oil companies as sole agencies for community development, while government shirks its responsibility to the people and communities.

“Bayelsans are demanding the establishment of BASOPADEC. Please establish it for the people. Currently, it is very sad and unfortunate that the giant generators, water projects, concrete internal road projects, health centres and more in some of our communities are products of oil companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (which is part of their operational costs).

“The government should

Bayelsans are demanding the establishment of BASOPADEC. Please establish it for the people.

Bayelsa oil communities accuse firm of violating MoU BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By Emem Idio

E

KEREMOR—FOUR oil producing communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have tasked multinational oil company, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with them in 2013.

Chair, Kou Cluster Communities Urban Foundation, comprising Agge, Ogbeintu, Orobiri and C M Y K

Azamabiri communities, Mr. David Itiemoghan, at a briefing in Yenagoa, alleged that SPDC in 2013 agreed to fund development projects selected by the communities using the Community Development Board, CDB, but expressed regrets that the company had failed to honour its agreement.

Itiemoghan, who accused SPDC of “hypocrisy and deceit,” berated the company for paying lip service to its legal obligations, while seeking new ways of evading them.

He said: “Since 2013, SPDC has only paid one tranche of N125 million instead of seven.

In plain terms, instead of N675 million due to Kou communities

since 2013 to 2015, only N125 million was paid in 2013 and nothing has been heard from SPDC since then.

“Now, SPDC is inviting the host communities to deceive them gain. They will say many good things they will do to protect the environment and compensate the people affected by their activities, but will not keep their promises.”

While urging the multinational to commence forthwith the implementation of the MoU as it is being done in other areas to give the people a sense of belonging, he warned that the peaceful disposition of the people should not be taken for granted.

•Mr. Alagoa Morris bridge the gap by carrying out its social responsibility to the people.

“There is no single federal, state or local government project directed at most of our communities.

This is unthinkable and unacceptable.

Even some that you may find are non-functional like most NDDC water projects. The establishment of BASOPADEC would assist in bridging the developmental lacuna.”

Dangerous affair On waste clearance, he lamented that due to the poor policy of the state on waste disposal and lack of approved sewage disposal sites, it had become a gory sight to see the discharged contents of the vacuum truck spread into swamps, lakes, rivers and streams within communities in the state.

His words: “The same has been the reason why the streets of Yenagoa are not only occasionally littered with overflowing refuse receptacles, but the embarrassing scenario whereby waste is evacuated on the streets and is dumped in an unsafe manner at the outskirts of Yenagoa, along the Opolo-Gbarain link road.

“The upswing in sewage disposal truck sailing in the nooks and crannies of Yenagoa points to the fact that many landlords have complied with the state government’s order of providing toilet in their buildings, especially water systems.

“Not only that, the population of Yenagoa is increasing by the day; most Bayelsans have relocated from Port Harcourt to Yenagoa.

“In such a scenario, unless the government takes the lead to direct/control where sewage operators should dispose contents in their trunk; the operators will help themselves and indiscriminate disposal would be the painful result.

“It is important to note that currently, raw sewage and other chemicals like fluid from oil companies’ drilling sites, are being discharged directly into moving bodies of water.

“The discharged content of the vacuum truck spreads into swamps, lakes, rivers and streams within communities.

This is dangerous considering the Ijaw tradition of drinking freely from our natural water bodies.

“The people of Ogboloma community in Gbaran Kingdom of Yenagoa Local Government Area are not happy about the situation as sewage and other chemicals so discharged around Opolo-Epie (off Tombia-Amassoma Road) flow down to their river.

“The negative impact is the lot of all downstream communities, along the Taylor Creek and River Nun; as the creeks and rivers are our natural play grounds.

Ocean surge “The state government should also collaborate effectively with federal government interventionist agencies and other development partners to see ways of addressing the menace posed by oceanification/coastal erosion facing most of our coastal communities.

“Just as the issues of desertification and gully erosion have graced the front burner and caught the attention of the federal government, representatives of the state at National Assembly should ensure that the environmental challenges faced by our communities are curbed as soon as possible.

“Communities such as Koluama, Sangana, Odioama, Okpoama,Town-Brass on the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean and, Peremabiri, Anibaze, Famgbe, Abobiri along our rivers, are affected.”

4—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

CELEBRITY

citizens of the state.

The judgment was the first judicial pronouncement in Delta State affirming the applicability of FoI Act in the state. The matter is now subject of appeal at the Court of Appeal, Benin City.

EDUN, IKI-EBIEROMA:

The emergence of Delta’s constitutional militants

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—TWO young lawyers in Delta State, Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun (Esq.) and Okiroro Iki-Ebieroma (Esq.) are gradually cutting their teeth as campaigners for justice and fighters for the downtrodden in the state in the mould of late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

Findings by Niger Delta Voice showed that the constitutional lawyers and human rights activist had instituted several landmark cases in courts against the state government in particular, challenging the laws and stipulations they believe are against the silent majority.

The two legal practitioners from the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Warri branch, whose members brand themselves as the “Radioactive Bar,” have interestingly sacrificed their resources and time, over the years, to fight the status quo of impunities and illegalities of authorities without seeking for media hype.

Pension, gratuity law for govs, dep govs A fundamental case they took up on behalf of the people of the state, which many are unaware of until date, is Suit No: W/01/2014, Olukunle Oghenevo Edun and Okiroro Iki-Ebieroma v Governor, Delta

State and one Anor.

The matter, pending at the High Court, Warri, calls upon the court to determine the constitutionality of the Pension Rights of the Governor and the Deputy Governor of Delta State Law, Cap P5, Laws of Delta State, 2008.

The law already passed by the Delta State House of Assembly in 2008 endorses free medical treatment for life in Nigeria and abroad for both the former Governor and Deputy Governor, who have held offices and completed their constitutional tenure of four years and their immediate families at the expense of Delta State Government.

It also approves 156 days of annual vacation within Nigeria for the former governor, while the former Deputy Governor shall enjoy 15 days annual vacation within Nigeria but the serving governor must priorapprove the expense of only the Deputy Governor.

By the law, the state government is to provide the former governors and deputies a well-furnished and equipped office, as well as a wellfurnished five-bedroom duplex and four-bedroom duplex, respectively, in any location of their choice within Delta State.

Militants’ attack The two lawyers, however, approached the court for a declaration that former governors and deputies of Delta

•Kunle Edun State are not entitled to gratuity and pension by the provisions of Section 124 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap C23, LFN 2004.

They also cited Section 6 (d) of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act, Cap R7, LFN, 2004 and section 3 (p) of the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission Act, Cap N72, LFN, 2004.

They asked the court to compel the defendants to commence the recovery of all monies, and benefits/or property paid/given to any former governors or deputies of Delta State in contravention of Section 124 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap C23, LFN, 2004.

Other declarations they sought are: “An order of injunction restraining the first and second defendants, either by themselves and/or through their officials, subordinates and agents from further carrying into effect the provision of Section 6 of the Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor of the said Delta State Law.” Govt sponsorship of pilgrimage Yet, another matter by the duo is suit number, W/437/2013: Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun v Governor, Delta State and three others, which the trial judge, Hon Justice Briki-Okolosi delivered judgment June 18,

•Iki-Ebieroma 2014, against the governor and other defendants.

The court directed the defendants to furnish the claimant the particulars of all the persons, including government officials, sponsored on pilgrimage.

The court further ordered the defendants to furnish the claimant with particulars of financial allocation to the Pilgrims Boards since 2010 and how they spent the funds within two weeks from the date of judgment.

The court restrained the state government from releasing any further funds to both the Christian and Pilgrim Boards except it complied with the orders.

First FoI case in Delta The legal practitioners had in the suit filed in line with the Freedom of Information, FoI, Act, sought the following reliefs: a declaration that the funding of the pilgrims, be it Christians or Muslim is unconstitutional as it contravenes Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prohibits the state from adopting a state religion.

In their view, the huge resources expended on this annual ritual and jamboree should go to other competing socio-economic demands begging for urgent government attention, which were of more benefit to a larger number of the

Benin Republic varsity appoints Dein of Agbor chancellor

BY THERESA UGBOBU

A

GBOR—THE Dein of Agbor Kingdom in Delta State, His Royal Majesty Dr. Benjamin Ikenchuku Kiagborkuzi, has been made Chancellor of the Western African University, WAU, Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The management team of the university, led by the founder, Professor Olusola Onyinderoy, visited Nigeria, last week, to inform him of his selection.

Dein of Agbor, who received the delegation at his palace, said he was pleasantly surprised when he got a letter from the Benin Republic University choosing him as its chancellor, saying he became C M Y K

chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, aged 30 years.

HRM Kiagborkuzi, due to handover to a new chancellor, implored the WAU team to join him at the University of Ilorin for the ceremony.

Professor Onyinderoy described the Agbor monarchy as ordained and blessed by God, adding that the team was elated to meet with the revered monarch and prayed for long life and an action-packed reign.

Chairman, Ika South Local Government Area, Hon Fred Ofume, who was present at the meeting, expressed gratitude for the great honour done to Agbor people and the local government.

He said: “This is your home and we will make there (Benin Republic) our home, where our

children will come over to be wonderful graduates.”

•Dein of Agbor and members of Western African University in his palace.

Interrogating Delta’s N50bn bond In suit number, W/137/2013, Okiroro Iki-Ebieroma v Governor of Delta State & Anor, the activists, pursuant to the FoI Act, sought for information on how Delta State Government utilized the N50 billion it obtained from the bond market, particularly the N1 billion alleged to have been spent in the renovation of courts in Delta State.

The trial court, however, held that claimant had no locus standi, but the decision is the subject of an appeal pending at the Court of Appeal, Benin City.

Legality of Certificate of Road Worthiness Besides, in suit number, UHC/ 186//2014, Olukunle Edun vs.

Gov. Delta State, pending at the High Court, Ughelli, they are contesting the legality of the issuance of Certificate of Road Worthiness and collection of levies thereof in respect of private vehicles, without any law expressly authorizing it.

Restriction on monthly sanitation day Edun and Iki-Ebieroma have also filed suit number W/199/ 2015, challenging the declaration of the every last Saturday of the month as sanitation day in Delta State, when the movement of residents is restricted between the hours of 7a.m. and 10a.m. without any enabling law authorizing such action.

No parking sign on Federal highway In a different suit, Olukunle Edun vs. Golden Tulip, a prominent hotel situated along the Warri-Port Harcourt Expressway, Effurun, owned by former Minister of State for Education and criminologist, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, the lawyers are also querying the legality of permanently affixing on parts of the federal highway at the front of the hotel a “No Parking” sign.

Complaint against antikidnapping law Additionally, in suit number W/386/2014, M. E. Ukusare & 2 Ors v. Delta State House of Assembly & 3 Ors., Edun and Iki-Ebieroma have challenged the constitutionality of sections 4 (4&5), 11(2) and 16(3) of the Delta State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Terrorism Law, 2013.

They are against the provision of the law, which circumscribes the powers of a judge from granting bail to an accused contrary to Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Their objection is the provision, which expressly forbids the High Court from granting bail to persons charged under the law in the face of the salient provisions of sections 1(3),6(6)(a), 35(1), 35(4)(a)(b), 36(1) , 36(2a) and 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

From across 10 states, Bille descendants trace origin to Rivers

By Davies Iheamnachor & Jennifer Emengo

B

ILLE—IT was a renaissance of sort last week at Bille Kingdom, Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, as descendants of the clan, stretched across 10 different states in the country, traced their root back to the monarchy.

The progenies from Kaduna, Plateau, Nassarawa, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and others returned to their ancestral homes to the warm embrace of their relatives in Niger Delta region.

According to Bille folklore, a

dispute ensued during the reign of Queen Ikpakiaba of ancient Bille, which resulted into a war that made some Bille ancestors to migrate to other parts of the country.

Praiseworthy tribes The Bille tribes of Jahr, Afizere, Mbuala, Kantara, Atiap and Bille, under the aegis of JAMKAB, stormed Bille Kingdom to observe its third annual national programme.

They encompass Jahr, Irgwe Bille in Plateau State, Bille Kingdom in Rivers State, Kantana Bille in Nasarawa State, Afizere, Moruwa, Atakar,

Today, Nigeria is looking for peace; insecurity is everywhere.

We spread all over the 10 states and we are living in peace.

As you can see, both Muslims and Christians are here as one family.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—5 Ogoro, Chawe, Bade, Atiap, government does not normally Fonsun Bille in Kaduna State look at these tribes. They look and Mbula, Tambo, Bwazza at us as the minority group, but Bille in Adamawa State. we are not, because these A villager told Niger Delta ethnic groups, Kantara, Bille, Voice that the reason for and the rest are all loving forming the union was to show people. that “we are one and under the “The programme is to same umbrella, despite their rediscover ourselves. We just different states of residence.” want to prove that there is peace. That is why we are here Bille Christians, in Bile Kingdom from the Muslims’ paradigm Northern parts of Nigeria. We Speaking at Iwo-Ama-Town are in about seven states in the Hall, Bille Kingdom in north: Plateau, Bauchi, Degema, JAMKAB Chairman, Adamawa, Taraba, Nasarrawa, Professor Butswat Kunwur, Gombe, Kaduna.” said: “The seminar would help We’re one tribe us in no small measure to realize our communality, —Minapakama bridge the gap and thereby The Vice Chairman of Bille foster the unity, peace and Kingdom Council of Chiefs, stability we sorely need in this Chief I. O. Minapakama, said: country.

