My documents with INEC — BUHARI

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62329

When are the 2015 presidential debates? •P.19

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

A time for creative solutions: An innovative approach to dealing with corruption •P.17

How Dasuki confirmed Nigeria as the never-ready •P.19 country

CERTIFICATE SAGA:

My documents with INEC — BUHARI

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri & Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

•Says litigants will remain in court •As lawyers drag him to court, accuse him of false claims

B U J A —

PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (Ret), yesterday, insisted that his academic certificates were submitted to the

Continues on Page 5

Re: Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond the election

BY KAYODE FAYEMI

•P.58

Mr & Mrs

CHILDREN REFUGEES—Nigerian children show their UNHCR wristband in a United Nations Refugees Agency refugee camp in Baga Sola by Lake Chad, which borders Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon, Monday. Inset: Children carry firewood to the camp. Photos: AFP.

We'll overcome all Afenifere challenges before endorses elections — Jega >>8 Jonathan>>54 C M Y K

2 bedridden as strange ailment kills 4 siblings in Anambra See Pull-out inside

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 —5

POCKET CARTOON

PDM ADOPT BUHARI: National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim (left) presenting resolution of the National Executive Committee of the party to adopt Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of APC as their Presidential Candidate to Buhari, while Deputy National Chairman South West, Mrs Titilayo Ajanaku looks on in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

My documents with INEC — BUHARI Continues from Page 1 Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which were duly acknowledged by the Legal Department of the commission, wondering why people were still making issues of it.

Speaking in Abuja, when the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, formally adopted him as its presidential candidate for the February poll, Buhari said: “Well I am not surprised. This is Nigeria. If people are serious about this issue, they ought to have listened to the Legal Adviser of INEC. “This is the first time, INEC by law has got those documents and they said they have got them.

So, anybody who has any different view should go to court. I think they have gone to court. So, let them remain there.”

An Abuja lawyer, Mr. Chike Okafor, had on Monday, in a suit before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, sought to disqualify Buhari from contesting the February 14 presidential election on account of false information given by the candidate in the affidavit he submitted to INEC, in support of his nomination

form.

Meanwhile, an Abuja Chief Magistrate's Court, yesterday, was asked to okay the prosecution of General Buhari over allegations that he gave false evidence to a public officer.

The plaintiffs in the case are four activistsShield Jones Ufot, Jimmy David, Ogueri Enwerem and Tochukwu Okorie. In the suit brought pursuant to sections 143 (d) and 152 of the Criminal Procedure Code, they alleged that Buhari relied on a bogus certificate to depose to an affidavit before a competent court, contrary to Section 158 of the Penal Code Law.

PDM adopts Buhari

Meanwhile, PDM National Chairman, Alhaji Bashiru Ibrahim, who spoke at his adoption in Abuja, said that the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party, considered Buhari’s candidature favourably in a bid to save the country.

He said: “We are here today to present to you the resolution of the National Executive Committee of Peoples Democratic Movement in support of your candidature for the

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

If you know who you are then don’t let the hurtful words of others define you…you are not define by the insecurities of others —MeghanAnn Hargis When other people treat you poorly, keep being you. Don’t ever let someone else’s bitterness change the person you are. Don’t let the silly little dramas of each day get you down either. Stay positive when negativity surrounds you. Keep calm and carry on. It takes one positive thought to overpower an entire array of negative thoughts. People who are able to find the one positive point in negative situations are the ones who never give up.

Marc and Angel Hack sums it beautifully, the simple things are often the most important, and that we sometimes let stifling thoughts and ineffective habits get in our way of being happy and productive.

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The NEC of our party, at its meeting of January 22, 2015 noted that the party has no Presidential candidate for the Presidential election of February 14.

“It considered and accepted the need to support a candidate in order to save Nigeria from imminent collapse and give it a new lease of life.

It also noted that the party has registered close to six million members, both manually and online and resolved to deploy this voting strength for the best interests of Nigeria at this critical time,” he added.

Time

for change to save Nigeria

Responding, Buhari said: “What you have said summarises the problems of this country.

You have looked carefully and found out that this year, 2015, which ever way politicians and the elite look at it, is another time or watershed in our political system. If we get it wrong this time, and allow the PDP to go again for the next four years, this country is going to be in trouble. Right now, with the unfortunate event of crumbling oil price, the economy is really in a mess. Coupled with insecurity, it is only a country like Nigeria that can survive and get out of this situation we are in.

“A lot of countries will just disappear either from the map or from the political equation of nation states. But Nigerians are so resilient to the extent that there are international personalities who could not understand Nigeria and why Nigeria still exists. There was a former UN Secretary General who said that if he retires, he will go to Nigeria because,

according to him, what was happening to Nigeria, no other country can go through it and survive.

“The sixteen years of PDP have been hell.

Remember that we use to have Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Railways, Nigeria Shipping Line.

Try and find out how much we spent on power in the last 16 years from the vast resources we accumulated over that period because the price of oil went up to 142 dollars per barrel.

“What did we do with that money? We said that we paid debts with billions of naira. If that were put into infrastructure like power, roads, railways, farming etc, the amount of job it will create would be enormous. Today some of our youths have become danger to the society because of lack of jobs. I hope the elite will properly document these 16 years as presenting the worst leadership this country has ever witnessed.

“We welcome you very sincerely for identifying with us and deciding to come and march along with us to make sure that we improve our lot as a people and as a nation state”, Buhari said.

Certificate Saga: Court asked to okay Buhari for prosecution

Meanwhile, the activists, who identified themselves as tax payers and eligible voters in Nigeria, told the court that they were also social crusaders committed to ensuring obedience to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a duty to report crime and ensure prosecution of offenders.

Buhari faces 14 years jail term if convicted on the basis of the allegation.

In the suit they filed through their lawyer, Mr. Ugochukwu Ezekiel, the complainants averred: “That pursuant to Section 30 of the Electoral Act, 2010, the INEC issued a Notice setting a date for the 2015 general elections and called for submission of names of candidates for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the various political parties.

“That the APC and General Muhammadu Buhari (Ret) on the 18th day of December, 2014, filled and submitted INEC form C.F 001 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (a public office) wherein the said General Muhammadu Buhari (Ret) gave his qualification to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as West African

School Certificate (WASC), which he claimed to have obtained in 1961.

“The said form CF 001 and INEC publication of names of Presidential candidates and qualifications as published in Vanguard Newspaper of Thursday, January 15, 2015 are attached as Exhibit 1.

“That General Muhammadu Buhari with intent to mislead a public officer as to compliance with the provisions of Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2010, deposed to various affidavits in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja wherein he stated that he attended Katsina Provincial Secondary School, Katsina State and obtained a West African School Certificate and the certificates he claimed to have obtained are with the Nigerian Army.

“The two affidavits deposed to by General Muhammadu Buhari on the 17th of December, 2014 and 24th of November, 2014 are hereby attached as Exhibits 2 and 3.

“That the Nigerian Army in whose custody General Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) claim the certificates are, issued a statement published in the Thisday Newspaper of Wednesday January 21, 2015 on pages 1 and 6 and Daily Trust Newspaper of Thursday, January 22, 2015, and denied being in possession of the school certificates.

“The publications are attached as Exhibits 4 and 5.

That General Muhammadu Buhari never sat for the West African Examination Council examination in 1961 as he claimed.

“That in the entire records of the school and West African Examination Council, there appeared no name of the said Muhammadu Buhari.

“That the only name close to that of Mr. Buhari in the school list of 1961 as published by the Principal of Government College (Pilot), Katsina, Katsina State is Mohamed Buhari.

The said publication is attached.

“That the actions of the accused constitute offences of giving false evidence to a public officer contrary to Section 157 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 158 of the Penal Code Law. “That the Complainants are now compelled to bring a Direct Criminal Complaint against the accused person. That the society is crying for justice and only an intervention by the Court can answer the cry.

“That it will be in the best interest of justice to bring the accused person to answer to this Complaint and "That this Court has the power to direct that the accused person be brought to answer to the Complaint. That this Complaint is made in good faith.”

Petitions IGP

Earlier in a statement issued through their lawyer yesterday, the plaintiffs said they had already petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to promptly investigate the APC flagbearer, pointing out that an investigation they personally conducted revealed that Buhari never sat for the West African Examination Council examination in 1961 as he claimed...

“In bringing the present criminal complaint against General Buhari, we are guided by truth and utmost regard to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we swore as lawyers to uphold in all circumstances and against all manner of persons even under pain of death.

“We cannot sit and allow a man who told brazen lies on oath just to get clearance to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ride on the back of all Nigerians simply by displaying a façade of anti–corruption credentials. The basic question is — what moral justification will such a man have to tackle the menace of corruption in our society if he eventually wins, since his entire aspiration was built on a heap of corruption.?"

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Passengers escape death, as fire consumes commercial bus zIf only driver had fire extinguisher —SURVIVOR

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI— PASSENGERS on board a commercial bus narrowly escaped death yesterday as the vehicle, an L-300 Mitsubushi, burst into flames along Ezza Road, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

The fire, which started in the vehicle’s engine, burnt all the passengers' luggage.

Vanguard learned that the driver noticed an anomaly in the engine when he stopped momentarily to pick a secondary school student (names withheld).

A passenger recounted her experience: “After putting the schoolgirl’s luggage into the boot of the bus, the driver had hardly opened the bus for his passenger, when he noticed thick smoke emitting from the engine.

“As he rushed to open the boot, he was greeted by an outburst of flames and melting wires. All efforts to put out the fire proved abortive, as he had no fire extinguisher.”

It was also gathered that the passengers, who noticed the intensity of fire emitting from the engine, scampered for safety.

One of the passengers, identified as Mr. Eze Daniel, argued that the fire could not have escalated the way it did, if the driver of the bus had fire extinguisher.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the incident, there was no fire service personnel in the area as, policemen made frantic efforts to avert undue vehicular traffic.

Paints and sugar seized by the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Command, Badagry, Lagos, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Cholera kills 8 in Anambra

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—EIGHT persons have been confirmed dead in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State, following an outbreak of cholera in the area.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuke, who confirmed the casualty figure yesterday while taking delivery of drugs and equipment donated to the

state government by a Lagosbased pharmaceutical company, said there were 25 other cases currently being managed by a team of health workers.

According to him, some medical doctors have also been drafted to the affected communities to control further spread of the inspection.

He also said the state government had directed immediate sinking of

boreholes in the affected communities to provide the people with potable water.

He added that it was discovered that the source of water supply in the area was unhygienic.

Meanwhile, officials of the state Ministry of Health have sent truck loads of packs of water to the people, even as an enlightenment campaign had commenced in the area to educate the people on the

symptoms of the infection.

Akabuke commended the company and promised that the donations would be used for the purpose they were meant.

Miss Ruth Harrison, who led a team of the donor pharmaceutical company, said her company decided to key into the health programme of the state government, following the reported outbreak of cholera in the state.

INEC recovers 7,812 snatched PVCs in Akwa Ibom

By Tom Moses

U

YO—AKWA Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Austin Okojie, has implored those who snatched the commission’s Permanent Voter's Cards, PVCs, to return them, adding that 7,812 of the 10,000 cards had been recovered by the police.

He also assured that the commission would organize what would be the most credible election in the history of Nigeria.

He made the appeal yesterday, when the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, including the governorship candidate of the party, Obong Umana Umana, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Uyo. According to Okojie, over 10,000 PVCs were recently snatched from INEC staff by thugs in Uruan Local Government Area.

He said 7,812 of the cards had, however, been recovered by the police.

He added that over 3,000 of the cards were yet to be recovered.

He also informed that the commission had so far

distributed 1,468,780 PVCs, representing 91.4 percent, and encouraged all registered voters, yet to get their cards, to go to their respective political wards from next

Monday to collect theirs.

To check late arrival of election materials at polling units and the attendant usurpation of such challenges by fraudulent politicians to rig

elections, Okojie said election materials would be dispatched to all polling units 24 hours before the commencement of accreditation and other electioneering processes.

TRENDING: Criminals target car batteries in Ebonyi

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—A syndicate now moves round Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, at night, removing car batteries from vehicles of unsuspecting owners.

Vanguard investigation revealed that the syndicate, made up of artisans, open car bonnets with specialised weapons and remove the batteries.

Residents of Watchman Street in Abakaliki yesterday woke up to discover that eight car batteries were removed by members of the gang.

In a chat with Vanguard, a resident of the area and civil servant, Mr. Emmanuel Okey, expressed shock at the development and called on Ebonyi State Police Command to increase and improve on its surveillance, especially in streets across the state.

He said: “It was incredible.

We woke up and discovered that eight car batteries belonging to our neighbours were stolen.

“I think the youths carrying out such actions are artisans, especially vehicle electricians and panel beaters.

“This trend is bad. Our

neighbours could not go out today. The police should do something about it urgently.”

The state Police spokesman, ASP Chris Anyanwu, who stated that his office was yet to receive information about the development, called on the public to always report incidences of crime.

Pandemonium in Benin as WAI officia

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THERE was pandemonium, yesterday, in Benin as officials of the War Against Indiscipline, WAI, attached to Edo State Government, engaged a nursing mother in a fight over alleged breach of traffic laws along Sapele Road.

Vanguard observed that the nursing mother, who was rushing her one-year-old

child to the hospital, breached jumped traffic light and was pursued by WAI officials.

Two of the officials forced their way into her Honda Car, manhandling the woman in the process, having refused to heed her plea that she was rushing her ward to the hospital.

One of the officials slapped the woman and gave her a black eye as they forcefully stepped on the car brake,

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015—7

Octogenarian beheaded in Benin over land tussle

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—UNKNOWN killers have beheaded an octogenarian, Pa Goodluck Uwumwanrogie, at Arougba village, near Benin, over alleged land tussle.

The deceased, 85, who was the next in command to the Village Head, was alone in his in-law's residence at Irhirhi village when the killers allegedly shot him before

chopping off his head.

He had fled to Irhirhi village shortly after crisis broke out last year at Aruogba, where many houses were burnt and three persons killed.

Widow of the deceased, Julie, 55, said she was informed at about 5:30pm that her husband had been killed, alleging that her husband was killed over tussle for the community land.

She said: “A man (names withheld) had earlier

threatened to kill my husband before the crisis.

“After we ran away from the village during the crisis to seek refuge at my father’s village at Irhirhi, the same man saw him here and said he would still kill him.

“I was called and told that my husband was killed. He was killed because of land tussle.

They have been fighting over the community land.

“He said my husband joined

the other faction against them.

People said he was shot before they cut off his head and took the head away.

“I hid my husband in my father’s house. Nobody was at home when it happened.”

Edo State Police spokesman, Joseph Edogiawerie, who confirmed the killing, said two suspects had been arrested.

He said the police were on the trail of the killers, and that they left with the victim’s head.

PIPELINE VANDALS ON RAMPAGE IN LAGOS: Kill 2 policemen, motorcyclist; 2 NSCDC men missing

By Evelyn Usman

T

HE sleepy Abulewa community in Ikorodu area of Lagos was, yesterday, thrown into pandemonium, following sporadic gunshots from armed pipeline vandals, which left two policemen and a commercial motorcyclist dead.

At 5pm, the fate of two officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, could not be ascertained as unconfirmed report had it that they could have also been killed

by the vandals and thrown into the creeks.

Eight others, who reportedly sustained bullet wounds during the shoot-out, were said to be undergoing treatment at an undisclosed hospital around the area.

Vanguard gathered that the vandals, numbering over 30, were returning from Abule Ishawo and Tappa creeks where they had gone to siphon petroleum products from Nigeria National Petroleum C Corporation, M NNPC, when they Y K

were accosted by a team of NSCDC on patrol around Okoko area.

However, other vandals who had positioned themselves to wade off intruders, reportedly opened fire on the NSCDC officials.

NSCDC calls for help

During the gun duel, report said the officials made a distress call to a joint Navy/Army patrol team around Abulewa area which came to their rescue.

The joint patrol team was said

Invade Police Station

Party supporters going for a rally along Agege Motor Road in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

als manhandle nursing mother which made her hit her chest on the steering.

The incident attracted a crowd, who almost torched the WAI officials' towing van, before more of their members ran to the scene.

Tension heightened when one of the WAI officials escaped from the car after he noticed the presence of the mob, but the angry nursing mother held on tight to one of the WAI officials and beat him

up inside the car.

She held on to the man until the arrival of her husband, who took them to the state secretariat of Department of State Services, DSS. The DSS directed them to the Ministry of Transport but while they were there, men of the Nigeria security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, came to arrest the WAI operative that slapped the woman.

to have succeeded in rescuing eight NSCDC officials from the vandals.

It was learned that when it became apparent that the vandals were being over powered, they reportedly fled the scene.

Meanwhile, a team of policemen from Owutu Division, said to have been on the verge of moving to the scene on receiving the distress call, were attacked by the fleeing vandals.

The arrest of the operative elicited reaction from his colleagues, who insisted that their colleague should not be arrested.

Some of the WAI officials told Vanguard that the woman flouted the traffic law.

At press time yesterday, the WAI officials were still protesting their colleague’s arrest, more so when the arrest was effected by the civil defence and not the police.

The vandals, said to be in four buses and over 20 motorcycles, opened fire on reaching the station, taking the policemen unaware.

Two non-commissioned policemen were gunned down with their rifles taken away by the vandals as one of the patrol vehicles was reportedly set ablaze by the rampaging vandals.

A commercial motorcyclist, said to have been hit by a bullet from the vandals, died on the spot,while some of his colleagues sustained bullet wounds.

A reinforcement from the area ’H’ Ogudu Command, reportedly saved the day, as the vandals were said to have abandoned one of the buses and eight motorcycles loaded with some 50-litre jerry cans filled with the siphoned petroleum product.

Spokesman of Lagos State Police Command, Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the death of two policemen, adding that investigation had begun to arrest the fleeing vandals.

On his part, the Western Naval Command Information Officer, Lieutenant Commander Abdusalam Sanni, said no casualty was recorded on the side of the Navy.

He said: “When the distress call was received, our men moved to the scene and succeeded in overpowering the vandals. Eight NSCDC men were rescued.”

JTF arrests suspected oil thieves, destroys refineries

By Akpokona Omafuaire

W

ARRI—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, has arrested seven persons for allegedly operating illegal refineries.

The JTF also destroyed several illegal refineries camp and many Cotonou boats along with unquantified illegally refined products in Delta and Imo states.

This was revealed, yesterday, by Lt. Col. A. D. Isa, Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre in a press statement.

The statement read: “The Sector 5 special squad of the anti-illegal oil bunkering of the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield deployed at Agip Oil Company flow station in Akri community of Imo state has discovered an oil theft syndicates specialized in pipeline vandalism in the area.”

EMPLOYMENT: Youths, unions accuse PTI of victimization

By Godwin Oghre

S

APELE—OVER 2,000 youths, National Union of Petroleum Energy and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and the Petroleum Energy and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, of Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, yesterday protested the employment policy of the institution.

The protesters described the policy as “shady, bias and victimizing.”

The youths, mainly from the institution’s host Uvwie community and environs and the two unions, accused the institute of deliberately victimizing them in the just-concluded aptitude test conducted by the management in Abuja between December 27 and 29, through the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, PSIN.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Oil prices steady above $48 per barrel

O

IL prices steadied above $48 a barrel, yesterday, recovering from earlier losses as the dollar weakened against the euro.

Brent crude oil futures rose 22 cents to $48.38 a barrel as U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 10 cents to $45.25 a barrel.

The euro rose for a second day against the dollar after an 11-year low on Monday.

Prices were also supported after the Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Abdullah al-Badri, said oil prices may have bottomed out.

He warned of a jump of oil price to $200 a barrel if investment in new supplies was too low.

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said that the effects of the weakened dollar and the residual effect of Badri’s comments were temporary.

He said: “I certainly don’t think it changes the fundamental dynamic of the direction of prices with regard to oil.

“When you look at where Brent is and where it’s been, there’s a pretty solid floor at the moment around $47 a barrel.”

Standard Chartered said OPEC’s decision to keep production high was beginning to impact other producers.

“Non-OPEC output is being hit hard, and we now expect the oil market to tip into supply deficit in H2,” the bank said.

Traders said there were other signs of a potential market pick-up.

“I’m not sure if prices have bottomed out, but I can see some signs for prices to rebound,” said Yusuke Seta, a commodity sales manager at Newedge Japan.

He was referring to a rise in Brent’s open interest in the past few weeks.

Brent’s open interest on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) hit 1.69 million lots in the week of January 20, a record high since the data started in 2011.

The next data on supply will come later in the day from U.S. commercial crude stockpiles, which likely rose nearly 4 million barrels last week, a media survey showed.

U.S. crude stockpiles posted the largest build in 14 years in the previous week.

We’ll overcome all challenges before elections —Jega A

By Joseph Erunke

BUJA — CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, yesterday, affirmed that the commission would overcome all the challenges it was facing before the commencement of the elections on February 14.

He also re-echoed the commission’s determination to ensure that the elections were much better than that of 2011.

Speaking during his quarterly meeting with political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Jega insisted that INEC was determined not only to conduct free, fair and credible but a violent-free polls.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to assure all of you that as we promised Nigerians, we are working assiduously to ensure that we prepare adequately and that we conduct elections that are free, fair, credible and peaceful.

“I want to also assure you that we are committed to ensuring that the elections we will conduct will be remarkably very much better that those we conducted in 2011.

“We believe that even though there may be challenges, such as the distribution of the PVCs, we feel confidently that with the measures and mechanisms that we have put in place, that these challenges are challenges that we can overcome. We shall overcome them well in advance of the conduct of the general elections.”

He said the meeting was an avenue to provide an update on the preparation for the 2015 general elections.

The INEC boss, therefore,

appealed to all stakeholders to join hands with the commission in addressing the challenges it was facing at the moment even as he appealed to Nigerians to be patient, especially with the distribution of the PVCs. He advised them to remain committed in securing their

PVCs by coming out to collect them, explaining that the use of the PVCs will help reduce electoral fraud.

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of Inter Party Committee, IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Tanko, called on the Federal Government to declare a three-day public holiday for collection of PVCs, saying

the holiday will enable all registered voters go out to collect their cards.

Tanko who also spoke on the ongoing political campaign, condemned the level of violence observed so far, warning that IPAC will not hesitate to drag to court any political party that violates the non-violence accord.

INAUGURATION: From left: Senator Ben Obi, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe and Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, President Ayo Oritsejafor during inauguration of National Peace Committee meeting for February General Elections, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

APC replies Soludo, affirms readiness to improve economy

By Charles Kumolu

L

AGOS — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, has affirmed its readiness to improve the economy through an actionable blueprint, saying it should not be viewed with the same prism with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which the opposition party claimed has mismanaged the economy.

In a response to the perspectives shared by Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo, erstwhile governor of the Central Bank

of Nigeria, CBN, the party said while it agreed wholly that the ruling party was devoid of ideas on how to manage the economy, the party drew reference to three APC states which it claimed have the lowest unemployment rates in the country as evidence of the workability of its economic blueprint.

The party’s response was articulated by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Director of Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the Buhari Campaign Organisation.

While commending Soludo for his intervention which it described as welcome, the party said it was not true that the party intended to ride to power on the back of euphoria of change as it affirmed that it had a workable blueprint.

The party cited Kwara, Osun and Lagos States as APC states which according to the National Bureau of Statistics have the lowest employment rates in the country as an evidence of the viability of the APC manifesto.

zSee full text on Page 58

Electricity generation rises to 4,132MW zAs consumers complain of epileptic supply

A

By Michael Eboh

BUJA — A significant improvement was recorded in Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity, as power generation, yesterday, hit 4,132.7 megawatts (MW) from about 3,300mw recorded last week.

The increase can be attributed to the reopening of the about 200,000 barrels per day Trans Forcados pipeline which was shut down a couple of days ago due to vandalisation, thereby disrupting gas supply to two key

power plants.

However, despite the increase, there are still complaints of inadequate power supply by electricity consumers across the country, with some households enjoying less than 12 hours of electricity per day.

Specifically, power generation, according to data obtained from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, had opened the week with a peak generation of 4,258.4MW and lowest generation of 3,687.1MW. As at yesterday, power generation dropped slightly to

4,132.7MW, compared to a national peak demand which the TCN projected at 14,630MW. The TCN puts total installed capacity of all the power plants in the country at 11,165.40MW, available capacity at 7,139.60MW, current transmission capability at 7,000MW and network operational capability at 5,500MW. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, had on Monday

announced the resumption of operations on Trans Forcados oil pipeline.

Mr. David Ige, Executive Director, Gas and Power, NNPC, who announced the reopening, explained that the closure of the pipeline network had led to the shut-in of about 200,000 barrels per day of crude export, halved Nigeria’s gas production and deprived two key power plants of gas supply.

The pipeline, the NNPC said, transports the Forcados crude oil grade in the Niger delta region and was scheduled to export about 260,000 barrels per day in January and 210,000 bpd in February.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 —9

By Japhet Alakam & Chris Ochayi

L

AGOS — GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday, said that a better Nigeria was realisable, as he called on Nigerians, irrespective of their positions, to work together to ensure that the dream was realised.

He spoke at a colloquium on 2015 Elections and The Prospects of a New Nigeria, organised as part of the launch/presentation of a book, The Pains of a Country, authored by Eddy Odivwri, Deputy Editor of Thisday newspaper at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Uduaghan, who noted that he believes that a better Nigeria was realisable, said the new Nigeria will provide employment for lots of unemployed youths.

Earlier in the colloquium which was moderated by Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor in Chief, Vanguard newspapers, the discussants, Messrs Fred Agbeje, Goddy Uwazuruike and Robert Okpara, harped on the need for politicians to play the game according to the rules.

Uduaghan gives self pass mark

Speaking earlier at another occasion in Abuja, he said he had set a very high standard in managing democratic transition, as it was on record that only his state came out of the governorship primaries for his successor without any petition in the country.

Uduaghan, who gave himself the pass mark, while receiving the leadership of the University of Abuja chapter of Delta State Students Association, in Abuja, described the success of the party’s primaries in the state as a very laudable feat worthy of emulation.

He enjoined the students to mobilise themselves and ensure that all the candidates of the ruling party at the state and national levels were returned in the forthcoming elections.

Uduaghan, represented by his Commissioner for Multilateral Relations, Mr. Joel Bisina, said he had been working with the PDP’s state governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to set out a process for electioneering campaign to ensure that the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, wins the election convincingly.

“This is the year of elections and Governor Uduaghan has set a very high standard in terms of managing democratic transition. In all the 36 states of the federation, it is on record that only Delta State C M Y K

A better Nigeria is realisable —Uduaghan zScores self high in Delta gov primaries was able to come out of all the primaries for a successor as governor without any petition.

I think this is a very laudable feet worthy of emulation.

“Whether PDP will win is not an issue of debate, I think what we are really after is to win convincingly so that the new administration can continue and consolidate on the gains of the current administration and to carry forward most of the laudable programmes and activities being implemented in the areas of infrastructural development, peace and security as well as in the area of human development.”

Unemployment cause of crises

Speaking at the Lagos colloquium, Uduaghan pointed out that a lot of crises in the country were caused by unemployment, adding: “When someone is employed and is busy, it will be difficult to get that person to be an armed robber or Boko Haram.

When he leaves home at 5a.m., or thereabout to get to work early and he will come back late in the day, he will not have time to be recruited into such mess.”

On issues raised by the discussants, Uduaghan disagreed with them that the February election campaigns were not issue based.

He said: “I don’t agree that issues have not been raised in the campaigns. When we talk about corruption, insecurity, among others, they are issues and for us in PDP, we are looking at the issues raised.

"For example on corruption, something has been done, but they are saying that enough is not being done, same goes with security. What better

DIVESTMENT: From left: Mr Godwin Emefiele, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria,

CBN; Alhaji Aliyu Kola Belgore, Chairman, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON presenting AMCON’s goodwill letter to Mr Akinsola Akinfemiwa, Chairman Heritage Bank during the AMCON Board divestment closure ceremony, in Lagos, yesterday.

things are we supposed to do? So when we look at their suggestions, we will add it to the ones we have and have a better Nigeria.

A new Nigeria is a collective one

“A new Nigeria is a collective one, for us to have a new Nigeria, we must walk collectively no matter your position to actualise that. As a political party, we are doing everything possible to make sure that there is no need for violence.

We are talking to our people, followers and traditional rulers to educate the people on the need for that.”

He also tasked the media to press it on Nigerians that election is not a do-or-die

affair. Citing how he sacrificed his ambition of going to the Senate for peace to reign in his state, Delta, he appealed to all politicians to see it like that. Pointing out that election was just four years, he said: “If you don’t get it this year, you try again.”

On the author

Uduaghan who described the author as a worthy son of Delta State, said: “He is one of those who have kept me on my toes through discussions and write ups.”

He commended columnists for their jobs, especially for finding the time every week to get something to write on.

The chairman of the occasion, a chieftain of All

Progressives Progress, APC, and former governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo, who described the book launch as important occasions, said: “I believe that each one of us have a story to tell, so if all of us will have the opportunity to write a book, it will help us to defend our views.”

In their separate presentations, the panellists agreed that the new or better Nigeria was realisable and that the things that bind the country together were greater than those that divide the country.

They asked the politicians to mind their utterances and also tackle the problems of insecurity, provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and provide welfare for the citizens.

BRIDGE BANKS: AMCON transfers ownership to Skye, Heritage Banks

By Peter Egwuatu

L

AGOS — THE Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, yesterday, officially transferred the ownership of Mainstreet Bank Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited to their new owners, Skye Bank Plc and Heritage Bank Limited, respectively.

At the divestment ceremony held in Lagos, yesterday, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, warned against a recurrence of the factors which led to the takeover of the three bridge banks, namely Mainstreet Bank, Enterprise

Bank and Keystone Bank Limited.

According to him, “if the bridge bank option had not been adopted in 2011, the systemic crisis in the banking crisis would have been unprecedented and costly in terms of its effects on other banks.”

He thanked AMCON and the interim management of the two banks for taking up the responsibility of assisting the CBN to stabilise the bridge banks and restoring them to good financial health.

Chairman of AMCON, Alhaji Kola Belgore, disclosed that the bridge

banks had been restored to financial solvency, stating that Mainstreet Bank’s profit at the end of December 2014 stood at N13 billion while Enterprise Bank recorded a profit of N3 billion.

Speaking on the occasion, Group Managing Director of Skye Bank Plc, owners of Mainstreet Bank, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, said the bank saw value and synergies in the acquired bank and promised to harness and optimize the value.

Oguntayo thanked the Board of AMCON, CBN and the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, for conducting a transparent

process that led to the selection of the bid winners for the bridge banks and for granting all the required clearance and approvals that paved the way for the acquisition and eventual takeover.

AMCON announced Skye Bank and Heritage Bank as the preffered bidders for Mainstreet Bank and Enterprise Bank respectively in the last quarter of 2014.

Both banks had since completed the payments for the 100 per cent shares of the two acquired banks, and are currently conducting a process for seamless integration.

10— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Fayose admits owing Ekiti workers N7.5bn zSays ‘I find it difficult to sleep'

We've laid foundation for infrastructural development —Wada

100 DAYS IN OFFICE:

By Gbenga Ariyibi

A

DO EKITI—EKITI State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose has lamented that the state government needed the sum of N7.5 billion to settle arrears of entitlements of public servants in the state.

He admitted that he sometimes does not know where to start which gives him sleepless nights.

The governor was speaking in Ado Ekiti yesterday while inaugurating some projects to mark his 100 days in office.

According to him, the entitlements included August and September 2014 salaries of some workers, subventions due to stateowned institutions, leave bonus among others.

