NGF LEADERSHIP SAGA: You're fake chairman, Amaechi taunts Jang

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61914

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Suntai has regained memory— Suswam

...Pas ...Pasttor Adebo Adeboyye visits ailing go govvernor

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NGF LEADERSHIP SAGA:

You're fake chairman, Amaechi taunts Jang •Jang mum, ignores twits A •Amaechi is my chairman — Oshiomhole •NGF Chairman's seat not marked at NEC meeting

BY BEN AGANDE

BUJA—THE Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, venue of the monthly National Economic Council meeting was momentarily turned into a theatre hall, yesterday, as both Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Jonah Jang of Plateau State who are both laying claims to chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF, met for the

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS:

DONU KOGBARA •P.17

ADISA ADELEYE •P.47

Mr & Mrs NEC MEETING—From left: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari; Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; factional Chairman, Nigeria Governors' Forum, Mr. Jonah Jang of Plateau State; Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu; Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura and factional Chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, during the National Economic Council meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Aso Chambers, State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Senegalese President, Oil discovery boosts national reserve, Obama clash over says Lagos Govt 8 gay marriage 49

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

GLOBAL POWER WOMEN—From Left: Presidents Helen Sirleaf Johnson of Liberia; Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria; Joyce Banda of Malawi; Vice President of Gambia, Isatou Njie-Saidy and wife of Nigerian Vice President, Hajia Amina Sambo. during the opening of 2nd International Conference of Global Power Women Network Africa, yesterday in Abuja. State House photo.

NGF SAGA: You're fake chairman, Amaechi taunts Jang Continues from page 1 first time after the disputed NGF election.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi who polled 19 votes at the election of the governors forum to Jonah Jang’s 16 came into the council chamber to realize that his seat was beside Jang's.

Before now, the seat of

the chairman of the governors forum was next to that of the President and would be boldly identified as such.

But in a move that is seen as an attempt by the Presidency to delicately navigate the crisis in the NGF, the seating arrangement at the monthly meeting was slightly altered to play

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Stay away from Anger. It hurts you and you alone!

If you are right then there is no need to get angry, and if you are wrong then you don’t have any right to get angry.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change —Wayne W. Dyer

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VERY rich young man went to see a Wise man in order to ask his advice about what he should do with his life. The wise man led him over to the window and asked him: ‘What can you see through the glass?’ ’I can see men coming and going and a blind man begging for alms in the street.’

Then the wise man showed him a large mirror and said to him: ‘Look in this mirror and tell me what you see.’ ‘I can see myself. The wise man said.

‘Notice that the window and the mirror are both made of the same basic material, glass; but in the mirror, because the glass is coated with a fine layer of silver, all you can see is yourself. You should compare yourself to these two kinds of glass.

“Through the glass, you saw other people and felt compassion for them. Through the mirror - covered in silver - you see yourself. You will only be worth anything when you have the courage to tear away the coating of silver covering your eyes in order to be able to see again and love your fellow man.”

One of life’s purpose is to be there for others when they need us.

up a seeming neutrality of the Presidency in the crisis. In order to balance the importance of the two dramatis personae in the crisis, the two governors were seated beside each other at the council chamber where the meeting of the 36 governors with the vice-president and ministers of Finance and National Planning held.

As soon as the two governors entered the council chamber, a mild drama played out shortly before the commencement of the meeting when supporters of Governor Amaechi tried to drag Governor Jonah Jang to where Amaechi was standing to pay ‘homage’ to the Rivers State governor.

Chairman of the Northern Governors' Forum and Governor of Niger State, Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, a staunch supporter of Amaechi drew Amaechi’s attention to the sitting arrangement when he asked the Rivers State governor, “so you are going to sit with Jang. This is very nice oh. Somebody is trying to be diplomatic here.”

Governor Amaechi who had earlier noticed the sitting arrangement replied: “We are still together. So, I am going to sit with him. The real chairman and the... “he

said to loud laughter from those governors present.

Jang walked in, shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with his colleagues, including Amaechi. After being told he was to sit beside

Amaechi, he did and Amaechi accepted his greetings, saying: “You are welcome, I am the authentic chairman.”

Jang didn’t respond and both governors sat without saying anything to each other for a while before other people came into the picture.

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole who noticed the arrangement, held Jang’s hand and pointed to Amaechi, saying “that is my chairman” adding that Jang was the leader of the other PDP extended faction. This drew laughter from those present.

Though Oshiomhole’s comment drew loud guffaws from the governors, Governor Jang wore a bland face as he neither commented nor dis-

played any emotions.

It is the first time that the governors would meet in the same hall after the controversial election of the NGF that produced two chairmen.

Thursday's meeting of the National Economic Council was to discuss the disagreement between the governors and the Federal Government over the allocation of funds from the Federation Account, which led to the state commissioners of finance walking out on the Minister of Finance at the last meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee.

The governors were accompanied to the meeting by their respective commissioners of finance and education.

Suntai has regained memory — Suswam ....Adeboye visits ailing gov

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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AGOS —CONVA LESCING governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Suntai is a living miracle and should be able to resume his duties very soon, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State declared yesterday.

Governor Suswam also confirmed that Suntai spoke with Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday in his presence.

Suswam visited Suntai in New York, United States where he is recuperating following last October ’s air crash of a private plane that he was piloting.

He also confirmed that Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God also visited Suntai same Tuesday.

Governor Suswam who

was accompanied by his wife, Yemisi during his visit to Suntai, dismissed reports that Suntai was unable to recognize friends and family, saying that Suntai recognsied and called his wife by her name.

Suswam who visited Suntai during an official trip to the United States spoke to Vanguard from New York.

“He is fine, he is doing very, very well and he is walking on his own and when I was with him, they brought food to him and he ate,” Governor Suswam said.

“When I was with him, we made a call to the vice-president and he (Suntai) spoke with him. ”He is walking and it is a living miracle that we are seeing,” the Benue governor further revealed.

Asked on the prospects of Suntai resuming work as governor, he said:

”Why not, he should be able to resume work and I see no reason why he cannot, and I think he is very ok.”

Asked specifically if Suntai recognized him, he replied: ”Recognise me? Yes, he recognized me and even called my wife by her name and I can say that he has recovered his memory and those stories about memory loss are not true as I spent about one hour with him discussing and exchanging banters.”

Governor Suntai survived when the private aircraft he was piloting crashed near Yola, Adamawa State on October 25, 2012 and he was subsequently transferred to the National Hospital in Abuja before he was evacuated for further treatment in Germany.

He was transferred to the John Hopkins University Hospital in the United States in March and discharged from the hospital last week.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013—7

Agbor robbery: More bank staff arrested

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA —MORE staff of the first generation bank raided last Friday by robbers have been arrested and are currently being interrogated along with policemen posted on guard duty that day, state police command’s spokesman, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, said.

Speaking with newsmen in Asaba, Uyabeme said: “Yes we have some of the staff but it depends on the weight of evidence, investigation is on.”

He declined to give the exact number of staff arrested so far apart from the Operations Manager earlier mentioned, saying that investigations will prove whether they are innocent or not.

Also, policemen posted on guard duty have since been arrested and are also currently facing ‘orderly room trial’ at the state police headquarters, Asaba.

Meantime, bank officials are trading words with the police over the incident.

This came as fresh facts emerged that policemen were nowhere to be found during the robbery that lasted less than 10 minutes.

PPRO Uyabeme while maintaining that it was an inside job had earlier said that “preliminary investigation revealed an insider connection with the bank robbery as the two keys to the strong room that were supposed to be kept by two different senior staff were left with the operations manager who in turn left the strong room open.

"The four bullet proof doors were not tampered with. One of the senior staff of the bank who supposed to be with one of the keys to the strong room and purported to be sick, handed over the keys.”

Strike: Travellers stranded as poly students protest Say they are tired of staying at home after 64 days

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE city of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital was, yesterday, shut down for hours when students of polytechnics in Ogun State protested the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANIP. The students, numbering over 200, drawn from three polytechnics in Ilaro, Igbesa and Abeokuta under the auspices of National Association of Polytechnics Students, Ogun State axis blocked some major roads in the ancient city.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as: ‘Government please. don’t jeopardise our future’, ‘Government, don’t destroy polytechnics’, ‘Federal Government please save our souls’ and ‘Our lecturers deserve the best’ among others.

The aggrieved students caused gridlock in Panseke, Oke-Ilewo, Ibara, Kuto and Oke-Mosan.

Some travellers who coming into Abeokuta as well as those leaving the city were held up in the traffic jam for hours as the students used their school buses to block Presidential boulevard along Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta .

Attempts by the students to enter the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan were, however, unsuccessful as security men shut the gates against them.

It took the intervention of policemen who persuaded the aggrieved students to leave the road.

The students were later address to by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa, on behalf of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who was not around during the protest.

Speaking on behalf of the students, Chairman Caretaker Committee of the Students Union Government, MAPOLY, Mallam Abdulghaffar Adeleye, lamented the insensitivity of the Federal Government to their plight, noting that issues

The protesting students, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

that warranted the strike bordered mainly on the demand for better funding of polytechnics in the country.

We are tired of staying at home Adeleye said they decided to approach the governor for his intervention, regardless of the nature of the issue involved because of the attention his government is giving to matters relating to educational development in the state.

He said: “We have been at home for 64 days now. It is regrettable to note the insensitivity of the Federal Government to the plights of these polytechnic staff,

O

SOGBO— A MOBILE court engaged by the Osun Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, to try traffic offenders, yesterday, convicted 31 persons.

The FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Imoh Etuk, told newsmen in Osogbo that the move was to curb reckless driving by motorists and cyclists in the state.

Etuk said the court, presided

by Mr Ademola Ayeni, a senior magistrate, convicted 31 traffic offenders, comprising motorists

and motorcyclists, during the operation on Osogbo-Gbongan road.

According to him, the convicts were charged with offences such as making telephone calls while driving, reckless driving, over speeding, overloading, failure to wear crash helmets and refusal to use seat belts.

“The convicts were, however, given option of fines ranging between N2,000 and N5,000 instead of sentencing them to prison terms, while one of the offenders was cautioned and discharged,“ Etuk said.

We will step in, Amosun assures Responding on behalf of Governor Amosun, the SSG assured the students that his administration would step in and help to resolve the matter.

The governor also assured that he would take the matter before the Federal Government for quick settlement, affirming that his administration places a high premium on education.

He said: “Since we came, we have not taken our students for granted and we will not take you for granted. As a government, we have always applied about 25 per cent of our budget to education because to us education is key to development.

“Your demands are clearly beyond us, but as you have requested, we will take your case to the Federal Government because we are also not happy about the development.”

Court discharges robbery suspect 18 months after remand

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KEJA — AN Ikeja magis trates’ court, yesterday, discharged an alleged robber, Lukman Ifayinka, 31, following advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution.

The magistrate, Mrs A. Oshodi-Makanju, discharged the accused and ordered his re-

Mobile court convicts 31 traffic offenders

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

perhaps not taking into cognisance the number of students who are currently idle and might be used to perpetrate evils.

“We know this issue is beyond the state governor but we believe Governor Amosun values education and being a polytechnic graduate himself he will help us resolve this matter between our schools and the Federal Government.”

Etuk urged motorists to always obey traffic rules and regulations, stressing that the commission would not fold its arms and watch careless drivers waste lives of innocent people.

He said the exercise would be continuous and appealed to road users to assist in reducing accidents in the country.

In another development, the commission as a way of ensuring that children are thoroughly enlightened on safe road use has embarked on ‘Catch Them Young’ approaches.

lease from prison as he had no case to answer.

She said:”I hereby order, forthwith, the release of the accused from prison custody. He is hereby discharged.”

The DPP’s advice, dated May 31, stated that after careful consideration of the facts, no prima facie case of conspiracy to commit robbery was established against the suspect.

According to the advice, the allegation of conspiracy to commit robbery which is contrary to Sections 295 and 297 (3) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011, was not disclosed against Ifayinka.

The advice stated: “To establish a prima facie case of armed robbery, prosecution must prove that there was robbery or series of robbery, that the robbers were armed and the accused person took part in the armed robbery.”

The DPP noted that the complainant had identified two men on a bike as the suspects in the robbery, which the accused de-

nied involvement in.

It said: “Identification of the suspect is an issue in this case and where the punishment relates to a capital offence, the court has held that poor identification be treated with caution.

“It submitted that the case against the suspect is based on suspicion and suspicion, no matter how strong, cannot be basis for criminal responsibility.”

The magistrate consequently discharged the accused and ordered his release from prison custody “as the ingredient of armed robbery were not presented in the case against him.”

Ifayinka was arraigned on January 23, 2012 on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

The accused had since then been in prison awaiting the DPP’s legal advice.

The prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere had told the court that the accused conspired with others at large, to rob Mrs Amuafu Afonji.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Secretary in Police net for alleged attempted blackmail

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA — A 39-year-old lady serving as personal secretary to a professor at the Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka has been arrested for sending a malicious text message to her boss, demanding N100,000 as ‘settlement’ for having amorous relationship with her or be ready to face public scandal.

Parading the lady (names withheld), yesterday, in Asaba, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, said she was picked up following a report lodged “by a Professor of Faculty of Fine Arts, DELSU, Abraka who reported that he received a threat text message from an unknown person demanding N100,000 to avoid defamatory publication on him.

“However, through intelligence policing, special anti-kidnapping squad operatives based at Obiaruku tracked and arrested the personal secretary to the professor.”

Fielding questions from newsmen, the suspect who was weeping profusely said: “I did not do anything. My crime is that I am sleeping with a married man. The

Man docked over alleged American visa fee scam

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AGOS — A BUSINESS MAN, Owolere Odunuga, who allegedly obtained N752, 000 under the pretence of procuring an American visa for his client, was yesterday, arraigned before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Odunuga, 37, who resides at the Ikorodu area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and stealing.

The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Femi Adeleye, told the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in March at 11, Agos St., Okerube, Lagos.

Adeleye said Odunuga fraudulently obtained the said amount from one Mrs Olayemi Oluwapelumi, under the pretence of procuring an American visa for her.

Adeleye said the accused also stole the said amount from her, adding that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mr P. E. Nwaka, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till July 31 for mention.

Prof is my boyfriend. I asked him for N100,000 or I would make it known to the public that we were dating. I wanted to end the relationship and use the money as a pay-off.

“We have been dating for two years now. I run a boutique and a business centre in Abraka. I am also the private secretary to the professor.

“He has not been paying. I did

not want to blackmail him . I did not mean any harm when I sent the text message. I never expected it was going to be like this. I felt because we were dating he would give me the money.”

National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, membersin lighter mood during their swearing-in at Iseyin, Oyo State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

Monarch arraigned over dirty environment

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BA— THE Aba South Local Government Environmental Health Office, yesterday, arraigned a monarch, Chinasa Ijeh of Amatu Autonomous Community, for alleged environmental offences.

Ijeh was arraigned at the Customary Court in Aba on a fivecount charge of alleged failure to keep his compound clean, among others.

The other offences are failure to renew his house’s certificate of fitness, channel sewage content appropriately, repair septic tank and obtain excavation permit.

Prosecutor, Prince McAnthony, said the offences contravened Rule 82 Paragraph V and Rule 83 of the Public Health Laws CAP 139, Laws of Abia State.

The accused would be sentenced to one month imprisonment or an option of N5000 or N10,000 if found guilty.

Ijeh pleaded not guilty to the charge. He told the court that when the health officer came to his house, “I showed him every certificate he requested. Having seen all, he went further to ask me to give him N5000 for his superior officer at their office.

“But I asked him why I should do that and he said it was to save me from being arraigned in court.

I, therefore, asked him to arraign me in court if he so wishes because I was not afraid of the court and that I will come to the court to defend myself. That was how I was brought to this court.”

Ijeh also said that the certificate which was issued to him years back had no indication that it expires annually.

The prosecutor, who did not counter the claims of Ijeh, however, insisted that he did not get site approval certificate which was supposed to be renewed annually.

The Presiding Senior Magistrate, Dr Diamond Olewengwa, intervened and said that he would not allow a monarch to be “disgraced” in his court.

Olewengwa, therefore, urged the prosecutor to settle the matter with Ijeh out of court and adjourned the case to July 10, for report of settlement.

NSCDC arrests 473 vandals in first quarter —Abolurin

BY ODINIYA RUTH

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BUJA — THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has disclosed that its anti-vandal squads had arrested 473 vandals across the country during the first quarter of the year.

The Commandant General, CG, of the NSCDC, Ade Abolurin, revealed this while reflecting on the first quarter report of this year with Corps Commandants from the 36 states of the federation, in Abuja.

The CG said of 473 suspects who are facing prosecution, 32 had been convicted, adding that 259 illegal refineries were destroyed in collaboration with the Joint Task Force, JTF. The NSCDC boss who expressed the commitment of the corps noted that they had restrategised to hold down on oil

thieves.

He said: “We are here to restrategise and organise ourselves to the fight against vandalism. I have directed all the commandants to give in their best in protecting government installations and property of other law-abiding citizens.

“Also, the illegal oil refineries which have become a brisk business for miscreants in the country must be discouraged.

Such activities have affected all sectors of the economy and we must do our best and collaborate with other security agencies to win the war.”

Abolurin also said the corps had concluded plans, through the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Dasuki Sambo, to meet with major stakeholders, community leaders and traditional rulers to brainstorm on how to better address the problem at the grassroots.

Driver, printer docked over alleged N10m theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — A DRIVER Mudashiru Abass, 27 and one other were, yesterday, arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja for allegedly stealing N10 million belonging to one Ayeni Olusesan.

The defendant and the other suspect, Samson Adelekan, 18, who is a printer, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and robbery, were docked before Magistrate A .O. Akinde.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that the defendants and others at large committed the alleged crime on June 3, 2013, at about 11a.m at Plot 4, Jemibewon Street, Ogudu GRA, Lagos.

He said the defendants conspired among themselves and stole one Nissan Murano SUV with number plate TZ 999 AAA, one Sony Plasma TV and one UPS value atN10 million, property of one Ayeni Olusesan.

The prosecutor said the offence was punishable under Sections 409,295 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Ex-prison warder held for car-snatching

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI —THE Ebonyi State Police Command said, yesterday, that it arrested an ex-Nigeria Prison staff, Enugu State Command, Sunday Nwaogbaga, 30, over his alleged involvement in the snatching of an 18-seater Toyota bus from one Ifeanyi on June 1, 2013.

Briefing newsmen at the command headquarters in Abakaliki, the state Police Public Relations Officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Sylvester Igbo noted that the suspect had confessed to the crime as the bus was recovered at Ochudo Park in Abakaliki on June 19.

The police spokesman who appreciated the contributions of the Chairman of Ebonyi Youth Assembly, Comrade Chinedu Ogah and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state, Elder John Nti, towards the recovery of the bus, further revealed that the suspect who joined the Nigeria Prison Service in Enugu in 2002, was dismissed in 2006.

8—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Reps urged CBN to implement cashless policy in phases

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—HOUSE of Representatives, yesterday, mandated Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to implement the cashless policy introduced in the country in phases.

The motion, promoted by 53 lawmakers, is entitled Need for Central Bank of Nigeria to Implement Cashless Policy in Phases.

Anchored by Yakubu Dogara representing B o g o r o / D a s s / Ta f a w a Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, they sought to make CBN implement cashless policy in stages, moving from cash-based to cash-less and finally cashless, commensurate to available technical and financial infrastructure at each stage.

Nigeria yet to get 175m Euros Abacha loot from Liechtenstein— Adoke

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—AT TORNEYGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), yesterday, said Nigeria was yet to receive about 175 million Euros starched in a foreign account in Liechtenstein by late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.

Adoke, who spoke at the 2013 ministerial press briefing held in Abuja, yesterday, to highlight the mid-term achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as it pertains to the Ministry of Justice, said Federal Government had intensified its efforts to trace and repatriate Nigeria’s stolen assets abroad.

He said: “In this connection,

we have maintained effective liaison and communication with targeted jurisdictions to keep pace with asset recovery proceedings in those jurisdictions.

Recovered monies

“In 2011, our close liaison and negotiation with the Island of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of £22.5 million confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of General Sani Abacha, on account of his money laundering transactions from Nigeria.

“We continued the liaison and negotiations with the Principality of Liechtenstein, which recently confiscated EUR 175 million from the

Abacha family and associated companies in Liechtenstein following a confiscation order by the Supreme Court of Liechtenstein.

“However, the companies involved have lodged an appeal against the decision before the European Court of Justice in Strasburg.

“As soon as the appeal is concluded, firm arrangements consistent with the asset recovery provisions of the United Nations Convention against corruption, would be made to repatriate the forfeited sums to Nigeria.”

Meantime, Adoke disclosed that the Ministry of Justice, within the year under review, received 60 petitions bordering on breach of rights of citizens, lack of action on criminal matters by the law enforce-

NMA threatens to sanction erring affiliates

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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S the three-day nationwide strike called by National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, enters its second day, the national body of the medical doctors, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, yesterday warned that it would not withhold sanctions on any erring affiliate body or individual member for violating the extant laws/constitutional provisions of the association.

In a statement by the National President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, the association said its seven affiliate bodies, including NARD, were at liberty to pursue their aspirations without trepidation.

However, it said NMA would not also fail to sanction any affiliate body or individual member for bringing the association/medical profession to public disrepute.

BROOK HOUSE: From left— Dr. Alimi Abdulrazaq, Chairman, Board of Directors, Bridge House College, Ikoyi; Mr. Neil Maynard, Director, International Office, University of Hull, United Kingdom; and Ms. Dawn Savage, Principal, Brook House College, United Kingdom, during the College's 9th annual prize-giving day and lecture in Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday.

Oil discovery, boost to national reserve— Lagos govt boasts

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS State Government, yesterday, confirmed that it was aware of the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in the state, describing it as “a boost for the nation’s oil reserve drive."

It will be recalled that, Wednesday, Afren Plc and its partner, Lekoil Limited, announced significant oil discovery offshore Dahomey Basin in Lagos The discovery is subject to the authentication of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, which is expected in two weeks.

If certified and the partners produce the first barrel of oil, Lagos will become the 11th

oil-producing state in Nigeria, a club Anambra State joined recently.

It is also expected to boost the economy of Lagos, which currently generates about N29 billion internally every month.

The other oil-producing states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo, Abia, Imo, Edo and Cross River.