“The Bille Council of Chief is “Today, Nigeria is looking for delighted to host our brothers, peace; insecurity is who have been cut off from us everywhere. We spread all over by historical accidents for so the 10 states and we are living long, when a man without in peace. As you can see, both relations can be trampled upon Muslims and Christians are without much ado.

“We are glad to know that we here as one family. We are happy and jubilating, you have our people and they are cannot go to other places and yearning to relate with us at all have programmes such as this. times despite the physical “We are here in Bille distance. Your presence here in kingdom because they are our Iwo-Ama-Town Hall is brothers. I was motivated to sufficient assurance that we are form this NGO because I looked never alone any more.” at our people spread all over the 10 states and the Uncommon uniqueness A communiqué read by Professor Kontein Trinya after a one-day seminar, said the union had resolved to ensure harmony among the people.

The communiqué read in part: “We shall celebrate our discovered identity in spite of our expensive geographical spread. We commend the selfless initiative of JAMKAB in fostering unity among the people in the various states.

“JAMKAB groups will stand to promote physical, economic, educational and social development in our respective spheres. We shall continue our unifying annual cultural events.

“We shall stop oppression of our people. We shall call on all Nigerians to support and promote all programmes geared towards the promotion of peace and unity.”

•Group picture of JAMKAB

Gov Emmanuel in a hurry to change A’Ibom Continues from Page 2 petroleum has dropped to N38 per barrel, meaning that this project would have become almost impossible.”

Quit structure as you collect your money “So, for the present government to go out of its way to look for the means of raising the funds for this project to be done, I want to make this passionate appeal that let our individual interest not supersede collective interests.

“When this road is done, it will bring development to the entire community. Let not a single individual wake up and want to foment trouble.

“We have come to pay this compensation today in Eket to prove that government is not playing pranks. Therefore, as you receive your compensation package, you have to vacate the structure. So, let your personal interest not override collective interest.

C M Y K

“We need 7.5 metres on both sides of the road.

This Eket must become a modern city. Thus, demolition exercise is expected to commence from the filling station down to the market.”

LG Chair thrilled Eket council Caretaker Committee Chair, Mr. Frank Archibong, expressed gratitude to Governor Emmanuel for empowering the people to relocate to other places of their choice, even though government could appropriate the land in the over-riding interest of the government.

Archibong also commended the governor for undertaking the transformation of Eket, which had suffered neglect for the past eight years, though the oil minerals that attract huge allocations to the state come from the domain.

Howver, government did not disclose the total amount it was expending as compensation to the property owners.

… as controversy trails payment of compensation Continues from Page 2 way for the construction of Etim-Ekpo, Iwukem Road in the previous administration. They have not been paid compensation. “l am aware that before that road was constructed, there must have been provision for compensation to be paid. But since 2008, nothing has been given to those whose houses were affected and I think as a House, that calls for concern; we have a duty to ask questions.”

Accordingly, while deliberating on the issue of compensation, the House presided over by the Speaker, Aniekan Uko, decided to summon both the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Akpaneyen and his Lands and Planning counterpart, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, to appear before the House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petition.

Some of the lawmakers observed that the same problem of payment of compensation was already dogging the current road construction.

6—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

BEDEC cuts off power supply to Delta community *Angry youths storm office, molest workers *Manager rebuffed me on phone — Monarch *I didn’t slight him — BEDEC manager

By Theresa Ugbobu

O

WA OYIBU—THE Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDEC, has cut off electricity supply to Owa-Oyibu community, Ika North-East Local Government Area, Delta State, since July over a disagreement between its staff and a villager.

Obi of Owa Kingdom, Owa Oyibu monarch, HRM, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice on the sour development, said: “When I discovered that Owa Oyibu has been cut off, I called the manager of BEDEC in charge of Agbor Distribution Centre on phone.

“I introduced myself as the Obi of Owa, but before I could proceed further, he switched off his phone.

“If there is any problem between the community and BEDEC, nobody complained to me as the monarch.”

They‘re owing us N34m—Manager Contacted, Business

Manager, BEDEC, Agbor, Mr. Francis Okhaise, lamented the attitude of Owa indigenes over non-payment of electricity bills.

He said: “When I was posted to Agbor to work, there was no office of BEDEC at Owa- Oyibu, but I was able to rent a threebedroom flat with two of my staff working there.

“After a while, I decided to send for another staff from Agbor making them three, so they can work effectively.

“The company then noticed that for a period of time Owa Oyibu community has not been paying for power supply. On 29 June when I discovered that we were not measuring up to expectation, I decided to send my men on disconnection for non-payment of power supply bill.

“They got to the first house at Owa Oyibu, where the costumer owed N65,000. As they tried to disconnect him from power supply source, Owa Oyibu indigenes around started fighting my staff.

“It was recorded that Owa Oyibu community owes BEDEC company N34 million

•Owa Oyibu town

and they have refused gradual deduction. On June 30, I went to report the incident to the vigilant Chairman, Owa Oyibu, who apologized to me.

Youths beat up staff at Agbor “On the same day, June 30, Owa Oyibu youths came to BEDEC office in Agbor en masse, found only one of my staff, Chinedu Omorojie, from Abovo community, got him beaten and even pulled out one of his teeth.

“We reported the case at Owa Oyibu Police Station. It was then the company withdrew its services because Owa-Oyibu community was not paying their power supply bills. If they pay their bills, we will give them power.

“Other neighbouring communities in the same local government area like Owa Ekei, Owa Alizomor, Owa Alero and Owa Ofie have power supply because they do not owe the company.”

Condition His said: “There must be a commitment from the Owa

•Agbor electricity office Oyibu community before power supply can be restored, not necessarily paying everything.

Most of the BEDEC staff at the head office had worked in the banks, they give me target and I have to meet my target.”

On the allegation that he snubbed the monarch on phone, he said: “I did not complain to the monarch about

the action of Owa Oyibu youths.

All I am interested in, is for them to pay their power supply bills.

The monarch never called my phone.

“Currently, there are two BEDEC staff at Owa Oyibu. I have asked them to search for another office accommodation at a nearby community, Owa Alero.”

Hungry flood victims battle bizarre ailments, reptiles in Rivers RIVERS…

THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NA TION NATION

By Davies Iheamnachor

A

KINIMA—RESIDENTS of five communities overrun by flood at Ahoada West Local Government Area, Rivers State, are currently grappling with strange illnesses, reptiles and mosquitoes.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that mosquitoes, reptiles and other weird insects dislodged from their abodes in the forests have found comfort in the communities.

This has also led to outbreak of different ailments in the communities, a development that has compounded the problem of the famished Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, at Mbiama, Oruama, Akinima, Joinkrama 1 and 2 communities.

The ravaging flood, which started in September, had previously submerged farms in the community, destroying crops.

C M Y K

Expensive miscalculation Residents said that the flood came at a time they were not expecting it, judging that the one of 2012 started around September and they were at ease until Orashi River overran its bank and flooded the community.

When Niger Delta Voice visited Akinima community, five churches, including St. Peters Anglican Church, Akinima and Assemblies of God Church, Akinima, and 60 residential homes were affected.

The flood hampered the annual harvest thanksgiving of the St. Peters scheduled for last Sunday.

A villager, Mr. Agbue Elie, said: “My community is suffering now because of the flood. Water has covered everywhere so we cannot convey our properties to any other place.

“The water has covered our houses and our farms. We are suffering because our cassava and plantain farms, where we make our living, have been destroyed by the flood.

Wandering about homeless “Where I am living is covered with water and majority of us are just roaming about in the community without any place to live.

“Government should recognize those people that are affected and help us in one way or the other to save us from this level of suffering.”

Another resident, Mr. Joseph Mgborogu, said: “Water has submerged my house. I live with my family now at one of my friends’ house.

“The water started in September and it covered our

•Mrs Ngozi Anene

farms because we farm near the river. We are now complaining of hunger because the water has destroyed everything we have in our farms. The government should help us in any way they can.”

Similarly, a native of Imo State, who resides in the area, Mrs. Ngozi Anene, said: “The flood affected us in 2012 and this year. I am living in my business shop because the water has taken over my house.

“I parked my belongings in three different places and distributed my children among friends and family because we

•Mr. Ikechukwu Obuzor

do not have anywhere to live.”

No help yet from govt, agencies Anene asserted: “We are not happy that till now, no government body has visited.

It was only during the elections that the government had time to come to this place. I appreciate the former Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government, Mr. Ikechukwu Obuzor, for making out time to come and see us even when he had left office.

“As things are now, we cannot go to our farms to look for food because everywhere is covered with water so there is no way of going out to get our food.”

Ex-LG chair procures boats Meanwhile, Mr. Obuzor had procured boats and canoes to transport people to safety, at the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs camp.

The former council boss, who empathized with the affected persons, said: “I will talk to the Head of Local Government Authority, HLGA. He is in charge of that office for now to see how the council can start to do something to support the people and use the things I have put in place as regards this flood.”

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—7

N23b Oghara IPP abandoned Continued from Page 1 sealed, nosedived during the

period.

Ochei contested the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries in 2014, which Okowa won. Both are from Delta North senatorial district, but the governor, reportedly, does not want to politicize the project, except that the state was facing financial difficulties.

Clark’s initial alarm Former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, raised the alarm in 2013 that the contractor, Davnotch, had abandoned the project, but many read political mischief in his comments because he was allegedly against the gubernatorial ambition of Ochei.

Ochei dismissed Clark’s allegation at the time, while officials of the firm took reporters on a tour of the project site to assess things on ground, including the two gas turbines and accessories, manufactured by Rolls Royce, United States of America, USA, already at the temporal warehouse.

Two years after, the former Speaker confirmed to Niger Delta Voice that funds were not coming from the state government and that was the reason the company was not on site.

Dogged by controversy Besides, controversy is also trailing the actual money disbursed by the state government for the project. Former Commissioner for Energy, Mrs. Gloria Okolugbo, reportedly told the state House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, February 18, that the state government had spent N23.6 billion and not N29 billion on the power project.

Okolugbo spoke at a budget defence meeting, months before Uduaghan handed over power to the incumbent governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. But a source said she had since denied making such statement, maintaining that what government paid the contractor was N19 billion.

Indeed, since the project was awarded in 2009 at an estimated cost of N21.5 billion before its upward review to N23.6 billion, several amounts, including N27 billion and N29 billion, had been quoted as part of the money embezzled. Some community sources swore to Niger Delta Voice in Oghara that the state government paid the contractor N22 billion.

Okolugbo had informed lawmakers that the project’s civil works was 70 percent completed and that most of the equipment for the IPP project had been procured and awaiting installation.

According to her, the delay in the installation of the equipment was due to lack of access road to the project site, adding “however, now that the road is completed, equipment will be moved to the site soon.”

Eight months after she gave fresh hope on the project, nobody has installed equipment; rather the contractor has vacated the site.

Villagers rage The people of Oghara are, however, chagrined at the abandonment of the project, describing it as callous and wicked C M Y K

•The temporal warehouse

•Abandoned facility premises

•Lock-up temporary office cabins act by government and the contractor.

An elder in the town, Chief Isaac Ajueshi, alleged that the contractor was owing local suppliers, community labourers and other service providers over N30 million.

His words: “I am calling on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, to wade into the matter and unearth how a huge sum of N22 billion was collected by the contractor, yet he did not only abandon the project, but absconded with over N30 million due workers, service providers and suppliers of the community origin.”

Govt won’t abandon project—LG chair Chairman, Ethiope West, Mr. Solomon Golley, said: “The project would be resuscitated.

Government will not just abandon it like that. The project would eventually be completed in due course.”

The Community Liaison Officer of the project, Mr. Isreal Moriafe, told Niger Delta Voice: “I am appealing to the community people to toe the part of peace. I have confidence that their money would be paid.

“I know the government knows what to do. I also know that the contractor will settle amicably with the local workers and suppliers.

“Even if the community people are very angry now, they should still give the contractor some time. For now, the security men are fully on ground, protecting the premises and I can assure you that things will work out well with everyone, who has worked or made supplies in this project.”

Workers complain A security guard at the project site, Lucky, said: “We have not been paid for four months; we are in real deep trouble. We did not know that the contractor will disappear with our money. We are six security men in the main facility and two others in the

•Abandoned caterpillar

temporary warehouse.

“Out of the six in the main facility, three work in the night, while three work in the day. Out of the two security men in the temporary warehouse, one work in the night, while one work in the day. None of us has been paid for over four months now.”

A worker, Benson, said: “The contractor is a terrible person. He ran away all these while, but when he heard that Governor Okowa was coming some weeks ago, he stealthily brought people to clear the site and faded away after Governor Okowa left.

“He did not want the governor to know that he had absconded.

“He even told lies when Okowa came to the site. He said he sandfilled the whole premises, which was a big lie. The premises have always been upland. He did not sand-fill anywhere in the premises. Again, the entire work is below 10 percent completed, yet he is claiming that he has done 75 percent. If you did not come here, you would not know that he was telling lies.”

Local supplier cries out A local supplier, Chief Edevoro Mike, said: “The situation is very appalling. Why will a contractor of such calibre receive N22 billion for this project, yet there is nothing on ground to show for even N1 billion?

“They just collected the money

He even told lies when Okowa came to the site; he said he sand-filled the whole premises, which was a big lie. The premises have always been upland

and absconded. If I tell you what they owe me alone for supplies that I made, you would be surprised.

Right now, things are very tough for me and my family. I have expended all I have in the supplies.