Fayose declared that despite the challenges and commitments that he would strive to execute some projects and pay salaries promptly.

“We have about N7.8 billion obligation to workers in the state.

The obligations were left behind by the former administration, which include over N2 billion as leave bonus to workers, over N1 billion as deductions from workers’ salaries that the former

administration did no remit.

“August and September 2014 salaries they did not pay some workers amounting to over N2 billion. Subventions to tertiary institutions which is over N2 billion as well.

“I don’t know where to start sometimes I cannot sleep. We did not inherit anything tangible from the former administration. “ The six months’ moratorium from banks that we got, will lapse

in two months and when that happens, banks will be deducting N780 million monthly to service the over N31 billion loans the former administration left behind.

“Also, N800 million is deducted from our statutory allocation monthly to service the N25 billion bond that they took. We have approached four banks to borrow us money to pay at least one month out of the two months

salaries owed some workers. But essential things must be done. I call for understanding from people and I am committed to making life better for the people,” the governor said.

The governor further noted that paying workers’ salaries promptly had become a cardinal point of his administration, given the poor state of the economy and finances of the state.

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA — Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State said yesterday that his three year administration has put the state on the way for greater infrastructural development despite initial challenges experienced at the beginning of the regime.

Wada spoke in Lokoja in a broadcast to commemorate the administration’s third anniversary. Noting his successes and challenges, he said: “You would recall that our administration had to contend with a number of challenges at inception which sought to undermine our resolve to achieve some development targets for our dear Kogi State. However, with determination, focus and courage driven by our mission to transform the state, we have succeeded not only in laying the foundation for a greater Kogi State, but have also invested greater chunk of our resources in building critical infrastructure and the transformation of all sectors of the state’s economy for the benefit of all our people. “This modest success story essentially is the product of the painstaking efforts we have made to implement the blueprint for the development of our state which was put together by a Think Tank committee we set up upon assumption of office.

Fashola condemns attack on Jonathan's convoy stressed that such acts should be the peace accord was not more condemned in its entirety if the than mere gentleman agreement,

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has condemned the attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy in Bauchi State and other parts of the country, saying Mr. President has every right to campaign in any part of the country.

Fashola, who made the remarks yesterday, during the commemoration of his 2,800 days in office in Ikeja, Lagos,

country must move forward.

He also urged Jonathan to caution his supporters and associates from making inflammatory and derogatory statements capable of heatingup the polity and consequently spur attacks against him.

Harping more on the peace accord signed by President Jonathan and Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he added that

saying what is important is the conduct thereafter.

February poll is sacrosanct

The governor, speaking on the alleged plan to postpone the February general elections by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led federal government, reiterated the President’s earlier position that May 29 remained sacrosanct, stressing that, “no excuse is acceptable for any postponement of the elections.”

Boko Haram bomb-maker, 9 others arrested

By Soni Daniel, with Agency report man suspected to A be the maker of the improvised explosive

devices being used by Boko Haram fighters in the North East has been arrested by the security agencies.

The suspect, simply identified as Ba’na, was picked up along with nine other accomplices in Yobe State, according to a police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to theAFP. The suspected bombmaker, was reportedly arrested in the Arikime area of Potiskum after

some weeks of surveillance, the source who was involved in the Sunday arrest said.

Potiskum, the commercial capital of Yobe State, has been hit by a wave of bombings in recent months, including a suicide attack on a secondary school in November in which 58 people were killed.

On January 18, at least four people died in an attack on a bus station, while the previous weekend two women wearing suicide vests killed six people at a market and two died in a car bombing outside a police station.

Volunteer group holds awareness campaign on collection of PVCs

L

AGOS—SEQUEL to the revelation by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that millions of Nigerians are yet to collect their Permanent Voters' Cards, PVCs, Academy Volunteer Initiatives recently held awareness campaign on collection of PVCs and urged all eligible voters to collect their PVC before the reschduled deadlind.

The campaign led to road walk-show around Mafoluku and Oshodi areas where the AVI members are sensitised the public to collect their PVCs. According to the chairman of the group, Yusuf Idris Olakunmi, “the elec-

toral process we started by registering as voters would not be completed until we pickup our PVCs, cast our votes and protect them so that they get counted, all in a peaceful and legitimate manner.

Likewise, Hon. Idowu Muritala-Williams said that the purpose of organising such walk-road show is to reach out to people to collect their PVCs. He urged people to vote for credible candidates. “We say no to violence, either during or after election. We have a dream of making Nigeria great and we want to be part of the process.”

Madam Naniyang Jagaba for burial

M

RS NANIYANG Jagaba, mother of Pastor Sarah Omakwu of the Family Worship Centre, Iwuye-Abuja fame is dead.

She died on January 9, aged 77 years. Mrs Jagaba was noted for her strength of character and industry.

The funeral rites which began yesterday with a service of songs at the Family Worship Centre, Abuja, continues on Friday, January 30 at the ECWA English Service, Zitti Road, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna.

Another funeral service will hold on Saturday, January 31, at Government Secondary School, Kurdan, Zango Kataf LGA, Kaduna. The interment will hold in the family compound.

She is survived by children and many grand-children. ,

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 —11

You're sectional governor, Osoba tells Amosun A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—FORMER governor of Ogun State, and national leader of Social Democratic Party, SDP, Chief Olusegun Osoba, yesterday, described the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun as a “sectional governor.”

Osoba also called on all the people of Ijebu to see the injustice allegedly meted out to the deputy governor of the state, Prince Segun Adesegun, by the governor as a slap on the faces of people of Ijebuland, which he said Adesegun represented.

The former governor stated this while speaking at a meeting with a cross section of traditional Chiefs, Baales and Olorituns in Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state, shortly after he inaugurated some projects including a staff room at Ago Iwoye Secondary School and hall at Itamerin Comprehensive High School, among others constructed by a Senator representing Ogun East, Senator Adegbenga Kaka.

Kaka, who named one of the projects after Osoba, said the gesture was in recognition of the ex-governor’s contributions to the state.

Kaka urges support for SDP

The senator appealed to the people to vote for SDP in the February general elections, saying it remained the only true progressive party.

In his remarks, Osoba alleged that Amosun had concentrated his projects in Abeokuta and its environs to the

Ogun teachers suspend strike

A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—TEACHERS in public primary and secondary schools in Ogun State have suspended their strike eight days after.

Vanguard gathered that the strike was called off following an agreement reached by the teachers and the state government.

The teachers embarked on strike penultimate Friday over allegations that the state government failed to fulfil its promises on the payment of the remaining 12.5 per cent of the Teachers’ Peculiar Allowance among other issues.

The state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Dare Ilekoya and the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, Akeem Lasisi, stated this at the end of a congress held by the bodies yesterday evening.

detriment of other towns in the state.

He also accused Amosun of abandoning the Ago-Iwoye bridge which he said his administration had initiated but, building bridges at Sapon, Itoku and Iyana Mortuary in Abeokuta.

He further claimed that Amosun’s government had failed to deliver the dividends of democracy, urging the electorate to send the party packing with votes in next month’s general elections.

Reacting to the recent

endorsement of Amosun by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Osoba described the governor as a stooge of the former President , saying most supporters of Amosun are loyalists of the expresident.

Osoba said: “Amosun has used his three and half years to concentrate in a particular area.

He is a sectional governor.

“We gave Adesegun as Amosun’s deputy because of his experience as Commissioner for Works. We had expected that the

governor would tap from Adesegun’s wealth of experience in governance but the governor chose otherwise and started constructing bridges where there is no water.

“Amosun really dealt with Adesegun; he maltreated him.

Ijebu people should not see the insult meted out to Adesegun as that of Adesegun alone. They should see it as a collective insult.

Therefore, it is time for Ijebu people to fight back with their votes. I’m begging you to stop the maltreatment of the Ijebus with your votes."

Physically challenged seek participation in polls

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—WITH a few days to February general elections, the people living with disabilities in Osun State have appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other relevant organs of government not to disenfranchise them.

A cross section of challenged persons who spoke at an election awareness programme organized by an NGO, Hope for Family Development Initiative, HFDI, in collaboration with INEC urged the electoral body not to discriminate between them and those without disability during the polls.

Ogbomoso youths task voters

O COMMISSIONING: From lef: Chief of Staff to the Governor Mr. Dipo Anisulowo, Ewi of Ado, HRM, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, his Deputy, Dr. Olusola Kolapo, and Commissioner for Works, during the commissioning of lock-up shops at Oja-Bisi in Ado-Ekiti in commemoration of 100days of Governor Fayose in Office.

My successors must be younger than me —Jonathan

By Ch arlse Kumolu, Daniel Abel

L

AFIA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday set an age barrier for a possible successor if he wins reelection, saying that anyone above 57 years would not receive his support in 2019.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Lafias, Nasarawa State the president also disowned the governorship aspiration of his former minister of information, Mr.

Labaran Maku, affirming he never supported his move from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The President also promised to give special attention to Nasarawa State on account of what he said is the proximity of the state to Abuja.

Giving his determination to support power transfer to the younger generation, the president said: “We want to encourage young people

because the future belongs to them. We will not take leadership from you because you are the leaders of tomorrow. The director-general of my campaign organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, has mentioned that my successor is going to be a younger person and that is what we will do. ‘’If you look at how we are going you will find out that what he said is true. Obasanjo was 70 whenhewaselected,thelatePresident Yar’Aduawasinhisearly60s,Iamabout 60. So the PDP is grading down from Obsanjo to me.

PDP asks APC to explain source of terrorist btapes

A

By EmmanuelAziken

BUJA—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has challenged the All Progressives Congress, APC, to explain the source of tapes of terrorist attacks on Nigerians which the ruling party claimed last night to be in possession of the opposition APC. The PDP in a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh expressed its concern that the tapes may have been instigated by terrorist groups which it claimed had earlier thrown support for the APC’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The APC in a reaction accused the PDP of being afraid of the

forthcoming election and doing everything to scuttle it. The party in a response by Alhaji Lai Mohammed asked the ruling

party to beg the people of Nigeria instead of resorting to blackmail and all manner of actions instead of addressing its failures.

GBOMOSO— OGBOMOSO youths under the umbrella of Ogbomoso Youth and Development Forum, OYDF, has stressed the need for every registered voter in the ancient town to vote and ‘’vote right’’ as the general elections inch nearer.

In a press release by its national coordinator, Mr. Akin Ogunlola, the forum said the people of the town must bear in mind that the election presents the opportunity for their voices to be heard and it gives them the chance to hold their representatives accountable.

Ogunlola siad: ‘’Our people in Ogbomoso must realise that their votes represent their voices as Nigerians, and voting in this election is their opportunity to hold elective office holders accountable for their decisions.

"A more important reason to vote, is the fact that this election gives us the opportunity to have a say in important national and local issues affecting our community."

Amosun campaign accuses opposition of purchasing PVCs

A

By Dapo Akinrefon

BEOKUTA—THE Senator Ibikunle Amosun Campaign Organisation, SIACO, has accused opposition political parties of allegedly purchasing Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, saying it is a desperate attempt to manipulate the February general elections.

Condemning the action by the

opposition, SIACO said the move is capable of disenfranchising the people of Ogun State during the elections.

In a statement by Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Femi Sowoolu, the organisation said the purchase of the PVCs was illegal and has the potentials for compromising the electoral process. According to the

organisation, the move is equally a provocative act capable of undermining the freedom of choice of the voters.

It, however, called on security agencies to investigate the act and bring the perpetrators to book saying “that is the only thing that can ensure we have a credible, peaceful and free elections in our state.”

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Jonathan’s re-election'll guarantee implementation of confab recommendations —S-SOUTH, M-BELT LEADERS

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—POLITICAL leaders from the minority regions of the South-South and Middle Belt, have insisted that the only guarantee for the full implementation of the recommendations of the National Conference was the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Rising from a summit of the Congress for Equality and Change in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the political leaders resolved to endorse President Jonathan for re-election as President in the February 14 poll.

Present at the summit were Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, chairman board of trustees; former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, representing the South East; Senator Femi Okuronmu representing South West; former Bayelsa governor, Chief Diepeye Alamieyeseigha; former Taraba governor, Rev. Jolly Nyame; Gen. Stanley Diriyai, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Gen. Lawrence Onoja, among over 350 delegates from the Middle Belt and the South South.

Royal fathers in attendance include HRM King Edmund Daukoru, Mingi XII, Amanyanabo of Nembe and chairman of the South-South Council of Traditional Rulers; HRM Orhue I, the Orodje of Okpe; HRM King Alfred DietteSpiff, Amanyanabo of Twon Brass and Chairman of Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers; HRM, Alhaji Aliyu Canes I, Aidonigie of South Ibie Kingdom and Secretary, South South Council of Traditional Rulers.

The political leaders resolved that President Jonathan’s reelection should be seen as a task beyond party affiliations because he symbolises minority freedom, liberation and emancipation.

According to them, “All minorities are by this formal endorsement enjoined to be vigilant, ensure they collect their PVCs and go out to cast their votes for President Jonathan.”

The political leaders, who deliberated on the political situation in the country and the imperatives for national integration and stability before during and after the February 14

and 28 general elections, among others, reaffirmed their faith in a united and egalitarian Nigeria.

The summit resolved that

P

ATA N I — A L L Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate for Delta State in next month’s elections, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has said that the certificate propaganda of the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, was a ploy by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to divert the attention of Nigerians from the PDP’s dwindling popularity and rejection.

Emerhor, who addressed party faithful at Patani, Patani Local Government Area of the state, described the PDP as a party that has failed Nigerians in the past 16 years, stressing that the APC will use funds accruing to the state to support Small and Medium Scale businesses.

He assured the people that his administration, if elected, will explore the resources of the area by establishing a fish and agricultural processing company to provide jobs

C M Y K

for youths within and around the area.

Also speaking, the APC Delta South senatorial candidate, Prince Yemi Emiko, flanked by other candidates of the area,

lamented the nonavailability of constituency projects in Patani, stressing that the APC will bring a better alternative if elected.

ACPML tackles marine pollution

By Godfrey Bivbere

A

indigenous marine pollution control firm, African Circle Pollution Management Limited, ACPML, has procured additional six specialized trucks to ensure effective marine pollution control in the shipping sector.

ACPML said the acquisition of the six additional marine pollution trucks was to enhance its operations in the nation’s seaports. The company explained that the delivery of the specialized trucks was to enable it meet the 25-year agreement it signed with the Federal Government on waste management in Nigerian ports.

The company, in accordance with the agreement, will use the N

support for President Jonathan, saying that he symbolises freedom, liberty and emancipation for minorities and all Nigerians.

VISIT: From left: Chief Victor Umeh, National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State welcoming Mr. Labaran Maku, APGA governorship candidate in Nasarawa State to the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia, yesterday.

Buhari’s certificate propaganda, PDP's ploy to divert attention —EMERHOR

By Perez Brisibe

minorities must unite to fight for their rights and refuse to be intimidated by any ethnic group or individuals to relinquish their

specialized vessels to remove liquid waste, including sludge and bilge, from ships berthing in the nation’s seaports.

At the unveiling of the trucks at Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos, ACPML Regional Manager, West, Nike Shobowale, said that the trucks were specifically built for the company to enable it fulfill its mandate as contained in the agreement it signed with the Federal Government through Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA. She said that more trucks ordered by the firm from Germany will be delivered shortly in the country.

According to her, the new trucks were specially built and customized in Germany for ACPML. “This is just the first in the series," she said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015—13

APC decries violence against members ...urges international bodies to monitor elections

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, has appealed to international humanitarian and democratic institutions to monitor the forthcoming elections in the state.

State Chairman of the party, Dr. Davies Ikanya, at a world press conference, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, on electoral violence in the state, also enjoined the international community to commence an independent inquiry into the alleged murder of members of APC in the state allegedly by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He said: “We call on Amnesty International, the International Red Cross, relevant organs of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, the African Union, AU, and the United Nations to immediately commence independent inquiries into the attacks and killings in Rivers State. We call on these and other humanitarian and democratic organisations and institutions to set up high powered election monitoring network teams to monitor the election in Rivers State to avert bloodbath which may cripple our already weakened economy.”

Ikanya, flanked by Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South-East senatorial district, the state governorship candidate of the party, Dr.

Dakuku Peterside and other leaders of the party, said that the elections in the state could only be free and fair in an atmosphere devoid of violence.

Promising that his party members will continue to conduct themselves in orderly manner before and after the elections, Ikanya read out a long list of alleged attacks on APC members in the state by the PDP, adding that the police had remained biased in its relationship with the party.

“Our plight is akin to that of a people in a militarily conquered and occupied territory. PDP thugs and hirelings practically commit murder under the watchful and proactive eyes of the police,” he alleged.

The party also accused President Goodluck Jonathan of taking side with his party, PDP, to witch hunt APC members in the state.

Professor Tam David West, who also spoke, described Nigeria as a failed state. “We have a failed

state. The Nigerian state is failed.

A government that cannot protect lives has no business being there,” he said.

West, who said he was not a card carrying member of any political party, said he will vote for the APC at the governorship and presidential elections.

Senator Abe on his part called on the world to focus on Rivers State so as to grasp the magnitude of violence against his party, APC. “Today, you can be killed for being a member of APC. The constitution gives us the right to belong to any political party,” he said.

W

A R R I — T H E contentious groundbreaking ceremony of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, in Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, may hold in March.

Vanguard learned, yesterday, that before President Goodluck Jonathan, who visited the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, weekend, left his palace, the monarch pressed him for a date, and he told him March, tentatively.

To ratify the actual date, however, the president directed the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to network with relevant authorities in the Presidency and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The source said: “From the way the president explained the delay and postponement to the Olu, he was confident that he would win next month’s presidential poll as he promised that he would do the groundbreaking after his election.

“In fact, he said he would find time, no matter how tight, when he visits Delta State for his reelection campaign, to discuss more on the matter and other

C M Y K

D

ELTA State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, has pledged to drive the development of the state through local government areas, if elected governor.

Emerhor at an interactive session with members of the Urhobo Social Club in Lagos, said he will reverse the current trend where many local governments do very little apart from paying salaries.

“We shall sit down with them, identify areas of needs within each council and support them to execute projects and implement programmes that will improve the lives of our people within each locality,” he said.

Emerhor added that his government will provide an empowerment access point to the tune of N10 billion for youths, women and medium scale businesses.

GCUOBA gets new national exco VISIT: Delta State APC governorship candidate, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor (5th from left) and members of Urhobo Social Club, during a visit to the club in Lagos.

Jonathan proposes March date for EPZ groundbreaking

By Emma Amaize

I'll drive Delta devt through LGs — EMERHOR

issues with the Olu and other stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, the Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, Delta State, yesterday, urged the Itsekiri groups to stop bullying President Jonathan to perform the groundbreaking of the EPZ before the February 14 presidential election even when

they knew that the date was not realistic.

The group in a statement by the National President, Mr. Austin Ozobo, said: “They should also stop blackmailing Ijaw leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, because such act is bigotry and mischievous.

“It is wrong for the Warri Study

Group, and Delta Coalition for Change, both Itsekiri groups, to say that Itsekiri would not vote for Jonathan if the EPZ groundbreaking was not done before the presidential election when the president took it upon himself to visit the Itsekiri monarch to explain things to him and the Itsekiri nation, over the weekend.”

UNIBEN alumni flay demolition of staff quarters

T

HE demolition of the residential quarters of staff of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Edo State, by the state government has been described as a sabotage of the efforts of the elders and people of the state towards the development of the institution.

President of UNIBEN Alumni Association, Sir, Ifaluyi Isibor, when he led his members on a courtesy visit to the new ViceChancellor, Prof. F. F. Orumwese, also congratulated him on the rancor –free atmosphere that pervaded the school community during and after his selection and appointment as the new VC. He said that the Aulmni would support the VC with all the resources he needs to better

the lot of the institution. He expressed shock over the demolition of the residences of the university's staff by agents of the

state government during which most affected staff lost their property while some were injured.

Edo teachers got 27.5 % TSA in 2013 —OSHIOMHOLE

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—EDO State Government has said that teachers in the state have been enjoying the 27.5 percent Teachers Special Allowance, TSA, since 2013.

In a statement, yesterday, the government said: “Edo State Government wishes to correct a statement erroneously published to the effect that the state government has approved a 27.5 percent TSA. It is on record that

the state government approved the 27.5 percent TSA since June 2013 and teachers in the state have been enjoying the Special Allowance for over 18 months.

“However, the state government has approved 10 percent additional relativity increase in the basic salaries of teachers. Also, the state governor has directed the Chairman of Ovia North-East Local Government Area to pay the November and December 2013 salaries of teachers in the employ of the council.”

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HE national body of Government College, Ughelli Old Boys’ Association, GCUOBA, has elected new executives to oversee the affairs of the association.

A statement by GCUOBA Publicity Secretary, Mr. Stephen Ighofose, said the election which took place at the Alma mater 2015 Annual Reunion/Founders’ Day in Ughelli, Delta State, saw the emergence of Professor Ogbemi Omateke, President General World Wide (PGWW), Sir Moses Aroko, 2nd Vice President General, Mr. Joe Ugbarugba, 3rd Vice President General, Chief Albert Akpomudje, SAN, 4th Vice President General, Robinson Odoko, Secretary General, Dr. Emmanuel Arouren, Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Robert Oviri, National Treasurer, Dr. Joe Sagay, National Financial Secretary, Mr. Stephen Ighofose, National Publicity Secretary, Ore Ohimor, Legal Adviser, Chief Godwin Agudo, National Auditor, Chief Joseph Akpieyi (immediate past PGWW) ex-officio and all 11 GCUOBA branch presidents.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Radisson Blu shuts down operations over renovation ...disengages workers

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HE FIVE-STAR, water-front Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, has shut down operations to conduct extensive renovation of its facilities, as part of its management’s commitment to retain standards and remain the hotel of first choice for guests visiting Lagos, for business or pleasure.

The shut-down, according to the management, paved way for disengagement of workers of the hotel, given the required duration of renovation.

According to a statement

by Anchorage Leisures Limited, owners of the hotel, the extensive renovation of the facilities will “cover areas such as power generation, cooling system as well as other critical equipment.”

“The magnitude of the renovation work has, however, necessitated shutting down of business operations for the duration of the renovation,” the statement further indicated.

The firm, however, stressed that it would abide by all contractual terms by ensuring payment of all that is due to the staff.

Maintaining its appreciation for its people, it noted its commitment to welfare of its staff, stressing that, “even when we experienced very low patronage during the Ebola crisis in Nigeria, we retained all our staff.

However, the magnitude of this renovation work has compelled a total shutdown of business activities.”

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OIL PRICE CRASH: Gulf countries have $2.7 trillion war chest —YUGUDA .We won’t despair —Okonjo - Iweala

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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ULF CO-OPERATION Council countries adequately prepared for the current crashing crude oil prices with a war chest of about $2.7 trillion, the Minister of State for

Finance, Amb Bashir Yuguda, disclosed yesterday.

He said this while addressing the nation’s treasury managers at a workshop on how to face the challenges of dwindling oil revenue, in Abuja.

He said the current challenge required full implementation of

various reforms towards diversifying the nation’s economy and prudent resource management.

Amb. Yuguda said: “I was at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, meeting last December. Even if the crude oil price is at $20 per

CONFERENCE: From left, Curator, Inmitable Limited, Solomon Ikhioda; his wife, Becky; Host, Niara Inspire Conference, Pastor Carlton Williams; his wife, Pastor Anita Williams, and Inspirational Leadership Development coach, Benjamin Alika, during the Niara InspireAfrica Conference 2015, with the theme: 'Creating Opportunities Out of Scarcity,' at Landmark Centre, Lagos. Photo:Kehinde Gbadamosi

barrel, Saudi Arabia will still be making money.

“The GCC nations have $2. 7 trillion war chest to deal with the dwindling crude oil prices. Here we are faced with the challenge.

“How do we increase our revenue and at the same time reduce the cost of governance through judicious utilisation of available resources? These are the challenges before us. It requires commitments from all of us to make sure it works.”

The GCC nations include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Crude oil price has fallen to about $47 per barrel at the international market, while the nation’s gross official external reserves as at December 31, 2014, stood at $34.25 billion.

In a message to the workshop, the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said the public should not listen to detractors who wanted Nigerians to despair over the current revenue challenges.

Her words: “We will not listen to those who want us to throw up our hands. We have repositioned ourselves to face the challenges of volatile oil prices. We have to strive harder to be on the same page with the realities of economic development.”

Change from politics of bitterness, desperation, PDP tells APC

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA — AHEAD of next month’s presidential and general elections, national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged the All Progressives Congress, APC, to change from politics of bitterness and desperation.

The PDP in a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, noted that as both parties continued with campaigns across the country, APC should learn from it and its leaders on how to engage on issues-based campaigns.

It, however, described as laughable and diversionary recent statement by the APC which revolved around the need for issues-based campaign it blatantly refused to practise.

The PDP noted that in keeping with its ideology and strict adherence to democratic tenets and good conduct, it had based

its campaigns on record of verifiable achievements and roadmap for a more prosperous future, in line with the visions of its founding fathers.

The party stated: “For instance, in the last four weeks, our press statements and rallies have focused on profiling the performance of our administration,

showcasing to Nigerians with facts and figures the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan in key sectors of the economy.

“These sectors include education where we have ensured greater access to quality learning through interventions such as the Back-To-School programme, the Almajiri system of education.''

NCC threatens to sanction erring network operators

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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HE NIGERIAN Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday, threatened to sanction mobile network operators for violation of rules and regulations guiding their operations and justified its shutting down of All Progressives Congress, APC, SMS platform for fund-raising.

The Commission said the action of the mobile network operators in running a political advertisement for the APC was not in compliance with the provisions of the NCC guidelines on the use of shot codes.

The Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Mr. Tony Ojobo, who gave the warning in Abuja, said, the Commission did not err

at all in shutting down the SMS platform, given that the mobile network operator in question ran foul of section 3 of NCC’s guidelines, by not applying officially to the Commission for approval, in accordance with section 3 of the NCC’s Act. He quoted the section as saying: “The Commission shall receive written notification from the licensees for all advertisements for goods and services within a minimum of seven days of the proposed or planned publication of an advertisement, in order to ensure such advertisements meet the minimum standards and requirements.”

Ojobo, who buttressed the NCC’s stance with evidence, wondered why Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola,

and his party would accuse the Commission of being partisan in the matter, even when the governor passed through the same process before his reelection in 2011.

He said: “In 2010, the Commission, based on applications received across party lines, had granted codes for use by political parties to raise funds as well create awareness.

“We feel a need to clarify certain issues circulating in the press, especially in the light of inquiries we have been receiving in the last few days. Prior to Monday, January 19, 2015, the Commission was inundated with complaints from several subscribers to the effect that they were receiving messages from network operators to vote one political party or the other."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015—15

Why FG should declare total war against Boko Haram —Wogu Kelechi Azubike

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RSTWHILE MINISTER of Labour and Productivity and governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Chief Emeka Wogu, has called for a declaration of total war against the Boko Haram militant group similar to the type taken by federal forces against the defunct Biafra.

Wogu, in a chat with Vanguard, also dismissed insinuations that the conflict in the North-East would affect President Goodluck Jonathan’s chances in the

presidential election, contending that the huge crowd that welcomed Jonathan during his campaign visit to Maiduguri showed the popularity of the president in the region.

Wogu, who said the continued bloodletting in the North-East was a direct challenge to the territorial integrity of the country which must be checked with every resource available to the country.

While lauding President Jonathan’s efforts so far in seeking to avoid collateral damage to the people of the North-East, Wogu

said the fact that the Boko Haram group had succeeded in carving territory for itself within the nation’s landmass demanded that the nation use its full military force on the group.

According to him: “What is happening in the North-East now demands full military action against the Boko Haram group.

A group that has gone the length of carving out some portion of Nigerian land for itself, and has declared war on our sovereignty.

Full action must be taken against the group. Yes, many of those who criticise the President may not

have considered the fact that the President, as the father of all, including the people of Borno has been considerate of the effect of

collateral damage on the people and this may have accounted for the hesitance of the use of full military action.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo says it'll vote for LCDA with Igbo's interest

By Godwin Oritse

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HE IKOSI-ISHERI Local Council Development Area, LCDA, chapter of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said Igbo will only vote for a political party or candidate that will protect their interest.

Newly crowned Eze Omeudo 1 Ndigbo of Ikosi Isheri, Eze Stephen Ejiogu Elugwu, gave the condition when he led leaders of Ohanaze Ndigbo in the council to Vanguard Newspapers’ corporate head offices in Lagos.

Eze Elugwe contended that it was only when elections were around the corner that politicians would remember and reckon with the Igbo.

He warned that any party that would not include the Igbo in the governance of the local government, particularly at the Mile 12 Market would not get Igbo's votes in the area.

Elugwe called on Igbo living in the Ikosi-Isheri LCDA to join current leadership of Ndigbo for a more prosperous Igbo community.

Similarly, Chief Sunday Ossai, the Traditional Prime Minister, Ohanaeze Ndigbo of Ikosi –Isheri, commended the chairman of the LCDA for providing a conducive environment for the Igbo to strive in their businesses.

Also speaking, Chief Anthony Osuji, said: “We have been isolated for so many years, and we are ready to dance to the tune of any political party ready to take care of our welfare.”

Mrs Chikeluba laid to rest

Late Mrs. Chikeluba ATE MRS. Patricia Chikeluba, mother of Veteran broadcaster, Chris Chikeluba, and Rev. Father Fabian Chikeluba, was laid to rest last Friday in the family compound after a Concelebrated Requiem Mass at St. Dominic Catholic Church, Agbaja, Abatete, in Idemili North, Anambra State.

Mrs.Chikeluba, who passed on at the age of 87, was survived by children, grand and great grand children and a host of other relations.

L

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16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 28, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 — 17

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HE King of Saudi A r a b i a recently passed away and I must confess that what interested me most in the news reports over the weekend were the images of Saudi streets, infrastructure and people. Saudi Arabia is not a democracy.

In fact, many of the rights and freedoms the modern world has come to take for granted are not guaranteed in Saudi. Yet, the country invests in its people and society. Education is free and the basic health care needs of children are catered for.

Here is a country that used its oil wealth creatively and audaciously to prepare its citizens to compete in the global economy.

As Nigeria prepares for its presidential elections, I wonder why more of us are not asking candidates of either party to explain (and not just make vague commitments) exactly how they wish to achieve this country ’s urgent developmental goals.

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Time for creative solutions: An innovative approach to dealing with corruption

Governorship aspirants

If we agree there can be no peace and security without development, what are both governorship and presidential candidates’ concerted plans for the North? How does each governorship aspirant propose to turn his state into a hub for education, agriculture or financial activity? What exactly are our leaders’ plans for us?

It is no longer enough to say one wants to build universities for instance: we must begin to talk about quality over quantity. If corruption is a major issue discussed during this campaign, Nigerians must ask for more detailed plans or means of tackling this scourge.

In 2012, Singapore was named the world’s fifth least corrupt country according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI). “Corruption [in

*Buhari and Jonathan: What's their approach to tackling corruption?

Singapore] is a fact of life rather than a way of life. Put differently, corruption exists in Singapore, but Singapore is not a corrupt society ” (Professor John S.T. Quah, expert on Asian corruption and governance issues). How do we achieve this in Nigeria? It is widely accepted in comparative political studies that low salaries, opportunity (who controls lucrative activity in a state) and policing (probabilities of detection and punishment) clearly affect levels of corruption in any society.

Personally, I would have liked to hear how either candidate or party proposes to work with these three

Thinking outside the box

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READ an article recently where it was said that Buhari did not build schools after he left office, that he has never provided a scholarship or supported any charitable causes with financial endowments etc.