Geological studies indicate that the Dahomey Basin is a combination of inland/ coastal/offshore basin that cuts across some West African countries including Lagos (Nigeria), South-Eastern Ghana, Togo and the Republic of Benin.

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Taofiq Tijani, said the

governor and the people of Lagos State were optimistic of the economic boom that the oil discovery will bring to the nation and the state in particular.

He said: “We at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources have done our work on oil and gas within our state.

"We know about a company, Agip group, owned by Folawiyo, that drilled and found oil seven years ago but is yet to commence operation.

They are yet to drill the oil they found.

“We are also aware about this new discovery. We know about that oil bloc, AML Group of companies. We know they have been building that bloc many years back."

ment agencies.

Why FG can’t pardon Al-Mustapha

He also gave reasons why Federal Government cannot pardon the former Chief Security Officer to late General Abacha, Major Hamza AlMustapha.

It will be recalled that a Lagos High Court had sentenced Al-Mustapha, who is currently in prison custody, to death by hanging after he was found guilty in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of late business mogul and presumed winner of the June 12 presidential election, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola.

Adoke, who noted that AlMustapha was tried and convicted under the Lagos State law, insisted that Federal Government lacked the powers to delve into the case as such action would tantamount to subjudice.

He said: “The case has gone to the Court of Appeal. It is not within the authority of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, as it stands today. Even commenting on it will amount to subjudice. Justice is taking its course.”

While acknowledging that Nigeria is presently a part of the global debate on death sentence, Adoke said there was nothing the government could do to stop the execution of those currently on the waiting list of the hangman.

He said most of the offences that attract death penalty fall under laws within the jurisdiction of states.

He maintained that in view of the fact that Nigeria is a country under the principle of federalism, there is nothing the Federal Government can do, pending the review of some of the extant laws, adding, “ we hope the laws will be reviewed.”

On Bakassi

Besides, the AGF further explained reason why the Federal Government refused to appeal the International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgment that had in 2001 ceded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula in Cross Rivers State to the Republic of Cameroon.

He said the government was unable to lay its hands to fresh and credible facts to warrant an appeal of the controversial verdict.

He said: “There was no fresh fact which Nigeria could have relied upon to apply for a review of that judgment. Moreover, such action would have created animosity between Nigeria and Cameroon.”

Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013—9

the attack, adding that the exact number of those killed was yet to be ascertained.

He said: “We cannot know the actual number of people that lost their lives as we are still picking dead bodies from the bush. The attackers followed the victims on motorcycles, killing them mercilessly as they tried to escape.

“So many dead bodies were found in the bush and more may still be discovered later.”

Over 100 houses razed

AGRICULTURE: From left— Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture; Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Mrs. Ibikun Odusote, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, and others during the opening ceremony of 40th regular meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development tagged From Farm to Table: Developing Agricultural Value Chains to Create Wealth and Jobs and Assure National Food Security, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday. PHOTO: Wunmi Akinola.

32 dead as gunmen raid 3 villages in Plateau

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS—ABOUT 32 people have been killed in three villages in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State in an attack allegedly coordinated by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The attackers allegedly invaded Bolgang, Karkashi and Magama villages on Wednesday morning, shooting indiscriminately.

They were said to have gone with motorbikes after those that tried to escape.

Some of those killed were said to be students writing their National Examinations Council, NECO, examinations, while several houses and vehicles were burnt.

It was learnt that the attack was launched from nearby Shikal village, where they reportedly gathered days earlier.

Majority of those killed at Magama were said to be the aged and children, while nine people were reported killed at Bolgang, which was completely razed.

‘I lost my mother, brother’

Chairman of the Provincial Church Council of COCIN, Rev. Nandip Miri, said he lost his aged father and brother in

Chairman, Management Committee for Langtang South Local Government Area, Mr. Narman Darko, confirmed on phone, yesterday, that 32 people were killed and over a hundred houses razed in the three villages.

He said 23 people were killed at Magama, seven at Bolgan, while two corpses were found between Karkashi and Magama.

He said members of the Special Task Force have moved to the troubled area to forestall further attacks and urged the people to be security-conscious and to report suspicious movements to security men.

Rep reacts

Member representing Lantang South in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mrs. Joyce Ramnap, who raised the issue at the house, yesterday, said no security assistance came the way of his constituents for hours, while the attackers operated.

However, police said they were yet to get details of the attack when contacted.

Jonathan appeals to Reps over N72bn slash in 2013 Amendment Bill

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, responded swiftly to the rejection of his 2013 Budget Amendment Bill by the House of Representatives by asking the lawmakers to restore N72.2 billion they had slashed from the proposed legislation he sent to the National Assembly last March.

In another letter he wrote to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, President Jonathan had specified the sections of the fiscal document he wanted amended.

He identified the affected federal ministries as Works, from which N25.45 billion was slashed; Health, N3.77 billion; Power, N16.3 billion; Transport, N3.1 billion; Education, N5.6 billion and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme,

SURE-P, N18 billion.

He also listed the affected projects under the Works Ministry to include construction of Abuja-Lokoja Expressway, reduced by four billion naira; rehabilitation of KanoMaiduguri Road, N3.5 billion; dualisation of section two of Ibadan-Ilorin Road, N5.5 billion; rehabilitation of Jebba Bridge, N1.25 billion; rehabilitation of burnt Marine Bridge and Iddo Bridge, N1 billion.

Others are special Intervention Fund for emergency roads and bridges washed out across the country, N6.28 billion and dualisation of Obajana junction to Benin, N6.28 billion.

Affected health sector projects

According to the President, the projects affected under the health sector include, provision of HIV/AIDS anti-

retroviral drugs as part of Millenium Development Goals, MDGs, slashed by N1 billion; routine immunisation vaccines, N1.75 billion; malaria programme procurement and distribution of insecticides, N800 million; payment of onchocerciasis re-certification, N120 million; allocation to National Trauma Centre, Abuja, N100 million.

Jonathan further pointed out that a total of N16.3 billion was slashed from the power sector by the lawmakers.

He listed the affected projects from which the financial cuts were effected by the lawmakers as 215 megawatts Kaduna Dual Fired Power Plant, which was slashed by N2.25 billion; second KanoKaduna 33 KV DC lines, N1.5 billion; Gombe-Yola-Jalingo 330 KV line, N600 million; Maiduguri 330/132 KV substation, N300 million; Kaduna-Jos 33KV DC line, N500 million, and OmotoshoEpe-Ajah 330KV DC Line,

N800 million.

Transport, education

In the transport sector, the President listed the following projects as those affected by budgetary cuts: construction of Abuja-Kaduna Railway Line, which was reduced by N1.4 billion; rehabilitation of JebbaKano Railway Line, N500 million; procurement and rehabilitation of wagons and locomotives, N1 billion; insurance of locomotives, N200 million.

President Jonathan also identified projects that were affected within the education sector. He said N2 billion was slashed from the National Library Project, adding that the total amounted to N5.64 billion.

The President also complained that the N18 billion which was slashed from the SURE-P programme constituted a threat to the Federal Government’s battle against youth unemployment in the country.

NLNG files contempt charge against NIMASA, AGF

BY INNOCENT ANABA

N

IGERIA Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, Limited has initiated contempt proceedings before a Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking to commit the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, to prison for “having disobeyed the order of the court made on June 18, 2013,” which amounted to contempt of court.

The court, in Lagos, had granted an ex-parte order, restraining the AGF, NIMASA, Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited, GWVSNL, and other government agencies from further detaining or preventing the chartered vessels of NLNG from carrying out import and export of gas through the Bonny channel or elsewhere in Nigeria.

Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, had said the order would subsist pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice by NLNG.

Prof Akinadewo for burial

T

HE first Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, NNMDA, Primate (Prof) Rufus Oluyemi Akinadewo, 67, is dead.

He died May 7, and will be buried today in Lagos.

A statement by Senior Superintendent Gabriel Akinadewo, on behalf of the Akinadewo-Adekahunsi family, said that his remains would be interred within the Mercy-land of his church, The Lord Mountain of Salvation, Arowolo, Idimu, Lagos.

Late Prof. Akinadewo.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Court denies Ajudua bail

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

J

USTICE JOSEPH Oyewole of an Ikeja High Court, yesterday, refused to grant bail to a suspected fraudster, Chief Fred Ajudua, accused of defrauding two Dutch business men the sum of $1.69 million.

Ajudua was charged alongside, Mr. Charles Orie.

They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2003 for allegedly defrauding Messrs Remy Cima and Pierre Vijgen, of their fund between July 1999 and September 2000.

In his ruling on the bail application, Justice Oyewole said the court had discretion to grant bail which must be exercised judicially and judiciously.

He therefore adjourned trial till July 8, 2013.

Link bridge planned for Igando, Ayobo

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS — LAGOS State Government has assured that it will tackle the challenge of linking Igando and Ayobo areas of the state by providing a standard link bridge in place of the present wooden makeshift.

The assurance was sequel to alarm raised by residents and motorists on the danger of the Igando-Ayobo wooden bridge.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen yesterday, said government was aware of the situation as well as all other road challenges, and was already working out solutions.

Lagos ‘ll be among most urbanised cities in 2015 — Fashola

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE & PAUL METU

LAGOS — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said the cur- From left: Dr. Yewande Adesina, Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Public Health; Gov. rent growth rate and industrial Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Hon. Suru Avoseh, Chairman, Lagos House Committee activities in the state would make on Health, and Mrs. Doja Otedola, former Lagos State First Lady, during the flag-off cerit among the most urbanised cit- emony of Eredo Primary Health Centre, as a comprehensive Public Health Centre, PHC, ies in the world by 2015 with the Flagship Centre, at Eredo LCDA, Epe, Lagos State. Photo: Bunmi Azeez possibility of overtaking New York City, in the United States of America.

The governor called for support and assistance from stakeholders in the state to ensure acHE Federal Govern- verifying, to ascertain who them, they are aware of ment was rendering addicelerated and even ment, yesterday, gave should be the next of kin that, so I am sure they are tional assistance to families development in the Dana Airline a six-month to claim the money. But I accelerating the process.“ of victims of aircrash, addeducation sector.

She said the sector had ing that the approval of the ultimatum to pay the claims know Dana has done up Fashola noted put up some strategies to Victim Family Insurance to 60 per cent. that the population of the families of the victims ensure that air accidents Package, VFAP, had been “However, Dana is given of Lagos was cur- of the June 3, 2012 plane up to December, if they fail became things of the past secured from the Nigerian crash or face sanction. rently in excess of Insurance Commission, Minister of Aviation, Prin- to pay completely, we in Nigeria.

18 million and if Oduah said the govern- NAICOM. would have to sanction cess Stella Oduah, gave the the growth rate was sustained, the state ultimatum at the 2013 Minwould have more isterial Platform in Abuja.

She said the airline had than 20 million bepaid up to 60 per cent of fore the end of the claims to the victims’ 2015.

He spoke at the families, but experienced a hand-over of two delay due to double claims blocks of classrooms that needed to be clarified.

According to her: “Dana donated to Anthony Model Primary has actually done very well School, Anthony in terms of compensating Village, by Simon accident victims. The chalLions Club, lenge Dana has is that of Anthony and multiple claims, which hosted by Mrs. made it difficult to ascertain Lauretta Onyima, who should collect.

“And until they are able President 2012, 13, to do that, they will not pay Simon Lion Club.

The governor, multiple claims and we will who was repre- continue verifying and re-

Pay crash victims or face sanctions, FG tells Dana Airline T

sented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, said: “A mega city like Lagos faces numerous challenges and would readily accept effective collaborations and assistance from various stakeholders.

Book launch

A

BOOK, ‘It’s a Journey,’ written by the Executive Director of the Raziela Foundation and convener of ‘Woman Cry out,‘ Pastor Bemigho Omayuku, will be launched tomorrow, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Making the disclosure yesterday, Omayuku , a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, explained that the book was aimed at encouraging every reader and also to remind people that the present challenges faced by all was only an aspect of life that would fizzle out with time.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 — 11

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

NEC approves deductions from all tiers of govt to fund Police Force

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA — THE National Economic Council, yesterday, gave approval for the deduction at source, one per cent (1%) first line charge from the revenues of the federal, state and local governments in order to fund the Nigeria Police Force.

Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting of the council, yesterday, the governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi said the proposal which will come into immediate effect is in addition to the statutory budgetary provisions for the police force.

Governor Obi who was joined by the governors of Niger, Babangida Aliyu; Adamawa, Murtala Nyako as well as the ministers of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade and the Minster of State for Finance said the money so deducted from the shares of the state or local governments would be utilised by the police in such states or local governments only.

The NEC had at its earlier meeting empaneled a committee headed by Governor Peter Obi which recommendations formed the basis of yesterday’s decision.

Governor Peter Obi’s committee in its report recommended the reduction of the initial overall cost estimate of the Reform of the Nigeria Police from N2.8trillion to N 1.5trillion, as well as the extension of the reform period from five to six years.

Other recommendation by the committee which was adopted by the council was a joint funding of the revised cost of N1.5 trillion with 60 per cent coming from the three tiers of government (60 per cent) while the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and international development partners will contribute 40 per cent.

The council also resolved to set up a committee made up of governors of the oil producing states to check the activities of oil theft in the Niger Delta.

PDP suspends ex-gov Daniel, 12 others The Chairman of Ogun East Senatorial District of the party, Otunba Doyin Fakoya disclosed this to newsmen at the PDP Remo-North Federal constituency meeting at Isara in Remo-North Local Government Area of the state.

While explaining the development, Fakoya said that the former governor’s suspension was carried out to ensure dis-

cipline within the party.

According to Fakoya, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has been suspended from PDP by his ward, Ward 12, Sagamu Constituency 2.

“As of today, I am the Senatorial Chairman of Ogun East Senatorial District and I have got a copy of letter that Otunba Gbenga Daniel has been suspended.

“He is no longer a member of the PDP; he has been suspended by ward 12 Sagamu BEOKUTA — THE Peoples Constituency 2,” Fakoya said.

Democratic Party, PDP, When asked why the party Ward 12, Sagamu Local Governsuspended the ex-governor, ment, Ogun East Senatorial DisFakoya, who was flanked by trict has suspended the immeparty chairmen from Sagamu, diate past governor of the state, Ikenne and Remo-North local Otunba Gbega Daniel and 12 government areas, said the others for alleged anti-party acdisciplinary committee set up tivities. to look into the allegations leveled against Daniel and others, found them guilty as charged.

He said: “Otunba Gbenga Daniel was the one that brought the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, to Ogun State and he is financing Labour Party at the moment. You cannot be in three parties at the same time, you can not be in PPN, PDP and Labour Party at the same time .

“Otunba Gbenga Daniel is like any other citizen that joins a political party. He was only fortunate to have governed Ogun State for eight years. Is that enough reason for him to be in three political parties at the same time? “ Alhaji Bamanga Tukur said we should put SUMMER SCHOOL: From left, Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Directors of the School, discipline back into the Dr. Wale Adebanwi; Dr. Ebenezer Obadare; Prof. Adetola Alabi (Missippi State University, USA); party and Daniel’s ward and a participant, Mr. Lade Bamigboye, during a dinner in honour of laureates and faculty of the said it has suspended inaugural Ikogosi Graduate Summer School, in Ado-Ekiti. him from the party, so be it.”

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

Amosun decries N1.3trn annual food import

O

GUN STATE governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has lamented the whopping N1.3 trillion being spent yearly on importation of wheat, rice, sugar and fish when the country is in a position to produce the food items in abundance.

The governor spoke, yesterday, in Abeokuta while declaring open the 40th National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development, which has as its theme, ‘From Farm To Table, Developing Agriculture Value Chains To Create Wealth and Jobs and Assure Na-

tional Food Security.’

He explained that food importation had done considerable harm to the economy of Nigeria, noting that the practice “fuels domestic inflation, displaces local production and creates unemployment.”

Amosun, according to a statement by his media aide, Funmi Wakama said Ogun had taken the bull by the horns by making over 20,000 hectares of land available to willing investors at minimal cost.

The state helmsman informed the audience that his government had purchased land clearing and preparation equipment which had been made available to farmers at highly subsidised rental rate in order to encourage mechanised agriculture.

Model Farm Estate equipped with modern conveniences, he explained, had been resuscitated with the Owowo Farm Estate being the first.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 — 13

14—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Barring of Amaechi from presidential dinner: ACN asks Jonathan to probe allegation T

HE Action Congress of Ni geria, ACN, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately order a probe into the published report that Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi, was barred

from paying his respects to the President at a dinner in the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Public-

ity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the President should ensure that whoever was behind such a condescending treatment of a state governor should be properly

C M Y K From left: Kaduna State Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr John Ayuba and Director of

Administration, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman at a briefing on implementation of Sure-P at the state secretariat, Kaduna on Tuesday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

C M Y K

sanctioned to serve as a deterrence.

The statement said: "We are making this call because we do not believe that, in spite of the reported frosty relations between the two, President Jonathan - as the father of the nation - will lend the weight of his high office to such a demeaning action as exhibited by the presidential security personnel.

"To believe that anyone occupying the esteemed office of the President of one of Africa’s most important nations will be a party to a situation in which any security aide will wilfully fence a state chief executive from paying his respects to the President at such an open gathering will be to think the worst of the occupier of that office. That is why we have chosen not to believe that this indeed occurred, and why we are calling on Mr. President to tell Nigerians that is not true.

"We shudder to think of what efforts are being made - including the use of national institutions to undermine Governor Amaechi if the treatment reportedly meted out to him at the dinner has the approval of the powers that be. We are even more worried at what will happen to a governor from the opposition who falls out of favour with the President, if a governor from the same party as the President can be so publicly humiliated".

ACN said it was particularly incumbent on the President to clarify the report because Governor Amaechi, the authentic Chair of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, extended an olive branch to President Jonathan by attending the dinner along with the other governors who voted him into the NGF chairmanship, despite the fact that the President was publicly supporting the losing faction of the NGF, in what is being seen as a democratic faux pas.

The party said the President must learn to separate politics from governance by rising above petty partisanship as he steered the affairs of state. ‘ The statement added: "At this point, we have no choice than to call attention to the recent speech

by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to welcome honourable members from their short break.

ACN quoted the Speaker thus: “I am strongly persuaded to state once again that from the little that we know, there is dichotomy between politics and governance.

Thus there is a difference between a candidate in electoral contest on the platform of a political party and an elected official who has assumed a non partisan responsibility and taken oath to protect and preserve the constitution, to serve the people and the nation".

Alleged N557m fraud: Court adjourns trial of Ehindero to Nov 20

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—AN Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, yesterday, adjourned trial of former Inspector General of Police, Mr Sunday Ehindero, to November 20.

Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi adjourned the matter to await decision on an appeal the erstwhile Police boss lodged before Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.

Ehindero, who is answering to a six-count criminal charge bordering on misappropriation, fraud and gross abuse of public trust, had gone before the appellate court to challenge the refusal of Justice Oniyangi to terminate his trial.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, had alleged that he connived with a former Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget, Mr John Obaniyi, and diverted N557 million belonging to the Nigerian Police Force.

The anti-graft agency maintained that its investigations revealed that the accused persons, diverted N300million out of the N557million donated to the Police by Bayelsa State government.

Probe on HIV/ AIDS funds not to witch-hunt — Tambuwal

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday, said the investigation into how funds meant to tackle HIV/ AIDS were managed was not to witch-hunt but enhance transparency and access to medical facilities for victims of the scourge.

Speaking at the opening of the investigative hearing on the need to check activities of governmental and non-governmental organisations working in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in Nigeria, Tambuwal said the investigation should not be seen as an attempt to restrict or control activities of NGOs. He said it should rather be viewed as a conscious effort to infuse transparency and accountability into activities of government agencies and NGOs to regain the confidence of donor agencies.

He said since the menace of HIV/AIDS affects Nigerians, efforts must be made to work collectively to tackle the disease.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013—15

CP Mbu blames rift with Amaechi on media Says ‘the governor is my friend and boss’

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIV-ERS State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, has described Governor Chibuike Amaechi of the state as his friend and boss.

Dismissing any misunderstanding between him and the governor, Mbu blamed the media for the impression being created that they were not in good terms.

Speaking in his office,

he said that the governor was his friend and the Chief Executive Officer of the state while he remained the second in command.

When told that the governor had threatened to lead a street protest to challenge Police ban on peaceful protest in the state, he said that he was not sure the governor would do so. “ I know that His Excellency is not thinking in that direction.”

He insisted that the

ban on protest without approval from the state Police Commissioner was still in force in the state.

“We won’t discuss the planned protest by the governor now, we should not talk about that now,” he said.

Meantime, the Police Commissioner, said his men recently recovered N6.8 million being ransom money for a kidnapped incident, adding that some kidnappers were also arrested.

....As NUPENG calls for Rivers' police boss removal

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-

YOUNG

L

AGOS—NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has called for the immediate removal of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, over his utterances and actions in the state.

NUPENG in a statement by its President, Mr. Igwe Achese, argued that it was unbecoming of the state police boss, as a senior police officer to be involved in al-

leged acts of lawlessness and infringement on the fundamental human rights of the people of Rivers State.

He said: “NUPENG wants the Inspector General of Police to remove Mr. Mbu, because since he came into office, the crime rate, kidnapping that hitherto disappeared in Rivers State had increased.

“The police commissioner and his men have been terrorising, intimidating and harassing innocent citizens and leaders of Riv-

ers State, as his actions are not geared towards protection of lives and property of Rivers people.

“NUPENG believes that Mbu has constituted himself to be a law unto himself and we call for his removal to allow peace to reign again in the state. A senior police officer of his status cannot condescend so low, to put the current reforms going on in the police force into disrepute.

“NUPENG, therefore, calls on the IG, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to remove him, so that it will not be seen that he is encouraging violence, abuse of the rule of law and taking sides with some unpatriotic elements that are bent on creating chaos in the state.”

Oil firms tasked on amenities for host communities

Transition

B

B

ENIN—OIL compa nies operating in Edo State have been urged to ensure that they fulfill their social responsibilities to host communities to maintain the prevailing peace in oil-producing communities of the state.

Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Oil and Gas, Mr. Orobosa Omo-Ojo, made the call yesterday, at a town hall meeting organised by Pan Ocean Oil Corporation for host communities.

He said that oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta region had suffered neglect by the oil companies and the Federal Government

despite oil exploration in their domain.