“I even borrowed to add to what I could get on my own. I cannot pay the interest now. My bankers are after me. I am really in a mess.

“When this project began in 2009, we were all happy that some good has come to Oghara. We never knew that they will abscond with our money and make life even more uncomfortable than we were before they came here.

“The security men are threatening to quit the site. If they do that now because of non-payment of their over four months’ salary arrears, the entire premises will be left at the mercy of thieves, and the whole place will be looted.”

No compensation yet Mrs. Tobe Afe, who relinquished her over 300 acres for the project, said: “The government paid over N100 million to the contractor to settle for the land acquired for the project, but he only gave me N13,000, the rest went into his pocket.

“We heard that some of them built housing estates in Asaba and other places. One very senior official among them even bought a house in America and relocated his family there, and they shared the billions among themselves.

“A very senior government person took some of the money to China where he now owns chains of businesses. We are very surprised that they treated us like this, even when we were so peaceful with them.

“There was no youth restiveness when they were moving in and they did not spend any money to enter into the community; a gesture we believe they ought to reciprocate with good behaviour. But they disappointed every one of us.”

Ochei’s reaction Contacted on the allegations, Managing Director of the company, Norbert, said: “Please direct all your enquiries to the Chairman of the company or any other

appropriate quarters. I have no comment for you,” and hung up.

Former Speaker, Victor Ochei, told our reporter on phone: “I was once the Chairman of the company, but I have moved out of that place. I have divested all my shares; I am no longer the chair.

“When I was there, the government paid N19 billion naira only. They did not pay any more money after that. I hear people say that government paid me N22 billion, which is not correct. We received N19 billion and when the money finished, we stopped there.

“Can the government show the public evidence that it paid us N22 billion? It cannot prove it, so why are they saying they paid us N22 billion? Our invoices are with the government. Let them bring them out to the public.

“If government has not paid more money, where do they expect the contractor to get money to complete the project? I am sure they are just looking for ways to malign me and they will fail.

Nobody can drag my good name and reputation to the mud. That is all I can say.”

Price review The initial cost of the power plant was N21,750,000, but reviewed upwards to N23.207,826,566 due to the change of the gas turbine generators from the phase III to phase IV type.

The change resulted in an additional 12MW power output (6mw per turbine). Government awarded the contract June 23, 2009 with a time line of 24 months for execution.

Crisis in the energy sector necessitated the IPP project. The state was not getting more than 108 megawatts of electricity from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, compared to the load demand of about 1,000 megawatts.

A consortium of engineering firms, appointed by the state government in 2000, to undertake a power survey of the state, estimated the power demand for the state between 2000 and 2010 to be in the range of 440MW to 570 MW. The generated 100MVA will feed Sapele, Mosogar, Oghara, Koko and Effurun by direct connection to Amukpe/Sapele 132 KV substation. The excess power will go to Ughelli and Benin for redistribution to other parts of the state.

Also, there will be off-grid distribution of 10MV Island mode operations for the small island of Oghareki to minimize reduction of the gas turbine life span that is associated with grid instability.

8—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Irate father shoots boy dead for ‘chasing’ daughter

*Family raises dust, accuses police of shielding suspect *No, he was a robber — Police *Why I ordered burial without identification — DPO

ALABAR—TONGUES are wagging in Calabar, Cross River State, over why the police are yet to arraign in court a dismissed staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, who allegedly shot dead a 22-yearold secondary school leaver, Douglas Ochaga Ojugbo, on March 10, for hitting it off with his daughter.

Health officials from Calabar Urban Development Authority, CUDA, buried the remains of Douglas, who was preparing to write his 2015 JAMB-UTME examination, in a shallow grave on the orders of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in the area without identifying him.

The DPO said the killer informed the police that Douglas was an armed robber, who came to rob him in his house.

relationship with his daughter.

He asserted: “My son is 22 years old. Sometime this year, he sold his used mini-laptop to the daughter of the suspect, who leaves with him at his River Basin Authority home. The daughter made a part payment of the agreed sum leaving a balance.

“My son had been visiting the home of the suspect to collect or recover the balance of his money. The suspect, not pleased with the boy ’s presence, inquired or demanded to know what he was doing in his house.

“My son tried to explain to him his transaction with his daughter. Without any effort to verify the boy’s story, he asked him to leave his house and warned him never to visit his house again.

“My son was about leaving when his daughter asked my son to come on March 10 and collect the balance of his money.

On the said day, my son went to the house hoping to see his daughter as they agreed, but unfortunately he saw the suspect.

‘It’s cock and bull story’ However, family of the deceased described the claim by the police and their son’s killer as a cock and bull story. Mother of the slain boy, Mrs. Maria Ogar Ojugbo, a director at the Fishery Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Calabar, told Niger Delta Voice that her son went to collect money for a mininotebook he sold to the man’s daughter, Mercy, when the assailant killed him.

Father of the deceased, Mr. Ogar Ojugbo, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, said his son was not a robber and that the former NNPC staff killed him in cold blood because he was having an amorous

Deadly confrontation “The suspect, on sighting my son, ran into his room and fetched his gun. Douglas, on sighting him with a gun, took to his heels to save his life.

“However, having made up his mind to kill my son, he pursued him until he caught up with him at the gate of Basin Authority, a distance of a kilometre from his house.

“He shot my son first on the leg as a result of which Douglas fell down and to accomplish his goal, he shot him the second time on the arm to make sure that my son is dead.

“Furthermore, the suspect having accomplished his goal bundled the body of the late

CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

BY EMMANUEL UNA

C

Douglas into a police van and took same to the Divisional Police Officer of Federal Housing Police station.

“He conspired with the police to get rid of the body of Douglas in order to conceal his death.”

DPO’s story When Niger Delta Voice visited the Federal Housing Police Station, the DPO, Mr. Mike Ezeweren opened up: “I got a call from one of my patrol officers, who said an armed robbery suspect was being brought in.

“I called the control unit informing them that a suspect was apprehended at the Basin Authority area. When the patrol team came, I saw somebody at the back of the pick-up van and they brought him down.

“Under such circumstance, when a suspected armed robber is killed, we heave a sigh of relief because we refer to the deceased as minus one. They brought along with him some iron bender and a locally-made pistol and told me an angry mob seized him. The suspect was there with the mob.

“He said he was in his compound, a twin flat, when he heard dog barking from the other end and that when he sought to find out why the dog was barking, he saw someone

The suspect, on sighting my son, ran into his room and fetched his gun. Douglas, on sighting him with a gun, took to his heels to save his life.

SARO-WIWA POSTHUMOUS BIRTHDAY:

Ogoni urged to bury the hatchet RIVERS…

THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NA TION NATION

By Davies Iheamnachor

O

GONI—LEADER of the Ken Saro-Wiwa group in the oil-rich Ogoni ethnic nationality of Rivers State, Mr. Gani Topba, has called on the chiefs, elders, youths and other stakeholders in the area to sheathe their swords for the sake of development.

He made the call at a ceremony in Bori, traditional C M Y K

headquarters of Ogoniland, to celebrate the posthumous birthday of the hero of Ogoni movement, late Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was murdered in the course of his struggle for the emancipation of the kingdom alongside eight others.

His words: “We call for understanding between chiefs, elders, youths and other stakeholders in Ogoni to be able to continue the defence of our nation.

“It is no longer struggle as today, October 10, marks the posthumous birthday of our hero, late Ken Saro-Wiwa, who

was born October 10, 1941 and murdered by hanging November 10, 1995 despite the entire intellectual and emotional plea. “I call upon the Ogoni people of the Niger Delta to remain focused and steadfast in Ogoni advancement; we need understanding to fight injustice against our land.”

Saying it was worthwhile for the minorities of Nigeria to stand up and fight fearlessly and peacefully for their rights, he urged Ogoni people to stand united in the crusade that Saro-Wiwa championed and died for.

•Mrs Maria Ojugbo rushing out from the sitting room of the other flat.

“He said the suspect (Douglas) threatened him with the machete he was holding, but he retreated to his flat and brought out his doublebarrelled gun with which he shot the suspect.

“He said after the shooting, the suspect still managed to scale through the fence in a bid to escape but when people around heard the shout of thief, they responded and pursued him, brought him down and continued battering him before they even called the police.

Unknown victim!

“At that point, I sought to know the boy’s identity but nobody knew him in which case it was an unidentified corpse. I then told my men to take the statement from the suspect, who acted on self-defense, after which I contacted the health authorities to come and convey the corpse out of our premises.

“The corpse was unidentified and besides I cannot raise N35,000 to deposit in the mortuary for an unidentified corpse. Under what sub-head will I even tag that money or do they expect me to use my salary?

“It was that reason that made me to call the health authorities to go and dispose of it in their own way.”

Police know nothing about boyfriend/girlfriend affair The DPO also said: “I do not know anything about this issue of girlfriend and boyfriend. The man said the boy came to rob in one of his flats with iron bar and threatened him with it.

“Therefore, it was a case of robbery; it was even the mob that first said the man shot the boy and the man later confirmed that he actually shot the boy.

“If there is anything in the matter, they should not face the police, they should face the man that shot him and the man is not on the run.”

On the hasty burial of Douglas, the DPO said: “Where

do you expect me to keep the corpse when I do not have the financial backup to send the body to mortuary? We have health authority that we call upon at any time to dispose unidentified corpse.

“Where they would have faulted me is if someone had come to identify the corpse and I still went ahead to the health authorities to bury the corpse. I did not follow the health authorities to where they took the corpse.

“We normally call them to come and dispose corpses, especially unidentified ones. At every point in this whole encounter, I communicated with the Commissioner of Police and also sent signals.”

Suspect warned deceased— Neighbour A neighbour of the suspect told Niger Delta Voice that the suspect’s daughter, Mercy, and Douglas were friends and the suspect had warned Douglas a number of times to stop coming to his house before the tragedy.

The neigbour said: “The man had warned the boy not to come near the daughter again, but the two of them could not keep away from each other and we hear that it was because of the relationship between the boy and the girl that the man decided to take that horrible action.

“On that fateful afternoon, we saw the man running after the boy, who was panting and running but the man caught up with him around the Basin Authority gate and shot him with a gun.

“After shooting him, he called the police that he had shot an armed robber. All of us were running for our dear lives because the man is dangerous and everyone around knows him for that.”

Mother’s agony Mrs. Ojugbo, however, bemoaned that the suspect was bragging in a cozy room at the police clinic, where police kept him, that nothing would happen to him.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—33

Stakeholders seek legal backing for REITs

By Jude Njoku

T

HE absence of proper legislation for Real Estate Investment Trust, REIT in Nigeria has slowed down local and foreign investments in property development in the country.

This view was canvassed by the Managing Directors of UACN Development and Property Company, UPDC Plc, Mr Hakeem Ogunniran and FSDH Assets Management limited, Mrs Olumayowa Ogunwemino at the recent Real Estate Unite conference organised by Messrs 3invest limited in Lagos.

Ogunniran whose company in 2012, floated the first and only REIT in the county explained that it (REIT) helped UPDC to unlock value on its assets. He was however quick to point out the challenges hampering its smooth operation.

“We still don’t have a proper legislation on REIT in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, there is no law on REIT. What we do now is to try apply the law on collective investment to REIT and that is not the best practice. That is why we have all the hues about taxation and capital gains. We have not

British monarch honours Ajanlekoko

T

HE President of the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy ,CASLE, Mr Joseph Olusegun Ajanlekoko will today be honoured by the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth 11 for his notable contributions towards promoting the role of the Commonwealth and helping to support its ideals and ethos in the professions.

Ajanlekoko who is a past president of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, and Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors, AAQS, was elected the President of CASLE, the umbrella body for the surveying professions ealier this year. The reception will hold at St James’s Palace in advance of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM 2015.

•Ajanlekoko

created the right framework for REIT and we need to look at that.

Somebody asked me why we haven’t seen more REITs in Nigeria and my answer was that the regulatory process is still very challenging,” he said.

The UPDC boss who gave reasons for the growth of REIT in South Africa and the United States of America, USA, want the country to borrow a leaf from them.

Noting that South Africa had two systems before 2013, Ogunniran explained that they have “streamlined the process by creating a unified system which brings them in line with international best practices in terms of capital gains tax and structure of the company and you see what has happened. As at April this year, they have more than 27 listed entities and I am sure more are still being looked at”.

Investment vehicle “If you look at the largest market for REIT, the USA, they have 225 listed REITs largely because there is a framework that recognises REIT as a flow-through investment vehicle. If you run a system where you are applying the law of mutual funds and collective investment schemes to REIT, you cannot properly dimension REIT and create the right opportunities which REIT intends to put on the table,” he said.

Speaking on the advantages of REIT, the UPDC CEO said :

•Housing Estate in Lagos.

“There are several people who would have wanted to invest in property but they do not have the kind of funds that they would require to invest in these properties on their own. The whole

If you look at the largest market for REIT, the USA, they have 225 listed REITs largely because there is a framework that recognises REIT as a flow-through investment vehicle

idea of REIT is the creation of vehicles that allow people who would ordinarily have wanted to invest in real estate but cannot do it on their own, to invest in REIT and indirectly be a part owner of the property. If you take a look at UPDC REITs, we have first class properties in different parts of Nigeria.

The retail investors who are now part owners of these properties ordinarily would not have access to invest in them if there was no opportunity that REIT created.

What has happened is that today, thousands of investors are part owners. Once these assets generate income, the income is distributed to all the various

owners the same way the companies will pay dividends. The only difference is that we call it distribution and not dividends.

