Jubilation in Rivers as S-Court upholds Wike's election

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62681

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Kogi: Bello sworn in as governor without deputy

OATH OF OFFICE Alhaji Yahaya Bello (R), taking Oath of Office as Governor of Kogi State at his inauguration, before the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nasiru Ajana, in Lokoja, yesterday.

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Jubilation in Rivers as S-Court upholds Wike's election

By Dayo Benson, Jimitota Onoyume, Henry Umoru, Abdulwahab Abdulah, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Dapo Akinrefon & Joseph Erunke

•Fayose, Ekweremadu laud S- Court on Rivers, Ebonyi •Rivers people, NBA, SANs, others react $2.1BN ARMS SCANDAL, OTHERS:

Why I won't speak on probes now — JONATHAN 45

P.17

MODIBBO

KAWU Kwara and Kaduna:

Contrasting faces of governance

P.19

JOSEF

OMOROTIONMWAN

Edo 2016 and the war of succession

COLUMNISTS:

BRIEFING: Former President, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan (middle) briefing United Nations correspondents and Swiss journalists yesterday in Geneva as part of activities lined up by the Circle of Diplomats (CircleDiplomatique), Geneva in his honour.

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BUJA—THE Supreme Court has upheld the outcome of the April 11, 2015 governorship election that brought Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to power.

The apex court in a unanimous judgment, restored the declaration

of Wike as the valid winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Justice Kekere-Ekun, who delivered the lead verdict, held that three separate appeals filed by Wike, the Peoples Continues on Page 5

Obasanjo writes Saraki, Dogara; accuses NASS of greed Mr & Mrs 16

Ahmed Gulak storms PDP secretariat, installs self national chairman 8 Sets up 11-man c'ttee; PDP ex-officios disown him

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

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4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

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POCKET CARTOON

RIVERS—Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; his wife, Justice Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and others celebrating the Supreme Court judgment validating his election, yesterday, in Port Harcourt

Jubilation in Rivers as S-Court upholds Wike's election Continues from Page 1 Democratic Party, PDP and INEC, were meritorious.

Concurrent judgments of both the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and that of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal were all set aside by the Supreme Court.

The apex court panel headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, however, reserved their reasons for the judgment till February 12.

Also the apex court, yesterday, upheld the elections of governors Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Ibikunle

Amosun of Ogun State.

Meanwhile, reacting to his victory, Governor Wike said the court victory was a victory for the rule of law and people of Rivers State.

Wike added that the Supreme Court judgment was a victory for democracy and a confirmation that the will of God will always prevail over the machinations of men.

In a statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Wike said that the judgment of the Supreme Court validating his election was a confirmation of the mandate freely given to

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO F you fail to live out your purpose, someone else would do it so well you wished you never doubted yourself. It's up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Gratitude opens the door to power and wisdom, the creativity of the universe —Deepak Chopra

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OU cannot feel envious and grateful at the same time. They’re incompatible feelings. If you’re grateful, you can’t resent someone for having something that you don’t. People who have high levels of gratitude have low levels of resentment and envy. Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we have received. This doesn’t mean that life is perfect; it doesn’t ignore life’s challenges.

But when we look at life as a whole, gratitude encourages us to identify some amount of goodness in our lives.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE From the odour of the fart, you know taste of the faeces

him by the people of the state.

Wike trekked on the streets of Port Harcourt before ending up at the Government House. As he walked the streets, he was greeted by celebrating Rivers people.

Assuring the people of Rivers State that his victory at the Supreme Court will lead to greater delivery of democracy dividends across the state, Wike extended a hand of fellowship to the Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside to join hands with his administration to develop the state.

He praised Peterside for approaching the judiciary, instead of embarking on violence.

He stated that the people of Rivers State will continue to benefit from the pro-people projects and programmes of his administration as he was determined to always live up to the social contract he entered with them.

Jubilation in PHarcourt as Fayose lauds SCourt

There was jubilation, yesterday, on the streets of Port Harcourt, over the victory of Governor Wike at the Supreme Court.

At about 3p.m., there were speculations that Wike was going to win.

Some persons were even calling to confirm if Wike had won at the Supreme Court.

Reacting to Wike’s victory, Ekiti State

governor, Ayodele Fayose described the judgment of the Supreme Court as a step by the judiciary to free itself from the clutches of desperate politicians, who wanted to ambush the judicial arm of government.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti, the governor said that the apex court, by its decision, had shown that all hope was not lost as far as the judiciary was concerned.

Fayose lauded the people of Rivers State for solidly standing behind Wike and the governor for remaining steadfast in the face of serious provocation.

He thanked members of the PDP in the state and Nigeria at large for not caving in to pressure.

“I rejoice with Governor Wike that his God-given mandate which some people wanted to take through the back door has been restored and the evil doers put to shame. I must commend the Supreme Court for living up to expectation and letting Nigerians know that all hope is not lost.

This should teach those who believe they can reap where they did not sow that in the end, a Daniel will come to judgment,” he said.

Ekweremadu congratulates Wike, Umahi

Also, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said that with its judgment in Ebonyi and Rivers states, the Supreme Court has helped preserve the

mandate of the people.

In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu also hailed Governor Wike of Rivers State and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Governor Dave Umahi, on their victories at the Supreme Court, yesterday.

Reacting to the verdicts of the Supreme Court, Senator Ekweremadu said: “By these verdicts, the Supreme Court has shown itself, once again, as the last hope of the common man. The apex court has continued to demonstrate that it has all that it takes to deepen our democracy and uphold the people’s rights to freely elect their leaders.

“These are important victories, not only for the people of Rivers and Ebonyi states, but also for the PDP. These verdicts have further confirmed that both states are PDP strongholds and I have no doubt that the people are even further bolstered by these judgments to keep it so.”

He urged both governors to continue to reciprocate the people’s goodwill and support through the delivery of democracy dividends in their respective states.

‘Fears of violent re-run dispelled’

Also, Chairperson, Ijaw Mothers, Doris McDaniels told Vanguard that the verdict had laid to rest fears of what a rerun election would have been in the state at the governorship level.

“Thank God because we were bothered about the vulnerable youths that may have died of election violence.

Violence has been eradicated. Mothers are no longer in fear of the killing of their children in a re run election. We have defeated blood sucking demons in Rivers State,” she said.

Commissioner for Housing, Mr Emma Okah said Wike’s victory has certainly humbled the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the

state.

Okah who had his comment on his face book wall said: “Wike and PDP won at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Federal might failed, pride of APC failed. Supreme Court feared God.” Chairman Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, South South, Mr Karl Uchegbu said the judgement had saved the state another round of violence, adding that it had also restored confidence on the judiciary.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, president, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, said: “We believe that the Supreme Court has considered all the facts and did what it believes is right. All affected parties should accept the Supreme Court decision because it is the apex court of the land.

“Whatever I say now will be speculative without reading the judgment, so we await the reason for the decision of the court, because whatever it says becomes the law.”

Another senior lawyer, Chief Alex Iziyon, SAN, said: “The judgment has followed the decision in the case of Zamfara State.

The decision is also consistent with the judgment in the case of Buhari versus Obasanjo, which states that whenever there is a conflict between the constitution and the Electoral Act, the constitution prevails.

“Yet some Court of Appeal Justices still went ahead to decide the other way round in some of the cases. There must be certainty in the law and that is what the Supreme Court has affirmed.”

Chief Robert Clarke, SAN, said: “The Supreme Court is the apex court in Nigeria, so whatever judgment it gives, becomes sacrosanct and it is binding on all parties.

“It has the final say on the subject matter and there is no other thing that the parties can do except to appeal to God. So they have to abide by it and move forward.”

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Police Corporal to face trial over murder of Keke operator's wife

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A 28-year-old Police Corporal, Musefiu Aremu, who was alleged to have killed a mother of four, Comfort Godwin Sunday, on September 16, 2015, will face trial for attempted murder and murder before the Lagos State High Court.

Aremu was alleged to have killed the mother of four over the refusal of her commercial tricycle operator-husband to give money to Aremu and his colleagues attached to the Isheri-Osun Police Station, who had mounted an illegal road block that night.

The defendant was earlier arraigned before the State Magistrate’s Court, at Ebute Meta and was remanded in prison custody pending the advice from office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP. At the resumed hearing of the case before Magistrate Folashade Botoku yesterday, the prosecutor, Godwin Osuyi, informed the court that all was now set for the trial of the defendant over the alleged offence.

He said the much-awaited DPP’s advice, which the prosecution was waiting for, had been released and it indicted Aremu and recommended him for trial.

SCAVENGERS: Searching for useful waste in a canal at Alakija area of Lagos State. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez

Nursing mother sells baby for N300,000

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—THE Bayelsa State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the arrest of a 28-year-old mother, who

allegedly sold her three months old baby girl for N300,000.

Spokesman of the command, Asinim Butswat, gave the name of the baby ’s mother as Oyikepreye Enoch.

According to him, Enoch was arrested yesterday by men of the Akenfa Division, following a tipoff.

He said: “The suspect sold her child to one Esther Tony, 30, for

Malaysian varsity student jailed 24 years over internet scam

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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N Ikeja High Court, presided over by Justice Lateefa Okunnu, has convicted

and sentenced a Nigerian undergraduate of Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University, Malaysia, Hope Olusegun Aroke, a Nigerian, to

24 years imprisonment over an internet scam involving N25 million.

Justice Okunnu found the convict guilty of a two-count

LASSA: Lagos, Jigawa record fresh deaths; 563 contacts under surveillance

By Chioma Obinna, Aliyu Dangida & Monsuru Olowoopejo

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WO people were confirmed dead from Lassa Fever in Lagos and Jigawa states, yesterday, with 563 people, who had contact with the index cases, under surveillance in both states.

The 27-year-old Lagos victim reportedly travelled to Edo State on December 24, 2015, and returned to Lagos on January 2, 2016, just as the 18-year old Jigawa victim reportedly visited Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, lamented that all cases recorded in Lagos were residents who contacted the virus during their short visit to other states.

The state’s confirmation came barely five days after a 51-yearold resident of the state was confirmed dead by the state government.

According to Idris, “the last confirmed case was a 27 years

N300,000.”

Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, added that both suspects were undergoing interrogation at the Akenfa Police Station, Yenagoa.

old lady, who travelled to Edo State on December 24, 2015 and returned to Lagos on January 2, 2016.

“She became ill on January 14 and received care in one private hospital and three churches before she was referred on January 23 to Ijede General Hospital in Ikorodu LGA. “At the hospital, she was diagnosed of fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and body weakness.

It is pathetic that the patient died within a few hours of admission. The case was confirmed as Lassa Fever on January 26, after test.

“The remains of the patient have been kept in the morgue in leak proof body bag. She is to be buried after due consultation with her family.”

Contacts

Dr. Idris noted that 90 persons, who had contact with the last confirmed case as at January 26, were being traced.

The ministry has listed 537 contacts of all confirmed cases and 534 (99%) of the contacts

are currently being monitored.

Jigawa

In a related development, Jigawa State Commissioner of Health, Dr Abba Zakar, equally confirmed the death of an 18year-old young man from Lassa Fever in the state with 26 people, who had contact with the index case, under surveillance.

Zakar said the victim, who resided at Gujubaki village in Dutse LGA of the state, reported at Dutse General Hospital with signs and symptoms suggestive of Lassa Fever after he returned from Port Harcourt.

He said the management of the hospital, on noticing the case, immediately reported to the health ministry that quickly despatched its Rapid Response Team, RRT, with three doctors, Disease Notification Officers, DNOs, and an epidemiologist to examine the victim and take samples of his blood.

The Health Commissioner

noted that the victim died same day he reported at the hospital after his blood sample was taken to one of the Lassa Fever laboratories in Abuja, where it was confirmed positive.

Dr. Zakari, who pointed out that 26 people had contact with the victim before he died, said the contacts were now under surveillance, adding “ we started getting worried when we heard that Kano State had two suspected cases on Lassa Fever in December 2015.”

FG's cooperation

Meanwhile, Federal Government has deployed personnel to Lagos to assist the state government in tracing those who had contacts with the deceased and others who tested positive to the virus.

Dr. Idris disclosed that the Federal Government, as part of its aid programme, sent some personnel (students) of a medical institution to learn how the state tackles disease outbreaks and to assist the state in the contact tracing exercise.

charge of forgery and obtaining money under false pretence levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The 25 years old undergraduate was accused of obtaining money by false pretence from his victims, cloning of bank cheques, wire transfer and forgery.

After reviewing the case, Justice Okunnu found him guilty of the charges and sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment on each of the two counts, which will run concurrently.

Aroke’s fraudulent act became a public issue when an anonymous petitioner wrote EFCC, alleging that the convict, who hails from Kogi State, was involved in some online fraudulent acts, which compelled EFCC to commence investigation, leading to his arrest and prosecution.

Investigations revealed that Aroke was involved in several romance scams that fetched him 4,000 Ringgit (Malaysian currency).

He admitted sending the money to Nigeria through one Angela, who later helped him deposit its Naira equivalent, N25 million in a new generation bank.

On his arrest, two exotic cars, valued at N23 million, were recovered from him.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—7

Benue villages razed as game hunters set bush ablaze and their family members were away at the time of the incident,

hence no item was rescued from the affected houses.

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—OVER 120 houses have been reportedly razed in separate fire outbreaks at Tse Mtaghji village, Bilawa and Akpuku village, Mbagune in Gwer West and Makurdi Local Government areas of Benue State.

Vanguard learned that two incidents, which occurred within an interval of 48 hours, razed the entire Akpuku village, while about 20 houses were consumed, yesterday, in the Makurdi inferno.

A staff of the state-owned Radio Benue, Mr. Nicholas Ticha, affected by the Tse Mtaghji outbreak, said the incident was caused by bush burning.

Ticha said: “The fire razed down our entire village including our food barn, farmland, economic trees and property worth millions of Naira.

“Though no life was lost in the incident, our people have been subjected to untold hardship because we lost everything. It can only take the assistance of public-spirited individuals and the emergency management agencies to help us start a new life in the community.”

Meanwhile, an eyewitness of the Akpuku inferno, in the outskirts of Makurdi, Dennis Ngutswe, disclosed that the fire started from a nearby bush, were some people hunting bush rats set the bush on fire.

He said most of the victims

... as wild fire razes school in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—A block of classrooms in Community Primary School, Akabo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, has been razed by bush fire.

The classroom block, which suffered most was the one constructed in 2007 by the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, in conjunction with the Imo State Universal Basic Education Board, IMSUBEB.

Vanguard learned that all the pupils’ desks, instructional materials and teachers’ chairs and tables were all burnt by the fire.

One of the stories making the rounds, when Vanguard visited the scene yesterday, was that a cigarette smoker dropped the stump of his smouldering tobacco at the nearby bush, which later ignited.

Although nobody was able to properly identify the alleged smoker at press time, some

villagers informed Vanguard that they became alarmed when the fire started pushing towards the school buildings.

One of the teachers, who spoke on ground of anonymity, told Vanguard yesterday that “apart from losing their classrooms, the children now sit on bare floor during lessons.”

All efforts made to reach the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Gertrude Oduka, before press time failed, as her mobile line could not be reached.

PROTEST: President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (3rd right) and family members of victim of Police's stray bullet, Mrs Comfort Udoh, during a protest in Lagos, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Bank staff says Metuh ran 5 accounts, as court varies bail conditions

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—AN official of Diamond Bank Plc, EnoMfon Effiong, yesterday, told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that the National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, who is facing trial over alleged N400 million fraud, ran five separate accounts with the bank.

Effiong, who told the court that she was the account officer to Metuh’s firm, Destra Investment Limited, explained that the company already had a balance of N6,676,576 in its account, prior to the date the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, credited it with N400 million on November 24, 2014.

The witness, who testified as the PW-3 yesterday, said she was not surprised by “the credit inflows” into the account, 0040437573, considering that both Metuh and his firm were

regarded by the bank as “high network customers.”

She explained that high network customers were those that have high credit inflow into their accounts, saying “this is usually because the person is either a captain of industry, a high earning individual or an established businessman.”

Effiong told the court that she had been managing Destra’s account since it was opened on February 10, 2013.

Meanwhile, a move by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir to tender the bank account details and correspondence between Diamond Bank and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, pertaining to the financial status of the firm, was opposed by Metuh’s lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN).

Etiaba complained that some of the documents did not fulfill the provisions of the Evidence Act as they were not tendered

through those that made them.

However, Justice Okon Abang dismissed the objection, stressing that the said error did not affect the probative value or weight of the evidence contained in the document.

Consequently, the court admitted the letters EFCC wrote to Diamond Bank, the bank’s response and a Certificate of Identification, dated January 11, 2015, signed by one Matilda Obigho of Compliance Department of the bank, into evidence.

Also, application for variation of the bail conditions, imposed on Metuh January 19, was moved in court yesterday by Mr. Etiaba.

He pleaded with the court to vary some of the terms, especially the aspect that made it mandatory that his sureties must own landed properties at the Maitama district of Abuja.

Delivering his bench ruling yesterday, Justice Abang said he was minded to exercise his

discretion in favour of the defendant.

Consequently, the court modified the bail conditions and held that the proposed sureties should be owners of verifiable landed properties in any district of the Federal Capital Territory.

Driver steals boss' car 3 weeks after employment

By Esther Onyegbula

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40-year-old robbery suspect, arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, has revealed that he plotted with robbers to steal his employer ’s vehicle three weeks after he was employed.

The suspect, identified as George Orhewere, said he connived with members of his gang to enable him raise funds to secure the release of his step-brother, who is an inmate in Sagamu Minimum Prison, Ogun Prison.

It was learned that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, detailed SARS operatives to investigate the case, after one Rosemary Aigoro petitioned Lagos State Police Command that her driver, one George Orhewere, who was directly employed by Haspol Jinim Resource Company situated at Ifako Gbagada Lagos, stole her Toyota Sienna car, with number plates KJA407DC. Vanguard learned that the driver deceived the house help by collecting the ignition key to the car on the pretence that he was going to see his girlfriend.

The suspect, George Orhewere, said: “My stepbrother told me that his friend, Rafiu, a car dealer, who rob cars here and sell in Cotonou will come to me.

“I told him I had not done it before; he said there is no harm in trying and that when Rafiu contacts me, I should sell my boss vehicle.

“Rafiu and I took the car to Cotonou. He promised to pay N800,000 for the car, but he has not given me a dime. I stole the vehicle on December, 7, 2015.”

Oil price won't derail LNG project — Gaius-Obaseki

By Michael Eboh

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HE Chairman, Brass Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG, Limited, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, yesterday, said that the low price of crude oil in the international market will not adversely affect the realisation of the LNG project, and that the dwindling oil price had led to a review that would help increase viability and bring down the cost of the project.

This was in the face of fears

that the low oil price might have made the project, which is capable of generating over 10,000 jobs and around eight million metric tonnes of gas, not to be economically viable.

Speaking at the 11th Annual General Meeting of the company in Abuja, Tuesday, Gaius-Obaseki also stated that the cost of the project had been reviewed downwards, while the project could commence with a single train and an eye on the second train thereafter.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Gulak storms PDP secretariat, declares self national chair Sets up 11-member c'ttee You're fifth columnist working for APC, NWC tells Gulak As PDP ex-officios kick, disown Gulak

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—THERE was confusion, yesterday, at the national secretariat of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the former Political Adviser to former President Goodkuck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, stormed the secretariat with his supporters and made himself the national chairman of the party.

Gulak, who arrived the national headquarters of PDP at 1:42pm in company of other aides of former President Jonathan, went straight to the third floor of the building, and asked that the office of the national chairman be opened for him.

He immediately moved to the National Working Committee, NWC, Conference hall to address journalists, using the chair of the national chairman.

Addressing journalists, Gulak noted that a high court had thrown out an application by the PDP and the acting national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, which sought to stop a previous ruling demanding that Secondus vacates office within 14 days.

He also said there would be a change to the proposed date of the national convention which was slated for March this year by the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee, NWC, against the backdrop that the NWC ought to have first tabled the matter before the National Executive Committee, NEC, before announcing it.

The former Presidential aide was accompanied by Dr Doyin Okupe, Mr Shehu Birma, Ayakeme Whiskey, Chuma Nnaji, Mohammed Kachalla, Jonathan Asake, Moshood Salvador, Denis Emmanuel, Eddy Olafeso and Yusuf Hassan, among others.

You're fifth columnist working for APC, NWC tells Gulak

But in a swift reaction, the PDP NWC described the action as shocking, a taboo that was unacceptable and described Gulak as a fifth columnist working for the All Progressives Congress, APC, to cause confusion in the party.

It wondered that Gulak could come through the back door to become the national chairman of the party, asking him to go to his zone, consult, lobby for his name to be submitted from the North East zone.

PDP National Legal Adviser, Mr Victor Kwon, dismissed Gulak’s claims but urged him to go and lobby if he wanted to be chairman.

“He cannot proclaim himself national chairman and court did not tell the party to name him

national chairman,’’ he said.

Flanked by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Jalo, Kwon who noted that the court ruling cited

by Gulak, yesterday, was not mentioned at all, said the party did not receive any hearing notice that the application came up today.

He also said PDP had filed an appeal on December 16 and an application for injunction, pending the appeal, which were served on Gulak.

The National Legal Adviser admitted that the High Court judgement that favored Gulak called for the party to appoint a person from North East within 14 days, adding that the decision did not mandate PDP to appoint Gulak as chairman.

He said: “PDP is law-abiding and respect orders of the party and respect the right of NorthEast to complete their term.”

Kwon noted that consultations were ongoing to arrive at a person that would be agreeable to persons from the North-East.

According to him, intervening

events have made it difficult for the party to get a new chairman from the zone since last year.

“Nobody is making a gain for the elongation,’’ he added.

Kwon further declared that the party had yet to receive any hearing notice that the application came up today.

“So, if the application wasn’t heard today, it goes to show that the stay of execution hasn’t been struck out. ‘’Even the judgment asking Secondus to vacate his seat didn’t say the party should appoint Gulak as chairman,” he said.

He further revealed that a meeting of the PDP NEC would soon be convened to produce a substantive chairman from the North-East ahead of the national convention slated for March.

PDP ex-officios kick, disown Gulak

Meanwhile, 24 ex-officio members of PDP National Executive Committee, NEC, yesterday, distanced themselves from a ploy by Gulak to take over the chairmanship of the party.

Reacting to the inclusion of the

chairman of the committee of the ex-officios, Udo Ekpenyong, on the list of an 11-member committee set up by Gulak after he proclaimed himself national chairman of the party, they said they could not be party to any attempt to cause crisis in the party.

Ekpenyong, who coincidentally flew into Abuja barely two hours after Gulak mentioned his name as member of the committee, lampooned him for attempting to divide the party, adding: “I saw a statement by the former political adviser to the president, Mr Gulak, publishing names which he claimed he has inaugurated 11-man committee to look into the affairs of the party.

“I am just seeing this for the first time. Please, I am not a party to this statement. I have never been a party to anything having to do with impunity and against the law.

“I have been in politics for almost 18 years now and I helped to build PDP and I cannot destroy it now.

“There are constitutional ways of doing things. This press release shows personal interests. I am not involved in any way as chairman of the Exofficios. I cannot be a party to this, I cannot destroy the house that the good people of this country collectively built."

BRIEFING: Form left, Jigawa State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholder, Mr Ibrahim Sheu Brima; former Senior Special Adviser, Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe and Alhaji Ahmed Gulak who declared himself Chairman of the PDP at the party’s secretariat, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

Buhari sends money laundering, criminal activities bills to Senate

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA —PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, sent his first two executive bills to the Senate, seeking to prohibit money laundering and criminal activities in the country.

The bills are:”The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2016" and “The Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, 2016.”

Buhari, in a letter to the the Senate and addresed to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said he was introducing the bills for formal consideration and enactment into law by the legislature.

In the letter read by Saraki, during plenary, Buhari informed that the first bill provides for the repeal of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012.

He explained that the bill would “make comprehensive provisions to prohibit the laundering of criminal activities, expand the scope of money laundering, and provide protection for employees of various institutions, bodies and professions who may discover money laundering”.

On the second bill, President Buhari said it “seeks to facilitate the provision and obtaining by Nigeria of international assistance in criminal matters.”

These, he stressed, include the provision and obtaining of evidence and things, and the making of arrangements for persons to give evidence or assist in criminal investigations.

He further stated that the bill seeks “the recovery, forfeiture or confiscation of property in respect of offences, the restraining of dealings in property or the freezing of assets that may be recovered, forfeited or confiscated in respect of offences.”

Senate to pass 2016 Budget Feb 25, begins 2-week recess

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, fixed Thursday, February 25 for the consideration of report and passage of the N6.08 trillion 2016 Appropriation Bill, having passed the document for second reading.

This followed conclusion of debate on the general principles of the bill, which started last Wednesday.

The Red Chamber, also committed the document to its Committee on Appropriations, headed by Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje, APC, Gombe Central, to coordinate the budget defence by the various ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, of government.

To effectively discharge this duty, the Senate has announced a twoweek working recess for senators from today, to allow its relevant standing committees thoroughly scrutinize the budget of the MDAs as contained in the appropriation bill.

In his remarks after conclusion of the debate, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, warned the senators against financial inducement in the course of the impending budget defence.

The Senate President vowed to deal with any lawmaker found to be involved in any form of bribery in the course of budget defence which would commence on January 28, saying the current assembly would not tolerate conducts capable of

undermining the integrity of the chamber.

Saraki said the move became necessary to preserve the integrity of the National Assembly and to continue to win the confidence of Nigerians.

Speaking on the general principles of the budget, he noted that the proposal was a major departure from past budgets, particularly with regard to withdrawing focus on oil as major revenue source for funding the budget.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—9

AGM:

From left, Chairman, Brass LNG Ltd, Chief Gaius Obaseki; Company Secretary, Princess Dolo Oyekan and MD of the company, Giovanni Romani during the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of company in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

KOGI: Bello takes over as gov Declares zero tolerance for graft It's ordinary ritual that'll not stand test of time —Faleke It's an aberration to swear in gov without deputy — PDP

By Henry Umoru & Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA — THE new Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, yesterday, declared his stand against corruption and impunity, saying he was in a hurry to develop the state.

Bello stated this after he was administered the oath of office and Oath of Allegiance as the fourth civilian governor of the state by the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah.

The governor, however, was betrayed by his emotion, when he burst into tears while remembering his late father and eulogising his mother and recalling the many troubles he faced before he became governor.

The inauguration ceremony was, however, conducted without a deputy governor, as the unwilling deputy governorelect, James Faleke, boycotted the event in continuation of his stand not to be associated with Bello’s emergence as replacement for late Abubakar Audu, the deceased All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate.

Indeed, Bello’s swearing-in without a deputy governor, drew plaudits and criticisms from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and some stakeholders.

The peaceful event was witnessed by a mammoth crowd as the 25,000 capacity Confluence Stadium venue was filled to capacity.

Era of graft, impunity over —Bello

Speaking after his inauguration, Bello said the era of corruption and impunity is

over, adding that he would toe the footpath of President Muhammadu Buhari in developing the state.

He said: “I will be responsible to all people irrespective of where they stand during the election.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement on May 29, 2015 where he declared, ‘I belong to everybody, I belong to no body ’ will characterise my tenure as I promise equitable governance for all the people of the state.

“My administration will serve the people of the state.

And because corruption is the greatest evil channelled through impunity, I declare my zero tolerance to corruption and impunity.”

Bello who promised to do things differently, said there will be a new direction in the governance of the state.

He said: “I will use Kogi resources to work for Kogi people, positive and decisive action will be taken to rescue Kogi. We have conceived a socio-economic blueprint to rebuild the state. Education, health, state of the art security, roads, agriculture, investment in mineral and tourism potential of the state will be harnessed.

“The blueprint will be tailored by all stakeholders to make contribution, and we will work along with the civil servants to achieve our 100 days, first year, mid-term and end -of- term targets.”

Bello, while seeking for the understanding of the people, urged them to give him the benefit of doubt as he strives to redeem the lost image and restore the glory of the state.

Dignitaries who witnessed

the event included Governors Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), and Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr. James Ocholi.

The wives of the President, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representative were all represented.

Stakeholders react

The inauguration of Yahaya Bello as the governor of Kogi

State without a deputy received knocks and kudos from some stakeholders in the state.

Among those who spoke in favour of the inauguration is one-time Commissioner of Education in defunct Kwara State, Dr. David Atte.

Atte, who was a member of the transition committee, said the success of the programme, in spite of the antagonistic nature of some politicians towards the governor, made it memorable.

He said the party, in line with the constitution of the country, will fashion out a means to address the issue of a deputy governor for Bello in view of the continuous unwillingness of the deputy-governor-elect, James Faleke.

It’s mere ritual — Faleke

However, Faleke described the inauguration as a ritual that will not stand the test of time.

Faleke, through his spokesperson, Duro Meseko said: “For us in Audu/Faleke political organisation, the swearing in programme today (yesterday) is an ordinary ritual that has no bearing or impact on our desire to actualise our mandate.