The communities represented at the town hall meeting were Ologbo, Utesi, Ogheghe, Uroho, Obagie, Igueleba and others.

Omo-Ojo said the move would help enhance the relationship between the oil firm and the host communities.

Manager of the oil company, Mr. Tunji Ogundare, who represented the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, explained that the town hall meeting was to enable members of the host communities to air their views on several issues.

URIAL rites for Prince Fredrick Chaninomi, alias Oba, begins today with a Christian wake-keep at AmoduTijani Street, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos, followed by Itsekiri traditional dance till dawn.

Friday, July 5, his corpse will depart Veenell Mortuary to Pessu Street, Warri, Delta State.

Interment is at Ode-Itsekiri, followed by entertainment at James Street, Warri.

Late Prince Oba.

16 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 — 17

N

ELSON Rolihlahla Mandela is, in my opinion, the greatest man our continent has ever produced.

Now, this charismatic and courageous global icon, who sacrificed 27 whole years of his life to the struggle for racial equality in South Africa, lies critically ill in hospital. And while his people shed copious tears for their fading Liberator, glowing tributes flow in from admirers all over the world.

I met Mandela at a press conference shortly after he was released from prison in l990. But my encounter with him was fleeting and I never got a chance to speak to him one-on-one. So I can’t offer you any interesting personal recollections beyond the fact that he had a bit of a temper and was very irritated when a journalist asked him a question he regarded as stupid!

But my kid sister, Lela Kogbara, currently a senior local government official in the

•Ken Saro Wiwa

•Nelson Mandela

Madiba the Lionheart come President of a democratic South Africa...

I will never forget July 12, l996. Having hardly slept, I got out of bed at 5am, ecstatic and petrified. I couldn’t quite believe that I was going to have breakfast with my hero!...and in Buckingham Palace, of all places!...

When I arrived with Bob

,

He must have been briefed that I was Nigerian and an Ogoni; and at some point, he asked me about Ken Saro Wiwa, who had been executed eight months earlier

UK, was the Chair- and Vice-Chair of ACTSA (Action for Southern Africa, previously the Anti-Apartheid Movement) for l8 years; and she was one of only five lucky individuals who was invited to break bread with Mandela at Buckingham Palace when he was invited to meet Queen Elizabeth II in 1996.

I’m so proud of Lela’s dynamic idealism and the campaigning role she played; and I’ve asked her to share some of her precious memories with Vanguard readers: Memorable meeting with Mandela: I never expected that Nelson Mandela would, in my lifetime, not only walk out of jail a free man but beC M Y K

,

Hughes (a friend and fellow activist) at the gates of Buckingham Palace at about 7.45 that morning, I felt as if I was dreaming when we wound down the window of our car and said: We’re here to see President Mandela and when the royal guard cheerfully told us to come on in.

Words cannot describe what a surreal and exciting experience this wasY As we walked up to the front entrance, we were greeted by another chirpy chap who apologised for the fact that our breakfast would be delayed by about 30 minutes because Margaret Thatcher [the then Prime Minister of Britain] had been squeezed in at the last

minute to see Mandela before breakfast...

How ironic that Thatcher - a woman who had repeatedly described Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress colleagues as terrorists and had flatly refused to back the Anti-Apartheid Movements call for sanctions against the REAL terrorists who ran the White Minority apartheid regime - had now joined the long queue of people who wanted to meet a now victorious Mandela!...

Mandela had requested a meeting with Archbishop Trevor Huddleston [a White, Christian Socialist clergyman who had doggedly challenged Mandela’s captors]. And Trevor, his assistant and

Past subversive activities Richard Caborn [a Member of Parliament] were already there when I arrived with Bob and Ben Jackson [an ACTSA Director]... A few rude remarks were made about Margaret Thatcher, who was sitting in the corridor, nervously clutching her handbag. But our small group mostly shared stories of past subversive activi-

ties designed to overthrow apartheid; and we laughed when we recalled the setbacks and triumphs. When we were introduced to Mandela, he stretched his hand towards me and said: I

•Margaret Thatcher

am pleased to meet you. I could hardly breathe and said: I am pleased to meet you too.

And I was so overwhelmed that I was incapable of intelligent conversation! I had thought that I was mentally prepared to do justice to the enormous privilege that had been bestowed on me, but with hindsight, I wasn’t.

He must have been briefed that I was Nigerian and an Ogoni; and at some point, he asked me about Ken Saro Wiwa, who had been executed eight months earlier. He also noticed that I wasn’t eating and asked if I was on a diet.

He seemed so ordinary in so many ways by noticing little things about all of us and talking to us as if we were his equals.

No sense of self-importance. No pompos-

ity. Perhaps that is the most extraordinary thing about him.

He carries his greatness with an endearing humility and authenticity.

So many people have yearned to spend a few moments in the presence of Mandela-the-superstar. And there are thousands who deserved to meet him more than I did but will, sadly, remain anonymous despite their suffering.

Nelson Mandela and all those within and outside South Africa who fought (and in many cases died) to end the evil of apartheid and empower the Black Majority were the inspiration behind my strong commitment to ACTSAs work.”

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 FIGURES are deceptive. They hide the faces and agonies of those they represent.

In other circumstances, statistics conceal the dangers they foretell, especially where the authorities, and all those who should use them ignore.

Often it is the case. We later mourn the consequences of inactions, or the half measures installed in handling them.

We are in the middle of dreadful path again. We should not, for the implications of doing “business as usual” should not be entertained by governments that profess high concerns about the future.

The most recent statistics from UNESCO say about 10.5 million Nigerian children are not in school. They are big enough to be the 29th most populous country in Africa and the 82nd most populous in the world, yes a world of stark illiterates, in a world that is driven with turbo-charged technologies which require education.

Nigeria’s collection of uneducated children is bigger than the population of South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, and Central Africa Republic. They are about 1 per cent of Africa’s 1.1 billion people and

BY BELONWU NWANI VER the years, Nigeria has been consistent in its search of a patriot who is endowed with sterling qualities to render selfless service to the nation. It was only during the pre-independence period that we saw men ready to die for this country.

True nationalism and patriotism were at their zenith during the period under review.

Although, tribal sentiments and sectional feelings dominated the goals of these men, but they remained absolutely committed to achieving one thing: self-government for Nigeria.

This, they achieved in grand style after years of struggle, thanks to their tenacity of purpose.Some years after independence, the situation changed as patriotism gave way to corruption, selfishness, looting of the state treasury, aggrandizement, etc.

Government became the greatest source of wealth. Even those known to be impecunious or what they call wretched of the earth, became instant billionaires. The problem was accentuated by the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity in Nigeria. The phrase “National Cake” found its way into Nigerian Lexicon. It degenerated into a sort of rush or a race against time. The situation continued unabated till today. As a result, integrity and honesty developed wings and departed Nigeria. This ugly development became Nigeria’s Achilles heel.

In 2005, it seemed that there would be a light at the end of the tunnel in the midst of hopeless situation when Dr Kenechukwu Nnamani was elected to lead the upper legislative house of our National Assembly.

What happened between that time and

O

C M Y K

Millions Of TTroubles roubles almost 6 per cent of Nigeria’s population. They are significant, if we realise that they are not static, and the future of their progenitors is already impaired by their own lack of education.

It may shock many to know that Nigeria has 47 per cent of the world’s out-of-school children. The shock would be over what our governments have done over the years with budgets and buzz for education. The 10.5 million were not produced over night, meaning that for decades, Nigeria has not cared about her children well enough to ensure that more and more of them are in school.

It may say something about the importance attached to education

beyond the renovation of schools and occasional announcements about changes in curriculum. It would be sad if governments think their responsibilities end there. They need to do more.

One area governments have failed woefully in the past 10 years is the refusal to enforce the Child’s Rights Act of 2003.

It is one of the laws making the illegal rounds of State Houses of Assembly which have appropriated the rights of the National Assembly by re-writing a law the National Assembly passed, or simply stating it did not apply to their States. The law makes generous provisions for the education of the child and protects him from child labour, one of the many reasons he may not be in school.

High poverty levels, and verbal attention to free education in most States, see more children out of school.

Governments and civil society groups have to intervene decisively to save Nigeria the millions of troubles a huge uneducated and unskilled population portends.

OPINION 14 years of Nigeria democracy and Nnamani’s example 2007 when he left the senate spoke volumes about him.

It was a manifestation of patriotism and leadership par excellence when Ken Nnamani assumed the leadership of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

His innate tendencies were brought onto the front burner. He became the Senate President when Nigeria was passing through a critical period in her history; critical in the sense that the future of the nation was hanging in the balance.

His emergence came in the nick of time, when the 1999 Constitution foisted on Nigerians by the erstwhile military dictator, and which was highly vilified was about to be amended. In the process of amendment, a clause designed to elongate the tenure of the President and Governors was inserted into the bill seeking to amend certain sections of the Constitution.

Nigerians cried out, the atmosphere got charged and the polity was over-heated.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, civil society groups, legal experts and opinion leaders planned a mother of all protests to register their opposition to this move. Ken Nnamani was placed in a sort of dilemma whether to satisfy Mr. President who was angling to entrench himself in power and metamorphosing into a full blown dictatorship or whether to accede to the request of the masses who wanted the status quo ante to be maintained in respect of the

tenure of office.

A

gain, Ken was burdened how to face a man who came into politics with military background, which, to all intents and purposes, was completely an aberration to all indices of democracy. His sweeping power knew no bound as he was wont to go for the jugular of other arms of the government. Other arms of the government were at his beck and call. The fear of Obasanjo was the beginning of wisdom.

Anybody in doubt should ask the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo who in spite of his flam buoyancy and gift of oratory was shown the way out of the Senate on allegation of anticipatory approvals. Again, we cannot also forget one or two executive lawlessness executed with high degree of precision in Odi and Zaki Biam – Balyesa and Benue states, respectively.

Ordinarily, there was nothing that prevented Senator Nnamani from succumbing to the dictates of Mr. President by accepting to compromise his position, and say to hell with Nigeria, more so when corruption had been entrenched and institutionalised in our polity. But Nnamani decided even to pay the supreme sacrifice instead of accepting the prescription of President Obasanjo. He elected to be on the side of the people and remained undaunted in the face of mounting pressure and threat emanating from the executive. It was like a

bolt from the blues when the National Assembly said no to tenure elongation and dictatorship; Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief.

It is interesting to note that victory did not come easy as there was a manifest war of attrition with the executive almost having upper hand. The reason was not farfetched as all the resources and political machineries were at the disposal of the presidency. Of course, there was unsubstantiated allegations of money changing hands within the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly. But unruffled leadership led by Ken Nnamani, coupled with spontaneous reaction from the entire citizenry, changed all that. The man was praised to high heaven when he refused to be silent in the face of tyranny.

In other climes, Ken would have remained a reference point and a mirror upon which performance evaluation of public office holders should be measured.

But here ethnic chauvinism and ethnocentric trait have beclouded our sense of judgement.

The development indices of this country have been affected by no other factor than ethnicity, usually fueled by ethnic jingoists.

Consequently, we have witnessed over the years, where mediocres have found themselves in the leadership position of this country at the expense of meritocracy epitomized by Ken.This country can only move forward if the latter is religiously applied without laying much emphasis on section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. *Mr. Nwani, an undergraduate, wrote from Enugu State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013— —19

S

IN, simply put is an offence against God, or a religious divine authority, or against a moral law. The remedy for sin is to confess it and ask for forgiveness.

The Bible declares that sin separates humans from God, and the direct result is unanswered prayers. The three main religions in Nigeria are Christianity, Islam and traditional (idolatry or worship of idols). The latter is outright sin against God because “thou shall not have any other God beside me” is God’s command.

This leaves me with the first two.

We have our fair share of churches in all fashions and styles, the Orthodox, Pr o t e s t a n t s , Pe n t e c o s t a l s , Charismatic, Evangelicals, etc.

We have Pastors, Prophets, Reverends, Bishops and AchBishops, many called by God, others called by themselves due to the persistent economic hardship in the country. All these pray, fast, hold night vigils, yet we remain a suffering and smiling lot. We confess that it is well even we are inside the well!

We have Mosques dotting the land scape of the whole of North of Nigeria and parts of the South West; at the airports,

immigration offices, Custom offices, police stations and everywhere Muslims have regular businesses. They pray five times everyday, calling persistently on Allah, observe Friday Jumat services diligently. In Lagos, they conduct night vigils and do evangelism like their Christian brothers, yet violence, poverty, lack, limitation, stealing, corruption pervade the whole land. Does God not answered our prayers? Why has God allowed leaders who hate the welfare of the people? There must be sin in the land, because the spirit controls the physical. Spiritually, we have individual, family, community, and national sins. Those thoughts, words and actions of our nation which offend God constitute our national sins.

Nigeria has a number of national sins, which pride, mixed with intrigues, has compelled us to refuse to deal with. It is given, that without the fervent prayers of the saints of this nation, Nigeria would have been history since 1993.

In 1996, blood of men who believed in this nation and served with all they had, was shed in a military coup. In a counter-coup that followed, more blood of leaders was shed, then an ethnic genocide followed, more bloodshed. We then soaked the land with

Today, we still revel in idolatry on national TV, home videos, cable networks; in all the states of the country, the worship of Baal continues even in government circles

,

blood in a civil war that shed the blood of over three million persons, mostly Ndigbo. At the end of the war, we declared no victor no vanquished; we did not ask for forgiveness, and the blood shed all over continues to cry to God. No confessions, no forgiveness. It is a national sin. None of the civil war historians discussed the spiritual aspects so far, but it is not unlikely that dedications have been made to gods at some stages of the war, on both sides, constituting national snares before God. Today, we still revel in idolatry on national TV, home videos, cable networks; in all the states of the country, the worship of Baal continues even in government circles. He who

Affirmative action and first female governor

BY BEN ATU

O

VER a decade and one half of our de mocracy, and about 13 years after the Beijing Conference on Women, we are yet to produce a female governor or vice president in Nigeria. Even the number of elected women politicians to either the National Assembly or State Houses of Assembly is miniscale compared to a country like Malawi where about half of their elected politicians are women with a woman president. Candidly, the lack of empowerment of women in politics in Nigeria is, in fact, inhibited by the women folks themselves.

Cultural strongholds that resist women empowerment and promoted gender inequality are sponsored by female. It was Eleanor Roosevelt who stated that: “No one can make us feel inferior without our permission.” Women liberation revolution in Nigeria was mere sham.

However, there seems a silver lining in the horizon. A change is now bound to happen as 2015 seems a year of destiny for female politicians in this country.

Though no politician (male or female) has declared so far or indicated irreversible interest but the rumour mill is at work.

One of such unwinding is the purported entry into the governorship race in Delta State of Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Olejeme, based in Abuja, a political amazon renowned for her independent thinking and achievement who had set the pace in many ways.

Mrs Olejeme is a woman who could be described as having paid her dues many times over. She was instrumental to the commission of resources, tireless effort, time and talent in putting appropriate draft (bill) in place to ensure compensaC M Y K

tion for workers (whether in private or public sectors) in case of poor health, injury or death. With utmost zeal and passion, Dr. Olejeme saw the Nigerian Employee Compensation Bill into law. The Bill was assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

She is a woman of passion. Her guiding principle propelling her into politics is: “If you cannot help others, at least, don’t hurt them.” To her, charity is more than just giving money to the poor; it is the giving of our hearts, time, and energy to lighten the pains of others. With this kind of vision to public office, much must be expected to even the popular aphorism that “the passion of man is to enrich self, but the passion of women is to reach out.”

Definitely this kind of assumption is still subject to critical analysis but suffice to say that she has been exemplary in meeting people at their points of need, feeling very comfortable carrying others burden.

Recently, in her desires to share in the plight of the less privileged in society, Mrs Olejeme, through her foundation, embarked on the empowerment of widows in the three Senatorial Districts of Delta State singlehandedly.

During the floods of last year, she undertook a personal trip of many areas across the country, distributing relief materials to victims. What many governments could not do until funds came from the centre.

Mahatma Ghandi succinctly put it thus: “Strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from an indomitable will”.

The significance of a female governor cannot be over-emphasized, particularly in a complex state like Delta State with several ethnic diversities, a macrocosm of Nigeria.

Managing one’s resources to give com-

,

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

,

National sin, Godly sorrow and true repentance

condones and encourages the sin of idolatry is as guilty as the direct idolater!

N

igeria sheds the blood of her youth more than those in war. A book titled In God’s Name by PFN, Ibadan, recorded that between 1982 and 2010, over 3000 Christians have been killed in religious violence in the North of Nigeria. Another 3000 were killed between 2011 and 2012.

During the same period over 300 students were killed annually in cultism, robberies, road accidents, rituals for fame and money. Herdsmen have killed over 400 persons since 2009. Nigerians kill each other at the slightest provocation, Police extra-judicial killings are put at over 4000 between 2008 and this year! The total comes to about 3,019,700 persons killed in Nigeria since 1966 war! This is more than the population of some independent nations of the world. The land must be reeling in too much blood! It is a national sin. This is outside avoidable infant, maternal, and other mortalities. The value of human life is daily falling in our ‘great’ country.

We sorrow and mourn in funny ways. Soon after burial we sit down to consume food and drinks and some even get drunk! A bad national sin.

The labourer is deserving of his wages, but in Nigeria, teachers and civil servants are owed months of salaries, yet they report to work, while their leaders gloat and bloat in luxury. The labour of the righteous shall be rewarded

The significance of a female governor cannot be overemphasized, particularly in a complex state like Delta with several ethnic diversities, a macrocosm of Nigeria

,

fort and satisfaction is a pointer that given a volume like a state fund, transparency and accountability could be guaranteed or is assured. We should see a female governor as a lasting solution to societal ills especially crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping and militancy. This allusion is being made because some of these crimes are vengeance against society. A female governor is a mother. The youth could be closer to a female governor than her male opposite number because of their motherliness to bear the burden and face the pressure of children (youth) which is the major problem of the society today.

I

n 2003, Dr. Olejeme contested the Del ta State governorship election with the duo of former governor, Chief James Ibori and Chief Great Ogboru. In spite of her obvious quality and general acceptability that she enjoyed in the state, the unspoken reason she lost was that Delta State then was not ready for a woman governor in Nigeria. Since then much water has passed under the bridge. Anambra State had had a woman governor who though was not elected but as a deputy governor, she suc-

the Bible says, but in Nigeria, we steal reward of the labour of the righteous in pensions scams, and then hire lawyers to overwhelm investigation and subsequent trials. We watch our senior citizens after meritorious service to this nation, die on queues waiting for their deserved pensions, and thereby create a wrong psyche that it is foolish not to steal if you have the opportunity! A nation that does not honor its aged shall not prosper. It is a national sin.

Delusion is when a people allow false opinions to take the aura of truth, and it is sin to live under delusion! Many want to minimize guilt by rationalising that everybody does it, so what is the big deal?

The big deal is that God may just foreclose on you first, and then on us as a nation! Prophet Joel spoke of the “day of the Lord”, and he gave a spinetingling description of the judgement day. This nation cannot continue like this without expecting the day of the Lord! A nation is on the verge of collapse when good and evil look the same, when right and wrong no longer enter people's mind. When violence spreads, deaths rise, poverty reigns, people beat drums of war; these are signs of Gods foreclosure. Our recognition of these sins, confessing them with godly sorrow, will lead us to a true repentance which will bring healing to our land.

*Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

ceeded her boss who had some political challenges.

At the beginning of this article the assumption was made that many of the inhibitions on the way of women to elected offices are in fact created by them. This may seem rather clumsy to explain. But a clear understanding of the political cleavages in Nigeria will show this. First, many women are less excited in political participation. Second, many need to be prodded. Three, they are never enthusiastic over the candidacy of fellow women. They vote more than men but always reject their fellow women. This was made manifest during the PDP presidential primaries, Abuja where the only female candidate, Sarah Jubril, received only her vote. She was completely rejected by all the women present.

Men have dominated the scene for too long. There’s need for a change. Egunjobi argues that the gender notions about male and female as “traditional stereotypes” which characterize the woman as submissive passive, talkative and emotional, while men, on the other hand, are seen as competent and independent. These stereotypes tend to group men and women as belonging to opposite end of bipolar adjectives in which men have desirable qualities while women have undesirable ones…”. The world had witnessed the debilitating effects of this kind of stereotyping in South Africa under apartheid, in the racial division of America, et al. The falsehood it created opened the eyes of the world. If these are allowed to continue, then the millennium development objectives in our country is, therefore, likely to hit the rock. Let us recall the saying of Martin Luther King (Jr) advice: “Let people be judged by the contents of their brains.” For now a change is bound to come. And a female governor is it, in Delta State. *Mr. Atu, a political analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

in different vocations.

He said the sum of N1 billion had been set aside as soft loans for young entrepreneurs, adding that a youth summit would soon be held in the state to enable government identify their problems.

Dickson who commended the decision of youths in the state to renounce cultism and other acts of criminality said that the empowerment programme was part of his administration’s Restoration Agenda.

He said that the training will commence in two months time after the conclusion of their verification exercise.

“If we do not help to build you all, then our future will not be assured. You are all aware of what our restoration government is doing; building schools, roads, hospitals, investing in security and making our state safe, talking to people to come here to invest so that we can create jobs for you.

“All of these will come to nothing, if we don’t equip you with the skills that you need to partake in the economy to protect our future.

•Repentant cultists during a cultism renunciation/rehabilitation programme in Yenagoa

Verification exercise

Bayelsa cultism: Winning the war with amnesty T

HE high number of repen tant cultists that converged at the banquet hall of Bayelsa State Government House penultimate Saturday has again rekindled hope that the state is gradually moving towards becoming the ‘oasis of peace’ in the troubled Niger Delta.

Clad in white T-shirts, symbolising peace, these cultists, hitherto seen as messengers of death have decided to turn the page on a terrible chapter of the state’s history and start a new phase.

However, some of their confederates were not lucky to be alive to witness the event which would have benefited them.

Over 11,000 of the youths, drawn from across the eight local government areas of the state, have formally renounced their membership of the cult groups in the predominantly riverine state.

Unlike during the youth militancy days when some aggrieved youths in protest over the many years of neglect of the oil bearing communities, C M Y K

resorted to arms struggle and launched guerilla-styled attack on the oil industry which almost crippled the nation’s economy, the cult groups were more vicious as they not only gunned down members from rival camps but also mowed down other innocent citizens during their operations.