You are supposed to distribute at least 90 percent of your income which makes it very good for part owners”.

In her own contribution, Mrs Ogunwemimo regretted that “many investors come in not too clear of what the tax regime will be because there are no laws on how REIT should be governed.

There is so much unclarity as to whether the REIT should be taxed on the investors or the trustees. In other climes, it is so clear in whose hands it should be taxed”.

Delta to partner NIESV in IGR drive

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has pledged the readiness of his administration to partner with the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV in the area of internally generated revenue, IGR. Governor Okowa, who was represented by the Commissioner for Housing, Joseph Ogeh, an architect, stated this when the Chairman of NIESV in Delta State, Chief Efe Appih and members of the Institution paid him a courtesy visit at Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Okowa described as timely the visit by the estate surveyors and commended them for their willingness to partner with government on how to increase the State IGR. He noted that government is worried

about dwindling resources and is looking critically into other areas to shore up its IGR. The governor promised to look into all the issues raised by the Institution as well as implement the report of the Transition Committee, which covers some of the surveyors' demands.

Chief Appih had in his address, urged the governor to ensure that issuance of Certificate of Occupancy C of O is practically achieved within three months.

Instrument for registration He explained that if, this time line is realised, land owners would be encouraged to tender their landed instrument for registration especially for business purposes.

While calling for full computerisation of ?the L ands Registr y, the NIESV chairman also implored the governor to ensure that Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA is conducted before the commencement of any project.

He described the Local Government Law of 2013 as deficient and called for its immediate amendment to include tenement rating administration. Appih who lauded the giant strides of the Okowa led administration within few months in office, implored the Governor to remain focused in the delivery of his campaign promises to the people of Delta State.

Highlight of the occasion was the decoration and certification of the Governor as the Patron of the Institution and the ?inauguration of the 2015 Delta Exco of the body by the Governor.

34—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Bazakki beckons on Osborne Water Front

By Kingsley Adegboye

H

AVING completed Tallis Apartments, a 24unit luxury development located in Lekki which was sold out at finishing stage, Messrs Misa Nigeria Limited, will soon deliver its new housing project known as Bazakki . Built on 6000 square metres of sea-caressed land located in Osborne Phase 2, Ikoyi, Lagos, Bazakki, which is currently at the finishing stage, has been described as very alluring because of its location which is water front. The location is said to meet the desire of many high net worth individuals for the ideal natural environment. The project consists of 14 units of fourbedroom semi-detached houses each with one- room servant’s quarters to house the domestic staff.

According to Muritala Ibrahim, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Misa Nigeria Limited, all the four bedrooms in each duplex are ensuite and generously spacious, adding that the kitchen is large, fitted and handy with a pantry.

Private moments He said the upper floor comprises a separate family lounge where the members can steal their private moments, while the master bedroom is classy, spacious and enhanced with a walk-in closet.

“The family can relate with nature also on a sizeable terrace.

An ante room and box room are other thoughtful details in each unit. All units come fully fitted with all kitchen appliances and air-conditioners as well as audio/ video connections.

“Bazakki is fully complimented with an array of

•Bazakki state of the art facilities and efficient services to cater for the residents’ comfort, convenience and style while allowing them to

bask in the warm embrace of nature’s rare gift of clearly laid out and spacious green areas.

There is a swimming pool to dip

2012-2015 plan our compass for devy —Lagos State Speaker •As APBN decries dominance of construction industry by foreigners

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Wasiu Eshinlokun Sanni has assured Lagosians that change in government in Lagos will not affect the development plan put in place by the immediate past administration.

The Speaker who spoke at a programme organised by the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Professional Bodies in Nigeria, ABPN, maintained

that “the 2012-2015 Lagos State development Plan is there to guide the new government, whether in the redevelopment of Central Business District (CBD), completion of Mile 12-Ikorodu road expansion of Mile 2 Badagry projects and others, the plan is there as a compass”.

Also speaking at the forum, the immediate past Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos State, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde described adherence to ethics and values as the hallmark of professional

Lagos tasked on opening up waterways

By Kingsley Adegboye

A

GAINST the backdrop of nightmares Lagos residents go through on daily basis due to traffic gridlocks on Lagos roads, the government has been called upon to develop more waterways within the city to overcome man hours being spent on traffic jams..

Managing Director of Atlantic Exhibitions, Mr. Ayo Paul Olugbade who made the call at the just- concluded 2015 Buildmacex and Interior Exhibition and Conference, said incessant traffic jam on Lagos roads has resulted into a situation where several hours that would have been used for business are being lost to gridlocks.

According to Olugbade, “If more waterways are developed, many people would take advantage of the option, leading to reduction in traffic jams on roads and more time for economic activities by workers.

into the aquatic delight of bluish waters and a well-equipped gymnasium where fitness buffs can hone their muscles and stay

healthy.

“Adequate security is assured with 24/7 surveillance by well trained, eagle-eyed security personnel. Fire extinguishers are placed in strategic locations to snuff out any fire outbreak. Power supply is available from both PHCN and a central generating source with cabling provided for inverters. Water supply is from a bore hole system run through a treatment plant. Adequate parking space is assured for both residents and visitors. Space is a major consideration as the living room measures 57 square meters, master bedroom 43 square meters, each bedroom 22 square meters, family lounge 34 square meters and so on respectively.

“There is a jetty facility to aid easy and quick get away by boat from frustrating road traffic or for leisure. There are exciting, welltarred drive ways and a decked clubhouse where functions can hold. Each unit carries a sale price tag of N160million and payment is conveniently spread out in milestone stages to ensure convenience and ease of payment”, Misa boss stated.

I personally feel there is a compelling need to create more waterways for transport to reduce traffic in our city to increase the working hours leading to more economic growth”.

He also called for the adoption of Public-Private Partnership, PPP initiatives in the area of building materials and construction exhibition and conference in order to move the country forward.

Construction exhibition Olugbade noted that this could could have bigger internationally focused exhibition and conference in the commercial capital of Nigeria, in the form of PPP, adding that he would like to be a part of that initiative.

He said the forum would provide ample opportunities for sharing fresh ideas as exhibitors, stakeholders and experts would

discover, learn and network for their economic prosperity.

“Participants are bound to attain more knowledge, information and understanding regarding the latest trends emerging in our everchanging construction and building technology, economic environment and marketing investment potentials”, Atlantic Exhibitions boss said.

Over 70 firms from United State of America, United Arab Emirate, India, Germany, Italy and China exhibited their products in the three-day event.

The forum, which is the largest gathering of stakeholders in the building and construction industry, featured exhibitions and seminars on building, machinery, construction and interior decorations. Olugbade stated that the forum focused green building and beamed light on how to fast track modern housing technology.

success. Urging professionals to place integrity over pecuniary consideration, Ayinde who is a town planner, said those who want to succeed in their respective professionals cannot afford to be dubious.

“When I was in office as the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban development, I made it a matter of principle that engineering design was produced before an approval was approved.

Although, some people believed that we were unnecessarily strict, but that is the best way to save our people from untimely death, occasioned by project failure or building collapse,” he said.

Project failure The Chairman of the chapter, Dr Bolarinwa Ajayi-Patunola decried the dominance of the construction industry by expatriates. The Association also denounced the activities of quacks in the fledgling sub-sector.

Speaking at the week-long programme which had “Business without Boarders; Taking Advantage of International Collaborations” as its theme, Patunola-Ajayi explained that a survey of major projects in Nigeria, including Lagos state has revealed that foreigners are given major projects to execute in different parts of the country.

Dr. Patuola-Ajayi, whose observations centered essentially on the activities of real estate practitioners, described professionals as the pillar of the

economy. He maintained that there can never be any significant development without the physical and intellectual contribution of professionals.

Patunola-Ajayi who decried the continuous upsurge of quacks in the built environment professions, stated that their activities have continued to hollow the image of qualified and competent professionals.

“The collapse of building, dispute in lands, fraudulent acts of the so-called ‘‘Omo-Onile,” (Land speculators), poor planning of layouts in the state, problems associated with land title /documentation and other officials’ involvement are some of the problems that are confronting professionals in built environment,” he said, adding that quackery is also manifesting in other professions.

The Lagos APBN boss also lamented the lack of ethics and values in the course of project delivery by some practitioners, a situation he said, is eroding public confidence in their activities. It was the view of Patunola-Ajayi that such nefarious practices influence both government and entrepreneurs to seek solace in foreign professionals.

“Professionals in the country must therefore devise a means of forestalling these before the situation deteriorates further. I have no doubt in the Nigerian Professionals, hence, we must not allow the tyranny of ignorance and auditory hallucination of the quacks and other impediments to dictate the tune of our profession.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 — 35

C M Y K

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

NIGERIA AT 55!

The making of a truly great black African nation-state (3) This is the third and concluding part of this piece. In the second edition which was published yesterday, Koinyan stressed the need for leaders to put the almighty God in all their endeavours

I

By Larry Koinyan

T is expected that this Centre will take off effectively before the end of this year, as a lot of preparatory work has been done.

The Centre is expected to have five Units/ Divisions, namely: CCRD Research, Planning, Data and Statistics; CCRD Training, Capacity Building and Development; CCRD Intervention, Outreach, Extension and Support Services; PME, Development Momentum Maintenance and Sustainability; and Advocacy, Networking and Strategic Partnerships.

As an extension of this pilot project, it will be useful and indeed immensely beneficial if such a Centre is firmly established in at least one university in each of the nation’s six geopolitical zones.

As we all know, knowledge in all its various configurations and manifestations has been one of the major driving forces of man’s movement from his very primitive stages of development to its current phases of phenomenal advancements in virtually all aspects of human endeavour, and still surging forward.

University system Naturally the knowledge industry in Nigeria with its leading edge, our university system is expected to be permanently and effectively plugged into the world’s knowledge superhighway. If this is so, with anything between 2000 to 3000 university professors, which itself is said to be about 15% of academic staff strength in the university system, we have a very significant knowledge base which should be more effectively, directly and strategically deployed to contribute optimally to all aspects of our nation’s development process. Besides, it is said that there could be as many as one million young men and women, in the youth age bracket taking National Universities Commission approved courses at various levels in our universities. How much character moulding is going on there? Will they also finally graduate, infused with the proper reorientation and equipped with proper skills and competences to be productive citizens of the nation or just be owners of beautiful certificates to join the unemployment queue?

Within the four years or so that

each group of these one million young people will pass through the university system, is it not possible that we could groom a few sports men and women who can compete at the world level, instead of losing some of them to cultism and other anti-social behaviours. Universities, please take your more rightful place in the nation’s development process.

For a full picture, notice is also herein served that the total strategic thinking and the natural and logical progression beyond the Centre is to continue the build-up for the emergence of a truly great Black African NationState with an equally well thought out and better coordinated Local Government Area Development, State Level Development, Geopolitical Zone Level Development, Nigeria Nation-State Level Development, as outlined by this effort (and for which an abandoned manuscript with the title Let True Development Begin… Back to Basics will be dug up), ECOWAS Sub-Regional Level Coordinated Development and Africa Level Linkage Development. We owe ourselves, Africa and the Black race this initiative.

Let all those Nigerians who have the heart rally round. Let more knowledgeable Nigerians take over from here. What stops other Black African Nations to do the same? What stops all Black people scattered all over the world to support us and by logical extension, support themselves.

Come, fellow Nigerians, let us take our destiny in our own hands; namely, transforming our country, Nigeria, into a truly great Black African Nation-State.

Others have done it for themselves, some are still doing it. So we do not need to reinvent the wheel. We can learn from others. Yes, the G-7 Nations had a head start. China, an ancient

When a society is properly orientated, organized and disciplined, it can be prosperous on the scantiest basis of natural wealth

Map of Nigeria

nation with a huge population lost its glory, pulled itself up and now is surging forward. India, another nation with a huge population is also pulling its weight. Brazil is up there. The Asian Tigers have left us behind.

Botswana in Africa, our Africa is highly rated. We do not have any excuse whatsoever to be languishing at the lowest rungs of virtually all the world’s indices of genuine growth and development.

Let true development begin… True development?

A colleague in DFRRI shared the following with us in a paper Mobilization Through Action in our early start up DFRRI days. It stuck. It is worth sharing again and again: “True Development must mean the development of man - the unfolding and realization of his creative potential, enabling him to improve his material conditions and l i v i n g , through the use of resources available to him. It is a process by which man’s personality is enhanced; and it is that enhanced personalitycreative, organized and disciplined – which is the moving force behind the s o c i o economic transformation of society. It is clear that development does not start with goods and things; it starts with people – their orientation, organization and discipline.

When the accent on development is on things, all human resources remain latent,

untapped potential and a society can be poor amidst the most opulent material resources. On the contrary, when a society is properly orientated, organized and disciplined, it can be prosperous on the scantiest basis of natural wealth.”

Profound words, profound thoughts. Except that after a thousand and one other equally and even more profound words and thoughts and decades after, the state of our nation Nigeria at 55 leaves far far too much to be desired. We do not even want to see ourselves as belonging to one nation. Apart from wrong doing, there are still those who will not even follow a leader simply because he/she is not of the same ethnic group and/or religion. At the other extreme are those who

will follow a leader not based on performance but simply on the basis of ethnic and/or religious affinity. In the middle is the proverbial silent majority: some thinking that is destiny; some thinking things should be better but do not know they can do something about the situation; some just itching for someone to lead the way.