“We have stated over and over again that the Audu/ Faleke team won the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State and that if any swearing in is to take place,

it should be Hon. James Faleke, who is Audu’s running mate.”

Oyegun, Melaye appeal for peace, support

However, National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and Senator Dino Melaye have appealed to all aggrieved members of the party to embrace peace and support Bello.

Oyegun said: “We have no choice but to allow Bello as the will of God for Kogi State.

Bello is a gift to Kogi people and we must bury our hatchet and support him”.

Melaye, who was chairman of the inauguration ceremony appealled to all aggrieved members to have a change of heart and join the ‘change’ train with Bello to move the state forward.

It's an aberration to swear in gov without dep — PDP

Reacting to the issue, the national leadership of the PDP said the swearing in of Bello as governor of Kogi State without a deputy was an aberration.

Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, PDP Legal Adviser, Mr Victor Kwon, said: “These are some of the things that happen nowadays. The constitution says that the nomination of a governorship candidate is not complete unless there is the nomination of his deputy or a running mate, it is an aberration.”

EU commits $35m to fight corruption Buhari to address EU members on terrorism, anti-graft war

By Victoria Ojeme

A

BUJA— AMBASSADOR of European Union Delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States, Michel Arrion, said yesterday that the EU has committed about $35 million to the country ’s anti-curruption agencies.

Ambassador Arrion made this disclosure while briefing the press ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Strasbourg, France to address members of the European Union on terrorism and anti-graft war.

He said: “EU has committed about $35 million through on-going projects being implemented by the United Nations office targeted at various anti-corruption agencies.

“On the issue of terrorism, the ambassador said EU was working with the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, towards strengthening the capacity of Nigerian security challenges, particularly those posed by terrorism.

“The EU programme with the office of NSA aims to reduce

radicalism through community engagement and engagement with prisoners and detainees as well as respect for human rights in law enforcement operations.”

Describing the situation in the North-East as deplorable, especially among the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps, he cautioned that the military must combine their operations with intelligence and humanitarian responses in tackling terrorism.

According to him, soft approach is necessary in handling the activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria. You must provide security response as well as understand the reason people are falling into the trap of Boko Haram.”

He attributed the problem partly to poverty, illiteracy and negligence on the part of the central government towards good governance and lack of social justice.

He said: “You will never win a war if you do not behave well.

The security forces must comply with the basic rule of human

rights. If the security forces do not protect the citizens, they will not trust them and consequently, will not cooperate with them.”

He, however, noted that global approach to addressing extreme hostility would be the main point at the summit.

He blamed the economic challenge confronting the country on the fallen oil price, noting that government’s recent push to diversify the economy and make it less dependent on oil was a welcome development.

He said: “The EU believes that the lingering upheaval in the international oil market is both a challenge and an opportunity for Nigeria to leverage on its abundant resources as Africa’s most populous and biggest economy to create wealth for its people and lift majority from poverty.”

Ambassador Arrion also believed that reduction of import duties would motivate importers to ship their goods through Nigerian ports, thereby boosting revenue from import duties.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 , 2016

Tackle rise in sea robbery attacks, FG charged

Traffic gridlock grounds Oshodi Apapa Expressway again

By Ediri Ejoh & Anozie Egole

By Godfrey Bivbere

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AGOS—FORMER President of Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transportation Senior Staff Association, Thomas Kerewerigha, has called on the Federal Government to tackle the increasing cases of sea robbery in the Niger Delta.

Kerewerigha at briefing in Lagos, said there had been seven attacks in the last two weeks and warned that the attacks might take a dangerous dimension if urgent steps were not taken to curb the trend.

He blamed the Nigerian Navy and the management of Nigerian Navy or the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, for not doing enough to address the issue of sea piracy and called on government to establish what he called the Nigerian Coast Guard as a long term solution to the problem.

According to him, “we appeal to the federal government to instruct, as a matter of urgency, the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA and other relevant authorities to immediately commence an efficient patrolling of these areas to avert the killing of defenceless seafarers who are going about their legal duties.

Seme border Customs boss tasks stakeholders

By Godwin Oritse

L

AGOS—NEWLY redeployed Customs Area Comptroller in charge of Seme border, Victor Dimka, has charged importers, exporters and clearing agents operating at the border to avoid illegal activities.

Dimka gave the charge after receiving handover notes from the command’s acting Comptroller; Sabo HA. Underscoring the importance of his new assignment, Dimka told a group of licensed customs agents, who paid him a visit, that he still needed time to study the handover note.

He urged officers and stakeholders to realise that the challenge of dwindling revenue from crude oil sales had made it imperative for maximum revenue to be collected by the Customs.

L

AGOS—AFTER about a month of relief from the traffic gridlock on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, petrol tankers, are back in full forc e, as motorists and other road users trapped in the gridlock yesterday, spent several hours in anguish.

The gridlock, which extended from Sun Rise Bus stop to the Cele-Ijesha axis, forcing many commuters to trek long distances, Vanguard gathered, was caused by the large number of tanker drivers who stormed the tank farms in Kirikiri Town, in search of petroleum products.

When Vanguard visited Kirikiri Town, which houses the five tank farms operated by Techno Oil, Index Petrolube Africa, Swift Oil, Fatgbems Oil and Bovas Oil, tanker drivers were seen leaving the tank farms in droves, but they got trapped in front of the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre, NMRDC, Kirikiri.

The situation was even more worrisome as tank farms at Kirikiri were reported to have little or no product to dispense.

the journey easy. On getting there, I realised that Agboju was also blocked. Now, I have been in this traffic for the past two hours. This journey should not take more than one hour. The Apapa traffic right now is beyond anybody ’s imagination. It is only the Federal Government that can salvage the situation. It is understandable that Lagos State government has done its best.

“It is a complicated situation because even if you ask that the tank farms be moved, what about the ports? As a matter of fact, only the Federal Government can decide what should happen on this road.”

Another motorist, who simply identified herself as John Okafor,

said the pain people went through just to travel a short distance was unimaginable.

He said: “It is incredible what people pass through here. I have spent more than two hours just to move from Mile 2 to the customs outpost in Otto Wharf and I am going to Apapa later. It was quite bad on Tuesday, but for the in-patience of other drivers yesterday’s situation became complicated."

LASTMA explains

When Vanguard visited Mile2 to speak with a staff of the Lagos State traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, on the cause of the gridlock, the officer who pleaded anonymity, said: “The traffic started from Kirikiri, and as I speak to you now, there is nothing breeding the traffic. We

have even pleaded with some members of the military to help control the traffic from Kirikiri end, who later returned without solution. For me, I don’t know why the drivers have decided to cause this havoc on the road”.

“The problem is often caused by security agencies who receive huge amount of money ranging from N10, 000, from tankers who wish to hurriedly get the product.

When this is done, they end up distorting the flow of traffic at Apapa, by parking indiscriminately on the roads. ''For some of us who are in the service lane, we cannot afford to pay such exorbitant money that is why we are waiting for our turn before we go to get the product. And I am very hopeful that we will soon get the product.”

Road users lament

For road users who ply the ever busy Apapa -Oshodi Expressway, many that spoke to Vanguard said they passed through hell to get to their destinations.

Narrating his experience, a road user, Ahmed Yusuf, who said he had been in the traffic for over three hours, lamented that the Apapa situation had become unbearable, lamenting that the inter-section point along Otto wharf had remained a difficult spot because of gridlock.

He said: “This traffic is all the HELLISH TIMES ARE BACK!: Tankers and trucks caused traffic gridlock for hours at Berger Yard way from Second rainbow. I had and Under bridge bus stops along Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez. to find my way to Agboju to make

ECOBANK VS HONEYWELL: Court adjourns firm's appeal till Feb 10

By Innocent Anaba

L

AGOS—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till February 10 to hear an appeal by Honeywell group, seeking to vacate an order limiting it’s financial transaction.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court in Lagos, had on December 14, 2015 issued the interim order in a suit between Ecobank Plc and Honeywell group.

The suit is sequel to an alleged N3. 5 billion unpaid loan facility granted by Ecobank to Honeywell.

Yunusa had issued an interim order, limiting Honeywell to N15 million weekly withdrawal from the company’s account.

At the hearing on the matter, yesterday, counsel to Ecobank,

Mr Kunle Ogunba, SAN, informed the court that he had just been served with the court processes and prayed the court for time to allow him respond to same.

In response, counsel to Honeywell, Mr Dapo Olanipekun, SAN, appealed to the court to expedite

action on the appeal owning to the urgency of the matter.

He said that the order had obstructed the flow of work of his client, urging that the court expedites action.

The court presided by Justice Sidi Bage, said it would do its best

to give both parties an opportunity at a fair hearing, adding that the matter was not yet ripe for hearing.

The court consequently, adjourned to February 10 for hearing of pending applications.

'Health workers' role crucial in fight against infectious diseases'

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS State Government has said the role of health workers is very crucial, in the fight against infectious diseases.

Speaking during the foundation laying of the doctors/ fund raising ceremony by the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMON, Lagos state, Commissioner of Health,

Dr. Jide Idris, said in the fight against Lassa fever and other infectious diseases the health workers must first protect themselves when dealing with patients whether infectious or not.

According to him, “we must imbibe good health behaviour, good personal hygiene, good environmental hygiene which is all very crucial not only for Lassa fever, but also for most infectious

diseases. We must dispose our waste properly, we must cover our waste to prevent animals, rodents, cockroaches and insects from coming near them, we must dispose-off them properly keep our environments clean, maintain a personal hygiene hand washing is crucial, if you adopt that culture of hand washing, studies have shown that it reduces the body of infections by about 40 percent.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 — 11

PIPELINE BOMBING: I’m not wanted — AJUBE, EX-MILITANT

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—FORMER Commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) Chief Bibopiri Ajube yesterday denied being hunted by security operatives for the bombing of pipelines in Delta State.

Speaking with newsmen

in his Bolowoh Community in Ese-Odo area of Ondo State, Ajube said that he was not on the run or being invited by security operatives.

The former militant also described as untrue reports that the people of his community have fled because of military invasion.

Media reports had it that

security operatives stormed his Bolowoh Community in search of the former MEND commander over the pipeline vandalisation in Delta State.

Ajube, according to the report, was said to have escaped arrest from the security operatives before their arrival in his community.

The ex-militant, aka

‘shoot at sight’ told newsmen that he was the one that sent invitation to the newly deployed Commanding Officer of the 19 battalion.

He pointed out that they met and discussed only to be informed that one of his lieutenant at the Bradama international Skill Works Limited Ebi Molos had been arrested.

Ajube wondered why his aide was being held by security operative who stormed his company in Agadagba.

While he urged security operatives not to instigate crisis in the riverine area of the state because of what happened in Delta state, he expressed concern why he was been linked with vandalisation

of pipelines.

Ajube added that he had done nothing to warrant the purported hunt by the security operatives.

The ex-militant noted that since he personally embraced peace after the arm struggle, he has made it his point of duty to preach and maintain peace across the riverine areas of the state.

Why OPC supported Jonathan for 2nd term,

by Gani Adams

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

S O G B O — N AT I O N A L coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams has explained why the congress gave former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan its support in the run-off to the last presidential poll Speaking in Ile Ife during

the second congress of Oodua Peoples Union, OPU, Otunba Adams also added that the fact that OPC worked for the success of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate during the election does not make the organisation a partisan one.

According to him, the position of OPC at the time was based on principle and the conviction that Dr. Jonathan was sincere about implementing the report of 2014 National confab in Abuja, where

position of Yoruba people regarding some sensitive national issues was properly marshalled by the delegates.

His words: “Let me say it clearly that we supported the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan purely on principle of true federalism and towards the implementation of the outcome of 2014 National confab in Abuja, if he emerges as the president in 2015.”

HALLIBURTON, SIEMENS’ SCAMS: Fayose wants alleged culprits prosecuted

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

DO-EKITI—EKITI State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has advised the Federal Government to disabuse the minds of Nigerians that its crusade against corruption is not

selective by re-opening the Halliburton and Siemens corruption scandals.

Commending the Federal Government over its declaration that the case was not dead, Fayose said it was not enough to tell Nigerians that a case like the Halliburton and

S-Court upholds Amosun’s election

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE Supreme Court, yesterday, upheld the election of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, even as it dismissed the appeal that

was lodged before it by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, Mr Adegboyega Isiaka.

The apex court equally reserved its reasons for upholding Amosun’s election till February 12.

NIS worried over high spate of human trafficking in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—THE Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), yesterday said it was worried over the activities of human traffickers in the country warning that anyone found culpable would

face the wrath of the law.

The Comptroller of Immigration, Ogun State Command, Mrs Victoria Isang, gave the warning at a sensitisation exercise on “campaign against human trafficking, child labour, abuse and rape” held in Idiroko, Ipokia local government in Ogun State.

Siemens, in which many people have been jailed in other countries, especially the United States and investigations concluded in Nigeria with those alleged to be involved questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was not dead, rather, those already found wanting should be prosecuted.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said; “As it is, the statement made by the Federal Government on the Halliburton and Siemens corruption scandals may not be more than another decoy to shift the attention of Nigerians from the selective nature of President Buhari’s fight against corruption.”

The governor described the publicised arrest of President Buhari’s associate and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Jafaru Isa, and his reported refund of N100 million to the EFCC as the first trick used by the Federal Government in its attempt to deceive Nigerians into believing that the fight against corruption was not selective.

INSPECTION: Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his team inspecting Karah Road under construction at Sagamu, yesterday. By Wunmi Akinola.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

NYSC to conduct quarterly orientation courses A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—DIRECTOR General of the National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, yesterday, said that the scheme would soon conduct its orientation course for prospective corps members on a quarterly basis to accommodate the increasing number of graduates being turned out by accredited institutions for the scheme.

Olawumi, who disclosed this in Asaba, Delta State, during the opening ceremony of the 2016 annual management conference of the scheme, appealed to states that do not have permanent orientation camps to expedite action on same.

He noted that the provision of NYSC permanent orientation camp was a statutory responsibility of state governments and part of their contributions to human capital and youth development.

He said the theme of this year’s conference was selected to address some of the challenges confronting the scheme to enable it achieve the desired objectives of the founding fathers.

Identifying sudden increase in corps population with accompanying decrease in the budgetary allocation and

rejection of corps members by employers as some of the major challenges that confront the scheme, he expressed appreciation to the Delta State Government for its consistent support for the scheme over the years.

Olawumi said the choice of Delta State to host this year’s conference was unanimously agreed upon by NYSC management to complement its unflinching support to the scheme.

He said, “While the scheme appreciates the consistent cooperation of corps employers over the years, it further appeals that rather than reject corps members who actually are on national assignment, a budgetary provision should be made for them at the beginning of every year by both public and private organisations in the country.

“Last year, the scheme through the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, HIRD, lunched a holistic medical outreach targeted at the rural poor. The programme which is designed to take the primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria to a higher level will be sustained in view of the recent outbreak of Lassa fever disease in 17 states of the

federation because of the wide spread of corps members in the 774 local governments of the country.”

In his address, the Delta

...to hold seminar in Lagos, Warri

G

E N O T Y P E Foundation, a charity, nong o v e r n m e n t a l organisation, has called on Nigerian youths to know their genotype/ blood group before going into marriage to reduces cases of sickle cell disorder in the society.

The group, according to its Executive Director, Doris Gbemiloye, is working to help children and young people to know their Haemoglobin genotype/blood group Rhesus factor/ transfusion through screening, in order that they may take necessary action to prevent the occurrence of children with sickle cell disorder, and the issue of Rhesus factor in blood grouping.

“In addition, we support people living with sickle cell disorder to have appropriate access to the right medical assistance and other provisions for their welfare, on monthly routine drugs, free blood for transfusion, among others."

She added that the foundation will, during this year's International Women’s Day, reach out to her people in Warri,

ahead promise to be exciting but there is need to display necessary caution as current challenges in the country need to be addressed.”

COUNSELLING: The medical officer counselling and administering drug to Mrs Jane Oluwaseyi and her son Emmanuel, during the Genotype Foundation's first membership meeting at the Foundation's office in Lagos.

Genotype Foundation tasks youths on genotype/blood group tests before marriage

By Tare Youdeowei

State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, urged managers of the scheme to continue to “Let corps members know that the years

Delta State, with a seminar on: Sickle Cell Disorder, Haemoglobin Genotype/ Blood Group & The Nigerian Woman, The End Reciever.”

She called for support from well meaning organisations and individuals to raise about N1.5 milliom needed for the seminar and the free screening that the body wishes to undertake during the event.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—13

Stop bombing pipelines, Warri, Okpe monarchs tell youths As Ateke condemns renewed attacks on oil facilities Warri becomes no-go area to Tompolo, associates

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, SouthSouth & Davies Iheamnachor

W

ARRI—TWO first-class monarchs in Delta State, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Orhue I, have asked youths in the Niger Delta region to stop bombing crude oil and gas pipelines as a way of drawing government attention to their perceived grievances.

The monarchs, who spoke separately at their palaces when they played host to the Commander-General of Riverine Security Coast Guard of the Federation, Commander Oduku Bibi and his members, said the era of pipeline bombing was over with the successful implementation of the amnesty programme for exmilitants from the region.

they are under watch by the task force, which had stormed the houses of some of them.

Meanwhile, the two monarchs charged youths of the region to shun kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and all forms of criminality and embrace peace for the speedy development of the region.

They charged Niger Delta youths to embrace the peace initiative of the Riverine Security Coast Guard of the Federation, adding that securing oil installations was the responsibility of all Niger Deltans.

They remarked that those vandalizing oil pipelines and spilling oil in the environment were not doing the government any harm, but were rather destroying the Niger Delta ecosystem.

The royal fathers tasked youths of the region to be their brothers' keepers and support

one another.

The Orodje of Okpe said that with the current Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East and the steady fall in global oil price, the nation could not afford another crisis in the Niger Delta.

HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli, on his part, said that what the region needs now is peace to attract investors to create employment for youths, saying that no investor will take his investment to an area where there is unceasing crisis.

Youths flee Warri

A source disclosed, yesterday, that security agents visited the residence of a top manager of Oil Facility Surveillance Limited, OFSL, an oil facilities/ installations’ safety, security and surveillance company in Delta State, owned by Tompolo, on Tuesday, but did not meet him.

“They arrested two young men found in the house. They have made several arrests but they appear to be targeting Tompolo's boys. In fact, they have made Warri too hot for them,” the source said.

The top manager, who is on the run, is among those recently charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, along with Tompolo.

Vanguard learned that security operatives were secretly watching Tompolo’s expansive mansion in Warri, which EFCC officials visited, last year, to serve a court process on him.

However, Tompolo does not frequently use his Warri residence. He prefers creek life and is always in Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Warri South-West Local Government Area.

Ateke Tom condemns attack on oil facilities

Meanwhile, former Niger Delta agitator, Chief Ateke Tom, has condemned the recent attack on oil facilities in Delta State by suspected ex-militants.

Ateke, who currently is the leader of Niger Delta Vigilante, NDV, admonished youths to desist from acts that threaten the peace and unity of the country, warning aggrieved youths to channel their grievances to appropriate quarters and stop acts of criminality and pipeline vandalism.

Ateke, speaking through his assistant on media, Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbonna, bemoaned the level of destruction done to oil facilities in Delta State, describing the acts as economic sabotage.

“Nobody has the right to take the law into his or her hands for whatever reason, to destroy government property. The oil installation you destroy today has dire consequences on your tomorrow. Poverty is not an excuse to commit crime. This country belongs to all of us and we should not destroy it. We should join hands with the present administration to build a better Nigeria of our dream.”

In another development, Warri, once a rendezvous for ex-militants across the Niger Delta region, has become a no-go area to them in the last few days, following the hunt by the Joint Task Force, JTF, for those who carried out the threeday bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in Delta State.

Virtually all associates of the former General Officer Commanding, GOC, of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, have fled Warri because

Alleged N70m bribery: Orubebe’s trial suffers setback

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, failed to open its case against former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who is facing corruption charges before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT. Orubebe was in the charge, alleged to have falsely declared his assets while in office as a public officer.

Government alleged that he failed to declare his ownership of two choice property in Abuja.

More so, he was accused of collecting bribe of N70 million from one Pastor Jonathan Alota, the owner of a company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited.

The charge against him was initiated by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation .

Government had on November 26, 2015, when the matter came up for trial, applied for an adjournment to enable it to amend the charge against Orubebe.

However, when the matter came up yesterday, another lawyer who appeared for the government, Mr. E.A Orji, told the tribunal that Orubebe’s case-file had been transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Madam Uchemefuna passes on

A

VACCINATION: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State during the flag-off of Edo State Programme on Measles in partnesrhip with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, yesterday.

A-Ibom Speaker assures on people friendly “Our goal is to have a budget programme Luke, at the Citizens Forum that will have an impact on the

By Tom Moses

S

PEAKER of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke, has pledged to ensure the implementation of people friendly programmes that would have positive impact on the lives of the people.

The Speaker also pledged to make the legislature people friendly in the budgeting process as well as continue to conduct public hearing sessions to ensure public participation in the budgeting process.

on the 2016 Akwa Ibom State budget, organised by Policy Alert, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, yesterday, said that the public hearing initiated by the Assembly was to enable the people make inputs to the budgeting process.

Speaking through an official from the Legal Department of the Assembly, Mr. Bassey Umoren, the Speaker described the 2016 budget as performancebased, maintaining that the allocation to the various sectors of the state depended on revenue generation capacity.

people. The 2016 budget has taken a different approach due to the fall in the price of oil but we are ready to hear suggestions from the public to make it realisable,” he said.

Also speaking, the Head of Policy Alert, organisers of the event, Tijah Akpan, lauded the state House of Assembly for ensuring that the public had a voice in the budgeting process even as he observed that the quality of participation of the people should have improved if adequate notice was given to them.

community leader in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mrs. Monica Uchemefuna, is dead, aged 68.

A statement by the family said service of songs comes up February 11, 2016 followed next day by funeral mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Okpanam and interment at her residence.

She is survived by her widower, children and grand children.

Late Mrs. Uchemefuna

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 , 2016—15

Tricycle operators identify victims, demand justice ENUGU RITUAL KILLINGS:

•CLO asks security agencies to unmask masterminds

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—IN the heat of the trepidation that enveloped Enugu State due to the discovery of three decomposed bodies and eight human skulls that were exhumed from a building site at Ugwuaji area of Enugu metropolis last Monday, theTricycle Riders’ Association, popularly known as “Keke Riders,” yesterday identified three of the victims in the suspected ritual killing at Ugwuaji as their members.

This came on a day the Civil Liberty Organization, CLO, equally tasked security agencies to quickly unmask the masterminds behind the dastardly act.

The victims

The Keke operators gave names of the victims as Babangida Sale, Ashahabu Dauda both from Kano State and Ismahil Abdulahi from Bauchi State.

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, member, CLO governing board, Mr. Danjuma Gambo who was crest-fallen as he spoke, charged security agencies in the state to unravel the owner of the property where the suspected ritual killing took place.

According to Gambo,”we are now living in fear especially most of us that patronize Keke operators. The security agencies should rise to the occasion and apprehend the owner of the suspected Church building where the incident occurred.

Our investigation from Ugwuaji community showed that it is a communal land that was sold to prospective buyers by members of the community who were beneficiaries.

“We are demanding concrete action from security agencies to unearth the owner of the said property. The victims were allegedly macheted before they were buried in the building foundation. The corpses were buried inside the foundation of the building suspected to be a church under construction and totally covered with concrete.”

Keke riders mourn

Meantime,Chairman of Tricycle Riders Union, Benjamin Ejiofor has described the gruesome murder of its members as “most wicked and despicable.”

Speaking when he led the executive members of the association on a condolence visit to the Enugu Central Mosque at Asata, Enugu, Ejiofor, who was close to tears, described the killing as most barbaric and against the principles of life.

According to him, “our members are rendering very important service to the society and it is so bad that the same people we are serving should turn back to treat us this way.

“We are grieved so much over this colossal loss and that is why we are here to commiserate with the Hausa community in Enugu.

“At this moment, our plea to security agents is that this evil should not go un-punished.

“We cannot categorically say whether they were killed for ritual or not, because even their tricycles have not been found; so, we are leaving that aspect for security agents.”

He advised Keke riders to henceforth stop picking people for 'drop' to isolated areas.

Hausa community leader speaks

In a remark, one of the leaders of the Hausa community in Enugu, A.A Sambo, described the death of his brothers as most shocking.

“We lack words with which to describe this situation; it is so sad that vibrant young men left home in the morning in search of daily bread but never returned alive; it is so sad that they were hacked to death in such manner,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, one of those who participated in the search disclosed that apart from the fresh bodies of the three keke riders, there were about eight other human skeletons discovered at the building site.

It would be recalled that the discovery of three decomposed bodies that were exhumed from the building site at Ugwuaji area of Enugu metropolis last Monday rattled the residents of

the area.

The corpses were buried inside the foundation of the building suspected to be a church under construction and totally covered with concrete.

It was gathered that the construction of the building whose owner could not be immediately ascertained, commenced recently and was at the foundation stage before the gory discovery Monday.

Police Public Relations Officer,PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the incident in a statement to newsmen, adding that the three corpses were recovered from the site following a tip-off.

“Three decomposing bodies were discovered and full scale investigations have commenced with a view to unmasking circumstances surrounding the incident,” the Police spokesperson revealed.

VISIT: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left), and Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Sean Hoy, when the envoy paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

3,000 SACKED WORKERS: NLC unfolds strategies

to tackle Imo govt •To stop power, fuel supplies, flights; banks to be closed

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

A

BUJA—NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, has unfolded strategies to force Imo State Government to recall more than 3,000 sacked workers and pay the backlog of salaries and other benefits of the state workforce.

Congress which Monday set up a six-man action committee on planned industrial action against Imo State government, said the committee is made up of Ayuba Wabba; Joe Ajaero, President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG; Igwe Achese, President of Construction Union; Amechi Asugwunin, General Secretary

of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU; Peters Adeyemi and General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Issa Aremu.

Leaders of congress who are on the same page on the Imo State issue, have agreed that the action should go beyond mere strike by the state public workers, but that power and fuel supplies to the state should be cut off, banks and shops should be closed down, and all flights into and out of the state be stopped among others until the government fulfilled labour’s demands.

It will be recalled that the Ajaero led faction of NLC had Friday, January 22, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government to recall the sacked workers and pay their benefits, among others or the state would be shut down by labour.

Briefing, Mr. Joe Ajaero, alongside other leaders of his faction, said within the next 14 days, the Imo State government must purge itself of unlawful actions including “the Governor of Imo State must rescind the illegal announcement purportedly sacking 3,000 of our members. All workers said to have been sacked must be recalled immediately and their entitlements fully paid,” among others.

IPOB UK demands fair hearing, judgment in Nnamdi Kanu's case

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI—THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, United Kingdom branch is demanding for fair trial and judgment based on facts, evidences and logic, in the case involving their leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, saying that the case will make or mar Nigeria's image in the international community, if mishandled.

The group in a statement made available to newsmen in Nnewi, praised what it called “Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja's forthrightness in ensuring that justice, equity, and fairness were displayed in his ruling for the transfer of Mr. Kanu from the Department of State Services, DSS, cell to Kuje prison.

In the statement signed

by Mr Emma Nmezu and Dr Clifford Iroanya, Spokes persons for the IPOB in United Kingdom, the group said: “Keeping Mr Kanu in prison will enable him have access to his doctors, lawyers, family members and other related parties.

“We, the IPOB are encouraged by the forthrightness of Honourable Justice John Tsoho in ensuring that justice, equity, and fairness were displayed in his ruling, regarding the transfer of Nnamdi Kanu from DSS dungeon to Kuje prison.We expect a similar display of forthrightness in the matter until it is concluded.

“We look forward to a fair trial and judgement based on facts, evidence and logic, for this case of Nnamdi Kanu versus Buhari’s DSS. We believe that indeed, 'a Daniel has come to judgement.'"

IPOB expressed disappointment that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal government of Nigeria would connivewiththeDSSand flagrantly flout the order of a competent court of juridiction.

“The DSS supported by the Buhari’sgovernmentflouted,and disregarded court orders leading to Kanu staying in detention for 98 days, an action that is very reprehensible, for a government that claim to be fighting corruption” they said.

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 , 2016

Obasanjo writes Saraki, Dogara, accuses NASS members of corruption, greed, impunity •I will reply him formally —Saraki •I won't join issues with him —Dogara

By Emma Ovuakporie, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—FORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has lambasted members of both arms of the National Assembly, accusing them of greed, impunity and corruption.

Obasanjo, whose accusation was contained in a January 13, 2016, letter addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, lamented that the lawmakers had failed to show understanding, in view of the present economic situation in the country, caused by a crash in the price of crude oil in the international market.

Saraki, Dogara speak

While Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said he would react to the former President in a formal manner, the House of Representatives Speaker said it would not like to join issues with him.