This was the period the state capital and its environs were turned into a battle turf by the rampaging cultists some of whom resorted to wilful killing in their struggle for territorial control or sphere of influence.

Rival warring cult gang Night life in this predominantly civil-servant state took a flight as residents were forced to retire early to the safety of their homes so as not to be caught in the cross fire of the rival warring cult gangs.

This was the sad scenario when the Seriake Dickson administration came on board on February 14, 2012, a development that prompted the administration to establish the ‘Operation Doo Akpor’, a security outfit manned by highly moti-

vated and combat-ready policemen to rid the state capital of the rampaging cultists.

Governor Dickson also sponsored a bill to the state House of Assembly proscribing cultism and also prescribing death penalty for kidnappers.

Rather than exploit its new anti-cultism law to hunt down the cultists and make them face the wrath of the law the government in a surprise move adopted a dovish stance by extending the olive branch to supposed repentant members of cult groups in the state, who still indulge in criminality, especially in far-flung communities in the state to be reintegrated into the society.

To underscore its seriousness in ensuring the success of the programme, the government in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel IworisoMarkson, urged all cultists who are genuinely willing to renounce their membership of various cult groups to register their names and other relevant information about themselves at the office of the SSA on Civil Society.

The gesture, according to the Governor’s media aide, also

applied to cult members in higher institutions of learning in the state and called on them to take advantage of the window of opportunity created to

,

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, YENAGOA

“This exercise is not the end but the beginning; by the time my team concludes the verification exercise, which will be detailed, local government by local government, when we are through with all of these, we are going to engage you in a special youth empowerment programme. A total of 10,000 youths will be engaged.”

The beneficiaries, according to the Governor will be trained in agriculture, traffic warden and the special surveillance system.

The initial fear that the amnesty option may not succeed in luring the cultists out has turned out to be misplaced as it received a boost with 11,000 youths openly renouncing cultism at an oath-taking ceremony

turn a new leaf and do something meaningful with their lives.

Vanguard Metro, VM, findings, however, revealed the initial fear that the amnesty option may not succeed in luring the cultists out has turned out to be misplaced as it received a boost with 11,000 youths openly renouncing cultism at an oath-taking ceremony administered by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Chief Francis Egele.

An elated Governor Dickson who spoke at the event said the government plans to train 10,000 youths drawn from the eight local government areas of the state

,

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youths Development, Mr. Akpoebide Alamieyeseigha urged the youths to avail themselves of the various vocational programmes being set up by government.

He warned that with the reintegration programme of the repentant cultists, anyone caught fomenting trouble would be penalized in accordance with the anti-cultism law.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa and the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Security, Col Bernard Kenibai (rtd) advised the youths not to renege on their promise to shun cultism and other criminal activities.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 —

21

West African leaders seek anti-piracy force

By GODWIN ORITSE

L

LECTURE:From left: Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr; Managing Director, BAT Nigeria, Mr Keith Gretton, and Founder/CEO, Centre for Values in Leadership, Prof Pat Utomi at the BATN Foundation’s 10th anniversary lecture on “Role of Private Sector in Poverty Reduction,” at the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

EADERS in the West African sub-region have called for the deployment of an international naval force to curb the growing threat of piracy off the Gulf of Guinea.

Piracy in the region needed to be tackled with “firmness”, Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara, said at a meeting of the regional leaders. There are now more pirate attacks off West Africa than off Somalia, maritime groups said.

Patrols by foreign warships have reduced attacks by Somali pirates.

About 960 sailors were

FATCA: Nigerian banks get October deadline for IRS registration

By PETER EGWUATU

N

IGERIAN banks have been given till October 25 to register with the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in compliance with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requirement.

The Regional Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, West Africa,Mr.Henry Egbiki, disclosed this at a breakfasf forum to intimate operators in the financial sector of the U.S. tax-compliance obligations.

He revealed to participants at the forum that the final comprehensive regulations supporting the FATCA law, which were issued in January 2013, outline far-reaching tax requirements and potential data privacy conflicts that will affect many deposit or investment-taking banks, insurance companies as well as investment funds outside the United States and add to the existing burden of compliance by increasing preparation time and cost.

He stated that full implementation of FATCA is fast approaching and that most financial institutions in Nigeria have either not started or just heard of FATCA, but are not aware enough of what to do next.

According to him “In South Africa, the big banks are ahead of the game in completing an impact assessment and optimizing

solutions, while in the rest of Africa, FATCA is mainly unheard of. In Europe and the Middle East, a lot of the large and global financial institutions have either already completed their FATCA analysis or are already in the solution design stage.

Egbiki, who was represented at the forum by Mr. Dayo Babatunde, Financial Service Sector Leader for West Africa, Ernst & Young,said “ The primary

goal of FATCA is to reduce U.S. tax evasion by enabling the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to obtain information regarding worldwide income of U.S. persons. Quick to remind us that the legislation came in response to a series of cases in which some banks were alleged to have aided their clients evade taxes.

Consequently, financial institutions around the globe now face a complex and

onerous compliance burden in order to meet FATCA requirements. If financial institutions or their account holders are found to be noncompliant, they will be liable for a 30 per cent withholding tax on certain payments received after December 31, 2013, including U.S. source interest and dividends, gross proceeds from the sale of assets that produce U.S. source income, and certain non-U.S. source income.”

Lonestar: Shell blames litigation for delay in liquidating $20m debt

By ADEBADE ADEJIMI

S

HELL Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, yesterday, blamed the crisis currently rocking Lonestar Drilling Nigeria Limited for its inability to liquidate its US$20 million (N3.2 billion) indebtedness to the firm.

According to a statement by Mr. Precious Okolobo of the Corporate Affairs department of the company, SPDC is aware that Lonestar is presently embroiled in an internal management crisis, and this is the subject of an ongoing litigation in which one of the feuding parties has obtained a temporary court order restraining SPDC from paying any money or proceeds from the use or hire of Lonestar Rigs 203 and 204 into any Lonestar Group accounts into any bank.

He further stated that the company has launched an investigation into the allegations of misconduct leveled against one its staff by officials of Lonestar.

He said, “The attention of the

management of SPDC has been drawn to issues related to the company’s business relationship with an indigenous drilling company Lonestar Drilling Nigeria Limited. ”We are also aware that some representatives of Lonestar were on a Nigerian television programme, June 25 2013, where they claimed that SPDC is indebted to Lonestar to the tune of more than US$20 million.

“The Lonestar representatives also made allegations suggestive of acts of misconduct against the company and one of its employees.

A video recording purporting to be of the concerned employee was relayed as part of the television broadcast.

“With respect to the allegations made against its employee, SPDC wishes to reassure all stakeholders that it views the situation with utmost seriousness, and in demonstration of this, has authorised an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding these events.”

attacked in West Africa in 2012, compared to 851 off the Somali coast, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) and other seafarers’ groups said last week.

This was the first time that more pirate attacks had been reported off the Gulf of Guinea. The highest risk area for pirate activity in West Africa is off the coast of Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, correspondents say.

Speaking at a meeting of West and Central African leaders in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde, Mr Ouattara said: “I urge the international community to show the same firmness in the Gulf of Guinea as displayed in the Gulf of Aden, where the presence of international naval forces has helped to drastically reduce acts of piracy.”

Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, said it was vital to respond to the threat to protect shipping routes and the economic interests of the region. West African pirates mostly steal fuel cargo and the crews’ possessions, often resorting to extreme violence, correspondents say.

Five of the 206 hostages seized last year off West Africa had been killed, said the report by the IMB and other seafarers’ groups.

In contrast, Somali pirates usually seize a ship and its crew and hold them until a ransom is paid.

There had been a 78 percent drop in piracy off Somalia last year compared with 2011, the report said.

-2.05

118.2 2,210.00

+19.00

17.05

-0.02

101.42 +0.16 95.30 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.75 237.727 201.5464 164.313 1.581 0.2909 233.0627 25.1732 41.2623 27.0089 232.9142

155.25 238.4951 202.1976 164.8439 1.5861 0.3009 233.8158 25.255 41.3956 27.0961 233.6668

-0.02 SELLING 155.75 239.2632 202.8488 165.3748 1.5912 0.3109 234.5688 25.3367 41.5289 27.1834 234.4193

CBN Exchange rate as at 27/06/2013

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 201 3

ASHON tasks stockbrokers, investors to sustain market growth

By PETER EGWUATU

S

TOCKBROKERS and shareholders in the Nigerian capital market have been encouraged to maintain the current tempo in the stock market as bulls continue to overwhelm the bears in the equities market.

They were also tasked to brace up for the challenges ahead in order to sustain the recovery being experienced in the market.

The Chairman of Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka

Madubuike, who made this call, said a lot of hard work, integrity, transparency and collaborative efforts to confront the obvious changes lie ahead.

According to him, “We believe that by working together, all stockbrokers will survive in one form or the other. Our association, the front-line operators of the capital market, has gone through very difficult time in the last five years since 2008, but thankfully, we are beginning to see a recovery, which gives us a lot of hope going forward.”

He said the operators are very hopeful and looking forward to a market with 40 million investors from the current five million investors.

“We are also expecting a state-of-the-art trading platform that promises great customers and operators experience, $1trillion market capitalisation and one that is the main driver of economic development,” he said. While addressing stakeholders in the capital market recently, Madubuike called for the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the efforts to attract more

patronage to the market.

“To our partners on this project called the capital market, our fellow regulators, investors and other stakeholders, we ask for support, understanding and cooperation as we work collectively to position the market to play its pivotal role in the development of our economy,” he said. He commended the chairman of Lafarge Cement WAPCO

UAC records 108% growth, pays N2.56bn dividends

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

U

DONATION— From left: Mrs Nkiruka Ogboruche, Community Investment Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc; Dr. Ronke Desalu, Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH; Professor Folasade Akinsola, Head, Department of Ophthalmology, Guinness Eye Centre, LUTH and Mrs Adrianne Nwagwu, Head Sustainability and Responsibility, Guinness Nigeria Plc, at Guinness Nigeria donation of eye equipment to Guinness Eye Centre in LUTH, Lagos.

AC of Nigeria Plc, UACN, sustained its growth streak in 2012 financial year with 108 percent growth in profit after tax to N7.1 from N3.41 billion in 2011.

Profit before taxation hit N10.7 billion, up from N6.96 billion in 2011, a 54 percent growth, while the operating profit stood at N11.5 billion, as against N7.71 billion in the previous year, representing 49 percent growth.

The company also recommended for approval a dividend of N2.56 billion, amounting to N1.60 per ordinary share of fifty kobo each. Additionally, a bonus of one for every five ordinary shares was also recommended.

Announcing the result at the Annual General Meeting in Lagos, the Chairman, Senator Udoma U. Udoma, said, ‘’In

New investors chart growth path for Champion Breweries

By PETER EGWUATU

N

EW investors in Champion Breweries Plc have listed four cardinal strategies aimed at returning the company to the path of profitability.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos on the company ’s growth plan, Mr. Boudewijn Haarsma, Managing Director of Consolidated Breweries Plc, who is one of the directors representing the new core investors on the Board of Champion Breweries, listed the planned turn-around strategies of the company to include reduction of interest burden through refinancing, restoration of the Champion brand to growth in an

increasingly competitive market, achieving critical scale, as well as developing management and workforce to meet professional brewery standards both in cost and quality.

He said, “If the planned investment to increase production capacity is combined with a timely implementation of the refinancing programme by the major shareholders, it is feasible to reach profitability on the short term.”

He also expressed optimism in the future of the company, saying management has stabilised the operating production capacity.

Besides, Acting Chairman, Alhaji Shuaibu Ottan listed

the re-financing of the company ’s existing debt through debt-to-equity conversion and injection of fresh cash through a rights issue as part of the options being considered as key success factors for the company.

He spoke just as the shareholders urged the management to explore all possible means of turning around the company’s fortune.

“The 2012 trading results continue the negative trend as in the previous years. Efforts must be geared towards resolving the issues surrounding the planned debt re-financing as well as improvement on the utilisation of the installed capacity of the brewery towards positive

Nigeria Plc, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, for assisting in restoring investors’ confidence in the market.

He noted that despite the challenges in Nigeria, the nation was still a good investment destination, saying “This is an outcome of my interaction with foreign investors. They believe that in Nigeria, there is high risk and high return-on-investment (RoI),” he said.

turnaround of the company’s performance”, the chairman said.

According to him, the Board of Directors has completed all the required processes towards the recapitalisation of the company as efforts are now being made to secure the cooperation and commitment of different shareholder blocks in the re-financing program.

On the company’s results, he said revenue reduced slightly from N1.791 billion in 2011 to N1.785 billion in 2012.

Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) improved with 2.4 percent from N1.251 billion loss in 2011 to N1.222 billion loss in 2012 on the back of firm cost control in administrative expenses.

spite of the constraints of the business environment in 2012, our company continued to sustain its performance driven by our resolve and capacity to manage the dynamics in our operating environment.

“This notwithstanding, our company recorded a commendable top-line growth of 17 percent from N59.6 billion in 2011 to N69.6 billion in 2012, resulting largely from the volume growth achieved in Grand Cereals, UAC Foods Limited and UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC).”

He explained that due to rising raw material and other operational costs and the inability to recover such costs through price increases, the business had challenges in margins.

He, however, observed that UACN undertook operational reviews in the food businesses to improve efficiencies.

Senator Udoma, who said the company has restructured the remaining two divisions of the company - MDS Logistics and UAC Restaurants – into limited liability companies, explained that UAC had recently entered into a partnership with Imperial Mobility BV under which it bought 49 percent of UAC’s 100 percent equity in MDS Logistics.

“The company is currently working on the terms of agreement with a potential strategic investor in UAC Restaurants Limited. We have also made significant progress in our growth drive into adjacent categories with the conclusion of our acquisition of majority stakes in Livestock Feeds Plc. Discussions are progressing with Portland Paints and Products Plc. These acquisitions are in line with our strategy of building a portfolio of brands and businesses with strong growth potentials in the Nigerian economy,” he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013—23

FOOD SECURITY:

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

W

HEN countries in Europe and America screamed out of fright about a global food crisis, not many in Nigeria were alarmed.

And the reason was obvious.

The nation have always had food crisis. So terrible was the situation that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had to adopt remedial measures of importing staple food from some neighbouring West African countries. But that did not help as cost of the imported food far out stripped locally grown ones.

Among the reasons often cited as being responsible for the perinatal food crisis, the absence of correspondence between the ever growing population and agricultural produce in Nigeria has remained prominent.

Perhaps, the need to bridge this gap between the country ’s population and agriculture informed the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to initiate the Agricultural Transformation Agenda ,ATA, that targets the overall development of agriculture.

This, it was gathered, is not unconnected to the need to

The race for 20 million metric tons of food by 2015

Women rice farmers in Kenya. provide a balance that would assuage the hunger of the rich and find respite for the affluent.

Restating this at a recent forum in Kebbi State, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said the federal

government found it imperative to primarily target food security, reduction expenditure of foreign exchange on food imports, diversify the economy, generate foreign exchange and create jobs.

“Mr President approved the Agricultural Transformation Agenda. The goal of that agenda is to add 20 million

metric tons food to our domestic food supply by 2015. We have picked rice and by the grace of God, we will be self-sufficient in rice by 2015. To drive that, the Federal Government is working very closely with the state governments,” he stated.

Investigations however indicated that this collaboration with state governments to actualise the stoppage of rice

importation is being exhibited particularly by Niger State. The State has reportedly acquired over 100,000 hectares of land, engaged over 50,000 rice farmers across the 25 Local Government Areas aimed at achieving not only ricesufficiency for local consumption, but to to feed the sub-region.

The state would also access substantial part of the additional N200 billion federal government agriculture enhancement loans for farmers across the nation.

Adesina said, the threepronged approach to addressing the defect in rice production include: increased yield through land and fertiliser supplies, milling and incentives for exportation. “When I say we, it is not government. Government will get funds at a very low interest rate, guarantee moratorium of 10 years repayment. We are working closely with all the states’ government across all political lines so that we will have all these mills. We are facilitating rice mills and we are also facilitating low interest financing to acquire large scale integrated cassava processing plant. We want everybody to see that there is more than enough of rice in the country.”

Kebbi spends N1.4 bn on fertilizer purchase —Dakingari

G

OVERNOR Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi said during the week that the state government had spent N1.4 billion on the purchase of 11,550 tonnes of fertiliser.

Dakingari made this known during the launch of fertiliser sales in Jega, where he was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu.

He said that the assorted fertiliser would be sold to farmers at subsidised rates and urged the local government chairmen to

involve traditional and community leaders in the sale, to prevent diversion of the commodity.

The governor said that additional incentives would be made available to farmers, to ensure food security and encourage commercial production of crops.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Rabiu Koko, said that local government councils would receive allocations

according to their financial contribution.

He said that a bag of the commodity would cost N1,700 and urged the councils to ensure equitable distribution.

A cross section of farmers who reacted to the development, described the sale as timely and urged the councils to ensure fairness in the distribution of the commodity.

KDSG bans farming in residential areas, along water ways

Tantalizers outlines growth plans

C

HAIRMAN of Tan talizers PLC, one of the leading quick service restaurant chains, Dr. Jaiye Oyedotun, said, yesterday, the company has put in place programmes to reposition it to face challenges ahead.

Oyedotun who spoke at the company’s annual general meeting, at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, stated that the International Finance Corporation, IFC, has released a portion of the loan

requested for brand repositioning.

Oyedotun said the marked improvement in the ambience, internal and external look and convenience was already being attested to by customers who were commending the cozy interior. He added that the plan was to extend the renovation programme to the few remaining cities.

Though revenue of the company dropped by nine per cent to N4.2bn in 2012

as a result of the harsh operating environment, Dr. Oyedotun stated that the management was poised to ensure that the 2012 performance was improved upon in the future.

He remarked that with the improved outlet ambience coupled with the strong and well accepted array of good quality products, the company was poised to improve its competitiveness.

24— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

First Lady wants more investments in tourism

T

HE First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, during the week, called for more investment in the tourism and hospitality industry to curb unemployment.

Jonathan made the call at the inauguration of a private hotel in Abuja.

She said: “In my capacity as the Tourism Ambassador of Nigeria, I commend this laudable initiative.

“It is my prayer that more Nigerians will venture into the hospitality industry, thereby creating more jobs for our teeming youths.”

She lauded the proprietor ’s efforts to complement government in creating employment and job opportunities in the country.

Jonathan stressed that massive investment in the industry would reduce unemployment and youth restiveness.

The Managing Director of the hotel chain, Mr Makpari Robert, said the third chain of the Ayalla Hotel has 135 rooms and suites and combined staff strength of 250.

Robert urged the Federal Government to give investors tax incentives.

“We plead with the relevant authorities to give real investors some tax incentives. The idea of multiple taxes and rates is not helping Nigerian investors.

“We need business friendly tax policies for indigenous investors as we are truly helping government to take a very serious burden from it,” Robert said

The world awaits Fascinating Nigeria brand

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE with agency reports

M

ANY tourist destinations in the world had ridden on the back of marketing slogans to attract tourists. The “Incredible India,” the marketing slogan, that attracted tourists to India from around the globe, also reportedly posted incredible results for its marketers.

Other countries outside India that had used strong slogans to attract tourists are Malaysia’s ‘Truly Asia’; Zambia – the real Africa’; ‘Egypt – where history began and continues’ and ‘Cuba – peaceful, safe and healthy tourism’ among others.

Nigeria will soon join these other countries with the plan by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Edem Duke, and his team to launch a slogan for the country, ‘Fascinating Nigeria’.

The Minister said the country deserves to have a distinctive tourism brand identity which can be used to market the country’s attractions.

Speaking with journalists recently, Edem disclosed that they had been working on the slogan for the better part of one year, before it was approved January this year by the Federal Executive Council.

“As I speak to you, it has been resolved that in the first week of July this year, the slogan will officially be launched in Abuja.

“If you don’t have an identity nobody will recognize what you are doing. It is like winking in the dark. I am sure in the coming weeks we will see a better manifestation of this ini-

tiative.”

As Nigerians await the launch of the ‘Fascinating Nigeria brand’, stakeholders in the industry have expressed happiness on what the tourism industry stands to gain.

Speaking with this reporter, Blessing Usen, a tour operator disclosed that when India launched the “Incredible India,” slogan that the country’s tourism grew by 6.9 percent to almost $42 billion in 2010 despite a global recession then.

She said the World Travel and Tourism Council in its reports then noted that despite a global recession, Indian tourism grew . ‘Tourists to India spend almost twice as much as the average international tourist.

Infrastructure development Usen is of the hope that Nigeria will benefit from the introduction of the slogan as she sees opportunities for the country’s tourism in three waysemployment, foreign currency and infrastructure development.

The tour operator added that the Ministry should come up with media plans and other items that will be used to sell the country to foreign tourists, “the goal of a slogan is to encapsulate a destination’s sense of place. If it does its job, it will be stored in consumers’ working memory.

Earlier, Edem Duke in his chat with journalists had said that the social media will begin preliminary exposure of that brand and in pursuant of that they have been developing some collateral that will support the brand.

The Minister said there is no bookshop anywhere in the world that there is a respectable collateral about Nigeria, “there is no mission of Nigeria that you go to anywhere in the world that you find materials that speak of the various endowments of this country.

“I think that Nigeria deserves more as the biggest black nation on the face of the earth as the source market for the tourism revenue of other countries.”

The Ministry, according to him, has produced promotional materials that will be used to sell the country as a fascinating destination.

Another tour operator with Peacock Travels, Patra Ada, said Nigeria caters to several market types. While saying that historically, the cultural tourist vacation market attracted the most foreign visitors, but marketers now target the business

travel market as well, enticing them to schedule conventions and business meetings in conjunction with cultural activities. She said additional markets include adventure and eco-tourism, as well as the pilgrimage market, which is a major source of Nigerian domestic tourism.

Most of the churches in Nigeria, according to her, attract pilgrims from all over the world, so the country stands to gain if the Fascinating Nigeria is supported as the country’s tourism will benefit from jobs in hotels, transport, attractions and tour companies. Other indirect benefits, according to her, are in areas such as restaurants and retail shops.

Petra explained that branding should underpin all marketing planning and the purpose of all marketing communication should be to enhance brand equity in the minds of the target audience.

Japanese tourist lauds Nigerian tourism sites

N

IGERIA will be a preferred tourism destination, if the three tiers of government will adequately fund sites, a Japanese tourist, Mr Asahi Shimbun has said.