Man, the summit of God’s creation acting in faith, hope and charity supported by good works, remains fittingly, both the prime mover and prime beneficiary of all aspects of the development process. While we wait most patiently for this Administration to reveal what it has in stock for us and the nation, let us not remain idle.

Let us, we the people, get back to work too. There is no contradiction there. It is our birthright. Let all those who are convinced that striving to transform our country Nigeria into a truly great Black African Nation-State is what we should be aiming for now at 55, seek ourselves out and get to work to lay the required solid foundation for this effort at the grassroots ancestral community and rural areas level. Let us take advantage of all the work that has been done in this regard.

Heaven they say helps those who help themselves. Only those who dare, overcome! Let us dare.

•Koinyan was director of the defunct Directorate of Foods, roads and Rural Infrastructure, DFRRI

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Rivers APC dedicates annulment of gov poll to slain members

By Gbenga Oke

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LL Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, has dedicated Saturday’s annulment of the April 11, 2015, Rivers State governorship election by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to its members allegedly killed during the campaign period and the annulled election proper.

The party claimed that over 100 persons lost their lives to political agents in their desperation to win the governorship election.

The governorship election was on Saturday annulled by the Justice Mohammed Ambrusa-led Tribunal in Abuja.

A statement by the party’s Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, through Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, his SSA on Media and Public Affairs, said: “We wish to formally dedicate the tribunal judgment to our over 100 members killed by political agents and reiterate that their death shall not be in vain. We are determined to install, by the grace of God and with the help of the good people of Rivers State, a god-fearing administration that will take Rivers State to the next level."

The party said it had noted the lamentations by Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leadership both at the state and the national levels since the tribunal nullified the election, but said that the three-man tribunal could not have done otherwise.

“While these lamentations are

understandable, we strongly condemn the reckless utterances of leaders of the party in Rivers State that tend to impugn on the integrity of the tribunal. How could the party accuse APC of bribing members of the tribunals to rule against PDP candidates in the South-South?” the party said.

It reminded the PDP that both

local and international observers, including the European Community, condemned the Rivers governorship and other elections as a sham and an exercise in impunity, lawlessness and criminality which can only be applauded by mindless and demented persons.

RE-LAUNCH: From left: British Airways Regional Commercial Manager, West Africa, Mr Kola Olayinka; British Deputy High Commissioner, Ray Kyles and President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Dapo Adelegan, at the re-launch of British Airways On Business Programme, in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Operations resume at nation’s ports as workers suspend strike

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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ORMAL activates yesterday returned at the nation’s ports as Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, MWUN, suspended its strike after two days.

The union had last Thursday embarked on strike to protest, among others, nine months unpaid wages to over 3,000 Tally Clerks and Onboard security men and midstream discharge of vessels in Lagos, Bonny Rivers State and other ports formations nationwide using foreigners in violation of the law.

Specifically, the union had accused the management of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, of conniving with shipping companies to undermine the nation’s economic interest by allowing midstream discharge without following laid down rules and regulations.

However, after a marathon meeting on Saturday in Lagos, a communiqué was issued jointly signed by Executive Director, Finance, NPA, Olumide Oduntan, and the PresidentGeneral of MWUN, Anthony Nted, announcing the suspension of the strike.

The communiqué explained that the agreement was reached after a meeting between the representatives of NPA and C M Y K

MWUN. According to the communiqué, all outstanding payments to tally clerks and on board security men are now top priorities that would

be paid as soon as the Treasury Single Account, TSA, issues had been resolved.

The communiqué said: “All statutory payments to NPA and

charges due to stevedoring contractors on MV Hawk that berthed midstream at Bonny must be paid before the vessel is allowed to sail.”

Itsekiri groups threaten to shut down DESOPADEC activities

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ARRI—A coalition of Itsekiri groups on the platform of Itsekiri Joint Action Group, IJAG, has threatened to shut down activities of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, over perceived marginalization.

IJAG, which comprises National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, National Association of Itsekiri Students, NAIS, Warri Social Development Association, WASDA, Iwere Development Association, IDA, Host Communities of Nigeria, Producing Oil and Gas (Itsekiri Chapter) and other stakeholders in a statement released in Warri, gave the Delta State government and DESOPADEC a 7-day ultimatum to address their demand.

The group said the ultimatum took effect from October 25,2015, within which the government and the

commission must address alleged unfair and inequitable distribution of development projects in the oil producing areas of the state.

They claimed that what was happening at the commission was contrary to the law setting up the commission which stipulated that issues of

employment, project distribution and appointments be based on quantum of oil produced by each ethnic nationality.

The statement was signed by IJAG’s Co-coordinator, Prince O. H. Tuoyo, Secretary, Comrade Gift Iwere Odobiken and six others.

Oguma urges Delta PDP decampees to return

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Olorogun John Oguma, has advised members of the party in the state who decamped to All Progressives Congress, APC, to have a rethink.

Oguma, who gave the advice while fielding questions from newsmen, said the decampees had once benefited from the party and should not dump it because it lost election at the federal level.

He said: “I appeal to all PDP members in Delta State to remain in the party and support the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in its effort to make life better for all Deltans. Those who are leaving the party today have once benefited from the system and are architects of the problem confronting the party at the moment. Their exit from the party shows that they are men of little faith and fair weather partymen and women whose interest is only to enrich themselves."

CEPEJ raises alarm over insecurity in Delta

By Brisibe Perez

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Niger Delta based non-governmental organization, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, has raised alarm over insecurity in Warri and others parts of Delta State with an appeal to the state government to put measures in place to check the trend.

Speaking with newsmen in Warri yesterday, national coordinator of the group, Sheriff Mulade, described the level of insecurity in the state as worrisome, and urged the government to work out plans to police the state effectively.

According to him, the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property of the citizens as enshrined in the constitution.

He said: “Ahead of the yuletide, we have noticed that armed robbery and kidnapping are on the increase. We are using this opportunity to urge the state government to team up with security agencies and work out practical measures to check this ugly trend.

“Security agencies should also intensify their efforts in making the state uncomfortable to criminals who have brought untold hardship to residents of Delta State.”

HuCaPAN luncheon forum holds Oct 29

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UMAN Capital P r o v i d e r s Association of Nigeria, HuCaPAN, will hold its first executive luncheon forum for chief executives of member companies on October 29, 2015.

A statement by HuCaPAN President, Mr. Neye Enemigin, said the event will hold at Sheraton Lagos Hotel.

Dr. Clement Illoh, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity is expected to be the guest of honour.

HuCaPAN, is the umbrella organization of registered/licensed Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria.

The association performs functions related to the recruitment, deployment and management of all categories of manpower.

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Tribunal upholds Gov Lalong's election •Okays Dankwabo's election in Gombe

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—THE Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital has upheld the election of Governor, Simon Lalong of All Progressives Congress, APC. In a ruling which lasted for four and half hours and delivered by a three-man panel chaired by Justice Johnson Candide, the tribunal stated that all votes scored by Lalong of the APC were valid and dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the said election, Gyang Pwajok.

Also yesterday, the Gombe State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Gombe upheld the election of Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo.

In dismissing Pwajok’s petition, the Plateau tribunal said the petitioner failed to prove his case that the election that produced Lalong was characterized by electoral malpractices that could warrant the nullification of the election and dismissed the case for lack of credible evidence to prove his petition.

It also held that the issues of malpractice, over-voting and intimidation brought before the tribunal lacked substantial evidence to support the allegation that the election was marred by irregularities.

The petitioner was ordered to pay a fine of N50,000 to each of the three respondents.

However, before the sitting, the State Commissioner of Police, Adekunle Oladunjoye checked security arrangement around the venue of the tribunal and journalists without accreditation were barred from the venue.

Although Governor Lalong was not in court as he had travelled for pilgrimage in Israel but his party chieftains, including the State APC Chairman, Mr. Latep Dabang were in court.

The PDP candidate, Senator Pwajok was also not in court.

After the judgment, counsel to the APC, Mr. Garba Pwul expressed satisfaction at the outcome, saying the process was detailed and the Acting State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Raymond Dabo, said there was a possibility the PDP will appeal the judgment.

Dabo congratulated the Governor on the victory saying, “We did not say it before, we are now saying it. We would study the content of the judgment and decide on the next line of action.”

Also yesterday, the three man Gombe Governorship Election Tribunal led by Justice A. A. Nwobodo dismissed the petition instituted by the candidate of the African Democracy Congress, ADC, in the last election, Malam Jafar Abubakar.

The tribunal affirmed that the case jointly instituted by Abubakar and his party lacked merit and as such returned Dankwambo as winner of the election.

SENDFORTH: From left: Immediate past DVC, Administration, University of Ibadan, Professor Afolabi Bamigboye, Prof. Gbolahan Oni, guest speaker, and Prophet Ojo Olowere, during a send forth organised by Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, EMS, for Prof. Bamigboye at the College of Medicine, UCH, in Ibadan. Photo: Dare Fasube.

Mimiko storms Lokoja as Yoruba community endorses Wada KOGI GOV POLL:

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By Kingsley Fanwo

OKOJA—THE Yor uba Community in Kogi State has endorsed the re-election bid of the incumbent governor, Capt Idris Wada. The community made the resolve in Lokoja at a reception in honour of the visiting Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

Mimiko, who doubles at the Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Governors’ Forum, was in the state in solidarity with his counterpart whose major challenger, is two time Governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu of the All Peoples’ Congress, APC. The Ondo State Governor who addressed his audience in Yoruba, told them that Kogi State was a very peculiar one, given its location at the very centre of the nation, which made it home for all Nigerians.

He said it was divine and not by happenstance that Kogi State is bounded by about nine states and the Federal Capital

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Territory, including the Yoruba-speaking states of Edo, Ekiti, Ondo and Kwara.

He reminded them of the

age-long socio-cultural affinities between Kogi and it’s neighbouring states, which explains why they have found

an ideal home away from their original states of origin, in Kogi State.

Union Bank sustains positive performance, records N13.17bn PBT in 3rd quarter

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By Nkiruka Nnorom

AGOS—UNION Bank of Nigeria Plc has announced impressive financial performance for the nine month period ended September 30, 2015 with the profit before tax for the period growing to N13.17 billion.

This represents 11 per cent increase over N11.89 billion posted in the corresponding period in 2014. Also, its profit after taxation rose to N13.0 billion as against N11.79 billion in quarter three (Q3) 2014, representing 11 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, the bank has assured that it would maintain a stable outlook for the rest of the year, while revealing its readiness to launch a new brand identity during the course of the year.

Highlights of the unaudited financial statement of the bank released on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, showed that Union Bank recorded net Interest Income was up four per cent to N38.8 billion compared to N37.2 billion in Q3 2014.

While total assets grew by 10.3 per cent to N1.02 trillion from N921 billion in December 2014, net loans & advances rose by 13 per cent to N341.7 billion from N302.4 billion as at December 2014.

Commenting, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, Managing Director/CEO, UBN said: "Our gross earnings grew to N86.4 billion in the nine months ended 30th September 2015, representing an 11 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2014.This

earnings growth, coupled with sustained cost discipline has enabled the bank deliver a profit before tax, PBT, of N13.2 billion, an 11 per cent increase over the same period last year.

“Looking towards the end of the year, we remain confident that the fundamentals of our business will remain strong, spurred by the momentum of our refreshed brand. As we get set to launch Union Bank’s new identity, we have entered a new phase of our transformation.

Our new brand identity positions us competitively in the industry and we are confident in our ability to deliver a superior customer experience to our existing customers and attract a new base of customers.”

Processed, red meat can cause cancer —WHO

By Sola Ogundipe, Chioma Obinna & Gabriel Olawale

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AGOS—THE World Health Organisation, WHO, has issued a health alert stating that consumption of all forms of red meat and processed meat suchaspork,beef,hotdog, ham, sausages, corned beef, canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces among others, carry a high risk of cancer.

The warning which came following an evaluation report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer , IARC, on the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat, revealed that each 50g portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent.

The global health body is considering adding red and processed meats to its encyclopaedia of carcinogens, possibly leading to new government legislation demanding warning labels on packs of meat.

Slide‘n' Bounce endeared telecom subscribers to Glo, say professionals

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AGOS—SEVERAL professionals who attended last weekend’s Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday have said that the music concert has endeared thousandsoftelecomsubscribers to Globacom.

They noted that the Next Generation Network had, through the concert held in several cities across the country, provided subscribers rare quality entertainment.

The Managing Director of Kadmart Enterprises, Mr. Segun Babarinde, described the concert as an exciting initiative that will further endear telecommunicationsubscribersto the Globacom brand.

A medical practitioner in the city, Dr. Rotimi Oyesola, who noted that people need such entertainment platforms to regularlyunwindtoreducestress level and improve their general wellbeing,commendedGlobacom for organizing the show during the day time when everybody could safely attend.

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ascension to the throne of your forebears mark the beginning of a new era of prosperity, peace, development and progress for your immediate subjects, the Yoruba race and the entire nation. It is my prayer that the people of Ife and the entire Yorubaland would find in you a rallying point for unity, peace and progress just like they did during the time of your predecessors.”

From Speaker Dogara

From left: Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubarkar; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapha and Chief Judge of FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, at the opening ceremony of the 2015-2016 FCT Legal Year in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

41-yr-old Ogunwusi named Ooni-elect Continues from page 5 the town not to panic, stressing that all rites that would be performed would not affect businesses or movements within Ife metropolis.

Giving insights into how the new monarch would be installed, Oba Isoro, Eluyele Olawenu, Owa Eredumi of Ife, said the first step, after royal entrance of the new monarch into the town today, would be for him to proceed to his father ’s compound from where he would move to Ilofi where rites would be performed for 21 days.