Obasanjo said it was regrettable that the National Assembly had not shown enough courage to publish its recurrent budget for 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, stressing the need for the lawmakers to be transparent in their financial dealings.

Obasanjo said: ‘’On a few occasions in the past, both in and out of office as the President of Nigeria, I have agonised on certain issues within the arms of government at the national level and among the tiers of government as well. ‘’Not least, I have reflected and expressed, outspokenly at times, my views on the practice in the National Assembly which detracts from distinguishedness and honourability because it is shrouded in opaqueness and absolute lack of transparency and could not be regarded as normal, good and decent practice in a democracy that is supposed to be exemplary. I am, of course, referring to the issue of budgets and finances of the National Assembly.

Present economic situation

‘’The present economic situation that the country has found itself in is the climax of the steady erosion of good financial and economic management which grew from bad to worse in the last six years or so. ‘’The executive and the legislative arms of government

by the members of the National Assembly for not releasing some money they had appropriated for themselves which were odious and for which there were no incomes to support. ‘’The recent issue of cars for legislators would fall into the same category. Whatever name it is disguised as, it is unnecessary and insensitive. A pool of a few cars for each Chamber will suffice for any Committee Chairman or members for any specific duty. ‘’The waste that has gone into cars, furniture, housing renovation in the past was mindboggling and these were veritable sources of waste and corruption.

That was why they were abolished. Bringing them back is inimical to the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. ‘’It will be interesting if the National Assembly will be honourable enough and begin the process of transparency, responsibility and realism by publishing its recurrent budgets for 2016 as it should normally be done.’’

Saraki, Dogara, others react VISIT: From left, Wife of the Chief of Army Staff and National President,Nigerian Army

Officers Wife Association (NAOWA) Mrs Umah-Khatum Buratai; wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari and wife of the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Mrs Ladi Bala Bantex, during a visit of Mrs Buhari to the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, Tuesday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

must accept and share responsibility in this regard.

And if there will be a redress of the situation as early as possible, the two arms must also bear the responsibility proportionally. ‘’The two arms ran the affairs of the country unmindful of the rainy day. The rainy day is now here. It would not work that the two arms should stand side by side with one arm pulling and without the support of the other one for good and efficient management of the economy. ‘’The purpose of election into the Legislative Assembly particularly at the national level is to give service to the nation and not for the personal service and interest of members at the expense of the nation which seemed to have been the mentality, psychology, mindset and practice within the National Assembly since the beginning of this present democratic dispensation. Where is patriotism?

Where is commitment? Where is service?

Good governace and transparency

‘’The beginning of good governance which is the responsibility of all arms and all the tiers of government is openness and transparency. ‘’It does not matter what else we try to do, as long as one arm of government shrouds its financial administration and management in opaqueness and practices rife with corruption, only very little, if anything at all, can be achieved in putting Nigeria on the path of sustainable and enduring democratic system, development

and progress. Governance without transparency will be a mockery of democracy. ‘’Let us be more direct and specific so that action can be taken where it is urgently necessary. A situation where our national budget was predicated on $38 per barrel of oil with estimated 2 million barrels per day and before the budget was presented, the price of oil had gone down to $34 per barrel and now hovering around $30 and we have no assurance of producing 2 million barrels and if we can, we have no assurance of finding market for it, definitely calls for caution. ‘’If production and price projected in the budget stand, we would have to borrow almost one third of the 6 trillion naira budget. Now beginning with the reality of the budget, there is need for sober reflection and sacrifice with innovation at the level of executive and legislative arms of government. ‘’The soberness, the sacrifice and seriousness must be patient and apparent. It must not be seen and said that those who, as leaders, call for sacrifice from the citizenry are living in obscene opulence. ‘’It will not only be insensitive but callously so. It would seem that it is becoming a culture that election into the legislative arm of government at the national level in particular is a licence for financial misconduct and that should not be.

NASS and new image

‘’The National Assembly now has a unique opportunity of presenting a new image of

itself. It will help to strengthen, deepen, widen and sustain our democracy. By our Constitution, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission is charged with the responsibility of fixing emoluments of the three arms of government: executive, legislature and judiciary. ‘’Mr. President of the Senate and Hon. Speaker of the House, you know that your emolument which the Commission had recommended for you takes care of all your legitimate requirements: basic salary, car, housing, staff, constituency allowance. ‘’Although the constituency allowance is paid to all members of the National Assembly, many of them have no constituency offices which the allowance is partly meant to cater for. And yet other allowances and payments have been added by the National Assembly for the National Assembly members’ emoluments.

Surely, strictly speaking, it is unconstitutional. ‘’The National Assembly should have the courage to publish its recurrent budgets for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. That is what transparency demands. With the number of legislators not changing, comparison can be made. ‘’Comparisons in emoluments can also be made with countries like Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and even Malaysia and Indonesia who are richer and more developed than we are. ‘’The budget is a proposal and only an estimate of income and expenditure. Where income is inadequate, expenditure will not be made. While in government, I was threatened with impeachment

Reacting to the allegation, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said he was still studying the letter and would formally write a reply to the former President in no time.

Speaking through his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity,Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki acknowledged that he had received the letter and that he would formally communicate the former President.

But Senate spokesman, Aliyu Sabi, claimed that he was not aware of the said letter to the Senate President, stressing that if the letter was sent, it would be communicated to senators through the Senate President.

“As far as I am concerned, I am not aware of any letter to the Senate President from the former president,so I cannot comment on what I am not aware of.

“We have a constitution on this country and any communication to the National Assembly must follow the laid-down rules, so like I said, when I am informed of the said letter, I can now speak,” he told Vanguard.

On its part, the House of Representatives said it would not like to join issues with the former President.

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrasak Namdas, said: “I don’t want to join issues with the former President, what is before us now is the 2016 budget which we are committed to work on.”

However, a member of the House, Chike Okafor, APC, Imo, said the former President’s letter was an expression of his lost bid to extend his tenure about ten years ago.

According to him, the former president appears not to have forgiven the National Assembly for cutting short his aspiration.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016— —17

I

AM writing this week’s piece in Ilorin, Kwara State.

In recent weeks, I have travelled back and forth between the three cities I live in: Abuja, Kaduna and Ilorin. These cities elicit contrasting emotions for me. As I have always argued, there is a soul-less character to Abuja, and an impersonality that is underlined at weekends or public holidays, when it empties as people travel to other parts of Nigeria.

It is the city of power, but it is still to definitively carve an imprimatur on our subconscious, as other towns and cities. The soul and being of Abuja are very much reflective of the contending paradigms of nation building as well as the imperfections associated with the character and attitude of the nation’s ruling elite.

There is an idiosyncratic disequilibrium in Abuja that tails the coterie in power and which seems to give way, soon as another group inherits the stage. Abuja will take much more time to settle in as an abode, despite its postmodern architectural wonders and well-paved highways.

Kaduna is a more humane place. It has a familiarity and assuredness that embraces. And even the years of incompetent and thieving governance of the past couple of years have not dimmed the halo around our dear Kaduna. But since May 29th, 2015, our city and state literally got a shot in the arm, with the installation of the Nasir El-Rufai administration.

Schools feeding programme It was clear to all of us who reside there, that we are in for a most pleasant phase of development in city and state.

And Nasir has not disappointed us! Last week, Kaduna embarked on the much-anticipated schools feeding programme. Of course, other states have done same, like Borno, Osun and Yobe, but the fact that Kaduna has joined with a very well thought out process makes it remarkable, in the austere times we are in today.

The feeding programme is part of a package of free basic education in Kaduna that has seen a 64% jump in primary school enrolment and 60% in the secondary schools. The new feeding programme in the state intends to feed between 1.5million and 1.8million children; and from Mondays to Thursdays, the pupils get served proper meals, while on Fridays, they get a snack of biscuits with yoghurt, milk or fruit juice.

The Kaduna state government inherited the unfortunate legacy of 700, 000 pupils who sit on bare floors to learn, while 40% of teachers are unqualified. So a massive programme of schools rehabilitation is underway, to ensure that schools at least have windows, doors, roofs, water and toilets.

They have procured 300, 000 items of furniture waiting to be installed in the schools, and the NOUN, NTI and ABU are being commissioned to train teachers.

By next year, Kaduna will construct multi-storey classrooms C M Y K

Kwara and Kaduna: Contrasting faces of governance to reduce congestion and as a short-term measure, they are thinking of introducing morning and afternoon classes to cope with the heightened enrolment in schools. To ensure that the feeding programme succeeds, the government first recruited food sellers around the schools, before reaching out to others.

Then about 17, 000 women were organised into cooperative societies for the project, and they went through training in hygiene and cooking standards, weeks before commencement of the programme.

By last week’s commencement of the programme, the 4, 000 primary schools in Kaduna became part of a “big bang” process of feeding, with plans to continue to fine tune the programme as they go along.

And by 10 am, once a week, every commissioner, Adviser and Assistant, is expected to pay unscheduled visits to schools to taste the food and report back. The budget for the programme in 2016, is N16billion, which is clearly money well spent, by a government obviously dedicated to the very best for the people of our dear Kaduna state.

The third leg of my nomadic triangle of existence is Ilorin. This is my hometown, and one that I love with a passionate intensity.

This city gave me life and has cultured me from childhood, and because I know it intimately, and understand the currents of its history, I have no doubts in my mind, that Ilorin and Kwara state, literally, entered a “ONE CHANCE” taxi, since the group in power came unto the scene in 2003.

If they had wisely spent that money sincerely, Kwara will not be the mess their “continuity administration”, from 2003, has put it in!

It is very easy to track developments here, despite the best efforts of the “continuity administration” to obfuscate issues, because they always remind us that Abdulfatai Ahmed’sadministration is a continuation of the Bukola Saraki government, from 2003 to 2011.

As a matter of fact, we have had almost the same set of personnel, despite incompetent tweaking, ruling the roost here in Kwara.

From 2003 till the end of 2014, this group has collected on behalf of all Kwarans, over N640billion, from the Federation Account. But any perceptive observer can see that most of that money was not put to productive use in the state.

Today, teachers are owed five months salary; those in tertiary education about eight months; local government staff about four months. Teachers have been on strike; those of the tertiary school system have also been on strike for months.

NATIONAL PILOT weekly newspaper, owned by Bukola Saraki, on its frontpage this week, led with a story that “KWARA LGS’ SALARY CRISIS DEEPENS”. It then had a bullet point, that “SARAKI INTERVENES IN NULGE, NUT STRIKE”.

What we are not told is that the crisis in education, local government and other sectors in the state, are DIRECTLY traceable to the manner that the same Bukola Saraki has husbanded our resources since the commencement of his hegemony in 2003.

Immoral pension Why have they been unable to pay salaries? They argue that it is because of the drop in Federal Allocations. Yes, allocations have dropped; but what did they do with the state’s resources when allocations were very high? The teachers even suggested that government should cut the allowances of top government officials and the security vote.

They probably forgot to add that the government ought to STOP the immoral pension that Bukola Saraki worked out for himself, which the government continues to pay him, even when it is clearly unsustainable for a state that cannot pay teachers and local government workers.

So while they are locked in a crisis of unpaid salaries and the people do not enjoy the values of governance; the government is desperate to take another N20billion loan, arguing that

there is an infrastructure deficit of over N200billion in the state.

They however did not link that deficit to the more N640billion they have collected since they came to power in 2003! If they had wisely spent that money sincerely, Kwara will not be the mess their “continuity administration”, from 2003, has put it in!

The issues are clear. Yobe, Osun, Borno and Kaduna are also APCcontrolled states. They feed children in their schools. But in

Kwara state, schools have not only deteriorated, even the pittance that teachers earn cannot be paid by the “continuity administration” in power since 2003. Kwara’s children cannot be fed in schools because they are NOT a priority of the state government!

Similarly, those who work as teachers, workers in the local government system or parastatals don’t matter. But Bukola Saraki’s pension is of utmost importance!

Their excuse is shopworn: Federal Allocations have dropped!

The allocations also dropped in Borno and Kaduna, but because there is a genuine commitment to the people’s welfare, the administrations in those states, think and solve problems. Kwara state exists today just to protect one man’s hegemony.

And because corruption and kleptocracy were instituted as Directive Principles of State Policy in Kwara since 2003, it is difficult, almost impossible, to work for the people. In Kaduna and Kwara, we can see the contrasting faces of APC governance in Nigeria!

Please don't cancel Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State

I

HAVE read several advertorials in newspapers alleging plans by Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, to cancel the Maritime University, located in Okerenkoko, in Delta State.

Amaechi was quoted to have said: “We are not going ahead with the university project proposed by NIMASA because we have an institution in Oron, we have Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, and we have the Nigerian College of Aviation in Zaria, which we could upgrade to a university status and NIMASA is proposing to build a new one”.

He was further quoted as asking that: “Who will attend the University? How many parents will allow their children to go to such place where it propose [SIC] to site the university”? The advertorials then carried pictures of the various facilities already under construction on the site of the proposed Maritime University.

I honestly don’t have a complete understanding of the controversy around that university. But I do hope that the government can do everything to resolve them and eliminate the incongruities to be able to allow the university to come on stream.

The truth is that Nigeria will not suffer by having a specialised maritime university; on the contrary, it will play its own role in the development of manpower for our country that must become a maritime power into the future.

If we need to upgrade the institutions in Oron and Zaria, that Rotimi Amaechi mentioned, please do so, without positing them against the proposed Maritime University at Okerenkoko. It won’t be proper to kill the dream and hope of

people who have been led to believe that such a university is coming to their community.

Besides, it was argued that the university was envisioned as part of the post-amnesty development plan for the Niger Delta. And because the university will be located at the heart of Nigeria’s oil production platforms, it would certainly impact on the communities and people who have for long made tremendous sacrifices in terms of environmental impact, for the overall development of our country.

Elaborate kleptocracy There might be some local political issues informing the minister’s stance; while there have been revelations in recent weeks about the reckless manner that NIMASA was run as an elaborate kleptocracy.

Please deal with the local politics; while criminal activities are unacceptable and they should be completely unraveled and those responsible must be made to face justice.

But we can definitely separate grains from chaff and find the best international practices for the implementation of the Maritime University. That is what should be done! President Muhammadu Buhari ought to take personal interest in ensuring that the Maritime University is constructed and delivered as one of the flag ship projects of his administration.

It will gladden the hearts of our compatriots in the Niger Delta Region. They deserve to have their hopes fulfilled as part of a national development agenda. Please don’t cancel the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday rewarded members of the under seventeen World Golden Eaglets that won the maiden edition of the youth soccer championship in China in 1985.

Members of the squad were given monetary rewards along side the winners of last year ’s FIFA organized U 17 Championship in Chile.

While members of last year’s squad got N1.2 million each and their coach N900,000, the 1985 champions were rewarded with N2 million and their coach received N1.5 million. The cash reward for the 1985 heroes came over 30 years after the lads did the nation proud.

Incidentally, Buhari who was the then military head of state had promised to host the victorious team which he named World Golden Eaglets, but the palace coup of August 27 1985 led by Gen Ibrahim Babangida[retd] and his cohorts truncated the plan.

Successive administrations, from Gen Babangida to former president

Reward For World Golden Eaglets 30 Years After Goodluck Jonathan did not consider it worthy to honor the champions. It is an irony of fate that the same Buhari under whose administration the laurel was won would return as a civilian president to fulfill his promise. That is why we applaud the gesture despite the fact that it was a belated one especially when one of the members of the team, Kingsley Aikhionbare is late.

As commendable as the reward was, we cannot spy it’s unprecedented feature. This was perhaps the first time in the history of rewarding our football team that the players would receive

higher cash reward than their coaches.

We expect that the sports minister and other presidential sports advisers including members of the Nigerian Football Federation NFF, to know better and should have advised the president accordingly.

Beyond this however, we recommend that anytime our sport heroes deserve to be rewarded for bringing glory to the nation, it should be done in a timely manner. A situation where they have to wait for almost a lifetime before they earn what is due to them

is an unsavory commentary on the value attached to sport heroism. It is morally reprehensible that past regimes failed to appreciate the import of the squad’s exploits and the attendant goodwill it attracted to Nigeria. After all, the World Cup was a victory that boldly inscribed the name of the country on the indelible scroll of world sport history. It wasn’t just a victory for the then military administration of Buhari.

That is why we urge our leaders to always put aside political differences when issues that foster national unity and cohesion are involved. We therefore advocate a national reorientation that rewards deserving citizens in all fields of endeavor and do away with the culture of giving national awards and recognitions to characters of questionable means. Our sporting heroes must not be allowed to die before they are rewarded.

OPINION Ikpeazu and Aba roads

By James Awuru “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes up short again and again… who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails, while daring greatly.” --TEDDY ROOSEVELT HE commercial city of Aba, the arena, was a city of many unpaved and dusty roads, some water-logged even in dry season; a few paved roads were in craters and pothole with stinking open gutters breeding millions of mosquitoes. It was a city of moribund and abandoned road and building projects; a city of buildings on drainage pipes, service lanes, and water channels. Aba was an arena of perennial flood and filth, where street lighting at night was gradually becoming a tall dream.

But Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, assumed the governorship of Abia State with a rare determination to improve the decaying infrastructures of Aba for the common good.

For now, he has left Umuahia , the state capital , to live in the city of Aba, perhaps in the belief that his having a daily dose of the decay of the city through his eyes and nose and body, would ginger him to remedy them.

T

And so far, it is working out pretty good.

The governor quickly set up the Aba Urban Renewal Office in his first 100 days in office to execute his policy of embarking on a massive rehabilitation of all abandoned projects and infrastructure within Aba metropolis. He moved on to flag off the construction of seven major roads in Aba with street lights. He added four additional roads in this commercial nerve centre of the state, bringing the total number of roads, currently under construction by his administration in Aba in the last seven months to 29.

He had his words carefully chosen while flagging off the four roads in Umuola and Umuokhia. Governor Ikpeazu said he was concerned about the plight of the residents of the area and described the roads as strategic to the economic development of Aba. “It is unfortunate that these people still wade through flood even in dry season”. It was almost a lamentation. According to him, ‘the state government was constrained to commence the rehabilitation of the Obohia road due to some encumbrances on it following the award of the contract for the road by Niger Delta Development Commission,NDDC, to a contractor’ but stated his government’s readiness to

Ikpeazu is spending himself in the worthy cause of making Aba a great and model city

reconstruct the road if the contractor was not willing to do it.

To underscore his administration’s seriousness in delivering the Ozuomba and Ohazu Roads in record time, the governor deployed two contractors on the roads and called on those with ‘attachments’ that may stall the progress of work on them to remove them without delay. At present, the governor has over 40 roads under construction across the state, with nine already completed and some fitted with street lights. He has found time to complete the abandoned Umunneochi and Okonu bridges in their local governments. Ikpeazu has plans to engage a major contractor on the popular Ururuka road to reduce the time spent from Aba to Umuahia, and to give Faulks road, another very important road, a facelift for an unhindered access to Ariaria International Market.

The governor is not taking the path of least resistance in building roads that would outlast him and return Aba to its original beauty, often euphemistically referred to as ‘the draft-model of paved roads and parks’ that Aba was under colonial rule. He adopted cement technology that is capital intensive to give Aba sustainable roads that will have stronger load-bearing capacity for at least 20 years. Cement technology, according to experts, is rigid pavement technology in road construction. It involves the mixture of crush rock-based materials and other items to achieve a thickness fill and compaction to the level of 300m. This is followed by concrete cast with 8mm of 10mm – high tensil (mash of wires) reinforcement bars over the stabilized base before treating it with prime coat and asphaltic concrete. It

is this technology that is used in the construction of airport runways and tarmac.

This is what Ikpeazu, in his wisdom, has brought to Aba roads to carry the heavy machines and equipment of the city’s industrialists. “The governor does not want roads rehabilitated or constructed by him to collapse within one or two years after construction,” an aide of the governor reportedly said.

What is the point of constructing and rehabilitating roads that would be waterlogged and impassable under heavy rains? The governor knows that this contributed substantially to the collapse of roads in the city. And so with a scientist’s devotion to data, Ikpeazu began the dredging of Aba River, popularly known as waterside.

The dredging ensured the excavation of debris and the expansion of the banks of the river to accommodate more flood water from the solid drainage system accompanying the roads he is constructing.

To ensure free flow of water and traffic in the city of Aba, the governor embarked on demolition of buildings, shops, fences and such other structures that constitute blockades to the free flow of traffic and drainage. “You cannot make omelet without breaking eggs“, Ikpeazu affirmed, saying: “if we must have the Aba city of our dream, we must be ready to make utmost sacrifices” Ikpeazu is already making and sharing in those sacrifices, living in Aba, and spending himself in the worthy cause of making Aba a great and model city that it was before it almost went to the dogs.

•Mr. Awuru is a retired civil engineer withthe old imo State under the Mbakwe Administration.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 28,, 2016 – 19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Edo 20 16 and the w ar of 201 war succession

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HE Statesman-Columnist bears a heavy burden. Quite often, he is torn between two worlds: even where he constantly has an opportunity to privately advise on critical issues – and that’s the extent to which the political class expects him to go – his audiences still want to know his stand, if only as a pointer to the direction they should be looking at.

The drum-beats for the 2016 War of Succession to Osadebey Avenue have started. As usual, in the beginning, people play hideand-seek; and there are denials and counter-denials of people’s positions. That’s how it has always been.

But in all this, there is one man who cannot pretend or stay on the fence for longer than necessary and that is Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. The reason for that is simple – he has a right and a duty to be interested in who succeeds him.

We believe Oshiomhole is right in claiming that he has not anointed any aspirant as his

successor. But we are also not unaware that the name of one Godwin Obaseki has gone viral.

It is not by accident that the popular press is awash with the name. This is why a prolonged pretence might be inimical to all.

Recently, Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Barr Anselm Ojezua attempted to define endorsement, asserting that endorsement is not an imposition but a mere indication of preference. Good!

We also expected the learned Chairman to proceed from there to inform us that endorsement in itself may not be bad but the use to which we put it could easily promote it to the level of imposition and even transcend godfatherism in its most negative form.

Perhaps unknown to Oshiomhole, as we speak, the footsoldiers of the Obaseki project are already depositing a lot of collateral damage in the field. How else does anyone explain the wishywashy suspension they clamped on Barrister Gentleman Amegor, the

authentic, duly elected State Vice Chairman of the APC – all under the guise of acting on behalf of the Governor? And this is perhaps a foreshadowing of coming oddities. In the weeks ahead, suspensions and countersuspensions will rent the air.

Right now, the foot-soldiers parade a long list of people to be impeached, fired, appointed and disappointed; and denied patronage at all levels. They leave a moral message here: If you can’t stand the smoke, get out of the kitchen!

Sometimes, one wonders if these people even realise that the primary is not an end in itself but a means to an end. By the time they succeed in emasculating and alienating all perceived opponents in the party, who are they going to use to fight the real war? Are they going to win the battle and lose the war? God forbid!

We must not fight dirty but the truth must be told. The Governor is perfectly entitled to show interest in who succeeds him. But the anointing here cannot be an end in itself

Ita Enang and the budget scandal

By Magnus Oladesu

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F the entire world is surprised at the monumental budget scandal shaking the entire polity, I am not. I never believed Senator Ita Enang was the best hand for the job and I said so in a widely published piece entitled “The Senate and Buhari’s Body Language” way back in September 2015.

The piece read in part: “Ordinarily, Senator Ita Enang’s appointment is more or less a public relations job meant to smoothen things between the Senate and the Presidency…. It has to be someone the National Assembly leadership is comfortable with and have respect for. When there is cold war or presidential requests get frozen, he or she thaws the ice and gets things going. Many therefore wonder how Ita Enang, a clear ally of the Senate Unity Forum, people who have needlessly constituted themselves into an enemy to the Senate leadership, would be able to facilitate anything for the President in the Senate.

“Besides, Enang was never gifted at human relations. The unpleasant feelings towards him clearly showed in the way his bills and suggestions on the floor of the Senate were always shot down.

“Moreover, Ita Enang has also proven that long legislative experience does not necessarily translate to competence. For instance, as Chairman of Rules and Business, he misled the 7th Senate into the infamous passing of 44 Bills in a few minutes in its twilight against voices of reason by many Senators. This calls to question the quality of advice he would give to Buhari”.

Today, the wind has blown and the world has seen the fowl’s rump. From the narratives emanating from the National Assembly, what transpired is now clearer to everybody. President Buhari submitted the National Budget proposal to the joint session of the National Assembly after which NASS C M Y K

went on Christmas and New Year break. The budget expectedly elicited kudos and flaks from a cross section of Nigerians.

The President also stirred the hornet’s nest during the presidential media chat in the course of the Christmas/New Year break during which he chastised the National Assembly for budgeting an outlandish sum of N47-50 billion for purchase of vehicles.

However, on closer examination, it was discovered that there was no such figure.

The budget figure for cars for the National Assembly Committees was close to N4.7 billion.

It was further discovered that at a time of excruciating austerity, nosedive of price of oil, and deficit budget where trillions is to be borrowed to fund the budget, government behaved as if Nigeria was getting richer by presenting a budget of N6.08 trillion.

In the spirit of that utopian buoyance, the Presidency increased budget for its own upkeep from N6.6 billion contained in Jonathan’s 2015 to N18 billion. For instance, the presidency began delivering the promised change from their kitchen by raising the Villa menu from Jonathan’s N542 million in 2015 budget to N1.75 billion. And whereas the President was lampooning the National Assembly for N4.7 billion budget for cars, the presidency,

The President owned up when he wrote to the Senate to indicate that indeed, ‘corrections’ had been made. So, rather than preserving procedural integrity, Enang and the presidency wanted to go through the back door.

That is forgery

The only credential they parade on Obaseki is that he is a Dangote man. They say Dangote will bankroll his election and his government. This is where some concerned Edolites are beginning to wonder at what price Edo State is being mortgaged to nonindigene!

Of all those who have indicated interest in the race, on both sides of the divide, Obaseki is by far the most obscure. He remains an unknown quantity. We search, but in vain, for a quick background check on him. We are unable to locate him however remotely – in the academics and in the professions. Where has he made a mark?

People must look the role they want to play. A Benin man who wants to govern Edo State should by now – barely six months to the election – be speaking for himself instead of being shielded by others.

Such a man must be known by his works.

For instance, were Dangote an Edo man, he – not his PA – would perhaps have been considered as a possible successor to Oshiomhole. That’s how high Comrade has raised the posts. We all have a duty to sustain that high level.

Since man cannot be judged by what people do not know about him, he must be judged by what people know about him. The few people who have met Obaseki see him as arrogant, cocky, saucy and egotist. Outside himself, he sees every other person as a tout. This is hardly the stuff of which governors are made.

Essentially, those being portrayed as Comrade’s enemies today are the very ones protecting him from himself. They rightly see

which has fewer people, budgeted N3.6 billion for procurement of BMW saloon cars! That is apart from N1.4 billion budget for the President’s Travel Expenses.

Additionally, N764 million is budgeted for President’s recreational facility, while another N3.6 illion was earmarked for the maintenance of the presidential jets rather than selling most of the jets as promised during the 2015 ‘change’ campaign. In fact, between June and November 2015, the Presidency admitted spending a whooping N2.8 billion on the maintenance of presidential jets.

Furthermore, rather than budget more money for Agriculture and Solid Minerals in the face of fast-declining oil revenues, the 2016 budget proposal voted a whooping N39 billion for Ministry of Information.

Agriculture got N29 billion. In other words, more propaganda and Lai Mohammed’s movies, less food for the masses.

It was a big scandal and the government needed to hurriedly panel-beat the Appropriation (budget) Bill. It was reported in the first week of January 2016 that the Presidency had withdrawn the budget due to obvious lapses. But, Senator Enang, denied as follows: “To my knowledge, the budget as laid by Mr. President on the December 22, 2015 is still with the National Assembly and has not been withdrawn. If there is a withdrawal, there is always a communication.”

But the Senate discovered exactly the opposite on resumption of plenary in January as the budget, a legislative bill, which had undergone First Reading was surreptitiously substituted by Senator Enang, as the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges found out.

The words of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki: “We have received the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on investigations surrounding 2016 Appropriation Bill. Our finding is that Senator Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President for National Assembly Matters printed copies of the 2016 Appropriation Bill and brought them to the

the Governor as having done tremendously well for Edo State, that he must not be rubbished.

If six months to the crucial election, this “baby” is not yet speaking for himself but relying on some remote Oshiomhole or Dangote connections to see him through, then, there is something patently wrong. We may soon require some feeding bottles and a muffler to tie him at our back.

Edo people have no better way of expressing their disgust for godfatherism, which, incidentally, Comrade also hates like plague.

We must not fight dirty but the truth must be told. The Governor is perfectly entitled to show interest in who succeeds him. But the anointing here cannot be an end in itself. It is in the Governor’s interest to carry the people along in the anointing process.

As they say in the colloquial, “Soldier come, soldier go but barrack remains”. The anointed must be subjected to proper scrutiny and due process of purification. That way, he cannot “cut rope” and disregard the anointing agreement after the departure of his predecessor. The “Barracks” will be around to continuously whip him on line.