I smiled. Many of us shout about corruption but do not really understand its causes or how we all help perpetuate it.

We are a society that loves a Jack-of-all-trades, so we look to House of Assembly members to dig boreholes when it is the job of local governments and expect every political office holder to provide scholarships when there are ministries to do this, and forget that whoever disburses money in the polity should be able to account for its source.

Where does a former head of state get the money to build a university? That would mean he was corrupt during his time in office. Tony Blair is yet to build a university and if he did, it would not be with his personal funds because holding public office abroad, does not make you a rich man!

That being said, in view of my previous argument on stopping capital flight by privately urging those who are in possession of state funds to invest in Nigeria, I’ll say that whoever wins these elections must surround himself with intellectually curious minds who base arguments on facts and the desire to bring this country great possibilities, rather than a simplistic wish to do harm.

norms to restore sanity to our society. But the polity is rich in politicians and poor in policy makers who have actually studied how countries work and how other nations were able to fix certain problems.

I would have expected our lawmakers, from either party,

The key here, if one is to go by the dealings of South Korea in reforming itself in the last 15 years, is not to imprison or harass past offenders but rather, to seduce them into bringing their money back into the Nigerian system

to talk about the fresh set of laws Nigeria needs.

How many laws does the N a t i o n a l Assembly pass annually?

In other climes, the law adapts to the social climate, so with new developments come new laws to tackle new issues.

In Singapore for instance, the penal code is

stringent: even littering and spitting can get one arrested!

Our now westernized social norms would not allow for such draconian measures but definitely, we need tougher laws and specific sanctions against corruption and wrong-doing. In Singapore, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau works in tandem with the Prime Minister ’s office and arrests individuals (even without a warrant if it is believed that obtaining one could impede the case), therefore, Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

This might seem drastic but if we are serious about change, like Singapore, Hong Kong and all developing nations who were able to cross the boarder from third world to first in less than two decades, we are going to need to be both fearless and creative in our search for solutions and in our delivery of our resolutions.

The Singapore government

The Untouchables

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HEY were a group of 11 US federal lawenforcement agents who went after Al Capone (an infamous gangster in the 1930s)and his criminal organization.

They were creative in their approach: they couldn’t find evidence to convict him of his numerous crimes (murder, bootlegging—selling alcohol was illegal during the Prohibition) but they did find

evidence of tax evasion, which was how they got him. Their fearless, incorruptible nature is the stuff of legends.

Whoever comes into power must have these qualities as a fundamental overhaul of the system is necessary to reestablish the balance between production and consumptionwhich our economy and society so desperately need.

ensures civil servants are well paid in order to stop talented, honest Singaporeans from leaving the system (which must attract the best) and to stifle the economic incentive behind corruption.

Therefore, with proper policing and less financial incentives, citizens are forced to think twice: corruption becomes a high-risk activity.

So, those selling a would-be “modern”, “soft” approach to corruption would do well to work with students of history and politics: that doesn’t work!

What does work?

Incentivizing good behaviour in both the civil service and the society at large. These are more of the actions I am looking to Nigeria’s next president, for. What signals will he (I’d like one day to say she) send to society?

Will he nurture corruption by rewarding unpopular, tainted office-holders and making them part of his inner circle, or have a zero tolerance approach?

Harassment of past offenders

The key here, if one is to go by the dealings of South Korea in reforming itself in the last 15 years, is not to imprison or harass past offenders but rather, to seduce them into bringing their money back into the Nigerian system and to benefit ordinary Nigerians by investing in public works and infrastructure and building businesses from which, yes, they will profit, but the majority also stands to gain through employment and the modern services provided. I for one refuse to accept that the billions in foreign currency sitting out there somewhere are lost to Nigerians, who will never see this money used to impact their daily lives.

This is a creative, workable and most of all, real, answer to past stolen funds. Then, a mixture of punishment and deterrence can be employed to discourage new cases of corruption.

Most of all, political will to fight corruption is paramount. We must also begin to discuss making anticorruption agencies totally free from both police and political control, as is done elsewhere to ensure maximum efficacy. A country that doesn’t effectively manage its people and resources, like any business, is destined to fail. Does Nigeria recruit and reward the best? Doubtful and perhaps this in itself is yet another avenue for corruption.

Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the co-host and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 THE United States of America is never short of arrogance in its relations with Nigeria. The threat of its Secretary of State, John Kerry that sponsors of election-related violence would be denied American visa, was not a joke, but some in the audience applauded. It is either the United States has elevated the importance of its visa to such heights that mention of its denial amounts to a death sentence, or it was another opportunity to declare its unwillingness to help Nigeria fight the violence that has been ravaging the country, especially the North East.

What is so important about an American visa that thought of its denial would deter violent minds? What has it done about the violence in the North East, which is worse than any violence that the country has faced, apart from a civil war? Or it does not know those involved? Did the US not refuse sale of military equipment to Nigeria to combat the terrorists in the North East?

Did the US not, in addition, ask other countries not to sell military equipment to Nigeria? When did the US start being concerned about violence in Nigeria? How

John Kerry’s Insult, Joke does the US think that visa denials would deter the criminals involved in the North East, who have been increasing their attacks as the elections approach?

What makes the US think sponsors of election violence are interested in visiting America? What does a visit to the US provide that many other countries cannot?

The arrogance of the US is sustained by the nauseating fixation of our officials with America. As we have noted so many times, America is not interested in assisting Nigeria in managing her challenges. All America wants is protection of its investments through semblances of democratic governments that will make

bare changes that would restrain thousands of Nigerians migrating to America, in search of a non-existent better life.

How can a country as economically and militarily unfriendly as America be concerned about Nigeria’s well-being?

Nigerians should know that our country is among those the US does not want to develop.

America’s suggestion for ending violence is a huge joke. Prescription of visa denial as “punishment” for violence is an affront to those who have suffered waves of violence that have been sweeping different parts of the country.

While Nigerians want decisive action to end the violence and possible prosecution of the criminals and their sponsors, America refuses sale of military equipment. Kerry added the insult that assistance to Nigeria against Boko Haram would depend on peaceful and credible elections. Is Boko Haram fight over credibility of our elections? Nigerians should know by now that America is not a friend.

OPINION

By Kester Ifeadi

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N continuing efforts to dialogue and sensitize the good people of Deltans on the importance and implications of Senator Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa’s candidacy as PDP Delta State governorship flag bearer for February 28, 2015, election, it has become necessary to review the undercurrent issues leading to his emergence.

As a keen observer of Delta politics, I have seen and heard enough acrimony and recrimination in the polity. This is largely orchestrated by some self seeking mischief makers who only thrive when there is political rancour. Thankfully, Deltans can no longer be fooled by the antics of these ethnic jingoists who masquerade as leaders of thoughts and want Deltans to tow the hazardous course of ethnic hatred and divide and rule.

I had refrained from commenting all this while because I had thought that the mundane reasoning by some sections of Deltans will naturally give way to good reasoning as the day unfolds. But as rightly admonished by Edmund Burke that “All that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”, now that we have come to that crucial stage again to take decisions that will affect our destiny as a people. We need to look at the issues leading to Okowa’s emergence as PDP governorship candidate dispassionately.

Looking at the political gladiators that contested against Okowa on December 8, 2014, PDP primaries in Delta State and his incontrovertible victory speaks volume of this bridge builder of new Delta. His C M Y K

Truth about Ok owa's candidancy Oko emergence cannot be rightly ascribed to any particular ethnic group. I dare say that Okowa’s victory is divinely orchestrated and as such his time has come to move Delta State to prominence with uncommon transformation that will impact every community in the State.

A cursory look at the intrigues leading to the primaries and his eventual victory shows that his votes cut across all ethnic blocs. A confirmation of his general acceptability among majority of Deltans, therefore if we truly want to call a spade a spade, Okowa’s candidacy is a Pan-Delta mandate, an indication that he is truly loved by the political class in the state Despite the fact that he is from Delta North Senatorial District, he had to go through the rigours of election on the battlefront even against formidable aspirants and worthy political gladiators from Anioma extraction, totaling fourteen in number and other eminently qualify aspirants from other senatorial districts. So it is fitting to say that his constituency as it stands today is derived from every nook and cranny of Delta State, with no ethnic colouration.

Going by the body language of Dr. Okowa, I see determination and passion of one who is

To majority of Deltans, Okowa is the unifier of a new Delta and has become a safe hand to entrust governance to

out to make positive impact in the lives of Deltans. No doubt, he has consistently pledged his allegiance to the people of Delta State, which is a good sign of a true democrat. His mantra of Prosperity for All Deltans, has also continued to rekindle hope for better days among the people.

At this stage of development, Delta State is in dire need of a unifier, one with capacity to address frontally the deficiency of good governance in the State.

And Dr. Okowa evidently fits in, as he has never flustered in his ability to rise to the responsibility and challenges of modern leadership. To majority of Deltans, Okowa is the unifier of a new Delta and has become a safe hand to entrust governance to deliver the much expected prosperity for all Deltans.

If there is anything that is close to my heart, as an interested Deltan, desirous of good governance, is the unification of all ethnic groups for a strong and prosperous Delta. So fanning the embers of ethnic hate and division is an ill wind that will do no good to anybody in the long term. And for those who believe in the manipulation of the political destiny of Deltans, the time is closing up as Deltans are now wiser.

Also, it is noteworthy that his emergence seeks to address the vexed issue of equity in Delta State. This is in reference to the fact that since the creation of Delta State 24 years ago, Delta North has never produced a governor for Delta State.

Without equity politics becomes recipe for crisis.

Therefore, one wonders the motive behind the much talked about alienation and the seeming outcry by some politicians of marginalization occasioned by Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Barr. Kingsley Otuaro’s ticket.

Such outcry is nothing but self seeking and a smokescreen to draw undue attention and shows a high level of insensitivity.

It is however, gladding to note that Deltans and Nigerians are increasingly becoming more politically aware of what’s right or wrong. So reviewing the buildup to the election and public poll particularly in Delta State, I’m amazed at the recent happenings as old foes, hitherto on a different platform and directions are now converging under one umbrella for the actualization of Okowa’s mandate. More interesting, is the vigor and determination with which PDP and members of other political parties in alignment with over 150 NonGovernmental Organisations (NGO) in the State are pursuing the 2015 Okowa’s mandate for the good of all.

From all indications, Okowa’s mandate has become a rallying point that Deltans long yearn for, a project that has brought unity among the ethnic nationalities. His eventual victory at the poll will also address the issue of continuity in government, as well as breathe new life into the system for proper alignment of policies for development.

This is evident by the massive inflow of so many Deltans who had hitherto been alienated, and are now fully back to join hands with Okowa and team to reinvigorate the system. *Mr. Ifeadi, an architect, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015—19 —19

When are the 2015 presidential debates?

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NE of the cherished traditions of developed democracies is the creation of fora for contestants to public office to sell their programmes to the electorate before live audiences.

Contestants present their party's manifestoes and planned activities on attaining power in form of debates that are often transmitted live to audiences via the broadcast media. These events are organized and moderated by select members of the mass media and others, not party partisans. This is especially the case for contestants to high offices like that of president. Since the 1960s, no presidential election takes place in America without a presidential debate. It is just a convention of American democracy that is now widely accepted and practiced the world over. It may not be a constitutional requirement but no candidate into elective office who wishes to be taken seriously spurns it.

This, however, is not the case in Nigeria where candidates standing for office brazenly refuse to show up for scheduled debates. We saw this during the last governorship election in

Osun State. Where these candidates are not contesting the right of any person or group to make them debate but questioned the impartiality of the organizers. All of this because the convention of holding political debates as opposed to throwing unguided verbal abuses, insults and tantrums, is still commonly accepted in the media that should take the lead in promoting it, to say nothing of it being accepted by political parties and the general public.

Once such ideas are mooted, those aware of their electoral deficits immediately start looking for means of discrediting it.

Yet, debates like these are avenues through which the electorate can take direct measure of people seeking their support into elective office. It is one way of assessing the intelligence and preparedness, not necessarily the oratorical abilities, of contestants to public office. The electing public is better advised on how to use their votes through such avenues as political debates. They can easily tell who the temperamental candidates are, apart from the dissembling ones. By their

responses and general comportment, the electorate is more likely to identify a potential failure in office, a common but eloquent liar as opposed to a wellinformed and intelligent candidate who lacks a gift of the grab. Indeed, in a so-called presidential democracy like ours that is devoid of the vigorous debates of parliamentary democracies, occasional opportunities offered by presidential debates to scrutinize candidates at close quarters should be compulsory and ought to be embraced with both hands.

This was why I asked in this column, last week, when the two main contestants for the position of president in the February 14 election would have their opportunity to sell their programmes to Nigerians. They should, in the fashion of sales persons, tell Nigerians what they have in stock for them in the more sedate atmosphere of guided debates, not the cacophony of crowded campaign venues. This is a matter that Nigerians must insist on because once the candidates transform into office holders they are hardly

These issues cannot be addressed in the staged condition of presidential chats or the acrimonious context of town hall meetings of gawking or paid admirers

How Dasuki confirmed Nigeria as the never-ready country

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HE other day in London, National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki called for a postponement of theFebruary elections. I am vexed by both the call and the venue, so a word first on the latter.

For news so important, you would think that Nigerians ought to be the first to know, and that it would come at the end of consultations with the electoral commission (INEC), National Assembly, and political parties, if as usual the general public is to be ignored. But I’m assuming that Nigeria’s public officials respect Nigeria’s public institutions or the Nigerian people. If Dasuki had not gone to London, seizing the first opportunity offered by a think tank, he might have gone to Washington, DC, Ottawa, Geneva, Vienna, anywhere in Europe or America, or failing that, addressed himself to a reporter from the BBC, CNN, or The Washington Post.

According to the Financial Times of London (I won’t annoy the NSA by citing reports of his important call as rediffused by the newspapers at home), Dasuki’s argument is that INEC needs more time to distribute about half of the 68.8 million permanent voters cards yet to reach their owners. “There is nothing wrong with us delaying to ensure that everyone gets the card to vote,”Dasuki told his privileged audience. A fine sentiment. No citizen, no democrat, can quarrel with it. He went on to imply that Prof.Attahiru Jega has been lying to us.

“They [INEC] are insisting they are ready when we know they are not ready,” he said. Yet, given the calamitous state of the

nation—defined by a nervous anxiety over Boko Haram’s war against Nigeria, violent do-or-die politics, a free-falling naira and dwindling national economic security—it is absolutely necessary that the process leading to the election be as flawless as possible. So who can argue against delaying so that nearly half of the electorate is not disenfranchised?

Well, apparently, the not-ready-INEC, and, lo and behold, President Jonathan (though craftily)! It cannot be true, of course, that Dasuki flew off to London to embarrass his boss, that he spoke without clearance. Yet, there President Jonathan was last Sunday assuring John Kerry, America’s Secretary of State, that the elections will go on. The 29 May handover date, he said, is “sacrosanct.”

(By the way, when shall we return to the true self-governance day of October 1 and banish one more shadow of military dictatorship and distortion of our history?).

For a nation that cannot find enough excuses to be profligate, this is one problem on which it can justifiably spare no expense

ever accountable to anyone.

Nigerians should, therefore, have the opportunity to put them to test now and, in future, hold them to their promises in the event of non-compliance. That is one way to deepen our democracy. And in this wise, the print and broadcast media, civil society groups and NGOs, must cast aside their individual and group allegiances and take the lead on behalf of the general public in bringing these people before the public. Let is not be said that all the media is interested in is holding elaborate public events to confer titles of ‘Man of the Year’, ‘Person of the Year’ etc, on dubious public holders whose influence on Nigerians are measurable only in the negative.

This is your time now, Vanguard, Thisday, The Nation, Daily Trust, Daily Sun, Daily Times, Punch, Nigerian Tribune, The Guardian, Alaroye, Radio Nigeria, NTA, AIT, Raypower, Channels, STV, CTV etc, this is your time to tell Nigerians that you are truly on their side in this business of nation building.

In just about 17 days Nigerians will be electing their president for the next four years, but outside the reckless verbal missiles that are being thrown in all directions by political candidates and their hired mouthpieces, nothing substantial or practical is being said about the different manifestoes being hawked around by the different parties.

This past week and the week before it was dominated with accusations and counteraccusations about the academic qualifications of General Mohammadu Buhari. When it looked like the questions being raised by the PDP was being answered the issue was again driven in an entirely different direction. Meanwhile, both

But President Jonathan’s assurance does not reverse Dasuki’s call for a delay. Since t h e constitution permits a postponement where the election is held at least 30 days before the swearing-in, Jonathan can have his cake and eat it.

As I have said, I do not believe for a minute that Dasuki was merely expressing his personal opinion. But for “the show must go on” position, we have to turn to INEC chairman Jega who has been unequivocal that the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold as scheduled. Sceptic that I am, I doubt that Dasuki could have been as discourteous as to have failed to have a chat with Jega before writing his speech and jetting off to deliver it. What all reasonable people believe is that Dasuki was flying a kite. INEC is truly not ready and would gladly welcome any delay within the law to enable it print and distribute the remaining PVCs. Not to speak of the need for INEC to test the card-readers and the electronic voting process before we all head for the polls.

Nor of the skeleton— mountains of skeletons, actually, considering how many have been slaughtered and how many may well be slaughtered before voting day—in our cupboard: the undeniable fact that in the north-east under permanent siege to the armed band of Satanists and psychopaths called Boko Haram, a great number of our fellow citizens already displaced and dispossessed have by that fact been long disenfranchised. And from the look of

presidential candidates of the APC and the PDP went apace with their campaigns even as news of increasing violence pours in. All of this in spite of the peace accord endorsed by both candidates.

There ought to be opportunities to bring these candidates before panels of seasoned interviewers where they can tell Nigerians more about themselves, their parties and the manifestoes of their parties. They should be made to explain in clear terms what they have done and/or intend to do in office beyond the empty campaign rhetoric and meaningless verbiage. Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari should be brought faceto-face to explain to Nigerians how they have or do intend to tackle the practical issues of insurgency, steep downturn in our economic fortunes and pervasive corruption in high places in the country. Other issues that are personal in nature can be addressed in the impartial atmosphere of moderated debates without the bitter ill-will or malevolence of venal party supporters.

On this issue of presidential debates, I insist the media and civil society groups have a major if not the sole responsibility of making them possible. There is nothing to suggest that either of the leading candidates will desire this. But that is not a decision for them but the Nigerian electorate to make. They can’t be contestants and umpire all at once. There are burning issues of national importance that cannot and should not be allowed to go unaddressed before these February elections. These issues cannot be addressed in the staged condition of presidential chats or the acrimonious context of town hall meetings of gawking or paid admirers.

things, many more, sadly,will be displaced, dispossessed and disenfranchised before anyone can ink her thumb and mark a ballot.

But here is why the election ought to, indeed must hold, as scheduled. Our reputation as the never-ready country has become too far concretised in our minds and in the mind of the world—notice how swiftly after Dasuki’s call Kerrycame calling—that we ought to strain every sinew to keep our promise. That reputation threatens to undo any good that might come of a delay, and to mark our national character irremediably.

For a nation that cannot find enough excuses to be profligate, this is one problem on which it can justifiably spare no expense. Which is why the most important guarantee the president made to Nigeria through Kerry is this: “the government will provide all resources that are required by the INEC to ensure that the election goes smoothly.”

“FeBuhari,” the month of February has been dubbed by the army of Muhammadu Buhari’s ardent supporters. President Jonathan must be wary of turning the shortest month into “the Ides of February,” thereby making it the longest month of our most recent brutal history which started on 14 April 2014 (the Ides of April?) when the Chibok girls were abducted from their school, over 200 of them remaining, to our shame, in captivity.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 — 21

Nigeria’s economic devt impossible without job creation — NIM

By Michael Eboh

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SEMINAR: FROM LEFT: Deputy Bursar, Babcock University, Prof Sunday Owolabi; President/ Vice

Chancellor, Babcock University, Prof Kayode Makinde; Director, SunPlus, Elder Mack Tennyson and Vice President, Financial Administration, Babcock University, Dr Luke Onuoha at the closing ceremony of the SunPlus accounting seminar for financial officials of the university, in Ogun State.

Transport minister receives final report on Ibom sea port outline of the strategic needs, technical options, financial due diligence and project implementation plan of the proposed Deep HE Minister of Trans Sea Port, and which had earlier been certiport, Senator Idris Umar fied by the Infrastructure Concession and has received the final outline Regulatory Commission, was delivered last of business case for the Ibom week in Abuja.

It was submitted by the Transactions AdDeep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom viser of the project, Messrs Felak Concept State.

The report, which gives an Limited and the Project Technical Adviser, Messrs Maritime and Transport Business Solutions of the Netherlands.

A source who spoke on the con$163.80 1.35 dition of anonymity said, “The Minister, while receiving it, ex$2,752.00 -3.00 pressed deep appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan for $15.35 0.18 the infrastructural development of the nation’s economy and to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio for his unflinch$48.28 -0.51 ing commitment to the project”.

Meanwhile, the Minister of $45.31 -0.28 Transport has urged the Nigerian Ports Authority to continue the administrative and technical supCURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL

By Godwin Oritse & Godfrey Bivbere

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DOLLAR 167 STERLING 252.4539 EURO 193.3192 FRANC 192.9521 YEN 1.4203 CFA 0.2757 WAUA 236.4325 RENMINBI 26.4633 RIYAL 44.4527 KRONA 29.7063 SDR 237.2235

167.5 253.2098 193.5298 191.625 1.4246 0.2857 237.1404 26.543 44.5858 29.7953 237.9338

168 253.9656 194.4768 194.1075 1.4288 0.2957 237.8483 26.6227 44.7189 29.8842 238.644

CBN Exchange Rate as at 26/1/15

C M Y K

The Deep Sea Port would therefore be a multi terminal port, hence the name change from Ibaka to Ibom Deep Sea Port

port it is rendering to the project and to the Ministerial Project Development and Steering Committee, so as to ensure seamless coordination, even as he gave his assurances of prompt consideration of the Report by the Federal Executive Council.

Earlier, the secretary of the Committee Mallam Dikko Bala stated that after a multi criteria analysis by the technical advisers, it was determined that Ibaka is suitable as a location for commercial trawling and transport terminal and for use by vessels that will require maximum seven metres draught, while the sea side is ideal for location of terminals that will handle vessels that will require minimum 13 metres draught.

The Deep Sea Port would therefore be a multi terminal port, hence the name change from Ibaka to Ibom Deep Sea Port.

Present at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary, represented by the Director Maritime Services, (D. M. S) Suleiman Nagogo, other directors of the Federal Ministry of Transport;, Acting DG of ICRC Engr. Chidi Izuwah, the Managing Director, Felak Concept Limited, Mrs. Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, Mr.Wouter Van Nos, representing Marine and Transport Business Solutions of the Netherlands and Mr. C.A. Borha who represented the Nigerian Ports Authority.

HE Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, has disclosed that Nigeria’s quest for economic development will remain a mirage unless the Federal Government place emphasis on creating jobs for the youths in the country.

Speaking at the NIM Business Roundtable in Lagos, with the theme: ‘Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation,’ Mr. Nelson Uwaga, President/ Chairman of Council, NIM, explained that focusing on job creation for the youths will help bring about improvement in the country’s security and ensure the country’s economic development.

He said, “After all the politics, one thing that will stand out is the problems facing this country. One of such is the problem of rising unemployment. It is believed that creating more jobs for the youths will bring about improved security and national development.”

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Christopher Kolade, Past President of the NIM and Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, emphasized the importance of empowering the youth of the country, making them useful and making it possible for them to contribute to the development of the country.

According to him, the rhetoric of development is empty without the resources to bring the vision to reality.

He said, “Youths have an advantage, they are at the peak of their energy and they are in the best position to drive the country ’s development.

“It is only people empowered to think and showcase entrepreneurial acumen that will be in the position to drive development.”

He queried the adequacy of the content and direction of the country’s educational system and the scale of reward after education, stating that education used to be the country’s main way of empowering people.

According to him, the country’s educational system is not helping young people to make the right, adding that, “ we need to ask ourselves if there is something that will make our graduates innovative.”

He called on the NIM to play a leadership role in helping the country have a deeper thought on how human resources can be managed, especially in the area of youth empowerment and development.

Also speaking, Mr. Olatunji Olaniyi, a former Senior Advisor/Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Africa Business Roundtable, said the country must have clear objectives in developing youth entrepreneurship programmes, which must be followed judiciously.

According to him, developing the youths is critical and is also the hope of the country, adding that the only way the country can grow is to build the capacity of the youths and give them the necessary exposure.

He advised youths in the country not to be always concerned about accessing funding, but should instead be focused on growing whatever capital they have through innovation and sacrifice.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

The insurer must inform you of the changes in its address, terms of the contract, cancellation of your policy, and change in premium rate all in advance

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Mansard acquires Penman, begins pensions operations

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a n s a r d Insurance plc, a member of AXA Group has announced the completion of its acquisition of 60 per cent of Penman Pensions Limited in a move aimed at consolidating the insurer ’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading non bank financial services groups.

With the acquisition of Penman Pensions Limited, Mansard Insurance has extended its subsidiaries to four, having already made significant inroads into the asset management, health insurance and property segments through its wholly owned subsidiaries. These are Mansard Investments Limited and Mansard Health Limited as well as its majority holding in the property joint venture, APD Ltd. According to Mr. Tosin Runsewe, Chief Client Officer of Mansard Insurance plc, ‘’This acquisition brings us a step closer to achieving our growth plans hinged on exploring the significant synergies across our businesses and franchise.

“We intend to build on the successes of Penman even as we infuse the business with

our entrepreneurial spirit, excellent client service and relentless focus on generating superior riskadjusted returns.

Penman’s retirement and long term investment solutions will now also be available to our expanded client base and will be accessible using our multi-channel distribution platform”.

In his comments, Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, Chairman of Penman said, “We are excited to have Mansard Insurance take a majority stake in Penman Pensions. This investment serves as a mark of confidence in the tireless efforts of the board and management of Penman since inception towards positioning the business to explore the pension industry ’s significant growth potential.

"With Mansard Insurance now as the core investor, we look forward to utilizing the group’s proven and significant competences towards bolstering our position as the retirement solutions provider of choice”.

Goldlink scales delisting from NSE official list

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igerian Stock Exchange has given a clean bill of health to Goldlink Insurance Plc following a quick response from its management to the warning list issued by the Exchange to delist some companies from the NSE in which Goldlink was mentioned.

This was contained in a recent press release by the NSE on its website which cleared Goldlink from the list of companies to be delisted.

It will be recalled that NSE posted list of companies to be delisted on its website in September last year. Goldink has since been cleared.

The Exchange stated that 19 companies are currently regulating their books with the NSE to avoid being delisted.

According to NSE, other listed companies that failed to take any/or appropriate steps to regularise their books have been delisted from the Stock Exchange following the expiration of the deadline it gave before taking the final C M Y K

decision.

Goldlink has reassured its shareholders of its commitment to secure their investments in the company.

According to the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Gbolahan Olutayo, quantifiable measures are in place to ensure that all requirements of statutory compliance are adhered to.

Olutayo disclosed that all hands are on deck to ensure better returns on the investment of shareholders. He stated that the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has addressed all challenges confronted

by Goldlink in the past.

Olutayo reassured the shareholders that plans are in place to acquaint them with progressive reports of efforts made so far to reposition the company for effective service and better returns on their investments.

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INSURAN Your insurance should protect you Stories by ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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S an insurance consumer, your insurance company should protect you once your offer is accepted and until the expiry date of your policy or its written cancellation by you or them.

Hence, the fact that you have only the Certificate of Insurance where the policy document is yet to be issued does not invalidate your protection. In addition to your insurance protecting you, there are other rights which you must enjoy as an insurance consumer.

One of such rights is the right to be informed which entails that all the terms of the contract must be expressly stated to you in the policy. The insurer must inform you of the changes in its address, terms of the contract, cancellation of your policy, and change in premium rate all in advance.

It is your right under the law to receive in advance a specimen copy of the policy document to be issued to you.

Your insurer cannot be telling you of a condition you were not aware of, after you have suffered a loss.

Another benefit is the right to choose which means that you can shop among many insurance providers to compare price, terms, scope of cover, service delivery, ownership structure, regulatory status etc. There is no law that forces you to buy insurance through a broker or

agent though insurance is a highly technical contract and dealing direct with the insurer will not reduce your premium.

Using a broker may infact reduce your premium, enhance your benefits and help you at the time of claim.

Another benefit is the right to be heard; hence it is your right to be attended to when you have a complaint. In addition to the insurance provider itself, you can also pass your complaint to the National Insurance Commission, (NAICOM); the Insurance Consumers Association of Nigeria (INSCAN); the Nigerian Insurers ASSOCIATION, NIA, or the Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria, (CPC). Most insurance policies contain the condition

You may request for cover up to the period where your payment can carry you in case you cannot afford the full annual premium at once

that both parries must first explore the Arbitration option before embarking on court action.

Also you have a right to redress which means that it is your right to get redress when your right under the insurance contract is trampled upon. You may be entitled to redress in the following cases: denial of claim; delayed claim; professional negligence; inadequate compensation; non-remittance of premium; poor service delivery; denial of premium refund, etc.

Another benefit is the right to good service which entails that you are entitled to prompt and efficient service from your insurance provider in the areas of receipt of your documents, your claims, your refund, and sending to you other support service providers like motor assessors, cargo superintendent, engineers, doctors and loss adjusters.

Your insurance company should not be requesting for your claim substantiating document piece-meal. Your claim must be accepted or rejected within 90 days of filing same.

Your responsibility as a consumer As an insurance consumer, you also have the following duties under the insurance contract and they are the duty to disclose which entails that insurance contract is guided by the utmost good faith requiring fullest disclosure of all the facts that are material to the contract. Failure to obey this rule may invalidate the

AWARDS: From left: Managing Director/CEO, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, CHI, Mr Eddie Efekoha; 1st prize winner of essay competition, Abiola Atinukeola Gbemisola of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr. Bola Temowo, at the new year party and 2014 annual tertiary institutions essay competition award prizes/staff awards, by CHI in Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015,

contract. However, the law requires the insurance companies to expressly ask the questions considered material to them in their proposal forms. Tell them the truth.

Also you have the duty to pay premium which entails that it is both contractual and statutory duty to pay your insurance premium in advance and the condition is that “No Premium, No Cover”.

You may request for cover up to the period where your payment can carry you in case you cannot afford the full annual premium at once.

You also have a duty to control losses which entails that in case of loss, you are under the duty to minimize the loss. You are expected to tow your vehicle to the nearest garage/safe place in case of accident. In case of fire, call fire brigade and protect whatever is left of your property from further damage or loss.

Another duty you have is to

The right to good service which entails that you are entitled to prompt and efficient service from your insurance provider keep accurate records. There must be documentary evidence of your claims from your insurer. It is your duty to keep an inventory and receipts of all your purchases.

In case of value-addition, renovation, increase in market price, you should be prepared to show evidence.

You also have a duty to comply with policy conditions because the policy document is the evidence of the contract between you and the insurance provider and it is its contents that will be interpreted whenever there is a dispute. You will need to take proper notice of provisions like claim notification period, days of grace to pay premium, claims filing procedure, dispute resolution mechanism and the perils that are excluded or exempted from your policy.

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CE & YOU

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You have a right to redress which means that it is your right to get redress when your right under the insurance contract is trampled upon

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CHI encourages research in students, gives automatic employment to winners

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iss Gbemisola Atinukeola Abiola of the Federal Polytechnic, Ibadan has th emerged the winner of the 4 edition of the essay competition organised by Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, CHI, Plc for tertiary institutions in the country, instituted to encourage research among students.