Oba Eluyele, who declined giving detailed information about the rites, said the new Ooni would have spent three months in Ilofi before his installation, but explained he would be spending 21 days instead because of the forthcoming Olojo Festival.

Oba Joseph Ijaodola, the Lowa of Ife and one of the two leading kingmakers in Ile Ife, while speaking to newsmen, called on other contestants to be patient and support the new monarch.

Endorsement by Osun State Govt

The state government had in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, dated October 24, 2015 said the choice of the new Ooni followed due process.

The three-paragraph statement, titled Appointment of a New Ooni read: “The governor

of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has approved the appointment of a new Ooni of Ife. “He is Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of the Giesi Ruling House of IleIfe, Osun State.

“This choice follows the completion of the due process by the kingmakers and the communication of their decision to the government”, the statement added.

Ife kingmakers call for support

The Ife King-makers, yesterday, urged indigenes of the ancient town to give their support to the newly appointed Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

High Chief Joseph Ijaodola, the Lowa Adimula of Ile-Ife, who made the call, also urged the people to allow peace to reign.

Ijaodola said a peaceful atmosphere and the support of the people was needed for the kingmakers to perform the necessary rites for the installation of the new Ooni.

He said it was after the oracle was consulted that Ogunwusi was announced as the new Ooni.

Ijaodola pledged that all the king-makers would support the new Ooni and guide him aright in performing his royal duties.

Also speaking, High Chief Kola Adeyeye, the Jaaran of Ile-Ife, said Ogunwusi was the choice of the people.

Adeyeye said Ogunwusi’s competence, experience and good features stood him out among his equals.

Adeyeye also urged the people to give their support to the new Ooni.

Congratulatory messages Congratulatory messages started pouring in for the new Arole Oodua, yesterday.

Work for national unity, Saraki tells Ooni-elect

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has enjoined the Ooni of Ife designate, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to use his position to work for the consolidation of the unity of the country.

Saraki, in a congratulatory message to the Ooni designate, also advised him to concentrate on further solidifying the role of the Yoruba people in national unity.

In a statement by his Special Adviser,Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki wished the Ooni-elect a long and peaceful reign, sound health and many years of service to his people.

According to the Senate President, the Ooni-elect has so many things in common with the immediate past Ooni, which include but not

limited to being widely travelled, being exposed, versatile, well-informed and somebody devoted to community service.

He noted that the appointment of Prince Ogunwusi could not have come at a better time.

He encouraged Obaelect Ogunwusi to sustain the harmonious relationship between his subjects and other kingdoms around his domain as a way of building on the impeccable legacies of the late Oba Okunade Sijuade of blessed memory.

The Senate President also enjoined the new Ooni of Ife not to see his ascension to the throne of his forefathers as a mere fulfilment of a life-long ambition but rather a divine opportunity to use his vast knowledge and royal wisdom to positively improve on the well-being and living standard of his immediate subjects as well as uplifting the glory of the Yoruba race across the continent.

Saraki prayed that the legacy of peace, harmony, prosperity and steadfast progress which the Ife Kingdom has witnessed so far will endure and improve tremendously under Oba Ogunwusi.

He however tasked the new Ooni to continue to maintain the high sense of patriotism, unassailable piety and sterling leadership qualities which he is reputed for.

Saraki said: “May your

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, also congratulated the new Ooni of Ife, on his ascension to the throne.

In a congratulatory statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, Dogara said the role of traditional rulers in nation-building cannot be over-emphasised.

He said traditional institutions must be restored back their dignity, and returned to their rightful place in our society if Nigeria was to make any meaningful progress.

The Speaker urged the new Ooni to emulate the works of the late Oba Sijuwade whom he said left an indelible mark in the history of Nigeria as a peacemaker and a bridge between different peoples of the country.

While assuring of the cooperation of the House of Representatives, Dogara said the legislature was open to the wise counsel and invaluable support of the new Ooni in its quest to effect change and reposition our dear nation for enduring peace, security, accelerated growth and development.

"As you ascend the glorious revered throne of your fore-fathers, I join your family, the good people of the historic kingdom of Ife, friends and well-wishers to ask God to guide, guard and give you wisdom to lead,” he stated.

“I note that the position of Ooni carries with it authority, influence and power and therefore I urge Your Royal Magesty to rule with the fear of God and serve as a father to all”, Dogara remarked.

Dogara commended the Osun State Government for playing the role of a good umpire by ensuring a rancor-free selection and succession process.

The Speaker also appealed to the ruling houses in Ife and citizens

of Kingdom to unite behind the new Ooni and give him the much needed support.

He reiterated the National Assembly ’s resolve to accord the traditional Institution a Constitutional role in view of its strategic importance to the peace and unity of the country.

Gov Ambode too

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode also yesterday, congratulated Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi on his appointment as the new Ooni of Ife. Governor Ambode, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna admonished the new monarch to see his appointment as a call to service and to the upliftment of humanity.

While charging Ogunwusi to be courageous in his decisions, Governor Ambode urged him to see the unity of the Yoruba race as a priority.

While congratulating the family members of the new Ooni, the governor said they would have to bear with the demands of the job and support him morally, physically and spiritually.

Profile

The emergence of the 51st Ooni is coming three months after the passing away of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, former occupant, who died in London on July 28.

According to a press statement signed by Moshood Adeoti, secretary to the state government, the kingmakers of Ife had done all the necessary pre-requisites and communicated the choice of Ogunwusi to his office for approval. The new Ooni of Ife is a 40-year old real estate entrepreneur.

He attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma, HND, in accountancy. He is currently the managing director of Howard Roark Gardens Limited, which is undertaking multimillion naira Jacob Mews Estate project in Yaba and the Lakeview real estate development in Lekki, all in Lagos.

Ogunwusi is on the board of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited, (formerly GTHomes); GTBank Plc and FinaTrust Microfinance Bank Limited.

He is a member of several professional bodies including, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN; the Institute of Directors, IoD, Nigeria and Global Real Estate Institute, GRI.

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healthy bones, muscles and joints and prompt growth of new nerve cells and blood vessels. It reduced risks of obesity, cancers, osteoporosis and made people to live longer and better quality of life.

"Increasing physical activity levels can start with taking regular break from sitting position while at work/school which can be a few minutes every hour. Take the stairs not the lift, walk instead of riding Okada, the bus or your car. "Avoid spending countless hours sitting in front of the TV or on social media. Not more than two hours a day of sedentary activity is recommended for good health."

THIS WEEK October 29, 2015 World Stroke Day, established by the World Stroke Organization in 2006 to underscore the serious nature and high rates of stroke, raise awareness of the prevention and treatment of the condition, and ensure better

October 28-30, 2015 The sixth Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security aims to serve as a rallying point to intensify political and financial commitments at all levels in order to address contemporary challenges of food and nutrition insecurity in Africa.

An announcement by the African Union says it has the theme Empowering Our Women, Securing Our Food, Improving Our Nutrition.

Science World Cancer vaccine testing under way

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ESEARCH is under way at Washington University to test a new approach to cancer treatment. Beyond traditional therapies like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, scientists want to know if the human body’s own immune system can attack tumours.

They’re testing personalised vaccines designed to target deadly cancer cells in each patient.

Scientists know that fighting fire with fire works for many viruses like flu, measles or polio.

Now they want to test that theory with cancer, but since every tumor is different, every vaccine will be different.

Advancements in genetic sequencing, or decoding the DNA of cells, have made it easier to figure out what makes tumors unique. Scientists have found potential targets in tumor cells that could cause them to break down.

Now they ’re passing that knowledge on to doctors to try out in their patients with the most challenging cancers. Clinical trials are now enrolling patients with melanoma, brain cancer and breast cancer.

The concept is hypothetical. The research is experimental. There is no proof that it works.

But after staring down deadly cancers, tumours that have spread, and patients who are out of options, doctors are intrigued.

Sedentary activity

Dr. Oluwakemi Odukoya.

How physical inactivity slowly kills the body -- Dr. Oluwakemi Odukoya, Public Health Consultant, LUTH

By Gabriel Olawale

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CONSULTANT Public Health Physician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Dr. Oluwakemi Odukoya, has raised alarm over the increasing cases of ill health from non-communicable disorders arising from physical inactivity within the populace.

Odukoya, who is also a Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, warned that failure to engage in physical activities is not only exposing millions of Nigerians to the dangers of health disorders, but was also contributing to the spate of shorter lifespan in the country.

Shorter lifespan Addressing a gathering of stakeholders and students at the annual symposium and 2015 World Food Day activity of the Association of Nutrition Science Students, University of Ibadan Chapter, the health expert lamented that physical inactivity, which is a key risk factor for heart disease, hypertension, colon and breast cancers, diabetes mellitus, gallstones, depression, anxiety, obesity. and other non-communicable diseases, had become order of the day for too many Nigerians.

In her message to the gathering at the event sponsored by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited,

Odukoya said among factors that promote early death, physical inactivity was No. 4. "The reason

Engaging in physical activity helps the brain to increase production of neurochemicals that promote brain cell repair and improve memory

is that we are not where we were 100 years ago, civilization as catch-up with us. There was a time when there was no television, phone, car, and air conditioner. People uses their hands to pound yam, ground pepper, and to sweep the floor.

But today, the world is changing to stress-free era with the availability of modern technology that can make you comfortable."

She explained that engaging in physical activity helps the brain to increase production of neurochemicals that promote brain cell repair, improve memory, build and maintain

She recommend that an adult aged 18-64 years should do at least 150 minutes of moderateintensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week.

"Aerobic activity should be performed in bouts of at least 10 minutes duration. Start by doing small amounts of activity, then increase your time and pace gradually as you become fitter.

Make sure you enjoy the activity you do. This will help you to keep doing it for longer."

"Be active every day in as many ways as you can, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most (preferably all) days. If possible, include regular vigorous activity for extra health and fitness.

"When you inculcate this good habit now, by the time you rise to position of Executive Officer, you would have developed the habit fully and be more physically active than someone who does not have the privilege. When one Continues on page 49

Rotary commits $6.9m to ensure polio stays out of Nigeria

By Jeffrey Ogunyinde

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N the heels of Nigeria’s feat of remaining free for one year without a single case of polio, Rotary International has released US$6.9million to ensure the country remains polio free.

Announcing the commitment on a World Polio Day livestream event in New York, City featuring Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo, Dr. Tunji Funsho, disclosed that the amount is to support immunisation activities and surveillance spearheaded by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

The World Health Organisation recently removed Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries, leaving just

Afghanistan and Pakistan remaining.

"The world needs to keep polio eradication a high priority to ensure the disease does not return within our borders," noted the Chairman of Rotary's Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, Dr. Tunji Funsho.

"We have to support the programmes of those countries that are still endemic, particularly with funding, and create awareness and advocate for the government and private sector to continue to support the program until the work is done."

Funsho said following Nigeria's polio-free milestone, and no cases of wild polio in all of Africa in more than a year, Rotary is contributing $26.8

million to African countries to ensure the disease never returns to the continent - a tribute to the hard work of countless health care workers, traditional leaders, over 400,000 volunteers and government who managed to turn the programme in Nigeria around by reaching over 45 million children repeatedly with polio vaccines.

There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to keep Nigeria polio-free, but over a year without the virus is something to celebrate. Polio is on track to become the second human disease ever to be eliminated from the world after smallpox.

Rotary has contributed more than US$1.4 billion to ending polio, Continues on page 49

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—49

PSN, others advocate for community health through PacFaH

By Sola Ogundipe

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HE Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, in collaboration with seven indigenous Civil Society Organisations, are implementing an innovative 3-year programme on child and family health, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and coordinated by a leading Nigerian Consultancy Firm, development Research and Project Centre, dRPC. In a statement, President of the PSN, Olumide Akintayo, siad PACFaH was involved in treatment of childhood pneumonia/diarrhoea; family planning; routine immunisation and nutrition.

He said the vision of PSN- PACFaH is to see its advocacy work contribute to getting Government and relevant stakeholders work in concert to stop deaths caused by treatable childhood killer diseases (pneumonia and diarrhoea) which account for the death of over 400,000 children yearly under the age of 5 years in Nigeria.

Among the project goals, the PSNPACFaH is advocating for revision of the National Treatment Guidelines/ Essential Medicines List to include Amoxicillin dispersible tablet (Amoxicillin DT) adopted as First Line Treatment for Childhood Pneumonia by 2016.

Akintayo said part of the PSN-PACFaH specific objectives apart from advocating for the review of relevant national regulations to domesticate WHO/ UNICEF's new Treatment Guidelines that recommend Amoxicillin dispersible tablets as First Line Treatment for Childhood Pneumonia and Zn/ORS for Childhood Diarrhoea (Revised Standard Treatment Guidelines, Revised National Standing Orders(for CHOs, CHEWs and JCHEWs, Appropriate Listing in Revised Essential Medicines List and Updated PPMV List).

"Through the concerted efforts of the Ministries of Health and Finance, and in collaboration with the Legislature, create a specific budget line in the Ministry of Health for procurement of essential Life-Saving Commodities: Amoxicillin DT and Zinc/ORS, to benefit from the Economies of Scale through Pooled Procurement.

Pilot States for the project are Kano,Kaduna and Lagos which were selected on the basis of high disease burden (Kano); responsiveness (Lagos) and Saturation (Kaduna).

The PSN-PACFaH is scheduled to make presentation at the upcoming 88th Annual National Conference of the Society in November 2015.