This is preferred to the anointing by private treaty, which invariably collapses as soon as the governor leaves office. We have seen this across the nation.

It is not enough that Obaseki can attract investors to Edo State. By extrapolation, that can only mean that Edo State has, in-waiting, a Super-Commissioner for Investments, Energy, Commerce and Industry. How lucky could anyone be?

But it takes much more than that to be an Edo State Governor.

Senate. We have discovered that what he brought is different from the version presented by Mr. President”.

Ironically, the role of Senator Enang in the phantom forgery of Senate Rules cannot be overemphasised. He was practically everywhere in the media canvassing in favour of the Senate Unity Forum, which sought to defame the Senate leadership out of office. In fact, an online report had alleged that he was the real brain behind the petition on purported forgery of the Senate Rules.

Meanwhile, for anything to be regarded as forged, there must be an original. The original of the 2015 Senate Standing Rule could not have been the 2011 Standing Rule.

Otherwise, it means that even the Senate Standing Rules 1999, 2003, 2003, and 2007, which were also produced by the NASS bureaucracy just like the Senate Standing Rules 2015 would still be valid. In fact, if one Senate Standing Rules is supposed to serve every Senate, what would have been obtainable is just Senate Standing Rule 1999 (as amended), just like the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Conversely, Nigerians saw our President present the original 2016 budget proposal, but only for Ita Enang to attempt to dump a different/doctored version on the Senate.

And the President owned up when he wrote to the Senate to indicate that indeed, ‘corrections’ had been made. So, rather than preserving procedural integrity, Enang and the presidency wanted to go through the back door. That is forgery.

How does the President intends to handle the budget scandal in the thick of a fullblast anti-corruption crusade is waiting to be seen. But one lesson is clear: Presidential Liaison is not ‘job for the boys’. Ex-President Jonathan lost the National Assembly and never set foot there again once he removed Senator Joy Emodi. Conversely, Buhari created a problem for himself the day he appointed Enang. It was disaster waiting to happen; and it has happened.

*Mr. Oladesu, a political scentist, wrote fromLagos.

20 – Vanguard,

C M Y K

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 28,, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 — 21

BRIEF

NNPC/Chevron gas project to improve power

By Ediri Ejoh & Prince Okafor

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O improve power supply and support government’s effort to reduce gas flaring, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, and Chevron Nigeria Limited, NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, have announced the completion and load-out of the topside module of the SONAM N on-Associated Gas, NAG, Wellhead Platform project.

The initiative will enable the delivery of up to 420 million cubic feet per day (MMCF/d) of gas from SONAM to the Escravos Gas Plant.

Speaking at the launch, the Director, Business Services, CNL,

Mr Emmanuel Imafidon, said: “The partnership for the project module was delivered as part of the domestic supply obligation (050)-MEREN; Gas Gathering Compression Platform, GGCP; and SONAM Non-Associated Gas Wellhead Platform, NWP, project which was last in the set of structures built on the Snake Island by Nigerdock for the project.”

He explained that the project also provided engineering training for 35 Nigerians for the Nigeria Content Development Management Board, NCDMB trainees through 12 weeks of engineering & project management courses.

This also included construction training for 160 trainees in fields ranging from welding, fitting, and scaffolding. “We also scoped the execution of small subcontract fabrication and supply services to our Escravos neighboring community contractors,” he added.

With regard to the project capacity, Imafidon noted that weighing in at 2,700 tons, a height of 28 metres, width of 40 metres and a length of 50 metres made it the largest topside module ever built in-country, adding, “significantly this feat was achieved by an indigenous company.”

From left, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Market, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Mr. Patrick Ilodianya, Managing Director, Skye Shelter Fund Plc at the Closing Gong Ceremony at the exchange.

According to him, “The SONAM topside is the final piece in the set of structures built by Nigerdock for the project.

Nigerdock’s scope on the project comprised the construction and load out of flare bridges, flare towers, jacket piles, LQP deck, LQ bridge, the Meren and Sonam jackets and this topside module, which till date is the largest ever jacket fabricated in Nigeria.

He also recalled that less than 36 months after the steel cutting, the project is ready for load out, adding that through partnership with Nigerdock and Hyundai Heavy Industries, HHI, the venture partners “recorded a safety achievement of over 2.8 million cumulative man-hours on the project. Also we have recorded Living Quarters Deck fabrication without an injury or incident.”

Also speaking, the Group Managing Director, NAPTIMS, Dafe Sejebor, also represented by the General Manager, JV Oil Operations, Mrs. Kate Iheme, expressed satisfaction with the project completion, adding that investment of this kind will shore in rapid development to the economy.

She said: “MEREN Gas Gathering Compression Platform, GGCP, and SONAM development is a major lift forward in building of natural gas extracted during NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture operations for power generation.

“However, this will eliminating gas flaring from its access, and is expected to grow investment opportunity to boast the Government economic diversification efforts”

Unity Bank relocates hqtrs to Lagos

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NITY Bank Plc has relocated its Corporate Headquarters from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja to Lagos in an effort to harness opportunities which the country ’s commercial hub holds.

The relocation which has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is in line with the bank’s strategic business focus to deepen its clientele base in SME Financing, Agriculture, and Retail Banking.

With decreased dependence on Public Sector deposits, it became necessary for the bank to improve its spread and market presence in key geographical areas, particularly the commercial nerve-centres of the economy.

The bank’s new Corporate Headquarters in Lagos, is located at Plot 42, Ahmed Onibudo Street in the central business district of Victoria Island. This will provide the bank with the platform to enhance its services, deepen its level of market penetration in addition to positioning it to compete favourably with its peers in the industry.

By this move, the bank seeks to aggressively improve its visibility and strengthen its brand equity.

GSK set to divest from drinks business $117.45

0.75

$2,807.00 -22.00 $13.96

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

-0.06

$31.01

-0.79

$30.30

-1.15

BUYING 196 279. 0452 212.2288 192. 8185 1.6547 0.304 269. 3614 29.7705 52. 2249 28.433 270. 088

196.5 279. 7571 212.7702 193. 6104 1.6589 0.314 270.0486 29.8469 52.3581 28. 5055 270.777

SELLING 197 280. 4689 213.3116 193.8023 1.6631 0. 324 270. 7357 29.9233 52.4913 28.5781 271.466

CBN Exchange rate as at 27/01/2016 C M Y K

By Peter Egwuatu

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SK Consumer Nigeria Plc has confirmed that it has received a non-binding offer from, Suntory Beverage & Food , SBF Limited to diversify its drinks business comprising the bottling and distribution of Ribena and Lucozade and part of the Agbara manufacturing site.

The Board, it was gathered is considering the offer and expects to make a decision after the appointment of its professional advisers and negotiation with SBF. Any potential sale would be subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and, until it completes, the Drinks Business would belongs to GSK Nigeria and “business as usual” would be maintained with It was also gathered that the Board has granted SBF access to certain due

diligence information. There can be no assurance that SBF will make a binding offer following completion of their due diligence review, or whether the terms of any such offer will be acceptable.

Findings show that the financial terms of SBF’s non-binding offer remain confidential. Also, any potential sale would be subject to

There can be no assurance that SBF will make a binding offer following completion of their due diligence review

shareholder and regulatory approvals; no change to the terms of employees working on the drinks business; no change to the commercial arrangements of customers If the transaction is agreed and the shareholders and regulators were to approve the sale, the retained GSK Consumer Healthcare Nigeria business would comprise Wellness, Oral healthcare, Nutrition and Pharmaceutical/Vaccines businesses, and would remain listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

According to the Legal Director and Company Secretary, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Mr. Uche Uwechia: “The Board of GSK has a duty to consider the non-binding offer and ensure that stakeholders are informed and engaged.

We operate in a very challenging environment and it is the Company’s responsibility to consider all options to increase shareholder value.”

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

A realistic startup budget should include only those things that are necessary to start that business

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Funding your startup AN integral component of starting a successful business is raising sufficient funds, also called capital, whether from your personal savings, a bank loan, an investor, a credit card or a combination of all four.

There are many challenges associated with funding a new business, but like with any important decision, careful planning can help you anticipate any obstacles.

Estimating costs O determine your startup costs, you must identify all the expenses that your business will incur during its startup phase.

Some of these expenses will be one-time costs, such as the fee for incorporating your business or price of a sign for your building.

Some will be ongoing, such as the cost of utilities, inventory, insurance, etc.

When identifying these costs, decide whether they are essential or optional. A realistic startup budget should include only those things that are necessary to start that business. These essential expenses can then be divided into two separate categories: fixed and variable.

Fixed expenses include rent, utilities, administrative costs and insurance costs.

These expenses must be paid regardless of sales, and are often referred to as overhead costs. Variable expenses include inventory, shipping and packaging costs, sales commissions, and other costs associated with the direct sale of a product or service. Variable costs fluctuate directly with sales volume.

The most effective way to calculate your startup costs is to use a worksheet that lists all the various categories of costs (both onetime and ongoing) that you will need to estimate prior to starting your business. An alternative to a worksheet is an online startup calculator.

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Break-even analysis The break-even point occurs when revenue equals all business costs. Estimating this will help when you determine how much startup funding you’ll need - and for how long. Performing a breakeven analysis will also help you determine if you have a viable business idea.

Financing options Raising capital is the most basic of all business activities. You need to spend money to make money, right? But securing the capital necessary to start a business can be a daunting challenge. The good news is there is funding available for new small business owners from traditional and nontraditional sources.

Self-financing The primary source of capital for most new businesses comes from savings and other personal resources. While credit cards are often used to finance business needs, there are usually better, less risky options available, even for very small loans Traditional financing Traditional business financing options include loans or lines of credit from a traditional lending institution, such as a bank.

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BUSINESS

Strategies for starting a crafts business

By Yinka Kolawole, with agency report

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their maintenance.

There are three aspects to human creativity - Art, Crafts, and Science.

Generally, art relies upon intuitive sensing, vision and expression; crafts upon sophisticated technique and science upon knowledge.

RAFT is an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands. A craft is a pastime or a profession that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled work. It requires manual Job duties dexterity or artistic skill e.g. the carpenter’s craft, the craft of writing p l a y s , crafts such as pottery, carpentry, and sewing.

In a historical s e n s e , particularly as pertinent to the M i d d l e Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to p e o p l e occupied in small-scale production of goods, or Some of the tools used in crafts business

When starting a crafts business you can decide to concentrate on a specific type of craft such as pottery or offer a wide range of crafts. A major disadvantage that craft makers have over large businesses is that the large businesses are able to mass produce the same products and offer it at a cheaper price. It can take more time and effort for a

How to brand your business C

HOOSE your target market: Conduct market research to determine which type of buyer will be buying from your business the most; this will be your target market. Focusing on a specific type of customer will help to develop a more effective branding strategy where you can focus on building a brand that appeals to your targeted customer.

You will save much more time, money and energy if you focus on building a brand that appeals to your targeted customer rather than everyone. Just because you are focusing on a target market does not mean your business won’t attract other types of customers as well.

Find out needs and wants: What are the needs and wants of your target market for your type of business? Do they have certain expectations or wishes for your type of business? What do they seek to find in your type of business?

What appeals to them? It could be cheap prices, quality products or exceptional service.

Find out their complaints of current businesses like yours (competitors) in your area. You can potentially build your brand around a strength of your business that is a weakness of your competitors.

Determine a unique spin: Determine any unique distinguishing characteristics about your business. What sets your business apart from its competitors? What memorable attribute does your business have?

Keep in mind the unique spin of your business should be an attribute desired or liked by your target market. Your unique business spin should coincide with their needs and wants.

Target market Use the information on the needs and wants of your target market when determining a unique spin for your business that will attract your target market. This unique spin can be used to form your slogan.

Define your brand: Get down on paper a clear idea of your brand and what it stands for. How do you want customers to view your business? What targeted customer is your brand trying to attract? How is it fulfilling their needs or wants?

How is your offering different or

better than other competitors?

Put your brand to work: Communicate your brand to everyone in your business. Make sure everyone is in the same page.

Teach employees how you want customers to view your business.

Ensure all employees are in compliance with your brand.

For example if you want your business to be perceived as a customer-friendly business, ensure employees maintain a friendly attitude. The experience of buying from your business is much more important than the visual aspect of your brand such as the logo.

Develop a visual aspect:The visual aspect of your business brand is what your customers see every time they come in contact with your business.

Everything from your business logo to the packaging to the employee uniforms all play a role in the visual aspect of your brand.

Be sure all the aspects of your business brand are consistent.

Everything thing from your name, to your website, to your business card should be part of a consistent theme.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 — 23

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& YOU crafts maker to complete each project and since they are working on a small scale the supplies can be more expensive as well. However, an advantage for craft makers over large businesses is that they can personalise and detail each project. Clients may see a project made by an individual crafts maker as more valuable.

Work place A great advantage of starting a crafts business is that you can work right out of your home. If you decide to work out of your home find a space where you can set up your equipment and supplies. There you should have enough space to create your crafts. When choosing a location in your home make sure the location doesn’t form an obstruction to the rest of your house and is free from distractions.

Basic costs

A great advantage of starting a crafts business is that you can work right out of your home When starting a crafts business your basic costs will consist mostly of supplies and equipment. If you will be producing a large number of crafts it is a good idea to buy your supplies wholesale.

However it would be wise to create a few samples first and discover if there is enough of an interest and market for your crafts. It would be a good idea to purchase a camera to take pictures of your projects and create a portfolio. This way you can show potential clients what you are capable of and take orders for new projects.

Tips for starting Find a market – When starting a crafts business, consider the following: Is there a demand or market for your business? If so who are your target market and how to you plan on reaching them? How much would people be willing to pay for your crafts?

What is your competition charging? You need to determine if the expected compensation for your crafts is worth the time and effort put

with Kelechi Anyalechi

Do something you enjoy – Starting a crafts business will not be easy especially in the beginning.

It helps when you are doing something you enjoy rather than just doing it for the money.

Where to sell Etsy.com - Etsy.com is a valuable tool for craft makers, where you can post and sell your crafts online.

Ebay.com is another great website to sell products online.

Retail Stores – Find businesses that sell products similar to yours and ask them to feature your products. This can be pottery shops, gift stores, etc. Be sure to have a well thought out proposition and your portfolio ready. If business owners are hesitant about carrying your products you can decide to sell through consignment meaning that you only get paid after the products are sold.

However if the products are not sold they will be returned to you.

Flea Markets – Find local flea markets to showcase and sell your products. A flea market is a type of bazaar that rents space to people who want to sell or barter merchandise. Used goods, low quality items, and high quality items such as collectibles and antiques are commonly sold in the market.

Craft Shows – Crafts shows are a great place to sell your crafts.

Advertising Business cards – When you sell your crafts in flea markets or craft shows you can give a business card with each purchase order. If you have a website, make sure to have the web address on your business card.

Direct mail – Encourage clients to join your mailing list where you can send postcards featuring your new craft projects.

Brochures – Create brochures featuring your crafts projects to give to interested clients.

Website – Having a website can be a great resource for past and future clients. You can place little stickers on each of your crafts with your website address. However, you don’t need an expensive website. An alternative to having a website is creating an online store on Etsy.com. *Culled from Starting A Small Business

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ACHIEVERS' CLINIC

into it. Take the time to investigate and research your market and the competition.

Add a personal touch – make your crafts stand out from those inexpensive mass produced products.

So you must differentiate your products by adding a special touch. For example you can personalise your products by adding each person’s name.

Dreams just require your imagination and thought process. Goals require a lot of hard work to achieve

Goals This is a good time of the year!

Everyone is excited and looking forward to a better year than 2015.

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wise person should have concrete plans to reposition for greater achievements in 2016.

One of the best ways to do that is by setting goals. I am very passionate about this because of its direct relationship with success. Someone rightly defined success as the achievement of predetermined goals. How true! This is because with setting goals, you can measure your level of success.

For example, I can set a financial goal of ten million naira by December 31, 2016.

If I make eight million naira, I can say that I was eighty percent successful. If I did not set a goal, I cannot measure my success. Do not forget that success is relative.

According to Wikipedia, a goal is a desired result a person or a system envisions, plans and commits to achieve.

It is a personal or organisational desired end-point in some sort of assumed development. Many people endeavour to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines. In simple terms, a goal is a desired outcome.

In other words, dreams are things you just think about and have a strong desire to achieve. While goals are your dreams you are acting on at the time.

Dreams just require your imagination and thought process.

Goals require a lot of hard work to achieve. Dreaming is very easy.

Almost everyone has a dream and can dream. However, only few people have goals. This is because goals are very tasking and they require hard work. Dreams stretch your imagination, while goals stretch your entire being.

Dreams stretch the limits of your imagination. Goals stretch you in the sense that they increase your skills, abilities and entire personality.

Dreams are very free. Anyone can dream at no cost and may keep on dreaming. Goals have a cost attached towards achieving them.

Anyone can spend his whole day dreaming at no cost. Achievement of goals cannot come without a price.

The price to pay may have to do with your time, money, effort and sweat.

Example of a Dream and Goal: Dream: To own a big house on the beach. Goal: To buy and own a five bedroom Dream vs. Goal duplex on Eko Atlantic in Through the years, many A dream Lagos, Nigeria, by people have not had August, 31, 2017. complete success. This is inspires I am not trying to because they have you, while relegate dreams to the misunderstood dreams for background.

No! A dream goals. A dream is very a goal is very important. different from a goal, even drives you Without it, there cannot though there is a connection be any goal. Dreams are between the two. to take seeds with unimaginable Let me share with you some action potentials. They are more differences between a dream about the final destination, and a goal and how they cobut not the journey. relate: Dreams are about the big A dream is something you picture. Goals are about the final would like to do. A goal is something you destination too, but much more about decide to do and then set a plan to do it. the journey. Goals are much about A dream is vague, while a goal is clear. the process. They understand both For example, you may like to be a the aim and the end result. However, successful individual. This is vague goals require systems, processes and because success is relative and cannot be structures to facilitate and achieve measured. the end result.

As a goal, you can measure how In another way, dreams are much successful you want to be. In other words, about the “what”. Goals are much the goal is the yardstick you can use in about “the how” and the “when”. measuring your success. A dream You can have a dream to become inspires you, while a goal drives you to very successful in life. Goals will take action. A dream is not time - bound, show you how and what you can do a goal is time - bound (deadline). in order to be very successful at A goal is a dream with a deadline. A every level in your life. dream is a goal without legs. Martin In summary, I can say that goals Luther King Jnr. had a dream that one are dreams put to action within a day the black man will have better time frame. freedom in America. The “one day” had no specific date or deadline. A dream Contact: makes you a passive and wishful thinker, www.kelechianyalechi.com while a goal makes you an action thinker. +234 802 879 8748 C M Y K

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

‘Scrap NUC; varsities' Governing Councils are corrupt’ —Page 25

RESEARCH & DEVT Harnessing waste management value chain can increase revenue —Page 26

•Mallam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education and President Muhammadu Buhari

500,000 UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES AS TEACHERS:

Solving one problem to create more?

By Dayo Adesulu & Elizabeth Uwandu

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s quest to provide 500,000 unemployed Nigerian graduates jobs in the teaching profession, has attracted manifold reactions from stakeholders in the education sector. While a school of thought views it as a good policy thrust on tackling unemployment among youths, it is, however, perceived by many as a bid to solve one problem, which may lead to creating more in the process.

It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had recently stated that 500,000 unemployed graduates will be absorbed into the teaching profession to solve, in the interim, the problem of graduate unemployment in the country.

Apart from the reality that many square pegs will end up in round holes, stakeholders are also asking who will be responsible for the 500,000 teachers' salaries, as the states and local governments over the years have had the responsibility of paying teachers' salaries.

In her reaction, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) C M Y K

University of Calabar and immediate past Dean, Faculty of Education, Professor Florence Banku-Obi applauded the Federal Government's decision to create jobs, but added: "If the Federal Government is thinking of creating those jobs in the education sector by employing and sending them to the classroom, it is a move in the wrong direction."

classrooms, they can focus on industrialization and other sectors.

"Government can expand agriculture where they need little or no skills to make returns.

Yes, I know, there are people who are trained agriculturists, but that is the essence of extension workers. If you are going into agriculture and have no basic knowledge, then you need

Untrained teachers According to her, sending these graduates to the classroom will rather bring in more confusion into the education sector, warning that it is going to be a wrong step to send these untrained teachers into the classrooms.

To her, many of the said graduates are not trained teachers, and many, especially the younger generation don’t want to teach because they have no interest in teaching. She said: ''Employing them will just be a means of earning a living because they have no passion for teaching."

Alternatively, the DVC disclosed that rather than the government sending them to the

The new man thinks he is doing Nigeria good by sending unemployed graduates to the teaching profession, they are not thinking of the effect on the sector

extension workers to groom you."

Stressing the need for each state auditing of unemployed teachers for efficiency, BankuObi pointed out that there are still thousands of Nigerian youths who read education but are not employed.

She urged the Federal Government to task each state to do auditing for efficiency. She said: ‘’Each state has thousands of unemployed trained teachers seeking teaching jobs, they can be engaged and sent to classrooms, while government creates opportunities for the nonteaching graduates in other areas.’’

She noted that the same Federal Government which owns the Federal Government Teaching Scheme, employs NCE teachers for one or two years and disengages them. Rather than disengage them, she counselled that they should review the policy and make it permanent.

The professor maintained that many NCE graduates who were employed under that scheme, taught for one or two years and were sent back to the labour market.

Banku-Obi who lamented the policy somersaults in the sector said: "The confusion and the

problems we have in the sector is as a result of policy inconsistency of the Federal Government. 'We don’t have educators piloting the affairs of the Ministry of Education, like what we have in health and justice. ''It is high time the Federal Government began to think seriously of employing round pegs in round holes by getting professional educators to man the Ministry of Education.

"Today, we think we are getting to the right direction, tomorrow another minister comes who does not have an idea of what education and teaching is all about comes with another policy.

Now, the new man thinks he is doing Nigeria good by sending unemployed graduates to the teaching profession, they are not thinking of the effect on the sector.

Unemployed graduates "Already, employers are complaining that we have graduates that are unemployable and the Federal Government is sending these same graduates to the teaching profession. ‘’What are you expecting to get from the system? It will be garbage in, garbage out. They are going to feed the tertiary institutions with poor students.

At the end, the tertiary institutions will not be able to perform any magic on the undergraduates. I think we should have a good policy. ‘’If possible, government should have another education summit where people will come and discuss this issue.

Unfortunately, when Ministry of Education calls for Education Summits, they bring in directors of different fields, staff from different ministries, professionals Continues on page 25

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—25

‘NUC should be scrapped, varsities' Governing Councils corrupt’

A

COMMISSIONING: From left, Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh, Primate, Archbishop, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Mrs Folorunsho and Mr Modupe Alakija (donors), Chief Wole Olanipekun, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council during the commissioning of Alakija Faculty of Law Building at the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo. PHOTO: Dare Fasube

Solving one problem to create more?

Continues from page 24

from different fields, they will never bring in educationists to talk about education. ‘’They see education summit as an avenue of making their own money. I strongly suggest that there should be a proper education summit and state auditing of teachers. Let them verify if they can get the numbers of teachers they are looking for from the states for the teaching profession. After this, they should engage the services of the Teachers Registration Council to set up aptitude tests and see those who are qualified and have a passion for the teaching profession before engaging them. The body should organize one or two months training for them before engaging them.

Speaking in the same vein, Deputy Director, Distance Learning Institute, University of Ibadan, Professor Oyesoji Aremu also applauded the initiative of the Federal Government to employ the 500,000 unemployed graduates, but however expresses some reservations.

Teaching manpower He said: ‘’It is a welcome development given the paucity of teaching manpower generally in the school system (primary and secondary education). According to him, some cautionary notes should however, be sounded in the interest of pupils/students and education for part of the existing malady in the education sector not to repeat itself.

He, however frowned at employing wrong personnel (who masquerade as teachers) into the school system.

His words: "'Mostly in many public schools (primary and secondary), the teaching force is populated by untrained teachers. This, with proven evidence, has contributed not only to the decline of standards in public schools but also poor academic performance as shown

by West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National C M Y K

Examination Council’s (NECO) results, where national performance norm is terribly below average. It has always made public schools unfashionable for many parents who prefer fee-paying private schools for their wards."

Prof. Aremu added: ‘’With these cautionary notes, it is instructive to advise the Federal Government not to make the employment of 500,000 teachers an all-comers affair. One, it should be phased by first considering graduates of universities and colleges of education who studied education or who have had postgraduate diplomas in education, irrespective of their first degrees or Higher National Diploma certificates.

"The second phase is to consider others who are without certification in education pedagogy. This category of unemployed youths should be exposed to a stop-in-the-gap abridged training in education and should also be made to go through a mock teaching practice. This could be for a month and with a condition that such people be made to go for postgraduate diplomas in education on Open Distance Learning platform.

Aremu further advised; ‘’Logistics of stop-in-the-gap

Each state has thousands of unemployed trained teachers seeking teaching jobs, they can be engaged and sent to classrooms, while government creates opportunities for non teaching graduates in other areas

training should also be worked out by the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour in conjunction with state ministries and zonal offices. Lastly, the recruitment should pass integrity test so as not to be hijacked by politicians.’’

Also reacting, the Dean, School of Education, Adeniran Ogunsayan College of Education, Ijanikin, Dr. Deborah Delegiwa urged the Federal Government to reconsider its proposed plan.

According to her, the decision to recruit graduates without training as teachers will spell doom for the sector, stating that teaching is an art, not a mere vocation.

Necessary knowledge She said:”Teaching is an art that requires a person to acquire basic and necessary knowledge before being qualified. If one then desires to go into teaching without being trained, it connotes disrespect of the teaching profession. The action also suggests that the colleges and faculties of education should cease to exist.”

On his part, the Head of Department, Early Childhood Care and Education, AOCOED, Mr Sunday Fowowe, stated that the decision of the President on recruiting graduates with no formal education as teachers amounts to passing no vote of confidence on Teachers ‘Education.

Said he: “No matter how brilliant an individual is, he may not be able to do well in class if he is not made to pass through teacher training programme. ‘’The President’s pronouncement is like passing vote of no confidence on teachers’ education, hence, all colleges and faculties of education should be scrapped.”added Mr Fowowe.

If you are considering 500,000 graduates into the teaching sector, they should be tested and trusted.

“Those who have been trained for three years in colleges of education or four years in faculties of education are the ones saddled with the sole responsibility of teaching because, they have been equipped with innovative and basic skills.

By Gbenga Olarinoye

FORMER university administrator, Professor Laide Abbas, has called for the immediate scrapping of the Nigeria Universities Commission, NUC, saying the Commission is killing creativity.

Abbas, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, said in almost half a century of working in university and interacting with other varsities across the globe, he had not come across an establishment like NUC, even in advanced countries, making the organisation an aberration.

Abbas also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to disband Governing Councils of all varsities because the personalities that are being given the jobs are often unworthy of such honour.

Abbas said: “NUC was meant to serve as a link between government and the varsities so that VC won’t not be seeing parading corridors of power to get funds.

“F.R.A Williams as the pioneer chairman of NUC used his contact to raise funds for the Commission and its activities were well managed but now, the NUC feeds fat on meagre resources available to the education sector.”

Stressing that the regulatory and supervisory roles being played by the NUC could be played by external examination bodies or groups with lesser financial implications, Abbas recalled how he, as a member of an external examination body to University of Ibadan, influenced the expansion of syllabus for the teaching of Computer Science in the institution.

He said rather than having an autonomous body with staggering budget as supervisor for universities, when the institutions are not even buoyant enough to fund simple research work, external examination groups must be empowered to supervise the universities.

Fidelity Bank donates educational items to Maiduguri IDP camps

By Amaka Abayomi

S

TAFF of Maiduguri branch of Fidelity Bank, under the aegis of the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), the multi-purpose Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vehicle of the bank, have provided educational supplies for kids at the Internally Displaced Persons’, IDP, camps in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Tagged ‘Back to School’, the staff, who contributed money from their salaries to buy educational supplies such as branded school bags, books and other writing materials, said the decision was borne out of the need to make life easier for children in the IDP camps who were out of school as a result of insurgency in the North-East region of Nigeria.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the bank identified education out of the many needs of IDPs because there was a strong correlation between education and socio-economic development, especially in modern times when the emphasis is on a knowledge economy.

Knowledge economy Represented by the Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mohammed Balarabe, Okonkwo said the bank will support initiatives that encourage education at all levels, particularly those that enhance quality and standards.

He said “We do not want to alienate ourselves from the community where we operate. We maintain high standards of integrity in our relations with state governments and host communities, and that is why staff of the bank can pull resources together to embark on such a humane project.”

Promising that the State Government will continue to partner with the bank to ensure that it prospers, the state Commissioner of Education, Musa Inuwa Kubo, urged other corporates to borrow a leaf from Fidelity as the government can’t do it alone.