Shimbun disclosed this in Lagos that Nigeria’s tourism industry had improved in the last 15 years.

“This June, makes it 15 years that I visited Nigeria last; to my greatest surprise, the whole sector looks different and better. There are lots of improvements at the tourism sites.

“Nigeria is the best tourism destination among African countries I have visited because of its huge tourism potential,” Shimbun said.

While lauding the efforts of governments in the tourism sector, the Japanese said that the country had some of the best tourism sites and good culture.

“A friend took me round some tourist centres in Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Calabar, Akwa-Ibom, Ondo and Anambra, and they are all commendable.

“I enjoyed my stay at the Ibeno Beach in Akwa Ibom, Rojenny Tourist Village in Anambra, Cultural Centre in Abuja, Yankari National Park, Bauchi and Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River.

“All these sites are wonderful and in natural form,” he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 — 25

Nigeria to host solo exhibition in Lome, July STORIES

BY DANIEL GUMM

P

REPARATIONS by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has peaked for the Republic of Togo and Nigeria to stage a trade show in the form of solo-exhibition at Centre for Exhibition in Togo, from July 27 - August 10, 2013.

The Director, Trade Information Department of NEPC, Mr. Aliyu Mohammed Lawal, who represented the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, David Adulugba Esq., at a one-day interactive session in Lagos, to prepare participants for the 2013 Solo-Ex-

*To make Lome trade hub hibition of Nigerian Manufactured Products in Lome, told the stakeholders of the importance of Togo as hub for Nigeria.

Lawal, explained that NEPC took the decision to organise the exhibition to boost the penetration and acceptance of Nigerian products in the entire ECOWAS, after her participation in the 10th Lome International Trade Fair, December 2012, where the Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Amb. Matthew Sunday Adoli noted that the Republic of Togo would make a perfect

trade-hub for distribution of Nigerian manufactured goods within ECOWAS countries.

The Director of Trade Information, said statistical records of Nigerian export destination reveal that ECOWAS market “represents 11 per cent in order of export to other continents,” adding however, that the “ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, and the principle of free trade and movement of persons among member states, the level of trade among member states within the region is insignificant,” as he drew the attention of the

stakeholders to the table below, which explains the trade direction of Nigerian exports to the top 10 destinations.

He said “the Nigerian total export to ECOWAS compared to other countries is less than 13 per cent. Statistics also gave a vivid account of the value of Nigerian export to 14 countries of the ECOWAS with Ghana taking lead followed by Niger, while Tog ranked 3rd as our trading partner in ECOWAS. Lawal said that Nigeria has in the past stamped its presence in most West African states but has not been able

to effectively penetrate the Franco-phone parts, which mostly import from France in spite of the liberalisation of trade within the subregion, explaining also that the decision to stage the exhibition became imperative, considering the strategic location of Togo. He said “the event would assist to curb the large spate of informal trade between the two countries.”

Other benefits of the solo-exhibition include the unique opportunity to boost the economies of both countries, expansion of business frontiers for businessmen from each divide, creation of awareness for Made-in-Nigeria products, and yet another platform for strengthening diplomatic ties, Lawal noted.

Mahmud resumes as new Controller FOU Zone ‘A’

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O N S E Q U E N T upon a routine posting recently by the Customs Management, a new Controller Nuhu Isa Mahmud has been appointed for Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja. He replaces DC Inuwa Abubakar, who until then was the AG Comptroller FOU ‘A’.

DC Inuwa was posted to the Customs Headquarters as the Ag. Controller, Enforcement.

Comptroller Nuhu I.M, recorded his achievement with a remarkable seizure of a tanker loaded with assorted poultry products barely 24 hours after he took over as the Controller FOU ‘A’.

Conducting the members of the Poultry Farmers Association, Cold Room Operators, Processors, and media round the seizure, Compt.

Nuhu noted that the significant thing about the seizure is the mode of concealment which he described as unimaginable. He stated that the FOU ‘A’ never re-

*Nuhu Isa Mahmud

corded such seizure in such mode of concealment in the history of its existence.

The Controller eulogised the present management of Customs for their strides in staff motivation, remuneration, training and re-training as well as provision of enabling environment which triggered the zeal in officers for excellence, even as he solicited the support of the members of Poultry Farmers Association in this campaign of zero tolerance for importation of frozen poultry products through information sharing for the attainment of the desired result.

He acknowledged the synergy and collaboration between the association and the FOU ‘A’ which led to some of the massive seizures of poultry before his resumption, reiterating his determinations to work towards eradicating smuggling of poultry and other prohibited goods into the country, in line with the marching order of the CGC and his management.

26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013—27

My relationship with Psquare’s Peter Okoye The true story — Munachi Abi Since Munachi Abi came into limelight after winning the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria( MBGN) crown in 2007, life has never been the same again. Within a very short period of time, Muna, as she is fondly called by her admirers became a household name especially when she emerged one of the formidable female artistes in the Nigerian entertainment scene, floating her own record label company called, No Koncience. But while Muna’s profile was constantly on the rise, so did the number of controversies trailing her. From her rumoured ‘love affair’ with Peter Okoye, one half of the superstar duo, P-Square, to her public dispute and reconciliation with rapper, Mode 9, Muna fluctuated between popularity and notoriety. However, in this interview, she addresses some of the nagging issues affecting her personality and career. She also narrated the circumstances that informed her decision to set up her own record label, No Koncience among other things....

Aside writing songs and rapping,

By CHARLES MGBOLU you are also into modelling. Do you still have that contract with Do you still recall Unilever as Face of Lux? how you felt that My contract with Lux is under fateful day you review. They are trying to renew it.

And your programme with were crowned as the Most Sound City. Is it also under review?

Beautiful Girl in I still have an amazing Nigeria,MBGN relationship with SoundCity. I 2007? worked with them for over a year.

I was excited. We didn’t actually split but at that I didn’t think I time, I was trying to get into the was going to music business seriously. You really win but I won. can’t do a lot of things at the same Before you won time. So, I took a break. I can always the beauty pageant, go back and say, I need my job back. you were with a group Looking at your first video, Ifunanya, you played your called, The Specimen?

No, I wasn’t with them. They only gave me character well; the love smitten girl an opportunity to feature on their album as and you have the looks too. Why at that time. That was my first time rapping didn’t you get into Nollywood? on wax. I used to write a lot of lyrics until my No. I really don’t think I can act friend saw my notepad and quickly notified or even make it as a good actress “The Specimen” about me. They were glad although I haven’t tried it. I probably to ask me to join them as they wanted to see do know how to act, it’s just that I what I could do with my talent. I would say, haven’t found the right script yet.

Have you been approached I learnt the art on the spot.

Have you written songs for any Nigerian before? artist?

Yes, I do get a lot of scripts. But I Yes, back in the days, I wrote a song for J still haven’t found that one; when I Martins, Waje. I have a good chemistry, I find it, its going to make everybody co-wrote the song, “I Wish” with Waje in cry. her current album.

Continues on page 27

INSIDE Stevie Wonder, Snoop Lion, others for BET awards C M Y K

4 yrs after, Michael Jackson lives on P-Square dedicates ‘new video’ to his memory

If BB were to be on iPhone, Android….

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

, r e t f a s r y 4 n o s k c a J l Michae lives ontes

dedica memory P-Squareeo to his ’ d i v w e ‘n

BENJAMIN NJOKU

L

ast Tuesday was exactly four years since the King of Pop music, Michael Jackson bowed out of the stage and the world had cause to remember his painful exit once again. He died at the age of 50 years.

Jackson’s death from cardiac arrest caused by a lethal combination of prescription drugs, which was later ruled a homicide, shocked fans and musicians across the world.

He rose to fame in 1964, as the youngest member of his family’s Motown group, the “Jackson 5,” and continued to dominate the music industry with best-selling hits such as “Thriller,” “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.” While he lived, he often fell under intense public scrutiny for his personal life. He created some of the most popular albums of all time and remained a pop culture fascination through his final years.

Survived by his three children, Prince Michael Jackson II, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. and Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, the late King of Pop also helped popularize the music video genre, made extensive charitable contributions, worked with some of Hollywood’s leading directors, and acted in feature length films while leaving a lasting influence on modern dance, music, and culture.

However, following his demise on Thursday, June 25, 2009, the world have not stopped celebrating and immortalising Jackson’s name as one of the greatest music stars that ever lived on this planet. The latest of such effort to immortalise Jackson’s name is being championed by Nigeria’s multitalented duo of Peter and Paul Okoye, popularly known as P-Square. The duo recently dedicated the big budget music video of their new single, “Personally” to the memory of the late Jackson whom they said, influenced their music career in no small measure.

Shot in Lagos and co-directed by Jude Engees Okoye and Clarence Peters, “Personally” is another video that showcased

the dexterity of P-Square as the master of their craft. It is a must watch video, not just for P-Square’s fans, but for every Michael Jackson’s follower.

According to P-Square, “this video is dedicated to our mentor, legendary pop icon, the late Michael Jackson, who still inspires us personally.”

The video also brings back the memory of Peter and Paul Okoye as members of the now defunct Smooth Criminals and MMPP dancing groups in Jos, Plateu State. The groups majorly

‘Why I left RMG record label’ Continues from page 27 Do you want to play a tragic character?

Exactly, the kind of story I’m looking forward to interpreting because it moves me.

You recently set up your own record label called, No Koncience. Why did you leave RMG to form yours?

I needed to become a little bit more independent and you know one needs to grow. I have learnt how to handle things on my own and become responsible. It was something I needed to do because one cannot continue to be under someone’s wings forever. There comes a time when you have to spread you own wings and fly.

And you have a first single from this label?

Yes, my single “No Tomorrow” is out. It th came out on the 10 of this month, and it’s been good and a video for the song will soon be put together. My album, The Goddess, The hustler” is still receiving finishing touches but I may have to change the name.

Unlike many of your counterparts in the entertainment industry who prefer to climb the ladder of stardom by escalating their biffs with their colleagues. While your misunderstanding with Mode 9 lasted, you took the pain to call him on the phone and even tweeted a public apology, what informed your decision to re-trace your steps?

I hate to be in enmity with someone. Life is too short for that. It’s not who I am. I

have a good relationship with Mode 9, there’s no biff. And really it wasn’t a big issue it’s just you, the media who escalated things, trying to make a mountain out of nothing. You keep hammering on the same question trying to get the person to react negatively and it’s really frustrating. Mode 9 and I are very good friends and we’ll keep it that way.

It is alleged this is partly why you left your former label, RMG, for being too hard on fans with that strong worded press statement that told everyone off?

No, I did not leave RMG for that reason. I still have a good relationship with my former label and I was aware of all the statements written concerning that issue. I left RMG because I needed to start up my own thing; there was nothing more to it. I have no issues whatsoever with RMG. What’s your opinion about love?

Love is life. It’s the most beautiful thing to happen to anybody.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Yes, it could happen. It is possible.

Is this what happened between

you and Peter Okoye (PSquare) love at first sight?

Look, I know Lola Omotola very well. I have known her for years and we are really close. All those things you heard or read about us are not true. Peter Okoye and I are friends. I know his family well. I was just invited to be in his video (Ifunanya) and that was it. Nothing more than that. I know how Peter and Lola love each other and I respect their love. I could never do that to them. I could never bring myself to do anything to hurt them.

It’s good to have you clear the air!

(She interrupts) What you’ll see is another screaming headline, “Muna again denies affair w i t h Pe t e r Okoye.”

It’s not fair, it’s heartbreaking and very frustrating.

mimed and choreographed MJ’s songs and dance routines. With Personally, PSquare has brought the old buzz and steps back.

Psquare choreography, marshalled by the group’s Chief Choreographer, Don Flexx and Peter, showcased most of MJ’s popular moves. Energetic dancer, Kaffy, was also on hand with her group to add spice to the video. Pint-sized actor, Osita Iheme, a.k.a. Pawpaw, made a cameo appearance in the video alongside Peter’s son, Cameron Okoye.

Some of these things you media guys write about us hurts us so badly.

How have you learnt to deal with rumours about you?

I try to remain focused and I move on.

How supporting has your family been?

My family has always been there for me. My mum particularly, she is my rock. She’s always asking when am I going to get your song to use as my ringtone?

If offered a role to play in a steaming love scene who will you do it with?

Maybe, with Johny Depp and Brad Pitt … except Brad Pitt says he won’t be doing sex scenes again because of Angelina Jolie, but for them, I am ready to play romantic scenes.

What about Nollywood Actors?

No. There is no one hot enough for me to play love scene in Nollywood. No one.

What’s your vision for your new label?

To take over the world. (laughs) really it’s just to grow and be an inspiration to the next generation. To let them know anything and everything is possible once you set your mind to it.

Is marriage knocking on your door?

Yes, I believe it will come when it has to come and you all will know when the time is right.

What’s your favourite dance move?

I really don’t think I have any particular one. You know as a rapper you aren’t really supposed to dance. You just stand on one spot and wave your hands.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013—29

, r e d s n d r o a W w a e i T Stev Lion, others for BE

Snoop

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

T

his year’s BET awards promises to be the best ever, as some of the finest superstars are already warming up to grace its stage with electrifying performances.

Music lovers are to be on the look out for icons like Stevie Wonder, Snoop Lion, Mariah Carey, Nicky Minaj and Ciara at the event.

This year’s three-day festival is titled, “BET Experience at L.A. LIVE”, and it’s packed with comedy, gospel and soulful music concerts, seminars, film screenings, and so much more.

To be hosted by actor and comedian Chris Tucker, the awards night will take place at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles this Sunday. The show will also include exciting performances by R. Kelly, Miguel, India Arie, Chris Brown and Kendrick Lamar.

Hollywood actresses, Angela Bassett,

*StevieWonder

Tricia Eseigbe’s Bold Faces gets thumbs up

2face Idibia, Nelson Brown reunite!

2

face Idibia is poised to collaborate with former songwriter and producer, Nelson Brown as he commences work on his upcoming projects including a sixth solo album.

Commenting on his current relationship with Brown who went under the radar shortly after the infamous Plantashun Boiz split), 2face said, even though he’s not really close to him, yet they keep in touch with each other.

‘We’re not as close as we used to be, but once in a while, we meet and exchange pleasantries. He was at my wedding in Akwa Ibom State‘ few months ago, 2face said adding, ‘ There’s something I’m going to do with him.”

Nelson Brown, unarguably one of the most remarkable pop producers of the 90s and early 2000s signed the erstwhile Plantashun Boiz consisting of 2face Idibia, Blackface and Faze and produced their critically-acclaimed albums ‘Body and Soul‘ in 2000 and ‘Sold Out‘ in 2003.

Gabrielle Union, Paula Patton and La La Anthony are among the talented line-up of presenters. Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade will be honoured with the Humanitarian Award, while R&B singer/songwriter Charlie Wilson will receive the prestigious Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award.

Over the course of his career, Stevie Wonder has amassed 32 number one singles, and has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. Wonder has previously been honoured by BET Networks for his outstanding contributions to music having received BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into BET’s Walk of Fame and last year being awarded the BET Honors Musical Arts Award.

The BET Awards ‘13 will premiere across Africa on BET International on Tuesday, July 2.

By IYABO AINA

B

old Faces presenter, Tricia Eseigbe should be all smiles at the moment as the pioneer multi- channel cable Television service provider, Dstv under which Africa Magic exists, last weekend adjudged the programme as among the 10 most viewed, entertaining and highly relevant magazine presentations beamed on the channel.

Anchored Tricia Eseigbe-Kerry herself, Bold Faces berthed in 2004 on terrestrial air waves. It has carried out indepth ,well researched and educative interviews with top personalities, entertainment impresarios, football stars, business tycoons and oil magnates from all walks of life, cutting across all fields of human endeavour. With the success achieved through this medium, Tricia Eseigbe married to the international businessman and movie producer, Kingsley Kerry turned up the heat in the magazine programming sector by going satellite on Africa Magic channels meeting the yearnings and

expectations of her vast teeming viewers on the continent within a short spate of time. This recognition further buttress the fact that Bold Faces is emboldened and synonymous with the flare and dedication to professionalism and hard work.

Olu Jacobs, Amaka Igwe, others fete Emeka Mba

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI L ast Wednesday, the Nigerian Entertainment Business Group (NEBG) held a reception and cocktail session in honour of the newly appointed Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission Prince Emeka Mba. The Nigerian Entertainment Business Group (NEBG) is a strategic alliance of the key and leading business operators in the Creative Industries, which looks to building sound and robust foundations for current and future Business in the Creative Enterprise Sector.

Movie producer, Amaka Igwe, in her opening speech, thanked guests in attendance and gave a brief introduction on what NEBG stands for.

“The Nigerian Entertainment Business Group is an alliance by key organisations who aim to bridge the gap

between Africa’s media industry and investors,”she added.

The celebrant, Prince Emeka Mba who was former DG, Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board thanked guests for honouring him with their attendance. He further solicited for support from everyone on the journey ahead.

“I’m here to say thank you and I pray that with your support, we can make Nigeria a

broadcasting hub.”

“I also want to encourage us all to have a creative thought leadership that even if we can’t help you, we won’t stand in the way of progress” He added.

The exclusive event which held at the Four Points Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos had notable guests in attendance like veteran actor and wife, Olu and Joke Jacobs, General Manager;

Consumer Marketing MTN, Kolawole Oyeyemi, Chairman, Art gallery owners Association of Nigeria Chief Frank Okonta, Former Director General,Nigerian Lottery Commission, Peter Igho, Ejike Asiegbu, Emeka Ossai, Igwe Gabosky, Alex Eyengho, Obi Asika and IK Osakioduwa.

THE TEAM BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

AYO ONIKOYI

*Emeka Mba, Ejike Asiegbu and guests

*Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva and a guest

OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

30 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 — 31

32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

If BB were to be on iPhone, Android….

I

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

f the rumours were anything to go by, it should have happened yesterday. From yesterday, June 27, Iphone and Android users should have been able to download the Blackberry messenger service on their phones. But it did not happen.

Blackberry and Iphone users are still keeping their fingers crossed for that digital revolution.

According to a recent report, out of the 4 million Nigerians who use smart phones, 46%-1.8 million people- use blackberries. The same report also shows that 95% of Nigerian BB users use the BBM, this is much higher than the global average. What could it mean for these people and Nigerians as a whole if the BBM is available on other smart phones? Here are some speculations we came up with:

BB Phone

Blackberry shift: Time without number, blackberry users have implied that the BBM is their major reason for using the blackberry. Relatively fragile, and with a short battery span, the reasons are not farfetched.

If many Nigerians get the bbm of the blackberry, the resilience of the nokia and the aesthetics of the Samsung in one device, they are very likely to take it. RIM might as well be giving away the Nigerian market if they make the BBM free for all.

See smar smartt camer cameraa that sends images wirelessly to mobile phone

S

amsung Electronics West Africa, has unveiled its line-up of high-performance Smart Cameras featuring wireless sharing connectivity and compatibility with a broad range of Android and iOS devices.

The Smart Cameras embody style and functionality. Key among the products was the Smart Camera NX300, which is Samsung’s flagship model in the NX Series. The NX300 boasts outstanding imaging performance, with its 20.3 Megapixel sensor which is capable of capturing high-quality images with sharp, life-like colours that are clear in all lighting conditions. It possesses a wide ISO range of 100-25600, making it twice as sensitive to light as the previous model.

The NX300 features Dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi support that enables users connect faster and with more stability to wireless networks. A dedicated Direct Link hot key lets users wirelessly send images to mobile phones, tablets, PCs or Smart HDTVs,

Smart Camera NX300

directly from the camera. The device lets users shoot continuously at an ultra-fast rate of 8.6 frames per second while its advanced hybrid autofocus system brings clarity to fast moving objects. The camera comes with a 3.31” AMOLED screen and shutter speed of 1/6000s, the fastest in its class. Also announced at the event was the new NX45mm F1.8 2D/3D lens, the first one-lens 3D system capable of capturing both still images and full HD movies in perfect 3D quality when combined with the Smart Camera NX300.

Apparently to galvanise sales for the products, Samsung is currently organizing a photo challenge with the NX300 on its website where photographers across the country can showcase their skills with the amazing device.

Samsung also announced the “soon to be launched” Galaxy S4 Zoom, a revolutionary new product that, according to Samsung, delivers on the company’s mission to create a single device that fulfills the role of both an industry leading smartphone and a highend compact camera. A part of the Galaxy S4 family, the device combines 10x Optical Zoom, 16 Megapixel CMOS Sensor and Xenon Flash with the very latest Samsung Galaxy S4 technology, setting new standards for mobile photography.

Director of Hand Held Devices, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, said the NX300 and Galaxy S4 Zoom will set the benchmark for how digital imaging devices can turn daily routine into unforgettable moments, with their unrivaled smart functions.

Blackberry Ban: Do you remember the Federal Government’s proposed ‘Lawful interception of communications regulations?’ It is a bill which would make it mandatory for any licensee in the nation’s telecoms market to provide access to its communications facilities for necessary interception by the law enforcement agencies. Blackberry services could be at risk of being banned in the country as this regulation will run counter to the technical operating standards of the phone’s distinct network.

The National Communications Commission might be less skeptical about enforcing this if there are less people attached to the beloved blackberry.

No longer a status symbol: For years, the blackberry has been a status symbol for many Nigerians. Of course the craze is not as intense as it was when the movie Blackberry babes came out, but with the cheapening of the bbm, the blackberry may just turn out as an ordinary phone after all.

Lower prices: RIM could decide to reduce the prices of blackberry phones in wake of these happenings. But with their stocks plummeting in western countries, it is a fifty-fifty chance.

Where will everyone go?: There are so many ifs that come to mind here. If the BBM is available to other smart phones, and if people abandon the blackberry brand because of that, our guess is that Samsung smart phones might gain more popularity, closely followed by the iPhone and Nokia smart phones. But the truth remains that we would never know, it might just remain a rumour after all!

New washing machine with 20 yr yrss lif lifee span I

f it were to be a human being, he would be described as destined to die a pre-mature death.

But as a gadget, particularly in the mould of a washing machine, this could be the longest life span for electronic device of its genre.

The product is LG’s new drum washing machine with Direct Drive, DD motor which is said to have been certified by Verband Deutsher Rlektrotechniker, VDE, as a product with a life span of 20 years VDE, is the German Association of Electrical Engineering. The association says the product is the

LG Washing Machine

longest it has yet certified by it.