Accordingly, Gbemisola went home with N250,000 from the initial N100,000 which previous winners got.

Miss Nwannennaya Chukwuemeka, from University of Lagos, who won the second prize went home with N150,000 while Mr. Opeyemi Samson Olaniyi of Ibadan Polytechnic who came third went home with the sum of N100,000.

The three winners will automatically be employed in CHI after graduation from their various schools.

CHI said that the aim of the competition, with 2014 topic being, “The impact of micro insurance on socio-economic development of Nigeria,” is to encourage research among students.

Managing Director of CHI, Mr. Eddie Efekoha said that the essay is based on insurance related courses and the company selects topics based on issues that are relevant to the industry that elicit academic debate in practice.

“We send invitations to institutions offering insurance courses to participate; they write and submit their entries based on the topics that we forward to them. As soon as Gainers for Equities

Losers for Equities

we receive entries, our selected assessors go through them. The assessors have criteria for marking to ensure

that the process is credible, transparent and devoid of any frivolity. At the end of the day, the best essays among the

participating schools are chosen and awards are given on the basis of first, second and third.

From left: Chairman of the EAIPN Technical Management Board, Mr. Wole Oshin; Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel; Deputy Managing Director of Africa Re, Ken Aghoghovbia, and Chairman of NIA, Mr. Godwin Wiggle after the inauguration of the Board in Abuja.

Financial experts to set agenda on increased insurance and pension penetration

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n an effort to drive efficiencies in insurance business and increase insurance and pension penetration in Sub-Saharan Africa, leaders in the financial services industry and bancassurance practitioners in the region will meet in Lagos in a special summit tagged 1st Sub-Saharan Africa Insurance, Pension and Bancassurance Summit, courtesy of West Africa Business School.

In a statement, Executive Director, West Africa Business

School, Mr. Obasi Ngwuta, said that the summit will take place between February 24th – 26th, 2015 at the Protea Hotel Select, Lagos and the theme of the summit is “Shaping the Future of Insurance, Pension, and Bancassurance in SubSaharan Africa”.

To facilitate the summit, expert speakers from within and outside the African continent have been sourced by the West Africa Business School.

Aside from CEOs and executive directors of banks, insurance

companies, pension administrators, reinsurers and brokers, other participants expected at the summit include heads of bancassurance, business strategy, channel management, marketing, product development and wealth management. Others are regional heads of onsulting firms, law firms, financial planning & advisory firms, heads of IT companies and service providers to the financial services industry and heads of training institutions in the financial services industry.

Speaking on the regional summit, Director of Executive Education & International Programmes in West Africa Business School, Professor Chijioke Ikokwu said the initiative seeks to provide information and useful insights on driving financial inclusion and increasing insurance and pension penetration in SubSaharan Africa through bancassurance and microinsurance. He said that the insurance, banking and pension industry in SubSaharan Africa has experienced steady growth on the back of economic development, population expansion, improved regulatory environment, and increased product awareness.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

The 2nd River Niger Bridge at Onitsha and toll charges

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INDUCTION: From left: Mrs. Ayotola Jagun, Chief Compliance Manager, Oando Plc; Folusho Philips, Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG; Ms. Olajobi Makinwa, Head Transparency & Anti-Corruption, UNGC, New York and Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria at the induction session for Nigeria Local Network Members of United Nations Global Compact Anti-Corruption Initiative, in Lagos.

Investor education key to market development – SEC DG A

CTING Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Mournir Gwarzo has again emphasized on investors’ education both for retail and institutional to develop the market and improve the level of investment from the domestic side in the country.

Gwarzo who spoke in Abuja when he received members of the Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) Monday, disclosed that one of the strategies of the new management is to embark on huge public enlightenment programme with other stakeholders to educate the investing public.

He said, “Fund management is close to our heart as it is directly under our purview. In dealing with others, we partner with other Self Regulatory Organisations (SROs).

“We will collaborate with you anytime we want to commence the enlightenment through the use of town hall meetings, radio jingles among others.We are ready to put in money for market development and that is one of the cardinal objectives of this management”.

Gwarzo also stated that the management is working to empower SROs and trade organisations to enable them handle some complaints cases and deal with them with dispatch adding that the strategy of the management is not to create committees but to focus on prescriptions and ensuring that they are executed within reasonable time frames.

“We have finished the rules on complaints management framework and very soon, it will be exposed. One of the highlights is to allow complaints to be managed at the lower

level” he said.

Michael Adebola, President of Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) disclosed that Nigerians need to have a lot of understanding about what mutual funds is all about adding that the enlightenment will assist to boost the industry.

He said “We have 52 funds in 10 different sectors with the largest being the equity based ones which presently stands at 45. Between 2008 and 2009, all we had invested in funds was about N19billion, but as at last week, we had N152billion.

He promised that the association would work with the SEC on enlightenment of the investing public which he believes would translate into a bigger fund market in the country.

UBA leads e-banking innovation with mobile POS

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NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has again proven its leadership position in e-Banking with the introduction of mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) terminals. UBA has gone live with this initiative in partnership mPOS partners across Africa.

A mobile POS terminal is about the size of Blackberry Curve phone, but works just like the traditional POS currently used in many stores and cash collecting business outlets. mPOS terminals are portable, low cost and extremely secure.

Many stores and cash collecting outlets that have already operated the new UBA mPOS have discovered it to be a good strategy to increase sales and expand their customer base.

Existing large retailers are also adopting Mobile POS solutions and integrating them into their current point-of-sale environment to enhance the retail and payment experience. mPOS allows even the smallest business to be able to easily track and analyze sales and trends in their business as all sales are automatically and instantly captured on the retailer ’s system thereby improving C M Y K

accountability and transparency in business transactions.

It is also suitable for firms and companies that have agents on the field collecting cash on their behalf as an option to the less secure pay on delivery system.

According to Kennedy Uzoka, UBA’s DMD & CEO Africa, “mPOS is just one of our many e-banking innovations. We have driven other initiatives such as the acceptance of international cards on our POS terminals. Our POS terminals are also enabled for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), which means customers and non-customers using foreign payment cards on our POS can see their transaction value in the currency of their card or home country; this aids transaction tracking and personal account reconciliation.”

It will be recalled that UBA late last year introduced bill payments such as airtime top up, utility bills payment and Cable TV subscription on its POS terminals in select locations.

With a customer base in excess of seven million, UBA has invested heavily in building

HE Federal Ministry of Environment, FMEnv, has released for public comments the report of an Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, study with respect to the planning, construction and operation of a new bridge project across the River Niger at Onitsha. The new bridge is to be located at a distance of about 1.6km downstream of the existing bridge. The project is to be executed in three phases, Phase I, Phase 2a and Phase 2b. The route for the project takes off from the Benin to Asaba expressway at a point west of the Asaba airport, it is located south of the existing route, it crosses the Onitsha to Owerri expressway and comes to an end on the Onitsha to Enugu expressway for a total route length of 42km.

Phase I lies between Phases 2a and 2b and it consists of a road length plus toll plaza on the Delta State side of the river, a 1.59km long bridge and a road length on the Anambra State side that links the bridge to the Onitsha to Owerri expressway.

Phase 2a is about 23km long and it connects the western end of Phase I to the Benin to Asaba expressway while Phase 2b links the eastern end of Phase I to the Onitsha to Enugu expressway. Phase I is to be realised through a Public Private Partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, and a consortium made up of NSIA Motorways Investment Limited and Julius Berger Investments Limited. The consortium will design, build, finance and operate Phase I during a 25-year concession period after which Phase I would be given back to the Federal Ministry of Works. Funding for

The public reaction to the charges in the power sector shows that people are interested in knowing what they are paying for

Phases 2a and 2b would presumably come from the FGN. The report of the EIA study gives a description of Phase I. The carriageway would have six lanes of traffic, three lanes in each direction.

The toll plaza would be 500m long and 115m wide and allow for 20 lanes of traffic, 10 lanes in each direction. It is assumed that vehicles passing through the toll plaza are in the ratio 50% cars to 50% heavy goods vehicles. Time for payment is assumed to be

10 seconds for cars and 15 seconds for heavy goods vehicles.

Traffic studies at the existing bridge put total traffic count for a 24-hour period at 13460 vehicles eastbound in the ratio 75% light vehicles to 25% heavy vehicles while westbound traffic was 13786 vehicles in the ratio 83% light vehicles to 17% heavy vehicles.

The EIA report does not indicate the levels of toll charges nor how these charges would be determined. However, the report states that the stakeholders consulted during the study indicated that they were apprehensive about the tolling system and that they were willing to pay reasonable rates for using improved infrastructure. The report went further and stated that the envisaged reduction in travelling time might not translate into cost reductions for the general public if the cost reductions are outweighed by exorbitant toll fees that are incorporated into the cost of goods and services.

The report of the EIA study is a draft report and a final report is to be submitted after a public presentation of the draft report to stakeholders and a panel of experts. The public reaction to the charges in the power sector shows that people are interested in knowing what they are paying for. The cost of the capital employed is a major factor in the charges in the power sector.

Road construction costs in Nigeria appear relatively high and with high interest rates, the public may find the toll charges high. The final report of the EIA study should therefore give an idea of what the toll charges would be.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 —25

DIARY zARTEMIS &ITEA Cosummit Berlin Mar 10-11, 2015 zTelecoDays

Prague Marriott HotelPrague Czech Republic Mar 23-24 2015

Preview

CROSS-BORDER INTERFERENCE:

By Emmanuel Elebeke

FG tasks tasks ATU ATU on spectrum spectrum harmonization harmonization

Nano Logic Smart Helmet

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HEAD of the World Radiocommunication Conference holding later in the year, the Nigerian Government, yesterday, urged the African Telecommunications Union, ATU to come out with a voice and a strong position on the issues of spectrum utilization.

The Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, made the call at African preparatory meeting, APM holding in Abuja, Nigeria.

According to the minister, Africa has one of the fastest growing telecommunications sectors in the world, bringing more people on the internet, voice and other online platforms. She argued that for this, the ATU, should have a common position at the global event.

The World Radiocommunication Conference is the apex body of ITU, that reviews and upgrade the radio regulations

Continues on page 28

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lthough the Nano Logic smart helmet is intended for activities such as motorbiking, cycling or snowboarding, some people might end up wanting to wear the thing even when they’re just walking down the street – or auditioning to join Daft Punk.

Currently in prototype form, the Smart Helmet’s various electronics are run by an onboard multicore SoC (system on a chip). Also helping out are an integrated accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, Bluetooth module and GPS module, plus temperature and humidity sensors.

Like the Forcite Alpine ski helmet, it features a forward-facing HD video camera for recording firstperson footage on an onboard SD card. There’s also a rear-facing camera, the footage from which can be recorded for purposes such as insurance claims – unlike the case with the Reevu helmet, that second camera is not used for a real-time rear view system.

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•Transmission towers

I N S I BrainFriend software D to reduce mass failure E in JAMB, UTME

Two teenage girls to get $20,000 in Technovation challenge

Companies need not build data centres

26— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Intel unveils first commercial 14nm processor

By Emeka Aginam

L

EADING semiconductor chip manufacturers,Intel Corporation, recently unveiled the Intel Core M processor, which the company says is the first commercially available 14nanometer (nm) processor.

Filed Applications Engineer, Intel Semi Conductor West Africa Ltd, Mr. Oluwatobi Shada, told Hitech that Intel created the new Intel Core M processor in order to “fill a gap in the market place.” According to him, “before the introduction of the Intel Core M processor, there was no solution that delivered high performance within a thin, fanless form factor. These new processors provide outstanding performance with greater energy efficiency to enable long battery life in cool, quiet fanless designs.”

Continuing, Shada said: “The 14nm process enables the Intel Core M processor by enabling higher performance at lower power levels through 2nd generation 3D transistors, improved scaling, and a version of the process that is targeted at low power processors. The change to 14nm comes with a decrease in power consumption, and these chips will use 30 percent less power than Haswell processors which already suggest a significant improvement over last year’s Haswell processors.

By Emeka Aginam

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HE National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, is spearheading efforts to use local software application to remedy examination malpractice and failure in the country. The efforts resulted in the endorsement of exam software, BrainFriend which was designed to reduce mass failure in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME organised by Joint Admissions Matriculation Board, JAMB, among other examinations.

Two companies, Cinfores Limited and WaveTek Nigeria which developed the software, last week signed a memorandum of understanding witnessed by the Technology Agency.

According to the companies, the solution was developed to address the increasing rate of mass failure in national examinations in Nigeria through the use of Information and Communication Technology.

The solution according to the companies will be a game changer and make more candidates to be successful in their national exams especially the forthcoming JAMB UTME and related exams.

Meanwhile, the partners have customized a special version, JAMB BrainFriend, for the forthcoming 2015 JAMB UTME and expressed optimism that it could stamp out mass failure and high rate of examination fraud in the country.

Local content

A typical JAMB situation

BrainFriend software to reduce mass failure in JAMB, UTME Speaking on the development, the Director General of NITDA,

There is certain decline in quality of education in our country

Mr. Peter Jack, said the agency keyed into the initiative as part of its effort to deepen and encourage local content development in education and other sectors of the economy as mandated by the ACT setting up the agency.

“Based on the transformation agenda of Mr. President, the Federal Government of Nigeria is doing everything possible to ensure that the Nigerian educational system is improved and made world class.“There is certain decline in quality of education in our country. “ The mass failure in UTME and other national examinations

Schneider highlights limitations of solar energy

By Prince Osuagwu

S

CHNEIDER Electrics last week said that even as solar energy is considered one of the best options to the grid electricity generation, the problem with it was the space.

The company’s new Country President, Mr Walid Sheta said that his company has vast experience in solar energy generation and therefore is in a good position to know the impacts and hindrances to achieving such impacts at maximum level.

This is also as he commended the federal government for enacting the local content policy, saying it has helped Schneider to be recognized as massive investors in the country’s economy. According to Sheta, “Schneider Electric’s solutions are not limited to street lighting. It starts from massive solar farms, the biggest one we have done is in the US. It is 150 megawatts.

This is huge for solar energy.

The only drawback of solar energy is the space. You need a lot of space to generate 100 watts. You need 1 square meter approximately. 100 watts is

...hails local content policy nothing because a house needs at least 3 kilowatts. You need 330 square meters on the roof of your house to be able to give electricity to your house and for storage”.

Sheta also revealed that more than half of the prepaid meters in Nigeria are from Schneider Electric, through its subsidiary company.

“We are interested in that market, we are •Sheta, meeting officials in the Federal Ministry of Power to make sure that the right meters are provided to the Nigerian market. We are definitely going to improve and add to the value we are creating on meters and this market is key for us and we plan to be strong on it. We are already assembling our panels in Nigeria, we are already having a platform of assembly so it is not about investing even more, it is about protecting our

Schneider country president employees that are currently working in this facility that could also be replicated by many other local players.

“Today, the regulation is neutral to the companies who are manufacturing locally. It is only by embedding into the local content act . The fact that it is important to produce locally so that the products made in Nigeria will be as important as placing your PO

through a Nigerian owned company. This is important to Schneider Electric because we are investing in Nigeria, employing Nigerians in Nigeria and they are producing in Nigeria.

Also stating the company’s prowess in the ICT sector, Mr Ayo Adegboye, who oversees the IT business for Schneider Electric West Africa, said that the vision of having an ITbased energy production partly accounted to why the company acquired APC in 2008 with legendary range of Uninterruptible Power Supply, UPS. He noted that besides the acquisition, Schneider also has data centre, infrastructure business which provides solutions from the grid to the rack. “What this means is that if you are considering building a data centre, it is a complete infrastructure which means taking it from the grid, to the transformer to the electrical panel to the power distribution unit, to the rack in the data centre. All these solutions are made by Schneider Electric.

in recent years, is a mixture of many things including the nonavailability of quality local resources to change the tide of mass failure and exam malpractice that has plagued the nation,” he said.

He said that NITDA as an IT agency was committed to transforming every sector in the country through the introduction of ICT solutions.

He pointed out that in its various efforts to ensure qualitative education in the country, NITDA would engage various local and international organisations to develop locally adapted solutions that will meet the needs of the sector.

He added that the agency would do everything possible to support the solution and make it available to all the NITDA digital centres across the country, to enable the candidates access the software. More so, Jack promised to reach out to the NCC and the USPF to make available the software in their Community Communication Centres in other to extend the reach of the software to all Nigerian students, especially the candidates who cannot afford either a PC or mobile device to activate the software for their personal use.

Why BrainFriend?

In his remarks, the Managing Director of Cinfores Limited, Mr. Asawo Ibifuro, said the software has been approved by the Federal Ministry of Education, NERDC and NITDA. He explained that the customized version has many features including over 20,000 questions, answers and explanations, 19 JAMB subjects/ subject combinations for the major disciplines, prototype past JAMB questions, career counseling guide, quick references and study notes, performance tracking, summary and questions on the UTME 2015 special, among others.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 —27

By Prince Osuagwu

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WO Nigerian school girls between the ages of 10 and 18 would go home each $10,000 richer, as a global technology entrepreneurship program for girls, Technovation challenge, kicks off the 2015 edition.

Technovation is a programme designed by Iridescent, a science-education non-profit organization that helps engineers, scientists and hightech professionals bring cutting edge science, technology and engineering to high school girls and underprivileged minority children and their families.

The programme aims at empowering young women to use technology to make the world a better place. In 2014, 1,500 girls from around the globe developed 362 mobile apps, making Technovation the largest global technology entrepreneurship program for girls.

The challenge is open to secondary school girls between the ages of 10 and 18 who would be incubated for three months and work in teams of five to develop Mobile Apps, conduct market research, write business plans and create a pitch for funding. Each team is expected to work with a classroom teacher in their school and a female mentor/ role model from a technology industry. Teams will compete in one of two divisions: middle school or high school. The age of the oldest girl on the team will determine the team’s division. Top ranked teams from each division will qualify to travel to San Francisco for World Pitch, with Technovation making travel scholarships available to the finalist teams who cannot

Two teenage girls to get $20,000 in 2015 Technovation challenge cover the travel costs on their own.

At World Pitch, one winner from the middle school category will be selected to win $10,000, and one winner from the high school category will win $10,000.

The teams are expected to

The programme aims at empowering young women to use technology to make the world a better place

register on a website http:// technovationchallenge.org, specially created for the programme.

Nigeria’s innovation creation centre, Idea Hub, Digital Girls Club and Women in Technology in Nigeria, WITIN among many others are all partners to this project Ms Anar Simpson, Global Ambassador for Technovation, explained through teleconferencing, that the idea was to motivate and educate girls and women to solve real-world problems through technology, inspiring girls to see themselves not just as users of technology, but as inventors, designers, builders, and entrepreneurs in the industry.

The participating girls would be taught life skills such as how to identify a problem, design and test a solution, collaborate with a team, and communicate to different audiences. Over the three months period, girls will be trained 2 hours a week to develop a potential solution to a problem and program a mobile phone application to solve it. The app must solve a problem in their local community. This could be a health problem that affects their community, a social problem, or even a lack of a resource.

They will also learn how to study the market, analyze competitors, identify ways in which they can gather user feedback and earn revenue.

T

HE Chief Executive of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, has said that the unveiling of Windows 10 has heralded the beginning of the more personal computing era in the mobilefirst, cloud-first world.

The solution, a new generation of Windows, comes with a wide range of experiences designed to usher in a new era of more personal computing, as well as two new devices designed to extend the Windows experience from large screens to no screens.

Speaking during the launch last week, the Microsoft CEO further said that, “Our ambition is for the 1.5 billion people who are using Windows today to fall in love with Window 10 and for billions more to decide to make Windows home.”

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G Electronics, said it believes that one of the best gifts at Yuletide are always the ones given to people living with disabilities and in that spirit,decided to partner the Korean embassy to visit the SOS Children’s Village in Ijebu-Owu, Ogun State to donate various products including Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Freezers, Cookers, Projectors and Television sets.

It however said that mostly, the visit aimed at putting smiles on the faces of the children as well as supporting their dreams and aspirations.

Speaking at the occasion, General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Junhwa Jeong said: “For us at the LG Electronics we have always been eager to help solve the most pressing problems of the communities in which we operate in. we know very well that lack of support for children and children’s institutions is a serious problem. Over the years, under our CSR programmes, we have supported key public institutions. In the future, we intend to continue these important and necessary activities”.

Also speaking at the occasion, Head of Mission/ Minister Counselor of the Korean Embassy, Mr. Kim Gyuyoung, described children as the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future and therefore, deserved to be given all the love and care that can provided.

•Putting heads together for a better world...the girls' way?

Windows 10, key player in PC era — Microsoft CEO

By Emeka Aginam

CSR: LG, Korean embassy give Owu SOS children Tech Yuletide

For Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Operating Systems group at Microsoft: “Everything about Windows 10; the experiences, delivering it as a service and the free upgrade means that Windows 10 isn’t just another product, it’s an ongoing relationship one that will give ongoing value to all our customers."

According to the software giant, Windows 10 would be delivered as a service to offer a safer, innovative and updated experience for the supported lifetime of the device.

A free upgrade1 for Windows 10, Microsoft said would be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1, who upgrade in the first year.

Windows 10: Making

computing more personal Windows 10 marks the beginning of the more personal computing era, where technology disappears and people are at the center.

Windows 10 will feature the new Microsoft browser, codenamed “Project Spartan,” which was built with interoperability in mind

One thing is clear. In this era, the mobility of the experience matters, not the mobility of the device, and experiences should work in a seamless, familiar way across devices.

With the solution, people should be able to naturally interact with technology as they interact with other people with voice, gestures and gaze.

Protecting privacy plays a pivotal role in delivering trustworthy experiences that put people in control of their experience.

During the launch, Microsoft showcased a variety of new experiences coming to Windows 10, including the following: Cortana comes to PC and tablet.

The Cortana personal digital assistant, which debuted on

Windows Phone last year,will now also be available on Windows 10 PCs and tablets to help people get things done.

Cortana is personal helper who learns an individual’s preferences to provide relevant recommendations, fast access to information and important reminders, bringing what matters most to their attention.

Interaction is natural and easy via talking or typing, with advanced features to control Cortana for more trustworthiness and transparency.

New browser “Project Spartan” Windows 10 will feature the new Microsoft browser, codenamed “Project Spartan,” which was built with interoperability in mind.

With key features built-in natively to the browser, itwill enable greater reliability and better discoverability.

28—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

FG tasks ATU on spectrum harmonisation

Companies need not build data centres

Continues from page 25

— Rack Centre boss

By Laju Iren

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he term ‘data centre’ is not a popular one in the technology vocabulary of the average Nigerian. But for every bank account being maintained, every surveillance video captured, and every piece of data that large organisations need to store securely, the use of data centres is not only ubiquitous but an indispensable part of any IT industry. In this interview with HiTech, Mr. Tunde Coker, the Managing Director of Rack Centre, Nigeria’s Premiere tier III data centre, opens up on emerging opportunities in and benefits of the data centre business.

Excerpts: Even though it is no walk in the park, some organizations still prefer to build their own data centres instead of using independent companies such as Rack centre, what are your thoughts on this?

To build a data centre to the •Tunde Coker standard of tier three requirements when the business needs it, requires billions of dollars of capital investment that sits as non earning assets on the balance sheet. Investors will keep looking at such huge investments on the balance sheets and asking about it. In actual fact, the centre is In actual fact, important to the business but it’s not your core area of the centre is business. It’s our core business. important to It’s a totally different thing in the business terms of capital investment for us. but it’s not Companies could move that your core money into the front end of the area of business that makes returns. It business. It’s takes weeks to get into our data centre and start operating our core efficiently as a business. It takes business about 18-24 months to build your own data centre. That is business downtime where you build their own data centre. It are not operating at the level is a lot of the enlightened CIOs you are supposed to be that don’t want to build a data centre. operating at.

What makes Rack centre When I was a Chief Information Officer, CIO, at one unique?

We were the first in Nigeria of the banks, I didn’t have a choice, so I had to build a data to get a tier three gold centre. I found it as a distraction certification of sustainability building it when we needed the from the Uptime Institute. To time and money to focus on the get that certification, you have business. Another distraction is to be concurrently maintainable running a data centre and such that if you took a worrying about diesel quality, component out at different security and skill sets instead levels of the data centre, you of spending time transforming can service them, and not bring the business. I ask such people the data centre down. So that why on earth they would want the services continue. To to build a data centre. You have achieve that, there are sets and to make sure that the sets of design criteria that have investment in IT is not just a to be met. The Uptime institute cost but an investment. CIOs comes in looks at the systems that do that are very successful. and structures and make sure Those CIOs are usually the that the centre meets the ones that question the need to minimum requirements for

standard concurrent maintenance across board. Our maximum level of downtime here in eight minutes, but we haven't had a second of downtime since we begun. We have top notch security here. Your assets are secure here at Rack centre. Those are skill sets you don’t really need to build because we focus on providing the best. We’ve faced some challenges but the systems and processes that we put in place ensure that we don’t have downtime. In terms of Power Usage Efficiency, PUE, ours is the lowest in Nigeria and West Africa.

Here, energy is very highly optimized that’s why we are able to achieve such low PUEs. This ensures that we attain maximum efficiency and practice what I’d call green environmentally friendly IT. How do you handle risk management?

We have enterprise risk management resources in place. It is an ingrained management process.

We make sure that we cover all areas as much as we can. Companies also have to have their own disaster recovery plans in a different location elsewhere. We will work with companies to make sure they put that in place. We also have multiple network providers; we are carrier neutral. So that our customers have a choice of very high quality network providers. We are an extension of our customers' IT. The people here have a skill set in ISO 27001 1S0 20000, as well as tons of other certifications.

If a company comes in, we are an extension of them, and they can be accredited to those standards.

We don’t have a customer yet that has said: this is our enterprise risk management, your company doesn’t measure up.

every four years based on the reports carried out every four years.

It also considers issues regarding spectrum management. According to Johnson, “Africa has one of the fastest growing telecommunications in the world, we are bringing more people on the internet, voice and many other platforms s o t h e AT U n e e d s t o c o m e o u t w i t h a common position of how we use the spectrum as far as Africa is concerned.

“Africa has become a very important part of International Telecommunications Union, ITU and so, should have a common voice and a strong position on the issues that would be discussed at the preparatory meeting, particularly on how spectrum should be utilized and maximized,” she said.

T h e E xe c u t i v e Vi c e C h a i r m a n o f t h e Nigerian Communications Commission, N C C , D r. E u g e n e J u w a h , h o w e v e r, promised that all the outstanding issues concerning the use of spectrum in Africa would be trashed at the Abuja meeting and the outcome tabled on the agenda for the global meeting coming by the end of the year.

“The expectation is that all the outstanding issues concerning the use of spectrum will be discussed, Africa will put them on the agenda for the global meeting coming by the end of the year, “This is a preparatory meeting towards the WRC-15 , to decide on the issues that are important to Africa and put them on agenda for the meeting and ensure that the whole of Africa have a common position on issues such as harmonizing spectrum, spectrum slots so that cross-border interference and other technical issues will be limited”.

For every harmonised spectrum utilized efficiently, there is a corresponding positive impact on every nation’s economy

He added that harmonization was key in handling all spectrum matters, describing the meeting as opportunity for Africa to stand united on a matter that are of common interest to the region.

For him, “avenues like this should be used to further the interest and development of the African region through thorough and objective look at all the issues that would be discussed at the meeting.”

H e a d d e d t h a t “f o r e v e r y h a r m o n i z e d s p e c t r u m u t i l i z e d e f f i c i e n t l y, t h e r e i s a corresponding positive impact on every nation’s economy both on the cost of manufacture, distribution and use of equipment and devices utilising such spectrums” .

The ATU meeting is being hosted by the Fe d e r a l M i n i s t r y o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n Technology in conjunction with the Nigerian Communications Commission on behalf of the federal government.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28, 2015 — 29

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30— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

PERSPECTIVE Inside Gen Buhari's mind B

By Clem Aguiyi

UHARI is a man of integrity when compared to the very worst of us that were like him our past leaders.

I also believe in his strong stand against indiscipline and corruption which is our bane, hence his promise to knock common sense into the animals called politicians in Nigeria resonates well with me even though I don't know how he is going to accomplish this without acting out Hitler.

GMB’s personal attributes and military experience could be helpful in resolving some of our national challenges but there is more to politics than those attributes of integrity and

good intention especially in providing constitutional leadership in the 21st century. His rigidity and parochial vision diminishes his positives.

Admitting the truth even when it hurts and respect for constitutionalism is as important, if not more important than personal integrity The law as it stands today expects that any one running for the office of the President must possess a minimum of secondary school certificate. That is WASC/ WAEC/ GCE, not NEPA bill receipt, school fees receipt, letter of attestation from principal or group photographs.

GMB had all the time and opportunity to fix his poor aca-

demic records by simply attempting WAEC even last year, I am upset and disappointed that he didn’t.

He must be able to admit that he doesn’t have the minimum

A man of integrity must be very comfortable with people taking a good look at how he has lived his life and the company he keeps and why

qualification to contest for president even though he had contested and lost thrice without this being an issue.

He should be able to tell his supporters that though I want to serve you but the law disqualifies me and we can’t have two sets of moralities in this country, I therefore disqualify myself.

GMB at 73 can only be as healthy as a 73-year-old man.

He knew in his heart that he is not physically and medically fit no matter how he forces his body.

He is also aware that he is surrounded by controversial individuals who are funding his campaign as a way of buying protection and I wonder how he sleeps at night knowing these truths.

A man of integrity must be very comfortable with people taking a good look at how he has lived his life and the company he

keeps and why.

Buhari’s handlers are telling him the truth. He said he will publicly declare his assets and compel his ministers to do same if elected president yet he is unable to declare publicly the sources of fund for his campaign.

Charity should start at home.

Also amidst speculation of his health, Buhari rather than publicly show his certificate of medical fitness will refer Nigerians to verify from public records. A man of integrity must be able to show something.

I am also worried about Buhari’s democratic credentials and what has changed about him. I recall the way he treated the Oputa panel with disdain. He is yet to apologise for the incarceration of Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor for writing the truth that embarrassed his government.

Chief Alex Ekwueme and Emeka Ojukwu didn’t steal a dime but he dumped them in jail for the better part of his tyrannical regime. Has he apologised for using brutal force to repress Nigerian students? He jailed Fela and Beko Kuti. What were their crimes? Why did he ban the Nigeria Medical Association? Why are we not asking questions?

Nigeria needs peace and stability which can only be achieved when the religious, ethnic and regional divide is tamed. And you can only tame it with people without much divisive precedence; people that are constructive, people with the ability to control men under them.

He has played ethno- religious crisis to high heavens and ran a very divisive campaign. Truth is, his entire career has been built on fanatical philosophy.

Fanatical philosophy We cannot surrender our peace, stability and liberty to a man consumed by hatred, who never supported any of our evolving democratic structure and only goal in politics and in seeking for the presidency - vengeance.

As a past military leader, he overthrew a democratic government. After, he too was sacked from office, he maintained a low profile until after the return to democracy in 1999. Since then he has been credited with several divisive comments.

At the peak of the sharia spread across the North, he was quoted to have said that he will not relent in his agitation for the spread of sharia across the federation. He was quoted to have said ‘Muslims should only vote Muslims’ and ‘why should Christians be concerned when Muslims cut off their own limbs under sharia’ and after all ‘the limbs being cut are Muslims’.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28, 2015 — 31

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32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 28, 2015

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VOL. 1 NO 20

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Priest’s ‘marching order’ forces kidnappers to release victim

PAGE 2

•The two brothers, Emeka and Mr Uchenna Okeke on admission

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WKA—A family in Omogho community, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State is facing extinction following a strange disease now crippling and rendering the members useless. The unknown disease has already claimed the lives of five members of the family with two others bed ridden.