Some of the projects Fidelity Bank has so far executed through the FHHP include the renovation of facilities and provision of classrooms and hostel furniture at Zainab Dakingari Orphanage Home/School in Birnin Kebbi; construction of the Registry Block & Clinic Park Landscape in BSU, Markudi; renovation and equipping of Boys Correction/Academic Centre, Oregun, Lagos; renovation of Daniel Akintode School, Abeokuta; renovation of Home Economics Arts & Craft Centre, Ikota; equipment of the Information Communications Technology (ICT) Centre of Government Secondary School, Mabushi, Abuja, etc.

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

RESEARCH & DEVT

Harnessing waste management value chain can increase revenue — Idowu Desmennu AS states look for ways of increasing their internally generated revenue, Engr. Andrew Idowu Desmennu, Managing Director/ CEO of Andrew D. Idowu and Co. says they should look in the direction of waste management and stop capital flight occasioned by processing waste outside their domains. He says the company has come up with a system whereby people can earn money while disposing their waste and keeping the environment clean.

Excerpts:

By Ebele Orakpo

A

CCORDING to Desmennu, waste, like every product, has its value chain and if properly programmed and harnessed, will lead to increase in internally-generated revenue (IGR) for states and greater income for the citizens. “Until waste becomes a source of income generation for everybody, we will never get out of the quagmire.

About 80 per cent of waste cannot decompose because they are chemical-based but every waste can be recycled. We don’t even eat enough so organic waste is just about 30 per cent of waste generated.

Research: “We carried out a research on how we can solve the waste problem. We have people who collect waste from different locations; they are the primary collectors. Assuming we have one million households in Lagos and I, as a waste collector, give polythene bags to them free of charge – yellow for plastics, red for bottles and green for organic waste.

Organic waste: Then when I

come, I weigh everything and pay like N20 (for bottles, metals) and N50 (for plastics) per kilogram and I take the waste to the recyclers. If you go to the Lagos toll gate every weekend, you will see men bringing in waste from different parts of the South-West into Lagos. For instance, someone may be collecting cans in Oyo State, and with hydraulic jerk, he presses the cans and someone else buys them and takes them to Lagos for recycling.

Wheelbarrow pushers If I buy at N20 per kilo and sell at N25 per kilo, I make N5.00 on every kilo. If I am able to bring two tons (2,000kg) in a week, I will be making N10,000 a week.

The more waste I bring, the more I earn. If I buy two tons for N40,000 and sell for N50,000, I make N10,000 profit and I go back to buy more from households with N40,000.

You will see people, including graduates, going to pick up these things. They will employ

•Empty bottles, cans and other containers bagged and ready for recycling wheelbarrow pushers who will deliver the waste at the depot and collect their money.

So the money will just be flowing and before you know it, I start recycling. This will give rise to recycling machines fabricating. They can give to recyclers on hire purchase.

These people can get loans from banks and gradually, small enterprises will spring up.

Handling waste: “Once I collect cans from households, for instance, I compress them and someone will come to pick them up. This will lead to a cleaner environment because everyone will want to keep their waste for sale. So you will not see people throwing waste on the streets. A driver will tell passengers to drop cans or plastic bottles in the car so you will not see people throwing things out of the window.

Plastic bottles: After sometime, he knows where to take them to and collect his money. The

person who has just eaten corn in the car will not throw it away; he will put it in his bag because he knows it is going to add to his waste at home. Now, those who are recycling are making money from it so let those who are generating the waste also make money.

Supermarkets like Shoprite can put a machine in their premises; so people can take their wine bottles or plastic bottles there, the machine grinds them, weighs them and calculates the amount to be paid. Then somebody who makes glass will come to Shoprite, pick up the glass and pay. This is how it is done abroad.

Organic waste: “People collect organic waste and take it to the bush where it is turned into fertiliser. Goat waste is money. A goat can generate close to one kilo of waste per day if it eats well. Assuming it generates three kilos a week and I have 10 goats, that is 30 kilos and I’m

getting N20 per kilo.

People come to collect poultry waste here and spend N2,000 per bag to take it to the north and that is why we see their watermelons and tomatoes big.

They do not use chemical fertilisers. We can start to sell our poultry waste, cow dung and goat waste.

Cleaner environ: “You will see people picking waste even from gutters, not minding whether it is dirty or not. Within six months, there will be no plastics in our gutters. But all this needs education and it is not going to be government-driven.

In Ibadan, MTN Foundation did something where they recycle organic waste and it becomes fertiliser. Once it is milled and turned into liquid, a tanker will come, take it to a place and they drain it and sprinkle it on the farms. They do not even need to wait for it to decompose. It will decompose on the farms.

Soyinka, Lagos govt laud Diamond Bank on child devt

By Dayo Adesulu

A

FRICA’s first Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, and the Lagos State Government have commended Diamond Bank Plc for its leading role in championing the intellectual development of children and the growth of art in primary and secondary schools.

Speaking at the Bank’s head office in Lagos, during the unveiling and announcement of the 2016 edition of the Vision of the Child (VOTC) painting and literary arts competition, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Adebule, stated that Diamond Bank’s initiative and sponsorship of the competition since its inception in 2012, is a testament of the Bank’s strong commitment to the future of children, pointing that such commitment serves as a wakeup call to other corporate organisations to support and participate in various programs aimed at boosting the quality of education in the state.

“This is an initiative geared towards promoting education through creative thinking, C M Y K

literary arts and painting skills.

This vision is in tune with our educational policy in Lagos State and that is why government has participated actively in it since inception. We will continue to do so as long as it provides children the platform to express their understanding of the world they live in and their vision of what it should be,” the Deputy Governor stated.

Speaking further, she said, “We

commend Diamond Bank and we are delighted to note that the VOTC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has reached out to over 3,000 schools in Lagos.

The themes may appear deep and challenging but as we have seen from the exhibitions and literary presentations of the children, Nigeria still has a great future.

Gregory varsity matriculates 140

G

REGORY University Uturu,GUU, has announced its fourth matriculation ceremony slated for Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 10am.

According to the Registrar, Dr. Austin Orisakwe, the statutory oath of matriculation will be administered to 140 students who had been offered admission in the 2015/2016 academic year.

Orisakwe who disclosed that many distinguished

personalities are expected to grace the occasion, added that the platform will also be used to perform the foundation laying ceremony of some fresh projects at the new campus complex.

He urged the freshmen to comply to the order of proceeding by presenting themselves in time for the matriculation procession in their robes, while guest are requested to be seated before commencement at 10am.

Students debuts, focuses on instilling wisdom, virtues

By Tare Youdeowei

S

TUDENTS, a quarterly resource for students at all levels, has been launched with the first volume spanning January to March 2016.

The 19 paged magazine features guides on harnessing and equitable use of intelligence, understanding what is read, knowing if one is creative, making money as a student, good grammar, goal setting for the academic year, preparation the night before exams, being a trendy book worm, hygiene, proper diet for the brain, among other issues.

In his message, the Editor, Mr. Henry Agbobire, said "students who genuinely want to be outstanding in their academic pursuit require profound knowledge and direction on how to study and pass exams. They require wisdom and

understanding to build enduring relationships w i t h teachers, parents and with other students.

"They also need strength and vision to take full control of their actions, set achievable goals. It is for this reason Students is published. It supports the goal of true education which, according to Aristotle, 'all improvement in society begins with the education of the young'.

"It has all the ingredients a student truly requires to translate academic excellence into great leadership and success in the real world. It is essentially a compendium of life skills and wisdom tips that are useful to all students."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 28,, 2016 – 27

C M Y K

28 – Vanguard,

C M Y K

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 28,, 2016

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—29

Shiite, Army clash: What NBA fact-finding revealed

By Dayo Benson

I

T was dusk. The blistering afternoon sun had given way to a creeping cold weather. The dry and dusty day was gradually transforming into a moisture atmosphere. As motorists made their way home that evening, they cast a glance at the debris of the ruin that the operational headquarter of the religion sect had become.

Few weeks ago, the empty land stream with stones and broken blocks and pieces of flattened roofing sheet was the ‘sovereign’ territory of Sheik Ibrahim Zakzaky, spiritual leader of the Shiite, also known as Islamic Movement of Nigeria. This is Huyssainyah, few minutes’ drive from the Depot, Nigerian Army, Zaria and a walking distance from the Police Area Command. Elsewhere in Gyaellsu, a nearby residential neighborhood, the expanse occupied by the sect leader and his followers had been leveled, leaving behind a wasteland, at least for now.

Penultimate Monday, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, led by its President Augustin Alegeh, SAN, secretary Afam Osigwe, publicity secretary, Gbolahan Gbadamosi, executive director, Mrs Ifueko Alufohai, and other senior bar members in the company of journalists drawn from print, electronic and on-line went on a one-day fact finding mission to Zaria.

Fact finding mission Other lawyers on the mission included former NBA president Mr. Lanke Odogunya, Mr. Joe Gadzama SAN, former NBA general secretary Mr. Emeka Obegolu, immediate past attorney general of Ekiti state Mr. Wale Fapohunda and NBA branch chairmen from Kaduna and Katsina state among others.

Precisely December 12, 2015, the Zaria-based Shiite members in their multitude had encountered the convoy of Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Burutai. The sect members, who had taken over the major road, had denied the convoy passage despite pleas by some senior military officers in the army chief entourage.

Tension: Tension mounted as reasoning failed to prevail. Soon, the charged atmosphere boiled over and the situation became unmanageable by both sides. By the

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Burutai (left) and Sheik Ibrahim EL-Zakzaky. time the miasma melted, scores of the sect members including two of Zakzaky’s children lay dead, they were killed by soldiers.

Zakzaky was subsequently arrested, he has remained in detention. His enclaves in Hussainyah and Gyaellsu were pulled down by mortar and caterpillar.

It was against this background that the NBA undertook the fact finding mission. According to the NBA president, the essence of the visit was to find out what transpired between the military and the Islamic group on that fateful day and the fall-out.

Before setting out for the assignment, the NBA team paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Zauzau, HRH Alhaji Shehu Idris, whose palace used to share a fence with the Shiite sect.

Speaking at the palace, Alegeh emphasized that the NBA had come with an open mind. His words, “as an association, we do not have any view on what transpired in Zaria, we have come to listen and leave. And what we have heard will provide an

2 remanded in prison over BOI property theft Pg 31 C M Y K

opportunity for us to write our report and make it available to our members and the public. The NBA is not a judicial panel. “ Traditional rulers’ support: In his response, the Emir of Zazzau, HRH Alhaji Shehu Idris, expressed his delight and that of his council of chiefs to receive the

Tension mounted as reasoning failed to prevail.

Soon, the charged atmosphere boiled over and the situation became unmanageable by both sides

Magistrate Shomade denies corruption allegations

Pg 31

NBA president and his team, saying “in listening to the NBA president, we have learnt a lot and we assure you of our support and co-operation at all times”.

Democracy and the rule of law He added that “Nigeria is enjoying democracy and the rule of law which would not have been possible without your participation. I assure you of the support of traditional rulers across the country and if there is anything you want us to do to further support you, don’t hesitate to call on us because we have great respect for members of the bar association.”

One of the chiefs, Alhaji Dalhet Musa Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of the palace on the sect activities fielded questions from journalists. Abubakar, who is the Tarkarfi Zauzau, has been a full time member of the Emirate Council of Chiefs since 1993.

Before going into details, he called on NBA to educate Nigerians on their rights and duties in a democratic dispensation.

As he puts it, “people misunderstand their constitutional rights. I should know that where my rights interferes with another person’s, I lose my own right because the constitution has not

given me the right to infringe on anyone’s right. So, it is basic that Nigerians should understand this.”

Addressing the issue of the Shiite group, he said, “it was being led by a certain Sheik in Kaduna and in 1986 something happened, and Sheik El-Zakzaky assumed the mantle of leadership. A citizen of Zaria, his (Zakzaky) family house, shares a fence with the palace to the right. For many years, the house which lays few meters away from the Emir’s palace became the sect’s operational base, while the royal father was able to manage and tolerate them. Sometimes, their activities were reported to the State Security Council.

This was the situation until the sect acquired a property in Gyaellsu, opposite the Kongo campus of the Ahmadu Bello University, and relocated.”

He reviewed that residents who could not cope with the sect’s presence in the neighborhood moved elsewhere and sold their houses, while the only potential buyer was Zakzaky, no matter how high the asking price.

With their large number, their word became the law in the community and they imposed the code of conduct, operating like a potentate in the desert. “They de-

Continues on page 30

30—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Shiite, Military clash: What NBA fact-finding revealed Continues from page 29 termined when residents would go in and out of their houses under the guise of protecting them. They also decided nonresidents who could go in and out of the area.”

A former governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Muktar Ramadan Yero, who had gone to pay a condolence visit to a bereaved family friend, was denied entry to Gyaellsu by Zakzaky’s followers.

The last December confrontation with the Chief of Army Staff convoy was not an isolated occurrence. Sometime in 2014, the commandant, Depot Nigerian Army had a similar encounter with the group. He ordered his convoy to drive through the crowd. This led to a showdown. The Emir and his entourage also had a narrow escape on their way to the security meeting sometime ago. The palace spokesperson who stepped out of his car had his turban pushed off with an arrow poked on his head. An attempt was made to forcefully open the outer tank cover of the Emir’s car, with an intention to set it ablaze.

According to Abubakar, there were security reports on all incidents and they were reported to the police who appeared helpless. Surprisingly, Zakzaky reported the 2014 incident to the National Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International.

At the Depot, Nigerian Army, the Commandant, Brigadier- General C.G. Musa, who said he has been in the saddle for six months, informed the NBA team that the General Officer Commanding 1st Division Kaduna would be in a better position to recount what happened.

Sovereignty of Nigeria He, however, emphasized that nothing should detract from the sovereignty of Nigeria as a nation, adding that “the situation we have here is such that they (Shiite) seem to be above the law. What we do is to curtail their excesses whenever they exhibit them and we also try as much as possible not to have confrontation with them. When they have their rallies, they take over the road and nobody dared ask questions. A lot of people come here to report and we send the reports to the police.”

He stated that whenever Zakzaky was returning from his operational base in Hussainah to his residence at Gyaellsu, a distance of about five kilometers, the entire road would be blocked.

According to Brig. Gen. Musa, the sect member would chase the police and the Federal Road Safety officials and take over the roads completely. He said they mounted check-points and imposed curfew in the neighborhood.

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com C M Y K

NBA President, Mr. Alegeh and Emir of Zauzau, HRH Alhaji Shehu Idris.

“The police was handicapped, they couldn’t do anything and nobody dared to go and arrest anybody, so it was like a parallel government within a system,” he added.

Tackle the threat before it would metamorphose to another monster: Brig.

Gen. Musa corroborated the allegation of forcing the governor to trek, adding that they once stopped the vice-president’s convoy. “That was how bad the situation was,” he stressed.

The General advised that it is necessary to tackle the threat before it would metamorphose to another monster that would be difficult to tame.

At the Nigerian Police Area Command, the sing-song about the Shiite resonated with the same refrain. The Area Commander, M.D Sheu and Assistant Commissioner of Police confirmed everything the military said about the group.

According to him: “Prior to that incident, we had many reported cases against the Shiite group, including cases of murder.

The pictures and case file of people killed are here (brought out three pictures), we have forwarded them to the Inspector General of Police.”

The history of violence as far as the Shiite is concerned is a non-issue. They are violent and they preach violence. As a matter of fact, they don’t believe in the existence of a country called Nigeria. They are operating a state within a state and they apply their own laws,” said the area commander.

He added that if any of their members is

arrested, the station will be attacked in a bid to rescue the suspect. He described the situation as a sensitive issue that demands collective effort to address because of its religion undertone and freedom of worship which they claim.

Giving a background of how the sect was conceived, a member who identified himself as Abdulrahman Abubakar, Chairman of its Education Committee, addressed the NBA team. He said the aim and objective of the mission is “for us Muslims to live our lives according to the rules and regu-

According to Brig.

Gen. Musa, the sect member would chase the police and the Federal Road Safety officials and take over the roads completely

lations set by our creator in the universe, in line with the teachings of the holy Quran and the sayings of the Prophet”.

He explained that the movement started in the late 70’s when El-Zakzaky was a student. He said the movement was a response to communism, socialism and other “isms” which was the order of the day then and more importantly to show that Islam has something to present in form of an ideology, which he has been preaching with his followers.

Zakzaky, according to Abubakar, has suffered several persecutions in the course of preaching this ideology but he remains steadfast. He said their leader is independent minded and does not ask for favour unlike other Ulamas (Islamic scholars).

Group does not preach violence: Abubakar pointed out that the group does not preach violence and it shows respect to fellow Muslims despite ideological differences. “We have good rapport and understanding with non-Muslim,” he added.

He emphasized that what is important to the group is not the differences with other religions but understanding of those differences, noting that many Christians have identified with the cause of the group which he described as the movement of peace.

Movement of peace “We have principle of unity among Muslims and respect among people that differ from our faith. We try to accommodate one another, “Abubakar said.

Another adherent of the movement, Dr. Abdullahi Danladi, an associate professor at the Ahmadu Bello University said the membership of the group is about five million across the country. He said the vigilante operation in Gyaellsu was put in place because of rampant cases of stealing and pilfering among residents.

He affirmed the Shiite faithful are peace loving and accommodating. “The Sheik shares pieces of meat to all neighbors both Muslim and Christian during festive periods and pastors do join us to celebrate on such occasions,” Danladi said.

However, a resident of Gyaellsu, Danlad Musa, revealed that neighbors who reject the gesture would incur the sect’s wrath. As he puts it “they give us meat with one hand and take away our peace with the other hand.”

At the end of the submissions, the NBA president noted that there must be a solution to the problem which he said was avoidable if things were done differently.

He restated that the incident having occurred several times in the past, the primary aim of the visit is to ensure it does not happen again.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—31

Shomade denies corruption allegations

By Bartholomew Madukwe

M

AGISTRATE Tesillimi Shomade of the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ojo, Lagos State, has denied allegations of corruption and pervasion of justice, made against him by one Mr Bamanga Adamu, a Customs Officer.

In his reply to a query by the Deputy Chief Registrar, over the petition against him

by Adamu, the Magistrate said all the allegations in the petition of Mr Adamu dated February 25, 2015 were not true.

“Suit No. MCA/1910/2013 was assigned to Magistrate Court, Ojo, by the Chief Magistrate (Admin) at Apapa. The proof of service is in the court’s file. The proof of service is an affidavit dated August 26, 2013 of Oloruntimilehin Owoseni, Sheriff of Chief Magistrate Court Apapa who made an oath that on August 24, 2013 at 6:35a.m., at 201 Road, A Close Block 4, Flat 3,

Festac, he personally served the defendant the writ of summons. According to the Sheriff, the sefendant was pointed out to him by the plaintiff representative,” Magistrate Shomade explained.

He pointed out that the court did not grant the plaintiff’s counsel application for trial upon sighting the proof of service but granted the defendant another chance by ordering the plaintiff Attorney to file and serve the defendant his written statement on oaths in accordance with Section 27 (1) (2) Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011.

Magistrate Shomade noted that sufficient time was granted to the defendant to appear in court but he refused to come to court on the trial date, December 17, 2013.

“The court went a little further in granting another opportunity to the defendant by adjourning for cross-examination and defence till January 21, 2014. Judgment was read on February 13, 2014,”

the magistrate stated, adding that he did not know that the matter came up at Apapa Magistrate Court.

Magistrate Shomade further

The court went a little further in granting another opportunity to the defendant by adjourning for cross-examination and defence till January 21, 2014

explained that with the defence not in court and after refusing to appear in court to defend the case, the Plaintiff ’s counsel asked the court to adjourn for judgment, which the court granted.

The magistrate also said he was not aware a court had heard the matter before. “Ï advised them to go to the Appeal Court as there coming to my court as senior police officers is like harassing the Magistrate in the course of his duty as the defendant was granted sufficient time and adjournment to enable him come to court to defend the case,” he asserted.

The magistrate added that after the judgment had been delivered, two senior police officers came to him over same matter but that he advised them to appeal the judgment.

Adamu, in his petition dated February 25, 2015 accused the magistrate of delivering a default judgment despite knowing that a judgment

had already been obtained at Apapa Chief Magistrate Court.

The petitioner explained that at the the time he bought the property, one Dr. F.C. Oluigbo wasa sitting tenant.

In his words: “Ät the time I bought the property, there was a sitting tenant, one Dr. F.C. Oluigbo, whom I took to court and obtained judgement to evict him at Chief Magistrate Court 1, Apapa, presided over by Magistrate Odugbesan (CM.1) who is now retired. Magistrate Shomade purportedly granted an order for substituted service by pasting in the property in which my brother was living with his children and wife.

“There was no evidence on the record, except the highly questionable affidavit, that the order was complied with.

There were no photographs evidencing the said pasting, which pasting was never done. Yet, he went ahead and granted judgement and ordered for its execution.”

Court fines man over sale of unregistered wine

A

By Bartholomew Madukwe

FEDERAL High Court sit ting in Lagos, has ordered a 43-year-old man Julian Madu trading under the name of MADAK enterprises to pay the sum of N55,000 over the sale and distribution of unregistered Wine.

Madu, who carried out business at No 8, Offin Road, OkeArin Lagos, under the tradename of MADAK enterprises was charged by the National Agency for Food, Drugs, Administration and Control, NAFDAC. He was charged on a threecount charge of selling unregistered alcoholic beverages, distributing unregistered alcoholic beverage and selling the product in a false manner.

He was arraigned on January 22 and had pleaded guilty to the offences.

When the case was called, the prosecutor, Mr Shamaki Umar informed the court that the case was for a review of facts. He, therefore, called on a witness, Mr Folorunsho Idowu, who is Chief Regulatory Officer of NAFDAC to review the facts.

Led in evidence by Umar, the witness told the court that sometime in 2015, a petition was received from a law firm O. Kayode & Co on behalf of the brand owner, complaining of sale of fake Moet and Chandon Champagne.

He said that following this complaint, investigations and

C M Y K

searches were conducted in various supermarkets, adding that some of the said wine were seized from Addide supermarket among others in Lagos.

According to the witness, the sale of the fake wine to the supermarket was traced to the accused through the sales receipt tendered by the supermarket.

He said that the accused was eventually apprehended and brought to the NAFDAC

office through the assistance of the market union at Okearin.

The witness told the court that the statement of the accused was taken in which he admitted selling the products to the supermarket.

He said that a request for scientific aid form was also used to carry out an analysis on the substance and the result of the analysis was marked “unsatisfactory”.

After the evidence by the

witness, the prosecutor then urged the court to convict and sentence the accused based on evidence adduced.

He also urged the court to taken into consideration the rising trend of adulteration and sale of counterfeit products in the society.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Abdulazeez Anka convicted the accused as charged.

“I have heard the review of facts as tendered by the witness.

“The accused is hereby

found guilty of the offence of manufacture and sale of unregistered Moet and Chandon wine, and is also convicted for various misleading practices.

“The accused is hereby sentenced to pay a fine of N25,000 for sale of the unregistered products N20,000 for distribution of the products and N10,000 for misleading practices. All products confiscated are ordered to be forefeited to the federal government” the judge ruled.

2 remanded in prison over BOI property theft

By Abdulah Wahab & Bartholomew Madukwe

A

Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, has remanded in prison custody two men, Enoche Ugbabe and Enebeli Theophilus, charged for

allegedly stealing N1,424billion, property of Bank of Industry (BOI).

The duo, alongside Johnson Salako and Toritseju Jemide, were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a five-

count charge of fraud and stealing.

However, Salako and Jemide were absent in court.

According to the charge, the defendants stole the said money by falsely representing to the

Osinbajo, CJN for commissioning of law firm

T

he Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed Speaker House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu are among dignitaries expected at the official commissioning of J-K Gadzama LLP, the corporate law office of Chief Joseph – Kyari Gadzama, SAN on February 9, 2016.

A statement from the law firm indicates the occasion will be used to celebrate the Silver

Jubilee of the law firm. Fidelis Odita QC, SAN, will be the

keynote speaker.

AFBA inaugurates conference planning committees

T

HE African Bar Association, AFBA, will today in Ikoyi, Lagos inaugurate its Banjul 2016 conference planning committee. A statement by the President of AFBA, Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo, said “We are going to inaugurate some committees today, this

includes the Banjul 2016 Conference Planning Committee, the Mobilization, Sensitization and Logistics committees.

“The event will be attended by prominent Bar leaders from within and outside the country.”

bank that the facility was meant to finance a project.

The commission also accused the defendants of forging a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of Lands Registry of Lagos State which they pledged as security to obtain the facility.

Ugbabe and Theophilus were also said to have forged two title deeds and presented same to the Bank of Industry to obtain the facility.

EFCC prosecutor, Babatunde Sonoiki, informed the court that the offence was contrary to Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State.

When the charge was read to the defendants before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye and they pleaded not guilty.

Justice Ipaye remanded the defendants in prison custody pending the hearing of their bail applications and adjourned till February 4, 2016.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

People called me witch, bad but that spurs me to do more ----- Nnedi Okoroafor Imo State-born American Nnedi Okoroafor is a PhD holder in English from University of Illinois, Chicago and Professor of Creative Writing at Chicago State University. She is an associate professor of creative writing and literature at the New york State University, Buffalo. Since writing her first official story 16 years ago, Nnedi’s love, to view the world in a magical way that has infiltrated the globe through her fantasy, science fiction, and specula• Nnedi Okoroafor tive fiction. In this interview, the author of Who Fears Death (2010), Akata Witch (2011), Zahrah the Windseeker (2005), and others, reveals her love for African Literature, her inspiration etc. Excerpts: opinion is that it doesn’t, you can

By Prisca Sam-Duru OUR view about African literature?

I love African Literature. I have a Ph.D in literature and one of my dessertations was on African literature. I did my masters in Journalism before that. When I was doing my masters I was going to the university library thinking that I was going to research for my thesis and I ended up in the African literature section, reading everything there because it was interesting and the story telling was the best. I love Nigerian literature and oh!, I’m biased. I love Nigerian writing, by definition its always good from the classic to the present, its always good.

Considering the role of Literature, do you think African writers have contributed to shaping Africa?

Certainly, they have used their imagination, for instance if there is something wrong and for there to be change, you need imagination which brings idea that will lead to practical things.

Y

Practical things So as writers, we work with imagination and what we do is help people to imagine what could be, what shouldn’t and couldn’t be.

While doing that we entertain as well which is extremely important to ones' quality of life. Think about it, take out art, take out entertainment from life, there is no quality of life. Art increases ones quality of life. And writers are important in this.

What then is wrong with Africa?

Its bigger than that. The issues are bigger. We’ve dealt with colonialism, dealt with ourselves, we are not perfect people. But we have a whole bunch of issues both external and internal. I think writers play a big role in that, they have more jobs to do to make things better. And so is everyone.

Favourite Nigerian authors?

Ben Okri’s The Famished Road. I love that book, it transformed me as a writer. I also love The Palmwine Drinkered by Amos Tutola and Wole Soyinka’s The Man Died.

Do any of these books speak to Nigeria’s challenges?

C M Y K

Yes all of them do. Well, Nigerian writers all tend to speak to issues that are troubling the society, its almost the definition of Nigerian writing. And that has always been issues that people talk about, does African writings always have to address issues or politicised in some way? My

I listen to both the spirituality part of anything and those things blast in my brain I do more of research and people call me heathen

have pure entertainment, like Nollywood version of literature.

Even when they speak to issues it must not be too glaring like, this is why I wrote the book, this is my agenda.

What genres do you concentrate on?

All round. I say this because I read all round and that’s reflected in my works. I’m categorised as within science fiction, magical realism etc. I don’t really pay attention to the categorises. My most known novel Who Fear’s Death, blends the magical realism element and traditional African literature elements. It deals with child soldier, female genital circumcision issues and it got the traditional African literature, science fiction and it is set in the future. It got the magical realism because it deals with traditional Igbo rituality and so it got a lot of things in there and so, categories are not easy for me.

What inspires you?

Everything! By being here at Ake Festival am inspired. My parents are unique in many ways. After the Biafran war, they only stayed in the United States because of the war, they couldn’t come back. My father is a Cardiovascular Surgeon, my mother is very educated, she is a registered nurse/Midwife. They came to US for education and they prepared to get all that and come back here [Nigeria] and make a life for themselves but the Biafran war broke out and they ended up staying in America. They didn’t have that mentality of fleeing Nigeria. So as soon as the war was over, they took my siblings and I back to Nigeria just to reconnect everybody and we never stayed in posh hotels in Lagos, we went to the village. So from age 7 till now, that’s how its been for me.

My connection with Nigeria is very close because a lot of my strongest memories both the good

and the bad are real about this country. So when I started writing, my stories naturally flow from my memories about Nigeria.