From the association’s test certificate, the LG’s drum washing machine is capable of a total 4,400 loads of laundry for 20 years (based on 4.2 loads a week and 220 loads a year).

The VDE, one of Europe’s largest technical scientific associations ensure that varied electric, electronics products and consumer goods undergo vigorous safety and credibility test before it is released in the market.

LG’s General Manager, Home Appliances Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Hyunwoo Jung said: “as technological innovation gathers pace, consumer expectations of household appliances grow. Increasingly, consumers are more willing to pay for products that will guarantee safety, reliability and durability.

For us at LG Electronics we are delighted to be receiving this record breaking certificate on our drum washing machine home appliance from VDE. “The LG direct drive technology has over time raised the bar for washing machines. Our latest Washing machine models are equipped with our innovative Inverter Direct Drive motor, which delivers cleaner and greener washing, and makes the washing machines more energy-efficient, durable, and quieter with less vibration.”

Vanguard Vanguard,,

FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

— 33

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 ARIES: It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its agents today.

TAURUS: Serious thought may be giving to matters of the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable trouble GEMINI: If you back your financial plans with concrete and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire. If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of crisis?.

CANCER: Your intelligence, competence and level of concentration may today bring you envy, which you don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative form but, you’ll succeed.. Entertain no fear, and take advantage of your sex-appeal for love.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

O

NE of the major characteristics of achievers is that they never overlook things. In their scheme of things, everything matters.

Nothing is ever left to chance; some people call it paying attention to details.

Everything matters The thing that doesn’t appear to matter on face value ends up being our undoing. How do you know the thing that doesn’t matter? Who told you it doesn’t

matter? Anytime you are in doubt, remember these: If it appears not to be important; if you are tempted to forgo it; if you have the urge not to do something

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

about it; if you have the hunch that it matters; if you have the hunch that it matters not; if it looks too good to be true, then have a second look because it could really be the heart of the matter.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LEO: Placement of the Moon highlights your Solar second house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true love with money, you’ll be disappointed VIRGO: The. Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new confidence and with new supports from the powers-that-be, it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, especially with the veterans within your base of operation LIBRA: It is your day. But you will need to do away with non-productive argument and/or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now.

SCORPIO: If what you’re doing today’ll depend on tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even things may not go according to your personal plans today.

Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far future carefully now SAGITTARIUS: If you take to aggression, your ego would be deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being cooperative in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN: Those willing to put you to shame one way or the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today.

It’s good to secure support of your spouse.

AQUARIUS: You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please.

PISCES: Your concentration level and determination are the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your senior colleagues and protect your image

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

Sagittarius please!!!

Dear Joshua, Kindly give me characteristics of Sagittarius Dunni, Lagos.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Dunni, Here-under are basic characteristics of Sagittarius BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SAGITTARIUS Sagittarius is a mutable sign by its quality. It ‘s element is fire, symbolised by half horse half man and/or an Archer aiming at the sky. Mutable means changes and experimentation, while fire is all about enthusiasm, taking of the initiative and leadership ability. Thus, you are the type that will exhibit strong interest in an important project that catches your fancy and you will not mind to experiment with ideas just to achieve your objectives and aims.

Sagittarius is 9th of the twelve Zodiac signs that rules philosophy, RELIGION, law, foreign land, higher mind/ higher institutions, lawyer, long (distance) travelling, inlaws, future, optimism and bluntness. Major problem or weak points of Sagittarians are excessive openness/ bluntness and sometimes fanatical approach to religion.

Being a born adventurer, you are not afraid of exploration and new beginning. Sagittarians are incurable optimists and ever ready to listen to and eager to believe others.

Honesty is truly in your inner self You are a tolerant person but you are not ready to compromise your FREEDOM Sagittarius as a fire sign can make you a quick tempered person. Half horse half man as the symbol, of Sagittarius indicates dual (double) personalities known in different circles with different personalities. Yet, you are not a pretender. As the Archer aims arrow into the sky so also Sagittarians have many lofty ideas and ambitions. But sometimes their ideas and/or ideals are not practical enough for realisation. Many times, they start too many things at the same time only to .either forget or lose view of their original target.

Development of practical approach is more important for Sagittarians this is in order to make success of many of their brilliant ideas, otherwise they tend to become dreamers.

In reality, Sagittarians are dreamers (by this 1 mean real dream many use to have at night when sleeping) and many of their dreams usually come to pass. Sometimes their dreams are vividly prophetic.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

34—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Watch out for Ramadan Talk!

As we prepare to welcome the glorious month of Ramadan, your regular Ramadan Talk is back to shed more light on issues relating to the month's activities such as: How do you approach it? What are you expected to do in the month? What are the things a Muslim should do to maximise rewards in the glorious month? These and many more will be discussed on Ramadan Talk to be published daily in Vanguard newspaper throughout the 29 or 30 day period. For sponsorship, advertorials, contact Balogun on 08036688535

Hajj 20 13: FCT ara tto o giv e 201 FCT,, Kw Kwara give preference to first time pilgrims

Preparing for Ramadan HE Qur ’an says: Wazhakir faina zhikra, tanfau-l-Mumineen: “And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.” We have to remind ourselves that there is no better time than now to prepare for the month. In fact, our preparations should have reached crescendo, bearing in mind that it is less than two weeks from now. T h e companions of the Prophet began preparation for the glorious month six months in advance.

Some of us delude ourselves thinking that when Ramadan comes, we will suddenly change and perform all the acts of worship. If we fail to internalise the acts or make adequate preparations for the month, by now, we may not be doing ourselves any good. That is why some Muslims after the first week or so, return to their former selves. We are used to seeing mosques always filled at the beginning of the month but thin out after a couple of weeks into Ramadan, especially during Tarawih.

This is merely because of the ill preparations and planning for the exercise.

We can now make a good preparation, no matter the time. First, draw a list of things you will do in Ramadan and how you will

achieve them. Some of the activities we need to prepare for include the following: Recitation of Qur’an One important act is the recitation of the Qur ’an. For many of us, the Qur’an has been abandoned since the last Ramadan. So, we must clean it and start to build a close relationship with the Holy

,

T

than begin it in the month of Ramadan. Again, it is not enough to read the Qur'an but you have to ponder over it intermittently to internalise the meaning.

We should set ourselves realistic targets on how much we want to recite daily.

We could recite two or four pages a day, half a juz, or one

We should start now by observing all the daily supperogatory prayers.

This will enable us to get accustomed to observing the Sunnah and Nafils in Ramadan and even increase them during the month

Book. You need to constantly read the Qur’an if you are not the type that makes it your daily companion. Perhaps, you can read to test yourself on speed and accuracy in order to determine how fast you can complete the Qur ’an in a month. Some can complete the Qur’an two or three times over within four weeks. So, let us get into the habit of reciting the Qur’an now rather

,

juz; we can then manage and build up gradually.

Superrogatory prayers: Endeavour to always perform some superrogatory prayers, (nafil). We should start now by observing all the daily supperogatory prayers. This will enable us to get accustomed to observing the Sunnah and Nafils in Ramadan and even increase Continues on page 35

T

HE FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and the Kwara State Government have said that those performing hajj for the first time would be given preference during this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Alhaji Muhammad Aliyu, Public Relations Officer of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, said the decision to give preference to those performing hajj for the first time followed the reduction in the number of seats allocated to the board by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Aliyu said the board had made adequate arrangements to ensure prudence, objectivity and fairness in the registration of intending pilgrims in the FCT. He, therefore, urged prospective pilgrims to comply with the board’s directives in order to ensure a peaceful hajj.

In the same vein, Hajiya Fatima Jimoh, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Welfare Board, (KSMWB), disclosed that the

decision was in compliance with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)’s directive following the 20 per cent reduction of slots to countries by the Saudi Arabian authorities.

The Saudi authorities had slashed Nigeria’s hajj seats from 95,000 to 76,000, and accordingly NAHCON advised states to give preference to those performing hajj for the first time.

The commission said the worldwide reduction in the number of pilgrims was necessitated by “the giant development projects” in the Grand Mosque and other holy sites in the Kingdom.

“So we are appealing to all those who have been to Hajj in the past to step down this year.”

Jimoh said the screening of pilgrims would start on June 19 at the office of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, adding that it was only fair to allow those who had not perform hajj before to do so because Islam stipulates that it was a life time experience.

FeedBack Asalam Alaekum, I write you as a follow-up to your article: Facing the Ka'ba, page 34, Vanguard, Fri. Jun.21, 2013. Therein, enough and sufficient disclosures were made and provided for the importance and benefits of prayer in our lives as Muslims. I also read the other article too about the need for sisters-in-Islam to be wary and careful in using attachment-hair called "wig" as it is haram and forbidden in Islam. The write-up nourishes the quest and desire for knowledge and faith in the readers and illuminates the soul to embrace the true guidance and light of Allah. The publication is a service to Almighty-Allah.

Thanks.

Anonymous.

08102852838

Re: 70 virgins in heaven? Another misconception

From left: Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr.Lateef Ibirogba; Commissioner for Local Governement and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye; Princess Uzamat Akinbile; Deputy Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Kolawole Taiwo and Bisi Yusuf during the presentation of awards to one of the beneficiaries of Uzamat’s Goodwill Empowerment Project, in Lagos.

I read your article on the above subject and was wondering what you were trying to teach or may be clearly blame others for the ills in Islam. My concern is if pre and post Muhammad Abu Wardeh have not given their interpretation on 70 Virgins and 70 wives as a reward for suicide bombing, would non-Muslims have any reason to misinterprete this idea? Remember, this theory no matter how wrong it is, has never been adequately denied by Muslims and that is why Muslim suicide bombing will continue to happen all over the world.

Ustaz, really, the blame should be directed to Muslim Jihadists who twist the interpretation to kill non-Muslims against the principles of Islam.

Remember, non-Muslims did not start Jihad and the use of the word did not come from them. So, how come non-Muslims will twist the meaning of Jihad? Please, on what platform and ideal is Boko Haram killing - on Jihad?So, what do you want non-Muslims to domay be, deny that Boko Haram or any Jihadist organization never mentioned Jihad in their text? The non-Muslims are the victims. The onus is on Muslims to clean-up and show clear signs of the reality of Islam.

Therefore, your blame on the misconception of ‘Virgins and Jihads,” on non-Muslims is unfortunate.

I hope you will reconsider your works. When the scourge of misinterpretation and misapplications of Islamic principles are adequately defeated, then, Islam will be appreciated by both Muslims and nonMuslims. The problem is not Islam but Muslims just like you have started.

Anwunzenku Zenku

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013—35

UMA holds pre-Ramadan lecture

T

Continues from page 34 them during the month.

By increasing our voluntary worship, we can also give more attention and concentration to our regular daily salat and thus, gain closeness to Allah.

Making Dua: What better time than now to get into the habit of regular communication with Allah via Dua. By the time Ramadan arrives, we would have already gotten into the habit of making the long and intense dua during this blessed month especially while fasting and in the later part of the night during Tahajjud.

Charity: Ramadan is a time for generosity and giving. It is a time we think about the less privileged and also show gratitude to Allah for everything He has given us. Ramadan is a blessed month, and the rewards for charity are in multiple.

Therefore, we should set aside part of our wealth to fulfil this act of ibadaah. It will not be nice if we are caught in the web of ill preparation and found wanting in this profitable

... the gloriuos month act.

Moderation in eating: Some erroneously believe that a few weeks before Ramadan, they have to eat voraciously to make up for the period of fasting. This is antithetical to the teachings of the Prophet. One hadith says: ”No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.” (Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, AnNasaa’I, Ibn Majah ) Besides, by controlling what we eat now, it will help us a great deal in our quest for sound health and enable us to worship more everyday during Ramadan.

Change your sleeping habit If you are an individual who is used to sleeping throughout the night, it

may be wise to change your sleeping patterns in order to ensure that you dont miss your suhoor as well as attaining the benefit of Qiyaamul-Layl.

Controlling your tongue and character.

We must start controlling our tongues now. Bad habit can not be controlled in an overnight process. We must make a start now so that by the time Ramadan comes, we would have achieved the necessary changes in our manners and characters.

Let us begin to feel that Ramadan is here and ensure that everything we do falls within what is permitted during the month.

We pray Allah to give us the grace to witness this forthcoming Ramadan, observe it and grant us the strength and ability to maximise the rewards therein. O’ Allah save us from the punishment of the hereafter. Amin.

HE University of Lagos Muslim Alumni,UMA,’s 19th preRamadan lecture comes up on Sunday, June 30th, 2013 at the University’s main auditorium.

According to a press release signed by UMA’s Executive Secretary, Alhaji AbdulFattah Okanlawon, the event will start by 10am.

Okanlawon stated that guest speakers expected at the occasion include

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Sheikh Abdullah Akinbode, adding that the theme of the event is: Corruption and Justice in Nigeria.

Last Saturday, this year’s capacity building workshop for graduating students, an anuual event of the group which focused on: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence was held at the main auditorium of the university. Speakers

includedAlhaji Faizal Zuglool of Penckers British School, Mr. Ololade Raji of Accenture Nigeria and Professor Fatimah AbdulKareem of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. Penultimate week, a ‘Fitness Walk’ round the Campus and Voluntary Blood Donation was held at the University Sports Centre as part of the preRamadan programme.

Muslim Media W atc hw ants FG tto o pr oscribe Watc atch wants proscribe ethnic militant groups

A

N NGO, Muslim Media Watch Group (MMWG), has called on the Federal Government to ban all ethnic militant groups in the country.

The Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the call recently while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin.

Abdullahi said his group had nothing against the ban placed on Boko Haram.

According to him,

anything that will bring peace and stability to the country and pave way for progress is okay by the media watch group.

He said that it was not enough for the government to proscribe only the Boko Haram while other ethnic groups were terrorising the country.

“Federal Government should not focus on only one group to deal with, for instance, all militant

groups in the country should be banned as well,” he said.

Abdullahi called on the government to ban such groups as MASSOB, MEND, Egbesu and Ombatse.

He said since all the militant groups carried arms and procured ammunitions with which they killed people both in the Northern and Southern parts of the country, they should be banned.

Preparing ffor or Ramadan via health preser preservvation

BY HARUN RAZAQ

O

NE of the topics that are usually treated by Islamic preachers when Ramadan approaches is how to prepare for the blessed month. This preparation comes in different forms and one of it is through health preservation.

Sound health is one of the most crucial needs of all human beings at any stage in life. The performance of religious obligations which is the purpose of man’s creation on earth depends on sound health. Without it, man cannot enjoy his life.

In fact, health is an invisible treasure and best grace that Allah granted to his slaves which man must appreciate at all times. Some of our ancestors such as Shykh Hafiz Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir of Qur’an explained “the delights in Qur’an 102 verse 8 that man shall be questioned on the day of judgment on sound

health and other favours.

Also, Ibn Abba (R/A) reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Two favours are treated unjustly by most people: health and free time. This means that the people are not showing gratitude for these two favours. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir) Islam values sound health greatly that a Muslim is exempted from certain act of ibadah (worship) during sickness, travel or when he or she is short of certain health provision.

This should not be interpreted to mean that a Muslim is allowed to discard ibadah during the aforementioned period as some people used to do today.

The Islamic guidance on health preservation derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah and compiled

by Allamah Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyyah in his Tibbun nabawiy (The Prophetic Medicine)

maintained that it depends on good arrangment of food, drink, clothes, inhabitation, air, sleeping, movement, rest, marriage affair etc. It is important to note that each of these has a laid down rules in Islam.

The food and water must be halal and not haram. It should be taken according to Sunnah: for example to wash the hands, sit on the mat, mention the name of Allah before and after; to take dinner before sleeping and not to sleep immediately after taking dinner; to eat nourished food such as meat, honey, fruits etc and not to drink water immediately after a meal etc. The cloth must such that can be easily worn and be removed.

Male cloth must not be too long to the extent of covering the ankle and must not be too shut to the extent of exposing the body to the heat or cold etc.

From left: Sheik Gbade Akinbode; Sheik Muyideen Ajani Bello; Sheik Ramadan Jubril and Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture during the 8th day fidau prayer for late Alhaja Habibat Mogaji, at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos Island. Photos: Bunmi Azeez.

From left: Sheik Abdul Haffez Abou, Baba Adini of Lagos; Prof Daud Noibi Obe and Shiek Habib Adam Abdulahi during the 8th day fidau prayer for late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji.

36—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 —37

Ijaw group to FG: Establish military academies in N-Delta

BY EMMAAMAIZE

W

ARRI—IJAW Peoples De velopment Initiative, IPDI, has called on Federal Government to establish military academies in Niger-Delta, to ease recruitment of youths from the region into the military and police.

President of IPDI, Mr. Austin Ozobo, in a statement, said “The Federal Government should site Nigeria Defence Academy, NDA and Police Academy in the Niger-Delta to ease the pains and agonies youths of the region face in their attempt to get admission into thee academies.

“The North has taken undue advantage of these institutions to the disadvantage of the people of the South with its high military presence. Many of the fairly educated youths in the Niger Delta became militants out of frustration in their efforts to get recruited or admitted into NDA and Police Academy in the country.

“Failure to timely address this demand may collapse ties between the Federal Government and the region because the North appears to have benefited more in terms of recruitment of military officers through NDA and Nigeria Police Academy admissions.

“Ninety per cent of recruit-

Ayoro confirmed as Urhobo HOSTCOM chairman

U

BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—CHAIRMAN of Delta State chapter of Host Communities of Nigeria, Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Chief Ben Iwetan, has confirmed that Mr. John Ayoro is the current Chairman of the body in the Urhobo ethnic nationality.

Speaking on the lingering leadership tussle rocking HOSTCOM in Urhobo nation, Iwetan in a letter addressed to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Ughelli ‘A’ Division, noted that Ayoro replaced the former chairman, Chief Moses Irimisose.

Saying that Irimisose was voted out of office, he said: “going by the constitution of HOSTCOM, Delta State, which is in operation since 2009 when I was sworn into office as state chairman; all the five ethnic nationalities of HOSTCOM have the power to elect or remove their executives and convey such decisions to the state executive of HOSTCOM.” C M Y K

ment of soldiers, NDA and Police Academy admissions go to the North, and it makes the North so powerful against their southern counterparts in the country. It is frustrating and shocking that nobody

from the South could gain admission successfully into the sister schools or be recruited without seeking for help from a northern military senior officer.

“Both academies are seen as

northern schools as it failed to address the military needs of the entire country because by its mode of operation, Nigeria Defence Academy and Police Academy are sectionalised and tribalised.”

MEETING: From left: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Sokoto State deputy governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari; Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi; factional Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Mr. Jonah Jang of Plateau State; Niger State governor, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu; Nasarawa State governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura and factional Chairman of Nigerian Govenors' Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, during the National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Edo PDP chair slams Oshiomhole over teachers’ strike

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—EDO State Chair man of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, has described as shameful, the position of Governor Adams Oshiomhole on the ongoing strike embarked upon by teachers in the state.

It will be recalled that the governor, last week approved the implementation of the 27.5 per cent Teachers Special Allowance, TSA, for secondary school teachers in the state,

leaving out the striking primary school teachers.

However, receiving defectors from action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to the PDP, including a former Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Joe Atonegbe, in Ehor, headquarters of Uhunwonode Local Government Area, Orbih advised Oshiomhole to have a rethink of what he described as a ‘divide and rule system’ that is being deployed to solve the problem.

He aid: ”The strike has been called off in Borno, Sokoto, Ni-

ger, Benue and Cross River states, but the situation in Edo remains the same. As a former president of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, one will expect Governor Oshiomhole to give priority to workers’ welfare but he has decided to neglect Nigerian workers completely.”

In his remark, leader of the defectors, Mr. Atonegbe, said that he achieved so much in his political career while he was in PDP, adding, “I decided to return to the PDP because the party we defected to was a party of deceitful people.”

We ‘ll allocate shops at Obio Akpor market —LG BOSS

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Caretaker Committee, Rivers State, Mr. Chikordi Dike, has said that his committee would go ahead to allocate stores at the Obio Akpor International Market despite the threat from loyalists of the suspend-

ed elected officials of the council According to him, even if the market was built by the suspended elected executives of the council, the Caretaker Committee has the power to allocate the stores since it was built with the council’s money.

Dismissing fears in some quarters that the proposed ac-

tion could provoke another round of crisis, he said that the market was built with the council’s funds, adding that a Market Allocation Committee had already been constituted.

He said: “The market is not privately owned by any individual. All of us are equal stakeholders in the council. I have formed the Market Allocation Committee.”

Lawyer lists problems with PIB

L

AGOS—AN oil and gas lawyer, Mr. Emeka Okwosa, yesterday, listed some shortcomings in the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, 2012, adding that proper measures should be put in place to ensure its effectiveness, when eventually passed by the National Assembly.

In a lecture at the 2013 annual Law Week of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Lagos, he said: “The PIB originally introduced in December 2008, had undergone numerous revisions which has been the subject of intense debates.”

He observed that there were myriad of shortcomings in the bill, which required redress in other to forestall problems in its implementation.

“The new PIB empowers the president to unilaterally grant discretionary oil licences under special circumstances, without competitive bid process.

“It also gives wide powers to the Petroleum Minister, to revoke leases unconditionally,” he said.

Cleric wants Britain to reverse £3,000 visa bond policy

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ARRI—THE Chairman of Niger Delta Bishops’ Forum, Archbishop God-Dowell Avwomakpa, has called on Britain to reverse its decision to impose £3,000 visa bond on Nigerians traveling to the United Kingdom.

Avwomakpa, who spoke in Warri, Delta State, noted that the proposed visa bond, coming from Nigeria’s former colonial master negates the bond of historical relationship, spirit of father and son as well as the allegiance that Britain owes Nigeria as former colonial master.

He said: “The entire world is amazed that the British government, which colonised us and in turn introduced us to western education and parliamentary system of government; who we owe so much allegiance, could seek to introduce a £3000 bond as advanced payment for liability by any Nigerian intending to visit the UK.”

38—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013—39

SEMINAR: From left, Professor of Human Nutrition, University of Calabar, Mrs. Henrietta Ene-Obong; Mr. Cyril Arebun, Market Activation Manager (Eastern Division), Cadbury Nigeria Plc, and Mrs. Onot CONDOLENCE: Governor Godswill Akpabio (right), condoling with the family of Ekpe, State Coordinator (Cross River State chapter), Nutrition Society Mr. Ignatius Brown, retired Permanent Secretary of Akwa Ibom State Government of Nigeria, NSN, during a seminar by Cadbury Bournvita/NSN, on the importance of nutrition, at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar. over the demise of their son.