WALK: Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria held a walk to raise awareness about polio eradication in commemoration of this year’s World Polio Day on October 24.

Polio Continues from Page 48 including. Funds contributed to Rotary are tripled thanks to a 2:1 match by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Rotary is joined in the fight to end polio by its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a public-private partnership that also includes the World Health Organisation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.

It connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in needto working toward a polio-free world.

Physical inactivity

Continues from Page 48 develops the habit earlier the benefit tends to be longer," she noted.

Reacting to why the company supports the annual conference, Emeka Mba, Community Affairs Manager, Coca Cola Nigeria, explains: ”We are committed to promoting dialogue with key stakeholders from the academia, Industry, Research and Development to achieve shared understanding and balanced communication on nutritional education and health issues.

As part of our commitment to wellbeing, we currently support 280 physical activity/ nutritional education programmes in 115 countries around the world including the Annual Scientific Conference by Nigerian Institute for Food Science and Technology, NSN, NIMR Annual Health symposium by the University of Ibadan Association of Nutrition Students Society etc," he explained.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

I. You are doing a good job at Zee Virtual

Media with these products especially for those that aid medical conditions and not just for pleasure. I need something to delay my ejaculation a lot longer in order to satisfy my wife. I also need something that can make my erections last longer and harder. I have read from your articles about supplements like Rhino 7, Boss Rhino and Man Up Now. Please what is difference between them? Are they taken together and do they have side effects? And what is the dosage? Also are there side effects of G Female supplement for women? My wife has a 7 month old baby. Thanks – Charles There are two main categories of performance enhancing supplements. The first category does the basics such as giving you strong erections, stamina and the quick recovery to regain a strong erection minutes after ejaculating so you can have sex again. This is vital because many people complain of not being able to have sex more than once in a night. The supplements that are able to do these three things are Man Up Now, Stiff Nights, Maxidus, Magic Mike, Max Stamina and Sex Voltz. They also have varying strengths that range from 450 mg to 900mg so depending on your body type and tolerance level, we determine what to recommend for you.

The second category of performance enhancers does a lot more for you. In addition to giving you strong erections and the ability to have sex multiple times, they also control premature ejaculation to enable you last longer, enlarge the penis in length and thickness and some of them also thicken and increase semen quantity. Examples of this second category of erection enhancers are Boss Rhino Gold (1500mg), Power Zen Gold (1200mg) and Rhino 7 (1200mg). As you can see, they have a higher grammage than the first category because they do more and last longer in your system. The first category of supplements will last between one to three days in your system on just one capsule. So they are taken one to two capsules every two to three days. The second category lasts between

three days to one week on one capsule. For these ones, you cannot take more than one capsule every three days.

They are very powerful. So for what you have complained about, I will recommend a supplement from the second category simply because you also complained of premature ejaculation. So go for Boss Rhino Gold or Power Zen Gold. Always drink lots of water when taking aphrodisiacs in general and also eat and rest well. That way you will avoid having the occasional mild head ache. Sometimes we combine some of these aphrodisiacs but only with supplements like Volume Pills that basically increase semen volume and sexual enjoyment.

For your wife, yes she can take the G Female Supplement when she is no longer breast feeding because whatever a woman takes gets to her child also.

But yes G Female Supplement will help her regain her sexual appetite and perform several times long into the night. G Female Supplement also helps women lubricate well before and during intercourse, so if she is taking it, there will be no complaints of dryness and pain – Uche I read so much about these performance enhancing supplements. I don’t have any erectile dysfunction problems but when I took Libigrow, I had the best sex of my life for days. I swear I could have satisfied five women in one night – Tunde Yes the supplements are that powerful and that is why many people are taking them even when they are not suffering from erectile dysfunction – Uche I got your mail a few weeks ago so I ordered the Ovo k5 Rabbit and Luxe G Thrusting Plush Rabbit. All I can say is money well spent. Quality gives you quality fun too - Marcia And that is it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.comZee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com-Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

•Artist’s impression: Apapa Regenation Plan

Abandoned N11bn Regeneration Plan

Why Apapa gridlock will persist

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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HREE years after the Apapa regeneration plan was drawn, the project estimated to gulp N11 billion has failed to see the light of the day, inspite of several efforts to achieve the dream.

The Federal Government has been under attack over Apapa Port and Oshodi- Apapa Expressway gridlock by stakeholders including Lagos state government over failure to keep to an earlier partnership agreement with the state government on the regeneration project of Apapa axis, estimated to cost N11 billion.

In one of his comments on the perennial traffic gridlock on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and Apapa environs where the foremost nation seaport is located, immediate past Governor Babatunde Fashola , declared that the situation might continue unless Abuja took certain necessary measures.

In the past, state government had taken some steps in collaboration with other agencies on the Apapa gridlock without sustainable result.

To tackle the problems which were attributed to the nefarious

activities of tanker drivers and operators of articulated vehicles and the reconstruction of the road

by Federal Government, the state government tried to enforce the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the state Road Traffic Law.2014.

The state government gave several ultimatums to oil operators to re-organise their operations by refraining from parking on the highway which had paralysed business activities in the axis, especially along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and Ijora-Apapa axis.

Traffic management Former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said “The first thing to understand was that the responsibility of the state government is traffic management on that axis. But the problem on that road comes from the tankers and containerized trucks which go to the ports to lift fuel and others.

I don’t manage the port and I don’t discharge fuel. So it is inaccurate to say that we are not doing enough to solve the challenge faced on that road or we have lost the battle.

“The problem from the port was that vehicles that used to park inside the port have been driven out by the concessionaires and they have no option than to park on the road in order to gain access into the port.

“The information from within the ports was that there was no enough cargo handling equipment. So the turnaround time per vehicle is longer and slower. Anyone who puts that burden on us was doing that inappropriately.

“It is a Federal Government responsibility. The Tin-Can Island road that would have helped reduce the traffic belongs to the apex government. If they finish fixing it, it will bring relief.

But we need to understand that the relief will only last for short time. No nation delivers that kind of cargo by road. With the huge load transported on that road, there is no construction road that will be done on that road that will last, until we move those cargoes through rail. The rail tracks are available in that axis.

“The European built them with minimum effort and coordinated plan and a political will and clarity of purpose we can move all these huge cargoes on rail. If you visit

that axis today, you will still find the Agip, NNPC and other fuel wagons in the yard. So, we can do it if there was political will. But the rail the current administration embarked upon was for political demonstration.”

Giving a statistical breakdown of the number of usage of the port, it was stated that no less than 3, 000 tankers enter the ports daily and at least 1, 000 articulated vehicles, otherwise called trailers enter the ports daily. Their aim was to lift fuel, diesel and Kerosene, while the trailers visit the port to transport fish, rice, vegetable oil and others.

The governor continued, “That is not a bad thing. If you have a 4,000 trucks daily visiting a place, any government that really love its citizens must ensure that they move those things by rail.’’

So, the urban regeneration is going on. We have done Oshodi and life is gradually returning to normal there”.

Damage to infrastructure

The Federal Government has been under attack over Apapa Port and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway gridlock by stakeholders including Lagos state government

The governor, accused the Federal Government of not compensating the state for all the damages it did to infrastructure in the state,.

He declared, “All the money they make from the ports, we get nothing. Now, I would expect a Federal Government with conscience to say since we are running our tankers through your roads, this is what you get every year to repair the roads’. Instead, they are carving out our land.

“But we have started reclamation of our territory with or without them. Their Ministers were here and we agreed on certain things. I hope they will come through”, the Governor said Continues on page 51

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 — 51

Why Apapa gridlock will persist Continues from page 50 adding that regenerating the blighted areas of Apapa would cost about N11 billion.

“Ultimately, the residents will extract water for use and tomorrow we will be talking of cancer and other related diseases”, the governor said, adding, “The people must understand this and this must stop”.

Fashola”s letter to President Apparently, worried over the lukewarm attitude of Federal Government towards the joint agreement reached on Apapa regeneration project, Fashola sometime in June 2012, wrote a formal letter to the then Minister for Finance, Dr. Okonjo Iweala who later directed the governor to call the attention of the Vice President Nnamadi Sambo to it.

Fashola heeded the advice and immediately sent another letter to Sambo in November, but the VP directed the governor to send his complaint direct to the office of the President for appropriate action as he was not in a position to grant the request of the governor.

One of the letters to Iweala and obtained by Vanguard, was titled : “Apapa traffic congestion and environmental regeneration challenges.’’

It reads; “Please re-call your visit in the company of other Hon Ministers and the resolution to work with Lagos state government in order to restore Apapa GRA and environs to their pre-eminent urban pride of place.

Urban pride of place “While our government has gradually started the greening of reclaimed open spaces, there is an enormous amount of work to be done and quite sizeable resources required to achieve the Apapa that our citizens once boasted of.

“I am constrained however, to bring to your notice reports reaching me, which threaten the short time gains that we have made in terms of improving traffic flow.

“The report is contained in the two memos attached herewith. In summary, the memo has identified (1) the operations of entry/exit into the Apapa Port and (2) the state of disrepair of connecting roads as the biggest challenges and suggestions have been proposed which require action by agencies and organs of FG for there to be enduring relief to the citizens.

“Am forwarding these to you for your consideration and in particular for your kind action of coordinating the ministries, departments and agencies concerned to ensure that they take action to remedy the problemS.” But, up till press time, no

*

•Apapa-Oshodi traffic response had either been received from the Presidency, meaning the Apapa residents will continue to wait endlessly.

PTD reacts But the Zonal Public Relations Officer of PTD, South West, Mr. Tayo Aboyeji, told Vanguard that the trailer park constructed by the state government could not accommodate petroleum tankers as it was meant only for dry cargoes.

He lamented the difficulty and the hostile environment the tanker drivers were operating in the absence of a convenient place to park their vehicles despite the essential services they were rendering to the nation.

Reduction of pressures He explained, “There are over 15 tank farms around the Coconut area in Apapa. Our members have to drive long distances from different parts of the country to Apapa in Lagos to lift products.

This shouldn’t be so. Why can’t we have depots in other places to free Apapa?”

Aboyeji, who was reacting to the development then, said that PTD was discussing with a private investors to a land deal in Amuwo-Odofin area where they hope to jointly develop as parking lot for petroleum tankers at least to reduce the pressure on Apapa axis.

Experts react: According to experts estimate, the gridlock that makes almost the entire stretch of the Apapa-Oshodi road, linking the Murtala Mohammed International and Lagos Domestic

Airports, impassable on a daily basis due to the long queue of fuel tankers, articulated vehicles costs the nation’s economy about N5 billion daily in man-hour losses.

Dr. Emeka Enebeli, a maritime expert and President of Apapa Club and Prof. Bamidele Badejo, a former Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, both argued that the situation has heightened inflation in the country as businesses attempt to pass on the man-hour loss to consumers.

Neither the Federal nor Lagos State Government has been able to proffer answers to why the Apapa traffic gridlock has become intractable over the years, despite all manner of committees set up over the years to address the menace that is gradually crippling businesses in Lagos, the heart of Nigeria’s economy.

Also, speaking at its 2014 quarterly media chat on the

One of Fashola’s unreplied letters to the FG on the Regeneration Plan spelt out how the development would ameliorate the perenial traffic snarl

economy in Lagos, the President of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, stressed there was an urgent need to relocate the tank farms to the outskirts of the city.

He said, “To fix these, there is urgent need to relocate the tank farms to the outskirts of the city.

Current location of the tank farms is a major factor in the huge traffic congestion. They also constitute a serious safety hazards to citizens.”

Enebeli wants haulage trucks off the road and some of their cargoes put “on the rail and others on the water, then the traffic situation will be solved.”

He also urged government to set up a Presidential Committee to decongest Apapa roads as well as the ports. The committee, he observed should not include civil servants, but journalists, lawyers, transport experts to fashion a solution to the traffic menace.

“Lagos economy is losing N5 billion daily. Businesses are trapped in the traffic,” Enebeli told our correspondent.

According to records, before 1985, over 85 per cent of cargoes coming through the ports in Lagos were moved by rail, while the 15 per cent were freighted by road. At the time, Lagos had a population of 5.8 million.

Over the years, cargo throughput has more than quadrupled just like the population, which is currently estimated at 23 million.

Badejo said, “the traffic has ripple effects on the economy, as it brought about additional inflation because a container that takes about N85,000 to lift now goes for about N180,000 because

of the cost implications of having to wait for hours. Nigerian railways have stopped operating from the port and what led to that decision is a mystery to me, because in 1985, the railway evacuated 85 per cent of goods at the port while road accounted for 15 percent.”

He expressed concerns “for security, safety, pilferages and robberies. So, if we are able to analyse social cost, there is need for drastic action to resolve the quagmire on that road.”

Recall that the present Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode recently declared that Oshodi-Apapa traffic gridlock remains the toughest challenges posed to his administration to be resolved.

Traffic gridlock Therefore, most auspicious time to really tackle the perennial menace of traffic gridlock on the ever busy road network in Nigeria’s port city-Apapa and environs is no other time than now.

This is so considering the political factor that currently subsists in the Federal and the state. The same party controls both the federal and the state government apparatus unlike in the past where there was no uniformity of purpose in policies.

Thus, the federal and state governments, President Buhari and Ambode, both APC, should as a matter of urgency convene an emergency summit to tackle this menace once and for all in the interest of the state in particular and the nation in general.

52 – Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

4 lifters to fly Nigeria’s flag N

IGERIA will be represented at next month’s world weightlifting championship in Houston, United States of America (USA) by a four- man weightlifting team that has already gone into close camping in Abuja.