For instance, my title Who Fears Death, came from my cousin’s name Onyesonwu. As soon as I heard that name, I got the title of my book. My main character in the book is Onye s’Onwu so the book title is the main charater’s name. I listen to both the spirituality part of anything and those things blast in my brain, I do more research and people call me heathen and I say in all this, I’m just curious. I have also been inspired by Octavia Butler, Ngugi wa’ Thiongo and Hayao Miyazaki.

What has been the feedback?

I have received some hate mails, they called me witch, called me bad but that only spurs me to do more.

Any Privilege being a writer?

First of all, who I am and the fact that my parents are very successful in the US. That priviledge has come back and forth. So, I have that and as a writer, I think it includes that I can ask anything I want and I get it.

This is something I never knew as a writer but learned as I go on and that is, it takes you around the world. Like I have been everywhere now and it just brought me back to Nigeria for Ake Festival. It keeps bringing me back here, I’ve been to the middle East, parts of Europe, South America, Carribean so many places and its all paid for. Its a huge privilege.

Prof Soyinka unveils 2016 Vision of the Child •as Adebule lauds Diamond Bank for support

By Japhet Alakam

T

HE Lagos State Government has commended Diamond Bank Plc for its leading role in championing the intellectual development of children and the growth of art in primary and secondary schools.

Lagos state deputy governor,Dr Idiat Adebule stated this last week during the official announcement and unveiling of the 2016 Vision of the child painting and literary competition in Lagos.

In an elaborate event at the Diamond Bank’s head office in Lagos, which was attended by Prof. Soyinka, Chief Nike Okundaye, Mr Victor Olaito, children from selected primary and secondary schools in Lagos, teachers, Consul general of Germany, cultural attache of French embassy Nigeria and top dignitaries from Lagos Black Heritage Festival, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, stated that Diamond Bank’s initiative and sponsorship of the competition since its inception in 2012, is a testament of the Bank’s strong commitment to the future of children, pointing that such commitment serves

•From left. Uzoma Dozie, CEO/MD Diamond Bank, Idiat Adebule, Deputy Gov. Lagos State, Prof Wole Soyinka (VOTC initiator) and Ingo Herbert,German Consul General,Nigeria as a wake-up call to other corporate organisations to support and participate in various programs aimed at boosting the quality of education in the State.

“The Vision of the Child is an initiative geared towards promoting education through creative thinking, literary arts and painting skills. This vision is in tune with our educational policy in Lagos State and that is why government has participated actively in it since inception. We will continue to do so as long as it provides children the platform to express their understanding of the world they live in, their vision of what it should be, as well as their fantasies and dreams,” the Deputy Governor stated.

On his part, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie, who reaffirmed his commitment to continue to support laudable projects involving the education of children and the growth of art in the country.

“At Diamond Bank, we try to go beyond banking and supporting the VOTC is one of our ways of ensuring that we contribute to the growth, development and nurturing of children.”

He stated that the growing innovations in technology points to a future where machines will play leading roles in business, thereby leaving only individuals who have the ability to give insight and vision to be the drivers of the future.

Prof. Wole Soyinka, the initia-

tor of the VOTC, unveiled the theme for the year to be Sisi Eko at 50: Aging Gracefully or Na SoSo Pancake?

According to him, this year’s theme is designed to herald the 50th Anniversary of Lagos as a State. The anniversary is billed to hold in 2017. “Childhood is an invaluable time in an individual’s life which should be filled with sweetness and light. However, the past few editions of the competition have revolved around gloomy themes as we realize that life also has its ugliness and pain, and it is in acknowledging these that we can all share in the collective responsibility for good,”he said.

Speaking further, he stated: “This year, we have decided on a lively theme to celebrate with the Lagos State Government as it attains 50 years of statehood.

We encourage the VOTC participants to research into the history and character of Eko, which will be reflected in their works.”

The competition is open to school children in Lagos State aged between 8 and 12. To qualify for entry, applicants must submit a poem, essay or short story of 300-500 words on the theme.

Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—33

Bayelsa: The philosopher king turns 50

By Comrade Root Francis

H

AVING a 50th birthday anniversary shortly after an electoral victory might seem like a fitting coincidence that calls for clinking of glasses. It surely does, but there is that possibility the celebration may be a muted one especially if the subject is averse to such reflexive urge.

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, amply typifies this trait. Such restraint was evident recently when he chose to cancel any celebration of his triumph in the governorship election as a mark of respect for those whose lives were cut short by violence.

So his birthday may be just as similar, but it wouldn’t make a decision to celebrate any less compelling; it would be an indulgence that has been earned. Any celebration will, essentially, be a toast to resilience and utmost fidelity to the social contract. For him, there was never a question of abdication of that obligation. The scrupulous observance of the imperatives inherent in the social contract naturally endeared him to the masses. It was this, coupled with an unforced bonhomie which earned Dickson the sobriquet, countryman governor.

Countryman governor But significant triumphs and a successful life sometimes tend to create an illusion of an easy ride.

Dickson’s rise to fame has been anything but rosy. The road to re-election was a particularly tortuous one characterised by obstacles created by federal might and the merchants of violence whose ambitions were swamped by Dickson’s grassroots appeal and charisma.

So intense was the opposition that a senior journalist once asked the governor what it is about him that some powerful politicians in his home state found disagreeable.

His response offered an important philosophical hint: a man with a strong thirst for public office to serve people but not willing to make desperate compromises that may undermine his convictions.

“What is happening in Bayelsa is just a result of unbridled ambition of a few who are uncomfortable with the reform we have started in Bayelsa,” he told the gathering.

“When I started, the wage bill was over N6 billion but because of the steps we have taken it has dropped to N4 billion. What that means was that about N2 billion was going into the wrong hands every month. So between the treasury officials, accounts, civil service leadership, some political C M Y K

leaders and some bankers those in that loop - have over the years been carting away N2 billion just from one source. Now if you stopped that via a policy you should know that some corrupt toes have been stepped on. And when you fight corruption, it fights back.”

One other sticky point was changing the decadent notion that viewed the civil service simply as a salary Bayelsa governor, Seriake Dickson...a toast to resilience point but abhors the obligations which having a job point he had himself As Chinua Achebe wrote in places on the employee. His emphasised at the said Things Fall Apart, “Looking at a insistence that civil servant who gathering: “You can’t steal king’s mouth, one would think don’t come to work would not public funds after stopping civil he never sucked at his mother’s receive their salaries was a servants from doing the sort of breast.” This pithy saying reflects significant paradigm shift. things I’m talking about in Dickson’s life. Born on January Speaking further at the forum because you’re not a signatory 28, 1966, in the riverine town of held a few months before the to the accounts. The resistance Toru-Orua in Sagbama Local election where he got an you see is just an elite Government Area of Bayelsa emphatic mandate from the conspiracy.”

State, he reputedly did not electorate, Dickson noted: “Those So, it’s a measure of the experience a vehicle ride until he are far-reaching cultural, satisfaction the electorate have was 18 years. Such very modest attitudinal changes that we experienced that they had no beginnings could not have introduced and some people reservations about giving him presaged a successful future, but were uncomfortable. their overwhelming votes for a it’s yet another proof that one’s Beyond these, we’re very second term. There are circumstances at birth are merely consultative, I’m a man who compelling reasons to do so. The accidental and may be overcome believes in the supremacy of Dickson administration seldom by dint of hard and conviction in ideas. The issues are not about fails to fulfil those responsibilities the strength of the human spirit. me; we’re simply fighting against - or what has been christened the culture of over-dependence “dividends of democracy” - of Dream for on government for survival, which the social contract where the only business is obligates elected rulers. Some knowledge politics, where even civil servants may argue that payment of From that humble background, don’t believe they should pay tax. salaries to civil servants, not Dickson enlisted in the Nigerian Other governors may be thought being indebted to pensioners Police Force in 1986. Buoyed by that was good politics, but I said and bearing the cost of its the dream for knowledge, he no. You must all comply with the students’ West African applied and gained admission in federal income tax act.”

Examinations Council (WAEC) 1988 into the Rivers State The countryman governor fees are actually some of the University of Science and moniker might reveal the bearer raison d’etre of governments.

Technology, Port Harcourt, to as one who panders to populist That is correct but not to the read law.

Graduating with a sentiments possibly as a ploy to extent that those basic goals are degree in law in 1992, he would secure votes. But nothing can be largely observed in the breach, further from the truth. As a matter as is the case across most states later earn his Bachelor in Law of fact, enforcing tax rules and of the federation where workers from the Nigeria Law School, the sort of civil service discipline and pensioners are being owed Lagos, in 1993, and earned his call to the bar the same year. outlined are usually the Achilles for months.

Upon graduation in 1993, the heel of politicians. It’s instructive rewards of his painstaking he implemented those long Non-existent pursuit of scholarship became before seeking re-election, a infrastructure evident as he was appointed a cadet Assistant Superintendent Indeed, the most remarkable of Police in 1994, which growth indicators do not reside necessitated a training at the in meeting the expectations of Nigeria Police Academy in Kano. civil servants or in giving But in the course of the training, Dickson’s rise to Bayelsa’s almost non-existent he soon took a decision that infrastructure an impressive baffled family members who had fame has been makeover that has conferred a long dreamed of seeing their son anything but rosy. visage of modernity on the state. decorated an officer - he The road to reThey may be difficult to discern voluntarily withdrew his service because they reside in the after close to a decade to practice election was a intangibles. But they are just as law. His career as a practising particularly tortuous important for they represent the lawyer was stellar-bound. He foundation upon which the social worked with Serena David one characterised by and economic transformation in Dokubo & Co, holding the obstacles created by Bayelsa are anchored - justice position of associate from 1994 to federal might and the and accountability.

1995 and moved to the These principles underpin prestigious Lagos firm, Aluko & merchants of Governor Dickson’s regular town Oyebode, also as an Associate hall meetings where he subjects Solicitor in 1995 to 1996 after violence whose the federal accruals to the state, which he founded the firm of ambitions were IGR and expenditure to public Seriake Dickson & Co in scrutiny. Doing so monthly is a Port Harcourt and later Yenagoa. swamped by bold testament to his belief that He was the firm’s Managing Dickson’s grassroots power actually belongs to the Solicitor from 1996 to 2006. appeal and charisma people.

He was elected pioneer

Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), in Yenagoa, from 1996 to 1998.

Interestingly, he was elected the State Chairman, Alliance for Democracy (AD) 1990 to 2000 and elected National Legal Adviser of the Alliance for Democracy between 2000 to 2002. That often ignored aspect of his political life is further proof that he had never been desperate for power. If he was power-hungry, joining a political party that was obviously on the fringe in the Niger Delta then could not have been the option because the odds of being in the saddle via that platform was considerably huge. But Dickson who at this juncture, was deeply rooted in the Ijaw struggle, dumped the AD and defected to PDP when the former backed the Onshore/ Offshore dichotomy suit instituted by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. The suit was believed to be antithetical to resource control and the Ijaw national interest.

Dickson was appointed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Bayelsa State from 2006 to 2007

by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan during the ex-president’s time as governor of the state. It was on account of those sterling resume that he was elected in 2007, as the member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constitution of Bayelsa State in the House of Representatives where he made his mark in the sands of time, sponsoring many bills which have since been passed into law chief of which is the amendment of the Evidence Act, the first since 1954. He was re-elected in 2011 but resigned to stand election for governor, was overwhelmingly elected and sworn in on February 14, 2012.

Restoration government But as far as am concerned, the most laudable achievement of the restoration government is not the free and compulsory education, it is not the ongoing infrastructural revolution in the state but the social security, health insurance scheme and of course, the prevalence of social justice in Bayelsa. These were made possible because of the person of Dickson and the autonomy the judiciary enjoys in the last 35 months, as the judiciary gets its funding through first line charge, eliminating the scenario where many Chief Judges go cap-inhand to governors begging for funding!

Dickson’s story is the stuff of legends and could indeed be a source of inspiration for all Bayelsans to rise above the limiting circumstances of their environment and birth to accomplish their dreams. So there is no doubt that the countryman governor has earned his stripes. And as he turns 50 on January 28, it’s safe to say that it’s morning yet on creation day!

•Comrade Francis, is the national president of Wake Up Bayelsa, a civil society group championing democracy in Bayelsa and Niger Delta and contributed this piece from Yenagoa.

34—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

place in the comity of nations.

His take on MASSOB and IPOB agitation for Biafra Republic In a democratic process the only acceptable way to do things is to dialogue. I have told my people, Southeasterners that if we had issues with the government there is an opening for us to discuss with government (national, state or local) without threatening the sovereignty of the nation.

You may have a good case and present it wrongly.

Feeling we are being marginalised, how? Let us bring up the statistics and we open up a channel and discuss with government.

BIAFRA: Agitators

must stop secession threat — MOGHALU DR George Moghalu is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and also the party’s National Auditor. In this interview, he said the leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, should explore dialogue to present their demands for the development of the South-East geopolitical zone instead of violence. He also said that so far, President Muhammadu Buhari had performed well and urged Nigerians not to expect miracles in eight months.

By Gabriel Ewepu

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been in power for eight months, do you think Nigerians are feeling the impact of his administration?

The truth of the matter is that as government we met a very bad situation; a country that was totally run down coupled with the attendant economic downturn as a consequence of declining oil revenue.

The challenges are economic and looking at it from that perspective, nobody should expect a miracle in eight months.

The government has been very methodical in meeting the issues as they affect us as a nation with bid to meeting the expectations and aspirations of the average Nigerian coupled with the fact that there are some promises we made as a political party which we are working towards to fulfil.

What we need and I will appeal to us Nigerians is to pray for the government and

Protect our interest

give it the needed support, and there must be level of patience. I am confident that in 2016 the effect of the activities of government will begin to be felt.

On the fight against corruption Mr. President has been consist about it because he

•Moghalu

Those Indigenous People of Biafra have a hidden agenda. Their hidden agenda is to declare Biafra and then go recolonize the South-South

believes in the rule of law on clear cases of corrupt practices that the agencies in charge of corrupt practices are addressing and he has given them free hand to do what is expected of them, and also allows the court to play its own part.

The determination, commitment towards fighting corruption is there and the action of the President and anti-graft agencies is very clear and their commitment cannot be faulted.

The change mantra is not a new song in the nation’s

political history, do you think Nigerians are in support of this change your party is parading?

It is a gradual process and they need to support and at least the leadership of the government, and our party is better than the other party that was there for 16 years. I understand that for people to change from a way of life they have lived with over the years is difficult but the moment we all key into the change mantra I assure them that our economy will be well and we will occupy our rightful

For me is not about fighting or demanding for a sovereign state and is not about that. We are all committed to this sovereign state called Nigeria. What we are saying is let there be dialogue.

Are you saying South East should forget about Biafra?

Biafra is the state of the mind, and Biafra they are talking about now is not the Biafra of the 60s. The point I am making is if there have issues we feel very strongly about as a people let us put it on the table and discuss it logically, so we can protect our interest and not violently.

Many people were expecting you to be appointed Minister in the government, what went wrong that you could not make it?

Why must I be? The right to appoint ministers lies with Mr. President, and those he appointed are very competent, capable and experienced gentlemen.

Why Igbo want to colonise S-South — SAGIR MUHAMMAD ALHAJI Sagir Muhammad, who holds the title Waziri Ringim was the leader of defunct Arewa Peoples Congress, APC. Known as a front line General Ibrahim Babangida loyalist, Muhammad, who retired from the military as intelligence officer in the 1990’s, in this interview spoke on burning national issues.

By AbdulSalam Muhammad

W

HAT do you think is responsible for an upsurge in the activities of the insurgents despite claims that they have been technically defeated?

Insurgency is the most difficult aspect of military operation because you don’t know your enemy, you don’t know where he is, you don’t know the kind of tactics he uses which is not conventional tactics, you don’t know the kind of logistic he uses

and you don’t know where the logistics are or where they are hidden.

And above all why it is extremely difficult is that the insurgents are usually embedded within the civil society.

If you probably know where their training ground is like Sambisa there may be other training grounds within the civil society. As you are trying to go to Sambisa you find that the insurgents are fighting you from the back, the right and the left.

Then you find that dividing your forces to fight the insurgents is extremely very difficult and

probably when you are trying to go to North-East, you hear bomb blasts in Lokoja, Sokoto, Kano, etc. Now tell me how do you plan for this kind of operation? It is very difficult.

In September I heard an interview with the press over the Federal Government’s deadline to obliterate the insurgency. I said it is a mistake to put deadline because of the complexity and the intricacies involved in fighting the insurgency.

Fighting the insurgency Now, the bulk of the fighting forces of the insurgents had be rooted out but the problem is that so long as there is bomb blast and people are being killed the

•Muhammed: IPOB has a hidden agenda insurgency has not ended. It is not a question of capturing ground. It is a question of ending

the state of criminality and the use of human being to commit terror.

It would still go on because we are saying “we would end the insurgency” but we are not doing anything to tackle the psyche of the insurgents, the foot soldiers and supporters of the insurgency who are everywhere. So it has to be a four-face operation: One to diminish the effectiveness of the insurgents to launch high level attack like using anti-tank and high calibre weapons.

Two, to use our intelligence and liaison to stop insurgents who are within the society that can turn themselves into human weapon.

Three, there has to be spiritual counselling and guidance to get captured or repented insurgents reintegrated into the society and

Continues on page 35

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—35

Ndigbo are not marginalized.

We are oppressed. The deliberate unjust structure of Nigeria oppresses many ethnic nationalities

By Clifford Ndujihe

D

URING his first media chat last month, President Muhammadu Buhari said that Ndigbo are not marginalized.

What is your take on this?

The world was shocked at the assertion by the President. But Ndigbo were not surprised.

They have his records as a young Lieutenant in the army, a Captain and Major during the civil war till date. Majority of our people believe he has passionate hatred for Ndigbo. His friends deny that but clearly he doesn’t seem to care how Ndigbo perceive him.

The world saw his emotions at the tail of the interview, it was clear to all if he loves Ndigbo or not. But the situation is that we don’t need any body’s love. We want equity and justice that have been denied us for decades. Any oppressor can pretend he doesn’t know Nigeria is built on injustice.

Collective future How far we will continue to pretend is unclear. Those who are afraid of enthroning true federalism and those who allow envy to rule them are stubbornly toying with our collective future.

Injustice and peace are incompatible. Equity and justice ensure peace. Only a particular section of the country thinks Nigeria is great the way it is.

Other sections want true federalism.

How exactly are Ndigbo marginalized?

Ndigbo are not marginalized.

We are oppressed. The deliberate unjust structure of Nigeria oppresses many ethnic nationalities, especially those of the Middle Belt, South-South and of course the South-East. The case of the South-East is about envy really. Everybody else believes they should be checked, they should be held down or else

•Uko

Unjust structure oppresses Igbo, other nationalities — UKO Evangelist Elliot Uko is the founder of Igbo Youths Movement, IYM, Deputy Secretary of the Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT and leader of Soth-East Democratic Coalition, SEDC. In this chat with Vanguard, he disagrees with comments that the Igbo are not marginalized in Nigeria. He also backed total war against corruption and stressed that restructuring the country into fiscal federalism will ensure justice, equity, harmony and robust development. they move on top. The attitude is; “hold them down by all means”. This decades-long attitude is being rejected by the younger generation of Ndigbo.

Apart from Ndigbo who are in government and the very wealthy, the other 98 per cent of Ndigbo feel unwanted in Nigeria. Nigeria makes it

difficult, if not impossible for Ndigbo to feel proudly Nigerian. Everything is deliberately designed to keep them out.

Firstly, there is an un-discussed fear of Ndigbo and a desire by certain other people to dominate others politically. This cocktail of passions produces a huge dislocation in distribution of

Why Igbo want to colonise S-South — MUHAMMAD Continues from page 34 to conform with the acceptable norms of the society. Four, there should be rehabilitation and reconciliation.

Are you suggesting dialogue as a way out?

If there is no dialogue how do you stop the remnants, supporters, children of those killed from metamorphosing into another insurgents? There has to be a way of making them know that what they are doing is not helping them and that their concept of Jihad is off mark.

If they are fighting for the cause of Islam, they are killing Muslims more than they are killing anybody. So you find that we can only do that by peaceful means.

Is it appropriate to describe the current agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra for

Biafra Republic as a transfer of aggression to the Nigerian state?

Those Indigenous People of Biafra have a hidden agenda.

Their hidden agenda is to declare Biafra and then go recolonize the South-South.

They would go and within a question of less than one month they would capture all those South-South and colonise the oil fields that is the agenda of IPOB. If you look at the East, it is landlocked; they don’t have any serious minerals apart from coal.

Even the geography and geology of the East is so poor that even to build a good house they cannot unless you build a house in a bush because it’s all bush, it’s all forested and that is why you find the majority of the elite Igbo are now half of the owners of the houses in Abuja.

If the Indigenous People of Biafra are now saying that they want to have Biafra what are you going to do with more than three quarters of the Igbo who are outside the East?

Those in Kano, those in Lagos what are you going to do with then? Will you take all those people back to Biafra? They have no houses to live, they have no means of livelihood. They make money outside and not in the East so you find that they are crawling into fantasy world.

They were talking vaguely during former President Goodluck Jonathan administration but what is really happening is they still say that Nigeria is not fair to the Igbo.

One, up till now they do not have an Igbo President.

resources and projects. Since 1970, Ndigbo have been left with the short end of the stick, strangely, everybody seems not to mind, maybe because we seem to succeed in other areas of the economy. This mindset of “don’t let them climb the political ladder” held on to for so long by enemies of Ndigbo gave the younger Ndigbo the impression that Nigeria is better off without them.

Justice, equity and fair play keep countries like Ghana peaceful and admirable. Those responsible for the bitterness in Nigeria know it, it is just convenient for them to subdue others and pretend about it.

Nigeria’s amusing and impossible census figures are not designed to enthrone peace.

Those short-changed by these truly amazing figures will remain very bitter until they are corrected; people believe Calabar seaport is made inactive to stagnate the economic growth of Eastern Nigeria.

So everybody is forced to use the Lagos ports. The deliberate and humiliating exclusion of Ndigbo in the current security architecture of Nigeria is deliberately designed to rub it in that they are not part of Nigeria.

Security architecture Ndigbo dwell in all of 774 Local governments of Nigeria. Issues of security affects them most, do you know that if the Federal Government is about to declare war today and Mr. president summons an emergence meeting of over two dozen heads of security agencies to take the decision together, with the Vice President, Senate President, Speaker House of Representative, Service Chiefs, Police I.G., NSA, Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Staff, Dg DSS, DgNIA, Dg DMI, etc there will be no Igbo man there.

Somebody deliberately designed it that way to push Ndigbo out of Nigeria There are over 45 million Ndigbo and somebody pretends he does not know that Ndigbo are completely excluded from the Security Council. This fact cannot encourage unity. Hatred as a virus is unhealthy to a heterogeneous and multi-cultural

country as ours.

Add this to the unworkable structure of 36 (mostly unviable states) created principally by one section of the country and deliberately skewed against Ndigbo with Eastern region making absolutely no contribution to their creation. 774 local governments were preponderantly created to favour and disfavour some regions.

The stubborn refusal to restructure Nigeria along the lines of true federalism is the biggest disservice those who hate equity are visiting on all of us.

The unhealthy delineation of federal constituencies in such a lopsided manner continues to generate bitterness.

The killings of easterners for over 60 years now without any hope of punishing the perpetrators, from the Kano riots of 1953, to reactions over cartoon in far away Denmark, Ndigbo are usually slaughtered like chicken. Others include: Deliberate denial of constitutional citizenship rights of Nigerians wherever they may reside and ethnic and religious sentiments rule the land.

Painful disparity The painful disparity in cut-off mark for UTME scores, politics of exclusion and nauseating nepotism in all arms of the civil service and federal parasatals, decades of deliberate denial of old Eastern region of needed infrastructure, horrific killings and rape by the Fulani herdsmen, total manipulation of the electoral system to enforce predetermined outcomes that would only continue the decayed and offensive format of carpet baggers always influencing the political leadership of our region, the list is endless.

What is the solution?

A new constitution built on equity, regional autonomy, true fiscal federalism is the way to go.

It is just that some people love dominating and oppressing others. They think that restructuring Nigeria will cost them certain advantages they are enjoying already.

They therefore conveniently pretend they don’t know that Nigerians are sick and desperate for justice and equity. The truth is the Federal Government is underestimating the resolve, the strength and the bitterness of large number of young people who are completely tired of Nigeria.

How do you rate the South Eastern governors?

The governors have constraints.

The current political structure makes it impossible for Nigeria to grow. Our economic growth is strangulated by an unworkable political structure that has a very powerful center and very weak and dependent states. In spite of these difficulties our governors are doing well.

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Global leaders seek $9.4bn to meet family planning needs

By Sola Ogundipe

access to long acting contraceptives and

G

LOBAL leaders have called for greater investment and urgent action towards increasing access to family planning services worldwide, even as an estimated US$9.4 billion is required annually to meet all women's needs for modern contraception in the developing world.

Making the call for more commitment to family planning initiatives Monday at the opening of the 4th International Family Planning Conference, ICFP, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, government, health and development leaders from around the world, unanimously agreed that the way to truly ensure sustenance of family planning programmes is to mobilise funds locally.

Speaking at the event, themed "Global Commitments, Local Actions," Co-hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute and the National Population and Family Planning Board of Indonesia, President Joko Widodo of Indonesia,said:?

"I wish that at this ICFP, we can discuss the main foundations necessary to build the planet that we want by 2030. A future that ensures all women and girls are empowered to choose whether and when they want to have children and space their births, so that mothers and their babies have a better opportunities for better lives."

To solve the issues of contraceptive discontinuation that can create major challenges for family planning progress, Jokowi emphasised the importance of investing the "village approach," increasing

reducing the cost of family planning by providing free services and peer education programmes.

"I believe that to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we have to take local action.

Family planning

Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, UNFPA

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNFPA, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, "Family planning is about women's right and their capacity to take decisions about their health and well-being contributing to the objectives of FP2020.

"It is a most significant investment to

Lagos targets 4m children for immunisation

T

By Chioma Obinna

HE Lagos State Government is targeting over 4 million children for measles vaccination billed to begin today in its 20 Local Government Areas, LGAs, and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs. Briefing journalists in Lagos, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said the vaccination exercise which is the 2nd phase of the nationwide measles Follow-Up campaign was aimed at reducing any build -up of susceptibles born since the previous supplemental immunisation activities.

Idris also noted that the exercise which will hold 28th January through 1 February, was also to reduce childhood mortality and

morbidity from measles infection among children aged 9 months to 59 months "The main objective of the campaign is to immunise at least 95 percent of eligible children with measles antigens irrespective of their previous immunisations status.

Though the duration of immunity conferred by measles antigen is lifelong, its efficacy is about 86 percent.

"Measles vaccine is safe for all children even if the child has common illness such as diarrhoea, malaria or if the child is malnourished."

He urged parents and caregivers to ensure that all their children between the ages 9 months up to 5 years are taken to the health posts or designated posts for the measles vaccination.

promote human capital development, combat poverty and harness a demographic dividend thus contributing to equitable and sustainable economic development within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking, President of the Global Development Programme at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Christopher Elias, said: "The family planning data and evidence point to concrete steps we can take as a community to get back on track to meet our FP2020 goal.

"Now we must ask ourselves what more we can do to align our efforts to ensure all women have the information and tools they need to time and space their pregnancies."

In a report by the Guttmacher Institute entitled: "Adding It Up: Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health" meeting all women's needs for modern contraception in the developing world would cost $9.4 billion annually, an increase of $5.3 billion.

According to the report, if all need for modern contraception were met, the annual cost of pregnancy related care for women and their newborns would be $28.0 billion, an increase of $13.8 billion."The total includes $4.2 billion (a $3.0 billion increase) to provide HIV testing and counseling for all pregnant women, testing for their newborns and antiretroviral therapy for those who need it. The report notes that fully meeting the need for modern contraception, maternal and newborn health care, and antiretroviral care for pregnant women living with HIV

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—37

Maritime Varsity: Ijaw youths demand apology from Amaechi As Aginighan urges FG to rescind decision

By Emma Amaize & Jimitota Onoyume

W

ARRI—REACTIONS have continued to trail the decision of the Federal Government to scrap the Nigeria Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, in Delta State, with the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western zone, demanding an apology from the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

Also, an Ijaw leader and former acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Pastor Power Aginighan, has described as an error of judgment, the reported move by Amaechi to scrap the university which was set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Pastor Aginighan, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in a statement, said that the proposed action was against President Muhammadu Buhari’s assurance to redress challenges of underdevelopment facing the region.

Aginighan, who is the founding National Secretary, Ijaw National Congress, INC, expressed fears that the reported move by the Minister of Transport would upset the atmosphere of peace in the region, stressing that the coming

of the university brought joy to the Ijaw nation and people of the region.

Meanwhile, IYC Western zone, comprising Edo, Delta and Ondo States, made the call at a meeting in Bomadi, presided over by its chairman, Freedom Atigbi.

In a communiqué by the Information Officer, Napoleon Kenerekedi, the youths said it was an insult to the Ijaw nation for Amaechi to say that Gbaramatu Kingdom was unsafe for Nigerians from other parts of the country to come for learning.