UNVEILING: From right, Mr. Oseji Michael, Founder/CEO, Digital Access Foundation; Adebisi Bakinson, Project Manager; Mr. S. O. Adaramola, Asst Director, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, and Mr. Subramani Nanaiah, IT expert, during the unveiling of Digital Access Foundation in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

ANNIVERSARY: From left, General Overseer, Victory Prayer Ministry (aka Mountain of Solution), Akute, Ogun State, Pastor Joshua Ogunshe, his wife, Deaconess Hannah Ogunshe; Assistant General Overseer, Pastor Anthony Salami, his wife Mrs. Beatrice Salami, cutting the fourth anniversary cake of the ministry.

LECTURE: From left, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director, BAT West Africa, Mr. Freddy Messanvi; MD, BAT Nigeria, Mr. Keith Gretton; Founder/ CEO, Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr. Frank Nweke, Jr, and Prof. Pat Utomi, at the BATN Foundation 10th Anniversary Lecture on: 'Role of Private Sector in Poverty Reduction,' at the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

DONATION: From left, Mrs. Nkiruka Ogboruche, Community Investment Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc; Dr. Ronke Desalu, Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH; Prof. Folasade Akinsola, Head, Department of Opthalmology, Guinness Eye Centre, LUTH, and Mrs. Adrianne Nwagwu, Head Sustainability and Responsibility, Guinness Nigeria Plc, during donation of eye equipment by Guinness Nigeria to Guinness Eye Centre in LUTH, Lagos

PRESS BRIEFING: From left, Product Manager, Digital Imaging, Mr. Taiwo Adediran; Director, Hand Held Products, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, and Marketing Manager, Hand Held Products, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu, all of Samsung Electronics West Africa, at a press briefing on Samsung's new range of digital imaging devices, in Ikeja, Lagos

PRESS CONFERENCE:From left, Dr. Samuel Adelekan, Public Affairs Manager, Nestle; Mr. Abagi Samuel, Vice President 2, Nigeria School Sport Federation; Mr. Dharnesh Gorhon, MD/CEO, Nestle Plc, and Mrs. Doja Ekeruche, Category Business Manager, during the 15th Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Chapionship press conference, in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

WORKSHOP: From left, Mr. Osahon Amenaghawon, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, Edo State Chapter; Dr. Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor, Edo State; Agele Alufohai, President, NIQS; Ifeanyi Anago, Chairman, NIQS Fellows Forum, and Chief Issac Ekioba, Pioneer Chairman, NIQS, Edo State Chapter, at NIQS, Edo State Chapter seminar/ workshop in Benin City.

40—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Traders lament over dependence on imported IT equipment

C- servants kick against deregulation of minimum wage

N

IGERIA’S over depend ence on imported Information Technology, IT, hardware has been described as unwholesome practice and affecting the growth and development of the industry.

This was stated by members of the Amalgamated Computer, Stationery and Allied Trade Association of Nigeria, ACSATAON, at a briefing to relaunch the Association in Lagos, yesterday.

Speaking to newsmen, president, Mr. Anselem Obasi and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lawrence Ezechi said, “as a pioneer dealers on IT and its support services, who have contributed immensely to the growth of the Nigerian economy, we condemned the unwholesome practice of dependence on foreign IT hardware and equipment to the detriment of the growth of the local traders”, adding that “we are ready to partner with the Federal Government through its agencies on research and development to reduce the pressure of economic imperialism envisaged by the Western democracy and Asian Tigers through neo-colonialism and other forms of unequal trade relations.

"It is worthy of note that trade and commerce is the bedrock of every economy which must be guarded jealously.”

NLI presents White Paper series

BY OPEYEMI OGUNJIMI

A

S part of its contributions towards Nigeria’s socioeconomic reforms and growth, Nigerian Leadership Initiative, NLI, will today present the Volume 2 of its White Papers series.

Taking place at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, it will bring together members of the National Assembly, private sector, and non-governmental organizations to brainstorm on the developmental challenges in Nigeria.

The event will be chaired by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance.

The white papers were, according to Yinka Oyinlola, NLI’s Chief Executive Officer, CEO, “thought papers capable of contributing to leadership, values and knowledge in Nigeria.

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

A IYDA—From left: Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, founder of Odua Peoples Congress, OPC; Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG and founder of Ijaw Youths Development Association, IYDA, and Mr. Guy Murray Bruce at the 10th year Anniversary of IYDA in Lagos.

Your security is guaranteed, Wamakko tells corps members

BY ABDALLAH ELKUREBE

S

OKOTO—GOVERNOR Al iyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State, yesterday assured the Batch B corps members deployed to the state that their lives and property are safe as the government will do all that is necessary to ensure their security.

The governor spoke during the swearing in of the 1,446 Batch B corps members deployed to the state.

Represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Jabbi Kilgori, Wamakko said: “Your security is guaranteed just like those of the other indigenes and residents of the state. Sokoto State remained one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria,” noting that in spite of the security challenges across the nation, NYSC scheme had remained relevant.

He underscored the importance of the NYSC scheme in

ensuring the prevalence of peace, unity and integration of Nigeria, saying “in spite of the new emerging trends, including those of security, the scheme has remained relevant

and it will continue to do so. The state government and the people of the state will continue to render the usual support and cooperation to ensure the success of the scheme.”

Borno First Lady launches free drugs for children

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI—TO meet United Nations Millennium Development Goals, UNMDGs, on free health care delivery services by 2015, wife of Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, has launched a Free Child Survival Drugs and Supplies, FCSDS, for children below the age of five at the health centres across the state.

Speaking at the ceremony yesterday Nana said: “The free child survival drugs and supplies that is being launched to-

day was to complement the free maternal health care delivery services launched early this year.”

According to her, the free maternal health care services was successful and commended chairmen of the 27 council areas for sensitizing and mobilizing women to have access to health care delivery services at their door steps.

In sustaining the health care delivery programme, she said she would personally monitor the full implementations of the health delivery service programme to “ensure its success.”

Ex-AG calls for stoppage of interlocutory appeal

BY INNOCENT ANABA

F

ORMER Attorney-Gen eral and Commissioner for Justice in Cross River State, Mrs. Nella Andem Rabana, SAN, has canvassed the stoppage of interlocutory appeals in cases before the Court of Appeal.

She faulted a situation where such interlocutory applications go straight to the Supreme Court without the leave of the Court of Appeal while the substantive matters are yet to be determined.

Rabana, who chaired a session at a one-day stakeholders symposium on the review of the 1999 constitution organised by the

Rule of Law foundation in Abuja, recommended the review committee for taking on the recommendations of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mr Dahiru Musdapher Committee as it related to modifying the right of applications to apply for leave to appeal from the Court of Appeal before approaching the Supreme Court.

Rabana said “there is a need to ensure that all interlocutory appeals stop at the Court of Appeal because you cannot continue to modify all the rules of court because it would be defeated, if all and sundry keep sending all manner of appeals up to the Supreme Court. I be-

lieve that when it gets to the Court of Appeal, which every way it goes, the substantive matter at the lower court should continue, so that we don’t totally frustrate the whole idea of speedy dispensation of justice, which in my view, is a denial of justice at the end of the day.”

On the issue of socio economic rights contained in chapter 2 of the constitution, she said: “They are the crest for promoting the rule of law and advocating strict adherence to the rule of law which prompted this review and it is to ensure that there is peace, security, inclusion and promotion of the individual and collective rights of the citizens".

SSOCIATION of Sen ior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, yesterday, kicked against planned deregulation of the national minimum wage by the Senate, warning that it would lead to anarchy in the industrial relation arena and negatively affect the democratic process, if allowed to sail through.

Highlighting the flaws inherent in the Senate’s proposed amendment in which wage would be removed from the Exclusive Legislative List in the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended and placed in the Concurrent Legislative List, ASCSN Secretary-General, Alade Bashir Lawal, in a statement, argued that such action would further impoverish workers and their dependents as many state governors would want to pay as low as N5,000 minimum wage to their workers.

SIM card: NATCOMS asks for 3 months extension

T

HE National Associa tion of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS, yesterday, urged the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission, NCC, to grant a three-month extension for SIM card registrations in the country.

It said the appeal was borne out of the desire to ensure that every subscriber was given fair consideration.

NATCOMS said in a statement by its national president, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, that while it thanked the NCC for extending the registrations by 21 months now expiring on June 30, 2013, it felt, however, that a lot of subscribers would be locked out due to no fault of theirs as they thought they had registered their SIM cards, only for operators to be sending messages that their SIM had not been registered.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013—45

Security:

Toothless bulldogs in Govt House

THE conflict between Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, rekindles the persistent controversy over the constitutional relationship between governors and Commissioners of Police.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

W

HEN Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State dared the state commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, to shoot him last Tuesday, he inevitably rekindled memories of the famous face-off between Governor Jim Nwobodo and Police Commissioner Bishop Eyitene in the Second Republic.

Eyitene as commissioner of police in the old Anambra State wielded unprecedented powers that he won to himself the nickname ‘Head of State.’

It was not for nothing. The motorcade of the police commissioner in sophistication and style overwhelmed that of the governor. The security around both his residence and office according to some reports made the governor’s entourage look like that of a local government chairman.

Remarkably, Commissioner Eyitene did not make any pretence of it.

Indeed, the story is told of how during a quiz competition between two secondary schools in the state when the question was asked “Who is the Head of State,” and most of the students replied, Mr. Eyitene.

And thus, the nickname Head of State stuck to the commissioner. As the principal security agent of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN controlled Federal Government to Anambra State, Eyitene became something of an albatross around the Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP that controlled Anambra State at that time.

We need true federalism — Aturu WE are not practicing true federalism in Nigeria and that has always been the problem. The constitution the way it is concentrates unduly in my view in the hands of the federal authorities so much so that, the constitution recognizes that the commissioner of police does not really have to report to the governor of the state but to the IG. Although the commissioner of police can pass under the lawful directives of the governor, but the lawful directive of the president overrides that of the governor of the state and that is part of the problem. And I think that has to be corrected and I also think that there is nothing wrong in having state police and what we need to do is to be creative enough to define the respective powers of the federal and state police. court presided over by Justice Okadigbo on sundry issues and on the 12 occasions, Eyitene

,

While the governor or even his commissioner can give orders to the commissioner of police, the latter is not bound to obey or carry out such instructions

He was repeatedly accused by the NPP and the state administration of backing the NPN and her principal officers in the state such as Chief Christian Onoh and Ikemba Nnewi, Emeka OdumegwuOjukwu who was to turn into his son-law in due season.

On at least 12 occasions, Eyitene was summoned to appear before the state high

•Mbu: Amaechi is a dictator

•Amaechi: Berates Police boss

,

declined. That was despite the massive publicity that the state controlled media gave to the summons on the police commissioner.

Eyitene who died last year at the age of 79 may not have known Mbu or passed on any lessons to him, but the powers wielded by the two men is inevitably bringing again to the fore, the ringing constitutional

controversy of the powers of the governor over the commissioner of police.

What the law says The legal basis of the relationship between the governor and the commissioner of police is detailed in section 215 of the constitution which states thus: (4) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Governor of a state or such Commissioner of the Government as he may authorise in that behalf, may give to the Commissioner of Police of that state such lawful directions with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order within the state as he may consider necessary, and the

•Aturu

Commissioner of Police shall comply with those directions or cause them to be complied with: Provided that before carrying out any such directions under the foregoing provisions of this subsection the Commissioner of Police may request that the matter be referred to the President or such minister of the Government of the Federation as may be authorised in that behalf by the President for his directions.

(5) The question whether any, and if so what, directions have been given under this section shall not be inquired into in any court.

So while the governor or even his commissioner can give orders to the commissioner of police, the latter is not bound to obey or carry out such

instructions. After all, he has the powers of the gun and provides the main bulk of the security around the governor.

That is the situation that is again playing out in Rivers State.

Governor Amaechi in blunt reference to the ongoing dispute between him and the presidency had alleged that Mbu was brought to the State by “someone at the top” to harass him.

Security council “Somebody at the top changed our Commissioner of Police and brought a man that when we finish security council meetings, he goes ahead to report who said what and we are unable to hold any security council meeting anymore,” Amaechi told former Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam DavidWest who paid him a courtesy call last week.

Amaechi was to further accuse the commissioner of compromising the security situation in the state that had been weaved in collaboration with Israeli security agents.

“Insecurity is threatening to come back, kidnapping is on

Continued on page 46

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

in the forthcoming zonal congress and national convention.”

•Obasanjo: Where is he in the S/West?

•Tukur: PDP boss

•George: Mobilising for the PDP

2015: S-West PDP on the march again

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

O re-strategize and reposition the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for electoral victory in the South West geo-political zone in subsequent elections, PDP leaders across the six states in the region have decided to close ranks.

The resolution of the party leaders, taken at a meeting in Lagos, was aimed at appealing to the Presidency to redress the marginalization of the zone in appointments to key positions in the Federal Government.

However, the meeting coincided with another zonal meeting held in Ibadan where 10 notable chieftains of the party from each of the six states in the South West were invited.

Chairman of the party in the zone, Mr. Ishola Filani clarified that the gathering, which was initiated by Chief George was not an official meeting of the party, a claim dismissed by the latter.

Adedoja; former Minister for Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese; General Raji Rasaki (rtd), Senator Ayo Arise, Dr. Ademola Dominic, Chief Bode Oyedele, Chief Tunji Shelle and Senator Bode Olajumoke.

Also at the meeting were, Chief Saka Balogun, Chief Yomi Akintola, Engr Makinde, Chief Olayiwola Olakoje, Dr Ade Dosunmu, Mrs Aduke Maina and Chief Asimiu Alarape among others.

In this wise, the leaders who met under the auspices of the Board of Trustees members in the zone empowered the trustees under the leadership of George to continue the interface with the Presidency on the issue.

Leaders present took turns to make contributions as to how to move the party forward in the region.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting held in Lagos, the leaders endorsed the actions taken by the national leadership of the party

,

,

They urged party members to embrace unity and peace so that the party could win the coming elections in Ekiti and Osun states

According to him, former National Deputy Chairman, South, Chief George and others apologised for their absence at the Ibadan meeting.

ROLL CALL The meeting was chaired by George and attended by South West leaders of the party including, former Minister for Works Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; Senator Iyiola Omisore, former Minister for Education, Dr Tahoeed

to reposition the party to overcome its challenges.

Signed by Olajumoke and Alhaji Yekeen Ade Ojo, on behalf of PDP BOT members of the South west, leaders also endorsed the decision of the NEC to retain the zoning of leadership positions in the zone and National Working Committee in the present areas and the disqualification of caretaker committee members or interim officers from contesting in the forthcoming

elections in the party. The leaders consisting of trustees, former ministers, serving and past chairmen of State chapters, former senators and House of Representatives members, governorship hopefuls from all the states, enjoined state leaders to encourage only candidates with experience, integrity and loyalty to party ideals to contest the positions.

They urged members to embrace unity and peace so that the party could win the coming elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

They stated that BOT members should continue to pressure the Presidency on the need to accommodate the South West in remaining executive positions in federal ministries, departments and agencies.

Elders also agreed that there is need for “peace and unity in

the zone and that everyone should see the 2014 elections in Osun and Ekiti states as a starting point for the return of PDP to governance and relevance.”

In addition, the zonal leaders upheld the status quo as regards the present zonal offices and positions in strict compliance with “approved guidelines of the NEC as announced by the convention committee and called the leaders in each state to encourage candidates with requisite experience, integrity and loyalty to the party to contest.”

Besides, the leaders resolved to support and respect the decision of the national leadership to reposition the party just as it acknowledged and supported the guidelines approved by NEC “ which disqualifies all members of the care-taker committee from contesting any of the position

Osun/Ekiti 2014, our priority — George Earlier in his address George, tasked party members to win the 2014 governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states noting that winning these states was a major priority of the party.

While he enjoined the leaders to ensure that PDP wins all elective positions in the region in the 2015 general elections, the party chieftain restated that the PDP must regain its glory in the South West particularly Lagos State.

George said: “We have no excuse to lose any position again in the South West. We must all go back to our wards, local governments and senatorial districts to rejuvenate our party structures to ensure victory for the PDP both in Osun/Ekiti states and for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015”.

Internal conflicts Aside this, he expressed delight at the reconciliation recorded in the party noting that internal conflicts were responsible for its abysmal performance in previous polls.

“Come 2014, victory is ascertained if we remain one indivisible house. The major task ahead of all of us is to bring back our brothers who left the fold in the past due to certain indifferences,” he said.

Commenting on the PDP zonal congresses billed for July 2014, the party chieftain appealed to leaders of the party to ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants.

“The PDP is known for nonimposition and violence freeconventions. We want these replicated at the zonal congress”, he urged.

Security: Toothless bulldogs in Govt. House Continues from page 45 the rise. Armed robbery is on the rise because they have hijacked the security of the state,” Amaechi added.

Mr. Mbu in an unprecedented retort by a commissioner of police against a governor since the famous Eyitene-Nwobodo affair, described Amaechi as a dictator.

“Our governor is a dictator and he’s being tyrannical. He wants everybody here to say ‘yes sir’ to him and I say I will not say ‘yes sir’ to him. I will not. I must be a professional and will stand tall.”

The controversy worsened

last week when First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan visited the state and the full complement of the security forces were deployed to guide and guard the president’s spouse and her entourage.

There were reports of the governor being at one time locked in inside the Government House as security agents were deployed around the city as Madam Jonathan moved about.

Last Tuesday, the situation worsened after the governor threatened to march through the state in solidarity with his supporters against what is

perceived as the highhandedness of the police against him.

Receiving a delegation led by Senator Wilson Ake, Governor Amaechi: “I have told the commissioner of police to be ready to shoot me; I will be in front. I will not sit here and wait for you to come and give me a letter,” he said in blunt rebuff to alleged warnings by Mbu against solidarity marches.

“I will march down with you people and we will give the SSG’s letter to give to the Federal Government. So that if they want to shoot, they can shoot me. We have a right to express our views,” he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 — 47

I

T has been a long way from the 1950s when politics was forced on the best of any community (when the best educated were begged to represent the people) to the present time when any candidate (with minimum of a school certificate) would force himself on the people as their representative.

Selection of candidates for any elective post continues to be one of the disruptive factors in the party-politics of our plural society, referred to as Nigeria. Local politicians could amiably be described as a group of people who are motivated by the common desire to gain political power to rule. The successful ones do form the government of the locality (or country), while the less successful (less favoured ones) become the opposition.

The assumption here is in a democratic environment where there is the government and a responsible opposition.

Nigerian politicians, unlike their counterparts in civilized world, and quite a departure from their predecessors of the First Republic, appear to be motivated into politics by other extraneous factors, not patriotic fervor. People say loudly, without any equivocation, that politics is the most lucrative business in the country today.

This is evident in the life-styles of many politicians – legislators and party office holders. The succulent nature of political life has bred a new class of professionals who see politics as a ‘do or die’ affair and, ready to change political garments in order to protect their personal fortunes. Perhaps, a peep into the past would tend to jerk our conscience, if there is any. Money and personal fortune seem to be the politicians’ dividends of

07059197616

The world of professional politicians and woes of Nigerians democracy. The former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State, in an interview in The Comet of October, 2002, made an interesting revelation. He was reported to have said that, ‘I spent a minimum of $3million to become Governor of Enugu State’. That was about N378million in 2002 or about N.5billion at today’s exchange rate.

The governor said of his angry legislators, ‘we have taken care of our assembly men, pay their salaries as and when due up to the last time the civil servants were paid’. Each member receives about two hundred and fifty thousand naira take home every month. Each has a 306 Peugeot Saloon Car and we have given five hundred thousand rent allowances even though they live in government quarters, and they were also given five hundred thousand naira for vehicles and other emoluments.

They were also given land as the Golf Estate Layout.

That was the politicians’ paradise in 2002. What would be the situation today for our

legislators, not only in Enugu State, but in all other states of the country where the ‘servants’ of the people have suddenly become the opulent masters of the people over the years? The unverified but other tightly guarded emoluments of legislators in state legislatures and the parliament in Abuja run into millions every month. Many Nigerians would be severely jolted if all emoluments and salaries of Federal and State Ministers, Legislators, Advisers, Chairmen of Local Councils, Supervisors and Councilors are published for public scrutiny.

Certainly, the country cannot continue to embrace legislative and executive profligacy in an atmosphere of deepening poverty of majority of Nigerians.

It is sad that the reaction of some Nigerians to poverty is escalation of fraud. According to the Central Bank Annual Report 2001, “there were 908 reported cases of fraud and forgery involving N2.53billion, US$60.94million and £ 5289.44.

Of the cases reported 402 resulted in the loss of N931.40million, $83,250 and

£5,289.44”.

The allusion to figures collated twelve years ago is to remind Nigerians (with short memories) that the financial irresponsibility has a devious history. However, the problem has been the inability of the professional politicians who constitute the ruling elites to combat the evil before it got out of control. President Jonathan to me, seems to have inherited a terrible situation, perpetuated by his predecessors.

The antagonism of the present crop of Nigerians to the rising cost of running the government and rising incidents of corruption is a reminder of the fact that all is not well.

Perhaps many reasons are responsible for the inability of professional politicians to perform in (government and oppositions) of which sheepish attitude of the people and the prevalence of “our son” mentality in body politics. It is easy for “our sons” to get away with many things with impunity.

A reference case is that of the 1950s when the NICHOLAS COMMISSION of enquiry set

up by the Western Region Government indicted Ibadan District Council (under late Adegoke Adelabu) of corruption and mismanagement of funds.

Many Ibadan citizens condemned the findings of the enquiry because according to them, Ibadan did not complain of any missing funds. Also, the Coker Commission of enquiry which indicted the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Action Group (AG) did not go well with majority of the Yoruba at the time. It was a case of nothing was wrong with “our son”.

It is apparent that the lack of political sophistication among Nigerians would always prevent the emergence of visionary political leadership in the country.

Many observers believe that there is little or no difference between the governing class and the opposition – no difference in political principle or economic approach to issues. Perhaps that is the reason why some people are doubting the genuineness of the opposition in trying to dislodge the present regime.