The yet to be identified ailment has so far defied both orthodox and traditional medical practitioners.

A medical report from the managing director of Best Hospital in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state, Dr. C.C. Okoye to the Consultant, Medical Unit, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital,

2 bedridden as strange ailment kills 4 siblings in Anambra ...the strange disease cripples and renders victims useless Nnewi, entitled: Re: Mr Emeka Okeke and Mr. Uchenna Okeke, which was dated May10, 2010, stated that the unknown disease which had claimed the lives of the Okekes had defied all medical solution.

According to Okoye all efforts made in treating the victims had failed as both parents were dead and the

two remaining brothers were financially handicapped. He stated that the physical examination on the sick people revealed wasting of muscles of the limbs as well as facial muscles.

At present, Emeka Okeke, 35 and Uchenna Okeke, 28 are both paralysed although they still hope they would survive.

ALSO IN THIS EDITION PAYING FOR Ezza problem DARKNESS: not political but Enugu residents cultural, says storm EEDC office Catholic priest — PAGE 5

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— PAGE 8

The two brothers who spoke to South East Voice regretted that their four other

Sometimes it seems like there is no hope.

We have sold virtually everything we have in the cause of finding solutions to this disease, and when there was nothing to sell, we borrowed money from neighbours

siblings aged between 25 and 30, including, Sunday and Issac Okeke had died due to the strange disease,they appealed to good spirited individuals in the society to come to their aid as they were hopeful of living if given good medical attention abroad.

The patients said that they had been suffering from weak limbs and arm since the age of 13 when the ailment first manifested, adding that they have had problems using their limbs since then.

They said: “Before we found ourselves in this condition that has almost ruined our lives, we were active people always running around to eke

Continues on page 2

2— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Priest’s ‘marching order’ forces kidnappers to release victim ...as citizen Abasilim regained freedom without paying N20m ransom

By NWABUEZE OKONKWO NITSHA—A 38-year-old businessman based in Warri, Delta State and father of two from Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mr. Clems Okwudilichukwu Abasilim at the weekend miraculously regained his freedom from the hands of his kidnappers who had earlier allegedly demanded N20 million ransom without paying the money.

Abasilim had been kidnapped by some unknown people when he returned home for the funeral of his grandmother-in-law.

However, a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ebere Magnus who heard about the incident, had collected the kidnappers’ phone number from the victim’s mother and called them while the victim was still in their custody and threatened to invoke the wrath of God on them if Abasilim was not freed without paying any ransom.

The threat by the priest was said to have worked as the kidnappers reportedly released the victim without collecting the N20 million ransom which had already been agreed between the kidnappers and the victim’s family.

Narrating his ordeal at the Canaan land Counselling and Adoration Ministries a.k.a EDey Work Catholic Centre, Nnobi, where Rev Fr. Magnus is the Spiritual Director when he went to give testimony of what God did for him, the victim, Abasilim said he returned from Warri for the burial and drove out to do some shopping preparatory to the event only to be abducted by four armed men who dragged him out of his car and bundled him into their own waiting Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, and zoomed off to an unknown destination. He said that he was blind-folded while in captivity for seven days.

Abasilim said as he was in captivity, he asked his abductors why they kidnapped

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him, adding that in their reply, they told him that since his car cost up to N4 million, they believed that he (Abasilim) would have much more than that to give them and later called his family to demand N20 million.

Right there at the kidnappers’ den, he said, he turned into a preacher and began to preach to them to abandon their “job” and accept Christ.

He told the congregation that he later became friendly with his kidnappers, except that their boss was ‘’brutal.’’

Abasilim further said he usually prayed in his heart so that his abductors would not know his prayer points until the seventh day.

“At about 8pm on my seventh day in captivity, they told me that I should go home that evening. I asked them whether my people had complied. They said no, that they had problems. They told me that if not for that problem, they would have “blown me off.” ‘’They took me on a motorcycle that night and dropped me off at a lonely road. I asked them how I could go. They gave me N500 for transport and removed the blindfold, Abasilim narrated as he displayed some deep fresh wounds on his wrists, which

•Victim dancing beside Rev. Fr. Ebere he sustained when they tied him to a tree at their hideout before his release.

The victim’s mother, Madam Abasilim who was overwhelmed with joy over the release of her son said she went to EDey Work Catholic Centre and petitioned God and gave Rev. Fr. Magnus the phone number with which the hoodlums used to call her family for ransom.

She said it was that contact that the priest used to ask the

abductors to release their victim or face the wrath of God. “When I called the kidnappers with the GSM phone number of their victim, and told one of them who answered the call that the person they were holding in captivity was my son and that they should release him or die. The kidnapper who picked the call shouted, Chineke mu o! (my God). That

shout signified that he must have received something like electric shock.

I know my God can never fail me. And they complied without talking about ransom again. I even heard that it was that same person (kidnapper) who received the call from me that assisted Abasilim with N500 for transport,” Fr. Ebere said.

2 bedridden as strange ailment kills 4 siblings in Anambra They told me that I should go. I asked them whether my people had complied, they said no, that they had problems, they told me that if not for that problem, they would have blown me off.

Continues from page 1 out a living.’’

Emeka said specifically that he was a radio repairer, noting that ‘’sometimes it seems like there is no hope.

We have sold virtually everything we have in the cause of finding solutions to this disease, and when there was nothing to sell, we borrowed money from neighbours to continue but now we are tired. There is no money to eat even food now.”

“We are now living on peoples' mercy but our survival is in God’s hand and that is why we are appealing to the state government especially to the wife of the

governor, Mrs Obiano through her pet project to touch our lives.

“Our condition is getting worse on daily basis and we seem to have been abandoned, we need God’s intervention.”

Emeka further said that their family doctor had identified the strange disease as “Vein failure” and that they required substantial amount of funds if they hoped to be treated.

Meanwhile, the strange disease afflicting the Okekes is creating panic and confusion in Omogho just as it has thrown the family in penury.

Meanwhile, the brothers are appealing to public spirited individuals to come to their aid and not allow their lineage perish just like that.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 —3

By VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—AS the 2015 general elections draw near, the battle among the various candidates to get better attention of the electorate has taken a worrisome dimension in Anambra State with some people suspected to be sponsors of some political office seekers embarking on the destruction of their opponents’ billboards in parts of the state.

Those at the receiving end are Chief Victor Umeh, the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and the party ’s candidate for Anambra Central in the February 14, 2015 election, who has 37 bill boards either completely destroyed or defaced at the major road junctions in the senatorial zone, as well as the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Chris Ngige is also affected by the destruction.

Places where the destruction was so much include Agulu junction, Neni junction, Nkpor junction, Agukwu Nri junction, Enugwu Ukwu town and Awka, the state capital. The destruction usually takes place at night and some eyewitnesses said those

•One of the billboards destroyed by hoodlums

ELECTION: Anambra’s politics of bill

boards destruction Ngige, Umeh most affected behind the act usually drove around the state in branded buses belonging to political opponents in the

same senatorial zone.

According to some of the eyewitnesses, “these people, mainly young

men, come in buses and while some of them climb up to destroy the billboards, others paste the

Ebonyi community laments deplorable state of roads

By PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—THE Ndiegu community in Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State are grumbling over the deplorable state of roads, especially the Onuebonyi-Sharon-Iboko in the area.

The road which is about 15 kilometres had remained impassable even before the present administration of Chief Martin Elechi over seven years ago.

Residents told South East Voice that what worried them the most about the road was its present dusty nature.

Those raised by moving vehicles had led to several fatal accidents even as the relevant authorities had not deemed it fit to tar the road.

Because of the nature of the road, students, pupils and pedestrians trekking to their C M Y K

schools or other destinations were usually the worst hit, as most vehicles that pass through the road were not air conditioned.

Apart, from the dusty nature of the road, there were a lot of pits dug on road sides that had become death traps as they were not covered.

A community member, Mr. Cletus Igbojima asked the state

government to take urgent steps to ensure completion of the road project ahead of the rainy season.

Reacting, the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Chukwuma Nwandugo assured the people of the area that the road would soon be asphalted so as to eradicate the dust presently witnessed by

Onuebonyi-Sharon-Iboko road

both commuters and pedestrians.

“The stone base has been done and very soon it will be asphalted. It is a 15 kilometre road and the contract sum is N1.8 billion. We are working on the road and very soon there will be a difference. The Ministry of works will put a sign post immediately to alert commuters of the pit along the road in the area.”

posters of their candidates on top of those of their opponents.”

Apart from the bill boards, posters pasted on walls and road dividers are also torn and the common development in the state is that no poster of any candidate stays more than one night on a spot without being removed or defaced.

Worried by the development, the Director General of Victor Umeh Campaign Organization, Mr. Obele Chuka and other officials of his party reported the matter to the Abagana Divisional Police Station where entry was made at the weekend.

Obele said the disturbing aspect of the situation was that Umeh’s posters were mostly targeted and urged security operatives to wade into the matter with a view to arresting those behind it.

He said: “The people behind this destruction are heating up the polity and we believe it was as a result of their discovery that the electorate is accepting our message.

While we understand their frustration, we want to warn that we will no longer condone such acts.”

4 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

•Ehere Community Comprehensive Secondary School.

A

BA—IN a bid to address the lack of public schools within the Ogbor Hill area of Aba, Abia State, the Ehere Community in Obingwa Local Government Area has established a secondary school in the community.

The community is however, appealing for assistance to equip the institution.

The newly established, “Ehere Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Ehere,” boasts of three classroom blocks at the site of the Community Primary School along Opobo road.

According to the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Young Nwangwa, the school was set up to address the lack of public secondary schools in the area following the handover of the existing ones to their private owners especially, the missionaries by the Abia State government.

“Our children have been suffering from the lack of public schools in the C M Y K

Abia community sets up secondary school, seeks govt’s assistance community and environs.

From the Ogbor Hill Waterside area to Ehere Community and environs, there is no public or government- owned secondary school; not even one. We have space at the site of our primary school, so we decided to use it and appealed to the government to assist us in establishing a public secondary school. You know the high cost of sponsoring a child through a private or missionary school; not all parents can afford it. Ehere Community is an education loving community, this is why we decided to set up the school to enable parents who don’t have the means to train their children in private schools to have opportunity to do so in public schools,” he

said.

Nwangwa further lamented that the only public school located in his community; Technical Secondary School, Aba, was handed over to a private individual which

Ehere community is an urban centre; we have the population. I am hopeful that the population of the school will explode in a year ’s time

led to parents withdrawing their children from the school due to the high amount being charged as tuition fees.

South East Voice gathered that other schools in the area handed over to missionaries and individuals by the state government include the Ovom Girls High School, Ogbor Hill; All Saints Secondary School, Ehere; Wilcox Memorial Comprehensive Secondary School, Ogbor Hill and Girls High School, Ogbor Hill.

Eze Nwangwa appealed to the government and public spirited individuals as well as groups to assist the new school in the area of provision of basic amenities.

“We still need assistance

to provide basic amenities for the new school. We thank the government which built the structures through UBEC. The community has done a lot to put the school into shape. Teachers have been posted to the school. We have also gone on air to inform prospective students about the school. Ehere Community is an urban centre; we have the population. I am hopeful that the population of the school will explode in a year ’s time. We need perimetre fencing, boreholes, more classroom blocks, staff quarters and other conveniences. We appeal to the government and public spirited individuals to come and assist us,” he added.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 — 5

Oko Poly student emerges Ada Umunze beauty pageant queen

By ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—THE Umunze Students Association, USA, in Anambra State demonstrated their belief in the saying that working without playing makes Jack a dull boy by making out time during the last Yuletide to organise a beauty contest among their female members.

This maiden contest Christened Ada Umunze Beauty Pageant was held at the newly commissioned Paramount Garden Hotel at Ururo Village, Umunze.

Five female students contested for the title which was won by a 200 level Laboratory Technology student of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Miss Blessing Onunkwo.

In his address the Rector of the polytechnic and Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Godwin Onu lauded the students for organising the beauty pageant which he said was novel in the area.

Onu noted that the Umunze students were living up to the rating of the town as one of the great communities in Anambra State by leading other communities by example.

He also, urged students unions in other communities to emulate the good example of Umunze students just as he asked the association not rest on their oars by improving on the planning of this year ’s event.

The rector was represented on the occasion by Mr. Emma Onu also advised the students to equally be serious in their academics to ensure brighter

•Ada Umunze Queen, Miss Blessing Onunkwo. future for them.

In her remarks, the member representing Orumba South Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Princess Nikky Ugochukwu commended the students for organising the event and urged them to keep the flag flying.

Represented by Mr. Ugochukwu Chukwudi, the lawmaker also advised the students against involving themselves in any act that was capable of tarnishing the good image of Umunze as a

town.

The traditional ruler of Umunze, Igwe Promise Eze, also commended the students for the event and advised them to continue to showcase the town in ways that other communities would emulate.

Represented by two members of his cabinet, Chief Ben Maduagwu and Chief Sylvanus Ifeonu, Eze asked the winner of Ada Umunze to be a good ambassador of the community, pointing out that “as the Ada Umunze, you are a mirror for others to see.” He

PAYING FOR DARKNESS: Enugu

residents storm EEDC office

By FRANCIS IGATA NUGU—FOR allegedly compelling them to pay for services not rendered, three communities in Enugu metropolis last week invaded the Abakpa Unit of the Enugu Electricity Distribution

E

Company, EEDC, accusing the company of alleged exploitation.

Residents of the three communities, surrounding the office, who were mostly aged men and women, were led by two traditional rulers on the visit.

The communities includeIwollo, Akama and Oyofo, all in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. They accused the electricity company of fleecing them by asking them to pay for electricity they did not use as they were mostly in darkness.

Enugu residents protesting against EEDC over power outage C M Y K

One of the royal fathers, Igwe Christopher Chukwuemeka Ejiofo, told SouthEast Voice that although he had made spirited efforts to get the EEDC reduce its arbitrary charges, the power firm had not taken any serious step to address the issue.

Ejiofo, who is the traditional ruler of Ngamikpo Oyofoye as well as the secretary of Ezeagu Council of Traditional Rulers, said, “I live in the village; I do not stay in Enugu, I am very close to my people, so I know their feelings.

“We hardly enjoy power supply; it comes and goes; sometimes it doesn’t come for two months. I can afford it, so I went and ordered for solar panel in my palace because the EEDC is so unreliable. “I don’t like a situation where people are being cheated; we had a bill of N46,000 in one month last year against one of transformers; the other one was N34,000.

In December last year, the

Continues on page 6

further commended the association led by Michael Obiora Okeke for projecting Umunze in positive ways.

REACH US DO you have any news of neglect or abandoned projects or your representative at the local, state or federal governments are not representing you well?

Do you have unique cultural activities coming up or any community news to tell us?

Emeka Mamah (Co-ordinator): 08033218645 Austin Ogwuda(Enugu): 08037136440 Francis Igata 08033387069 Vincent Ujumadu(Awka): 08035804090 Anayo Okoli(Umuahia): 08034046839 Chidi Nkwopara(Imo): 08033391108 Peter Okutu (Abakaliki): 08032680756 Chinenyeh Ozor (Nsukka): 08185664011 Nwabueze Okonkwo (Nnewi): 08037794782 Enyim Enyim (Onitsha): 08169297179 Or: e-mail us at: easternvoice@yahoo.com

6 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Tension in Anambra community over masquerades invasion A

MICHI—TRAGEDY was averted penultimate Sunday at the Eke Market Square in Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State following the invasion of the area by masquerade groups, leading to a clash between them and Christian worshippers.

A bloody confrontation was however, averted, following the early arrival of a combined team of policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS among others.

Since the incident, it had been a game of the cat and the mouse, between the Christians and the traditionalists who were the owners of the masquerades, as security agents kept watch.

As at the time of this report, there were no masquerades parading the town.

Sources told South East Voice that the masquerade groups had allegedly planned to unleash mayhem on Anglican worshippers during their normal Sunday outreach programme at Eke Amichi village square which the masqueraders had allegedly warned them to stop using.

The masqueraders allegedly warned the Anglican Church to stop using the market square for their programmes because, according to them, their activities were interfering with their ezumezu cultural festival which held once every month at the square on any Sunday that falls on Eke market day.

The same day has been set aside by the Anglican diocese of Amichi for evangelism and revival outreach also at the same Eke market square. The time and venue were the bone of contention.

South East Voice gathered at the scene on the crises Sun-

day, that the battle line had already been drawn by both parties as some angry youths on the masquerades side were sighted wielding dangerous weapons and clubs including machetes and local guns even as others were guzzling and quaffing some local gins among others, while waiting for the opportunity to strike.

C M Y K

adding that they were of the belief that the masqueraders had the backing of some elders in the community.

By 2 pm the ezumezu and the outreach was billed to start, there was heavy tension despite that over 7 trucks of security vehicles were on ground until Commissioner of Police Anambra State , Hosea

IGP Suleiman Abba

Governor Willie Obiano

Security operatives intensfy fight against baby factories in Abia

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—SECURITY operatives in Abia State have stepped up their fight against rising cases of child trafficking and baby factory in the state.

Cases of child trafficking had spread across the entire south eastern states and some southsouth and south western states particularly, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Lagos, thus becoming a

PAYING FOR DARKNESS: Enugu residents storm EEDC office Continued from page 5 bill came to N246,000 for one transformer and the other transformer was N213,000; who would accept such outrageous bill?

“We all know the condition of the poor people in the village; if you want to make profit, it is a gradual thing, you must not over-tax the poor rural dwellers.

“Besides, I am aware that the

However, some of the Anglican Church faithful assembled under their canopies mounted at the village square for the outreach said that last Sunday’s action would have been the last straw that would break the camel’s back as the masqueraders had stopped them from holding their outreach for about three times earlier,

Karma ordered the Area commander to stop all the groups.

The Area commander for Nnewi later drove in and ordered both parties to disperse or smell their anus.

The leader of the masquerade group, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo said they had warned the Anglican Bishop of Amichi, Rt. Rev Ephraim Ikeakor and the entire Anglican faithful to stay away from the market square, especially on Sundays.

But, the Archdeacon and Cathedral administrator, Ven. Chukwuebuka Chukwuemeka insisted that Sundays that fall on Eke market day was used by the Anglican communion as ‘Ozioma ukaeke’, which, according to him, is not domiciled in Amichi alone but cut across the Anglican Churches, Archdiocese on the Niger.

Federal Government subsidizes power for rural dwellers, to make up the balance for what those in the city pay. Curiously, the EEDC gets this subsidy and still goes ahead to charge us arbitrarily but nobody will accept this one."

“I have been in Nigeria; I have served in the Nigerian army, served in the Biafran Army; I was ADC to Ojukwu, so, I feel the pulse of the people.

great source of worry to the governments and security agencies in the affected states, who had been making efforts to combat the menace.

In Abia State, Governor Theodore Orji had on several occasions expressed disgust over the existence of baby factories and had therefore empowered security operatives to fight the ugly development.

Besides, the state government had also enacted some stringent laws to control the operation of welfare homes. At a point in time, the government had furthermore, punished a doctor on its employment who was reportedly involved in the illegal business of selling infants to would be buyers.

However, despite the efforts of the government to stop the prevalence of baby factories, some die-hard criminals still engaged in the criminal act because of the easy cash realised by operators of such illicit factories.

Abia State police command had arrested and paraded scores of suspects involved in the illegal act. Equally, several babies of ages between weeks and years

have also been rescued.

Last week, soldiers from 144 Battalion, Asa in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state rescued 14 pregnant teenagers and 18 children from Nma Rehabilitation/Motherless Babies’ Home located at Umunkpeyi, Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government, an area notorious for this evil act.

They were illegally harboured in the place.

The soldiers also arrested two young girls, aged between 16 and 25, who were suspected to have been recently delivered of their babies in the home. Six young men who claimed to be staff of the home were also arrested and taken into custody, even as the proprietress of the

The state government had also enacted some stringent laws to control the operation of welfare homes

home, one Mrs. Nma Charity was said to have gone into hiding.

Nma, the owner of the home, was alleged to have claimed that she had been operating the home with government’s approval. It was however, gathered that the home was not used for what the owners applied to use it for, as they were said to have luring pregnant young girls to give birth in the home for sale to those looking for babies to buy.

It is believed that the male suspects were made to sleep with the teenage girls, get them pregnant and on delivery of the babies get a paltry sum of money while their babies were sold at between N200,000 to 350,000, depending on its sex.

Most of the suspected traffickers arrested in the state by security operatives in the state were alleged to have got their supply of babies from the home.

The Commanding Officer, 144 Battalion, Lt. Colonel Omolori Rasheed who led the team that raided the home last week rescued the 14 pregnant girls and two other female teenagers as well as four male staff of the home while the proprietress of the home was yet to be arrested.

6 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Tension in Anambra community over masquerades invasion A

MICHI—TRAGEDY was averted penultimate Sunday at the Eke Market Square in Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State following the invasion of the area by masquerade groups, leading to a clash between them and Christian worshippers.

A bloody confrontation was however, averted, following the early arrival of a combined team of policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS among others.

Since the incident, it had been a game of the cat and the mouse, between the Christians and the traditionalists who were the owners of the masquerades, as security agents kept watch.

As at the time of this report, there were no masquerades parading the town.

Sources told South East Voice that the masquerade groups had allegedly planned to unleash mayhem on Anglican worshippers during their normal Sunday outreach programme at Eke Amichi village square which the masqueraders had allegedly warned them to stop using.

The masqueraders allegedly warned the Anglican Church to stop using the market square for their programmes because, according to them, their activities were interfering with their ezumezu cultural festival which held once every month at the square on any Sunday that falls on Eke market day.

The same day has been set aside by the Anglican diocese of Amichi for evangelism and revival outreach also at the same Eke market square. The time and venue were the bone of contention.

South East Voice gathered at the scene on the crises Sun-

day, that the battle line had already been drawn by both parties as some angry youths on the masquerades side were sighted wielding dangerous weapons and clubs including machetes and local guns even as others were guzzling and quaffing some local gins among others, while waiting for the opportunity to strike.

C M Y K

adding that they were of the belief that the masqueraders had the backing of some elders in the community.

By 2 pm the ezumezu and the outreach was billed to start, there was heavy tension despite that over 7 trucks of security vehicles were on ground until Commissioner of Police Anambra State , Hosea

IGP Suleiman Abba

Governor Willie Obiano

Security operatives intensfy fight against baby factories in Abia

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—SECURITY operatives in Abia State have stepped up their fight against rising cases of child trafficking and baby factory in the state.

Cases of child trafficking had spread across the entire south eastern states and some southsouth and south western states particularly, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Lagos, thus becoming a

PAYING FOR DARKNESS: Enugu residents storm EEDC office Continued from page 5 bill came to N246,000 for one transformer and the other transformer was N213,000; who would accept such outrageous bill?

“We all know the condition of the poor people in the village; if you want to make profit, it is a gradual thing, you must not over-tax the poor rural dwellers.

“Besides, I am aware that the

However, some of the Anglican Church faithful assembled under their canopies mounted at the village square for the outreach said that last Sunday’s action would have been the last straw that would break the camel’s back as the masqueraders had stopped them from holding their outreach for about three times earlier,

Karma ordered the Area commander to stop all the groups.

The Area commander for Nnewi later drove in and ordered both parties to disperse or smell their anus.

The leader of the masquerade group, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo said they had warned the Anglican Bishop of Amichi, Rt. Rev Ephraim Ikeakor and the entire Anglican faithful to stay away from the market square, especially on Sundays.

But, the Archdeacon and Cathedral administrator, Ven. Chukwuebuka Chukwuemeka insisted that Sundays that fall on Eke market day was used by the Anglican communion as ‘Ozioma ukaeke’, which, according to him, is not domiciled in Amichi alone but cut across the Anglican Churches, Archdiocese on the Niger.

Federal Government subsidizes power for rural dwellers, to make up the balance for what those in the city pay. Curiously, the EEDC gets this subsidy and still goes ahead to charge us arbitrarily but nobody will accept this one."

“I have been in Nigeria; I have served in the Nigerian army, served in the Biafran Army; I was ADC to Ojukwu, so, I feel the pulse of the people.

great source of worry to the governments and security agencies in the affected states, who had been making efforts to combat the menace.

In Abia State, Governor Theodore Orji had on several occasions expressed disgust over the existence of baby factories and had therefore empowered security operatives to fight the ugly development.

Besides, the state government had also enacted some stringent laws to control the operation of welfare homes. At a point in time, the government had furthermore, punished a doctor on its employment who was reportedly involved in the illegal business of selling infants to would be buyers.

However, despite the efforts of the government to stop the prevalence of baby factories, some die-hard criminals still engaged in the criminal act because of the easy cash realised by operators of such illicit factories.

Abia State police command had arrested and paraded scores of suspects involved in the illegal act. Equally, several babies of ages between weeks and years

have also been rescued.

Last week, soldiers from 144 Battalion, Asa in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state rescued 14 pregnant teenagers and 18 children from Nma Rehabilitation/Motherless Babies’ Home located at Umunkpeyi, Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government, an area notorious for this evil act.

They were illegally harboured in the place.

The soldiers also arrested two young girls, aged between 16 and 25, who were suspected to have been recently delivered of their babies in the home. Six young men who claimed to be staff of the home were also arrested and taken into custody, even as the proprietress of the

The state government had also enacted some stringent laws to control the operation of welfare homes

home, one Mrs. Nma Charity was said to have gone into hiding.

Nma, the owner of the home, was alleged to have claimed that she had been operating the home with government’s approval. It was however, gathered that the home was not used for what the owners applied to use it for, as they were said to have luring pregnant young girls to give birth in the home for sale to those looking for babies to buy.

It is believed that the male suspects were made to sleep with the teenage girls, get them pregnant and on delivery of the babies get a paltry sum of money while their babies were sold at between N200,000 to 350,000, depending on its sex.

Most of the suspected traffickers arrested in the state by security operatives in the state were alleged to have got their supply of babies from the home.

The Commanding Officer, 144 Battalion, Lt. Colonel Omolori Rasheed who led the team that raided the home last week rescued the 14 pregnant girls and two other female teenagers as well as four male staff of the home while the proprietress of the home was yet to be arrested.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 —7

•ANAMMCO being re-opened on the occasion

Excitement as ANAMMCO bounces back

By FRANCIS IGATA

E

NUGU—RESIDENTS of Enugu and its environs are excited as the Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company, ANAMMCO has resumed operations.

Speaking on the official rollout of SHACMAC Trucks from the company, the state Governor Sullivan Chime had expressed satisfaction that the enabling environment provided by his administration for the industrial development of the state and the attraction of both indigenous and foreign investments, were yielding remarkable results.

Chime who was represented on the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Amaechi Okolo added that his administration had invested massively on infrastructural development as well as security to enable businesses to thrive in the state saying that the revitalization of ANAMMCO after many years of inactivity was a product of the initiatives.

He also commended the Federal Government for granting the state a free trade zone and putting in place, both an international airport and rail lines in Enugu, thereby enhancing the C M Y K

development of the state.

Chime further commended the Transit Support Services for partnering ANAMMCO to invest in the state and called on the people of the area to patronise the business.

In a brief remark the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, who was represented by his Deputy, Nkem Okeke noted that the roll-out of SHACMAC trucks would revive the hitherto

moribund ANAMMCO, adding that it would offer employment to the people of the area.

In a keynote address, the President, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, MAN,

Mr. Frank Udemba Jacobs noted that the roll-out of the trucks would ensure the employment of over 1,500 Nigerians.

Jacobs further said that the initiative was a positive sign that manufacturing company which had folded due to unfriendly operating environment and support from government could be revived.

According to him, the project was proof of the fact that the manufacturing sector could improve through public private sector partnership.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of ANAMMCO, Sir G.U. Okeke said that Nigeria was highly ranked in all indices considered necessary for an automotive industry to flourish.

He added that automotive industry was the key for economic transformation because of its potentials to contribute to the growth of GDP, build human capital through the acquisition of technology and development with growth of small, medium and micro enterprises.

According to Okeke, the automotive industry was capable of employing 770,000 people directly and indirectly from feeder industries.

In his own message, the Chairman Transit Support Services, Mr. Frank Nneji said that if the country’s auto mobile policy if achieved would provide massive jobs for the unemployed youths and commended the Enugu State government for making the state industry friendly.

The Managing Director of SHACMAN, Mr. Wang Gang in his speech observed that the roll-out of SHACMAN trucks would help in the development of the country’s economy and create employment.

Ezeship crisis in Orsuihiteukwu deepens

By CHINONSO ALOZIE

O

WERRI—CRISIS is brewing in Orsuihiteukwu, Orsu Local Government Area in Orlu zone, Imo State over which of the clans would produce the traditional ruler following the death of the former occupant of the throne, His Royal Highness, Eze P.N.C Ezeani last year.

As a result of the development, the community has continued to face the challenges of embarking on communal projects.

The crises began when some people insisted that the throne was hereditary while others said that the position was rotational.

Speaking to South East Voice in Owerri, after their protest at the Government House, Mr. Okeke Lasbrey

said that they were at the seat of power to plead with Governor Rochas Okorocha, to intercede on the matter, so that peace would prevail in the community.

He said that the misunderstanding following the leadership tussle had generated bad blood among the people, adding that if not addressed, the matter would escalate to a dangerous dimension, thus impacting on the community negatively.

Okeke who is the president general of the community explained that the throne was based on rotation among five villages in the community; Etiti, Okuru, Uda Amihie and Ihiteukwu stressing that it was the turn of Uda to occupy the throne.

He, however, accused one Dr. Dan Ezeani, who he said

•Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. had been frustrating efforts to enthrone a new king, pointing out that such act should be

stopped for peace to rein in the area.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

•Clergymen on the occasion

•Fr. Enogu speaking on the occasion

Ezza problem not political but cultural, says Catholic priest ...as Ezza people hold Feast of Unity

O

NUEKE—THE Spiritual Director of Ezza Union, Rev. Fr. Gabriel C. Enogu has said that Ezza’s problem of the area was not political but cultural noting that politics is a little aspect of culture.

He therefore advised politicians to conduct themselves and their affairs with honour, fear of God and respect for the dignity of man by shunning violence and embracing peace and order.

Enogu who is also, the Director/Principal of 12 Apostles College, Sharon, spoke while welcoming the Ezza people during the 2015 edition of Ezza Feast of Unity at Okpoku Ezekuna Nchionu, Onueke, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Imitate God by doing things properly in their actions and words as disorder was associated with the devil.

The Feast of Unity, according to him, was introduced into Ezza culture with the formation of Ezza Union on May 7, 2009 as one of the three steps aimed at refining the culture of the people.

According to him, the Feast of Unity was an annual C M Y K

event which brought in the ever truly meeting of Ezza elders and other stakeholders in the recent times at the Council Hall of Ezza South Local Government Area. He observed that this year ’s edition of Feast of Unity was special because Ezza Union is ready and willing to transform Ezzaland totally to the glory of God and progress of the people.

He urged members to take stock in order to know how far they had gone and how far they had succeeded or failed.

Among the highlights of this year ’s Feast of Unity were the formation of the Women and Youth wings and Ezza; Council of Elders; Ndi Ochimkpuru and Ndi Ozo. Ndi Ozos are the peace makers who settle every case or misunderstanding amicably.

Justice is their watchword.

Also, the Ezza Union now organizes annual sports competition for youth across Ezza land in a bid to influence them to think positively about life even as other affiliate unions carried out charitable programmes in the area.