The council said he should not only apologise but rescind the decision, “If the terrain is not conducive for Nigerians from other parts of the country, then it should also be unsafe for continued oil exploration activities by multinationals and the Nigerian government.”

BUDGET PRESENTATION: Chairman, Warri South Local Government Area, Mr. Matthew Edema (left) presenting the 2016 budget draft estimate to Leader of Warri South Legislative Arm, Mr. Sunday Aguweye, at Warri South Legislative Chamber, Warri South Council Main Secretariat, Warri, Delta State.

2016 budget: A-Ibom Assembly tasks MDAs on IGR

By Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO—FOLLOWING the drop in the revenue from federation allocation to states in the country, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has advised the various ministries, departments and agencies of government to prioritize the items on their budget proposals that will generate revenue for the state.

Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriations, Mr. Usoro Akpanusoh, gave the advice, yesterday, during the 2016 budget defence organised by his committee for the 57 MDAs in the state.

This came as most of the MDAs demanded for increase in the vote appropriated for them for year 2016 while making their presentations during the budget defense.

Akpanusoh appealed to them to understand the current economic situation in the country and ensure judicious use of the funds allocated to the items in their proposals for the effective implementation of the 2016 budget.

He said, “My appeal is that you should prioritize items on your budget. There is no need asking for more allocation of funds especially when you are not sure that you will access all during the fiscal year.”

He said that with the drop in the oil revenue, the state

was seeking other ways of improving its internally

generated revenue to fund the 2016 budget.

Establishment C'ttee not aimed at sacking workers —Bayelsa dep gov

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), yesterday, described as “untrue,” claims that the recent setting up of the Establishment Committee by the state government to ascertain the true number of civil servants on its payroll was targeted at sacking workers over partisan politics and retrenchment in the civil service.

He said though the decision of some workers in the state civil service to openly campaign for political parties of their choice was wrong and against the civil service rule, the current administration under Governor Seriake Dickson did not give any directive on sanctions or embargo on salaries of such workers.

The deputy governor, while briefing newsmen in Yenagoa on the government's monthly spending for the month of November 2015, said that the ongoing verification exercise being conducted by a committee on Establishment and the delay in payment of salary was due to the continued deficit being

experienced by the state government.

He said: “On the issue raised by about 500 workers in the state, to the best of my knowledge and due discussion with the governor, there is no plan by the government to retrench any worker in the state.

“I must add that though the partisan posture of some workers during the election was wrong, there is no plan to sanction or retrench anyone over that. The exercise being conducted by the Establishment Committee is to look inward and examine ourselves as an administration."

Okowa flays calls for more tertiary institutions in Delta

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has expressed concern over the continued request for more tertiary institutions in the state.

The governor who raised the issue during a question and answer session at a two-day Delta State Education Summit, demanded to know how best to go about establishing new tertiary institutions, when funding of the existing ones was already a big challenge in government’s determination to provide quality education for the people.

Governor Okowa informed the

guest speakers and participants at the summit that the state presently grapples with a university with three campuses, seven polytechnics and three colleges of education and yet there were demands by communities and others for more higher institutions.

Earlier, while declaring the summit open, the governor said that his administration was out to provide the best education available for Deltans with emphasis on science, vocational and technical education. He stressed the need for the three tiers of government to engage in aggressive and accelerated internal revenue drive in view of the dwindling price of oil.

Family redeems scholarship pledge to Delta community

T

HE Ika family in Egborode community of Delta State has redeemed its pledge of providing scholarships to indigent students of Egborode Secondary School.

At the presentation ceremony, a retired Permanent Secretary and head of the family, Mr. Chris Ika, offered university scholarship to the first among the recipients to gain admission into a tertiary institution.

The gesture which was in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the late patriarch of the family, Chief Jury Ika, also witnessed the payment of National Examination Council, NECO, examination fees for six students.

Present at the event were Dr. Julie Kalusi, Mr. Simon Enaibe, Principal of Egborode Secondary School, Mr. Egele Nelson, Egborode Community Chairman,Mr Adugbo Philip, Mr Esievoadje Ogenetega, Nwafor Celine and Onugege Austine, among others.

NANS, SUG laud proposed on–campus hostel for College of Education Agbor

By Tare Youdeowei

N

A T I O N A L Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee, NANSJCC, Delta State axis, has applauded the initiative of Heritage-Plus to build a hostel in Delta State College of Education, Agbor.

Chairman of the association, Mr Ogbe Collins, in a statement, expressed optimism that the project will be completed on time as it will benefit the students and bring succour to them. He said: “The idea of building the hostel which will be the first in the school to celebrate Pa Uzoma Okowa’s love for education is a laudable initiative.”

Also, President of the Students Union Government, College of Education, Agbor, Mr Abel Osakwe, said that the entire students’ community was humbled by the gesture.

“We thank the management of Heritage-Plus and hope that Delta State Government gives the technical support to make the project a reality,” he said.

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 , 2016

ANAMBRA CENTRAL: APC

Fire razes classroom block in Imo O

By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—A block of classrooms in Community Primary School, Akabo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, has been razed by a wild bush fire.

The classroom block, which suffered most was the one constructed in 2007 by the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC,in conjunction with the Imo State Universal Basic Education Board, IMSUBEB. Vanguard was equally told that all the pupils’ desks, instructional materials, as well as teachers’ chairs and tables, were all burnt by the raging fire.

One of the stories that made the rounds when Vanguard visited the scene yesterday, was that a cigarette smoker dropped the stump of his smouldering tobacco into the nearby bush, which was later ignited the dry leaves.

Although, nobody was able to properly identify the alleged smoker at the time of the visit, some villagers informed Vanguard that they became alarmed when the raging fire started pushing towards the school buildings.

One of the teachers, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, told Vanguard yesterday that “apart from losing their classrooms, the children now sit on bare floor when the lessons are going on.”

Continuing, the teacher disclosed that they had reported the matter to the appropriate quarters but expressed regret at the response they got.

“We have reported the matter to the appropriate quarters.

We were told that the distribution of school furniture is now vested on the Governor.

Please tell the Governor about

our current plight, if you (Vanguard) can get close to the Governor,” the teacher

pleaded.

All efforts made to reach the Commissioner for Education,

Mrs. Gertrude Oduka, before press time failed, as her mobile line could not be reached.

Ebonyi targets N26bn IGR in 2016

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State government yesterday said it was targeting the sum of N26.718,525,250 as the total projection for its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, for 2016 fiscal year.

The State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Dennis Ude Ekumankama stated this on the occasion of the 2016 Ebonyi State budget break down in Abakaliki.

According to him, the 2016 budget christened “Budget of Divine Actualization” was centred on projected revenue sources from IGR which includes large scale rice production.

Ekumankama who stated that the 2016 budget thrust of the present administration was anchored on the general principles of pragmatism and dynamism of Governor David Umahi added that the actual budget for capital expenditure is N57,396 billion while the

By Francis Igata

sum of N5 billion is provided as stabilization fund, giving a total of N62,396,750,000.

He said: “The economic sector has been allocated N36.890 billion representing 59 per cent of the capital budget with basic aim of tackling roads, water, electricity, agriculture, commerce and industry and other essential infrastructural needs at the state capital and rural areas of the state."

Ugwuanyi assures on construction of Inyaba-Amagunze Bridge

E

By Francis Igata

NUGU—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has affirmed his determination to construct Inyaba-Amagunze Bridge to alleviate the problems of the people in the area cut off by the collapsed Bridge.

Ugwuanyi gave the assurance in a speech, during an inspection visit to the Bridge, adding that despite the economic meltdown,his administration

would construct the bridge to link the people of the area and other communities in the council area.

He thanked the people for their support to his administration, adding that he would not take their support for granted.

The governor earlier visited Uzam Community Primary Schools 1 and 2 where he promised that his administration would continue to provide enabling environment to facilitate teaching and learning in schools

in the state to promote nurturing of future leaders of the state.

He announced a surprise gift for the pupils of the two primary schools located in one compound who would get brand new school uniforms from the state government in appreciation of their show of love and support for the governor as they trouped out in their numbers to welcome the governor who passed by their school.

Imo govt plans to arrest revenue collectors

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By Chinonso Alozie

WERRI—THE Imo state government has said that henceforth, it would arrest any revenue collector in the state without clearance from the government.

The commissioner of Internal Resources and Pension Matters, Imo state, Hon. Vitalis Ajumbe made this known to newsmen in Owerri, where it also announced

the dissolution of the Board of Internal Revenue of the state.

According to the commissioner, the government decided to dissolve the Board of Internal Revenue because of the leakages which enable individuals to stash away government funds to unknown destinations, adding that in this situation, the government has deemed it necessary to use the

women drum support for Ikeazor

strategy to stop the looting of the treasury of the state.

He also said that the government through the ministry of Internal Resources and Pension Matters should introduce an Information Technology Communication, ICT, as one of the measures to address the diversion of government funds meant for the development of the state.

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NUGU—THE women wing of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Enugu State chapter, weekend, expressed satisfaction over the emergence of former Interim National Women Leader, Ms Sharon Ikeazor as the party ’s senatorial candidate for the fresh election in Anambra State Central Senatorial District with a vow to rally support for her victory.

In a statement, the APC, Enugu State Women Leader,Mrs. Queen Nwankwo described Ikeazor’s emergence as a plus for women in Nigeria and South-East geopolitical zone in particular.

Nwankwo urged all women voters in Anambra Central to come out and vote massively for Ikeazor, insisting that she will automatically join the APC Senate Caucus which is the engine room of the senate, if victorious at the poll.

“The caucus is the anchor and liaison between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate. We regret that our revered Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, is not a member.

So, Ikeazor as senator will fill this painful void.

“Ikeazor would use her membership of APC Senate Caucus to facilitate the dream of the entire people of South-East geopolitical zone for the 2nd Niger Bridge and fix the dilapidated federal roads in the South East,”the woman leader assured.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On recent Biafra agitation

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he only way forward is Biafra or confederation.

Until Nigeria opens its government to have a direct open discussion with the Biafra’s, these differences won’t be solved. We can still be a great union, if only we can live as one Nigeria Miss Victoria Kelvin, Student C M Y K

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am not conversant with the confab report. But my guess is that certain institutions like the army and the Supreme Court should be controlled from Abuja.

Mr Uchenna U g o k w e , Businessman

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overnment should engage the ProBiafra agitators in a discussion; with the real people involved and definitely an agreement will be reached and moving will become reality.

Miss Blessing Ubah, Student

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nfrastructural deficit, as prejuduciously imposed on the Igbo by Nigeria government, cannot be the only reason for the renewed agitation for sovereign state of Biafra. Miss Okonta Rose, Medical practitioner

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hose agitating for Biafra should gradually be moving from other parts of Nigeria and even abandon Nigeria governmental jobs and benefits, as a way of showing solidarity for Biafra. Mr Timileyin Jaiyeola, Worker

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incerely speaking, what the pro Biafra agitators are fighting for is just for the Igbo man to be represented in certain key areas of governance. I do not see anything wrong in that.

Mrs Foluke Florence, Worker

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 — 39

BOKO HARAM: Female bombers kill 14, injure 24 in Chibok

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI—TWO suspected Female suicide bombers, yesterday attacked Chibok Market in Chibok Local Government area of Borno State, leaving 14 persons dead and over 24 others seriously injured, All Progressives Congress, APC, chairman in Chibok, Lawan Pogu, said in Maiduguri.

According to the report from Chibok, the Chibok market shut since the attack in Chibok School where over 200 female students were abducted by Islamic militants, was only opened yesterday.

Pogu said: “The market was opened today, and the suicide bombers hit the market at exactly 12:54 pm. eight persons died on the spot while over 30 persons were rushed to the General hospital Uba in Askira local government with two of the victims in critical condition.”

Another resident of Chibok, Mallum Chibok told Vanguard that, despite the presence of security in Chibok, the Boko Haram insurgents succeeded in attacking the area indicating that, the insurgents were everywhere.

According to him, “We kicked against the reopening of the Chibok market but some people said that normalcy had

returned. I cannot understand the reason why government is insisting that normalcy has returned when you can not go to Chibok from Maiduguri through Damboa? The road is still closed because Boko Haram insurgents are still operating 21 kilometres away from Maiduguri.

“Today, they opened the market and we lost 14 persons on the spot with over 30 hospitalized.

From what we are being told now as we speak, some of the people who were taken to the hospital gave up as soon as they reach the hospital in Uba from the text massage I just received. ''Look at it, they said another six more people died making the number 14. Since the attack

I have received more than 100 calls and more calls and text massages are coming in. This is very unfortunate and unbelieving. It is sad for us.”

Chibok said.

All efforts to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer of Borno State Command, Mr. Victor Isuku, proved abortive as his phone lines were inaccessible at press time.

PARLEY: From left; GMD/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Phillips Oduoza; United States Secretary of Commerce, Mrs. Penny Pritzker and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, during the roundtable discussion between members of the U.S. Presidential Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PACDBIA) and a diverse community of entrepreneurs hosted by Tony Elumelu Foundation and UBA Plc in Lagos.

Laah faults El-Rufai’s N450m per week free school feeding programme

By Luka Binniyat

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A D U N A — SENATOR Danjuma Laah, yesterday faulted the recent free feeding program introduced for the 1.8 million primary school pupils of Kaduna state at N50 per meal by the Governor Nasir ElRufai-led government.

Laah is a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial Zone.

Penultimate Monday, El Rufai had flagged off a free, one-meal feeding programme for the 1.8 million Kaduna State primary pupils and enthused that the programme would increase school enrolment and assist children to learn better.

Each meal would cost N50 Naira, he had said.

Laah, who is the only member of the senate elected on the platform of the PDP in North West Zone described the project as a deliberate attempt

by Governor Nasir El-Rufai to score curious political point.

Ajimobi, Ahmed, Emir of Ilorin mourn ex-IGP Adewusi

By Demola Akinyemi & Ola Ajayi

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OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, his Kwara State counterpart, Alhaji Abdulfatah and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, yesterday described the death of the former Inspector General of Police, Chief Sunday Adewusi, as a colossal loss to the nation.

They equally noted that his

demise was as a great loss to the government and the people of the state.

This came as the family of the late Inspector General kept sealed lips on the death and plans for his burial.

Governor Ahmed described the death of the former Inspector General of Police, as a national loss of immense proportions in a statement by his Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba.

According to the statement, Governor Ahmed said the late Chief Adewusi was a police officer who not only rose to the pinnacle of his career but contributed immensely to nation building.

He said the late police boss was an elder statesman whose vast experience in security matters was of great value to the state and Nigeria at large.

Governor Ahmed extended his commiserations to the family of the deceased, the Soun and the people of Ogbomoso as well as the government and people of Oyo State On his part, Governor Ajimobi lamented the death of the foremost police officer who made history as makers, it would mark Uhuru the youngest IG ever in the Kenyatta’s first official trip to Côte d’Ivoire.

According to him, “At a time when the continent faces an uncertain economic environment, the participation of the highest

By Aliyu Dangida representatives of the most dynamic economies of East and UTSE—JIGAWA State West Africa is a true testament to Government has the success of the Africa CEO Forum and its objective of confirmed the death of one fostering the development of the person as a result of Lassa fever African private sector by outbreak and 26 others persons promoting dialogue and regional who had contact with the integration between all of the decease were at present under continent’s economic zones, surveillance.

Confirming the development, primarily by strengthening ties between French and English Commissioner of Health, Dr Abba Zakar, said the victim who resided speaking regions.”

Kenyan, Ivorian Presidents to chair 2016 Africa CEOs forum

By Gabriel Olawale

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HE Ivorian Head of State, Alassane Ouattara and his Kenyan counterpart, President, Uhuru Kenyatta, are billed to chair the fourth edition of the African Chief Executive Officers, CEOs forum aimed at development of African private sector.

The event, expected to assemble more than 800 participants across the continent and beyond, world holds between March 21 and 22, 2016, in Côte d’Ivoire.

Speaking on the significant of the gathering, Abdoul Maiga, said aside from bringing together the continent’s top CEOs, bankers, investors and public decision-

country to take charge at the Kem Salem House, where he instilled discipline in the rank and file of the force.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, recalled that the era of the late Adewusi as the nation’s number one cop was a defining moment that brought the best out of the officers and men of the police.

Similarly, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari in his condolence message described Late Sunday Adewusi as a diligent police officer who rose to become the youngest Commissioner police in the history of Nigeria at the age of 32 and later became the the Inspector General at age 45.

LASSA FEVER: 1 dies, 26 under surveillance in Jigawa

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at Gujubaki village in Dutse Local Government area of the state had just returned from Port Harcourt in Rivers State and reported to Dutse General Hospital with signs and symptoms suggestive to Lassa fever.

The commissioner explained that immediately the hospital management noticed the case, it contacted the state ministry of health.

Jigawa Contract Verification, Validation c'ttee submits report, tasks Abubakar

By Tina Akannam

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UTSE—JIGAWA State Committee on Contract Verification and Validation yesterday, submitted its report to governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, urging the government to pay all ongoing projects worth N40 billion.

Presenting the report, chairman of the committee, Alhaji Bello Muhamud, disclosed the committee observed that the previous Peoples Democratic Party, PDPled government awarded contracts arbitrarily without considering the dwindling income of the state government.

Receiving the report, Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar expressed appreciation to the committee members and assured that the government will Study the report and work with the recommendations.

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

OLYMPIC AMBASSADOR:

From left— Managing Director, Nutricima, Mr. Eelco Weber; Marketing Director, Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadhyay; Olympic Brand Ambassador, Peter P-Square Okoye, and Category Marketing Manager, Olympic, Mr. Raphael Agbaje, at the contract renewal of Peter Okoye as the Brand Ambassador for Olympic in Lagos.

AIRTEL DUBAI TRIP: From left— Friend of Dubai trip winner, Fawibe

Muyiwa; trip winner, Akinsanya Kayode; Senior Manager, Consumer Segments, Airtel Nigeria, Mrs. Omoyeme Effiong; other friends, Oladele Aderigbe and Ajao Moruf, during the departure party organised for the second batch Dubai trip winners in the Airtel Red Hot promo Season 3, in Lagos.

LAGOS PENSIONERS: From left— Administration and Human Resources Director, Office of Establishments and Training, Mrs. Fatia Rufai; Mrs Abigail; Mr. Samuel Oremosu, both pensioners; Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson-Oke, and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Omobolanle Ogunmola, at the distribution of welfare packages to Lagos retirees.

and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami; Senior Special Assistant to Lagos Governor on Community Affairs, Alhaji Adeniyi Quadri, and Special Adviser on Community and Communication Affairs, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, during a briefing by the state government on the erection of street gates in Lagos Metropolis, in Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

PRAYERS: From left— Alhaja Fatima Oyefeso; representative of Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; Olori Muibat Oyefusi; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode; President, Fatima Charity Foundation, Hajia Bintu-Fatima Tinubu; Alhaji Lookman Olanrewaju Animashaun, and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hakeem AbdulLateef, during prayers for the nation, organised by the Foundation at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, yesterday.

GCUOBA: From left—President, Warri Branch, Dr. Richard Obiuwevbi; Mr. Stephen Ejomah; 1st Vice President-General, Mr. Charles Majoroh; PresidentGeneral, Worldwide, Profesor Oritsegbemi Omatete; 2nd Vice President-General, Sir Moses Aroko; 3rd Vice President-General, Mr. Joe Ugbarugba; President, Benin Branch, Mr. Collins Lawani; President, Home Branch, Rev. Benjamin Esemiteye, and Bishop Joshua Kikiri of home branch, all of Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association, GCUOBA, at the commissioning of a new hostel (Orerokpe House) rebuilt by the old boys at Government College, Ughelli.

URHOBO PASTORS: From left—Bishop Philips Philip, Pastor Ogheneobukome, Apostle Elijah Oviomor, Dr. Onudi, Rev. Samuel Eghagbaifo, Bishop David Oghene, Bishop John Odiete, member of the excecutive committee, Financial Secretary, Rev Idodo, General Secretary, and Bishop Philips, all of Urhobo Pastors Association, at the association's get-together in Lagos.

BRIEFING: From left— Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government

C M Y K

GALA AMBASSADOR: From left— Corporate Marketing Services Manager, UAC of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seeni Fawehinmi; General Manager, Marketing, UAC Foods Limited, Mrs. Joan Ihekwaba; 5-Star Music Group stars, Mr. Harrison Harrysong Okiri, and Mr. Kingsley KCee Okonkwo, at the briefing on the unveiling of the new Gala Brand Ambassador in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 — 41

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016—45

$2.1BN ARMS DEAL, OTHERS: Why I won't

speak on probes now —Jonathan

By Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor

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ENEVA—A confident looking former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday in Switzerland gave a robust defence of his administration and stated why he would not comment on the current arms probe scandal alledgedly involving his National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, and some top politicians in the country Speaking at Geneva Press Club on Security, and Development in Africa, the former President said he would not like to comment on the arms probe matter now because his comment could affect witnesses and the judicial proceeding that had been initiated by the current administration He said: “I would not like to comment now because the matter is in court. I cannot comment.

Definitely, I will speak. My Comment now may affect witnesses and the judicial process.

“When I was President, I tried to build institutions like the Judiciary and separation of power and the electoral bodies. I should not be the one undermining the process.”

The former President fielded questions on a host of issues such as the Chibok Girls, Boko Haram the economy and corruption and also spoke on why he did not challenge his electoral defeat in court.

Pressed to comment on the huge amounts of money allegedly embezzled by some members of his administration, the former President said: “I have an idea about some of the corruption cases you are talking about. The amount being mentioned in some cases are so huge, sometimes people think I was Nigeria’s President since independence. Sometimes, people just bandy figures. I remember somebody said we lost $49 billion in 18 months. ‘’The same man who made the allegation reduced the figure to 12 billion. I got forensic experts to probe the books of NNPC to ascertain the veracity of the allegation. I even remember asking the German Chancelor who said if that amount of money was missing in her country, it would be a big issue. ‘’The truth of the matter is that if we lose such amount of money within 18 months as the allegation said, the country will collapse.’’

Negotiating with fake Boko Haram members

On the allegation that his government negotiated with fake Boko Haram members, Dr Jonathan said it was not true.

“People come up with all sorts of allégations . The truth of the matter was that we realised that the epicentre of the terrorists activities were in two states - Borno and Yobe, we decided to set up a committee of influential people in those two states to interact with their people to see if they can help

IN JONATHAN'S HONOUR: Former President Goodluck Jonathan briefing United Nations correspondents and Swiss journalists yesterday in Geneva as part of activities lined up by the Circle of Diplomats (CircleDiplomatique), Geneva in his honour. in tackling the problem. ‘’We did not negotiate with Boko Haram. The people we negotiated with were militants in the Niger Delta and it was successful. ‘’Even the current President said recently that if they see credible members of Boko Haram, they would be willing to discuss with them. If somebody said we negotiated with fake members of Boko Haram, the person is just playing politics," he said.

On service chiefs and Chibok girls whereabouts

Asked to comment on the statement that his former service chief who said the Army knew where the Chibok girls were being held and till the end of his administration, the girls were not rescued, the former President said when he heard the comment, he was surprised, adding he invited the service chief for a chat.

He said he would someday make public what they discussed.

On why he did not contest his defeat at the poll, Jonathan said: ‘’I did not contest my defeat because I did not get into politics because of what I will gain. An African President on hearing the margin of defeat, said Jonathan must be tired. I could not destroy what I helped to build.’’

In his paper, he said one of the ways of tackling terrorism was through education.

“My policy was to fight insecurity in the immediate term using counter-insurgency stratégies and for the long term, I fought it using education as a tool. ‘’As I always believed, if we do not spend billions educating our youths today, we will spend

it fighting insecurity tomorrow.

And you do not have to spend on education just because of insecurity. It is the prudent thing to do. ‘’It is no coincidence that the North east epicentre of terrorism in Nigeria is also the regio0n with the highest rate of illiteracy and the least developed part of Nigeria.

FG and primary education

“In Nigeria, the Federal Government actually does not have a responsibility for primary and secondary education, but I could not in good conscience stomach a situation where 52.4 per cent of males in the Northeastern region of Nigeria have no formal Western education. ‘’The figure is even worse when you take into account the states most affected by the insurgency. 83.3 per cent of male population in Yobe state have no formal Western education. In Borno state it is 63.6 per cent. ‘’Bearing this in mind, is it a coincidence that the Boko Haram insurgency is strongest in these two states? ‘’So even though we did not have a responsibility for primary and secondary education going by the way the Nigerian federation works, I felt that where I had ability, I also had responsibility, even if the constitution said it was not my responsibility. ‘’Knowing that terrorism thrives under such conditions, my immediate goal was to increase the penetration of Western education in the region, while at the same time making sure that the people of the region did not see it as a threat to their age old practices of itinerant Islamic education, known as Almajiri.

‘’For the first time in Nigeria’s history, the Federal Government which I led, set out to build 400 Almajiri schools with specialized curricula that combined Western and Islamic education. 160 of them had been completed before I left office. ‘’I am also glad to state that when I emerged as President of Nigeria on May 6, 2010, there were nine states in the Northern part of the country that did not have universities. By the time I left office on May 29, 2015, there was no Nigerian state without at least one federal university. ‘’Now the dearth of access to formal education over the years created the ideal breeding ground for terror to thrive in parts of Nigeria but there are obviously other dimensions to the issue of insecurity in Nigeria and particularly terrorism. ‘’You may recall that the fall of the Gaddafi regime in August 2011 led to a situation where sophisticated weapons fell into the hands of a number of non-state actors, with attendant increase in terrorism and instability in North and West Africa.

Partnership accross West Africa

‘’The administration I headed initiated partnership across West Africa to contain such instability in nations such as Mali, which I personally visited in furtherance of peace. ‘’With those countries contiguous to Nigeria, especially nations around the Lake Chad Basin, we formed a coalition for the purpose of having a common front against terrorists through the revived Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF.

‘’Those efforts continue till today and have in large part helped decimate the capacity of Boko Haram. ‘’Another aspect of the anti-terror war we waged in Nigeria that has not received enough attention is our effort to improve on our intelligence gathering capacity. ‘’Prior to my administration, Nigeria’s intelligence architecture was designed largely around regime protection, but through much sustained effort, we were able to build capacity such that our intelligence agencies were able to trace and apprehend the masterminds behind such notorious terror incidences as the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Niger State. ‘’Other suspects were also traced and arrested, including those behind the Nyanya and Kuje bombings. Not only did we apprehend suspects, but we tried and convicted some of them, including the ring leader of the Madalla bombing cell, Kabir Sokoto, who is right now serving a prison sentence. ‘’But leadership is about the future. I am sure you have not come here to hear me talk about the way backward. You, like everyone else, want to hear about the way forward. ‘’I am no longer in office, and I no longer have executive powers on a national level. However, I am more convinced now than ever about the nexus between education and security.

The Goodluck Foundation

‘’My foundation, The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, was formed to further democracy, good governance and wealth generation in Africa.

"Of course, charity begins at home and for the future, what Nigeria needs is to focus on making education a priority. ‘’Thankfully, the administration that succeeded mine in its first budget, appears to have seen wisdom in continuing the practice of giving education the highest sectoral allocation. This is commendable. ‘’I feel that what people in my position, statesmen and former leaders, ought to be doing is to help build consensus all over Africa, to ensure that certain issues should not be politicized. ‘’Education is one of those issues.

If former African leaders can form themselves into an advisory group to gently impress on incumbent leaders the necessity of meeting the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, recommended allocation of 26 per cent of a nations annual budget on education, I am certain that Africa will make geometric progress in meeting her Millennium Development Goals and improving on every index of the Human Development Index. ‘’Data has shown that as spending on education increases, health and well being increases and incidences of maternal and infant mortality reduce."

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 , 2016

CRUDE OIL SWAP PROBE: How Duke Oil refused to pay tax in 4 years

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—IT was revelations galore yesterday at the Crude Oil Swap hearing as Duke Oil Incorporated, a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, registered in Panama 27 years ago had never paid any tax to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, despite participating in the crude-oilfor refined products swap agreement of the NNPC for four years, earning $39.3 million as commission.

This came as the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream Sector also summoned five oil marketing companies which allegedly subverted due process by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Duke Oil made the commission from subcontracting its contract on the swap deal to three other firms, including Aiteo Energy Resource and Ontario Nigeria Ltd. The three oil marketers still owe a total of $41.65 million in commission to Duke Oil. These were the revelations that came to the fore at the continuation of the public hearing by the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee investigating the Refined Product Exchange Agreement/Crude Oil Swap between Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation/ Petroleum Pipelines Marketing Companies (NNPC/PPMC) and some oil firms, yesterday.

The adhoc committee, chaired by Zakari Mohammed, who represents Baruten/Kaima Federal Constituency in Kwara State, also heard that another oil marketer, Trafigura, registered in Amsterdam, had never paid tax in Nigeria, despite lifting about 12 million metric tonnes in the swap programme.