The four lifters to fly the nation’s flag are Mariam Usman, Oluwatoyin Adesanmi , Yinka Ayenuwa and Gideon Aigbefoh. The lifters are training under the watchful eyes of national head coach, Andrew Ekanem and Evelyn Onyenakazi.

President of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Hon. Prince Chibudom Nwuche (OFR) said yesterday that the four lifters were picked on merit based on their performances in previous international outings, even as he expressed confidence that they would do well in Houston.

“We are taking only four lifters to Houston and we are confident they will do well at the championships. The four

SNATCH... Nigerian Olympian, Mariam Usman makes a snatch. were picked purely on merit,” Nwuche said.

The NWF boss further disclosed that a Nigerian weightlifting buff and a member of the weightlifting federation, Lawrence Iquaibom, has been invited by the world weightlifting governing body (IWF) to officiate at the championships which is a Rio

2016 Olympic qualifier.

“We are happy one of us, Lawrence Iquaibom, will be in Houston as a technical official. The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has named him as one of the referees for the championship and this is a plus for Nigerian weightlifting,” Nwuche stated.

“We underestimated Team Ogun” ON playing capwho was more –Samuel myself Ntain of Team Civil nervous.

Defence, Jonah Samuel said Sunday in Enugu that his star studded team, “underestimated Team Ogun .”

“We came to Enugu so sure that we would simply thrash Team Ogun.

We were already looking forward to the finals when we got the surprise of our lives. Clifford’s (Enosoregbe) injury compounded our problems and we got

extremely nervous. God just favoured us.” Samuel who rolled on the court several times and knelt down in prayer for several minutes, said.

Christie Agugbom, national champion and assistant captain of the team said, “To be honest, we underrated the team and when we got tied at three all we got really nervous. I do not know between Babalola and

We kept encouraging each other saying ‘ we can’t throw away N5 million naira just like that.’

But we must give credit to Team Ogun, They really prepared for this match and it showed.”

Team Ogun were runner’s-up from the ‘White Group’ but would have been deserving winners if they had pulled through what many would have considered the upset of the century.

Neymar is better than Messi, Ronaldo —Carlos

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*Neymar

OBERTO Carlos has singled out Brazil captain Neymar as the best player in the world, placing him above both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Argentine No. 10 and Real Madrid’s frontman have dominated the discussion over who is the greatest in recent years, enjoying a monopoly on the Ballon d’Or. But Roberto Carlos insisted that it was time to add a new name to the argument. “When I am asked about Messi and Cristiano I say that Neymar is the best for me,” he told Globoesporte.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015—53

C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 — 55

Kalu drops FIFA ambition F

OLLOWING Monday ’ s deadline for the submission of FIFA presidency bid, former Governor of Abia State Dr. Orji Kalu has commended football stakeholders across the world who wanted him to contest for the plum job of FIFA president, even as he did not submit a formal bid Kalu, while acknowledging the

support of President Muhammadu Buhari and other African Presidents for their patriotic roles noted that sports is a unifying force among Africans.

In a statement signed by his Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi on Monday, Kalu said, “I feel humbled and honoured with the widespread call for me to vie for the position of FIFA president. I sincerely

Mourinho Continues from BP manager — but only for the time being.

It seems a long time ago when the West Londoners won the Premier League so easily that the title race was completely boring.

Now, Chelsea are a complete shambles and even if Mourinho survives the coming week, he will not be manager of the club next season.

The decline of this team has been spectacular and Mourinho’s exit is now inevitable.

Once the major cracks appear in a team, it is very rare a manager is able to repair them.

After the 2-1 defeat at West Ham, a good win

at Stoke in the Capital One Cup and a decent performance over Liverpool on Saturday will see Mourinho stumble along.

Lots of fans are looking for specifics as to why the team has fallen to pieces.

But it is due to a number of factors, not just Mourinho’s bizarre and erratic behaviour or the disgraceful way he treated doctor Eva Carneiro.

Their summer transfer policy was poor — the signing of Radamel Falcao was a joke — and key players such as Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic need a kick up the backside.

appreciate the show of love and support demonstrated by African countries of endorsements despite my decision not to submit a bid. I particularly remain grateful to FIFA President, Seff Blatter and his team for personally acknowledging my capability to take the world football body to enviable heights.

“However, considering the economic challenges facing Nigeria, I have decided to focus my attention and resources on my business and humanitarian activities. I strongly believe the FIFA presidency is all about service, but I would rather continue my contributions to the economy of the continent by creating employment opportunities and wealth for Africans

T

HE Nigerian tennis family was yesterday thrown into uncontrollable mourning after an official of the Mobile Police Force (MOPOL) allegedly shot dead the mother of teenage tennis star, Angel Macleod.

According to unconfirmed reports, Macclead’s mother, was reportedly killed by a bullet that emanated from the unnamed Mopol, who we learnt

pace, with many selfprofessed football buffs entering the fray, with little or no understanding of the dynamics involved to aspire for the position.

While the NFF had earlier hesitated to back Odegbami and Kalu, it later buckled, with reports that it endorsed Odegbami, who we however gathered as at press time, was yet to file his nomination with FIFA. As at the filing of this report, only seven candidates had submitted their nominations, with UEFA supporting a ‘holding’ application from its general secretary, Gianni Infantino.

Sports Vanguard can report authoritatively that Odegbami and Kalu might have fallen off the

was engaged in a slight altercation with the deceased at a Lagos hotel.

It was alleged from a source that the Mopol, who was guarding the hotel premises, had hit the deceased, who reportedly hit him back with an object and irked by the retaliation, he subsequently fired a shot from his gun, which

eyewitnesses said resulted in the death of Macleod’s mother.

It was learnt that Macleod is in a state of shock as her deceased mother was her all in all, catering to her every needs. Macleod, who is 14 years old, is the leading junior tennis player in her category, winning all trophies up for grabs in the country.

Eagles get $2,000 each for draw with sum as qualification bonus.

Burkina Faso The Nigeria delegation

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ACH member of the home - based Super Eagles were paid $2,000 each as bonus for qualifying for the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda.

Though the squad was entitled to $1,000 per player after drawing against Burkina Faso on Sunday

evening, the Nigeria Football Federation approved that they players should be paid the extra

A

Continues from BP Enyeama, who also called time on his Eagles career.

“I have absolutely nothing against the coach (Oliseh),” said the 28-year-old Emenike, who has gone more than two years without scoring a goal for Nigeria.

“As for me, I still remain loyal to coach Sunday Oliseh and I want to believe he

understands my decision.

“My decision has nothing to do with the coach, who is a brave man, a technically sound person, my decision has nothing to go against his vision for the Super Eagles.

The 2013 AFCON top scorer has equally thrown his weight behind the Eagles to qualify for both the 2017 AFCON and 2018 World Cup.

way because of the qualification demands, which comprise a minimum of five written endorsements from national football federations plus a declaration of a role in the game in two of the past five years.

Besides the submission of their nomination forms, all aspiring contenders will have their submissions put through an integrity test by the Ethics Committee before being confirmed, formally, as candidates to stand to succeed Blatter on February 26.

For clarification purpose, the seven hopefuls vying for Blatter’s position include Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Musa Bility, who is the President of the Liberian Football Federation, Jerome

Champagne, Gianni Infantino, who is the General Secretary of UEFA, David Nakhid, a one time Trinidad international, Michel Platini, who is the suspended President of UEFA and Tokyo Sexwale, a South African businessman and head of FIFA’s Palestine-Israel M o n i t o r i n g Commission.

However confusion surrounded a planned candidacy from Asian Confederation head, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, with suggestions that he might have been advised to step back after lastminute negotiations because of his alleged role in the detention and torture of footballers and other athletes in a Bahrain crackdown in 2011. But Sheikh Salman

has always denied the claims.

The Nigerian no-show is bound to be a bizzare end to a late-minute foray into the global politics of world football by Odegbami and Kalu, who had hitherto been advised to withdraw their intentions because of their perceived lightweight status.

They were expected to have toed the way of the likes of Zico, David Ginola, Ramon Vega who all withdrew from the race after earlier declaring their intentions to succeed Blatter.

Interestingly, Zico, who like Odegbami, is a Brazilian legend, on seeking the support of his own Brazilian confederation, was told it would back him only if he could first find four other countries willing to nominate him, which sadly he was unable to find.

Emenike

arrived in Port Harcourt on Monday morning at around 1:15 am aboard an ARIK Air Bombardier jet.

GOtv Boxing Night: Otto wins N1m prize money member of Team Nigeria boxing team to the 2012 Commonwealth Games and National Sports Festival medalist, Otto Joseph, emerged the best boxer at the fourth edition of the GOtv Boxing Night on Sunday.

The fourth edition which took place inside the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Lagos, saw Joseph overcome his opponent Nurudeen Fatai via unanimous decision, after a gruelling eight round contest in a

FIFA Presidency Continues from BP submission of nomination expired last night, with neither Segun Odegbami nor Orji Uzor Kalu submitting their forms, as at press time.

The two Nigerian gladiators, the former, a 1980 Nations Cup winner and the latter, a two-time Governor of Abia State, had in the last couple of months been involved a two-way battle to get the nod of the Amaju Pinnick-led Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation to run for the biggest office in world football.

Since it became clear that Sepp Blatter ’s successor would emerge at an extraordinary congress next February 26, the race for the plum job has assumed an intense and frenetic

Tragey hits tennis as Mopol kills mother of Angel Macleod

national light weight challenge.

For emerging the best boxer for the night, Joseph went home with the star prize of N1 million and the Mojisola Ogunsanya trophy.

Speaking after the fight Joseph expressed delight for being named the best boxer.

“I feel happy, I feel excited for emerging the best boxer. I never thought I would be awarded as the best boxer because there were other top boxers who took part in this championship,” the pugilist said.

Eaglets

Continues from BP matches to reach the round of 16 at Chile 2015 but had to wait until Monday to know whom they will face after the group stages were concluded.

Nigeria beat the United States 2-0 in their first group game before smashing hosts Chile 5-1 but were brought down to earth by Croatia who came from a goal down to defeat the Eaglets 2-1.

The game between Nigeria and Australia in the knock out stage will be played on Thursday at the Estadio Sausalito in Vina del Mar, Chile.

If the Golden Eaglets can scale the Australian hurdle, then they might book a date with the winner of the Brazil/New Zealand round of 16 game in the quarter finals.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015

Mourinho has two games to save Chelsea job J

OSE Mourinho is safe as Chelsea Continues on Page 55

FIFA Presidency: No Nigerian in sight as deadline ends

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

A

•Kalu

•Odegbami

List of candidates Prince Ali bin Al Hussein Musa Bility Jerome Champagne

David Nakhid

Gianni Infantino

Tokyo Sexwale

Michel Platini

LL the talk of a N i g e r i a n Presidency of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) yesterday ended like hot air blown into a balloon, with the deadline for Continues on Page 55

to quit international football had nothing to do with coach Sunday

•Page 54

Oliseh.

Emenike announced he will no longer be available for selection by Nigeria to join Lille goalkeeper Vincent Continues on Page 55

•Mourinho

U-17 W/Cup: Eaglets get Australia hurdle N

Emenike: I’ve nothing against Oliseh Mourinho’s l Ain of UAE striker Emmanuel A future Emenike has uncertain maintained his decision

Kalu drops out — Pg.55

•Amuneke

IGERIA’s Golden Eaglets will face the Young Joeys of Australia in the round of 16 at the 2015 Fifa Under-17 World Cup taking place in Chile.

After the group stage was completed on Sunday, Australia qualified from Group C as one of the best third-

placed teams with four points.

The Golden Eaglets

topped Group A with six points from three Continues on Page 55

Other round of 16 pairings:

Brazil Mexico Korea Croatia Mali Russia France

v v v v v v v

New Zealand Chile Belgium Germany Korea DPR Ecuador Costa Rica

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Rescind (6) 5 Fiery (6) 8 Killer (8) 9 Intend (4) 10 Vitality (3) 12 Staid (5) 15 Damp (3) 17 Serpent (3) 18 Consumed (3) 19 Devil (3) 20 Eject (5) 21 Cur (3) 22 Epoch (3) 23 Ovum (3) 24 Spike (3) 26 Stormed (5) 29 Stray (3) 33 Leer (4) 34 Pervade (8) 35 Drive (6) 36 Liniment (6)

DOWN 2 Follow (5) 3 Cheese (4) 4 Lariat (5) 5 Taut (5) 6 Incline (4) 7 Angry (5) 10 Cost (5) 11 Examination (5) 12 Javelin (5) 13 Fetch (5) 14 Assessed (5) 15 Jam (5) 16 Animal (5) 25 Boring-tool (5) 27 Horrify (5) 28 Enlist (5) 30 Proportion (5) 31 Ooze (4) 32 Trial (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Chic 4, Art 6, Spar 8, Delete 9, Advice 10, War 12, Habit 14, Great 15, Caged 18, Severe 20, Idiocy 24, Tepid 26, Stand 28, Genus 30, Ode 32, Senior 33, Salute 34, Here 35, Lay 36, Yell.

DOWN: 2, Hyena 3, Crevice 4, Anew 5, Tear 6, Sever 7, Achaic 11, Ape 12, Has 13, Tar 16, Get 17, Dip 19, Extreme 21, Dig 22, Ideally 23, Yes 25, End 27, Noise 29, Until 30, Oral 31, Espy.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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C M Y K