For instance, the League of Ezza Ezekuna Professionals organized and

extended free healthcare to the sick in 2013.

Fr. Enogu outlined Ezza Cultural Museum and Ezza Academy (for the study and development of Ezza language) as the projects that Ezza Union would undertake and complete this year and appealed to those in attendance to donate generously towards the building of the multimillion naira Museum.

According to Enogu, despite the achievements

Politics is a little aspect of culture.

Culture is the totality of the way of life of a people. It includes the language, mode of dressing, family and public conduct, ways of greetings and value system among others

so far, the people must not lose sight of the major mission of Ezza Union which was to refine some of their crude or primitive cultural practices.

He therefore advised politicians to conduct themselves and their affairs with honour, fear of God and respect for the dignity of man by shunning violence and embracing peace and order.

According to him, “Politics is a little aspect of culture.

Culture is the totality of the way of life of a people. It includes the language, mode of dressing, family and public conduct, ways of greetings and value system among others.

It was indeed a memorable homecoming with tremendous feeling of brotherhood among the participants. One of the participants whose name was not immediately known while appraising the outcome of the unity gathering, quoted Psalm 133:1 in the Holy Bible which says “How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for brothers to live together in harmony!” Yes! The fifth edition of Ezza Ezekuna Feast of Unity Oriri Obu L’anu Ezza was indeed a banquet of love. The Feast provides an avenue for the

sons and daughters of Ezekuna at home and in Diaspora to assemble at their ancestral home at the beginning of every year to thank God for his blessings, provisions and protection in the previous year. It equally creates an opportunity for the people to pray together for peace, unity, and progress of Ezza Ezekuna.

The 2015 edition of Oriri Obu L’anu (Feast of Unity) was remarkably significant because of the magnified presence of candidates of political parties of Ezza extraction for this year ’s general elections who came to seek the blessings of Ezekuna and his representatives (Ndi Ozo and Ochimkpuru). They included Senator Julius Ali Ucha – APC Guber candidate; Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh – APGA Senatorial Candidate for Ebonyi Central Zone; Hon. Lazarus Ogbe – PDP candidate for Ezza South/ Ikwo Federal Constituency; Dr. Ernest Uchenna Ereke – APGA candidate for Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency and Obinna Otteh for House of Assembly, among others.

They all solicited the votes of Ezza people to ensure they emerge victorious in their various areas of voting.

Ezza is a North Eastern Igbo sub-group in South Eastern Nigeria. The Ezzas are direct descendants of Ezekuna and his wife, Anyigo.

They are, therefore, often referred to as Ezza Ezekuna people. Ezza people live in virtually all three senatorial zones of Ebonyi State and beyond, but are concentrated in Ezza North, Ezza South, Onicha, Ishielu and Ohaukwu Local Government Areas and even in some parts of Enugu State with Onueke as the ancestral headquarters of the Ezza, one of the most populous clans in Ebonyi State, hence the major festivities like Okeaku Festival and Oriri Obu L’anu take place in the town. The traditional rulers in Ezza return to Onueke to pay homage to their progenitors.

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who the governor would be.

•Umana: I was excluded from participating in the PDP primaries

I’m not desperate to govern Akwa Ibom — Umana

But what is wrong with zoning?

Zoning issue was very contentious. There was no consensus on zoning. All the principal leaders in the state also affirmed that we have never had zoning. In 2006 there were 58 contestants from the three senatorial districts.

This new arrangement against open contest was unacceptable. But the national leadership of the party supported the subversion of the will of the majority. By the virtue of that letter from the national leadership of the party, I was excluded from participating in the primaries.

The only option for me was to go to court. I did that by challenging my exclusion. The PDP has always made people to believe that Akwa Ibom is a one party state. I consulted widely and my people said that since the party cannot accommodate us, we should go to an alternative platform. Of course we had to move to the APC. I have been vindicated because our fight that the primaries should be open was on the basis of principles.

People thought that all of us, who maintained that position were being driven by interests.

But the outcome of the PDP primaries has vindicated us.

The other aspirants who go by the name G-22 are aggrieved about the outcome.

You were reputed to be the power behind Akpabio making some to think that most of the things you

•My plans for Akwa Ibom FORMER Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Umana Umana, in this interview ventilates his mastery of the key issues on governance in the state, concluding that a different approach to governance would be adopted if he emerges victorious in the forthcoming governorship election.

By Charles Kumolu

W

HEN did you get the inspiration to become governor?

I gave it some thoughts four years ago after which I quietly started consulting. I consulted with the political leaders in the state. Then I was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. I consulted with the major political leaders and stakeholders. I have been around in the state for sometime. I also extended my consultation even to those who are not directly involved in politics. These people include the paramount rulers, labour groups and other interest groups in the state. They all conceded that they knew me as a civil servant who rose to the pinnacle of his career. They all acknowledged knowing me as

the director of Budget, commissioner for finance, before being appointed as the Secretary to the State Government, SSG. I must say that the response I got from the consultations was very positive. They urged me to run.

Did you consult with the governor?

Incidentally, the governor was the one who asked me to consider running. He said to me that we were colleagues in the administration of Victor Attah. He said he had watched me closely and believed that I have what it takes to lead the state at the level of governor.

The governor encouraged me at that time. But it was not only the governor who did so.

When did he encourage you to run and when did you part ways?

It was immediately after his

re-election in 2011. I will say that we had certain fundamental differences as to how the affairs of the party could be conducted. This basically had to do with whether we should abide by democratic principles or whether we should undermine democratic principles in the running of the party. At some point in 2013, he decided for reasons best to him, that he would be the only one who would decide whether I will be governor.

I never thought so. If he supported me that was okay, but then I will still have to go through the process of presenting myself for the primaries. I looked at it from the point that the delegates would elect me at the primaries. One day he decided that he had other ideas as to

Many of us talk of the fact that we have to rescue Akwa Ibom. That suggests that we are poised to reposition the state

complained about were orchestrated by you?

That is not true. That belief cannot fly because the governor is the one in charge. I was not the power behind anybody. I served as Secretary to the State Government which is lower than the position of the governor. The governor is so powerful with the power to hire and fire. Everything financial was approved by the governor and that is why people say that the buck stops on his table.

When I win in a few weeks time, you can talk about the Umana administration and I will accept the responsibility.

What is your agenda for Akwa Ibom?

Many of us talk of the fact that we have to rescue Akwa Ibom. That suggests that we are poised to reposition the state. We want to bring about a leadership that would respect the people. Our leadership will show that we have respect for the people. Respect is a core ingredient of leadership. We want to attract serious investment in the state. Every serious investor, wants a leadership that carries the people along. If we fail to achieve that in Akwa Ibom, investors will go to Cross River which is the closest alternative.

We need reorientation many directions. If God gives me the opportunity to govern the state, I will do that.

We must put in place economic structures that can bring about sustainable development with or without oil. That is the focal point of my agenda. To achieve that, I will focus on job and wealth creation. We have never been so divided like now, so we must unite so that we can have that sense of purpose. I have a blue print which captures all I intend to do.

We want to bring the Dongotes to Akwa Ibom by providing the right incentives.

We will consciously do that on a PPP basis. As a major plank of our strategy to industrialise the state, we will support, small and medium scale enterprises and in doing that we will support our people so that they can develop entrepreneurial capacity. I believe that is lacking in our state. There is no economy in the world that can develop without strong entrepreneurs. We will even arrange partnership where possible within and outside Nigeria.

There are also some key projects like the sea port which the Federal Government is already working on. We will partner with the Federal Government so that it can

Continues on page 38

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

By Ndahi Marama

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, weekend took his campaigns to Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Jonathan, who was on his second visit to the state within two weeks reassured the people of Borno and the North-East sub region that his administration will do everything possible to end the activities of the terrorists and restore peace in the country.

He claimed he had fulfilled the promises he made to Nigerians during his 2011 campaigns and that if re-elected in the February 14 general elections, more policies and programmes aimed at transforming the lives of the people through job creation, women and youth empowerment and agricultural revolution will top his priority.

Jonathan spoke during a rally at the Ramat Square Maiduguri, the state capital.

The President had before addressing the mammoth crowd of PDP supporters solicited a minute silence in respect of those killed by the insurgency.

Jonathan arrived Maiduguri International Airport at about 1:30 pm amid tight security accompanied by PDP national stalwarts including Director General of his campaign organization, Dr. Ahmadu Ali among others. He drove straight to the Shehu of Borno’s palace, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn-Garbai ElKanemi where he paid homage and equally condoled with the monarch over the unfortunate incidents perpetrated by Boko Haram sect, and assured that very soon, peace will be restored in the state.

Ending the Boko Haram insurgency The President attributed the

When Jonathan campaigned in B/Haram hotbed peace and hoped that the challenges facing the state would be a thing of the past soon.

He appealed to Jonathan to install the 330KVA power line from Gombe, complete the abandoned federal housing project as well as the Biu Dam. He also appealed to the Federal Government to consider reopening the Maiduguri International Airport.

Securing lives and property

•President Jonathan in Maiduguri delay in rescuing the abducted Chibok girls to external forces, promising that his administration would do everything possible to end the Boko Haram insurgency

The president noted that millions of Nigerians had been displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency and many other citizens of the country were taking refuge in Niger and Cameroon

in a matter of months.

After ending the Boko Haram insurgency, he said his administration would rebuild the affected areas, worshipping places, business centres/shops and schools destroyed by the insurgents and create job opportunities for the teaming youths.

Jonathan said that with the use of initiatives like Victim Support Fund, Presidential Initiative for North-east, Safe School Initiative as well as increased budgetary allocation, his administration will rebuild and redesign Borno State in a way that children will have access to education and better future. His words: “We feel the pain of Borno people. I personally feel more pained when people accuse me of being involved in the problem for some political advantage. I have said it many times that my ambition is

My plans for Akwa Ibom — Umana Continues from page 37 become a reality.

We will also set up large farm ventures. It has been done in two states in Nigeria, so we will look at those templates and see how we can create job for our people in the areas where we have comparative advantage.

The airport in its present state, is a structure that we will have to spend money to maintain.

And that is not the way to go.

We will ensure that we make it an income generating facility.

Of course we will build cargo terminal. That will give the South East zone an alternative place to get their goods. We also believe that tourism is a

veritable platform to create jobs and grow our economy, we will harness our potentialities.

Akwa Ibom is blessed with structures that will generate money through tourism.

What is your relationship with the 22 aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants?

I welcomed them back from Abuja in Uyo. Of course they commended me as the front runner in the struggle for the enthronement of transparent leadership. They said they would not support the PDP candidate because the process that produced him was flawed.

The process that produced you as the APC candidate was

also allegedly fraught with irregularities, what is your view on that?

On the day of the primaries, the venue was invaded by one of the aspirants. He invaded the venue with thugs and made away with ballot boxes, ballot papers and result sheets. The panel authorised to conduct the primaries had to announce that the APC national executive council had been notified about the incident.

They told everyone that the national body had directed them to read out the names of the aspirants so that delegates will file behind their preferred aspirants. That was how I emerged as the winner of the primaries.

not worth the blood of any Nigerian. And I don’t think any president or human being can do what they accuse me of doing.”

“The Boko Haram problem is what I thought we would have ended long ago but may be external influence or interest is affecting us. I am assuring you however that it won’t take us more than a few months to end this insurgency and restore peace in Borno. Our people must return to their communities.

Insha Allah, we will get our Chibok girls back.”

The president noted that millions of Nigerians had been displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency and many other citizens of the country were taking refuge in Niger and Cameroon, saying: “The idea of Nigerians thinking that the Boko Haram insurgency was a political thing promoted by my administration was totally wrong because politics can never be worth of the blood of any Nigerian. I feel pained because it is not something you can handle yourself unless you use the security operatives.

“However, Nigerians must be rest assured that my government will end the Boko Haram and the people will go back home. We will continue to give our support to the Internally Displaced Persons through the Victims Support Fund Intervention to ease hardship of the people.’’

Jonathan also promised to embark on relevant projects that would impact on the lives of the people in the state as soon the insurgency ends.

According to him, the Federal Government would commit $1bn (N215bn) to replace basic and social amenities destroyed by Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

Earlier, Ibn-Garbai said that Borno was known as a home of

The leader of the PDP in the state and Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, in his welcome address congratulated the president and his entourage for shaming his enemies and coming to Borno State.

Wakil said, the federal government has done a lot of achievements in the state in terms of Power generations, securing lives and property and the restoration of the 333 KVA transmission lines that was vandalized by terrorists along Biu- Damboa- Maiduguri 185km road.

Wakil assured the President that the people of Borno are strongly behind him to ensure the victory of PDP at the state and National level.

Another leader of the PDP in the state, former governor Ali Modu Sheriff promised that he and his teaming supporters are ever ready to support the PDP to victory.

Sheriff informed the President and his entourage that the ruling party in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC) under Governor Kashim Shettima will not get 20 per cent of the votes in the state because the present administration has failed the people, leaving them in abject poverty.

PDP Governorship Candidate in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Imam, encouraged the electorate to come out en mass and vote PDP to save the state and the country from its economic decay.

Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo who represented other PDP governors from the North East sympathised with the people of the state and the NorthEast zone for the unfortunate killings and destruction of property by insurgents, and prayed God to restore peace in the country.

He solicited support from all party supporters and the people of the region to rally round PDP and ensure victory as the opposition APC and their so called leaders seeking power desperately have nothing to offer Nigerians.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015—39

PDP 'll reclaim Kwara — Jonathan

T

By Demola Akinyemi

T

HE rally of President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilorin, yesterday was laced with glamour and political razzmatazz.

The Metropolitan Square venue was adorned with big balloons and beautiful decorations, campaign posters and bill boards of President Jonathan with his running mate Arc Namadi Sambo, and that of all the candidates of the party.

Virtually all the candidates to the state assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and even governorship had their supporters displaying their posters.

Various women groups from the 16 local governments of the st ate also attended.

These supporters danced round the big square bearing the posters of their candidates as Fuji musician, Abass Akande Obesere’s musical band dished out melodious songs.

The state Presidential campaign coordinator, Muhammad Dele Belgore did a Yeo man’s job to ensure a successful campaign visit of the president to the State of Harmony.

The crowd started trooping to the venue as early as 9 a.m.

Presidential team arrived around 12.40pm having earlier visited the Palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari to pay him homage .

On President Jonathan’s entourage were his wife, Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan; Hajia Bola Shagaya, the Director General of his Campaign Organisation, Dr Ahmadu Alli, National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, Senate President David Mark, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki (SAN), the NorthCentral campaign director among others.

President Jonathan and Senate President Mark, in their speeches said the Federal Government is determined to prevent any form of rigging from any political party in the February general elections.

President Jonathan said his administration was committed to free, fair and transparent 2015 general polls.

The president Jonathan, who commended the people for their large turn out, said he would not encourage governance by intimidation if re-elected, saying that he would give people ability and freedom to express themselves.

“My message to the people of Kwara State today is not all about what we have done or what we’ll

Delta All-Stars adds colour to Okowa’s campaign

•President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledging cheers from the crowd at the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation to the Emir's Palace in Ilorin on Monday.

even do per se, but to show you that we’ll work with you and let Nigerians know they are free citizens. We don’t want a government where they’ll be governed by intimidation. We are committed to a government wherein every Nigerian will be free. We don’t want to be bottled or have any fear of intimidation.

PDP RALLY:

We don’t encourage a situation where leaders intimidate followers, where people feel like they are in a zoo, with lion or leopards moving freely and others go into hiding. Nigeria is not a zoological garden. Nigeria is a country governed by laws and people are free.

“Kwara is PDP state. It’s just

that our mandate was illegally taken away. We’ll surely get it back. Despite that all that, you have remained strong. We love you for that and we’ll continue to work with you. Kwara state is a peaceful state, state of harmony where all Nigerians reside for business and other development activities", he said.

HE presence of a group known as Delta All-Stars at the various campaign stops of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, was such that added colour and fun to the events that continue to draw thousands of Deltans.

Parading household names like Ras Kimono, Orits Williki, Stella Monye, Righteousman, and Yellow Man, the campaigns became a spectacle of sort, as the artistes took turns to entertain the crowd with hit songs and new compositions on Okowa.

Interestingly, it was gathered that the services were offered free of charge, a development Mr. Gabriel Ogbechie, the chairman/ managing director of Rain Oil Limited, attributed to Okowa’s popularity and acceptance among Deltans.

“People are desirous of keying into Okowa’s agenda of prosperity for all Deltans,” he said.

The Oil magnate described the Okowa campaign as “a movement that has come to reshape the state,” pointing out that the PDP governorship candidate “is a humane and good politician.”

George, Obanikoro sheathe swords

By Dapo Akinrefon

M

ONDAY’s flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaigns in Lagos State turned out to be a unity rally among top leaders of the party.

The rally laid to rest the infighting that had, over the years, led to the party’s dismal performance in past elections.

Before now, the duo of former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George and former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro

•George:

had been at logger heads.

However, the Lagos PDP Governorhip Candidate, Jimi

•Obanikoro: Agbaje’s flag-off campaign turned out to be a peace meeting as both George and

Obanikoro promised to work for him and the party.

Reassuring party members that there was no more division within the PDP fold, George said: “I want to say this to our teeming party members that in Lagos State, there is no dissenting voice in our party, we are one.”

Also, former governorship aspirants, Messrs Deji Doherty, Tokunbo Kamson and Babatunde Gbadamosi, who initially kicked against the process that brought in Agbaje, promised to work for Agbaje and the party at the polls.

IMO: Ohakim appeals to former gov aspirants

By Chidi Nkwopara

F

ORMER governor of Imo Stae, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has appealed to all aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state to sheath their swords and support the candidate of the

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming general elections.

Ohakim, who made the passionate appeal yesterday in his Okohia, Isiala Mbano local council area country home, while addressing scores of

party faithful, also said that after considering the current political environment, he has decided to give full support to Chief Emeka Ihedioha and President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I plead with my fellow compatriots, including all

former gubernatorial aspirants, to join hands with the leadership of the PDP in spite of the imperfections and personal loses, to dismantle the impunity in our state”, Ohakim said.

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Mweene rules out Zambia retirement

Z

ambia number one Kennedy Mweene has disclosed that international retirement is not part of his plans.

The 30-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper has just completed his sixth Africa Cup tour of duty following Zambia’s first round exit from the 2015 AFCON currently taking place in Equatorial Guinea.

Mweene hinted that he was looking forward to a seventh successive Africa Cup appearance in 2017 and also leading Zambia in the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. “I am just 30, unless my legs can not take it any more,” Mweene said.

“I still have the energy and I am still available for the national team anytime, any day.” Mweene has been Zambia’s number one since Chipolopolo beat Bafana Bafana 1-0 in their final group game at the 2006 Africa Cup in Egypt when he replaced George Kolala.

•Mweene

Ivory Coast, Cameroon may need luck to progress

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ven with all its star power, the Ivory Coast may have to depend on the luck of the draw to reach the quarterfinals at the African Cup of Nations. All four teams in Group D have two points after 1-1 draws in every match.

On Wednesday, Yaya Toure and his Ivorian teammates will

face Cameroon at Malabo Stadium, while Guinea takes on Mali in Mongomo.

“We fight like elephants to try to win this game,” said veteran Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure, referencing the national team’s nickname. “This game is going to be different, and I can’t wait. We need to give

everything to prove we are a great team.”

More draws on today could mean that the quarterfinalists from the group will be drawn by lots. But if both matches produce a winner, then those two teams will go through.

The pre-tournament favorites from the group, Ivory Coast and Cameroon, will need a high-scoring draw in Malabo and another draw in Mongomo in order for both to advance.

“We go for a win,” Cameroon coach Volker Finke said on

yesterday. “But I know we have to work very hard against the ball. There are excellent individual players in the team of Ivory Coast.”

Besides Yaya Toure, who recently won his fourth African player of the year award, the Ivorians also have Wilfried Bony and veteran Salomon Kalou. But they will be missing Gervinho, the Roma forward who will be serving the second of his two-match suspension for getting a straight red card in the opening match.

Serena takes aim at pocket rocket as Venus finds Keys T

op seed Serena Williams is aiming to shoot down Slovak pocket rocket Dominika Cibulkova in the Australian Open quarterfinals today, as resurgent sister Venus plays the generation game with

•Venus

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teen Madison Keys.

The American siblings, for so long a dominant force in women’s tennis, will meet in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time since Wimbledon 2000 if they win their respective last eight clashes.

Serena, 33, has progressed in typical fashion so far — drifting along until she needs to flip the turbo and power past an opponent — while 34-year-old Venus has been a revelation after a long illness.

Serena is chasing her sixth Australian title and 19th Grand Slam overall, which would take

her to clear second after Steffi Graf’s 22 on the all-time OpenEra tally, with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova also sitting on 18. But she has underperformed at Melbourne Park in recent years and her world number one ranking will be under threat if she fails to down last year’s Open finalist Cibulkova and take the title.

She faces an opponent in Cibulkova who had struggled since losing the 2014 decider to Li Na but is now brimming with self belief after crashing two-time champion Victoria Azarenka’s comeback party.

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AFCON 2015: Tears, heartbreak as Blue Sharks bow out I

t was all tears and heartbreak as Cape Verde bid farewell to the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea 2015 under bizarre circumstances of not tasting a defeat.

The Islanders drew all three games including a barren draw against Zambia in their final Group B match last Monday in Ebebiyin, a result that ensured the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and the Leopards of DR Congo go through to the quarters despite also playing out a 1-1 draw in the other fixture in Bata. Earlier, they had drawn

1-1 with Tunisia and barren with DR Congo.

Tunisia topped the group with five points with DR Congo and Cape Verde in that order with three points apiece, but the Congolese advanced on the background of having scored twice in the competition against one by the Cabo Verdeans. Zambia, winners in 2012 for the successive time failed to go past the group stage.

It was however a difficult moment for the Islanders as the players and officials were left in tears on the soggy pitch at the Estadio de Ebebiyin

Australia’s Jai Opetaia (R) fights Nigeria’s Efetobor Apochi during a Mens Heavy (91 kg) Quarter-Final boxing match at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 30, 2014. AFP.

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•Serena

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•PAINED...Cape Verde team in painful mood after losing out of AFCON 2015 after knowledge of the outcome of the other deciding fixture in Bata between Tunisia and DR Congo became public.

It was so emotional for the Blue Sharks who reached the quarters on their maiden appearance two years ago in South Africa such that

midfielder Heldon Ramos sobbed throughout the presentation of the Samsung Fair Player of the Match award prize to him.

Obisia offers panacea to boxing revival in Nigeria

By EDDIE AKALONU

F

ormer national boxing coach Obisia Nwakpa has provided tips, he says, if followed could make Nigeria great again in boxing.

“It all bothers on coaching. Right now, none of those engaged as national coaches has the requisite qualifications, none has the training or experience to coaching and none of these individuals holds the expertise to train up a boxer to become a world beater,” he told Sports Vanguard in Lagos.

The former African and Commonwealth super light-weight champion explained his idea this way. “For you to have a coach who can produce world class boxers, that person must have boxed at the amateur and

ormer Super Eagles attacking midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has described as unfortunate the death of teammate, Wilfred Agbonavbare.

The former Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper and 1994 AFCON hero died on yesterday in a hospital in Alcala after a hard fought battle with cancer.

Adepoju said Nigeria has actually lost a great ambassador and hero in the person of the former Super Eagles magnet, Agbonavbare.

“Oh my God, I know he is battling with cancer but it never crossed my mind that death is very much around the corner.

“It’s really sad, shocking and unfortunate, may his ever gentle soul rest in peace,” said the former 3SC star.

professional levels for years.

He would not only have these, such a person must have proved himself well at these levels, winning laurels for the country and during which time he would have gathered the desired experience to pass on to aspiring boxers.

“In doing this the man must have fought at all levels of the major multi-sports events including the All Africa Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.”

He said it is through

this experience the coach would have learnt the noble art of self defense, which is broken into different departments namely; principles, concepts and disciplines.

“My observation is that national caches these days lack knowledge of the sport and are unable to train up good boxers because they do not even spend up to five years as a m a t e u r boxers or as professionals.

Adepoju mourns Agbonavbare Adepoju said the goal tender died a great hero and should be remembered and treated the same by the government. “Agbonavbare was gentle, easy going and nice person. He was a dedicated goalkeeper as well as team player.

“He defended the colour of Nigeria perfectly well and a worthy ambassador.

“Agbonavbare was a hero,

represented Nigeria well and did greatly, winning the Africa Cup of Nations title in 1994 and other laurels.

“He should be remembered and respected as great Nigerian and accorded due rights meant for great heroes,” said Adepoju.

Agbonavbare equally lost his wife to cancer few years ago.

•Agbonavbare

44 — V ANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, JANU ARY 28, 2015 VANGU ANGUARD, WEDNESDA JANUARY

It feels like I’m still a virgin Dear Bunmi, LTHOUGH I am in my mid twenties, I lost my virginity only last year and I’ve had sex with a couple of guys to get more experience. But my relationship with these guys didn’t last because sex with them didn’t turn me on all that much.

I’ve now met a man I consider my dream guy but we haven’t had sex yet in spite of the fact we’ve been dating for weeks now. My problems is that I still feel like a virgin because I’m so inexperienced and I don’t want to do anything wrong and put my new man off.

What should I do?

Saudat By e-mail.

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Mum’s office romance Dear Bunmi, have a strong suspicion that my mother is having an affair. She recently started a new job in a communication firm after teaching for close to 15 years.

All of a sudden there is this change in her personality. She works late often and seems distant from my father and her two children. A few times, I have caught her making

I

phone calls upstairs and she stops talking or hangs up if I walk in.

Recently, my best friend said she saw her at a restaurant with a strange man and they were talking intimately.

What should I do so she won’t do anything to break our happy home?

Louisa, By e-mail.

Dear Louisa,

I don’t feel that passionate about him Dear Bunmi, have had good and intense relationships in the past and had hoped this would continue with my current boyfriend, but life with him is quieter and though the lovemaking is okay, I wouldn’t call it earth shattering.

I just turned 30 and would love to have children and my new man could be a sensible choice as he’s financially solid.

Only, I’m not that excited about spending the rest of my life with him. My married friends have told me that passion fades with time anyway and I should stay with him because he’s a good catch.

Am I wrong for wanting to hang on for someone I feel passionate about?

Constance, By e-mail.

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Dear Constance, e’re not talking about a business partnership here but a love match. Like your friends, some people would argue differently, saying marriage plus children is a type of business arrangement and the

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qualities you search for in a husband are different from those in a lover. The danger here is that if you settle for Mr. Sensible - chances of having affairs with men who turn you on are high.

Who you choose to spend the rest of your life with and why has a lot to do with your personality. If you want a passionate, intense relationship, chemistry is crucial.

But if you would rather settle for ‘content’ then chemistry’s not important. With real passion, the more involved you are, the more you have to lose and some people are wary of this.

If you’re after a more powerful, emotional and sexual experience, then hang on for the person you want to instantly fall all over you!

Passion won’t guarantee you a lifetime lover but it’s a good start and is likely to make you stick around for the finish.

And remember, even good relationships have a lot of boring bits and passion is what keeps us hanging in there, rather than dashing out the door the second problems start.

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re you sure your mum is not simply adjusting to the high demands of working for a big company where she is more exposed than she was when she was a teacher?

For instance, late nights at the office and dinner meetings with clients might be her new responsibility and because she’s busy, she might not be all that focused exclusively on her family.

She may have hung up quickly while making out of hours work calls because she felt guilty about it, and the man she was seen with could easily be a client she happened to get on with.

But what if she’s having an affair as you suspected? To get you out of your misery, you’re better off talking to her. Get her chatting about her new job, how it feels working in a male - dominated office.

If the conversation is going well and she’s opening up, you could tease her that you thought she was having an affair by her power-dressing and not having enough time for her family. If your worst suspicions were confirmed and she became uncomfortable, try not to condemn her.

Seriously, if she were having an affair, there is little you can do but hope that by opening up the discussion, she may think seriously about her next action.

Should you tell your dad? I think you should always let the two people in the relationship - in this case, your mum and dad try to solve the problem first, before you step in as an outsider, even if you are their child. They may well be able to work through it without too much stress.

Wearing knickers makes her uncomfortable!

Dear Bunmi, have been involved with Franca for over two years. She is a professional, highly successful woman and comes from a respectable background. She lives in a flat she bought in Ikoyi and I share a luxury flat with a friend on the Island.

We are very compatible sexually and I have marriage on my mind.

One thing that makes me uncomfortable is Franka’s refusal to wear knickers. She says they make her uncomfortable. Even when she has her periods, she uses tampons and refuses to have anything to do with that brand of underwear. I shouldn’t complain really as it has made lovemaking an adventurous project. But what happens if she climbs the stairs and people can see up her legs? Or if she suddenly gets knocked down by a

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car and is exposed?

She said nothing I would say would make her change her mind. But don’t you think it’s a bit of a frivolity for a lady not to wear knickers?

Alaba By e-mail Dear Alaba, lot of men would give their right arm to be in your shoes! Seriously, how many exposed knickers have you seen in the last ten years? Except you are a flasher, what you wear or don’t wear underneath your clothes, be it male or female, is strictly your business. Frivolity has nothing to do with it and the earlier you came out of the Dark Ages, the sooner you’d enjoy this healthy relationship better.

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Dear Saudat, hy don’t you learn to relax for a start? And forget the notion that you’ll learn to be a good lover by having a series of men to practice with!

Most people learn about sex in a committed relationship where you both have the time and desire to explore each other’s bodies and learn how to communicate your sexual wants and needs in a safe, loving environment.

Let your new man know you have limited experience with sex and that’s why you haven’t rushed it. With his help, you can then relax and if he’s more experienced, let him take you through your paces!

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Why did he marry me?

Dear Bunmi, FTER I discovered I was pregnant, my boyfriend of two years decided we should get married. I now have an 18-month-old son and my husband is in a hot affair with this woman he knew before we got married.

As a matter of fact, almost everybody we knew were aware of the affair, yet no one told me especially since she is well known to me.1 feel betrayed by everyone and have left my matrimonial home. I would have gone mad if I had stayed.

Felicia, By e-mail.

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Dear Felicia, our friends who knew of your husband’s affair and kept quiet didn’t do so out of nastiness but fear of what might happen if the truth came out. They were afraid to be honest with you in case you turned on them and they might also be wary of interfering in your relationship, hoping that marriage might change your husband for the better.

Your husband is the love rat here and while you now have to get over his deceit, don’t think your friends betrayed you too.

They obviously believed they were doing their best for you.

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She refuses to have my family at our wedding Dear Bunmi, Y fiancee doesn’t get on with my family and things have turned really nasty. She wasn’t their favourite candidate when we first started dating as she used to date a relation.

With time, I was able to work on my family to respect the love I had for her. Now that we’re talking marriage, she’s issued an ultimatum that if I involved my family the wedding wouldn’t take place.

I think this is absurd and I’ve told her she’s overreacting but she refuses to budge. What should I do?

Walter, By e-mail

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Dear Walter, hat an outrageous and ridiculous ultimatum! You should tell her to stop behaving like a spoilt brat. She supposedly loves you, yet wants you to promise not to see your family who you love dearly. Her behaviour should make you question the whole relationship but if you still want her, then let her know what she’s asking for is impossible. That your family is as important to you as she is and you need to have an honest and practical chat about how to make things work so everyone can be happy.

She doesn’t have to love your family - or they her, but they both need to be respectful of your situation. Whatever you do, don’t tell your family she asked you to make this choice because she certainly will forever remain in their bad books!