The tax agency, last week, had said Duke Global Energy Investment, registered by Duke Oil Incorporated in Nigeria, has paid N26 million as tax, based on selfassessment.

There has, therefore, been no taxation on businesses executed in Nigeria by its parent company, Duke Oil Incorporated, or from the commission of $36.36 million, which were earned by Duke Oil Incorporated.

Danbata unfolds 8-point agenda to grow Nigerian telecoms sector

By Prince Osuagwu & Emeka Aginam

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amongst telecoms operators in ways that will encourage seamless adoption of next generation technologies and remove all barriers to smooth operations.”

It will also develop and implement flexible, marketoriented spectrum regulation policies that promote highly efficient use of spectrum in ways that stimulate innovation, investment, and job creation and

increased consumer benefits.

The eight-point agenda among other things, according to him, will promote innovation, investment, competition and empowerment as well as maximizing the power of Information Communication and Technology.

He said that the policy goals of the NCC recognises the immense socio-economic

importance of ICT to national development and therefore, seek to ensure that the infrastructure necessary to provide ubiquitous broadband services was available and accessible to all citizens at affordable rates.

It will also “Ensure an effective regulatory framework, efficient processes, strict compliance monitoring and enforcement, efficient management of internal resources and structure, and maintain a commitment to transparency.”

XECUTIVE Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, yesterday, unveiled an eight point agenda to grow the country’s telecommunication sector, by facilitating and supporting availability of broadband services and by promoting deployment of universally available, fast and reliable network infrastructure.

It will also stimulate seamless broadband penetration to drive technology innovations and overall productivity of the economy.

According to Danbatta, the initiative will also make available reliable, interoperable, rapidly restorable critical information and communications technology infrastructure that are supportive of all required services.

He added that “It will strengthen measures for Quality of Service, QoS, regulation, MEETING: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai through improved oversight/ Al-Hassan during a meeting on social protection team with Ministries, Department and internal controls and facilitation Agencies (MDAs) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida. of active infrastructure sharing

ICC PETITION: Okonjo-Iweala’s attacks baseless — FALANA

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EGAL Icon, Mr. Femi Falana, has described as baseless and laughable, the response of former Minister of Finance and Co-ordinator of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to his application to the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, ICC, to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity committed by serving and retired military officers and their civilian accomplices.

Pooh poohing Falana, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala had described Falana’s attempt to link her to the controversial $2.1 billion arms scandal as a joke, adding that the lawyer did not have any idea of what the mandate of the ICC was about.

Countering, yesterday, Falana said Okonjo-Iweala’s resort to personal attacks was baseless.

He said: ‘’In my application to the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) last week, I requested for investigation into the allegations of crimes against humanity committed by serving and retired military officers and their civilian accomplices. Having diverted over $8 billion earmarked for the procurement of arms and armament for counter insurgency operations I argued that the suspects who aided and abetted the dreaded Boko Haram sect in the barbaric killing of over 25 soldiers and civilians including children and the displacement of 2 million people ought to be prosecuted at the ICC. However, for having the temerity to request

the ICC to investigate the crimes against humanity committed by some former public officers who bear full responsibility for the atrocities perpetrated by the terrorist group Dr. Okonjo-Iweala resorted to the scurrilous attack of my person. ‘’Her baseless attack is not unusual as she is always quick to deflect criticisms by accusing anyone seeking to hold her to account for her appalling records in government of ulterior political motives. When Professor Chukwuma Soludo alleged that about N30 trillion could not be accounted for under her watch he was described as “an embittered loser in the Nigerian political space. ''When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole questioned the illegal withdrawal of $2 billion from the Excess Crude Account, he was accused of having animus towards her because she had blocked Edo State from obtaining a loan.

Therefore, instead of exchanging

vulgar abuse with the former Minister I shall respond to the diversionary allegations which lacerated her response and the attempt to extricate herself from the mass looting of the commonwealth under her watch. ‘’The claim that I am unfamiliar with the mandate of the ICC shows that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala has not been following the practice of the court and its active and robust approach to its mandates, in particular with regard to the investigation of crimes in Darfur, the warrant of arrest for Joseph Kony (Uganda), and the warrant of arrest for Ahmad Harun (Sudan). ''In many decided cases, the ICC has expanded its mandate to humanitarian issues, aimed at forestalling and impeding the perpetration of crimes which cause gross human rights abuse.

There is absolutely nothing in the Rome Statute of the ICC to suggest that the court cannot

address impunity for enormous financial crimes (and its crippling impact) which took place while Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala was the Finance Minister and the Coordinating Minister of the economy.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s claim that I own the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is far-fetched and laughable. A simple google search would have shown her that while I am one of the legal advisers of the organization, there are other very distinguished lawyers and academics of international repute on SERAP’s board. Her claim that SERAP is ‘discredit’ is the exact opposite of reckless characterization because it is an organization that has won national and international recognitions—including nomination for the UN civil society award; the Ford Foundation Jubilee Transparency Award; and the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award.

NIMET warns Nigerians against health hazard of cold weather

By Favour Nnabugwu

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BUJA—THE Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, has warned Nigerians against the effects of the harmattan season which is often very cold in the nights and early in the mornings in different parts of the country, including the South West.

General Manager, Climate Services of Nimet, Mr Joseph

Alozie, who gave the warning in a telephone interview with Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, said the cold weather was common at this time of the year.

“I will advise Nigerians to take precaution against the effects of the cold weather. They should endeavour to cover themselves properly at nights and gag themselves in the morning against cold because of the

health implications, particularly in the morning. Cold condition has health issues around it,” he said.

With the harmattan dust haze that is a phenomenon which occurs when fine opalescence dust particles are lifted and laid in suspension in the air by winds of low velocity while it lasts, Alozie said it was better for people to protect themselves during this period.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 16 —47 28,, 20 2016

Govt already taking wrong steps on power, says Labour

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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ONSUMERS want to buy pre-paid metres Apart from buying, there are various ways if actually they want to metre the country, but does it favour them? Does it make economic sense to an investor who wants to maximise profit?

If you were in their shoes would you not do the same?

Nonetheless, there are different metre companies that are coming up. You see PHCN in Kaduna, for instance, used to have one metering company. I think they equally sold it and it stopped production.

Ordinarily, you can’t be talking of building power plants without talking of building factories that produce metres.

But even the ones that are producing metres they are not patronising them because of these factors that I mentioned.

But let me even say this.

At a period when pre-paid metres would be in every house, they would be subjected to manipulations. In some countries they are fighting metre manipulations. If you check your phone now may be whether you use one minute or 30 seconds they charge you for one minute.

Regulatory commission Those kind of practices are common. So, when eventually they take over all the houses the way they are running now is not the way they will run. This is what is happening in some countries of the world.

But we are saying for the time being, we need these pre-paid metres because there is usually a section the regulatory commission or ministry of power that stipulates that their job is to inspect for standard. So, we have what we call metre test stations all over the country.

Issue of service charge: The issue of service charge is like, if I go to a hotel now to spend a night they will charge me service charge; they will charge me VAT (Value Added Tax).

PHCN Building at Awolowo Road was lost to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) because they asked for all those VAT. It was because of the interest on the VAT not remitted, not the principal. That is from one government agency to the other. Now, if you can treat one government agency like this they will do everything humanly possible to collect VAT, collect service charge

•Immediate past President of NUEE, Mr. Mansur Musa discussing with the NUEE's scribe, Mr. Joe Ajaero, at the union's just concluded conference, at Lafia, Nassarawa State.

THIS is the concluding part of Labour Vanguard's interview with Mr Joe Ajaero, General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, wherein he spoke on the power distribution companies, DISCOs, and who he said are shortchanging Nigerians. The second part was published earlier. In this, Ajaero speaks on, among others, issues of pre-paid metres, service charge among others. Excepts. because they are under pressure from somewhere. I don’t know how to explain what is going on in this present dispensation and how they factored in fixed charge. I don’t know. The fixed charge if you look at it, it is for that metre, pole and for that wire you see in your house; that is the analysis they gave.

Or if you are not going to be around for two months you tell them so that they will take their wire out for that two or three months so that you will not have fixed charge. But for that wire to be there, day and night, standing there, there is a charge you have to pay for it.

National Electricity Regulatory Commission’s role I think the the commission is even trying. Forgive me, but by the time the NERC is fully

If the people that bought the electricity companies are still the people in petroleum if they want to paralyse Nigerian today they can and there is nothing you can do about it

politicised the private sector will be appointing NERC chairman and commissioners and when that happens, the customers will not enjoy protection.

The current chairman and commissioners are not products of any political consideration as far as I know. But this private sector now that I am talking about, as at today, I pity the President of of Nigeria, because the people involved in petroleum are involved in power, so he is powerless, quote me.

If they want to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow the people that bought the DISCOs and GENCOs are the same people in control of fuel; they will frustrate him. He will be a president without being in control of the economy.

The constitution is clear on this; that the state shall be in control of the commanding heights of the economy. Now, out of sheer liberal policy the state has given that out. I want to repeat that the people that bought the electricity companies are still the people in petroleum; if they want to paralyse Nigeria today, they can, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Engaging the new administration: You know we believe so much in dialogue. We will make efforts to talk to the government as soon as possible.

But I am worried about the comments credited to Babatunde Fashola that he is going to continue with the reforms in the power sector. I was thinking that at the level of Fashola as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria he should have known at the time he took over, he should find out what the situation looks like before making such comment.

He has refused to meet with us. We have met with the investors and even agreed on tariff increase in the midst of erratic power supply. We have invited him to some of our functions, he did not turn up.

We will be relating to him on the pages of newspapers. Now, what that suggests, unless he proves otherwise, is that the reform policy was a joint one between the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and that he knew much about it, and that this reform is an agenda of the APC.

Pre-conceived notion But if not, he should have studied the situation, meet with stakeholders, find out how far before talking about continuing with the reforms. I think there is something he knows that he should tell Nigerians. It is important because when people see you with a kind of pre-conceived notion coming to play it affects your relationship with them.

Today, some of us feel that the reforms were not properly done and you say it must go ahead, whether it was properly done or not. But ordinarily we feel that we should have equally been able to meet with him and

tell him those lies even if he doesn’t believe us for him to cross-check the truth before making such comment. But I think there is some level of disappointment from some of us based on that comment from Fashola and we are going to treat him with suspicion.

Besides the issue as it affects the power sector, I know that Chris Ngige was Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Power. What did he do before now?

Priority to power What was his relationship with the investors or the DISCOs before now? So, we will still go there to ask him that if you were here this thing has not been completed, what is happening, please complete it.

Separating Power ministry from others: I don’t even want to comment on that, because if the Federal Government wants to give priority to power, you can’t mix it with any other thing. Before now, you merged with power and steel. Even if you had asked for ministry of energy nobody will contest it.

I don’t want to engage them yet on the choice of power and works and housing. But I think it is not proper because if you look at even works alone, no minister can even see all the roads in Nigeria, and they are bad.

Nigerians don’t have houses so, by the time you bring power and whatever, I am not sure the person will have enough time for power. Even for housing alone, in the 36 states, to attend to their housing needs, is difficult.

48—Vanguard,THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

How Edo is addressing pension, gratuity issues—ADODO

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

O

N Monday, January 18, 2016, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, of Edo State, presented cheques to pensioners as payment of the gratuities of state government workers who retired between 2010 and 2011, following the conclusion of the biometric verification of the pensioners.

While presenting the cheques, Comrade Oshiomhole said in spite of the lean resources accruing to the state, he would do everything possible to ensure that the outstanding gratuities of the senior citizens were paid without delay.

He explained that already, pensioners in the state got their monthly pensions same day as other workers, noting that the state gratuity bill which was raised to N60 million from N10 million last year would be further increased to ensure that all outstanding gratuity liabilities were met.

Outstanding gratuity According to him, “when I assumed office on November 12, 2008, I found that people who had retired 12 years earlier, those who retired during the military regime and those who were retired by Igbinedion government in 2000 and those who retired thereafter, had not been paid their gratuity. My first decision was that I will not be dealing with the arrears, I will start to pay those who retired from the day I assumed office.

“But on further reflection, I realized that it would not be fair to the average pensioner because they were not responsible for the non-payment. So I decided therefore that I would take responsibility to clear all the arrears but the amount involved was so huge and of

course, our revenue is not so much.

“Initially, because our resources were small, I said let’s start with at least N10 million and I have increased it up to N60 million by the middle of last year. But I look at the number and I realized that if we continue that way, we may never be able to pay everybody and so, I felt I should do more to look for more money to deal with the issue of pension.

“You know, one other decision I took on assumption of office is that I directed the AccountantGeneral to ensure that those who have pensioned and have been cleared to receive the pension, are paid the same day those who are working are paid, the day I receive my pay, that must be the same day those pensioners are paid”.

Fast-tracking the process Mr Oshiomhole added:“We are doing everything possible to fast-track the process. I understand that in this hall, we have about 800 persons and we said we are doing it year by year. So we have brought together in this hall, 2010 and 2011. Let me thank you from the button of my heart for your support for this government and for your patience over the period and I assure you that now, the waiting time is over. Gratuities will be paid.

“Let me also assure you that this gratuity will not be paid piecemeal, not that they will give you 40%, 50% and then you come back another day, no. this present gratuity will be paid in full at once.”

Before this development, Pension and You, spoke with the State Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties, Comrade Didi Adodo, who gave insight into the pension administration in the state:

Comrade Didi Adodo, Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties.

Pension administration: We are transforming into the contributory pension scheme. But in transforming into the contributory scheme, we realized that that they are old pensioners that need to be paid. But to give you a background, the immediate past People’s Democratic Party, PDP, administration in the state sacked so many workers. In one swoop, they sacked 2000 workers.

Gratuities or pensions The military junta before them, also sacked so many workers without paying their gratuities or pensions. That was the situation on the ground when Oshiomhole’s administration came in and as a trade unionist, he decided to put so much money into pension administration to clear the pension arrears.

Also, he said all those who would retire during his tenure, would be paid. That was how

Trustfund records 600,000 contributors

N

O fewer than 600,000 contributors, on the platform of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, have enlisted into TRUSTFUND Pensions Plc, a leading Pension Fund Administrator, PFA, in the country.

This came as its total assets hit N300 billion.

Managing Director of Trustfund, Mrs. Helen DaSouza, who disclosed this at a lecture organized in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the organization, explained that over 8,000 contributors were at

present, earning monthly pensions from the fund.

According to Mrs. Da-Sousa, despite the challenges the Trustfund faced when it could not make the list of first seven PFAs that were issued licences on December 7, 2005, the company still found a place in the top league of the PFAs. She said: “We are proud of this modest contribution because Trustfund was licence on January 13, 2006, having failed to make the list of the first seven PFAs that were issued licenses on December 7, 2005.”

On the sustainability of the contributory pension scheme, Mrs. Da-Saousa said the new scheme had restored hope to the pensioners who often suffered years of pension arrears or outright denial of their pensions due to alleged mismanagement and other sharp practices.

She called for improvement in remittance of pension contributions by private sector employers, reminding them of the punitive measures in line with the Pension Reform Act of 2004, as amended.

the administration started and we also discovered that the service has aged. As such, we have a lot of aged workforce and a lot of workers are retiring en masse. So, the administration decided to pay in batches. We pay pension and we pay gratuities.

As we speak, we have reached batch 47 and batch 46, we have already put in the payroll. Never the less, we discovered that before people enter the payroll, there is what is called pension arrears. We are also trying to clear all of the arrears.

Late year, the Comrade Governor decided to raise some money to clear the pension arrears for as many years as possible.

We wanted to get the exact figures, but the pension board released three different figures.

So, there has been a probe into that and the pension board has been suspended. Consultants were engaged and they have just finished their work to now determine the pension arrears that Edo State government.

They have submitted their report to the Comrade Governor.

Any moment from now, most of the pensioners would be paid their gratuities and pensions.

We have virtually concluded the process, it is just remaining for the Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, to start work... and the Bureau put in place, that is all

Issue of the primary schools pensioners: Primary schools pensioners are local government pensioners, while some part of the secondary schools are Edo State pensioners. The issue is part of what I have just addressed. The primary schools pensioners or local government pensioners, those ones, when government asked for bailout for local governments, there was over N5.5 billion that was left, which government is trying to use to pay pensioners.

Bailout for local governments At the same time, almost those ones will be paid. Efforts are being made to get the actual figure.

Kick-starting the contributory pension scheme: We have virtually concluded the process, it is just remaining for the Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, to start work and any moment from now the government will give the go ahead to start work, and the Bureau put in place, that is all.

Everything has been concluded. By the end of this month things will take proper shape. It is just the auditing of the pension board by pension consultants that actually delayed the whole process.

Because we needed to know how much the government is owing, what is the liability and so on, so that the government does not pay ghost pensioners.

Those retiring soon: The law is very clear. There is a cut off period that says those who are to retire in the next two or three years, will not be part of the contributory pension scheme. They will remain with the old pension scheme.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 — 49

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 — 51

Basketball: Ogunjimi optimistic on Olympic ticket

T

HE tone was set for the 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) following Tuesday’s official draw, with Nigeria’s Helen Ogunjimi expressing optimism about her team’s ability to make it to the Rio Games.

The Nigerians will play in Group C alongside Belarus and Korea at the 12-team event taking

Ogunjimi

Emmenike

Oliseh Continues from BP players were told what to do. We came out to win with a plan to stay compact when we have the ball to play. But strangely, we had the ball, and we didn’t play.

“The players are humans and at some point they break, and that is what happened.

All I can say is that my players are humans and there is a limit that they can hold. For some morals reasons, they

couldn’t find it.

“What did not go right is the fact that I think somewhere inside it was difficult for the players to overcome some moral difficulties they have come across. This is an adult tournament and there are certain things which must be present if you want to go far and win the tournament, and that is what my players see is existing in other teams that we don’t have in our team.”

Continues from BP loan for the remainder of the campaign, and are understood to have moved a step closer to a stay until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent deal.

The report confirmed that Emenike and West Ham—who are currently sixth in the Premier League and only six points away from the Champions League places—have agreed personal terms, and all that’s left for the deal to go through is for the two clubs to agree on a loan

place in the French city of Nantes from 13-19 June. The West Africans, who earned their spot in the WOQT by finishing third at AfroBasket Women 2015, are relieved to know their opponents.

“It’s exciting to finally know who we are playing in the group stage. Now it’s up to us to be ready and bring our A game,” said Ogunjimi.

Nigeria last competed fee.

The Hammers have invested heavily since the end of last season, bringing new manager Slaven Bilic to the club as well as the likes of Alex Song, Victor Moses, Pedro Obiang, Angelo Ogbonna, Sam Byram and Dimitri Payet to the club.

While Emenike is a physically impressive attacker, he is prone to scoring droughts, and called time on his international career with Nigeria in 2015 after an extended display without finding the net.

in the Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament at Athens 2004, where they beat Korea 68-64 to finish 11th in the 12-team field.

Ogunjimi and her teammates think it is high time to make their comeback.

Ahmed Musa Continues from BP the region of £15 million but it was rejected by the Muscovites.

The Foxes now face competition from Manchester United, with the Old Trafford side opening a line of communicationwithMusa’s United Kingdom - based agency.

Having said that, Leicester City remain in the driving seat to capture the signature of the former VVV Venlo and Kano Pillars star and they are expected to make another bid to CSKA Moscow on or before the next 40 hours.

Ahmed Musa has contractual obligations with the Russian Premier League side until the summer of 2019, having prolonged his contract last summer.

“I feel and know that we are ready for any challenges coming our way. God didn’t bring us this far for nothing. It’s time to show that not only Africa but Nigeria is a force to be reckoned with,” said the 31-yearold.

The WOQT brings together 12 teams from across FIBA’s five regions - Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. The top five teams in the event will qualify for Rio 2016.

Ogunjimi expects it to be a tough battle but is confident that Nigeria have what it takes to make it to Brazil.

Achieving this goal though will take a lot of hard work.

“Everybody wants to win and everybody wants to go to the Olympics.

Our expectations are that we will make it in the top five [at the WOQT].

We make sure that we get our workouts in, eat right, taking care of our mind and body so that we are ready for what’s ahead in June. We are making sure that we are staying in shape and that our mind is on the Olympics,”she stressed.

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

CHAN: Eagles return today

Onazi will sign for highest bidder—Lazio

F

W

OLLOWING their ouster from the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda, home-based Super Eagles are scheduled to return to the country today.

The Eagles were eliminated by Guinea’s Syli Nationale who earned a hard-earned 1-0 victory in the last group match, at the Rubavu Stadium Tuesday; a result that stopped the Sunday Oliseh-led Eagles from flying to the quarter final stage of the tournament.

Patrick Pascal, Super Eagles’ Team Coordinator disclosed yesterday that players and officials of the team will be back home today.

He said the players were sad that they will be leaving for home sooner than expected.

“We remain sad and distraught with the sudden ouster. Nobody is happy.

The players cried all night in the hotel,” he said.

To the team’s Liason Officer, Tijani Babangida, Nigerians should give

ITH Swansea, Newcastle, Everton and Werder Bremen all interested in Ogenyi Onazi his club, Lazio are ready to sell the Nigerian international to the highest bidder.

Italian news outlet Calciomercato reported that Lazio value Onazi at £5.3m, and it is further said that Lazio president Claudio Lotito will allow Onazi to leave the club this month, if the price is right.

German Club Werder Bremen have already tabled £6million for the

player.

Everton, Newcastle and Swansea are all monitoring the 23-yearold’s situation as the January transfer window draws to close.

And, according to TMW, the Premier League trio have been given a boost as Lazio are willing to sell.

The Italian club have already received an offer of around £6million from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, but Everton, Newcastle and Swansea are now all expected to bid within the coming days.

Cahill wants to quit Chelsea •Mission Impossible... Nigerian defender and captain, Chima Uche Akas battles Guinea’s Aboubacar Sylla in their last group C match of the CAF African Nations Championship. Eagles are back home early after losing 1-0 to the Syli Stars Chief Coach Sunday Oliseh the benefit of doubt to develop the senior national team, adding that the rebuilding has been yielding fruits.

According to the former Nigerian international, a lot of things were responsible

for the crash of the Eagles, one of which was the issue of lack of motivation.

He said poor motivation ruined Nigeria’s campaign at this year ’s CHAN, adding it was also disappointing to see the players failing to live up to

expectation against Guinea. “There was a positive to take out of this CHAN. We are having a team of the future in the making. I believe Oliseh can bring out the best from this team if given the chance,” Babangida said.

G

ARY Cahill is ready to quit Chelsea in the next week in a bid to save his Euro 2016 dream, Football Insider sources unders-tand.

In a bombshell to the Premier League cham-pions, Cahill is keen to find a new club just a month after signing a four-year contract.

The 30-year-old has grown disillusioned after slipping down the centreback pecking order under new manager Guus

Hiddink.

Cahill has played in just two of Chelsea’s last 10 matches, the 2-2 draw against Watford on Boxing Day and the 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Scunthorpe. John Terry and Kurt Zouma have emerged as the favoured central defence partnership of Hiddink, which is likely to continue after they helped to shut out Arsenal in the 1-0 win at Emirates Stadium last Sunday.

Iwobi vows to outshine Okocha A

RSENAL football youngster, Alex Iwobi said his ambition is to play better than his illustrious uncle Austin Jay-Jay Okocha.

Okocha, is regarded as one of the best players that have ever emerged from the African continent. His exploits with the Super Eagles earned him a legend status. But it is most unlikely, The 19-year-old Iwobi could ever match Okocha’s skill.

An attacking midfielder capable of playing across the line behind a central striker Iwobi is likely to draw comparisons with his uncle, 42 year old Okocha.

However the youngster is keen to do even better

•Djokovic

than the seven-time Nigerian footballer of the year.

“I grew up in a footballing environment,” Iwobi told the club website. “My dad, my uncle and my whole family loves football. I played with a local team with Chuba Akpom so I grew up with a footballing life. Iwobi has now made a total of seven appearances for the club this season, and is likely to add further to his tally against Burnley on Saturday, though the return of Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky to firstteam contention may see his playtime limited in the remainder of the season.

Aussie Open: Djokovic expects ‘constant Federer is an incredibly be aware at all times. You pressure’ from Federer that got to be tough. You got to complete player.

N

OVAK Djokovic who will face Roger federer for the 45th time at the Australian Open today said that the 34-year-old Swiss hasn’t dropped off at all. The head-to-head series is tied at 22 matches apiece. .

However, the 28-year-old Djokovic has gotten the better of Federer in recent Grand Slams. Djokovic beat

Federer in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals last year, and in the 2014 Wimbledon final. The 17time Grand Slam champion did overcome Djokovic in the 2012 Wimbledon semifinal before beating Andy Murray for the title.

That is the last time that Federer won a major.

Djokovic, a 10-time Grand Slam champion, reiterated

“He’s trying lately to come to the net more, kind of shorten up the rallies,” Djokovic said. “He definitely has the game for that. He’s got a great variation from the backhand side with the slice, short slice. He’s got great defense, amazing offense.

He’s very complete. He puts constant pressure on the opponent. You have to

be concentrated.”

The two squared off eight times in 2015. In addition to the victories at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, Djokovic won in Indian Wells, Rome, and at the ATP World Tour Finals, in the final. Federer bested Djokovic in Dubai, Cincinnati and at the ATP World Tour Finals (Round Robin Stage).

•Iwobi

Doctor’s report delays Iheanacho

K

ELECHI Iheanacho will have to wait till the deadline date for submission of list for UEFA Champions League knockout stage to know his fate.

Manchester City are looking at replacing injured Samir Nasri with Iheanacho, but the manager, Manuel Pallegrini, said he will wait on doctor’s report over Samir Nasri injury situation to decide on the

Nigeria starlet.

Nasri has been sidelined with thigh muscle and tendon injury which required several stitches in October, but he is expected to be back before March.

“I have not decided yet but we are thinking about that,” Pellegrini said.

“We are going to have the report of the doctor one day before we must send the new list of the Champions League and then we will decide.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016— —53

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Man United join race for Ahmed Musa

E

N G L I S H Premiership giants Manchester United have joined the race to sign CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed

Musa.

The Super Eagles skipper is on the wishlist

of table-toppers Leicester City who have already made of bid in Continues on Page 51

CHAN: I got my tactics right, Oliseh insists S

UPER Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has explained that his team’s failure at the African Nations Championship was not a

matter of tactical deficiency.

Rather the former Super Eagles captain listed that moral issues caused Nigeria’s shock

exit from the tournament after losing 1-0 to Guinea in a match they only needed to draw to advance.

“It was not a question of the tactics we chose for the game. The Continues on Page 51

Eagles return today — Pg 52

Emenike, West Ham agree terms T

URKISH giants Fenerbahce have agreed to offload Emmanuel Emenike to West Ham United.

ESPN have reported that the Turkish giants have agreed to send the Nigerian forward on another loan deal, with the striker having

recently returned from a temporary stay at Emirati side Al-Ain, where he arrived ostensibly as a replacement for Asamoah Gyan.

According to ESPN, the Hammers have made a bid to sign Emenike on Continues on Page 51

RESULTS

TACTICAL: Oliseh with Bature Yaro

CHAN Zambia Uganda

0 1

Mali Zimbabwe

0 1

•Ahmed Musa

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Hot (6) 5 Firm (6) 9 Biscuit (5) 10 Roof-beam (6) 11 Deserved (6) 12 Shrill (5) 14 Spoke (4) 17 Parched (3) 18 Present (4) 20 Animal (5) 22 Exhausted (5) 23 Plagiarised (7) 24 Club (5) 26 Principle (5) 29 Revise (4) 30 Suitable (3) 32 Location (4) 33 Clergyman (5) 35 Recover (6) 36 Marionette (6) 37 Yielded (5) 38 Smelled (6) 39 Give (6)

DOWN 1 Torment (6) 2 Concern (6) 3 Pitcher (4) 4 Challenged (5) 5 Shabby (5) 6 Salver (4) 7 Prohibited (6) 8 Furnished (6) 13 Wandering (7) 15 Leading (5) 16 Storehouse (5) 18 Hell (5) 19 Readjusted (5) 21 Gain (3) 22 Spout (3) 24 Carrier (5) 25 Thrill (6) 27 Pinched (6) 28 Examiner (6) 30 Penalised (5) 31 Candle (5) 33 Evil (4) 34 Discourteous (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Pail 4, Ask 6, Also 9, Nip 10, Derisive 11, Gear 14, War 16, Order 18, Anteater 21, Defer 23, Deceived 24, Deter 27, Rod 31, Part 33, Presence 34, Due 35, Beer 36, Dry 27, Rude.

DOWN: 2, Aver 3, Laid 4, Agitated 5, Keep 6, Anger 7, Lie 8, Spate 12, Rapid 13, Stout 14, Wad 15, Refer 17, Delve 18, Ready 20, Recovery 22, Red 25, Evade 26, Enter 28, Sped 29, Bear 30, Acid.

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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