The opposition parties have failed to address the problems of states as presently constituted from relying heavily on the Federal Government to meet their responsibilities. Like the Federal Government, many states devout more than 60% of their budget to current expenditures (allocated oil money).

The hope and prayer of all Nigerians is that the present professional politicians (both in government and oppositions) should find one way or the other to ensure lasting peace and prosperity in the country. This should not be a difficult assignment since they are all well paid.

Yuguda: Not because he is my boss

BY ISHOLA MICHAEL ADEYEMI

setting a record of wrestling political power from an incumbent even with all the paraphernalia of office. He is simply put, a man of the people.

As he clocked 57 years, it is only pertinent to point out a few of his giant strides, not because he is my boss but because he is Isa Yuguda.

He took the bull by horns when he signed into law the act that created the much sort after Sayawa Kingdom, moved the headquarters of the local government to Bununu; today that axis is peaceful.

N

OT because he is my Boss, not because he is the Executive Governor of Bauchi State but because he is Isa Yuguda just as it is a fact that he cannot be separated from the office of the Governor of Bauchi State at least for the next two years when his constitutionally approved tenure ends coupled with the fact that till then he remains my boss and not ‘Oga at the top’.

On Saturday, 15th June, 2013 he added another year turning 57 years. Looking younger and in his usual simplicity, he did not allow the celebration to stop him from doing other things as he as early as 6am on the day on his way to Kano to pay his respect to the Emir of Kano, Dr Ado Bayero who coincidentally turned 83 years as well as 50 years on the throne. That is Isa Yuguda for you, very simple, cool headed and humane.

When in 2007 he spear

Equal treatment

•Yuguda: Dubbed a man of the people headed a near political revolution in Bauchi State, the people of the state came all

out to support him and ensured that he was massively voted for thereby

He ensured that in Bauchi State the issue of indigene\settler was amicably resolved in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and today there no non-indigene in the state as everyone is treated equally, something even the Federal Government has applauded and urged others to emulate.

As at the last count, he has appointed over 100 “nonindigenes” into his government as aides and members of boards and parastatals.

Not because he is my boss, Isa Yuguda has excelled where many had failed, he has won where many had lost and today he is the ‘brand’ that every marketer is running after in order to make swift sales.

He is an epitome of a loving father when at home, he ensures that his children are all around him, playing with them and listening to them unlike others in such position who hardly create time out for their families.

One cannot but wish him more years of service and devotion to humanity, good health, Allah’s guidance and protection as he marches to greater heights.

Not because he is my Boss but because he is Isa Yuguda.

*Ishola Michael Adeyemi is the Chief Press Secretary to Bauchi State Governor.

48 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

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Senegalese President rebuffs Obama over gay marriage

BY EMEKA MAMAH, WITH AGENCY REPORT

D

AKAR — US Presi dent Barack Obama yesterday clashed with the Senegalese President Macky Sall over gay rights.

Obama who had praised the US Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage as a “victory for American democracy. But he was rebuffed by his host, Shall, who told him that ‘’we are still not ready to decriminalise homosexuality.’’

Obama said recognition of gay unions in the United States should cross state lines and that equal rights should be recognized universally. It was his first chance to expand on his thoughts about the ruling, which was issued Wednesday as he flew to Senegal, one of many African countries that outlaw homosexuality.

However, President Sall rejected Obama’s call for Africans to give gays equal rights under the law.

“We are still not ready to decriminalize homosexuality,” Sall said, while insisting that the country is “very tolerant” and needs more time to digest the issue without pressure. “This does not mean we are homophobic,” Shall said.

Obama said gay rights didn’t come up in their private meeting at the presidential palace, a mansion that looks somewhat similar to the White House. But Obama said he wants to send a message to Africans that while he respects differing personal and religious views on the matter, it’s important to have nondiscrimination under the law. ”People should be treated equally, and that’s a principle that I think applies universally,” he said.

A report released Monday by Amnesty International says 38 African countries criminalize homosexuality. In four of those Mauritania, northern Nigeria, southern Somalia and Sudan - the punishment is death. These laws appear to have broad public support. A June 4 Pew Research Centre survey found at least nine of 10 respondents in Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Nigeria believe homosexuality should not be ac-

From left: U.S. President Barack Obama and Senegal President , Macky Sall shake hands after their joint news conference at the Presidential Palace yesterday in Dakar, Senegal.

cepted by society.

Papi Nbodj, a 19-yearold student who stood by the road to the presidential palace to see Obama’s arrival, said homosexuality is against the religious beliefs of most in Senegal. ”We are in a Muslim country, so we certainly cannot have it here,” he said. “And for me it’s not OK to have this anywhere in the world.”

Sall sought to reassure Obama that gays are not persecuted in Senegal.

But under Senegalese law, “an improper or unnatural act with a person of the same sex” can be pun-

ished by up to five years in prison.

Ndeye Kebe, president of a human rights organization that works with homosexuals called Women’s Smile, disputed Sall’s contention that gays are not discriminated against. ”I know of around a dozen people who are in prison for homosexuality as we speak,” she said.

“There wasn’t any real proof against them, but they were found guilty and they are in prison.”

And as recently as February of 2008, police rounded up men suspected of being homosexual

after a Senegalese tabloid published photographs of a clandestine gay wedding in a suburb of Dakar. Gays went into hiding or fled to neighboring countries, but they were pushed out of Gambia by the president’s threat of decapitation.

On the US Supreme Court’s ruling, Obama said he was directing his administration to comb through every federal statute to quickly determine the implications of a decision that gave the nation’s legally married gay couples equal federal footing with all other married Americans.

Mandela on life support machine •••but improving

B

ATTLING Nelson Mandela is still trying to open his eyes and is “much better” despite being on a life support machine.

As the world prepared for the anti-apartheid hero to pass away, Mandela refused to give up without an extraordinary fight.

Even the South African president Jacob Zuma feared the worst when he issued a statement this morning that critically ill

Mandela’s condition had “deteriorated” further.

But just four hours later, after visiting him in hospital, Zuma said: “He is much better today than he was when I saw him last night.”

Mandela remains on a life support machine. And at some stage soon the family will have to make a decision on what to do.

There have been some terrible threats from some of the most powerful “tra-

Obama's family members carry flowers

ditional” doctors - called sangomas - in South Africa about switching the machine off, “The nation will be overwhelmed by bad luck.

Don’t switch off the machines - only the ancestors can release Madiba.”

Mandela received visits at the Medi-Cleric hospital in Pretoria yesterday from some of his children and grandchildren.

At one stage they briefly left the hospital compound to gather some of the messages and flowers left by well-wishers and took them up to the adjacent room to where he is being treated.

His eldest daughter Makaziwe stressed that the outlook was still bleak saying he “is very critical and anything is imminent.”

But she said he was “still there” and responding to touch.

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 —51

Don't 'kill' Eagles yet — Kalu A S strictures continue to trail Nigeria’s outing in Brazil,former Abia state governor Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu,Thursday put up a strong defence for the Super Eagles.

“We may all be wrong afterall,”Kalu said.”Anyone who expected the team to have it easy was dreaming.The Eagles’ tight schedule and flight plans were the

Continued from BP the tournament – having struck three times at Colombia 2011.

He was assisted by captain fantastic, Abdul Ajagun, who swung in a free-kick from the left, and an unmarked Kayode headed simply

Elephants Continued from BP flight at about 6.40pm on July 3.

Cote d’Ivoire hosted the inaugural edition of the African Nations Championship in 2009, won by Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nigeria was absent at the finals, having been eliminated by Ghana.

The 2011 finals in Sudan also held without Nigeria, eliminated by Niger Republic, and was won by Tunisia.

Super Eagles’ Team Administrator, Enebi Achor, confirmed on Thursday that the 24 players invited by Coach Stephen Keshi are all expected to report at the Bolton White Apartments in Abuja on Sunday.

S a t u r d a y ’ s confrontation at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium will be the first meeting at senior level between both nations since Nigeria eliminated tournament favourites Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa earlier in the year.

Match-winner Sunday Mba is in Nigeria’s 24man squad.

The Ivorians will depart Nigeria through Lagos on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the encounter.

problem.They embarked on a trip around the globe, from North America to Germany,Nairobi to Namibia, then across the Atlantic to South America.It was like the legendary Ajala journey.”

The ex-governor argued that Nigerian teams did not perform when much was expected of them.

“It is our lot.No one

F/Eagles past Lee Changguen.

Korea’s marking at set-pieces was leaving a lot to be desired, with the 16-year-old Onyinye Ndidi rising above all in red to head just wide.

The Eagles were in complete control of the early exchanges, with Kayode almost doubling his tally from a tight angle after a fine ball from Olaitan Michael.

His next chance would have been a candidate for goal of the tournament.

Song Juhun forced the Heartland FC forward wide after a high ball, but from the right side of the penalty area, Kayode hooked the ball back and was agonisingly close to scoring a superb lob.

The Koreans were lacking the rhythm that had so impressed against Portugal, with

gave the Dream Team a chance on the way to Atlanta in 1996,especially after they lost 0-3 to Togo in their final friendly in Lagos.Many Nigerians did not believe in Samson Siasia’s Flying Eagles in 2005.Nor did they believe in the 2013 Eagles team to South Africa.Yet they all did well”,Kalu added.

He wondered how the Eagles were expected to fly with many stars out or down with injury.

that disjointed nature continuing into the second period, while the John Obuh boys were producing some fine flowing football at times.

Even so, Korea Republic saw plenty more of the ball in the second-half but they were leaving themselves open to counter-attacks.

Ajagun was given an open sight of goal on the break, but a heavy touch saw his eventual shot charged down.

There was plenty of energy on show, but invention was largely lacking. As such, the Flying Eagles were happy to try to limit chances as best possible and hold on to a result that sees them qualify, playing the secondplace side from Group F. Korea Republic, on the other hand, have an anxious wait.

Keshi

Continued from BP up play have found favour with his coach.

“Yeah, it’s true that Brown hasn’t scored goals, but that does not make him a bad player,” Keshi tells KickOffNigeria.com .

“Sometimes when the ambition [to score] turns into anxiety, it becomes difficult for a striker to score goals.

“So all he needs to do is relax. We have been working on his inner relaxation and inner calm so that when he is in front of goal it will be much easier for him.”

Keshi praised Ideye’s other qualities, especially his unselfish graft for the team. Against Spain he dropped deep to rescue the two fullbacks from sticky situations, and Keshi says that fits into

his philosophy of team ahead of individual.

“He is a good kid; he has been working his tail off everywhere on the pitch. And that’s what we want from somebody who plays for the team.”

At club level Ideye averages more than a goal every other game, and Keshi predicts that once the forward starts scoring for the Eagles, it will be hard to stop him.

“It’s just the finishing that’s lacking because that is his number one job, and that is why people are a little bit angry, but I’m very sure it’s going to come – and when it comes, it won’t stop.

“We just need to support him, keep believing in him and give him the confidence to continue to express himself without pressure.”

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

I

Foreign coach or no foreign coach have on the ground and the standard of our coaches, we need sound and competent foreign coaches to push our football to the high level where it will rank among the best in the world. ‘’

,

,

Their marking has improved and should be commended. But their positioning in the defence has lacked quality and has caused them goals.

Again, what they do with the ball and their runs off the ball when in possession still leaves much to be desired. And set pieces? Supersport commentators said that our set pieces were embarrassing and I do not need to add more. We all saw how elementary they were. Mikel doesn’t have the touch for free kicks. He never got them right but continued to play them. And this brings me to what Kojo Williams said in Vanguard on Tuesday. The former NFA Chairman wants a foreign coach for the Eagles. It was not the first time he was saying so. He has always maintained that ‘’going by the structure we

The problem I have with the call for foreign coaches is that the Football Association never engages the ones who could be effective in our system

,

The problem I have with the call for foreign coaches is that the Football Association never engages the ones who could be effective in our system. Our pleasant story with foreign coaches ended with Clemens Westerhof.

All the coaches who came after him could not achieve what Stephen Keshi did at the last Nations

Keshi

wholeheartedly support Kojo Williams. We need help. But like Kojo suggested, foreign coach or no foreign coach, Keshi should remain the head coach.

If we want to rank among the best in the world, Keshi and the Eagles will need help. We can play better than we saw of our team in Brazil. Jonathan Akpoborie wonders why same mistakes happen repeatedly in Eagles. Finding some help could be an immediate solution. A lasting one will be to support Nduka Irabor restructure and revive the league and establish a football culture that will graduate good players from the kindergarten level to the Super Eagles so that, at the senior level, coaching will be reduced to management of players and execution of tactics in matches and not the teaching of basics. Nigerians easily give in to sentiment rather than reality. They love the game.

But I’m sorry to say that their knowledge of the game does not match their passion and this is where the problem lies. Brazil has Phil Scolari, a 2002 World Cup winner as their coach for the 2014 World Cup. The same Brazil appointed Parreirer, a senior man in the game and another World Cup winner as one of his assistants. This is to help him. They want all good hands on deck. If it were in Nigeria, people would make a mill of the two large figures and rule the partnership impossible. That is the way we are.

We make so much noise over matters that we are ignorant of. Kojo says Keshi needs help but should remain the head coach. And people are calling him names. I’m disappointed. Don’t we want to grow?

Even Westerhof that we now celebrate as the best we ever had at a time had to engage Bonfrere Jo to help him with fitness training. It was still not enough for him. He engaged Jerry Van Iyke, a goalkeeper trainer to also help him. Today, people refer to when we once ranked 5th in FIFA ranking without finding out how it was done. Kojo that they

Perreira

Cup in South Africa.They were not good enough.

A big name will not necessarily succeed here. A man who knows the game and who also knows how to impact it on players, transforms them; a man who, aside these qualities, also has the ability and passion to work in our frustrating terrain is the one who can succeed here. You see how difficult it will be to get one? Our problem is not only limited to the senior team. Our failure to have a standard and quality league with feeder or reserve or youth teams will continue to stare us in the face. Our failure to have a good structure or football culture that will ensure transition of REAL YOUNG players from their kindergarten level, passing through Under 15 to Under 17 to U-20 and Olympic Teams to the Eagles is our major problem. When we assign good coaches to teach the kids attacking football from the youth stages, they will not be breaking a fast attack to pass back when it is not necessary. We will have players who will understand the language and art of modern football and who will grow into a formidable culture that will make us world beaters.

It will be difficult, very difficult to get a coach like Westerhof again. However, a serious and sincere search can fetch them. But do we really need a foreign coach like Kojo has stated?

Take this: Kojo is not saying that the football federation should dispense with Keshi . Kojo insists that ‘’Keshi needs a sound tactician to help him drive the team to higher level. ‘’ Many Nigerians attacked him for this position. But I think they read him wrongly. Kojo insists that Keshi, and to a large extent Nigerian football, need help. And what is wrong if Keshi gets a help and goes to the World Cup to shine? Who takes the credit? Didn’t Samson Siasia engage one although it didn’t work for obvious reasons?

Based on what I saw of the Confederations Cup, I

Westerhof

Kojo

are condemning was one of those sitting down on the grass of Ota, morning and evening, while Westerhof worked. I was there too. I’m not one who will give in to sentiment in our sports matter. If we are contented with winning in Africa, playing below our potential against the world only to end up with ‘’We Tried” consolation then let’s maintain

,

If we are contented with winning in Africa, playing below our potential against the world only to end up with ‘’We Tried” consolation then let’s maintain the status quo

08053068728

,

WATCHED Eagles play 2-2 with Mexico in Houston, USA last month.

I saw them blow a victory they ought to have sealed when they led 2-1 and Mexico were short by one man following a red card right from the 23rd minute.

They played some good passing game but were caught up with what you may now permit me to tag a disease in Eagles. This disease has been in the team for long, dating back to the days of Amodu Shaibu, Berti Vogts, Lagerback, Siasia and it even appears more prominent now. It is a disease that kills many of the attacking moves of the team. An attack is on and the ball gets to a player and he decides to pass back or play a diagonal pass when actually some teammates are in positions to take opponents on the run and make attempts at goal.

Mikel Obi does this well. Sunday Mba did it many times in Houston and to a large extent succeeded in spreading the disease in the team. Towards the end of the match in Houston, Mexico, with 10 men, so harassed the Eagles that we were happy it ended 2-2. And yet it was a match Eagles had everything to win especially when they led 2-1. Some players wanted to show skill more than contribute to team play and score goals. They turn with the ball, always.

Get me right. There are times you need to pass back to reorganise. But it is wrong when you have the chance to go forward or when some teammates are on-the-run and you decide to turn back in an attempt to dribble or display skill. This was the greatest undoing of the Eagles in the Confederations Cup in Brazil. The other is their wastefulness in front of goal. But any person who has been following Brown Ideye from the last Nations Cup would really be surprised that he still starts matches for us. What do you say of a striker who never lays assists or scores? He shouldn’t be in the team what more starting matches. It was same with Fegor Ogude during the Nations Cup. The boy has even improved but he still lacks the quality to play at top level. At the Nations Cup, he couldn’t mark well, he wasn’t creative and could not pass well and yet he was in our midfield, creating havoc until Onazi came in for him and Sunday Mba for Nosa Igiebor and the Eagles changed. Those two changes won us the Nations Cup. Play back the first two matches of the Eagles and the subsequent ones and you would agree with me.

I’m not sad that Eagles crashed out of the Confederations Cup in the first round in Brazil. Good teams can suffer that faith. I’m sad that we couldn’t play close to our potential. The same squad, with different approach, could have gone further.

Uruguay were beatable.I closely watched the team against Uruguay and Spain and repeatedly told people that from what I was seeing, the only way Eagles could score would be through sheer individual brilliance. It happened with Mikel against Uruguay and our Confederations Cup story ended with that goal. Our runs off the ball were perhaps only better than those of Tahiti. I also saw that the Eagles had speed to destroy teams on the counter. But did they exploit their quality? In Brazil, like it happened in Houston, the Eagles have improved in the way they close in on opponents.

But if we don’t want to wince or look at a face before changing a Mikel Obi if he is not doing well, if we appreciate the fact that Brown Ideye right now lacks the quality to play for Nigeria, if we really want to rank among the best in the world then we should understand Kojo Williams

,

the status quo. But if we don’t want to wince or look at a face before changing a Mikel Obi if he is not doing well, if we appreciate the fact that Brown Ideye right now lacks the quality to play for Nigeria, if we really want to rank among the best in the world then we would understand Kojo Williams. I want to see Eagles play pressure football if we have to and also I want to see them play the counter attack option because we have the potential to do so. We can exploit our quality in speed and direct football and if we need help to bring out the best in us what’s wrong with that? But, personally, I doubt the ability of the football officials to select the Special One for us. But based on the Nations Cup success of Keshi, he should remain the head coach. The foreign assistant, if we so decide, can be in charge of training and Keshi the manager and overall boss of the team. This is my position.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 — 53

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54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013 — 55

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

I-N-S-I-D-E

Suprise! Keshi backs B Ideye Elephants storm Nigeria on Wednesday

ROWN Ideye hardly scores. He also hardly lays assists. And yet, his coach Stephen Keshi has backed the under-fire forward to come good once he sheds his anxiety.

The forward scored once at the African Nations Cup and only once more since then; a penalty

conversion against Mexico in a 2-2 friendly draw.

And at the Confederations Cup he was guilty of squandering a host of gilt-edged chances as he failed to find the back of the net.

But his endeavour, hard work, link-

Continues on Page 51

A

26-man delegation of the home-based National Team of Cote d’Ivoire will fly into Lagos on the evening of Wednesday next week, for Saturday ’s 2014 African Nations Championship qualifying match against their Nigerian counterparts.

The NFF on Thursday received correspondence from the office of the General Secretary of Federation Ivoirienne de Football, confirming that the delegation would arrive the Murtala M u h a m m e d International Airport aboard an Asky Airline

Continues on Page 51

F/Eagles through as K oreans w ait Koreans wait

O

L A R E N WA J U Kayode’s first goal of FIFA U-20 World Cup, was enough to see the Flying Eagles beat Korea Republic 1-0 and book a place in the last-16, with

Continues on Page 51

FIFA U-20 RESULTS Korea Rep Portugal

0-1 5-0

Nigeria Cuba

TODAY’S MATCHES MATCH WINNER: Flying Eagles forward, Kayode Olanrewaju celebrates his goal against Korea Republic at the FIFA U-20 W/Cup in Turkey, yesterday.

Nigeria won 1-0. Photo:Courtesy FIFA.com

PUZZLE

Australia El Salvador Greece Mali

vs Turkey vs Colombia vs Paraguay vs Mexico

7:00 7:00 4:00 4:00

pm pm pm pm

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

the Asians needing to wait on other results to know their future.

Kayode gave Nigeria the lead inside ten minutes, his first goal of

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Hit (5) 7 Way (5) 8 Problem (5) 10 Swift (5) 12 Anger (3) 13 Sober (5) 15 Spectacle (7) 17 Voucher (6) 19 Decay (3) 20 Mundane (7) 23 Sport (4) 25 Howl (4) 26 Hobbling (7) 30 Friend (3) 31 Cake (6) 34 Decency (7) 37 Tassellated (5) 38 Fuel (3) 39 Vision (5) 40 Group (5) 41 Puckish (5) 42 Gaze (5)

DOWN 1 Maxim (5) 2 Divest (5) 3 Lea (6) 4 Voyage (4) 5 Silently (7) 6 Fashion (5) 9 Epoch (3) 11 Pet (7) 13 Grimace (5) 14 Otic (5) 16 Deity (3) 18 Bewilder (7) 21 Bumpkin (5) 22 Audibly (5) 24 Retort (7) 27 Spoil (3) 28 Collect (6) 29 Lawful (5) 32 Name (5) 33 Eagle’s nest (5) 35 Vehicle (3) 36 Stamp (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Brand 7, Flee 8, Infect 9, Grope 11, Sag 13, Cab 15, Well 16, Pip 18, Jape 19, Doleful 20, Lump 22, Glut 23, Modesty 25, Owed 27, Ray 28, Huff 30, War 31, Say 33, Skulk 36, Svette 37, Etch 38, Tangy.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Algae 2, Beg 3, Ado 4, Die 5, Off 6, Scrap 10, Pail 11, Swallow 12, Glimmer 13, Callous 14, Beatify 16, Power 17, Petty 18, Jug 21, Pod 24, Sack 26, Waive 29, Fancy 32, Sly 33, Set 34, Urn 35, Key.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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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