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Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015—45

Wike faults Rivers APC claim of cloned blueprint R

IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, has described claims by the Rivers State Government and All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, that he (Wike) cloned the APC blueprint as an admission of Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s failure.

Wike, in a statement by his media aide, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, said: “This allegation is an admission of the failure of the outgoing administration of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the need for the Rivers people to vote Wike to redefine development in the state and enthrone a new Rivers State.

“Titled A New Rivers State, new vision, new thinking, better possibilities, the Wike blueprint is expected to guide the incoming administration in addressing developmental challenges that have crippled the state.

“As we have said in the past, Rivers people should pity Rivers State Information Commissioner, Ms Semenitari and Dr Peterside as they are swimming against the tide. It

is obvious that the release of the PDP governorship Development Blueprint has further devastated the already confused APC camp. The APC is jittery because of its impending loss on February 28.

“For the avoidance of doubt, theWike blueprint is a product of research, consultation and intellectual resourcefulness.

The blueprint highlights the

necessary steps to be taken by the incoming Wike administration to improve the fortunes of Rivers State in key sectors of the state’s economy destroyed by APC’s planlessness and regrettable corruption.

“The outgoing Rivers State Government’s endorsement of the Wike Development Blueprint is a confirmation of

what our researchers discovered in the course of their work. It is also a proof that Amaechi deliberately mismanaged about N5 trillion that accrued to Rivers State under his watch.

Rivers people are tired of the falsehood being peddled by the APC and they are eager to formally authenticate their preference of Wike as their incoming governor."

BRIEFING: From Left: Rivers APC deputy governorship candidate, Mr. Honorable Asita; governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Chairman, Mr. Davis Ibiamu, at an international news conference on election violence in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Brass LNG shareholders constitute pre-FEED team

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HAREHOLDERS and partners of Brass Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG, project have constituted a new pre-Front End Engineering Design, FEED, team and adopted a new technology, APCL, to ensure the sustainability of the project.

Speaking in Lagos at a dinner in honour of the team from Italy ’s Eni, after the visitors and other shareholders had undertaken a tour of the project site at Brass Island in Bayelsa State, the Chairman of Brass LNG, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, said that the commitment demonstrated by the shareholders was very unusual for any project of the kind anywhere in the world.

He said: “Brass LNG is a project that enjoys total support by all tiers of government and that makes our job easier. It might interest you to know that the visit you undertook today, the President and the legislature had undertaken it too. We had undertaken an international invitation to tender (IIT), evaluated the tenders received and what was between us and the Final Investment Decision, FID, was the choice of the

preferred bidder for onshore works, after government had provided all the payment guarantees, when COP decided to exit the country. ” Gaius-Obaseki said that the

remaining shareholders had seen the commitment of the government in the project and decided not to seek a replacement for ConocoPhillips.

Speaking on behalf of the pre-FEED team, the leader of the team, Mr. Giampaolo Bachmann, said they were excited to be in Nigeria and to visit the project site.

NDDC begins youth empowerment training in Edo, Delta, Ondo Assessment/Data base collaBy Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—AS part of its efforts to tackle youth unemployment in the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has embarked on an empowerment training for youths in Ondo, Delta and Edo states.

Chairman, GU Planners Resources, Chief Harrison Onwo, the NDDC Consultant handling the exercise, said the exercise was in line with the seven-point agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that it was designed to tackle unemployment and effective empowerment of youths for sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

Disclosing that over 300 youths participated in the

workshop, Chief Onwo said: “NDDC is here to fine tune its strategies and ways of youth development in the region.

What we are doing here specifically is a NEEDS

tion. The purpose is that if we must make progress and if we must have new strategies to develop the youths, there is the need to hear from the youths themselves what they actually want."

College provost decries decline in quality of teachers

By Festus Ahon

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SABA— PROVOST of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, Dr Ignatius Ezoem, has decried the quality of teachers being produced in the country and stressed the need for the upgrade of Nigeria’s education standard.

Speaking with newsmen in his office, Ezoem lamented that the teaching profession has “quantitatively improved” but it

has not improved in terms of “quality.”

Blaming the problem on the declining reading culture of students, he said students have resorted to “sorting” rather than reading to pass their exams. On what they were doing to curb it, he said “we organise workshops to set a new paradigm for teachers.”

Noting that he has a good team of management staff in the college, Ezoem said discipline of students and staff was the order of the day.

FEB POLL: HOSTCOM in Ijaw back Jonathan, Okowa

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OST Communities Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, in Ijaw area, Delta State, have thrown their weight behind the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa's election as governor of Delta State, saying the duo have people-friendly agenda for Nigerians and Deltans in particular.

In a statement in Warri, Chairman of the group, Mr Kingsley Ikiere, said that having carefully studied their manifestos, the group has decided to support them, promising to work for their success in next month’s general elections.

Ikiere said: “The HOSTCOM group has scrutinised all the candidates presented by the various political parties. We have looked at their manifestos to see how Nigerians and Deltans will reap the dividends of democracy and decided to back the PDP."

....As Delta groups advance need for continuity

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COALITION of seven groups under the aegis of Okowa Integrity Group, OIG, and Grassroot Democracy, GD, has advanced the need for continuity, national integration, trust and the total transformation of the country as the main reasons why Nigerians should over look sentiments and vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection in the February 14, poll.

The groups, while passing a vote of confidence on the Jonathan administration, vowed to massively mobilise support for the election of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief Monday Igbuya, Tim Owhefere and Evelyn Oboro, in the February polls in Delta State.

Okowa is the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the February 28 governorship poll in Delta State. Chief Monday Igbuya is contesting for the state House of Assembly, Tim Owhefere is contesting for Isoko North seat in the House, while Evelyn Oboro is vying for the House of Representatives.

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Enugu PDP raises alarm over smear campaign

Coalition mobilizes for Jonathan, Okowa, others

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—PEOPLES Democratic, Party, PDP, Enugu State, chapter, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged plot by unnamed political opponents in the state to embark on campaign of calumny against Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, its governorship candidate.

A statement by the Director, Media and Publicity of PDP Campaign Organization in the state, Chukwudi Achife, claimed that the party had uncovered a plot, led by the governorship candidate of a major opposition party, to circulate false stories through local newspapers and the social media about Ugwuanyi in a desperate bid to smear his image and reputation.

Achife claimed the antics of the opposition candidate behind the purported smear campaign was not surprising since “he is known as a person

By Oboh Agbonkhese

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coalition of seven groups, under the aegis of Okowa Integrity Group, OIG, and Grassroots Democracy, GD, have advanced the need for continuity and the total transformation as the main reasons to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

The coalition also vowed to mobilize support for the elections of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief Monday Igbuya, Tim Owhefere and Evelyn Oboro, in the February general elections in Delta State.

The groups stated this in a communique by Mr. Andrew Obieroma, for Grassroots Democracy, and Chief Samuel Obieroma for OIG. Senator Okowa is Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate; Chief Igbuya is contesting for the state House of Assembly from Sapele State constituency; Owhefere is contesting to represent Isoko North in the House of Assembly, while Oboro is vying for Sapele/Okpe and Uvwie Federal Constituency.

who has neither conscience nor a defined agenda for the development and emancipation of Enugu State.”

The PDP campaign spokesman, however, said the

gambit, as in previous occasions, was bound to fail and boomerang.

While warning that PDP would not allow its image and that of its candidates to

be smeared through falsehood, he advised the general public to ignore such antics from a politician known for “his crass desperation to occupy the Lion Building by any possible means.”

Udu community leader kidnapped

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HE President-General of the Union of Udu Communities, UUC, in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, High Chief Steve Sokoh, has been kidnapped.

The unknown gunmen, who abducted him last Thursday, have reduced their demand of N100 million to N5 million.

In a statement by UUC Secretary-General, Mr. Edafe Oghenekaro and the Public Relations Officer, Chief John Magba, the leadership of Udu said: “The PresidentGeneral has invested so much time and resources to pursue the good of his Udu

zRansom reduced from N100m to N5m people and Urhobo nation.

“He does not deserve this kind of treatment for any reason whatsoever. We, hereby, call for the unconditional release of our President-General by the abductors without any further delay.

“We also appeal to security agencies in the area to step up their act.”

Meanwhile, UUC Legal Adviser, Mr. Moses Segba has described the abduction as crude, saying “let us take the matter to God, as the

heart of every man is in the hand of God. “Let me also use this medium to appeal to the perpetrators of this heinous crime to desist from the evil path as human right is not a commodity to trade with.

They should release Sokoh unconditionally and in one piece.”

PDP chieftain describes APC rally as unserious

NUPENG tasks NLC founding fathers on confab

By Victor AhiumaYoung

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IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has called on the founding fathers of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to take special interest in the forthcoming National Delegates Conference, NDC, where new leaders would emerge.

The union said beyond the

February NDC, the unity of labour movement is paramount to it, insisting that such unity must be based on equity, transparency, fair play and justice.

At a briefing in Lagos, NUPENG President, Mr. Igwe Achese, contended that the union had sacrificed much for Nigeria and labour movement and should be appreciated, arguing that while NUPENG was not desperate to produce the

Buruju gives out kerosene

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HE Chairman of Omoilu Foundation and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District, Ogun State,

Prince Buruji Kashamu, distributed kerosene in parts of Odogbolu and Ijebu North Local Government areas.

Many of the beneficiaries,

who appreciated Kashamu’s kind gesture, said it was a good initiative that should be imbibed by other rich citizens.

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Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Idion, has described the All Progressives Congress, APC, rally in Agbor as a big flop.

He said the rally held on Dr. Whyte Street showed how unserious and disorganized APC was, adding that Ika South was for PDP. Odion said: “The PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, knows our pains; therefore, Ika South has resolved to vote for PDP. The South-South PDP Chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, is our leader and he has spoken to us.”

president of the congress, which it had the right to aspire to, but core values of labour must be respected ahead of and in the February conference.

Achese called on the founding fathers of NLC to ensure the congress became stronger and united, saying “NUPENG cannot fight NLC. Insinuation that NUPENG is using its strength to intimidate other unions is unfounded.

“But NUPENG has been constant in fighting against anti-workers and masses policies of government and employers. In all these, no union had been persecuted and even proscribed by government like NUPENG.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On Buhari's WAEC certificate

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VEN though I don’t know much about Buhari's primary school certificate, I believe NDA certification is equivalent to university and polytechnic qualification. I also believe that he does not need a primary school certificate as WAEC is higher.—Miss Ukogu Chinasa, Musician.

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AEC is for both GCE and SSCE, so you do not need to register in any school for the former. I know of people that come from the village with no primary school certificate because of their age. However, they went to coaching centres and wrote GCE.— Miss Chika Dike, Graduate.

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HERE is a flaw some where. You had to be enrolled in a secondary school to write WAEC. To be enrolled in secondary school, you had to graduate from a primary school.

To graduate from a primary school, you needed to have the First School Leaving Certificate.— Miss Mebel Ogechi, Businesswoman.

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HY can’t Buhari just present one of the certificates or apply to whoever is holding them to release them to him? Why must he be treating Nigerians with disrespect? At Oputa Panel where every Nigerian that was invited, he refused to appear.—Miss Sandy Faith, Self-Employed.

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HIS is a school of thought; I don’t mind to be corrected if something is missing here. If the minimum requirement to contest presidential election is WAEC and he has NDA, which is equivalent to higher qualification, is he is not qualified?— Mr. Jaiyeola Timmy, Freight Forwarder.

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ITH the way Buhari is handling the WAEC certificate thing, he is making the issue appear more suspicious than it should be. I personally believe that Buhari may have these certificates with him, but simply wanted to show Nigeria his arrogance.— Miss Chioma Ani, Model.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015— 47

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48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

PDP presidential campaign in Nasarawa

From left, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State; Vice President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, and the Senate President, David Mark, at the PDP presidential campaign in Lafia, Nasarawa State yesterday.

PDP supporters in Lafia.

Chairman, Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs/Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Agwai, presenting a souvenir to President Jonathan.

President Jonathan, speaking during the visit of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation to the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Agwai.

Presentation of the book, The Pains of a Country

From left, Mr. Eddy Odivwri, Author and wife, Florence; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Special Guest; Mr. Femi Adesina, President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE/Reviewer of the book; Mr. O'Femi Kolawole,Publisher/CEO, Posterity Media, and Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, From left, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan,Special Guest; Dr. Chairman of the public presentation occasion of the book, 'The Pains Of A Country,' written Fred Agbaje,Constitutional Lawyer, and Chief Goddy

by Eddy Odivwri, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Victoria Island, Uwazurike.

Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Shola Oyelese

From left, Mr. Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Managing Director, ThisDay Newspapers; Chief Goddy Uwazurike,President, Aka Ikenga, and Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

From left, Mr. Eddy Odivwri, Author, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye,GM/Editor-InChief, Vanguard, and Mr. Femi Adesina.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 — 49

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54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

By Dayo Johnson, Evelyn Usman & Joseph Erunke

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KURE—THE Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday said that if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC goes ahead to conduct the Febuary 14 general election with almost 30 million voters cards yet to be distributed, the exercise will not be credible.

Rising from a four-hour meeting in Akure, the country home of its Chairman, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Afenifere, which called on Nigerians not to vote for any candidate who is not in support of the implementation of the National Conference report, lamented that “as at today, over 15 million voters have not collected their cards.’’

Its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin said: “There are 14 million voters cards that are yet to arrive the country. If we put them together it is almost half of the total electorate that are yet to collect their voter’s cards.’’

In like manner, the International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) alerted the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis; UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon and 11 Foreign Missions of looming trouble in Africa’s most populous country as a result of INEC’s alleged moves to disenfranchise 35 million registered voters.

This came as the European Union Election Observation Mission, EUEOM, attributed the problems bedevilling Nigeria’s electoral process to what it described as the failure of government to implement the election reform recommendations it prepared for the country after the 2011 general election.

The foreign organisation regretted that out of the 50 recommendations it prepared for the Nigerian authorities, following the 2011 polls, only one, adoption of the freedom of information law, was adhered to.

Meanwhile, a renowned security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has called on the Federal Government to postpone the February 2015 general elections in the North-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe to reduce the loss of lives and wanton

Non distribution of 30m PVCs'll hurt polls – AFENIFERE ...Endorses Jonathan, says our people must not be returned to Egypt ...EU laments failure to implement election reform recommendations ...Intersociety drags INEC to Pope, UN, 11 missions over poor preparations destruction of property and allow the military complete its counterterrorism operations in the zone.

Jega’s assurance reassuring

not

While reading the Afenifere communique, Odumakin said: “The assurance by the INEC Chairman (Professor Attahiru Jega) that they will distribute cards before the election is not reassuring. If you have failed to do it before now, what is the assurance that he is going to do it now?

“We want to warn that the outcome of any election conducted on the basis of disenfranchising almost half of the electorate will not be credible or acceptable.’’

According to him, the “meeting viewed with seriousness the share incompetence on the part of INEC. The INEC that wanted to create 30, 000 polling units few weeks to the election has yet to distribute almost 30 million voter’s cards. When you look at the table INEC has given, what they tell us is that in each state, this is the PVC received, hiding the total number of registered voters.

“Also, we want to warn in Yoruba land that we should be careful of those who promise change and do not believe in the restructuring of Nigeria and those who boycotted National Conference and described it as diversion.

“The 2014 national conference has become a campaign issue.

Anybody that did not participate in it or does not believe in it does not love our people. They want to drag them into slavery. With the report of 2014, we believe we have crossed Jordan, we are yet to get to the Promise Land but we should not be sent to Egypt.’’

Leaders that attended the meeting include Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, two former governors of Osun and

MOU: From left: The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack; MD, WaveTek Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Ken Spann and MD, Cinfores Ltd, Mr. Ewawo Ibifuro during NITDA's signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with WaveTek and Cinfores on deployment of a special version of Nigeria’s foremost elearning and examination preparatory software, Cinfores BrainFriend in Abuja.

Ogun states, Iyiola Omisore and Gbenga Daniel, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sehinde Arogbofa, Chief Olu Falae and Supo Sonibare among others.

Afenifere Jonathan

endorses

Meanwhile, Afenifere last night endorsed President Jonathan as its candidate for next month’s Presidential election insisting that President Jonathan is the right choice to rule the country and mentioned continuity as the reason for the endorsement.

The prominent Yoruba leaders at the meeting including Governor Olusegun Mimiko and former Ogun state Governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel had earlier held a closed door meeting with President Jonathan at Fasoranti’s residence.

The Afenifere leaders stressed the need for continuity of the lofty transformation programmes of President Jonathan, saying all Nigerians who appreciate good work must support Jonathan.

President Jonathan who arrived Ondo State yesterday was received by Governor Mimiko and he is expected to address his supporters today at the Democracy park, Akure.

Leader of the group in the country and member of the European Parliament from Spain, Chief Observer Santiago Fisas Ayxela, at the briefing, said: “We made 50 recommendations from the last elections in 2011 in relation to legal reforms and no such recommendation has been undertaken except for the Freedom of Information Act.” He noted that flaws observed in the previous election which formed the basis for the recommendations were still in place.

Ayxela, who said his team has been in the country since November, to monitor the forth coming general elections,at the instance of the Nigerian government, refused to disclose what the team had observed in the country ’s present electoral system, preferring to give its assessment after the whole exercise.

While reiterating the organisation’s position not to extend its observation assignment to the troubled North East geopolitical zone of the country, Mr Fisas Ayxela, however, said his group would get situation reports from contacts on ground.

Disenfranchisement of over ''Govt will fix the country if it 35 million voters In a detailed petition dated adopts our January 27, 2015, entitled: ‘’ 2015 recommendations'' Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, the EUEOM said it was incumbent on Nigeria to either adopt the recommendations or throw them away.

General Elections In Nigeria & INEC’s Shoddy Preparations: Chaos, Anarchy & Bloodletting Looming’, the petition is signed for Intersociety by the Board

Chairman Emeka Umeagbalasi; Head, Democracy & Good Governance Programme Chiugo Onwuatuegwu, Esq.; Head, Civil Liberties & Rule of Law Programme Obianuju Igboeli, Esq.; and Head, Campaign & Publicity Department Uzochukwu Oguejiofor, Esq., the group said: ‘’As of date, over 35 million Nigerians most of them registered voters have been disenfranchised by INEC. The total number of disenfranchised registered voters across the country is 30,059,085; out of which those that have not been captured in the PVCs production and delivery is 14,491,866, while those captured in the PVCs but have not received theirs till date is 15,567,219. Other five million eligible registrants were also not captured during various continuous registration exercises across the country particularly in the Southeast and the South-West geopolitical zones.

This brings the total number of disenfranchised adult voters in the country to over 35 million. There are over five million Igbo residents in the North, who are registered voters. Many of them fled the area abandoning their PVCs following Boko Haram and Islamist Fulani insurgencies.''

Foreign Missions to which the petition is addressed are those of the United States of America; Britain; Federal Republic of Germany; Canada; Republic of France; Brazil; Japan; Australia; China; India; and the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria & ECOWAS.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 — 55

Ogun PDP flays govt over workers' strike

By Etop Ekanem & Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has lambasted Governor Ibikunle Amosun over the spate of strike actions in the state.

In a statement yesterday by the State PDP Chairman, Engr.

Adebayo Dayo, the party blamed the situation on “ineptitude of the Amosun administration.”

It wondered why almost all sectors of the economy were being practically brought to its knees.

He said: “How do we explain a situation where teachers, health and judicial workers are on strike at the same time? By Wednesday, the local government workers will commence their industrial action.

“These are indications that the Amosun-ledAll Progressives Congress, APC government has failed the people. How can one explain the refusal of the state government to remit the money deducted from the sweat of teachers as cooperative and pension trust funds?”

The party said until the money deducted from their salaries is remitted, “it means that the state government is fraudulent and untrustworthy.”

FG compounded my problems —Amosun

Meantime, the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun yesterday blamed the Federal Government for his inability to fulfil the promises made to the teachers in the public schools which had led to over a week strike.

Amosun said, the policy of the Federal Government which banned state governments from obtaining loans from banks without the permission of the Minister of Finance worsened the situation.

Speaking through his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo, Amosun appealed to the striking teachers to call off the strike, saying the government did not owe the teachers salary since it assumed office.

According to the governor, the teachers in the state usually take the large chunk of the State allocation .

CBN to axe banks involved in speculative forex demand zUrges Nigerians not to panic zTo encourage industries for export

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor & Peter Egwuatu

L

AGOS—THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday threatened to suspend banks that help in fueling speculative demand of foreign exchange, forex , just as it pledged to support the productive sectors of the economy in its resolve to diversifying and grow the economy.

The CBN said that Nigerians should not panic as the fiscal and monetary authorities are on top of the current crude oil price crisis.

CBN gov assures

The Governor of CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who spoke at a breakfast meeting with captains of industry and critical stakeholders in Lagos said There is “need to moderate demand. No need to panic and front-load demand for foreign exchange. The CBN stands ready to meet genuine demand and stop speculative demand for foreign exchange. CBN will not hesitate to suspend dealership licenses of banks fueling speculative demand and involved in forex malpractices as well as infractions.

“We are monitoring the market to watch liquidity and would intervene when necessary. We have reserve of $34 billion at the moment and we will ensure that the reserve will not continue to go down but rise.”

The apex bank also assured Nigerians that it is monitoring development in both oil and non oil sectors of the economy and will continue to take appropriate measures aimed at addressing liquidity and external reserves, and urged Nigerians not to panic.

Emefiele continuing his address said “We stand ready to defend the naira, foreign reserves and encourage export. We cannot allow market forces to determine the value of Naira because we are an import dependent nation. By the time we diversify our productive base and become less dependent on import, it is then we can allow market forces to play its role of

EXHIBITION: From left; Business Development Manager - Africa, Clariant Oil Services, Mr. Justin Gray; Marketing Communications Manager, Eunisell Limited, Mr. Kunmi Balogun and Country Manager - Nigeria, Clariant Oil Services, Mr. Solomon Otakoro during an exhibition at the 19th Offshore West Africa Conference and Exhibition in Lagos. determining the price of Naira. If we allow market forces to determine the value of Naira now it will halt the economy and the ordinary Nigerians will suffer. There should be a paradigm shift as we cannot continue to import everything we need”.

Commenting on some of the apex bank intervention in the financial market, the CBN Governor said “We have recapitalised the Bureau de Change, BDC. This was done in order to streamline their operations and enhance transparency. We now issue forex to BDC directly; there was reduction in the amount of weekly forex sales to BDCs but recently it was increased to $30,000 weekly.

Nigeria may stop foreign-currency sales for local-goods imports

Continuing, Emefiele , said the CBN is considering halting sales of dollars to import goods that are already manufactured in the country as it seeks to reduce pressure on the local currency hit by a drop in oil prices.

“The only thing that will reduce pressure on our currency is by producing those things we are importing today, We will try as much as possible not to hurt your business, but we need to be able to work together.

According to the CBN Governor “The CBN will meet

legitimate demand, but we will not be concerned about illegitimate demand. If the central bank allowed the naira to trade more freely then it will lead to a major depreciation as Nigeria is not yet an exportdriven economy.

Emefiele reiterated that the central bank has no plans to further devalue the currency.

“We continue to take all measures to defend the currency at the current exchange rate,” he said.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote

“I commend the CBN Governor for all the initiatives taken to moderate and control the economy. We should try to enhance our export base.

Attention should be given to major areas that need foreign exchange. Also there should be time limit for certain things to be imported into the country. ''Thereafter, government can stop such importation. Very soon, the CBN will not give us money for sugar importation; say in the next four years. We would be the highest foreign exchange seller in this country by 2018.”

Oil prices steadily rise

Meanwhile oil prices steadied above $48 a barrel yesterday, recovering from earlier losses as the dollar weakened against the euro.

Brent crude oil futures rose

22 cents to 48.38 dollars a bar rel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 10 cents to 45.25 dollars a barrel. The euro rose for a second day against the dollar after an 11-year low on Monday.

Prices were also supported after the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Abdullah al-Badri, said oil prices may have bottomed out.

He warned of a jump of oil price to 200 dollars a barrel if investment in new supplies was too low.

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said that the effects of the weakened dollar and the residual effect of Badri’s comments were temporary.

“I certainly don’t think it changes the fundamental dynamic of the direction of prices with regard to oil,” said Hewson. When you look at where Brent is and where it’s been, there’s a pretty solid floor at the moment around 47 dollars a barrel.”

Standard Chartered said OPEC’s decision to keep production high was beginning to impact other producers. ''Non-OPEC output is being hit hard, and we now expect the oil market to tip into supply deficit in H2,” the bank said. Traders said there were other signs of a potential market pick-up.

56 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 28, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015—57

Ebonyi LP candidate flags off gov campaign

By Charles Kumolu

A

BAKALIKI— GOVERORSHIP candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in Ebonyi State, Mr. Edward Nkwegu, has commenced his campaign in Abakiliki.

A statement by Prince Oliver Okpara on behalf of the candidate, said all the local government areas in the state would be visited in course of the exercise.

The statement reads: ‘’The Labour Party flagged off its governorship campaign in Ebonyi State yesterday in Abakaliki.This political activity promises to be great given the pedigree of the Labour Party as the party to beat in Ebonyi State at the moment. ''Labour Party ’s governorship ticket presents Ebonyians with a wonderful combination of two cerebral men who will steer the ship of state to a safe anchor and take the promising state to the proverbial next level.

POLLS: APGA scoffs at Anambra PDP's multiple candidates

By Enyim Enyim

O

N I T S H A — AGGRIEVED members of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, led by Senator Alphonsus Igbekwe described as illegal and undemocratic the multiple candidates allegedly being presented by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Anambra State for the next month’s general elections.

Igbeke, who is the DirectorGeneral of the 2015 APGA election Campaign Directorate, condemned a recent statement credited to the national secretary of the PDP, Professor Olawale Oladipo, directing all the multiple candidates of the party to go with their electioneering campaigns in Anambra State.

He said Oladipo’s statement was in conflict with the law recently enacted by the Anambra State House of Assembly forbidding persons whose names were in contravention of the Electoral Act which empowered Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to publish successful candidates after primaries ahead

of the election in the state.

Igbeke said “available statistics, for all Nigerians to see, indicate that presently, even after the conclusion of the primaries, PDP is still presenting three candidates each for all elective positions at all levels to the House

of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate respectively, whereas other law abiding political parties are complying with the relevant electoral laws by fielding only one candidate each.

“This, if allowed, gives a law breaking political party undue advantage. Recall that the INEC Voting sheet does not bear the

candidate’s names but rather the party’s name and logo. A scenario whereby, for instance, the three PDP candidates contesting for Anambra North Senatorial zone garners votes instead of only one and they all vote for PDP is unfair, fraudulent and places other party candidates at a disadvantage abinitio. This, we will not allow to happen.''

LECTURE: From left; Dr O. K Noah, Guest Lecturer; Chief B. O Benson, Chairman, Lagoon State Movement, LSM; Alhaji Gani Bello, Vice Chairman, LSM; Mr Jimoh Showemimo, Asst Gen Secretary, LSM, during the Lagoon Lagos State Movement public lecture, with the theme: Mobilization and Uplifting Rural Lagos, held in Magbon, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. Photo by Shola Oyelese.

Ex Orji's aide raps PDP leaders over Imo gov primaries turn round not only to

O

W E R R I — F O R M E R Special Adviser to Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, Mr. Ben Onyechere, yesterday, lampooned the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over alleged inability to settle aggrieved members of the party after the governorship primaries in Imo State.

According to Onyechere, ahead of the governorship election, it had become imperative for the PDP’s NWC to probe alleged corruption that marred the party’s governorship primaries.

Pointing that the NWC must embrace Chief Ararume, one of the aggrieved contestants, as the conscience of internal democracy in PDP in the state, he said: “The hue and cry about internal democracy in the PDP is only a sham because of the conspiratorial role of the NWC, in the last gubernatorial primaries in Imo.'' Lamenting that till date, the NWC had not intervened in the crisis rocking the state PDP, Onyechere, said: “Up until now, nobody has said anything about the recent

revelation of corruptibility from a tangible quarter of this polity, which goes to show that party officials had developed tick skins and turned their backs at dispossessed and aggrieved members of the party. It is unacceptable that a party machinery meant to harmonize issues could

monetize the party primaries but also refused to probe legitimate petitions. ''It is indeedundemocratic to allow and settle for such level of corruption to manifest in the process of party primaries without consideration for the survival of democracy in the larger society.

Nigeria holds great hope citizens—CHIDOKA

N

S U K K A — MINISTER of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka has said despite present difficulties, Nigeria holds great opportunities for her citizens with projections that the nation’s economy will continue to grow at over six per cent for the next 20 years.

The Minister stated this while delivering the 44th Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka entitled, “Rebuilding the Nigerian Dream: Mapping the Building Blocks.”

According to the Minister, Nigeria had highly skilled, hard working people with huge natural resources and

large population that made the country a big market for goods and services that were keys to her economic growth.

Chidoka said, “Nigerians are fastidious and therefore have the tendency to criticise their country unnecessary.

Although that attitude is wrong but it spurs the citizens and government to do things better. ''The most virulent critics of Nigeria are Nigerians.

When two or three Nigerians are gathered, their topic is usually Nigeria, its missed opportunities, its poor outcomes and, the giant strides of other countries.''

58—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Re: Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond the election

By Kayode Fayemi

W

E commend Professor Chukwuma Soludo for his insightful and incisive article published in the Vanguard Newspaper of January 26th under the above title. We agree with Professor Soludo that if the political parties, including ours, must justify the overwhelming enthusiasm of Nigerians about the 2015 elections we must remain focused on the issues that matter most to them, which is the progress of our country and the well being of our people. Indeed, this has been the driving sentiment of our party and our campaign all along.

While we accept his critical comments on our party, more for the intentions than for the letters, we believe some clarifications would be quite necessary. We wish to emphasise that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), presents a real option to Nigerians.

Incalculable damage Professor Soludo expressed the sentiments of most Nigerians when he spoke about the incalculable damage that the PDP under President Jonathan has done to the Nigerian economy and the unprecedented hardship that his six years of the locust has brought upon Nigerians.

However, the APC does not intend to ride into power on a mere rhetoric of ‘change’. The change that we propose is fundamental in many ways as it is critical to the very survival of our country. This in itself presents a major distinction between our party and the PDP.

KAYODE FAYEMI Perhaps, the most compelling argument against the Peoples Democratic Party today is that its government and leadership does not even see that Nigeria is in trouble. While majority of our people wallow in abject poverty, and the gap in inequality gets ever wider by the day, PDP has wallowed in self-celebration of imagined accomplishments. How can a party or a government even begin to solve a problem that it

does not believe exist. Like in all things, PDP is stuck in denial.

APC does not promise Eldorado. Neither our candidate nor our manifesto has made such promise. Our programs are based on the critical awareness of the difficult task ahead, while holding out a ray of hope to our people. The promises that we make reflect our conviction that the people must be at the centre of development. And that any economic growth that leaves the majority of the people behind and does not protect the weakest and the vulnerable among us is merely delusionary.

Unfortunate similarity Professor Soludo has drawn our attention to the striking but unfortunate similarity in the nation’s economy in 1982-1984 period and what we are experiencing today. Back then, a period of sustained high crude oil prices had also ironically led to unsustainable debt levels and introduction of the austerity measure.

Just as it happened more than three decades ago, it is difficult to explain how a sustained period of oil boom should ultimately lead to austerity measure except to say that huge opportunities that the period of boom presented were frittered away by mindless profligacy, wanton corruption and bad economic choices made by the PDP government, which has rewarded a protracted period of boom with uncertainty and austerity and is still asking for another mandate to do more damage.

If we sound upbeat in our manifesto, it is because we recognise that this crisis period also presents us a great opportunity to restructure the economy in a way that improves the quality of lives of our people by ensuring that our economic growth is job led. Our party has identified job creation as a critical priority of government. We have noted with concerns that Nigeria’s unemployment rate of 23.9% should be seen as a national crisis.

And if this government was more sensitive to the enormity of the challenge that this presents, it would be reluctant to jump all over the place in self celebration while so many of our youths are wasting away. In the immediate future, our priority is to tackle unemployment and provide good jobs by embarking on a massive programme of public works, building houses, roads, railways, ports and energy

President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari plants. Over the long term, we believe we must wean Nigeria off its dangerous addiction to oil which currently provides 80% of our spending leaving us at the mercy of volatile international oil prices. Even as a Federalist party, we believe that an economy that is dependent on a commodity that is so dangerously exposed to price volatility must always prepare for eventuality through savings and investments once the agreed thresholds are met. What we disagree with is the unilateral and arbitrary deductions in accruable revenues in a way that hampers the development of the Federating States.

Going by the government’s own statistics, is it mere coincidence that the three States with the lowest unemployment rate - Osun, Lagos and Kwara are all APC States? This is evidence of our Party’s ability to tackle this problem head-on.

APC’s policy thrust will create an enabling environment and incentives for the formal and informal sectors to lead the quest for job creation. This will be done in addition to skills acquisition and enterprise- training to ensure our youths are equipped

Professor Soludo expressed the sentiments of most Nigerians when he spoke about the incalculable damage that the PDP under President Jonathan has done to the Nigerian economy

with the appropriate skills to take these jobs. Merely introducing a National Qualification Standards would power a whole new world of opportunities for our artisans by launching them into the international job markets.

We note the issue that Professor Soludo picked with our figure of 720,000 jobs. We need to clarify that this is limited to immediate direct employment opportunities from public projects and maintenance works only.

Enabling environment Our manifesto actually promises a lot more jobs but we see that as the product of the enabling environment we seek to create for private sector job creation, especially in high opportunity sectors like agriculture, construction, entertainment, tourism, ICT and Sports. APC economic policy is driven by an overwhelming concern for the level of inequality in our country today. Specifically, to quote from our manifesto, we intend to achieve our job-creation agenda through: •Massive public works programme especially the building of a national railway system, interstate roads, and ports. These projects must commence early in the life of the new administration.

•Establishing a new Federal Coordinating Agency - Build Nigeria - to fast track and manage these public works programmes with emphasis on Nigerian labour.

•Embarking vigorously on industrialization, public works and agricultural expansion.

•Diversifying the economy through a national industrial policy and innovative privatesector incentives that will move us away from over reliance on oil - into value-added production especially manufacturing.

•Reviving textile and other industries that have been rendered dormant because of inappropriate economic policies.

•Reinvigorating the solid mineral sector by revamping our aged mining legislation and attracting new investment.

•Developing a new generation of domestic oil refineries to lower import costs, enhance our energy

independence and create jobs.

•Working with state governments to turn the country into Africa’s food basket through a new system of grants and interest free loans, and the mechanization of agriculture.

•Encouraging and promoting the use of sports as a source of job creation.

•Creating a knowledge economy by making Nigeria an IT /professional/Telecom services outsourcing destination hub to create millions of jobs.

•Filling the huge gap in middle level technical manpower with massive investment in technical and tradesmen’s skills education.

•Ensuring that all foreign contractors to include a plan of developing local capacity (Technology transfer).

•Creation of six Regional Development Agencies covering the country with representatives from the Federal government, States and the private sector to manage a new N300billion growth fund.

Our obsession with job creation stems from the fact that we believe we must focus on actions that would serve the twin purpose of closing the gap in inequality and creating opportunities for our people, especially the youths. Our current situation is dangerous for the stability of the country. The Human Development Index position ranks Nigeria 152 of 169 countries surveyed.

This is incompatible with the present administration’s insistence on celebrating GDP growth and our absolute economic size hinged on a routine rebasing exercise. As many commentators have pointed out, rebasing the GDP is not an achievement.

Rather, it is a mere statistical adjustment that does not impact on the real or imagined standards of living of the people. So, we also wonder what this PDP government is celebrating.

Resources for infrastructure And maybe it is not that difficult to explain when one discovers that a small elite has captured the state and converted our commonwealth into private gain, becoming disproportionately rich from massive corruption while poverty has deepened. The income gap and illicit capital flight are growing alarmingly.

Instead of investing in modernizing our economy, massive theft has starved the country of desperately needed resources for infrastructure and public services and left us dangerously dependent on fluctuating global oil prices for our economic survival. For the ordinary Nigerian, the muchtouted economic growth cited by the present administration has not translated into employment or development. Over 100 million Nigerians are struggling to make ends meet on a regular basis.

We understand Professor Soludo’s concern on the cost of implementing our various

Continues on page 59

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015—

59

Tribute to the flyover Governor at 49!

TRIBUTE

Re: Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond the election Continues from page 58 programmes, especially those relating to social welfare. The enormity of this challenge is not lost on us.

We also know that sometimes, going into government is like buying a “no testing” electronic equipment. You may never know the true state of what you are buying until you get in. We want to assure Professor Soludo and other likeminded Nigerians that our policy team is looking at all the options – including the worst-case scenario of a completely empty treasury.

We are however confident that by blocking avenues of wastage and corruption alone, savings could run into trillions of Naira that could be deployed for productive use. Even so, we agree with Professor Soludo that savings from corruption alone will not tackle the enormous challenges we are likely to confront in government.

We are however comforted by the fact that a four-year period provides opportunity for phased implementation while growing the resource base as well as changing the culture of graft while reducing the cost of governance.

Quite significantly, we know that periods of economic downturn also potentially provide opportunity to lay the foundation for real economic restructuring and development; and we can reflect on how Singapore under Premier Lee Kuan Yew and the United States of America under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt used historic moments of economic downturn in their countries to launch a period of sustained development and a new deal for their people. General Buhari has never claimed to have the magic wand nor the answers to all of the country’s problems.

Self sacrificing integrity His greatest assets would be his moral authority borne out of his self-sacrificing integrity, his sincerity of purpose and his patriotic zeal to return Nigeria to the path of progress and genuine development. He is committed to utilize competent and committed people of integrity wherever he may find them.

This is precisely why he promised when flagging off his campaign in Port Harcourt on January 5, 2015 that if voted into power, it would be an opportunity to, in his words, “finally assemble a competent team of Nigerians to efficiently manage this country”.

This is a clear sign that a meritocratic process will govern the appointment of those that would be entrusted with managing our economy and country. His stint as Head of State shows a track record of using selfsacrificing professionals in his governance team.

His previous cabinet included the likes of Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, Professor Tam DavidWest and Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is determined to lead Nigeria in the direction of change that is so urgently required. And even as we prepare for the immediate rescue mission in 2015, our minds are also set on building the necessary democratic institutions that would entrench our ideological conviction as a progressive and people-centred party.

A National Progressives Policy Institute is part of this plan in the near future but we are very clear about the enormity of the task ahead.

We would not seek to underplay it. We are supremely confident that we are equal to the task and we appreciate the commitment of majority of Nigerians to this quest for change.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi heads the Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign.

By Francis Agbo

W

EDNESDAY, January 28 is a special day for the Izon people, particularly Bayelsans. Not because of the free education that Ijaw people now enjoy in Bayelsa State under the restoration government or because of the social security enjoyed by senior citizens of Ijaw extraction. It is not equally because the first flyover ever constructed in the state would be commissioned but because the Countryman Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, who has restored glory to his people within a short period of his stewardship will mark his 49th birthday.

Having delivered on his campaign promise to the electorate, lived above board in his political odyssey and survived the machinations of some hawks and meddlesome interlopers who would stop at nothing to return Bayelsa State to ‘Egypt,’ one would have expected the restoration governor to roll out the drums to celebrate his birthday with pomp.

But Dickson whom some historians fondly call the Valentine Governor having being sworn in on February 14, 2012, has refused to mark the day. To the bewilderment of observers and government officials, the governor banned congratulatory messages on his birthday and advised those who wish to do so to channel their resources to charity organizations and orphanage homes. But Governor Dickson’s stance didn’t come to me as a surprise because he was simply living up to his sobriquet as a Countryman!

Typical of the Restoration Governor, he will be on ground on Wednesday to attend to files, hold meetings and intensify his inspection of projects to ensure that they are executed in line with specifications and global standards.

In the last 35 months that he held sway in the Creek Haven, Governor Dickson has changed the governance culture in Bayelsa State, making transparency and accountability, fear of God, service delivery, the cornerstone of his administration. The multiplier effect of these philosophies is the ongoing massive transformation of Bayelsa.

Compulsory education Today, the free and compulsory education introduced from primary to secondary schools by Dickson has changed the entire education sector and the state in general for the better.

Government provides the following items free to pupils and students: textbooks, uniforms, sandals, bags, and writing materials.

Government is also responsible for the payment of Science fees, WAEC, NECO, and JAMB fees for students.

Already 400 primary schools and staff quarters for headmasters and principals, 24 Constituency Secondary Schools and eight Model Secondary Schools are under construction across the state. Government also made it a point of duty to train exceptionally gifted Ijaw children in some of the best secondary schools in Nigeria. At press time, the Dickson government has spent over N6billion on the education of students of Ijaw nationality who are covered by the Bayelsa State Scholarship Scheme with the indigent being the greatest beneficiaries.

I n t e r e s t i n g l y, scholars of Ijaw stock in their thousands are in Lincoln University and other prestigious universities in the world for their first degrees, masters and Ph.D programmes.

While the church in Nigeria celebrates Dickson as the only governor that promulgated Thanksgiving Law by setting aside November 2 of every year as Thanksgiving Day in Bayelsa State, not many Nigerians Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State know that the Countryman remains Map of ongoing infrastructural the only Bayelsa State revolution in the state but the governor social security, health insurance in Nigeria scheme and of course, the t h a t prevalence of social justice in renders Bayelsa. These were made account of possible because of the person stewardship of Dickson and the autonomy the to the judiciary enjoys in the last 35 people on months, as the judiciary gets its a monthly funding through first line charge, basis in a eliminating the scenario where town hall meeting where the accruals many Chief Judges go cap-in- hand to to the state, IGR and expenditure are governors begging for funding! laid bare for public scrutiny.

Born on January 28, 1966 in the Under the watch of Dickson, riverine Toru-Orua in Sagbama Local Bayelsans now sleep with their two eyes Government Area of Bayelsa State to the closed unlike before when they lived family of Mr. and Mrs. Nanaye Dickson in perpetual fear. As a visionary leader, of Orua, a descendant of the famous King Dickson is preparing the littoral state Kpadia Royal House of Tarakiri Kingdom, beyond crude oil, by diversifying the Dickson is also a descendant of the economy. Government is investing in renowned Obu warrior family of Orua large-scale agricultural production in whose trademark is valour, bravery and areas the state has comparative honour. advantage such as rice, palm produce, aquaculture, cassava, plantain and Legal vegetables. Already, the state has practice invested in mega aquaculture projects with two Israeli companies to produce Dickson attended Kolobiriowei Primary 3,000 tons of fish annually. Restoration School, Toru-Orua from 1972 to 1978 Brand of Rice is currently produced from where he got his First School Leaving a 4000 hectare of rice farm at Peremabiri Certificate and proceeded to Government in Southern Ijaw Local Government Secondary School, Toru-Ebeni between Area, 5000 at Isampou in Ekeremor and 1978 and 1983 and obtained his West 2000 hectares at Kolo in Ogbia Council African School Certificate (WASC/GCE).

Areas of the state.

Since his parents could no longer cater Indeed Dickson seems to be in a hurry for his schooling at this stage, Dickson to turn the oil rich Bayelsa to joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1986 infrastructural Eldorado! In the last 35 and was posted to the Central Police months, over 450 kilometres of roads Station, Port Harcourt and served as Clerk have been completed across the state, to the Station Officer, from where he 18 bridges were constructed and over saved money to further his education.

100 public buildings/ schools He gained admission in 1988 to the completed.

Rivers State University of Science and But as far as am concerned, the most Technology, Port Harcourt to study Law laudable achievement of the restoration from where he graduated with LL.B government is not the the free and (HONS.) in 1992. He then proceeded in compulsory education, it is not the 1993, to earn his Bachelors of Law (B.L.HONS) from the Nigeria Law School, Lagos and was called to the Nigeria Bar the same year.

He was Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1994 but withdrew his service to start legal practice in Port Harcourt where he worked with SERENA DAVID DOKUBO & CO. In 1996, he founded SERIAKE DICKSON & CO, a law firm in Port Harcourt and As a visionary leader, later Yenagoa. He was elected Pioneer Dickson is preparing Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Bayelsa State the littoral state beyond Chapter, a position he held from 1996 to crude oil, by 1998.

Agbo is a journalist, Public Affairs diversifying the Analyst / Media Strategist and wrote via economy francisagbo38@gmail.com

60 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 , 2015

Auschwitz 70th anniversary: Survivors warn of new crimes A

USCHWITZ survivors have urged the world not to allow a repeat of the crimes of the Holocaust as they mark 70 years since the camp’s liberation.

“We survivors do not want our past to be our children’s future,” Roman Kent, born in 1929, told a memorial gathering at the death camp’s site in Poland.

Some 300 Auschwitz survivors returned for the ceremony under a giant tent.

Some 1.1 million people,

mostly Jews, were killed there between 1940 and 1945, when Soviet troops liberated it. It is expected to be the last major anniversary event survivors are able to attend in considerable numbers.

Ronald S Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, told the commemoration: “Jews are targeted in Europe once again because they are Jews.

“Once again young Jewish boys are afraid to wear

Child survivors at Auschwitz - still taken from footage recorded by Soviet forces.

yarmulkes [skullcaps] on the streets of Paris, Budapest, London and even Berlin.”

In the Czech capital Prague, speakers of parliament from across the EU gathered with the European Jewish Congress to issue a declaration condemning anti-Semitism and hate crimes.

Those who survived Auschwitz lived through one of the 20th Century’s worst acts of hatred and inhumanity. Many of those still alive today were children in 1945 but they are elderly now and this may be the last significant anniversary where so many will gather.

A huge, white temporary building has been erected over the brick railway buildings where many of the Jews of Europe were sorted into those who were fit enough for slave labour and those who would be taken straight to the gas chambers.

Ukraine rebels push government forces back near Donetsk

U

KRAINIAN sepa ratists yesterday said that they had pushed government troops out of two districts on the outskirts of their main stronghold Donetsk and their aim was to expand their control to the entire region.

A rebel advance launched last week has dashed a five-month truce, reignited a war that has killed 5,000 people and brought threats of new sanctions on Moscow, which NATO accuses of backing the separatists with money, arms and troops.

The separatists say their initial aim is to drive back government forces to push artillery out of range of their cities and improve their grip on their main strongholds.

Eduard Basurin, deputy commander of rebels in their main stronghold Donetsk, said fighters had pushed government troops out of the suburb of Maryinka and the center of the town of Pesky near Donetsk’s airport, a constant battlefield.

“They had fully controlled Maryinka before.

Now it is neutral. They are only on the outskirts,” he said by telephone.

Renewed Boko Haram raids kill many in northeast Nigeria

S

CORES of people have been killed and many others forced to flee to the mountains following a renewed series of Boko Haram raids in northeast Nigeria, a lawmaker and a relief agency official said yesterday.

The reported attacks by the Islamists targeted the Michika area in

northeastern Adamawa state, where bodies reportedly littered the streets in several villages.

The bloodshed in northeast Nigeria has reached unprecedented levels in recent weeks, raising questions about security for general elections set for February 14.

The head of a Europe-

Police officers inspect the site of a blast at a petrol station in Kano, Nigeria. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014.

A bomb exploded Friday night in northern Kano city, the second largest population center in Nigeria, killing six people including three police officers, according to the police.

Several dead as convoy ambushed in S/Sudan

A

T least 13 people, in cluding four journalists, were killed in South Sudan’s western region, when gunmen attacked their convoy in the country ’s west, a military spokesman said.

Col. Philip Aguer Panyang blamed the attack in the western town of Raga on Tuesday on the Ugandan rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army

(LRA) believed to be hiding in neighbouring countries.

Panyang told Al Jazeera that while no grop had yet claimed responsibility for the attack, he was “definitely sure” that the LRA was involved, saying it was the only group with the capability to carry out such an attack in the area.

Women and children were also among the fa-

Members of the Ukrainian government forces, who are prisoners-of-war (POWs), stand along a road next to an Ukrainian soldier, after they were exchanged, near Donetsk, eastern Ukraine recently.

Houthis release kidnapped Yemen aide

Y

EMEN’s Houthi movement has freed the presidential chief of staff, whom it seized on Jan. 17 during a power struggle with then President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Houthi official Ali al-Quhoom and two government officials said yesterday.

The seizure of the aide, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, helped to plunge Yemen into political crisis, resulting in clashes between the

Houthis and President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s presidential guards that prompted the president and the government to resign.

Quhoom said bin Mubarak was freed without any restrictions or conditions as a goodwill gesture to ease tensions in Yemen and in honor of a delegation of tribal leaders from the Shabwa province in southeastern Yemen where the Hadi aide comes from.

an Union election monitoring mission, Santiago Fisas, said staff deployed to observe polling in Africa’s most populous country would not even attempt to travel to the northeast.

Separately, police in the northeastern town of Potiskum said they had arrested a bomb-maker linked to several recent Boko Haram suicide attacks — a welcome development for Nigeria’s security services which have struggled to protect civilians.

Adamu Kamale, who represents the Michika district in the Adamawa state government, also in the northeast, said Boko Haram gunmen had been going “doorto-door, killing people, including the old” for the past two weeks.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the latest alleged atrocities.

s South Sudan is struggling to contain lawlessness as conflict between the government and the rebels continues

talities, he said, adding that government forces had been deployed to the region.

Earlier, Panyang told the Associated Press news agency that the rebels came into South Sudan’s Western Bahr el-Ghazal state from Sudan, Chad or Central African Republic.

South Sudan is struggling to contain lawlessness as conflict between the government and the rebels continues.

The fighting started in December 2013, when forces loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar fought the national army of President Salva Kiir’s government.

The two sides have signed several peace deals brokered by neighbouring governments, but none has actually stopped the warfare in the oil-rich country.

Child ritual killings spread alarm, anger in Ivory Coast

A

T least 21 children have been kidnapped in Ivory Coast since December and most have been found dead with their bodies mutilated, authorities said, in a wave of ritual killings some residents

fear may be linked to upcoming elections.

Police chief Brindou Mbia said security forces had been placed on high alert after the spate of child abductions but he declined to speculate what was behind the kill-

ings.

In the commercial capital Abidjan, where at least three children have been abducted, residents expressed concern for the safety of their young ones.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 — 61

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

NFF mourns Agbonavbare A

CTING President of Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has expressed deep grief of the Federation and the entire Nigeria football family at the death of former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper Wilfred Agbonavbare. The former Senior National Team number one goalie’s affliction with cancer was reported a couple of weeks ago, and the news was broken that he died in the early hours of Tuesday in Spain.

“This is very sad coming only two days after the death of Coach Musa Abdullahi. The Nigeria Football Federation became aware of Agbonavbare’s affliction only a couple of weeks ago.

“This is another true hero gone to rest too early. Agbonavbare was a patriot of the first grade and his contributions to Nigeria football on-field can never be forgotten,” Akinwunmi said Tuesday afternoon.

•Agbonavbare

By Ben Efe

A

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria officials have mapped out plans to present strong teams that will win the forth coming African Junior Championships billed for March in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and also the African Youth Athletics Championships in Mauritius in April.

Nigerian juniors topped the maiden African Youth Athletics Championships 2013 in Warri Delta State, and also the African junior championships in Mauritius.

According to the AFN

AFN keen to defend African juniors and youth titles technical director, Omatseye Nesiama the federation is aiming to repeat the junior ‘double’ as a way of sustaining the development of grassroots talents in the country.

“We are aiming to defend both tittles. We are going to select our teams at the Pastor D.K Olukoya Championships coming up in Lagos on February 6-7,” said Navy Commodore Nesiama.

He added that the AFN was equally preparing for the major events of the season they

Afcon 2015: It’s win or bust as Cameroon battle I/Coast I

T will be fireworks when two giants of African football, Ivory Coast take on arch rivals Cameroon in one of the last group matches of the ongoing Africa Cup of

Nations in Equatorial Guinea tonight. Ivory Coast will be hoping history does not repeat itself and they are eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations finals by

the drawing of lots as was the case 27 years ago.

Cameroon, Guinea, the Ivory Coast and Mali are all level after two rounds of games, each ending in 1-1 draws.

Should that be the case again when Cameroon meet the Ivorians in Malabo and Mali take on Guinea at the same time in Mongomo, then the Confederation of African Football will have to dust off its glass bowls and balls and conduct a draw to determine which teams to advance to the quarter-finals.

The drawing of lots could also take place if one of the games ends all square and the other produces a victory, or in the case of different score draws determining who is the group winner and runner-up.

Agbonavbare •Continues from BP being selected for the 1994 African Cup of Nations and that year ’s FIFA World Cup, backing up Peter Rufai on both occasions.

Agbonavbare played for New Nigeria Bank F.C. and BCC Lions FC at home. In 1990 he moved to Spain where he would spend the rest of his career, starting with Rayo Vallecano in Segunda División. In his second season with the Madrid outskirts team Agbonavbare appeared in all 38 league games (3 332 minutes of action, 27 goals conceded, second-best in the competition) as the club finished second and returned to La Liga after two years of absence.

Twice before the Nations Cup finals have turned to the cruel lottery to determine the fate of teams level after the first round.

The Ivorians lost out to Algeria at the 1988 finals in Morocco after both finished on three points with two goals scored and two each conceded.

In 1972, Congo advanced to the semi-finals after they were level with Morocco on points and goal difference after the first round.

include the All African Games in Congo and the World championships in Bejing, China.

Ghana, Algeria through to Q/finals

B

LACK Stars of Gha na came from behind to beat South Africa 2-1 to qualify for the quarter/final of the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

Algeria also beat Senegal 2-0 in the group C other fixture to send South Africa and Senegal out of the tournament.

Bafana Bafana took the lead in the 16th minute when Mandla Masango latched on to a pass and looped a volley over Black Stars keeper Brimah Razak. Ghana fought back in the second half as John Boye put them in contention when he drilled the ball into the net. Andre Ayew scored the second goal for Ghana with a header off Baba Rahman’s left-wing cross.

Flying Eagles defender out of danger, undergoes scan

F

LYING Eagles de fender Prince Izu Omego is out of danger after a head injury in Monday ’s Super 4 match against Pillars and will undergo a scan later on Tuesday.

“Izu is much better now. He will have a scan to further ascertain the extent of the injury,” said Flying Eagles team doctor, Ozi Salami. The central defender was rushed to hospital late in the Pillars game after a flying boot crashed

against his head, but he has since rejoined the rest of the Flying Eagles squad at the Serob Hotel in Wuye, Abuja.

The Flying Eagles are top of the expanded Super 4 with six points from two matches, same as Nigeria U23 team, but enjoy a better goals difference. They take on Warri Wolves in their next game at the roundrobin tournament on Wednesday. Kick-off time is 1pm at the Abuja National Stadium.

Nadal

rounds. Entering the Australian Open, Nadal had played only eight matches since last June because of a right wrist injury and appendix surgery in November.

Federer, who has 17 major titles, including four in Australia, departed Melbourne Park after an upset third-round loss to Andrea Seppi.

Nadal said he was surprised to have advanced as far as he did in Melbourne.

•Continues from BP illness finally caught up with the 14-time major champion in his quarterfinal match against Tomas Berdych. He was never much of a factor and lost 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (5).

The third-seeded Nadal said before the tournament that his inactivity over the last half of 2014 made him unlikely to win more than a few

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 — 63

Agbonavbare succumbs to cancer, after losing wife to same disease

By John Egbokhan

F

OR former AFCON 1994 winner, late Wilfred Agbonavbare, life was most unfair.

Having played for Nigeria at different levels, comprising the Flying Eagles squad of 1983, which were the first to represent Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Championship in Mexico in the same year and the then Green Eagles squad of 1984 and later the Super Eagles team of 1994, before seeking the proverbial greener pastures to Europe, where he played and retired, the 48 years old Edo State native should have lived well above the middle income level.

But like is the fate of many former sports stars, that dream remained a pipe-dream for Agbonavbare, who was not only unemployed until his demise but also lost his wife to the scourge of cancer, .

And it has emerged that paperwork stopped the children of Agbonavbare, from seeing their father before he died. The Rayo Vallecano ‘s goalkeeper between 1990 and 1996, died from cancer at the age of 48.

Agbonavbare’s footballing career began at New Nigeria Bank and after a stint at Brentford FC in England, he moved to Rayo Vallecano, where he played for six seasons. In 1996, he signed for Écija Balompie, where he stayed for a year.

Agbonavbare was an international for his home country and in 1994 won the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia. In that same year, he also took part in the USA World Cup as Peter Rufai’s substitute.

His team, affectionately known as the ‘Super

BEFORE HIS DEATH... Late Agbonavbare on sick bed with a friend, Ernest Airhia in Florida.

Eagles, managed to get as far as the round of 16 stage in the tournament.

The former Nigerian goalkeeper, who was always one of the Rayo fans’ favourites, was being cared for at the Príncipe de Asturias Hospital in Alcalá de Henares near Madrid.

Rayo Vallecano did their very best for Agbonavbare’s children to fly from Nigeria to see their father before he died. To this end, half of the •21,000 raised for doña Carmen , the elderly lady who was to be evicted from her home in Vallecas and who insisted that she did not need so much money, was used.

The club did all it could to get the ex-keeper ’s three children over from Nigeria to see their father for the last time, but all the paperwork and bureaucratic steps to be taken were not completed in time and tragically, Agbonavbare died before their arrival.

In an earlier interview

before his death, the late Agbonavbare recounted his pathetic story thus: “I was relieved of my job after I was diagnosed with can-

•Late Agbonavbare... when the going was good

My wife died of breast cancer three years ago and when she was diagnosed with breast cancer I spent all the money I made playing professional football on her medical bills to keep her treatment uninterrupted

cer. My wife died of breast cancer three years ago and when she was diagnosed with breast cancer I spent all the money I made playing professional football on her medical bills to keep her treatment uninterrupted. Consequently, I had to send my three children to Nigeria because of my lethal health condition”.

Soon after sending his kids back to Nigeria, he was relocated back to Spain after spending five months in a Tampa, Florida, hospital, to continue with his treatment, which required money, an item that Agbonavbare did not have.

For his former team-

mates, his death was avoidable had the Nigerian government redeemed its pledge to the Mexico ’83 Flying Eagles squad, who were promised scholarship to the tertiary level by the then Shehu Shagari-led government after they returned back to Nigeria from Mexico.

According to Dehinde Akinlotan, who now resides in the USA, it was high time that the present government under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan came to the aid of the children left bhind by the deceased..

“We are using this medium to appeal to Mr.

President to look back into our plea for the scholarship awards promised to the 1983 Flying Eagles as the first ever Nigerian national team to qualify for FIFA tournament and registered the country’s name on their map.

“This will go a along way to help Agbonavbare’s children, who have lost their breadwinner”.

According to another teammate, Tajudeen Disu, President Jonathan must show greater commitment to the welfare of sports stars of yesterday.. “ We are using this medium to thank President Jonathan for supporting all our sports men and women because his administration has been very supportive of sports participants more than any administration. I really want to go back to the 1983 promise made to us for being the first team to ever quality Nigeria for a FIFA tournament by the then government and up to date it has not being fulfilled. We have been calling for the redemption of the promise and I believe that he will do it because he is a president who genuinely cares for sports men and women and I have no doubt in his trust.

“It’s unfortunate that Agbonavbare died of cancer and most painful that he died in penury and was unable to pay his hospital bills. The government could have stepped in to save the situation when it was critical .Agbonavbare has left behind children who we now hope the government will come to their aid by redeeming the scholarship pledge made to their departed father while playing for Nigeria. We are also urging the government to find a way to put together a retirement plan so players have something to fall back to after retirement from active football.

“Those of our deceased teammates and coaches ought to be remembered as well. I have lost hope in the FG whereby its promises are never fulfilled. That was why I relocated my family to USA because I do not want a repeat of what happened to us to happen to my children”, added Disu.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

Agbonavbare passes on F

ORMER Super Ea gles goalkeeper Wilfred Agbonavbare has lost the battle to cancer. He died aged 48 in Spain. There were ap-

peals for financial support last week that also saw Spanish sports publication, Marca, picked up on the appeals and ran a story on the AFCON 1994 winner.

According to report, the former Rayo Vallecano safe hands had also lost his wife to cancer few years ago.

Agbonavbare appeared with the Nigerian under-20s at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico.

He also played for more than one decade with the Super Eagles, •Continues on Page 62

•Late Agbonavbare

Nadal crashes out of Australian Open

R

AFAEL Nadal has joined Roger Federer on the sidelines at the Australian Open, taking their combined 31

GRITTY: South Africa's defender Calvin Ngonca Anele (L) challenges Ghana's Andre Ayew during the 2015 Afcon group C match in Mongomo. Ghana won 2-1.Photo: AFP

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

•Continues on Page 62

•Rafael

Afcon 2015: It’s win or bust as 2 Cameroon battle Ivory Coast —P6 ACROSS: 1 Skirt (6) 5 Origin (6) 9 Duck (5) 10 Entreaty (6) 11 Wood (6) 12 Tag (5) 14 Just (4) 17 Vehicle (3) 18 Ripped (4) 20 Strop (5) 22 Equipped (5) 23 House (7) 24 Plunged (5) 26 Penetrate (5) 29 Tart (4) 30 Curve (3) 32 Challenge (4) 33 Design (5) 35 Vegetable (6) 36 Senior (6) 37 Items (5) 38 Cure (6) 39 Warmed (6)

Grand Slam singles titles with them.

In the women’s category, second-seed Maria Sharapova, who beat Eugenie Bouchard on Tuesday will face Ekaterina Makarova in an all-Russian semifinal.

Nadal’s lack of match fitness from nearly six months of injuries and

Today’s Matches Guinea vs Mali 7 pm Cameroon vs I/Coast

Results Senegal 0 Algeria 2 S.Africa 1 Ghana 2

QUICK CROSSWORD

DOWN: 1 Belittles (6) 2 Fix (6) 3 Agreement (4) 4 Shrub (5) 5 Drain (5) 6 Spoken (4) 7 Haphazard (6) 8 Stretch (6) 13 Beating (7) 15 Room (5) 16 Sped (5) 18 Fashion (5) 19 Allude (5) 21 Seed-case (3) 22 Period (3) 24 Smart (6) 25 Dupe (6) 27 Skill (6) 28 Relaxed (6) 30 Slackness (5) 31 Material (5) 33 Fastener (4) 34 Besides (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4 Snail 7, Chewed 9, Spy 10, God 12, Alive 13, Oval 16, Piano 17, Latest 19, Nose 20, Solve 22, Tow 24, Ashamed 27, Ten 28, Ruins 31, Rugs 33, Access 35, Model 37, Tsar 38, Haven 39, Sum 41, Lug 42, Bureau 43, Meals.

DOWN: 1, Across 2, Recall 3, Peg 4, Span 5, Nylon 6, Invasion 8, Dope 11, Distance 14, Lava 16, Atom 18, Test 21, Obdurate 23, Were 25, Head 26, Dust 29, Issued 30, Shroud 32, Smell 34, Club 36, Onus 40, Mug.

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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